If you care about good design in what you create and what you purchase, you must see the film Objectified. It’s part of the design trilogy that began with Helvetica, and is specifically about manufactured items and the processes of making good design decisions. It teaches us to think about the objects we use each day. Why do we use them? Do they add value to our lives? What were the designers thinking when they created them? Do they care only about money or will they think long & hard about the users’ needs? And, are they thinking sustainably?
No only does this film push me think critically about the design, value, and sustainability of what I buy, but also about the items I create. I don’t want my life cluttered with wasteful junk and short-lived objects destined for the landfills. I think it’s great to spend our time, money, and resources on things that are of greatest value.
My favorite thing about new babies is that they can’t protest when I dress them up as silly things for Halloween. My older girls have opinions now and I can only do so much to sway them, but not Cressida. Cressida can’t tell me that she doesn’t want to be Mr. H Horrible Hair because he’s a boy and she’s a girl. Or that she thinks the green crochet eye-lash yarn hat is a bit too much. Or that Mr. H isn’t magical and all costumes should be of magical things.
For those of you not born in the late 70s/early 80s, this is Mr. H Horrible Hair. The Letter People are a new hit in our house, so even though Olivia and Elise don’t want to be him, they sure are glad that Cressida is going to be.
This really super blogger and mom, xoelle, made a stop motion video for the HP You on You contest and she is in the semi-finals. I have been reading her for a few months and oogle-ing her crafts and I wanted to share this with you.
She handmade all the miniprops and the dress for the movie and narrates her story herself. I am truly impressed and wish her the best. Head over to the YouTube page and give her a thumbs up if you love it. I really hope she wins!
I just watched the documentary Garbage Warrior from Netflix. I was expecting to learn about a modern trash collector, but it’s actually about an architect, Michael Reynolds, who’s frustrated with the status quo of how we build homes. His buildings are sustainable, but beyond that he uses typical trash items in construction…items such as tires, beer cans, and wine bottles. Plus he integrates energy & water systems that require little or no utility bills. The problem is, he has to fight legal battles for permission to build these experimental homes. My favorite part is how Reynolds & his team go to tsunami & hurricane devastated areas to help with rebuilding. Overall, it encouraged me to continue looking for smart ways to reuse things and also, it taught me more about building homes smartly so they don’t require outside energy use.
I bought the Reconstruct DVD by Jeanee Leadoux with host Garth Johnson. They teach 11 step-by-step home decor projects, all from recycled materials or things you already have around the house. My favorite projects are the Stenciled Pillow (I learned how to use freezer paper in your printer), the Book Shelf (made with an actual book), and the Starry Blender (I’m inspired to paint my appliances!) I like the uniqueness & variety of the projects. Plus the instruction is clear, and the chemistry between Jeanee & Garth is pretty fun to watch.
I often make custom earrings to match specific shirts & outfits. And after the initial purchase of my pliers & wire cutters, the actual bead & metal supplies are fairly inexpensive. I can often make a set of earrings for $1 or $2, depending on how expensive the beads are. These step-by-step instructions (in video & written/photo format) are designed to teach a beginner how to make earrings. So be brave & post a photo to our Flickr pool to share how yours turn out!
I first heard of this video with Annie Leonard when commenter, Tabitha, suggested it on our site. Then I saw it mentioned again and again on other sites and finally I checked it out. I wanted to share it with our readers , not because the subject is unfamiliar, but because her argument is so strong and clear.
After watcing the Story of Stuff I was reminded, as I need to be over and over, to be aware of the amount of things I throw away. I often choose to buy second hand, which ends the chain of consumption on one end. But unless I make and effort to reuse all of the items that I purchase, or just purchase less items in the first place, I am still adding to that pile of stuff that doesn’t really go away. It’s a truth that can’t be avoided.
So watch The Story of Stuff, and think about how you are contributing to the chain. I don’t pretend to think I can make every wise purchase, and every wise decision. But as we all grow more aware, we will be making better choices over all. And that’s all I can hope for.
Here’s a simple craft to make for your children who like to make up stories or do puppet shows. These sturdy toys are small enough for bringing along on roadtrips, customizable for the tastes of many different children, and open ended in the way they can be played with. They are coated with Mod Podge, so they are stiff and water resistant, though I would not give these to a child who likes to put things in their mouth. Use discretion on age appropriateness, I made these for a child less than 2, but I knew she would not mouth it. When in doubt, and up is a good rule of thumb.
To make this project you will need paper images from books and magazines, recycled cardboard from food packaging, and cardstock. You will also need a pair of sharp scissors and an x-acto knife or other craft knife. To secure the multiple layers together you will need an all purpose craft glue and Mod Podge to coat the final toy. You may also want to find some plastic toy stands (like the kind from board games) so that the dolls and toys will stand up. The instructions for assembling the craft are in the video tutorial below.
I just finished watching the video “Craft in America”. It’s a three-part (and 3-hour) video interviewing artists on three topics-memory, landscape, and community. I rented the movie from Netflix, but found you can also watch it on the Craft in America website.
Overall I enjoyed the video and gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. It was ripe with pithy thoughts about why artists are compelled to create, how their craft connects them with their past (personally and culturally), how nature, politics, and culture drives craft, and how the craft community is a support system to crafters.
A quote resonated with me from the section about landscape. An artist said, ” You perfect your craft, and then you start putting your voice into it…and your heart.” This put words to what I’ve been thinking about. I’ve spent a number of years learning my crafts, and each day I learn more and continue to refine my skills, but as far as my particular voice, that’s something I know I’m developing. This quote reminded me that this process is a natural progression, and it will come with time.
Now although there were many interesting aspects of the video, I was personally disappointed because all the artists were a generation or two older than me. I didn’t feel like my craft community had been represented! But it’s good to get a glimpse of the artists who have lived before me and are passing along their craft and wisdom to the next generations. And if that’s what you’re looking for, this video is well done & interesting for that perspective.
E2 is a PBS series about being environmentally conscious. Today I watched a season 3 episode called Superuse (got it from Netflix.) It’s about an architectural company (2012 Architects) in the Netherlands and the amazing design they create with reused items. They also have an online community where designers & architects can share their inventive ways of recycling.
In the photo to the right is one of 2012 Architects projects, a bar made from building trash. Another favorite from the video is the shoe store shelves made from car windows.
If you care about good design in what you create and what you purchase, you must see the film Objectified. It’s part of the design trilogy that began with Helvetica, and is specifically about manufactured items and the processes of making good design decisions. It teaches us to think about the objects we use each day. Why do we use them? Do they add value to our lives? What were the designers thinking when they created them? Do they care only about money or will they think long & hard about the users’ needs? And, are they thinking sustainably?
I often make custom earrings to match specific shirts & outfits. And after the initial purchase of my pliers & wire cutters, the actual bead & metal supplies are fairly inexpensive. I can often make a set of earrings for $1 or $2, depending on how expensive the beads are. These step-by-step instructions (in video & written/photo format) are designed to teach a beginner how to make earrings. So be brave & post a photo to our 
I just finished watching the video “Craft in America”. It’s a three-part (and 3-hour) video interviewing artists on three topics-memory, landscape, and community. I rented the movie from Netflix, but found you can also watch it on the 
