Inside a warpeDesign

NYC Skyline lamp donated to help Education

2010-10-01T16:07:00.002-04:00

This Monday I am proud to be a part of the charity event hosted by the Children's Movement for Creative Education. I have donated one of my handpunched NYC Skyline lamps to the silent auction to raise money for this non-profit, non-denominational, tax-exempt organization that helps children overcome the upheavals in their lives through art and education. By being better informed about world events and other cultures children connect their individual lives to the larger world community.

To donate or purchase a ticket to the event, click here.

I hope my little piece of New York City will raise a little bit of money for this great cause!

Maker Faire - Getting your Geek on!

2010-09-26T13:20:00.000-04:00

I volunteered at the Maker Faire yesterday. What a blast! The fabulous weather brought out all sorts of people. It was one of the excitingly diverse crowds that New York excels at cooking up. Steam punk meets Family meets Artist meets Scientist. Bonding everyone was a love of technology and creativity and the fact that the twain DO meet! If you like to build stuff, create stuff... this was the venue to find your soulmates!

Neat toy for the back yard..

Bust set up a Craftacular in one zone while the others were set up inside the New York Hall of Science and on the lawns and parking around it. While it was a slight trek from the city, being on the far edges of Queens (out by Shea Stadium), I'm so glad I went out there to see the sights and meet the people. As a volunteer, I worked at the Maker's Shed and an information booth so I had lots of encounters with faire goers who were all fun, excited, and having a great time. Get a little taste of it with the pics!

Annnnnddd heeere we gooo....

parts....


and what you make with parts

whaaaat???

And this brave soul sat down with Nelson.....

if you could have only heard the noises from that machine!


But where do you sit?

Chariot race winner

Chariot race loser

Chariot still to be raced... wonder if it eats its opponents?

Lifesize Mousetrap???

Want some cheese?

If you missed it, the website has a ton of gems and info. And, with the turnout and the excitement of the crowd, I feel sure this will happen again. Keep an eye on Make Magazine and the NY Hall of Science.

Selling warpeDesign in stores

2010-08-01T12:35:00.002-04:00

Selling at craft shows is tough.   You're lucky if it is only a 9 hour day... on a weekend.   It's lots of standing.   And I don't always eat too healthy. (Those darn cupcake & chocolate booths are my doom!)

As an alternative, I've started looking for some bricks & mortar locations where I can vend warpeDesign.   It's great for customers who need to think about a purchase. They don't have that worry that the item they want wont be there tomorrow (hehe... unless it sells!).   I know this is especially true for the lamps. It's hard to buy one at a show. You want to make sure it fits your decor... and your budget.   I'm all for making good decisions with your money and your home.   By getting my products into a few select places, I hope to give you the opportunity to take that time.

To start you can see the tea light covers at Clay, Wood, & Cotton in Beacon, NY.    They've been there for a few months.   The store is pairing each one with a free candle & glass.   It's an awesome deal.

And as of last week I have lamps at Homebody Boutique in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY. At the store you'll be able to purchase a full lamp - not just a shade as on Etsy. They are running from $120 to $140 depending on the size, materials, and detail in the shade. It's another great deal.

I'll do my best to keep posting new locations and products as they get out there. Have fun shopping!

The Amazing work of Heather Smith Jones

2010-07-17T14:08:00.002-04:00

I've just been hit by a thunderbolt. It's name was Heather Smith Jones. She is a fellow pinhole artist. You can see her work at www.heathersmithjones.com. She is my new hero. I thought I spent a lot of time punching holes... wow! This women (who's been at this far longer than I have) puts me to shame!

Samples of her fabulous work:

Small pinhole formation, two

Leaf and its pattern

I don't know that I'll ever do anything to match her work. I certainly don't want to copy it. I want to make my own version of pinhole art, but she has certainly set the bar very high!

Making it BIG

2010-07-05T16:18:00.000-04:00

My first commission of a large scale lampshade. Learned a few things. Like, these big things are BIG. This shade was 14" in diameter by 15" high. My NYC Skyline lampshade is a mere 6" diameter by 8" high. When I look at the picture of the original BIG shade next to the NYC one I have to laugh.... it's like Papa and Baby!

Now that I had this frame home... I had to get brutal with it and strip off that frightening (plastic) ribbon that was bound around it. I needed to get a sense of the scale and what was underneath. This made for a perfect shot of it 'caging' the NYC Skyline shade. It made me realize, this wasn't just 2x's bigger.... this was more along the lines of 4 times bigger than anything I'd tried before!

But I persevered... And punched and punched and punched holes and more holes into a strip of paper that was almost as long as I was tall! The final results were a lovely, sophisticated shade with my "Snowfall" pattern. At home I could only see it on a chair, but the texture looked lovely in the natural light from the window.

When I brought it to my client and they were kind enough to let me photograph it lit up in their place. Hurrah! The big guy is done and home!

He's traveled around New York - Manhattan to Brooklyn and back again, but I think the makeover was well worth it all!

Helping clean up the oil spill in the gulf

2010-06-05T10:24:00.002-04:00

You will notice that I've added a National Wildlife Federation "Oil Spill: Help Save Wildlife", badge to my site. I've been looking for ways I can help. If this one little thing gets them some more attention, then I'm thrilled. I'm also following them on Facebook and Twitter.

I've signed up with several organizations to volunteer down there. Unfortunately, they really need people with specific oil cleanup/HazMat style training which I don't have. But maybe they'll train me... or they need people to do other stuff. I don't care if it's filing or cooking for the crews. If I can free up one person with the proper training by doing that sort of work, then it's worth it.

I'm on hold for the moment... so I'm on the look out for other options. I've been flipping through sites like The Bargainist for more ideas. I know there isn't a human around who doesn't get nauseas when they see the pictures. Or even worse, feels helpless. Sending $10 just doesn't seem enough... but it's a start.

ABC News coverage of the NewNew on Governors Island

2010-06-03T18:05:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we gathered on the island to meet and greet the press and get the word out there about our Treasure Chest opening this weekend. We were all thrilled to have ABC news come out to do a piece on our little shop. Check it out!

Discover the local treasure chest on Governor's Island

warpeDesign at Governers Island

2010-06-03T12:00:00.001-04:00

IMG_0214
Originally uploaded by Virginia Kraljevic

I've got my own little shelf with a selection of cards and lampshades. (If you go... see if you can find my two other lampshades in the store. Don't worry, they aren't hard to find.)

The {NewNew} on Governers Island cont

2010-06-03T11:57:00.001-04:00

IMG_0331
Originally uploaded by Virginia Kraljevic

The {NewNew} on Governers Island

2010-06-03T11:56:00.001-04:00

IMG_0337
Originally uploaded by Virginia Kraljevic

This summer the {NewNew} is setting up shop on Governers Island. Take a glimpse at what the store looks like.... Official opening is this weekend. We'll be there all summer. More info here: http://www.thenewnewny.com/govisle.html

and more pics to come!

Brooklyn Designs - Show your function

2010-05-09T23:25:00.009-04:00

The trip to Dumbo was a bit of an adventure today... starting with the fact that my train was not running. A shuttle bus was provided. The sign did not bode well that the bus would show up.

But I once I got there, I was reminded with this view of what an awesome city NY is. That's the Manhattan Bridge I'm about to walk under with the remainder of 100 year old trolly tracks pointing towards the Empire State Building glowing in the distance.

Brooklyn Designs is always a charming show. It's small enough that I enjoy it without fear of overload or exhaustion. I wont deny that I think it could afford to get a little bigger, but it may be an issue of space and/or finding enough designers interested. Those they do have are wonderful artists. There wasn't one booth there that I thought poorly of. The design standards were high and the craftsmanship was top notch.

One repeating theme I noticed was a desire to play with function as an art feature in and of itself. A roller coster trellis tranformed to chaise lounge base. A building block construction of three joints and varying wood sizes. A wall with peek-a-boo joints. And an end table with a secret. Check them out:

Uhuru's Cyclone Lounger - If you've ever seen Coney Island's Cyclone roller coaster, you'll recognize those white struts. But what takes this lounger beyond just a visual homage is that it is made out of reclaimed wood from the Coney Island boardwalk!

This next item from EcoSystem Furniture's snug-it collection has to be posted in three pics. First you see these strange shapes. They look like heavy duty steel clamps... but are actually incredibly strong, but light-weight aluminum.

Here they are in action...

And the final shelf. They'll custom cut the boards for you, so all you have to do is figure out what you want to make. Shelving? Tables? A bed? It's all up to you.

Next up was Miscione Design's wall system. I absolutely love the blunt honesty of this simple loop and wedge construction. It's like getting to see the skeleton of the wall. And no nails, hammers, or other tools are needed for installation.

One of the most charming pieces of the show was Colleen & Eric's NorthStar Table. I was initially just delighted to learn that the inlaid brass dots were placed according to actual constellation charts. But lo-and-behold, pressing the North Star popped open a secret drawer!

I've got some videos too of other fun things from the show and nearby... just need to figure out how to edit them. They look bizarre sideways! Can't wait for more stuff to see next week at ICFF!

Design in the first weeks of May!

2010-05-07T11:28:00.002-04:00

I've already mentioned Crafts in Chelsea... which, with the weather as beautiful as it is, would be an awesome way to spend some time. I will certainly head over to cheer on my friends... and maybe splurge a little on me too.

But there's more happening this weekend that I want to tell you all about. First off, tonight is The Looms First Friday event. From 7 to 11pm, "The Shops at the Loom host this monthly event, and offer discounts, deals, and complimentary refreshments coupled with performances and art installations." Shops include my friend's handmade boutique Better Than Jam with clothes, jewelry, and more. Other shops are The Brooklyn Yarn Cafe, Belal, and The Index.

Next stop is the Brooklyn Designs show starting today and running through Sunday. I love this show because it's my neighbors. I think of it as a big housewarming party where I get to meet everyone and peek inside their medicine cabinets (c'mon, you do it too). Having been on their side of the table/booth, I know how gut wrenching it is to put your heart and soul out there to be critiqued and hopefully admired. I can't wait to see what they are offering this year!

The big humdinger will be next weekend at the Javitts Center. The International Contemporary Furniture Fair, or ICFF. This is the big time. There are companies from around the world hoping they'll either have the product everyone remembers and gets them lots of press... or the product that everyone wants and gets them lots of sales. It's a fashionable mix of new innovations and introductions from companies large and small, from Herman Miller to the students at Parsons.

While you may not hit them all.... I highly recommend that you check out at least one of these. I'll be going to all of them. If you see me... come on up and say 'hi'!

Crafts in Chelsea

2010-05-04T15:18:00.003-04:00

I've got to put the word out on the very fun Crafts in Chelsea fair that will be going on this weekend. While I wont be vending, a lot of my friends will be and they do fabulous work. It's also in a very good cause... PS11's arts program will be funded with the proceeds. As an artist who can't imagine going to school without an art class... this is a great way to support a child's creativity while also showing them the huge range of things that can be done with it.

Just a few of the amazing items that will be for sale:

Brooklyn Lyceum's Food & Craft Fair

2010-04-29T17:09:00.004-04:00

I'm debating what to write about this weekend's show... The pic pretty much says it all. Food. Crafts. Spring. Lyceum. Talking Bird. Gonna be good times!

And if my gushing endorsement as well as my lovely presence with lots of punctured paper products wont induce you... Then I should tell you that there will be over 100 vendors on two floors in a this fabulous Park Slope, Brooklyn location. It's right down the street (1/2 a block) from the D, M, N, R station. Map says it all.

Hope I'll see you there!

Take a peek at the Spring Handmade Cavalcade

2010-04-17T12:08:00.001-04:00

I was going to write an entry about all the wonderful vendors that will be at he Spring Handmade Cavalcade (and I still might), but Wabisabi Brooklyn put me to shame with her Treasury on etsy. Once again a picture proves it's worth a 1000 words!

The lushness of Spring

2010-04-14T13:24:00.001-04:00

I love the flowers of spring. Not only because it's the sign that winter is over, but because they are so bold and strong and extravagant. The cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden are peaking... I was there alone, but I can't keep my pictures to myself. It was glorious!

Sustainable art is in your backyard!

2010-04-12T17:15:00.001-04:00

In less than two weeks the {NewNew} invades on Williamsburg, Brooklyn when we take over Berry Park for our Spring Handmade Cavalcade. This year's show has a special emphasis on sustainability and eco-consciousness. Each vendor has a different angle on what they do to promote good environmental behavior. Some use recycled materials. Some upcycle old materials. Some source only local raw materials. Some buy in bulk. The one thing we all have in common is that we make our work locally to keep our carbon footprint small. Take a look at all the amazing vendors!

Join us in our efforts to shrink our carbon footprint by shopping locally. Come to the SHC for art, food, clothing, jewelry, and so much more!

How to Make a Lampshade... warpeDesign style

2010-04-02T19:33:00.000-04:00

It's up! My step into fame... dunno about fortune. While I don't think I'm destined to become a web phenom, I think the episode on Threadbanger.com's Decor it Yourself about my NYC Skyline punctured paper lampshade is quite respectable. The best compliment on it came from a friend who claims to be "artistically incapable". She said that she thought even she could follow these directions! Yay. Success!

So check it out, give me your (not so honest reviews), and enjoy.

Filming for Threadbanger.com

2010-03-23T12:00:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I woke up with a knot in my stomach. They were coming TODAY! The apartment was cleaner than it had been in ages.... I could see floor in places I hadn't seen in years. The kitchen table was carefully set... with 5 different stages of a lampshade. I had the basics of a script outline laid out. I was ready.... but that still didn't make the knot unwind.

One hot shower, one tasty sausage-egg-and-cheese bagel, and a support message from mom and I was still nervous. Nothing to do but wait. and wait. and wait. No.... they weren't late. But when you are waiting for something to start minutes just seem so much longer than 60 seconds!

Then... they were here. In my apartment. Setting up a camera. Checking out my lampshades. Meeting my cat. Using my bathroom. And the adventure really began....

"Talk into the camera, just like it's your audience", they told me. I've heard those words before, but this time it was me that had to do it! Why do words flee from my lips when the spotlight comes on? Ah well, I stumbled through. They seemed to like what I did, usually took only one take, but after each one I could never remember what I had just done. It's like a small blackout after each take. So glad it's on tape so I can eventually see what I did.

The results will be revealed next week... If you've ever wanted to learn how to make a lampshade, check out Decor It Yourself next Wednesday on

ps - Meg & Corinne, thanks so much for making it all so easy! It was a great pleasure to work with you.

The creation of warpeDesign

2010-02-21T14:32:00.002-05:00

Ever wondered where I started? I sometimes laugh at my own path... It sure does wander. Well, there's a taste of my back history posted on the {NewNew}'s blog. I'm super flattered that they chose me. Enjoy!

Shows for 2010

2010-02-03T16:58:00.000-05:00

So I'm finally getting myself booked into a couple of shows this year. Yay!   The best part about doing the shows is meeting all of you.   As lovely as any sale is online, I find the direct sales much more satisfying.   I get to see you flip through the boxes of cards.   I see you touch the samples that are out.   I hear your discussion with your spouse/friend/sister/etc about which card would be right for x, y, or z...   And I get to answer all your questions about how I make the punctured paper artwork, what inspires me, what challenges me, and what motivates me.   It's your chance to get to know me.

and then I turn the tables and ask you questions.   Yes. I do ask. I want to know: what pulled you to my booth? What you look for in cards? What do you like about the lamps? What else would you like to see me make?   The information flows both ways and we have a chance to get to know each other as people rather than just buyer and seller.   It's pretty great.

Sooo... .next opportunity for a Q&A will be this very weekend at the Maker's Market. I will be there from 11 to 6 with cards, lamps, and tea light covers on Sunday, Feb 7th.   I'll be back on Sunday March 7th for another go around.

Next big show after that will be the Brooklyn Lyceum Craft Fair on May 1st & 2nd.

I will start posting other shows on Etsy at least a month in advance and I'll get my blog calender updated soon!   Hope to see you soon!   To tide you over, enjoy a little bit of love from warpeDesign!

Thing a day 2010

2010-02-01T13:49:00.000-05:00

As a fun challenge, I've joined this year's Thing-a-day challenge. I want to get back to my sculptural crochet, so this will be a good time to start that. Have fun. and stay tuned on Twitter and FB for updates... or just stop by regularly my personal posterous site regularly. (I am still trying to figure it out, so give me today to do that! lol)

First item that went up was this tiny, TINY pear....

Valentine's Day is around the corner!

2010-01-20T12:10:00.002-05:00

It's here again.... that oh so tough holiday where you must be more romantic, more in love, more, more, MORE! Well... I try to help out a little with my cards. If you haven't visited my shop and peaked into the "Love Cards" section, here's what you are missing!

Two Hearts Beat as One

Heart 2 Heart

Fill this Heart

Holiday Party at the Maker's Market

2009-12-15T19:56:00.004-05:00

Last Sunday, while at the Maker's Market, I was chatting with a customer about the show. It was a dreary, rainy day and yet there was still a decent amount of foot traffic. We were both happy about that, and then he said something about that really caught my attention...

"It's like being at a museum. The quality of the work is so amazing!"

wow. I've always thought we were a pretty classy, talented bunch, but that was even higher praise than I'd ever expected. But if the shoe fits....

If you'd like to get a taste of our "museum" quality work, this weekend will be a fantastic opportunity to do so. Here are a few of the fabulous people who will be showing and selling alongside me. Wipe that drool off your computer, put your party pants on, and come play with us!

Christine Vasan Jewelery

The challenges of booth set up at Gifted

2009-12-14T12:42:00.003-05:00

Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of spending the day with Felicity of Wish by Felicity and Debbie from Milk Made at the Brooklyn Flea's Gifted show. The {NewNew} team had arranged to purchase a table that their members could share for the day. For those of us with a thin wallet but big hopes, this is a fantastic opportunity. The challenge was how we'd fit us all on one table!

We're each used to having at least a 2'x4' table to spread out our goodies. At Gifted all we had was one 2'x6' table. Which, divided by three people, gave us each 2' square. It seemed ridiculous. I know I thought it'd be a disaster.

But it turned out great! Limitations sometimes push you. And this pushed each of us to find the essence of our lines. As you'll see in the pictures below, we found ways to make our products look great while keeping the table top from falling into chaos.

Walking in from the front door, we were towards the back wall by the Lafayette Street side window which gave us fabulous light (which my poor lamps fought against...).

Felicity had fun rearranging her set up all day, but she really caught the essence of her fun and colorful jewelry with these pieces.

Debbie and Felicity's work is very different, but since I was the 'non' jewelry person (and the last one to show up for set up...heh), I got the pleasure of setting up in the middle of the table. It actually worked out well as your eye seemed to rise UP the table following the increasing heights of our displays.

And then there was Debbie's milk bottle cap inspired jewelry mountain holding down the end of the table. I love that she brings along an old fashioned milk bottle with cap. I didn't know you could even find them any more!

The view for us was pretty great too. We had a good angle to observe the crowds and see people shopping handmade!

If you were one of those people... I hope you had a fun time and found lots of goodies!

An invitation to the Brooklyn Collective and more...

2009-12-08T15:56:00.001-05:00

I'm thrilled to announce that warpeDesign will be available at two stores in the very near future.

Starting on December 11th, Brooklyn Collective will be hosting several new artists and designers including yours truly. Sharing store space with General Nightmare Antiques, the Collective is a great place to stop and shop for the holidays. If you want to meet the artists, come by the "Holiday Opening Event" on Friday, December 11th from 7pm-midnight. There'll be wine and refreshments all night as well as a special live performance by The Static Jacks. And yes, I will be there... just look for the little redheaded girl with a silly grin.

Later this month, you'll be able to find warpeDesign tea light covers and lamps a little north of the city in Beacon, NY at Clay, Wood, & Cotton. This hot, new shop is the brain child of Kristen of Cakehouse and Kristy of Beacon Bookmarks. After paying their dues selling on the craft circuit in many a fair, they joined up with Kelly, the creator of beaconcitizen.com, to create a home online and in the real world to house and sell the kind of products they love and to represent the people that make them.

I am so thrilled to be a part of both of these stores. They are not only the kinds of places that I want warpeDesign to be in... but they are the type of stores that I myself love to shop in.

Happy Holiday Handmade Cavalcade!

2009-12-06T12:31:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to send a quick little "THANK YOU" to everyone who came to the 2nd Annual Holiday Handmade Cavalcade. We felt very loved. With over 1000 visitors showing up in the rain even before our 1/2 way point... It couldn't have been a better show. We were happily exhausted at the end of the day, but that didn't stop some people from talking about what we want to do in 365 days for 2010 Holiday Cavalcade! So, thanks again for making it a great day!

December Craziness ensues!

2009-12-02T15:13:00.002-05:00

I just came back from Ikea with supplies... will need to hit the ribbon store and get some light bulbs too. And make lots more tea light covers, cards, and lamps! So much time, so little to do... wait. no. Reverse that. (I hope someone remembers what movie that came from, because I don't!)

Tomorrow I'm heading over to the Bowery Bazaar to set up several hanging lamps in the unofficial {NewNew} space. I'm thrilled to be sharing the space with several other fabulous artists including:

Better Than Jam, who not only sews her own clothing designs, but creates and prints the fabrics for them too.

and KnitKnit, who designs and creates wonderful fiber jewelery and accessories. One of my personal favorites is her Knitted Power Cord Scarf/Necklace.

Next on the list will be this Saturday's 2nd Annual Holiday Handmade Cavalcade, created and hosted by the {NewNew} in the New York City's Nolita. With nearly 50 artists designing paper goods, t-shirts, jewelry, stuffed animals, soaps, and art... there's going to be something there for everyone.

And that's just this week... More insanity ensues next week! Stay tuned, my warped ones, for further details on my plans... some possible shop appearances are planned as well as plenty of shows!

Holiday Cards, New and Old

2009-11-26T18:46:00.001-05:00

I introduced the Light Up My Tree card in a previous post. Now it's time to introduce you to the rest of the Holiday card gang at warpeDesign! Some of them you may have met before, but the classics never die!

The dainty yet oh-so-darling Wee Ornament.

His big brother, Ornament:

The veteran tree card, Deco Christmas Tree:

and the latest card to join the team, Two Stars:

10% off Black Friday through Cyber Monday

2009-11-24T12:55:00.067-05:00

To start things off right for the holidays, the {NewNew} NY Etsy team is hosting a Black Friday Weekend Sale! There are sales across etsy, but you can find specific {NewNew} team members by typing "newnewteam" with "etsyholidaysale" into the search or taking a look at our new digital catalog.

For me specifically:

Friday November 27th through Monday November 30,

Everything from warpeDesign will be 10% off!

The story behind Light Up My Tree card

2009-11-18T17:39:00.006-05:00

Did you ever have Christmas tree lights duty?   You know... where you are the one who wraps that lovely pine in strands of winking electricity?   Where the needle scratches on your hands are forgotten as soon as you see the lovely lines twinkling through the branches?

In my family it's usually me and my dad who have light duty.   It's one of those few traditions that have built up, unspoken, unplanned.   Somehow, as an adult, it's almost always the two of us dragging the tree inside, him setting it up in the base, me holding it straight as he clamps it in, and mom coming in to tell us how it's leaning to the left...

And then it's on to the lights. First plugging them in to check that they still work, and then I squeeze behind the tree and dad stands in front of it.   We wrap it in strand upon strand of lights, passing them to each other when we can't reach any further around the tree.   Nowadays they're mostly white solids, but I remember as a kid having different sizes and colors and blinkers...   Wow. It would look like a carnival ride.

But no matter what lights go on, I always treasure that moment when its just bark, needles, and lights.   That moment before we toss on all our wonderful, gaudy ornaments. It's like seeing the star of a play in their dressing room, in lingerie, face makeup on, but the costume still hanging on the door.

My newest holiday card celebrates that pause in decorating. That moment right when we Light Up My Tree.

Breaking News: warpeDesign to be at the Bowery Bazaar

2009-11-10T15:26:00.002-05:00

To quote them:

"A hip, new indoor market has just opened. The "Bowery Bazaar" will be home to 30 plus vendors of designer clothing, home goods, rare trinkets, vintage and new jewelry, unique candy, and much more."

I'll be there this weekend, Friday & Saturday 12-8 and Sunday 12-6. At 351 Bowery in Manhattan, it is right down the street from the former CBGB's and across the street from Marion's. It's soooo convenient and a great space.

I hope I'll see some of you there. I know I'll need the moral support as it's going to be my first 3 day show, so if I seem sort of dazed and confused on Sunday, I'm really sorry!

Save the Date - Holiday Handmade Cavalcade!

2009-11-02T11:35:00.001-05:00

Mark off December 5th on your calendars. You've got a little over a month before the {NewNew} invades Nolita with our 2nd Annual Holiday Handmade Cavalcade!

Start saving your pennies because this will be the best of holidays when you give someone that wonderful handmade gift that they cant find anywhere else but at the Cavalcade! At 201 Mulberry Street just south of Spring at the Openhouse Gallery.

Tea light covers to sparkle day or night!

2009-10-31T14:20:00.002-04:00

Introducing warpeDesign punctured paper tea light covers! Using the same hand punching technique as in my cards and lamps, I've now created these lovely tea light covers. I've only got two posted so far, but I will be adding more over the next few weeks.

One of my favoring aspects (other than how cool they look) is that they are just so simple. I've designed them as basic strips with a tab and slot.

Assembly is as simple as curve, tuck, and straighten!

And when you're done, just reverse the steps, slide it back into the cellophane envelope, and store it anywhere without worrying about dust or damage. It'll be fresh as new when you take it out the next time!

Just one caveat - these are paper, so using them directly with an open flame is not safe. All you need is one of those glass tealight containers, something tall enough to block the fire from the cover. I've used glass tumblers I found at flea markets for a few pennies. Or.... an electronic, LED tea light is completely safe on its own and they're available at most hardware stores.

I will be debuting them tomorrow at the Market, so if you are going to be out for the marathon in Brooklyn, come over and check them out. I'll have a bunch of different designs offered in three colors: gold, silver, and bronzed chocolate! Hope I see you there!

warpeDesign on PapernStitch

2009-10-27T12:04:00.000-04:00

For the next month, warpeDesign will be one of the visiting artists on Papernstitch, a wonderful online exhibition space celebrating handmade arts and artists. It's lovely to be in such fabulous company. There are amazing things to see and it's a fun site to hop around. It's also a great way for me to display 20+ pieces at a time. Check in a couple times over the month because I'll be tossing in new images (maybe some new product). Everything here is for sale on etsy... this is just a fun new way to get an overview of my work. Enjoy!

NYC Marathon and me

2009-10-26T13:19:00.007-04:00

I'm not a runner. Never have been. But I can certainly appreciate how hard it is to do. And especially how hard it is to run 20+ miles in one day, much less a few hours! This Sunday, Nov 1st, the New York City Marathon will be sending a hearty bunch racing through our fair city. Part of their route will take them up 4th Avenue in Brooklyn... right past the Market at the Old American Can Factory. You can see from the map that we couldn't get much closer to the route (in yellow, blue, & green) without tying on our sneakers and running in it ourselves!

If you are going to cheer on the runners on Sunday, stop by the Market during the wait and check out some of the fabulous stuff for sale.

Fun stuff to do this weekend!

2009-10-23T18:04:00.001-04:00

Two very cool things to do this weekend.

#1 is visit me at the Can Factory Market on Sunday!

and #2 is the delicious New Amsterdam Market!

If you go, I'd love to hear about what you see and what impresses you most. Tell me about the amazing earrings you buy or the fantastic chocolates you snarfed down from the samplings! (I'll be super jealous of the chocolates... yum!)

Materia - Invention, Innovation, Inspiration

2009-10-22T14:01:00.005-04:00

"Where do you look for inspiration?" It's a question every artist hears at least once. Most of us find it in our everyday lives, our environments, our friends. But we each have somewhere else we go, usually a couple somewhere else's, to add that extra spice. Somewhere that breaks us out of the box that is our usual, safe parameters. One of my personal favorites is Materia.

It is a fabulous Danish website and business that is all about new materials and technologies. It celebrates the creative turned functional. The innovative turned useful. The unuseable turned applicable. But always with an eye to beauty too.
While it is aimed at inspiring architects and designers, I think anyone would enjoy it.

Some of the recent items that caught my eye include these fabulous, crazy felts by Beatrice Waanders' SuperNature collectie:

Luminoso, the wood and fiber optics blend from Litwork GmbH:

And the insanely fabulous twisted metalwork of AlgoRythm from MILGO/BUFKIN:

Joining the site is free... and then you can sign up for their newsletter and wait to be amazed! The worst part is the fantasies I build of my ideal house using these amazing products... the house I couldn't afford in a million years! But that's what dreams are based on, and seeing the wonderful things people make keeps me excited to see what will come next.

Weather Woes

2009-10-16T13:50:00.001-04:00

I've done several outdoor shows in the cold.   If I wear the right clothes, bring my heavy jacket, hat, scarf, gloves... it's not so bad.   But rain...   rain is very dangerous.   Once my work gets wet, there's no recovery. I have to write it off as a loss.   Risking a few cards is one thing.... but a big part of my inventory is another.

I'm very concerned about the weather tomorrow.   If this Nor'easter really does come through, I am going to have to reconsider showing at the Crafts in Chelsea. I feel horrible about that because I don't want to disappoint you or the sponsors or the {NewNew} team.   But I'd rather have product available to sell in the future, than risk losing most of it to the weather!

I do have my alternate line of crocheted wearables: warpeDesignWear.   I'm debating bringing that instead.   I've been focusing more on the paper goods lately, but I still have lots of bracelets, rings, brooches, necklaces, key chains, etc to show and sell from this....

So I leave it up to you if you want to brave the elements.   I'm still debating it, with regular checks of the weather channel. This is the hard part about outside shows.   Weather control.   I'm waiting for that magic wand that I can point at the sky and say "Presto-ala-kazam- Sky be blue!"

If you want to know what I end up deciding, stay tuned to my Facebook and Twitter as I will post there what the final situation is.

The Alphabet Cards continue!

2009-10-13T16:20:00.005-04:00

Gimme a D! Gimme an e! Gimme an F! Gimme a g! What does that spell? Well, nothing really... but it's the next 4 letter cards that I promised I'd keep posting. Enjoy!

The Delicious Letter D

e is excellent

F is Fun Fun Fun!

Grand Old G

Crafts in Chelsea

2009-10-12T15:38:00.002-04:00

Has autumn got your shopping juices flowing yet? Thinking about needing some cold weather clothes? Or new lamps for your living room? Or presents for the kids at the holidays? (It's never too early to talk about holiday shopping!)

The fabulous {NewNew} artists will be selling our handmade labors of love at the Crafts in Chelsea on October 17th from 10am-5pm on West 21st Street (bet. 8th & 9th Aves) in Manhattan. We've got a great Flickr page to tempt you with an idea of all the great stuff that will be available!

"There will be something for everyone with free food for kids, games, bouncy castles and a petting zoo inside the school - all to occupy the children, leaving the parents free to shop the best handmade goods in the Metro New York area!" - yelp.com

Winner of the Nerdlike giveaway!

2009-10-07T12:49:00.002-04:00

A very big congratulations to Karen Pease for winning the Nerdlike.com giveaway of the set of 3 Snail cards! I'm packing them up right now and will be dropping them in the mail tomorrow.

I wish I could give something to each of you who has joined or is now following me. Stay tuned for more giveaways... I think a holiday one would be appropriate, no?

New recycled colored envelopes for my handmade cards!

2009-10-04T18:34:00.008-04:00

For the last year I've sold my white, handpunched cards only with matching white envelopes. They looked great together, but the cards on display didn't always read well from a distance at shows. I've been wanting to try a darker layer under the cards to help the detail show through the punched holes. It's hard to tell from the pictures... but believe me, it makes a difference!

In addition, as some of you may have noticed over the last year, I've focused my collection into 4 distinct categories: romantic, abstract or any-day, letters & numbers, and holiday. I've picked envelope colors to match those themes. Red for romantic. Classic Kraft bag brown for any-day. Denim blue for letters & numbers. And soft green for the holidays. They've always been sorted by category at shows, but now you'll be able to see it much easier!

Best of all - these envelopes are 100% recycled! The red, green and blue envelopes include 30% PCW (post consumer waste), while the kraft brown is 100% PCW!

If you are interested in seeing the new envelopes in person, I will be debuting them at the Crafts in Chelsea fair on October 17th. And don't worry - if you still want the classic white envelope, just ask me!

Win a set of Cards

2009-09-29T11:40:00.000-04:00

I'm very excited to announce a give-away of a beautiful set of 3 warpeDesign Snail cards on Nerdlike. Here's a picture of those three beauties. Closeup and more info on how to win is available on Nerdlike.

Teasers for this weekend's show

2009-09-25T13:21:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite things about getting involved in the handmade and craft world is the wonderful, creative people I meet. I'm constantly inspired by their determination as much as by their talent. How can you resist this stuff?

May Luk Ceramics:

Fisk & Fern:

Wabisabi Brooklyn:

This is just a small taste... Join us for the full meal and see what I mean about inspiration.

This weekend at the Market

2009-09-24T15:28:00.000-04:00

I'll be at the Can Factory Market in Brooklyn this Sunday. Going to try to bring the Melting Teardrop Lamp so if you want a peek at it in real, now is the time. I'll also have several other lamps, including Overlap and String Theory. And, of course, there will be lots and lots of cards to chose from!

Hope I see you there!

Fontspiration!

2009-09-21T15:52:00.008-04:00

Ever been overwhelmed by your font choices? Serif or sans sarif? Modern or caligraphy? Italics or not? Outline or Underline? Oh man... the options... the designs... I do love them. And while I wish that they all translated well to my punctured paper technique, I've had a few fumbles... and several hurrahs. I hope over time to post most of the alphabet here. While not everything is currently available on my etsy shop, I can remake almost everything I post here. Just ask me! Starting with "A is for..."

And then, of course, there's "B is Beautiful"

and "C is for Cookie"!

The New Amsterdam Market

2009-09-19T17:36:00.007-04:00

I'm really, really hoping that the boom in independent markets is not a fad. I love them for so many reasons. I love talking to the sellers (often the makers) about what foods would go well with the cheese I just tasted or different ways to prepare the 2lb sweet onion I just bought. I love running into my next door neighbor while checking out the apples and then going to have a cup of hot cider with them. And I truly believe that everything tastes better when it's freshly picked or prepared!

As a wonderful celebration of New York's local food suppliers, the Ne w Amsterdam Market couldn't be a better example of what I'm talking about. Set under the highway just one block north of the South Street Seaport and right in front of the former Fulton Fish Market, it was a glorious conglomeration of fresh and prepared foods, none of which had travelled more than 2-3 hours to get there. Their list of vendors is very impressive. I wish I could convey taste over the internet (don't try licking your computer screens!), but almost everyone had samples out and, if it was in arm's reach, I tried it!

The Orignal Cider from Bellwether Hard Cider was one of the best, light ciders I've ever had. While they aren't in NYC yet, I don't think it'll be long before they are!

The ladies at Liddabit were offering very tasty candies made all the way in... yes... Williamsburg! They had some of the best jellies (think Gummy Bears made with real fruit) I've ever had.

The boys from Stella were busy shucking oysters. They'd lost track of how many they'd done.

The flowers from Native Farm Flowers were absolutely stunning. I think their chaotic bounty of colors felt so anti-Martha, that I wanted to cheer.

One of my favorite displays had to be this colorful string of pasta from The Ravioli Store. Gourmet pasta made in Long Island City!

And not to be missed - The People's Popsicles! The colors of their ice cream are as glorious as their flavor combinations. There's nothing tentative about Cantaloupe & Tarragon!

There were so many other things I tried: cheeses and breads, wines and yogurts, pickles and Maple Bacon Brittle... It was a smorgesboard. If you go, don't think this will fill you up (it is all small bites), but do go with some cash in your wallet because you will find something you want to take home.

While, sadly, the New Amsterdam Market isn't open every weekend, it is now a monthly event. Which is a huge improvement from only once a year. They will be setting up again on October 25th, November 22nd, and December 20th. As it is all outdoors, they will be shutting down over the winter months, but based on the huge turnout I saw last weekend, they will definitely be back in the spring!

Shopping the artist spirt in everything

2009-09-17T13:02:00.014-04:00

I love shopping. It doesn't matter if it's at Macy's, Payless, The Container Store, Brooklyn's Artists & Fleas, or other any other venue. It's not just the joy of buying something new. It's the joy of seeing someone's creativity and passion on display. I know that somewhere, be it just behind the table or lost in the mists of a design & manufacturing process, that somewhere there was a creative person who put a little bit of their soul into the product I'm examining.

It's easy to forget that when you're at a big department or box store. They spend so much time and money on advertising and display. So much that it obscures the sweat and tears that go into bringing a product to the masses. Having worked on the manufacturing side, I know all about those tears and sweat. I know how many revisions go into a design. I know how often suppliers can't meet the demands. I know how often machines break down causing delays (and grey hairs). I know how difficult it all is.

Those same challenges exist for small businesses. Which is why I'm in awe of anyone who is willing to dive into it. (and yes, I think I'm nuts sometimes too!) When it's just you (or a few people), there's no one else to solve problems (or blame for them). You do EVERYTHING! You may get into it because you love baking/sewing/carving/building/etc... but then you have to reproduce your work repeatedly. You need to market it. You need to network. You need to track sales. You need to file invoices. You need to do your taxes...

It's certainly not the side of business that I enjoy. At times I seriously consider looking for security under the umbrella of a larger company. I'm sure I'm not alone. But what's amazing, and I don't know if it's the American thing to do, but when the going gets tough, many people seem to look towards themselves, look inward, look at their own resources. And, when they lose their jobs, they sometimes think of it as an opportunity, that kick in the pants, to finally do "what they've always wanted". It certainly might explain the blossoming of independent markets that I see around me. The markets that are all about the small business. The individual risk taker.

And the markets are some of the most fun places to shop ever. Because at the market, I can look into the eyes of the person who grew the tomatoes, or sewed the shirt, or threw the pottery, cooked the jam... I can talk to them. Ask them questions. And almost touch their passion and excitement. Which for me, makes the tomatoes taste better, the pottery more beautiful, the shirt more special.

2009-09-15T12:11:00.007-04:00

On Friday, September 18th from 5-9pm, the very cool people at Craftland at 235 Westminster Street, Providence, RI are hosting a shindigity-party to celebrate the opening of their store. They've got amazing handmade arts and crafts for sale (including my cards and lamps!)

So go check them out, enjoy the food and booze, say "hi", and shop!

Beginning the season

2009-09-14T12:44:00.005-04:00

The Fall Handmade Cavalcade was a great way to get back into the swing of things. As much as we all love time off (which August was for me), it's never easy to start working again. But when you have to do it, it doesn't get any better than Beacon this weekend.

The friendships I've made and continue to build in the {NewNew} are a fantastic support group to lean back on. They are wonderful people who I can bounce ideas off of, who's creative spirits keep inspiring me, and who continually challenge me to keep looking towards the horizon instead of just at my feet.

This weekend was the most difficult show I've ever done. Never before have I been so deeply involved in the pre-show development. It was a big learning experience on what goes into the networking, advertising, socializing, pamphleteering, posting, chatting, emailing, etc, etc, etc! Add into that it was my first show out of town... in fact, my first one off the Long Island (and, yes, for those of us who forget, Brooklyn & Queens are on the tip of LI!)

All I can really say is: Thanks, guys, for inviting me into the fold!

2009-09-09T13:26:00.007-04:00

How can you get to the Fall Handmade Cavalcade? Well... you could drive or take the train. If you're driving, here's a map for you:

If you take the train, use Metro North out of the city and head to Beacon. You can walk from the train station (see the map above). Or take a cab from it. Walking is about 10-15 minutes. Cab is 5.

2009-09-09T13:08:00.001-04:00

BIG ANNOYING REMINDER...

FALL HANDMADE CAVALCADE.

THIS SATURDAY.

BEACON, NY

11-7

:D

The Market at the Old American Can Factory

2009-09-04T13:09:00.005-04:00

One of the best things about New York is how much old architecure exists... and how often people rejuvenate it with new purposes. The Old American Can Factory in Gowanus, Brooklyn is a great example. As part of XO Projects Inc, it's being recycled into a creative center with studios, offices, and now a market for all types of creative people. The building houses ceramicists, chefs, sculptors, film makers, painters, writers, and so much more.

On alternating Sundays in September, and then every Sunday in October through December, they will host The Market, a "curated Makers Market of Art + Design Products + Services", of which I'm flattered to have been invited to partake. There are many other amazing artists showing, so it's a wonderful place to spend a Sunday afternoon. Hours are 11-6 pm. And both dates this September - the 13th and the 27th - will have live music in the Courtyard from 4-7 pm. On the 13th it'll be curated by the Issue Project Room.

I'll be at the Market on the following dates:
September 27th

October 25th

November 8th

November 22nd

December 13th

Mother of Invention is in the Gut

2009-09-02T13:41:00.008-04:00

I started making lampshades a few months ago using basic circle wire frames. At it's simplest, it consists of two rings set a certain distance apart with paper wrapped around them to form either a column or a cone. The wire circles dictate the shape as well as supplying the support and method of attachment. Add base and bulb and - TA-DA -You have a lamp!

A few weeks ago I was working with a piece of paper I'd punctured (say that 3x's fast!) with the pattern I call "Melting". It was supposed to fit around a 10" diameter wire frame but somewhere I'd measured something wrong and it was too short! There was no way I could hide a 1" gap. But there was also no way I was going to junk this beautiful paper I'd spent hours creating!

I happened to have a 6" diameter frame sitting out for another piece. I had laid down the "Melting" paper beside it. Without thinking too much, my hands reached for both and began assembling... (The mother of invention must be in the gut, not the brain!) There was a good chunk of painstakingly punched paper I was going to have to cut off for this smaller frame, IF I made it into the standard column. If. If. If...

And that's how I created the Melting Teardrop Lampshade!

2009-08-30T13:06:00.002-04:00

It's always so flattering when a complete stranger picks out your work to be commented on or for a lovely Treasury like this one. If you want to see the original, it should be up for a day or two more at: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=78845. Thank you, Red Panda!

warpeDesign's Twin Waves card is on the left column, second row from the bottom. Here's a link to it:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24713099

Inspiring minds want to know

2009-08-28T11:22:00.003-04:00

It's dangerous to ask an artist where they get their inspiration from. Either you'll open up the gates and they'll vomit indecipherable personal information about their treacherous search for either inner truth or the meaning of life... or they'll say the truly deep "I felt it in my gut". I'm a gut person myself. Makes me deep, huh?

Gut instinct, though, is incredibly important to creativity. Every artist knows when something 'feels right'. They know when they're on a roll, doesn't matter if they've been working 1 hour or 10... Something clicks in them and they know they can't stop, shouldn't stop, because there's a very good chance that they wont be able to pick up again when they come back.

I could almost compare it to an athlete getting their second wind. It's that moment when your body stops struggling, stops fighting you. It's the same for an artist. All of a sudden your hands know what to do before your brain does. Instead of thinking about what you want to do, you just do it. Instead of the brain leading the way, the gut does.

Stars in the sky

2009-08-25T21:04:00.004-04:00

When you live in New York City you forget what the sky is supposed to look like. A dark, rosey smudge seems to be the status quo for that space above your head. You rarely see any stars, certainly not in any quantity, and if the moon is out, you'll be lucky to see it for a few minutes before it ducks behind a building.

And scale... well, the concept of big sky does NOT exist here. Small sky... no... Minor sky, seems to be the word for it. There's just no place to be reminded of how big the sky is, unless you're on a rooftop which most of us aren't on a regular basis. We spend our time either tucked into buildings or ducking through concrete canyons. Maybe the minor sky syndrome is one more reason why New Yorkers are so fascinated with their feet. It's not just about avoiding eye contact, we just don't want to be reminded of how enclosed we are.

On my trip to Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley to be specific, I was enthralled to reacquaint myself with that luscious, sparkling dome. There was one night where the storm clouds had rolled off to the side and the stars glittered through the remaining humidity. The water still in the air seemed to add extra facets to each twinkling dot. And best of all... there were no buildings in the way. Just an inky, sequined ceiling that seemed to stretch and stretch and stretch.

Fall Handmade Cavalcade

2009-08-12T15:37:00.006-04:00

Two posts... in one week. Don't get too used to it. But I really really wanted to put this up...

The NewNew NY Etsy Team is going to be in Beacon, NY on September 12th hosting their Fall Handmade Cavalcade. I will be among them. It'll be my first show after my summer break. I'm looking forward to showing off my new lamp designs. I may even have some cards in color... ooooh. I know... how exciting. Color!

But back to the show... it'll be great. Lots of good people with wonderful arts and crafts and we're doing it on one of Beacon's Second Saturdays, so there'll be lots of action around town. If you are interested, you can get more information at: http://handmadecavalcade.com/.

Touching Hello

2009-08-11T12:02:00.009-04:00

So it seems only logical to restart my journey into blogdom with a "greeting" card that displays warpeDesign at it's best.

"hello" is a classic. I use this card as the sampler at all my shows. There's always one sitting on the front of the display for people to pick up, fondle, stroke, hold up to the lights, show their friends... as I watch quietly from the other side of the table. And, believe me, I am not understating how people react to the cards. Everyone's first instinct is to touch them. I see hands stretch out, fingers extended. Some people just go for it... and then others freeze, look at me questioningly, waiting for permission. Makes me wonder if I shouldn't change the word from "hello" to "sample" or "touch me"!

Children are naturals. They always want to touch the cards. There's no pausing with them. If they like something, if they are curious, they just grab. (Someday one of them is going to pull my table over on top of themselves.) But I like that honesty. That's a pure reaction, and the best of compliments.

It's why I love this technique. There are so many printed cards out there. And I know a lot of amazing artists who make them and make them really well. But my cards hit a visceral sense that print cards do not. How many cards are as fun to touch as they are to look at? How many cards change the way they look when you move them around? Each card is definitely a labor of love... labor being a major part of that... but it's always worth it when I see someone reach out to touch "hello".

Hello and Thanks for all the Fish!

2009-04-07T10:51:00.001-04:00

I just finished re-reading Douglas Adams classic "Trilogy in Four Parts", aka Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe. Classic. All life should be looked at with such inventiveness. Reminds me that priorities need to be reexamined every so often to make sure I haven't tilted off the serious end.

Going to take that all and relook at my work. Make sure I'm keeping it fun, quirky, and still accessible.

Internet Arg

2009-02-06T14:46:00.004-05:00

It's sad to say... I'm addicted to the web. I think I have it under control until my internet connection fails. All of a sudden, my life is empty, my work is void, and I discover I'm a mere shell of a human without my fix!

And the pushers for all this goodness - the internet providers - are giggling on top of their piles of gold as us suckers beg for more.

Promises

2009-01-20T19:36:00.003-05:00

Sheesh... I'm a terrible blogger. I never could keep a diary worth a damn. Part of it was that I like talking through my problems more than writing them. Heh. I can talk a lot faster than I can type or write.

But I will work on this. I will work on posting more often. I will work on a lot of things. I'm trying to avoid making promises. Today a much more important person than me avoided making promises. He didn't promise to fix the economy in a few months. He didn't promise to pull out of Iraq. He didn't promise anything except an uphill battle. Because he knows, just like we all do, that it's too damn easy to break, or at least bend, a promise.

With that said... I will promise to keep promising to try to do better.

19 hours and counting

2008-10-31T16:29:00.005-04:00

Seemes appropriate that I start this blog with a countdown. A countdown to my first show. My first time displaying my cards, my art, to the public. My stomach is in knots.

I opened up warpeDesign.etsy.com a month ago. Friends, family, coworkers, etc have all been complimentary. A few even bought stuff. (I love you for that!) What was even better was when total strangers bought stuff. It was a nice affirmation that I had something here.

The question in my head was "how big a something?". I'm still struggling with where this fits into my life. I love making these cards. But can I make a living off of them? Do I have what it takes to make that living? Do I want to walk away completely from textiles which have been my life for the last 15 years.

Reality is that I can't make a living just from the cards... for now. And happily I just got a freelance textile job offer this morning. Yay. Mortgage payment! It made me realize I still love textiles too. I don't want to give that up.

My new challenge is figuring out how to juggle the two worlds. I'm not worried about time. There'll be enough time to do both. It's my headset. I have to change processes, get into a different thought process for each of them. The cards are intuitive, gut reactions, and sort of free from thought. While my textile designs have some of that too, they need to be grounded in the parameters of the job, the fabrics end use, the intended clients needs, and the mood and trends currently floating in the miasma of our lives.

So today I'm in card mode. I've got to stay focused here although my head wants to start researching pattern ideas already. But that's not where I need to be. I'm in card mode. I need to think about my display. What else do I need? (Candy!! Lure them in with leftover, cheap Halloween candy!) How will I pack it up? How long will set up take? Am I going to have time, or the stomach, for breakfast? What am I forgetting?

ah well, it'll be here and gone before I know it. Next post - Brooklyn Indie Market: what did I learn?