portable crafting for the obsessed

heart of a snowflake is warm and fluffy

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:03:00 +0000

heart of a snowflake is warm and fluffy, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

My crafts were indeed portable today - I took my inventory to two christmas craft boutiques (see my other blog for links.

packing my bags

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:38:00 +0000

packing my bags, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Today's portable crafting kit is set up in my Art Bin, a plastic case which opens completely to holds enough wire, beads and tools for a day away from the studio. Even though my Wee Guy is in school and I no longer need to leave the house on playdates, excursions etc. I still have some outside commitments to take me away from the bench.
... and some of those commitments can leave me with idel hands unless I plan appropriately.
There's nothing worse than having a huge mile-long to do list and being idle away from the materials needed to complete it.

(I'll be in the at Port Moody Art Centre if anyone wants to pop in for a chat - a good time to start that early Christmas gift buying too!)

wordless wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:19:00 +0000

path of an electron in orbit or a jumble of freshly tumbled sterling earwires for a custom order?

leaf collecting "Happy Thanksgiving"

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:15:00 +0000

crafting365 /d48 - me and him, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

It's the season for leaf collecting. Tiny little maple leaves get blown to the ground. Some I press for use in later craft projects and some are stuck to an old plastic tin lid with vaseline then 'painted' with my prepared art clay slurry. Once a few layers have been applied they can be stored carefully until I'm ready to build up the depth of art clay silver needed before firing. I'll probably start this in time for Canada Day.

Not so much portable crafting as postponed crafting I suppose :)

mohair on the go

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:51:00 +0000

mohair on the go, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

OK, so the wee guy's in school fulltime now but we're still out and about so the need for portable crafting continues.

Here's my current project - a drop-stitch scarf in mohair. Not sure how the dropped stitch pattern will emerge in the self-felting mohair but here goes. It filled in 30 minutes during the Wee Guy's second piano lesson.

al fresco nibbles

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:48:00 +0000

al fresco nibbles, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Not quite portable crafting but allow me to present portable lunching ie. a picnic.

Apricot and walnut bread form the Port Moody pocket farmers' market, with cream cheese and soda from the local grocery store.

All consumed in the open air and sunshine.

newly sewn

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:40:00 +0000

newly sewn, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

crafting on the go proudly presents a handsewn gym bag, simple draw string with french seams for durability
to accompany the wee guy back to school in september

crochet shell scarf

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:11:00 +0000

crochet shell scarf, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

finished my latest portable crafting project

small scarflet in acrylic and mohair, crochet shell pattern on 5.5mm hook

finally started

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:57:00 +0000

finally started, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Since all my crafting is technically portable this month, here's a peek at a new flower intial I'm embroidering.
So far I've added magnolias, a shasta daisy, a rosebud, foxglove and some gypsophilla.
Starting is the hardest - now I just have to keep going until the lines are all covered.

(based on designs by Diana Lampe)

portable crafting scottish style

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:27:00 +0000

portable crafting scottish style, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Still managing some portable crafting moments on vacation. I packed a mixture of projects, all of which are portable at certain stages, and then bought a needle felting kit from McAree's in Stirling.

I don't think a sharp pointy stabby craft is entirely portable but I'm having a lot of fun with it.

Lost

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:32:00 +0000

Lost Lake trails, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Dear Twitter
Please give me my twitterverse back again - all my followers and following have disappeared and I miss them.

Thank you
me

Work of Proto-Art in the Age of Symbiotic Reproduction

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:41:00 +0000

aaaaaargh! contact lenses, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Yes, this is my artist statement (thanks to the artist statement generator).
Read it and weep (quite literally!).

The flux creates, the body permeates. In the trans-gender hallucination, art objects are resurrections of the musings of the flux -- a flux that uses the body as a zeitgeist to enmesh ideas, patterns, and emotions. With the rationalization of the electronic environment, the flux is conceiving a point where it will be free from the body to realize immersions into the contortions of the delphic hallucination. Work of Proto-Art in the Age of Symbiotic Reproduction contains 10 minimal shockwave engines (also refered to as "memes") that enable the user to make glorious audio/visual compositions.

measuring chains, constructing realities
putting into place forms
a matrix of illusion and disillusion
a strange attracting force
so that a seduced reality will be able to spontaneously feed on it

pomo mama's work investigates the nuances of modulations through the use of slow motion and close-ups which emphasize the Symbiotic nature of digital media. mama explores abstract and domestic scenery as motifs to describe the idea of cyber-intuitive hallucination. Using non-traditional loops, lasers, and slow-motion images as patterns, mama creates meditative environments which suggest the expansion of art...

er ...

d17/32 - while i was at a craft fair

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:50:00 +0000

d17/32 - while i was at a craft fair, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

portable crafting project
materials = beach pebbles (polished by my mum from the beach i played on as a wee girl!), wire, crochet hook, jewelry pliers, waxed cotton and findings
technique = freeform bezel crochet around each pebble pendant

notes: easy to start up and put down as visitors arrived at my table

NB: the d17/32 refers to the entry for my design-a-day challenge this month. i'm trying to document something crafty every day for the first part of the summer holidays. see this flickr set for my progress so far!

blogging tips

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:41:00 +0000

me, at work, blogging as if my life depended on it

A quick post to bring your attention to some great hints and tips from AliciaMae on the Blogfire, the Bloggers Guild of ArtFire bloggers blog (phew!). She's running a series of articles on how to set up your blog.

Check out the latest on tagging your blog entries and see the previous article on how to alter the layout of your page (which the more astute of you will notice that I have followed!)

Thanks Alicia

Handmade Nation coming to Vancouver BC

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Yes, Faith Levine's documentary Handmade Nation, is coming to Vancouver. The amazing duo behind Got Craft, Rob and Andrea, have arranged the premier screening of the film with Ms Levine in attendance. It's taking place at the Rio Theatre on Broadway at Commercial on Thursday, 9th July. Doors open at 7pm for the craft showcase and the film starts at around 8pm.

Full details and tickets are available on the website.

See you there!

PS: and if you miss the artisan showcase chock full of incredible local talent then check out the next Got Craft bite size fair at Little Mountain studio on Sunday, July 12th!

what can you do out and about?

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:15:00 +0000

portable crafting projects completed

Maybe some inspiration for what can be created with just wire, a crochet hook and some pliers?

design-a-day

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:34:00 +0000

crafted portably of course - glass and copper wire crochet

Yesterday was Canada Day - my tent blew away but I did make some good sales (rather than the great sail that my tent was making!).

Before my tent went aerial I managed to set up my smaller table to put on an "artisan at work" demo (since I was in an artisan showcase). The wire crochet drew lots of attention and I had some lovely chats with some fascinating onlookers. Hopefully I'll see some of them when I resume teaching classes in the Fall.

I've got another couple of craft fairs coming up over the next two weeks then it's summer holidays for me. For inspiration I've set up a design-a-day challenge for myself. It will run until the end of July and document my crafty endeavours thru the first half of The Wee Guy's school holiday. Check out the flickr set of work done so far.

Currently it's running at 2 out of the 6 listed projects being portably crafted, including the sumptuous copper wire crochet cuff shown below. This was completed during my first stint in the Blackberry Artist's Cooperative shop in Port Moody Art Centre on Sunday.

Faberge: copper wire crochet with freshwater pearls

similar for sale here

please take my child to work day - yabloodyhoo

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:25:00 +0000

portable crafting kit - ready to go

Today is "(Please) Take My Children To Work" day - but I am unlikely to benefit from this (just like all the other SAHMs round here especially since school has ended for the summer).
This is a glimpse of how I routinely take my work to my child (since that is how things are done around here right now) - a tray of handcrafterly goodness with projects to complete. If I have something set up like this it means I can indeed go watch Spiceworld with The Wee Guy for the umpteenth time and manage to be productive too (and even retain a little sanity and brain power perhaps).

follower friday (it's a new thang)

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:40:00 +0000

IMG_2997, originally uploaded by ritasmeeta.

It's Follower Friday (bear with me, it's a new tradition I'm throwing in here to try make my blogging a little more productive). Portable Crafting now has seven amazing followers so I wanted to introduce you, gentle reader, to them one by one.
First up is ritasmeeta who makes astoundingly cute stuff as shown above, gorgeous bags and purses, and is also an active member of the Vancouver BC Etsy street team.
You can buy her work on Artfire too and read all about it here.
Thanks for following, ritasmeeta!

pattern play

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:47:00 +0000

simple shell stitch pattern in 28G copper

I've been itching to try this for some time but as usual time itself has been conspiring against me! Finally I tucked a crochet hook, the 28G copper wire and the pattern details into my portable crafting pouch and set off for the great outdoors.
Feeling slightly rebellious, I left my crochet hook safely hidden as I knitted alongside other local knitters at the Rocky Point Knit in Public session held on Saturday. Yes, I knew they would be OK with me crocheting .... but with wire?
I held off with the wire until most had departed then built a foundation chain and started the pattern. It's really a simple trebles and DC shell pattern built up over a multiple of 3 chains (similar to the pattern rows here). I had tried this pattern earlier on some 'proper' fibre - the 28G copper was perfect to work with though I'm not sure how well the shell pattern comes thru.

crafting still going portable

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:19:00 +0000

batch of cute promo buttons and charms for the Handmade Nation premier

It's nearly the end of the school year and crafting has gone well and truly portable. I've been rustling up a batch of promo goodies for the film premier on July 9th. They're quick and easy to make and don't require much kit to finish off.

portable project kit;
wire and cotton yarn
rings and hoops (various from my stash)
clips
crochet hook
pliers and cutters

... and that's all

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:40:00 +0000

This weekend's inventory check was most encouraging and no frantic crafting is needed to build up stock for the Main Street car-free Vancouver festival this Sunday (I'll be between W20th and 21st Avenues on Main).

So, this week's portable crafting projects are a little more leisurely and introspective.

silver wire beads (they went down a storm at the last craft fair so I'm making them again for this Sunday
trying out a freebie knit pattern for a shrug, using some scrap yarn from my stash. front is on the circulare needles for portability while the back is on straight pins for at-home moments
sleeveless cable waistcoat pattern from the Sublime aran knits pattern book (knitting up an absolute dream) - on circular needles = extreme portability

I also found out that nearly all my little felted bowls have sold so I can justify whipping out the crochet hook for these portable charmers too. Might just settle down to making some on Main Street this Sunday.

projects to go

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:44:00 +0000

clutch of wire crochet pendants for the Main Street car-free Vancouver festival

It was with some trepidation that I approached this morning's task - checking inventory for a craft fair. Not so bad, some of you might be thinking, but this event is only a week away and I don't have a whole heap load of time for stocking up! I was anticipating setting up numerous portable crafting projects plus some 'burning the midnight oil' sessions ahead. :(

Instead I was pleasantly surprised. Despite having what seems like all my inventory out on sale in local boutiques, etc. there was still quite a sizeable collection suitable for the street fair. (For you locals out there, this is the Car Free Vancouver festival being held next Sunday, 14th June - I'll be selling on the block between W20th and 21st). My huge workload vanished 'pooft' and was replaced by some relaxing afternoon crafting.I finished off some wire crochet bezels for sea glass chunks then strung them on pendant cords (see above).

There are still some important tasks on the horizon (bungee cords to hold the tent down, afix some nosestuds to business cards, and so on) but, on the whole, this week should be a leisurely trot thru some portable crafting while out and about. Might get to try some new ideas!

Phew!

speed and efficiency?

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:29:00 +0000

design-a-day April 08 set

Aim;

to promote to and share with a wide audience

Materials;

1 flickr slideshow (group photographs together in a set and then click on the slideshow function on that set's page, grab the embed this code)

1 ArtFire Rapid Cart

1 blog

1 ByHand account

1 Twitter account and associated twitterfeed from your blog

Method;

Create a new blog post on ByHand, incorporating your flickr slideshow (embed as html).

Below your description insert an ArtFire Rapid Cart with some of the items in the slideshow for sale.

Publish your blog entry on ByHand, checking the twitter and front page options if desired.

Check the 'publish to your own blog' option.

Summary;

A quick slideshow attractively presents your work, and the Rapid Cart provides a one click buy now option for interested parties. Your work is presented to three different audiences.

.... all in one blog post

ebbandflo

Buy Handmade

ferries - excellent for portable crafting

noreply@blogger.com (ebbandflo) — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:24:00 +0000

ferry line up at Horseshoe Bay, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

my wordless wednesday submission (or maybe i just want a holiday)