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.

Staying warm with color

I am back in Milwaukee for a bit, unwinding & enjoying some serious home time.

I will resume Handmade Nation related travel in 2010 when I fly East for Portland, Providence, Belfast and Boston.

Until then, Happy Holidays and warm New Year wishes to all of you.

xo, Faythe

Northwest...home sweet home, well sorta.

I am currently sitting at my hotel in Bellevue, WA across the street from the mall where I used to go in 6th grade to by my BUM Equipment sweatshirts and ESPRIT tote bags. Driving past the entrance to the mall when we got in at midnight was a trip last night. I'm not sure if I would consider this a "full circle" type of a deal, but I definitely never thought I would be back in this suburb presenting my film at the Museum. I spent 6th-12th grade here, in the Eastside (across the lake from Seattle) but have been living in the Midwest for the past 10+ years. When ever I am here it instantly feels like home. Once you have the grey dampness of the Pacific Northwest in your bones it never goes away.

I am pretty excited that there are four screenings today around the country of Handmade Nation. Come meet me here in Bellevue or if you are in Allentown, PA or Santa Cruz, CA, and Rochester, NY there are shows there as well (details listed on the right sidebar). I'll be heading over to BAM around 4 to check out the programing:

Artist Demos, Film Screening, Director Talk
Friday, December 4, 2009 • 4 - 7:30 pm

4 - 6 pm:	Free Artist Demonstrations from I Heart Indie Crafts
6 - 7 pm:	Handmade Nation, film screening Limited seating. FREE for members/$5 non-members
7 - 7:30 pm:	Faythe Levine, Director/Artist Remarks

Demonstration Artists courtesy of I Heart Indie Crafts

>	Wire Crochet Naomi Kuritzky-Regan, Paddy Litvak Jewelry
>	Headband Wrapping Jessica Slagle, Jessie Beans Accessories
>	Gulling Kay Tarapolsi, A Crafty Arab
>	“Plabric” making Julene Foster, Bag to Bags
>	Children's Clothing from Recycled Garments Christina Pezzner, Ricicli Kids
>	Felting Sawatou Mouratidou, Sawatou Felt Design

Turning 32 & Munich

This past Friday I turned 32 & I've had a lovely relaxing Birthday weekend at home with my friends & loved ones. Here I am 30 years ago turning 3 in Minneapolis, MN.













I started this morning out with a Q&A via Skype after a craft group in Munich had watched the film. It was really amazing and in the end the ladies had a birthday song to sing me. SO RAD!

Etsy.com restocked!

The Handmade Nation heather lake blue T-shirt with brown and mustard yellow print hasn't been available for the past year since I've been on the road with the movie, but they are now.... available while supplies last for $18 including shipping within the states.

Check them out in our ETSY.com shop along with the limited edition Sublime Stitching patterns designed by Kate Bingaman-Burt.

Handmade Nation in French Glamor Magazine DIY article

Thanks to my friend Julie Ansiau, Handmade Nation got a little mention (page 3, left side) in this 4 page spread in French Glamor on DIY.






Handmade Nation mention on the left side column


This is Julie Ansiau on the right

ACC lecture live & 55 locations!

I just caught wind that the lecture I did at the American Craft Council Conference along with the other programing is now available on their site HERE. I don't look too nervous do I? I'm not sure if I will ever get used to speaking to a room full of 300 people, especially a heavy hitting crowd like that!

FUN FACT: After updating my screening list for my editor & publisher I now know that since it's release in February 2009 Handmade Nation has officially screened in 55 locations internationally.

For those of you who may be curious I am continuing programing into 2010 as well and will keep updating the events on the blog as they roll in. Today I am uploading photos from some events that happened this past month.

Other than my constant stream of Handmade Nation chores I am spending part of today catching up on never ending emails and getting ready for Art vs. Craft, the indie show I produce in my hometown of Milwaukee that is creeping up in under two weeks!

Now Available!

I couldn't be more pleased to tell you that as of November 3rd the Handmade Nation DVD is now available to all via Buyolympia.com HERE for wholesale or retail.

Your support is appreciated, maybe put this on your holiday wish list?



Updates and news to come soon!

Just happened & coming up....

I just returned from an overwhelming weekend in Minneapolis at the American Craft Council Creating a New Craft Culture conference. It was overall and amazing experience as well as an opportunity to be surrounded by an amazing group of talent, knowledge and resources. I have a lot I would like to share with you about my experience representing my community as well as interesting reflections on other aspects of the weekend but I need time to sort out my thoughts as well as catch up with other parts of my life (i.e. the 100+ emails I need to answer since last Thursday). So, stay tuned with more thoughts on the ACC conference later this week.

Coming up this weekend are two screenings. One on Saturday in Norfolk, VA that I will not be attending (information below) and the second is Sunday in Huntington, NY that I will be attending and doing a Q&A at, information for that HERE.

Sat, Oct 24 at NARO Cinema (Norfolk VA)

Handmade Trunk Show from 3 to 5pm

Sat, Oct 24 at 5:15pm Film

Premiere!

HANDMADE NATION Filmmaker Faythe Levine explores a burgeoning art community that is based on traditional handiwork, modern aesthetics, politics, and feminism. She travels around the country to 15 cities and interviews over 80 visionary artists. She has authored a companion book of the same name. (65 mins) http://www.handmadenationmovie.com

Seven Cities Crafters is a local artist cooperative and will be presenting a Handmade Trunk Show of arts and crafts before and after the film in the lobby and on Colley Ave from 3 to 5pm.

http://www.7citiescrafters.com

Admission to film -- $6 all seats

Call 625-6275 or visit http://www.narocinema.com

As a side note I received a package from Brian Singer of 1000 journals a week or so back with a cardboard card reading "Home Street Home" more information on the project that is raising awarness about homelessness in San Francisco visit http://altitudesf.com/.

Official DVD release information!

After three years of work I am please as punch to announce that the Handmade Nation DVD will be available Tuesday, November 3, 2009 for $19.95



Buyolympia.com is responsible for the November release of the movie. BIG LOVE TO THEM!

All information for retail and wholesale is right HERE for your convenience.

I can not tell you how excited I am..... Can't wait to post a picture of me holding the first copy in my hand in a few weeks!

Also a very special thanks to Kate Bingaman-Burt who lovingly did the DVD packaging design.

P.S. I'm on the airplane on my way to SEATTLE for my screenings as I type this.... I heart airtran.

Journal of Modern Craft

My first post as a guest blogger went up on the Journal of Modern Craft this afternoon. I am going to be popping in there through December. Check out the site, some of it is a little much for me on the heavy academia tip, but overall it is a great resource creating some fantastic discussion about craft today.

Handmade Nation DVD for a holiday gift anyone?

This is a screen shot of the last steps of getting the Handmade Nation DVD to press! The final disc was sent out Tuesday to Buyolympia.com who will be releasing the DVD in November (for wholesale & retail purchases contact them)! My good friend Kate Bingaman-Burt of Obsessiveconsumption.com did the packaging design and it looks RAD!

This is one of the last steps in a now 4 year process, I am pretty dang hyped to be this close to holding a final copy of the DVD in my hand.....

New Orleans & Hamburg!

Sitting here in the French Quarter having my morning coffee before I head up the Delgado Community College for the first of two days of programing here in New Orleans. Today is programing for the students, however tomorrow there is a FREE screening open to the public at 6pm.

I haven't been here in about 8 years, it is really amazing to be back and see old friends and meet new people. I would like to extend a warm thank you to the Irma Thomas Center for W.I.S.E. (Women In Search of Excellence) Women at Delgado Community College and the New Orleans Craft Mafia for sponsoring my visit. pssssst..... Listen for me on the radio tonight at 10pm

Information about the New Orleans screenings is HERE.

This is where I am staying for my visit here.

PLUS:: If you happen to be in Hamburg, Germany or know any peeps there, today Handmade Nation is screening at 8pm at lichtmess-kino.

Milwaukee Art Museum:: MAM After Dark

Handmade Nation was a part of the Milwaukee Art Museum's MAM After Dark Series last month. Since Milwaukee is home, I was really excited to have my film showing there.

The event was a smashing success with tons of hand's-on tables, dj's and my favorite was the weavers from the ABK Weaving Center.






Cortney Heimerl (co-author of Handmade Nation the book) was out with her new son Abe to sign copies of the book.


A big thanks to everyone who came to the event and supported the Milwaukee Art Museum.

September 1-3rd: Albuquerque, NM!

Hey New Mexico you can see Handmade Nation today & tomorrow at the Guild Cinema! Three screenings a day! Information here