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Makerie Summer Series

Since we’re on the subject of the Makerie, I just wanted to share what’s coming up. I couldn’t be more excited to be included in the teacher round-up for another Makerie event. Not just any event mind you, but a super increadible one filled with creativity, learning, eating amazing food & all of it taking place on the most beautiful farm around these parts.

You’ll start the day off with a great 3 hour class where you can learn something you probably knew nothing about walking in but will be a pro by the time you leave. You can then relax with your new, like-minded friends, over a beautiful box lunch by the amazing Katie B. from Eat Private Chef & Catering. This will give you the energy to enjoy yet another, different class in the afternoon followed by a mixology course & a full on, sit down farm dinner prepared with the best foods just picked from the garden. All of this takes place on the beautiful Lyons Farmette.

It sounds like a day that if I wasn’t there teaching, I wouldn’t miss. There are 3 Sundays being offered all with a different theme. Check out the links below then grab a friend & sign up! The spots are going quickly. It will certainly be the experience you talk about all summer long.

I’ll be teaching on July 7th so if you’re interested in making your very own hand sewn leather clutch, sign up!

Hope to see you this summer!

xo Elke

The Makerie Weekend

It’s taken me this week to get re-organized after the inspiring, creative, Makerie retreat last week. I am just so thankful that I was invited to teach & was included in the round-up of the most talented & wonderful teachers. I feel like I spent most of the weekend with a smile on my face & laughing out loud. On the last evening there was a book making party where we could compile our own book that was put together in a very speedy 2 day class, “Crafting Content” with Janine Vangool of Uppercase Magazine. What a special souvenir to go home with.

The class I taught, “Modern Leather Accessories” was so much fun & the students caught on to the techniques immediately & went on their way to create lots of very fun wearable art & summer jewelry. Everyone got to learn the basics of leather work & then was able to apply their own special touches to make the pieces uniquely theirs.

The nights were always a great chance to catch up with others over a delicious dinner in the newly renovated Chautaugua Dining Hall. Saturday night the whole place was decorated with beautiful paper flower centerpieces & bright washi tape all around. The sponser of the evening was Creativebug, a very cool craft video website from Sanfrancisco, who were in town filming pieces from the Makerie weekend.

Molly, Emily & Aran showing off the chic centerpieces. Creativebug‘s fabulous decorations.

To be surrounded by the beauty of the mountains & the creative energy of all that attended surely made it a most successful weekend. Great job to Ali Dejohn & Emily Clark who pulled the whole thing off without a hitch & make it look so effortless. That in itself is a true talent. Below is a recap of the teachers & classes that were offered. All the photos were taken from the Makerie Book. Who could ask for anything more?

Happy Spring! Please come join Ali’s Summer Makerie series for your own magical day!

BIG Weekend!

I’m getting ready to head to the Makerie Retreat today & so looking forward to just being a part & actually teaching at this very creative, incredibly fun, super-duper event! I’ve been packing my tools & supplies for the past 2 days. Making packages for the students & list upon list of last minute things that slip my mind. I know the students & other teachers will inspire me to no end & I’ll come home overflowing with creative ideas. Going away for a craft weekend has become a necessity once a year to recharge the imagination & what a better time than spring for that kind of energy renewal.

In addition to the retreat, I’m also launching the by elke store today on-line which has been a labor of love & a true learning experience in every way. I’m hoping that this will be a steady, calm way for me to work with a schedule that I can control, turn on & off when I need to be away & to create an outlet for all the things that keep being made.

Wish me luck!

Shop is OPEN!

I’m so excited to announce the opening of the by elke pop-up shop! The whole e-commerce thing has been a huge learning curve & I’m looking forward to the next one already as I feel a lot better prepared after this first test. Please bare with me if you happen to run into a couple of cliches along the way. We’re hoping this will be a smooth operation.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Let the games begin!

In the Mean time…

I feel like this blog has become the ignored step child as I’ve branched out in many different ways over the past few months. As much as I’d love to keep up to date with posting all sorts of projects, I’m having a hard time finding the minutes in the day to attend to it. I’m currently on a (very steep) learning curve trying to get the March 1st pop-up shop up & running. I’m hoping this will become much easier for future sales on line. I was just talking to a friend last night who who couldn’t believe I hadn’t hired a full time person to get this whole endeavor built. I figure, you should be able to do every aspect of your business, right? It’s also so small that I don’t have much wiggle room in the budget to hire much help quite yet. So here I am, wearing different hats all day long from a maker to a photographer, editor to programer. It’s all a big adventure!

So, wish me luck, be patient with me & you can follow by elke on Facebook which I found is easy for me to post pics & such on a much more regular basis. It’s like a mini blog!

Have a great long weekend- I’m up in the beautiful Rocky Mountains which is full of snow & am getting ready to take a break & put on my skate ski’s & stretch my legs on this clear, sunny day.

xo elke

*keep your eye on the side bar shop button…. it will be activated on Monday the 18th.so you can see what’s starting to land on the shelves!

Shop!

….Well, soon anyway. I’m currently in the process of trying to set up a “pop-up” shop which is proving to be quite a bit of work. On top of making the merchandise, I realized I have to write a description for every piece that will be featured since each piece is different & unique. There is also the picture-taking part that is very important so I can potentially cut down on as many questions as possible. This in a nutshell is why I think I have to do a temporary shop that will be open for about 10 days. Then close. then pack & ship. then start making again. I’m so excited to try this venture out & see how it works for me. Stay tuned in the coming weeks- The shop will eventually be linked to my blog so keep your eye on the side bar.

The goal is MARCH 1st so put it on your calendar…… & wish me luck!

Patchwork Apron

I made this a while ago for my husband. He is a really great cook & was just ruining his shirts so I thought this would be a practical but fun gift. I took a 4 pack of IKEA dish towels & just sewed them together to create the base than cut out the shape of the apron. The straps are linen & all the patches & embroideries were made by hand & then sewn on. I made my own stencils out of plastic sheets. This really is a one of a kind apron made especially for him. I must have had a lot of patience back then as I’m not sure I’d have the time any more to create such a detailed piece.

2013!

Shiny, Shiny!

This month has been a complete whirlwind! I had to lay out my priorities & with making all the goods for the Holiday market, school obligations, husband traveling, after school sports, family with flu & getting ready for Christmas, I just had to draw the line somewhere & it was with the blog & computer use in general. I have always set such a firm schedule for myself when it came to this blog. I mean, this is where “it all started” in a way. It was an outlet to show what I like to make & to share creative ideas. It allowed doors to open & opportunities to come my way that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I’ve been at it for just over a year & a half. What I didn’t expect was that I would actually end up with this small handmade company “by elke” that I adore. If I could have my way, I would be all day, every day up in my tiny studio with the radio on & my hands working. My production has gone way up & is taking more & more of my time which means less & less time on the computer & taking pictures in general. I still prefer to work in a way that allows me to be free in the afternoons with my children. I like to wear the 2 hats & I don’t want to give any of them up.

My goal for the new year is to do my best with keeping up this blog. Post projects that I have worked on & announce new things that are in the works. ……. Enough of this chatter- I’m not one for a ton of words & this already has way too many so lets just look at some new shiny things!

I never thought I’d be one for patent leather as I tend to be attracted more to the veg tan leathers & natural finishes. My friends who have a great antique pop-up shop, Highstreet Shoppes, here in Boulder had some rolls on hand that they wanted to part with. The colors were really classic & just right. I decided to take them off their hands & see what I could come up with. Here are just some examples of styles & goods. Because of the shiny, slippery nature of the leather, I came up with perforated designs as it seemed like a clean way to spruce it up a bit. Each design was drawn on the back of the leather & the holes were punched one at a time by hand. This ended up being a bit time consuming since I carried this technique & “signature stamp” throughout the line.

After I used up the first batch of leather, I went & got more from a leather source. I was smitten. I think I’ll be adding a bit of shine in the line going forward. Stay tuned!

I think the fold over clutch with the zipper would be a real snazzy bag to carry for New Years & all winter for that matter.

Firefly Holiday Market!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! As I write this, the breeze is blowing & the kids are out surfing…. It has become part of our family schedule to check out for Thanksgiving break every year which can make for a very low stress holiday since I’m not worrying about the turkey & the trimmings.

Saying that, I’m also so excited for the upcoming Firefly Holiday Market which will be just around the corner when I return from this lazy holiday. If you’re in the area, please come by the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art from December 14-16 to check out all the beautiful wares the local elves have been busy putting together. I’ve been making lots & lots of bags & accessories the past 2 months & hoarding them in my office so I can fill a booth for this excellent market.

Please stop by and say hello!