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Smudged

It's getting cold in Canada. A traditional smudge is a good way to keep cozy and prepare yourself for what's to come. In theory, the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and, as the smoke clears, it takes the bad stuff with it.

Jennifer Cook makes a version from naturally-dried reclaimed cedar and sage harvested from her neighborhood. She recommends smudging nearly anything: living creatures, inanimate objects, and spaces. Buy one from her here.

Or learn more about smudging here.

> Riva on 10/11/09 #

The Uniform Project

The Uniform Project is a fund raising fashion project by Sheena Matheiken in support of Akanksha (an NPO whose mission is to provide education for India's thousands of impoverished children). Matheiken had a dress designed that she could wear in different ways every day for a year, as a riff on the public school uniforms she wore as a teenager in India and to help raise awareness the power of creativity to disrupt the unsustainable nature of fashion.

> Riva on 08/05/09 #

Kids Camps

Wabi-Sabi (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) is holding fibre camps for kids this summer. Check out camps on puppet making, wet felting, and 'finding fairies.'

> Riva on 06/30/09 #

New Social Inquiry

New Social Inquiry (co-edited by yours truly) is LIVE! NSI is an entirely online, open-access public-academic journal that aims to bring together artists, creative writers, craftspeople, journalists, filmmakers, AND academics in order to create and contribute public dialogue that is accessible to engaging, relevant to non-specialists, and sophisticated enough to push debates forward.

Check out photo essay by Tony Foushe and Aaron Doyle, prose-poetry, a review of Learningtoloveyoumore.com and a Shotgun essay by Ottawa's own, Tony Martins.

www.newsocialinquiry.org

> Riva on 06/01/09 #

Evil Mad Scientist

Great DIY Halloween ideas including a bat costume complete with wings at and instructions for a robotic snap-o-lantern at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories.

> Riva on 10/16/08 #

Save Bitch!

Bitch Magazine is barely hanging on. Fortunately, recent donations equaled $40K (enough to produce the December issue), but they still need help to stay afloat in the long-term. This amazing, independent magazine has, for 13 years, been a funky, unique voice for DIY and the arts.

Watch the live plea for donations or go to their site for more details.



> Riva on 09/24/08 #

ATTN: Urban Picnickers

Bruised pears/peaches/apples make delicious, crisp snacks turn ugly. Stick em in a hand-knit fruit cozy instead. I love the idea of tucking everything into its own sweater.

> Riva on 01/28/08 #

Reading List (Reccomended not required)

I am bummed beyond belief that the V&A's craft exhibition "Out of the Ordinary" closes on February 17, less than a month before I'll be in London.

Happily, they've compiled a comprehensive reading list on craft and you can buy the exhibition book directly from the website.

> Riva on 01/17/08 #

Big Chief

Win this clock! By dressing like this guy!

I heart Furni-designed wares.

> Riva on 12/04/07 #

On the House

160 Workshops are organized by a friend of mine and his house mate. They're all the way up in Ottawa, but the model is worth replicating. They open up their house every couple months or so for a day of DIY workshops put on by friends and local crafters, artists, and chefs. Costs are covered by a $5 suggested donation and the day is capped off with a silent auction and tea party. The first installment included (among other stuff): vegan cake decorating and duct tape book-binding. Meanwhile, I've been vaunting their holiday edition here.

> Riva on 12/03/07 #

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