cathy of california

the jack frost rug book, 1971

with projects like "the regal eagle", "add a slice of orange", "american way pillow", and "let's do the shag again" who can resisit?

(from the jack frost rug book 1971)

even more stuff in my shop

you might recall the "serendipity in hi-straw" post i did a couple of months ago. well, i recently came across a box filled with a whole bunch of packages of the "perforated motifs" (AKA plastic canvas) just like the ones that were used in "serendipity in hi-straw".

since i'm not really a card carrying member of the plastic canvas cult (well i did keep some for myself-i really like those flowers) i just listed all of them in my etsy shop. please feel free to buy in bulk!

i just updated my shop

i just updated shop with a few more kits and some vintage craft straw 3 packs!

just in case you didn't believe me

here's the bin of the pacakges that i have assembled so far. each one contains 3 skeins (around 24 yards each) of vintage craft straw originally sold under names like swistraw, ribbon straw, strawtex, hi-straw and the like. i have packaged them in coordinating or complimentary colors. this is all vintage and i have tried my best to use the ones i get that are in the best condition.

i will be posting a few in my shop at some point tomorrow.

don't let this craft die!

i got a big envelope in today's mail. of course it was more vintage flower loom stuff for the kits. there was also a little note from the seller thanking me and asking that i "don't let this craft die!". well debi of collecthappy815 you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

aurora crispin & uncle grandma

i finally got to visit the curiosity shoppe while i was in san francisco. it's such a cute little place and the show in their gallery made me happier than i should probably admit. let's just say the overuse of googly eyes is right up my alley.

please go here to see some highlights from the show.

big mouth strikes again...

many of us have our "secret sources" - i certainly do. it's good to share but sometimes you don't want everyone to know where you find your special things. there is a shop in the bay area that is a very famous well kept secret and i finally had a chance to visit. now i would normally also want to keep a special store like this a secret but i feel compelled to tell the world about this one because it's just so extra special.

exclusive buttons is located in el cerrito which is just a little north of berkeley. it's been on my list of places to visit when i'm town but i never seemed to be able to get around to it - and boy am i kicking myself now that i had been blowing it off all this time. it's a very tiny shop with more buttons that you will probably ever see in one place at one time. it's very neatly organized and lovingly maintained.

i had the pleasure of meeting mary who now runs the shop on her own since her husband vince passed away last year. she told me about their wholesale business and how they started the shop. mary proudly told me that "none of our buttons are plastic" and showed me some amazing bakelite and glass buttons that are stored in tiny little drawers. it's so cool to meet someone who has so much passion about something and continues to work at it into their older years.

i really didn't need anything but i did buy a few cards of buttons (one for me and some to give as gifts) but i kind of felt like i wanted to have one of each button so i could somehow hold on to the experience of being in that store forever. i actually got a little teared up as i walked out the door.

exclusive buttons
10252 san pablo ave
el cerrito, ca
510/524-5606
open fri + sat 11am - 4 pm

and since i was in the hood i also made the pilgrimage to tail of the yak in berkeley.

maker faire "recap" + a big thanks to everybody

well there i am in action at my workshop. how about that overhead projection? i was even wearing a microphone! with those skills i think i can finally apply for my dream job as demonstrator for "a touch of purple" at the county fair. i think i actually taught a few people how to use the looms. thanks to everyone who came by to watch. and special thanks to natalie from craft: for inviting me to do the workshop + for her ongoing support!

maker faire/bazaar bizarre was a blast and i am exhausted. i sold a whole bunch of the kits and a few other things. we were in pretty tight quarters so i'm glad that i had some really great neighbors like cathy and tamie. and once again jamie and her crew did an amazing job organizing this year's bazaar. thanks to everyone who stopped by my table - it was a pleasure meeting you.

other than my demo i was not able to get away from my table very much at all. but i was able to sneak away to see garth from extreme craft's slide presentation. i may never fully recover. do not miss him if he comes to your town.

i'd better run since there's no rest for me because i now have to prepare for renegade in brooklyn next month!

(images via natalie's flickr)

bazaar bizarre/maker fair is tomorrow!

i am so excited to once again be a vendor at bazaar bizarre/maker faire on may 3-4 at the san mateo expo center (that's just a little south of san francisco). please check out this video podcast of last's year's event so you can see what all of the fuss is about!

i'll be selling some of my vintage flower loom kits along with some of my other handicrafts. i will also be teaching the "create ribbon straw flowers on vintage flower looms" workshop/demo on sunday from 2:00 - 2:30.

please stop by my table and say hi!

i think i'm all set for bazaarbizarre/maker faire

i'm tossing these new ribbon straw flower pins (and a whole bunch of other stuff) in my car and heading up to the bay area. see you there!

(p.s. sorry about the sucky lighting! i think i really need to get a tabletop studio)