Wednesday, June 03, 2009

June//July issue of ReadyMade is out & Bruce Metcalf review



It was such a cool opportunity to get to pick stuff that I think deserves attention and have ReadyMade whip up such a great layout.

I got two pages of picks in the recent issue of ReadyMade including shout-out's to Palomino, Fasten, SkyHigh, My Love For You blog, 20x200, Portland Contemporary Craft Museum, Design For Mankind, the Cave Singers and the Third Drawer Down in Melbourne.

Also Bruce Metcalf wrote a review of Handmade Nation on the ACC Creating A New Craft Culture blog that is worth checking out if you are interested in the old school meets new school craft dialouge. Read it here.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

READ :: Washington Times DIY craft article

Check out today's article on DIY craft in the Washington Times HERE.

More soon, catching up from vacation!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Dwell On Design

I will be on a panel at Dwell On Design in late June in Los Angeles with my friend Billie the co-owner of Reform school.

Dwell on Design:: Los Angeles, CA

Thursday, May 21, 2009

VACAY!

I'm on a trip out west that isn't work related which is a little over due. Today I'm in Olympia with my friend Ira and we ended up over at Nikki McClure's studio where Ira was doing some painting. I got to catch up with Nikki as she worked on her new book.

Ira is a sign painter, this is a case he lettered awhile back with his business name on it.

Nikki at work in her studio behind her house

Monday, May 18, 2009

This week!

Tuesday I am doing a private screening at Hallmark in Kansas City, MO which should be a cool experience.

Thursday Handmade Nation premieres in Denver, CO for one night only! Sponsored by Fancy Tiger, information HERE.

Pass it along!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Monday, May 11, 2009

Chic and Simple Sewing by Christine Haynes

Sewing Made Seriously Simple: a book review!

By Cortney Heimerl

Chick and Simple Sewing by Christine Haynes

Get your copy HERE

When I was learning how to sew, my mother was always my resource for answering the technical questions of dressmaking: What is my size exactly? How do I put in a zipper? She walked me through seam finishing and attaching buttons, creating gathers and making dress details with lace and so much more. I would recommend her as a sewing instructor to anyone, but if the chances of you all making it to Portage, Wisconsin to hang around her farm for a few lessons seems a little far-fetched, I would recommend buying the book Chic & Simple Sewing instead.

The author Christine Haynes, is obviously an accomplished seamstress herself with a penchant for creating precise and easy-to-follow directions complete with descriptive illustrations that glide the sewer from step one to step done in no time. The front of the book is all about starting with the basics. She starts with setting up a sewing area (and finding good ways to store it) and moves on to discuss tools of the trade, fabric choice and sewing pieces that reflect your personal style. Next she describes basic techniques, which happens to be my favorite part of the book. It easily answers the many technical questions that may intimidate first-time sewers and carefully explains all about seams and gathering, buttons and elastic, etc. The techniques are described in detail and even a seasoned pro would love to get her hands on this section as a reference. The rest of the book is made up of the patterns: dresses, skirts, tops and jackets that use the same simple directions as the beginning of the book. The best part? The designs are actually ones that you will be excited to wear. Most are simple enough to make in less than a day, but complicate enough to keep your interest and inspire you to plan your date nights around your sewing schedule. (Hot pink baby doll dress to the movies with Tom on Saturday!)

If you have always wanted to learn to sew your own clothes, this is the perfect place to start. It is fun, informative and incredibly easy to follow. As long as you have the time to learn, I think that this book will create many successful sewing ventures that only my mother could walk me through years ago.




I will be a featured speaker at this event:

Faythe Levine speaking at Creating A New Craft Culture

Check out their website for additional information on how to register early and get a discount. Also check out information about scolarships and featured speakers, including our friend Rob Walker writer for the "consumed" section of the NY Times Magazine and author of "Buying In: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are".

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Phoenix:: Sunday

I am having an amazing time in Phoenix, there is so much amazing stuff going on here in this city. Off to brunch with my hosts and the Crafty Chica herself, Kathy Cano Murillo. One more screening today at Modified Arts, hopefully it will sell out like yesterdays showing.

I got a great review you can read HERE from yesterday too!

And, if you have a spare moment read this article that was passed onto me about the growing movement of younger foodies in Brooklyn, there is so much crossover with what is going on with DIY creativity in this article HERE.

Pictures and more news to come! I fly home right after my screening and will be in Milwaukee all week catching up on stuff.... Oh and don't forget to do read about the giveaway that P.A. Press is doing for the book below!

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Book Giveaway!

Calling all craftatistas!

I know the economy has got us all down, but far from out. We here at Princeton Architectural Press said to ourselves, "what better time then now to give away a copy of Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design?" So we came up with crafty little facebook friend drive, and decided whoever puts the most elbow grease into inviting their friends to check out (and hopefully add!) Handmade Nation on facebook will get a free copy of this beautiful book by the multi-talented Faythe Levine and Cortney Heimerl. Most of you will not need convincing if you have seen the documentary or already read the book, but for those of you who are new feel free to check out a sample chapter we put up at this link http://issuu.com/papress/docs/9781568987873 Here you can see all the beautiful work of Jill Bliss, Nikki McClure, Clarity Miller, Stephanie Syjuco, and Sarah RaRa.

This is a simple little contest to see who can suggest this page to the most friends. Once you suggest this page to friends simply email me, Andy Stepanian at epublish@papress.com and tell me how many people you suggested this page to, at the end of the week I will tally up the emails from you all, read the online stats, and email the winner back to get an address to send the book to. Perhaps I'll even throw in a few surprises.

Good luck and thanks for supporting Cortney, Faythe, and Handmade Nation!

All the Best,
Andy
p.s. Andy works at P.A. Press

Friday, May 01, 2009

Phoenix!

Up at 5am today to catch my flight to Phoenix where it is a whopping 90 degrees outside!

I arrived at Cindy's house where I am staying for the weekend and the Phoenix craft community put together this awesome basket full of local goodies for me. So super sweet!


I'll be at Frances tonight from 6-9pm for a booksigning if you want to come find me!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Handmade Nation Screenings + Events this weekend!

Find director Faythe Levine in Arizona for the premiere in Phoenix doing an assortment of events over the weekend.

Friday, May 1st
Phoenix, AZ: Booksigning at Frances 3rd Anniversary Celebration, 10 W Camelback Rd.
Washington DC: Screening at the Summit Of Awesome, information HERE
Brisbane, Australia: Screening at Stitches & Craft, information HERE

Saturday, May 2nd
Phoenix, AZ: Screening at 2PM Modified Arts in Roosevelt Row, 407 E. Roosevelt
Tickets $10 available at Stinkweeds, Frances and MADE. Limited tickets available at door.
Brisbane, Australia: Screening at Stitches & Craft, information HERE

Sunday, May 3rd
Phoenix, AZ: Screening at 2PM Modified Arts in Roosevelt Row, 407 E. Roosevelt
Tickets $10 available at Stinkweeds, Frances and MADE. Limited tickets available at door.
Brisbane, Australia: Screening at Stitches & Craft, information HERE

Handmade Nation in support of Sublime Stitching!

Oh big companies when will you learn that it's us, the people, that have the power. You can not get away with stealing our designs, copying our aesthetics or mocking up a business to "look" indie when it is not. We will not support you stealing from us!

Everyone, please read the blog post HERE that clearly spells out the blatant rip-off of our close friend Jenny Hart's company Sublime Stitching by a company called Urban Threads that is attempting to look "home grown" when in reality they are a major corporation. Here is one example of the designs they have blatantly lifted from the Sublime Stitching catalog. Unreal.


I can't stress the importance of reading this news and spreading the word. This is a time for our community to show solidarity and support.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Podcast interview on W+K Radio

Interview podcast with Faythe Levine

Ava Hegedus interviewed me for W+K radio before I went out to Portland earlier this month. Listen HERE.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Museum of Wisconsin Art screening tomorrow!


Thursday, April 23, 5 - 8 p.m.
5 - 6 p.m. Food and Beer Tastings
6 p.m. Screening of Handmade Nation
7 p.m. Panel Discussion with Faythe Levine and Cortney Heimerl

More information HERE

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Feature on Dwell.com + Portland stuff!

Today on Dwell.com an interview with yours truly. It was a fun one since they asked me all sorts of questions that normally I don't get! Read it HERE.

Dwell.com interview

And a nice mention on Studio Wisco HERE
Studio Wisco feature

Plus a clipping from Portland that you can see full size HERE. Rumor has is that the art director hand stitched those letters at home, LOVE IT!
This is a photo from flickr user leethal of Jill Bliss, me and Susan Beal on the panel at the Museum of Contemporary Craft. Some photos from the weekend in Portland are HERE.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Recent press via PA Press

So we have a lovely publicist over at our publisher Princeton Architectural Press named Katherine. Katherine does all sorts of amazing work and was recently joined by Andrew who also keeps all of our press in order. Andrew also runs the Handmade Nation facebook page for us and just posted all these clippings from the past month. Thanks guys!


From Portland to Abu Dhabi, Yes even Abu Dhabi! Faythe & Cortney have the media addicted to DIY. Here are some quotes pulled from recent articles, for a more comprehensive list you can go to the link at the bottom of the page. Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY Art, Craft, & Design is Available through Princeton Architectural Press.

How To Do Everything Yourself, The National (Abu Dhabi):
"Can something as simple as book sales, then, suggest that we are approaching a new Age Of Austerity? When a book which attempts to gather all of these trends together under one roof is glowingly reviewed by The New York Times and stocked in the uber-hip clothing store Urban Outfitters, it does suggest theres something more here than simply a yearning for prosaic descriptions of how to sew, cook, saw or grow.That book is Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design by Faythe Levine and Cortney Heimerl, and it documents something bigger than just crafting as Levine travels the length and breadth of the United States in search of people doing it themselves. Levine calls such activity a marriage between historical technique, punk culture and the DIY ethos, but its more than that too; its proof positive that people arent buying DIY books to ferret themselves away in their sheds or gardens. Theyre more often than not sharing ideas and becoming part of networks through blogs and fairs." — Ben East (March 23. 2009)

Handmade Nation' Coming To The Museum Of Contemporary Craft, The Oregonian:
"Is there something this new craft movement can teach those of us feeling anxious about our futures, who are watching jobs dry up and disappear and wondering if we can somehow make our own way?" — Inara Verzemnieks (March 31, 2009)

Crafts Go Indie In 'Handmade Nation', 77 Square:
"Faythe Levine captures the excitement and enthusiasm for these traditional women's pursuits -- and those crafters who give the arts a decidedly modern spin" — Katie Dean (March 30, 2009)

Womens International Perspective:
"Handmade Nation: The Rise of D.I.Y., Art, Craft, and Design is about independently-owned businesses, where consumerism is definitely considered; the crafters and artists, who are mostly women, earn their livings from their handmade goods. Though readers and viewers may never buy anything featured in the book or film, considering the current world economy, the concept of making what you need and want could not be timelier." — Jessica Mosby (March 27, 2009)

Crafty Buggers, The Age Magazine (Australia):
"Once the epitome of uncool, craft is making a comeback with a new generation. Rachelle Unreich threads up to find a burgeoning movement that is hip, political - and just a little divided." (March 22, 2009)

Wise Daughters Will Save The Economy, Blog-To:
"Step-by-steps for book binding, bag-making and handmade projects that re-use and re-purpose found objects are the meat and potatoes of recently-published crafts super-books like Handmade Nation." — Matthew Hayles (March 28, 2009)

How To Do Everything Yourself, The National:
"Can something as simple as book sales, then, suggest that we are approaching a new Age Of Austerity? When a book which attempts to gather all of these trends together under one roof is glowingly reviewed by The New York Times and stocked in the uber-hip clothing store Urban Outfitters, it does suggest theres something more here than simply a yearning for prosaic descriptions of how to sew, cook, saw or grow.That book is Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design by Faythe Levine and Cortney Heimerl, and it documents something bigger than just crafting as Levine travels the length and breadth of the United States in search of people doing it themselves. Levine calls such activity a marriage between historical technique, punk culture and the DIY ethos, but its more than that too; its proof positive that people arent buying DIY books to ferret themselves away in their sheds or gardens. Theyre more often than not sharing ideas and becoming part of networks through blogs and fairs." — Ben East (March 23. 2009)

Uk Diy At Turnpike Gallery, Manchester Confidential:
"Handmade Nation sums up DIY as a 'lifestyle choice', interviewing women who are keeping alive craft traditions and starting up their own businesses. DIY, they explain, offers the chance to create your own economy. Aptly for a film based in Olympia in the United States, home of the feminist punk movement Riot Grrl, the women are empowered by DIY as it proves everything is possible." — Natalie Bradbury (March, 2009)

Friday, April 10, 2009

WNPR Today!

I am about to do a early morning interview on WNPR.

More on the Portland trip later today!

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Kate Bingaman-Burt | Handmade Nation at Museum of Contemporary Craft

Video 3 out of 3 that was made for the Portland premiere of Handmade Nation this weekend just released.



Tomorrow come see me and Handmade Nation in EUREKA!

April 2nd: Eureka, CA
Sponsored by College of the Redwoods
Accident Gallery, 210 C street
7:30pm & 9:00pm
FREE & open to the public