Monday Mosaic: Dreaming about the Stars

Curated by Kerry Hawkins

1. Bayeux Cathedral, France, 8x10 matted photograph by Kerry Hawkins Photography

2. 3/8 Wide for Cat or Tiny Puppy in A Star is Born by codyscreations
3. Nighttime at Jamaica Pond- 5x7 Photograph- Matted Print by Lucie Wicker

4. CHJ Sterling with Diamond in gold granule North Star Pendant by Cristina Hurley by Cristina Hurley

Monday Mosaic - Get Cozy!

Curated by Jessica Burko

It's chilly in Boston today so snuggle up and get cozy!

Pictured above:
Basic Mitten Pattern by Lady Dye Fiber Arts
Mug in Shino Glaze by City by the Sea Ceramics
Relax, 8 x 10 Matted Photograph by Kerry Hawkins Photography
Sleeping Cat note card set by Cricicis Design

Art on the Paper: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

By Kerry Hawkins
 

I have recently visited two exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. One is the The Postcard Age, Selections from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection and Art in the Street, European Posters

This is a sampling of the European posters on display. I really loved this exhibit. The exhibit featured posters from all around Europe from France to Russia. Many of the posters were bright and very bold. They advertised everything from alcohol to political movements. This exhibit featured posters by Jules Chéret, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Pierre Bonnard, as well as Wassily Kandinsky.

The Postcard exhibit was fascinating and it is hard to believe that this is a very small sampling (400) of postcards in a very large collection found in the Leonard A. Lauder Postcard Archive.

The exhibit is set up by theme including advertising, travel, political and much more...
These are small canvases recording our past. Postcards were a big part of communication with family and friends, before email, facebook and twitter. People collected them and pasted them in albums. This is well worth a look.

Food Fun with Photography

By Kerry Hawkins
 

Some of my fondest memories this year involve eating with friends and family. From Bacon on a camping trip this summer to lobster for Christmas.

I take my camera almost everywhere I go including eating out out or eating in. My friends and family know by now that I will be photographing their meal and my meal.

One of my favorite places is Summershack in Dedham. I love to go on Sundays and order oysters and enjoy the afternoon.

Christmas Dinner (below)

These photos are some of my favorites for 2012. 2013 should be just as fun. Happy New Year!

Monday Mosaic: Winter Browns

Curated by Kerry Hawkins
 

1. Ochre Mug by Citybytheseaceramics
2. Original encaustic art collage, eco friendly by JessicaBurko
3.  Herby-462 yards of Sock Yarn Superwash Merino by ladydyefiberarts
4 Trumpet- 5x7- Photo Print by Knight27

Now We Can Play!

by Liz Stewart of Lush Beads

The holidays have come and gone, and it is now January.  This a slow time for many artists and crafters who sell for a living. You know what this means....now we can play! In my case, this means working on all the new Industrial jewelry ideas I've had over the last few months.

My first new idea - wraparound bracelets in Morse Code. Not everyone is a necklace person, and this also lets me do longer words and phrases because it will wrap around the wrist multiple times. This particular one says "made in china".

My next idea is to work in gold tones - my family was kind enough to obtain me some locking nuts in yellow zinc, and I have been making many of my locking nut earring styles with these pieces. It will be a welcome addition to my line!

Finally, I am going to dabble in some metal painting and see where that takes me and my work. It may be a colossal flop or a grand success, but it doesn't matter - now I have time to play!

Have you heard of FiberCamp?

If you haven't heard of FiberCamp yet, let this blog post educate you about an amazing event coming up THIS WEEKEND!

FiberCamp Boston 2013 is a community-created conference for fabric and fiber craft enthusiasts spearheaded and organized by the Common Cod Fiber Guild. FiberCamp sprouts from the idea that everyone has something to share and teach. Share your passion, learn from your peers, and connect with your community at this weekend event.

Participants can attend to learn, or present, or to teach, and share smaller, bite-sized ideas and techniques ranging from beginning Fair Isle knitting to quilting to making a duct tape mannequin. Some presentations might be demonstration-only or completely PowerPoint-based, and some will be hands-on. Because the conference is powered by the people who attend it, every person in attendance has a voice in the conversation.

Here are all the details:
FiberCamp Boston 2013
January 12-13, 2013
Building E51 on MIT campus
Cambridge, MA
(near Kendall T-Stop)

To register and for full conference information visit:
http://fibercampboston.pbworks.com/w/page/5055892/FrontPage

A Boston Handmade Holiday Season

We came, we saw, and we dominated Holiday Season 2012...

In November and December Cristina Hurley Gallery hosted the Boston Handmade Holiday Gallery. Cristina also moved from her gallery space from Rockland Street to a new permanent, prime location in Canton Center at  554 Washington Street, located just minutes from the commuter rail. Twenty local artists, artisans, and craftspeople participated in the holiday gallery and truly made 2012 the Season of Handmade. The exhibiting artists were Boston Handmade members and invited local crafts people. Cristina will continue to host local artists throughout the year - - stay tuned to this blog for upcoming news of trunk shows and a Valentine's Day event!.

On December 1st, for the 5th consecutive year, Boston Handmade participated in the First Church of Jamaica Plain's annual Holiday Fair. Six Boston Handmade members represented the group on the stage in the main area of the church. The fair also had 50 other artists and crafters, a live band, and plenty of homecooked food and treats. It was a very fun and lively day. The Boston Handmade members included:

Anna Koon

Cody's Creations

Kerry Hawkins Photography

Lucie Wicker Photography

Monkey Chow

Seeds of Joie

On December 16th Boston Handmade participated as a group (and an invited guest) at the Bazaar Bizaare Boston held at the Boston Center for the Arts/Cyclorama at 539 Tremont Street in Boston's South End. Artists had prints, photographs and paper goods, fiber creations to wear, display and play with, jewelry, ceramics, handspun and dyed yarn, and more. Boston Handmade exhibitors at the 2012 Boston Bazaar Bizarre:

City by the Sea Ceramics, Cristina Hurley Jewelry Design

Hibou Designs, Kerry Hawkins Photography 

Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design, Lucie Wicker Photography 

Lush Beads, Monkey Chow 

Stray Notions, and Zoa Chimerum Jewelry 

We can't wait for the holiday season in 2103!

Monday Mosaic: Fantastical Creatures

Curated by Kerry Hawkins
 

1. Not So Foolish Original Pigeon Painting on Wood by a2n2koon
2. 5x7, Magical Unicorn - I pretend it's just a party hat by MonkeyChow
3.  Winter Owl Plush toy - ''Super Hibou (eeboo)'' - French Super Hero Owl on skies with cape and mask (OOAK) by HibouDesigns
4. Dragonfly brooch - Teal and purple by straynotions

It was a very Etsy Christmas

At Boston Handmade we are super lucky to be surrounded by beautiful handmade art and craft every day. Our members are artists of all kinds who sell their work in person at art and craft fairs and also online, mostly through Etsy shops. Our group, Boston Handmade, was formed in 2007 and in 2008 we became an Etsy Team, which is a collection of Etsy sellers connecting around a theme or media category, or in our case, a location. As an Etsy team we have had some wonderful opportunities over the years to interact with other members of the Etsy community, and have worked with Etsy admin to increase visibility for our members on their website. In turn, we have extolled the virtues of Etsy to shoppers and makers every chance we get.

This holiday season we made ourselves cozy and comfortable for six weeks with our 4th semi-annual pop-up holiday gallery within Cristina Hurley's jewelry and gift gallery in Canton, MA. The photo above shows work by several gallery exhibitors who are also Etsy sellers. Starting in the upper left corner and circling around clockwise:
1. Needlepoint and quilt art by Stray Notions
2. Photography by Lucie Wicker Photography
3. OOAK stuffed animals from Zanimals

4. Limited edition softee by Yellow Bird, Yellow Beard

5. Paper goods by Albertine Press

At this year's holiday gallery we had a Grand Opening party on November 17th and also a Get-Yer-Last-Minute-Unique-Handmade-Gifts party on December 22nd. Both events were great celebrations of all things handmade and also a time for us to show our appreciation of our many supporters. At our Grand Opening party we were giving away t-shirts and gift bags, we had loads of yummy refreshments, and tons of Etsy swag for everyone to enjoy! 

At our last minute shopping party we held a special Handmade Collection give away, and also distributed really snazzy DIY gift boxes hand delivered to the gallery from Etsy Senior Engineer, John Marc Imbrescia. We were tickled to have John Marc at our party and loved showing him our handmade work in person. Pictured in the photo above, starting at the top and circling around clockwise: 

1. Jessica Burko, John Marc Imbrescia, and Cristina Hurley at the 2012 Boston Handmade Holiday Gallery. 

2. The DIY gift box courtesy of Etsy.com. 

3. Etsy postcards we proudly distribute to all gallery customers.

And as if Etsy didn't do enough nice things for us this holiday season, they also sent us a package of gifts to thank us for being an Etsy Team. Can you believe it?! This lovely gift included handwritten notes of gratitude, a 2013 calendar/journal, a fabric badge, and a pile of stickers and other fun kick-nacks. Want some of your own Etsy holiday cheer? Even though the holidays are now past (sigh) we have lots of special gifts from our Etsy friends to give to customers at the Cristina Hurley Gallery. Just stop by, say hi, and shop local and handmade. ALWAYS.