Edition Announcement #188 - Jill Bliss

Greetings collectors! Today's editions are extra special: Handmade Treehomes, #1A and Handmade Treehomes, #1B, which is a benefit edition for Handmade Nation, were created just for us. And they were made for each other—a treehouse mansion! Treehome-maker Jill Bliss is just one of the talented DIY superstars featured in HN, and we wrangled two of the fabulous women behind the making of the film to introduce her.

Kate Bingaman-Burt, she of JBP triple crown (HHS!, 20x200 and a solo show @ JBG!) chatted up DIY advocate Faythe Levine, the producer/director/visionary behind Handmade Nation, and the beyond worthy beneficiary of Ms. Bliss's Handmade Treehomes, #1B edition.

Faythe's independent documentary is all about the DIY art, craft & design movement and the creative community it supports, encourages and empowers. I got to be Kate's +1 at its NYC premier at the Museum of Arts and Design and was instantly enamored. How could art + craft + design + uber-talented people not equal love at first sight?

Jill Bliss, her work and her studio space are featured in the film and its sister book, Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design. Her work is incredible and has inspired masses to draw, make and create, so we're very happy to have her here! Also inspiring are the two talking below.

Kate was en route to a much-needed vacation and Faythe was at her neighborhood coffee haunt, taking a breather before gearing up for a radio interview with Kansas City NPR. Rest assured, this is not the last you'll be hearing from them. Keep your eyes on Kate's blog (and, ahem, right here!) and we may just let you know what's up next. And, join me in wishing her a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY! See, I told you today was special.

Kate: Two things that I love: 20x200 and Handmade Nation. TOGETHER! Yahoo! (I all of a sudden feel like thousands of eyes are watching us type.)
Faythe: It is amazing that Jen believes in what we are doing so strongly. It was so exciting to get to meet her when you introduced us. Was that when we were out in NY for the Handmade Nation premiere at the Museum of Arts and Design? Yes, it was...
Kate: She is good like that. And, l knew you two would like each other. Jen wanted to be my date for the screening. It was important to her to be there. And then it worked out beautifully that she was SO excited about the idea for the edition.
Faythe: For me, meeting other focused, self-motivated women in the art world who are promoting others' work is wildly encouraging. To have someone like Jen be so excited about what I am doing was probably one of the biggest compliments I have gotten yet.
Kate: TOTALLY.
Faythe: And she took us to that amazing restaurant. Do you remember what it was called? The interior was dope. End of an alley, like you would never know it was there...
Kate: Oh shoot! Was it just one word? Down an alley? Like a person's name... I want to say Belvedere's but that sounds ridiculous. Ha! Mr. Belvedere, like the 80s show.
[Ed. note: Y'all were at Freemans!]
Faythe: That lunch convo was great though. I feel like we plowed though so many ideas so quickly. If we had time in the world of "more time", I always daydream what it would be like if we could really take a week out of our lives to spend with the people who we work well with. Ideal business meeting list #1 & #2 would definitely be Jen and yourself. I mean, we have collaborated on so much with Handmade Nation and it's been so easy.
Kate: Yeah, it made me wish that we could stay there all day and continue to plot and plan. We started thinking about the edition at lunch... I am pretty sure that Jill's name was brought up right away. I love love her work.
Faythe: Jill's name was tossed around right away for sure. I mean she is the perfect fit on so many levels. Aesthetically, I felt she fit into the 20x200 editions and then she is in the movie and book. AND I have a few of her pieces in my collection. ANDDDD I've shown her at my gallery.
Kate: I am so happy that I have gotten to know Jill as a person since moving to Portland too. She is really amazing. Plus, she is good to my students at Portland State (lectures, guest critiquing) and that forever earns multiple gold stars in my book.
Faythe: I couldn't tell you how excited I was when I saw the proofs. I love that they hang vertically, not horizontally, as a diptych.
Kate: I love it—they are architectural.
Faythe: As a lover of Jill, her work and tree houses, well, I did a dance when I first saw them. I hadn't seen Jill's house pieces until I came out for the PDX premiere; that's when it all clicked. I knew that the houses would made the perfect diptych but never expected them to go vert.
Kate: Ha! So excellent. Yeah, I want to live in them. That's why Jill kills it!
Faythe: I'll move in too. That will be our dream artist collective shack. Who else gets to live in our tree? We can save that for another chat, I suppose...
Kate: I just LOL'ed in the Columbus Airport.
Faythe: So, I have to go run to my landline for my radio interview.
Kate: Yep! I have to prepare for my week of no internet. I haven't started shaking yet.
Faythe: HA! Been there. Good luck Kate!
Kate: Have fun on the radio!

Psst! If you're on the West Coast, you'll soon have the chance to see Handmade Nation yourself. Upcoming screenings include:

Handmade Nation presented by the American Craft Council
When: Friday, August 14th, doors open at 8 p.m., screening at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Fort Mason Center, Golden Gate Room, San Francisco, CA
$12 or $5 w/paid admission to the craft show
Tickets limited to 250 guests; first come, first served

Handmade Nation in association with Reform School & Home Ec.
When: Saturday, August 15th at 12:00pm ($25 premiere + tote bag) and 7:00pm ($12) and Sunday, August 16th at 3, 5, 7 & 9:00 p.m. ($12)
Where: Cinefamily, Los Angeles, CA
Tickets HERE

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