Not-Your-Mama’s Crafter?
By emilymoesewco on Sep 10, 2011 in Art
Does anyone out there have the aesthetic eye to craft that I describe as “roller derby chicks who knit and weld?” Wanna learn? Let’s make a scene! The revolution will be crafted!
By emilymoesewco on Sep 10, 2011 in Art
Does anyone out there have the aesthetic eye to craft that I describe as “roller derby chicks who knit and weld?” Wanna learn? Let’s make a scene! The revolution will be crafted!
Samplers with swear words?
I know the original Duluth Rollergirls (think Red Lion, not Harbor City Roller Dames used to have a regular stitch-and-bitch. Not sure now.
I’ll pay good money to anyone who can do a cross stitch sampler incorporating the words BITE ME into it.
Zra, that is easily accomplished. May I introduce you to the work of Beefranck?
And the artists of Mr. X Stitch.
Thanks Adam. We’re still at it, though not on a regular basis as in the Red Lion days. Emily, do tell more.
Craft has become a subversive art form in many urban centers in the US (and in fact, the world). This weekend is the annual Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago, perhaps the largest craft fair that celebrates this aesthetic.
By making things ourselves, we’re taking our power back from the corporate monster. It probably started with knitting and the stitch and bitch, and spread across the handmade landscape. So we have taken the forms that our grandmothers worked (embroidery, crochet, jewelry making … anything you can imagine) and made them ours. Men have also joined the ladies in droves.
Knitting becomes graffiti when you tag a sign or a tree.
Embroidery can express the punk/hipster aesthetic as easily as it can make flowers. Check out Subversive Cross Stitch and Sublime Stitching.
Making things yourself is a powerful force. The needle and thread in the right hands is a weapon. And besides, it’s all a lot of fun.
What kind of crafts are you thinking? Let me get my glue sticks and glitter.
I’m looking for like-minded crafters to start gathering a community. Together, we can perhaps create opportunities to show, sell and teach. And just get together and “make.”
I’m a milliner, you can see my work at MoeSewCoMillinery.etsy.com. I also knit and a variety of other things. My husband is an embroidery artist. You can see his work at MoeSewCo.etsy.com.
We like to get together with other stitchers and do “stitch-ins”… basically stitch in public to draw attention to the work, try to change peoples ideas about what craft means and empower them to try to make things themselves.
I am passionate about community building and we are open to all sorts of ideas!
Cool stuff!
I’d be in. Whatcha thinkin?
I would total be up for this sort of project, right now I am into soldering broken plates and mugs, mariaelena @ etsy.com … but I sew, crochet, costume, decoupage … no welding yet!
Hey Emily, Love the idea!
My etsy site: hellogaluchka.etsy.com (Mostly my paper items and Shrinky Dink jewelry, I also sew, knit, crochet, embroider, I love to make just about anything!)
I’d love to see a collaborative community of ‘indie-crafters’ around here, sharing ideas, making connections, showing our work, teaching skills to others. Meeting for coffee, having a group crafting night, etc. Put me on your list! bluntcakes @ gmail.com
Well, most of what I do is too loud to be done in polite company, or any company that wants to be able to hear. But I’d still be interested in learning/participating as I could. Unlike the cool people, my etsy shop (though made) is empty. You can scroll through the pictures at http://livingcopper.blogspot.com/ if you want to get an idea of what I enjoy making, though.
If you’re getting together a group of people or setting up a mailing list, I’d like to be included if I could. I love other peoples’ art, and I DO have a box of ‘quiet’ crafts I haven’t touched in years. liz(dot)needs(dot)change@gmail(dot)com if you want to reach me!
I’m willing to be paid good money for the Bite Me cross-stitch, as long as you don’t mind that it’s embroidered…
Seriously. Let’s talk.
Anyone interested in starting something (or rather, being involved in something that is starting to start) please send your e-mail addresses to adam@moesewco.com. I’ll compile them into a usable list and then we’ll try to organize something.
Likely it’ll be a low-key public stitching thing the first time around. And I’d like to do something soon-ish — before the leaves turn if possible.
Well, I’m not a rollergirl but there is a knitting/craft-type group in Duluth. We will be starting up again this year on Wed. Sept. 28th @ 7pm at Sir Ben’s. We meet every Weds. nights @ 7pm thereafter! Anyone is welcome to join in (also any level). You can email me any time:
a-myall@hotmail.com
Yeah, it would look awesome above my coffee maker.