YAS contemporary lifestyle

I'll do a few days of gift ideas appropriate for the celebration of Kwanzaa . Lots of red black and green, the colors of African Liberation, the diaspora and Kwanzaa! Enjoy!

Several months ago posted a question concerning green printers for digitally printed fabric for discussion in a LinkedIn group.  I got a comment back a few days ago. The question seems like I asked it light years ago. Good to see the progress I've made in this area. I thought it would be good to share my reply with you.  "I ordered several yards of fabric in different patterns from the most advertised of the small digital printers in the US. I took a quick glance at the fabric when it arrived and then put it up. The fabrics were organic cotton sateen and organic cotton jersey knit. I used the information from two online tutorials to actually get the hang of ordering fabric online.  From Mamma Made Designs http://blog.mammamadedesigns.com/archive/2008/06/11/spoonflower-fabric-development-series-ndash-part-1.aspx  From Vectortuts Plus http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/tools-tips/a-beginners-guide-to-digital-textile-printing/  This book is an ex...

For the next 30 days, the blog will feature gift ideas. The Etsy mini application updates automatically when new items are added. The post date remains constant. So check back daily for new gift ideas. Click on each image to go to the shop where the gift items are featured. I started the search for these items using the word "embroidery". Turned up stuff ranging from a 20K embroidered hanging to the totally cute felted and embroidered items. I'm learning that you can find quality craftspersonship in all price ranges. Sometimes my favorites are so inexpensive and well crafted I feel guilty.

With the first set of designs for my line of pillow covers out of the way, it's time to start preparing a portfolio for my applications to juried shows and gallery exhibitions. If I'm going to participate in any shows next year I need to get some pieces together in a hurry. The first decision to make is on product. What do I want to exhibit? Fiber of course. One show piece garment. One major quilt and four really small story quilts. One exquisite stole. This will give me three possible categories for jurying - fiber, artwear and quilts. The show piece garment. My favorite pattern of the moment is a Donna Karan DKNY coat and dress. Vogue Pattern V1074. (This is out of print.) I love the coat, but probably would prefer a sheath dress underneath. There are enough pattern pieces to use a variety of coordinating patterned fabrics. The fit of the coat is loose so it will cover three sizes. This is the pattern I think I'll use for my show piece garment. I will post future ...

I exhibited in the 57th Street Art Fair when I lived in Chicago. 2009 was the 62nd anniversary of this fine, old, juried art fair.  Scrolling around the internet last night, I decided to check them out.  Application to the 57th Street Art Fair is through ZAPP . I think ZAPP is the greatest thing since sliced white bread.  If you decide to go the juried fair and show route, ZAPP is for you.  Straight from the ZAPP site:  " ZAPP™, also known as ZAPPlication™, is a one-stop, universal online application system that allows artists to upload high-resolution digital images of their artwork and apply to participating art shows, festivals, and fairs. This web-based system, www.zapplication.org, enables the staff of art shows to more efficiently manage their application, administrative, and jury processes online. ZAPP™'s intuitive design, functionality, and outstanding customer service sustain ZAPP™'s clear advantage over other online application system...

( All of the images are of other folks work from either the Painted Pony Craft Fair or the Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Coop Holiday Fair. See if you can figure out what was featured where. The jam was jalapeno and strawberry, the best thing at either fair. ) I participated in two local crafts fairs this month. One in Jamul, CA and another in the community of Ocean Beach in San Diego. The fairs were much like I find the crafts marketing sites on the internets. An uneven mishmosh of stuff. A few fine craftspeople, a lot of just getting started handcrafters and do it your selfers, food vendors, community projects, some interesting recycled and organic products. What was validating about this process? Many years ago, when I was just getting started as a surface textile designer, I did one Renaissance Fair, where I made very little money and spent what little money I did make on some utterly delicious shish kebabs. The next fair I did was the 57th Street Art Fair in the...