Boing!
I just have to share this exciting news. One of our Craft Cartel members Jellibat has had one of her latest products featured on Boing Boing!
He’s a poor bunny who was saved from a science lab, his brain sometimes pops right out of his head.
Unfortunately this one of a kind item has been sold and there ain’t no pattern but you can always check out her Etsy store for more fun things. Or even better come to the next Cartel and buy one for yourself! I’ve got one of Jellibat’s keyrings and I love it! And I am very tempted to take home the two headed lion.
Speaking of the next market, it’s gonna be a biggie. This from our market announcement:
This week is a VERY SPECIAL night for the craft cartel. We promised global domination and tonight we deliver, with the launch of our very own PODCAST! Come along to score your limited edition 1st episode on CD and find out how to subscribe and get every single episode delivered straight to your little mp3 player. Public Transport will never be boring again for our lucky listeners!
It is also St Patricks Day so we’re having a special little celebration for all things anti-colonial. The challenge is on for our stall holders to have at least one item designed to bring down an empire.
PLUS we have the wonderfully awesome Rapskallion back to tantalise our ear buds. Did you hear them a couple of markets ago? They were fantastic!
And of course the bbq will be cranking with our spunky chef spreading the love. The words getting around about the tucker so you better to be there early. Which of course gives you more time to peruse the market and share your hard-earned pennies with our amazing local crafters (who really love your support).
Did you know that buying local handmade goods will save the planet from imminent destruction?
See you there
xox
P.S. If you want to wear green and drink beer, we won’t object, in fact, you’ll be joining us!
A Radical Easter
For those of you unfortunate souls who aren’t members of the Radical House Wives Baking Club and Terrorist Society Facewank group, I will share this message with you. Because it is so wonderful!
West Mallee Protection Easter Drive Fundraiser
Help contribute to West Mallee Protection – a support group for the Kokatha Mula Nation, an affiliate of Friends of the Earth Australia and active conservation crew who learn about, care for and advocate for the total protection of the Pureba and Yumbarra Conservation Parks and Yellabinna Regional Reserve. These parks, on the far west coast of SA contain unique old growth mallee country which is rich in culture and ecological value and are under increasing threat from mining interests.
Make your Easter a little radical and deliciously decadent.
We are now taking orders for our Easter packs.
Delux: $25
Six organic spelt hot x buns
Twelve handcrafted rich chocolate creatures
250gm Organic Cocoa
Jar of homemade jam
Yummy biscuit treats
And three gift cards
Holidayz: $15
Four organic spelt hot x buns
Six handcrafted rich chocolate creatures
250gm Organic Cocoa
And two gift cards
Please let us know if you would like a little less Christian tradition and we can make spelt buns with a symbol of your choice (try peace, anarchy, aboriginal flag, fem rights etc).
A big thanks to Terri from Fraise Sauvage – for the chocolate wisdom. Contact fraisesauvage@gmail.com for all your locally made, handcrafted chocolate decadence and Steve’s Organics (Adelaide) for donating the spelt flour and rich organic cocoa.
ALL FUNDS to help continue the campaign against mining destruction and go towards building projects such as Rockhole recovery which foster understanding and respect for culture and country.
Email or phone your orders to Breony:
0423 910 42
westmallee@gmail.com
Packs will be available for pickup at Friends of the Earth – 312 Smith St, Collingwood,
on Thursday 19th March or delivery (If in inner suburbs $5 extra).
Skateistan
Skateistan is Afghanistan’s first dedicated co-educational skateboarding school. The project will engage with the growing numbers of urbanised Afghan youth in Kabul through skateboarding and provide new opportunities in cross-cultural interaction and education. The school will teach more than 100 students from a range of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Student capacity will be developed in skateboarding, skateboarding instruction, project management, life skills and English. Our aim is to develop a program that empowers youth to take leadership on issues important to them and build networks countering ethnic barriers.
The three founding Melbourne born members of Skateistan: Oliver Percovich, Sharna Nolan and Travis Beard are staging a benefit gig to raise funds and awareness for the project. The 303 Bar in Northcote will host an array of musical entertainment, such as: Bass Bin Laden, The Insurgents, The Wasp Factory, Aux 1 and MC’s, Gluefoot + more T.B.A. Details: 303 Bar, 22/03/08 6 – 1 pm, 303 High Street, Northcote, 3067
There will also be a photo exhibition of images from the pioneering days of Skateistan in 2007. We will hold an auction of prizes donated by Black Box, Crumpler, Lonely Planet and Argusphotography. Merchandise such as T-shirts, badges and stickers will be on sale.
100% of all proceeds from the benefit will go towards the first months of operation in Kabul, which will commence in April 2008.
Supporting organizations:
Black Box Distribution, 303 Bar, YMCA Victoria, Convic, Crumpler, Lonely Planet, Argusphotography, AADO: Afghan Australian Development OrganisationMore details..
This is the most amazing project. Unless people start to do something for the young people of Afghanistan we are only going to see more generations of frustrated and angry kids with nothing to lose. Not the best scenario as I’m sure you understand. I think the Skateistan project is one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard of and deserves as much support and publicity as possible. Anyone who has any connections with any large skate companies who might be interested in sponsoring such a project, please raise your voice!
Craft to make you blush
A friend of mine sent me this link yesterday (I love friends that send me brilliant crafty links!) to the knit porn website; knitting + sex = hot.
Well, obviously!
This totally reminds me of the porno hankies by miche_chan on Craftster
I’m sure I’ve seen some cross stitch porn somewhere before too. Maybe it’s time to see an embroidery porn website?
Goodness don’t get me started…
Kia ora Kitty?
Well there’s a bit of a hoo-ha going on at the moment about a certain illustrator and his creation of a Maori Hello Kitty design. NOTE! This is not a real doll, it is an illustration. This guy does not work for Sanrio and this is not one of their dolls.
This conversation from Kitty Hell:
Michael:
Joseph -
Are you an inappropriate appropriator casually drawing on anything that takes your fancy? Or are you an edgy artist challenging cultural sensitivities in a globalised context?
Maybe you are, as you say, an innocent illustrator dabbling with dolls. So I presume to critique your work on that level.
As others have already noted, you have applied a male moko to a female figure – or put a hair-bow on a male head.
Also, you seem to have missed a really interesting of aspect of moko which is that the foreground pattern should be in the clear skin – the ink is the background that reveals the person’s whakapapa (heritage) and place in the community.
Or is this disrespect for authenticity just another layer of post-modern ironic wit?
I do recognise that the work has been accomplished with commendable precision.
All the best.Joseph:
Hi Michael.
Thank you for your great letter.
Yes indeed, Kitty is a mish-mash of male and female ‘forces’.
The use of male moko / tattoo is a comment on how something so innocuous can become a cultural icon (in this case, Hello Kitty) and, through their instant recognisabilty, become more powerful than the simple conventions of sexuality or identity.
My other ‘Kittys’ forgo the usual “she’s a girl” rules and show how, no matter what “dressing” you put on someone, they are still the same under it all.
Kitty may be wearing a warrior’s moko but her ‘mana’ comes from her honest ‘kitty-ness’. It doesn’t change, no matter how ’staunch’ you paint her.Sean:
Please remove this picture of this shit doll and learn a little about my peoples culture before you go screwing around with it.
It is offensive in so many ways and I don’t really want to show it to my whanau or kaumatua, Putting a Ta Moko of the male on a female doll WTF !!! I don’t know what you think art is but thats not it bro so just make good and remove it a.Marie:
Well Joseph, it has a point of difference..lol You said you didn’t want people hating on you, well you stuffed up there when you used Maori designs in a controversial way. A suggestion, next time do some research! I’m Maori and an artist but Im not offended with it, just annoyed at your lack of research into the culture and the designs as it has come off culturally inappropriate, insensitive and ignorant. It has a controversial spin and people will either love it or hate it! I think most Maori will hate it but thats my own opinion!!
I think this is an interesting case. Looking at this guys other work it’s obvious that he is extremely good at what he does. So what I don’t get is why this bit of work was so badly thought through.
I don’t think there was any malicious intent with this work. I don’t think the guy was trying to offend anyone. Quite the opposite, I think as a graphic designer he understands the design skill behind traditional moko. But seriously this is really badly flawed.
I absolutely agree that he should have done a hell of a lot more research for this illustration. By not grasping the simplest concepts of ta moko design he has completely missed the opportunity to do something really clever.
What else concerns me is where the design inspiration actually came from. I have heard stories in the past of people from other parts of the world copying historic ta moko designs onto their faces. I’m not sure why I’m guessing they’re going for the ‘tribal’ look or something. But often the copies were direct which has meant that some random person has literally got someone else’s whakapapa on their face. So that’s not just appropriation, it’s a form of identity theft. I really hope that this illustration is not one of these cases.
The other issue that I wonder about is if Joseph thought that he wouldn’t have gotten a reaction like this? I don’t believe that as someone working in the design industry in New Zealand wouldn’t have heard of the various examples of overseas companies engaging in cultural appropriation with Maori culture; especially the Lego case. I’d really hate to think this was an intentional publicity stunt.
I would advise Joseph to really think hard about having this piece on line. It will upset a lot of people. And given he is a professional illustrator with an established company, that might not be a good thing. If he does leave it online. I think it should be modified with some of the artistic and cultural critique in mind. And he really needs to have some written information with the piece to explain his motives behind creating it.
props: Tangatawhenua.com for the story
Craft Fetish
Does anyone out there know anything about this? It’s intriguing and exciting!
Not Your M(o)ms Craft Zine
Check out this super ace craft zine I found on Etsy and got in my mailbox yesterday!
This zine started as a project for a Women’s Studies class and has turned into a great tool for those new to crafting and selling. It contains sections on ideas for crafts, books to check out, internet resources for selling and advertising, how to sell at stores, and if you live in Portland, OR, a guide to crafty supply stores around town.
Table of Contents:
1)Why DIY?
2)What should I make?
3)Where can I get supplies (PDX)
4)How to sell online
5)How to sell in stores
6)Craft fairs in PDX
7)Advertising
8)Web resources
9)Resources in print***From now until March 15, 100% of the proceeds of this zine will be donated toward the printing of the Winter 2008 Portland State University Girl Power Zine. We are conducting 40 hours of rap sessions with teen girls ages 11-19 throughout the community and will be compiling their words into a zine about teen girl life.***
It comes from legendary Etsy seller harveyandeileen who make the wonderful uterus undies.
And it’s for a good cause so you should buy a copy today!
I’m keen to get some more craft zines so if you know of any out there let me know. And don’t forget I’m collecting articles for the next Hoop-La so if you’ve got something written or pictures of your radical craft send it through!
Figging Awesome
OK check out this amazing party invite I got it the inbox today:
Dear fig-lovers,
For the past 2½ years, the lorikeets and bats have been holding their own debauched celebrations in my fig tree. I was never invited, but this year I’m getting my own back.
Figgtacular 08 is here.
DRESS: You can wear what you like, but I’ll be donning my toga
WHAT I PROVIDE: fig tree, roast leg of goat/lamb, olives, prosciutto, salad, fresh bread, sweet wine etc, Bacchanalian atmos and joie de vivre.
WHAT YOU PROVIDE: figgy recipes & ingredients (if desired), Greek honey cakes or a soft cheese or whathaveyou. Bring a bag if you want to take some home. Also booze or soft drinks, whatever compliments your appreciation of the fig.
STILL NOT CONVINCED? I have made a small video to get you in the mood, which is on YouTube:
Yay Boo! That sounds like such crafty fun. I can’t wait!
Some time to breathe
At last spring is within sight in Sweden and after working way too much during the past year I finally can do something else with my time than spending it on a train or at work. I intend to make as much of it as possible before the next job starts. Which basically means sleeping enough, seeing my friends, playing video games, embroider and all those other things I’ve had to put aside more than I want to think about.
So I’ve started by doing a little gardening in miniature. I don’t have a garden or even a balcony, but at least there’s some room in my window. The first plants will be basil, thyme and chilli, in an old box that used to contain chocolate. I’m really looking forward when they start growing!
Mania Meme
Righto so I got tagged for this meme (goodness it’s been a while) to tell 6 things of your life which look like manias or tics, and then pass it to 6 other persons.
So I’ll cheat and take the hint and say that number one would be my amusement of all things poo. I’ll blame my mother who is a raving Winnie the Poo (not the Disney bastardisation) fan.
Number two would probably have to be my obsession with all things cross stitch. I even like getting angry at cross stitch if there’s such a thing. I actually visit mainstream cross stitch websites just to get irate at how ugly most of it is. It helps with my design process I think.
Number three would be my intollerance for people who blatantly fuck the planet up.. I call it eco-rage. Kinda like road rage, in fact it often happens when I’m travelling and I see a Hummer and have to wind down the window and yell ‘planet fucker!’ at them. Lord knows where I get it from. I also like to tell people off when they litter. Especially young boys. I’m like ‘what you expect my kids to pick that up for you?’ grrr
(oh no three to go)
Number four: I like to use brackets a lot. I think it comes from my love of Shakespeare and the fondness I have for asides. Brackets are my own asides. Or it could be my bad writing technique, who knows.
Number five: I am an atrocious procrastinator. This website is a classic example. Just about every post I’ve ever made has been in lieu of me doing something else important. Like right now, I’m supposed to be preparing a radio show, so I’m editing pictures, playing scrabble and blogging instead.
Number six: (shit, shit, writers block) ok I’d probably say that I’m really bossy. I try and get all anarchist on it and curb my bossiness and frame it in an empowering way. But normally when I see someone doing something and I know there’s a better way of doing it, I tend to say so. It gets me in trouble a bit. I’m working on it all the time I promise. I think though that’s where this website came from. I decided there needed to be heaps more radical cross stitch in the world so I’ll keep drumming it into your heads until you all start doing it. OK? (you better or I’ll poke you with my needle).
ok someone else’s turn, I tag: Cross Stitch Ninja – even though it’s still the same website I know we all want to know more about the person behind the mask. And Hammy. And Xavier aka Harry aka Hugh. And Julie. And Torrance. And last but not least Rosa.
Tag youse are it.