Pretzel Pin Cushion via "While She Naps"

I thought this was appropriate as a Philly craft, although Abby from whileshenaps.typepad.com lives in Wellesley, Mass.

Check it out here!



It reminded me a Vaudvillain NYB mummer from 2010.  I wish I could find a postable picture, but you can just look at their website's photo album: http://vaudevillainsnyb.wordpress.com/home/photos/

South Philly Fall Fest - October 21, 2012

I love East Passyunk.  I love handmade and vintage items.  And I love October 21, because it's my birthday!  So the South Philly Fall Fest, presented by Sweet Jane and Lucky 13 Pub, is possibly the most perfect combination of things possible.

For more info, check out the Facebook page, or Sweet Jane Vintage's website.  

PS: While you're there, check out the awesome handmade-ness of the following stores: 

• Nice Things
• Nicole Rae Styer Boutique (and studio/workshop!)
• Fabric Horse

And also get some homefries at Chhaya...some craft beers at the Bottle Shop... some gelato at Capogiro.... some vintage housewares at Era Atomica... Good lord, I've already spent about $300 in my head, and it's only Thursday!

Upcoming Event: Go West Craft Fest

I saw a postcard for this event in the South Street Whole Foods.  

So here are the details, in case you can't read my phone's snapshot:

Saturday, September 29, from 11-5.  

At the Woodlands (http://www.woodlandsphila.org/)

I'm very excited, since the Perseverance Jazz Band will be performing at noon!  Crafts and New Orleans jazz, just south of Penn's campus.  Sweet!

Crafting for a new cat!

I recently adopted a 4 year old orange cat from Rescue Express, thanks to a flyer put up at the South Street Whole Foods on South Street.  Even though they are officially located in Media, at least one of their foster homes is in South Philly, near my house!

So our household welcomed Seamus last week.

And do you see that nifty collar on him?  I personalized it!

First, I bought the collar from Accent on Animals, although I wish they had a green one in stock.  But I was impatient, so I thought a red collar for a ginger cat would do as well.

Just your basic breakaway collar with a bell, which Seamus does not appreciate.

Then, with some cotton embroidery thread and a quilting sharp, since I was too lazy to go looking through my craft room for a bigger eye needle, I backstitched away!

I also put my cell phone number, in case our new pal goes running, but of course there is no need to show my cell phone number to the internet!  

someone else please do this: the Phemale Phanatic costume

So I've been obsessed with Philly costume ideas, even though I am being something totally different this year.  Nonetheless, I don't want my creativity to go to waste; maybe someone else can use my idea to create something awesome.  Behold, my collage for a Sexy Phillies Mascot, aka....

• Green lipstick or facepaint
• Blue eyeshadow
• A Phillies jersey or tee
• White shoes or sneakers
• Green long sleeve tee 
• Green tutu
• Red tights

Now I pulled all these items off the internet with easy searches, but a lot of similar items are probably lurking in your closet and make-up drawer.  The long sleeve tee comes from Target, the red tights from ModCloth, and the shoes from Payless.  I also thought that a green feather boa wrapped around the hips, or sewn to a miniskirt, could serve in place of the tutu.

Bonus items for the costume:

A Green Wig

Green Arm Length gloves (instead of the long sleeve T)

Or a blue poof for your hair

crafty places in our city: make

Places to Make Stuff

NextFab Studio - Located on Market Street in University City, this organization is encouraging people to try new fabrication technologies, learn new skills, and understand what exactly is available for modern makers.  They will have a new facility in the undefinable neighborhood of "Southwest Center City," "Graduate Hospital," or "Gray's Ferry" depending on who you ask.  Although they boast a lot of tech-heavy arts in their curriculum, like Making your own 3D Printers and various digital graphic courses, they also have more traditional "craft" offerings, like wordwork, machine sewing and embroidery, and working with metals.

Spool - As mentioned before on this blog, Spool is now fully dedicated to sewing classes.

Also, Spool is right next door to Loop, which is a bonus for knitter/sewer hybrids who need supplies and/or classes.

Philadelphia Woodworks - Located in Roxborough, just a little ways from Manayunk, you can use a 5000+ wood shop to make projects on your own, as well as learn just how and what to do with their various tools and machines.

Craft Foundry - In the hipster-heaven known  as Fishtown, one can find a little shop dedicated to such niche crafts as bookbinding, paper crafts, precious metal clay sculpting, and jewelry making.

The Expressive Hand - Probably the most unique craft studio in Philadelphia, this shop blends pottery painting and American Sign Language.  You can drop in for classes, plan parties, or hang out during happy hours.  Besides pottery painting, this shop offers mosaic making, an intro to ASL, and glass fusing.

Philly neighborhood sampler

I recently finished this cross stitch sampler of some of the parts of town, although I have yet to get it framed.

I wanted to try to get some of my favorite named places in,  but I also had to consider ones that fit my design. That's how Olney made the cut. 

Also, I had to learn a few things. For instance, Old City is not spelled "olde".  And that there is such a place called Strawberry Mansion.

I'd really like to make another two samplers like this, in slightly different colorways, showcasing other sections of town.  Then I could display them a triptych. How cool would that be?

News: Spool is no longer a fabric store

I was quite surprised and, I'll be honest, a little dismayed that Spool, located at 1912 South Street, Phila, Pa, is no longer a retail store.  They have now gone "full time" as a class studio.  Read all about it on their website, http://www.spoolsewing.com/.

It's really a shame.  I loved browsing and buying their selection of modern, funky cottons and oilcloths.  But then again, their store hours were never that great, so maybe it's for the best.

I should add that they have a small selection of online store items.  But why would I want to pay for shipping and wait when they are only 9 blocks from my house?