i made it! market

Assemble Fundraiser: MakerDate

Carrie — Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:42 +0000

Assemble announces the first MakerDate fundraising event

This spring, Assemble is having its first official fundraising event on Friday, May 18 at East Liberty’s Shadow Lounge and will feature an evening full of events intended to further Assemble’s mission to engage the community in active learning.

Since Assemble’s inception in 2011, it has been the organization’s belief that curiosity breeds creativity, and intrigue is best satisfied through hands-on activities. This event takes the concept of date auctioning and re-dresses it with a purpose—MakerDate will pair skilled creators with those that want to learn something new. Attendees will have the unique chance to bid on “dates” with artists, crafters, and technologists who will work with the winning bidders to make a piece of art, a personalized piece of technology, or teach them a skill. The dates will take place after the event at a time and place determined by the maker and winning bidder.

The event will feature 14 Makers for the live auction and a number of local artisans, creators, and businesses who have donated items for a raffle.

Live Performance by: Mrs. Paintbrush (Grand Buffet)
Deejay: Jay Malls (I Dig PGH, Title Town)
Emcee: Davon Magwood

Assemble founder (and I Made It! Market co-founder) Nina Marie Barbuto says, “The MakerDate Auction is a place where people can share their passions and skills through hands-on interactions. It’s similar to a “playdate” for adults! We hope to be strengthening the making community with this event, exposing makers to enthusiasts and vice versa.”

Participating Makers include:
Bill Moore—filmmaking
Ben Saks (floatpictures.com)—indoor rubber powered airplane building
Sam Thorp (graphicanatomy.com)—figure drawing
Erika Johnson (erikajohnsonstudio.com)—microscopic media
Bek Winters—local food sourcing and preservation
Casey Droege (caseywhat.com)—strategic intuitive life-planning
Beano Gee (beanogee.com)—watercolor and digital art
Diane Meyer—Shibori cloth dying
Brandon Barber of Laser Lab Studio (laserlabstudio.com)—3D modeling and sculpture
Cotton Factory (cottonfactory.com)—t-shirt printing
Carl Bajandas—Arduino
Encyclopedia Destructica (encyclopediadestructica.com)—zine making
Blaine Siegel (blainesiegel.com)—guerrilla art installation
Deanna Mance (deannamance.com)—kitchen printmaking

About Assemble
Vision::
Assemble is a non-profit founded in 2010, which envisions a diverse community that creates, connects, and learns through the experience of art and technology.

Mission::
Assemble is an open physical space in an urban neighborhood in Pittsburgh. We unite artists, technologists, and makers with our neighbors of all demographics. Assemble provides a platform for experiential learning, opening creative processes and building confidence through making.

About Shadow Lounge
The Shadow Lounge has been in the game 11+ years. It all started from humble beginnings, committed to good music and expression through art. Many types of music are featured here on the regular as well as film screenings and parties.

http://tinyurl.com/makerdate assemblepgh.org facebook.com/assemblepgh

Featured Friday Artist: Carol Skinger

Carrie — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:08:45 +0000

Meet: Carol Skinger

Artist Carol Skinger from Pittsburgh is one of our occasional IMI vendors. She has always told us she doesn’t sew or make jewelry orprint t-shirts (yet!) but likes the spirit of our indie maker events where sells her original art, prints, and greeting cards. She will be joining us as a vendor at the IMI event Carnegie Library Summer Reading Extravaganza :: Sunday, June 10 ::Carnegie Library Main Branch, Oakland.

Before that however, one of her original art pieces was juried into the Pittsburgh Society of Artists exhibit titled “Tone it UP!”

This exhibit is one of four guild exhibits opening at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts this Friday May 11, 2012 5:30- 9PM. Awards at 8PM. This is an invitation to IMI friends and vendors to attend the opening OR see the show before July 22 when it ends.

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (Map to PCA) : 6300 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Skinger’s piece titled “Pile it on. We VOTE!” is a watercolor and collage using a graded wash background with birch tree wallpaper decals and a print of Venus de Milo. It was created as a response to the concept that Pittsburgh Society of Artists (PSA) came up with as a theme for Tone it UP! “In this election year, where billions are being spent on spin, brand and point of view- this image is my artistic contribution,” says Carol.

PSA invited its members and members of other local guilds to “pump up the volume” about something they were passionate about, whether political, environmental, cultural, etc. This theme is in response to officials suggesting the public should “tone down” their rhetoric. Artists were encouraged to tell compelling stories with their work. This exhibit, which features a variety of media: installation, film and video, includes more than 40 pieces. Three juror awards will be given. Juror Greg Harrison is currently Chair of the Department of Art & Design at California University of PA. He earned his MFA from Edinboro University.

She had this to say about her piece “Pile it on. We VOTE!”. “I wanted to make an image that spoke for itself. No mystery! In the past few months we have been treated to seeing committee chairman, Rep. Darrel Issa (r California) and the news photo of him and all those male politicians in suits at a Capitol Hill hearing deciding on women’s health issues. And he was fighting off an attempt to have a woman’s voice even heard! Then we had various states trying to legislate that when facing an abortion a woman must have a trans-vaginal ultrasound probe. Even the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure became a divisive issue due to reproductive politics. This war on women is what motivated my artwork. “

Her image is even available at the Shop at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts as a greeting card for the duration of the show. It could be a Mother’s Day card for the right person! YIKES Mothers day is Sunday May 13. Or buy it in packs of 4 at Carol’s shop. http://carolskinger.com/store/products/pile-it-on-we-vote-cards/.

Interview with Fiber Artist Amber Coppings

Carrie — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:46:39 +0000

Meet Amber Coppings

We were really excited to spend some time with local fiber superstar, Amber Coppings, who has had her ‘hand’ in a lot of fiber work all over Pittsburgh and beyond. An educator and artist, Amber is releasing a new line of gorgeous hand-dyed clothing just in time for the Spring/Summer months. Amber is the force behind Xmittens, keeping Pittsburghers (and beyond) warm since 2006.

In fact, you can be among the first to grab your own wearable art from Amber at a trunk show on Thursday, May 10th starting at 5pm. Visit the Facebook Event page for all of the details and to RSVP.

We grilled Amber to get to know how she finds her creative inspiration and to learn how she got a start as an artist and maker.

Tell us about your love for fiber and how you got started in fiberarts.

I started creating with fiberart/textiles when I was young. My mom introduced crocheting into my life when I was about 8 years old. I got away from art in high school, but took a fiberarts class in college and it just clicked.
I love the tactile participation of constructing using yarns and fabrics…it’s a process I understand on a very deep level. Some people really understand how to use paint to communicate their inner worlds, or use wood, or gemstones. For me, it’s color and texture and textiles all the way.

Describe your style.

Definitely eclectic! I used to roam secondhand stores, but they get picked over so much more than they used to. Instead, I roam the internet and find other independent designers and mix and match my clothing and accessories and theirs to make my style.
In general, I love the unusual small details that got a lot of attention by the designer. Anything that has a sense of command and place in the world, but may not exist everywhere.
Could you share a little bit with us about how Xmittens wearables are unique.

I think there are several things that make Xmittens stand out:
they are handmade with recycled fabrics (new to my customers, but the fabric was constructed out of recycled materials saved from landfills)
the modern design and practical uses are appealing to men, women and teens with a wide variety of lifestyles and aesthetics. I’ve had 65 year old male golfers love their Xmittens, drag queens add them to their outfits, yoga instructors wear them to class, moms wear the jackets to drop their kids off at school…you name them, they probably would wear Xmittens.
Also, Xmittens items are really durable. Even with daily wear the fingerless gloves can last many years. That’s hard to find in a mass market glove!

What is the inspiration behind your new designs?

My love of fabric dyeing started because a friend of mine moved to Japan, so I learned about shibori (the Japanese fabric dyeing methods) to feel like I understood his life a bit more. So, there has always been a very personal element to my love of fabric dyeing.
This new collection has its catalyst in the unexpected death of my father in January. He would be very proud of me and the vibrant collection I am putting out into the world.
How can shoppers get their hands on the new Spring/Summer Line?

Come to my Trunk Show on Thursday, May 10 5pm-9pm in Point Breeze! All the details arehere: http://xmittens.net/2012/04/amber-coppings-designs-trunk-show-may-10-2012/
You can also buy online at shop.xmittens.net and, soon, you will find the new collection at shops who carry my line. Take a look at the list here: http://xmittens.net/stockists/

You have been an art instructor to so many in the fiberarts. What about the arts community in Pittsburgh gives you the “warm fuzzies”?

It’s unbelievable how supportive the community of Pittsburgh can be for artists, crafters and designers. There’s always room to grow, but, honestly, there are so few places where an artist can own their own home, house their studio in it, incubate and try out ideas on a receptive hometown audience and then get cheered along the way to national attention. There are numerous opportunities to give back, too, as a teacher, or to donate to a great cause, etc… It’s amazing.

Connect with Amber

MAIN Shop: http://shop.xmittens.net

Cotton Factory Re-Releases Hello Bully Tees.

Carrie — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:53:32 +0000

From I Made It! Market sponsors: Cotton Factory

PITTSBURGH LOVES PIT BULLS: A CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT HELLO BULLY

Limited edition PITSburgh tees and aprons available through May 31, 2012

The Cotton Factory and Hello Bully are pairing up once again to bring back the incredibly successful limited edition PITSburgh t-shirts and aprons for the month of May. Designed as a fund and awareness raising campaign for Hello Bully, portions of each sale donated to the local pit bull rescue group.

This time around the PITSburgh pride design is available on both t-shirts and aprons with your choice of gold or pink ink. $5 from each t-shirt and $3 from each apron sold will be donated directly to Hello Bully. The shirts are available for sale online at www.thecottonfactory.com now through May 31, 2012. The promotion ends May 31, after which the shirts and aprons will no longer be available.

On Friday, May 4 the Cotton Factory and TeeRex Syndicate will open for Unblurred along Penn Ave between 6:00 and 10:00 pm. 10% of all t-shirt sales that evening will be donated to Hello Bully, who will be on hand to provide information about the benefits of pit bull rescue and it’s positive effects on the community.

About Hello Bully:

Hello Bully is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation focused on the rescue and rehabilitation of the American Pit Bull Terrier. Hello Bully’s all-volunteer staff and supporters are driven by their hearts and passion to help pit bulls. http://hellobully.org

About The Cotton Factory:

The Cotton Factory produces quality apparel with original designs created by a devoted staff of local designers. Based in Pittsburgh, PA the Cotton Factory often partners with local groups such as the Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project, Bike Pittsburgh, and more. http://www.cottonfactory.com

Dozen Bake Shop T-Shirt Design Contest

Carrie — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:59:01 +0000

Dozen Bake Shop invites you to participate in their t-shirt design contest, and is currently accepting entries now: deadline = Thursday, May 17th at midnight.

Dozen is looking for local artists, designers and anyone who loves to enter contests to create a fun, unique design to get printed on some t-shirts locally provided by I Made It! Market sponsor: Cotton Factory.

To enter, as well as receive more information regarding rules and guidelines, please contact Dena@dozenbakeshop.com. Winners will be announced May 21st.

Support the Carnegie Libraries

Carrie — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:05:52 +0000

Click to purchase tickets!

Tickets for After Hours @ the Library: Late Night are selling fast. Don’t miss out! Get your tickets now. What more could you ask for? Tickets are only $40 and include:

Live music from the Mon River Ramblers
3 drink tickets (including wine, beer from Full Pint Brewing and a specialty cocktail)
Live action Where’s Waldo?
Great food from East Liberty restaurants
Silent auction including a card catalog and a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey signed by Jordan Staal
Dancing with music from DJ Joey J
Whiskey tasting with Wigle Whiskey Coffee (with or without a twist) from Zeke’s Coffee
Crafts from I Made it Market
An afterparty at Mad Mex – Shadyside with discount margaritas

What are you waiting for? Get your tickets now! Not only will you get to come to one of the most unique parties in Pittsburgh, you’ll also be donating to a great cause – Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. All proceeds benefit the Library and will be matched as part of the Library’s Perfect Match campaign!

New Event Applications to be Announced

Carrie — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:46:15 +0000

Please sign up for our Maker Mail ——–>>> over there on the right side of the website to be among the first to apply for our June Events!

Learn more about our upcoming events anytime on our EVENTS page.

Earth Day in Mt. Lebanon a fun-filled day of learning

Carrie — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:24:06 +0000

Visit Mt. Lebanon’s Earth Day celebration where a few I Made It! Market vendors will join with others offering recycled, repurposed and Earth friendly handmade wares.

If it’s Earth-friendly and fun, it is part of the party at Earth Day in Mt. Lebanon, Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Mt. Lebanon Park. The free, family-friendly festival will feature such electric vehicles as the Nissan Leaf, the Tesla Roadster and electric bikes. You can even ride a generator bike to chare your cell phone.

“This festival is about seeing new things, learning new green ways of living, being more energy efficient, but most of all it’s a fun day filled with live music, good food, lots of free activities and artists with creatively-green items for sale,” says organizer Beth Hedin. “It’s also about buying farm goods from local farmers and merchants, and learning about groups in our community that are making a difference in making our world a better place.”

The organizers are being very tight-lipped about a special surprise at 12:15 p.m.

The event will include many recycling drop-off points for such items as old laptops, MP3s, digital cameras cell phones, some used office supplies, old sneakers ( for Nike-ReUse-A-Shoe), plastic bottle caps, and re-usable grocery bags. Bring a white t-shirt to tie-dye in iron oxide.

Bob Mulvihill from the National Aviary will lead a bird walk in the park at 2 p.m.

Details: www.earthdaymtlebanon.org

View Pics from our April Events

Carrie — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:27:01 +0000

Oh my gosh, did we have a great April. Those April showers didn’t slow down the enthusiasm Pittsburghers have for handmade. We were so glad to see you at both Chili with the Works on April 14th at SouthSide Works and at I Made It! Jr. on April 21st at Bakery Square.

Check out our photos (and become friends on Flickr):

Chili with the Works

*image Kreepy Dolls Factory + Fancy Pants Crafts

I Made It! Jr.

*photo Garbella

I Made It! Jr. at Bakery Square

Carrie — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:24:28 +0000

I Made It! Jr. THIS SATURDAY, April 21st

(Yes, this is important enough for all caps!)

Oh the Family Fun we will have this Saturday at Bakery Square from noon – 4 pm! Shop from 30 local artisans bring wares just for little kiddos and babies + all of this fun:

18 foot blow up slide
free snow cones & cotton candy
hot dogs french fries and hamburgers available for lunch
The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium will be on-site with their polar bear mascot
There is also complimentary craft beer for parents! WHAT?!?!?!
+ Lots of free games, activities and of course some crafting + the Animal Rescue League will be onsite with cute and cuddly kitties for adoption.
View our artists here. And RSVP on Facebook for easy sharing with all of your friends!