Etsy’s Handmade Blog

I have to say, I was most taken with the Etsy Blog, The Storque by the perfectly timed entry “Quit Your Day Job” which jumped out at me almost as a sign, because, as some of you might know, I recently did just that – not become an etsy seller, but to start my own business and a more happy and flexible working life for when my baby comes. (The Quit Your Day Job is actually a series that includes many stories of people who have successfully made careers on their own).

But enough about me, Storque is a frequently updated blog with a plethora of articles, videos and interviews about all aspects of the craft and diy movements.

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Posted on May 16, 2010

What is the Impossible Project?

“We aim to re-start production of analog instant film for vintage Polaroid cameras in 2010.”

TOO COOL!!

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Posted on September 7, 2009

The Journey is the Destination is such a vibrant testament to a life lived to the fullest, which makes the reality of young author, Dan Eldon's end all the more tragic. After years of brave photojournalism: Eldon and three colleagues were stoned and beaten to death by an angry mob in Mogadishu after a botched UN raid killed several locals.

Prior to his sad demise, Eldon was a full-fledged world traveler by the age of seven and the photographs taken in his teens and twenties were published in newspapers and magazines world wide.

This posthumous collection of his colorful, complex visual journals was published by his family and the scrapbooks, made from age 14 to 22, continue to inspire socially conscious artists and young adventurers today, here's a link to several images I posted over on RC.

Though Eldon's isn't a household name, that all may change once Daniel
Radcliff portrays him on the big screen – but this book and his story can't be forgotten.

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Posted on August 10, 2009

I can't tell you how much Edward Gorey's Mystery! introduction thrilled me as a kid – my sister and I, after dozens and dozens of studied viewings, got the handkerchief wailing toss down pat. Gorey's books and style are completely unique and singularly devious, so you can imagine the naughtiness and eventual savagery he might bring to the table working under an alias on a book for adults only.

I actually came across The Curious Sofa during one of those vague childhood recollections that lead you on a wild goose chase. I remember being totally enthralled with a slightly dirty picture book… maybe even a pop up book? At that age I was interested in anything that had to do with the forbidden subject of sex (even though I only had vaguest notions of what it was), and I even remember specifically wanting to see The Man with Two Brains because he said the word in an ad. Anyway, all I can recall were twenties style drawings, the color pink, and tits in a bubble bath.

Ends up that the delightfully wicked Curious Sofa, while a wonderful find, was not the book of my distant memories, but a notable and funny book rife with Gorey's signature style, wit, innuendo and mystery. With nary a single pornographic image (as hinted at in the books subtitle, “A Pornographic Work by Ogdred Weary”) it still manages to point your imagination into dark, frisky, and sometimes disturbing corners.

View some images over at Rotating Corpse.

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Posted on July 13, 2009

I can't imagine it was easy to buck against your roots in Arkansas farm country in the early 20th century, but that's exactly what Mike Meyers, also known as Disfarmer, did. Having no interest in the livelihood of his family and peers he:

“Taught himself how to shoot and develop photographs, and he soon set up a studio on the back porch of his mother's house?and his belief in his own unique superiority as a photographer and as a human being made him somewhat of an oddity to others”.

Thank goodness for mavericks, because his career as a portrait photographer has left us with an astonishing visual history of the time. Limited prints are available for purchase for $800, but you can peruse the gallery for free and even send an email postcard to fellow fans of olde timey goodness.

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Posted on June 29, 2009

Why do I mention it now?

Because I have some stunning images from the book to share with you here.

Here's what I said back on 8/6/07:

This coffee table book about the art of denim embellishment caught my eye for purely professional reasons. But, despite the lack of substantial text, it has become a beloved personal treasure. The minimal text (by Beagle) is really of its time and refreshingly hippy dippy.

Of embellishing our clothes he proposes that if we all had become bellbottomed people with rockets embroidered on our pockets, Adam and Eve appliqued on our legs, and rainbows sequined up our thighs interplanetary relations would benefit: “UFOs, hesitant to land on this planet of legendary menace, would know that we meant them no harm.”

You know, I agree with him too. His insights, though few, are interesting in comparison to today, when a craft movement is again in full swing. He says of the people who are part of the movement then, “what these people seem to have in common is not an official counterculture – that hardly exists anymore… but it is the desire for some little control over one's own life”.

The book is great, there's lost of bright, fun photographs of extreme embroidery, macrame, feathers, fringe, lace, sequins… you name it. I've been told that this is a highly sought after book in the apparel world, so if you find it at a used book shop like my mom did, grab it!

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Posted on June 15, 2009

If you find yourself in Tacoma, this is a great place to go with a friend and quietly chat while watching glass blowing.
It's even better than watching blowing glass.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours Arts Pacific Northwest

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Posted on November 14, 2005