Tag Archives: handmade

graham keegan dyes with foraged plants

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On assignment for Cloth Paper Scissors magazine in December, I spent a day with LA textile designer Graham Keegan. He uses plants such as bougainvillea and sumac from the streets of his Silver Lake neighborhood to dye accessories and bulk yardage. I got to help him pick Peruvian pepper on Sunset Boulevard, brew the leaves into a dye bath, and block-print a scarf in two shades of olive.

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Was I in an artist’s studio or a witch’s lair? It was a little hard to tell at times.

I took all the photos for the article, too, which was a first for me. My story is in the July/August issue, but you can catch a sneak peek below.

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teen artist masters realism in glitter

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My favorite thing about journalism (it ain’t the paychecks) is that it connects me with extraordinary people, like 17-year-old Hope Lennox. Throughout high school, the recent graduate of Atlanta’s Pace Academy blew off football games to stay home and make art, teaching herself to create realistic portraits in glitter. She developed a surprisingly sophisticated take on a medium associated with cheesy birthday cards. I’m sharing a few of her paintings here, and you can read all about Hope and her process in my profile for the Atlanta INtown paper.

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i’m judging the american craft council show

I’m totally judging you . . . and more than 200 makers at the American Craft Council show in Atlanta next month. The ACC has asked me to be the juror at the March 14-16 event, picking winners for the best handmade products and booth design. It’s going to be a challenge selecting favorites from such a wide range of crafts — from carved utensils, to jewelry, to quilts.

Wood spoons by Spoonwood Inc., hand necklace by Thomas Mann, quilt by Cindy Grisdela
Among many others, I’ll be judging products by Jonathan’s Spoons, Thomas Mann Design, and Cindy Grisdela Art Quilts.

Want to go? In addition to shopping for items made with love, you can watch craft demonstrations and sample Scotch whisky from the Balvenie Distillery. The show is at the Cobb Galleria, and discounted advance tickets are available here.