In this video, Ira Glass of “This American Life” explains why we should all keep working on our craft. He talks about storytelling, but I think this can apply to just about anything. I haven’t seen someone so eloquently express that it takes a long time to get good at something creative. This is something that I have totally reminded myself and others of over the years; that the best makers or storytellers or artists are those people who keep at it.

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at I Like Seamonsters.com. She finally found something useful on YouTube.

It has been two weeks since my first post about learning to use my new woodburning tool. During those first few nights of learning, I didn’t think this follow-up post would be as positive as it is about to be. I didn’t think I would get the hang of it, I didn’t think it would be as fun as it is. I thought I would go running back to my trusty Gocco printer to finish my pieces for Artomatic. I was wrong and this is rad.

In the past few weeks, I have completed about 25 pieces, only ruining about 3! So far, I have only mastered transferring words, not images. Words are easier because you can concentrate on transferring each word, one letter at a time, making sure not to burn the paper into the wood. This is done by using the tool with one hand, while gently lifting the paper as you transfer. It is kind of how you check to see if a fake tattoo has transferred to your skin. Hard to explain. The instructions on the tool actually explained it, but until I messed it up a few times, it was hard to figure out. Transferring images has proven more difficult, so I am still working on that.

This piece is a combination of the star stamper that actually burns stars into the wood and the laser transfer (with multiple fonts):

Close up of the little stars:

Here is how it looks on the wall!

While this piece came out the best so far, the message is a little too cheerleader-y, so I held it back from the two shows I am making these for this month. (I wrote the text after having given birth to twins, so cut me some slack!)

You can see how the transfer really works well on the unpainted wood. I have found, though, that painted wood can be a little more difficult. A few tips so that you can learn from my mistakes.

1. Only let the pen/tool heat up for 5 minutes. Don’t turn it on, go off to watch Battlestar Galactica and come back an hour later. That thing will be too hot! It will then ruin the first half of whatever you are about to do. Along those same lines, don’t try to use a tool that hasn’t heated up.
2. If you plan to paint your pieces, do so the day before. Your paint needs to be completely dry before even trying this.
3. Don’t forget to reverse your images on a computer and then print them out. This can easily be done in Photoshop.
4. Read and follow all of the instructions on the package. I didn’t and this is what caused stress the first night.

Here are a few pieces that were painted before using the tool to transfer laser prints:

You might notice on these that the tool will sometimes transfer a faint clear bit when you run it over blank paper. I tried to minimize this by cutting my designs out very close to the ink. It isn’t a big thing, but might bother perfectionists. Transferring onto the painted pieces takes a bit more patience than the bare wood ones. Don’t be afraid to mess up and if you do, just paint over it and try again.

Of course, this tool can do like 20 other things. I urge people with drawing talent to try it out as a pen! I would love to see something other than deer heads and cowboys drawn on wood! I would really love to see what people with actual artistic ability can do with this tool. Don’t hesitate to comment on the blog if you do try it out. Along those lines, let us know about any kind of new craft you are trying to learn.

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at http://www.ilikeseamonsters.com. Oh! You can see a whole wall of these finished pieces at Artomatic, 8th floor (SW, B7).

I feel like all of the best upcycled products are bags. I’ve reviewed bags made out of old t-shirts, bags made out of contruction fencing and now here are bags made out of the hated plastic grocery bags. With all of these bags made out of waste, there is really no reason for anyone to ever purchase a non-upcycled purse or tote.

So, fused plastic bag bags. Some of the bags that I am going to show you today are made by fusing together all those unwanted plastic grocery bags. I think what makes these bags cute to me is that some of them are made with grocery bags from regional stores that we don’t have here, so they aren’t the usual ugly Safeway bags. It helps to have some bags in colors other than Safeway tan. Take a look at this green one ($45) from Scary Carrie Creates:

This lunch bag ($14) from Kim Quilts saves 9 plastic bags from a landfill. It is made by using a unique folding technique, then they are quilted over to ensure they are more durable.

She also has some larger bags ($22). The quilting really makes them cute:

A few more plastic bag finds:

Fused Wristlet ($12) from HoneyBearRecycles

Recycled Plastic Basket Organizer ($15) from Curious Doodles.

Wanna do this yourself? Personally, I wouldn’t do this myself because I worry about the fumes. I mean, how safe can it be to use an iron to fuse these plastic bags together? I would rather let others do it for me! But if you are interested in trying it out, there is an awesome tutorial on the Etsy Labs website, here. Check out a tutorial for quilted fused plastic bags over at Craftastica.

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at I Like Seamonsters. She has too many bags.

I have always felt like sort of a one trick pony when it comes to crafting. I gocco. I used to do other stuff, but when I got my Gocco Printer about 5 years ago, I stopped doing much else. Nothing matches it when it comes to ease of use. And my lifestyle only gives me small units of times with which to make stuff, so the Gocco makes sense.

But this past month, I decided to venture out and commit to two art projects that would require that I use up lots of Gocco screens and bulbs. Like, lots. This was getting expensive and stressful, so I decided it was time to learn something new. I started researching ways that I could transfer lots of words onto wood. Stories from my blog, twitter posts, all kinds of stuff. I wanted each piece to be relatively one of a kind, I wanted the freedom to be able to randomly make a piece of wall art the way I would jot down a note in my Moleskine notebook. I wanted to be break free from the Gocco.

A call to the factory where I was buying irregular bits of wood for these projects helped me discover the wood burning pen/tool. You know, the kind of thing that Boy Scouts use to draw deer heads on patches of leather? Apparently everyone’s older brother had one of these things. Still not sure what I am talking about? Here’s the page from the catalog that I ordered mine from:

You can totally pick these up at any craft store for about $35, but those places stress me out with all the scrap booking stuff, so I try to stay away! For about another $20, you can pick up a set of alphabet stamps! This was my first idea, to burn in my silliness one letter at a time. That was until the woman taking my order told me about the transfer tip for the tool. It sounded too good to be true. With the flat tip of the pen, one can transfer laser prints onto word, fabric, leather, whatever. Just reverse any text, heat up the pen to 750 degrees and you are in business!

My first night of learning was stressful. Here I am working on my first transfer:

And after about an hour of working on it, this is what I got:

Not great, but not bad either!

Note to self (and Crafty Blog readers): Do not ever try to learn a new craft 15 days before needing 40 new pieces for two different venues. Don’t do this to yourself. Even if the instructions on the box make it look like anyone can wield the wood burning/transfer tool, know that it is not this easy. And if you only have two hours a day to perfect your new craft, odds are you will not perfect it in time to actually finish said 40 pieces. Ok. End rant.

My second night of trying out the tool yielded slightly better results, if still not perfect. Here is a “finished” piece:

Each time I use the tool, I learn something new and get better at it. This past weekend I got some help with my twins and was able to work for about 3 hours uninterrupted and finished about 6 pieces (photos to come once Artomatic opens!).

I am energized by my ability to pick up something new and encourage everyone to step out of their crafting comfort zone and try something different.

What is your dream skill? Mine is actually quilting, oh my, who has time for that?

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at http://www.ilikeseamonsters.com. The title of this blog is what she was burning into wood today.

Almost any activity can be green-ified if you do it car-free. See, here’s an example:

Thrift Store Shopping: Already Green
Car-free Thrift Store Shopping: Even Greener!!!

Shopping at thrift stores for materials, fashion finds, books & housewares is a great way to give new life to items would otherwise be headed to a landfill. Reclaiming these items to wear, sew, decorate your home with or screen print on makes you feel great. It’s like a treasure hunt! The thrill of thriftstore hunting can be addictive, as most of you already know.

So, what’s better than salvaging items from their doom and using them to make cool stuff? getting there via public transportation!!

Here’s a little list of metro and bus accessible thrift stores in the DC metro area:

Goodwill of Arlington 6136 Arlington Blvd – From Rosslyn Metro (Orange/Blue) Take the 4H bus towards Seven Corners and get off at the Willston Shopping Center (before Seven Corners)

L & N Thrift 1830 14th Street NW – Columbia Heights Metro (Green) or 54 bus

Georgia Avenue Thrift Store 6101 Georgia Ave NW – 70 bus towards Silver Spring (runs up and down Georgia Ave, can be picked up near the Shaw/Howard University stop on the Green Line)

Odd-Even Thrift Shop 3400 Rhode Island Ave – from Rhode Island Ave. Metro (Red) catch the 84 bus towards New Carrolton and get of on 34th Street.

Montgomery County Thrift Shop 7125 Wisconsin Ave – 2 blocks from Bethesda Metro

The Thrift Shop 2622 P St NW – G2 bus, or a nice walk down P from Dupont Circle (walking towards Georgetown)

Opportunity Shop – St. Albans 3001 Wisconsin Ave NW – N4 bus to Wisconsin Ave. & Massachusetts Ave.

Got more thrift stores to add? (like that newish one that just sprung up in Mount Pleasant that I couldn’t find online!)

Please let us know about them (and how to get there) in the comments section!

green and love, xo,
kb the car-free crafter

Kristina Bilonick organizes the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market, which easily reachable without a car by taking Metro to Ballston or bus 38B from Farragut Square.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend in D.C., we’ve got a few suggestions.

On Friday, Crafty Bastard Matt Hollis will be showing a new free-standing sculpture in “The End of Nature” art exhibit at the Warehouse Gallery. About the show:

In this wide-ranging group exhibition, artists take a melancholy, hopeful and sometimes humorous look at what they will miss most after “The End of Nature.”

The End of Nature at the Warehouse Gallery
Opening Reception Friday, April 11th, 6-9pm
1017-1021 7th Street NW Washington DC
Metro: Mt. Vernon Square Green/Yellow Line

And Saturday, you can do some shopping over at The Shop at Civilian Spring Trunk Show.

About the shop:

Tucked in the back-office of Civilian Art Projects, The Shop presents Civilian visitors with a ‘curated shopping experience’ featuring hand picked items by local artists and designers.

Unique items available at the Shop include limited edition hand-printed tees, small works of art by local artists, limited edition art books, videos & dvds, letterpressed notecards, leather wristbands, silkscreened ties and scarves woven from recycled clothing.

Featured artists include Erik Jackson, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Cynthia Connolly, Betsy Packard, Bookish Lady, FIsticuffs, Anita Walsh, Angela Jerardi, Linda Hesh and Richard Chartier (just to name a few!)

Many of the artists will be on hand to talk about their work at the trunk show.

The Shop [at] Civilian- Spring Trunk Show & Reception!!
Saturday, April 12- 11am – 4pm
406 7th St. NW (3rd floor)- Just 2 blocks from the Verizon Center and Chinatown Metro.
For more information call 202-347-0022

Join us at Quarry House Tavern on Monday, April 14th, 7pm-9pm, for a chance to ask questions and get advice on everything from vendor statements to application photos and other general tips to help make your vendor applications stand out.

We would love to see all you veteran Crafty Bastards who are interested in helping people with their applications and encourage anyone looking for an excuse to hang out with like-minded crafters to attend. Come out and enjoy the awesome beer selection and yummy food at Quarry House while we fill the place crafty chatter. No need to RSVP, just stop on by.

Where: Quarry House Tavern (8401 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD)
When:Monday, April 14th from 7pm-9pm
Cost: Free!
Who should attend: Crafters in the DC area

Don’t forget! Application Deadline is next Wednesday 4/16!
Vendor applications are due next Wednesday, April 16 for Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair being held Saturday, June 28 at Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD. Apply today.

Last night I went to Ikea. As always, I came home with 30% needed stuff and 70% fluff (which is a pretty successful Ikea trip for me). I never really think about buying fabric from Ikea, as I’m usually there on a mission to redecorate my home with weird plastic items that I don’t really need and drink lingonberry juice. But this time, I found myself really liking the choice of fabrics they had for sale. While they don’t have a huge selection, Ikea fabric have bold prints with flowers, weird shapes, and lots of primary colors. I dug through the sale bin and got myself a few yards of nice fabric for crafting, for about $5 total.

The other item I wanted to mention, was the Ikea Fixa… it’s a bi-level dollie that sells for $20.

It can hold up to 60lbs., packs up flat and small and could be extremely helpful at fairs when bringing crafts to and from your car to your booth space. Now, I can’t vouch for the quality of this product, since Ikea has never been the place to find stuff that will last a lifetime… but it’s bright blue and cute, and I’m a sucker for both those things.

I wouldn’t recommend going to Ikea just for the fabric shopping, but next time your there it’s worth a look-see… there might also be some pre-cut fabric for cheap in the AS IS section. Happy Ikea’ing ya’ll.

In the coming weeks, in honor of Earth Day and every day green living, KB the Car-free Crafter will be sharing her secrets to living car-free as a crafter with a busy agenda.

Anyone who has ever applied to Crafty Bastards knows how fierce the competition can be. Last year’s show got 400 applications for 100 spots! That said, don’t be afraid! Ok, be a little afraid, but don’t be so terrified that you don’t try. As a veteran Crafty Bastard, I always get asked for application tips. I decided that it would also be cool to ask former and current Crafty Bastards judges for their thoughts. Lucky for you, I am not going to charge for this advice. Instead, here it is, totally 100% free!

There are two main components to the Crafty Bastards application. Vendor statement (only 300 characters!) and photos of your work. But before we can even get to these things, the first thing that you need to do to get into Crafty is to make something interesting. I can’t stress this enough. If you are new to crafting and think you have a brilliant idea, totally Google it. There might be 10 other people making the same thing and if this is the case, you need to make sure you can put your own spin on it. That said, having a very distinct brand identity is also a really good place to be when you start applying to shows. So, step 1. Know who you are and make something awesome. Easy.

Step 2: Vendor Statement.

If you know who you are and make something awesome, your vendor statement shouldn’t be too difficult. You only have 300 characters to work with, so this is the hard part. Let’s break down my vendor statement from last year:

Tina Seamonster silk screens shirts and cards in small batches at her kitchen table with a Print Gocco. She is inspired by her life as an urban mom of twins in DC. Her designs are mostly about overcoming fears (of zombies, etc!), dealing with stress and living life with humor above all else.

The first thing that I do in my vendor statement is establish my brand identity. This is who I am. Then I immediately tell you what I make and how I make it. One former judge thinks that explaining how you make your items is very important. He says: “One tip that I have is to explain, explain, explain. We received more than a few applications that didn’t really specify the crafter’s role in their work. For instance, if you sell screen-printed shirts, explaining that you draw your own art, burn your own Gocco screens, source your own t-shirts from Africa, and hand mix your own inks from natural pigments is much better than leaving it up to the judges to guess. ‘Cause they just might assume you sent an image to the screen printer and — viola — 2 weeks later 400 shirts show up. And that isn’t gonna win you fans. Explaining why you’re all DIY is good.” Obviously you can’t explain all of that in 300 characters, but you get the point!

So, I explain first who I am, then what I make and how. Next I tell you where I am coming from. This might not matter for everyone, but for me, my crazy lifestyle as a twin mom living in the city is key to what I do, so I mention it. If your crazy lifestyle as a traveling lion tamer is important to your handmade flutes, then let us know! And lastly, I explain the style and subject matter of my work. This is not at all a hard and fast rule to creating the perfect vendor statement. We all have our own style. Maybe your statement will be funny or provocative or memorable in some other way. Just make sure you make every word count!

Step 3: Photos.

The dreaded photos. I hate this part. I truly do. But it is so so important. My first advice is to former Crafty Bastards. Send new photos. Don’t assume that because you got in last year or every year that you can send old photos. I nearly made this mistake a few years ago. Don’t do it! As much as you love or are still selling a million of the same items from last year, do try to show something new. That said, former judge Liz of Trees can say the rest better than I can:

First off, and I can’t stress this enough, submit bright, clear photos of your work! Judges look at hundreds if not thousands of photos when jurying a show. Not only do you want your work to stand out, you don’t want to contribute to their eye strain! You are being judged by your submissions and if the judges can’t see how great your work is because the photos are too dark or too fuzzy, you won’t get into the show. Also, if your work is highly detailed with say 10 different decorative stitches on a skirt, make sure this comes through.

Second, show variety in your work. If you make hand-knit scarves as well as kitten booties and iMac cozies, send in a photo of each so the jurors can see the breadth of your work. Don’t just send in three separate photos of scarves.

Third, I’d recommend showing your work in action. If you make pottery, take a photo of someone enjoying a steaming cup of cocoa in a hand-thrown mug or if you make pillows, take shots of them on a couch or with your cat napping on them. It gives the viewer context.

Fourth, inject your personality and style and vision into your photos. If your craft consists of making fun, irreverent clothing, take photos of people wearing the clothes doing fun, irreverent things! If your artwork is somber or goth or melancholy, take your oil paintings to a cemetery on a cloudy day and stage a photo shoot.

Thanks Liz!

A few more photo tips. If you make shirts for the whole family, I suggest that you show that in your photos. Many indie crafters only make shirts in standard sizes. But if you make stuff for plus sizes, as well, try to convey that in your photos. If you make stuff for babies and kids, too, make sure you have a whole family wearing your gear. You don’t need models, just use your family!

Rather than just taking a photo of your stuff on the kitchen table (dude, I have totally done this before), create a memorable world with your photos. Spooky Daddy did this last year with his army of skull bunnies. He was also bold enough to include himself in one of the photos. This makes sense for him because HE is his brand. Smart move and awesome if you can pull it off.

In the end, you do not need professional photos. All you need is good light, interesting backgrounds and a little imagination.

Hopefully I have made the application process a little less scary. Please leave your own tips or questions in the comments. All questions will be answered! Good luck!

And if this didn’t help at all, you can still check out last year’s vendor gallery if you want to see more photos or read more vendor statements.

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at http://www.ilikeseamonsters.com. She is a veteran of all four Crafty Bastards shows. She thinks that unicorns whine too too much.