It’s been all about macrame around here lately – the workshops I taught a couple of weeks ago at the Crafting Community as well as a couple of retail prop projects I’ve been working on. I’m a sucker for large scale fiber art so when i saw these photos of Macrame Park I wanted to learn more.

I was not surprised to learn that Macrame Park no longer exists  – the rope could not have held up being that close to the ocean. Alexandra Jacopetti created it and made a documentary in 1974 called “The Saga of Macrame Park”.  Saga? I want to know more.

(Images from Native Funk and Flash – An Emerging Folk Art by Alexandra Jacopetti with photographs by Jerry Wainwright, published by Scrimshaw, 1974)

Oh Pinterest… I never knew there were so many things in the world I wanted to throw my money at! Edward Hopper fire escape printed pants, mid-century potpourri pyramids, rosy pink wooden step-ladders – we’re gonna need a bigger credit limit! All those things are very Christmas list-worthy (which month is it again?), but currently the main object of my affection is the Bonbon lamp by Serbian artist and furniture designer Ana Kraš. Those happy, off-kilter metal frames and brilliant silk thread color palettes are giving me a serious sweet tooth!

It’s hard to believe that Crafting Community is already over. I think we’re still coming to grips with the fact that the studio will no longer be filled with balls of yarn, tipi sticks, wooden beads, neon feathers and mason jars (amongst a million other materials and stacks of color-coded boxes). It’s true – letting go can be hard to do – until next year that is!

Anyway, we had a total blast this year with all the wonderful families and amazing artists who joined us at The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. Big hugs to each and every one of you who pitched in and made this event a weekend we will always remember. It really means the world to us!

From lounging poolside on comfy Splendid pillows, trekking out in the desert with wilderness expert Scott Scott, underwater photography lessons, paper marbling, leather belt making (and painting!) to customizing Converse chucks, kids and their parents got in touch with their creative side and discovered the artist that exists inside each one of us. Yes – even you! Check out some of our favorite moments from the weekend and a fun video from Crafting Community dad, James Takata.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Can you believe these fluorescent colorful meshes are actually spiderwebs? Artist Anthony Michael Simon discovered this exceptional artistry and worked with these silk-producing arachnids while trekking the forest one day. He brought the spiders to his studio and had them naturally spin their webs. He sprays a protective coating on the fragile webs and adds layers of misted color laquer to the network of fine threads. Once completed, he returns the spiders to where he found them, unharmed!

Transitioning from Crafting Community mode back into real life is never easy. One of the trickiest adjustments to make after it’s all said and done is to get my cookie consumption back to reasonable levels. Our buddy Chris from Isabella’s Cookies made it RAIN cookies on the studio before the event, which I used as a reward system for even my most minor accomplishments. Pack a box? Eat a cookie! Edit macramé instructions? Eat a cookie! Pass by the open bag of cookies? Eat a cookie!  Turns out that was just training for the full blown cookie freakout that Chris brought to Crafting Community – my food pyramid got even crazier from there. I was sugared out by the time I got back, but just as I was reaching for my bag of baby carrots, this adorable Cinco de Mayo Piñata Cookie caught my eye…

Cookies with a candy secret? Don’t threaten me with a good time. Plus, they’re definitely cute enough to fall off the sugar wagon for, no?

With Crafting Community fast approaching (it begins tomorrow!), we’ve been in the crafting + DIY spirit more than ever. I’m really excited about our paper marbling workshop (think bookmarks, postcards) and was completely blown away when I saw this amazing glassware marbling DIY by the ever creative gals of HonestlyWTF.

I think it’s safe to say they’ve completely taken marbling to a whole new level. Such a great way to add some color and pizzaz to your tabletop with things you most likely have laying around the house! Check out the full tutorial here.

Aside from drawings and sculptures, Jen’s myriad of talents include stop motion animation – using paper of course. Get ready for a full on explosion of shapes, colors and a whole lotta fun!

Click here to view the embedded video.

During my internet travels, I recently came across The Wild Unknown. Brainchild of Brooklyn-based artist Kim Krans, The Wild Unknown is focused on making simple, thoughtful, handcrafted goods. My absolute favorite are these one-of-a-kind prisms that Kim creates.

I mean, how cool is the Mirrored Prism which houses a tiny chime on the inside? Take a look at all of her prisms here!