flying hen studio

Our Records Outlive Us

2011-06-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

Our records outlive us:

The practice of recording and archiving audio and visual information is a (healthy) response to the awareness of our impermanence. There is something juicy and real in the act of organizing information for safekeeping, as evidenced by the recipe books, geneologies, discographies, herbaria, legers, and memoirs we are compelled to preserve.

To honor the human tradition of recording practices and make a little love letter to history, I'm making an artist's book and read-along-record soundtrack, due out in 2012. This is the culmination of 10 years of work in photography, mixed media, sound recording and turntablism.

My musical background includes study in music history, theory, composition and performance at Fordham University and University of Vermont. In 2000, I took a second (and a third) job to earn the funds to purchase two turntables, a mixer, recording equipment, and to begin collecting vinyl records. I began recording and editing mixtapes, playing dance parties, and playing a weekly radio show. Hip Hop culture is a rich environment for creative interaction with music history, and for experimenting with analog and digital technologies in composition.

Concurrently, I began to see my work in photography and mixed media as complimentary practices: photographs became visual "samples"; collages became "mixtapes".

As I began to study Buddhism and work in the field of Hospice, both modes of recording and organizing information (photography and sound recording) became significant to me in their relationship to impermanence; our records outlive us.

The project I'm working on now, "RECORDS", is an audio/visual essay on impermanence and archiving, in the form of an artist's book and pressed vinyl companion record. The form is borrowed from the read-along-record stories enjoyed by the children of the late 1970's and 1980's. I chose to borrow this form for its analog integration of audio and visual information, and because of its concurrence with the birth of Hip Hop culture. The title of the project is a play on words, directly addressing the subject of recording and archiving information, while engaging the interest of audiophiles, DJs, secretaries, librarians, and others interested in the human compulsion to and practice of organize(-ing) information.

I'm currently editing both the artist's book and the mixtape soundtrack.

One piece of the work is honoring the beauty of being alive in this world by documenting tiny things, everyday things. Showing the spectacularly ordinary things in a beautiful way. We have nothing more than this collection of days we call our lifetime. And the gratitude for being here to notice. The essence of the book is love. A celebration of impermanence. A testimony of engagement. Things do not last, but we love, work and celebrate nonetheless.

And our records outlive us.

Sparkling Finitude

2011-05-30T05:38:00.000-07:00

"Our brief finitude is but a beautiful spark in the vast darkness of space. So we should live the fleeting day with passion and, when the night comes, depart from it with grace."

-Archbishop of Edinburgh, from the memorial service of Jane White Cooke, painter and lover of life.

Here is the link to her obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/burlingtonfreepress/obituary.aspx?n=jane-white-cooke&pid=150915069

Here is my favorite line in the obituary:

"After the Academy she was awarded a fellowship to study art in Florence, Italy, where she rented a studio on the Costa San Giorgio and led a bohemian life, devoted to painting and fun." In the midst of grown-up concerns, I find this notion inspiring; perhaps the responsibilities of life are not in conflict with devotion to 'painting and fun'!

How can you devote 'the fleeting day' to passion? I'm going to plant morning glory seeds, lay a color wash over a really big canvas, and watch the swollen lake throw driftwood up its steep shore, over and over again.

See Jane's paintings here.

Money for art, not for war

2011-04-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

I'm taking the biggest plunge of my artistic life thus far (other than the daily practice of keep-on-keeping-on) and putting my all into publishing "RECORDS", the read-along-record and artist's book I've been working on and avoiding in turns, for the last 10 years.

Right now I'm crafting the funding appeal I'll submit to public and private arts funders. Here's my project summary:

"RECORDS" is an audio/visual essay on impermanence and archiving, in the form of an artist's book and pressed vinyl companion record. The form is borrowed from the read-along-record stories enjoyed by the children of the late 1970's and 1980's. This form was chosen for its analog integration of audio and visual information, and because of its concurrence with the birth of Hip Hop culture, in which the artist (a photographer and turntablist) has found her creative praxis in the present day. The title of the project is a play on words, directly addressing the subject of recording and archiving information, while engaging the interest of audiophiles, DJs, secretaries, librarians, and others interested in 20th century music history and the human compulsion to and practice of organize(-ing) information. The suggested subtext of the essay is that the practice of recording and archiving audio and visual information is a (healthy) response to the awareness of our impermanence. There is something juicy and real in the act of organizing information for safekeeping, as evidenced by the recipe books, geneologies, discographies, herbariums, legers, and memoirs we are compelled to preserve.

RECORDS will occupy its position in various archives as a 24-page, full color artist's book filled with photographs, handwritten discographies and setlists, diagrams, liner notes, and album covers, accompanied by a double-sided 7" vinyl soundtrack record. It will be fully indexed and documented, with any necessary appendices. Grant monies will produce a 200-item run of the book/record and promotional materials. The soundtrack is composed in the spirit of the Hip Hop mixtape, using traditional sampling methods as well as archivist field recordings to create a textural and rhythmic listening experience.

I'll share more samples and juxtapositions in the coming weeks. Feel free to cheer me on and suggest funders or just put me in touch with other archive geeks. Please leave thoughts and suggestions in the comment form. Thanks!

-Mothertrucker aka Beccamack

Starlings, pussywillows, illustrations-in-progesss

2011-04-07T06:56:00.000-07:00

Square snapshots; Diana-mini

2011-04-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

Captured: studio images, March 2011

2011-03-27T03:31:00.000-07:00

This Sunday morning, before I go to work, I'm taking a moment to share some images I've captured in the studio this month. Some are captured in the wild, such as these 45s from a used record store in Brussels, and the yardstick from Jamba's Junktiques. Others were captured in pencil and ink in the pages of my homemade sketchbook.

Today I am inspired by numerals, the many textures and colors of grey metal, perfect squares, love lists, and by my mitten-clad faerie muses. How about you?

Please do not play this record on Sabbaths or holydays.

2011-03-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful melting mess is changing shape everyday outside the studio! Inside, it's love and art as usual: upcycling caps for spring, listening through the winter stacks of records, documenting as we go. Geese above, puddles below, wild horn sections in perfect timing, a new set of pastels, and a basket of thyme. Here's a glimpse, but please "... do not play this record on Sabbaths or holydays"! Shabbat Shalom.

Record-breaking (snow) in Burlington!

2011-03-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

I love records of all sorts. Breaking records is a little like making mixtapes: take previously recorded information and make a new experience! That's just what we've been up to in Burlington. Today is the second snow day in a row for the teachers and schoolkids; the snow stopped last night but the city's still scrambling to plow the sidewalks and you can't have the little guys walking to school in the road (especially after watching yahoos pull donuts all over your neighborhood at night!)

Here's what we've been up to at our snowfort:

Hope you're enjoying the great indoors as well!

That's so square.

2011-03-06T14:34:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about the Diana-mini, our new family camera, is that it allows one to shoot either in the half-frame aspect ratio, or SQUARE! I think my love of square composition comes directly from my love of records (and cd's), and perhaps from a long love of simple patchwork quilts. Even in my collage work, I am devoted to the square. Here are a few recent shots from the Diana-mini and some older collage work. For the love of squares!

Flying Hen Studio Cap Giveaway!

2011-03-02T04:14:00.000-08:00

Here's a surprise offer: a coupon for one free cap, redeemable at The Bobbin in Burlington, Vermont; coupon valid during the month of March 2011 only. Simply comment on this post with your email address by the end of Friday, March 4th. On Saturday, I'll draw a random winner from the pool and contact you with your coupon. Then it's up to you to pick out your favorite cap from The Bobbin by the end of the month. Good luck and thanks for playing!

Yours,

Rebecca

Diana-mini: travel snapshots

2011-02-25T14:14:00.000-08:00

Since last post I've taken the Diana-mini (and the rest of the family, except the cat and the sourdough starter) halfway around the world and back. Here are some images from Brussels, Belgium, and Tamil Nadu, India. At present we are happily being snowed into our green house, savoring the last blowing snows of February up north. Wherever you are, I hope you're enjoying this wild world of ours. Shabbat Shalom!

Tutorial: Goblin Crowns

2011-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

Analog love!

2010-12-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

So in love with our new family camera, the Diana-mini. It has a split frame option (other mode is square!) and can fit 72 shots one one roll (not including double-exposures).

The film lab I use scanned these in diptychs. I like it. Of course I wouldn't have to print them that way, but the option is there.

I'm in love with the color saturation and quirk of this little plastic gem. It's good for the kids to handle, because it's so light and easy to hold.

With the exceptions of the first shot (a portait of me by 3-year-old son, Kathir) and this shot of the dog, these images are from the "Upcycled Fashion Show" in which I was one of three featured designers last week at the Echo Lake Aquarium here in Burlington. Also on the runway were Mountain Ash Designs and The Bobbin. Pictured below and above in The Bobbin's lovely blue velvet dress is Lauren Carter, reigning Miss Vermont (and my co-worker).

Flying Hen Studio Caps!

2010-11-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome to The Flying Hen Studio!

Here are some details of the current cap collection and a few words about my methods and motivations for making them. These caps are meant for everyday wear. A cap is your signature, the last thing to put on before leaving the house and a defining feature of your street silhouette. Nevertheless, a cap should be completely practical: weather-wise and comfortable, just the thing to help you out the door into your day. Versatility, function, and easy care are the signatures of Flying Hen Studio style.

My goals in designing and redesigning these caps over the last 5 years are simple:

1. To create a closer and closer approximation of 'the perfect cap' for the indoor and outdoor everyday wear of folks in my community, that is to say: people whose daily lives include exposure to changes in the weather; multiple work tasks such as retail, restaurant, childcare, agriculture and academia; various modes of transportation (i.e. these should fit smoothly under bike helmets); and usually include social and or artistic events for which one would need something snappy, as well.

2. I make every possible effort to streamline the production process so that I may both pay myself a livable wage for my work and offer them at an affordable price. Outside of my work in the Flying Hen Studio, I work as a nursing assistant, student, and mother of two: every moment counts! Simplicity in design and production helps me maintain the fine balance between compensating myself for my work and keeping the price affordable to my comrades.

3. I work to provide alternatives to sweatshop capitalism in my small atelier by paying myself a livable wage, by participating in my local economy, and by using primarily free, found, thrifted and recycled materials. There is plenty of good cloth available from secondhand and local sources for all of our needs. Truly.

I hope you enjoy these pictures of my work taken by Michael Sundue, aka DJ +5 of the Flying Hen Studio soundlab. To see the work in person or make a purchase, please visit The Bobbin in our beloved Old North End neighborhood of Burlington, Vermont.

O.N.E. love!

Your local cap designer,

Rebecca Mack aka DJ Mothertrucker

LadiDodo: Cardboard Bike Parade

2010-09-29T03:30:00.000-07:00

When daily life becomes too rigid, we look to the sky and imagine. Cheap art can save us. Ladidodo!

Summer buzzes as it turns away.

2010-09-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

Summer, beaming down, buzzes as it turns away.

Summer's abundance is work. Work leaves its mark on the body.

So much of summer's work is left behind as the daylight closes in. Ideas that never rested on paper, much less on cloth or table, return behind the curtains to wait.

Summer froths and bubbles as it sits down in the shade.

Twilight returns to the evening, aerating the kitchen, resting the eyes on the table. There is a breathable quality to the air in this gentle darkness.

Autumn brings its own adventures: crackling sidewalks, geese that draw up the gaze, gatherings of bicycles and wonderful, windy ideas to share.

More of this, this, and this:

2010-08-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

I am wanting more of

this:

this:
and this:

Anybody in?

pages 31, 32, 33, 34

2010-08-09T13:59:00.001-07:00

pages 12, 13, 14, 15:

2010-07-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

lomography- redscale film

2010-07-08T05:03:00.000-07:00

The Lomography company, reproducers of my favorite piece of Russian plastic (a Soviet-era camera), makes a few of their own film emulsions, including this red-scale film I've been enjoying this summer.

Nothing beats the summer heat like a little cheap, analog fun in the sun!

Cherry Tree

2010-07-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

and it comes from slowing down long enough to...

2010-06-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

There's a certain peace obtained by integrating past and present parts of my life. Pulling out an old, old quilt from my childhood to patch and lay down on my bed, editing piles of old photos to frame one and archive the remaining important ones properly, pulling out a cup given by a loved one long gone and drinking tea in her memory; these actions stitch past into present.

That peace balances out that ever-flowing excitement for the future; what to make for supper, what to do tomorrow, spaces to create, skills to hone, gardens to plant and harvest, and on and on. Too often I wash myself away with relentless waves of ideas.

My good friend, in whose home my studio dwells, laughs every time I realize that my new, amazing idea and plan is one I've already been working on for years, and is half-done when conceived. This chronic eureka is such a relief, and it comes from slowing down long enough to curate my accumulating creations.

The balance of integrating artifacts of the past with excitement for the future gives me a strong footing in the present moment.

da cinque anni fa...

2010-06-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

Through 3-year-old eyes (and a funky plastic lens):

2010-06-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

A morning with family in the playground, through three-year-old eyes:

I love my Lomo. (...and my family!)

Rain or shine...

2010-06-10T16:16:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this scene:

2010-06-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

I have learned to watch my feet, that I not smash tiny theatrical spectacles in my giant and ordinary movements.

Mo the cat

2010-05-27T05:12:00.000-07:00

Mo, the patchwork cat, made with love by Mothertrucker for her doll-slinging boys.

When two shirts become one...

2010-05-01T13:53:00.002-07:00

I do love the Slow Design process of envisioning, sketching, planning, pattern drafting, deconstructing and recycling materials,and finally realizing the design in its unique and given circumstance. Equally am I drawn to, and frequently fall into, a more fluid squishing of elements on hand; projects whose genesis is the extra cup of coffee, whose realization is fated by a moment's contents of the studio, and worn home just in time to make lunch for small boys.

This garment is of the latter tribe, the Frankengarment. Pieces synthesized for their own good. The most-of-a-western blouse was in a lucky pile I received from Paper Moon Project as she packed for her return to Los Angeles. Into it I gathered a strip of Heather Ross bicycle print fabric and much of a cotton gauze shirt, once upon a time worn for fieldwork by my vegetable-farming husband.

I'm digging it

2010-04-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Pure Pop Records and yesterday's celebration of National Record Store Day I have fresh, smooth, new vinyl bumping in the studio. All praises due to Erykah Badu; an unstoppable force in American music herstory.

Dreams and other travels

2010-04-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

Cap of the Day!

2010-04-09T04:26:00.000-07:00

Forsythia yellow, reverses to a grassy green brocade: Today's special at The Bobbin. $45!

Flying Hen celebration flags

2010-03-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

Still life and not so still life.

2010-03-21T04:23:00.000-07:00

changed blog address!

2010-03-08T17:49:00.001-08:00

If you're reading this, you probably already know I changed the blog address! I made the mistake too many times of giving this address to people by accident; so I updated the address to what was in my mind! Hope I didn't lose anyone along the way...

a life filled with:

2010-03-06T14:07:00.000-08:00

a little something to tide you over...

2010-02-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

We have so many seasons, here in Vermont. I'm going to be brash now and say, out loud, that probably the coldest of the winter weather is behind us now. Which means we can finally break out our more fashionable caps, maybe. March winds are wonderful for flying kites; if you need to keep them (the wind or the kites!) out of your hair, I have just the right something...

Three "Classic" Flying Hen Studio caps in early spring fabrics. The two woolen caps are reversible; army blanket wool on one side and lavender Dupioni silk and brass satin on the others. These were made with the needs of the Northern woman in mind, practical and luxurious.

The denim cap is an everyday favorite, unlined except with a striped grosgrain ribbon. All are available as of today at The Bobbin, 299 North Winooski Avenue, Burlington, Vermont.

new retail tags

2010-02-12T17:42:00.000-08:00

Here is a batch of hand-printed retail tags for the spring 2010 caps.

My Second-Favorite Holiday

2010-02-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

There are lots of reasons not to celebrate or support the practice of celebrating Valentine's Day. From it's deep roots in European patriarchy to it's current capitalistic expressions, it is full of flaws. But, so am I, and I just love an excuse to spread to love of craft! Round about mid-February, we Northerners need a little excuse to light candles and set gluesticks to scrap paper in the name of Love!

Halloween is the ultimate crafter's delight because the social expectations are low and there is as much room for costume, theater, and creativity as one cares to assume. Valentine's Day is my second favorite, because it's social weight is light enough to leave folks with room to play around; a perfect excuse to open the studio stash of paper scraps for a free-recycling love-in! We invited a few souls over to open the suitcases of fiber mystery; gave them scissors, glue, envelopes, and stamps.

Of course I can't show any of the missives, but I do encourage everyone to take this late winter opportunity to light the candles, pour the wine, and mix the magic of collage with postal service in celebration of our human predicament!

"Living the Dream"!

2010-02-02T03:24:00.000-08:00

First week of going back to school as a mama has had its challenges but I'm still on my game. Most of the week, though, the house has looked like this:

Well, it's been really, really cold here in Burlington, VT. So the living room is also the playground for most of the day! New schedules confuse me until I absorb them. Here's a confused me in the studio trying to decide whether to exercise or finish sewing the three caps in various stages of production on the worktable:

Since last Tuesday, which was the first day of the semester and hence the beginning of my new life, I have managed to:

1. Read and complete all homework.

2. Not contract any new viruses (I'm knocking on wood right now).

3. Sew a new set of lacy party flags.

4. Not sew at all on the caps on my worktable.

5. 1.5 hrs of yoga

6. Go to work a couple times.

7. Send a postcard in the mail.

8. Made a batch of truffles with cacao nibs on top.

9. Lose my school folder containing everything EXCEPT my homework (really hoping to find that any minute).

10. Bake muffins with my little guys.

11. Make and wrap a birthday gift for my mom. Happy Birthday, Mom!

12. Almost went to a party. at night. without the kids. but then I really just wanted to snuggle them like I always do and fall asleep.

These are snapshots; to tell the truth, I can't remember most of the week. I feel tired but happy to be, as my friend Rachel says about life as a mama-worker-student-artist, "Living the Dream"!

1 minute slideshow: "Mothertrucker's Favorite Machines"

2010-01-25T13:40:00.000-08:00

Here's the first installment of an audio-visual project I began years ago and envisioned as a book, with a companion record, like we 30-somethings had when we were kids. I still hope to press and print the project someday. Meanwhile, I realized that the blog is a perfect format for sharing my work in progress. Enjoy, and please, comment!

Today's Caps and a good old friend

2010-01-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of me, capmaker, Rebecca Mack, with the current selection of caps for sale at The Bobbin. There are three baby caps, two for bigger kiddos, and the other six (including the one I'm modeling) are in various grown-up sizes. Some of them are reversible. For shop hours and directions, please call 802.862.7417.

I also wanted to share this photo of an old friend with whom I am recently reacquainted: Superman Record Player. The tone arm needs to be weighted with a box of matches in order to sink deep enough into most record grooves. That probably means the needle is dull, right? That certainly doesn't stop me from enjoying the warm, crackly sound of its built-in speaker. I have inheirited the complete and catalogued 45 collection of a gentleman named William Clenahan who lived in Albany, NY in the 1950's and was a great lover of music. So, my old friend is connecting me to the life of a man I never knew. And we thought virtual realities are tied to DIGITAL technologies! Viva ANALOG!

"My Wife's Chirping Polka"

2010-01-12T11:21:00.000-08:00

See and hear Frankie Yankovic's "My Wife's Chirping Polka" in Superman sound, right here in the Flying Hen Studio. Often referred to as the King of American Polka, he is of no relation to Weird Al.

Learn to sew Sweater Berets

2010-01-09T11:21:00.000-08:00

I'm teaching a class in beginner millinery at The Bobbin, 2 to 5 pm on Thursday, January 14. Learn how to recycle a warm sweater into a fashionable beret! $60 includes pattern, instruction, and all the materials for one hat. Wear yours home on Thursday evening! Call 802.862.7417 to pre-register.

Old School Sesame Street

2010-01-07T06:31:00.000-08:00

Record: "Sing The Hit Songs of Sesame Street", pressed in the USA in 1974. Best track? "I Love Trash"! (and oh, how we do!)

Inside, Out

2009-12-29T06:46:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's 4 above zero and w-i-n-d-y here in Burlington. I'm uploading MP3s of mixtapes past as Classic Hits and I prepare to record the next one. Here are some pictures from inside and outside the studio.

A Better Fit!

2009-12-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

Learn how to alter those thrift shop scores to fit you just the way you want...

Intermediate Alterations class

with Flying Hen Studio designer Rebecca Mack

2 to 4 pm

Wednesday, December 30th

at The Bobbin, 299 N. Winooski Ave, Burlington, VT

call 802-862-7417 to register

$40

Down with white supremacist capitalist patriarchy! Up with Slow Clothes!

New Caps at The Bobbin!

2009-12-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the holidays. We're on a family road trip from Vermont through the Bronx, DC metro area, on our way to Nashville. We'll light Chanukkah candles in four states this year! I was happy to finish my hardware adaptions to the new display case and deliver it with some fresh goodies to The Bobbin before our departure. Want to see? Visit The Bobbin's Facebook photo wall:

Fall Skirts Workshop

2009-10-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

Let's sew cozy skirts for fall! I'm leading a workshop at The Bobbin on Wednesday, October 21, from 2 to 4 pm. We'll start with a basic A-line pattern, tailor it to fit you, and add volume and flair to your taste. You take home a custom pattern, and your new skirt! $60 includes all materials for one skirt and a warm, afternoon lesson in the lovely Bobbin. The Bobbin is located at 299 North Winooski Avenue in Burlington. Call 802-862-7417 to register.

After All Designs... aprons

2009-09-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest aprons from After All Designs, made up in lovely, 100% cotton fabrics. Wearable, washable, livable, lovable aprons from my mama's stitching studio right here in Burlington, Vermont!

Bike Cap Delivery!

2009-09-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

I finished the first installation of the Fall 2009 cap series a few hours ago. Next door neighbor, Jen, helped model and deliver them to the Bobbin. Sold one on the way, but most arrived soundly!

Here is today's collection at the Bobbin. See it in person at the shop, corner of N. Winooski and Archibald St.s, Burlington. The caps pictured are in a range of sizes and are priced from $20 to $45.

See how the Bike Cap pattern is made to hug deep down to the nape of the neck? That's what keeps it from flying off your head when you speed down the hill!

Here's Jen giving us a Bike Cap action shot on my "used-to-be-a-10-speed". This is my beloved old bike I've had for 20(!) years. For our 20th anniversary I had the Old Spokes Home rebuild her into a single speed. See the festive birthday handlebar streamers?

The Boys' First Embroidery Lesson

2009-08-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like watching young (tiny) boys handle a needle and thread for the first time to make a mama feel that all is right in the world, for a moment.

my favorite garden

2009-08-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

My gardening triumph of the season came from one of those "ah-ha!" moments in the back yard. For my birthday (in early May), my mother gave me a collection of hand-painted terracotta pots and took me to Red Wagon Plants to fill them. But with curious twin toddlers, anxious to explore our backyard, where could I put them and ensure their safety?

On top of the bike shed! Tall enough to keep tiny fingers away, close enough for me to water and harvest easily! This position had an invaluable bonus: visible from the kitchen window in our upstairs apartment, I look out on it daily. I see it every morning and think, "Really need to water those petunias," or, "Maybe I'll use some of the tarragon in this potato salad," et cetera.

Unlike the rest of the backyard, or most of Vermont this growing season, the environment on top of the bike shed was dry and hot. Next year maybe I'll put the petunias somewhere else and try some Sungold tomatoes.

Potato Printing at the Bobbin

2009-08-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Gyllian, Rachel, and to Aubrey, we had a lovely class in Basic Printing on Tuesday. Using stamps cut from potatoes, Aubrey made beautiful leaves, flowers and grass on muslin and cotton jersey.

I finished a two-color tree pattern on muslin.

If you're interested in taking a printing, sewing, or crafting class at the Bobbin in Burlington, find them here: http://thebobbin.com. It's lots of fun!

the crushable sun hat!

2009-08-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

This mock up satisfies all my sun hat pattern requirements: shady, cute, doesn't hit the back of the neck, and crushes up to fit in your pocket! The fabric is block-printed cotton muslin with a broadcloth lining, modeled here by long-time friend of the Flying Hen Studio, Megan O'Brien.

Looks like I'll need to make a couple up for sale. I wonder how fast I can ride my bike without it flying off my head...

Bicyclalicious!

2009-07-31T06:20:00.000-07:00

Here's Decatur Street, outside the Flying Hen Studio, last Saturday!

And that's our new tandem! Thanks, Old Spokes Home!

Photos by Heather Driscoll.

Pride!

2009-07-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a little something in celebration of Pride, even if it's from California, not Vermont.

New Ramble Caps!

2009-07-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

A new batch of caps from Flying Hen Studio is available now at The Bobbin, in celebration of The Ramble! Come on down; they're open until 5 pm. (Then you can wear your new cap on the Ramble Bike Ride, which starts in front of the Flying Hen Studio on Decatur St at 5!)

burlington craft busking

2009-07-01T13:00:00.001-07:00

Anarchist Craft Circle brings you a rag knitting demonstration!

We used t-shirts cut into strips.

Watch Burlington streets and parks this summer and fall for more demonstrations!

A Better Fit!

2009-06-08T03:48:00.000-07:00

I'm teaching a class in altering garments, tomorrow at the Bobbin. That's Tuesday, June 9 from 2 to 4 pm.

We'll be going over the basic formula of fitting garments and methods of alteration. Bring something to alter and we'll get started! $40 fee includes instruction, materials, workspace and tool rental!

The Bobbin is located at 299 N. Winooski Avenue (corner of Archibald) in Burlington. Call 862-7417 to pre-register.

New caps!

2009-06-07T03:20:00.000-07:00

Just dropped off a new batch of caps at the Bobbin, including some larger sizes, as requested. There's something for everyone now, even Dad!

listen, baby!

2009-05-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Bessie Smith, Yann Theirsen, Dame Darcy, Susumu Yokota...

Working on a mixtape, finally! Want a copy?

pretty birdies

2009-04-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Check out this free pattern from Knitty; a flock of stripey springness! Knitters, don't sleep: free patterns, every month! Here's the link:

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/PATTflock.php

documenting ephemera

2009-04-17T11:58:00.001-07:00

Street art lovers and those with a taste for the handwritten notes of strangers should check out this blog:

http:/brooklynsigns.tumblr.com/

See what else Susan Norton is doing at:

http://nortonanalog.blogspot.com

Make an "A-line" for spring!

2009-04-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

Come to the Bobbin and I'll teach you how to make your own pattern for an "A-line" skirt. Then we'll make the skirt, using materials provided by the shop. All on a Thursday afternoon!

$40 includes instruction, materials, use of tools, and workspace. Spend a lovely afternoon building your skills and leave with a new skirt!

Thursday, April 16
2 to 4 pm

The Bobbin is located at 299 N. Winooski Avenue (corner of Archibald) in Burlington. Call 862-7417 to pre-register.

pins and needles

2009-03-12T04:56:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came to the Bobbin to see the spring caps! If you missed that batch, look for the next round this weekend. Thanks also to the wonderful Bobbin for supporting crafters and mamas in so many ways! Here's a photo from a 2008 party at the Bobbin, featuring some of my favorite recycling tools.

Spring caps are at the Bobbin now!

2009-03-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

Spring is here! My spring line of caps is now at the Bobbin, 299 N.Winooski at Archibald in Burlington. Check out two new styles: Reversible and Pin-up, in addition to your old favorite Classic and Bike caps. Available in adult and children's sizes, in fresh spring colors!

the ramble

2008-07-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

Old Northenders! This weekend is the Ramble, the annual O.N.E. arts festival. Saturday at noon the Bobbin will be opening a Ramble craft fair featuring Flying Hen Studio caps. Please come by the shop on the corner of N. Winooski Avenue and Archibald Street to visit! Here are a glimpse of some of the children's caps I'll be selling inside.

new caps are coming...

2008-06-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

Working on new caps... when I can... catch them at The Bobbin on N.Winooski Ave in Burlington, or email me.

Crafters' Delight, tonight!

2008-05-27T09:14:00.010-07:00

Come hear the Flying hen's own djs Mothertrucker and Classic Hits while you hot glue your glitter heart out, tonight at the Bobbin!

6 to 9pm
The Bobbin, 299 North Winooski Ave
craft party featuring hot glue gun bar, bedazzler and more!
DJs Classic hits and Mothertrucker
$10

"get public art out of the dark"

2008-05-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the Anarchist Craft Circle's recent lamppost cozy. Get public art out of the dark!

"Recession Economy Tag Sale"

2008-05-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

The flying hen studio presents:

"Recession Economy Tag Sale"
10 am to 3 pm
Saturday, May 24
14 Decatur Street, BTV

Things you may or may not want or need at prices even you can still afford! Records, cds, fabric, yarn, art and craft supplies, baby stuff, clothes (maternity and otherwise), old bikes and tiny treasures.

Free books for everyone!

corduroy jacket

2008-03-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

I have wanted a jacket like this for a long time. Long enough to justify the long time I spent making it! It may be the most complicated thing I've ever sewn; certainly more difficult than my wedding dress.

It was an adventure in topstitching and buttonholes. Actually the adventure began in the church basement thrift stores, finding pants in a blue-green palette to cut up.

I chose the pattern for the pocket depth. I need to carry around a small notebook most of the time, as well as the obvious necessities: wallet, keys, crackers.

Now I have just enough leftover pieces of reclaimed corduroy to launch the spring line of Flying Hen caps. No custom orders this time... just have to wait and see! Caps will be available May 4 with one exception: the first in the series is a child's blue cap which will be auctioned to benefit the Fools Gold Artists' Fund. The auction is from 6 to 9pm on April 1 at 216 Battery Street, preceding the Pink and Blue Ball.

birthday quilt

2008-02-13T08:17:00.000-08:00

This quilt was made from the leftover scraps of last fall's cap project. I love the texture juxtaposition of so many denims and corduroys. The back and border are a sarong I bought in Thailand seven years ago.

The barn swallow appliques are from a vintage tablecloth. After all that piecework I got sick of driving the heavy duty thread and heavy duty needles through my heavy duty quilt. Good thing my 1940's White is a heavy duty stitchhorse! I only made it do minimal quilting and tied the rest!

Now it's all ready to celebrate, warm up, cuddle, stroll, and make forts! (So are we!)

check out my mom's blog!

2008-02-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to my mom's new blog. She is a crafter and independent businesswoman here in Vermont. See what she's up to:

http://afteralldesigns.blogspot.com

so sorry

2008-01-26T17:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Anyone who came out in the cold last night,

So sorry! A sneaky stomach flu hit late in the day and I had to cancel the "Archives" reception at the last minute. To salt the wound, it was bitter cold, and I do believe that the note of apology which should've graced the cafe door was overlooked.
The show is coming down on Wednesday the 30th, so the reception will not be rescheduled.

We are planning to go ahead with the sewing class tomorrow. "A Better Fit" is a workshop on basic garment alteration, at the Bobbin, from 2 to 4 pm Sunday, January 27. The cost is 30$. The are a few spaces still available.

"archives reception"

2008-01-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

"archives" closing reception

january 25, 7 to 9 pm

viva espresso. 197 north winooski avenue.

with djs classic hits and mothertrucker

"archives"
notes, numbers, alphabetical order: keeping a record collection, a kennel, and a pirate radio station organized. collages and copy art by rebecca mack. through january 30. cheap art.

"archives"

2007-12-28T12:39:00.000-08:00

A new art show for the new year!

"Archives"
Notes, numbers, alphabetical order: keeping a record collection, a kennel, and a pirate radio station organized. Collages and copy art by Rebecca Mack will be shown at Viva Espresso cafe from January 2 through 30, 2008. Viva Espresso is located at 197 N. Winooski Avenue in Burlington, Vermont. There will be a closing reception from 7 to 9 pm on January 25 with djs Classic Hits and Mothertrucker.

The work in this show is inspired by handwritten systems of organization: notebooks, index card files, catalogs, etc. Three discreet systems have been sampled: the 45 rpm record collection of Mr. William Clenahan (Albany, NY, circa 1950); the index card files of the Woodville Kennel, owned and operated by Harriet Smythe in Torrington, CT (ca. 1960-1991); and the lost (and found) notebook of a member of the Free Radio Burlington Collective (Burlington, Vt circa 2002). Color and black/white copies of these archives have been cut and pasted onto oaktag, chipboard, and brown paper bags in collage. These works are non-archival quality and are priced according to labor and materials; prices ranges from $5 to $85.

Records pictured from the collection of Mr. Clenahan will be played by the djs at the closing reception. For information regarding purchase of artwork please email flyinghenstudio@gmail.com.

my mom's new etsy store

2007-12-12T17:07:00.000-08:00

My mom has just opened her new online store! Susan Mack is the woman behind After All Designs, lovely handcrafted cotton apparel and homegoods. See her bright fabrics and whimsical stitchery, all made here in Vermont and now available at the link below:

http://afterall.etsy.com

a better fit

2007-12-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

Interested in learning to alter your own clothes to fit you better? I'll be leading a workshop on the topic on Sunday, December 16th from 2 to 4 pm at the Bobbin on N. Winooski Avenue in Burlington. Bring that promising garment that vexes you; I'll help you change it. We'll also be going over the foundation of good fit: measurement and ease. The fee is $30, which includes the two hours of sewing time during the workshop and an additional hour of open sew time for you to finish up your project later (or work on something else, I suppose). Stop in to register or contact them by email: gyllian@thebobbin.com.

claiming trees for public art

2007-11-26T05:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyinghenstudio/

november projects

2007-11-20T14:02:00.000-08:00

I've been keeping busy cranking out caps at the Flying Hen Studio this month. This project is a limited edition of 20 caps in corduroy and recycled denim, some with felt barn swallow applique. I have all 20 orders in and just finished #s 16 and 17 last week.

When this run is over I will have a few caps for sale at The Bobbin on N. Winooski Avenue in Burlington. I'm feeling the cold breath of November and sketching designs for some winter wear. When I'm not working in the studio, at my hospice job, or taking care of my twins, sometimes I get together with friends and...

... make something!

Looking to participate in an unusual group project? Anarchist Craft Cicle will meet again on Friday Nov. 23 from 4 to 6 pm at the aforementioned Bobbin. We are working on a (secret) group project. Catch a glimpse below, and come help out this friday!

(what is it? can't say!)

sounds like a murder...

2007-11-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

Littlewing (aka DJ Classic Hits) pimped her ride with crow effects.

The Murder Rides...

2007-11-07T06:12:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all the crows who came out for the totally cawsome First Annual Halloween Ride! At its peak, the murder had 30 riders cawing to trick-or-treaters and treat-or-trickers. Here are some mediocre photos (it was dark...) of the scene before the ride. Thanks especially to Lee for beak-making and Joe for the pre-recorded murder soundscape! CAW!!

Calling all Crows!

2007-10-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

A digital call to ride!! Halloween night we'll flock and swoop through the trickortreating and revelry. CAW!!! CAW!! I was hoping for some printed or line-drawn chits, but I managed with photoshop...

the bobbin

2007-10-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend is the grand opening on Burlington's first sew bar and craft lounge, the (newly remixed) Bobbin! and it's right here in the Old North End! The Bobbin has an exciting calendar of community craft events, including "knit and nurse", "anarchist craft circle" and "queer crafting", as well as classes and a pay-by-hour fleet of sewing machines. They even have a serger! They'll be open from 10 to 6, Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th, with lots of events and a DIY fashion parade. So, if you're in the 'hood this weekend (coming by Viva Espresso to order caps or something) stop by and check them out. The shop's on the corner of Archibald and N. Winooski. Their website: www.thebobbin.com.

come and get 'em

2007-10-02T11:20:00.001-07:00

This Sunday, October 7, I'll be taking cap orders between 9am and noon at Viva Espresso on North Winooski Ave, Burlington. Come see samples. Choose from fabric swatches for body and applique fabrics. I can even take your measurements on the spot. If you can't make it, drop me an email. See you there!

getting my cap on

2007-09-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

This past Rosh Hashanah I decided to make an effort to use recycled fabrics and materials in my creative work; thinking about how much waste we create on this life, especially as first-world consumers, feels heavy. It's a pithy new year sentiment but it really feels right to limit my consumption of new goods. All those yards of denim, sewn up into american jeans- what happens when the knees blow? Landfill? Why not something lovely and useful instead? So here come some denim caps...

These thumbnails are of the last cap completed for a custom order. I'm currently taking orders for denim and corduroy caps, with or without barn swallow applique. If you are interested, please email me at flyinghenstudio@gmail.com. I'm turning orders in less than a week- that's almost immediate gratification, folks!

Here are some typed size tags. I love my typewriter; what a trusty rusty friend it is! Below are a few barn swallows in various swoops.

2007-09-10T20:03:00.001-07:00

Finished the plastic bag clutch just in time for wedding weekend. Its made from black plastic bags from the bodega that say 'thank you for shopping here" in gold, and black plastic bags from the wine shop that have a gold print of grapes. It closes with a self-sticking velcro patch. We did trial runs at the clam shack before the ceremony. The bag matched the dress perfectly. It was well received at the wedding, but by the end of the night the seems started to peel and the velcro glue failed. Next time I will sew it together.

working on a mixtape

2007-09-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

It's still a mixtape, even if it's recorded on a minidisc, edited on an imac, and burned on a cd, right? For the love of headphones, people !#*%??!
People misread this hat all the time. If I have any skin showing, folks read, HOT. If I'm pushing the stroller it's MOM. My favorite is that it stands for MOTHER-OF-TWINS (that's usually when i'm pushing the boys around in the double stroller). Of course it really is just a simple nickname, Mo-T, short for Mothertrucker, my DJ handle. The babies get very excited when they see me put it on because it means we're going outside (or maybe because they have superior fashion sense, innately). And yes, it is Bedazzled.

and one for me, too

2007-08-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

denim!

had to make one for myself!

this month has kept me very busy with family and mostly out of the studio. in those precious stolen moments, however, i came up with the design and pattern for these caps. they are so smart; i just have to make a few up for sale. if you're interested in them, drop me a line by email.

corduroy cap

2007-08-13T05:30:00.000-07:00

This little flapper cap was built from a pair of torn slacks.

It has six triangular panels at the crown and a rectangular piece for the head circumference. A little sloped brim, a red felt barn swallow applique and some danger orange topstitching finish it. Since it was a gift (happy birthday, erin!), it has now moved on; i'll have to make another for myself!

knitting dragons...

2007-08-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

2007-07-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

The finished plastic bag bag!
Holds vinyl LPs just fine.
I rocked this bag all over 3 boroughs today and received...well, a luke warm response. The next bag will be way fresher. Just warming up.
Thanks to my brother for the barely acceptable photo and thanks to me for the worse one.

ramble startle stencil

2007-07-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

Of the many events of today's Old North End festivities, I partook in very few but enjoyed them much! It was a pleasure as always to have visitors to the Stairway Gallery, which is typically open by appointment only. Anyone who missed it is welcome to contact me by email to schedule a visit.

The Kriya Studio hosted a fine community paint-in, inviting the public to use their paint and plywood in the name of mural making. I used my stencil to add a startle of barn swallows to the bright, celestial image in progress at 3:30 pm.

Gallery open 12 to 6 tommorrow

2007-07-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

The Flying Hen Stairway Gallery will be open from 12 to 6 pm tommorrow, Saturday July 28 for the Ramble. Please stop by if you're in the hood. Above is the building's facade; gallery door is located off the driveway.

This photo is a note from my desk. The chevron stripes are a sleeve hem from a sweater nearly finished. Sewing the components together may have to wait until I finished reading a certain giant book just released last weekend (shhh! say nothing!). Corrugated cardboard barn swallows are left over from preparing a stencil for the community graffiti project at Kriya Studio. If the babies' teeth allow, I just might get to paint it, insha'allah!

Whew!!

2007-07-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

The box of National Geographics leftover from the swap will be donated to the Kriya Studio, a community art space on North Winooski Ave in the Old North End. Never been there? Visit during the Ramble this weekend to see DJ Littlewing, the audience participation graffiti mural, and more!

After a nearly sleepless night of parenting twins, I feel so grateful to be up in the studio, listening to Saul Williams and Bahamadia, working on a new stencil, and moving freely about my own headspace. Whew!! Being a good mother sure ain't easy, can I get a witness?

thanks, swappers!

2007-07-24T03:49:00.000-07:00

Well, that was fun! Thank you to all those who came, to all who rsvp'd and to the members of the Burlington Craft Mafia who posted the event on their blogs. Thank you, thank you.

Pictured below are some prominent leftovers, which are still available to anyone who wants to pick them up. The yarn is mostly acrylic (and lots of it!), with some tapestry-grade wool and some novelty-eyelash.

Collage-artists: here is a giant stash of National Geographics from the 80's, waiting to be yours!

Available fabrics include corduroy, velveteen, net, satin, calico and tulle in vatious dimensions....

Miscellaneous goodies include:
-a 110 spy camera with 5 rolls of film
- a Mercury Satellite 127 medium format camera (which may work)
- plastic panoramic snapshot camera, 35mm
and
-a kenmore buttonholing mechanism (with interchangable presser feet)

If you wish to claim any of these leftovers, email me at flyinghenstudio@gmail.com.

quick reminder

2007-07-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hey Burlingtonians! The art and craft supply swap is coming right up.... time for busy people to start sorting! It's this Sunday from 3 to 5 pm, and if you're planning on coming rsvp to flyinghenstudio@gmail.com. Thanks!
mo-t

Plastic Bag Textiles

2007-07-12T08:19:00.001-07:00

I got totally nutty making these plastic bag things. Sorry about the plastic on your iron mo-t.

lesson one thumbnails

2007-07-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

This project was made on 5 July in Burlington, VT with xeroxes, YES paste and spackling knives. The images were lifted from an album sleeve of a 1983 breakdance compilation.