Anatomical Heart Necklace

admin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:56:00 +0000

I was messing around on [Etsy.com](http://etsy.com/" target="_blank) when I stumbled upon this lovely and unusual [anatomical heart necklace](http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15164609" target="_blank). I’m not much of a consumer, so I thought my desire would prove to be nothing but a passing fancy. However, I couldn’t stop thinking about this piece and didn’t stop wanting it. I finally decided that $10 (plus a $2.50 shipping fee) was a small price to pay for such a striking piece of hand crafted jewelry.

The heart itself is 1.25 x .75 inches, made of acrylic, and sealed for protection. Once I was able to take a good look at the heart, I realized that it seems to be made from shrunken plastic, what we called Shrinky Dinks when I was a kid. Cool! The design on the heart is very detailed and (from what I remember of freshmen biology class), anatomically correct. It is red in color and is both beautiful and realistic enough to perhaps make the weak of stomach a little queasy.

At my request, the artist added three beads between the heart and the chain to pretty the whole thing up a bit. I certainly appreciate her willingness to go an extra step to satisfy me. I think the beads (a small, faceted purple one; a larger round red one, and a medium round black one) help soften the look.

The heart dangles from a standard silver ball chain. The fifteen-inch length keeps the necklace from hanging too low; it’s not quite as tight as a choker, but has a similar look. Of course, the chain could easily be shortened with jewelry tools for a closer fit. I appreciate the tough look of the ball chain, which keeps this piece from looking too delicate or frilly.

Overall, I enjoy the balance of the design. It’s both raw and whimsical, delicate but strong. I like that it suggests the work of Frida Kahlo and the tradition of Mexican milagros. I wear the piece almost every day, and so far it’s held up wonderfully. None of the parts have broken or fallen off, even though I tend to be rough on my jewelry. I need sturdy things that stay intact while I’m running around, living my life. This necklace is both well made and attractive, and I feel happy whenever I have it on.

Written by: Chantel C. Guidry, November 4th 2008

Scrappy: A Crafty Zine for Scrappy People, #1: Stitches

admin — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:18:00 +0000

By Niku of The Ephemeral Mailbox Museum

A couple of years ago, my grandmother gave me her sewing machine (circa 1940). Have I used it? Hardly. To hem a pair of pants a year or so ago. So I was thrilled when I was chosen to review Scrappy: A Craft Zine for Scrappy People, #1 Stitches. Perhaps it would be just the push I needed to unveil Grandma Betty’s machine and get to creating fabulous, designed-by-moi outfits!

Scrappy is an adorable handmade zine that is perfect for the beginner seamstress (or the hibernating one) looking for a little inspirational shove. Niku, the author, started sewing because she was unable to find a pirate skirt that “would fit a more voluptuous figure.” Scrappy was born out of her love for crafts, and Niku decided to dedicate the first issue to sewing since it’s one of her “favorite crafty activities.”

She explains the basic stitches – the blanket stitch, the whipstitch, the running stitch – and the basic tools – an iron, scissors, pins – necessary to begin. From there, the rest of the zine is dedicated to a number of simple and sassy projects: a reconstructed cardigan, all sorts of cozies (toilet paper, zine, tampon, and vibrator), curtains, and the de rigueur headband.

Visually, the zine is a joy. Xeroxed onto lavender paper and tied together with a fuzzy black string, it’s both typewritten and handwritten with old photos and vintage clip-art interspersed throughout, so even if you don’t want to sew, it’s still fun to look at.

Some of the illustrations are a little confusing (Niku admits she’s not an artist), but with a little experimentation, I think most folks could figure it out (She also includes her email address, so you can always drop her a line to ask for an explanation). There were a couple of pages that were out of order, and that was mildly annoying, but it’s a zine. That’s all part of the charm.

Scrappy is no hardcore instruction manual (a la Martha), thank God. It seems that the point is to explain the basics and then serve as inspiration. Niku admits that she rarely uses patterns, and instead “mostly goes by feel and makes it up as she goes.” So if you’re looking to get into improvisational sewing, then Scrappy is the zine for you.

Now, if I could just figure out how to turn the damn machine on.

Written by: Margaux Laskey, January 21st 2007