Category: Craft

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Treats (no tricks!): Fall 2020

In these tricky times, here’s a virtual goodie bag full of classes, films, performances, and tours you can enjoy from home, as well as artisan wares you can shop from anywhere!

tissue paper flowers

For good stuff and in between these seasonal roundups, watch our Instagram stories!

Stay well and be safe, friends! Keep supporting artists, makers, local businesses, and causes when you can.  Nourish your soul.

 

tropical plants
Denver Botanic Gardens tropical conservatory, 2013.

Freebies

Badge Bomb:

  • Fun stay-at-home-themed coloring pages, activity sheets, and stickers. Download a PDF or request a free printed sheet with any order.
  • Free shipping on US orders over $50 + international orders over $75.

 

Black Lives Matter poster printable: PDF you can download from Dropbox, print, and hang up. Artwork by Stephen Powers. (Preview)

 

Denver Botanic Gardens virtual Día de los Muertos celebration: Coloring pages, classes, short film competition, and online mercado.

  • In Denver: Glow at the Gardens, Oct. 20-25. Reimagined for 2020, an evening of luminous displays and live performers. Advance purchase of timed tickets required. $17-21

 

Why I Love Where I Live sign

 

Monterey Bay Aquarium:

 

Museum of Craft and Design: MCD@Home has partnered with artists and community collaborators to create at-home projects based on museum’s signature programs and exhibitions.

 

Where to Go + When: Free ebook by longtime travel blogger Sherry Ott of Ottsworld. Email address required to receive the download link.

 

Why I Love Where I Live:

 

Chrysanthemums

Classes

Debbie Allen Dance Academy: Founded by Debbie Allen of Fame fame, DADA is a non-profit organization with programs to expand young people’s access to dance + theater.

 

Hanna Naegle yoga:

 

MyIntent:

 

San Francisco School of Needlework + Design:

  • Online classes on embroidery and other stitching techniques. Fees vary.
  • Virtual Stitch-ins: Weekly Zoom meetups where you can craft along with fellow fans of fiber arts. No RSVP required. Free.

 

Olney gallery in Phoenix
Olney Gallery, a Phoenix First Friday and Art Detour venue.

Virtual Tours

Artnet: Roundup of virtual art world events.

 

Fort Wayne Museum of Art: Take a virtual tour from home.

 

Mission San Juan Capistrano:

 

NYC virtual guide:

 

Phoenix-area virtual attractions:

 

Not Just Quiltz
Fabric at Not Just Quiltz, designed by Donna Abbots.

Shop Art + Craft

L.A. County Yarn Crawl Shops:

 

Not Just Quiltz: We met this vendor at the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival!

 

Orenda Tribe SPREAD LOVE + SHINE LIGHT Shop: Sale of art and artisan goods with 100% of proceeds going to critical aid on the Diné / Navajo reservation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Quilt-Craft-Sew Mall: Shop vendors from Quilt, Craft + Sewing Festivals online, since so many of 2020’s events had to be canceled.

 

Riders of the Purple Sage program
Waiting for the premiere of Riders of the Purple Sage!

Watch

Arizona Opera’s Reimagined 2020/21 Season:

 

The Loft Cinema:

 

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts concerts: Many upcoming Scottsdale Arts shows are either all virtual or in-person with a virtual option. Live stream tickets vary by show ($20-39).

 

SXSW Short Films: A collection of shorts that were selected for SXSW 2020, but couldn’t be screened when the festival had to be canceled last-minute, due to the pandemic. You can now watch them from home! Free.

 

The Loft Cinema

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The Fight to Breathe

Black Lives Matter mural by Camila Ibarra

It’s a weird time to be alive.

It’s a weird time to be breathing.

Because this virus keeps spreading across the world, carried by breath. You could inhale sickness and never know where it came from. You could exhale death and never know where it landed.

Bighorn fire photo by Phillip.
Fires burning near the top of the Santa Catalina mountains on 6/10/20.

Because wildfire keeps spreading across the mountains in Tucson. Even far from the danger, we feel its burn in our eyes and throats as we breathe in the smoke.

BLM poster listing the names of people who've died from police violence in recent years.

Because violence keeps spreading across the U.S.

When you saw that an officer would block an unarmed man’s windpipe with the weight of his knee, did you feel your own throat tighten? When you saw how quickly police would turn on the people they’re supposed to protect, did you realize you were holding your breath?

When you remembered that air can still pass into your lungs, did you wonder what it means that you’re still breathing? And what we should do now?

Alleyway chalk drawings.

Some raged against the injustice by smashing windows and starting fires. Some by showing up in the morning to pick up the pieces and sweep up the glass. Some by activism and art.

Tucson Together mural by Jessica Gonzales
Tucson Together mural by Jessica Gonzales.

Tucson has a history of making art in response to tragedy, mosaics from shards.

After two nights of anger spilling into downtown Tucson streets, volunteers came to clean up.

Be kind

Over boarded-up windows, they painted the Ben’s Bells symbol – that bright green flower shape with the words “be kind” in the center. If you’ve been to Tucson in recent years, you’ve seen it. But you might not know the project’s story, that it began as a way for founder Jeannette Maré to work through the grief of losing her son, Ben. She threw her energy into spreading kindness and making ceramic windchimes.

Gadsden quote

Art is helping us navigate this perplexing time too.

Black Lives Matter Tucson held a Celebration of Black Lives on the U of A campus with speakers and music. You can see videos of it on their Facebook page, including this transcendent dance performance by Na-il Ali Emmert.

Hotel Congress with Camila on Canvas mural
Black Lives Matter mural by @CamilaOnCanvas.

There are new murals popping up around Tucson. One that feels particularly of the moment is by Camila Ibarra on the north wall of Hotel Congress. Her portrait of a face-mask-wearing Black woman with the words “Black Lives Matter” in her natural hair has this intensity, this electricity in every brushstroke.

Murals at MSA Annex

Muralist Joe Pagac has been connecting Black artists with downtown Tucson walls. Several murals have already gone up at MSA Annex. I was walking Quijote around there the other day and got to meet one of the artists, To-Ree’-Nee’ Wolf, who was in the process of painting an extension to her mural.

Mural by To-Ree-Nee Wolf
Artist To-Ree-Nee Wolf working on one of her murals.

A week after George Floyd’s death, there was a vigil in his honor outside The Dunbar Pavilion, an African American art and cultural center. There was a stage set up, where Tucsonans took turns at the mic, sharing stories of loved ones they’ve lost to police violence, about fearing for their children, about the need for grassroots change.

George Floyd vigil in Tucson

Because being Black in America – simply existing – puts you in more danger.

As nature photographer Gina Danza wrote, “Peace doesn’t come without worry, fear for Black womxn. There is never a moment where we can be fully at peace.”

We can’t let that continue to be the case.

Candles at a vigil for George Floyd.
Photo by The Dunbar Pavilion of candles lit in remembrance of George Floyd.

The Enough is Enough vigil wrapped up with a moment of silence – actually 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence – to remember George Floyd. As we lit candles or turned on cell phone lights to hold up, the speaker said, “When your arm starts getting tired, remember that at least you’re not on the ground with someone’s knee on your neck.”

Before leaving, people placed flowers and candles and handmade signs on a table in front of the stage, turning it into a kind of a shrine.

Tucson wildfire smoke
Smoke rising from the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina mountains on 6/17/20.

Of course, the fight is far from over.

There’s been some rain, but the fire in the Catalinas isn’t out yet. There was a short reprieve, but the virus is spreading quickly. There has been some progress, but the violence hasn’t stopped.

We need to look out for each other, make sure everyone can keep breathing.

We need to be kind.

Black Lives Matter

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Community in the Time of Coronavirus

While COVID-19 has thrown us all off balance, people are helping each other get back on their feet in some lovely ways – sharing their art, connecting people with resources, checking in on family and friends, donating where they can, helping the “helpers” on the front lines, and buying from their local mom-and-pop shops and restaurants. (All from a safe distance, of course!)

 

Coffee thank you

I’ve rounded up a list of various goodies to help you stay well, support independent artists and businesses, and give back.

 

Breathe background for Zoom video
Courtesy of Saywells Design + Why I Love Where I Live.

Free to Download

Adobe: Resources for creativity at home!

  • Coloring book pages by designers and illustrators. Each week, there’s a new set of pages with themes like “gratitude” and “alphabet.”
  • Short films about design.
  • Public domain images and fonts to liven up your paper craft projects!
  • Tips for photographing your plants and pets.

 

Badge Bomb: Fun stay-at-home-themed coloring pages, activity sheets, and stickers you can print and color.

 

Face masks
Face masks via Bluprint.

Bluprint: Patterns for sewing face masks and instructions for folding no-sew masks.

 

Native Seeds/SEARCH:

 

Why I Love Where I Live:

 

Lisa Congdon sketchbook via CreativeBug
Lisa Congdon sketchbook via CreativeBug

Workshops

Debbie Allen Dance Academy: Founded by Debbie Allen of Fame fame, DADA is a non-profit organization with programs to expand young people’s access to dance + theater.

 

Lisa Congdon: A couple of free online classes from an artist whose work always makes me smile.

 

MyIntent:

 

Rohit Gijare: Virtual dance classes on Sundays…

  • $5 semi-classical or Bolly fusion workshop with the Bollywood Boulevard choreographer.
  • $8 for both classes with code BOTH.

 

Skillshare:

  • Free classes demonstrating a variety of art, craft, cooking, entrepreneurship, and other skills.
  • Premium membership free for 2 months. (New members only.)

 

 

Arts + Artisans shop in Chicago
Arts + Artisans shop in Chicago

Shop

Arts and Artisans: 40% off everything through April 30.

 

Badge Bomb:

Stay Home Reward Sticker Sheet by Gemma Correll
Stay Home Reward Sticker Sheet by Gemma Correll on Badge Bomb.

 

Bookman’s: For every $25 gift card purchase, Bookman’s will add a $5 reward. For every $100, get a $25 reward!

 

Doggie Drawings Shop: Artwork by Lili Chin 20% off. This includes Dogs of the World prints and cute enamel pins of different dog breeds.

 

Corgi pin by Lili Chin.

 

Dogs and Donuts: Free delivery in Tucson for orders over $15.

 

Downtown Tucson Partnership: DTP Gift Card Incentive Program…

  • Buy a $25 gift card for one of over 60 downtown businesses through the Downtown Tucson Partnership + receive a free $10 bonus!
  • Participating businesses include restaurants, museums, shops, bars/breweries, salons, fitness centers, a hotel, and a theater.
  • DTP will announce each round of gift card sales on its site. (Hint: They’ve mostly gone on sale on Fridays starting at 6am and sold out FAST!)
  • They’ve also gathered a lot of resources to help Tucsonans navigate life during the pandemic.

 

hotel congress

Hotel Congress: Additional $25 when you purchase a $100 gift card.

 

L.A. County Yarn Crawl Shops:

 

MAST (at Mercado San Agustin): Free shipping on U.S. orders with promo code MARCHON. Or 25% off any one item made by Mellow, Sofie, or Tasha with code LEANON.

 

MyIntent:

  • 50% off sitewide with code HERWORD50 (through May 10).
  • We featured a MyIntent necklace in a previous gift guide.

 

Arizona Hearts art print
Arizona Hearts art print by Phoenix Supply Co.

Phoenix Supply Co.

  • Today: buy 1 art print, get one 50% off!
  • Free domestic shipping on orders $40+.
  • I know founder/artist Melissa through the Phoenix design community, and she is a stellar human being!

 

Not Just Quiltz:

  • Bolt of the Week 25% off.
  • All bolt BATIKS and precut bundles 15% off (half-yard minimum).
  • Select colors of King Tut thread $19.95/2000 yard cone (regular $29.95).
  • Closeout fabrics $8/yard, while supplies last.
  • We met this vendor at the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival.

 

Seven Cups Fine Chinese Teas:

  • 20% off Bai Long Xu (White Dragon Whiskers) Loose Leaf Sheng Puer tea.
  • Free delivery within the continental U.S.
  • Select tea ware on sale.

 

Spirit of the Artisan:

 

Why I Love Where I Live:

 

Republica Empanada in Mesa
Republica Empanada in Mesa

Food (Arizona)

Phoenix Area

Cartel Coffee Lab, Tempe:

  • Free shipping (except subscriptions) with code STAYHOME.
  • Pickup available at original downtown Tempe location (on Ash).

 

Crown Public House, Phoenix: Weekday specials on green chili mac, wings, pizza, and more.

 

Peixoto Coffee, Chandler:

  • Buy 3 bags of coffee, get one free.
  • Free shipping or curbside pickup.
  • Make a donation to help them provide hot coffee to overnight hospital workers.

 

Republica Empanada, Mesa: $2 beer or $10 mix-and-match six pack with any order.

 

Tucson To Go: Reforma

Tucson

Several Tucson restaurants are offering $30 takeout meals for two, as part of Tucson To-Go! Even though it’s presented by Sonoran Restaurant Week, this deal is ongoing.

 

Agustin Kitchen (at Mercado San Agustin): Burgers and sandwiches (a.k.a. “handhelds”) are buy one, get one free from 2-4pm daily. Walk-up or call-in orders.

 

Beaut Burger (at MSA Annex): Buy one, get one free vegan burgers weekdays from 4-5pm. Walk-up orders only.

 

Cartel coffee

Cartel Coffee Lab, Tucson:

  • Free shipping (except subscriptions) with code STAYHOME.
  • Pickup available at Grant and Campbell.

 

Cup Cafe (in Hotel Congress):

  • 20% off Cup Cafe dishes to-go. New menu includes family style meals!
  • $2 off all pies and cakes by the slice.

 

Check out Tucson Foodie’s takeout guide or the lists that Brunch Babes Tucson has aggregated of current food, coffee, and alcohol options!

 

Julieannas In Yuma
Julieanna’s Cafe patio in Yuma

Yuma

Julieanna’s:

What is helping you find a sense of community during this time?

 

Chalk board sign
Good Oak Bar in Tucson
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Crafting for Australia

Eucalyptus trees at arboretum

Wildlife rescue centers in Australia and the animals they’ve taken in have found some unlikely allies.

Kangaroo joeys
Joeys hanging around. Photo: Wildlife Volunteers Association Inc.

Caring for injured Australian fauna requires a very specific supply list, which includes things like marsupial sleeping pouches and mitts to protect burnt paws. These can’t be made out of just anything. It has to be soft, breathable 100% cotton fabric – exactly the type of material that quilters are experts at working with.

NotJustQuiltZ
NotJustQuiltZ’s aboriginal-designed fabrics at the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival in Phoenix.

Jeltje van Essen, owner of Quilt Shop 100 Rozen in Deventer, Netherlands, realized this and recruited a group of volunteers to sew for wildlife centers overwhelmed by Australia’s intense fire season.

I learned about their efforts through Pauline Rogers, who comes all the way from Australia to have a booth at the Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival in Phoenix.

Pauline Rogers
Pauline Rogers demonstrates her products at the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival in Phoenix.

Jeltje’s quilt shop crew in The Netherlands started by making mittens for injured koalas, using cheery fabrics to make their carers smile. They have since moved on to other projects, like sewing wraps for rolling up recovering bats into cozy little fabric burritos (bat-ritos?) that make them feel like they’re snug inside their mothers’ wings.

Bat wraps
Bat wraps! Photo by Animal Rescue Freecycle Craft Guild.

The Dutch quilt shop volunteers certainly weren’t the only crafters to pick up their needles to help, however.

Donations of handmade items have been pouring in to the Rescue Craft Co. (RCC), based in New South Wales, which has been sharing patterns and coordinating shipments from around the world.

Handcrafted bird nests.
Nests by Nicole Jarczewski.

In fact, the reason the Netherlands quilt shop group switched projects is because the koalas in Australia are all stocked up on mittens. RCC has actually been so inundated that they’ve asked that people stop sending them.

Instead, they’re requesting veterinary supplies, a select list of crafted items, and monetary contributions to their logistics GoFundMe or other trusted  organizations working to help Australia heal.

Photo: Wildlife Volunteers Association Inc.

How to Help Australian Animals (via Rescue Craft Co):

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What’s Your Favorite Mural? #LocalArtLoves

Mural wall in fountain hills
The Sacred Heart of Tucson mural
The Sacred Heart of Tucson by Alexandra Gjurasic (@lexgjurasic).

 

February is coming up, which means it’s time to take a moment to appreciate the art around you!

Share photos of your favorite murals (and other art from your neighborhood) by using the hashtag #LocalArtLoves.

 

Mural by Chip Thomas (@jetsonorama) in Yuma, Arizona.

What’s Local Art Loves about?

Local Art Loves is an annual online celebration of art and artists from different corners of the globe. During the month of February, anyone can join in by using the hashtag #LocalArtLoves to share art they love from wherever they are.

 

Mural
Mural by Jet Martinez in Clarion Alley, San Francisco.

 

The purpose is to be more aware of the art around you and the artists in your community.

I was inspired by all the colorful walls around Tucson to make murals the focus for 2020. What mural(s) do you love seeing near where you live?

 

Citrus mural Downtown Tucson
By Isaac Caruso in Tucson, AZ.

FAQs

How do I participate in Local Art Loves?

Take a photo of a mural, post it on Instagram with #LocalArtLoves, and boom! you’re part of this.

 

Only murals?

Nope! Murals are just a starting point. You can share any art from your neighborhood that you really like.

More ideas: sculptures in the park, paintings in your favorite cafe, street art, exhibitions at your local library, comics, chalk art, mixed media pieces at an art fair…

 

Sonora sculpture in Tucson
Sonora sculpture by David Black in Tucson, AZ

 

Can I share my own art?

Yes! Please do! Every year, several artists participate and share their latest pieces or work in progress.

If there are other artists in your community whose work you admire, feel free to tag them and share some of their work too.

 

What counts as local? What if I’m traveling / not in my hometown this month?

“Local” is wherever you happen to be in the world. How broadly you define your neighborhood is up to you.

 

Greetings from Tucson
Greetings Tour mural, Tucson, AZ.

 

Can I share more than one piece?

Yes!

 

What if I’m not on Instagram?

You can also post (and hashtag) photos on Twitter and Facebook – make sure your post is set to public. Or contact me directly.

 

Mural
Mural by Bumble Bee Loves You in Yuma, AZ

 

Anything else I should know?

  • Please only share your own photos of the work.
  • Mention the artist if you know (or can find out) who it is.
  • Don’t take photos where it’s not allowed. If you’re not sure, ask the artist or venue. While you’re at it, find out their Instagram so you can tag them!
  • I’ll be re-posting #LocalArtLoves on social media throughout February and rounding up highlights here on the site at the end of the month.
  • Follow along on our new @TravelcraftJournal Instagram!

 

Mural
“Color Gives Life” mural by Oliverio Balcells (@olibalcells), IN FLUX installation in Tempe, AZ.
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