Charming Vices

New Mutineer - 8th Street Soap Kitchen

2007-08-11T11:14:00.000-04:00

And the Mutiny grows....

Our newest member is 8th Street Soap Kitchen!

Check out the website here.

"8th Street Soap Kitchen soaps are handcrafted with quality natural ingredients. Painstakingly made from scratch in small batches, these soaps lather richly, are naturally colored and carefully scented, and clean delightfully."

We started as a small collective but we get stronger every day.

Our winter craft show is in the works! Details TBA.

Spontaneous Body Modification - one year and two months later

2007-08-02T23:07:00.000-04:00

I got two more tattoos today - on my lunch break. The first and last time I did this was Monday, May 15, 2006.

The art means something to me. Both sets. The first set - the plus signs on my wrists - represent duality and symmetry. I wanted very bold shapes that would require lots of ink. Lots of pain. Happily/sadly, testing my pain threshold proved that they did not hurt, not like some piercings. I was ready to get more, but instead I got poor.

I got paid today and decided between lunch and the ink I have always wanted - ink was better. Today's tattoos are "the endless knot". I have wanted these designs for 15 years, exactly half my lifetime. in 1994, I bought a record by one of my fave Dischord bands, IGNITION. The record is entitled Complete Services and I was tranfixed by the pic on the record cover. I knew I would get it as a tattoo someday.

Cutting out all the religious crap or hope for the innate innocence of humanity (for which I have no use) here is one meaning;
The endless knot (Skt. shrivatsa; Tib. dpal be'u) is a closed, graphic ornament composed of right-angled, intertwined lines. It overlaps without a beginning or an end - continuity as the underlying reality of existence. The intertwining of lines represents how all phenomena are conjoined and yoked together as a closed cycle of cause and effect. Thus the whole composition is a pattern that is closed on in itself with no gaps.

I got into Crafty Bastards 2007!

2007-07-24T22:26:00.000-04:00

Yay, weeks of worry are over - DC CityPaper announced the line-up for this year's show. I am honored to be one of 100 crafters chosen from 400 applicants. Come find the best in local, regional and even natioal DIY goodies.

The annual show is Sunday, September 30, 2007 at the Marie Reed Learning Center (18th & Wyoming) 10am - 5pm in Adams Morgan.

The other Mutineers will be there and we will have lots of fun surprises for all!

Details here!

Mutineers in CityPaper - Beth of magpie dc

2007-07-16T01:27:00.000-04:00

Last week the Craft Mutiny members met to review our upcoming crafty plans. Can't spoil the surprise, but it's gonna be big.

For the first time, I met our newest collective member, Beth of magpiedc and she was super rad and excited and ready to take over the DIY world.

No wonder she is CityPaper's Craftiest Bastard of the week for, among other things, her Baddie Dolls. Like this scary/cutie Fun Gus:

Crafter in need

2007-06-22T09:27:00.000-04:00

I posted this to the Craft Mutiny blog, but it bears repeating:

I just got an email from the super rad people of Wonderland Retreat - started in early April 2007 to help alleviate the medical bills of a fellow crafter extraordinaire Alison Gordon.

Good news - she is doing much better thanks to the crafty community who contributed and supported the etsy shop raising funds on her behalf.

Now the shop is dedicated to raising funds for another crafter in need - Elijah Wyman, who has a rare kidney disease. All of the proceeds from this shop will benefit Elijah and his recovery expenses.

Please visit the etsy shop here and buy lots of stuff! You will find lots of cool DIY items and give something back to your community. Like these absolutely beautiful fridge magnets.

More info about the cause
here.

I just bought this. Yay!

Bachelor Pad Items!

2007-06-02T01:51:00.000-04:00

So, all my guy friends have requested stuff for them. My new line is actually unisex, but appeals (apparently) mostly to guys: ID/money cases, cig/money cases, key ring flasks and coasters.

"

Pin-ups and Compact Mirrors

2007-05-30T23:14:00.000-04:00

Pin-up girls and compact mirrors seem like a natural fit to me. So, here is a batch super sexy (and sometimes REALLY seXXXy) pocket mirrors that I made recently.

First pic is only the front cover...

Second pic shows the actual mirror dealie...

Craftiest Bastard of the Week!

2007-05-24T21:34:00.000-04:00

City Paper has honored me as the CRAFTIEST BASTARD OF THE WEEK!

Hooray! I love the DC City Paper and how they support the DIY community.

This week they are featuring my "Jacks Earrings" in a color ad in the paper on page 78 (paper hits the streets today!), online in the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts section of the Classifieds, in City Paper's weekly html newsletter, and on the Crafty Bastards Blog.

Here is a pic of the featured item.

The online ad is up and running. You can view it: here!

The blog post is:
here!

3pm-3am is one BIG Art Show

2007-04-29T03:33:00.000-04:00

It was a long day for the Muntineers at Big Art Show DC. Tina of ilikeseamonsters rode down with me at we met up with Sean of Scenic Artisans, and Rania of goshdarnknit. Basically, we arrived at 3:00 pm and stayed until about 12:30am. After strike, dinner at Tastee and generally vegging out, it took me until 3:00am to begin to gather my thoughts.

I never figured out who was in charge of the Big Art Show, but big ups to them! So generous and helpful! I have been to many shows where you get a tiny space, zero direct lighting and no guarantee of electricity (even if you pay for it).

The Big Art Show peeps provided grids and hooks for us to hang our wares and even brought clip lights (with cords long enough to reach the wall outlets.) This is above and beyond what I expected. It was a free, non-juried show. What an amazing thing to do for local artists.

Their website says that their mission is to give "local, unknown, and independent artists an opportunity to perform and display their work to their peers and to the public." And they mean it. No bullshit. I wish I had the chance to meet the organizers and thank them for their generosity and inspiration.

Sean and Rania had a great spot right inside the doors on the first floor. Once the bands started playing, it must have sucked to be on the first floor, but they had a great setup. Tina and I were gonna join them, but space was tight. Tina suggested moving upstairs and I hesitated because the upstairs bar is "21 and over" only. Well, she was right and we got decent spots with plenty of lighting. The upstairs became all ages shortly!

I met a ton of staffers from the Rock & Roll Hotel. They have an admirable comraderie and are not cliquish at all. Yeah, they are total hipsters and all super cute and cool. But no one seemed the least bit jaded or impatient with the somtimes rowdy Saturday night crowd. These people made me smile: Damian, Trevor, Kristen. And thanks to all the other RNR people who helped make the event a success.

The best part of the show was the fact that I managed to pack all my supplies into a single rolling suitcase. (Other than the shadow boxes that I made just for the show). I got a fantastic response for my new line of necklaces and wallets. It only took a few square feet of space. Check it:

I am used to big shows with absurd setup and helpers galore. This experience taught me how to "pack light" and maximize the space I am given. My new goal is to pack everything into one rolling cart that doubles as a chair and holds both stock and a table. As Seen On TV - get to it!

Crafter in Need

2007-04-24T00:20:00.000-04:00

Alison Gordon, super crafty gal (WonderlandQ, Bazaar Bizarre and the Sampler) recently faced a medical emergency and is without health insurance.

Members of the Crafty community are raising money with an etsy shop, check it: here!

I am planning to donate these two asymmetrical necklaces:

Treasure Trove of Mutiny Shows

2007-04-23T11:08:00.000-04:00

Check out the Pirates at these shows:

Artomatic
Apr 13 - May 20
[see web site for hours]
2121 Crystal Drive
Crystal City, VA

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Big Art Show
The Rock And Roll Hotel
April 28 :: Saturday, 7pm-2am
1353 H Street, NE :: DC

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Squidfires Spring Art Mart
May 12 :: Saturday, 11am-7pm
Mt. Vernon Square :: Baltimore, MD.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Open Studio Party
May 19 :: more info soon
Mount Rainier, MD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ballston Arts + Crafts Market
June 9 :: Saturday, 10am-4pm
Ballston Metro :: Arlington, VA

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Open Studio Party
June 16 :: more info soon
Mount Rainier, MD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ballston Arts + Crafts Market
October 13 :: Saturday, 10am-4pm
Ballston Metro :: Arlington, VA

.......................................
Art Star in Philly.

http://www.artstarphilly.com/ascb/ascb2007.html

The show will take place June 2nd, from 11-7pm & June 3rd, from 11-5pm. Vendors will be set up along The Liberties Walk (1030-1040 N 2nd St.) & Germantown Avenue (which runs between Hancock St. & 2nd St.).

Ballston Arts + Crafts Market

2007-04-14T22:27:00.000-04:00

Yay! Another show with Mutineer Tinaseamonster of ilikeseamonsters.com!

The Ballston Arts+Crafts Market is held every second Saturday from June-October from 10am-4pm and Tina and I will be there in September and October (9/8 + 10/13). Come check us out at the Ballston Metro in Arlington, VA. Besides handmade art and crafts, there will be live music and food.

Details here!

PS - The first 100 people each day will get gift bags with coupons and treats from local businesses! Yay - free goodies!!!

ROCK AND ROMP! YAY!

2007-04-12T22:39:00.000-04:00

I cribbed this from my friend's site, but here goes:

Rock and Romp is featuring a a very special CD release show and listening party for the awesome new children’s compilation PLAY. We are SO excited about this show, rompers! This is the CD we indie rock music-loving parents have been waiting for, with incredible tracks by Mudhoney, Supersuckers, Ben Davis, Channels and more. DC darlings Georgie James and The Cassettes have also contributed songs to get you and the kiddies moving, and they will be at the show to rock and romp with you! We’ll have CDs and limited edition posters designed by the totally rad and insanely talented El Jefe Design for sale and fun giveaways, too. This will be one Rock-n-Romp you won’t want to miss!

Sunday April 22nd 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Adults $5, kids under 12 FREE
Adults MUST be accompanied by a child for admission

The Spanish Ballroom @ Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD
Presented in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture, Inc., the National Park Service and Montgomery County, MD

Go Rania - Craftiest Bastard of the week!

2007-04-12T22:19:00.000-04:00

Yet another Mutineer is the DC CityPaper's latest artist/crafter honored. Details here!

My friend and collective member is Rania of goshdarnknit and she makes lovely and unusual items. I am lucky to have done several shows with her and always find her work inspiring. It's both lovely, twisted and unusual.

Interview with Caitlin & other Mutiny stuff

2007-04-06T12:51:00.000-04:00

Mutineer Caitlin of Rebound Designs got interviewed here!
and totally talked up the Mutiny! Go check it out.

Big Art Show @ Rock And Roll Hotel

2007-04-05T22:20:00.000-04:00

Various Mutineers are participating in the travelling

BIG ART SHOW DC #1:
Saturday, April 28th
@ The Rock And Roll Hotel
1353 H Street, NE,
Washington, DC 20002

Check their site here: here!

THEIR "MISSION STATEMENT":

BIG ART SHOW gives local, unknown, and independent artists an opportunity to perform and display their work to their peers and to the public. Run by a collective of artists and volunteers based out of the greater New York area, BIG ART SHOW is driven by a passion to create an environment devoid of the pressures and insincerities of the public media.

BIG ART SHOW creates community both locally and nationally by having traveling art events which invite visual artists from any location to display their work, attend the shows, and network with other artists. Similarly, BIG ART SHOW provides an opportunity in which lesser-known
musicians can play in front of larger and more varied audiences."

This is a great opportunity to showcase local talent. Please join the Charming Vices blog & Craft Mutiny in promoting this event.

Another Mutineer is the Craftiest Bastard of the Week!

2007-03-18T03:12:00.000-04:00

From this week's citypaper email!
CRAFTIEST BASTARD OF THE WEEK

Mixed media painting/Gocco print by Sean Hennessey, member of D.C.'s CraftMutiny.com. Craft Mutiny is a collective of local crafters and artisans that think mass-produced culture deserves to walk the plank. Reject the conveyer belt! Buy handmade.

Check out his Etsy shop here!

Making Prom Jewelry for Katrina Survivors

2007-03-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, I am volunteering to make prom jewelry for Katrina survivors.

Thanks to ALCHEMY in Silver Spring for this opportunity.

More info if you want to help out here!

Wallets

2007-03-13T10:49:00.000-04:00

New Line - Necklaces First

2007-03-13T01:15:00.000-04:00

I have a new line of necklaces. They will be featured at next seasons' shows, in addition to the new men's lines (which right now features wallets and will soon include belts & buckles).

So here are some preliminary pics of the jewelry:

Back on track

2007-02-17T11:29:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged in forever because I have been crazy busy at work. But, I have two new lines of necklaces and a new line of wallets. They are rad and the boys will love them. This is my first line for guys (although it really is unisex). Gotta get some pictures up.

More to come!

The Downtown DC Holiday Market

2006-11-27T13:48:00.000-05:00

Another Craft Mutiny show! You need this OOAK necklace, so come get it.

Get your last minute gifties at the The Downtown DC Holiday Market MONDAY Dec 18th.

Details here!

Black Cat's ROCK N SHOP: A Rock and Roll Garage Sale

2006-11-19T21:58:00.000-05:00

It's time again for Rock N Shop at the Black Cat. Be there on SUN DEC 17. Get yr holiday gifts or suffer your fate at the mall.

Here is the official description: "Still looking for that perfect kitschy holiday gift for your pal? Wanting to augment your collection with some essential hardcore records? Searching for the perfect T-shirt? Look no further, my friend. Rock-n-Shop is where it's all at. This twice-yearly junk sale offers more than the standard fare...for one thing, it's not all junk. In fact, we've got one of our best rosters yet. Everything from anarcho book co-ops to handmade creations to plus-size clothes."

Details here!

PALACE OF WONDERS Holiday Arts and Craft Show

2006-11-19T21:53:00.000-05:00

Oh so many shows...
So I got in into this one. The bar is super rad. Check their site: here!

Craft Mutiny Booty Market

2006-11-19T21:42:00.000-05:00

The mutineers are having a craft show on December 2nd in Silver Spring. It's called the Booty Market and it will be rad!

Location: Rock-n-Romp House email for address

When: Saturday, December 2, 2:00pm to 7:00pm

It's that time of year when you're on the lookout for the perfect gift, and we Craft Mutineers want to give you a little help. Come by our Holiday Booty Market and sip some hot cocoa,have some munchies and shop the coolest local indie crafts around! Now, this is also a party to celebrate the season, so please don't be shy about just coming by to throw back some eggnog. We like you! We want to see you! If you happen to see something your pal or nephew or cousin or coworker would absolutely love to have for the holidays, all the better!

Kiddies are most definitely welcome!

Come early and get a fun giftie (while supplies last)!

Philly PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET - HOLIDAY EDITION !

2006-11-19T21:35:00.000-05:00

I will be at the Philly PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET - HOLIDAY EDITION ! Check out the website here!

It happens at the Starlight Ballroom (460 N 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123) on Sat. Dec. 16 from 10am - 5pm. Philly is a great city and we often travel there for shows at The First Unitarian Church. We saw the Delgados there before they broke up. Great show!!!

HANDMADE ARCADE PICS

2006-11-12T17:59:00.000-05:00

Here is a pic of my table:

I also had Tina's Zombie shirts and cards:

And Caitlin's pins:

The drive was longish - four hours each way. But the HANDMADE people were great. Friendly, helpful and encouraging. They even had veggie dogs and vegan treats - yum!

I've been accepted to the BUST Holiday Craftacular!!!

2006-11-09T14:41:00.000-05:00

This is arguably the biggest indie craft fair around, so I am super psyched. I gotta start making more stuff - with all the shows upcoming. To find out more, click: this .

Charming Vices in PA newspaper UPDATED

2006-11-04T05:39:00.000-05:00

HandMade is in one week! Never been to Pittsburgh before, but people say it is nice nice nice. Today, I gave an interview with a reporter from the Pittsburgh Herald-Tribune. She asked me about the craft revolution and being a DIY crafter.

Of course, I talked all about the Crafty Mutiny. Stay tuned.

11.12.06 UPDATE

The article was published and you can Check it out here!

I really appreciate the mention but and the fact that I was one of the featured crafters. Unfortunately, the pic attributed to me is not of my work. It's cute, but not mine. Sigh...

So many new shows!

2006-11-02T04:59:00.000-05:00

The Mutiny has so many new shows upcoming. I have applied for so many that I think I will be busy until 2007. Yikes! Check our CM blog for more info.

Bad sitch with eBay

2006-10-29T14:13:00.000-05:00

So, I have been on eBay for years and I just got my first broken item. Yuck. The seller was totally nice and refunded my money. But, I really wanted the item to work. Thinking about my next show, I ordered some new earring racks. This is how they arrived. poop.

Halloween Rock N Romp was fun fun fun!

2006-10-28T19:14:00.000-04:00

Well it was! Debbie knows how to put on a great show. It was well attended and the kids seemed to have a ton of fun. The decorations were fantastic and the place was lively. Unfortunately, I did not know it was a costume party and I was one of the few people not dressed to the nines. But it was a crazy, windy day and my hair got all crazy from the wind. So, I told people that was my costume. Like the mug shot?

Hopefully, Debbie has some pics that I can post. Forgot to bring my own camera, but I took a bunch with her camera. Yay! Normally. I am not a "kid" person, but the little ones at the show were way rad! I actually saw one kid do a total face plant and he did not cry. At all. He just got up and started running around again. Wow!

To be so resilient!

HANDMADE ARCADE!

2006-10-20T20:45:00.000-04:00

A bunch of us Mutineers are heading to the HANDMADE ARCADE in Pittsburgh, on November 11th. It shares the DIY aesthetic of fairs like DC's Crafty Bastards and promises to be fun fun!!!

Check out their website http://handmadearcade.com/!

My Etsy shop

2006-10-20T13:20:00.000-04:00

So I finally created an Etsy shop. I don't know why I waited so long, but Tinaseamonster convinced me that I should go for it.

I made some new necklaces, specially for Halloween. Check it out here!

You are here!

2006-10-17T14:36:00.000-04:00

http://charmingvices.blogspot.com/

Rock N Romp

2006-10-17T11:40:00.000-04:00

Debbie of 60bugs.com (click: this ) , rocknromp.com (click: this ) and craftmutiny.com (click: this )
is moving her legendary show series to McGinty's for Halloween. Yay! Hope to see you there!

Hope I get into the Sampler

2006-10-14T21:16:00.000-04:00

I really wanna get into The Sampler - for a few reasons. It would be rad to get cool indie stuff, but more importantly, the business model is SO great. A lot of big biz companies are revoluntionary, but started off small (like netflix). The Sampler could have the same staying power.

Tina the Seamonster encouraged me to contribute earrings and here is how I plan to package them.

What is the best Sampler sample you have gotten? I am excited for the day that someone sends a tiny tiny little piece of art. I would frame it and hang it on my wall.

The best part of being anonymous

2006-10-14T21:04:00.000-04:00

Is that you can say anything. And no one will know. Except the random people who you see from high school or whatever and then you give them yr card. Suddenly, it's all, "you make crafts?" "Do you make any money?" yeah--just ask me about my profits and then tell me I look really thin. What the fuck? My all pizza diet has actually added few. What can I say, I craft and I have a "day" job. No time for grocery shopping.

Check out the Mutineers

2006-10-13T16:22:00.000-04:00

Hola world wide web! Check out this! It's our group site and has links to all the Mutineers!

Craft Mutiny Pictures

2006-10-13T16:05:00.000-04:00

Here are some pics of Craft Mutiny peeps at Crafty Bastards 06.

New Necklace

2006-10-12T07:30:00.000-04:00

Being Crafty VS. Crafting

2006-05-17T22:29:00.000-04:00

I wonder how these things relate...Am I crafty as in "devious" or am I crafty as in "ingenious"? Maybe both. Yes, both.

Western Market is in a few days and I need to get ready. I am soon to meet my new crrrafty friends and want to sell some - um stuff.

What is the best word for DIY merch? Stuff, inventory, art, craft? I make things I want to keep forever but must sell them because I am poor. And because I want other people to see them, love them and tell me they want my creations for themselves.

Spontaneous Body Modification?

2006-05-15T20:53:00.000-04:00

Is there such a thing that could be cool? I have always doubted it.

I went to Ambrotos Tattoos today to drop off some SILVERDOCS fliers and there were no customers, so I decided to go for it - finally. I have always wanted to be alone when I commit to the ink and design. (Lately, my dreams increasingly center around getting up early one morning and just going for it.)

I have the same exact tattoo on my other wrist but, obviously, can't take a pic of both at the same time. The weird thing is that both tattoos have the letter "E" in them. I haven't gotten them filled in yet. I think "E" is for "EVIL".

So, there was NO pain. My tattooed little bro asked me if it was a "henna" tattoo. Better not be - since I risked my rent money for it.

Hope it turns out well. I can be a real killer when someone or something gets in my way. (Just like in my dreams.)

2006-05-07T13:29:00.001-04:00

There is a first time for everything

2006-05-07T13:10:00.000-04:00

A privacy freak probably shouldn't blog, right?