Modish

PDX Local: Plywerk- a show & a GIVEAWAY!

Plywerk has a fantastic show opening tomorrow night at Albina Press here in Portland (at SE 50th & Hawthorne) displaying 150 pieces of art from 4 different artists, mounted on their 5x5 panels and hung in a polychromatic line that zigzags its way all around the store. Sounds awesome! Check it out in person at the opening on June 11th at 8pm, or online starting Friday morning!

And as if they weren't cool enough already, Plywerk has offered one lucky Modish reader (and nope, you don't have to be local) the chance to win:

• a set of FOUR 5x5 images from the show and a 12x18 bamboo "plywerk your own" panel! Prize valued at $170 total.

You can win some awesome artwork and have your very own art or favorite photograph professionally mounted onto a pretty, sustainable wood panel to hang in your home. Just leave a comment below to enter! Winner will be chosen randomly and notified by email on Tues, June 16th.

June 17th- edited to add: A winner has been chosen! Thanks to everyone who entered!

Picture Perfect: Chapulin

Collabo: Umbrella Prints + Ceeb Wassermann

Today we have another installment of the Collabo series between Scoutie Girl and Modish, yay! This time we took at look at the beautiful collaboration between Australian fabric designers, Umbrella Prints, and Australian jewelry designer, Ceeb Wassermann. Read Ceeb's interview below and then head to Scoutie Girl to see Umbrella Prints' side of the story!

Which came first: the idea or the partnership? Who approached whom?

The partnership came first. Amy Prior of Umbrella Prints approached me. She asked if I would make jewelry pieces from the prints they do for their fabric.

What is the nature of your collaboration? (did one of you purchase the rights to use the other’s artwork, do you both receive revenue from sales, is the artwork on-loan for a limited time or # of pieces….)

Amy orders whatever amount of which ever design and 'buys' them at a wholesale price. I make them and then ship them to her.

How did you coordinate the project work and determine who will do what?

It was a pretty straightforward collaboration. They decided which of their designs to use and I made them into wearables in my style of work.

Is the collabo ongoing or was it a one-and-done deal?

At the moment it is ongoing. We haven't discussed a time factor at all.

What made you want to partner your art with someone else’s? 

I love their prints and could really see them as 'on the body' pieces.

Do you work with other artists to create collaborative pieces?

I have in the past. Collaboration is different every time (with every artist.)

Do you have any suggestions for other artists who are considering a collaborative project?

It's very basic really, once you decide who is doing what, then you must stick with it. If you're worried about copyright or such things, then you have to have a clear contract.

If you could work with any other artist to create a piece together (famous and/or deceased included), who would it be and what would you make?

I would like to make the handles to cupboards & drawers & doors with Philip Stark or to work with the Italian company Alessi.

Thanks for sharing Ceeb! Be sure to take a peek at Ceeb's other gorgeous jewelry designs in her Howlin' Doggie shop and find more stunning fabrics in the Umbrella Prints shop.

Picture Perfect: Field Guided

Moop Sale & Five Yards

Moop is having a seconds sale on some of their bags, yahoo! You can get awesome discounts on your favorites that are discontinued styles or colors or have tiny flaws- check it out in their supermarket shop!

And while you're in the Moop mood, you crafters may be interested in their new shop, Five Yards, where they're offering 5 yard cuts of their overstock fabric. Most of the fabric has been upcycled from wholesale fabric jobbers who collect overruns directly from textile mills. The Moop folks want to be able to offer the same awesome fabric they use in thier bags to other talented makers who may not have access to fabric/textile districts like they do. Nice, huh?

Sponsor Spotlight: Snapcrafty

Snapcrafty has a beautiful collection of vintage treasures and supplies for your unique crafty creations! Mention "modish" in the notes at checkout and you'll get an extra surprise treat with your order! {SHOP}

Sponsor Spotlight: Peppermint Soda

Visit Peppermint Soda for a fantastic selection of vintage beads, cabochons and sparkles galore!  Enter "Modish" in the notes when you check out and receive a 15% refund via paypal!

Sponsor spotlight: felt-o-rama

You crafters will go crazy over the awesome selection of felt at felt-o-rama!  They have wool felt, recycled eco-felt, felted beads and flowers and much much more.  Add some fabulous fuzzy goodness to your projects!  {SHOP}

Picture Perfect: Enhabiten

Summer hasn't left us yet!

It may be fall now (yay!!) but Summersville is out in full force!  Introducing a new shop from Lucie Summers that features hand-printed fabric in vibrant colors and awesome graphics, perfectly sized for small craft projects.  I'm in love with every single bit of fabric there- I need to break out my mom's old sewing machine (and uh, figure out how to use it) stat!

Not only is the fabric incredible, you can also pick up a thing or two made from the pretty cotton goodness, like buttons, zippered pouches and fabric covered journals.  Plus, the product photography is awesome!  Summersville is an overall feast for the eyes that's brimming full with crafty inspiration- check it out for yourself!

Inspiring textiles

Hand screen-printed fabrics are so beautiful to me, patterned with slight imperfections that only a hand can create.  Aussie Lara Cameron designs some of the most incredible fabrics I've ever seen- her colorful designs are inspired by nature and are sure to inspire wonderful craft creations, including some of her own!
 
Kirin & Co is Lara's collection of hand screen-printed fabrics for sale, along with the crafty goodness that came from them, including stunning clutches with cut-out wooden handles and beautiful pillows to spice up your decor.  Take a peek at the entire collection at Kirin & Co!

Now you can be a Susie Homemaker too!

Keeping on with the cuteness of homemaking theme, I came across this submission in my inbox from Sew Bettie, creator of amazing sewing patterns, crafty tutorials and diy kits!  Now you can learn how to put your sewing skills (yet another thing I lack- damn!) to good use creating useful and fun accessories like headbands, wristlets and, dare I say it, aprons! 

Sew Bettie's patterns, kits and tutorials will have you looking sharp in your own handmade goods in no time.  They also have great original fabric for sale that you can use in your creations featuring bikes and bulldogs and birds, oh my!  Take a look at all the fun stuff they have to offer and give those idle hands something productive to do this summer!

**UPDATE: Cara from Sew Bettie has been so kind as to offer a discount to modish readers!  Just enter the code "MODISH" at checkout and you'll get 10% off your order!

A big-ass ain't so bad!

I recently received a new crafting book and have been looking over it with awe all weekend- with its funny, yet totally accurate title, the Big-Ass Book of Crafts is a great big book of diy goodness, packed full with over 150 project ideas that are fun, kitschy, easy and inspiring.  Written by Mark Montano who's a TLC designer and host, there's a wealth of ideas to get your crafting juices flowing- some of my favorites are the colored pencil vases, the popsicle stick lampshades and the fashion plates- there's tons of ideas for the home, a whole section on bath and body, one on outdoor projects, a papergoods section....it is looooaaaaded with great ideas.  Check out a little peek inside at Amazon and pick up a copy for yourself, or your craft lovin' friends! 

Knitastic!

The weekend is coming, yay!  And for crafty types, that often means time to work on craft projects (I'm hoping to at some point this weekend!)  And lucky for you, modish contributor Maddy turned me onto these wonderful handmade trims, fabrics, buttons and more by knitastic which may be perfect for a sewing project you're working on!

They're so bright and colorful, sure to add some summery pop to your creations.  Check out all the crafty supplies knitastic has to offer, along with finished pieces like cushions and a cool bolero!

I <3 you

Seeing hearts?  Here's some heart themed handmade gifts for you for Valentine's Day, yes, but also just because I love all you readers, so very much.  <3

row 1: for the love of baking by Thea Coughlin ($20), eyes for you card by Kaching Design ($6),  so happy together by Chromatics ($70)
row 2: bleeding heart blue by Anna Ruby King ($10), heart vinyl and sterling necklace by Nature vs. Machine ($50), brass heart fobs by Bonbon Oiseau ($50)
row 3: heart on your finger ring by  ehmeglass ($56), darling bag by Oprikka (70€)
row 4: sweetheart necklace by Nek ($50), love hurts cactus pincushion by Sheasy ($10), heart of glass II by Nanopod ($32)