Issue 20 of THE THING Quarterly just launched today, in the form of a beautiful 24-hour wall clock designed by artist Tauba Auerbach. We are big fans of Tauba's work (some of my favorite pieces are below) as well as long time supporters of THE THING, a quarterly periodical of artist-designed, functional objects, based here in San Francisco and run by our friends Jonn Herschend and Will Rogan. Subscribe today!
Clock image from THE THING, artwork images from taubaauerbach.com.
Honeycomb smocking tutorial here
I've heard that smocking is one of those sewing techniques that looks complicated, but is actually super easy. It's been a few months since I've sewn anything, but I think I'm ready to give this a try! (I know smocking is usually a summer dress kind of thing, but it might look cute on a Fall tunic? Or I could start with baby clothes.... probably shouldn't make myself anything until I'm back to my normal size again.)
I found a couple tutorials for easy projects online, and it seems like gingham is the fabric to use when trying this out for the first time, since you can just stitch on the grid lines. But look at all the beautiful designs you can make once you get the hang of it! Mind blowing.
I also love the smocked necklaces below!
Necklaces from Tinctory
A week ago I was lounging on a hammock in Maui, enjoying what will probably be our last vacation as a family of three. (The new baby arrives in early December!) It has been a little over 6 months since we closed the shoppe, which was a process in itself- I think I still have one form left to file, and we just spent weeks clearing up/paying some tax nonsense from back in 2011.... but ever since the craziness of the Pop-Up Song Reader Issue in May and the smaller Pop-Up we did at The Chapel in June finally died down, I've finally had some time to think (and freak out a little) about what comes next.
I could drive myself crazy worrying how we will make it all work, but I'm trying to focus on enjoying this time with my family, not worry too much about money, and embrace the changes as they come. (Because life is so different now than it was even just a year ago, who knows what it'll be like in another year??) Yesterday while Arrow was at daycare I redesigned and simplified this site a little, which felt great, and I'm excited to start posting again. And maybe to take another trip to Maui.
We are back! Did you miss us??
It's been almost two months since we closed our doors at the shoppe, and it's already starting to feel like a distant memory... Fortunately we are not ones to dwell on the past and make ourselves sad thinking about what we no longer have. Nope, instead we tend to dive head first into new projects, and our upcoming issue of Pop-Up Magazine, a collaboration with McSweeney's (!) and Beck (!!) has been just the thing to keep us busy.
The first issue of Pop-Up was four years ago now, and since then we've grown from a small theater in the Mission to the 2500+ seat Davies Symphony Hall. (Symphony Hall! Every time we go there we are blown away with how grand it is. Seats as far as the eye can see!) After three successful shows there, we've decided to mix it up and try something new. We can't divulge too many details yet, but it's going to be a very different show for us, and collaborating with people who we are huge admirers of has been making the process that much more fun and exciting.
So sign up on Pop-Up's mailing list for updates, head over to McSweeney's and pick up a copy of Beck's Song Reader, and stay glued to your computer screens on April 24th at noon when tickets go on sale.... we definitely want to see you all there!
