Rabble Rousing

Sometimes the Petaluma Craft Mafia gals, just gotta break out and stir things up a little. Blame it on spring fever, long winter nights, or too much tequilla. Our gaggle of gals shown here, rousting and getting warmed up for our "Pin-Ups for Pets" calendar shoot coming soon!

Happy Spring!

Love, peace and glitter,

The PCM

PCM: Naked Lady Party

March Madness. My birthday month is always lions and lambs or lamb and lions. It looks like March came in with a bang, had a mood-swing, a brief flirtation with 70 degree temps, turning the rolling green hills that surround me chartreuse green, and spawning spring's love-child, the daffodil, which dots every hill and quarry from Sonoma to Petaluma. Aww, well. What is life without a few of Mother Nature's shenanigans?

Speaking of which, we eco-conscious, style-lovin' fashionistas in the Petaluma Craft Mafia are up to our own crafty shenanigans again. We're cleaning out our closets, and deciding to throw ourselves a good old-fashioned Naked Lady Party, (NLP). The last week-end in March will be our NLP shin-dig. However, it's a private party. NLP's have to be fairly small, no more then twenty folks or it can get chaotic really fast. So, if you've received your invite to PCM's Naked Lady Party, count yourself lucky and be sure to bring your bag of NLP threads and a bottle of bubbly, because trying on clothes is thirsty work.

If you can't join us, you can throw your own NLP party. Donate the proceeds or an outfit to charity, such as women returning to work, or another organization that is dear to your heart. There are a few very simple rules, but the rest is up to your creative imaginations.

Here are a few tips from your crafty famiglia:

Abbreviated Terms Key:
NLP = Naked Lady Party
NL= Naked Lady (duh).

1. Size matters. Consider the size of the venue, (host) and keep the attendees to around twenty or less. Again, controlled chaos is the goal. Too many peeps, and it gets out of control fast and the party loses it's mission and focus. Usually this ends badly, bean-dip in coat pockets, schlurrping vodka from somebody's shoe, a teary phone-call to an old flame, and often, in the wee-hours, somebody needs to post bail. I'm kidding. Really. You believe me, right? If you can't post bail, repeat after me: "Controlled Chaos." Now, off you go. (We don't know nuthin' about no brassieres tied around street poles on Kentucky Street). No siree.

2. NLP items. Bring items of clothing and accessory that you think others would want - this is not the place for cast-off junk. Remember, we all have too many things in our closet that have never seen the light of day, time to remedy that. Bring up -to -date, on trend clothing, or vintage items. Either way, NLP karma doubles the better the items that you bring. As Ms. Moxie likes to say, "The Karma you take, is equal to the Karma you make." (she is so danged smug).

3. Music! This is KEY. Make a soundtrack for your NLP that has a variety of up, energy and soothing mellow tunes as well.

4. Organize. Sort out each pile of clothing by size, style and or type. I.e., jeans, blouses, skirts, tanks and tees, shoes, professional clothing, bags, etc.

5. Timer! Fair is fair. Everyone gets timed while going through each pile. So bring a timer, a kitchen timer or second hand works great. No hording. Horder's are banished from the next round of NLP mayhem. So, while it's tempting to "load-up", remember, you will not always want what you try on, be courteous to the next naked lady in line.

6. Strut it! Once you've found your threads, model it down the aisle, show the other NL's what style, second-hand is all about.

7. Eats and drinks. While I rate music as very important, so are refreshment. NL's work up a healthy appetite whilst dis-robing and scavenging with wild abandon. Therefore, make sure your eats and drinks are quality, a quenching cocktail, a sumptuous easy to nibble snack, and still have clean hands to try on clothes.

8. Privacy. Of course, this is a NLP party! There will always be crashers, or folks trying to get a peek at a NLP Party in session. So be sure you have a private place to party, and a private place to slip in and out of clothes.

9. Party Favors. If there is one thing a Naked Lady adores, it is a creative and clever party-favor. You don't have to break the bank, remember, these are tough times, and creativity luckily saves the day. If your NLP has a particular theme, such as tropical, rocka-billy, Eco, Pin-up, whatever, go for something that fits the theme for your favors to give to your Naked Ladies. I feel that giving your Naked Ladies a fresh flower is never a bad idea. One single rose, or even better a dahlia is enough to delight me. I think I'll make my corsages with naked lady miniature dolls for my crafty sisters. But, at an NLP party, anything goes.

10. FUN. NLP with abandon. Remember, you're not only having fun, but keeping the earth greener, upcycling items, and "re-shopping" amongst the ladies you love and whose style you've long admired. This is the time to share some fashion and style tips with your ladies. NLP's are great for learning from women you admire.

PCM Meet the Famiglia: Rocket Orange

Meet the Petaluma Craft Mafia Family:

Hannah "Goo" Musser

Whack weapon of choice: Needle and thread. Thread a needle and the world is your oyster.
my fist!!! ;)
Business name: RocketOrange

DIY style: 'lil bit this, 'lil bit that!!!

DIY tip: do what you love and different is ok.

Astrological sign: Taurus baby. True to it's name but, i will always say sorry and admit i am wrong!

Favorite Karaoke Song: oh-boy, this is a tuffy to answer for me. depends on the mood. Speeding Motorcycle, Jane Says, I've Got You Babe (with drunken co-wert), any Dolly song and Come as You Are...

Favorite Italian Meal: My father's Cioppino!

PCM Meet the Famiglia: UpCycled-Threads

PCM Meet the Famiglia Charissa Drengsen of Curly-Cue

Whack Weapon of Choice? Since I am the ADD poster child of crafting, I can't seem to pick just one medium. I tend to bounce between digital, paper, textiles, paint, collage, altered art assemblage, beads, metal, nature, and found objects. I guess if I had to choose one favorite tool of the trade it would be the scissor. I really enjoy taking apart pre-loved materials and reassembling them into something innovative. Some sewing mavens wield their scissors with a delicate sensibility. I tend to snip with gusto. There is a real free style to my process. I tend to craft in the land somewhere between elegance and utilitarian ferocity.
Business Name, and how did you get it? curly-cue design. When I was a little girl my mother used to recite a rhyme at me: "There was a little girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very very good, and when she was bad, she was horrid." That's me, the little curly girl. When I was considering what to call my design business I drew from one of my favorite hobbies, quantum physics. There is something in chaos theory called a "strange attractor". Its magnetic force creates a fractal pattern of a curly-cue. My work is all about relativity and working with chaos. Thus curly-cue design was born.

DIY style? A blend of farmhouse chic, steampunk, art deco and eco-comfort futurism.

DIY Tip? Love what comes to hand with all your heart. See all its possibilities, then shove it in a new direction with gusto. Don't be afraid to try something impossible.

What's your Sign baby? Capricorn - Earth sign - the mountain goat. Baaaaa!
What's your favorite Karaoke song? I'm pretty sure I could rock Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" like a rocking thing.

Favorite Italiana Meal? Pasta Puttanesca (Whores' Pasta): olive oil, capers, anchovies or caviar, garlic, kalamata olives, parmesan cheese, red chili pepper flakes, the kitchen sink... over spaghettini noodles. The concept is basically to throw whatever you have in the cupboard into a pan with olive oil and garlic and put it over pasta. Again, the whole concept of using what you have at hand to create something fabulous. It's all in the wrist.

PCM: Meet the Famiglia, Creative Curiosities

So much going on in the Petaluma Craft Mafia, but, when isn't there? We're in cahoots to spread the crafty gospel all over town and hope to inspire other like minded, folks in our town and beyond to get crafty. While we're at it, we often meet other such like minded souls that we have such a great connection with and share the same vision. We are work hard and have an amazingly fun, kind and ambitiously crafty group of gals, and are proud to call each other "famiglia."

Marla, aka, Creative Curiosities, is one of those women you've felt you've known your whole life. I feel like I can sit in her kitchen, drink cup after cup of tea and plot and dream with her forever. She works full -time, is a busy wife, mom to the cutest little boy, and still manages to spend time with her with her crafty family, the PCM.

Marla is a fellow Piscean, and I can relate to her sensitive, intuitive side. Its wonderful to have such a passionate and dedicated soul to add to our crafty family. She is incredibly organized and always game to help out. Marla's goal is go have her own store someday, and I believe that with her talent, and ambition to work to achieve her goals, she will make that happen.
Marla makes the most adorable everything. She has such an amazing touch for taking vintage bits of fabric, unloved scarves, and turning them into highly coveted pillows, squishy creatures, etc. I cannot resist her pillows that range from vintage to shabby modern. Always vintage, but everything has clean edges, which lends a contemporary feel. I love her touch with textiles, almost as much as I adore her.

Without further ado, meet our sister and crafty "made" woman, Marla.

Meet the Petaluma Craft Mafia Family:
Marla Christine Pedersen , aka "Marla Bing-Bing Mozzarella."

Whack weapon of choice: Needle and thread. Thread a needle and the world is your oyster.

Business name: Creative Curiosities. This name came about when my sister and I were talking one day, discussing dreams and aspirations for the future. I have always wanted to open my own store, full of hand made goods, my own, and other local artisans, and well as a bakery in the back, lounge area to chill, books on the wall to read, back porch…. I could go on. My sister, an extremely talented graphic designer and project manager, came up with the store name Creative Curiosities. It stuck and I’m rolling with it.

DIY style: Eclectic and whimsical. I create goods that will make people smile, giggle, and take a brief glimpse back to their childhood when everything was free and easy. I want to make people fall in love with vintage fabric and buttons that have been magically transformed into squishy friends, pillows, and “aw take me home” items.

DIY tip: Keep your eyes open. You never know when you’ll find a treasure that could be transformed into something fabulous.

Astrological sign: Pisces, a water sign. Pisces fits. I was meant to be a Pisces. I swam my entire life, spent my summers in Lake Erie, which was literally in my backyard. I am sensitive, kind and gentle, but don’t want to be let down, and after I stew about it until I’m about to explode, I’ll let you know. My mom tells me I’m stubborn. It’s just that when I have my mind made up about something, I’m going to do it, and please don’t try to stop me.

Favorite Karaoke Song: I don’t do Karaoke. Period. My soft spoken voice doesn’t translate well singing one hit wonders into a microphone in front of a crowd of people, even if they are all usually drunk.

Favorite Italian Meal: Mmm. Growing up in a small town in Ohio, probably 10,000 people when I was young, all the restaurants were Italian. I think we had five pizza places, three of which were chains. At that point, spaghetti with red sauce, garlic bread, and a house side salad was my favorite. I was luck enough to travel to Italy when I was in college and although broke, was able to sample truly authentic Italian food. I love Italian food. Now my favorites, although I still love the spaghetti with red sauce, would have to be creamy polenta with mushrooms, flat crisp pizza with fresh basil and tomato, and gelato for dessert. I seriously had gelato every day I was there. I was there for four weeks people! Rum raisin, hazelnut, or pistachio are delish!

PCM's Naked Lady Party!

Happy (belated) New Year! It's the last day of the first month of the tenth year in 2010. Confused? Us too! The last of the Christmas tree needles are falling off the tree, but the stores are already lined with Valentines, and heck, even Easter candy. I've got the peeps to prove it. What kind of candy is currently lining the shelves is how this crafty lady keeps track of the months. While January is biding adieu to February, you can beat the Petaluma Craft Mafia is busy planning a super crafty year.

As usual, the PCM is never idle. Lot's going on, and we're gearing up for a wonderful 2010. We've got some swell new members to add to an already stellar crafty assortment of creative bon-bons. Everyone does such diverse work, we have a knotty knitter, (Judy, this hysterical image above is for you), a vintage jewelry maker, a re-purposed clothing designer, a lady who just sews the cutest vintage pillows and plushies, and a woman who saves vintage items and consigns them, makes cooool t-shirts. I mean, if life is like a box of chocolates, your Petaluma Craft Mafia is the ultimate assortment of sweets without the tooth-ache.

Petaluma's crafty first famiglia is hatching a whole host of fun things to do this year, and we'll be sure to keep you posted.
One fun event, is our Naked Lady Party we are holding at crafty Mafia sister Alison's vintage consignment shop on Kentucky Street. Sorry, folks, this is a private party in March, and a great way to dust off winter and welcome spring. Our crafty famiglia and a few assorted friends who we adore, as NLP parties can get pretty chaotic fast if you get too many women in one room trying on clothes and sipping cocktails. So if you here lot's of hootin' n hollerin' it's just us, the normal noises!

But, even if you don't get an invite to this event, don't fret folks, you too can host your own NLP, add some new clothes to your wardrobe, and clean out your own closet in the process. I mean, how can you beat that?

Some simple guidelines for hosting your own NLP. Most importantly, have fun and don't invite too many folks, or it can get quickly overwhelming, especially if space is at a premium. Remember, the goal is to find clothes, get feedback from your fellow naked ladies, and leave with some gems, and give some gems. I'd recommend inviting peeps whom you know you admire their taste in threads, vintage or current, or swapping is not going to be nearly as fun.

Music, get the mood going with some music that will keep you grooving as you dig through piles, and pull jumpers over your head. Food, snacks or a MUST. Trying on clothes with your gal pals works up an appetite and can get fatiguing, as any woman knows. A few libations both alcoholic and non-alcoholic for tee-totaler friends to switch it up.

Last but not least, privacy. Yes, you want to be sure to schedule time for when it's men's poker night, and the kiddy's are at a sitters so as not to distract you. Hey! Trying on other's cast-off is not only green, and a great way to get a new wardrobe, but it requires focus.
It's also a great time to think about others. Have some separates or suits that would work well in a more professional setting? Put together an outfit that would benefit a woman of modest means trying to re-enter the work force. There are numerous agencies you can donate the back-to- work items to, who would greatly appreciate it.

Stay tuned here, We'll be reporting back on our Craft Mafia Naked Lady Party.

Ciao, Ciao!

Craftaluma 2010 "Craftyville, The Usual Suspects"

ma


Yawwwn, s- t- r- e- t-c - h..... Late winter; time to shrug off the insulating attitudes, peel back the cocoon of winter layers, allow the imagination to roam along the dreamscape that meanders down the cool, blue path to tangerine sunsets. Butterflies, zebras, moonbeams, it's time to plant bulbs for spring fragrance and harvest summer crafty magic, like only the Petaluma Craft Mafia can. Get ready to make a journey to "Craftyville," join the usual and some unusual suspects for Craftaluma 2010!!

The talented creatives that make up the Petaluma Craft Mafia are busy planning our next show! We've got CRAFTALUMA 2010 penciled in on the PCM calendar for JUNE 19th, 2010!! Yaay!

Have you seen the usual suspects of Craftaluma's Craftyville? There's the Church of Craft, spreading the Crafty gospel, (and you know, as the Petaluma Craft Mafia, it's well infiltrated), then there is the river, well, that's where all of our crafty secrets go for a swim. More on that, later. Yes, in Craftyville, your Petaluma Craft Mafia is involved, fighting for craft and giving it a voice. Your crafty famiglia is here, committing craft, living and working in our community, and creating the best craft show in the world. Yes, Craftluma 2010 is on it's way, and we've got the keys to the town.

Stay posted, stay tuned, and most of all, stay crafty.

xoxo, The PCM