Going to a Craft Show!!!

  Long before I began sewing, one of the great joys of my life has been going to craft shows. Actually, let me make that more specific I adore going to good, carefully juried craft shows where the goods sit on that border between craft and art. Going to a "craft show" where the good exhibited are unoriginal, made from a commercially available pattern or are simply slightly embellished commercially made goods is just depressing

This weekend was the Crafts at the Cathedral show. The Cathedral being St. John the Divine, a glorious building built as if it were being constructed in the late Middle Ages but construction began sometime in the 19th century and continues even today. So the building itself is a great setting for the work exhibited. below are some details of the doorway going into the church.

The Crafts at the Cathedral show is one of those wonderful juried shows. I bought myself a weekend pass and went to the show yesterday after Shabbat morning services. It felt luxurious to just walk in with my pass and not a cent on me, just to look with two of my friends. I went again this afternoon with a different friend and this time asked some vendors if I could take photos.

I adore the scarves made by C Joseph. She pieces tie silks. My favorite of her scarves have seven or eight shades of the same color. The ones in reds or orange or blue are astounding. The tight mix of colors is visually so exciting. Her scarves are backed with the lightest most delicious cashmere

This photo taken from her website doesn't do her work justice. She also makes buttery soft wool shirts for men, some made in a single wool plaid and others in a subtle mix of fabrics. It is the perfect shirt to wear if you are an architect and want to impress your clients.

There is some art-to wear garments which are interesting to look at but aren't really wearable in real life settings--like to work in an office. Mina Norton makes to-die-for felted and pieced jackets that were so wonderful that  they made me consider a career change.

Her jackets made me wish that I were a museum administrator or someone who was a fundraiser for an arts organization.

Each one could function as an abstract canvas but they also work well as garments that could be in frequent rotation in a woman's wardrobe. Her jackets could easily be worn for either casual wear or for a seriously dressed up occasion. I haven't yet mentioned that they are soft and lightweight but they are. 

Mina Norton's jackets are simple shapes with wonderful color play. The work of Reintse Made Designs is all about the shaping. Their work is in subdued colors shaped by visible seams and darts

The garments all feel comfortable. The fabrics are yummy. I love that you don't get exactly why they are so cool until you have a second or third look.

 The garments are unshowly and truly luxurious.

Another vendor was also making wonderful clothing using the seaming and darting as the main design element.

Vilma Mare Baltic Style makes boiled wool garments that make me wish that I lived in an unheated home. 

Did you notice the wonderful visible gathering stitches?

 

Her garments are thoughtfully designed with softer fabric against the face. The clothing is meant to be layered.  Coats and vests are worn over skirts and topped with pouches that are half way between being a bag to hold things and a corset. Her garments could be work to some sort of a Game of Thrones event or could be worn to an office.

If  only money and closet space were unlimited....

I was completely blown away by the work of  Amy Smith.

She is a weaver who works in eucalyptus derived tencel. Her scarves shift color as they move. At one moment the colors are soft and subdued and the next

the colors are intense.

I could look at these scarves all day long.

Weaving takes a brain that is formed entirely differently than mine. I so admire the ability to create a good plan and just stick to it. I am so much more willing to change course in the middle of my work. You just can't do that in this kind of weaving.

As we chatted today, Amy realized that we had attended the same Jewish Conference in 1996 when I was an artist in residence. I was impressed by her excellent memory and I hope that we get together the next time she is here in New York.

I was completely smitten by the work of Liz Landers. ( I am kicking myself for not taking photos of her work so the following photos are from her website.) Liz sets buttons in silver and turns then into jewelry.

Some of the buttons are special antique buttons others are the workhorses of the buttonworld.

that are elevated by their sterling settings. I love how the wire stitching of the buttonholes echoes the cheap wire used to attach buttons to card stock when it is for sale.

The ordinary

is elevated by how it is presented.

William Robbins makes extraordinary furniture in wood. At first glance these chairs might look pretty much like Windsor chairs but then the details start jumping out at you.

His chairs are crazy comfortable.

This one is called the Primal chair.

That side view!!!

He is so thoughtful about every detail.

We spent a ton of time chatting with Shana Kroiz. She had for a time run the highly regarded Jewelry studio at the 92nd Street Y.

I am 100% lusting after the silver neckpiece. Here is the artist displaying both that neckpieces and a gold one that I also adored. The two big pieces even look terrific together.

My bank account is happy that I have some self control.

My friend was completely charmed by these dolls and their creator Sarah Djarnie Brown. It took my friend's interest to pull me in and pay attention  to these dolls.

 Both the maker, Sarah and the dolls themselves are truly compelling.

Sarah had for a while worked in the fashion industry. There is a real sophistication in the doll garments which are made with discarded bits of clothing rather brilliantly put together.

My friend and I left the show happy and our eyes filled with wonderful things.

Seeing so many beautiful things compelled me to stand in the middle of Amsterdam Avenue to capture the setting sun behind these two water towers. I was unscathed by the experience.