At the very start of the summer, a place called the WildCraft Studio School launched in White Salmon, Washington (about and hour and a half’s drive from Portland). Calling itself an “experiment in integration,” it offers classes and workshops on things like how to make dyes from herbs, flowers, spices, and veggies, a mushroom hunting […]
Crafty
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Call for Crafters: Start Your Applications for Crafty Wonderland’s Super Colossal Holiday Sale Now!
We may be a crafty, DIY-forward sort of city in general, but the true motherload of all local craft events is the one and only, sometimes frighteningly huge Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday Sale. Hundreds upon hundreds of local makers pack out a large Oregon Convention Center hall, and half the city swings through to […]
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Makin’ It with Destination DIY
On a 1-10 scale of “sounds like fun,” the plain phrase “craft night” registers at about a 6 for me—which is not that bad! On the other hand, the Makin’ It with Destination DIY craft nights hosted jointly by ADX and SCRAP crank that up to a solid 8, because there’s free Full Sail beer […]
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Is Portland Made Your Jam? Find out While It’s Still Free
In April the Supportland/ADX collaboration Portland Made launched. It’s a truly excellent, if complicated to explain, concept, so to quote myself back when my interview with Kelly Roy of ADX was still fresh in my mind: It’s an online hub that ultimately aims to include every single product that is manufactured in Portland (not just […]
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(F)Utility: Open Studio Residence at the Museum of Contemporary Craft
Last summer Jen LaMastra—best know for making truly astonishing, detail heavy clothing out of garbage—did an artist’s residence at the dump: Since then, she’s partnered with some of the people she worked alongside during the GLEAN project, Chandra Glaeseman and Sarah Wolf Newlands to create the collective (F)Utility, and this week they’re taking over the […]
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Modified Style 2013
Now in its fifth year in existence, the non-profit fundraising all-comer fashion show Modified Style has announced that this year’s event will take place on September 26 at Refuge PDX. As ever, anyone can participate—more about creativity than ready-to-wear, Modified is a popular way for hobbyists, artists and crafters whose work is usually in a […]
Posted inFood and Drink
Create + Cultivate
Were I a brand consultant, I might gently suggest that Create + Cultivate change its name to something less vague and more interest piquing, because the daylong retreat for small business creatives and crafters does sound exciting. The event, which is a tightly timed and curated frenzy of “top bloggers, influencers & craftsmen, delicious meals, […]
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Product of the Week: One-Wipe Charlies
Long ago, during the dawn of the internet, I introduced you to the Dollar Shave Club—which is basically a subscription service for razor blades. “Fun idea!” I thought, and promptly forgot about it… UNTIL NOW. The funny brain behind the very legit Dollar Shave Club company is back with a new product: One-Wipe Charlies. Apparently, […]
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Max Teaches You How to Do… Well, Everything I Guess
The trouble with learning how to do stuff is that it takes too damn long! Luckily there’s Max who used his Vine account to make the most encompassing compilation on how-to-do stuff in the history of humankind—and each how-to is only six seconds or less! Oh, and did I mention some are disgustingly hilarious and […]
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Portland Made: Launched, Wants to Party
Awhile back I mentioned Portland Made, a collaboration between Supportland and ADX that Supportland’s Katrina Scotto di Carlo described to me as an “ecosystem” for products manufactured in Portland. It finally launched yesterday. The official lowdown: Portland Made is a collective of Portland-based designers, manufacturers, and local goods retailers. We connect consumers to high quality, […]
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This Is Your Last Chance, Crafters: Crafty Wonderland Deadline Is Friday
If you’re a crafter in Portland’s metropolitan area, your career goals basically begin with showing at Crafty Wonderland, the huge, twice-yearly sale that packs out the Convention Center with makers and their patrons. It gets a ton of foot traffic, and this year’s spring edition (happening May 11, 11 am-6 pm) is wisely tapping into […]
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Make Your Own Moccasins
The mainstream popularity of moccasins that comes and goes is definitely in its “going” stage, but making your own pair is pretty baller, regardless of the trend forecast. Plus these are beautifully made—check out the crazy combination and real, durable sole at right especially: Halo Shoes Halo Shoes—which in addition to being one of the […]