Don’t just limit crafts to a studio

The baseball bracelet

 A fun summer craft that is easy and quick to make

While there are plenty of wonderful art classes and skills to be learned at Pyramid Atlantic, don't forget that art can be done in your own home, too.

One baseball can make 1 to 2 bracelets.

Materials needed:

• X-Acto knife

• Baseball

• Scissors

Step one:

Cut the baseball with the X-Acto knife about a centimeter from the stitching.  Follow the stitching with the knife until you reach the start of the cuts.

Step two:

Peel the leather off of the baseball.  (You may need scissors to reinforce the cut lines)

Step three:

Cut the other patch of leather on the other side of the stitching.

Step four:

Peel off the remaining cut section of leather. (You may need scissors to reinforce the cut lines)

You now should have a stitch 

Step five:

Find the knot in the stitching and either untie or cut from that end.

You can cut the stitches to make two bracelets if the sizing works better that way.

Step six:

Cut along the stitching holes for about an inch on both ends of the stitching.

Step seven:

Next, untie the stitches, cut off any untidy pieces, and tie a knot.  You’ve just made the bracelet ties.

And there it is...

Head up to Baltimore for one of the best indie craft shows in the area! Pile of Craft, the Charm City Craft Mafia's annual summer craft show, will be held  from 10-5 in Charles Village. Pile of Craft shoppers will delight in finding one-of-a-kind gifts, home goods, apparel, jewelry, accessories, ceramics, paper goods and so much more! Over 45 vendors (including former Pyramid Atlantic Letterpress Associate, Val Lucas and current Pyramid Atlantic Letterpress Associate, Melanie Karlins!)  from across the nation will come together for an amazing day of artistic talent. You'll see local Charm City Craft Mafia favorites, as well as new indie craft talent from Baltimore and beyond. For more information, visit www.charmcitycraftmafia.com/pile-of-craft

Pile of Craft is free to attend, and there will be snacks and food available from local restaurants and vendors. 

Pyramid Atlantic combines arts and sports

Pyramid Atlantic brought crafting to a Bethesda Big Train game Friday, June 14.  P.A. was one of the nonprofits of the evening's game.  P.A. set up a booth at the game with crafting activities such as making baseball bracelets, Father's Day baseball paperweights,  bookmarks, and more.  Jose Dominguez spoke on behalf of P.A. and Owen Dominguez threw the first pitch to start off the game.

Jose Dominguez spoke on behalf of Pyramid Atlantic at a Bethesda Big Train game and his son Owen Dominguez threw the first pitch.

Pyramid Atlantic teaches paper making to a younger audience

Pyramid Atlantic interns taught a class of four-year-olds how to make paper Wednesday.  While the young artists were hesitant to touch the paper pulp at first, they were quick and enthusiastic by the end of the class.

Fun and Fashion at KikiDC

Pyramid Atlantic shook up sleepy Silver Spring on June 8th with KikiDC, an unconventional fashion show. The eclectic event took place at the Fillmore, and featured beer and food pairings, celebrity judges, a silent auction, and yes, a dress made of 5,000 coffee filters. 

Jose Dominguez, Emcee 

Rebecca Katz, Natalie Holmes and Gretchen Schermerhorn at the Pyramid booth

Shaking it up on the runway

The coffee filter dress 

A graphic goddess, in body paint

Coaster Cluster

Just one of the goodies to look forward to at KikiDC: hand printed coasters by Chelsae Blackman.

KiKi DC "Off the Rack" Saturday, June 8

This week, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center employees have been busy making phone calls, putting together gift bags, and managing art props for the KiKi DC “Off the Rack” fashion show.

The show takes place this Saturday, June 8, from 8 to 11 p.m. at The Fillmore in Silver Spring and will benefit Pyramid Atlantic for community art education.  

The KiKi DC show will feature wearable art judged by celebrity guests – expect former Project Runway designers and more. 

While the show as a whole is a giant collaboration, Chelsey Anderson, manager of special projects and new initiatives at Pyramid Atlantic, has a large piece of the load with putting together the event.

Anderson has been busying herself with call for entry duties, managing the artists, overseeing/managing script writing, preparing for the backstage management, and coordinating the silent auction for 2D artwork to be sold at the show.

“I’m really thrilled about working backstage with the artists, the chaos, and watching it all come together,” Anderson said.

Anderson said that this show is unique because both “fashion and 2D artwork are being converged here.”

Anderson said they are preparing for 300 to 400 people in attendance at the show.

Not only are the celebrity judges going to make an executive judge for an award, but the audience also has the option to be involved in the “Audience Choice Award” through texting their choice.

“We’re going for the ‘wow’ factor,” Anderson said.  “Things they’ve never seen before.”

The fashion art and the 2D art are from more than 25 artists from the area.

“I hope it is a good introduction for Pyramid Atlantic,” Anderson said.  “I hope it sparks further interest in the organization.”

Attend the event! Buy a ticket here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/Kiki-DC-Fashion-Show-tickets/artist/1855212