IAMTHELAB | Your Handmade Laboratory

LAB Journal: Your Global Handmade Magazine

Well, I’m one step closer to fulfilling a dream. In just a few more weeks and the LAB Journal will launch it’s premier issue. I can’t believe how close I am to having this project off the ground and soaring through the creative stratosphere. I want to make sure that as many handmakers as possible get the opportunity to be a part of this, so I’m sharing the details with you today.

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.”
― Edgar Allan Poe

The LAB Journal will be a totally different type of digital magazine. It’s actually a standalone app, developed by the team over at TypeEngine. The magazine will appear on iOS devices exclusively, primarily designed for the iPad and iPad Mini. So, instead of being a .pdf file with a few interactive features, the LAB Journal will be a totally digital experience. Want to see a sneak peak?

This is the basic layout of the Journal. I love working with the TypeEngine Console. It’s like pulling the best of blogging into the magazine universe. For instance, [1] there’s a slide out menu that will show you all the articles in the current issue. You’ll be able to scroll up & down to pick the article of your choice. ⬇

Next feature I love is the [2] Settings panel. From here you can change the font size to maximize your reading experience. If there are any updates to the current issue, you can refresh the menu from here as well. ⬇

Want to share? Just hit the [3] Share button and all the usual options appear. What a great way to spread the handmade love! ⬇

This last feature is the one I want to particularly focus on. I have the option of adding [4] advertisement to each article. This is exciting because it will give other artists the chance to be seen. The ads will link out directly to your destination of choice. The Journal has a built in browser window, so you don’t have to leave the app to see the ad. ⬇

That’s just a taste of the tech side of the magazine. Now. let’s talk about content. In order to make the LAB Journal a truly unique experience, I’m focusing more on the ‘why’ of creating. The Journal will have some faces familiar to LAB readers, but the Journal will really dig into the behind-the-scenes of the creative process.

For instance, I’ve got Benjamin Hall of Mile 112 sharing a very personal look at his creative journey. You will love his words, trust me. Nicole of Nicole Ap! is letting us see her studio up-close-and-personal plus sharing some insightful information about how digital printing is affecting the letterpress community. (By the way, her new site is stunning!) And let’s not forget the cover star, Jenn Romero of Unurth. Wait until you see what she has in store for you. There’s so much more, including Oxley & Mortimer, CUTmodern, Design Seeds, The Homeground, but I’ll save that for the debut.

When the LAB Journal launches, it will be a subscription based magazine. However, there will be a sample issue that will be a permanent part of the Newstand app, featuring 7 of the artists that will be included in the completed Summer edition of the LAB Journal. That also means that I have 7 ad spaces up for grabs. If you would like to advertise in the LAB Journal sample issue, please email me at brett@iamthelab.com with LAB Journal Ad in the subject. Remember, if you’ve ever downloaded a magazine app with a sample issue, the sample issue is accessible even if you don’t buy the subscription. Again, the sample issue is a permanent part of the app, so your ad will be seen forever and ever.

OK, enough about the sample issue. For now, the Journal will be published in 4 seasonal editions. My goal is to feature at least 24 artists per issue plus some special feature articles. Would you like to be included in an upcoming issue of the LAB Journal? Here’s what I’m looking for:

Original content. If you’ve been featured on the LAB, you are automatically eligible to participate. I’m really looking for more than just images of your work. I want to focus on your creative process. Behind the scenes images, work in progress and even sources of inspiration will make the articles really stand out.
Video. Do you have a video to share of your work? I can imbed Youtube and Vimeo into the LAB Journal, so feel free to share.
Your creative journey. Let’s show folks what it takes to grow a handmade business. I’m especially looking for handmadkers who want to do a creative diary of sorts. It’s very beneficial for other artists and makers to understand that the journey is just as important as the destination.

Well, what do you think? I’ve you’d like to be a part of a future issue, drop me a line. Check out my Submission guidelines, since they also apply to the Journal. Lastly, what would you like to see in the LAB Journal? Let me know in the comments below. I can’t wait to begin this exciting journey with you.

Handmade Profiles with Berth Handmade

There’s a reason that I focus so much attention on the word ‘global’ in the LAB. Why limit our view to just a country or two? There are so many talented handmakers out there and it’s great to be exposed to them. One such handmade artisan is Lisbon based Sónia Neves, whose love for handmade goods shines brightly in her Berth shop.

Sonia has a ton of great items in both her Big Cartel and Etsy shop, but I think my favorite pieces are these crazy-cute pillows. They are just the right size for a kid at 13″ and did I mention how cute they are?

Sonia was open to answering a few questions about her inspiration and creative process for my continuous Handmade Profiles series. I really appreciate how much of a role her family plays in the success of her creative endeavors.

1. What inspired you to began your collection?
Is not easy to define what inspired me to create my collections because I’m surrounded by elements that stimulate my creativity, such as the madness of my frenchie, the beaches and Ericeira’s sunset, the river that runs in front of my country house and of course my family. All these elements together results in a feeling of warmth and joy of living which is reflected in each piece I create.

2. Can you name a favorite source of inspiration?
My favorite source of inspiration is nature and all beautiful the colors that defines each season.

3. What materials do you love to use?
I love to sew cotton fabrics with colorful designs to create my pilows, pillowcases and baby dresses. I adore wool to knit neckbands and warm snoods for cold days. I’m passionate for cotton yarns to crochet my vintage collars.

4. Do you have a dream colaborator?
I’ve already found my dream collaborator, my husband. He is an excelent graphic designer and usually has the last word on most part of pieces I create.

5. When you need a musical muse, who do you turn the volume up for?
MUSE is always a good option.

6. How do you use the social media/blogging to promote your work?
Taking the current realities of the global world we live in, I believe it is essential to use blogs and social media to promote a brand or something else. That’s why I turn so often to blogging and online magazines with potential interest in my work.

7. Where do you see your shop/project going?
My goal is that BERTH becomes part of the decoration of many houses and kids room, be part of the wardrobe of many babies and finaly be the fashion accessories of the most grown.

Connect with Berth Handmade:
SHOP | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | ETSY

Shops We Love: Cheerful Owl + A Giveaway!

I don’t bend the ‘handmade-only’ rule on the LAB for too many shops, but show me some retro-vintage goodness and I fold like origami. After all, reusing vintage finds is about as eco-freindly as you can get and I do have a soft spot for vintage luggage. I used to collected it and still have a few prized pieces.

With that said, let me introduce you to Sabrina Pravel, owner of Cheerful Owl on Etsy. I think the thing Sabrina is most proud of is that fact that one of the items from her shop, a vintage umbrella stand, will be featured on Mad Men. Makes you wonder who has the job of searching Etsy to find the right retro pieces for that show. Pretty cool job, right?

Besides featuring some cool items from shop, I’m also fortunate enough to have had a recent interview with Sabrina. Plus one more little treat…

1. What inspired you to begun your collection?
I love vintage and I love to decorate with vintage in my own home. I am attracted to colorful and retro designs mostly from the 60s-70s. I live in a craftsman style home in upstate NY with my husband and my cat. My favorite pastime is searching for that one perfect piece to decorate with or to put in my shop.

I am lucky that my husband loves vintage too. In fact, my whole family does. My Dad is the reason for my love of vintage in the first place. I grew up surrounded by his passion for buying and then eventually selling through eBay and Etsy. Our family loves going to estate sales, house sales, and even garage sales together.

2. Can you name a favorite source of inspiration.
I love the idea of finding forgotten treasures around my town while garage, estate and thrift shopping. I love pieces that remind me of my own childhood.

3. How do you use social media to promote your work?
I think social media is very important for people in my line of work. Since social media is all about being social its a great tool for me to use to help make connections and build relationships. I like to use Facebook, Twitter and even Pinterest to get the word out about my shop. Facebook and Twitter is were I like to promote when new items are listed and even an occasional sale. I use Pinterest to share the items in my shop.

4. Where do you see your shop going?
Right now I am an online store only, but I would love to eventually take my love of vintage items to the next level and open a physical store front.

I have one more little treat for you: Sabrina is sponsoring a giveaway for one of our fab LAB readers. She’s offering this Vintage Pop Corn Jar:

If you want to win this retro-rad glass jar, just do the following:

Like the Cheerful Owl shop on Etsy
Leave a comment below noting your favorite item from Sabrina’s shop

I’ll pick a winner this Friday morning. Thanks Sabrina!

Connect with Cheerful Owl:
SHOP | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

The Inspiration Room – Meet Simon Cottrell, Jeweler

This is the second post from Julie Gibbons (aka tractorgirl) in a series about serious craft artists – you know, the ones whose work just kind of grabs you in the back of the throat and makes your spirits soar. Their absolute mastery in their chosen medium and their creative vision has taken them many places, but most of all it inspires you to great things in your own work.

I love jewellery that pushes a few boundaries. Pieces that come from somewhere beyond, that have fresh ideas, engage new materials, or use old techniques in new ways. Pieces that have taken serious planning, careful thought with regard to materials and demonstrate fabulous making skills.

Simon Cottrell is a Canberra-based maker who uses an eclectic collection of inspirations as the starting point for his pieces – things as complex as improv jazz, or as banal as a pop-up toaster. He is fascinated with the connections of ideas: in the design process, what part comes from logical and rational thought, and what part comes through intuition?

The resulting works are intriguing clashes of prisms and cylinders, ambiguous, reminiscent of exploded robotics or mechanised versions of bacteria. But while the forms are wild and strange, the construction is incredibly controlled and precise.

Monel is his material of choice. It’s a nickel alloy principally used in industrial applications for its hardness and corrosion resistance, but he chooses it for its dark greyness. The absence of colour allows for a quieter and slower exploration of these very sculptural pieces, which are at their best when viewed and explored in three dimensions.

Most pieces are brooches. Recently he has begun experimenting with glow-in-the-dark powdercoating, which adds another dimension to the work.

Simon Cottrell completed his BA(Hons) at RMIT in 1997, and later went on the complete his MA in 2010. He currently teaches at The Australian National University. You can view more of his work on his Klimt02 profile here.

Connect with Tractorgirl:
SHOP | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

7 Fab Little Handmade Finds from Thezakka

Talk about finding the perfect first image! Aiko, the owner of thezakka, is on a mission to improve your appearance with her fab collection of handmade pounches, cases, clutches and bags. So, to assist her, I though I’d share 7 little colorful gems from her shop. Want to see the entire collection? Just click on any image and you’ll be in thezakka in a flash.

Connect with thezakka:
SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BLOG

Beautiful Handmade Creations from Judit Just

Another great handmaker with a compelling backstory, Judit Just is creating some pretty exquisite pieces for her JuJu Just shop. I have to admit, when I started reading her about page on Etsy and saw how long it was, I was tempted to skip & skim. I’m glad I didn’t. After all, I wouldn’t have discovered how frustrated she was during her schooling for fashion design, mostly due to her limited ability to actually make verses just designing. This is a woman who wants to use her hands. Once I realized how much of her heart she’s put into her collection, I was hooked.

After her mother died and she inherited her sewing machine, all those great memories of sewing along side her as a child came rushing back. Now, after studying textile art and learning the art of looming and weaving, Judit’s passion for things made by hand, made by her hands, shows through with every beautiful piece she creates.

How gorgeous are these? Hand embroidered, these Velvet wings look so beautiful, it’s hard to turn away. It’s creations like this that fills me with wonder and one of the reasons why I love the handmade community so much. The colors are amazing, the style unique and the artistry is undeniable.

Check out a few items I loved from Judit’s shop and then click on any image to explore for yourself. I think you’ll love what you see.

Connect with JuJu Just:
SHOP | FACEBOOK

The Elegant & Beautiful Collection called Isobell

You’re probably wondering why I put an image of Isobell’s bag first in this post. Well, not only is the Supply tote only $10, but you’ll need it to carry all the handmade goodness you’re about to purchase from Melody’s Shirazi’s lovely Etsy shop. I’ll give you two good reasons to check out this great collection.

First reason: Melody uses salvaged materials to make her entire collection. Every piece in the Isobell line has been thoughtfully designed and hand crafted by Melody herself in Oakland, California.

The second reason: The prices. Melody says she designs her collection “for real people at real prices”. That’s right: earrings, necklaces, studs and bracelets all at great prices.

Click on any of the images to see it all. Oh, and there’s some brass in there. Beautiful, stunning, luxurious brass. Yep, it’s the Year of Brass.

Connect with Isobell:
SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | HOME | BLOG

Bold & Brassy: Deanna deVries Jewelry

OK, so I’m just going to proclaim 2013 The Year of Brass. It keeps popping up in handmade jewelry collections everywhere. Being that it’s one of my favorite alloys, I can’t seem to stay away from it. I’ve seen some great collections so far, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything like the amazing pieces in Deanna deVries’ shop. As if her use of brass wasn’t enough, somehow she manages to include cement and make it look amazing.

What I find intriguing about Deanna’s work is the architectural nature of each piece. Perhaps it’s the use of concrete that gives me that impression. Nonetheless, I think they are the perfect addition to a contemporary handmade collection. Why not make your 1AM Promise purchase from Deanna’s shop? I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Connect with Deanna deVries:
SHOP | FACEBOOK

So do we: Melissa Loves Handmade Jewelry

It’s always interesting to see the path people take to arrive at Destination Handmade. For Melissa de la Fuente, it’s a path that includes being a busy actor and then slowing down to become a mother of 3. Once she discovered her love for design, Melissa Loves was born.

Melissa’s modest collection features brass, sterling silver and gold pieces with her signature organic styling. I love them all, but especially the necklaces. Oh, and that Shield ring is pretty fabulous too. As always, click on any image to visit Melissa’s shop. Beautiful handmade treasures await you.

Connect with Melissa Loves:
SHOP | TWITTER | BLOG

Stunning Handmade Jewelry from Aloha Gaia

I think this collection had me at ‘Aloha’. You are looking at just a sampling of the amazing pieces to be found in the Aloha Gaia shop. What a stunning handmade collection! Started by artist and blogger Dara Muscat and jewelry designer Thanich Thaweesuk, the Aloha Gaia collection is inspired by nature, travels and love. Aren’t they breathtaking?

One of the things that I really love about this beautiful collection is the price point. For instance, this Rhodium plated Alchemist ring is just $49. It’s really a great price for a piece of handmade jewelry.

Connect with Aloha Gaia:
SHOP | FACEBOOK | TUMBLR | BLOG

The LABSHOP is open!

It’s finally open! What a great group of artist so far. The LABSHOP is my curated marketplace featuring some of the most talented handmakers in the creative universe. I still have plenty of spaces open. Here are some reasons why you’ll want your handmade goods in the LABSHOP:

Every entry in the new shop features, not only 5 images, but as you can see here, a list of links to your shop, Facebook & Twitter pages. That way, even if the visitor isn’t interested in the item being offered, they can head over to your primary shop to see all of your creations. I also will be including bio information and video, if you have it.
You get to change your product three times: once for summer, and the second for early fall and the third for the busy fall/winter shopping season. It’s all included in your membership.
The cost for the May – December edition of the LABSHOP is only $30. That works out to be $3.75 a month, which is really great. It’s another avenue of advertisement that is sure to give you more much needed exposure and it’s less than a Grande cup of Mocha Whatever from StarYouKnowWho. You can jump in anytime you want to, the price stays the same. Of course, the earlier you join us, the better the deal!

The new shop will eventually feature 100 artists and I’ve upgraded to the Big Cartel Diamond package. This gives me the ability to share more comprehensive stats with each participant.

The categories of items that will be in the LABSHOP cover a wide array of handmade goods:

Stationery
Purses and bags
Art, prints & posters
Ceramics
Jewelry
Fonts & Themes
Edibles
For Kids
Handmade Tech
Textiles
MORE TO COME!

The Languid Lion’s Origami Geometric Wedding Decoration, in the LABSHOP

Would you like to be a part of the next LABSHOP? If you’ve been featured already on the LAB, then you are guaranteed a spot in the LABSHOP. The last one filled up pretty fast and spots are available on a first come, first serve basis. If you haven’t been featured, please read my Submission Guidelines and then click below to get started. As soon as your transaction is completed, I will email you with further instructions. I am so looking forward to creating a great curated handmade experience. Can’t do it without you and wouldn’t want to if I could!

UPDATE: Currently, there are 90 spots available.

$30 for LABSHOP MAY – DEC 2013

LAB ASSIGNMENT 009: Finding Your Voice

I’ve spent the last few weeks battling with my body. Not really sure what’s going on, but the chronic fatigue is getting OLD real fast. Well, you folks who follow the LAB regularly know that my brain is almost always going at 500 mph, so you might get me to lay flat, Mr. Mystery Illness, but the brain ain’t shuttin’ down.

All this downtime had me thinking about my personal voice. I’m like a lot of you, I read a ton of blogs and love exploring the creative universe that exists on the internet. So many talented artists in so many diverse places, it can be a quite overwhelming and a little intimidating. OK, it can be a lot intimidating.

via Stitch Culture

I mean, here I am, trying to carve my own niche in the blogosphere, a very dense and heavily populated place, full of great minds and, truth be told, tons of sludge. Sometimes I find myself on other design/craft/shelter blogs and I start to feel that old familiar voice of self-doubt creeping in. “What am I doing in here?” or “Do I really think I can stand out in this crowded field?” are two questions that pop up in my wee brain from time to time. I have to be honest, I sometimes start to feel that maybe I’ll never reach my goal of being one of the first places people turn to of when they think ‘handmade’ and ‘advocate’.

No doubt, if you are a maker, you’ve felt that way too. Maybe you feel that standing out in the crowd, especially if you are in that crowded neighborhood called Etsy, is almost impossible. “There are so many other artists out there, can I really expect to make a living doing this?” is one question that many artists & handmakers hear in their heads as they view the online landscape.

via Stitch Culture

Here’s the problem with self-doubt: it silences creativity, it hinders growth and stifles the spirit. It’s like knee-driving to an unknown destination with your hands tied behind your back. Yeah, it’s crazy and you’re probably not going to get anywhere fast. But that’s not the real issue. The real issue is: Why in the world would you start any journey with your hands tied behind you back? That’s nuts, right? Yet, when we give in to self-doubt, that’s exactly what we are doing. Arrival simply won’t happen, we’ll knee-drive ourselves right into that big ditch called Fear, swerve into the forest of Procrastination and hit that massive tree called Paralysis.

via Stitch Culture

What’s the cure for all this internal drama? It’s simple: turn down the volume of self-doubt and turn up that sweet inner music of self-worth. It may be hard for some of us. Perhaps we were raised in an environment where maintaining self-worth was a challenge. Or, we’re just hot-wired to be the Debbie Downers of our own universe. Hey, we’re imperfect; it happens.

With that said, how can we change the voice in our head? One simple way is to have a mission statement. A clearly defined mission statement can serve as a constant reminder that we do have worth, that our goals are worthwhile and that we have the talent to make them happen. I like to do things in 3′s, so I’ll share with you my Mission Statement for the LAB:

I will be a showcase of the best handmade goods from around the world.
I will be a resource to help handmakers use their blogs and social media to improve their reach.
I will be a motivator and will inspire others to create with their hands and support those who do.

Now, my natural tendency is to say ‘I want to be…’ or ‘I should be a…’. But to stifle self-doubt, I went with ‘I will be…’. I know I have the talent and the vision to do all three. If I don’t believe that I can do it, how can I expect anyone else to believe that I can? It’s been proven time and time again by many talent folks: When the voice in your head says yes, your life will say yes too. Obstacles will come, but you will, YOU WILL, keep moving until you reach your destination. And don’t just state your mission. WRITE IT DOWN! Put it somewhere where you can see it daily. Some of ya’ll are really good at graphic design, so why not make that mission statement really pop my making it pretty?

OK, how about you? Your LAB Assignment for today is this: What’s your mission statement? Share it with us below. Let’s see some ‘I will’ down there. And please feel free to leave encouraging comments when you see a mission statement that inspires you.

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