My friend, Ross (okay, he is a Twitter friend, sorry), asked me to help him find some cool pillows for his new office’s sofa. I know Ross is a big geek, so I immediately figured this would be a fun challenge.

Let’s geek Ross’ sofa!

There’s nothing better than an Abe Lincoln head. This one is hand-silkscreened and hand-sewn by Big Stone Head. $20.

Let’s sit on breakfast! This set of egg, bacon and toast is made from Eco-Felt (100% recycled Plastic bottles!). $80 for the set, these are made by Diffraction Fiber in Chicago. They also make these the Ctrl – Alt – Del three pillow set for $58. Light gray pillows look as if they’ve jumped right off your keyboard.

Not sure how I feel about this Bearded Lady hand silk screened cotton canvas throw pillow, but it is different. By Utilitarian Franchise for $60. They have a whole collection of odd ones, actually.

And of course, the zombie pillow by Cipolla, $50.

One more!

While not really made as a pillow, I really want some of these Severed Yeti Heads by aquakoala ($85) for my sofa!

Thanks for the challenge, Ross! Send us photos of what you get!

Sometime last year, a friend of mine sent me a link to the Craftastrophe blog because I was on it! They said that my zombies closely resembled Gary Busey. At first I was upset, but then decided that if someone could make fun of me and make me laugh at the same time, I was down with that. Since then, I check Craftastrophe everyday to see stuff like this:

I won’t even try to explain, I’ll let the folks at Craftastrophe do that. Seriously, if you love seeing failed, funny or just weird projects, Craftastrophe is a good bet.

Beer! Crafts! Blue glowing gnomes for sale! – What could be better?

Come to Jackie’s Yard Sale this Saturday night, at Jackie’s Backroom (part of Jackie’s Restaurant), in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Co-owner Jackie Greenbaum has invited some crafters including Crafty Bastards Director, Kimberly Dorn, City Paper staffer Christine Ernest, jeweler extraordinaire Mary Ellen Doran, and a host of others to sell their wares at this one-night sale and party which will benefit the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center.

Jackie will also be selling cool bar stuff such as plates, furniture, stemware, and other odds & ends from both the Quarry House Tavern and Jackie’s Restaurant. The party/sale runs from 5 to 11 p.m.

Jackie’s Yard and Craft Sale
When: This Saturday, 7/25, 5pm-11pm
Where: Jackie’s Backroom (8081 Georgia Avenue, enter on Sligo Ave.)
More info: Check out Tim Carman’s Young & Hungry Blog post

Vendor status notifications for Crafty Bastards 2009 were sent via email this evening.

If you completed an application, but don’t see the notification email from Crafty Bastards, please do the following:

1. Check your junk mail/spam folder. The email was sent from: craftybastards@washingtoncitypaper.com
2. Still not there? Email craftybastards@washingtoncitypaper.com and let us know.

The DC Arts Center Wall Mountables show is a really great way to show (and sell!) your art. This year’s show has been announced.

July 17 – August 30
Installation: July 15 from 3-8pm, July 16 from 3-8pm, July 17 from 3-6pm
Opening Reception: July 17, 7-9pm
Deinstallation: September 2 – 6, 2-7pm

Check out their web site for complete rules and regulations for this show.

Some of the Hello Craft/Crafty Bastards crew will be in the Etsy Virtual Labs today at 5 p.m. for a workshop on applying to craft fairs. What some extra tips on applying to Crafty Bastards? Join us today, June 25! Just go to the Etsy Virtual Labs and log in.

The Crafty Bastards deadline is approaching! Don’t forget to apply. We wanna see what you’ve been making!

Saturday, June 20th

Baltimore, MD

This weekend, Charm City Craft Mafia is presenting their annual Pile of Craft. Shop handmade and have fun at this year’s Pile of Craft, a DIY art and craft show. There will be over 50 amazing, local, crafty vendors showing off their astounding apparel, jewelry, accessories, ceramics, paper goods, fine art and so much more!

Saturday, June 20th, 2009
10am – 5pm
@ Saint Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
(Inside St John’s Church)

Drinks and snacks will be available from Red Emma’s.

Check out the vendor list here.

Screw your Facebook event invite. The rock poster is alive and kicking here in D.C., and poster maker and Crafty Bastards veteran, Anthony Dihle wants you to know about it.

Civilian Art Projects is presents its second exhibition of music-based posters following last summer’s Screams & Screens exhibition of artists from across the country. PAPER JAM: The Art and Grime of the East Coast Rock Poster includes the works of 27 artists from the East Coast. The exhibition will open to the public on Friday, June 12, 2009 and will be on view through June 27, 2009. Public exhibition hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. There will be an opening reception for the artists on Friday, June 12, 2009 from 7pm to 9pm.

James Heimer

Paper Jam features a cross-section of artists, designers, and printmakers who make music posters. The exhibition is limited to East Coast postermakers, ranging from New Jersey to Virginia, and is intended to shine the spotlight on what is going on here, in our own backyard, in a world increasingly de-emphasizing local focus. Organized by artist Anthony Dihle, the exhibition stages the most fun, interesting, and experimental work from the area.

Ana Benaroya

According to Dihle, “both well-established and newly emerging artists are featured. Their methods of production range from high-end offset lithography to silkscreen to Xerox, and their styles are equally varied, from the rock poster standbys of skulls-n-babes to experimentation where text and form are pushed to convey music using symbols and abstraction. Bands represented extend from internationally known acts to garage bands making their debut show. Most of the work is home-brewed, by the artist, and merges the illustration of sound and lyrics with the requisite need for a poster to simultaneously advertise a show and commemorate it.”

Triggered largely by a renewed interest in live music and analog sound, the recent revival of poster art is being made possible by the availability of imaging software, adaptability of silkscreen to at-home methods, and a burgeoning community of postermakers who share ideas, resources, viewing spaces, and markets for their prints.

Artists in Paper Jam include, Ana Benaroya, Jordan Bernier, Rick Bowman, Chris Cernoch, Kate Crosgrove, Anthony Dihle (Dirty Pictures), Jefferey Everett (El Jefe Design), JP Flexner, John Foster (Bad People Good Things), Jeff Fry, Tim Gibbon (Dynamite Printworks), James Heimer, Adam Juresko, Edward Kelley, Daniel Kent, Chris Kline, Nick Kulp (Undercover Zero), Large Mammal, Robb Leef, Drew Liverman, Magick Outlaw, Nick Pimentel (Planaria Design), Gregory Pizzoli, Post Typography, Brian Potash (Devilish Ink), Public Domain, and Warm.

Tim Gibbon

There is a really great gallery of the work presented at this show over at the Civilian Art Projects web site.

The Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts is a really helpful organization who “supports artistic expression and innovation by serving the legal needs of Washington, Maryland and Virginia’s arts and cultural communities”. Below you will find their May and June workshop and clinic schedule.

On the evening of May 21st, join the Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts for their workshop “The Basics of Starting a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization” at host law firm DLA Piper. The workshop is geared toward artists. The workshop is free for WALA members, $30 for non-members. Please email legalservices@thewala.org to register (required).

On June 11th, artists can meet with a volunteer WALA attorney at the WALA’s Artomatic booth (see www.artomatic.org) to ask questions about their legal issues. While there will be attorneys available for walk-ups, they ask that to ensure you will have an appointment you register by emailing legalservices@thewala.org. Please include your legal inquiry, and let them know if you are already a WALA member. Clinics are free for WALA members.

On the evening of June 19th, join the WALA for their workshop “The Basics of Copyright for Musicians and Webcasters: How to Protect, Publish, and License your Musical Compositions and How to License Others’ Works” at host law firm Finnegan Henderson. The workshop is free for WALA members, $30 for non-members. Please email legalservices@thewala.org to register (required).

I am always amazed by something that Heidi Kenney is making, but when I checked in at her blog yesterday, I found something that kinda blew me away. Take a look.

It is Luke in the dead Tauntaun from Star Wars. She writes that this piece is for a show later this summer called Stitch Wars .

Is it just me, or doesn’t this piece need blood? I guess that is kinda what I like about it. I think it is interesting that she leaves the blood out.

Check out Heidi’s blog for more photos of this amazing piece.