Make it Yourself this Holiday Season

Times are tight this Holiday Season but nothing says "thinking of you" more than a gift you made yourself or bought from an independent crafter. Better yet, recycle something old into something new!

If you're in the Los Angeles area, there are a few events worth checking out.



The Unique LA independent design and gift show and Renegade Craft Fair are always winners. Here's their list of things going on:

+ Shepard Fairey's Studio No.1 has partnered with this event so that every attendee will get a free cotton tote bag featuring exclusive artwork

+ Over 300 designers/artists selling their goods

+ Free DIY Workshops all weekend

+ Eat from the amazing Tiara Cafe, Gram & Papa's, and Platine Cookies, who will all be serving up meals and treats at their pop-up locations within the show

+ Get snapped by the amazing Oh Snap Studios

Enjoy!

Happy 2010

First Monday of the New Year means time to hone those resolutions and get back to work. I'm feeling like it will be a very good year. We're making the move of all our products for sale on Etsy and adding some handmade, recycled goods too. Swap O Rama Rama is on the mind and dates are being worked out as we speak. There are lots of things happening so I guess I just better get working so I can have them to post for you.

It's tough to let the Holidays go so I leave you with an end of the year glitter party video. Happy New Year!

Successfull Venice Swap!

The Venice Swap was a success! Thanks to all the volunteers who generously devoted their time and skill. We made trick or treat bags, costumes, and silk screened skulls and daggers.

Felicity Huffman and daughter were in the house transforming their new found clothes. Who says thrift is only for the poor?? Swap focuses on recycling, transforming, creating and being "green."

Make it Yourself!
Stay tuned for our 2010 events.

Halloween Costume Swap and General Clothing Swap

How much fun would Halloween be if we all made our own costumes? When I was growing up my parents made their costumes every year. They were the best you ever saw - Mickey and Minnie, the Organ Grinder and Monkey, old Roman's in Toga's.
Check them out in the picture. It doesn't have to be elaborate - just creative!


And here's a sneak peek of Helena Bonham Carter in costume who appears with Johnny Depp in the upcoming movie Alice in Wonderland. That's a home-made costume too! Thank goodness for Hollywood which continues to inspire us all!




Well, we hope to inspire you too with another Swap O Rama Rama. Coming October 10 to the Venice Center for Peace and Justice with the Arts. This will be a general clothing swap as well as a Halloween costume swap. Our silk screeners have come up with some groovy designs and we'll have stations making trick or treat bags, finger puppets, special Halloween applique's and more!
Check out the website to stay in the loop!

Swap O Rama Rama - Saturday, July 11, 2009

Bring your clothes and $5 to the
Swap O Rama Rama this Saturday
at the California Market Center.

Twelve design stations with sewing
machines, felting machines, silk
screening, fabric paints, glue guns and more.

Reduce, reuse, refashion!

Swap O Rama Rama - tomorrow at SMMOA

Come one, come all to the Santa Monica Museum of Art on Sunday, May 31 and transform your old t-shirts into something new!

Our silk screener's have created three very cool designs for you: bird, bike, recycle LA.



Two felting machines will be set up with swatches of wool roving to get your creative juices rolling.

14 sewing machines will be armed with designers (and possibly a free one for you to try your own hand) ready to transform.

This is the most fun you can possibly have without being on Project Runway!

4 Short Days to Swap O Rama Rama at the Santa Monica Museum of Art

That's right, on Sunday, May 31, we will convene at the Santa Monica Museum of Art for another Swap O Rama Rama. This is a special T-shirt only Swap in support of the museums program Cause for Creativity.

The line up of silk screeners and designers armed with sewing machines is awesome and you can learn more about them here.

At Swap, you bring T-shirts and a mere $5 and gain entry to a room full of creativity. Over 10 stations are at your access armed with a bevy of talented professionals to help you transform old into new. This is all about reuse, reduce and recycle.

So, come Sunday from 2pm to 5pm at the Santa Monica Museum of Art located in the Bergamot Staion, Building I, 2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, Ca 90404.

As a special treat, here's a look at the creation of a Hoodie from two old T-shirts. We had a lot of fun making this video, as you'll be able to tell! But it turned out darn cute and I'll be wearing it Sunday!!