Moving Starts Today

I'll be moving to Berlin in about 3 months. Moving abroad means I need to downsize in a major way! But I'm excited for this process. Like the rest of my art, I see things more clearly when I have limits. You might know this as blank-canvas syndrome :)

I'm taking this in steps, and step one is to get organized, 

eliminate waste and clutter. And this is a very satisfying step:

And I've got goodies!

Currently up for grabs are:

misc. beads

shoelaces

yarn

a cheap set of watercolors

marbling ink

random glues and putties

tips for a Dremel multipurpose woodburning tool

a large spool of 16 g steel wire

two large used tires, sized for a pickup truck (one is half-painted white)

tons of waxed canvas scrap

some leather coats and leather scrap

large scraps of felted wool in various colors/patterns (from wool sweaters)

etc

There will be more posted later!!

Please send me an email or private FB message or just talk to me in person :)

Best,

Mia

Progress

T-shirt yarn woven on a cardboard loom!

DIY Power!

T-shirt Yarn

I may have given myself carpal tunnel, but here they are! A bunch of t-shirts bound for the trash bin, magically transformed into yarn!

Learn how to make your own >>here<<

Cheers!

Old Prints, New/Old Frames

Some recent activities: putting old prints into thrift store frames. Getting ready for an.... exhibition? Maybe.

Please ignore the terrible image quality. I will be moving soon to a smaller studio with better light! In this game, light trumps space. 

◅--------------------------▻

And here's my big project for the week:

Makeshift loom! I made it out of big cardboard pieces, random wooden sticks, and tons of staples. This will also incorporate one of my old prints, but I'm not giving it all away. :) You'll see pictures soon.

Best,

Mia

Alien Bunny!

Photos of Boxes Are In!

I've finally gotten pictures of the packaging! Ok, maybe this sounds a bit nerdy, but the packaging was a huge part of the project! As crazy and inefficient as it sounds, I handmade each of the boxes from waste cardboard. Each creature comes with a postcard detailing the meaning behind the project, as well as a handout filled with wonderful information about the species, as well as their current status, and this handy little chart: 

All known animal species are cataloged somewhere along this scale, between Extinct and Least Concern. All my creatures are somewhere in the Threatened category.

 A box full of Love!

And your creature will arrive at your doorstep much like this.

There are still 3 Flotsam & Jetsam creatures unclaimed! Snatch your favorite >here<

Happy Earth Day!

Hello everybody,

I would like to take this moment

to thank the Earth for giving life to us all.

I decided to make a small project, part Earth-worship, part meager action, and this time I chose to focus on the beautiful & mysterious sea. 

When I was in Germany, I decided to craft 5 Endangered Sea Species, as my own personal challenge and interest in learning about them. While making, I researched and learned. I decided it would be selfish to not share this knowledge (some of it might surprise you!), and selfish to not share my profits with the creatures who inspire me.

I decided to donate 50% of my profits to Oceana, an international non-profit that focuses on protecting the world's oceans and their inhabitants through campaigns that combine policy, law, advocacy, science, media, and public pressure. (www.Oceana.org)

In this project, I used my old, abandoned (clean!) clothing as the material, both for eco-consciousness and also to stitch a piece of myself into the work. Each creature is 100% hand-sewn.

And now, I named these works Flotsam & Jetsam, to illustrate the apathy, and sometimes hateful intention, we humans emote when we destroy species after species.

Now for the animals!

Aren't they cute?

You can find more pictures of the Steller Sea Lion, along with purchasing information >here<

You can find more pictures of the Blue Whale, along with purchasing information >here<

 You can find more pictures of the Vaquita, along with purchasing information >here<

 YYou can find more pictures of the Great Hammerhead Shark, along with purchasing information >here<

You can find more pictures of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, along with purchasing information >here<

Each purchase comes with an information pamphlet detailing facts about the species and its current status. I hope you enjoy the images and let's spread awareness of these amazing sea creatures!