REWIND: Craftcation 2012, Wrap-up of an Amazing Conference!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of going to the 2nd Annual Craftcation Conference and I thought while I was compiling my highlights from Craftcation 2013, I would repost my wrap-up with all the deets on last years adventure :)

*click here for the full post*

XOXO, KC

CAFAM - Etsy Craft Night - Punched & Stitched Paper

Hola Amigos!

Last Thursday night I had the privilege of leading CAFAM's Etsy Craft Night. The project I hosted was based off our pierced and stitched paper craft.  It was a really exciting opportunity for me and I am just so honored to have the chance to be the featured crafter!

Last week the L.A. Skin & Ink Show opened at CAFAM and we wanted to highlight this extraordinary show within the imagery included for the project. The funky imagery included vintage California references, handmade items, and tattoos inspired by the show.

We shared a variation of this tutorial here with everyone showing how to pierce the image which is very similar to the tattooing techniques described in the exhibit.  The Black and Gray style tattoos that Los Angeles is famous for is created with a single needle just like this paper craft!  We also highlighted the second step where you can embellish the project further with colorful stitching.

I got to wear a microphone to shoot a video for a project shot for a USC student (shown top left) - More details on project use to come about the video/project.  Also, I had some great members from the Pretty Pink Ponies Etsy Team - Christina Cabral and Samantha Galletly (shown bottom left) helped assist and demo the project with the attendees and were a big help!

Everybody was hard at work all night on their projects - it was really inspiring and beautiful to see what everyone was coming up with.  It was interesting to see what images were used out of the images included as templates as well as how many people came up with their own subject matter for their projects.

There was a tattoo inspired rose that was quite popular.  It was a bit more in-depth then some of the other images but it came out so wonderful with the addition of the stitched elements.  Of course the California image was quite popular and I think most people tried their hand at the CA shape as their tester.

I got great feedback from the attendees on the project - I hope that the next time I share the project with a group I can have a wider range of needle shapes and awls so we can vary the piercings.  This will also help in adding some of the stitched details because the holes will be more manageable.  Overall, having just hat pins and embroidery needles as the tools was plenty - Its just good to note potential options and variations.

The craft night was streamed live on Stickam and at one point we had over 300 people watching our crafting online! The Stickam site is really slick for broadcasting and all you need is an iPAD which captures the videos as well as the sound simply and effortlessly.

We hope to see you at the next CAFAM Etsy Craft Night in November.  They are always held on the 1st Thursday of the month and have a different project each time.  I will make sure to share the info on the project as soon as I know more info :)

Hope y'all have a fantastic & productive week!!!

XOXO, KC

New Changes // Getting Our Etsy Shop Holiday Ready

old look

For those of you who have been following the team here at Make. Shop. Live. for a while you have noticed the massive overhaul and major work we have been doing to the company this year. It is hard to believe what we have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time, but it is truly amazing what you can achieve with some determination and the right people in place.

new look

One thing I have realized since we did our re-branding and website redesign this summer is how wonderful things come together when you realize your strengths as well as weaknesses. It is hard when you have a DIY attitude sometimes to admit that there are somethings that maybe you could do but you should enlist someone else to do instead. I am so thankful to have had the pleasure to work with such amazing and talented people such as Sharon Fain of Fain Consulting, Steph of Hearts and Laserbeams, and my wonderful husband Kevin Sears as we put together all of our public image facets of Make. Shop. Live.! If I had not worked with these talented artists there is no way our website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Etsy Shop would all be cohesive and comprehensive in time for the holiday shopping rush. Not only would working on all of these things taken me away from being able to focus on making my crafts, I also wouldn't have been able to elevate the end result to the level achieved using my basic Photoshop and photography skills. I want to take a quick moment to not only thank everyone for their hard work, but to point out that you too have time to enlist the help of a graphic designer, photographer, and social media strategist in time for the holiday business, if you act quickly.

If all you do is tweak your photography, it is amazing how just investing in a few professional shots can elevate your products and brand! Plus, it can actually be more affordable than you'd expect. Here are a few examples of what we have been up to reworking our holiday inventory for 2012-

Upcycled Address Books:

Address Book (Before)

Address Book (After)

Reinbeers:

Reinbeer Holiday Ornament (Before)

Reinbeer Holiday Ornament (After)

Pincushion Rings:

Pincushion Ring (Before)

Pincushion Ring (After)

We understand that all small businesses run on a tight budget and some aspects (like hiring a graphic designer or photographer) may not be an option for you. We have compiled some suggestions below that can still make a huge difference for your business while being easy enough that you can do it yourself.

You can make a lightbox inexpensively at home with this quick tutorial. Having pictures of your products on a white background help your items make it onto Etsy treasuries helping with sales and other promotions.

Join an Etsy Team or sellers group.

Participate in common interest twitter chats and promotions.

Try a new social media platform like Instagram or Tumblr to gain followers while creating content for your business effortlessly. Here's a post we recently did that explains how easy and effortless it really is.

Promoting others helps promote you! By creating your own treasuries on Etsy not only do you do something nice for your fellow artists but your treasury can be seen and promoted by tons of other folks. Another great tip for spreading the love, while making treasuries know what types of products and pricing are on the market. Sometimes you can realize a gap in services and be inspired to make something that isn't yet available just by seeing what is already out there.

Send a handwritten letters to family and friends that you have been neglecting. It is always nice to receive a letter in the mail and what better way to spread the warm fuzzies then with a thoughtful note. By writing someone a letter that you haven't spoken with in a while you put your life in perspective and you realize just what things matter to you and what goals/plans you may have. I find that while writing people concisely what your plans are, you ultimately cut out the fluff and streamline what works and doesn't work for you.

Take a well deserved break and ask for help! No one expects you to be a craft super hero. If you begin to feel overwhelmed or a task is getting out of control for you, ask a peer for help/suggestions/critique to manage your task. They may just come up with a solution that blows yours outta the water and cuts the time! Then, you can cross promote both parties involvement and the collaboration becomes a win-win for everyone!!

And lastly, I must stress this one: force yourself to try something new that is stimulating each week. Maybe it's trying a new computer task like a plug-in or program, or maybe it is going to a place or event you have never been to. There has been so many times I have wanted to flake out on something that has been an invaluable and inspirational experience. If I had allowed myself to skip something I had planned on I would have missed out majorly. Life has a wonderful way of presenting exactly what you need to you. Make yourself available for these opportunities to come to you and welcoming new things by being flexible. You never know when opportunity comes knocking until you open the door!

I hope this info is helpful for you. If you have any additional advice or helpful tips to get others inspired and ready for the holidays feel free to leave the info in our comments section. :)

I hope to see you at CAFAM's Etsy Craft Night tonight!!!

XOXO, KC

Lomography Fun: The Original Instagram

KC has had a collection of Lomography cameras for some time now and is really having a resurgence of interest in photography.  For her birthday in August I gave here a La Sardina camera in addition to the Holga and Diana F+ she already had.  For anyone hooked on Iinstagram (Which KC totally is!) we highly encourage you to try getting similar effects the authentic, natural way, with film that is developed!  Randomness in art is key with analogue and patience for seeing the results is a virtue.

Here are some of my favorites taken with the La Sardina:

Grazing, 2012  //  (Napa Valley)

Castello di Amorosa, 2012  //  (Napa Valley)

Grapes, 2012  //  (Napa Valley)

Leaves, 2012  //  (Culver City)

USS Iowa, 2012  //  (San Pedro)

Acapulco, 2012  //  (San Pedro)

Even more exciting is there is a new group we can join where all the members are as enthusiastic about lomography as we are! The Lomography Society has a Tumblr page where members can upload and submit their photos. The Tumblr can serve as a great source of inspiration and we look forward to taking some pictures to submit ourselves!

Stay tuned for more photo fun-

-- Kevin & KC

How-To's Day: Punched Paper Stationery and featured guest at CAFAM Etsy Craft Night

This Thursday KC is the guest crafter at CAFAM's monthly Etsy Craft Night.  Here is a sneak peek at the project available that night.  We are making needle pierced and stitched paper on this week's how-to project.

Supplies needed

• Medium weight/thick card stock. Thicker paper provides more definition and will hold up a larger needle pierce.
• Various size needles.These can include sewing pins, embroidery needles and can even include awls or other industrial piercing tools.
• Item to protect work surface such as towel or foamcore to punch the paper design into.
• Tracing paper and your design flipped or reversed. When outlining an image the pierce holes will produce a flipped version of a design, unless you flip the tracing image first.
• A pencil to freehand draw your image.

1. Draw the image to be pierced with light penciling on the backside of your paper if you wish to freehand draw the pencil lines. You can also place the image on which ever side you like to be the smooth side (back) 
2. Use the lines of your image, or your pencil lines as the template to create your pierced lines.

A finder needle such as a sewing needle will make a very tiny and more of a stippling affect dot.
Personally I like to use a larger instrument or needle for the outlining of the shape and then work my way in with a smaller needle for the inside detailing work.

Also watch your speed and placement because placing the holes/dots too close to one another can result in a "blob" and be visually distracting.

Here is an example of the finished card:

It is easy to make a plain piece of paper a simple and modern card just by punching the outlines!

Or you can create a new variation of your logo with this technique:

Wanna Come make the project with me?

Etsy Craft Night: Punched & Stitched PaperLed by KC Cooper Sears
Thursday, October 4 from 7:00-9:00pm
$7/ Free for CAFAM Members (includes materials, drinks, and snacks)
In the CAFAM Courtyard

Make your mark with crafter KC Sears and create punched cards and pictures. KC will have funky imagery to inspire you—think vintage California, handmade items, even tattoos—and after you pierce the image, embellish it further with colorful stitching.

Hope to see you there!!!

XOXO, KC

Caine's Arcade 2: The Global Cardboard Challenge

We have covered Caine's Arcade before when Unique LA featured him last Spring Show.  If you haven't already seen the video that changed a young boy and a community, watch it now and read on!

Director Nirvan and Caine

Recently, a Caine's Arcade 2 video came online last week by the organization known as Imagination Foundation.  These are the people responsible for the flash mob and public awareness of Caine's awesome Cardboard Arcade.  On the 1 year anniversary of that event, on Oct. 6th, there is the Global Cardboard Challenge inviting the world to play while raising funds to foster creativity and entrepreneurship in kids.

You can organize your own Cardboard game with instructions and material ideas here.

To find the nearest organized Cardboard game search here!


Make.Shop.Live. will be attending a local event on Oct. 6th too!  We love to see a grass roots movement of reuse and imagination in the young community.  Join us!  We wish the Imagination Foundation all the best.

Make.Shop.Live. Staff

Shop Anouncements -- Updates and Magic Items

Our shop at CRAFTED has a new look and layout.  Come to San Pedro this weekend to see the new items and workspace.

One of our popular items is the Magic Wallets by featured artist, Ryan Hansen.  These simple and understated thin wallets are handmade, one-of-a-kind, from upcycled hardback vintage book covers. 

Drop any receipts, monies, or loose papers into the center, close the wallet, open it from the other side and your items are secure.  Magic!!

Wallets measure 4 inches by 2.75 inches and 1/2 an inch thick. Bands are made from elastic and will stretch to fit more and more things.  2 slots on the insides of the wallet can fit at least 6 cards in each side once broken in.

Make.Shop.Live. loves supporting artists who innovate functional items from seemingly used and recycled materials.  Come to our shop at CRAFTED for the discounted price of $20 each.  Be sure to check out Ryan's site for more items and info.


XOXO, KC

How-To's Day: Filet a Soda Can

Kevin here,

This week's How-To is a technique I use to prep beverage can materials for some of our upcycled products.  It took me months and many cut fingers to hone my craft.

Soda Cans are cool because they have flashy graphics that marketing science totally knows what you like.  Except last year's silver polar bear can from Coca Cola in partnership with the WWF.  Sorry cute bears, but you were a little hard to see behind all the flashy diet-cola lies!

I heard Pepsi is nice...

These flashy images are printed on aluminum and that makes them recyclable but also good craft materials.  Here's my method for stripping the guts of a soda can to maximize the design real estate.

Items

• Exacto knife
• Flat edge surface
• aluminum can

Choose anywhere to cut down the length of the can.  Don't cut through the interesting stuff.

Start at the bottom of the can.  Slice around the diameter and cut the bottom off.  Removing the bottom, first, will make the last step much easier.

Hold the can upside down in one hand.  Peel the highest corner with the other hand and strip the can of the goods.  Since the heavier aluminum is at the top of the can, keep the tension where it is ripping to retain the most graphical surface area.  Roll the aluminum strip on a surface edge to flatten.

Being able to quickly strip the design off the can in the last step is actually kind of fun.  If you do several in one sitting it's like craft meditation. 

Of course, save the soda tab for other projects. I'm curious if other parts of a soda can make awesome crafts.  Let me know if you have made anything with the tops and bottoms of soda cans.  It should be interesting.

--Kevin Sears

Etsy Craft Party at CRAFTED Wrap-up

Last Friday was a very successful Etsy & CRAFTED Craft Party.  The event had about 1,000 people attend and over 20 craft stations and demos areas.  Make. Shop. Live. is lucky to have a store right next to the main craft demo area, so we got to meet a lot of new crafters and visitors to CRAFTED.

Mark Montano, our celebrity Crafter and author of the Big Ass book of Crafts, had a busy table and was on hand to demo a beaded wristband and assist the many that got to make them. If you missed the in-person demo his zip tie bracelet project is in the Big-Ass Book of Bling available in November.

Did some one say Raffle?!?

Some of the make-n-takes for the evening:

Tie Dye

DIY Post Cards

KC broke away from the tie dye station to show folks how to make their own envelopes in our market stall.

Say wha-aaaaat?!? Photo Booth Fun!!!! Thanks to Lauren of Mitsymoto Designs and Andrew from Object Mfg. Co. made this sweet photo booth to capture the fun. Did you get your picture taken in the booth? Check out the amazing photo booth pictures here.

Thanks to all the artists that pitched in on the decor and decorating the warehouse!!! the decorations came out so amazing!!! It was totally transformed :)

For even more pictures of the fun you can check out the photos from CRAFTED here or on the Etsy Flickr page here for parties all over the globe.

Be on the watch for more events at CRAFTED as the holiday seasons approach!   And cheers to this being our 500th post!  We are just getting started with our upcycled and green community here at Make. Shop. Live.  Thanks for being a part of it.

XOXO, KC & Kevin