|
Feisty Elle's Biz Blog
 Feisty Elle 
navigation:
viewing:
most recent entries
[ go: earlier]
|
| PingMag MAKE and crafty musings | [22 Jul 2008|10:01pm] |
I've been reading PingMag, a bilingual Japanese English website on art, design, fashion and more, off and on for a few years. Recently, I was stoked to discover that they've begun publishing fantastic interviews with Japanese craftsmen (where the ladies at?) across Japan entitled PingMag MAKE. These include artisans and makers of fine umbrellas, balloons, soap, textiles, ships, and pretty much any handcraft that requires a near lifetime of dedication to skill development and training. It's wonderful that PingMag is making a record as well as shining a spotlight on these folks, many of whom are near retirement and some of whom will not be passing on their skills to their children or protégés.
When I was in Japan in late April, my American life of being inundated daily with internationally mass produced items was in strong juxtapose to witnessing the care, attention to detail, and developed skill required for the design and production of regular Japanese toys and handicrafts. This persisting level of detail and skill is the legacy of these aging and sometimes younger, up-and-coming craftspeople. It's a lovely thought.
When I turn to think of American makers and crafters today, I can see that we're still swinging back and forth between business and hobby, and I wonder if we'll ever become lifelong artisans of a specific practice or art form, or will we just jump from one skill to another, like knitting to felting to gocco to textile design. Do we have ADD or are we just into fads and can afford to not be dedicated to one thing or another? (Most of us have another full-time or part-time gig.) OR, is it because it's 2008 and we can learn, do, and be so many different things so who cares? As my bf says, the truth is likely somewhere in between.
At any rate, I highly recommend checking out PingMag MAKE.
|
| Renegade: From the other side of the table (awesome!) | [13 Jul 2008|09:35pm] |
|
I went to check out Renegade with my friend Audrey, and can I just say how great it is to be on the other side of the table these days? I love that I'm taking this break. I really do love shopping and checking out all the great stuff folks make. I got a great hooded shirt from Supermaggie, a pair of wood stud earrings from Twee, and a squirrel badge from Happy Owl Glassworks. Plus, I got to see all my crafty biz friends working hard and enjoying the sales. From what I've heard, Renegade has been the best show ever for a lot of folks with Saturday having been the craziest in terms of foot traffic. I too must give props to Renegade for being a standout show. They brought out a refreshing number of East Coast based businesses that I've never seen in California-based shows. Plus, the diversity and talent have been unmatched and there was so much to see and check out. Kudos to Renegade for throwing down an incomparable show! Maybe next year I'll be around there, back on the seller's side of the table with my feisty wares. =)
|
| Get Selvedge magazine in PDF form | [06 Jul 2008|10:32am] |
|
I just found out that you can get the beautiful, but expensive Selvedge magazine in PDF format via UK-based website Exact Editions for ~$50. You also have access to almost a dozen past issues too. Now that a yearly subscription is $125/yr for US residents (ack!), this seems like the only affordable option. I'll switch to this once my subscription ends.
|
| Brilliant advice for creative types from Ira Glass | [19 Jun 2008|11:35pm] |
In short, Ira is saying, you'll suck for a while at your craft, but you've got to push through that gap, that block, by doing lots of work, getting lots of experience so that you'll eventually make excellent work. IT WILL TAKE A WHILE. My addition to that advice is: Don't beat yourself up, you'll figure it out.
I <3 Ira...and he knows it. ;)
p.s.--My friend M, who is a gifted trombonist, mentioned to me years back that even if you're gifted at one thing or another, it doesn't mean you don't have to practice hard all day every day to be good and to get better. This is obvious, I know, but I think it's a good reminder, gifted or not, you've just got to work, practice, and produce.
|
| Feisty Elle is still around, yo | [14 Jun 2008|04:08pm] |
|
Lately whenever friends ask me how Feisty Elle is going, I've begun to say that it's in hiatus. My shop is still open and ready to ship items out, but I've put myself into a creatively dormant space. My full time job requires me to be creative on demand (in house graphic designer for policy think tank) and the wear of running a business in the after hours for the past 3 years has worn me down. Plus it doesn't help that I have tendonitis in my wrists from work. At any rate, I'm around and Feisty Elle is still here but I won't be doing any more shows in the near future.
|
| Mammalia @ Relish at Home | [25 Apr 2008|07:44am] |
I just dropped off some new badge designs at Relish At Home in Berkeley yesterday. Kelly, owner of Relish, is presenting a solo exhibition for Jane Buck of Foxy & Winston called MAMMALIA:
Kelly's shop is awesome and always full of fabulous items hand-selected to match Relish's seasonal gallery exhibitions. Check it out!
|
| Feisty Elle is on vacation! | [01 Apr 2008|11:56am] |
Hey folks! It's been quite a while since I've blogged here, and I can only say that after a very eventful 2007, I'm taking it easy. Speaking of taking it easy, I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow and heading to Japan and Thailand for little over two weeks. I'm so excited! And you know I'll be hitting up the fabric stores in Tokyo! It's my first time in either country. Wish me safe travels!
Orders placed this week will not ship until Wednesday April 23rd. Thanks!
|
| happy holidays! | [22 Dec 2007|11:48pm] |
What's up, feisty men and women! Have a fabulous, safe but awesomely interesting, fun-filled holiday break! I'm off to LA to visit family and friends and will be back on the 28th.
(All orders will be filled once I return. Thanks!)
|
| Nashville unveils recycled gift packaging | [07 Dec 2007|09:48am] |
|
Folks know that I've been working out ways to be more green, especially around packaging and office supplies, for Feisty Elle and I've just found that Nashville Wraps has unveiled some recycled and recyclable gift packaging. There's also some recycled packaging with botanical and leopard designs, although it's not really my style. Check it out and let me know what you think!
|
| 20% AND FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $30 or more! | [05 Dec 2007|02:41pm] |
ENJOY 20% AND FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $30 or more!
Now until December 21st. Although please order by December 15 for guaranteed holiday delivery. One coupon per customer.
Code: feisty_holiday
|
| At last...Mafia Made pics | [06 Nov 2007|05:26pm] |
Check out all the Mafia Made pics, taken by M:
|
| Feisty Elle on SFist! | [06 Nov 2007|05:22pm] |
|
The lovely Christina Loff of SFist, interviewed me about Feisty Elle and that "SF is crafty" map. Check it out"!
|
| going green | [20 Oct 2007|02:14am] |
The biggest issue for me these days as a small business owner with an e-presence is that of waste from packaging (mail, gifts, etc.). Common knowledge is that you should use reusable bags when you shop and avoid plastic bags at all cost, but what about paper? I've read that paper takes 7 times as much energy to produce as paper bags. Yow! So this season, I propose to all of us that you do everything you can to decrease waste.
When you're at Mafia Made (ahem! =) or any other winter shopping event:
1) Bring a tote bag with you to carry items.
2) Or wear your items to shamelessly promote the vendor to your friends and passersby. =D
3) If you do get a paper or plastic bag with your purchase, use just one and put all your purchases in it. Common sense, I know. Otherwise, recycle everything, yo.
And what am I doing on my end as a vendor and businessperson? Despite the energy costs surrounding paper, I'm using it and using paper with a high percent of recycled content whenever possible. My file folders and some of my mailing envelopes contain 40% post-consumer fibers and no added chlorine. However, I'm still in the process of using up as well as recycling my old stationery products to make room for those with recycled content. Most of the Feisty Elle packaging, from product tags to shipping supplies are paper, so I'm starting to encourage anyone who orders from me to recycle the ship receipt and everything else. In addition, I typically put products in a small kraft gift box and tie it with string and a matching button. I specifically don't put my logo on the box, just a decorative stamp of a Japanese flower, so the box can be used over and over again. Otherwise, the box can and should be recycled.
That's it so far from me. Going green is a process, and I feel better and more responsible doing so.
|
| Curiosity Shoppe and Sister Corita | [18 Oct 2007|08:06pm] |
Tonight I finally had to chance to go by the Curiosity Shoppe to drop off Mafia Made fliers and say hello. Lauren, the co-owner, was there and we chatted about SF Craft Mafia, going to design*sponge's SF Biz Lady meet-up next Tuesday, and my Google crafty map (Derek, her husband, came by later and said he'd read the SFist article today and thanked me for mentioning them =). She was super nice and the shop is such a great place! Don't hate me but these days I've been feeling like I've been in this craft bubble where I see so many similar handmade products in stores, online shops, and blogs. But the Curiosity Shoppe felt fresh and different. I felt like I could really explore and find things I couldn't find elsewhere.
 Which brings me to my purchase from the shop, a book entitled Come Alive! The Spirited Art of Sister Corita. Corita Kent was a Catholic nun for over 30 years, and during that time and after, she was a teacher and artist, producing vibrant watercolors, posters, banners, and serigraphs, that made art accessible and affordable. She later left the order in the early 60s amidst turbulent times in the Los Angeles diocese. Anyhow, the book is fabulous and I've been wanting to flip through it for some time. For a woman coming into herself as an artist in the 50s and 60s--when traditional feminine roles and models were being turned onto their head--and to take off her habit and opt for "stylish Marrimekko dresses," pardon the blasphemy but, goddamn, she's my kind of role model. There are also tons of images of her work, which are energetic and carry a timeless accessibility in terms of message. Check it out.
And I'm out, must go into sweatshop mode...
|
| That crafty map, MAFIA MADE, and more... | [18 Oct 2007|12:36pm] |
Rad! My "San Francisco is crafty!" map has gotten 8,000 12,000 hits and climbing *wow*, thanks to blogging efforts, including the latest one from Christine Loff for SFist! She also blogged about Mafia Made, which is awesome of her too!
In terms of press for Mafia Made, we're the Sunday Pick for events in the SF Bay Guardian, noted in 96 Hours for the SF Chronicle, featured in Flavorpill SF, we're on CRAFT blog, SFist (see above), Jennicakes of The Sampler mentions us in Adorn Magazine's blog, noted on Laughing Squid's Squid List, Apartment Therapy SF and more! =)
Mafia Made 2007 DIY Trunk Show
Sunday October 21, 2007
Hall of Flowers, Golden Gate Park
Across from 9th & Lincoln
$1 suggested donation benefiting SFPCA
Goodie bags will go to the first 100 shoppers! Raffles to benefit the SF SPCA!
Ooh, and even though the website says a DJ to groove to while you're shopping, you'll get about 5 DJ's from another mafia, the Ambient Mafia. Who says mafias have to fight? I love these guys! ;)
|
| Get Made: Mafia Made 2007 | [15 Oct 2007|07:37am] |
It's almost time for Mafia Made! Come on down this Sunday to the Hall of Flowers, in Golden Gate Park, right next to 9th and Lincoln, and shop from 40 of the hottest artists, designers, and all around crafty businesses around.
Major sponsors include Bernina, BUST magazine, CRAFT magazine, Duncan Enterprises, and the Institute of Mosaic Art. Live demonstrations will be offered by Craft Gym and the Institute of Mosaic Art.
Mafia Made 2007
October 21, 2007, 12-5pm @ Hall of Flowers (Golden Gate Park, 9th and Irving)
Free to the public, $1 suggested donation to benefit SF SPCA
Come early for goodie bags for the first 100 shoppers and stay for a raffle of fabulous, crafty prizes!
|
| Blue tree badge | [06 Oct 2007|10:31pm] |
 You saw this badge a little earlier, but I wanted to offer a better close-up of it. This is one of my absolute favorite badges. =)
|
| Google map: SF is crafty! | [06 Oct 2007|09:17pm] |
 CraftyPod and DIY Alert inspired me with a Google map of all the crafty places in Portland. I just created a Google map of all the crafty spots in San Francisco. Check it out!:
View full map
Note: If you have a Gmail account and it's open while you're viewing the map, you're able to save it to "My Maps," so you won't need a separate bookmark.
p.s.-- If I've missed a place, let me know and I'll add it. Thanks!
p.p.s-- It'd be such a great thing to have a crafty city map for all cities so that anyone traveling will know the best crafty places to go. Let's make it happen, folks! =)
Update: Nice, CRAFT's posted the map on their blog this morning. Thanks Natalie and Jenny!
Update #2: Susan Beals posted about the SF map on West Coast Crafty too! Thanks Susan!
|
| Making the biz green | [05 Oct 2007|10:43am] |
I've been working on how to make Feisty Elle more green and I found this great website that lists what you didn't think you could recycle:
21 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle
I got the link from Green Line Paper Company's e-newsletter, which I receive now that I've begun purchasing office supplies from them with a high percentage of recycled content. Green is FEISTY, yo.
|
| the show calendar | [01 Oct 2007|03:43pm] |
Okay, here's my show calendar for the rest of 2007:
Mafia Made (San Francisco, CA): October 21, 2007
Felt Club XL Holiday 2007 (Los Angeles, CA): November 18, 2007
Bazaar Bizarre (San Francisco, CA): December 15, 2007
|
navigation:
viewing:
most recent entries
[ go: earlier]
|
