Iron Man Brings Sexy Craft to Big Screen

As I watched him hammer and weld, covered in sweat and grime, muscles rippling and black eyes flashing, his fate uncertain in that dark Afghani cave, Tony Stark stole my craft-loving heart.

Oh yes, Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, is a beautiful beautiful man. Blending old school industrial brawn with MacGyver brains and Howard Hughes' limitless ambition, Robert Downey Jr. has created a charismatic, cool, and surprisingly appealing new on-screen character. And I love him.

He builds the greatest fighting machine ever out of mere scraps, then comes home and uses his futuristic high-tech robots and computers to build a svelte gear-head version. And it's totally awesome.

If you're not keen on testosterone-fueled movies featuring tons of explosions, this movie might not be for you. But if you can get into that, suspend your disbelief and get yourself to your nearest stadium-seating multiplex and watch Iron Man.

Because watching people make things is great. But watching hot guys make awesome things that fly and defeat evil is totally sexy.

I can hardly wait for the sequel...

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans. Image sourced here.

Greenjeans @ Brooklyn Flea V

Thank you, Mother Nature, for bringing sunshine yesterday! I'll admit it, we were worried when we rose at 7:00 Sunday morning that the fog outside would turn to rain, but no! We were spared and Brooklyn Flea Week 5 went off without a hitch.

This week, Jae manned the booth, joined in the afternoon by the ever-charming and helpful Cousin Jason, while I held down the shop.

Once again, Frank Ridley's wooden toys were very popular, and people loved checking out the brilliant Wine Barrel Folding Chair and new Side Kick Table. We sold a bunch of the brand new wooden Turning Green picture frames too.

We also offered an array of ceramics by the various potters we work with, and folks snapped up sets of mugs, cruets, little vases, and various other vessels. We were grateful that our carload was lighter at the end of the day!

Oh, and I had a terrific Cuban pressed sandwich for lunch -- the food scene at the Flea just gets better and better...

Next weekend's Flea falls on Mother's Day, so expect to find lots of Mom-friendly finds at our booth. And remember, we'll be at the Prospect Park Craft Fair on Saturday, which I'll blog about soon. 'Til then!

Posted and pictures by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Our Neighbor Rare Device Closing

We are sad to report that our neighbor, Rare Device, is closing after nearly 3 years as a South Slope mainstay.

Owner and friend Rena Tom moved to San Francisco a while back and opened a second Rare Device shop and gallery there. Her SF shop is thriving, but keeping things going on both coasts has proven too complicated, and so she is shuttering the Brooklyn space.

So she's having a huge sale starting Saturday May 3, with progressive discounts each week until their final day, May 18. You can find more details about the sale and hours right here.

Again, please note that Rare Device in San Francisco is still going strong, as is the webshop, so New Yorkers can still purchase items online at www.raredevice.net.

You may also soon find some of Rena's favorite designer/makers at Greenjeans. We will be talking with some of them in the coming weeks about possibly bringing their work over. I love some of the jewelry and ceramics she carries, and would love to keep some of it in the 'hood, so stay tuned about that.

We wish Rena all the best as she wraps things up in Brooklyn, and know she will continue to flourish with Rare Device in San Francisco, hopefully now with a lot less stress!

Posted by Amy Shaw. Photo sourced here.

Greenjeans @ Brooklyn Flea this Sunday

Just a note to let y'all know Greenjeans will be returning to the Brooklyn Flea this Sunday, 10-5, rain or shine. We'll be featuring the new Wine Barrel Side Kick Table, along with some dishy ceramics (get it?) and as always Frank Ridley's famous wooden toys.

There are lots of other reasons to come to the Flea this weekend, 199 of them in fact! They're expecting a full house, complete with new food vendors (Cuban sandwiches! Bread and cookies! Homemade ice-cream!) So pull on your Wellies (rain is possible again) and come on over for some fun outdoor shopping, browsing, and noshing!

We will be without our beloved Lumin this weekend (pictured above in the red striped hat), so it'll just be either me or Jae in the booth, so do come by and say hi so we don't get lonely...

For a list of vendors and lots more info, check out the Brooklyn Flea Blog. See you Sunday!

Posted by Amy Shaw and photo by Jae Kim for Greenjeans.

Recap of Greenjeans' Talk at LIM

Last week, I participated in a panel discussion at LIM, the College for the Business of Fashion, on "Doing Business as if the Planet Matters." The students seemed really interested in learning about how we all got our start and I was impressed with their questions at the end.

Interestingly, at one point I asked the audience what they think of when they hear the word "craft," and I am happy to report that not a single person said "doilies," "afghans" or "Grandma." One said "architecture." Another said "art." Then I asked if they think art and craft have a hierarchy, if one is "above" the other. The students all kind of shook their heads no, and the only person who ventured that art is higher was not a student but a teacher or administrator. Which suggests, however anecdotally, that perhaps indeed craft is finding itself in a more favorable position with the upcoming generation.


In any case, it was exciting to participate alongside the founder of Red Queen Cosmetics and the rep from Shaklee, a company that's been green since the '60s.

It was especially nice to meet Erica from Miniminimarket in Williamsburg, who was also on the panel. Erica opened shop on Bedford Ave. nine years ago featuring lots of pieces by local designers and is a total pioneer of not only that neighborhood but the whole "Williamsburg look." She just opened a shoe store called, of course, Shoe Market, and since something like 90% of all shoes sold in America are made in China these days, will be going to China this summer to see first-hand where so many of the shoes she stocks are being manufactured. RIGHT ON. And she's super nice to boot.

Thanks for the opportunity, LIM, and I hope we helped inspire your students to give priority to environmental issues as they set out into the business world!

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans. Photo courtesy of LIM.

ACC Summer Salon Series Announced

The American Craft Council announced its Summer in the City Salon Series today. They've created a stimulating trio of evening discussions that are sure to get us all talking!

Each starts at 6pm followed by a wine and cheese reception:

May 15: The Industrial Complex, with Tyler Hays
Kick off ICFF weekend with Tyler Hays, founder of the Brooklyn-based furniture company BDDW, who will discuss the company’s handmade work and its relationship to industry.

July 24: Connect/(Dis)Connect, with Bruce Metcalf & Chanel Kennebrew
Explore the broad spectrum of craft makers today in this dialogue between jeweler, educator and writer Bruce Metcalf and Junkprints founder Chanel Kennebrew, an indie craft artist, graphic designer and Etsy seller.

September 18: The Politics of Craft, with Rob Walker, Sabrina Gschwandtner & Liz Collins
With one of the most important elections of our era approaching, join us in investigating craft’s relationship to politics and its role in addressing issues in our world today. Rob Walker, columnist for the New York Times, interviews makers Sabrina Gschwandtner, founder of KnitKnit, and Liz Collins, founder of Knitting Nation.

Reservations are required. Contact Monica Hampton, mhampton@craftcouncil.org or 212.274.0630 ext. 272.

Hope to see you there!

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans. Image of work by Tyler Hays, BDDW, from American Craft Council.

Wine Barrel Tables / Not @ Bklyn Flea this Wknd

The Wine Barrel Side Kick Tables have arrived!

They are absolutely fabulous and as you can see exactly the right mate for the Wine Barrel Folding Chair. Love them!

I was planning to bring them to the Flea this weekend, however due to ye olde extenuating circumstances WE WILL NOT BE AT THE BROOKLYN FLEA THIS WEEKEND. We'll be open in Park Slope though, so come by to check them out here!

Also remember: we have some great season-appropriate jewelry and ceramics on sale at the shop for you -- we rarely offer anything like 50% off, so this is your chance for a steal at Greenjeans!

Have a great weekend!

Posted and photo by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Celebrate Brooklyn Lineup Rocks!

The schedule for this summer's Celebrate Brooklyn festival was just announced, and there are some GREAT performances on tap this year! All events are FREE and held at the Prospect Park Bandshell.

Click here for complete schedule!

I'm especially excited about seeing Miriam Makeba (June 14), and Brazilian Girls (July 11). The Deerhoof/Metropolis Ensemble's performance of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" will probably be quite interesting (July 18), and I'll definitely be staking out a seat to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform (August 7). I could go on -- Beth Orton, Issac Hayes, the Philip Glass Ensemble, Brave New World Rep doing Fahrenheit 451... The list is amazing!

BRIC has outdone itself this summer with this lineup -- I don't remember being so psyched about it last year. So get your picnic baskets and lawn blankets ready for heavy use this summer, and we'll see you there!

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans. Image by ultrahi sourced here.

Amy to Speak at LIM Earth Day Event

On Thursday, April 24, I will be at LIM, the College for the Business of Fashion, to participate in an Earth Day panel discussion titled "How to Be a Green Success: Business as if the Planet Matters."

I will be talking about the aesthetic and ethical principles that guide our buying decisions at Greenjeans, as well as the differences between art and craft.

The other panelists are Frank Fasolo, Red Queen Cosmetics Co-founder; Erica Vala, Mini-mini Market Co-founder; and Helene Kovalcik, Shaklee Coordinator/Distributor.

Held at 12 East 53rd St. (between 5th and Madison), First Floor, from 6-8pm, the event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is requested -- just email Katie Fitzgerald at kfitzgerald@limcollege.edu or call 212-752-1530 x280.

As an added incentive, I'm told that two Marc Jacobs bags will be raffled at this event...!

It is an honor to be asked to participate, and I look forward to sharing our experience with the students at LIM! Keep an eye on the blog for a report...

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans. Image of LIM entrance sourced here.

Earth Day Tips from Greenjeans

Happy Earth Day!
Small changes and little decisions add up to big change! Here are some quick tips for achieving a smaller footprint:

1) Stop buying vinyl
I don't mean records. I mean anything containing PVC. That's the kind of soft plastic that gives off the funky smell found in everything from shower curtains to kid's toys. PVC is toxic to the environment and to your body because, among other things, it contains phthalates.

Phthalates are also found in many beauty products and baby products. Europe and California are leading the way in a ban of phthalates, even though the U.S. government insists they're harmless. Learn why here, here, here, here, and here.

2) Consider packaging
Do you really need a bag? Can you buy those nuts in bulk instead of a disposable can? Is a similar product available that's packed in less plastic? Remember when you buy something, you're not just buying the thing, you're also saying "yes" to it's packaging.

3) Use those cloth bags
And if you must take a plastic bag, reuse it as a garbage can liner. Please don't just throw it out -- plastic bags live on for hundreds of thousands of years...

4) Drink tap water
Many places, including NYC, have fantastic tap water. Don't like the taste or worried about heavy metals? Buy a water filter and fill your own dishwasher-safe reusable bottles. Buying bottled water is not only a huge drain on our wallets, it's overtaxing our highways, natural streams, and landfills (since most people don't recycle them). Plus need I remind you that water bottles are plastic, which is made from petroleum, requires a great deal of energy to produce, and lives on for hundreds of thousands of years.

5) Switch to wind or solar power
Many electric companies are offering a choice these days, and for a few cents more you can get your power from cleaner sources. Check your next electric bill -- there may be information right in there already. Or if not, give them a call. Because as more of us get involved, the prices will come down and the positive impact will increase.

The bottom line is: before you buy something, remember to ask: Do I need it? Is it worth the money and impact? And can I responsibly dispose of it? Use your dollar vote as a force for change. And spread the word!

Posted and photo (of bird in tree outside today) by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Greenjeans Now on Facebook

Greenjeans now has its own Facebook page --

So if you're on Facebook, now you can become a fan of Greenjeans!

I'll be posting events and updates there, and I've linked it to the blog to help all you Facebook-addicts stay informed about what's up at Greenjeans.

Thanks for being a fan!

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Brooklyn Flea Week Three

Yesterday we set up shop in Fort Greene for the third convening of the Brooklyn Flea. Like last week and the week before it was chilly and overcast, but Lumin and I know that the sun will come out one of these Sundays!

We went all fancy this week, opening up the booth, hanging muslin scrims, and rolling out some nice green astroturf. Snazzy, no?

Our idea for the Flea is to showcase different artisans and designers every week, and this week we featured Shaker-influenced work. We presented Brian Braskie's Shaker chairs, David Emerson's Shaker peg boards and wooden totes with handcut dovetails, and flat brooms (invented by Shakers) by students at Berea College (all of which I need to get into the Online Shop!).

We also brought back Frank Ridley's wooden toys and Whit McLeod's Wine Barrel Folding Chair, which continue to be popular items with Flea shoppers. As you can see here, kids loved testing out the rocking horse!

Set up and take down are getting easier and easier, and we feel like we're starting to get the hang of it. It's kind of like camping, but without the mosquitoes and you actually WANT to see people pass by your campsite...!

Hope you'll pass by next week!

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans. Photos by Jae Kim.