Moving right along

Hey folks- so I moved to Here because of all the weird spammy porn comments. Come visit me at the other place!
xoxo
beth b.

Last day!

Hey folks- it's the last day to vote for me for Best Local Crafter- in the Washington DC city paper contest- yu don't even have to be local to vote
clicky clicky

One more time

Last year, you might remember that I won 'Best Local Crafter' from the Washington City paper- I wanna do it again!

click here: for poll

please list beth baldwin (tigerflight) or tigerflight for best local crafter (it's in the PEOPLE & PLACES section- 11th slot down)

Thanks guys! I appreciate it!

xoxo
beth b.

New digs

I'm abandoning this blog because of all the weird asian spam porn, so why not flutter over to tigerflight.wordpress.com?

uh- whoops

So this year, 2010, is the year I really establish Tigerflight (tax number, web site, new business cards, all that jazz)
I wanted to play around with the look of this blog (if any of you can actually read this)
I am thinking of jumping ship to wordpress. They seem to have stuff in place to block the asian porny spammers. Plus, this is looking tired. Now, granted, I have no (none. absolutely none) skills on the innerwebs but now that i have access to a shcmancy laptop, i am going to give this a stab. and, uh, try to fix these colors.

I see a mansard roof through the trees

I loved (still do!) the first Vampire Weekend record. I know it's going to make all of my tougher punk rock records want to kick my ass, but I can't help it.
It's been so long since I heard something (anything!) that filled me with so much joy. You can't be angry when you listen to their first (self titled) record. I can't wait to pick up the new one this week...There's a great todd Oldham quote about happiness being a design element in whatever you do- and i think the Vampire boys accomplish that extremely well.
I also like it when people tell me "it looks like you have a lot of fun" when they're eyeing my stuff at shows. Because I do and I'm glad it shows!

Albus Cavus

For two years, I worked on public art here in the city. More specifically, I put art in DC Gov't offices. It was great when it was good and terrible when it wasn't. But I still love public art. I love how it can transform a space, complete a corner, rally a neighborhood.
I've also seen it divide a neighborhood (into "jerks", "bigger jerks" and "pretentious, self-righteous assholes").
But the best thing about public art is the public ownership. People become protective and proud of the pieces (long term or temporary). The groupAlbus Cavus is taking art to the next level and teaching some public art skills to the masses.
I am thrilled and insanely honored that they asked me to teach a workshop on soft sculpture!
Times and dates TBA, but I'll keep you informed!

Sadie helps assemble new ikea furniture

Sadie helps assemble new ikea furniture
Originally uploaded by tigersscareme

So I have officially lived in the new apartment for one month and I love it. I am so happy to be living by myself again and doing things the way I like to do things (like using Mrs. Meyer's Dishsoap!)
This past week, amidst all the holiday fracas, I was assembling some Ikea furniture under the watchful eye of Ms. Sadie LaRue. Here she is sitting on the upside-down kitchen cart as I put the wheels on. I don't know what I would do without the little supervisor.

Merrily

So for those of you that found me because of the Silver Spring snow-out '09...whew...hi and I hope you've warmed up.
I'll be honest, that was a miserable weekend. A show that probably shouldn't have happened and then I spent 12 hours moving my crap across town the next day. Luckily, I have some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for and we got it all done!
Super huge shout-out to Colleen for braving the COLD weather and the long day of moving...

The good news is, now I actually have stuff to list on my etsy page- i have three squirrels up and a few owls- Tigerflight on Etsy

A december to remember

Well, maybe not- maybe a December to make me want to shoot myself in the foot.
Big changes are ahead!
I'm moving- not to Chicago (although a girl can still dream, right?) After 7 years as a Ward 7 resident (Not Marion Barry's ward- one over) I move back to Ward 6 where I began my life in DC 12 years ago.
While i wish I were a bit closer to Eastern Market, I can't complain. Near a coffee shop, a BBQ place and lots of windows and light. I'll be happy to not have to cross the Sousa bridge every day and deal with that ridiculous snare of traffic.
Not to get all Jerry Seinfeld on you, but what is UP with people driving across bridges? They simply can't!

For the handful of you that actually check this to see what shows I'm doing, here's something for you too!
Saturday December 5- Handmade Mart Holiday Shop and Stroll. How am I going to move and have a show within days of each other? I don't know either my friend....I don't know either....
Also- Tina, Debbie (60 bugs) and I are putting on a show with about 15 of our friends in the DWR showroom in Adams Morgan on Saturday the 19th.
And hopefully somewhere in between will be the Rock and Shop at the Black Cat.

So....more soon. I promise.

Thank you!

WOw-thanks to all who came out to Crafty Bastards on Saturday. I have never felt so successful in my entire life!
But what I loved the most were the stories i got to hear- from those of you who purchased my work in the past and the travels my creatures have taken with you...And to the woman who owns "Chester" who is with her daughter in Florence, I'm not kidding! I would love a photo of him on the Ponte Vecchio! I have a picture of me from 16 years ago sitting on it and I'd love a picture of one of my owls there too!
If you have pictures of where your tigerflight animals are- I'd love to see them!

Argyle elephant

Argyle elephant
Originally uploaded by tigersscareme

I'll have more of a Crafty Bastards preview tomorrow (I hope) but here's a little taste- ELEPHANTS!
I'll have a few of these guys at Crafty Bastards on Saturday- only one Argyle elephant 'tho.

Crafty Countdown!

seahorse1
Originally uploaded by tigersscareme

Whooo, it's getting close! Less than two weeks until Crafty Bastards, and I have SO much work to do! This sea horse was sold at the Handmade MArt show in Silver Spring this past spring, but my goal (key word) is to have 100 brand-new items. Plus, sell off my old stock- so you can look forward to some discounted stuff for sure.
Ideally, I'll have 10 of these sea horses, plus some new elephants and the ever popular squirrels along with the owls which always delight.

Hope to see you there! It's a Saturday this year- October 3rd from 10 am-5pm.
xoxo
beth b.

good stuff

http://www.bakeitpretty.com/images/large/095.jpg
First, if I may indulge in a little coveting- lookit this!

How cute are those? I think this fall there will be acorn cookies!

Tomorrow is the last day of Artomatic- I want to thank anyone who finds this because of my display at Artomatic. I've had probably the best response I've ever had at any of the Artomatic's I've particpated in. This is my 6th artomatic!

Second, Art Whino is having a juried plush show called Mortal Plush, and the Defeated Pugilist which you will see a few entries down was selected to be in the show! There are also rumours of a book to accompany the show which I am super excited about.

Bad news/ good news

There has been a lot of bad in the past week- I've lost a dear friend, a hugely tragic metro accident and now I just found out that an artist that i like and respect is in a coma.
I have some good news to announce too, but for right now, I'm just going to ask that you all hug your friends and family as close and as tightly for as long as you can.

Love
beth b.

Create healthy!

I'm going to be doing a monthly(ish?) feature on safety for the crafter. It makes me crazy when I hear people are pouring resin in their livingrooms or melting records in their oven.

I know, live and let live, right? A little information can't hurt.
Check out my first post on understanding your (chemical) materials at the Hello Craft blog on MSDS sheets

defeated pugilist

defeated pugilist
Originally uploaded by tigersscareme

the fantastic gallery Art Whino is having a plush show this summer, i made this as an entry. Fingers crossed it makes it- if not, it'll go into my artomatic display...somehow.

Also, special note to Judy E: I'm not doing art star this year. it was just too expensive to apply when I had to...maybe next year. hopefully next year. it's a fun show!

This weekend!

Tonight kicks off the Summit of Awesome! sponsored by Hello Craft. I am honored and thrilled to be leading a workshop (I'll be showing you how to make a pin out of a sweater) (just part of a sweater. A sweater-sized pin sounds....big)
I'm at Miss Pixies saturday morning at 11 am. You have to register here:
http://www.hellocraft.com/

If you come to my workshop, you will get a special, one-time-only coupon!

Diabolique!

Admittedly, I have a weakness for French films. At the Goethe Institute they are showing the classic (not to be confused with the Sharon Stone version). The cinematography is incredible, and I'll admit, some of the subtitles make me laugh. I remember scribbling down "My actions provoke laughter from my friends" in the dark as a student was reprimanded after misbehaving in class.
This showing also includes a champagne reception- Tickets for the screening only may be purchased individually for $6/$4.

DC & Me

Today is kind of a dubious anniversary that I have with Washington, DC. 5 years ago I was driving myself home from working on a public art sculpture that I had been working on in the SW Waterfront mall. It was about 7pm, and the next day I was to create a number of flower arrangements for my dear friends Sean and Rania when some teenage thugs threw a brick through my front passenger window. I didn't know what had happened at first- i thought perhaps I had been shot at? There was a loud noise, an explosion, I was covered in glass and I no longer had a window. I pulled over (how I didn't hit anyone, I'll never know- i don't remember other cars on the road tho) and a woman yells something like "did those kids get you". I remember begging her to stay 'til the police came to give them a description, but the kids (taking a cue from their school uniforms) all basically have a street uniform- xxxl white t-shirt and dark pants. It's sinisterly brilliant if you think about it. If someone attacks you, all you'll really remember are the large color blocks. Not facial features) were like every other child on the streets of DC.
I called my did because I didn't have anyone else to call- most of my friends were at a dinner for sean and rania.
the police came and to the officer's credit- went beyond helping me clean a good deal of glass out of my car and checked my ears and eyes. he even (using gloves) took the brick that landed in the footwell of my car in case they could get prints. I knew he couldn't. Part of me wishes i had kept the brick.
That night two (colleen and alicia) helped me push back the crap in the garage and we moved ryan's dead van into the garage so i could park in the driveway and cleaned out the car more and taped up the window. I think i remember watching DVDs with them too and maybe falling asleep on the sofa finally. I'm glad they were there.
I'm saying all this as some work stuff is really bringing me down. Quite a bit. It's stupid stuff mostly brought on by stupid, petty people who either don't get public art, or have no eye whatsoever.
And on that note, there are a lot (a lot) of DC-centric blogs. Many of which claim to offer "creative" DC type things, and they're completely boring.
I wish I had moments of my day to report and post here and make this a destiation of all things artsy and DC, so I will have to try harder.
Starting with the next entry because no one will read down this far, i'm sure, to see it.