New Gather Handmade Shoppe in Bloomington Indiana

Since moving to Indiana and getting involved in the arts/artisan markets here, I've noticed a resurgence, and very well supported, movement back to handmade. Gather Shoppe is one of the latest to join this much welcomed group.

Like Home Spun: Modern Handmade in Indianapolis, Gather supports artisans through the sale of goods, workshops, and featured shows, for the emerging and established maker.

With humble beginnings, Gather started with Pop-Up shows titled Gatherings, and keeping with the self-sufficiency movement, Gather opened with a Go Fund Me campaign.

After a successful, and crowded, opening last month, Gather will be hosting it's first feature show titled Home.

Talia Halliday

From the press release: “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” - Maya Angelou. This first Group Show at Gather will reach deep within the soul to ponder the meaning of what a home is to the various artists involved. From a bed made from books, to nesting bowls, to resting under leaves... The various modes of home confound and arouse us. 

 There are nine artists represented in the show: Katie Vernon, Vincent Desjardins, Joshua Allen, Kim Hahn, Lisa Wilson, Beatriz Vasquez, Talia Halliday, Lori Leaumont, and myself.

Michelle Amos

Show opens with an artist reception, Friday, October 3, from 5-8pm. Admission is free. Gather is located at 101 W Kirkwood Ave Ste 112, in historic Fountain Square Mall, on the south side of the square in Bloomington, Indiana. They sell the independent work of more than 70 artists, crafters, and makers from the Midwest and beyond. The work in the store ranges from handcrafted jewelry to bath and body, kids' toys, clothing, woodworking, illustration, knitted/crocheted work, and more. Can't make the opening? Shop hours: W-F noon - 5pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon - 4pm Phone: 812-785-1400

Art in the Loo

Amos' Woven Basket/Bowls on Urinal

In 1917, French Dadaist Marcel Duchamp entered a urinal in an exhibition to challenge the preconception about what art can be. The Craft(s) Gallery, 572 S. 4th St., is taking the concept a step further by hosting an actual art show in the gallery’s bathroom. “Art in the Loo” is an exhibition of new work by artists Suzanne Edds and Michelle Amos. The gallery will host an artists’ reception during the First Friday Gallery Hop on April 4 from 6pm to 10pm.

Suzanne Edds' Body Part Mandula Pieces above Urinal  

Edds, co-owner of Liberty Art & Tattoo, will drape the Craft(s) Gallery bathroom walls with a series of sensual images that have been printed on skin-like canvas and mounted on wood. Edds says the pieces were inspired by body parts, but she has focused so closely on specific shapes that the images have become abstract. Amos’ contributions are more utilitarian. She plans to fill the space with functional items like hand-stitched bowls filled with face scrubbies, ring dishes in spring colors, robes, and bed jackets.

Amos' Bath robe

Amos' dish with face scrubbies

Amos says the show came about because she and Edds both thought the colorful decorations and art hanging in the Craft(s) Gallery bathroom made it feel like an extension of the exhibition space. “We both love the bathroom at the gallery,” she explains. “We hope this show encourages people to look at the space, and maybe their own bathrooms, in a different way.”

All work will be available for purchase starting Friday, April 4 through April 30 at Crafts Gallery Only. 

Amos' decorative bathroom fabric piece with two nesting bowls and hand woven re-usable cotton balls

Craft(s) Gallery is a contemporary and traditional art gallery created by Karen Welch and David McGuire in the summer of 2013. Craft(s) features fine artisan craft by local and national artists.

Craft(s) Gallery is housed in the historic Guthrie Coke building at 572 South Fourth Street at the corner of Fourth and Chestnut Streets in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.In the emerging neighborhood of SOFO, South Fourth Street, Craft(s) is positioned between the renowned Brown Hotel and the iconic Seelbach Hilton Hotel. Another historic neighbor of note is The Palace Theater.Hours:Monday–Friday: 10am–6pm; Saturday: 12-6pm;Closed Sunday
502.584.7636 (SOFO)

How to Coil Basketry

This 'How to' is intended as a reminder for those who have already had a class with me. It covers a lot of material, and moves fast.

Materials: Jute, raffia, yarn needle

To Start a Coiled Basket, using the traditional figure 8 stitch.

hold raffia end and jute core together

and wrap the raffia around both the raffia end and jute core

wrap enough to make a turn

fold wrapped core end

hold core end and core together and wrap with raffia till end is covered

wrap core long enough to make a turn

turn wrapped core around center

make first stitch through center, wrap 4 times then get ready for next stitch

To make figure 8 stitch bring raffia between the wrapped cores

plunge needle through center 

after plunging needle through center, bring raffia back between the wrapped cores, before beginning 4 times wrap again

after you have done one coil around the center, you will begin to stitch into the next wrapped level instead of center

 To start/add a new piece of  raffia

hold finished end, with new raffia end to core 

then wrap finished raffia end and new raffia end with the core

Do the 4 times wrap, and get ready to make your stitch

How to make a lazy stitch.

For this stitch, your basically wrapping two cores together. Plunge needle in between the last two fully wrapped coils

After pulling needle up, wrap around new coil

Here you can see there are six lazy stitches, as I move around base

How to make a mariposa stitch

start with a lazy stitch

then wrap raffia around the stitch and plunge needle between the last two wrapped coils, right past the lazy stitch

come back around and get ready to wrap 4 times again

here you can see three mariposa stitches

How to add more core

trim on a diagonal the core from the basket, and the new core to be added 

lay the core from the basket, and the new core together

wrap both the core from the basket, and the new core together, be careful, the new core can easily slip out.

After wrapping about 4 times, carefully make a stitch, you'll continue this way

Remember the new addition can initially easily slip out; so continue to be careful as you wrap 4 times and then make a stitch, till you've made about 3-4 stitches past the addition

 How to go up with your basket

However you hold the core as you make a stitch determines the shape of a basket. To make a bowl shape basket, hold the core at a 45 degree angle as you stitch.

How to End Your Basket

trim end as at diagonal

Begin wrapping the core end with the coil below it.

Wrap until the core end is covered.