Twitter

I gave in and joined twitter. I'm not entirely sure how to best make use of it. But I'm having fun finding all my friends and favorite makers. Follow along with me as I try to navigate yet another social media site! @crudecrafts

Thank You!

The Small Press Fair was just as amazing as ever. I am always so touched and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the Buffalo Arts Community. A special thanks belongs to Chris Fritton the fair organizer. I really don't know how he manages to pull it all off, but I sure appreciate it!

 

I'm deep in recovery mode right now but will be posting new items in my shop soon, so stay tuned!!

Buffalo Small Press Book Fair: TOMORROW!!

The 5th Annual Small Press Book Fair

Saturday, March 19th 12-6pm

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

Porter Hall @ 453 Porter Avenue 

I can't believe it's already March! I've been working a lot of different jobs lately (7 at last count) and its meant this little blog has been getting neglected. I'm looking forward to some more "free time" in the near future and hope to begin posting more regularly. In the meantime- come see what I've been up to at the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair!

The Fair always marks the beginning of spring for me and its always such an amazing event. This year's fair will feature over 100 local and regional vendors along with a variety of workshops and presentations. Come join in on the fun!

So, you might ask. What will I have on hand at this year's festival? I suppose I could give you a little peak....

 

And so, so much more... but you have to come by to see it all. Hope you can join us!!

Need a last minute Valentine's gift?

Stop by Can Can Candy on Elmwood Ave (across from the co-op) and pick up one of my new recycled wool heart ornaments. $6 each or two for $10.

In season

I've been knitting for about 5 years now. And every time I start out to make something for myself, half way through I decided someone else should have it, or that its not quite right so I rip it out. At long last I made this little neck scarf just for me and me only!

It's made from my favorite yarn Suss Love, it's 100% tactel nylon which is the softest (though definitely not the least expensive!) stuff I've ever touched in my life. The color is "love red" - so its very seasonal of me! It's from a pattern that I believe originally was published in a Martha Stewart Living magazine, though I've seen it many other places. The pattern is available for free - here.

I don't think I'll be able to take this off for months!

Love for Sale

Photos by Percy W. Oaks

A sneak peek of the new works I'm making for the upcoming group exhibition at Studio Hart "Love for Sale." It's curated by the amazing Molly Jarboe and opens February 4th.

More details to follow soon. See you THERE.

Heart Breaking

By now everyone has heard about the shooting in Arizona. While I always find violence upsetting, these events have upset me in a way I never would have expected. Hearing about it, and reading the stories breaks my heart. I've found myself a little obsessed, reading every article that gets posted.

I want to hear from my congressman, my senators, my president, I want to hear what they all have to say for themselves. We're all "sorry" and "sending our prayers," just as we should.

But what do we do now? What does anyone have to say for themselves? We've been all letting it go, passively accepting these things and look whats happened. People are dead. So what do we all have to say now? I don't want platitudes. I want answers, action and responsibility.

I am always upset by the use of violent metaphors from anyone but especially in politicians. To use cross hairs over a district in advertising campaigns, to say you want to "take out" your opponents, or suggest "second amendment solutions" to the country's problems is as offensive as it is irresponsible, and people on both sides of the isle are to blame. I'm tired of people not taking responsibility for their actions. I don't tolerate it in my students (suggesting that they just made -fill in the blank- because they felt like) and I won't accept it anyone else. Words have meaning and actions have consequences. If you run around suggesting violence you can't act shocked and offer trite "well he/she misunderstood me...." comments when it comes back to bite you. Enough is Enough!

In the wake of the mass shooting of some 20 people, including a NINE YEAR OLD GIRL, we must end the violent rhetoric that has exploded over the past few years. I may be young, but I'm old enough to have seen a change in American politics. Disagreeing, and spirited conversations are how we grow as a society, how we find the best options for all of us. When did we start deciding that there was only one way to be, to be an American? I think of my family, my friends and even those of you I hold nearest and dearest to my heart and I know that even we don't agree on everything, and I prefer it that way.

Anyway, I signed this petition, its calling on every member of Congress, as well as the major TV news networks, to put an end to any overt or implied appeals to violence in our political debate, and I hope you will too.

I know, its a petition, not a solution. But its a first step.

http://pol.moveon.org/debatenothate/?r_by=-11755602-B6xDQBx&rc=confemail