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- Designed by Sarah: November 2024 Studio Recap
Designed by Sarah: November 2024 Studio Recap
This email has 2 studio updates, 1 neat aminal fact, 3 cool websites I think you should see, 2 workshops, and 5 grant + residency opportunities.
Pardon my dust! I just moved to an entirely new newsletter platform after 10 years on my old one. Let me know if you spot anything amiss. Or if you’re new here: WELCOME!
If you know me, you know I love to experiment – a few months ago, I wanted to see how complicated it was to design and produce your own hair claw clip. And what did I make??? A MARTA BUS:
I interviewed and selected a manufacturing partner, designed the cut files and curvatures, chose acetate swatches, worked with them on the prototype, and then ordered 50 as a little starter (what if people hate them??). These bad bois ended up selling out about six hours after I posted them… so, I'm ordering more!
At this point, you've hopefully gotten yours if you were part of the first batch. I hope you love it and desperately want to see pictures of them in your hair, with your friends, blocking important Atlanta moments, the like.
I learned through this process that there isn't a good vendor for these in the US and the process is complicated, so, maybe I could help you make yours? Do you need a batch of claw clips at a sick rate for experimentation reasons? We've also been brainstorming some more possible hair clips (pierogi for my favorite Polish popup?), so if this piques your interest wherever you are, respond to this email!
When I press send on this, the studio will be closed for the holidays. Taking the time to care for my parents and reset for the year. I'll be back in January. In this email, I've got some projects I want to show you, funding opportunities, neat websites, and aminal facts.
Warmly,
Sarah
It’s a quiet month for work I can publish – I think four or five things are going live in the next few weeks, so in January I’ll be able to tell you a lot more. In the meantime, here are some studio things:
👉 New studio pics!
Ok this one is actually from-from the studio – Chloe Ravina is an awesome photographer here in town who reached out a few weeks ago about doing some shots of the studio interior. I spent (redacted) hours cleaning it up and we had a lot of fun trying things out to help her get the shots she wanted. I can't believe my dogs behaved long enough to sit still for 3 seconds.
I loved working with Chloe and if you need headshots, event photography, or any sick posed studio shots like this, this 👏 is 👏 your 👏 girl 👏
Check out Chloe's work here ➔
👉 Buy ATL Merch is BACK
This is a project I started in COVID when restaurants were totally closed and people were looking for ways to support them – but, I think it’s worth bringing back to support your favorite spots for the holidays. This list has been updated (and expanded!) for 2024 and I hope you will find something you love. Also, share the link with your friends!
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"The platypus is one of the few living mammals to produce venom. Male platypus have half-inch spurs on each of their hind legs...While the venom isn’t fatal to humans, anyone unlucky enough to be jabbed can expect days of “immediate, sustained, and devastating” pain that’s resistant to morphine and other painkillers." Source
This is is a fun segue into: Did you know the difference between Venomous & Poisonous? "Poison is a toxin that gets into the body by inhaling, swallowing, or absorption through the skin. Venomous: it's when the toxin is injected into you." Source
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 Intro to Wilderness Survival This workshop from REI includes a short hike to an area where you can learn about building emergency shelter, finding food, and overcoming challenges. |  Hand-Blown Glass Ornaments Professional glassblowers will demonstrate making an item before working with you one-on-one to create your own piece. |
Weird honorable mention: Bloodborne Pathogens Training for Tattoo Artists class from the Red Cross in case you're like me and fascinated with extremely niche topics
👉 Risotto's Print Simulator
I decided a few weeks ago to finally invest in a risograph printer for the studio – I think a lot of client (ok and personal) project would benefit from a little Riso love. Hopefully picking one up at the end of December.
What's a riso printer? It looks a lot like a giant photocopier but acts a little bit like a screenprinting machine. Prints are run color by color (you have to change inks and print again), and so they have a really nice tactile quality I love to see.
The link above is a simulator made by Risotto, and this makes me happy from an analog and a tech perspective: you can import a layered file you're working on, and then simulate how it might look produced with a risograph machine. At the bottom right ("Load Print"), they have some premade designs you can play with.
Honorable mentions:
Someone send you A BUNCH OF TEXT you need to use on something but it's in all caps? Or all lowercase and it needs to be a Title Case? Or SoMeThINg eLsE? Bookmark ConvertCase, for real.
This album of packaging design for vintage sugar cubes will be my typographic study material over the holidays.
I give away a $1500 grant to artists once a year but want to help you find funding opportunities all the time. It can be hard to find opportunities that seem interesting and also reasonable (I don't personally think it's a great use of time to apply to some global program with 400,000 other applicants). Here are some with that in mind:
NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship
The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is an $8,000 unrestricted cash grant available to artists living in New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located therein.
Artists & Mothers Grant
"Grants for $25,000 to be used for childcare expenses. Visual artists, performing artists, and artists practicing in socially-engaged forms are invited to apply."
Bonus options:
UVP Residential Commission
Light Work's Urban Video Project (UVP) Residential Commission. The commission is $10,000. There is a $10 application fee.
Artist-In-Residence Program
This program offers Artists-in-Residence the unique opportunity to live and work inside the specifically designed Helen Frankenthaler Printmaking Cottage. Artists can produce a body of work in a supportive atmosphere that fosters creative growth and development, for traditional as well as innovative printmaking techniques. $35 application fee.
Note from me: If you want to apply for either of these but the application fee is a real barrier, reach out. I'll review your application and cover the fee. (ok unless a million people ask, I'm not made of money over here but I think if you've got a shot you should be able to go for it
Moab Arts: Call for Art
Moab Arts invites local artists to submit their works to be displayed at the 2025 Canyonlands Field Airport Gallery, with additional pieces to be displayed at Moab City Hall and the Moab Arts Center.
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Hey! Thank you for reading. It means a lot to have this email in your inbox.
Coming soon: If you like this email and want to upgrade to a paid subscription, you’ll be automatically on the list to receive something whenever I make a zine, a hair claw, a postcard set, a newspaper, collab with an artist, or any number of things I like to make/do throughout the year (not a discount code, the actual thing). That’s the only difference with a paid subscription, all other content is the same. Think about it like a prepay/permanent first dibs (so like, you would have gotten a MARTA bus clip before I even posted them). Postage is expensive!!!
Things I’ve sent in the past:
 Ridiculous interactive board game postcards that use AR |  Silly bumper stickers (and other stickers from other artists) |  Issues of Unfolded, my quarterly-ish newspaper about creativity |