Posts tagged ‘events’

Our Art Supplies Swap was really great even though it was a small group of only 10 of us.  I think it’s because the sun was shining & it reached 40 degrees outside for the first time in months.

Everyone generously brought lots of art supplies and found useful things to take home.  The few boxes of leftovers were donated to the Firestone Branch of Akron-Summit County Public Library for their craft programs.

5 people brought handmade items for the gift exchange.  Mary made the purple hat (this pic of it on the table doesn’t do it justice.  This hat looks amazing with the bunched area worn off to the side and it sits loose & casually on the head).  Megan made the wire wrapped clip (for recipes or labeling foods at a party).  I made the fringe earrings.  Devonna made the apron from a repurposed skirt.  And Martha, the owner of Craft Akron, made the hand-dyed yarn.

The plan is to have the next swap in late summer or early fall.  So you have plenty of time to sort through your stash.

Our Swap is Saturday!  Here’s a pic of all the stuff I’m bringing…spray paint, candle making supplies, beads, magazines, sizzix dies, gold leafing, mosaic adhesive & grout, and other odds & ends.  Plus, I’m busy getting refreshments ready.  I’m making chocolate fondue and a cheese ball with crackers.

tool demo @ jewelry & metal arts guild meeting

Saturday I crammed in an Ohio Jewelry & Metal Arts Guild meeting & a quick stop to Zero Landfill. The Guild meeting was their first anniversary celebration.  They had displays of members’ work, a destash where members could bring tools/beads they don’t need anymore & trade for other items, and the demonstration was about the different types of tools for wireworking.  I’ve done some wireworking, so I was familiar with most of the tools.  But the most valuable part for me was holding all the tools to see how they handle.  I’m trying to learn the differences between, for example, a $10 pair of pliers & $60 pair.  I’m very comfortable & content with my $10 pair and have been wondering what the benefits are for upgrading.

zero landfill finds

At Zero Landfill, I got lots of fabric samples, a few wall covering samples, and a huge roll of textured wall covering, all for free!  The event is every Saturday in February, so there are still some dates to stop by.

I’m getting signs, name tags, & refreshment plans ready for our Art Supplies Swap next Saturday (Feb 20).  And today I made this pair of fringe earrings for the handmade gift exchange which is after the Swap.

The gift exchange part of the event is completely optional, but if you plan on exchanging, you’re welcome to post a sneak peek in our Clever Nesting Flickr pool.  It’d be fun to see who’s coming too.

I’ve got a date to teach my Journal Class coming up in the next couple of weeks. I’ve had a quite a few people interested in taking it so I want to make sure you all get the memo.

We’ll be at Craft Akron working on our handbinding skills on Thursday, February 18th, from 2pm to 4pm.

You can even sign up for the class online here. Isn’t that convenient? I’m really looking forward to the class, hope to see you there. Oh, and bring a friend!

Lots of great items were brought to our first swap!

Clever Nesting is hosting our second Art Supplies Swap in February.  Bring your art & craft supplies, books/magazines, plus anything else that may be repurposed or reused creatively. This is an opportunity to clear out unused supplies & get some new ones, plus network with other creatives. Extra supplies will be donated to local nonprofits.

Immediately following the swap, you’re welcome to participate in a handmade gift exchange.  You’ll share your creative work & take home a gift as well. All you need to do is bring an original handmade item with your contact info included.

Event Info:  Saturday February 20 1-2:30pm at Craft Akron.  Cost is $5 which covers refreshments & room rental.

Items from last year's Zero Landfill

If you’re artistic & want to build your stash of recycled supplies, come to Zero Landfill!  It’s an event where architects, interior designers, and graphic designers donate their discontinued samples & materials so that artists & teachers can collect & reuse them.  You’ll find paint samples, tiles, carpets, wallpaper books, fabric samples, and binders, and you can have them for free!

The event will be happening in downtown Akron every Saturday in February from noon-3pm at 30 N. High Street.    Plus they have events on the calendar in Chattanooga, TN & Cleveland, OH.

I know this update is a little last minute, but I wanted to post about my class at Craft Akron tomorrow. I have been finding time to put the kits together, but not to write my post!

Tomorrow in class, using silk, ribbon, lace, wool and jewelry scraps we will make attractive and versatile head pieces called “fascinators” in time for your Valentine’s Day date. Kit will include everything you need for your project. If there is something you’d like to use for your piece, please bring it to class.

Date: Saturday, January 23
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Cost: $20 plus $5 kit fee.

Tomorrow is the Last Minute Market, put together by Cleveland Handmade. Jenn from Landen Road Designs and I will be splitting a booth so come on up and see us if you’re in the Cleveland area. I will be selling items from my Templeton line of crafts, which are pictured here. I have headbands, fascinators, aprons and children’s dresses made from repurposed men’s shirts. All items are made from repurposed fabrics.

Jenn will be selling her buttons, wool, and zipper headbands. We make a good team, and we really like laughing, so you’ll have fun if you come see us.

If I weren’t selling at the Last Minute Market, I’d be coming to Colleen’s Fringe Earring Class! I tried to make fringe earrings for a Christmas Party outfit last year and they looked terrible. I might have to take the class the next time through.

Come Saturday to Craft Akron’s Holiday Open House for free make & takes and some handmade gift shopping.  I’m teaching these tags for one of the free crafts.

The background papers are just small leftover papers from larger projects, and the flower & tree are made from pages of an old song book.  The “Happy Birthday” & “Merry Christmas” are stamped.