A Different Take on Japanese Kimono by Lynn Forman

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I became interested in reusing vintage kimono pieces several years ago when I discovered the work of Kumiko Sudo.  She is a Japanese fiber artist who incorporates asian influences and sensibilities into her quilts.  I began to work through two of her books, Fabled Flowers, and Flower Origami, learning how she uses fabric origami, sashiko embroidery, and hand-stitched applique. 

 

 

 

I began to wonder how kimono silk would fare with origami techniques as embellishment for clothing, so I ordered assorted vintage kimono pieces from a shop on etsy and got started.  I quickly realized that the beautiful prints were lost in the folding process and switched to using solid satin in the folded embellishments I use on some of my scarves and small purses.

 

 

I adapted her hand sewing techniques to machine sewing.  Here are some of my interpretations:

  

 

 

 

 

I then experimented with piecing prints together for my scarves allowing each individual print it’s moment(similar to when it was part of a kimono), but also having it becoming part of one beautiful patchwork combination, ( a totally new life).  

 

 

 

When I discovered wool and cotton kimono pieces, I wanted to try heavier scarves and fabric bowls.  I used solid wool to offset the beautiful colors and patterns in the wool kimono pieces.I also made which could be also used by men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the bowls..... Kimono fabric is approximately 14” wide, perfect for fabric bowls.  In order to showcase each beautiful design, I chose a very simple square or slight rectangle with minimal shaping.  The backing is either hopsack cotton, linen, or denim, all of which are heavier woven fabrics and complement the weave and design of the cotton kimono pieces.

 

 

 Stop by Boutique 208 to see these creations in person.

 

 

Introducing our Featured Member Area

{{ Our Artists Speak }}

- - an ongoing feature  - -

 Charmed by Jenn

As you step into Boutique 208 and look to your right, you will find our new

 "Featured Member Area."  

Every 2 weeks this area will change to showcase a different member.

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For the next 2 weeks, Jennifer Baldauf of Charmed by Jenn will be our featured artist.  She has been creating an array of art for longer than she can remember, but has put her focus on jewelry over the past 10 years.

Jennifer is showcasing her embossed designs in the featured area.  In order to make these intricate pieces, she starts with a blank piece of natural brass (all nickel-free and lead-free, so that's good news for those with metal allergies!), then she embosses her desired design into the metal, and goes through a sanding and buffing stage that raises the metal.  Once this process is complete, she then adds color with metal patinas, and finally seals the color in with a metal glaze which protects the design for decades to come.  Each design is meticulously hand-crafted and created with much attention to detail and love.  All designs made by Charmed by Jenn are one-of-a-kind originals!  Jennifer believes that you are all unique, and your jewelry should reflect that!

Jennifer Baldauf also creates many pieces of beaded jewelry.  You can find her bead work in a separate area of the shop.  For the next 2 weeks, all of her beaded earrings are priced at $10 with a buy 2/get 1 free special.  Her beaded bracelets have all been reduced to $15 (usually retailing for $25-$50), and her beaded necklaces have been priced $25 (regular retail of $30-$65). 

Please stop in and purchase one of her designs!

Spa Party on Friday, February 8th, 2013

On Friday, February 8, 2013, from 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm., stop by Boutique 208 for our spa party and  treat your senses: Taste: Complimentary Champagne spritzers and appetizers. Touch: A fabulous array of skin care products available to sample. Smell: Various scents of natural soy candles and skin care products to choose from. Hear: Fascinating information about handmade, natural products, including the benefits of using natural soy and skin care products. See: Creative locally handmade art, accessories, home goods and health and beauty products. Featuring products by:    Natrielle Body Care - All natural handmade cold process and hand-milled artisan soap, lotions, butters, & balms.   Design by Noon - 100% natural soy candles in a variety of colors and scents. DBN is an eco-friendly company. Please take a look at our event invite on Facebook and RSVP if you can attend.  We hope to see you there!     

A Clever Handmade Holiday Shopping Event

 

 

On Saturday, December 15, 2012, from 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Boutique 208 is proud to host "A Clever Handmade Holiday Shopping Event" to assist with your last minute  holiday shopping needs.  For more details, take a look at the Facebook event listing.

 

This event features a trunk show by  Bel Monili and juNxtaposition, who are both offering free gift wrapping for any of your purchases from either of them. 

Enjoy this last minute shopping event featuring wine, crudites, and free parking!

This Holiday Season, the Pittsburgh Parking Authority has given us the greatest gift of all—free Garage Parking on Saturdays! The Free Holiday Parking Program will run until December 22, and features free garage parking from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturdays. Participating Downtown garages include: Third Avenue Garage, Smithfield Liberty Garage, Oliver Garage, Fi
rst Avenue Garage, Wood Allies Garage, Ft. Duquesne and 6th Garage, 9th and Penn Garage, and the Grant Street Transportation Garage.

 

Finish up your holiday shopping while you support local artisans!

Handmade Arcade

Handmade Arcade, now in its ninth year, brings young, innovative crafters and progressive do-it-yourself designers to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on December 8, 2012 to sell, their handmade, locally produced, and offbeat wares at a bustling marketplace. 

 

This event provides craft artists working outside mainstream and fine arts sectors with a grassroots, high-visibility venue to sell wares, build community, network, and share their artistic practice.

 

With last year's event, Handmade Arcade found a new eco-friendly home at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center which allows them to continue their commitment to the environment through the convention center's green practices (www.greenfirst.us).  This new home also provides space for more vendors than ever before (150+), the addition of new areas to feature demonstration artists, DJs, and musicians.  The central downtown location is accessible via car, bus, T, bike, and foot and there is extensive on- and off-site parking.

Situated on-site, near the vendors, their welcoming Hands-on Handmade area features a variety of drop-in, short, and day-long interactive programs — including craft demonstrations, mini-tutorials, make-and-take activities, craft competitions, and art installations — all designed to bridge the gap between consumers and creators. 

 

Don't miss your chance to support local artists and purchase unique handmade holiday gifts for those on your list at this year's event.  Remember, you're not only supporting local artists, but your local economy as well.  According to The 3/50 Project, a national small business advocacy group, for every $100.00 that is spent at a small, local business, $68.00 will return to the community. (Info from "5 Benefits to Shopping on Small Business Saturday" FORBESWOMAN, November 11, 2011)

 

Several of our artist members at the boutique will be vending at this event, including:

 

Barker’s Herbs & Heirlooms
bel monili by l.marlane
Designs by Samantha
Everyday Balloons

juNxtaposition

Recycled Reads

Several of our consignment vendors will be there as well. 

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for your chance to win a pair of Early Birdie Passes. These passes are $15.00 each and are available for purchase online or at Wild Card in Lawrenceville. Each pass provides shoppers with the exclusive opportunity to shop one hour before the event opens to the public. Early Birdie shoppers will have first pick to purchase all the unique and one-of-a-kind items that crafters will be selling and be given a bag full of goodies and coupons. (Children 12 and under are admitted free with an adult.)

We hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Made It! for the Holidays

 

I Made It! Market, the city’s nomadic indie craft marketplace, will pop into Bakery Square for their sixth annual I Made It! for the Holidays event. This year’s event features more than 90 local artisans selling all handmade wares. Shoppers can meet and talk with the artists who are our neighbors throughout the Pittsburgh region on Friday, November 30 from 5 pm - 10 pm and Saturday, December 1 from 11 am - 6 pm.

Friday’s festivities include the lighting of Bakery Square’s building in red to acknowledge World AIDS Awareness Day by the Delta Foundation. On Saturday, a pop up beer garden will be hosted by Tapped and Santa will be on site to pose for pictures. 

Last year I Made It! Market welcomed 7,000 shoppers over the two-day event. This year’s artists will include a diverse mixture of goods including ceramics, housewares, jewelry, clothing, bath and body products, giftware, prints, letterpress, sweet treats, plush, children’s items and much more.

This pop up marketplace offers shoppers the opportunity to shop for all of their holiday needs in one space, choosing handmade and local offerings. The makers will be on hand to share their passion for creating unique products and will often work with customers to produce custom orders just in time for the holidays.

Each purchase made at I Made It! Market benefits our local micro economy by supporting an artist from our region who is able to continue to make a living through their art, some even sourcing their materials locally. Additionally, many I Made It! artists utilize repurposed or recycled materials in the creation of new ones including plush, clothing, jewelry, accessories, and more.

Several of the artist members at the boutique will be exhibiting their wares at this market including:

After Dinner Designs http://imadeitmarket.com/after-dinner-designs-2/
Barker's Herbs & Heirlooms http://imadeitmarket.com/barkers-herbs-heirlooms/
Bel Monili  http://imadeitmarket.com/bel-monili/
Bonne Amy http://imadeitmarket.com/bonne-amy/
Designs by Samantha http://imadeitmarket.com/designs-by-samantha/
Everyday Balloons http://imadeitmarket.com/everyday-balloons/
Junxtaposition http://imadeitmarket.com/junxtaposition/

Neighborhood Blonde http://imadeitmarket.com/neighborhood-blonde/

Recycled Reads http://imadeitmarket.com/recycled-reads/

 

The I Made It! Market creates events with a two-fold mission in mind: to provide the opportunity for regional craftspeople to establish small businesses and to partner with non-profit, arts, and community groups to raise awareness and financial assistance for their causes.

Partner with IMI!: For more information including sponsorship and partnerships, or to vend at a future I Made It! Market event, contact info@imadeitmarket.com.

 

Access a listing of all participating artists: http://imadeitmarket.com/i-made-it-for-the-holidays-2012-2/

Find their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/imadeitmarket

Their Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/117011748449077

And find them on Twitter @imadeitmarket

 

 

Plaid Friday & Small Business Saturday

Support the numerous independant businesses in Pittsburgh (or wherever you live) this holiday season.

Today, in the mass consumer world, is Black Friday.  Instead, we ask that you support Plaid Friday.

The name Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of independent businesses. Plaid Friday is the fun and enjoyable alternative to the big box store "Black Friday", and is designed to promote both local and independently owned businesses during the holidays.

Plaid Friday was conceptualized in Oakland, CA, a city known for strong shop local campaigns. Plaid Friday brings back the nostalgic times when shopping for friends and family was a pleasurable leisurely activity.

 

Tomorrow, Saturday November 24th, is Small Business Saturday.  Please stop by and visit us and support the numerous artists who sell their handmade items in our boutique.  From the American Express Shop Small Website, "Small Business Saturday is a day for everyone — from the business owners who create jobs to the customers who buy locally — to support small businesses that invigorate the economy and keep communities thriving.

 

It began in 2010 when American Express founded Small Business Saturday to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. Last year, over 100 million people came out to shop at independently-owned small businesses on the day. Now, in its third year, Small Business Saturday will be even bigger."

If you're wondering why you keep hearing so many pleas to shop small & to shop local, it's mainly due to the difference in economic impact your spending makes.  Shopping at a big box store sends much of your money out of your community.  Sure, members of your local community are employed at those stores and receive a paycheck that they may spend in your local economy, but small, locally owned businesses keep much more of your money in your community.  From an article in the Raleigh News Observer, "Smaller retailers return a total of 51.1 percent of revenue to the local economy, while national chains, such as Barnes & Noble and Target, return an average of 13.6 percent of revenue within the market that hosts the store, according to an impact study by Civic Economics of Austin, Texas. The research firm compared the economic impacts of independent, locally owned businesses in Raleigh with major national chains." 

 

Thanks for shopping at our small business, and the other local small businesses in our area.  American Express offers a great graphic to explain the importance here.