What I'm Working On

by Abby Bohn

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I wanted to do something to give back. I have a wallet in 2 great Pink Ribbon fabrics and will be donating 25% to finding a cure.

Pink Ribbon Bra Print Wallet

Pink Ribbon Butterfly Wallet

"About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.  In 2014, an estimated 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 62,570 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.  About 2,360 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in 2014. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000."  Statistics from Breastcancer.org

Every dollar helps to fight this ugly disease. 

Product Debut: iPad and E-reader Pillow Stand

by Abby Bohn of Abigail Leigh Handbags  

My latest items in the shop are iPad and E-reader pillow stands.  The case I have for my iPad is supposed to "stand up" but it doesn't.  I found this pattern for a pillow stand for my iPad and thought it was perfect and of course I wanted to share them with everyone.  I mostly use this to sit my iPad up to watch movies or if I'm spending the day sewing I just prop it up with the radio on.

 

Check out my Etsy shop for more fabrics.

Monday Mosaic: Holiday Reds

Curated by Kerry Hawkins

1. Large Red Earrings with Soft Spikes by IanHendersonArt
2.  Whole Lotta Love Original Pop Valentine Painting by a2n2koon
3. Frilly Reds - Bracelet by LushBeads
4.  Portable, Foldable Bag Hanger Purse Hook -- Autumnal Harvest - Gold and Crimson Twilight Floral Garden - Japanese Chiyogami Paper by MaJentaDesigns

Monday Mosaic: Petals

Curated by Kerry of Kerry Hawkins Photography

1. Japanese Simple Sukura by MaJenta Designs
2. Colorful Felted Wildflower Necklace/Neckpiece by Straynotions
3. Daisy Garden Beaded Anklet by Lush Beads
4. Sterling Silver Large Lotus Drops Earrings with Garnet by Cristina Hurley

Marketplace Preview: Handmade Accessories

Are you looking for that final touch for a special outfit? Searching for a perfect little gift for the friend who has everything? We've got you covered at the 5th annual Boston Handmade Marketplace in Union Square, Somerville in just 9 short days, on Saturday, June 30th (rain date Sunday, July 1st) from 3-7pm.

The finest accessories, the freshest designs, straight from your back yard to you created by local artists...

Returning to the marketplace after a few years hiatus, 83West brings clutch bags, wristlets, handbags, and sunglass cases made from sweet and sassy fabrics with solid and print designs.

New to the 2012 Boston Handmade Marketplace is Red Thread Belting, maker of durable sequin and reflector belts. If you wear pants, you need one of these.

Member of Boston Handmade and return Marketplace exhibitor, MaJenta Designs creates Asian inspired gifts and party favors. Tiny mirrors, purse holders, sweet tins. You can't have too many.

It's all there for you at the Boston Handmade Marketplace on June 30th!

Fashion Photo Shoot with Pansy Maiden

by Lucie of Lucie Wicker Photography

When Laura Collins of Pansy Maiden asked me to shoot her new line of handmade, eco-friendly handbags of course I said yes! I've always admired Laura's work; not only is it excellent quality and super cute but her creations embody her mission to "create and provide the world with fashion-forward, cruelty-free bags in a socially responsible manner" (per her website). For the shoot, Laura rounded up three stunning vegan ladies to help model her bags. They did a great job, here are a few of my favs-

Models: Heather, Stephanie, Vanessa

Bags/Styling: Pansy Maiden

Photography: Lucie Wicker Photography

Doing it Big!

By Diane of Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design

Yes...doing it BIG is what Lady Dye is doing. I am thrilled to be able to create some amazing hair pins and headbands with my hand-dyed and hand-spun yarns. For a while I have been contemplating how to expand my fiber arts business and as a woman with this amazing Afro :) I found it suiting to expand into hair accessories for women and men from all different backgrounds who are not only proud of their hair but believe in my new hair motto: the BIGGER. the BOLDER. the BETTER!

About six years ago, I made the decision to go natural with my hair and I have not looked back. It was one of the best decision I have made in my life and I feel true and honest with myself and confident in my own identity. I want other women and men to feel the same way. Besides, I sometimes feel our society has been so conservative when it comes to what's acceptable for hair accessories. Lady Dye is here to say yes! It's acceptable to have knitted decorations in your hair! From one big hair to the other!

Work in Progress: Kanzashi and Shisha Embroidered Hat

by Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri of ElephunksTrunk

Creating miniature pillbox hats that sit off center on your head has become my new favorite millinery process. These tiny hats are held in place with a hat elastic that sits under your hair, and thus can be worn by anyone. They can be an elegant accessory or a platform for spunky decoration, depending on my mood. Here you can see my newest design in progress. I have built the pillbox frame out of buckram and wire, and am now working on the fabric that will cover the frame. In the past I have covered the frame with my chosen fabric, and then set about decorating it once the fabric is in place. By sewing the fabric and elastic on first, I can place the decorations on the hat while modeling it in front of the mirror. However, sewing flowers or feathers to a hat once the fabric is on the frame can be difficult. This time I am trying to decorate my fabric before placing it on the hat. This means that I have to trust my imagination and design skills to place things well without being able to try it on, but the construction process will be easier.

This particular mini-pillbox hat will be covered in shimmering silver dupoini silk. I have made a black silk kanzashi flower, which will feature a small mirror in the center. Kanzashi is a traditional Japanese art form in which fabric is folded and sewn into intricate flowers. Geisha often wore kazazhi in their hair. I like to combine different kinds of craft forms in my hat. My kanzashi flower will be anchored to my hat using a form of embroidery from India, called shisha, in which bits of mirror are sewn into the garment.

Portable Hooks for the Office

By: Jennifer T. of MaJenta Designs

Recently, one of my customers told me of her clever use for the foldable, portable "purse hook" she had purchased -- turns out these are handy for office and cubicle use too! She uses headphones alot for work, and uses her portable hook as a clever way to hang the headphones and cords so they dont get tangled around her office chair!

Whether you use headphones as part of the job, or to listen to music or cancel out noise while at your desk or cubicle - these foldable hooks can come in handy!

We love hearing of new unique ways that our customers use our products! Are there other ways you have used these clever hooks?

Window Shopping with Boston Handmade

by Jessica Burko of Reclaimed To You

Tote bag by Stray Notions

This morning I did a little "window shopping" on Etsy for handmade items created by the members of Boston Handmade. To find handmade items by members of our group all you need to do is search for this tag: bostonhandmadeteam on Etsy.com. These are a few of my favorites from this morning's wanderings. What are some of your favorites?

Stained Glass Necklace by Parrish Relics

Art print by An Li Studio

Sterling and amethyst earrings by Cristina Hurley Jewelry

New Collaboration - Japanese-inspired tins Meets Folk Art-inspired earrings

By: Jennifer T. of MaJenta Designs

Here at MaJenta Designs we recently had an exciting new opportunity where our decorative gift tins were commissioned by another awesome Etsy seller, Blue Squiggle, as part of her new eye-popping earrings line!

These ultra light-weight and eco-friendly earrings are made from a durable plastic and the designs have been intricately drawn by hand that take over 2 hours to complete! Each item is truly one-of-a-kind!

Blue Squiggle gets her inspiration from pre-columbian and other folk art but bring a vibrant and fresh pop of color to each of her creations!

She is also in the process of making a new line for Halloween inspirations! Be on the look out in her Etsy shop for the new Halloween items!

Chanel vs. Harajuku

By ElephunksTrunk

Every month I receive Boston Handmade’s Artist Opportunities newsletter. The email is always chalk full of information about upcoming shows, grant opportunities, and other exciting ways to make the most out of life as an artist in the greater Boston area. The most recent newsletter contained information about Uforge gallery’s September assignment: Chanel vs. Harajuku.

Uforge is a gallery in Jamaica Plain organized around a unique concept: every month they issue thematic assignments and exhibit the works of any artists who respond to the call. For September, Uforge asked for two dimensional artwork or works of wearable couture inspired by the aesthetic of Coco Chanel and the Harajuku district of Japan—famous for its eclectic mix of counter cultural fashion. It seemed like an assignment created especially for me, so of course I entered. Here is the hat I created specially for the exhibit:

Made with a hand blocked mini pillbox base, covered in brown satin, and decorated with curled pheasant flowers and a cream millinery rose, this fascinator hat combines the elegance of Chanel with the spunk of Harajuku. It will be on display and for sale at Uforge Gallery throughout the month of September.

Where: Uforge Gallery 767 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain

When: Show runs September 1-30. Public reception September 10 6-8PM

Fascinating Fascinators

By Celeste of ElephunksTrunk

The recent wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton has been credited with the rise in popularity of fascinators in the United States. While I cannot deny that the elaborate head wear of the royal wedding guests provided much eye candy for the stylistically inclined, fascinators have in fact been gaining in popularity for several years. But what exactly defines these head pieces?

Wikipedia defines fascinators as “delicate, frivolous, head decoration....[that] attach to the head by comb, headband, or clip.” Milliners are somewhat divided about exactly what makes a fascinator. A search on Etsy will reveal everything from simple flowers on hair clips to elaborate constructions of buckram, wire, and feathers. Some milliners contend that only the later should qualify, holding fascintors to the standards of the dress code for the Royal Ascot horse races. Others cast a wider net, more akin to the Wikipedia definition, that encompasses anything that must be fastened to the head. Personally, I fall somewhat in the middle, separating out my simpler hair combs from my fancier fascinators.

The Versatile Brooch

By Beth of Elizabeth Brennick Designs

A brooch known in ancient times as fibula, has been dated back before Christ and is defined as decorative jewelery designed to be attached to garments. Back then they were primarliy made out of metal and now in the 21st century brooches are still made out of metal but has expanded in so many other mediums. I've seen them made out of ceramics, wood, paper, glass, gemstones, recycled materials, and my favorite fabric and yarn. Different styles of brooches range from flowers, animals, art, photos, feathers, etc...

I enjoy making brooches and find my customers enjoy them too, either purchased for themselves or as gifts. You can't go wrong since you can pin them on anything and they can be worn all year round. Above on the jacket is two flowers made out of felt in red and burgandy. Below is a crocheted cowl with a crocheted flower and leaf.

Attached to the hat below is a flower made out of satin fabric. I've also made flowers out of organza, jersey knit fabric that was recyled, and a yo-yo style made from fabric with a button in the middle. Brooches are also fun to teach kids to make. You can make a very simple brooch for cheap money. For the past two Christmas's the women in my family have gotten brooches made from yarn and organza fabric, both flowers in their favorite colors.

Can you make... ?

by Kerrie of CodysCreations

Recently I have made some very memorable custom pieces for customers who have contacted me through my Etsy shop.

Such as this harness for a Bearded Dragon (a lizard). The customer's landlord required all pets within the building to have a collar/harness, leash and ID tag whenever they were in a common area. For size reference the harness measured about 4 inches around, to date this was the smallest harness I have made.

A custom request from Linzey at Phoenix Assistance Dogs: a leash that connects to a wheelchair. The leash needed to be adjustable, easy to use, and bonus if it could be cute. The leash can be shorted when SSD/Gretal is working and lengthened when Gretal is taking a doggie moment. I will be adding this leash to the shop this week, and for each wheelchair leash purchased 25% of the sales will be donated to the Phoenix Assistance Dogs.

I love requests for custom orders, a chance to think outside of the box, a chance to solve a little puzzle. Wonder what my next custom order will be??

Custom Work: Wedding Gift Tin and Magnets

By: Jennifer T. of MaJenta Designs

Wedding season is just around the corner, and there is plenty of fun details to think about and plan. Here at MaJenta Designs we have a custom order service for hinged gift tin / pill box / mint tins that are created with our delicate and colorful Japanese papers! These tins are great for other special events, occasions, or party too!

These gift tins make fun favors for your guests, and look great displayed as part of the dinner reception table setting as well! Here is how they looked displayed for our own wedding:

The gift tins are perfect for including some tasty trinkets like mints, personalized m&m's, or other small candies! These are fun and functional and the guests can always reuse the tin later as a mint tin or pill box!

We are also excited to offer a brand NEW service which includes the option of purchasing 2 magnets to include inside each tin as well!

Please peruse our Etsy Shop for more details about how to set up your own custom order for your upcoming wedding or event!

Wedding Day Handmade Touches

By Jennifer Tang of MaJenta Designs

Back in August I wrote a blog post about the bonding time spent with my fiance, family, and friends, as we worked together to add some handmade and personal touches to make our wedding day all the more special. Here is a glimpse of the final products in action on the big day!

Here are our program fans! Ready to serve double purposes during our outdoor wedding on a warm summer day!

The antique music sheet cones we made to hold the rose petals to toss after the ceremony.

The gift tins as our wedding favors to add a bit of my MaJenta Designs flair, as well as the handmade butterfly seating cards at each seat. We also assembled our own floral centerpieces.

Inside each tin were 2 magnets, also made with my Japanese papers, and our personalized labels to remember the special day!