AIGA Charlotte Leadership Retreat
What do "ALOHA TIGER CAT," "REACH GOAT TAIL" and "EROTIC HAT GALA" have in common? If you rearrange the letters they all spell "AIGA CHARLOTTE." 

Last weekend AIGA Charlotte board members congregated for their annual retreat. The 10 hour marathon-o-planning was kicked-off with some swag bags sealed with a custom Not Made In China button. 

I also made a commemorative button honoring our previous president, Carolyn Colonna. She was given the nickname "Bunny Bear" after her awesome leadership tactics became apparent. Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, Carolyn (hardly 5ft tall, pushing 100lbs, and cute as a button) could easily strike fear into the heart of every board member. But man oh man did we get sh&# done! 

Swag bag photo credit: Joseph Schlosser
2 Comments
 
 
my ring collection
I can't have enough rings; it's physically impossible. No matter how many I have, it's never enough. My hunger for the beautiful-finger-accessories cannot be satiated. Maybe I have a ring worm?

Lame jokes aside, while I was taking some pictures of my collection this afternoon, I noticed a trend: flowers, turquoise, and reds. Now that I see them all together, my limited taste in style seems pretty ridiculous. And although I have plethora of rings to chose from... I always seem to end up with the same one on my hand (the red one on the Jadite hand). It's my signature ring. 

But this isn't a new addiction. It began when I first started earning an allowance. By age 11, I  had a silver ring on every finger... seriously all ten... only silver - gold was ugly. I even wore toe rings on each foot. They were my treasures, and each one represented a different story (kinda like a charm bracelet). And now, when I go home to my parents, I bust them all out and let the ring nostalgia pour over me. 

I know, I have a problem.
Add Comment
 
 
Picture
Picture
Picture
For more info, visit the Facebook Event Page. Photos of  Southern Comfort Antiques courtesy of Vanessa Ross, Skwrrl Collective.
Add Comment
 
 
AirBNB Accommodation in SF
The apt I found on AirBnB... cute right?!
I'm a budget traveler who takes pride in blending in with my surroundings. In a little over a week I'm headed to San Francisco (for the 2nd time this year... I left my heart there). I wanted to save some moola by cooking some meals at home, and pretend I'm a San Franciscan by inhabiting an apartment in a hip, central neighborhood. I checked the vacation rentals section on Craigslist, and inquired about some rentals on VRBO.com. I was less than impressed with the lack of affordable and promising accommodations. Then I found AirBnB.com.  

(Read more about AirBnB after the jump!)
1 Comment
 
 
Picture
Get FREE zines, stickers, patches and even a Not Made In China 1.25" pin. All you have to do is pay for postage ($2). Sweet deal from The Farthing Collective.
Add Comment
 
 
Picture
Our classroom may have been filled with vintage furniture, shag carpet, a few beers and a student with a handlebar mustache... but learning was a hap-o-nen'. Not Made In China was honored to lead July's Make-Out Session on Japanese book binding. I haven't taught high school in over four years, but I still managed to channel Ms. Mueller and make some little illustrated  instruction zines (above) for my students.
Picture
Various Crown Town Handmade girls stitching it up! I love the ambience of Century Vintage (the owners so graciously allow us to hold our monthly craft sessions in their fabulous back room).

(TONS MORE after the jump!)
1 Comment
 
 
Picture
Picture
The examples I made for the book binding class.
1 Comment
 
 
How my Nana got her picture taken with The Man, The Bambino, The Home Run King, The Circuit Smasher, The Bulky Monarch, The King of Clout, The Sultan of Swat, The Wali of Wallop, The Wazir of Wham, The Maharajah of Mash, The Rahaj of Rap, The Behemoth of Bust... The Babe...
Picture
Nana (12 years old) and The Babe in 1934 - Spring Training St Petersburg, FL

“It was during the depression and my mother, brother and I were living with my grandparents in Neenah while my father had a job in Gary, Indiana (which was not a good place to raise a family at that time).  My grandfather had rheumatoid arthritis and had to spend the winters in a warmer climate, so we went with them to St. Petersburg that winter.  My grandfather was a great baseball fan so we often went to watch the Yankees at their winter training camp.  I had my picture taken with Babe Ruth. I also got my baseball signed by that legendary Yankee team which included Lou Gehrig, Bill Dickey, Lefty Gomez, and others along with Babe Ruth.” 
Picture
Nana (89 years old) with the signed baseball in 2010

Add Comment
 
 
Picture
Picture
Loving this engagement announcement by graphic designer Julia Ann Ruzich. 
1 Comment
 
 
The Sketchbook Project: 2011
If you act now, for only $25, your creativity can tour the United States in a nationwide art exhibit! How you ask? Just one word: plastics*... I mean sketchbooks.

The Sketchbook Project asks participants to chose a Moleskine and a theme (for instance: "Great hopes and massive failures," "It will be fun, I swear!," "In flight," and "Help!"). But what actually fills the sketchbook, is up to the user's imagination.

I chose a gray book with the "Revenge" theme (dum-dum-DUM).

Participants must return their works of art by January 15th. The tour starts in March. While your sketchbook travels from city to city, visitors who attend the exhibit can "check-out" your book (within the gallery space). It gets scanned with every viewing and you can track its progress. Pretty sweet huh? Be sure to get yours before October 31st, so you too can live vicariously through some bound paper.

*irrelevant reference to The Graduate
2 Comments