the extra special news of molly shoelace

A Birth Story

2011-10-30T12:20:00.006-04:00

if you'd like some leisurely sunday reading, here's a great story written by my dad. it was published in redbook magazine in 1982. in the picture my mother is actually pregnant with her 3rd child, my little brother.

Pulp Sushi

2011-08-07T13:17:00.006-04:00

My friend Marilyn has been making awesome jewelry for years under the name Pulp Sushi. And now she has broadened her brand to include more handmade artisans featuring, in her words, a "pop-nostalgic collective sideshow of handmade goods and accessories". And I'm excited to announce that several molly shoelace items are included in her online store!

Check it out online: pulpsushi.com
Like it on facebook for a special discount!

Smile Anyone?

2011-06-17T16:34:00.002-04:00

Check out the latest edition of Sadie Magazine loaded with cool articles and interviews, including one about jd samson of MEN. i went to a free show at ooga booga in chinatown (which was in my own neighborhood--talk about convenient) a few months back and they were great. jd knows how to dance and put on a good show. but (and more importantly) there's an illustration by me accompanying an article that focuses on 'the smile'. click {here}

and i'd also like to mention that a good friend of mine started a blog called bad mantality. she happened to write a related post about women and smiling {here}.

so, read sadie magazine and bad mantality and you will be set for a while.

drawing (from) the past

2011-06-08T18:02:00.002-04:00

these old family photos served as the inspiration for a bunch of drawings. thought it would be neat to juxtapose the two.

from top to bottom:
"pat"
"margaret"
"lito"
"bubblegum"

rip adolfas mekas

2011-06-08T13:33:00.001-04:00

sketchbook viewing!

2011-06-06T16:53:00.003-04:00

Here's a rare opportunity to intimately view artists' personal sketchbooks including my own, of course.

Check eet out {here}

I think it gets better (looser) toward the middle/end.

Smart, Witty, & Whimsical Paper Goods

2011-03-22T00:08:00.004-04:00

Check out {this} question/answer type interview that I am featured in on the Heart Handmade Blog. You can learn all about how I got started as a stationer. Plus other obscure facts about me :)

David Shrigley Save the Arts video

2011-03-02T15:34:00.001-05:00

a short vid reaching out to save the arts in the UK.

New Art Prints

2011-02-23T22:57:00.005-05:00

Over the past month, I've been super busy putting lots of new stuff in my shop--and new photos. Definitely check it out {here} And most recently, I have added some prints from my sketchbook that is on tour with the Sketchbook Project and will eventually be on permanent view at the Brooklyn Art Library in Williamsburg. Super exciting. I only hope I can make it to one of the cities on the tour so I can "check out" my own book.

I'm trying to expand the 'art' section of my shop since I see so many successful sellers on etsy who seem to solely sell their art. This is highly admirable. I always thought I would have to put my art on something (ie, a card) in order for it to sell, but I'm starting to wonder if I can be successful if I shift my focus a bit. We'll see.

So, to the left we have "noise is music is noise" and "mid-century housewife". Just $10 each.

Signs

2011-02-09T19:05:00.005-05:00

Valentine's Day Giveaway

2011-02-06T16:01:00.030-05:00

We're going to have a little promotional giveaway for Valentine's Day! Molly Shoelace will be giving away this set of 4 ♥love♥ cards. We'll draw the winner on Wednesday, February 9th and mail it out that day so it will arrive in time for the holiday.

This is a set of 4 colorful cards:
1 "Mon Amour" in robin's egg blue
1 "Mon Amour" in peach
1 "Je t'aime" in red
1 "Je t'aime" in chartreuse

Each card is blank inside, measures 4.25" x 5.5" and fits neatly into a matching A2 size envelope. The paper is soft to the touch, heavyweight and slightly textured.

To qualify for the drawing, you must do 1 or more of the following things and then leave a comment on the blog telling us what you did:

1. Become a fan on Facebook! (NOTE: if you are already a fan, THANK YOU--just leave a comment on this post letting us know!)

or...

2. Tweet this post to all your friends.

or...

3. Join our mailing list by submitting your email address here: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://mshoelace.wufoo.com/forms/m7x3p9/" title="newsletter sign-up" rel="nofollow"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Fill out my Wufoo form!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;;gt;
Don't forget to leave a comment on the blog telling us what you did!

Thanks and we look forward to finding out the winner!!

New Item for Valentine's Day

2011-01-29T20:10:00.003-05:00

I've been getting ready for Valentine's Day by drawing lots of hearts and loverly words. Check out my new items {here}. More to come so keep checking back!

xoxoxoxo

molly shoelace

Molly Makeover

2011-01-23T21:20:00.003-05:00

After 3 long days of re-shooting all my merchandise, I am now ready for a shop makeover. Slowly but surely, I plan to list ALL of my items over the next week. I know I have been so terrible about listing everything that I sell in person. But for 2011, Molly Shoelace Paper Goods will be online and current.

Thanks for all your support and I'll alert you when the makeover is complete!

Finally Finished and Mailed

2011-01-19T14:48:00.004-05:00

The deadline for the Sketchbook Project was yesterday and of course I sketched up until the last minute...but now it is in the mail and ready for the country tour. Even though I am 1 of over 20,000 participants, I am still excited to be a part of it and to publicly share a notebook.

R. Crumb once said something to the effect of now that he's famous, his notebooks will never have the unselfconscious, playful and uninhibited quality that they used to. He will always draw for his audience. How sad. Though this notebook is public, I value that all my other notebooks will remain secret and uninhibited.

And with that, here are a few sneak peeks...

The Sketchbook Project II

2010-12-30T18:27:00.012-05:00

I am participating in this year's Sketchbook Project.

Basically, thousands of artists from all around the world are contributing their personal sketchbooks to the project for a grand tour around the USA.

After the tour, all the sketchbooks will be in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Art Library and available for viewing.

The deadline is approaching and I am finally having some quality time with my little sketchbook. i still am really frustrated at how transparent the pages are. my ink seeps through, but i guess it makes each page seem extra psychological and dreamy....anyway, enjoy a few sneak peeks...

the coolest writing implements

2010-12-16T12:38:00.005-05:00

Has anyone seen these amazing and beautiful pencils made by Kikkerland??

They resemble regular pencils--constructed of wood with a gummy eraser on the end. However, upon further inspection you will realize that they are mechanical and with a click of the eraser, the pencil lead grows, revealing an ever-sharp thin millimeter of graphite. I was so impressed and tickled by these pencils that I had to pick up a bunch (from Common Thread).

Kikkerland makes a ton of other neat things, including these attractive retro pens. The colors are certainly pleasing, but I didn't sample the pen writing quality.

The pencils are a must have for any doodling on the go type nut (like me).

Gearing up for Renegade this weekend...Dec 11 & 12

2010-12-08T12:50:00.005-05:00

Renegade Craft Fair is in just a matter of days. I can't believe how quickly it snuck up on us here! We will be featuring all sorts of new merchandise that you can't find online: art prints, ornaments, pin cushion bracelets, silkscreened tote bags...so be sure to stop by and visit our tent this Saturday and Sunday, December 11th and 12th.

The event takes place from 10am-5pm and there will be a ton of awesome handmade artisans offering unique and one of a kind gifts for the holiday season. I'm confident you'll be able to finish up all your shopping at this event and enjoy yummy food, workshops, and other cool stuff like a free photo booth!!

Definitely a MUST SEE! Come to the LA Historic State Park (aka "the cornfield") located in Chinatown between Broadway and Spring (here's a google map). I'm in booth #123 and here's a link to the map.

See you there!!!

Announcing our Facebook Page

2010-12-07T13:51:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends,

For those of you who have not heard, my girlfriend Molly and I have joined forces in an effort to take Molly Shoelace Paper Goods to the next level of greatness in the handmade artisan community. For the last 3 years Molly has designed from start to finish an entire line of bold and whimsical stationery. We are now expanding to include screenprinted merchandise, as our dream of a home print shop has come to fruition. Starting with our friends and family we are spreading the word in order to establish a presence here on the West Coast.

I've been with Molly for 8 years now, and from day one I've been the biggest fan of her art. I feel lucky to be surrounded by all of her paintings and notebooks, doodles and drawings as they have made my world a happier place. Her art is constantly changing and there's something magical and enriching about her aesthetic.

With Molly's design prowess and my networking skills we look forward to the future as we settle into our new home. Thanks for your support!

Sean Aguirre

Do It Yourself Screenprinting

2010-11-21T02:06:00.006-05:00

So, I am one of the lucky few in the whole of los angeles to have a basement in my house. it is quite a large basement and we have turned it into a screen printing shop. We went to McLogan's in downtown and loaded up on all the basics: scoopcoater, screen, emulsion, squeegie, ink. They were really nice and affordable. I think we got everything for around $300. And we even splurged and got the 'fancy' inks. i've done screenprinting before but only in the fancy studios of sva, so this was somewhat of a departure. And i'll tell you, i was quite nervous about doing it so low-tech. anyway, we cleaned out this dark shower room area in the depths of the basement and set up shop. After sealing off all the light by staple gunning and taping black trash bags all over, we scoopcoated the emulsion onto the screen. it went on smoothly and evenly. once it was dry, we burned the screen with a 250 watt bulb from samy's camera ($6) for 15 minutes...and...voila! we had a perfectly burned screen. The image, even with all its fine lines, seems to have come out perfectly. of course, the next step is to actually push some ink through the screen, but i'm crossing my fingers it will go off without a hitch. here's to diy screenprinting. you just don't need all that highfalutin equipment!

Here's a major tip: I followed shannon gerard's awesome tutorial. she explains everything step by step and it's very easy to follow. also, as my safelight or darkroom light, i used a little pink nightlight bulb that came in a 2 pack from home depot. i think it was 7 watts. it worked perfectly.

good luck and feel free to ask me any questions about the process!

Holiday Cards are UP!!!

2010-11-11T16:53:00.003-05:00

I have uploaded all of my holiday cards!! Select your Christmas and Hanukkah cards in time for the holidays! All of my cards are printed on high quality Strathmore paper and feature vivid designs 100% drawn and designed by me.

The card packs come in sets of 10 and includes 10 matching envelopes. If you'd like multiples of anything, simply email me and I will certainly accommodate you. Also, I will mail out all orders within 1 to 2 days of payment clearing so that you'll have it in plenty of time for the holidays.

In the meantime, enjoy!!

Common Thread Trunk Show

2010-11-05T15:17:00.005-04:00

Molly Shoelace will be participating in Common Rally at the crafty community space Common Thread in South Pasadena.

This multi-faceted event will benefit the Pasadena Humane Society. There will be a silent art auction, ornament-making workshop, a raffle, and of course a variety of handmade goods by local artisans. So stop by and help raise $$$ for all the animals.

Common Thread Studio
1011-A Mission Street
South Pasadena
Saturday, December 4th
4pm - 10pm

Women's 20th Century Club Holiday Fair

2010-10-29T12:58:00.008-04:00

My first Los Angeles craft fair will be at the Women's 20th Century Club in Eagle Rock. I just got the formal notice yesterday. That's in about 2 weeks!!

So come support your local crafters and artisans, and of course, women of the 20th century :) And check out one of the loveliest craftsman landmarks in Eagle Rock.

Saturday, November 13th
10am - 4pm
Hermosa and Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock

The Sketchbook Project

2010-10-26T20:10:00.004-04:00

I am involved with the Sketchbook Project, which is this sort of art happening where hundreds (thousands?) of artists are sent a small moleskine notebook to fill over the course of several months. Then all the notebooks are mailed back and go on tour from library to library and are ultimately on view permanently at the Brooklyn Art Library. I've been seriously neglecting my little sketchbook, but here's a sneak peek of my first page. More to come soon.

LA Historic State Park

2010-10-23T13:09:00.004-04:00

Since announcing my Renegade acceptance, I decided to look into the venue a bit more: Los Angeles Historic State Park in Chinatown. I encourage you to be their fan on facebook, but more importantly, visit the park. It's a young park, so the trees aren't very full, but there's a lot of land and pathways and even a viewfinder! There's also a beautiful garden area. Sean and I went the other day and saw lots of things: strawberries, a hawk guarding its prey, downtown LA through a telescope...Here's their website: www.lashp.com

1st Annual Renegade Holiday Craft Fair in LA

2010-10-22T19:51:00.003-04:00

I just got the acceptance letter that Molly Shoelace will be vending at Renegade right here in LA. Believe it or not, the site is in LA Historic State Park which is within walking distance of our Chinatown hub. I'm super excited!!

In preparation, Sean and I are planning on setting up a screenprinting shop right here in our basement, so lots of new product coming soon.

For those of you who don't know, Renegade Craft Fair is a traveling fair featuring hundreds of independent craftspeople and artisans. It is a juried fair and very competitive, so I am thrilled to be a part of it.

Renegade Holiday Craft Fair
December 11th and 12th
10am to 5pm both days

More details to come!!

some old art

2010-10-13T02:17:00.005-04:00

when i first moved to ny in 2007 i was invited by my friend kerry downey to be in this collaborative art project called the secret clubhouse. the gist: individual artists were invited to enter an old abandoned paint factory in long island city and do as they please in a specified installation space for a specified time. Each successive artist had no knowledge of what was already in the space or how the space would evolve after their allotted time. it was actually written up in believer magazine and it was a thrilling experience to be so intimate with a defunct factory. in fact, maybe the coolest part of the 2 weeks was being given free reign, a lone artist in that dark factory, creeping along the stairways, finding the coolest piles of discarded, yet invaluable (to me) materials, letting my mind wander and connect dots and invent stories of what went on there.

here's a short video walk-through of the installation.

the latest: ZEKE & DESTROY

2010-10-07T22:24:00.007-04:00

Here is my latest illustration for my ongoing blog project Zeke and Destroy. Of course you should click the link and see the story in its entirety.

This drawing took the better part of today, but in the end I was pretty happy with it. My nephew is obsessed with masks and superheroes and nearly everywhere he goes his face is masked and there is a makeshift cape swinging behind him (generally a scarf from his mother's closet or a dishtowel). He dresses himself and comes up with the most outrageous outfits and costumes. One time he was the 'Nice Bad Guy' with a plastic pail on top of his head, another around his neck, two shovels hanging from his neck, and of course a cape. He is quite specific about each detail of his costumes. On another occasion, Zeke insisted on wearing his dark blue snowsuit in the middle of a scorching summer day because it was the perfect accessory to evoke Batman.

Anyway, check out my side project Zeke and Destroy and be sure to "follow" it so you can be notified of new posts!

Back in Business!

2010-10-06T11:53:00.005-04:00

i just wanted to officially announce, that molly shoelace is back in business. i am settling into my new place and have unearthed my inventory from the pile of boxes that were delivered a couple weeks ago. will definitely be putting more products online soon. i'll admit, i've been taking advantage of the beach weather rather than diligently working. you only live once, right?

however, it's been raining in LA for 2 days now. i think i'll take advantage of the indoor weather and get crafty...

Zeke & Destroy: The Outlandish Escapades of Two Brooklyn Boys

2010-09-07T14:51:00.011-04:00

One of my current projects is an on-going collaborative blog with my sister Amanda called Zeke & Destroy: The Outlandish Escapades of Two Brooklyn Boys.

Since I moved to Los Angeles, it is a fun and innovative way to stay involved with my sister's daily journey as a parent with her two playfully wily sons. And since I miss my nephews intensely, at least I can draw them and giggle at their inane yet genius exploits.

All original artwork done by me. Written by my dear sister, Amanda Brokaw.

Click here to begin following Zeke & Destroy...you will not be disappointed.

Special Announcement...

2010-09-02T12:25:00.005-04:00

For those that do not know, I have relocated to Los Angeles, CA. Molly Shoelace products are temporarily unavailable as I transition to the west coast. Can't wait to get up and running again soon. I am living in the Chinatown neighborhood which is pretty cool because it is a bustling and walkable area--not typical LA. I think it will make my transition from NYC easier. Pretty soon my storage crate with all my belongings (including my molly shoelace inventory) will be arriving and I will be able to put my clothes in an actual dresser (I've been living out of my suitcase) and take my bike on a ride throughout the neighborhood and drink out of a real glass--assuming they have not all broken in the shipping process. All very exciting.

Plans for the near future: Promoting and exposing Molly Shoelace to the greater LA area. I plan to find some stores and hopefully expand my online presence and offerings. I will definitely keep you posted of any developments.

Did I mention there's a fig tree in my backyard, perfectly soft and sweet and to die for...

Love,
Molly Shoelace

AMAZING NEWS: Ridgewood has a Thai food restaurant.

2010-06-25T19:42:00.002-04:00

Thai Village
881 Woodward Ave
Ridgewood, Queens 11385

It's just about all I've dreamed of. I have been dying for something new and exciting to happen here in sleepy Ridgewood, and it finally has!!

I think this is my favorite restaurant so far in the area. The atmosphere is calm, relaxing. They have the lights very dim and pretty tapestries framed on the walls. Definitely modest, but comfortable. The waitstaff is smiley and sweet and attentive. We ordered the basics: papaya salad, calamari, chicken pad thai. I was pleased with each dish.

It's just so amazing to have a new option in the hood. It's off the main drag, but still an easy walk for me. I am seriously rooting for their success and hope they become a neighborhood staple. We were the only customers on a Friday night and the phones were pretty quiet. But I think that's simply because nobody really knows they exist yet.

So spread the word: THAI FOOD IS HERE IN RIDGEWOOD!!

Hearth and Home @ BIM Report

2010-06-13T10:42:00.008-04:00

Yesterday I spent the day selling at Brooklyn Indie Market in Carroll Gardens. It was a beautiful day (no rain--all shine). The best part about yesterday was that I sold some brand new items. For the first time ever, I offered art prints, both framed and unframed. My first sale of the day was an art print of a doggy dream from my original comic Framestore Girl; the last sale of the day was a print of a Gambel's Quail that I drew from my trusty Audubon Field Guide. I will be posting these items online soon, but my cell phone captured this sneak preview.

The other great part about selling at markets, is that I indulge in whatever food i want--guilt free. Yesterday I had a taro boba (or in ny, bubble tea), dumplings, and a pork bun from Eton, which was just a few blocks away. I was looking for a bánh mì shop that I remember being around there, but I couldn't find it and had to settle for dumplings. However, they were a yummy second best. By the way, last week at Hester Street Fair, I devoured a kimchee sausage that was so over the top delicious from Mama O's Kimchee! It is worth it to go to that market just for this lunch. Order the sausage with whatever kimchee appeals to you--they make several varieties--and get the chili on top if you dare. The kimchee is spicy and crunchy and amazing in every way. MMMMmmmmm....

Back to topic, I think the World Cup may have actually affected the foot traffic yesterday. Do craft shopping enthusiasts watch the World Cup--¿pregunta moderna? Amazingly, once the game was over, foot traffic seemed to pick up a bit.

Another great aspect of selling my wares, is the potential for 'trades' with other vendors. This time, I traded my dogs & meat card pack for this really cool toothbrush holder by Mcflashpants! She makes housewares and jewelry out of old forks and such. Her stuff is really beautiful, especially the living, wearable art--brooches with plantitas in little vases!! I swear, you can wear a peppermint plant on your lapel!

Next week I'll be back at the South Street Seaport. I'll be selling art prints there too!!! So come by and czech eeeet aut.

xoxo molly shoelace

pens "high in the cinema"

2010-06-10T12:45:00.001-04:00

i just think this video is so cool...

Hearth and Home: Shop Housewares at Brooklyn Indie Market

2010-06-09T10:44:00.006-04:00

This Saturday, June 12th 11am - 7pm

~rain or shine~
a houseware themed shopping event

Directions: Take the F or G to Carroll Street Station in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
The market is under a red/white tent on Smith street between President and Union.

I'll have some new items too, so come by and check it out! Decorate your apartment with awesome handmade housewares.

See you there!

This Sunday: South Street Seaport

2010-05-26T10:42:00.007-04:00

This Sunday, May 30th, 2010 enjoy music and shopping along the water at South Street Seaport!! I will be selling Molly Shoelace wares along with several other local artisans and food sellers.

Pick up one of my Father's Day cards or give your special someone a loverly picnic card! And then treat yourself to some artisanal ice cream and handmade pickles. You don't have to be pregnant to satiate your wacky cravings!

In Memorial weekend tradition, the weather is supposed to be fantastic, so don't miss it.

Fulton Stall Market
@South Street Seaport
on South Street between Beekman and Fulton Streets
Sunday, May 30
12pm - 6pm

Other Dates I will be at this market:
Sunday, June 20th
Sunday, June 27th

By Subway:
2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, or M to Fulton Street
or A/C train to Broadway-Nassau
Walk East on Fulton Street toward Water Street and the East River

Summer Craft Scene: Molly Shoelace at South Street Seaport

2010-05-20T10:31:00.006-04:00

This summer I have decided to be more active in the outdoor craft fair market. I'm really excited about my upcoming events.

I'll be at South Street Seaport, Hester Street Fair, and Brooklyn Indie Market in the coming weeks!

First up: Sunday, May 30th
Fulton Stall Market at the South Street Seaport (directions here)
Venture into lower Manhattan and enjoy the waterfront while browsing local artisan's goodies: fresh breads, flowers, cheeses, and of course Molly Shoelace Paper Goods!!!
Other dates at this market: Sunday June 20th and Sunday June 27th

More Press! offManhattan

2010-05-06T16:06:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Chermelle Edwards from offManhattan for covering the Spring Handmade Cavalcade at Berry Park. I actually remembered her from the previous SHC at the Bell House. She loved my magic epiphany notebooks and kindly went to the ATM a block away when she realized she was out of cash. Glad to have your repeat business, Chermelle!

And thanks for all the coverage and pics on offManhattan.

Hope to see you at the next Cavalcade...

xo
molly shoelace

Crafts in Chelsea

2010-05-04T11:08:00.006-04:00

This Saturday, May 8th visit Chelsea for an amazing craft experience! It will be on 21st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Lots and lots of my dear {NewNew} cohorts will be selling their handmade, awesome indie wares.

And to top it off, the fair is to benefit PS 11, so they don't lose their art program funding. DON'T LET THEM LOSE THEIR FUNDING! Imagine school without art. Ugh. Inside PS 11, they will be selling children's books and toys.

It's a great time to pick up a handmade gift for all the mama's in your life. Have tons of fun and good luck winning. The giveaways look really "ooh la la"!

see you there,

molly shoelace

Event info {here}
To enter giveaway, click {here}

Rare Ridgewood gem: Bosna Express

2010-05-02T19:16:00.004-04:00

After living in Ridgewood for over a year, I FINALLY made it to Bosna Express. During my ongoing hunt for good neighborhood food, I read a bunch of reviews about this place and its famous "Bosna Burger" or pljeskavica. I happened to take the M train today (which I rarely do) and upon descending the staircase, my eyes caught sight of the electric blue storefront. I had no idea it was so close to my apartment. Now there was no excuse not to check it out. And in typical Ridgewood fashion, on the walk over to the restaurant, I came upon a parade with a marching band, a girl playing the xylophone, the works. This has to be the 3rd or 4th Ridgewood parade that I've chanced upon. This time it was an Italian Church group holding a giant ceramic crucifix ensconced in a bed of flowers. I swear, living in Ridgewood makes me feel like I'm in pre-war Eastern Europe, with all these kerchiefed ladies with their nude-colored, knee-highed legs stuffed into their orthopedic dr. scholl's, and suspendered old men, smoking, scruffy, leaning sideways on a cane. It does not feel like 2010 in America. This community has parades, and spreads the word by mouth--not internet. It's totally bizarre...and totally charming.

So, back to Bosna Express: The man behind the counter of this lilliputian establishment is warm and affable. The menu too is polite: "in case you desire for toppings to be served on the side..." and "thanks for stopping by!!!" And the sandwich was just as large as promised. I ordered one sandwich to split with my bf and one cockta--a soft drink made in Slovenia. We took our sagging bag back to our apartment to feast. It was really tasty: onions, lettuce, red bell pepper/eggplant spread (ajvar), yogurt sauce, atop a lamb and beef patty, quite thin and about 8"in diameter. Our sandwich was cut in half and very manageable to eat without making a mess. The bread was soft, but stayed intact and did not get soggy. The cockta is in a cute little bottle. It is really sweet and yummy. I liked it because it was not as carbonated as typical sodas.

All in all, a perfectly satisfying experience. I am so happy to discover these gems in sleepy Ridgewood. It really makes it all worthwhile.

Dogs & Meat Shout Out!

2010-04-26T15:13:00.005-04:00

Thanks PaperMag.com for mentioning my Dogs & Meat greeting cards--along with other amazing items from the {NewNew}--on your blog!

This assortment of off-beat cards is available for purchase {here}

Pretty much perfect for any occasion, all cards are blank inside and printed on high-quality, acid-free strathmore paper.

Thanks for a Successful SHC!!!

2010-04-25T16:42:00.005-04:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Spring Handmade Cavalcade yesterday (all 1500 of you!!) We had a great turnout and an all around awesome event. I was amazed at the foot traffic that we were able to drum up. And the gorgeous weather didn't hurt.

For this season's cavalcade I decided to construct a new card display. The one that I previously used was comprised of a bunch of random objects precariously balancing and I was always tense throughout shows, worrying that my entire display would fall over. Not this time! I made a solid structure out of wood and screws.

I can't stress enough how important it is to have a well thought out display that is specific to your product. It has taken me 2 years to figure out how to be innovative, but also space/weight efficient and I still have room for improvement.

For more SHC action, check out these pictures posted by one of our sponsors, Swap-Bot. Swap-bot, much like molly shoelace, promotes the use of good, old-fashioned snail mail. Sign up to be a part of their swapping community and get cool stuff in the mail!!

Northeast Taste - The Flushing, Queens Chinese Food Experience

2010-04-19T09:38:00.004-04:00

After experiencing the deliciousness that is Fu Run, unfortunately Northeast Restaurant was just ok. Their service was excellent--above and beyond friendly staff. Our waitress even walked my 3 yr old nephew around to see the fish and gave him candy. I made reservations for a party of 10 and they seated us in a private room which was pretty cool. We were able to make a mess and be loud and American in private!

We ordered a bunch of dishes recommended by the ny times: cumin lamb, stupid chicken stew, three vegetables (eggplant, potatoes, and green peppers). The cumin flavored lamb (pictured left), though incredibly greasy, is really a winner. The vegetable dish was pretty good, but once again pretty greasy--though the eggplant was fried to perfection, melting in my mouth. The stupid chicken stew was chock full of unidentifiable chicken parts and lots of bones. The broth was ok, but maybe needed some more salt, more substance. I wasn't a fan.

We also ordered bok choy (overcooked), spicy rabbit (all bones), cucumber salad (this actually wasn't on the menu) in a vinegar marinade which was simple and refreshing, fried shrimp (fried so what's not to like), dumplings (steamed and yummy).

I also wanted to mention that they started us out with an appetizer of sliced kielbasa/salami type meat and these clear gelatinous squares with pork rinds embedded in them. I did not understand this appetizer at all. It didn't look appealing and certainly didn't taste good. It also just didn't seem like an appropriate starter for the dishes to come. Is this traditional? I would love to know. The waitress was so sweet and helpful, that I kept giving the food a chance--I wanted so badly to like it because I liked her.

Had we boldly ventured out of our comfort zone and ordered dishes like colorectal or leeks with pig's blood, perhaps we would have been blown away by the refreshing, nuanced tastes of traditional Northeast Chinese food. I do not know.

All in all, though we had a fun and lively night, I was not impressed by the food. If venturing out to Flushing, I would go back to Fu Run in a heartbeat. But, and it breaks my heart to say it, I don't think I would go back to Northeast Taste.

Prepping for the Handmade Cavalcade

2010-04-13T13:12:00.007-04:00

GET a FREE LUNCHBAG FULL of GOODIES at the SHC!!!

This year I've been put in charge of the Goody Bag/Raffle Committee for our big spring craft event. We are giving away free reusable canvas lunchbags filled with goodies from our sponsors to the first 100 customers.

I decided it would be easier to silkscreen 100 patches and then SEW them onto the bags, rather than silkscreen each individual bag like we have done for the past couple years. It definitely was an easier process for me. The past few times, the silkscreening took several hours. This year, it took about 30 minutes! Of course, now I am distributing all the sewing to different team members, so the job is not yet done.

The sewing definitely adds a handmade touch and each bag will be one of a kind, sewn by 6 different newnew members.

Be sure to stop by early to get your SHC lunchbag!!

Click here for event details

Savage Sesame

2010-04-09T12:49:00.004-04:00

I went to Pearl River in SOHO and got some unusual Chinese imported snacks. Among them were a box of these individually wrapped cookies. I thought, what could be better than seaweed AND sesame combined!!

The flavor is actually quite pleasing and they are a filling snack. I was curious about the nutritional information so I flipped the wrapper over....

....and upon closer inspection, I discovered the key ingredient. Please take a closer look at ingredient #7.

Feel free to comment on what the *%$&# it is!!!

Jump on the Handmade Cavalcade...

2010-04-06T18:14:00.004-04:00

Come join me and 20+ other vendors at this Spring's Handmade Cavalcade.

When: Saturday, April 24th
10 am - 5 pm

Where: Berry Park, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

There will be goody bags and raffles and food and cool handmade stuff and fun people and of course ME!!!

Support handmade and local!

For some eco-tips, check out The {NewNew} blog--learn how to recycle, upcycle, tricycle...just kidding...but you'll find tips on being responsible and encouraging a sustainable lifestyle.

Guidelines to Becoming a Crafter

2010-03-23T14:44:00.007-04:00

Written for Relate Magazine by my friend and colleague, Jesse Sposato, it features my work along with some other new york crafters.

Just click on the picture and it will open up a larger view.

fu run - well worth the trip

2010-02-22T15:24:00.005-05:00

get yourself to flushing, queens immediately for this food. it was delicious. the restaurant decor is very straightforward--no frills. but the food is fantastic. they started us with a plate of spicy pickled cabbage that was very similar to kimchi and roasted peanuts. then we had a simple cucumber salad which we devoured with our chopsticks. soft and scrumptious scallops followed, then sauteed string beans, pork lo mein, and lamb & carrot dumplings dipped in black vinegar. we ordered family style and everyone tried a bit of everything. Our grand finale was the Muslim Lamb Chops which were succulent and seasoned with a powerful and highly addictive middle eastern assortment of spices. with each bite you crunch through the roasted spicey outer layer, the tender meat, and the decadent fatty bits of lamb. oh my god. needless to say, our party left quite full and happy.

my cell phone pictures really don't do it justice.

check out the nytimes article {here}.

better than jam

2010-02-18T13:02:00.007-05:00

did i mention that my friend karin opened a brand new store in bushwick!!! isn't this just beyond exciting. it's a co-op of different local designers in the new 'markets at the loom' building. it's basically an indie mall. molly shoelace has a small selection of cards on the countertop.

check it out anyday from 12-8pm.
click here for directions.

i wish i had these...

2010-02-16T13:37:00.003-05:00

especially on wet snowy days like today...

i had to take off my glasses to see, but i'm blind without my glasses. oh the irony.

simplest soup EVER: black bean tortilla

2010-02-07T18:45:00.009-05:00

leafing through last year's everyday food magazine, i came across the following black bean tortilla soup recipe (with a few changes to suit my tastes).

this soup is so delicious and shockingly simple. i'm still amazed at what great flavor it has considering how simple the recipe...i often make soups because they are hearty and satisfying, but generally a lot of chopping is required. not with this soup. it takes like 15 minutes to make and costs next to nothing, especially because you'll probably have most of the ingredients on hand. (serves about 4)

5-6 garlic cloves, minced
1-3 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp olive oil
2 14 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 14.5 oz can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 14.5 oz can red beans (drained and rinsed)
10 oz frozen corn
1 14 oz can chicken (or vegetable) broth
1-2 cups water
tortilla chips
juice of 1/2 a lime + more to taste
salt & pepper to taste
grated cheddar (optional)

1. saute garlic and chili powder in olive oil for about a minute.
2. then add tomatoes, beans, corn, broth, water and bring to a boil.
3. add salt and pepper to taste.
4. reduce to a simmer and add a few handfuls of broken up tortilla chips.
5. squeeze in about 1/2 a lime.

spoon into individual serving bowls and add a few more broken tortilla chips for garnish and grate a little cheddar on top if desired. also, use the extra lime for some more zing in your soup....voila!

sean's dream

2010-02-02T12:17:00.002-05:00

L.A.-cation

2009-12-13T23:29:00.027-05:00

i'm on my first vacation in forever. this vacation feels really special. first of all, i'm being paid by my job. second, it is my first time being in los angeles after moving in may of 2007. amazingly, it doesn't feel at all like 2+ years have passed. it's funny how well i got to know this city. and my love for la feels wildly apparent since landing at LAX. i really miss this place.

did you know la is magical? it's been raining for a few days (i used to cherish these rare precipitating moments), so when we woke up this morning everything was wet and dewy clean, smelling of soil and grass, birds and squirrels chattering about. it was like being high on 'V' juice (a true blood reference), our senses heightened, our souls light as air, absorbing the organic beauty of each detail as we strolled the eagle rock neighborhood on an early morning coffee quest.

typical la: fruit lying on the sidewalk. fruit trees prevail--lemons, grapefruits, oranges, persimmons, avocados--so it is not uncommon to see fruit littering the pavement. another common sight, though not captured on film, are the dry husks of the palm fronds, jurassic and strange, falling from the heights of these dopey spindles, like a giant, petrified feather, landing on the lawns or streets or sidewalks of this city.

what are these suessian plants? so mysterious and different than my east coast oaks and maples. succulents spread across the landscape like a yayoi kusama artwork. curlicues, swizzlesticks, fibonacci flowers, dodobirds of paradise...whispering of an extinct era where brontosauri and triceratops were the only creatures competing with the mammoth vegetation.

we picked up our coffees and continued on this quiet adventure, the only people out aside from a few homeless people and the occasional jogger. even colorado boulevard was clear of the usual traffic, blacktop still wet from the previous day's showers. we watched steam emanating from the damp tree trunks as the strong southern california sun worked to warm up the morning, a dreamy halo forming as the sun mixed with the wetness.

i photographed details along the way. more for sport than for documentation. i knew what i was experiencing couldn't be captured on my cell phone (no matter how many megapixels). i felt childish and spry, floating through space but not time, my breaths deep and pure, my energy and stride endless and invigorating.

i wonder what my companion felt, walking through memories of his youth and reminiscences about this or that house, old experiences, a child growing into an adult within these few blocks, so familiar but somehow reborn. we made it back home where the day's eyes seemed to be opening. carefully integrating back into the world of time and clocks and internet access. we're still on vacation though.

i plan on doing as much la stuff as humanly possible this week, while taking time to enjoy myself like on this morning's eagle rock stroll. things feel calm here. maybe because it's a sunday. a lot of my memories are of the oppressive sun beating down on the expansive avenues. smog and exhaust simultaneously beautifying and polluting the vistas. bumper to bumper cars on the freeways. big stores and strip malls. well, i guess there is all of that, but there's tons of other stuff too.

HHC 2009 pictures

2009-12-09T12:00:00.006-05:00

perhaps not the best pictures, but it will give you a sense
of the event. which, by the way, was a total success. the
weather was TERRIBLE, but it didn't prevent over 1000
people from stopping by. for more pictures click here.

here's something creepy

2009-12-09T11:48:00.003-05:00

i don't know if you can tell from my snapshot, but at 15th street/prospect park on the manhattan-bound F/G track somebody seems to have dumped a garbage bag and a wig. it is really creepy to me. it looks like somebody's decapitated head coming out of the bag. it has been there a while now and i couldn't resist documenting it.

especially creepy because the other day this line was completely stopped due to a suicide. i'm surprised we don't hear more about subway deaths.

anyway, i wish someone would clear this ominous, disgusting wig from the tracks. let's hope it's a wig...

something cool happening in ridgewood?

2009-12-02T08:50:00.007-05:00

woah, a craft fair in ridgewood, queens...a DEGENERATE craft fair at that! what a special surprise.

i mean, i love ridgewood, but i pretty much have surrendered to the idea that i have to leave my neighborhood for entertainment. this is a one day only event.

this reminds me of my days at bard , when amy sillman coordinated a craft fair that all us naively bright-eyed art students had to participate in. we had to come up with the most brilliant, sellable craft. the idea was to use our art skills and our limited resources to make something marketable, because the art world can be so brutal. i guess amy knew that when we left bard we wouldn't necessarily get by on our art.

anyway, check out the degenerate craft fair on FRIDAY 12/4.
and then come to MY craft fair on SATURDAY 12/5!!

2009 Holiday Handmade Cavalcade

2009-11-30T11:15:00.006-05:00

come one, come all, to this year's Handmade Holiday Cavalcade!!

Where: Open House Gallery
201 Mulberry Street (between Kenmare and Spring)

When: 11am to 8pm on Saturday, December 5th

there will be 50 vendors showcasing beautiful and innovative handmade goods for your holiday shopping experience. it is a great way to get all your gift shopping done in one place while supporting local artisans (and me!)!!

visit www.handmadecavalcade.com for all the details.

empanada time

2009-11-23T14:16:00.012-05:00

i had such a craving for empanadas the other day, but good empanadas are kind of hard to come by in nyc. so, we made empanadas from scratch and they were delicious! though the process was time consuming (we doubled the recipe), it was fairly easy and made plenty to freeze for post thanksgiving, when no one feels like cooking.

This is a variation of a couple different recipes including good ol' martha stewart.

FOR THE FILLING
-4 pounds ground beef
-3 medium onions, diced*
-2-4 jalapeno chiles, minced *
-1 teaspoon chili powder
-3 cans diced tomatoes
-Coarse salt and ground pepper
-1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped*

* I food processed this stuff and it took a matter of seconds!

FOR THE DOUGH: do 2 batches of this dough. That way you make a lot, but it stays manageable.
-4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
-2 teaspoons baking powder
-2 teaspoons salt
-1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into tablespoons
-1 cup cold water, more as needed
-1 egg, lightly beaten with a spoonful of water (beat just before you put them in the oven)

Step 1. Make Filling

-Cook meat until no longer pink.
-Add onions and jalapeno; cook until soft.
-Throw in tomatoes and chili powder and cook on medium-low heat for 20 minutes or so.
-Season with salt & pepper
-mix in cilantro and let cool

Step 2. Make Dough

-Combine dry ingredients.
-With your fingers mush the butter around and combine it with flour mixture
-Add water a little at a time until it starts to resemble a ball of dough
-Cut each dough ball into 6 equal pieces and form into smaller balls with your hand
-On a floured surface, roll out each dough ball into a round tortilla (as round as you can) and stack on a nearby plate

Step 3. Form Empanadas

-Spoon filling onto one half of the tortilla, leaving about a 1/2 inch of space from the edge
-With your finger, wet the 1/2 inch border with a bit of water
-Fold over other half of dough and press onto wet border
-Use a fork and crimp the edges together so it looks like a real professional empanada!

Step 4. Baking

-Place on lined baking sheets (parchment or foil)
-Brush egg mixture over the tops, avoiding the crimped edge
-Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 400 degrees, rotating the baking sheets half-way through

NOTE: If you want to freeze them, just put the formed empanadas on a plate and freeze it for a few hours so it isn't so floppy. Then you can wrap each one with saran or put them in freezer bags.

what's the story, morning glory

2009-11-17T11:57:00.003-05:00

i planted a bunch of seeds that my dad gave me ages ago. for a week now, i've been looking at little pots of dirt, but this morning, to my surprise, the morning glories sprouted!!

i'm certain that last night it was just dirt, and now it is this vital, growing seedling. amazing. i am still waiting for the sage and basil to sprout.

aren't they lovely!

ornithological ornaments

2009-11-13T11:25:00.005-05:00

it is now mid-november and i have cut, sewn, and stuffed over a hundred little birds. now comes the time to turn them into ornithological ornaments.

ingredients: ribbon, wreaths, and pin cushion birds

these will be available online soon, and in person you can buy them at this year's Holiday Handmade Cavalcade on December 5th.

xoxo,
molly

goodnight felted birdfriends

2009-10-24T22:37:00.008-04:00

sorry--couldn't resist one last triumphant post:

i am done cutting! don't they look like funny blue hamburgers, or little floating islands...something enticing and edible. now ready for step 5, but it'll have to wait until tomorrow...

saturday night craft session

2009-10-24T20:34:00.007-04:00

i've been working all day on my pin cushion birds, and i'm still just in the cutting phase. i'm doing a bigger batch, like 3-4 times bigger, than i have done before. it is a phenomenal amount of work! i am sitting here, swimming in felt scraps, astonished at this mess of my own making.

of course, it is fun to be in full production mode. but it is also fun to take a break and exhaust you with the details. these birds are done in several phases:

step 1 was of course drawing each bird. my various field guides have come in very handy for this.

step 2 was silkscreening. this was my very first silkscreening endeavor. i printed on a bunch of fabric pieces, probably about 20 birds on each.

step 3 involves cutting each bird from the fabric. you can see i loosely follow the contour of the bird with the scissor, leaving a 1/2 inch or so around.

step 4 is to place the cut-out bird face down on felt and cut the felt to approximately the same size/shape.

step 5 has yet to come today, as i am still laboriously cutting each piece of felt, but it will be to sew the birds and felt together on the machine 3/4 of the way around. i leave a slight opening so i can stuff them.

step 6 is turning each bird/felt cut-out right-side-out.

step 7...STUFFING!

step 8 is sewing the little bird cushion closed--by hand. i have gotten quite quick at this step, thank goodness.

step 9 is sewing it to an elastic bracelet or turning it into an ornament for the holidays.

step 10 is to massage my hands, take a nap, and not think about this arduous process for another year or so ...

queen bee

2009-10-21T14:30:00.011-04:00

molly shoelace products can now be found in queen bee in deansboro, ny. it is just about the cutest shop you'll ever find. on a country road outside of clinton, ny, susan castle--the queen bee herself--sells her jewelry along with other new york state artists' handmade goods. if you walk next door you'll find an equally charming shop called white's pottery, featuring clayware by her husband dean white.

both susan and dean have studied at munson williams proctor institute in utica, ny where i too took classes for years and have many a fond memory. if ever in the area, be sure to stop by queen bee!

i never saw a purple cow

2009-09-30T15:53:00.011-04:00

my wedding cake card (purchase here) is featured in this treasure trove of purple etsy finds--thanks again muppetloon!

xoxo molly shoelace

Atlantic Antic: Sunday October 4th

2009-09-27T11:04:00.004-04:00

rain or shine, i'll be setting up shop one week from today for the annual atlantic antic street fair. come stop by my tent located at 182 Atlantic Avenue (map) between Clinton and Court Streets (on the south side of the street).

i'll be selling with apparel designer Better Than Jam and jewelry innovator Allene La Spina.

See you there!!!

all pink treasury

2009-08-27T12:07:00.004-04:00

my daydreaming greeting card was featured in this {NewNew} treasury on etsy. thanks to muppetloon who makes fun felted goods!

clay, wood & cotton

2009-08-25T11:11:00.008-04:00

my pin cushion bracelets will now be sold in Beacon, NY's newest shop: Clay, Wood & Cotton. They are opening in the coming months! you can become a fan on facebook or even take the metronorth out of the city one day and enjoy the quaint town by shopping and checking out Dia and other galleries.

149 Main Street
Beacon, NY, 12508

things to do in los angeles

2009-08-13T11:48:00.019-04:00

now, i haven't been to la in over 2 years (boo hoo!) but here are some things to look up and enjoy:

food
El Siete Mares--on Sunset Blvd. in Silver Lake. Order fish tacos and horchata and you will be very happy.
Cafe Tropical--on Sunset @ Silver Lake Blvd. Order guava cheese pie and cafe con leche. it's a cute neighborhood place. i used to go here all the time when i lived around the corner.
Mama's Hot Tamales--on 7th @ Alvarado just below McArthur Park. This place is awesome. You order tamales by region. Ask for extra cream and salsa. Their coffee is pretty good too as I recall. Order a bunch of different tamales and share!

Casa Bianca--Colorado Blvd in Eagle Rock. This is a cute place to get pizza and a carafe of wine. It is very homey and most people love it. (Sean grew up just up the street from here on Mt. Royal Drive--you can drive by his house and say hello to his 'rents!!)
Palms Thai Restaurant--5900 Hollywood Blvd. Thai food in LA is delicious and plentiful. This place has an Elvis impersonator, so it's really worth eating here!
Elf-- Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park. my friend Pam's ex-bf opened up this vegetarian/raw restaurant. it is super cute and yummy!
Diddy Reese--Westwood near UCLA. huge and amazing ice cream treats: your choice of ice cream sandwiched between your choice of cookies. umm, this place usually has a line, but it's worth it. they used to charge $1, but i heard the price went up to $1.50 or $2. still worth it...

shopping
St. Vincent's thrift Store--huge and gigantic. you have to feel like picking through. it's a fun place though and deals are to be had...a little hard to find, so click here for google map.
Korean Supermarket in the Koreatown Galleria--Olympic Blvd. @ Western. There's a parking garage in the back for your convenience. Go directly to the gigantic supermarket (i've never actually been to any other stores in the galleria). there are usually tons of free samples and awesomely exotic and interesting foods to purchase. it is always an exciting adventure at this market. be sure to get a warm fried bean ball for $1 at the bakery by the entrance...they are deeeelicious....

sightseeing
Forest Lawn Cemetary: Enter on Glendale Blvd. this is SO worth driving through. There are these big gawdy statues throughout the park, including a life-size David. it is really pretty and weird--very LA/Hollywood.
Definitely check out the museums: MOCA in downtown, LACMA in mid-Wilshire area, and Hammer in Westwood. Also, drive out to the Getty Museum. You can try to plan to be there around sunset, because the vista is amazing and the light is spectacular. It is a palatial museum--tacky and beautiful. you can take a monorail up too which is fun.
Egyptian Theater--this is a cool old hollywood theater from the 1920s. it is fun to check out old movies here. the architecture is awesome.
Griffith Park--hike to the hollywood sign. watch out for rattlesnakes. take pictures of the dinosaur aloe plants.
Echo Park Lake--have a picnic, rent a pedal boat and enjoy this cute park with lots of palm trees.
The Hollywood Hills--fun to drive around any area in the hills. The streets are narrow and winding and hilly and you can get great views and see varied architecture.
Point Dume--a gorgeous beach in Malibu area. It is a bit of a drive, but it's super pretty and if you go mid-week it shouldn't be too crowded. The waves can be really strong up there.

nightlife
The Roost: 3100 Los Feliz Blvd. dive bar with a popcorn maker. this is where sean and i met. they have a good jukebox. say 'hi' to the bartender, Sai.
The Red Lion--on Glendale Blvd in Silver Lake. German beer garden. You can order beers out of a giant boot and get potato pancakes and bratwurst.
The Dresden Room--there is this quirky and cute local celebrity piano duo named Marty & Elayne--check to see when they are playing. and order a martini to go along with it.
Places to check out shows: The Echo, Spaceland, SilverLake Lounge, and just check out the local listings for who's playing...

There are about a billion other things to do too...but this is what stands out in my head. Have fun!!!

gallery feckless - THIS saturday, august 15th

2009-08-11T16:01:00.006-04:00

ian gold has organized a group show featuring new work by several amazing artists, myself included.

come check it out this saturday, august 15th at 7pm in Bushwick off the Jefferson L stop.

oh, and enjoy the beats of none other than senor dj shoelace!! not to mention drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

don't forget...benefit for nicole!

2009-07-29T17:02:00.002-04:00

it will be TOMORROW!! Thursday, the 30th. check out their website for more details

or look below at my previous post. also, here's a little article about it.

xoxo

sadie magazine--issue no. 6

2009-07-29T16:28:00.006-04:00

be sure to browse and absorb the latest sadie magazine. it is seriously jam packed with cool stuff. the creators of this magazine are so awesomely dedicated that it blows my mind.

this time around i did one drawing that accompanies a sweet story of fiction by Jed Lipinski. also, you'll notice on the right hand side, there is a small banner that links to my website. maybe it'll get some hits! anyway, rock on sadie magazine.

a dishful of snow

2009-07-23T11:32:00.003-04:00

To make a Dyschefull of Snowe--Take a pottell of swete thycke creame and the whytes of eyghte egges, and beate them altogether wyth a spone. Then putte them in youre creame and a saucerfull of Rosewater, and a dyshe full of Suger wyth all. Then take a stycke and make it cleane, and than cutte it in the ende foure square, and therwith beate all the aforesayde thynges together, and ever as it ryseth take it of and put it into a Collaunder. This done, take one apple and set it in the myddes of it, and a thicke bushe of Rosemary, and set it in the myddes of the platter. Then cast your Snowe uppon the Rosemarye and fyll your platter therwith. And yf you have wafers caste some in wyth all and thus serve them forthe.

-from flora's hide-out, click on the drink 'snow on an apple tree'

benefit for nicole: a postcard show

2009-07-22T11:48:00.007-04:00

a few months ago nicole was seriously injured from the crumbling staircase accident in LIC...she is recuperating slowly but surely and her friends are throwing a benefit to help with her medical expenses. i didn't really know nicole, but one time i played a serious pictionary match against her and several others. she is quite the competitor, which probably accounts for her amazing recovery. by the way, pictionary is the best board game ever...i think my team won...

all the postcards will be $40 each--a total steal for such inspired artwork!

check it out on Thursday, July 30th, 2009 from 5:30 to 9:30 PM

Priska C. Juschka Fine Art
547 W. 27th St (between 10th & 11th Aves.)
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10001
www.priskajuschkafineart.com

the images on the left are scans of my entries.
top: "a-bridged"
bottom: "st. george meets ed smith"

my version of sean's version of the anonymous version of the real live larry david

2009-07-08T16:06:00.002-04:00

sean's version of anonymous version of the real live larry david

2009-07-08T16:04:00.002-04:00

somebody else's drawing of larry david...

2009-07-08T16:01:00.002-04:00

found on google images by sean de lier

sean's famous!!

2009-07-06T14:58:00.003-04:00

check out 0:29 seconds

i was on sean's left, but managed to completely avoid the camera.

jello mold competition

2009-06-25T11:10:00.008-04:00

last saturday, my friend ian participated in a jello mold competition held at the gowanus studio space in brooklyn. his theme was based on an old sitcom called "it's a living" about waitresses that worked at the bonaventure hotel in downtown LA. i have never even heard of that show. few have, i think. anyway, he created a piano bar scene out of jello, captured below. i duly helped in the transportation and setup. actually, i invited my parents to the event, and my mother helped by sitting in the front passenger seat holding the jello martini glass. we were careful not to be pulled over by the police.

ian's hands, "de-molding" his piano keys;
my hand carefully arranging the keys on a mirrored surface (you can see my orange sweater reflected in the glass)

the alarmingly authentic, yet unspillable, martini glass. perhaps a clever innovation for the tipsy?

"it's a living" ashtray, oversized matchbook, dirty martini, hors d'oeuvres platter, piano, mirrors

close-up of the jello hors d'oeuvres platter, deviled eggs and other mysterious jello items. complete with a sprinkling of paprika.

the jello was almond flavored. imagine that.

go to gowanus studio site to see winners
check out photos of ALL the competitors and their impressive work on flickr

haircut cut cut

2009-06-25T09:16:00.001-04:00

haircut cut

2009-06-25T09:14:00.001-04:00

haircut

2009-06-25T09:08:00.000-04:00

gay love four

2009-06-24T09:37:00.000-04:00

gay love three

2009-06-23T09:34:00.000-04:00

sean's desktop

2009-06-22T16:56:00.002-04:00

gay love two

2009-06-22T15:34:00.000-04:00

gay love

2009-06-22T11:15:00.003-04:00

part of a new series: gay love
available on mshoelace.etsy.com

lovingly based on friends ian and sean, but ian made me change his face so it doesn't actually look like him.

college years...

2009-03-26T16:11:00.005-04:00

i thought this was funny...it's an old calendar from my senior year in college. this is how i used to keep track of my life. it's from the final months as i was preparing for my senior project...i was so busy...

spring handmade cavalcade

2009-03-13T09:18:00.004-04:00

check out www.handmadecavalcade.com for more information.
i'll be vending both days.

back in the saddle

2009-03-09T14:04:00.004-04:00

monday, march 10, 2009: i know, i know. it is unacceptable how remiss i've been with my posts. Working full-time at SVA has really cut into my free time, aka craft time. but i assure you, molly shoelace is still in full force.

To start with, there is the highly anticipated Spring Handmade Cavalcade on May 9th and 10th in Park Slope, Brooklyn. This will be the 3rd handmade cavalcade event. This particular event will be on a smaller scale than the Knitting factory, and the weather will be warm, birds chirping...the perfect excuse to take a bikeride or a long walk....

and THEN, I am also applying to the Renegade Craft Fair. Of course, this is juried and blah blah blah, so I don't know yet if I'll be participating. I'll keep everyone posted of course.

i'll leave you with this:

Brooklyn Lyceum Holiday Craft Market

2008-12-18T21:03:00.003-05:00

My next event: this weekend, Saturday December 20th and Sunday December 21st at the Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope. This is your last chance to get gifts before the holidays...

227 4th Avenue, between Union and President Streets, Park Slope
Click here for a street map, showing subway station too.

more hhc pics...

2008-12-09T23:56:00.006-05:00

tuesday, december 9th, 2008: courtesy of adam's flickr account (husband of kayte, aka loveforever.etsy.com)

see more pics from the handmade cavalcade: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aklouie/sets/72157610865529309/

christoph gielen....forest glen III

2008-12-09T23:48:00.004-05:00

tuesday, december 9th, 2008: i love this photograph...by christoph gielen.

HHC was a huge success!

2008-12-09T00:28:00.005-05:00

monday, december 8th, 2008: well, the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade is officially over and I can finally relax (sort of)...still have the Brooklyn Lyceum event in 2 weeks and virtually no inventory left!! I never expected the incredible turnout we had on Saturday at the Knitting Factory. The NewNew team really made quite an impression on the nyc arts and crafts scene. I'm still high off the excitement and positive energy from the event.

Thanks to everyone for coming and supporting us. I met so many awesome people and can't wait for our next cavalcade event. here's a picture of my table, courtesy of WaiSze. I neglected to bring a camera and wouldn't have had time to go around and take shots anyway.

p.s. i will certainly have more pin cushion bracelets at the Brooklyn Lyceum. They went like hotcakes, so I'll be more prepared next time!

new holiday cards

2008-11-06T22:36:00.003-05:00

thursday, november 6th, 2008:

here are some new christmas cards.
you can order them individually or in packs of 6.
all cards are blank inside and measure 5.5" X 4.25" when folded.

birdopoly?

2008-11-06T16:47:00.003-05:00

thursday, november 6th, 2008: did anyone know about this? i just found out from ian. Birdopoly! wow. for a bird enthusiast like myself, i'm surprised i didn't hear about this game sooner....

oh, the anticipation...

2008-11-04T15:04:00.002-05:00

tuesday, november 4th, 2008:

don't forget to vote for you know who...

Free Earrings Give-Away!

2008-11-01T11:19:00.004-04:00

saturday, november 1st, 2008: i can't believe it is already november...

another free give-away from another talented newnew member: salt and paper!

aside from the clever name, natalie also makes really cheerful and intricate jewelry. these earrings are made of polymer clay and completely handcrafted. i worked with fimo clay tons when i was a kid and certainly never came up with anything this skillful. really lovely earrings. will look great as we bring in the fall weather. i hope to win them for myself, but you can win them too by clicking here!!! good luck!! xoxo molly shoelace

Promotional Opportunity: Hip NYC Holiday Craft Fair Now Accepting Samples and Promos

2008-11-01T10:43:00.004-04:00

Promotional Opportunity: Hip NYC Holiday Craft Fair Now Accepting Samples and Promos

The Holiday Handmade Cavalcade is a one-day shopping event showcasing three floors full of handcrafted goods. It will take place in New York City at the Knitting Factory, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday December 6, 2008.

The event is being organized by The {NewNew}York Street Team (http://thenewnewny.com). The group is partnering with many sponsors including Etsy & L Magazine (www.thelmagazine.com), and a large crowd is expected.

Anyone who RSVPs for the event online will be eligible to receive 1 of 200 complimentary, limited-edition goody bags which will be packed with Etsy Goods from across the US. The group is now accepting donations for the goody bags. This will be a great way to promote your business to thousands of NYC consumers & gain exposure around the holiday season.

Types of donations accepted include samples/smaller versions of your product (soap, earrings, prints, etc), promos (pins, buttons, magnets, etc), and coupons/gift certificates. Business cards, postcards, fliers, or other such items will not be included unless they are attached to a sample/promo/coupon. Please send samples & promos in lots of at least 10-15 items (200 max).

Contact handmadecavalcade@gmail.com with the subject line *promos* for the address of where to send and with any questions you may have. *Donations must be received by November 21, 2008.*

Newest Romantic Design

2008-10-18T13:37:00.005-04:00

saturday, october 18, 2008: Check out my newest card design: An intimate picnic for any romantic occasion...

How to Make a Tote Bag

2008-10-18T13:23:00.005-04:00

saturday, october 18th, 2008:

Check out my "how to" by clicking the below pic:

molly shoelace loves dirty loves clean

2008-10-13T13:11:00.007-04:00

monday, october 13th, 2008:

I WANT THIS SOAP:

I already got "mermaid pie" and "spike my cider" at the brooklyn flea, both of which left me feeling awesomely clean and fragrant! I almost took a big bite out of my boyfriend's arm after he used the apple cider soap. brown sugar seems just as promising! I especially love the presentation and the 'eco-conscious' aspect of these soaps. i'm crossing my fingers that i win this one!!

but you can enter too--just click on the soap!