Sarah*n*dipitous

Makers

One of my favorite events to attend is Maker Faire. Truth be told, it does not really matter in which city or what time of the year it is held, it is a concept not a square on the calendar in my world.

Maker Faire is an event that is difficult to explain or define because it is something different to each person. For some it is a geek convention, others, a hacker reunion, it is a Lego village while others see it as a concert with Tesla Coil sparks of pure energy. Maker Faire is a steampunk revolution, a Bizarre Bazaar, a lecture on innovation, a display of alternative energy possibilities or even a choreographed Mentos and Coke Zero wonder of science. It is experienced through make n takes, various foods on a stick, a lifesize mousetrap game or in a knitting circle sipping tea and talking about the weather. As varied as the ideas of what Maker Faire is, the commonality that binds each and every person that walks the grounds and interacts within the event is that we are all Makers. We are the doers of things and thinkers of thoughts, the curious, the child like wonder trapped in an aging birthday suit. We are the "what-if" askers and the grease smudged foreheads, we are the growers of gardens and the wearers of the fantastic and outlandish. We are the product of our own making wrapped up in a Providential design that embodies a creativity only the original Maker could create. It is a celebration of what could be possible when we choose to marinate on the impossibilities of the here and now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine

Many suggest and believe that Valentine's is a "Hallmark" holiday set aside to make those in distant places and alone feel even more isolated and alone. I'd like to believe it's like a Wonderland "Un-Birthday" when we choose to celebrate every day that isn't designated and circled in red as an opportunity to show those around us that they matter and that we care. It need not be the showy production, the flowers, chocolates, jewelry and tangible things, it can be a smile, a hand held in a dark time, or the window on the car scraped and the inside heated when you're running late. Let every day be Valentine's Day, a day where love is found in the sanctuary of another.

This is a Beehive or Spider Web Victorian Card. Thank You Tattered Angels, Clearsnap, Marcella, 3M, Fiskars, and Bic :)

 

Playful

The spirit of play is something we all need in order to continually feed the create muse and keep it healthy. Just as good food and exercise are good for the body and staying in shape, our Muse needs to be exposed to laughter and just old fashioned play and experimentation in order to grow. Many working artists lose track of time designated to just "new" work, retreats or even classes due to the busyness of trying to run a business and make a living from their creations. It comes to a point where many artists are spending more of their time staring at paperwork than blank canvases full of possiblitites waiting to be given a new life and exiestence.

In my studio, play is important, it is part of my job. My role as an innovator encompasses using existing products and materials in new unexpected ways for my clients; this by proxy means, I must get my hands dirty and machines are sacrificed for the greater craftiness good. The point is, I learn more from these playdates than I do with the set appointments I have more times than naught simply because there is no agenda, it is come what may. I encourage those in the creative community, be it in art, music, writing, theater, or dance to make sure to schedule play time and make it a part of the routine...

Stained Glass

I have always been drawn to old stained glass windows. I love the way that hidden in each pane is a story so lovingly told that is truly only appreciated and seen in all it's glory once the light shines through it. It's amazing that glass, with it's fragile nature, can be strong enough to weather storms and bring hope to those seeking refuge within the buildings they reside. How lamps, like the ones the famed Tiffany made, can bring a warm glow to even the coldest of rooms simply by being lit. 

People are like those ancient panes of stained glass. We are fragile, broken pieces of colored glass as a result of a life lived and yet, our stories are somehow lovingly pieced together and joined with metal and solder in such a way that when the sun returns, the light shines through us and reflects a story of redemption and hope to those who gaze upon us. As an artist, one must remember that we are entrusted with the ability to tell a story in many facets but, in order to do so, we must allow that light to shine through us in the process so that our audience can be inspired by the bigger picture.

It's True

Yes, I have been working on a huge project. I apologize to even my closest friends for not spilling the details until now.... you know I work in the Batcave and there are just some things I can't talk about.... Today I can finally talk about it a bit. As most of you know, my passion has always been about equipping people. I see a generation of folks who are insanely talented and we as a culture really letting them down in so many ways. People will do great things and make amazing things and invent the things we thought were not possible *if* you believe it and invest in that belief.

I have been asked to be on television... not just create stuff for television and other media as I have been doing for so many years... To create a television show that links making things with making a difference (inspired by the booth I did at CHA). After marinating on it for a bit, I have chosen to do this on Public Television with a significant online component because I believe that something worth doing should be available to all, not just those blessed with Cable. This is a huge step of faith because I do not even know if the sponsorship money will come in or whether I am the "right" person to do this however, I do know that I cannot waste the talents I have been given or the opportunity by not trying. The next months are going to be crazy (especially because I intend on continuing doing the writing/ teaching thing). I have been meeting with a number of my friends already on television and experienced in the behind the scenes stuff as well as industry leaders in technology, media, education, and of course in my own industry asking questions and figuring out if something like this is even possible. There have been a lot of dropped jaws and emotional tears...

This project is the biggest and most scary project I have ever thought up....a Pay It Forward. I have been encouraging my children and every one of my students (young and older) to do something worthwhile and make a mark on the timeline of history... I cannot live with myself in hypocrisy if I never put it into practice- especially as one who teaches. Once we have corporate sponsors for the first season solidified, we will start filming immediately here in Detroit. Filming week (most likely Aug.) will be a block party outside of the studio with crafters, artists, authors and musicians doing their thing and you are all invited.... what fun is making stuff and not sharing it? We are figuring out the liability issues but, my hope is that the set will be open and students will be allowed to work side by side with mentors that teach so much more than a mere textbook :) in all stages of production. I would not be where I am today without my mentors (thank you C, K, M.J. and S). I will reveal more details as I can.

Craft Stylish

Every once in a while you meet folks that are just plain cool. Once you meet them, you can't imagine your world without them in it. This year at CHA, I met some folks from the Craft Stylish booth that literally blew me out of the water. I was impressed by the fact that they transformed 350 magazines into booth decor and that even after show hours, they were crafting in their hotel rooms. I cannot list everyone because I just know I will forget someone and feel bad but, know this, there are still people in this world who are passionate about making the world a more vibrant place through innovative and amazing handcrafted goodness. These folks aren't in it for the money (heaven knows it isn't much), they are in it because they truly LOVE what they do. I am concerned about the fact that the print media is suffering in today's economy, and that folks have forgotten why writers and "imagineers" are important and worthy of their investment. This my friends is where innovation begins. It begins with a spark, an idea that spreads like wildfire and the investment by others that fan those flames. It is where addicts are created and fed with thought provoking and inspiring content provided by folks who never saw what they do as a "job" but more as a mission to make this world a brighter place. Every single person I met in that booth were passionate crafters themselves. They write from which they know and love and draw content from the things that inspire them to take their own personal crafting to the next level..... my kind of people. I encourage all to check out Craft Stylish for themselves.

Equipping

I am impressed with companies that choose to equip folks to do amazing things rather than serve on a platter things to be done. What does this mean? Well, it is easy to design a project and then instruct the client to cut and paste and paint it to look like the sample on the box but, it is a whole thing entirely to create a machine that enables the client to make whatever they want and give their imagination wings and a voice to the voiceless.

I am not easily blown away by the things I see in the crafting industry. I am a total geek when it comes to art and crafting supplies and truly, if you saw my studio, you'd understand the extent of my neurosis. This Winter CHA (Craft and Hobby Association Convention) the bell of the proverbial ball was hands down Provo Craft and their new Yudu silk screening machine. For the first time in a long time I felt, as an instructor, a giddiness about the fact that my students would truly be equipped to do great things. This isn't merely a t-shirt making machine, it can print on all sorts of surfaces and what's more, it enables folks to create for pleasure or for profit. For the first time, a company decided from the beginning to create something that inherently could change the world- by giving the consumer a voice and a platform to change the world. I remember silk-screening t-shirts as a kid for various political campaigns. It was a cheap way to get our message (don't ask me what it was, I was 5 or 6 at the time but, all the adults around me thought it was important....) out to the public in a meaningful way. With the advent of places like Etsy and Ebay, there are now the outlets for the everyday Joe or Jane to profit from their ideas for the first time in history without a middle man snaking their hard earned dinero. I was impressed on so many level with this machine but moreso, with the vision of the company on a whole. Seeing this whole thing come together from a industry insider did not prepare me for the real world debut and the response from the crafting community at CHA. I can't wait to use this in my classrooms and intend fully on having machines (yeah, you read that correctly...multiple machines) available for folks to use to give their own ideas a voice. Provo posted this video and I think it gives you an idea about why I am excited. Enjoy and spread the word.

Creative Coffee

I love Make Magazine.... So when they posted this gem, I totally had to comment. This company called OnLatte created a machine that makes amazing art on...yup, coffee. Being a complete coffee junkie, I was instantly smitten by the creativity and innovation. Art is about what you make inasmuch as where you make it!

You can see this picture as well as the complete article at Make Magazine's site. Give credit where credit is due folks and always make sure to tell folks where you get your pictures and who took them...

Heidelberg Project

I had the best time at the Heidelberg Project in Detroit. I am working on a project right now that is nothing short of frickin' cool! Provo Craft, through their new site and program Cricut Classroom, have done something amazing and well, because I can't go into details, I cannot share it all....yet..... just know that it is going to change lives and bring art to children- enough said there in my book.

Heidelberg is one of those amazing places- especially for us "altered art- ephemera junkies". Tyree Guyton and his family basically took blighted buildings and made them works of art. Many folks drive by and don't quite know what to make out of the Project. Some consider it junk and a public eye sore, some don't care either way and, others think it is a wonderful inspiration of what one person can do to make a difference in their immediate community..... I fall into this last camp. Heidelberg is doing some incredible things!

We live in a disposable culture, things are flippantly throw away and fill our streets and landfills with junk. Some figures state that a full 80% of what we throw away could have been reused in some way..... can you imagine?

You know, our disposable mentality doesn't just apply to "things", it also applies to people. I hate to even write it but, it is true. How many times have you ridden down a street, and missed the homeless person there under the pile of newspapers? (maybe you didn't miss them, you avoided them and made sure not to look them in the eye) How many times have you gone out to eat and dropped $100 on a meal you didn't even finish while folks in our own backyard here in the United States (not some third world country we all think of when we hear "starving children") are going hungry? What about all those kids "loitering" at the mall....think really hard about what your initial thoughts about them were.... drop-outs, convicts, unwed mothers, rude, foul mouthed, misguided, unambitious and disrespectful.....not doctors, lawyers, inventors of the cure for cancer, teachers...., you get my drift. It isn't about poverty or even the lack of resources, it is about perception. We as a society have written these folks off and labeled them disposable, not worth anything, not worth the investment of time. I say time because, just throwing money societal problems and hoping they will magically go away does nothing but line pockets of folks who know the rest of the world isn't paying attention. It is about investing your time and equipping folks to do amazing things and BELIEVING they can do it in the first place. I think we sometimes throw money at things out of a guilty conscious not because we believe it could actually work. If you really want to know how important something is to someone, find out not where they spend their money but, where they spend their time. If someone spends a lot of their personal time on something, their money is invested in it as well.

I wonder what the world would look like if we stopped looking at the "cast-offs" as landfill waste, what it would look like if we were to actually think about what we are throwing away in a new light and taking the time to see new uses for those things...... I wonder? Heidelberg believes in equipping children with a sense of hope and vision and, for some of these kids, it the very first time they have ever heard that someone thinks they are important and what they have to say is important.

Work Spaces

My son wants to make video games. He is just one of those kids who has an awesome imagination and a panache for computers (much like his Dad). We were reading about a company called Three Rings in San Francisco in Wired Magazine. My son, cut the article out and has it hidden away somewhere in an inspirational journal somewhere. While I was poking around on the internet looking for more information on this company and classes for a 7 year old wannabe gamer maker, I came across this post, and now, well, I want to work here too! (um yeah, I stink when it comes to computer stuff, have no skills whatsoever, and am not a gamer but, c'mon now, this place looks flippin' amazing!) (I copied the picture directly from the Lab Partners Blog- it is not my own and, you really need to see the other pics to truly appreciate how cool this work space is!) Work spaces like this inspire and beg creativity to come and sit a spell methinks. I think a roadtrip is now in order during the week in May I will be in Pacifica (outside of San Francisco) filming my DVD :)

Functional Art DVD

So, it is official..... I am tickled pink to be able to finally announce what I have been working on down in the studio- FUNCTIONAL ART!

Many years ago, I met Suzanne from PageSage. It involved losing a bet, asking the most outlandish request, meeting up at CHA and well, the rest is history as they say. When it came time to do my DVD, I knew it would be for kids ages 13-20 something. My passion has always been about bringing art to the teenage demographic in a real and fun way. My heart breaks everytime I see a kit that dumbs down art and refuses to equip kids with the techniques that will give their creativity wings. I have always told my students that because I value their work, I am letting them use my best stuff (my best paintbrushes, my best paints, my best tools) and that all I ask in return is that they give me their best work. These kids make AMAZING things AND, they never wreck my stuff....

Functional Art is about taking the things we find in everyday life and putting our own artistic flair on it. It isn't about altering something inasmuch as it is about teaching folks new and innovative techniques and equipping them with the ability to make their world bright, vibrant and uniquely theirs. Yes, technically this DVD is for the younger crowd BUT, the young at heart will love it too. My hope is that parents, grandparents, caregivers, mentors, teachers and siblings will all create side by side with their teen and that crazy amazing things will be made in the process! I never wanted this DVD or the book series to take up space on some shelf, I want them to take on a life of their own- there is still so much to share but, for right now, thank you to all the kids who have participated in this project along side me- your voices will be heard and I could never be more proud of you all!!!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane....

I should return in a few days from now totally inspired,massively tired and dying to sleep in my own bed :) Yup, I am off to Anaheim to explore the wonders of CHA. I am hoping to have posts live from the show direct from my iPhone but, having never tested this thing fully, I do not know. I have been reading about the pre-show spoilers over at the Scrap Genie (Hi Becks!!!!) and well, I am excited about the whole thing. Art Unscripted Live is this huge nervous energy thing in my head...seriously head to head craft off with all the famous folks really has me geeked and scared stupid at the same time- I know it will be a blast! I just got the brochures announcing my book in the mail today and well, it all just became real....

Functional Art DVD

I am so geeked to be able to announce that my DVD will be unveiled at CHA this year with PageSage.This is the first DVD specifically designed with the teen age and college folks in mind (and for those of us who were once in high school and college at some point....). It is crammed packed with innovative ways to make your stuff unique and, since it's on DVD, you can watch it as you create and pause it when you need to take a break or text that friend of yours..... kidding.

I remember when I was in high school and thinking about my Prom. I did not have the money to buy the dress I wanted and my parent's were really big on the whole "being self-sufficient thing" (secret talk for "No, I will not pay for that..." and yes, I have turned into one of "those" parents and you should the cool stuff my kids make with duct tape and random things from around the house...wink...). All my dresses were handmade, my room decor was reworked found items from the second hand store, and my playground was my grandmother's house where every room was chock filled with random goodies and art supplies galore. This DVD is designed to equip and inspire- if I did my job, you will want to take what you have learned and go make something cool.

Inspired by Decor8

Decor8 is a lovely blog. Today's post highlighted one talented artist on Flickr... I spent the better part of an hour sifting through these loverlies...enjoy

Guerilla Art

I love the freedom an organic project has. The random nature of street art is something some folks consider a public nuisance. I, on the otherhand, find it fascinating..... Art in it's truest sense is a form of expression and a window into the hearts and minds of the artists that create. One of the things I always am floored by is the way graf artists have an amazing command over the spray can medium- this is not an easy task. I have spray painted many things in my life and I will tell you, from my first hand experience, spray cans have a mind of their own and well, to control them is a skill in itself. Enjoy the following videos!