Craft + Animation = Magic

 A journey into stop-motion animation with "The Making of Fantastic Mr. Fox" 
and local crafter Nobu Koch's "Hippo's Party"

What is it about a puff of cotton floating jerkily across a screen that makes us nostalgic for sunny summer days and white fluffy clouds? At its base essence stop-motion animation is simply a series of photos strung together to create movement. But what is created when flashes of cotton weave themselves into clouds is something beyond simple movement-it becomes magic.

Images from Nobu Koch's short film "Hippo's Party"

 

The craft it takes to create an entire movie from still frames involves patience, precision and inspiration. The latest film by Wes Anderson, "Fantastic Mr. Fox," based on the original children's book of the same name by Roald Dahl, is a perfect example of such precision and inspiration. For the crafter-at-heart, the book "The Making of Fantastic Mr. Fox" peels back some of the magic to expose the inner workings of the team of artisans that crafted this work.

From Craft Addiction to Craft Business: Part 3 0f 3

- Note: This is part 2 in a 3-part series on the business of craft with 
special emphasis on the local Juneau market.  Find part 1 here and find part 2 here

*** Please check out the resources section after the jump!!***

How many First Fridays have you spent thumbing through earrings at Annie Kaills or donning knit hats at the Juneau Artist's Gallery and thought to yourself, "Could I be selling here someday?" If you're like me it may take months or even years to work up the courage to sell your crafty products directly to local storefronts. Often the most nerve-racking part comes from lack of knowledge of the industry and the "rules." To help you out I've gathered tips from local stores and several resources to give you an edge on the local craft market.

St. Patty's Day Clover Cozies tutorial!!

 What do they say, everyone's Irish on St. Patty's Day? My favorite sentiment from the holiday celebrating everything Irish was probably not the first thought the revelers had on their original parade through New York City in 1762. Over the years St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. has morphed from a stoic celebration showing the strength of Irish immigrants, into cheery leprechauns, lucky rainbows, green rivers and downing a few brews. Though the sentiment has changed, one thing remains the same: it's a blast to celebrate our Irish heritage (whether or not you actually have any) each year on March 17.

To make sure we're all prepared, I've whipped up a little tutorial to keep the Irish spirit ringing. A clover bracelet that turns into drink cozy when necessary shows the right mix of spirit and spunk for this lucky day. Check it out after the break.

From Craft Addiction to Craft Business: Part 2

- Note: This is part 2 in a 3-part series on the business of craft with 
special emphasis on the local Juneau market.  Find part 1 here. 

So, you're a crafter with a product that you know is fantastic (because the orders from friends and family keep rolling in), and you want to take the next step and sell to someone you don't know. You've answered some of the questions from part 1 of this series (the who, what, why and when of selling) and you're ready. What's next?

Where to sell your products?
There are three large markets that are accessible to local artisans, and a crafter might choose to participate in one, two, or all three. Online stores, local boutiques, and fairs and markets make up the bulk of how a crafter can get his or her products out to the greater public. For this column, part 2 in this series, we'll focus on online sales, with a particular emphasis on the crafter's marketplace known as Etsy.