Why is it beginning to look a lot like christmas?

The other week I walked into one of my favorite stores, Alter'd State, hoping to fish through their sale corner for some sweet summer deals. But I could barely stand to be in there for more than 10 minutes (not nearly long enough to hunt for sale steals). The whole store was decorated for Christmas (and at the time we still had a few weeks till Halloween) I'm talkin' full on Christmas mode, trees were up, fake snow and tinsel were all over and Christmas songs were playing.

Now don't get me wrong, this grown kid  loves her some Christmas. And I  have been known to listen to Christmas music at random points in the year. But when fall rolls around I make sure to hold off on Christmas things till after Thanksgiving. I love Halloween and thanksgiving and by holding off on Christmas, the holidays that come before it are given room to be celebrated.  So for me Altre'd States decor/music was too much, I mean it had just officially become fall! And it's not only this store that has jumped the gun, so to speak, on the holiday decor. Our favorite craft stores have pushed aside the fall holidays in order to promote their winter crafts, decor and everything else Christmas. Lex was in Michaels the other day and they had one small section for thanksgiving, and half the store was Christmas and winter-themed products.

The two of us complained to the other and vented  about our frustration with the commercialization and domineering effect Christmas has on stores and the craft market. but then we tried to turn it positive. We both began thinking about how we can counteract this avalanche of Christmas. we started by agreeing that we would not roll out any Christmas themed products until we got closer to thanksgiving if not until the day after. That if we did any vlogs or blog posts we would make them about Thanksgiving or fall activities. while doing this we began to see the commercialized side of Christmas as an opportunity for hand made makers to push into the fall themed things. clearly, the big name stores don't emphasize it enough, not think it's worth their time, so maybe this is a place were hand made makers can shine. we can be the one who can fill the need for fall decor and goods. cause I know I'm not the only one who wants the Christmas train to stay put for another month.

If you are looking for ideas of things you can make then check out this post on fall crafts, from Handmade in KC October blogs, and learn how to make some great fall decor like this Book Leaf Garland. I mean how great  is that? I know I m adding this to the list of things I am making for thanksgiving.

and while you are there be sure to check out the other blog posts and the Creators  on the seller's page to see what they have for sale. also be sure to like the HIKC facebook page and bookmark the Handmade in  KC site for easy access to updates. 

the wonderful world of haberdasheries

Until recently I had not been creating much of anything physical while I have been here in London. The reasons behind this are mostly that I didn’t have a lot of room, time or tools. Until I began my master dissertation pretty much all my work was digital. At the start my dissertation was going to be a film on how the public interacts with art and then what that looks like on social media. Then I changed it to a craftivism project, I know that lines up so nicely with my last blog post (craft creates changes)

the inside of a haberdashery

  One thing I did learn is that I miss the crap out of hobby lobby and Michaels. Not just because they are huge! And they have pretty much everything you could need. It was mostly just that I was missing something familiar while I was struggling with this project. (I’m writing this in a small park by church and a man just walked by grumbling that all the benches are taken.)

While I did miss the familiarity of the stores back home, I learned to something new about London that I love. Firstly, most craft or art stores are called haberdasheries. How freaking adorable and quaint is that!  Second they are mostly local independent stores, there are a few chains but they are mostly for art supplies.  One is called Cass Art Supply and if you are in need to paint, paper or other drawing, paint, basic supplies Cass is the place to go.

But the local places will have a speciality, one in Kingston is focused on sewing, it has a few other things, but you walk in a think, dang it’s all fabric, but walk in a take a peek and you will find tucked away in the corners, various other things. These shops are staffed by very helpful people, who if they don’t have what you are looking for they know who might, and where to find them.

my local haberdash, in wimbledon

how cute is this bike sign!?

When I needed to find a heat transfer pencil for my master dissertation piece, I went to 4 different stores each of whom suggested another place to go and try.  Only one place had what I needed but I never would have gone there if it wasn’t for the staff at the other haberdasheries.  Which is called so because the origin of the word is in Anglo-Saxon, for small wares.  Haberdashers were salesmen that carried small goods mostly for sewing and travelled around to the villages. Now there are haberdasheries all over the UK that are little local shops full of charm and local crafters. And while there is more and sometimes better selection on line or in big stores, which they do have in the UK, I love the feel and atmosphere of the haberdashery.

What do you prefer? Small shop or big store?  Do you like a combination of both, or do you get your supplies online? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check out Handmade in KC on this site or on our facebook page!

Ta ta!

Amy, From X37Adventures

How Craft CAN make a difference!

Hello again,

Amy (from X37Adventures) here, and I want to tell you about how craft can create change. Not just in the life of the creator and buyer. I'm talking about tangible social change, from big movements to small groups craft can change people and our way of seeing the world.  I think we all Know and feel the benefits of creating something with our hands, that it can be a confidence boost, a way to relax and de-stress and as an outlet for expressing ourselves were other ways seem to fail. While there are many crafters and artists our their that give proceeds to various groups and charities, and that is amazing, I want to focus on craft with the intention to make change, or protest. Craftivism, as it is called, is one of those activist movements that seems to take people by surprise and gets them talking.

Fine Cell Work is a great example of this kind of craft. They teach those in prison needlework skills and then they create amazing pieces that are sold online. The skills they teach have lead to those in prison finding peace, purpose and value again.

         Fine Cell Work trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self esteem. This helps them to connect to society and to leave prison with the confidence and financial means to stop offending. (mission and vision)

The amazing transformation that something as simple as teaching needlework can have on a person  is astounding to me. The testimonials of the men and women that are apart of this program  put into words things that I have felt yet never really took the time to put into words, the value, pride, and self confidence that comes from creating something, and hearing that people think its great and value the product is one of the most uplifting a fulling things that can happen to a person.

         "for the first time in as long as I could remember I felt feelings of self-worth. I knew that I had to be focused on the project in hand and soon my drug use died out. I had focus and I started to feel valued." (tony)

The pieces made by the participants are really cool as well, these are not just run of the mill needlework designs, it is clear that though and care goes into the design given to the participants. This level of respect, thoughtfulness and value is given back with the participant becoming more dedicated to quality and skill,rather than caring about the pay they get. Check out some of the pillows that they have in their shop below, I love that,not only to they have traditionally masculine and feminine design but they also have some cheeky prison related ones. You can see more at on their online shop. Also they have Pineapples! love it!

The most widely recognised image and instance of Craftivism is that of  a military tank covered in a pink crocheted quilt. The blanket is made of small differently shaded pink squares that were each made by individuals and then put together to cover, yet show that a tank is below. this was in protest to war and it was done to draw attention to this tank that was  on display. the artist that organised that also crocheted 
the various types of landmines that are still peppered through out Asia and the Indo-Pacific area to draw attention to the damage done by landmines in these places. The cleverness of using crochet is that it takes a minute for people to process that the object is not in fact a plush toy but a weapon.  It also draws a tie between the mine and its most common victim, children. 

While craftivism can address big issues, that can grip your heart and be a bit hard to deal with. (which is another benefit of using craft to protest is that it can both soften and intensify the impact.) It can also address small and local issues, IE: yarn bombing is a growing activities and it can be used to draw attention to a neglected part of the city or town. For example if there are broken fences or benches yarn bombing can be used to fill those missing pieces, it doesn't fix the problem but people will notice it more and hopefully talk about it. Or say you think there should be more bike racks, or flowers, crochet those things and leave a little tag connecting the two things. 

By far my favourite instance of craftivism is something that is so simple that anyone can do it, which is inspired by an activist embroidering a hanky with the words "don't blow it" and she gave it to her MP (the UK equivalent to a representative). The hanky stood out and made an impact on the MP because it was hand made, and she even delivered it in person. this act showed how much she cared about the topic, it emphasised how important it was to her that she took the time to make something to give to them. 

It would be incredible if our group at Handmade in KC (go check them out if you haven't already! they are on facebook, so give 'em a like,  and be sure to take a look at the events page on the website). If you think you cant make a difference with your creations, think again, not only it there power in handmade there is power in a group. If there is a topic you think craft would be amazing at helping solve or start a conversation around then let us now! 

The Bimbo of the art world

Why “the bimbo of the arts” is one of my favourite things

          Hey guys, Amy here. If we don’t know one another, I make up one half of the X37 Adventures duo. I currently live in London currently (hence why I haven’t been able to meet up with you lovely people) I am working on my Masters’ Degree in Art and Design History. In my readings for class and essays I have stumbled upon some interesting articles and bits or books that deal with indie craft and craft fairs. And they always seem to talk about community. And while that wasn't the focus of my research I tabbed the passages and kept them on a back burner to read after my essays are finished.

         Now let me explain the bimbos quote. when you are writing essays, you come across lots of weird quotes in the research and if you are running on fumes, late at night, they can become really  funny. And craft being describe as a bimbo was one that made me chuckle. just so you know, I don’t think craft is a bimbo, the context was in discussing why craft is not seen as legitimate and serious as a form of art. in its relationship with fine art craft, and mostly DIY craft can be seen as a secondary form of art. Now I can (and did) write about why and how craft is more than capable of keep up with and even surpassing its posher cousin, fine art. What I want to write about is the areas that set craft apart from fine art; and that’s community.

Renegade Craft Fair, 2016, London (picture from renegade website) 

When I became active in the craft scene, it was because I was asked by a friend to help run a show, and because of it I have made some amazing friends I never would have found without it.  The craft movement we focused on was also my first introduction to indie arts and crafts. Which was wonderfully described (in the book Extra Ordinary: craft and contemporary art) as focused on hand-crafted and locally produced items that are championed as alternatives to mass produced, globally distributed goods. I love the term championed for describing indie art, it fits so perfectly with what the indie movement aims to create. In Extra Ordinary, there is a paragraph or two about craft fairs and how they are changing 

"with the rise of the DIY craft movement, a new form of  craft fair has emerged over the past several years in many cities through-out the united states. Examples include the Renegade Craft Fair...; Art vs. Craft...Bazaar Bizarre. While these fairs reflect some characteristics of traditional craft fairs, the difference is the vendors are mainly Gen Xers  who are commercially savvy, art educated, conscious of good design, and who seek to transform what was once considered mere feminine and domestic forms of creativity and decoration into something new. In these fairs, it seems that DIY craft as a subculture has an interest in capitalizing on the subversive allure of hipness in an effort to subvert hegemonic systems of taste and consumption. At DIY craft events, one frequently sense a palatable measure of tastemakers' confidence. These craft practitioners are insiders because they have not only  built up social capitol through communal work sessions in craft production but have also embraced their inner geek and built an identity for themselves via the social community that exists on the internet"

In almost every book that dealt with DIY craft or craft fairs the topic of community was brought up as a huge distinction between 'Art' and 'Craft', one thing the community needs (and usually does) to do is support the community and keep raising each other up.

Putting local first

One thing I have learned from the indie arts and craft movement is that local is number one, and while it sometimes defines local a bit loosely, the indie community really tries to build, support and promote the local creators, makers and business. You know, the whole strength in numbers thing, and it takes a village to pull focus from major corporations to small businesses and creators. The interconnected web of the indie movement is so much fun to explore. Next item you have a free day just play local business telephone, start one place and ask them where you should go next, for shopping, or food, drinks, whatever you are looking for I’d confidently place money on a local small business knowing the best places around. (if you play this game, be sure to share with me! I want to see your fun day!) one of the hardest parts of being in London is having to be far from this community that knows what’s happening, and people who are usually up for some get together. One of my highlights was going to a Renegade Craft Fair in November, it was just like being at any fair in Kansas City. It was great to see that the indie and DIY craft community has the same vibe even when thousands of miles apart. If you are new to the handmade scene in KC then check out Handmade in KC on Facebook,  You can find pretty much anything you are looking for there! All the makers that are part of the group are some of the nicest folks around, and can help you find pretty much anything you're looking for (or make pretty much anything, for that matter).