News And Updates
From a consortium of handmade designers, to a single designer — handmade Monday has a dramatic range of scale.
Albertine Press is a Somerville-based, letterpress print shop run by Shelley Barande, “a sometime-architect who just loved paper more.”
Albertine Press’s first specialty is as a custom design and print studio. Shelley designs and creates custom save the date, wedding, baby, and other special and social events stationery. But since the shop’s inception in 2007, her work has spread to a collection of greeting cards, note cards, and coasters.
I particularly like the graphic quality of her work. And I have a very Patrick Bateman-esque love of the way Shelley’s pieces reflect the texture of the press against the paper.
Do you like handmade design? If so, you need to know about Boston Handmade.
Boston Handmade, founded by local photographic mixed-media artist Jessica Burko in 2007, is a consortium of handmade designers “who support one another in the pursuit of creativity made by hand.” There are currently over 25 member of Boston Handmade, from fields as diverse as photography, clothing, jewelry-making, books and paper goods, and more. All members are registered Etsy sellers and based in Massachusetts.
The members do a lot of cross-promotion online. Aside from each artist’s site, there is a Boston Handmade blog they maintain as a group, as well as profiles on Twitter,Facebook and Flickr.
Want to see what they make firsthand? As a group, Boston Handmade puts on shows, like the Boston Handmade Downtown gallery over the holidays. They also take part in shows around the city, such as the Bazaar Bizarre Boston and various open studio and art walk events.
The members support each other one other way, too. With every piece they sell, each artist encloses information about all of the other artists in the shipping packaging.
Many designers I speak to admit that they don’t often think about the marketing end of their businesses. If that’s you, take note: Boston Handmade is a great example of the collaborative ability of small, independent designers to work together to improve their marketing message and visibility. It’s also a great way to meet and interact with other like-minded people, something that is great for all creative people.
What a difference a week makes! Things have really picked up from last week.
Drinkwater’s Cambridge – 20%-50% off all winter merchandise through 2/13.
Magpie – 25% off all jewelry and valentine’s cards on Saturday 2/13 – and free cupcakes!
Good – Winter sale – up to 50% off throughout the store through 2/14.
DWR – The Bedroom and Bath Sale – 15% off mattresses, bedding, accessories, lamps, bath items, rugs and bedroom furniture through 2/20.
Infusion Furniture – 50% off selected inventory: Side tables, coffee tables, console tables, etc. Contact for more details.
Is your store having a sale? Be sure to tell us so we can list it!
…but it’s for a good reason!
When I should have been writing about the great designers I’m coming across, I’ve been working with Joyce — not just a blogger but also a freelance photographer and graphic designer — on designing and programming a new DesignBoston.org.
The basic layout is all set, but there’s still much to be done. We’re hoping to be finished in the next few days. When that happens, the site will be unavailable for a short time while we make the switchover.
In the meantime, I’ll be sure to post as often as I can.
Thanks for your patience!
(Yes, I was dared to put this old school .gif up. 
)
Believe it or not, throughout Boston, there are small tracts of land sitting, waiting for eager green thumbs to have their gardening way with them. I don’t mean the community gardens you see sprinkled about, like the woefully-place one near my apartment in Charlestown. What I mean are the small patches in your back yard, or next to the steps of your brownstone. But who would want to garden in such a small space, you ask.
That’s where Beantown Beanshare comes in. This new organization pairs “eager hands with idle hands”. The premise is easy: Register on their site of whether you want to garden or have land available, and Beantown Beanshare will pair you up with a corresponding owner or gardener. It’s that simple.
Simple is good.
I had the chance to meet Katie Flynn, Anna Engstrom, and Morgan Pinney of Beantown Beanshare at SHIFTboston, where their proposal was among the finalists featured. Beantown Beanshare is just starting out, but they have big hopes for it. Check it out:
Still looking for that perfect, handmade gift to give for Christmas? Well, this weekend, you have three options to find just that.
BANG! is a “kickass craft festival showcasing some of the coolest handmade goods made and collected by local artisans.” Checkout the wares from over 40 local artisans, all while local DJ’s spin music to keep you moving. It’s happening today, from 11-6, at 1011 Harrison Ave in SoWa.
Boston Handmade is operating a retail outlet at 505 Washington Street in Downtown Crossing through December 24. There, you can browse from “original goods handmade by more than 30 local artists, artisans, & craftspeople”.
The UnderCollar Trunk Show at Lekker will feature Etcetera Media’s Kelly Smith and JHill Design’s Jennifer Hill, who collaborated on the UnderCollar pillow series. Take 10% off all UnderCollar pillows during the event, on Sunday from 12-3. Lekker is at 1317 Washington St in the South End.
On the hunt for unique, locally-made gifts this year? Stop by the SoWa Holiday Market today and Sunday!
Now in it’s 6th season, this year’s Sowa Holiday Market will feature over 80 juried artists and designers from around New England. From the fashionably chic to the hip and cutting edge, shoppers are sure to find an original gift for everyone on their list. Expect to find an exceptional array of indie goods, including: handbags, jewelry, pottery, letterpress stationery, silk-screened t-shirts, baby clothes, re-purposed wool accessories and more! This handmade holiday spectacular will take place in SoWa’s Cathedral High School Gym, located in Boston’s trendy SoWa arts and media district. Within walking distance to Boston’s best galleries, boutiques and international cuisine, the SoWa Holiday Market is at the center of Boston’s most diverse and exciting neighborhoods!
With over 80 artists and designers from around New England, you’ll be sure to find something for every person on your shopping list!
SoWa Holiday Market
Dec 12 & 13
10AM – 6PM
Cathedral High School Gymnasium
74 Union Park Street, Boston, MA 02118
The timing for this year’s ICFF unfortunately coincided with the opening of the South End Open Markets season. Luckily (for us), my friend Jenny Mackintosh was kind enough to write up her thoughts on the day.
Image courtesy SoWa Sundays on flickr. Click through for all the wonderful photos in the SoWa Sundays 2009 album.
Boston’s South End Open Market opened for the season this past Saturday, and of course, I had to get in on the action. Despite the chilly (but sunny!) weather, I ventured into SoWa, only to be overwhelmed by the plethora of options to dip into my wallet and nab some handmade goodies. The SoWa Open Market is part of SoWa Sundays, which run May through October in the South End.
If you’re not familiar with SoWa Sundays, they are a combination of an outdoor craft fair, antiques market and farmer’s market. This past weekend also marked the annual SoWa Art Walk, adding even more activity to the mix. When I arrived on Harrison Street, I was immediately confused, as I saw no tents, tables or vendors, but plenty of spectators and a (very loud) DJ. I quickly learned that I had only hit the SoWa Art Walk part of the locale, and that the entire event actually stretched down several blocks.
“Lots of people browsing; not too many buying.”
Venturing further down, I was greeted by the friendly white tents and the Herb Lyceum truck and tables boasting fresh herb plants, honeys and teas. My overall impression of the fair — bustling, cheery, plenty of couples with dogs in tow — but very few carrying shopping bags. I overheard two vendors talking about their sales (at this time, around an hour before closing): “Lots of people browsing,” she observed, “but not too many buying.”
Vendor highlights
The overarching theme I sensed in most of the booths I visited was of whimsy, fun and bright colors. Here were some of the highlights:
 Greg Stones Greg Stones seemed to capture the interest of nearly everyone at the fair that day — I couldn’t even get into his booth to take a good look past the selections he had posted outside. His quirky, dark comic strip-like watercolors caused me to laugh out loud. |
 Chroma Lab Chroma Lab had a sparse but colorful booth showcasing their fun furniture — I was a big fan of their bright yellow telephone table, topped with an old rotary phone. |
 The Pebble Collection The Pebble Collection had a great selection of cocktail rings and pendants with its signature “bubbly” style. |
 Lilian Asterfield Lilian Asterfield also drew a crowd on Saturday, with many shoppers drawn to her funky upcycled necktie scarves. |
Other highlights included: Stonehouse Studio, J. Crabbit, Dutch Kitchen Bake Shop (Fitchburg, MA), and, of course, Rosie the Riveter:
Image courtesy SoWa Sundays on flickr.
As for the farmer’s market — I have to admit, I was a little disappointed. Though the prices were decent ($0.75 for a bunch of radishes), the whole market was supplied by Russo’s (read: not farmers.) While the website touts changes throughout the season, I was a little dismayed by the boxes of Dole bananas and California carrots “hidden” under the tables.
If you’re looking for a great place to shop this summer, the South End Open Market is definitely where it’s at. With vendors signing up for individual Sundays, you can guarantee that every Sunday is different.
The SoWa Open Market is open every Sunday through October 25th from 10 am to 4 pm, excluding holiday weekends (careful — that means Memorial Day weekend too!)
Jenny Mackintosh is a custom jewelry designer and craft blogger in the Greater Boston area. She blogs on CreatureofCraft.com, and her jewelry can be found at JMackGems.com.
It makes sense. FilzFelt, Kelly Smith’s other company (with Traci Roloff), is going to be at ICFF 2009, so why wouldn’t Etcetera Media be there as well?
Etcetera Media, Kelly’s company with her husband Chris Grimley, is a design studio based in Boston and founded in 2005 (I first wrote about Etcetera Media in 2007). Their products include tote and shoulder bags and accessories for both men and women.
Check out Etcetera Media, who will be sharing their space with FilzFelt, at booth 801.