Art?.. Craft? – a rose by any other name…

The concept of Art vs Craft has been an ongoing debate across a broad array of media. It is a debate that will likely never be resolved. I have always been uncomfortable with labeling myself as anything – designer, craftsman, artist etc.. does one preclude the other?

For years now, I have been honing my Craft – learning and experimenting, improving my skills. Art per se – was never on the agenda yet somehow, it seems to be pushing itself to the forefront of my thoughts. To create works that are not purely functional, yet have a story, a meaning – give pause.

Can one create Art without Craft?.. yes..
but would one really want to? I cannot imagine why – yet we see it everywhere.

Can one create Craft without Art?.. absolutely..
yet – there is an ‘art’ to creating well crafted work.

Art AND Craft – I cannot imagine a better combination.

I have been reading up on the debate – here are a few links:

Art v. Craft – Bruce DeBoer – photographer

The Aesthetic Elevator

Art vs Craft vs Crap

Exploring Creativity

Bosqueoregon Art vs. Craft

Books to read: (if you have any to add, please let me know)

A Theory of Craft – Function and Aesthetic Expression by Howard Rosatti

What is Art? Leo Tolstoy

Buy Handmade – take the pledge

“I pledge to buy handmade this holiday season, and request that others do the same for me.”

The Handmade Consortium (Etsy, Craftster, et al..) created the pledge to encourage us all to be conscious of how we spend our money (especially during the holiday season). Join the Handmade Consortium and pledge to support independent artists. Pledge to know how and where products are produced. Pledge to find unique and meaningful gifts. Pledge to buy handmade!

Prior to moving to Norway ten years ago, I was working and living in Montreal, Canada, in the downtown core for the better part of my adult life. It never ceased to amaze me how the holiday season changed my ‘neighborhood’. Walking to and from work everyday, bobbing and weaving through the concrete jungle – you could feel the holiday season approach … it was/is a scary phenomenon. After work, it was no longer just the locals making their way home after a long day at the office – there were ‘invaders’… the masses that swoop in every holiday season to clog the streets and malls – simply to wait in line to buy the latest fad marked ‘made in china’. They always looked stressed – you could see they were not enjoying themselves. Many had lists, just trying to get it over with.. others wandered aimlessly, often settling on whatever they could find just to get out. I fell into the trap for all too many a year.. thinking that was what we were supposed to do every holiday season – ‘buy impersonal things for the people we love’ -uhhh.. yes.. that is what I just said. Then one year in my early 20s, I did not budget well and planned poorly for the shopping season.  My flatmate at the time and bestbud Heidi (hi girl! – did we have some good years or what? hehe) decided that we had to improvise. We had our list of friends and loved ones and thought  - given our combined budget – what can we do? We decided to make! Well let me tell you, we had a great time. We baked and baked… and we baked some more, we clipped and glued, decorated and put together the most lovely packages. There was nothing superflash, nothing exotic, just simple (and economical!).. for packaging, we reused whatever we could by ‘upscaling it’. Being consummate coffee drinkers, we saved all those great tins with the sealable lids and decorated them. Even the decorating was inexpensive (read:cheap!) We went through all of our old magazines, clipped wedges of colour.. hundreds of little slivers.. then mod-podged them on to the tins before filling with all of the best home baked goodies we could manage. We made christmas decorations in the same manner, using styrofoam balls that we cut in half, glued copies of our favorite family photos on the flat side and mod-podged the ’slivers’ on the back, using a ribbon loop to finish the edge and hang (note to self – do this with the kids this year and make a tutorial).  We laughed and enjoyed ourselves in every step of the process, no stress, no long lines, no return receipts to have to manage. But.. the best part was when we gave. Until you receive (or give ) something handmade – something chosen with purpose, something with a history all its own – well.. just try it and you will understand. If you do not have time, or do not believe you have the skill to make – at least take the time to choose something someone else has made by hand. It is really not that hard, look at etsy, go to a local christmas market , visit your artists coop. You will not regret it.

Tutorial – handmade felt covered buttons

Felters who make handmade felt all have pieces lying around that were either sample tests, projects that just were not right or simply bits left over from larger endeavours. There is nothing like handmade wool felt, and even the smallest pieces never get thrown away, after all.. each piece was lovingly made by hand! For those of you who are not felters, follow these directions using just about any fabric.

Those fabric remnants/felt scraps often just sit in the studio yearning for a new life. Well here is what you do. Make covered buttons.

For larger production, purchase a proper button machine press with a cutter and dies like the Osbourne or Handy machine. (note those machines need a die set for each size)

handmade wool and silk felt covered buttons

Large or small, they can be used in a myriad of ways. Here is a peek at the process.

What you will need:

• circle of thin felt, thick felt is too bulky (nuno is gorgeous as a button!)
• button parts – they come in a variety of sizes and are available in every most sewing stores (and online in larger quantaties) - these are size 75 (4.75cm diameter) I love this size, but also use other sizes right down to just over 1 cm wide.
• assembly tool – old tech like the  Dr*tz covered button kits our mothers all have in their sewing kits 1 part rubber, 1 part plastic.

covered button parts (2 pieces) tool for assembly (2 parts) felt circle

place your felt upsidedown on the bottom part of the assembly kit, place the domed half of the button on top of the felt (dome down)

push button and felt into the assembly unit ensuring there is enough felt overhang to create the button

tuck excess felt in and place the button back (with the eye loop up) on the felt,  placing the plastic assembly part on top

press down firmly. I often use the heel of my foot for this (improvisation is one of my best assets), use firm even pressure. The thicker the felt, the more difficult it is. Regular fabric is a breeze once you have worked with felt!

pop out your button and make another!

What to do with felt covered buttons?  a million things …

• use them to spruce up a great coat or shirt
• closure for purses
• accent a hat
• use for darting on upholstery or pillows
• make ponytails.. house favorite here –  my daughter and I use them all the time, admittedly they are cuter on her than me.

You can also use wire cutters to remove the loop on the back – I usually do this before assembly if I plan ahead, then you can attach them to findings that you can purchase online using a good quality adhesive to create:

• magnets for your fridge or blackboard
• thumbtacks for your corkboard
• hair clips
• lapel pins
• they are a great addition to the perfect felted shawl or collar
• you name it…

I often use these as a little gift when I send a package to a customer, just a little something to say thanks.

Here is a quickie project.. make a pony tail.

What do you need? 1 button, 1 hair elastic and a piece of wire

fold wire in half over hair elastic (make sure metal connector is on opposite side), thread through hole in button

grab the wire and pull hard to get the elastic through the hole. Thicker elastics work too, just be patient and pull carefully supporting the button loop as you pull.

remove wire and pull through, leaving a small loop and the metal bit

loop elastic back under itself

pull tight, making sure the metal part of the elastic sits good and snug

a great hair accessory!

Do a search online for covered button to see what else can be done with them.

thanks & blog poll

I took at look at my stats today, and just wanted to say thanks for reading. When I started my blog this summer, I had no idea that it would be read by so many people. I would love to hear what you would like to see more of (take this anonymous poll – choose 2 options) :

by the way, if you want to subscribe use the RSS feeder links on the top right then bookmark it.

This weeks readers on MinDesign

Etsy – front page

I was lucky enough to be featured on the frontpage of Etsy again this week – that always makes me feel good.

my 'bark ring' as featured on Etsy's front page this week

The collection featured was skillfully put together by  felicitycrew.

Etsy – Shop Local

For those of you who think that Etsy is only a North American thing, think again! Etsy is working hard to help cater to artists and consumers worldwide.

Etsy's Shop Local - Photo by crabappledesign

If you are not familiar with all of the features that Etsy has to offer – take a look at ‘Shop Local’. You can search for artists in your country, your state or even your own town. Who knows, you may find that a great talent lives right nearby and you might get the chance to visit (and shop!) in person.

Shopping local also has great benefits:

• the environmental impact is reduced
• you reinvest money in your own community
• you will support a local small business owner
• chances are you will get great customer service
• lower shipping costs (saves you money!)
• this list could go on and on.. but instead of reading this, go see what you can find where you live!

in the studio today…

A few moments from the studio today.

Felted Rock Vessel

Made using a mix of Norwegian C1 and pelsull with a touch of silk throwers waste for accent.

Here is a glimpse of the process:

UPDATE:

This photo will give you an idea as to how much it shrunk in the felting process.

Norwegian C1 is fantastic wool!

For comparison purposes, see the size of the original resist.

ohhh.. and a link from Siki in Canada.. I absolutely  love this, turn your music on and enjoy.

Print Gocco – one of my favorite tools

In my last post, I mentioned Print  Gocco. It wasn’t long before I received email asking what it was.

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite tools.

Print Gocco is a Japanese color screenprinting system developed in 1977. It is a compact and completely self-contained printer.  The system works using flash bulbs, a carbon-based image or photocopy and an emulsion-coated screen. When the bulbs are manually flashed, the carbon in the drawing or photocopy burns the screen into a stencil. Several colors of ink can then be applied at one time and multiples prints can be made. Immensely popular in Japan – it is said that at the peak of its popularity, nearly 30% of Japanese households owned one!

Print Gocco have since been discontinued, see SaveGocco.com for more info. There are a few different models on the market, check out eBay, you may find one there if you are lucky. I have a PG-11 .. and I LOVE it!

Print Goco PG-11 model

Quite honestly, the possibilities are endless. Simple cards that a child could do, or more creative projects, like the purses I made (see earlier post). I have gocco-ed fabric, paper napkins, books, leather, felt and more… let me know what you have gocco-ed. Ohh.. and by the way, for the purses, I used 4 different screens, each one with a design I sketched by hand.

Leather purses I screened using Print Gocco

Check out the gocco items on etsy to see what other people are doing with it.

Take a look at this Etsy video to see how the Print Gocco works. You can make things as simple or as complicated as you like. It is great fun either way!

Designernes eget julemarked ‘09

This year, I will be taking part in one of Oslo’s most anticipated holiday shopping events. Designernes eget Julemarket (The Designers Own Christmas Market)

poster design Cecilie Ellefsen of Happymeat.com

Over 140 designers from Norway, England, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden will be selling their creations at DogA (The Norwegian Center for Design and Architecture). Approximately 10,000 people pass through the doors over the course of 2 days… and the good stuff goes fast!

Hope to see you there.

ps.. check out some of the talented designers included in this years market:

• Cecilie’s work at Happymeat.com or her etsy shop featuring some great gocco prints.
• Unni Strand –  blog and etsy shop check out her screenprinted upcycled designs
• HotNok – fantastic clothing designs
• Maiken Designs – unique jewelry (with reflex.. in Norway.. thats a good thing!)
• EverydayGlory  - take a peek at their etsy shop and blog
• FabelHaven – gorgeous knits
• Jumina Design – limited edition childrens clothes in natural materials

(UPDATE: if you are taking part in DEJM´09 and would like to be included on the list just send me a note)

Norwegian Press Release:

”et inspirerende alternativ til kommersiell julehandel”

Vi er utrolig stolte av å kunne si at designernes eget julemarked har blitt et av de faste innslagene i Oslos førjulstid.

I år arrangers markedet for 11. gang, Ikke dårlig for en ide som startet rundt et kjøkkenbord for 11 år siden!

“Craft”-trenden er en av de store trendene som bare blir større og større for hvert år som går- ikke bare i Norge, men i hele verden. Vi er lei masseproduserte matvarer, klær, smykker, og møbler. Vi ønsker oss  ting som noen faktisk har laget, noe du kan se er håndlaget – ting som det er lagt tid og kjærlighet i, om det er et stykke ost, en skjorte eller en vakker pute.

I år har vi over 140 utstillere fra hele landet, og fra England, Belgia, Danmark og Sverige.  De selger smykker, illustrasjoner, klær, møbler,  lamper og mye annet.

De fineste gavene vil du finne på årets julemarked!

Ønsker du mer info eller høyoppløslige bilder vennligst kontakt

Bente Helstrom, bente.helstrom@online.no
eller
Paul Lowe, paul.lowe@mac.com

Sted: DOGA, Hausmansgate 16, ved siden av kulturkirken Jakob. Oslo.
Tid: Lørdag 5. desember 10-18
Søndag 6. desember 10-18

Med vennlig hilsen
Bente & Paul

“what is precious…”

This was entry for the Cheongju Craft Biennial in Korea:

suffice it to say I did not win ;(

The theme for the competition was: (you can skip this part if you want.. a little long winded!)

The theme for the 2009 Biennale, Outside the Box, proposes that craft be considered or approached as a composite whole, rather than as a series of fragmentary and contending disciplines. To think outside the box, as the phrase goes in the West, is to transcend spurious divisions through the human faculty of imagination. In newly-merged artistic and managerial discourses, ‘outside the box’ is where the indispensably ‘innovative’ is to be found. But it is also where a state of integration becomes attainable; where meetings become possible. As what is devised as a necessary means to an end, craft and innovation have ever been one and the same. By the same definition craft is integration; with nature, with others, with its collective self. It therefore has the power to unite and represent all human values, in the here and now. It is one of the chief absurdities of our times that the world should be facing unprecedented environmental, economic and humanitarian crises and at the same time find itself inundated with products and consumables.The position in relation to crafts, and the fate of crafts, is one essential aspect of this paradox. Contemporary attitudes to material culture: the idea of the self as project the creation of the authentic individual the arbitrariness of meaning; these have proceeded from the beginnings of modern consumerism in the eighteenth century, and from the development of Romanticism as an intellectual and emotional response.¹ But to what vision of mankind does this proliferation of the inherently valueless testify in our information and technology age.

My entry:

In this world where diamonds and pearls are stripped from nature to adorn humans as priceless baubles; it is time to seek out treasures derived from renewable resources such as natural fibres like silk and wool. It is time to reconsider what is precious and priceless.

This fine silver ring (.999FS hallmark) with its hand- sculpted and polished finish was designed to enhance and reflect the natural beauty and luster of this hand felted “pearl”; making this “pearl” as precious as any of its ocean counterparts.

This unique ring was inspired by the United Nations declaration that 2009 is the International Year of Natural Fibres.

Felt Pearl Ring

Felt Pearl Ring

Since making this ring, I have been working on a series of pieces for a new line.

note: the size and colour of the pearls can be custom ordered. I will be posting these on etsy in the not do distant future.

Here is a preview:

cups, saucers, shells and bowls...

cups, saucers, shells and bowls...

cups, saucers, shells and bowls...

cups, saucers, shells and bowls...

cups, saucers, shells and bowls...

Etsy.. the handmade movement

Etsy.. the place to buy all things handmade

If you do not know what Etsy is (actually in Norway, it is relatively unknown), welcome to the land of the living and take a look. Over a hundred thousand artists showcase their wares for the world to see, and everything you see there is either handmade or vintage. Etsy offers artists not only a fantastic opportunity to expand their market, but it is also a very special place to meet like minded people who appreciate and/or create handmade works. If you are an artist, do look into the community and forum pages, they are excellent resources, with information on marketing, photography and more.

I have been featured on the front page of Etsy on a few occasions, it never ceases to make me feel proud when something I made with my own two hands is chosen for one of their coveted front page spots.

etsy front page featuring my “linen pendant”

etsy front page featuring my “bark ring”

I have been fortunate enough to have been contacted by people looking for that “something special”…. such as a Texan gentleman who was looking for a special “linen” gift for his wife on their 4th anniversary – the “linen” anniversary. She now proudly wears one of my  silver linen pendants. A woman in Boston who was getting married wrote to me, she needed a shawl to wear with her wedding gown. Knowing that what one does – what one dreams of and then creates – goes on to become a cherished piece… something that becomes part of the story of someone’s life is a great feeling. Making/giving handmade gifts – there is just no comparison.

Artist of the month – Nesoddhuset

Artist of the Month
Cynthia Reynolds
Nesoddhuset
October 3rd – October 31st
opening Oct 3rd 12:00

come by and take a look

sharing ones knowledge

The creative process is often a solitary one. Meeting other artists – sharing your experiences and techniques… being free with your knowledge – it is important! Mark my words.

I have met many an artist and craftperson over the years, some of whom keep their knowledge locked away, never divulging their secrets. Potentially afraid that once told, that the knowledge would lose its value, becoming part of the “common knowledge” per se. Others have been open, freely telling the how’s and why’s of what they do. I have come to learn that what goes around comes around.

I remember once asking a fellow artist how she accomplished a certain task. She said it was her secret, and that sharing it was not an option. She said she had spent many years learning her craft, and could not tell. I left feeling quite perplexed… yet all the more determined to find a way to do the deed regardless. After many an hour researching online (something I spend way too much time doing), I found a device that would potentially revolutionize my work in that medium. So excited, and sure that my friend had never seen or heard of this little product, I ordered one for myself, as well as one for my friend. When they arrived, I giddily went over like a child with a new toy.. saying “I got one for you too!!!”  smiling ear to ear. – Well… it had never occurred to me that this little device was the secret that she had been keeping. I think we both learned something that day.

Yes, some will say that one needs to guard ones secrets, especially if that artist makes a living by teaching or writing books. I am not saying offer a free workshop to anyone who asks, but sharing ideas, talking about techniques, letting people know about that little tool that makes all the difference.  Any artist worth their salt knows that even in a workshop, where students do their best to create a copy of the example. Even based on a step by step plan, it is rare to see anything come close to the original when it comes to attention to detail and experience.

I attended a workshop here in Norway a few  years back (I am self-taught having only ever attended three felting workshops – such is life when you have small children!). I was amazed by the freedom in which this teacher shared her knowledge. Answering questions and allowing the students to pick at her brain. It was so refreshing – not once did we hear “ohh.. you will have to come to another workshop to learn that” but instead, she told us everything she could, and then some. Sitting around over a cup of coffee, brainstorming on new concepts and talking about the “what if’s” of felting. It made me want to come back for more. One thing that surprised me more than anything, was when I asked about her mistakes.. “what were some of the things that just did not work?” – Well she disappeared for a few minutes only to return with a large suitcase. She opened it up and showed us all of the pieces that just “did not work”.. WOW! Who does that? Yes, we all make disastrous things every now and then – no matter how much we hate to admit it. (Mine often up up in the toy box as padding for the doll bed etc..) But this artist was willing to let us learn from her mistakes, something that is often more informative than one can imagine. I admire her greatly for her attitude, and have learned more from that workshop than from any other I have attended.

My advice to you all.. be free, share your knowledge – you will gain more than you give, and it is a wonderful circle that never ends.

Musings – Collaborative work

Collaborative work – in doing the research for the Metal Clay Master Registry, I read about 2 of the requirements for acquiring a Master V accreditation. 2 collaborative works must be submitted. 

1. Active collaboration – work with someone else to develop a piece that benefits from the contributions of both people.

2. Passive collaboration – buy, swap or in some way acquire a work made by another artist (living or dead — do not kill them for it!). The first step is to come to understand the work of the original artist, then to augment or collaborate with those intentions to complete the piece. (wearable, functional or sculptural)

There are so many benefits to  doing collaborative work. You open yourself up to new possibilities and ways of thinking. It is an opportunity to broaden ones horizons, learning anything new from techniques to understanding a new frame of mind. Whether you collaborate with your neighbor, or an artist you met online who lives on the other side of the planet, you will surely grow from the experience.

Last year, my neighbor and I worked on a collaborative project that we are both quite proud of. We entered a design competition. We did not win by the way! But we did have a fantastic time and have both grown from the experience. The entire process, from designing a good product (within the contest specifications), including sourcing of materials, creating prototypes, branding, packaging and writing a marketing plan together was incredible. 

We worked on everything from creating a brand name: 20 FINGRE (20 fingers in norwegian), wholesale sourcing of cow hides (do we have a story about a road trip and a barn! haha!), working with a variety of silkscreening techniques and pattern testing (the final pattern was hand drawn by yours truly), we even created prototypes in different models, sizes and colours. It was a limited production run, they have all been sold, and I cherish the one that I kept for myself. I use mine all the time.

A great benefit should you collaborate with someone who is living in another area of the world, you can both benefit by exhibiting the work which means that you get exposure  in a location that would, until now, have been an unlikely venue.

I am always open to new projects, if you are an artist who would like to collaborate on a piece or limited series, feel free to send me a proposal. – no, it does not need to be a formal thing.. just email me your thoughts, keep it casual!

studio today – felt pearl ring tutorial

alright, my finished piece is exactly like I hoped it would be. Creatively, nothing makes me happier than that. To imagine and create. 

From IMAGINE to CREATE… there are a lot of steps between those two words. In my last post, you saw an image of this ring going into the kiln. For those of you who are curious, here is what happens after it comes out.

First a good brushing with a soft brass brush with soap and water. After drying, I use a series of progressively finer polishing papers (3M brand – 6 stages 1-30 micron) getting into all of the grooves is the tough work. A rotary tool with polishing discs is an alternate method, but I have found that there is no comparison to working by hand.

Wow.. my wrist looks exceptionally disproportionate in that light..

Next, using a variegated mix of stainless shot, let it tumble for a while. How long will depend on the piece. Experience will guide you. Tumbling will polish, but more importantly work harden your silver. One day I will write about this topic: how on a molecular level, metal crystals react to heat and pressure and realign when subjected to work hardening or annealing. (I know.. it is more than most of those reading really want to know!) well for now, just know that by tumbling in a rotary tumbler, this piece will be harder and sturdier than had I not taken this step!

Here is the ring and my tumbler.

• Ring gets place into container with stainless shot and polishing solution,
• cover goes on
• rubber gasket around container to seal the lid (and my fingers.. not easy to get that piece on!) 
• place container on rollers 
• and then the important part.. see that hammock in the garden, grab a good “how to book” lay back  with a cup of coffee and learn something new while relaxing to the rhythmic sounds of your tumbler.  

Once all is said and done, after checking and rechecking, clean and rub with a jewelers rouge cloth to polish. Read my tutorial on making a felt pearl and attach!

Voila! I really love how the mirror finish on the silver reflects the felt and light. In person, it has an almost mother of pearl quality to it.

 

Warning: The hand in the following photograph has been put through rigorous tests, hence the wear and tear and scars from studio mishaps. Owning this ring will not cause this to happen to your hand. Attempting to duplicate or copy this design will!

I am a happy artist. I hope you enjoy what you see.