Loose Ends: Archives Donated

I can hardly believe that in a little over a month it will be the 3 year anniversary of the Handmade Nation Premier in Milwaukee, WI.

In mid-2011 I donated the Handmade Nation archives to the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, OR for an exhibit 75 Gifts for 75 Years. I had collected so much stuff while working on the project during my research and while traveling during the filming process and then during all the screenings. So many of the events had beautiful handmade posters, postcards, flyers, tickets and ephemera which was all packaged up and sent along with the original unedited tapes. Also donated were many elements from the stop motion opening sequence and hand-sewn banners, plus promotional items I had made for fundraising during the production. Over-all it was a lot of memories to let go of, but I feel confident that it should all stay together in a place that could be accessed.



It really was a closing of a chapter for me sending all the boxes off to Portland and it feels really good knowing that Handmade Nation has a home in such a fantastic space.

The archives are now part of the Museum's permanent collection. Any researcher can make an appointment to access items in our archive, including the Handmade Nation materials. The catalog will be available in early 2012 from the museum.

A special thanks goes out to the museum's curator Namita Gupta Wiggers who's continual support for Handmade Nation has been very encouraging in my work.

Installation view, 75 Gifts for 75 Years, Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland, OR, 2011.
Photo Credit: Justin Tunis.

Although I am working on a new film and book I continue to do workshops and lecturing surrounding community, making, DIY and craft. Please keep track of my going on's on my blog & via twitter @faythelevine

Happy New Year everyone-- 2012 can you believe it?!

Warmly,
Faythe Levine

Welcome 2011

Hello Handmade Nation followers,

Just one more quick reminder we are phasing out this blog and directing traffic to Faythe Levine's site where all Handmade Nation programing is listed clearly on the sidebar along side her other current projects. 2011 is starting off strong with programing in Alaska & Thailand.

Happy New Year & Wishing you all the best.

Warmly,
Faythe Levine
Director + Co Author
Handmade Nation

twitter: @faythelevine

Updates! News! Events!

I've said it before & I'll say it again, the continual support for Handmade Nation has and will keep blowing my mind. I just spent the last hour updating the screenings for the remainder of 2010 and into 2011 (ALASKA!!).

This summer has been good to me with a full 2 months without getting on a plane, but now things are picking up and I realized I know what I am doing every single day through January. The three main things that I am focusing on right now aside from programing surrounding Handmade Nation along with promoting the empowerment of making are:

#1 My gallery Sky High, specifically the upcoming Pop-Up Boutique I am curating from October 15- December 31 2010. I have artist Sofia Arnold in there right now painting the walls with her beautiful magic to set the tone for the shop. It's gonna be rad.













*Image from Sofia Arnold's webiste

#2 My new documentary, Sign Painters: Stories from an American Tradition. I just got back from Syracuse filming artist Steve Powers and his crew painting 3 train trestles with their community based messages.













*Follow us on twitter @signpaitnerdoc

#3 Art vs. Craft is quickly approaching. I can hardly believe it, year number 6. My baby is getting old.











As I mentioned at the beginning of summer, I am phasing out this blog, if you want to keep track of all my madness do it over at www.faythelevine.com

Ta-ta for now lovelies,
xo Faythe Levine















*Me in the middle of nowhere Montana this August

MAKING IT HANDMADE- the movie!!

As I attempt to fade out this account and take a bit of a break there are some things that are too important to not post about. The new documentary film by Australian director Anna Brownfield "Making It Handmade" is premiering this August at the Melbourne International Film Festival and is not to be missed if you are in the area. Anna said the film will begin to screen in the states soon after so I suggest to start to follow this fantastic woman and her progress. More information and tickets for the premier can be found here. Meanwhile check out this clip from the film with Rayna Fahey of Radical Cross Stitch "I Wanna Live Here"- a fantastic example of Craftivism in action!



FUN FACT:: I was interviewed by Anna for her film in my hotel room when I was in Melbourne last year. I have no idea what I said and am totally nervous to see myself on screen, it's really weird to be on the other side of the camera.

HELP the Dream Rocket Project!

I just got an email from Jennifer March who is the powerhouse behind The Dream Rocket. They are in a Pepsi competition for $50,000 based on public votes and need our help. She says "if we win this money we have a chance at finishing the wrapping of the Saturn V and we are able to give out 2,500 free spots on the quilt!".

Can you take a moment to go vote here and pass this on?

HOME. SUMMER GOODBYE'S. ANIMATIONS.

I'm home from Scotland, not only that but I'm home for over a month and a half which I couldn't be more excited about. I will be spending this time focusing on my new gallery at Sky High as well as working on the Sign Painter Documentary and getting ready for Art vs. Craft in the fall.

I must warn you, I will be drastically blogging here less and less as programing I am traveling to dwindles but you can always keep up to date with my going on's by following me on twitter (I am @faythelevine) and by bookmarking my other blog. BUT I will continue to update Handmade Nation screenings on the sidebar to the right.

Meanwhile, I though it would be fun to show you these two animations from my good friends Kate Bingaman-Burt (aka Obsessive Consumption) and Tracy Bull (aka Happy Owl Glassworks).

Kate is the best. She has done so much to support the Handmade Nation project from lettering the hand drawn type in our book to designing posters, merch, etc. I urge you to go and support her on her Summer Zoom tour!



This stop animation (I can't seem to find a way to embed the video) was done by Tracy as a way to promote Renegade Brooklyn that happened last week. Although the show is past, it is so lovely I think you should all take a peek. My friendship with Tracy goes back to some of the first craft fairs I participated in as a designer when I was still running my company Flying Fish Design. She has not only extensively supported Handmade Nation with generous donations but I have worked with her in my gallery selling her amazingly designed glass objects and her fantastic illustrations.

Hope you all enjoy the beginning of summer......... x Faythe

Dundee!

SCOTLAND bound!

I'm at the airport heading to Scotland for Handmade Nation programing at Dundee contemporary Arts & Aberdeen at Peacock Visual Arts this week. I hope you can find me there (details on the side bar).

SCAD Style 2010

Hello from Atlanta today where I presented on a panel at SCAD Style 2010 "Why One of a kind Matters" along with One of Etsy's first employees, Vanessa Bertozzi along with illustrator and designer Heather Ross. We were moderated by Amy Zurcher director of shop SCAD. The same event will repeat tomorrow at the Savannah campus if you are in that neck of the woods please swing by and say hello.
We also had a visit from my old friend and Handmade Nation featured designer Christy Bardis who snapped this photo (that's me in the middle!). I wish I had more than 12 hours in Atlanta, sigh...next time.... Savannah, I'm all yours (for the first time!).

Shout Out: Hand/Eye

I've said it before & I'll say it again & again, Hand/Eye is in the top 3 print magazines out there.

(image from Confettisystem website)

Today after going through their last email I was reminded about their ability to find and write about all things good. I was also reminded about confettisystem, whom I first came across at Renegade Craft Fair years back. They were giving away these rad newspapers and party mix CD's, both which I have kept to this day because they were so unique and interesting visually and conceptually.

Reading this article about them will explain what they do in detail, it's pretty rad. Also, just trust me and go subscribe to Hand/Eye, especially so they don't fold like so many other magazines, they deserve to have some serious shelf time for years to come.

Craft Research Grant Available

This seems like a really great grant that some of you may be interested in applying for. The deadline is July 1, 2010.

CRAFT RESEARCH GRANTS

THE MISSION of the Craft Research Fund is to advance, expand and support scholarship in United States craft (contemporary and decorative arts).

GOALS

• To support innovative research on artistic and critical issues in craft theory and history
• To explore the inter-relationship among craft, art, design and contemporary culture
• To foster new cross-disciplinary approaches to scholarship in the craft field in America
• To advance investigation of neglected questions in U.S. craft history and criticism

April showers bring May flowers

No showers here in Milwaukee today, a blazing 70 degrees! I just got back from the first shoot on my new movie. It is really refreshing and exciting to be working on a new project. If you haven't heard it's about sign painters in America, the people we have met so far have been amazing. You can check out the blog here to learn more.

Working on a new film means I will be blogging over here less and less, but there is still a ton of Handmade Nation programing going on that I will continue to update you with as it unfolds.

Happy Spring everyone! xo, Faythe

April events are as follows::

April 10: New York, NY
Presented by The Maximalists
15 William Street, corner of Beaver in the Financial District
4:30pm $15, drinks included
Tickets + full details here

April 23- April 29th: Los Angeles, CA
Presented by Downtown Independent
Double feature along with Beautiful Losers
Info TBA

April 24th: Des Moines, IA

Des Moines Swap-O-Rama-Rama
presented by make\break

Info TBA

Chicago Bound today & Syracuse NY on Monday!

I'm on the train as I type heading to Chicago on my way to meet up with Betsy Greer for programing at Columbia College this afternoon.


It's so easy to forget that Milwaukee is only 1.5 hours away from Chicago, even after 9 years of living here it slips my mind. I can't wait to catch up with Betsy, I can't remember the last time we saw each other...But I think it was at the Portland premier of Handmade Nation last Spring. Man a year sure goes by quick.



East coast peeps tell your friends that on Monday evening (March 8th) I'll be doing a screening at Syracuse University in the Watson Auditorium at 5:15pm, FREE & open to the public.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Baltimore + Vida Simples Magazine + upcoming events!

I'm at my hotel in Baltimore. Just had a great screening at MICA that was full of really great folks. Tomorrow I head back to Milwaukee (fingers crossed the weather stays on my side) until next Thursday.



In international news I just received a pdf from Vida Simples Magazine who did an article on DIY featuring the picture of Knitta & Happy Owl Glassworks from Handmade Nation the book and also Sabrina's book Knit Knit. AND AND AND I got my tickets for my trip to Scotland this June where I will be doing screenings and workshops in Aberdeen and Dundee! I am SO excited, I've never been to Scotland and can not wait to soak it in.





Next Thursday I will be on a train to Chicago to the Cultural Studies Colloquium at Columbia College Chicago with my friend and colleague Betsy Greer . The programing starts at 3:30 with a screening of Handmade Nation and lecture by Betsy. It's free and open to the public.

I'm off to slumber land, the wind here in Baltimore is howling louder then hounds. Quite down wind, this lady is sleepy.

NEW MOVIE!! + Amazon.com download + Oakland trip!

Well, it was official before but now with a new blog, twitter, flickr and facebook fan page it's the real deal. I start shooting with my co-director Sam Macon the end of March for
the Sign Painter Movie.

For those of you who are interested you can now download Handmade Nation from Amazon.com I haven't tried it, but here it is:


I will be hitting the road again on Thursday jumping a flight West to San Francisco. I am staying with the lovely Lisa Congdon and will be screening in Oakland at Rock! Paper! Scissor! this Friday at 7pm. Do pass the word on and hope to see you soon!

The Poppies:: get inspired with my lists//picks

Part of my job is to stay on top of what's new and exciting going on within the creative world. I have found this to become more and more difficult as I struggle to keep up with Handmade Nation and the amazing opportunities that have come out of making the documentary, including the immense travel schedule that has become a part of my life. There is just so much out there, you know? So many of you are making exciting new things and documenting them in such beautiful ways. So my question is, where is the time in my day/week/month to read all of your blogs, ingest all your amazing lifestyles and inspiration? I mean, it's not like I'm out of touch at all, it's just that there is so much more than I can wrap my brain around.

With this said, a few weeks ago Jan from Poppytalk (one of my favorite reliable blogs) got in touch as asked me to be a juror along with some other amazing ladies for her new awards she set up called "The Poppies". Of course I said yes. The thing is, I often say yes to things I don't have time for but really want to do and per usual, I didn't think about the time involved with going through what ended up being 100's of links of those who were nominated for the categories.

As a juror we were asked to pick 3 out of each category. Each category had anywhere from 20-50 nominations. There were so many amazing things and people who I hadn't seen before, it was really difficult to stay focused while clicking through all the nominee's. I had to develop a system so I could narrow it down a bit, so I made lists for each category of my favorite picks to then pick 3 from.

The entire point of this post is to share with you my lists I made. I think there was so much talent showcased for the Poppies and if you want to see the jury choice winners go here. and the people's choice winners go here. Below are my "working" lists from when I was in the zone of going through 100's of blogs, shops and sites. I got really inspired & hope you do too.

Unfortunately I used my "stickies" to save my lists and they didn't save the hyperlinks, but I have linked each category to it's page so just scroll down once on each page and peep away!

Favourite Ceramics
Alyssa Ettinger.com
Amy Misle
Ayumi Horie
Bailey Doesn't Bark
Cam Fisher
Dahlhaus Ceramics
Diana Fayt
Julie Moon
kg & ab
Up in the Air Somewhere

Favourite Vintage Shop
bellalulu
Dear Golden Vintage
Every Eskimo
Hindsvik
Junk Culture
Little Byrd Vintage
Shaving Kit Suppplies
solsticehome
Spacejam's Vintage
Sweetshorn Vintage
The Bucket tree
The Sunday Times Market
Three Potato Four
Trampoline
Vintage Jane

Favourite Jewelry Part 1 (A - K)
Alisa Miller
Ash Hilton
Barbara Macleod
bettula
Cursive Design
Erica Weiner
Figs and Ginger
For Me, For You
happy owl glass
Hibou Caillou Chou

Favourite Jewelry Part 2 (L -Z)
Lauren Haupt Jewelry
LilaRubyKing
Maranon
Margaux Lange
My Sunset Road
Noemiah
Odette
Petit Plat
Rapt in Maille
Serena Kojimoto Design
Skylark Studio
Smashing
Yoola

Favourite Photographer
Abby Try Again
Cameron Wittig
Cassia Beck
city lights photography
dustin parr
Emma Bradshaw
Fine Little Day
Ian Willms
James Moes
Sarah Brown

Favourite Handmade Eco Artist
BananSaurus Rex
forest bound
My Favourite Dress
Periwinkle Bloom
Chakra Pennywhistle
sycamore street press

Affordable Art
betsy walton
Bonbi Forest
Brandi Strickland
Cornelia O'Donovan
fricdementol
Julia Pott
Leah Giberson
Linogril
Lizzie Stewart
Miss Crowland
Pearson Maron
roadside projects
Roll and Tumble Press
Samantha Hahn

Favourite Textiles
At Swim Two Birds
Byrd and Belle
FlowerPress
girls can tell
India Flint
Karen Barbe
Pippijoe
repeat

Favourite Handmade Crafter
Astulabee
Feltmates
Fringe
Maranon
Martice
maya*made
Miniature Rhino
Resurrection Fern
sandra juto
Wunderkammer
Yokoo

Favourite Handmade Housewares
Ashes & Milk
Bookhou
Chakrapennywhistle
decoylab
Jean Pelle
Miss Natalie
Sesideco

Favourite Handmade Papergoods
Foxy & Winston
Igloo Letterpress
La Familia Green
one canoe two
Pearl & Marmalade
Pie Bird Press
Rifle Paper Co
Sycmaore Street Press
UPPERCASE
Yee-Haw Letterpress Industries

Handmade Artist Blog
And Other Silly Things (Jennifer Murphy)
Ashes and Milk
Bookhou at Home (Bookhou)
Camilla Engman
Claire A. Baker
Dottie Angel
Enhabiten
Eva Foreva
Heather Smith Jones
Kindra is Here
Lena Corwin
Midge's Mind
Roxy Marj (Roma Winkel)
Sandra Juto
The Sweetie Pie Press

Typeface Documentary & Blanket Magazine

I totally have a love/hate relationship with twitter, but I do use it regularly for Handmade Nation as well as socially (follow me @faythelevine). The reasons I do love it is because I like finding out about things like "Typeface". This is a new documentary (I have yet to see) about a very special place that just so happens to be in Wisconsin only a few hours away from me. This trailer is a kick in the butt to make my way up there very very soon. Keep an eye out on their website for screenings near you.

Also, head on over to Blanket Magazine to download the new issue. It's not just any issue it's their 20th & also the 3rd Birthday of the Magazine! You can see this feature with your's truly as well as interviews and artwork by a ton of people. There is also an amazing spread on jumping photos, which I am always a huge fan of (see below).

A screen shot of my spread in Blanket Magazine

Here I am jumping on my bed in Melbourne last year

Epic East Coast Recap

My time out East was fantastic. Like, super tops in all manners. Here is the quickest rundown possible of my 5 day jam packed trip. This is a long one....

January 15th, Day #1:
The show I curated "New Work by Merrilee Challiss and Margaret Oomen" at Craftland Gallery opened. Merrilee flew in from Alabama and we all got to hang out. The show looks amazing, the work is stunning and I'm glad my hunch for showing those two together was correct. Read more about the experience here.

Margaret Oomen, covered sea stones


Margaret Oomen, covered tea saucers


Merrilee Challiss, Babylon Garden


Merrilee Challiss, Temple

NOTE:
Artwork is available for sale online HERE
+
Read about Margaret donating her sale proceeds to Haiti on her blog HERE.

January 16th, Day #2:
I got to do some putting around Providence with Merrilee before I dropped her at the airport before my screening later that evening. Deb Dormody recommended we swing by Wolf E. Myrow. If you are curious about a magic place filled with amazing things read more about it here.





Later on in the evening I had my screening at Craftland, 2 sold out shows of 40!


Goccoed tickets by Heather Toupin


Craftland

January 17th, Day #3:
Said goodbye to Providence and drove through 4 states (this blows my mind since I live in the Midwest) in 2 hours to get to Portland, ME. I drove straight to Eli Phant (one of the event sponsors) to check out their store. If you get a chance go there the owners Sally & Peter have curated an amazing shop that has all sorts of perfect handmade goodness. I can't tell you what I bought or it will ruin someone baby shower surprise....





I got a chance to finally see Ferdinand in person, have some amazing tea, eat an incredible dinner then we all zipped over to Space Gallery for the screening. 150 people came out for the event. It was awesome.


Space Gallery

Right after the screening I drove off into the night as to wake up at my friends house in Belfast Maine....

January 18, Day #4:
I have a group of friends who have decided to make Belfast their home. I was there for the wedding ceremony last year and my second time back was just as amazing, just much chillier. One of the best parts of touring with my movie is I get to stay in touch with old friends, this is the perfect example. So breakfast was had then I headed over to Waterfall Arts for my Sunday matinee.


Belfast, ME


Feather, the three legged cat


Skunk Man

Waterfall Arts is this rad space with studios and a gallery. I was excited that 50 people came out on a gray Sunday afternoon to watch Handmade Nation.



I drove for three hours after the screening since I was due in Boston the next day and there was supposed to be a big ol' snow storm. There was.

January 19th, Day #5:
I woke up to this:


Lucky for me I was only an hour away from Boston. I was extra super excited because I was on my way to meet up with the lovely Meighan O'Toole who does the art blog My Love For You. Meighan and I had never met, but we have had many online discussions so both of us were really excited. She was sponsoring the Boston Screening that was happening at 4th Wall Gallery that night. Needless to say Meighan & I hit it off super hard, so hard in fact I didn't take one single picture of her since we didn't stop talking the entire time.

60+ peeps came out to 4th Wall for the Boston screening that night, it was awesome.


4th Wall Gallery

January 20th, Day #6

So tired from hanging out for a week straight, I had lunch with my uncle Hal & flew home to Milwaukee. Thanks everyone who came out last week. It's much appreciated. Mucho much.

The end.

{More photos from the trip are here}

This week...

First off, remember when Cortney Heimerl (co-author of Handmade Nation the book) was preggers last year and couldn't finish the last few dates of the book tour? Well, check out Abraham Edward at his glorious 7 months and how flipping cute he is. I'm a huge fan.


Second, I am very much looking forward to my trip this week to Providence, Portland ME, Belfast ME and Boston for screenings ((details listed on the sidebar to the right)). I am super EXTRA excited for these reasons:

#1. I curated a very exciting show at Craftland Shop with two amazing women, MerrileeChalliss & Margaret Oomen AND I get to be there for the opening AND Merrilee will be there from Birmingham, AL where she lives and runs the bangin' spot Bottletree. I haven't seen Merrliee since she had a show at my gallery a few years ago and it is going to be FUN. So, if you know anyone in Providence, tell them to come to the show on Thursday, all the information is HERE.

#2. I get to hang out with Deb Dormody who is one of the coordinators at Craftland, and also the talent behind IF'N Books + Marks. Her dude Alec is also a treat to get to see. Actually Providence is full of magic, it's one of my favorite places in the United States. I'm so hyped for the screening on Friday there.

#3. I am hanging out in Portland Maine for the first time ever.

#4. I get to go to Belfast to see my friends new baby Olai and do a screening at the same time. Last time I was in Belfast I went to this amazing wedding.

#5. On Monday in Boston I FINALLY get to hang out with Meighan O' Toole from My Love For You, who organized the event there. That will be a treat.

I'll do my best to update you from the road....Then it will almost be February. Holy crap.

hello 2010, nice to meet you

Back to work. Everything is a little backed up around here, I took some for reals time off the past two weeks. Had an epic dinner party at my house, took a trip to NY and ate a whole lot of amazing food.

Yesterday & today just sifting through emails and seeing where I left off. I'm feeling really good about this trip East coming up, so many good people to visit in Boston MA, Providence RI and the state of Maine. I am crossing my fingers that the weather agrees with my travel plans and will update you all with new projects soon.