New Artisan! Soaps by Have Some Patience

We are very excited to be debuting a new line of rich, delicious soaps by Have Some Patience!

Patience Jones loved soaps and bath products, but disliked all the chemicals that make them lather up and smell so good. So about a year ago, in true DIY spirit, she started studying soap-making through books and online tutorials, and created this line of natural, deliciously scented soaps.

The six varieties sound more like farmer’s market treats than cleansers, which is a good thing. She even uses ingredients like molasses, honey, and annatto. In her tiny Manhattan kitchen she cooks up small batches of Spring Lettuce, Honey Rose, Milk Chocolate, Tangerine Fig, Orange Peel, and Bamboo.

They lather beautifully without chemical additives, and are prettily packaged, too.

The soaps are $10 per bar, or $40 for a gift box of 4, and you can purchases them in the shop or from Greenjeans Online. Needless to say, they would make fantastic Valentine's Day presents!

I am in love with the Honey Rose, and Patience likes the Milk Chocolate (which smells just like you could eat it), especially on a rainy day. Which will become your favorite?

Posted and photo by Amy Shaw.

P.S.

Shout out to the lovely and talented Billie and Tootie of ReForm School. Thanks for stopping by today -- it was great meeting you!

"Under-Cover" Press Release

January 30, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amy Shaw
718-907-5835
amy@greenjeansbrooklyn.com

Hours: Tues-Sun 12-7, Thurs 12-9

WINTER EXHIBITION: “UNDER-COVER”
February 7 – March 20, 2008
Opening Reception: February 6, 6-8pm

This winter, Greenjeans is presenting “Under-Cover,” a juried group show of small quilts with a new sculpture series by Jane Kaufmann.

Celebrated clay artist Jane Kaufmann of Durham, New Hampshire, created a brand new sculpture series around the theme of beds for this exhibition. Each of the 20 “beds” (most of them raku-fired) features a figure cheerfully emerging from under a narrative blanket. The “Flower Bed” (shown left) is festooned with yellow roses, and the “Feather Bed” plumes with real feathers. The “Day Bed” incorporates her classic Sunman figure.

The other half of “Under-Cover” features small quilts (all under 14-inches square) ranging from the experimental to the traditional, handmade by quiltmakers from around the country. Selected with Brooklyn quiltmaker Erin Wilson following a national call for entries, the group of quilts offers a taste of what quiltmaking is today.

All works in “Under-Cover” will be available to view and purchase from Greenjeans Online. The complete quilt submissions will also be on www.greenjeansbrooklyn.com.

Press images available by request.

Posted by Amy Shaw.
Images: “Flower Bed” by Jane Kaufmann, and Quilt by Steven Stichter, courtesy of the artists.

The World Clock Project

Intrigued by all the different kinds of clocks around the world, the boys at Iridesco have created a wonderful and interesting online photo gallery that anyone can contribute to: The World Clock Project. (Iridesco is Danny Wen and our friend Shawn Liu, and they do our website.)

As you'll see on the Project's website, there are plenty of minutes still to be accounted for with a picture of a clock showing that time. So take your digital camera to the streets and photograph the great clocks in your neighborhood!

Their idea is simple, fun, and community-spirited:

"We find it intriguing to see a picture of a clock that is located thousands of miles away, but one which tells us the exact time of where we are right now. So we've set out to collect as many pictures of clocks as possible from as many different people as possible from around the world.

"Our goal is to gather enough pictures to account for all the minutes of the day. Upon accomplishing that, we will create a "digital picture clock" for the community."

Nice idea, and an elegant way of reminding us of how we're all connected. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Posted by Amy Shaw.
Images from The World Clock Project.

What Are Your Favorite Blogs?

May I ask you a favor, gentle reader? I want to find out what other blogs the kind readers of my blog check out on a regular basis.

As you may know, I am giving a talk during the American Craft Council Fair in Baltimore this year on blogging and craft, sort of an extension of the talk Rena Tom from Rare Device and I gave at the ACC's Salon Series back in September.

And in preparation, I want to ask all you Greenjeans Blog readers out there: what other blogs are you reading these days? Whether craft-related or not, what are your favorite blogs? I'd love to know!

Take a moment to mention your favorite blogs in the comments section here, or you can email me: amy@greenjeansbrooklyn.com.

Thank you!

And if you're going to be in Baltimore for the fair, I hope you'll join me on Wednesday morning (Feb. 20) at 8:30am for my breakfast talk! (Stay tuned -- there will be more on that later...)

REPOST from Jan. 25, 2008, post.

Posted by Amy Shaw.
Image sourced here.

Solmate Socks - Adult Sizes Restocked!

We are re-stocked with Solmate Socks in all adult sizes!

If you want some, don't wait! They go FAST.

Come in this weekend, or contact us to place an order. (They aren't available in our Online Shop yet.)

Plenty available in kids and infant sizes, too.

Posted by Amy Shaw.
Images by Solmate Socks.

Lagasse Baskets Now Online

Today I added a big batch of Ray Lagasse's wonderful baskets to the Online Shop. Have a look!

These baskets are so well made, and just perfect for organizing your counter top, holding magazines and mail, or keeping knitting or other projects together. Some, like the tall Kindling Basket (pictured top), are great for the fireside or near the door to hold umbrellas. Others, like the Oval Serving Tray, are multi-purpose favorites. And the Picnic Basket (pictured below) is a classic. Each is built to last with hardwood interior bottoms and underside rails.

Baskets make wonderful wedding and housewarming gifts, even if it's a gift to warm your own house!

And click here to see the Virtual Studio Visit with Ray Lagasse I did a while back.

Come to Greenjeans this weekend to take advantage of the final days of our After Holiday Sale and to see the baskets for yourself!

Posted and photos by Amy Shaw.

Judy Geagley's Knotty Pig

Move over sock monkeys! Made from reclaimed sweaters in multiple patterns and colors, Judy Geagley’s Knotty Pig is a soft and funny friend.


Also newly available in the Online Store:

Eberhart Rocker and Enfield Side Chair by Brian Braskie (Canterbury, NH)

Jewelry by Chelle Kraus (New York, NY) (shown below)

Glass Nymphs by Matthew Eskuche (Pittsburgh, PA)


See something you'd like for Valentine's Day? Let us know and we'll put it on your wish list, so when your sweetheart comes in we can help them make the perfect selection!

Posted and photos by Amy Shaw.

"Extreme Embroidery" Show Extended

I received word today from the Museum of Arts & Design that they have extended the dates of their two current exhibitions, "Pricked: Extreme Embroidery" and "Cheers! A MAD Collection of Goblets," both of which I reviewed here recently. There are a number of new public programs coming up, too.

You now have until April 27th to check them out -- both shows are definitely worth seeing!

Attention Quilt Submitters

It is nearly midnight and we are still finalizing our first round selections. Then we have to prepare 45 emails to let you know our decisions.

So don't stay up! Check your email in the morning. Thanks!

"Under-Cover" Comes Together

Today is the deadline for submissions to "Under-cover," our Winter exhibition of small quilts and new sculpture by Jane Kaufmann, and the emails keep rolling in!

Jane is all done with the series of 22 "bed" sculptures she made for the show. Each one features a figure tucked under a blanket. "Flower Bed" is festooned with roses, and from "Day Bed" her classic Sunman reaches up with a smile. Jae is driving up to NH to pick them all up on Tuesday, and we'll tuck them away until a few days before the show.

As for the quilt piece of the exhibition, we've received images of something like 80 quilts to consider, but with space to show less than half of them, Monday's selection process will be quite challenging. The pool is rich.

Brooklyn-based quilt maker Erin Wilson will be co-curating the show with us. We will email all submitters by midnight Monday to let them know if their quilt made the first round and should be sent to us for final decisions. Final selections will be emailed and announced here on the blog February 1.

Since we will not be able to exhibit all the quilts at Greenjeans for "Under-Cover," we will also create a Complete Submissions version available to view online. There you will find images of small quilts by about 45 quilt makers and artists from around the world who submitted, and in many cases created new work, for the exhibition.

Thank you to everyone who has submitted work -- it's going to be an amazing show of contemporary quilts from the classic to the inventive, and wow will it be colorful! Thank you to Jane for creating her new series for the show.

I hope you can come to the Opening Reception on February 6. Jane Kaufmann and some of the quilt makers will be in attendance and we'll have nice beverages and snacks to enjoy. It will be an effervescent evening!

(Update: Jane may or may not be able to come for the opening. Please call us around the date of the opening to find out if she'll be attending: 718-907-5835.)

In any case, stay tuned to the blog during the next several weeks to see pictures from the opening, pictures of all the works in the show (most will be available for purchase from Greenjeans' online store).

Until tomorrow!

Posted by Amy Shaw.
Photo: exhibition poster by Dick and Jane Kaufmann.

Upcoming Events & Shows

TASCHEN Warehouse Sale in New York
January 18, 2008 - January 20, 2008
TASCHEN Store New York (107 Greene Street, NY 10012)

Get crazy deals on slightly worn but still gorgeous books from Taschen.

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The City Quilter 10th Anniversary Show
Now - March 2, 2008 (8am-8pm daily)
Williams Club (24 East 39th St.)

An exhibition of 45 quilts celebrating the work of the more than 3,500 students that have taken our classes over the past decade.

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Church of Craft Convening
Jan. 21, 7-9pm
Rapture Cafe 200 Avenue A (Between 12th & 13th Streets) NYC

All are always welcome. Bring a project you are working on or just come and check out what everyone else is up to.

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Check out American Craft Magazine's new on-line Calendar to find more craft shows and events nation-wide!

Posted by Amy Shaw.

Greenjeans Gazette for Jan. '08

The latest issue of the Greenjeans Gazette is out (albeit a week late...)!

Click here to read this month's issue.

To subscribe, click here and scroll down.

Thanks for reading!

Photo: Ears of Jane Kaufmann's "Hep Cat" raku clay finger puppet.