stella design gallery

Giveaway: A Necklace by CicadaDesign on Jen Snyder Photography's Blog!

This is my first official CicadaDesign giveaway: http://blog.jensnyderphotography.com/?p=476

I'm so excited to be part of this week of awesome giveaways at Jen Snyder Photography. Please check out her amazing work and then visit her blog for more giveaway information.

Cicada Design

Yeah, so we're not going to talk about why I haven't been updating my blog lately. I'm embarrassed. You all can come up with your own fantastical reasons, if you wish.

I am excited to announce that I have finally opened up my own jewelry business: Cicada Design. I have opened up shop at Etsy and I'm applying for some local and regional craft shows. I'm living my dream! Ha ha. This really has been a passion of mine for years, and folks, it was only fear that was holding me back. Don't let that stop you all--learn from my mistake.

Here is some of my work (all images copyright emilie kleiner 2010. Please ask permission before using):

All work is low carbon steel and various semi-precious gem stone beads, except for the last picture, which is a vintage celluloid tatting shuttle.

I love to be creative and I know this will fill a huge, gaping hole in my soul that has been missing since I graduated from college with my art degree. I'm excited to be on this path and can't wait to make a name for myself!

Rip-Off Alert: Urban Threads

I read about seventy-eleven blogs almost everyday, and I came across a very important tidbit of news on Early Bird Special. Unfortunately, a company called Urban Threads has blatantly ripped off designs, instructional demos, and even personality from Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching (who is awesome and someone I admire very much).

Please read the Early Bird Special blog post. She gives a good recap, and links to other blogs that have also reported on the issue. What I am most proud of, regarding the grassroots uprising against dishonest business practices, is the very high level of class with which this is handled in the craft community. Yes, we are outraged, but no one is nasty or hateful. In fact, there is a call for corporations and sole proprietors to work together for the common good of craft.

Show your support for Jenny Hart and Sublime Stitching--visit the web site and buy some patterns! Do NOT buy patterns from Urban Threads! Protest with your wallet and spread the word that stealing ideas from anyone and passing them off as your own is not cool.

UPDATE 5.4.2009

Now that this mess has cooled down some, and I've had time to reflect on it, I feel a little silly for a one reason (regarding my blog post): I definitely responded hastily, and out of an emotional and biased place. Once I read about even the possibility of someone being deceitful and trying to ride on the coattails of a crafter who has worked hard to develop her own portfolio and customer base, I flipped. I think that's understandable, but I do wish that I had waited until more details emerged before I posted something for all to see on the blogosphere. Now people are accusing me of possessing a group-think mentality because of my knee-jerk reaction. Yikes!

I don't know how this will all work out. I hope that the truth becomes visible to everyone, but it might not. I reacted so strongly because of my admiration for Jenny (even though I have not met her, that doesn't mean I can't be a huge fan of hers), but also because intellectual property is SO difficult to defend against the ravages of derivative work and all forms of stealing. A person's creative mind is so valuable, and when one takes the time to bring to fruition the beauty that they see, I want to celebrate it. I also want to defend it, even if I end up going against my better judgment and write a frantic blog post.

Best of luck to Jenny and Urban Threads; I hope that they can reach at least a polite understanding of what happened and move forward in a positive direction. It would be really great if this situation could serve an educational purpose for all of us in the art and craft world. I've learned my own lesson about how wildly stories can take off on the internet!

Also, Niamh O'Connor has left a link to her response in the comments section of this blog post. Please take the time to read it.

Smithsonian Craft Show This Weekend!

Impossible Pencil Pin, copyright Connie Verrusio. Image via SmithsonianCraftShow.org

I am beyond excited to be a booth assistant for Connie Verrusio at the Smithsonian Craft Show this weekend! I'll be working Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I can't wait to be surrounded by inspiring craft--I fully expect to network and come back with fabulous ideas and experiences.

Click here to see a wonderful grouping of Connie's work. Some other amazing artists who will be there are Todd Reed, Karen Gilbert, Biba Schutz, Jacqueline Sanchez, Chris Roberts-Antieau, Fritelli & Lockwood, Wendy Stevens, and Brian Becher. For a complete listing, click here.

Here are all the pertinent details:

National Building Museum
Washington, DC

Daily Admission $15

Thursday:    10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    Friday:    10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday:    10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  Sunday:    11 a.m. to 5 p.m

Wise Guise Closing Reception at Nudashank

Drawing by Xavier Schipani, courtesy of Nudashank.blogspot.com

Wise Guise, a group exhibition at recently established Nudashank in Mt. Vernon, is having its closing reception tomorrow night from 7pm to 9pm. I highly recommend this show--my favorite pieces are by Edward Max Fendley, D'Metrius Rice and Xavier Schipani.

Nudashank is located in the H & H Building at 405 W Franklin Street on the 3rd floor.

Call for Entries

As promised, here is a round up of some great craft shows that are currently accepting applications:

Art Star Craft Bazaar

This outdoor craft show in Philadelphia, PA, is accepting online applications until April 1st. The application fee is $250 and the show dates are May 30th and 31st.

Bazaar Bizarre

Bazaar Bizarre is also accepting applications until April 1st. This show is for their outdoor maker faire at the San Mateo County Expo Center. The dates are May 30th and 31st. The cost to apply is $130 plus a non-refundable $10 jury fee.

Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn

Finally, we have Renegade Craft Fair's Brooklyn show. You can apply here until March 27th (get crackin'!). The show is June 6th and 7th in McCarren Park. Application cost $310.

For more information about upcoming spring craft shows, check out Hello Craft's great post.

Best of luck to you all!

Oh, Domino

Today is a sad day, my friends. Conde Nast has announced that it is closing down Domino magazine. It is part of a growing list of casualties in the land of print publications:

Country Home
Cottage Living
House & Garden
Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion
Blueprint

I am deeply saddened, because I feel like there aren't any shelter magazines out there that apply to me anymore. This economy has made it difficult for advertising dollars to roll in, which is the bread and butter for most publications. Also, it's a bit discouraging to look at spreads of home accents and furnishings that you can no longer afford or justify spending money on right now. We are living in frugal times.

One thing comes to my mind, though. I've been thinking about it ever since the media started its depressing blitz of fear-mongering (yes, fear-mongering, because we truly aren't close to anything like the Great Depression, even though times are bad). One thing about Americans that I love is their creativity, inventiveness, and tenacity. Necessity is the mother of invention, right? I believe the magazine industry will evolve into something better, something more thoughtful and well-rounded, a place where great design involves things you buy as well as things you make from what you already have at hand. I have hope.

Update on CPSIA

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has amended its Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act by allowing thrift and consignment shops to continue to sell used childrens clothing and goods without penalty and without having to test inventory for lead and phthalates content.

While this is great news, the story remains the same for the American Craft artists who create toys and clothes for children aged 12 and under. I signed up with Change.org to vote on this issue (to be one of ten issues presented to soon-to-be-President Barack Obama); hopefully that will make a difference.

Alert: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

I want to alert you all to a pretty significant new law that will go into effect on February 10th of this year: the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. It was passed by Congress in August of 2008 and requires that all materials intended for the use of children under the age of 12 be tested by a third party for lead and phthalates. The items have to be certified as safe in order to be considered legal to sell.

This is a prime example of the "law of unintended consequences". Congress is concerned about toxins that could harm children, which is great, but the possibility of lead or phthalates showing up in handmade toys and clothing are very slight. Because of this law, American craft artists and other small, independent businesses could be forced to close their doors. It will be illegal for thrift stores to sell secondhand children's clothing, so retailers like Goodwill will no longer be able to fully serve those with low incomes.

Greenjeans of Brooklyn has a fantastic blog post with links to several resources that consumers can use to take action. I will definitely contact my Congressman and sign the petition. This is pretty serious and I hope that a loophole can be created for those retailers and manufacturers who can't afford to test and certify their products.

Please take action today!

Baltimore Biz Ladies

As much as I wanted to, I couldn't go to the Baltimore Biz Ladies meetup at the American Visionary Art Museum last night. It was hosted by one of my favorite bloggers, Grace of design*sponge (of course, since I am constantly referencing her I might as well do it once more), as well as some local business owners and designers: Kat Feuerstein of Gilah Press + Design,  and Megan & Lesley of doubledutch boutique.

However, I bring you some fabulous news: the handouts from the meetup are posted on Grace's blog! Click here to download the documents. This is great information for those of you who are thinking of starting your own craft or design business (and for those who already have!).

This weekend I am off to photograph my college roommate's wedding in West Virginia. I rented a Canon EOS 40-D (woo-hoo!) for the event so I think I am sufficiently prepared equipment-wise (although I'm nervous as heck). I'd like to give a shout-out to Service Photo in Hampden for giving me stellar customer service today when I picked up my camera. I was very impressed. Once I figure out who it was that helped me, I will post his name.

I'm going to leave you with some images from the very first wedding I ever photographed (it was a disaster--I don't want to talk about it):

Bride & Groom. Image copyright emilie kleiner 2008.

Bride & Groom. Image copyright emilie kleiner 2008.

Groom's father. Image copyright emilie kleiner 2008.

Tango Lesson. Image copyright emilie kleiner 2008.