Last week, I was invited to attend and create my own crafts at Craft Happy OC. If you’re following me on Instagram, FB, or Twitter, you must have seen my projects, right?
We started way early on a Sunday morning and the first two bloggers I ran into were Ruby of Growing Up Blackxican and Xenia of Raised by Culture. My first workshop was making a terrarium. I was super excited because terrariums don’t require a lot of water, which means…. it will be hard for me to kill this plant!
Community (Anaheim); Ruby of Growing Up Blackxican and me; making my own terrarium. – Craft Happy OC
This workshop was presented by Lisa Cherry, owner and founder of The Makery. The Makery is a creative shop and space/studio that is housed within Community. Imagine a block of storefronts of women-owned craft businesses that sit under an umbrella building. That is Community.
In addition to seeing Ruby and Xenia, I met Elizabeth who blogs at Being MVP. She brought her youngest child with her, and she carried him ALL DAY LONG. Props, man. Props. Do you know how much a baby weighs when you’re trying to do crafts and network and livetweet and eat and go to the bathroom? A lot.
Terrarium w/ a macrame hanger; my group; screenprinting table; Baby Pyo making a gift bag – Craft Happy OC
Morgan Culture presented the printmaking workshop, and we were all going to print on canvas bags! You know me – I am the ultimate bag lady. While thinking up of a print, Morgan taught us the differences of paints, mediums, and how to get the right amount of paint on our potatoes. No day would be complete without my shouting ‘vagina’ or ‘penis’ in public.
Printmaking workshop – Craft Happy OC
Between workshops, we had short breaks where I chatted with a few other attendees and looked on as others were crafting. I also walked into the pop-up shop as well as tried to see who owned the record shop within Community. Whoever was playing music from Ceremony has my two thumbs up! Anyone who plays Alphabeat, Passion Pit, and Matt & Kim gets my stamp of approval. Then it was time for lunch.
I’ve seen tweets and Facebook posts about CravOn but was skeptical of trying them. As you know, I’m working on getting healthier and stronger (FLOTUS arms, remember?), so what could eating fries do for me? The spread was impressive, and I scooped myself a plate of pulled pork, grilled veggies and a serving of CravOn fries. Honestly, they’re getting my stamp of approval too. And that’s not just ‘cus they played Bon Jovi during lunch. I had the steak fries, and they were “meaty” and not greasy. They’re not fried and have half the fat of regular fries.
CravOn Fries – Craft Happy OC
Tattly provided temporary tattoos, which I’d seen before too but never tried. Man, that was my lucky day. I got to try new food and consider my forearm as possible real estate for my next tattoo. They were very easy to put on. Place tat on surface, spray water, hold for a minute. DONE. My temporary tattoo lasted 5 days before I scratched it off. It should last a week, but the ends were scratching off by Day 5. (It lasted two weight lifting workouts and my violent keyboarding/typewriting skills.)
Chef Nika of the Sugar Studio was my last instructor in cupcake decorating. I decided to make penis decorations for my cupcakes to go with my bag. I think I could’ve done a better job. At one point, I was laughing at some indirect penis jokes we were cracking. Nika had to double-bag my pastry bag because I messed up on putting the tip in. HA!
Tattly temp tattoo; my penis cupcakes; some of the attendees at Community – Craft Happy OC
Xenia of Raised by Culture and me! – Craft Happy OC
I didn’t get to attend the fourth and final workshop (for me, it was letterpress) because I had to book it back to LA. If the folks at Craft Happy are teaching letterpress again, I’ll be signing up for it. That’s something I’d like to learn as a future business.
I want to thank Xenia for inviting me to Craft Happy. It was a lovely day and I learned a lot. And one week later, my terrarium air plant is STILL ALIVE!
If you’re interested in renting space, teaching a workshop, or shopping, check out Community and its small businesses! Not sure where to start, contact Lisa at The Makery who organized Craft Happy.
Community is located at 423 S. Brookhurst Ave., Anaheim 92805.
Disclosure: I was invited to take part in Craft Happy OC as press/blogger.
That looks like a blast! I need to go on a craft retreat. Also, we are definitely soul sisters. Love the Vagina tote and the penis cupcakes. One time I attempted to make penis cookies with premade cookie dough. It did not go well. But they still tasted good.
Fun times! Love the cupcakes!! LOL
@Cid Style File (@CidStyleFile), It was! Hope to see you on the 14th!
Ooh, this makes me even more excited for the 14th!
@AllThoseThingsILoveâ„¢ (@ThoseThingsILov), Can’t wait to meet you!
Seriously, can I place an order for my own ‘vagina’ bag?? 🙂
@Nicole, Hahaha! I don’t have the potatoes anymore but we’ll see…. 😉
I can’t wait for their next session–this looks like so much fun. I was at the Makery for an event with Xenia and the crew before and had a blast! Hope to see you at the next one as well.
@Ann, Definitely! I’ll get to see you twice in two months!
YAY CRAVON FRIES! I love them. And they’ve been so nice to me as a blogger. And this looks like TONS of fun – I cannot wait to go on the 14th!
@AJ (@AmandaJoy), Me either! Thanks for co-setting up the 14th!
So, so jealous. This craft blogger would have loved to have been there. Looks like so much fun. I hope they do it again.
@Tonya Staab, Well it’s happening for us (SCLB) on 7/14! HOpe you can come!
You rock! I’m so glad you came out and had a great time!!! Can’t wait for more fun on the 14th!
@Xenia, No YOU rock! Thank you!!
This post is so fun; it definitely gets the atmosphere of Craft Happy right on! Thanks for attending my print workshop. BTW, another student took advantage of your “vagina” blocks and added it to her bag as well!
@morgan culture, w00t! I think Xenia mentioned MarlitaCupcake used the. CAn’t wait to see how hers turned out! Thanks again!