Ahoy Mates! Announcing the 2014 Better Than Jam Pop-Up Shop on Governors Island!

Join Etsy New York Artists at the 4th Annual Better Than Jam Summer Pop-Up on Governors Island at the grand opening on May 24th 2014.  

WHAT: Better Than Jam Summer Pop-Up

WHEN: May 24th-September 29th Fridays through Monday             

WHERE: House #16 in Nolan Park on Governors Island

WEBSITE: www.betterthanjamnyc.com/governorsisland

For the 4th year, the Bushwick Brooklyn boutique, Better Than Jam, will be once again hosting a collective of local designers in its summer location on Governors Island.  The Brooklyn shop of all locally handmade products will be taking the ferry ride over, and bringing with it the creations of New York City's most talented designers, artists, and crafters.  From May 24 through September 29, house #16, a yellow Victorian house in Nolan Park, will be filled with the work of talented people who have created some amazing products for the island shop.  And this year, for the first time, the shop will be open 4 days to celebrate the greatly anticipated grand opening of new park land The Trust for Governors Island has been working so hard on.

In coming to Governors Island, Better Than Jam hopes to create context around artisanal processes and inspiration. Better Than Jam’s gift shop will complement and add to the Island’s growing popularity, allowing visitors to take home a tangible memento from their Governors Island visit—a souvenir that was designed and crafted nearby with the island in mind.  With the help of the Etsy New York Street Team, the shop will also host family-friendly demonstrations and workshops on Saturdays, to show and teach visitors some of their skills.  On June 28th Alison Grande of Koto Designs will be teaching embroidered cards and on July 19th Lu Lasson  of Lu Crafts will be demonstrating bookmark making for those interested in learning a new skill.

About Better Than Jam

Established 2010 in Bushwick Brooklyn, a neighborhood rich in history and brimming with an artistic community, Better Than Jam showcases a variety of clothing, jewelry, accessories, and artwork  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.

Learn more on our Events page!

Free: Make Pop-Up Cards on Governors Island July 13, 1 pm

If you missed her the first time around, come join team member Sara Stroman at her free workshop and learn how to make pop-up cards (with hearts & monster faces) and envelopes. No need to RSVP, and all ages welcome! :)

Check out her Etsy shop :

https://www.etsy.com/shop/s2stationerydesign

And her Facebook page :

http://facebook.com/S2StationeryandDesign

Where: The shop is located at house #16 in Nolan Park on Governors Island, and is open weekends all summer.

When: July 13, 1 - 4 pm

Free: Make Coasters on Governors Island June 22, 1 pm

Jean of  La Muse Kalliope will return this weekend on Saturday June 22 to the Better Than Jam shop in Nolan Park on Governors Island to teach you how to stitch coasters from recycled scraps. This project is great for beginner and experienced sewers alike!

Hope to see you there!

• When: Saturday, June 22nd 1-4 pm
• Where: Better Than Jam, #16 Nolan Park, Governors Island
• When: June 1st, 1-4 pm

Free Jewelry Making Workshop 6/1

Make a bracelet with Melissa

We are a very, very busy group of artisans. Visit Crafts in Chelsea and combine a leisurely stroll down 21st Street with a quick boat ride to Governors Island. There, at the Better Than Jam shop in Nolan Park, you can meet Melissa of Prairiefunk and make these cool bracelets with her. Once you're done, take a picture and share it with us here, on instagram (#etsynyteam), twitter, or facebook. We'd love to see what you made.

• When: June 1st, 1-4 pm
• Where: Better Than Jam, #16 Nolan Park, Governors Island

Jammin' Out on Governors Island

It's finally here...opening weekend at Governors Island! GI is my favorite "undiscovered" spot in New York and with Better Than Jam's shop opening this weekend, I couldn't be more excited!

As Simone mentioned last week, it is curated with some of the best handmade items from Etsy New York artists and is open from 10am to 6pm every weekend during the summer from Memorial Day Weekend to September 3rd. The shop is located this year in one of the island's historic apartment buildings named "The Governors Galleries."

Shop owner, Karin Persan spoke about the store's concept, “Ultimately, the goal of Better Than Jam’s collaboration with Governors Island is to offer visitors a handmade and local shopping experience, with craft demonstrations, all within the setting of a unique, peaceful and historically rich public space.” The selection includes items designed and crafted with the island in mind, and will allow every visitor to take home a tangible memento from their Governors Island visit.

Here's a sneak peak to how the shop is shaping up:

As an added bonus, every Saturday the shop is collaborating with the Etsy New York Team to share their wide range of artistic skills by hosting crafting workshops. For opening weekend, the Team is helping kick off our craft workshop series with a face painting booth at the Governors Island Family Festival this Saturday, May 26th from 12 to 4pm at Nolan Park.

The crafting workshop schedule thus far is as follows:

- May 26th: face painting (at Nolan Park)

- June 2nd: toy making

- June 9th: sun prints

- June 16th: TBA

- June 23rd: beaded ladder rings

- June 30th: card making

- July 7th: sachet making

Happy Spring and we're all very excited to see you on the Island!

-Stacy

Fritz & Fräulein

Sneak Peek: Better Than Jam on Governors Island

Better Than Jam and many of the members of Etsy New York are gearing up for another summer on Governors Island. From May 26 through September 3 the Bushwick boutique, owned by Etsy New York team member and Event Director Karin Persan, is bringing the creations of New York City's most talented artists and crafters to the island. This year located in one of the island's historic apartment buildings you will be find the work of local designers, artists, and crafts people, who have turned their creative eye toward the island just off the shores of Manhattan and Brooklyn for inspiration.

A Studio By The Sea

“There’s so much rich history on this island,” says Karin, “Our participating artists have definitely become inspired and are creating some amazing and lovely work.” For example, The Hazel Village is producing little nautical themed outfits for her woodland creatures, J. Topolski is working on antique maps of the island set in lockets, and SARUSTAR is producing her “unsung” jewelry line using some dirt and sand from the island.

Jes Switaj

As part of our collaboration with Better Than Jam, members of the Etsy New York street team will lead a series of craft workshops at the store on Saturdays. Depending on the weekend you can craft a toy, create a greeting card, or try your hand at the summer favorite friendship bracelet. This series kicks off with our face painting booth at the Governors Island Family Festival on May 26th from 12 to 4 pm in Nolan Park.

Simone
groundsel.etsy.com