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Art-ful Giving by Katie Tynan

Some people just have a creative knack when it comes to gift giving. I am not one of those people. For a while I attempted to develop this trait by hand-making my gifts. I would go to annual sales by local artists thinking my own creativity would be sparked by what I saw. I even went so far as to set up a space to create in my basement, and stocked up on all kinds of art and craft supplies. Turns out I just like buying art supplies. As the instructor in a class I took on flower arranging put it, I am “lacking in fine motor skills.” Having given up that lost cause, I now satisfy both my gift-giving needs and my creative urges by hitting some of the many holiday art sales and local art boutiques to find unique and creative gifts made by true artists.

D.I.Y.

For those who do have a modicum of fine-motor skills, producing D.I.Y. (do it yourself) gifts is fun, and taking an occasional class is a good way to get new ideas and inspiration. You’ll get a chance to learn from local artists who have part-time gigs teaching, and most likely also get a chance to try out new tools, meet other crafters, and work with cool equipment before investing in it.

“For the community by the community” is the motto of Seattle Free School, which is offering a weeklong Holiday Make It Fair! this year. Among the classes in December are Quick and Easy Gifts and Treasures from your Recycle Bin, Hot Process Soap Making, Rubber Stamping, and The 20 Minute Skirt and Recycle that T-Shirt! Classes are free; you just need to check online for supply lists. Some classes require registration to make sure there’s enough space. It is part of Free School’s philosophy that no money ever exchanges hands: “All we exchange are skills, knowledge and experiences.”

The City of Seattle Web site lists 27 community centers where you can learn new craft methods and meet other crafty types in your own neck of the woods. You can access class catalogues online at www.cityofseattle.net/parks/centers.asp, but it’s also a good idea to stop in at your local center. There are often new notices on the bulletin board, or stacks of flyers announcing one- and two-day workshops or classes that were added after the catalog was printed.

Meadowbrook Community Center in northeast Seattle, for example, offers a Handmade Book Class on simple techniques to bind your own handcrafted journals — anyone can find a use for a blank journal. How about a garden-inspired theme for notes on planting ideas past, present and future, or a literature theme for book lovers to list have-read and to-reads; a travel journal for a friend planning a trip … there are so many possibilities. Also on tap: Making cool paper bowls using recycled catalogs and magazines — give one as a gift or use it as a gift basket.

At nearby Magnuson Community Center there will be a Holiday Wreath Making Workshop — make it now and give it early.

South Seattle Community College (www.southseattle.edu) has a number of how-to classes that will net your gift recipients tasty chocolate truffles and other holiday confections (that is, if you don’t eat everything yourself before you have a chance to wrap and send them). Seattle Central Community College (www.sccd.ctc.edu) features a one-day class on how to brine, truss and smoke a turkey or Cornish game hen for holiday entertaining.

Have you wanted to try blowing glass? No previous experience is required for single-session holiday workshops offered at Pratt Fine Arts Center (www.pratt.org). Classes include making your own unique glass-blown ornaments (sure to impress even the hardest to buy for), letterpress printmaking for creating special gift tags and relief block printing for making one-of-a-kind holiday cards.

Another option is to try your hand at a sewing or knitting class. Most of our local yarn and fabric stores offer year-round classes, as well as project-oriented workshops as the holidays approach. Local handbag designer Cheryl Kuczek will guide you through making a stylish, handcrafted bag at classes offered at Nancy’s Sewing Basket on Queen Anne (call for details at 206-282-9112). Also check out Stitches (206-709-0707) on Capitol Hill if you have a couple of Sunday afternoons to spare for making pants or a more simple project, like cloth shopping bags. You can learn to quilt at Quiltworks Northwest (www.quiltworksnw.com) in Bellevue, but in its three classrooms you’ll also find one-time classes on beading, fusing and jewelry making.
Check out Acorn Street Shop (www.acornstreet.com) for basic or more challenging (as in lace knitting) scarf classes and other reasonably priced project classes. Village Yarn & Tea Shop (www.villageyarnandtea.qwestoffice.net) in Shoreline also offers a number of project classes, including a felted Christmas stocking class that involves no knitting.

Too busy to go to a class? Try Internet instruction. If there’s a project out there, someone’s probably blogged about it. Use the word “tutorial” along with the kind of project you want to undertake. I knew a couple of creative types who used to plan a single project for gift giving every year. One year it was glass-etching on wine goblets. By working on the project together, they learned from and encouraged each other, and they always got really great results. CraftStylish.com is a good resource, as is the edgier Craftster.org.

HOLIDAY ART SALES

In addition to being impressed by creative talent, I love to see the working spaces of artists. Seattle Sampling™ — in its 22nd year of offering an annual sale — also lets you tour the amazing homes and studios of participating artists. It leans toward ceramics and porcelain, including both serving pieces and containers, along with jewelry and basketry. (Dec. 4-6; www.seattlesampling.com)

Pratt: if what you made in class didn’t live up to your creative vision, buy high-quality jewelry, ceramics, fine art, glass and sculpture created by Pratt’s talented teachers and students at the annual Holiday Sale. Proceeds benefit both Pratt and the participating artists. (Dec. 5-13; www.pratt.org)

Hip urbanites have also rediscovered the art of crafting and have even come up with a new name for it: Craftitude (craft + attitude) — it’s not your great aunt’s tatting. Based in the growing art community that coheres around a belief in D.I.Y. skill and resourceful creativity,

Urban Craft Uprising is absolutely at the top of my list this year for gift giving to my almost-teenage daughter. The 130 artisans and crafters who are “shunning mass-produced fare in favor of handmade goods” offer such things as waterproof art to hang in your shower (with a suction cup), hand-printed clothing, handbags and totes, vintage wallpaper note cards, artist’s books, letterpress printed postcards, jewelry and accessories of all kinds. The indie crafting community is even the subject of a new documentary recently screened at NWFF, Handmade Nation, which details their ideal of equal opportunity to create behind the drive to spread creativity to everyone. (Dec. 5-6; www.urbancraftuprising.com)

On the Eastside, Kirkland Arts Center hosts a monthlong annual arts sale of functional ceramics, paintings, prints, glass, jewelry and decorative household items created by KAC faculty and members. (Dec. 5-24; www.kirklandartscenter.org)

Another great way to find holiday gifts from local artists is to visit the neighborhood farmer’s markets that run through the holiday shopping season. The Fremont Farmer’s Market, Ballard Sunday Market, University District and West Seattle Farmer’s Market now operate year-round. (Ongoing; www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org)

There is definitely no shortage of artistic talent in our area, so get out and browse around. The possibilities are endless. Whether you design your own gifts or buy from the locals, make it an art-ful holiday this year!

Katie Tynan is Arts & Culture Editor of Seattle Woman.

ARTS & CRAFTS GALLERIES

Those of us who are calendar challenged and sometimes have trouble getting to once-a-year sales as the holidays approach are in luck: there are some really cool indie retailers open year-round who carry work from a number of local artists and artisans. Here are a few of my favorites:

Revolution Gallery
Gilman Village, Issaquah
425-392-4982
www.revolutiongallery.com
Owned by an artist, and committed to the local art scene, this gallery features a new fine artist or group show every 60-90 days, and hosts an artist in residence who does kinetic sculpture. Fused glass platters, bowls and serving dishes, modern jewelry crafted from silver and inlaid porcelain are offered, along with a “Rent To Own” fine art option.

Crackerjack Contemporary Crafts
Wallingford Center, 1818 N 45th, Seattle
206-547-4983
www.crackerjackcrafts.com
The creative spirit is alive and well at this long-time favorite crafts shop, where you can find handmade scarves, hats, clothing, jewelry, objects in pewter and in wood — the list goes on and on. You’ll find work from over 200 artists from around the world represented at the store.

JayWalk
1105 34th Ave, Seattle
206-328-7776
www.jaywalkseattle.com
This gift boutique and gallery in the Madrona neighborhood not far from Leschi has everything from one-of-a-kind messenger bags to unique and creative jewelry. I don’t know what it is about this small space, but I always find the perfect gift here ... and sometimes I even give it to my intended recipient. Here again, the owner is an artist herself, and most of the items are created by local artists.

Oasis Art Gallery in Wallingford
3644 Wallingford Ave N, Seattle
206-547-5177
www.oasisinseattle.com
In addition to its affordable art, photography, paintings, mixed media, textiles, jewelry, ceramics and more, the gallery hosts exhibitions and special events.

Frank and Dunya
3418 Fremont Ave N, Seattle
206-547-6760
www.frankanddunya.com
Another long-time supporter of indie artists, this gallery has all kinds of fun and functional items including well-chosen jewelry, hand-blown glass items and one-of-a kind furniture pieces.

Bluebottle Art Gallery & Store
415 E Pine St, Seattle
206-325-1592
www.bluebottleart.com
Handmade indie art, craft and design with everything from prints for your wall to fun, felt-crafted little monster dolls.

Venue Ballard Work Studios + Boutique
5408 22nd Ave NW, Ballard
206-789-3335
www.venueballard.com
Find creative gifts, home accessories and artisan chocolates, and watch artists at work.

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