Sherezada – Geek Crafts

Lego Creations from Folded Fancy

Need a Star Wars Lego wedding cake topper for your geeky wedding? Or, want to show your sweetie how special they are with a Lego flower bouquet that’ll never wilt?

Well, look no further than Folded Fancy Creations! Each Lego model is made by the talented Mariann Asanuma, the world’s first female freelance Lego artist.

Mariann is one of my crafty heroes, and (full disclosure) one of my high school friends. She worked her way up to Master Model Builder at LEGOLAND California (the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign in Miniland is her handiwork), before striking out on her own. Now, she builds custom models, writes how-to Lego books, and manages Folded Fancy.

If you just want a little touch of Lego in your life, she also makes adorable wee magnets (like these Pac-Man magnets), and geek chic jewelry out of rare Lego tiles.

******

With that, my friends, my time at Geek Crafts has come to an end. I love writing for this wonderful blog, but, with the upcoming release of my first comic book project, it’s time for me to devote myself completely to my fiction and filmmaking. Yeep! I’m making the big leap. So, I’ll still be in the geek loop, just on the other side of it.

Thank you for reading my posts, and for all the lovely comments. Keep creating, and I’ll catch you on the flip side!

Geekily Yours,
Sherezada

Scrabble Tile Jewelry by Laura Mac

Though there are numerous crafters out there upcycling old Scrabble tiles into jewelry, my favorite is Baltimore-based artist Laura MacDougall. She takes Scrabble tile jewelry to the next level, from fun and kitchy to, well, elegant.

Each Scrabble tile pendant showcases one of Laura’s beautiful nature photographs. It’s then strung up with semi-precious stones, making a piece that you’d be proud to wear out to a special event. My favorite is this striking peacock feather necklace.

She’s also been thinking outside the box (if you’ll pardon the pun) and experimenting with round pendants, which lend themselves well to her photography.

If you’re not into jewelry, Laura also makes simple yet lovely book thongs, which are perfect for that beach-blanket read this summer.

Scurvy Pirate Ship Onesie

Strike fear into the hearts of those landlubbers at the playground with this ship-shape pirate onesie.

Made by hand by poet/crafty lady/new mama Dana Koster, this little treasure is appliqued with up-cycled fabric and felted sweaters.

If swashbuckling isn’t on your wee one’s list of extracurricular activities, Dana’s Esty shop, Stinkopotumus, carries other cute onesies with designs ranging from toadstools to neckties.

Crazy 4 Cult in Los Angeles, July 8-30

I know I mentioned it in my last post, but I thought folks might be interested in knowing a little more about Crazy 4 Cult, an annual art show exploring the intersection of fandom and fine art.

Held at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles, the show features pieces ranging from paintings to hand-sewn plushies. What all the art has in common, though, is a deep love for the movies that have made a mark on our cultural conscious, from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to The Shining.

This summer, the show celebrates its fifth year, as well as the publication of Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art. A 176-page book featuring some of the best art from the show’s previous years, it also boasts an introduction by filmmaker/pop culture connoisseur Kevin Smith.

Crazy 4 Cult 5 opens with a reception on Friday, July 8, 7-11pm, and runs through July 30. The galley also hosts a book signing for Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art on July 10 at 12pm, with many of the featured artists in attendance.

If anyone gets a chance to check out this awesome show, drop us a line and let us know what wowed you!

***

And with that, dear readers, I am officially off for summer vacation! My husband and I are traveling to Southeast Asia for the first time ever, and I’ll be gone for most of the month. So, everyone have a great July (and a happy 4th to all U.S. Geek Crafters), and I’ll see you soon!

Flickr Pool: Royal Tenenbaums Pillows

Grab your goggles, because Geek Crafts is taking a dip in the pool…the Flickr Pool! Each week we’ll be showcasing some of the awesome geek creations made by our Flickr group members.

There are a lot of great crafts floating around the pool right now, and it was tough picking just one to kick off the series. As both an embroiderer and a film nerd, though, I was instantly drawn to Ellen Schinderman’s stitched submission.

This trio of pillows features the lovable losers from Wes Anderson’s film The Royal Tenenbaums, complete with quotes from the narrator. Drop by Ellen’s blog, Schindermania, to check out the backs of the pillows, too, which have fabric correlating to each Tenenbaum child’s personality (you can already see the fuzz from the fur coat backing for Margo’s).

If you want to see the pillows in person, they’ll be part of the fifth annual “Crazy 4 Cult” gallery show in Los Angeles, July 8-30. Congratulations, Ellen!

An Evening with Neil Gaiman

Last night, I had the extraordinary pleasure of attending “An Evening with Neil Gaiman,” in Berkeley, CA.

Not only was the audience graced with the company of the author himself, but the surprise addition of Mythbusters host Adam Savage as moderator made the night even more extraordinary.

Though the initial focus of the program was the 10th anniversary of American Gods, the conversation meandered through topics ranging from the pitfalls of publishing to Neil’s unabashed fanboy love for Dr. Who.

The night held a beautiful congruence of numerous energies, from the deliciously geeky to the downright mystical (hearing Neil read a passage from American Gods in a historic church made my scalp tingle).

If you ever have the chance to hear Mr. Gaiman speak, do yourself a favor and go. Between his dry sense of humor, his amazing storytelling abilities, and his easygoing manner, he’s remarkably fun to listen to.

In honor this wonderful night, I found this simple, yet lovely letterpress print of a Neil Gaiman quote. It’s available from Fate Hope Destiny Luck Machine, an Etsy shop “operated by a circus artist and printmaker out of Portland, OR.” How friggin’ cool is that?

These may not be Neil’s exact words from last night, but the quote definitely captures the spirit.

[Sketch via Neil Gaiman’s WhoSay.]