beary strange

At first glace, Kent Rogowski's bears look cuddly and adorable. Then they become a little unsettling. Then you realize... they're inside out!

I also really dig his "Love=Love" project, involving puzzles. And these snowglobes portraying every day moments.

> Anna on 01/24/08 #

Strut Your Stuff

If you are looking for an opportunity to strut your stuff this spring, Fritz Haeg is looking for artists and crafters to participate in East Meets West Interchange Overpass Parade in conjunction with the Indianapolis Museum of Art.. You can sign up here!

> Abigail on 01/24/08 #

Los Angeles Craft Mafia

Los Angeles Craft Mafia is looking for vendors for an upcoming show on February 9th. This is a new event for Los Angeles, so expect to see some new vendors out and about. If you are interested in participating, visit the web site or pop by Saints and Sinners Lounge tomorrow evening and say hello.

> Marimello on 01/21/08 #

Amazing Toys

The German company Naef Spiele AG makes beautiful wooden toys, many of which are based on classic dissection and solid-object puzzles. They are not cheap, but even just window shopping their catalog is a lot of fun.

> Sean on 01/21/08 #

Houndstooth

Houndstooth. I long for a houndstooth suit. And coat. And blanket. And car upholstry. And if I had a dog, (and if I went camping and that) I would totally copy this homemade houndstooth dog tent yo.

> Kirsten on 01/18/08 #

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 #

Anarchist Doll

Oakland based artist Packard Jennings is a master of the art of shopdropping and recently introduced Target shoppers (and employees) in California to the Anarchist Doll. Due to it's impeccable craft and attention to detail the doll easily passes as a mass produced toy - which is necessary to achieve the desired double take from the shopper browsing the isles for WWF figurines or Ken dolls. The entire Anarchist Doll package is, however, handcrafted by Jennings - from the doll size black hoodie to the mini bolt cutters and instructional illustrations adorning the box. The doll and other recent works by Jennings will be on view at Catherine Clark Gallery in San Francisco from January 19th - March 1st, 2008.

> helena on 01/15/08 #

DIY Science on the Ultra-Cheap

This recent article about a nonprofit Indian group that makes working microscopes from bamboo for educational use reminded me of the time, when I'd just finished reading Viktor Papanek's Design for the Real World, that I'd spent browsing the UNESCO website for vernacular design ideas. One of the gems I found was this document from 1972, which is all about how to teach science to children when you have basically no money to do it with. It includes great diagrams showing all kinds of apparatus improvised from junk.

> Sean on 01/14/08 #

Banner from Blanket

Agnieszka has a friend named Justin. He did a super great book called Obscene Interiors that is totally rad. Justin has an aunt, in North Dakota, and she does some totally rad things as well. First, there's these modified Monet calendars. Then, there's this amaz-o church banner that she made out of a Mona Lisa blanket. (No deep link, but it was posted to his blog for January 8th.

> Kirsten on 01/11/08 #

Obsessive Consumption

I've really been enjoying the Obsessive Consumption blog. Artist, Kate, draws pictures of everything she buys every day.

> pretendingsanity on 01/11/08 #