Fry Phrase Pennant Flags

I was on a mission to make some new flags that had text of some kind: a small message or phrase that were more monochromatic but with an outdoorsy camping feel, and I wanted to screen print them instead of color blocking solids like I did on the nautical flags.  I really wanted it to be a project like an art project that didn't just feel like making things to make them; like it was grounded in something.  I was trying brainstorm clever phrases to put on the flags but most of the things I came up with felt arbitrary and didn't really work.

That's when I came across Fry Instant Phrases and short sentences.  The words in these phrases come from an Instant Word List developed by Dr. Edward Fry (1925-2010) from a book he wrote in 1980.  According to Fry, the first 300 words in the list represent about 67% of all the words children encounter in their reading.  They are divided into sections of 100 phrases per group.  The first 100 are the easiest, the next 100 are a bit harder, and so on.  These phrases are ones that children commonly come across when learning to read as well as in writing and spelling fluency.

Reading through these phrases, I could see that a lot of them were common place short sentences (So there you are, He called me, Have you seen it?) but when brought together and read in a sequence they created an interesting narrative that was so loose it was really up to the reader to decide what was happening.  This really got me excited about telling a story through something I was making instead of traditional story making: sitting down and typing or writing out a story, so I picked out my favorite ones and made a list:

I read through the first 5 groups (500 phrases).  I really like how it felt when I paired them up with ones that kind of went together or that had some kind of descriptive chemistry creating a tiny narrative.  I typed them out in Illustrator and chose appropriate fonts that went with each one.  Next I arranged them into color circles with small graphic elements.  Below is the original 16 but as I moved forward I boiled it down to 12 since I would be screen printing each one in a different color (kind of a lot of work, you know?)  It's good to edit anyway.

I used creme muslin which I pre-washed making the fabric so super soft!  I precut the fabric to the approximate size of the flag.  Then it was onto the screen printing which took me about 2 days to burn each screen, print, wash out, reburn, etc. Cue upbeat movie montage music!

Finished! (the printing at least)

I printed 3 of each design and will sell them as editions of a limited run so when someone has one flag, there will only be 2 others like it making it a bit special and rare.  Next I sewed them into flags with pointy bottoms using a thin layer of batting as filler so they would have more weight to them.  I sewed in a loop of fabric at the top to fit a dowel through for hanging.

I bought the dowels at an art supply store, sawed them in half and hand sanded the ends.

I tied white paracord on the ends of the dowels for easy hanging.

 The back of each flag is signed and numbered with the edition.  Here's the first edition finished:

Done!  I hung one of each of them on the wall and took a group photo!

Some individual shots:

The flags are great to hang in apartment entry ways, bedrooms, living rooms, or kids rooms (the phrases are for children after all) to add a pop of color and some subtle style to any room.  Is there one that resonates with you?  They will be for sale at the Mokuyobi Threads booth #159 at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn, NY on June 22+23. And after that in the Zipper Teeth Etsy shop while supplies last.

I hope you had as much fun reading the post as I had making them.

Comic Con Vintage Sheets Hats

Comic Con was a blast!!!!  Saw lots of crazy costumes, met some super cool people, and got to hang with old friends.  Here's the Mokuyobi Threads booth:

We debuted awesome 5 panel hats that were made from vintage bedsheets that include cool Mickey, Rugrats, Goosebumps, Rainbow Brite, Popples, Pokemon, Superman, and Pacman.

They were a HUGE hit and we sold out of a couple of them but we still have a few left of the ones pictured below that you can purchase HERE while supplies last!!  AND they're on sale, bonus!

Some of the ones I sold out of I was completely not expecting.  It's hard to know what vintage stuff other people like when you obvi have your own personal faves.

This was kind of a test run for five panel hats and it was a total success!  Mokuyobi Threads is coming out with a TON of new patterns (originals this time) in 5 panel hats and wallets in late November like the one pictured below!

Keep an eye out for those, they're gonna be SUPER sick.  Can't wait, you'll see.

Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn Shop Finds

The Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair is always an awesome time for meeting people, networking, and getting customer feedback but not so good for my wallet.  Especially this year.  I felt like there were WAY more interesting new things and less 'put a bird on it'.  Here are some of the awesome shops and what I bought from them:

RHLS (Ruffeo Hearts Lil Snotty)

If you're looking for the most awesome talented coolest people ever, you found them.  Look at this shamazing dress.  They do a lot of color blocking and sew everything right here in Brooklyn.  So fancy.  They also do AMAZING photo shoots.

Mega ETC

Giant jewelry wearers look no further!  Sarah is behind this larger than life jewelry company that incorporates big beads and awesome rope.  This nechlace may look small out of context but it is GIANT and that's what make is so amazing!  I wore it right out of her booth.

Andrew Zangerle

Triple Amazing hand painted wood signs.  I already have one of his signs if you remember my post about my framed wall, it was the treasure sign.  These will only add to the awesomeness.  Seriously cool, look at those things.  There are no words.  He said he was going to be painting more signs like this soon so keep a lookout for that!!!

Shorts People

Casual shorts are basically my thing.  And these shorts are not only great for just wearing on a summer day as a lady, they're also great swim shorts for men!!  Totally loving this fish pattern.  So much so that I wore them to the second day of Renegade after I bought them the first day.  Look at those fish!!

Thief & Bandit

I've seen these guys a few times at Renegade and they're always coming out with awesome new stuff.  I'm totally digging these crop tanks.  The orange one on the right is actually bright neon orange which apparently doesn't capture well in photos.  They do a lot of sweet jewelry as well, you should definitely check them out!

Ktaadn

Ktaadn is a company from Maine that makes super soft tea towels with bright snazzy screen prints.  They were another new booth addition.  They're also doing Renegade Chicago in September so look for them if you're going.  They also gave me this geometric tote with my purchase, score!!

Hook & Matter

The lovely Aimée runs this awesomely playful jewelry brand and she is pretty much the sweetest girl ever.  Lots of bright acrylic jewelry and also some neat delicate metal earrings and more!!  Definitely check this girl out.

Helveta Vyotlag

Building blocks for adults in the form of jewelry!!  Another Renegade newbie with ridiculously giant jewelry.  I got these sweet asymmetrical earrings but totally wanted this crazy pointy ring she had but wasn't sure if I could pull it off.  Definitely haven't seen anything like this before.  I'm hoping she'll be in future craft fairs.

Mukee

My buddy Derek runs this awesome brand that makes jewelry: earrings, necklaces, and belt buckles from recycled skateboards making each piece totally unique and fun.  I'm all about casual jewelry, I totally dig this.  I end up buying something from him every craft fair I see him at.  It's dangerous.

We See Stars

Clearly I went way overboard on the jewelry this year.  I'm always looking for colorful studs since my ear lobes don't frequent dangly earrings.  These earrings are painted leather which I don't think I've seen before.  Obviously I had to get 3 pairs for my 3 ear holes.  They look pretty sweet when I rock them together.  Clearly a winner.

See you next time at the10th annual Renegade Craft Fair Chicago!!  September 8+9 7am-11pm both days.  Come check out the Mokuyobi Threads booth as well as some of the aforementioned artists that will be in attendance!

Price Blocks

The Renegade Craft Fair is coming up and I'm always stumped about how to display items without making it look completely temporary and cheap while keeping the crafty theme.  After doing an embroidered book called Front & Back where I embroidered letters on a cardboard cover; I thought why not do it with numbers but into wood with holes drilled in it.  The perfect price display item: Price Blocks!  

I thought they would be better suited with a little stand since stuff is always falling at craft fairs from the wind and kids pushing stuff over.  I made some paper mock ups, gathered up some wood, and got to it!

Here I made shapes in illustrator mocking up the look of the block and printed them out on card stock for a heavier weight template and more perfectly curved edges.

Here's the wood as I got it in larger pieces.  I started with the actual price blocks cutting them on a table saw into the correct widths depending on the number of digits used.

Then I cross cut the strips into the smaller 2 and 3 digit block sizes.

Half of the blocks cut and stacked.

Then I started on the stands cutting them into 1" strips.

Using the table saw and dado blades I cut an indent in the stands where the price blocks would sit.

I cut those strips into smaller stand sizes for each block.  Then I sanded all of the edges and rounded the corners of all of the cut pieces.

Here are all of the stands cut and sanded.  The 2 digit blocks are finished and have rounded edges.  Still have to drill the holes in the 3 digit blocks and rounds the corners.

Drawing the rounded corners from the template on the larger pieces as a guide on the circular sander.

Sanded the 3 digit block corners and now drilling the number holes with a drill press.

Laser cutting the dollar sign into the finished wood blocks.

Finished embroidered price blocks with stands. 

Two pieces shown separately.

Unstitched blocks.  The color options are endless!!  See them up close at the Mokuyobi Threads Renegade Craft Fair booth #161

You can purchase the price blocks in my etsy shop

Summer Totes Los Angeles Edition

Summer Totes Part 2!! Available at Renegade Los Angeles this weekend, July 16th and 17th!! 11am-7pm both days at the Los Angeles State Historic Park aka the Cornfield (1245 North Spring Street if you're in the area). Also available online post fair if there are any left. Doubtful though, look at those last two. Pure gold.

Inside tag!!

This one was fun to make :-)