Finished some more masks, got to use some of my new fabric! Also dropped off 12 masks at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar to list in their online shop as the last batch sold out. Sewing like the wind and packing orders to mail. Stay safe everyone!
Author: JNA
Coming from a background in design, graphics, metal arts, and leather work, Jenifer Nakatsu Arntson makes quality hand-built vinyl goods such as hand bags, wallets, checkbooks, and accessories. Her materials are animal-friendly and her finished products are stylish and modern. After working in leather for many years, Jen has switched to working entirely in vinyl but approaches design and construction with the same attention to detail, quality and function she learned when apprenticing to master-level leather craftsmen and metalsmiths. She is now an Austin-based artisan but has lived in Kyoto, St. Paul/Minneapolis, and Tokyo. Jen's work is also available in Austin, San Francisco and New York boutiques. Her website is www.nakatsudesign.com. Jen is also an active member of the Austin Craft Mafia, and Babes in Business Bonanza. When she is not at the studio, she is on her way there.
Blue Genie Art Bazaar Online Shop!
The Blue Genie Art Bazaar has an online shop now! I have vinyl belts, cloth face masks, and zippies listed, plus there’s other great locally made stuff there too, curated by the Genies!
Current fabric choices for masks 5-20-2020
Sewing lots of masks
I’ve been sewing LOTS of masks these days! Some I’m selling directly to people through facebook and instagram; and some I’m sewing to donate/volunteer sewing for healthcare professionals through the austin facebook group of covidrangers.com. So much sewing, its my like my superpower and I’m glad I can help people. I’ve been staying home with the kiddos since March 13th, when their school closed the Friday the 13th before spring break, and reconvened online with distance learning. Thankful to have materials to work with, and my sewing studio in reach, the sewing is helping lower my anxiety level. Thankful for having my boys close! So far everyone is healthy, haven’t seen the grandparents and other family except for facetime calls for a month and a half. So thankful for good health and enough food to eat!
Everyone stay safe and healthy, this could go on a while.
Stitching zippies
Stitching up some sparkle vinyl ID sized zippered pouches. 4 3/4”x3 1/2” Lined in orange fabric, glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls. #handmade #sparklevinyl #notleather #vinylbags #zippies #nakatsubyjna #austintx #eastaustin
New stock at Blackfeather Vintage
I’ve dropped off some bags and zippies at Blackfeather Vintage (on Facebook) at 979 Springdale Rd, Suite #98 Austin TX 78702.
Snap clasp sparkle vinyl key fobs on Etsy
Listed some key fobs on Etsy, some colors I sold out of at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar and I will make more of. I have gold, charcoal silver, ruby red, princess pink, sapphire blue, emerald green, copper bronze, and silver white listed.
More stuff posted to Etsy
Posted some more items to Etsy, between sewing some stuff and clearing some space in my studio so I can work. Listed a 3D money/coin lenticular vinyl horizontal format billfold wallet, a 3D space/astronaut lenticular vinyl squarish billfold wallet, a 3D insect/bug lenticular vinyl card case wallet, a 3D Jesus/religious lenticular vinyl card case wallet, and a 3D space/astronaut lenticular vinyl card case wallet.
Adding listings to Etsy
I’m adding listings to Etsy after regrouping post-Blue Genie Art Bazaar. Today I listed a purple and lime green sparkle vinyl large flap shoulder bag, a turquoise and orange sparkle vinyl shoulder tote bag with piping, a navy blue and gold glitter wave star smaller flap bag with adjustable shoulder strap, two sizes of bronze and silver dot donut wrist strap clutch bags 1|2 , an icy light blue metallic wristlet, a tan and chestnut brown dot donut wrist clutch, a colorful tan wave dot wrist strap clutch bag, and a long red and green star zippie pouch so far.
Happy New Year!
Regrouping after a successful Blue Genie Art Bazaar, a show I’ve been lucky to participate in since way back when it was in the original Blue Genie Art warehouse on the eastside (back when the Goodwill Blue Hangar was a neighbor, pre-Canopy days.) Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the show! Pretty amazing, many other shows have come and gone in that amount of time.
Time for some housecleaning in the studio, and preparing to get back to work. Thankful for Austin Creative Reuse, a great creative resource that keeps art and creative materials out of the landfill, sells them to other creative folks that can use/re-use/repurpose them. In Japan, where storage and space are at a premium, the neighborhood convenience store/grocery is referred to as your ‘other refrigerator/kitchen/apartment’; Austin Creative Reuse is my ‘other studio’, both a source and an outlet for extra supplies.
Also on my list:
- reopen my etsy store, listing some new stuff, and clearing the way for making new stuff. Converting materials into finished items is my way of sharing my joy of making things with others!
- in my little studio, space is a challenge. I will be culling through my materials stash and taking things to ACR.
- I have been putting together a collection of imperfect makes, I’m a perfectionist and have pretty high standards, I’ve been thinking a studio sale would be a good way to pass those on.
- I’d love to do a trunk show this year too, its been a while since I’ve had one.
I’ve started a new planner, this year it’s the Maker’s Yearbook from the Maker’s Business Toolkit and a bullet journal/notebook in the hopes of being more efficient/productive/organized, and revisiting the practice of Artist’s Morning Pages. It’s hard to keep the momentum of January goals/resolutions from fading out.
Hope your 2020 kicks 2019’s ass! Balancing work/creative life/family, etc. is such a challenge, I’d love to hear what works for you.