Stitch A Journal

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Journal by Aperture Agog

The {NewNew}Team on Governors Island presents another craft workshop! Saturday afternoon on July 16th from 2-4 pm you can find Pria, Jean, Melissa, and myself on Governors Island on the porch of Better Than Jam's outpost in Nolan Park stitching up some journals using the stab stitch binding technique. Once you have mastered this technique you'll be able to re-purpose any and all scrap papers you may have lying around the house. Careful, this craft is terribly addicting.  If you can't make it to the island, or want to practice binding a journal before you come to the island, check out this demonstration by Tia of Primrose Press that was recorded by the Eco Etsy Team when they visited New York a few weeks ago.



Watch live streaming video from etsy at livestream.com


See you tomorrow!
Simone
groundsel.etsy.com

Summer Workshops at Governors Island

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A couple of Saturdays ago, Simone from Groundsel and I led a sailor's bracelet workshop at the Better Than Jam Pop-Up Shop on Governors Island. It was a fun craft day that drew in an assortment of great people looking to learn a new skill. Here are some photos from the day:








We've got two more workshops lined up this summer at Governors Island. On July 16th, Pria from PriaVanda will be demonstrating how to stab bind a journal. On August 20th, Lu from LuCrafts will be doing a workshop on origami creatures. Both workshops go from 2pm - 4pm and will be held at House 6B in Nolan Park at Governors Island. Hope to see you there!





Karina
Windows of Agate

Sailor's Knot Bracelet Tutorial

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Last year, the lovely Simone from Groundsel posted this great tutorial on sailor's knot bracelets. This Saturday, June 25th, Simone, Pria, and I will be doing demonstrations and helping visitors make their own bracelets at Governors Island. Please join us at House 6B in Nolan Park at Governors Island from 2pm-4pm. While you're there, be sure to take a look around the Better Than Jam Pop-Up Shop at Governors Island, filled with the best handmade goodies by local artisans. See you there!

Supplies you’ll need:
  • 3.5 yards of twine
  • 14 ounce can for a smaller bracelet or a 20 ounce can for a larger bracelet. Any other round object that has the appropriate circumference for your wrist will do.
Directions:
1. Wrap one end of the twine around the can to shape an X. Leave about a 4" tail. You will need this tail at the end to finish the bracelet.
2. Wrap the long end of the twine around the can again and bring it up to the middle of the X. Then pass the long end of the twine under the right, upper leg of the X and pull the long end all the way through.

3. Next, move the upper left leg of the X over the right leg of the X to create an oval shape.

4. Pull the long end of the twine through the oval shaped opening you just set up.

5. Turn the can a bit and you will see that the oval shape has created another X shape. Again, pass the long end of the twine under the right upper leg of the X and pull the end through.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 until you get to the beginning of your project.
7. You will now find a three-stranded braid. Follow the twine you initially laid out and create a parallel second line. 
8. Continue around the can. If you find that it's getting too tight to pass the twine through the openings, you may want to take the bracelet off the can and continue with the knotting in your hand. If you take it off, be careful not to pull the twine too tight, otherwise your bracelet will shrink on your wrist. 
9. Continue knotting the rope around the bracelet until each strand of the braid has one parallel line — a total of three passes. At this point you can stop or add another three passes to create the traditional pattern of three parallel lines, like the bracelet in the third picture in this step.
10. To finish, just knot the ends together and weave them into the inside of the bracelet.

Karina

Handmade Heaven on Governors Island

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View of Lower Manhattan from Governors Island

I recently made the easy-breezy trip to the Better Than Jam Summer Pop-Up shop on Governors Island, a project of the Better Than Jam handmade cooperative and The NewNew (see full story posted here a few weeks ago). First, I have to say, How super-easy is it to get there? Not to mention ferry-ride fun? Very.

The shop is housed in Historic Home 6B in the Nolan Park section of the island. The house and setting are just adorable.


Then there's the worn elegance of the shop's interior, which meshes beautifully with the house and setting: Rustic and classy in whitewashed and natural wood, it sets the stage for visitors to fully appreciate the impressive array of locally produced housewares, jewelry, clothing, accessories, stationery, art and toys on offer.

Words don't do it justice so I'll stop my yakety-yak here and just show you some pictures!










Until next time -


Linda




The {NewNew} offers Craft Workshops on Governors Island

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This year The {NewNew} is proud to sponsor Better than Jam, a cooperative boutique offering goods made by artisans of the {NewNew} on Governors Island. As part of this collaboration, members of The {NewNew} will offer free craft workshops on the porch of Better than Jam in Nolan Park.

The season will kick off Saturday, May 28th with face painting from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the Family Festival organized by the Governors Island Alliance. Have your face painted by one of the artisans of The {NewNew} Etsy Street Team and unleash your inner butterfly or superhero. If you want to see what you're getting into, here is last year's video: http://youtu.be/bkHTU4qIzY0.


On Saturday, June 25 from 2-4 p.m., you can join Karina of Windows of Agate who will show you how to  craft a sailors bracelet, a traditional summer memento to remind you of the maritime history of Governors Island. 

On Saturday, July 16, from 2-4 p.m. Pria of PriaVanda will teach you how to stab bind journals in which you can record your summer memories.

On Friday, August 5, from 1-3 p.m. you can embroider note cards with Nordea of Nordeasoaperie and then hand-write a note to send to your new summer friend.

The workshop series concludes on August 27, from 2-4 p.m. with a session where Lu of Lu Crafts explains how to bring a sea creature to life with origami techniques.  

We all hope you will be able to join us this summer for some crafty adventures on Governors Island!

Simone
groundsel.etsy.com

Better Than Jam Partners with the {NewNew} at Governors Island!

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This summer, the Better Than Jam Co-op is bringing the work of some of New York City’s most talented artists and crafters to historic Governors Island!
From May 27 through September 5, one of the island’s historic houses will become a veritable treasure chest, filled with the work of local designers who have turned their eye toward the island just off the shore of Manhattan for inspiration.
Once used by the local Lenape Indians, Governors Island received its name when New York was a British colony and it was reserved exclusively for the royal governors.  Two historic fortifications were placed here preceding the War of 1812.  In 2001, this strategically located island became a national monument and remains the perfect summer day trip destination thanks to its vast public open spaces, biking, concerts, festivals and more.
“Because of its special place both geographically, Governors Island has a feel that is completely different from anywhere else in New York City,” says Karin Persan, proprietor of Better Than Jam. “This has been a source of incredible inspiration for our participating artists, who’ve drawn on the island’s past and present—both real and imagined—to create products especially for the shop.”
For example, Groundsel is producing a line of recycled cotton messenger bags, hand-embellished with motifs inspired by the history and architecture of Governors Island. It’s the perfect bag for your bicycle outings around the island and elsewhere in New York.
J. Topolski has created hand-cut and -etched copper pieces in the shape of a giant squid, spinal vertebrae, and an ouroboros (the snake that eats its own tail). The ouroboros also features real snakeskin in the groove of etched metal, covered in resin, continuing the artist’s use of natural materials like shed reptile skins and bones.


 “Ultimately, the goal of Better Than Jam’s collaboration with Governors Island is to offer visitors a handmade and local shopping experience within the setting of a unique and historically rich public space,” says Persan.

In partnering with Governors Island, Better Than Jam hopes to create context around artisanal processes and inspiration. Better Than Jam’s pop-up shop will complement and add to the Island’s growing popularity, allowing visitors to take home a tangible memento from their Governor’s Island visit—a souvenir that was designed and created just a ferry ride away!
About Better Than Jam: Established in Bushwick Brooklyn, a neighborhood rich in history and brimming with an artistic community, Better Than Jam Handmade Co-Op showcases a variety of clothing, jewelry, and accessories created by some of NYC’s most talented artists and craftspeople.  It brings to the forefront local accomplished designers that make 100% handmade and high quality items at a fair price.
WHAT: Better Than Jam Summer Pop-Up Shop
WHEN: 11am – 4pm Friday, 11am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday from May 27th-September 25th 2011
WHERE: Historic Home 6B, Nolan Park, Governors Island
WEBSITE: www.betterthanjam.wordpress.com