Soundtrack Music!!!

This week we got to visit the studio of our musican friends who are helping write music for our soundtrack, Their company is called Noisla and they have done a lot of amazing work. The way they work is we give them a list of songs and sounds we like, then they compose original work for us!

from left to right: Cris, Joe, Didier

from left to right: Joe, Didier, Annie (who is recording some instruments on the tracks)

On our youtube clip the music is from my band Wooden Robot, so we will use a combination of our music and the work that Joe and Didier write for us. It was super duper rad to sit down and listen to what they came up with. Once we have a good mix I'll put it up for folks to listen to!

We also just made our first sale to the Czech Republic today via our etsy shop, a pair of Mohop shoes will be traveling over sea's this week! Thank you Karen enjoy your handmade shoes!!

Sold!!
only 5 more pairs available at www.indiecraftmovie.etsy.com
proceeds go towards the film

New ETSY items in shop!

mid round.jpg
Originally uploaded by Indie Craft Documentary.

Besides our new t shirts being available check out these amazing shoes made by MOHOP! Available along with 5 other pairs in our etsy shop right now!

www.indiecraftmovie.etsy.com

check out other images on flickr here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/indiecraftdocumentary/sets/72157603795466989/

72 hours in Los Angeles can really put you through the ringer!!

I'm in the Denver airport on my way home from a whirl wind trip to Los Angeles to meet with our new Producer Keeva Halferty. Keeva has worked her connection magic and we have a bunch of new folks on board working on the documentary.... more details to come!!

In other news Natalie Zee Drieu Editor over at Craftzine.com did a lovely little post about our Featured Buyer spot on Etsy.com this week! Check it out HERE, and thanks everyone for the sweetest comments ever!

I just sent out this email to my mailing list... thought some of you may also find it of interest.

New year update....

The book is currently it it's second round of edits, soon to be sent to the designer at Princeton Architectural Press. It came together so well and reads fantastically from front to back!

Because the book is now complete, the documentary is now back to first priority. We have a group of musicians who work under the name Noisola that are currently working on music just for us! Our schedule for this year is all about getting a cut ready for a festival release in early 2009.

Other good news is that I was the recipient of the Mary L. Nohl fellowship for emerging artists, which has been a great help financially, but we are still raising money to help with production cost. This week on Etsy.com, Handmade Nation will be the featured buyer and we hope that this will boost our fundraising sales. This will also be the premier of our new "Craft Tree" T's & Totes designed by Lara Cameron which have only been available at craft fairs until now.

2008 is going to be a great year, bringing the second Craft Congress in San Francisco, many amazing shows around the country, the release of our book as well as many other anticipated books from community members including Susan Beal, Jenny Ryan, Jennifer Perkins and Betsy Greer to name a few, and of course the completion of the documentary!

I hope this finds you all well and hope to hear from you soon, please keep me updated with events, news and random fun facts about what is going on with you and in your city.

Warmly,
Faythe Levine
Director & Author

Somehow it slipped through the cracks and I didn't mention that I was quoted in the New York Times Magazine a few weeks back in an article written by Rob Walker. You can read Handmade 2.0 HERE. This is the illustration they used, I think it's great.........Also, I got asked to be a part of an event happening in Pittsburgh this April. It is a symposium which is in conjunction with a year-long festival called "Women in the Arts: Founders, Pioneers, Instigators". I'm pretty excited! More news on that later.

Every once and awhile I post stuff about the going-on's of some of our featured makers. Xander Marro is a member of the Dirt Palace one of the places we visited in Providence last year. I am a huge fan of her work and we are having a show at my gallery this month..... here is the information I just sent out....

Dear Friends & Colleges,
Happy New Year! I would like to encourage you to start 2008 with a fantastic show opening at Paper Boat Boutique & Gallery Friday, January 4th from 7-10pm. Providence based artist, filmmaker, and performer Xander Marrow will be joining us in Milwaukee, her show Tucker Neath’ the Covers will run through January 30th, 2008 and should not be missed. It’s a treat to have her work on display and I hope you get a chance to check it out!

Tucker Neath’ the Covers

Work by Xander Marro (Providence, RI)
January 4th- January 30th 2008

Opening Reception Friday, January 4th 7-10 PM
{artist will be in attendance}
Open late Gallery Night Friday, January 18th until 10PM
Paper Boat Boutique & Gallery:: 2375 S. Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI.
www.paperboatboutique.com

I first met Xander Marrow in the summer of 2003 when, by chance, I booked a show for her touring puppet theater in Milwaukee. She performed her piece the Birdsongs of the Baharoque and bizarre and dreamy performance that utilized puppets, song, dance, film, lectures, sets, lights & costumes.

I was sent a package of posters to help promote the show. This was not like any other press kit I have ever received. Enclosed were the most shockingly beautiful silk-screened posters I had ever seen. Layers of pinks, reds and gold made up a striking advert for the soon to come performance. To this day the poster is a work of art I treasure, hung at my home. This was my first taste of the silkscreen work of Xander Marro.

Skip to 2006 I was in Providence, RI shooting footage for my upcoming documentary Handmade Nation and I had arranged a visit the Dirt Palace, a collectively run feminist art space that Xander is the founding member of. The entire building (an old library) houses up to seven artists who work in a variety of mediums, sharing studio space, performance rooms and housing a store front gallery installation space.

While getting a tour at the Dirt Palace and seeing the amazing worked it housed, a library, darkroom, printing studio, performance space to name a few, I was shown the guest room. In the guest room was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen, laid out on the bed, a quilt. But this was no ordinary quilt; it was a red, and velvety, a patchwork quilt that had the art of Xander Marro interwoven within itself. When I asked about the piece Xander replied with an explanation along the lines of “Every time I print poster or a design on paper I also print it on fabric, then I piece the fabric squares together and make quilts”. Xander's artwork had taken on a new form in my eyes and the beauty of her illustrated work was now also a functional piece of art, laying there for guests to curl up within its designs.

Xander will be joining us from Providence to install her show which will include two finished quilts, a site specific installation of the Museum of Very Small Things, and affordable pieces of silk screened fabric for you to work into your own quilts or hang on your wall!

- Faythe Levine, Paper Boat Gallery Curator

Artist Bio
Xander Marro (American b. 1975) is a fake scientist/olde style tinker residing at the dirt palace; a feminist cupcake encrusted netherworld located along the dioxin filled banks of the Woonasquatucket river (which is to say in Providence, RI USA). From this post she makes movies, puppet shows, prints and phone calls. Her adventures underground have included curating the “Movies with Live Soundtracks” film series and performing in various theatrick/musical formats as one of the variety of her alter ego’s (Madame Von Temper Tantrum, Lady Long Arms, Lil Blood-n-Guts, Madame Von Malt Liquor etc.) Of recent days she has gotten herself deep into the wild world of community organizing around neighborhood social justice and human rights issues.

The last few weeks have been a Holiday blur!

First and foremost if you haven't seen the article Handmade 2.0 that Rob Walker wrote that was in the New York Times this past Sunday check it out HERE. I am quoted along with tons of other crafty folks!!

Debbie Stoller happen to be in Milwaukee for a book signing and swung by Paper Boat to do an interview for Handmade Nation. It was such a pleasure to meet her. I was lucky that Drew was around to shoot for me since Micaela is living outside of the city right now....




My show I coordinate in Milwaukee Art vs. Craft went off without a hitch! 2300 people all came out to shop, there was a line outside for the first few hours (p.s. it was 20 degrees outside!), vendors sold out of merh, basically the event was a huge success.





Cortney and I had a phone conference with Clare our editor at Princeton Architectural Press
this morning, we got our first edit back and things with the book are shaping up super well!

More updates soon!

I was sent a few books to review from Taunton Press a month or so ago, and it's just now that I have time to check them out. My favorite and the first I will review is:

The Prairie Girl's Guide To Life, by Jennifer Worick

As a young girl like many others my age (apparently more than I realized) I was obsessed with Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie as well as the Anne of Green Gables series. I was also in Girl Scouts until 9th grade which most of my friends at the time didn't know.... So, rightfully so, this book struck a chord with me. It's laid out in a way that is fun to flip through, the size is almost pocket like (small enough to fit into your purse) and the paper is a very satisfying, like rag cotton paper. I also really like how this isn't just a "how-to" book, it holds a lot of other information, reminders of how things used to be done vs. our hyper techie lifestyles. Here are a few of my favorite sections....

On page 45 you can learn how to make Rock Candy, another thing that reminds me of my youth. My 6th grade science teacher, Mr. Jones, actually incorporated Rock Candy into our class and since I was never allowed to eat sugar at home he was my favorite teacher from that day on.

On page 129 there is a section on letter writing. I am a big fan of the snail mail and think it is very important. In fact my 2007 New Years Resolution was to write a letter a week. I didn't quite stay on track, so any reminders to pick up a pen and paper vs. email is a big plus in my book!

And in lieu of our first heavy snow here in Wisconsin I will give a shout-out to page 174, which talks about finding a sledding hill. Those of you who live in cold yet urban setting may know this is harder than it may seem. But when the perfect hill is discovered (and you beat the neighborhood kids to it) nothing rules more!

I think this book is super sweet and a good addition to any crafty lady's library, I also think it's fit for all ages because I know that when I discovered Little House on the Prairie anything to take me back to that time was appreciated!

The 2007 Fall/Winter Oregon Humanities Journal has a great article by Jamie Passaro titled "Handmade and Proud", I just discovered you can read it online HERE. I'd be curious to know what you think.

Recap.... some quick photos from the DIY Trunk show a few weeks back to start







Here is a quick picture of C.Taylor photographing Cortney for our author pictures for the book a few weeks back!


I took a vacation and now I'm back so stay tuned for more news soon! Also if you are in the Midwest swing by my craft fair Art vs. Craft, that I coordinate this weekend:

Blogging LIVE from the DIY Trunk Show in Chicago!

I brought my laptop to sneak in some editing for the book (our manuscript is due this week!!) and low and behold there is some Internet! This show has always been one of my fav's, like I just told Cinnamon one of the organizers- they really keep it real here!

Also, the organizers of the Trunk Show are generously donating their raffle money for the second year in a row to us to help with production cost!!!

Handmade Nation hearts the Chicago DIY Trunk Show 4 ever!

Here are some more sorta crappy pictures I just snapped with my laptop of the room and my table!

I just got my very first GRANT!! I was awarded the emerging Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowship in Milwaukee. Read about it HERE.

Pictures from our trip to Stitch in Austin coming soon!

Yaaaaaaayyyy!!!

Friday I am Austin Bound for the 5th annual STITCH!

I can't complain that going to Austin twice in the past 4 weeks is really a bummer... it is a whopping 48 degrees here in Milwaukee and in Austin, well it's in the 80's!

Janelle and I will be flying in just in time to go to the Stitch Meet n Greet where Bradley Baumkirchner will be the special guest-- (f.y.i I had to look up who Bradley was because I don't watch that much TV). The Austin Chronicle ran a great article today about the event, I'm mentioned in the 8th paragraph, pretty cool!

So if you are going to stitch come find us and our new promo gear we will be launching including t-shirts and totes with designs by Lara Cameron!!!

Art vs. Craft round 7

Art vs. Craft round 7 promo
Originally uploaded by Indie Craft Documentary.

This is the craft fair that I coordinate in my hometown of Milwaukee, WI. Round 7 is creeping us quickly, it will be held at a brand spankin' new location to boot! For more information visit our site www.artvscraft.com

Design by: www.thelittlefriendsofprintmaking.com

Handmade Nation featured maker Susan Stars was featured on the guest blog series by Not Martha and talks about her in-depth involvement with the DIY craft scene and her new book due out in March 2008 on Taunton Press.Bead Simple is the first book I have ever personally contributed a project to, so I am extra super excited to see a copy in person! The book also has projects by a handful of other featured Handmade Nation makers including Betsy Greer, Leah Kramer, Torie Nguyen, Jennifer Perkins, Linda Permann and Christy Petterson!! Yowza!

Kate Bingaman-Burt sent me some links to the typework for the book she has been working on- it is amazing and so exciting! Check it out HERE.

Featured maker Emily Kircher's rug & picture frame made it into a Midwest Living photo shoot! Super good press for the No Coast Craft-O-Rama in Minneapolis (Nov 30th & Dec 1st)



Seyta Selter is my best friend from high school who is doing amazing things.... She runs Duchess, Clotheir of Portland- a company that makes men's suits. These aren't just any suits, but beautiful period suits, fitted and made to order. She will be in NY (November 12 & 13 ) for two days doing fittings, click on the image for more information or contact her direct through her site.....

Craft Magazine on the CBS morning show!




(screen shot)


You can watch the clip HERE.
(just sit though that little commercial and it will come up!)
Read about it on the CRAFT blog HERE.

When we were in Austin last week for Maker Faire I went out to dinner with Natalie (pictured above left) and Jenny Ryan and they were discussing the insanity of the next week getting all the costumes ready for the CBS Morning show. You ladies did such a GREAT job! Also I know that there was additional help from Nancy Flynn, Cathy Callahan, Susan Beal and Diana Eng.

Handmade Nation featured maker Jill Bliss made it into the New York Times Magazine this past weekend in an article written by the consumed columnist Rob Walker (Walker is also responsible for bringing attention to the indie craft community in an article last spring called "Craft Work" featuring Heidi Kenny of My Paper Crane as well as an article called "Carry Art" featuring Poketo).

"The Cult of Gocco", NY Times, October 21, 2007 is a great overview of the current status of on of my favorite tools, the Gocco.

Don't know what a Gocco is? This is the definition from wikipedia:

"Gocco is a self-contained compact color printing system invented in 1977 by Noboru Hayama. Using flash bulbs similar to those found in old cameras, an original image is thermally imprinted on a master screen.

The name "print gocco" is derived from the Japanese word and concept "gocco", loosely translated as a type of make-believe play used to learn common rules and knowledge.

In December 2005, Gocco’s parent company, Riso Kagaku Corporation, announced it would end production of the Gocco system due to low sales in Japan. An Internet campaign was started to find a new home for the product."

Here is a photo from my flickr account showing the Gocco in action in my studio:


Also check out the flickr Gocco pool HERE and the www.savegocco.com page that Jill set up.

From the Save Gocco site:
although our own signature collection here at savegocco has ended, you can still help save gocco! we suggest sending a gocco'd postcard to the president of the company, explaining why you feel they should continue and expand worldwide production of gocco:
Akira Hayama
President & CEO
Riso Corporation
5-34-7 Shiba,
Minato-ku,
Tokyo 108-8385,
Japan

Want to check out stuff for sale that was printed on a Gocco? Go to etsy.com and use "gocco" as a tag in the search engine and just see what comes up!

How is it Thursday? No really, how can the entire week be gone?

We all gathered in Austin to share, learn and celebrate the idea of Making.

Maker Faire 2007 was fantastic!

Yes, this really is a giant home made human powered ride that was there.... I was on the phone with Nathan telling him how much fun I was having and how it was 90 degrees out and this thing comes a-rollin' around the corner..... don't get me wrong, it went pretty slow.

For those of you who may be a bit behind I was invited to speak at Maker Faire last weekend, to share my experience of making Handmade Nation and to talk about the DIY Craft community. My talk was 30 minutes long and included the revised version of the clip. Three BIG first's happend:

#1. It was the first time I had ever spoke to a large audience.
#2. It was the first time I had ever watched a group of people watch the film footage.
#3. It was the first time I had SEEN the footage on a big screen!!

My talk went well, I got good feedback and I didn't choke up, blank-out OR swear (at least I don't remember swearing) so I am really pleased with that....

As far as the rest of the event weekend I have nothing but rave reviews. I got to learn how to crochet, use a loom, watch ladies hand make lace, see a human mouse trap in action, watch hundreds of bottles of coke explode (click that to watch the movie on the MAKE blog) with the aid of a mentos, check it out...


Makers of all shapes came out to represent: tech geeks, organic farmers, crafty hipsters, skilled crafts people, bike builders, side show freaks and tons of rad family's with kids who had a blast.

Here is a quick re-cap of my 72 hours in Austin

I left at 5 a.m. for Austin from Milwaukee on Saturday October 20th


I saw the sun rise outside the plane window....


Got to Maker Faire by 12:00 in the afternoon!!


George Hotz, the 17 year old who cracked the iphone...


Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching gave a great talk about her skills, inspiration and business


Human Sized Mouse Trap, yes... just like the game!!


I couldn't resist, here is the game (it never was as cool to play as it was on the commercial, right?)


These ladies make lace by hand!!


This guy named Cory Fogel had a conceptual project called "Purl Drums" where he was knitting and playing drums at the same time, for two days!!


Thank you O'Reilly Media for inviting me to be a part of such a fantastic experience.
psssst.. O'Reilly Media is responsible not only for Maker Faire but the fantastic magazines know as MAKE & CRAFT!

I took over 400 photographs (I know totally excessive) BUT then I had a disastrous camera problem. Thankfully, my good friend and assistant editor of Handmade Nation, Joe Wong retrieved the photos using some magic software and a wave of a wand....

The entire flickr set is HERE