Meet my new models: Zeke Silas and Jonah Max!
Dusty Lavender and Harvest Gold R.I.P.
I recently learned that an “internet special” is a color that they mixed and had some left over- so they sell it cheap online. They’re not totally sure how they got the color, and therefore know they can’t reproduce it- so it’s a one shot deal.
Alas, dusty lavender and harvest gold no longer exist in Pro-Chemical land.
R.I.P.
Passover on Shabbat: How do we cover the mazah?
There are big halachic (Jewish law) implications and discussions for when Passover begins on Shabbat (Friday night). A very important question was recently posed to me: Since this year (2012) Passover begins on Shabbat, could you use a (batik) challah cover that says Shabbat Shalom (Good Sabbath) for the Passover Seder?
I’m no rabbi, but I do have some thoughts on the matter:
If it’s a new cover, one that has never actually touched a challah, it’s ok to use it on Passover, regardless of what is printed on it. Unlike the challah, which is covered during the other Friday night blessings so it wont be jealous of being blessed/recognized last, the matzah recognizes it is part of a long Seder process. The matzah sits on the seder table alongside the Seder plate, full of ritual objects, all of which get pointed out at their right time. Matzah is a humble bread and ok with no big signpost to it’s existence.
If however, the cover was involved in some leavened activities (like covering a challah) from the period of its formation until the first night of Passover, it is not ok to use it.
If it is a cover that was made in Eretz Yisroel (the land of Israel) and bought in a sealed package, and only unsealed at the Passover table, it is ok to use.
If it is a cover made by young children in the Far East for only pennies, as part of a system that perpetuates their lives in squalid conditions and the growth of multinational corporations, it is not ok to use.
If it a cover made by a local artisan, it is ok to use.
Thanks to photographer Joe Driscoll, you can see photos of my matzah covers here, or pictures of his life, coffee habits and travels here.
Crafternoon with Candice
My first crafternoon in my new studio was with my dear friend Candice Cook, my business card designer, mom to Georgia, and fellow YCC devotee. We set out to have a relaxed afternoon with our various individual projects. I have been thinking recently that having studio space was a great way to get crafty beyond my batik, and the afternoon was the perfect opportunity. Here was opening my dusty mosaics tile bin:
Candice had visions for a 3 red panel painting project:
Hard as we tried (and maybe we didn’t really try), neither of us “completed” our projects. A convenient excuse to meet up for Part II! Here’s how we left them:
Now available in Roslindale
B. B. batiks is excited to announce that baby onesies and table runners are now on consignment at Minerva’s Owl Boutique in Roslindale Village, MA. A store self described as “Style for the Strong Woman; who is, in essence, is any woman who has ever simultaneously held a career, brought up children, acted as a caregiver or served as an “anchor” for any given situation. Minerva’s is a store where women can come, look at beautiful garments, artisan-made goods, and embellishments for the self or the home and replenish their spirits–just a little bit of pampering, to remind themselves of their strong, beautiful essence!”
In addition to discerning taste in the vendors she selects (um, that’s me), Julie Wesolowski (the owner) puts on events such as Owls’ night, Girls Night Out, Trunk Shows and live music evenings. Here are my pieces on display:
You can like Minerva’s Owl on facebook or go check them out in person at 751 South Street, Roslindale, MA 02131.
JP Studio Warming
Truth is, we were having too much fun to remember to take pictures, but here’s a few from one moment in time:
My new JP studio move in
After a long and arduous search, I have landed in a shared studio space back in my old neighborhood, JP (that’s Jamaica Plain for you non-Boston folks). It’s an old barn just behind the Sam Adams Brewery. With two floors, I mainly work downstairs, on the “dirty” level, as upstairs is more computer, video, hoola-hoop and sketching magic space.
Here I’m standing on the stairway landing, visioning the space:
I picked the back wall as my main work area, and developed a plan for a raise-able drying rack:
But I was moving in at the height of the “holiday season” and low on green baby onesies. So with some parts of my studio still in boxes, I improvised with my drying rack:
Finally I was ready to construct my raise-able drying line. In consultation with Chris Ortiz, Simon Camp, Doug Hull and a useless teenage boy employee at Home Depot, I started to build my design. Really, my “consultations” were my attempt to get them to tell me my pulley design would raise my drying line up evenly with only one rope.
Viola! It mostly works just the way I planned.
Up:
Down:
You’re all invited to see the new studio on Sat. Jan 21st at our official “Studio Warming!”
My new JP Studio renovations
As I’m settling into my new studio space, I just found these pictures of the barn renovations from 2010-2011. Stay tuned for photos of Brookside Barn Studios today!
Downstairs:
Stairs:
Upstairs:
Flowers or snowflakes
At first I thought I was producing flowers with this new stamp. Now I’m not so sure and think maybe they’re snowflakes. Or maybe that’s just my desire to have some outside to play in…
Getting creative setting up show space
While every new craft show is a challenge, this fall I’ve had the opportunity to show my designs under stadium seating and in a school hallway. I’m pleased with my adaptability efforts.
In October I did a show under the Lawrence Veterans Memorial Stadium, This was fun because I invited my friend Laure Dennery and her DenneryDesignBébé: Handmade Gifts for Mom and Baby. Laure moved into the apartment downstairs from me in Jamaica Plain just as I was moving out in the summer of 2010. It’s always more fun to do a show with a friend, and I hadn’t seen her stuff all laid out.
When was the last time you saw this much color under stadium seating?
In November I had the opportunity to transform an elementary school hallway at Arlington Open Studios. The lockers in my area were bolted open for the preschoolers. I put a board across the top, and voilà, a shelf.
I was located at the end of the hallway, which was a great perspective:
Stay tuned for information about more shows soon!
