dang argyle

DIYpsi recap

2011-12-13T23:19:00.004-05:00

last weekend was our final craft fair of the year... DIYpsi at corner brewery in ypsilanti. what a fun show! after scrambling all week to restock the dang goods to have plenty of new goodies at the show, the show was somewhat low key and a super good time. it was great neighboring with heather of bettula, nicole of sloe gin fizz, and courtney of nests. the weekend was a wonderful end to a great crafty year! the last show of the year is always bittersweet, but i'll take it- as there's christmas stuff to prepare for.

there was a fabulous group of 35 local vendors, filling the place with handmade goods and christmas cheer.

i was SUPER excited that my local favorites, the lunch room, was selling their delicious vegan food there. i consumed many spring rolls, corn chowder, cookies, and hot chocolate over the course of the weekend!

++++

a bunch of new goods have been added to the dang shop! check 'em out for that last minute gift.

DUCF recap

2011-12-06T09:31:00.000-05:00

this past weekend's detroit urban craft fair was amazing! in its 6th year, this was the first time the event was held at the masonic temple in detroit. the building is so beautiful! with over 1,000 rooms it's the largest masonic temple in the world. i could have spent forever peeking around at all the architectural details, but there was a craft fair going on! a craft fair with record breaking attendance, in fact. over 3,500 people came out to shop handmade and local. amazing, right?! a hearty thanks to all those who came out and shopped, and a BIG hearty thanks to handmade detroit for organizing another great show, and for just being all around awesome.

over 80 indie vendors from michigan and beyond were there- a truly lovely group of people. when doing craft fairs it's always nice to see my crafty pals, and to make new ones. i'll say it again- DUCF is like christmas, disneyland, and a family reunion all wrapped into one. i get teary eyed just thinking about the event and all that it means for detroit and craft. since the 2006 DUCF was the first show dang argyle did, i always get nostalgic about what the show means for the city, and how far everything has come along for us and craft world at large. i won't get crazy weepy nostalgic, like i did in last year's round-up, but the same kind of thoughts were/are swimming through my head. can i say magic?

since it was a craft fair, of course i did a bit of shopping! i bought some wonderful handmade gifts and some goodies for myself from these awesome artists: alisa bobzien, 1up gallery, handmade detroit, vintage in retrospect, sadly harmless, perfect laughter, tourist park, make-out goods, and jody lynn's emporium of doodles. i can't post pics just yet, because, well, they're gifts! i gotta surprise some folks.

what's next for dang argyle? we have one more holiday show! this weekend is DIYpsi at the corner brewery in ypsilanti. there will be 35 indie vendors both saturday and sunday. see you there!

new stuff for winter shows!

2011-12-02T11:36:00.002-05:00

i've been working like mad making all sorts of new goodies for this winter.

find these new cuties, and more, at DUCF or DIYpsi, then perhaps Etsy!

first snow

2011-11-30T13:46:00.011-05:00

we got our first few inches of snow last night. the kind of snow where you wake up and the trees are covered with snow forming a magical winter wonderland. that's my favorite part.

i had to dust off the big (undrycleaned) winter coat, and i froze my toes off at the bus stop. yep, winter's upon us! brrrrr.

holiday show schedule

2011-11-24T09:17:00.001-05:00

this holiday season we'll be participating in two local shows, on back to back weekends in december! i am super excited!

you'll find dang argyle in detroit and ypsi at the following events:

detroit urban craft fair

december 3-4

at the masonic temple

detroit, mi

$1 admission

DIYpsi

december 10-11

at the corner brewery

ypsilanti, mi

i'll be there with all sorts of new zippered pouches, purses, wristlets, cards, mitten tags, and more. i hope to see you there!

if you're looking for more shows to visit, be sure to check the list i compiled.

michigan mittens are back

2011-11-15T09:00:00.007-05:00

michigan mitten cards and gift tags are currently in the dang shop. add a little mitten love to your holiday season with these cuties.

both will be available at our upcoming shows!

guide to 2011 holiday craft fairs in the mitten

2011-11-11T16:37:00.002-05:00

shoppers and crafters in southeastern michigan are quite spoiled come november and december, as there's a plethora of craft fairs happening in the area. each year i am in awe at the raw, creative talent that poors out of this fine mitten state. the talent includes those selling their art at these shows, as well as the organizers of them- as it's no simple feat. supporting independent artists at events like these is the way to go year round, and especially during the consumer-heavy holiday season. why not buy local and talk to the maker as you're making that special purchase?

each year i get super excited about not only participating in holiday craft fairs, but also hitting them up for some shopping! the hardest part is sticking to buying gifts and not wanting to buy everything for myself.

here's a quick guide to give you the lowdown on where to shop when. this is just a list i've gathered and wanted to mention, it's not all inclusive, and it doesn't mean the vendor lists are live on the event sites. check it out, and stay tuned to their websites for details and updates!

Art in the Park

Nov. 12, 11-4pm

Ypsilanti Senior Center, Ypsilanti, MI

Ridge Fine Art & Handmade Wares Show

Nov. 19, 10-5pm

The Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, Ferndale, MI

Rust Belt Market

Nov. 25-27, Fri. 12-10pm, Sat. & Sun. 11-7pm

Ferndale, MI

(Rust Belt is in action every weekend, but this weekend is the 3 day blockbuster)

Flint Handmade Holiday Craft Market

Nov. 26, 10-4pm

Masonic Temple, Flint, MI

Detroit Urban Craft Fair

Dec. 3-4, Sat. 10-7pm, Sun. 11-6pm

Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI

(dang argyle will be vending!)

Tiny Expo

Dec. 10, 10-7pm

Braun Court, Ann Arbor, MI

DIYpsi

Dec. 10-11, Sat. 11-8pm, Sun. 12-6pm

Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti, MI

(dang argyle will be vending!)

Holiday Baar Bazaar

Dec. 17, 8-2am

Majestic Theater, Detroit, MI
(still accepting vendors through nov. 20!)

happy fall!

2011-11-02T22:46:00.000-04:00

sorry for the lack of posts this past month. i have no real excuse, i've just been busy with not much to report. i have indeed been enjoying the fall we've had thus far! sipping on cider, making pumpkin muffins, loving the crunch of leaves under my feet, enjoying the chilly mornings at the farmer's market... and most recently, halloween festivities! i hope you've been having fun, too.

make it work at maker works

2011-09-26T12:02:00.003-04:00

last week i attended a southeast michigan crafter meet-up held at maker works in ann arbor. what a great space! picture a large space with various rooms containing just about any maker tool you could imagine.

maker works is a membership-driven fabrication studio that offers members access to the tools and space to complete projects that you might not have the resources to do elsewhere.

there are four focused maker zones: CIRCUITS, METAL, CRAFT, WOOD. each zone contains a ton of wonderful tools, such as: sewing machines, a serger, a laser cutter, heat presses, an embroidery machine, a router, saws, a mill, a lathe, and many more. there are also a variety of classes that teach you how to use some of the larger machines. check out the maker works website for all the details on the tool types, memberships, and classes. if you're interested in checking out the space, join us for a crafty meet-up sometime!

dang 20% off sale!

2011-09-25T12:07:00.000-04:00

going on now!

visit the dang argyle shop on etsy

fried green tomatoes!

2011-09-12T11:58:00.002-04:00

while growing up, eating friend green tomatoes was a staple in our house during the summer. i felt like we were the only ones who made them, as my friends thought it was typically weird of my family. when the movie fried green tomatoes came out in 1991, we pretty much felt like the movie was made for us. it's a fine film, which of course features plenty of friend green tomato making at the whistle stop cafe!

i've been getting plenty of red tomatoes from folks i know and from my CSA share, so i've been plucking the tomatoes from my own yard while they're still green. there are plenty of recipes for making them. mine is a simple, yet tasty version that we made when i was young.

slice up the tomatoes as thick or thin as you'd like. i like them a little thinner so they get crispy faster. if they're a little thicker you can taste the tomato more. both ways are good. once sliced i coat them in a mixture of flour, salt and pepper. yes, that's it.

fry them in a bit of olive oil or vegetable oil, turning over once the first side has browned up. usually 5-7 mins on each side, depending on heat level.

when browned up to your liking, place them on a plate covered with paper towel, to absorb some of the oil. then plate, salt and eat! they're also good with butter on them - which is of course what we did growing up. we still make them at our summery family get-togethers, as we're all still happily hooked on the greens. (even my non-vegetable eating father.)

this is just the way my family made them. there are plenty of other recipes that use different ingredients for the batter. such as cornmeal, bread crumbs, milk, egg, panko, etc. if you have a favorite way to batter veggies, it would work for these. you can also deep fry them in an electric skillet with more oil. you might also wish to experiment with different dipping sauces to jazz them up a bit. or perhaps slap them on a sandwich for a special treat!

upcoming craft fairs in the mitten

2011-08-22T15:15:00.002-04:00

even though dang argyle won't be participating in any shows in the next couple months, there some great local craft fairs on the horizon! if you're itching to get your DIY shopping fix on, or want a crafty venue to hang out with your pals with perhaps a beverage, check these out:

august 27-28: people's art fest- russell industrial center, detroit, MI
an outdoor show with a ton of artists, music and events going on all weekend.

september 16-18: DIY street fair: ferndale, MI
an outdoor show with many artists, live music, a beer garden, food, and a kid zone. this show is a super fun time!

october 8-9: liberty local, ann arbor art center, ann arbor, MI

a new show (and in my neck of the woods!) in the heart of downtown, with 30+ local indie makers.

don't forget about the rust belt market!
it happens EVERY saturday & sunday, year-around in ferndale, MI.

there are permanent vendors, and a crew of rotating vendors. this vibrant space is something to see! if you haven't been yet, make a plan.

DIYpsi recap

2011-08-19T10:38:00.004-04:00

i had a great time at DIYpsi last weekend at woodruff's bar in ypsilanti. there was something really relaxing about the whole thing. it was wonderfully organized by marcy, sherri and cre, which was apparent in every way. as always, i loved getting to see some of my favorite crafty peeps. as for the venue: how pretty are the colorful banners that were strewn throughout the place? it added some nice color to the warmth of the brick walls.

every vendor shared a table, which allowed for a larger sampling of artists in a small space. i shared a table with the always fabulous nicole of sloe gin fizz.

while at the fair i treated myself to some wonderful earrings by vintage in retrospect. the artist creates treasures from vintage license plates! i look forward to getting more earrings by her.

this was dang argyle's last show for a while! i have nothing coming up in the next few months, even though there are a bunch of art and craft fairs coming up.

in the meantime, i'll continue to update the etsy shop with some new goodies! check it out, much newness has arrived.

crafter cards for you

2011-08-06T13:34:00.001-04:00

i was delighted to be given the complete family sewing book... a practical and enjoyable approach to fashion, from 1979. it was rescued from the recycling bin and handed to me "because i sew." this book is a true gem. it's 500 yellowing pages with pink and blue illustrations of sewing and craft supplies. the illustrations are great, and the words are almost just as great, so i decided to cut it up and create cards out of it. for the cards i used french paper, a michigan paper company. here's a peek of the few i've been making.

i'll have many crafter cards, and newly sewn bags and pouches for the upcoming DIYpsi. all the fun happens in ypsi next saturday, august 13. there will be 35 hip indie vendors selling some great handmade stuff. i hear there will also be some great vintage clothing set up outside! it's at woodruff's again, so the atmosphere is sure to be lively!

maker faire detroit recap

2011-08-03T21:58:00.006-04:00

last weekend i had the honor and pleasure of participating in the 2nd maker faire detroit as part of handmade detroit's craft faire! maker faire is the midwest's largest DIY fair, celebrating making of all kinds, and it was amazing to see craft added to make. thank you to everyone who came out!

all weekend i was amazed at the juxtaposition of me at a craft fair in the henry ford museum, chilling next to the wienermobile, next to stormtroopers, next to henry ford's tractors, with etsy, many crafters, a needle arts zone, and live craft demos happening all day. all of this was going on while outside there was electronics and robotics in action with hackerspaces, a fire-breathing dragon, a fire-spitting little pony, a cupcake car, life size mousetrap game, experiments, and music... to say the least. it's hard to sum up! here are some of my favorite photos of the day.

day 1 we were set up in a long hallway inside the museum.

the dang table on day 1.

day 2 the craft faire moved into the main part of the museum with the rest of the the fabulous craft stuff going on. great lakes garrison was also set up there with their stormtroopers! it was totally fun watching them all day.

the giant needles, yarn and embroidery hoop are part of the needle arts zone that was set up. people were instructing and learning how to knit, etc.

etsy also had a booth there, featuring local teams. here we have whack-a-treasury in action.

on day 2 i had a few moments before we opened to venture outside finally, to see what the heck was going on. things were still and folks were setting up, but boy was there some neato stuff!

needless to say, it was quite a welcome overdose of crafting and making. as always, it was great to see my crafty buds and to meet new people and make new connections.

for more photos (i took a lot!) check them out on our facebook page. the handmade gift guide also has some great write-ups on the event here and here. and HD's own lish has a nifty blog post over at craft.

as for purchases, i made some trades for a great pair of copper earrings from sparklegarden, and a beautiful wrist cuff from courtney fischer jewelry.

vintage linens + maker faire detroit

2011-07-29T10:38:00.001-04:00

i've been busy preparing for maker faire detroit by cutting up some lovely vintage linens and fabrics. boy, do i love me some vintage linens. they come in such great designs and allow for a limited run of items to be made from them. (which is both good and bad!) here's a sampler of some of the goodies i'll be bringing to maker faire detroit this weekend:

what's maker faire detroit? it's happening this weekend! it's a huge event that celebrates making and the DIY ethic and is happening at the henry ford museum in dearborn- which is such a great location considering it's a place of invention and innovation. this is the second year it's been in "detroit" and will be my first time attending. apparently this family-friendly interactive faire is better understood in person. in addition to gadgets, science, technology, exploding things, cars, robots, rockets, and other such makery, there will also be a craft area inside the museum. i'll be set up in handmade detroit's craft faire where folks will be selling handmade goods. there will be oodles of craft demos and other fun happening both days. if you're attending, be sure to check out the program and map to see what's happening where. i'm looking forward to it! see you there!

now, back to sewing....

triangles & organizing

2011-07-17T13:39:00.000-04:00

a recent trip to the thrift store left me with some new fabrics to work with, including a bag of small triangles. to read more about their story and insipiration, check out my full post about them over at the blue house blog.

on that same thrift store trip i found a card catalog, finally. well, sort of. it needs a bit of work, as it has no top or sides. the plan is to do some woodworking and make it into a small end table. looking forward to the project! and time to work on it!

a crafter's kale confession

2011-07-10T15:34:00.005-04:00

since september or so i've been quite enamored with kale. i eat it pretty much daily in some form, be it saladized, stir fried, sauteed, smoothied, etc. it's quite a versatile green, and packed with nutrients like a ton of vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin C. it even has a bit of iron, calcium, and potassium, among other vitamins and minerals. i love the fact that there are so many different kinds of kale that are good a variety of ways, both cooked and raw.

i don't like to force my kale beliefs, or food beliefs for that matter, on folks. i just mention kale a lot, so people mention it back!

here are some of my favorite kale recipes as of late:

i make a variation on 101 cookbook's yin & yang salad with peanut-sesame dressing.

a friend brought the true recipe to a potluck and i about died and then made out with the salad! i generally mix whatever greens i have (kale & lettuce here), with carrots, turnips, and green onions. and toss with the fabulous peanut-sesame dressing. (peanut butter, maple syrup, ginger, cilantro, and sesame oil make for some magic. i can safely say i'm OBSESSED with this dressing.) i marinate the tofu, but i haven't baked it yet. i'm impatient, and it's hot out, so why use the oven for a salad.

this is eating is an art's massaged kale salad with apple, radish, avocado, and toasted sunflower seeds.

i make it as the recipe states. the salted-massaged dinosaur kale really creates a nice flavor and adds a lovely texture to the kale. the simple dressing of honey, lemon juice and fresh ginger could not be a better topping for this medley.

i love making green smoothies to include more greens, and use up the MANY greens i get in my CSA share each week. this is a favorite that consists of kale, frozen pineapple and coconut milk. it's a tropical wave of freshness.

and finally, if one is to pimp kale as i do, no kale mission is complete without wearing an "only kale can save us now" t-shirt from herbivore.

in my yard i have curly kale and dinosaur kale growing. the growth has been stunted a bit due to the full on summer heat. and i believe it's chipmunks that have been dining on the dinosaur kale. d'oh! rabbits also love kale.

i've made A LOT of recipes using kale over the months including lasagna, kale chips, a few soups, stir fries, salads, wraps, etc. i can pretty much add it to most dishes as a kicker.

if you have any knock 'em dead kale recipes, send them my way!

happy 4th of july!

2011-07-04T16:12:00.004-04:00

last night i attended a lovely display of fireworks. i haven't seen "real fireworks" since i saw them at disney world three years ago. they were great! i am still ever-enchanted with the grand finale, or as i called it as a child, the grand bananny.

sure, i have two craft fairs in the next six weeks. but i took part of my off-work day today to make this bike bag for myself. i don't often make bags for myself. (crazy, right?) i bought this towel from fellow michigan crafter art goodies, with every intention of hanging it in my red kitchen. but as it sat there folded and pretty, it called to me.

the great lakes

2011-06-10T11:30:00.016-04:00

amy from my marigold makes wonderful embroidery pieces for her great lakes series. huron, superior, erie, ontario, michigan; she's got them all. here's a peek at her lake superior piece:

i recently commissioned amy to make a piece for my dad's birthday featuring little portage lake, where my parents have a place at a lakeside campground. last year i gave my dad a cross-stitch lake piece (featuring a pontoon boat!) for his birthday, and i thought a little portage lake embroidery piece would be a nice complementary touch!

didn't it turn out great? i'm hoping he'll hang it next to the cross-stitch i gave him. if you're looking for a little lake in your life year-round, check in with her etsy shop.

not so gray gardens

2011-06-01T19:58:00.002-04:00

hello friends! lately with this warm and lovely weather finally in bloom, i just want to be outside. it makes me happy. whether it's 92 and pure sun like yesterday, or 75 and breezy like today. it is so lovely for the soul after a long winter.

so, of course with all this outdoorness i've been planting stuff! in the ground i planted buttercrunch lettuce, arugula, a lot of kale (two kinds), and tomatoes. this is my first year for ground tomatoes, i made them a new home. so far, so good.

in pots i have basil, oregano, cilantro, another tiny tomato plant i adopted, and some annuals and perennials. i'm looking forward to watching everything grow, and i especially look forward to eating some goodies!

i am terribly grateful that i have a backyard that is pretty much mine. it's a nice little sanctuary to drink my morning coffee and watch the squirrels chase each other.

what about you? is anything fun sprouting around your yard or balcony?

block printing at the blue house

2011-05-20T09:47:00.005-04:00

last month i taught a block printing class to some lovely ladies over at blue house. we had a blast! i worked on carving a logo for blue house, while others worked on their own designs.

we went over tips and tricks of how to carve the block, what tools and materials are needed, and how to do the actual printing.

if you've been curious about the block printing process, and want to get your hands in some block printing ink, i am offering block printing 101 again next week. it's all happening thursday, may 26, from 6:30-8:30. the fee is $40 and you can register on the blue house website. all materials are included.

PS the owl block print is an early dang argyle design created by coco. i still love it. it's part of our logo!

toboggan transformed

2011-05-17T21:37:00.010-04:00

as stated in my rust belt market recap, i transformed my childhood toboggan into a purse rack. i didn't want to alter the toboggan or hammer nails into it, so i decided to build a separate base for the toboggan to sit in, so it would stand erect and not fall over when people touched the bags on it.
i measured the size of the base i wanted, and used a 2 x 4 and a smaller strip of wood to do the job. i needed something heavy enough to hold it down, and a back brace to help keep it from leaning backwards. this did the trick! i then stained it with a honey oak stain to resemble the wood of the toboggan. at the craft fair i just used tacks to hang the purses on, which left minimal holes. if i were gluing it, i would have glued old wooden thread spools to it and hung the purses off of those!
my next plan for the toboggan is to use it in my living room, without the base, propped up against or hung on a wall. i am either going to hang framed art on it, or add small shelves. (or i may just stick it back in my laundry room, sew a cushion for it, and take it on a snowy cruise come winter!)

hello local awesomeness

2011-05-12T10:44:00.003-04:00

last weekend i had the pleasure of vending at the rust belt market for the first time, and for opening weekend. this place looks spectacular! the concept is a year-round weekend market, that features handmade and vintage items made by local creators. housed in a former old navy store, owners chris & tiffany best had their work cut out for them transforming the old store into a vibrant, artistic space. some sellers are there every weekend, some only a day here and there. this fresh line-up of vendors allows for new and interesting goods to browse. and have i mentioned the look of this place? it is beyond fabulous, a total eyegasm of the senses. the booths of around 60 vendors are set up so creatively, utilizing every inch of their space, from wall to ceiling, with colorful and appealing displays that draw you in.

in addition to the vendor spaces, there are stunning artistic features all over the place. the center of the building features a handmade wooden stage that features occasional live music, and cozy couch-side seating to sit and enjoy the show. and there's plenty of room in front for the little ones to shake a hip with each other. there are also hand painted murals and art hanging all over the walls as well.
as for me... dang argyle was nestled between a derby girl selling whoopie pies and a father/son duo selling aerial photographs! that's a craft fair for ya! i was only there on saturday, and had a ton of fun in such a vibrant glowing environment. i didn't have much time to shop, but i was able to snag a coffee sack purse from burnwhere and a beautiful pillow from salt labs.

to enhance my space i decided to turn an old toboggan into a purse rack. which i will tell you all about in my next blog post!

* part of this is cross-posted at the blue house blog

arcimboldo's bold works

2011-05-03T19:47:00.009-04:00

lately i've been fascinated by the art of italian painter giuseppe arcimboldo, of the high renaissance. (please click that link for some AWESOME images!) he has a range of styles, but i'm most intrigued by his "composite heads," portraits made up of fruits, vegetables, trees, fish, and other materials. i checked out a GIANT coffee table book of his work, and it's so fun to look at.

Summer, 1563

Water, 1566

The Librarian, 1566

Four Seasons in One, 1590

Flora, 1591

Winter, 1573

craft revival recap

2011-04-19T21:58:00.006-04:00

i had an amazing time at craft revival last weekend! handmade detroit put on another great show. it was laid back and full of wonderful shoppers and vendors. the live music friday night was jamming and the DJ saturday was spinning some great tunes that kept my toes tapping. thank you to everyone who came out.

i updated the shop with a few goodies. our next show is coming up soon, and is also in ferndale, on may 7 at the rust belt market!

for more details and photos from the show, check out my post over the the blue house blog.

more paper as fabric

2011-04-10T19:30:00.004-04:00

i don't usually purchase "new" fabric or make things for dang argyle with it. i was really drawn to this origami animal printed fabric, so i bought some to make some throw pillows for myself. i decided to make a few bags with it, as it goes with a recent theme of fabric as paper. (see graph paper pouches and library card pouches for other dang argyle examples.)

i'll have these and a good smattering of large and small bags made with some cute upcycled fabrics at the upcoming craft revival! it's this coming weekend at the loving touch in ferndale, MI: friday 9-midnight, and saturday 12-6. there's a nice selection of green-themed vendors to suit your fancy. hope to see you there!

rust belt market offers opportunities

2011-04-07T23:10:00.007-04:00

whether you are a maker or a shopper of handmade goods, there is good news for everyone. the rust belt market is a new business model opening in ferndale that features year-round vending/shopping every saturday and sunday from 11-7. mark those calendars, the grand opening is the weekend of may 7th!

the site offers space rental opportunites for artists to sell their handmade goods. not only does this fabulousness foster the DIY ethic, but also a sense of community, collaboration and connection.

stay tuned to their website, facebook, and twitter pages for updates. i really look forward to seeing what becomes of this venture! (and i look forward to being a vendor on may 7!)

a new sewing studio!

2011-03-28T12:32:00.005-04:00

i am delighted to have heard about a new sewing studio located in downtown ann arbor! nonpareil studio was opened by michelle moenssen in october 2010.

nonpareil studio offers many sewing classes for all skill levels, as well as open studio hours where you can use the in-house equipment! there are classes on pattern drafting, alterations, garment making, and more. check the class schedule to see class descriptions and times. the classes look great! (not that i want to deter you from taking the basic sewing class i teach at blue house ann arbor! wink wink.) to complement the slew of sewing courses, there are also classes on felting, weaving and doll making.

in addition to running the studio, teaching classes and offering tailoring, moenssen also creates custom tailored shirts as nonpareil shirt company and moenssen wearable art. her prior experience includes time as an elizabethan costume designer, running metropolitan tailoring in birmingham for 10 years, and she is now an active secretary on the board of the ann arbor fiberarts guild.

be sure to also have a peek at the the studio blog, with notes about the classes and various projects.

happy sewing to all!

a blue house blog

2011-03-18T11:01:00.004-04:00

blue house ann arbor is celebrating its one year anniversary this month! i can't believe it's been a year. so many crafty connections and wonderful events have come about thanks to siobhan and the people i've met through blue house.

to celebrate, the new blue house blog has launched! there are several different people writing posts, including myself! we'll be talking about books, crafts, design, inspiration, recipes, projects, and more. my first post this week was about a sewing book, of course. :)

take a peek at the blog and let us know what you think!

aqua deery wallet

2011-03-15T09:38:00.000-04:00

yes, i am doing my first craft fair of the year (craft revival) in a month, and yes, i sewed a new wallet for myself! scandalous! i rarely sew bags for myself, so this was a nice treat.

i've had this adorable tiny deer printed fabric for about five years. i got 2 quilt squares of it from my mother after she cleaned out her old sewing cupboards. it's one of those tiny pieces of fabric that you like so much you're afraid to cut it, so i sat on it for a really long time!

last week there was a monthly craft meet-up at blue house ann arbor, and at midnight the night before i saw that fabric on my shelf and EUREKA! a plan was hatched. there wasn't enough fabric for pleats that fit, but i winged it. i'm happy with the final results.

to die for cookies, cookies to die for

2011-03-13T12:10:00.003-04:00

several years ago, the dang gals (manz & coco) shared an apartment and we sewed dang goods and we baked vegan treats. coco found this cookie recipe on vegweb and it's been my go-to cookie recipe ever since. need a reason?

they are super easy to make and require only one mixing bowl- limited mess is always a bonus when baking.
they are delicious! with chocolate and peanut butter they hit your fix.
no matter where i take them people eat them and love them and say "these are vegan?, OMG."

i've sold you, right? here's my version:

chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

1/3 cup peanut butter (i use chunky peanut)
2 TBSP canola oil
1 cup sugar or sucanat (i use turbinado)
1/3 cup dairy-free milk (i use vanilla soy)
1 TSP pure vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour or unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 TSP baking soda
1/2 TSP salt
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips

serves 22

1. preheat oven to 425 degrees F. oil a large baking sheet; set aside.

2. whisk together first five ingredients until very smooth. add remaining ingredients, and stir to combine.

3. drop the batter by large spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. bake for about 8 mins (i do 9), or until tops just begin to crack. removed sheet from oven, and wait 10 minutes before transferring to a plate or wire rack.

it's that easy!!
i recently made these to take to a monthly craft meet-up at blue house ann arbor, where people scarfed them up.

jónsi & alex craft up food, music & art

2011-02-25T18:21:00.008-05:00

anyone who knows me knows that i'm super keen on sigur rós and think that jónsi is an angel (or out of this world). so it's pretty much awesome that he and his beau alex have a vegan raw food diet. they share the recipes. and make cooking videos!

jónsi & alex have been making art and music for a while. i envy such constant artistic ambition, especially when it has such magical results. (see their website for a list of evidence.)
those two and their vitamix is just about the cutest thing ever. i can't stop watching the videos! here's a teaser:

Jónsi & Alex Recipe Show - Macadamia Monster Mash from Jónsi & Alex on Vimeo.

more graph paper fun

2011-02-14T20:18:00.002-05:00

etsy has a bunch of other fun handmade goods starring graph paper. here are some of my recent favorites:

graphing flowers pinwheel

nerd, dork, geek letterpress notecards

the mini dude book- mini journal necklace
man with pipe print

pencil case

graph paper

2011-02-11T16:44:00.004-05:00

making library card pouches has made me think more about paper, and how one can turn fabric into paper. paper as fabric, fabric as paper. in looking through my ginormous fabric stack to make some new stuff with, i came across two geometric fabrics, reminiscent of graph paper. so again, paper meets fabric. i had a bit of fun using metallic embroidery floss to add a bit of bling to the wallet.

and in case you're wondering, no i am not going to start working more with actual paper. i'll leave that to the experts!

these cuties are now in the shop!

sneaux day!

2011-02-03T21:03:00.001-05:00

they predicted a blizzard and everyone was going crazy! it resulted in a snow day and a magical day off work, which made way for a bit of snow shoveling and outdoor exploration before i began my long to-do list. i crossed off a few things on this stay inside kind of day.

started organizing DA tax stuff :(
lots of cooking (waffles, tempeh bacon, and this soup again)
sewing up new stuff (coming soon to the shop!)
watched 2 movies (x-files: i want to believe and once upon a time in the midlands)
finished my book for my book group (okay for now, by gary schmidt)

also, i was recently interviewed by a local paper as part of a blue house market profile series, featuring a variety of blue house artists. it's kind of weird that it says i "own" dang argyle. because cortney and i own dang argyle together forever. :)

red curry soup with rice and kale

2011-01-21T18:06:00.008-05:00

when i saw this soup from PPK scroll through my RSS feed, i knew i had to make it. it is a mission of mine to eat kale every day, and i've been doing great for a long while. i was also recently thinking that i need to get on a soup kick again, so why not start ASAP. here's to kale! and other good ingredients. i chowed on this soup all weekend.

the recipe is another great one from post punk kitchen. it is easy to make and there's not much prep or cook time involved. i lucked out and actually had all the ingredients on hand except the lime. see here for more recipes from the PPK.

ingredients: olive oil, onion, garlic, ginger, rice, vegetable broth, red curry paste, (purple) kale, sweet potato, coconut milk, agave syrup, and juice of one lime. (i used green kale instead of purple.)

crafty book: simple times, by amy sedaris

2011-01-20T12:59:00.000-05:00

some people regard martha stewart as the queen of craft. i tend to associate martha with cupcakes and sleek design... and find that the hilarious and ever-crafty amy sedaris is more my style. she is one spunky little firecracker. i'd like to see a craft-off between the two, or perhaps some jello wresting featuring jello made by martha. to go even further, i'd like to see martha stewart cooking hot dogs on a rake, making panty hose lights or a mouse ghetto. i love amy sedaris because she is insane. also because strangers with candy is a super TV show and her brother david writes the funniest damn books, including little snippets of a young amy.

her newest book, simple times: crafts for poor people, written with fellow strangers with candy cohort paul dinello, is amy at her zaniest.

what is crafting and is it right for you?
crafting includes a whole host of activities associated with skillful attempts at making useful things with your hands and resulting in stocking stuffers, grab bag items, and painted rocks.

all crafters must excel at precise high-velocity hand movements not unlike the jaws of a snapping turtle or a lizard's tongue, if that lizard could decoupage with the same agility he uses to catch flies.

the book has plenty of crafts using reclaimed stuff, junk and doodads, for projects on the cheap (free). there are crafts for jesus, a bit of getting craftilicious in the bedroom, unreturnable gift-giving crafts, crafts for mourning, and don't forget the yummy edibles, and much more.

it's more than just the wacky projects in this books, it's also the display.... the photographs of sedaris as many characters, bringing the projects to life. the text offers directions and advice on the crafts. luckily, this book also contains a chapter on safety! and shows the results of messy workspaces and overconfidence. let's not forget about the tutorial on stretching before and after crafting. i need to add that ritual to my routine. (i hear that you get bonus points if you have a leotard as awesome as amy's.)

crafty robots

2011-01-19T23:14:00.011-05:00

it seems only natural that robots and craft should coincide. i mean, think of maker faire! and make + craft. i taught a build-a-bot workshop to a group of the cutest 8-12 year old girls at blue house ann arbor last saturday, and oh what fun we had! we looked at some books and talked about what robots do in real life. i provided a table of bits, bobbles, junk, metal, fuses, buttons, etc., for robot building, then we came up with our own ideas...

Tix II: is a room-cleaning robot! the middle-schooler who made Tix wrote up some lovely details about him and what he likes to clean and not clean. too cute!

Stella-Bot 42: my sample robot. she likes to organize parties, game nights and dance-off competitions with fellow robots. she loves baking cupcakes, doing handstands, eating edamame, and dogsitting. if you want dancing, she's your bot.

Patch: one motivated builder built three robots! this is Patch. he comes complete with a remote control and a super cape, and is ready to spread st. patrick's cheer!

MacClaren: this dog-bot was named after the dog of two attendees. check out the dog food bowl and jingle bell collar! (the real MacClaren came to blue house to pick up the girls, and oh, he was cute too!)

Carol: made by blue house owner, Siobhan. carol is a crafter-bot, in case you can't tell. her crafter's apron is complete with scissors, and an iphone to process those credit cards. she's got on handmade earrings and is wearing a peter pan collar. she is now the resident blue house-bot, bringing crafty and robotic creativity to all those who enter.

Bella: the cooking robot! she is wearing a lovely full-front apron in silver, and is carrying a matching hand towel to help guests. her frying pan features a fresh batch of bacon and eggs. her antennae keeps her fine tuned, and did you check out that curly hair?!

Candy or Rose: her official name wasn't decided, but both names sound sweet, just like this bot and the young girl who made her. she has hearts for eyes and mouth, and golden and pink ribbons for hair.

and here is the whole gang, programmed and ready to work.

this workshop was so much we'll have to do it again.

blue house workshops + d'argyle = robots, sewing, collages

2011-01-09T17:34:00.009-05:00

hello in the new year, friends!

this saturday kicks off a few of my workshops at blue house ann arbor.

blue house ann arbor is currently offering a mini makers series of craft workshops for kids. elana is teaching the ones for the preschoolers and i'm doing the school age ones. next up for me:

build a bot... for kids aged 8-12... you'll use all sorts of bits and bobbles and metal and gears and parts to design and create your own robots! charge up your circuit boards for this one! if you have any random bits you think would be great on a robot, do bring. it happens 1/15, 10am-12pm, registration required, $20 per session.

adult basic sewing happens later that same day, from 1-3pm. it's just the basics. the class is designed for those with no skill, limited skill, or rusty skills. we'll go over the functions of the machine and get you feeling confortable with working it and getting some stitches done. i'll have some supplies on hand if you want to get a small project started. there will be sewing machines at blue house, but if you want to bring your own, please do! it's easier for you to get comfy with sewing on your own machine. fear not, sewing is fun and awesome. registration is required, $30 per session.

also, in february i will be teaching my final mini makers workshop of the season:
crafty collages. we'll use images from magazines and found things to create crafty collages, finished and ready for hanging. it all happens saturday, 2/5, 10am-12pm for ages 8-12. registration required, $20 per session.

argyle sightings

2010-12-30T21:00:00.005-05:00

this year's been crazy with argyle sightings, i'm seeing it everywhere i go on adults and kids, sweaters and backpacks. today i was walking past a coworker's office and her water bottle had argyle all over it! a few weeks ago at the detroit urban craft fair i asked dennis of perfect laughter if i could snap his photo in his green argyle to throw on my blog later. well, here it is! thanks for being a good sport! their etsy shop is stocked with some super sweet screen prints, i still need to get that type tree!
i also recently ran across a pug friendly shop on etsy, african gray, and this little paper doll has on the cutest argyle sweater and jeans.

my christmas moves rid the world of evil

2010-12-18T11:00:00.003-05:00

Tis the season! For snow and hot cocoa and loved ones. I’ll admit, part of me is a scrooge during the holidays. The malls- ACK! The wrapping paper- ACK! But there is definitely plenty to love about this time of year. To help get through the blur that are the holidays, there are few standbys to keep me in spirit. Fa la la la la!

Favorite Christmas CDs:

A Very Special Christmas, Compilation (Fave track: Christmas in Hollis, by Run DMC)

The Magical Magic of Christmas, by Harry and the Potters (Fave track: Drop the Needle, It’s Christmas. You may think “WHAT?!’” but hellz yeah, this is a great album.)

Christmas, by Low (Fave track: Little Drummer Boy. You know, from that Gap commercial ten years ago.)

A Christmas Together, by John Denver & The Muppets (Fave track: Twelve Days of Christmas. The Muppets- Need I say more? Just don’t mention the “piggy pudding.”)

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, by Elmo & Patsy (Fave track: Percy, The Puny Poinsettia. I don’t LOVE this album, but it was a staple of mid to late 1980s Christmases so I felt pressure to include it in my minimal list, and I dedicate this selection to my sister.)

Jingle Bells, by Barbra Streisand (A song from A Christmas Album. This song is not your typical version. I don’t like Barbra, but I LOVE this super fast version of Jingle Bells.)

Peace on Earth/ Little Drummer Boy, by David Bowie & Bing Crosby. DUH!

DVDs:

Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Animated, NO Jim Carrey) are the only ones I REALLY need to see annually. But I do like Scrooged, It’s a Wonderful Life- when I want a good cry, I do LOVE A Muppet Family Christmas, and Ernest Saves Christmas is a classic in my book as well.

dang happy holiday media days to you!

DIYpsi round-up

2010-12-14T23:26:00.001-05:00

while i was frantically sewing up finishing touches on items for DIYpsi last week, i watched a movied called bang the drum slowly, a 1970s baseball movie starring robert de niro. he ends up falling ill and then out of baseball. at one point when the illness is taking its toll he is wobbling across the street and says "i'm dipsy." YES. DIYPSI. i thought i was hearing things, the he said it again! he was feeling dipsy. i had to chuckle. oh the crafty madness of craftin' it up on little sleep. (also, upon googling i was reminded that there is a teletubby named dipsy. oh noez.)

DIYpsi: a ha ndmade holiday craft fair was a first year show put on by sherri, marcy and cre (AKA: sparklepants industries, all things grow and tin angry men). 2.5 weeks before the show the venue it was to be held at shut down! without warning. so it was scramble time for them to find a new venue and make it work, so that the show would go on.

and go on it did! it was held at woodruff's in depot town and another small space across the street. the cozy bar i was in was busy all day, i laughed with some of my crafty peeps, saw many familiar faces since it was in my neck of the woods, sold some dang stuff, and enjoyed some chickpea sammiches from local caterers EAT. little DIYPsi was a success! well done, pals.

fun fact: across the street from the venue was tats for toys. which was essentially folks lined up around the block waiting to donate a toy in order to get a free tattoo. needless to say, the long line was a topic of conversation.

DIYpsi was the last show for dang argyle this year! i did eight craft fairs in 2010, which is the most we've done in one year. when we started doing shows in 2006 we did maybe three a year on average. i keep doing more! i don't know if i wish to continue to do so. it seems like there are so many more shows being organized each year, and doing fairs is addicting, so it's hard not to want to do them. i'll see where 2011 leads us.

finally, a big thank you goes out to all those who visit indie craft fairs and support local artists and handmade!

PS there was a mini shop update today! wristlets + michigan mittens gift tags

stuff i bought in detroit @ DUCF

2010-12-10T15:06:00.003-05:00

1. 5th detroit urban craft fair t-shirt, handmade detroit, design by detroit GT
2. aqua tulips wall hanging, by all things grow
3. poor man's wine cover, by my vintage kitschen
4. mustard ruffle necklace, by pretty things by meg

5. enjoy irony & sewing is believing buttons, by sweetie pie press
6. robot ornament, by deets
7. knitted mustache brooch, by mittenmade

the list of things from other crafters that i wanted and didn't buy is way long! i hope to hit up their shops to do some more purchasing. it's so fun finding fun things at craft fairs!

a waxing nostalgia DUCF wrap-up

2010-12-07T21:35:00.006-05:00

warning: long, rambling, emotional crafter post to follow.

this past weekend was the 5th annual detroit urban craft fair in detroit, and i was overly proud and excited to be among the 70+ vendors. the fillmore theater is a gorgeous space and it added even more magic to an already magical event. when i walked into the theater that morning and was getting ready to sign in i got tears in my eyes thinking about how far the whole “craft movement” has come, and how i’ve been able to witness it all and to also have my own business evolve along with it.

the very first DUCF in 2006 was the first craft fair dang argyle did, and it was an amazing introduction to the craft community. that august day in 2006 cortney (le bizz partner) and i met some great people and we were in awe at how friendly and fabulous our fellow crafters were. we were blown away that we could make purses, that people would buy them, and we could have so much fun doing it. over the past four years i’ve continued to form connections with fellow crafters in the community as new events and crafters pop up all the time. handmade detroit has played a huge part in this, acting as a catalyst, and a hub of all things crafty. those 5 gals have done wonders in SE michigan, and i am deeply thankful for all their crafty efforts in helping spur on the craft community.

every DUCF is magic, awesome, amazing, and fun, and i love participating- it’s like christmas morning, disney land and a family reunion all in the same day. but this 5th anniversary DUCF... from the moment i got the “you’ve been accepted as a vendor” email i’ve felt it all a bit more as i’ve been reflecting on dang argyle and the craft world at large, and i’ve been a bit overwhelmed at how it’s all made me feel when looking back. to be involved in such a great crafty circle of the nicest people. it’s great to chat about getting no sleep before fairs, about our tents blowing away in the wind, about where to order business cards, about what shows to do, etc. at the DUCF after party on sunday, in addition to toasting a super weekend, we compared crafting to sports. a craft fair is like a marathon. it’s crazy preparing to get there, and then when it’s all over you are high on the buzz it leaves, and you breathe a sigh of relief, and then immediately start thinking about the next one.
the short of it: it was a great DUCF weekend that was busy both days, despite a lions game and high priced parking. i had a ton of fun. my table was next to courtney fischer (again!), so we had a blast. i had a ball carpooling with nicole from sloe gin fizz. i met some fabulous new people. i got to see the pony boy necklace in person. i marvelled over ethan's trumbullplex zine library. (really, truly, i drooled way too much over that necklace and that card catalog.)

this week i’ll be preparing for DIYpsi, which is in ypsilanti at woodruff’s in depot town. 29 sweet vendors with their handmade wares. i’ll have library card pouches, if you missed out on one! snag ‘em while you can, i don’t know if i’ll have them on etsy again before the holidays.

next up: what I bought at DUCF!

it's a keeper

2010-11-27T23:32:00.001-05:00

i am a sucker for interesting linens. normally i scour for them and cut them up to make things out of, but not with this one. i found a rectangle table cloth with brown and aqua and little birds on it, and i am not cutting it up! it's all mine. i used it for thanksgiving and not a drop of cranberry sauce stained it.

[i totally backdated this post! it's been busy.]

DUCF preview #2: pardon my pleats

2010-11-22T22:59:00.009-05:00

preparation for the detroit urban craft fair, which is less than TWO WEEKS away (dec. 4-5 at the fillmore), it is in full swing around here. every room in my house is scattered with fabric and bits of thread are stuck to everything it can get a grip on. i love this point of preparing for a big event where a lot needs done beforehand and many lists need made to keep it all straight. a sort of craft-insanity takes place as you're making coffee at midnight and dancing around in your PJs as you cut out interfacing and talk to yourself while planning a crafty hibernation to make it all happen in time. it makes me quite happy and insane to do so. after spending the entire weekend hitting "that crazy spot" i am pleased with where things are headed. here's a glimpse of a bit of what you'll find there:

argyle sighting: michigan notecards!

2010-11-14T10:23:00.005-05:00

these fabulous michigan geography map papercut notecards, by paper artist ashley pahl, knocked me off my feet this morning! they have dang argyle written all over them. i was checking out recent treasuries that dang argyle has been included in, and i saw a midwest is best one that includes our michigan mittens notecards and these lovely argyle michigan cards. well done, i LOVE them.

DUCF preview #1

2010-11-12T23:10:00.006-05:00

only 3 weeks until DUCF! (i.e. the biggest, funnest craft fair 5th anniversary party ever.) it's our first show of the holiday season, and we are busy up in here- prepping up some lovelies to bring to the fillmore. here is a peak at a new design; a pencil case pouch. these ones feature outcast screen prints by the ever-talented marcy of all things grow.

polenta rancheros

2010-11-07T16:41:00.008-05:00

november is the vegan month of food, known as Vegan MoFo. it was started on PPK, to coincide with NaNoWriMO. so you can cook and write! namely, vegan food bloggers sign up and blog about vegan food. there are over 700 bloggers signed up! that's a lot of recipes! so if you're looking for some new things to try out... check it out. you can also RSS the posts for ease and pleasure.
i am not participating in Vegan MoFo (or NaNoWriMO), and this is not an entry. yesterday i made vegan brunch's polenta rancheros for the second time, and it is so so good, so i had to share. you know how sometimes when you're eating something you say mmmm mmmm mmm and your eyes roll back with every bite because it's so good? that's this recipe for me. i was alone in the office during lunch while eating it today so i had the chance to be vocal.

POLENTA RANCHEROS

for ranchero sauce
2 t cumin seeds
2 t coriander seeds
2 T oil
1 large yellow onion diced
2 serrano pepper, seeded and diced
4 garlic cloves chopped
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 t salt
1 t maple syrup
2 15 oz cans black beans

for soft polenta
5 C vegetable broth
1/2 t salt
1 C polenta cornmeal
2 T olive oil

garnish
chopped green onions
avocado diced
cherry tomatoes

dry toast seeds in iron skillet on medium heat for 2 minutes, add oil, then onion, peppers and garlic and saute until onion browns- about 10 minutes. add tomato sauce, salt, and syrup and cook for 5 minutes. transfer mixture to blender and blend till smooth, return to pan and add beans and heat. do this concurrent with making polenta- polenta takes longer!

for polenta, bring broth to boil and salt. add polenta slowly while whisking in. add olive oil and lower heat to simmer for 12 minutes, stirring often. remove from heat, cover and let sit for 10 minutes.

put ranchero beans in a bowl, top with polenta and garnish- such as sour cream, guacamole, red onions, or chopped tomatoes.

voila! ENJOY!

* i made it w/o any peppers, and used a dash of crushed red pepper.

* an immersion blender works great for blending the tomato sauce, etc.

wintery michigan craft fairs for you

2010-11-06T09:00:00.006-04:00

well, i guess we can say it's *almost* holiday shopping season? the craft shows start in a week and are every weekend until christmas!

there are a variety of craft fairs happening in the next few months in SE michigan. shopping handmade for the holidays is the way to go, why not do it local. make a connection, meet the person who made the cool gift you're buying! here you go:

nov. 13: art in the park, ypsi senior center, ypsilanti, mi

nov 27: flint handmade holiday market, flint, mi

dec. 4-5: detroit urban craft fair, the fillmore theater, detroit, mi ****

dec. 4-5: youtique, detroit, mi

dec. 5: whip stitch art & craft fair, corner brewery, ypsilanti, mi

dec. 11: DIYpsi handmade holiday Fair, woodruff's, ypsilanti, mi ****

dec. 11: tiny expo, braun circle, ann arbor, mi

dec. 17: baar bazaar, majestic theater, detroit, mi

dec. 17-18: winter mittenMADE, blue house, ann arbor, mi

this is just a list i've gathered and wanted to mention. it's not all inclusive, and it doesn't mean vendor apps are still live, or that they have been live yet. for some the vendors have been chosen already and the vendor lists are up! check it out, and stay tuned to their websites for details and updates!

**** dang argyle will be vending at DUCF and DIYpsi. hooray!

happy halloween!

2010-10-30T17:25:00.001-04:00

here are a couple random pumpkins to make you feel a little halloweenier. :)

ann arbor featured in design*sponge

2010-10-19T22:19:00.006-04:00

design sponge's city guides are usually pretty great. i enjoy looking at them even if i don't plan on visiting particular cities. well, the most recent city guide is for ann arbor! how cool! i met the author jaimi at blue house, and knew it was in the works, and i chatted with nicole at blue house as she was making sketches for the article. so it was lovely to see it finally happen. the article points out some great local establishments and name drops some great local artists. truly wonderful.

art by nicole ray.

tempeh- quinoa- sweet potato burgers

2010-10-17T10:41:00.014-04:00

i found this recipe online while looking for a sweet potato something or other. i really don't know how i find things sometimes, the internet is magic and things just appear, and i am very glad this recipe appeared. i am also glad that the burger is baked and not pan fried. it is super tasty, and it is even good before you bake the burgers- for those of you who need a taste while you're cooking.

i pretty much followed it to a T, but didn't omit certain things, so i'll post what the author wrote, with my notes not quoted. the recipe is vegan.

tempeh-quinoa-sweet potato burgers

from the golden yolk who adapted it from the moosewood restaurant's cooking for health

1/2 cup quinoa
2 cups thinly sliced peeled sweet potatoes (about 2/3 of a large sweet potato)

1 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced onions
1 cup minced bell peppers (i used green)
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
8 oz tempeh, diced
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
4 tsp soy sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste, ketchup, or tomato salsa (i used ketchup)
1 tbsp dark sesame oil (optional) (i recommend it)
2 tsp dijon mustard
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup sesame seeds
Preheat the Oven to 375 degrees.

Rinse the quinoa in a fine strainer and combine with the water and sweet potatoes in a sauce pan. Add 1/4 tsp of the salt. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer until the quinoa is soft and the sweet potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.

While the quinoa and sweet potatoes cook, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, the rest of the salt, and cook until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the bell peppers and garlic, cover, and cook for another 3 mintues. Add the tempeh, oregano, black pepper, and soy sauce, cover, and cook for 7-8 minutes stirring occasionally. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

When the sweet potatoes and quinoa are finished, mash them in the saucepan and then add to the bowl with the vegetables (Note: The quinoa/sweet potato mashed together is delicious on its own. I plan to make this as a side for another meal someday). Mix in the ketchup, sesame oil, mustard, and cilantro and refrigerate until cool enough to handle. Then shape the mixture into burgers (1/2 cup each) and sprinkle each side with sesame seeds. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake until firm and golden, about 35 minutes. makes 8 patties.

i served it with a side of roasted butternut squash and sweet potato (leftover from this recipe), and a salad. i've also had it in a lettuce wrap with a dollop of ketchup, and also in a pita wrap with kale. the author recommends it on a pita, or served with guacamole or avocado. mmmmm.

you know you wanted to see more

2010-10-06T13:39:00.011-04:00

i know i did. the internet is rampant with lovely images of yarn graffiti done across the world. i know you googled the heck out of yarn bombing after my last post (you know, the few of you who haven't been yarn bombing yourself the past year), but just in case you didn't, here's some eye candy. :)

i want to have a yarn bike and live in a yarn house surrounded by yarn trees. i think my favorite are the statues wearing apparel. all this reminds me that i don't think i ever posted a blog about the lisa anne auerbach exhibit i saw at the UMMA in ann arbor last fall. hmm.

i don’t knit or crochet, i look at books

2010-10-05T10:28:00.009-04:00

i did take a knitting class in the spring at blue house, taught by nicole of sloe gin fizz, but sadly, i retained very little and cannot get the yarn onto the other needle. even though i can’t knit or crochet, i LOVE to check out books on the matter to see what fabulous things other folks are making. here are the latest two i grabbed and totally dig:

yarn bombing: the art of crochet and knit graffiti, by mandy moore and leanne prain

i love this book. i have a hidden passion for graffiti, and being a lover of craft, i find yarn bombing totally intriguing. yarn bombing = leaving a knitted or crocheted work in a public space. this is usually done in a stealth manner. yarn bombing can be political, it can be heart-warming, and it can be funny. this particular book is truly mesmerizing, and is a definitive guide to act of yarn graffiti. since summer i’ve seen some yarn tagging around ypsilanti and ann arbor and it makes me happy whenver i see it. this book is chock full if images of yarn graffiti, the story behind some taggers and some groups, the reason, the why, and it has patterns and ideas for you! tag a telephone pole, a tree, a rock, a wall, a bike, a fence, the list is endless. check out the fabulous author blog at yarnbombing.com, which has a lot of images, to see what's inside the book. do it.

crobots: 20 amigurumi robots to make, by nelly pailloux

one word: ROBOTS. more words: they are tiny and crocheted japanese style and are SO CUTE. i would like to make these little robots. but in reality, due to lack of skill, i would like someone skilled in the art of crochet to make one (or many) for me. robots are just awesome, hands down. in this book you will find images of the finished crocheted bots and the patterns to make them. you can make a dogbot, ninjabot, zombiebot, retrobot, mechanobot, or even a space mouse. one of my favorite things about the book is the little story each robot has to go with it.

bouncebot: round and energetic, bouncebot has gleaming, multifaceted eyes, a rich assortment of controls, and a rolling, bouncy walk. despite his slightly bland expression, he radiates a cheerful, positive air- use him to brighten up the "to do" pile on your desk, or sit him on a corner of the kitchen counter so that he can keep an eye on who is coming and going around the house.

as with most amigurumi dolls, these are way cute. don't say i didn't warn you.

local artist feature: all things grow

2010-10-01T10:10:00.001-04:00

ypsilanti resident marcy davy, of all things grow, creates original screen prints on canvas that are stretched, framed, and turned into ready to hang wall art. her nature inspired designs are so pleasing to the eye, and i love the colors she uses.

after a brief hiatus, her shop opens up again TODAY, with new things, a sale, and a giveaway!

seed. mesas. log slice. water table. are some of her fabulous prints.

she recently gave me a stack of some not-so-perfect printed fabric to see what i could come up with. there are a few things in the dang shop now. and i have more in the works! here is the beginning.

PS this blog was posted at 10:10am on 10-1-10 on purpose :)

fall happenings at blue house ann arbor

2010-09-27T21:17:00.009-04:00

there is much happening at the blue house this fall!

first, i will mention that i will be teaching two basic sewing classes this fall. thursday, october 14, from 6-8pm, as well as sunday, november 7, from 1-3pm. the class is for ages 14+ and is an introduction to sewing. if you have a machine you are afraid to use, think you'll break it, don't know what to do when it jams, are wondering how to wind a bobbin & when to backstitch, then this workshop is for you. the goal is to get you familiar (or more familiar) with the machine and to boost your confidence in using it. if you have a working sewing machine of your own you'd like help with, please bring it! (we will not be fixing machines.) there is table space to set up. there will be fabrics and notions to work on a small project to take home as well. to register for this, and all other workshops, visit that page at BHAA.

in addition to hosting the sewing workshops, blue house also has metal jewelry design, knitting, crochet, and screen printing workshops going on.

also at blue house... you can... rent studio space, join our monthly craft meet up, or reserve a tailgate party (since it's across the Big House!) really! all at blue house.

as part of the ann arbor art walk... blue house presents:

friday, oct. 22: courtney fischer jewelry trunk show, featuring handcrafted nature inspired jewelry design. 6pm.

saturday, oct. 23: DEID goods trunk show, celebrating local artisan Deb Eyde. 12-5pm.

sunday, oct. 24: metal jewelry design, a workshop taught by courtney fischer. (registration required.)

AND, GET READY!

december 17-18 is the winter mittenMADE craft fair at blue house! there is currently a call for artists, applications due oct. 2. mark your calendars!

see you around the house!

library love is overdue in the dang shop

2010-09-23T09:12:00.003-04:00

there is just something awesome about libraries and library related things. you know what i'm talking about. the folks who bought these library themed items know what i'm talking about.

i sold these library card pouches and the library book bag at DIYSF last weekend, and i'm super excited to get them in the shop! you can find the library card pouches in our etsy shop now. they are made to order, so i can add whatever due dates you like to the front of the pouch. i'll be making more of the library book shoulder bags for the holiday season.

DIY Street Fair wrap up

2010-09-22T21:36:00.015-04:00

last weekend DIYSF was a total blast! it was a long weekend, and the place was super busy, but it was pure fun. i shared a booth with five lovely ladies: courtney fischer jewelry, all things grow, phantom limb, my marigold, & lish's vintage kitchen. we laughed, we ate, we drank, we sold stuff, we bought stuff, we people watched, we dog watched, we fought a little rain, enjoyed the sun, courtney tried on lish's glasses, shit was expensive even though it wasn't, and there was a crazy flying ant swarm like a scene out of the x-files.

argyle sighting: i spotted A LOT of argyle while i was sitting there! including sunglasses, baby legwarmers, t-shirts, and sweaters.

i bought the coolest paper collage print from detroit artist teresa petersen of the kitsch lab. the one i bought isn't shown on her website, but it is cool! the print features barn owls, cupcakes, a fridge, a forest, and a 1950s housewife. pretty much perfect for my kitchen. she will be one of the artists with studio space at the new pioneer building in detroit, a few blocks over from the russell. check out her studio tour images to catch a glimpse of it! they are having an opening on oct. 2 and you can buy her work there. since she doesn't do many shows i was glad to have run into her. her work will be included in an upcoming exhibition (titled What's So Funny?) at the gallery project right here in ann arbor, and i plan to check it out.

works in progress

2010-09-17T11:00:00.001-04:00

library card pouches and yellow fabrics galore.

DIY Street Fair!

2010-09-13T21:32:00.021-04:00

this friday - sunday is the DIY street fair in ferndale! michigan is representing big time at this local affair. the fair is a super fun time, and this year will be dang argyle's first time as a vendor. we'll be tucked in the handmade detroit tent (booth #76) with courtney fischer jewelry, all things grow, my marigold, my vintage kitschen, and phantom limb! we'll be easy to find, next to the beer garden. look for me on saturday & sunday all day!

as the poster states, there will be over 100 craft vendors, 40 live bands, many craft beers in the beer garden, restaurant row (with veggie options), kid stuff, etc.

event hours:
fri: 6pm- 2am \ sat: noon- 2am \ sun: noon- 2am

marketplace hours:
fri: 6pm- midnight \ sat: noon-9pm, afterglow shopping til midnight \ sun: noon- 9pm, afterglow shopping til 11pm.

see ya there!

mr. pickle's first big adventure: colorado

2010-09-01T16:28:00.003-04:00

mr. pickle came into existence a few weeks ago thanks to a stuffies workshop at blue house ann arbor. he was quite a lucky fella, as just a few days later he was on a plane to spend a week in colorado! he didn't get too wild, survived being handled by children, and he had a great time!

a visit to the boulder farmer's market, which totally rocked

alluvial fan @ rocky mountain national park

driving through the rocky mountains

even mr. pickle likes to wake up to fresh roos roast in the morning!

cave of the winds

at the top of pike's peak! this was his favorite.

garden of the gods

i enjoyed this pickle. but mr. pickle gave me a funny look as i ate it.

boulder creek rock stacks

no trip is complete without a visit to the local library!

a yodelling relative! he found this less offensive than the pickle band-aids he saw at the same store. mr. pickle has since signed up for yodelling lessons in town.

he enjoyed a kinda blue beer at boulder beer.

enjoying some sun time at a private beach outside boulder.

ah, a heavenly boulder-made kombucha on pearl st.

overall it was a fantastic time, and i was glad i brought him along for the ride. since we got back he's been bugging me about going on another adventure. i may be calling on your help soon to fulfill this travel bug he caught.

free shipping this week!

2010-08-26T21:56:00.005-04:00

FREE SHIPPING!

to celebrate our 5th birthday this fine month of august, we are offering free shipping, within the continental US, on orders placed through midnight on 8/31. pay with paypal and we'll refund you the s/h cost. visit our etsy shop!

happy 826 day!

2010-08-26T07:48:00.005-04:00

happy 826 day! 826national has dubbed 8/26 National Youth Literacy Day! that's today.

there are eight 826 chapters across the country, including locations in chicago, brooklyn, boston, ann arbor, and more. each center has a themed storefront! there's a pirate store, a bigfoot research institute, a time travel store, and a robot store, to name a few. (among all the robot merch at the robot store is are the robots made by deets, a local artist you may have seen at craft fairs!)

826 offers totally free literacy programming for kids age 6-18, including free tutoring, drop in writing time, field trips, workshops, and more. all free. writing and literacy was never so much fun. i volunteer at the 826michigan chapter and it is quite awesome. behind that robot store is a newly reorganized writing and tutoring lab, where the magic happens. did i mention how much fun the volunteers and kids have??!

want to know what else author dave eggers of mcsweeney's is up to? 826valencia is your answer! he's the man behind the curtain that is 826.

$8.26 on 8/26 is a nationwide campaign in which all chapters are celebrating literacy and spreading the word to help continue free literacy instruction and to help make it possible to continue all this free stuff.

you don't have to donate, but please check out what this nonprofit has to offer. have kids? you HAVE to go there! stop everything and go ask "what workshops do you have?" you may find out more about mustache growing contests, robot parades, prom hanks, movie screenings, and more.

wait, what?

i know, that's what i said at first.

-m

meet mr. pickle

2010-08-21T21:22:00.009-04:00

i recently taught a stuffies workshop at Blue House Ann Arbor and i created this one as an example. a friend asked me what i was making and i mumbled something, and she said "a pickle?!" i said "no," and laughed. then i said "YES, I AM SO MAKING A PICKLE," as it was a great idea. here he is with some of the stuffies the kids made. the kids in attendance ranged from age 7 to age 13, and there were even boys in the workshop. it was a lot of fun. we discussed lady gaga, justin bieber, socks, school, summer, etc., as we all hand sewed creatures and letters.

mr. pickle recently went on a huge adventure, and i'll let you know what it was soon. ;)

cute book alert

2010-08-16T09:42:00.004-04:00

to continue with the book theme... i am a little ashamed to admit that i have never read any pippi longstocking. or seen it on tv. recently while browsing the shelves at the library i came across this little beauty! (to quote the crocodile hunter.) this version of astrid lindgren's pippi longstocking features illustrations by lauren child, who writes and illustrates the charlie and lola children's books. the illustrations are collages of paper, fabric, etc. and they are SO cute! highly recommended if you like pippi, or cute. i do plan to finally read me so pippi, so you can rest easy, pippi lovers. :)

-manz

noteworthy books

2010-08-10T16:29:00.006-04:00

here are a few craft/ sewing books i've been drooling over lately. the images and projects are wonderful to look through.

i love patchwork, by rashida coleman-hale

patchwork style, by suzuko koseki

zakka sewing, by therese laskey & chika mori

the pretzel had fun

2010-08-09T22:51:00.006-04:00

i learned something very important at last weekend's summerfest art & craft fair in saline. i learned about the existence of these babies! hot pretzels from benny's bakery. a sack of them will cheer you up and you will find them irresistible! in addition to yummy pretzels, the weather was beyond gorgeous and i had a great time.

are you drooling yet?

on a craft fair note... we'll be vending at the DIY Street Fair in ferndale, MI on sept. 17-19! woohoo!

new folk people

2010-08-04T12:06:00.005-04:00

a bunch of new items, some with this adorable folk fabric (that i am totally loving on an aqua background) will debut at this weekend's Saline Craft & Art Fair as part of Summerfest. i'll be sharing a tent with my favorite jewelry maker Courtney Fischer. the event is friday, aug. 6, 5pm-9pm, and saturday, aug. 7, 10am - 8pm. the weather report looks amaaaazing!

mittenMADE purchases

2010-07-30T15:19:00.001-04:00

last weekend at mittenMADE @ blue house ann arbor i bought an assortment of lovely new art for my casa. michigan collage print, by sparklepants

log slice screen print, by all things grow

instamatic print, by sloe gin fizz

whimsical wellie, by sloe gin fizz (i bought the orange one)

aqua screen printed fabric, by whitney crutchfield

new cards in the shop

2010-07-27T13:45:00.001-04:00

i added two new notecard designs to the shop. they are both hand-carved and hand-stamped linocut prints!

red & brown smart coffee notecards

robo-mustachio notecards

mittenMADE wrap-up

2010-07-25T10:41:00.020-04:00

last friday and saturday we set up shop at mittenMADE @ blue house ann arbor. it was quite an adventure, thanks to the weather. it's hard heading into an outdoor show where the forecast says 2 days of straight thunderstorms and 95 degrees!

BH owner siobhan had the place looking fabulous with her adorable signage, and everything was super organized. on friday we were outside in the yard/lot. i bought a new tent and it was my first time setting up under my own tent (i know, weird, right?). halfway through the day we had some good downpours, and some crafters' stuff got ruined. the storms passed and we made it through the afternoon, dripping with sweat, and welcoming some guests that came out after the rain passed.

all day we were asking each other, "are you keeping your tent up overnight?" and most of us did afterall. that night there was a tornado warning and the sirens were going off in ann arbor! i was reading tweets of the downtown ann arbor art fairs being a wash-out with rivers flowing down the street, and i was thinking of poor blue house's parking lot full of our tents.

when i drove up the next morning i saw many tents collapsed, but many were still standing- including my new one! holy crap! (thank you for that.) and thank you to siobhan's support team (bill) who kept eye on the tents overnight. the weather report showed 90% chance of thunderstorms all day for day two of mittenMADE... so we made the executive decision to move the fair inside blue house, where there is A/C and no rain. we squeezed in, set up shop, and the fair began! but of course the sun came out a few hours later and there was NO RAIN the rest of the day. seriously, what are the odds? ;) at least we had A/C.

overall it was a super fun weekend though, eating bagels, that oberon run, chatting with some super fabulous fellow crafters for two days. (hi nicole, sherry, marcy, stephanie, courtney, elana, and whitney!) i made some sweet trades with some pals and got some great new art for my house, which i'll post later.

two more weeks til dang argyle's next two-day outdoor craft fair-- Saline Craft & Art Show! i wonder what it will bring...

mittenMADE @ blue house

2010-07-20T22:03:00.009-04:00

mittenMADE, a summer indie craft fair, is happening this friday and saturday from 10am- 5pm at blue house ann arbor! this outdoor event is free, and open to everyone. swag bags filled with goodies will be given to the first 50 attendees on each day. we're gearing up for a craftylicious weekend, folks!

if you haven't been to blue house, now's your perfect chance. blue house is on the corner of main and pauline, plenty of street parking in the neighborhood. come before, during, after, or instead of the big ann arbor art fair!

dang argyle will be there with some new items... lots of wallets and pocket pouches, and some cutie new linoprint cards.

vendors include:

All Things Grow, Almapottery, Always The Forest, A3 Emerging Arts Leaders, Bit O Whimsy , Burnt Desserts, City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation, Courtney Fischer Jewelry, dang argyle, Designs by Arielle and Pamela, Elevated Press, Little Sister Designs, Mitten Made, Sloe Gin Fizz, Sparklepants Industries, The Little Craft Closet, Three Six Five, ttishbite, Wee Revolution, Whitney Crutchfield, Woolly Mammoth, Decadent Delight, Sweetwaters Cafe

see you there! rain or shine!

edamame pesto over spinach pasta

2010-07-16T16:36:00.009-04:00

this recipe is MOST delicioius. it is from the post punk kitchen site, and is a great way to use the cilantro and basil growing in your yard! make it, and love it, and have leftovers, and use the pesto on crackers, and then make it again. the ingredients and recipe text come straight from PPK. do it.
For the edamame pesto:

2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup packed basil leaves
Handful (1/4 cup or so) fresh cilantro
14 oz package shelled edamame, thawed
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
optional: 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

For the pasta:

10 oz spinach linguine or other pasta

1 teaspoon olive oil
Small red onion, in thinly sliced half moons
1/2 lb cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
Extra basil for garnish

Put on a pot of salted water to boil. Then prepare the pesto:

Place garlic and basil in food processor and pulse a few times to get it chopped up. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until relatively smooth, scraping down the sides with a spatula to make sure you get everything. Add a little more vegetable broth if it seems too stiff. Set aside until ready to use.

Preheat a large pan over medium heat. At this point your pasta water should be ready, so add the linguine.
Saute onion in oil for about 5 minutes. Use a little cooking spray as needed, or a splash of water if you prefer. Mix in mushrooms, garlic, thyme and salt. Cover pot and cook 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
The pasta should be ready now, so drain it.

When the mushrooms have cooked down, add pasta to the pan, along with the pesto. Use a pasta spoon to stir and coat the linguine. Get everything good and mixed and the pesto heated through, about 3 minutes. The pesto should be relatively thick, but if it’s too thick (not spreading out and coating the pasta) add a few tablespoons of water. Taste for salt. (Serves 4)

mittenMADE preview pt. 2: turtles

2010-07-14T19:01:00.001-04:00

i found a small piece of this chambray turtle fabric at the thrift store. he has a hat and an umbrella and is too cool for cucumbers. :)

you'll find these cuties and more, at mittenMADE at blue house on july 23-24.

mittenMADE preview pt. 1: dots

2010-07-11T19:45:00.006-04:00

mittenMADE at blue house is less than two weeks away! here is a peak at some things i've been working on... DOTS and pockets!

July 10 = DIY in the Mitten

2010-07-05T16:05:00.005-04:00

this saturday, july 10, presents michiganders (and beyond?) with two great DIY events where you can shop, hear music, drink beverages, etc.

the Shadow Art Fair is noon to midnight @ corner brewery, etc. in ypsilanti. there is a crazy long list of all the crazy events going on all day, that include a party bus, races, puppets, a film fest, shadow brew, live music, and art vendors. (admission is 2 cents, if you dig.)

the same day, the Baar Bazaar will be held from from 8pm - 2am at the majestic theater in detroit. this free, late show features amazing vendors selling some sweet goods, live bands to get your ears tingling, and some adult beverages to set the mood. a great night to be in the D.

what a whopper of a day!! and guess what? i am working that day! what did i do to deserve that? ha. but luckily these fine events both run late into the night, and i plan to attend one (or both??) after i punch out. i hope you do the same!
-m

tea party

2010-07-03T22:33:00.018-04:00

our green tea keychain pouch was recently included in this tea party treasury by petekdesign.

and semi-relatedly to green and tea...
i ordered some matcha from arborteas so that i can make this fine looking matcha shake. (thanks for the link, rifferaff!) i'm looking forward to this on a hot evening.

it's just these items well blended:

-1 tablespoon matcha powder
-1 tablespoon honey
-1 cup soy milk (i will replace milk with soy)
-handful of ice

getting folky

2010-06-28T20:09:00.014-04:00

the lovely and talented hannah, of made with love by hannah, is the one who sent me the wonderful vintage toaster covers that i used to make some snazzy bags and clutches, such as these. the tote bag is actually still in our etsy shop.

well, check out these new vintage villager skirts hannah made with similar vintage fabric!

they go together pretty dang nicely, eh? i love her shop and i want to buy most every skirt. :)
-m

how does your garden grow?

2010-06-17T22:00:00.023-04:00

even though lettuce grows great there, the beds in my yard don't get much sun, so i have some containers on my sunny deck for a few other things that will hopefully complement my CSA share.

this year i made an earthtainer to grow tomatoes in. so far so good! i also planted a roma plant in another bed.

butter crunch lettuce is a staple in my garden!

red boston lettuce...

cilantro!
because i am going to make this all the time.

fresh thyme. a new herb for me this year.

basil, which smells amazing.

and i couldn't pass up some celosia. i love that stuff.

some of my favorite gardening books this year are:

fresh food from small spaces: the square inch gardener's guide to year-round growing, fermenting, and sprouting, by r.j. ruppenthal
gaia's garden: a guide to home-scale permaculture, by toby hemenway
garden anywhere, by alys fowler
a little piece of earth: how to grow your own food in small spaces, by maria finn

here's hoping for bountiful gardens!
-manz

happy birthday Etsy!

2010-06-13T10:53:00.005-04:00

etsy is turning five! and is having a BIG birthday party, and YOU are invited!

to celebrate, cities across the world are having mostly simultaneous etsy craft parties on friday, june 18. have your own, or join in on all the parties already set up and waiting for you!

you can find a party near you, and register at meetups.com. there are a bunch in michigan!

you don't have to be an etsy seller, or even a crafter. some meetups are working on DIY projects, most are having snack and drinks. it just sounds like an overall swell time to chat about etsy and elephants and eucalyptus trees, or whatever.

-m

china doll

2010-06-12T10:34:00.002-04:00

happy birthday to my forever-friend Coco! i bought you a panda and made you a cake. and well, the panda ate the cake. i'm sorry.
xoxo, manz

cross stitch times

2010-06-09T20:36:00.001-04:00

something different for dad's birthday.

-m

crafterlots & tote bags

2010-06-08T10:09:00.007-04:00

what do crafterlots and tote bags have in common? blue house!

this saturday, june 12 is the first crafterlot. it's a mini outdoor fair featuring 20+ indie artists selling their wares. this family friendly event runs from 5-8pm in the blue house parking lot. here is a sneak peak at some of the vendors. (including boh bon soap! i must stock up.)

also on june 12, from 2-5pm, i'll be teaching a how to make a tote bag class, for ages 14+. a couple of dang argyle secrets may be divulged. there is still room in the class if you're interested.

it's a great day to check out the blue house!

i hope everyone is having a great warm season so far. i promise my next post won't involve blue house. ;)

-mnz

handmade

2010-05-25T09:31:00.005-04:00

there is a screening of the indie craft documentary handmade nation at blue house tonight 5/25 @ 6:30pm, as part of the Maker's Mark series. wanna go? see you there.

sometimes crap is lovely

2010-05-18T21:56:00.007-04:00

it is lovely when you stitch it, or yell it when you're mad. it is lovely when written in pretty typeface.

sometimes when you're young, the word crap is a real swear word and you might get in trouble if you say it! (as was my case.) i still think stupid is a worse curse than crap, but what can i say.

the following are two notepads i've received as gifts, so apparently my crap lovin' ways are no secret!

and let's not forget about this handstitched buncha crap, or this handmade tough crap, made by yours truly. :)

-m

Coconut lime Curry Chickpea Stir-Fry

2010-05-16T10:51:00.010-04:00

This recipes comes from Brendan Brazier's Thrive Fitness. Yes, I'm vegan, but no I'm not an athlete. There is a nice philosophy for a healthy life in his books though, and there are some tasty recipes! Here is one that I can't get enough of, and it's super quick to make. It is a great dish to put in your vegetarian recipes rolodex! Sometimes folks skimp on things in recipes. If you skimp here, don't skimp on the coconut milk or the cilantro. :)

Coconut lime Curry Chickpea Stir-Fry

1 tbsp coconut oil (I use olive oil)
1 tbsp grated or finely chopped fresh ginger (I've used powdered just fine)
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ large red onion, cut lengthwise into thin strips
1-½ cups chopped cauliflower
1 cup chopped broccoli florets
1-cup bite-size torn spinach
½ tsp curry
½ tsp turmeric
¼ tsp ground cumin
¼ mild chili pepper, finely sliced (or substitute ½ tsp dried chili flakes)
1-cup chickpeas
1-cup coconut milk
1 tbsp limejuice
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat frying pan to medium-high. Add coconut oil, ginger, and garlic. Lightly stir-fry. Turn heat to medium-low. Add vegetables, curry, turmeric, cumin, chili pepper, chickpeas, and coconut milk. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add limejuice and cilantro. Serve with sprouted quinoa or buckwheat. Brown rice also works nicely. I recommend QUINOA!

Makes about 4 small servings.

-m

gettin' crafty in the deuce

2010-05-12T19:29:00.009-04:00

i know i've mentioned it before, but Blue House Ann Arbor has ALL sorts of fun things going on, and i have to mention it again. you can find all the details of all things Blue House on the BH website, but here are a few stand-outs worth pointing out:

workshops: there are a ton of classes and workshops being offered. i finally took a knitting class a few weeks ago, which was super fun. (thanks, nicole!) and i'll be teaching some sewing classes there as well. (one is this saturday!)

crafterlot: june 12, aug 14, sept 12, from 5-8pm, there will be a mini craft fair in BH's parking lot. owner siobhan says "We’ll take the first 30 handmade vendors for the June 12 event. You’ll set up with your own table ($10 table fee) in the parking lot of Blue House. A fun crafty bazaar teeming with all that makes great community." cool! and there will be live music at the crafterlot events. it's a laid back way to set up shop.

mitten made: july 23-24. a two day craft fair happening the weekend of ann arbor's big art fair. it's an outdoor event, and applications will go up soon!

handmade nation: as part of the maker's mark series, on tuesday, may 25 there will be a screening of the indie craft documentary handmade nation. i haven't seen it yet, so i'm excited! rsvp via the BH website.

and on and on and on.

see you around the house,
-m

shop update

2010-05-05T21:02:00.003-04:00

we updated the dang shop with all sorts of new bags, wristlets, and wallets. have a peek. here is a sampling:

may day

2010-05-02T11:04:00.006-04:00

may 1st was a busy day in michigan. for one, president obama spoke at U of M's commencement. most of the week ann arbor has been talking and preparing, helicopters flying overhead, and plenty of tweets about the event. like him or not, it's pretty awesome to have a sitting president speak at graduation, and come to town period. he was in and out in a flash.

the first day of may also marked day one of smoke free michigan! so no more smoking in bars and restaurants. i kind of want to go to 12 concerts soon just so i can wear my contacts and not have them stick to my eyeballs due to smokey, dry air.

i guess i had the option to go to the big house... but i spent the day in downtown flint at the spring craft market representing the dang and the argyle. it's fun getting to see my crafty peeps, and meet new ones, so it was a good day all in all.

later today i'll begin a BIG SHOP UPDATE! stay tuned.

p.s. marcy, i'll iron my table cloth now!
-m

springalingaling time

2010-04-29T20:15:00.007-04:00

oh, the cyclists are out, and my lilacs are smelling up my yard something fierce. it's this lovely time of year where the weather is closer to wonderful and folks are crawling out of their winter hiding places. daylight at 8pm and folks still lined up at DQ is a sight for sore eyes! what are your favorite signs of spring?

of course spring craft fair season is another reason to love spring, and we're pretty deep into it. at this point in the game, we're already talking SUMMER fairs! exciting, and almost scary.

saturday may 1st is the spring craft market in flint, michigan. from 10-4pm, 60+ makers will be set up in downtown flint at five locations... call it a craft crawl! dang argyle will be set up at the brown sugar cafe with some other lovely vendors. to see the full vendor list check here.

-m

RE-MAKE @ Blue House Ann Arbor

2010-04-23T13:22:00.005-04:00

Blue House Ann Arbor reports:

Here's a taste of what we're planning for this amazing (and FREE!) Saturday afternoon:

*Recycled Make + Take Projects for adults and kids
*ECO-Shop: featuring local artists who are using upcycled or sustainable materials
*Musical guest: Joe Reilly
*Free reusable bags compliments of Trader Joe's
*A star-studded raffle choc' full... of amazing prizes

Come learn about all that Blue House has to offer-- we're building a handmade community right in the heart of Ann Arbor, and we'd love for you to join us!

should be a fun day. i'll be helping with the make + take projects!
-m

the land of craft fairs, fire, and ice

2010-04-19T20:07:00.008-04:00

i had a lovely time vending at craft revival on saturday! it was super fun sharing a table with courtney fischer jewelry. the revival vendors had some great stuff! i treated myself to a tank top by always the forest, some scissor towels from lish magic, and some robot buttons by lmnop. a big thanks to everyone who came out on a blustery day to hang out with us! i love being a michigan crafter. it's such a great community of super awesome people, in case you didn't know.

unrelatedly, this past week i've been pouring over images of iceland and the eruption of eyjafjallajokull... getting lost in memories of visiting iceland, and of the ash that is covering the land, the flooding, the farmers searching for their cattle amidst thick ash clouds. it is mesmerizing. the dang girls have been on two awesome trips to iceland together. but the first time i went was in 2000 with family, and i went to the small island of heimaey and saw eldfell, which erupted in 1973. you could walk right up it and see the heat rising up from underneath your feet as you walked. there were small "pockets" that were hot enough to melt items, like the soles of your shoes, a comb and a pop bottle- which we totally did. (i wonder where that comb is now, i know i have it somewhere.) it was so amazing to walk on this land that erupted over 25 years ago and to still feel the heat from it. and there was still a lot of evidence of the destruction all over the island. lava rock piles were everywhere, building roofs still peeking out from it in some areas. i am reminded of all this as eyjafjallajokull continues to spill her guts all over the iceland countryside.

(photo of eldfell courtesy of the internet.)

-manz

craft revival is here!

2010-04-15T19:07:00.008-04:00

two more days til craft revival, brought to you by handmade detroit. as are all their events, it should be a fine show! this is the second year for the revival, and the first time it's at the loving touch in ferndale. on april 17th, 25+ local vendors will be in effect with all sorts of new spring things. i know i have a list of things i'm looking for.

i'll be sharing a table with a courtney. not the cortney that is half of dang argyle, but the courtney of courtney fischer jewelry. her stuff is amazing, so you better get some of her stuff before i snag it all.

see you there!

-manz

little wizards of artcraft

2010-04-10T22:27:00.011-04:00

i was at one of my favorite thrift stores the other day, and was pleased to see they reorganized their craft supply area. i was even more pleased to find some cool stuff amidst the crazy stuff.

a vintage speedball lino cutter, with blades, original boxes, and paper work. score! the cutter was originally $2.64 at Craft Shack. it's in perfect shape to use, but since i already own a working lino cut set, i may just leave this one on my shelf. that is, unless i am cutting designs with someone, then i'd be glad to share.

i also found this adorable fabric featuring patterns for dolls clothing. i've already cut out a couple mini keychain pouches out of it. i kind of want to make one of the clothing pieces though!

shortie pants, as streetwear!

-manz

happy anniversary

2010-04-08T21:51:00.009-04:00

april 8th marks the 20th anniversary of twin peaks. thank you david lynch and mark frost for all its zany wonderfulness. peaks = unforgetable characters, a great soundtrack, david duchovny in drag, and it's still great after all these years. if i were forced to pick a favorite character, episode, or scene i simply could not do it. it's all too wonderful to judge. i love the horne brothers greeting the icelanders and roasting marshmallows, i love (david lynch as) gordon cole falling for shelly johnson and exclaiming his socks are on fire, i love hiding under my blanket as killer bob crawls over the couch in laura palmer's house, i love pete and josie and the fish in the percolator, i love every word that comes out of agent cooper's mouth.

etsy has some great handmade twin peaks themed items for sale by various artists. i have this lovely print by seasprayblue hanging in my living room: and i have this adorable piece by the great northern hanging in my kitchen. their whole shop is peaks!

hopefully you celebrated with a damn fine cup of coffee, black as midnight on a moonless night. and pie. don't forget RR's cherry pie.

what's your favorite peaks moment?
-m

irenne, the mean green sewing machine

2010-04-03T11:59:00.010-04:00

i retired irenne, the mean green sewing machine, in december 2006 when it finally bit the dust. after a zillion jams, broken needles and oil spits, she went on her merry way and i replaced her with a viking. i inherited the machine, a kenmore model #158.16012 made around 1970-1971, from my grandma irenne (better known as grandma nanny.) so it made sense to replace the german grams with the icelandic grams. it's funny to ME anyway. :)

i found out last week that she has a local twin! i was at blue house ann arbor, teaching a basic sewing class, and low and behold there she was, as though irenne had been resurrected. what are the chances that i'd know the exact machine that BHAA owner siobhan inherited from her own grandmother? sure, a lot of us start on hand-me-down machines, but i, lover of nostalgia and coincidence, think it's more than that. sadly, i couldn't get the feed dog set up correctly on irenne's twin, a button is stuck, so i couldn't get the machine in proper working order.

-m

a recipe for you:

2010-03-26T17:36:00.015-04:00

kenny's olive pizza

i don't remember where this recipe came from, some magazine. i have a photocopy of it from about five years ago. it's easy and tasty. the dang girls have made this about 642 times over the years.

pizza crust of some sort (we like to use pita bread)
2 six oz. cans pitted black olives, drained
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large clove garlic, diced
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

topping:

1 cup diced tomatoes
2 tbsp chopped onion
2 tbsp fresh basil (or dried, if you're in a pinch, but obviously fresh is awesome on this.)
1/2 tsp minced garlic

1. preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. put all main ingredients in food processor; pulse until olives are finely chopped. spread on crust. (you can also top w/ mozzarella or vegan mozarella)

3. bake 10 minutes until crust is crisp.

4. meanwhile, combine topping ingredients in a bowl.

5. cut pizza into wedges, spoon on topping, and enjoy!

blue house wrap-up

2010-03-24T21:05:00.006-04:00

i had a great time last weekend at handmade @ blue house. it was nice to do a local show, and there were some great vendors! for the grand opening event i had the pleasure of sharing a room with some great artists and a very creepy mannequin named vivian. the space was tight, and there was steady traffic all day. just a few months ago blue house ann arbor was a crumbling blue house, and now siobhan has transformed it into a beautiful creative space. i'm happy to have dang argyle goods for sale on consignment, and i look forward to taking a class there! if you're in ann arbor and are looking for somewhere to click with other makers and thinkers, or if you're looking for a handmade gift, check it out.

-m