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

Get By With A Little Help

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"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us." ~ Epicurus, Greek philosopher


Friendship Pack Mini Bean Bag Dolls, from HoneyPieTree

Winter in the tri-state area so far has been cold, damp, and seemingly determined to last for quite some time. Whenever I find myself cussing at the dark that descends way too early, my first instinct is to reach out to a friend and make a little bright spot in the evening. Whether its drinks, dinner, a movie, or crafting in companionable silence, we all find ways to remain connected and to draw on the support our connections provide.

Making New Friends, from Malathip

The {NewNew} is a vibrant collective of cross-discipline handmade artists devoted to supporting one another in developing our creative and business potential within the New York tri-state area. We share the tremendous resources New York City has to offer, mentor new craft business owners, and seek out new marketplace and business opportunities for our highly eclectic membership.

The aspect of the {NewNew} team I most enjoy however is the sense of community. I know if I'm struggling with how to take better pictures for my Etsy shop, need a table at the last minute for a street fair, or simply want words of encouragement for a new venture, someone in the group will have an idea or even a possible solution.

Secret Handshakes print, from My Zoetrope


Lets Be Friends recycled felt pillow, from Alexandra Ferguson

As a team, we work well together to make events like our Spring Handmade Cavalcade and our Governor's Island Handmade Treasure Chest pop-up shop -- both happening again this year -- great places to shop for truly unique handmade goods. I like to think the care we take in supporting each other is reflective of the care each of us takes in crafting our items.

Finmore and Finley, from McFlashPants

Perhaps that's why shopping with the {NewNew} on Etsy sometimes feels like hanging out with an old friend. It's familiar, but you still don't know what they might say to surprise you.

I Ate Paste Blue Print, from LennyMud


Click here to spend a little time with some friends from the {NewNew} on Etsy.




Sue De
persuede.etsy.com
made for you

Bon Voyage Treasure Chest Boutique! A Farewell Sale at the Handmade Pop-Up Shop on Governors Island

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It’s almost time to say bon voyage to this unique, handmade shopping experience on Governors Island! The shop is scheduled to close its doors on September 6th.

To celebrate the end of a wonderful summer bringing handmade goodness to Governors Island, The Handmade Treasure Chest Boutique will be offering 25% OFF ON ALL MERCHANDISE.

If you’ve visited the boutique already, come back to see what new products the artists have restocked throughout the summer. And if you haven’t discovered the Treasure Chest for yourself, you have this one last time to catch a ferry over to visit the boutique for some amazing handmade goods!

This magical pop-up store has made its home in Historical House 6B in the Nolan Park section of Governors Island all summer. After September 6th, however, The {NewNew} will bury its treasure for good, only to be found in the Etsy shops of its contributing artists.

Come in and plunder while you still can, landlubbers!

WHEN
Friday Sept. 3 ~ 10:30 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday, Sept. 4 ~ 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday, Sept. 5 ~ 10:30 am - 6:00 pm

WHERE
Historic Home 6B, Nolan Park, Governors Island