Hello! I’m busy working on Issue 8 of CraftSanity Magazine, but wanted to take a break to invite you to join me at Schuler Books, 2660 28th St. SE, in Grand Rapids on Monday, Oct. 29. As part of this hip, independent store’s 30 anniversary, I’m teaming up with some very talented staffers to host [...]

Tomorrow (6/10) is a big day. It’s my sister’s birthday and the Fulton Street Artisans Market (FSAM) will for the season at 11 a.m. under the lovely new farmers market pavilion at 1147 E. Fulton, in Grand Rapids. I’ll be at the market until 3 p.m. with my family to get people pumped up about our latest collaborative [...]

In a matter of hours I will help my girls get ready for the last day of school before summer break. It’s hard to believe that summer 2012 officially starts for us in less than 12 hours when that final bell rings and all the kids flood out of school to waiting parents or the [...]

There’s something seemingly magical about Heartside Gallery and Studio in that keeps drawing me back with my camera. Heartside is a drop-in studio in Grand Rapids, Mich. where people are free to create without judgement no matter their circumstances. This is a refreshingly honest place where I have had the honor and privilege of meeting some fascinating [...]

The rain and chilly temps didn’t keep my daughters and I away from the opening of Festival 2012 Friday night. Attendance was low, so we had a lot of room to move around when we checked out the 2012 Festival Regional Arts Exhibition at The Grand Rapids Press Building and the art booths on Calder [...]

Hello! I hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend. I may have eaten a few too many Starburst jelly beans (love those!), but I didn’t completely lose control. Today I’m coming to terms with the fact that spring break is over and looking ahead to spring projects on the horizon. I want to let you [...]

          Hello! I’m hosting a CraftSanity Crafternoon at the new Grand Rapids Press office on Saturday and I’d love for you to come. Attendees will get to make a beaded heart pin, discuss the impact of technology on art and craft and many other crafty topics as well as mingle with [...]

Hello! It’s been very busy around the CraftSanity headquarters as we enjoy the last bit of summer before school starts. It seems the summers fly by faster each year. I’ve been burning the midnight oil working very hard on the fall issue of CraftSanity Magazine due out next month I’m really enjoying the projects, recipes [...]

This is Willie James Jones, a man who spends his days drawing hot rods, surf boards, bongo drums and palm trees at Heartside Gallery and Studio, a free drop-in art studio located  in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The studio is frequented by people who have struggled with homelessness, addiction, mental illness and other challenges. I wrote [...]

I bought this print at Friday’s Art Downtown event. It’s called “Keep Heartside Beautiful” by Grand Rapids printmaker Sarah Scott. You can read the column I wrote about her in The Grand Rapids Press today. Sarah is donating a third of the money generated by sales of this print to Heartside Gallery and Studio where [...]

I’m feeling rather fickle as I indulge in the visual feast that is ArtPrize. Each new piece I see becomes my favorite. I’m currently enamored with this “Rag Rug” dress created by Betsy Timmer that is on display at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM). The piece is made of found sheets, curtains and tablecloths [...]

Even in the busiest times, while in the thick of the most involved projects it’s important to stop and soak up nature’s wonders. The other day I snapped this picture of a rose past it’s prime but still quite beautiful. It’s so important to pause every now an then, especially when your plate is full [...]

Hi folks. I’ve been spinning many, many plates lately and it’s really cut into my podcast production time. (Don’t worry, I have a plan to reverse this trend.) In the meantime, I want to give you a heads up about a few things: 1)  For all you locals, Lisa Price, owner of artgoodies and the [...]

Hi folks! I have many projects in the works as usual, but I wanted to take a break from stitching hexagons to give all you locals a head’s up about some classes I’m teaching this summer at Lakeshore Sewing’s Wyoming location (1011 Gezon Parkway SW, Wyoming, MI). Here are the details: T-shirt Refashioning 101 Learn [...]

What a great opening day for the Fulton Street Artisans Market in Grand Rapids! I sold several looms (Thank you, dear customers!) and enjoyed meeting some very supportive column readers. A special thanks to our kind booth neighbors for helping Jeff and I set up the new “EZ Up” tent for the first time. And [...]