miss koco and the iladelph

March Events @ Square Peg

2010-02-25T08:57:00.001-08:00

A couple Sundays in March at Square Peg Artery & Salvage I'll be teaching workshops. Pre-reginstration is required.

Paper Upcycling

In this workshop we will play with new ways to be green. Create easy accordion style journals, envelopes, magnets, stickers and paper beads.

No previous experience required. Materials will be included, but, if you like, bring your own maps, funky fabulous paper, old love letters, menus, food magazines to upcycle and your favorite pair of scissors.

From Jeans to Jewelry - Fiber Upcycling

Everyone has a few pairs of jeans that just don’t fit right… or a sweater you stuck in the dryer by mistake…or a t-shirt from some promotional event that you wouldn't even wear to the gym... What can you do with them? Make them into jewelry!

In this workshops we will give old clothes a second life by make rolled fabric beads from felted
sweaters, t-shirts, and old jeans to use in jewelry pieces. You will leave with at least a completed pair of earrings and skills to make a variety of other items using this simple technique.

No previous skills are required. All materials are provided.

insecurity envelopes

2010-02-15T19:55:00.001-08:00

turning junk inside out to make it useful. One more go before it hits the recycling bin.

Posted via email from thing-a-day 2010

security beads

2010-02-14T19:41:00.001-08:00

To prepare for an upcoming workshop, I'm focusing on upcycling paper. I've wanted to try to make paper beads out of security envelopes for a while. I love the different patterns on the inside of them.

Posted via email from thing-a-day 2010

hair clips

2010-02-12T20:27:00.001-08:00

Continuing to make things from felted sweaters.

Posted via email from misskoco

pendants

2010-02-12T03:26:00.003-08:00

Coin pendants, from foreign currency.

Posted via email from thing-a-day 2010

make up

2010-02-10T18:34:00.001-08:00

The thing about this thing-a-day thing is not so much the thing, but posting the thing.

eight: ribbon organizer

nine: paper made from manila envelopes

ten: handmade paper inspired by guacamole and chips

Posted via web from misskoco

bangles

2010-02-07T19:54:00.001-08:00

made from:
recycled yarn from an unraveled sweater
handyed cashmere by Noro
some wool with a bit of glitz
hand-dyed wool from colinette

Posted via web from thing-a-day 2010

thing 5 + 6

2010-02-06T16:43:00.001-08:00

a pendant from felt and an tube bracelet made from koigu hand-dyed yarn

re.creation

2010-02-04T18:38:00.001-08:00

A couple months ago at a show of independent designers and artists, I bought a handful of ceramic evil eyes or nazars. The artist said she wanted to make a mobile, and made tons of them out of clay. She was selling the left over disks and said it was cool if I turned them into jewelry. I hung a few on presents, using them as gift tags. For the couple I have left I made pendants.

day 3: pins

2010-02-03T20:44:00.001-08:00

made from felted sweaters

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from thing-a-day 2010

felt petal earrings

2010-02-02T20:23:00.001-08:00

For my second thing of the month, this project uses only a small amount of felt, making it perfect for scraps from a sweater hack project. After felting the sweater I cut circles out and sewed them into petals.

Posted via email from thing-a-day 2010

day 1: fiber beads

2010-02-01T21:05:00.001-08:00

a little bit of cashmere, angora, alpaca + some left over tubing = wrapped yarn beads

Opening: Odyssey through South East Asia

2010-01-31T13:04:00.000-08:00

It's freezing out, but I'm trying to be social instead of just hiding out until spring. Here's an event that's part of my anti-hibernation plan:

Odyssey through South East Asia
Photos by Cassandra Morgan @ Square Peg Artery and Salvage

Part of the proceeds from the sale of photographs and other items will be donated to MAG, which works in Southeast Asia and around the world to remove mines and unexploded bombs. They have cleared not only tourist sites but, more crucially, land for farmers to expand their crops, combating poverty.

Opening Reception February 6, 2010 6-8 PM Square Peg Artery & Salvage 108 S 20th St.

Here's the facebook invite page for more images and info.

Thing-a-day 2010

2010-01-31T12:57:00.001-08:00

I'm participating in thing-a-day again this year. This is an ambitious move since I already know this is going to be a busy month. Being creative and devoting time in my day to creating something new is key to me sustaining a moderate level of sanity. This is good for everyone.

This year I'm challenging myself to reduce the amount of materials I have in my stash, using my vast amounts of yarn, fabric, and beads. I also just want to capture moments creatively. Wish me luck!

Posted via email from misskoco

Here, there, everywhere

2010-01-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

What does your street art tell you? The street art in my neighborhood points out differences, how sometimes one thing is different than the others, and how there should be humor everywhere.
Can you spot what's different here? One thing is unlike the others. Ah, yes, you guessed it--that one's not a banana! One might think that finding random images of a penis banana popping up all over your community could be disturbing; however, seeing the sticker on free weekly newspaper boxes always makes me smile. I really enjoy when I'm made aware of its presence again, like when a group of girls stop surprised and pointing then begin to laugh and discuss it.

Banana penis sticker artist, who are you? Why have you done this? Why haven't you done more? What's next?

2010 updates & workshops

2010-01-02T22:35:00.000-08:00

Hello World!

I've been seriously out of the blog loop. Life hasn't been blog/share with the universe worthy in some time, but I guess I'm hoping to change that this year and at least do regular updates regarding what's fabulous in le monde du koco.

Thus far for 2010, it's FREEZING, so I've been seriously getting my craft on lately. I'm still playing with resistors and making jewelry. Soon to come is a collection of new products for the 10kohm line, thanks to the addition of a Dremel to my life (thanks Santa). I've been sewing wine totes and yoga mat bags. JOY! And last but not least, it wouldn't be winter without knitting and making things out of felt.

If you're interested in joining me for some crafty goodness, I'm teaching a couple of workshops this month in Philly.

WORKSHOPS @ Square Peg Artery & Salvage
108 South 20th Street

Sunday, January 17th: Sweater Hacking
3-5pm, $15

Take wool sweaters that went through the spin cycle and turn them into wonderful new accessories. Participants can pick from a collection of shrunken sweater hackery projects including wool bangles, mittens, arm warmers, and a simple bag.

Materials to bring:
Your favorite pair of scissors
a felted/shrunken sweater (if you have one)

Sunday, January 24th: Knitting 102

3-5pm, $15
Bored of just knitting scarves? Learn how to knit in the round, read patterns, do simple decreases and increases, and start more complex projects. Learn what you need to know to take on your first hat project.

To reserve your space, call 215 360 5548.

October

2009-10-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

For the month of October, 30% of all proceeds from the sale of miss koco's nipple and breast pieces go to the Breast Cancer Fund.

In response to the public health crisis of breast cancer, the Breast Cancer Fund identifies – and advocates for elimination of – the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease.

xoxo,
koco

new work: 10K Ω

2009-08-31T05:57:00.000-07:00

10K Ohm jewelry is all handmade from resistors, capacitors, diodes, voltage converters, and other electronic components used in circuits.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

You can find 10kohm at Mew Gallery at 906 Christian, in Philly, or in one of my online shops 10kohm.etsy.com or 1000markets.com.

there should always be more dancing

2009-07-20T22:07:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning was rough. After all the late night fun at the wine bar, it was inevitable that I'd wake up feeling like I broke my brain. I thought I'd stay in most of the day and watch some trashy reality nonsense on TV while recovering. Two episodes into my marathon of America's Next Top Model season-fill-in-the-blank/who-cares, I get an invite to go dancing--IN THE DAY!

Though I was mucho hungover, I couldn't pass on going to an adult sized sand box with house music on a lovely Sunday afternoon. Phil is a fun dance partner, and a huge math nerd who loves teaching. I love these things about him, so I knew the afternoon would be enjoyable. We headed over to the Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City with one thing in mind, getting a good dance in. The sun set on Manhattan as kids chased each other around in the sand. Large groups of Asians took pictures holding the ever so popular peace sign pose. The smoke from the bbq filled the air with that nice smell of summer. There were people in the crowd dancing truly like no one was watching, but I was... The warm afternoon turned to night. They turned on the flashing red, yellow, and green palm trees and I went back to the dance floor for just a bit more. Latin house beats made me shake my hips and forget the doldrums of my morning slump. There really should always be more dancing.

perfetto

2009-07-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

What a day! I woke up feeling rested, slowly drifting from strange dreams about being in a water ballet show with a dolphin to a reality of love in the form of text messages about yoga class with one of my most favorite people in the world. I leisurely got myself together and made my way to yoga with Eleni at her favorite huge, and rather awesome studio, OM in Union Square. After a great class we strolled around the farmer's market and got some groceries. A mint ice tea later, I was in heaven. Yes, it's crowded, and can be overwhelming, but I just love the market.
I have to admit, I am moved by seeing mass amounts of produce. Carrots piled up, beet roots flailing this way and that, baskets of lush greens pouring out all over, the smell of fresh herbs--it's like a spiritual experience. After the market we went back to Eleni's and May came to visit. We went up to the roof and had a beautiful dinner of sundried tomato and garlic polenta with mushrooms on top, a huge salad, and May's carrots, of course. The weather was just perfect. PERFECT! And the company was divine. We went out for a little saturday night fun, that ended in us actually, very easily, convincing the DJ to play Madonna for us. It was somewhat like how I'd describe my ideal day.

hello harlem, nice to meet you

2009-07-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

I often say that New York city was my first true love, but after seven years we kinda grew apart. My first night back in NYC, Harlem is a totally new and different version of the city I thought I knew so well.

Me and NYC... we are both a bit older, we've seen some things in the years apart, and we definitely have grown. I'd like to think this time is going to be different, but I know better. At my core, I am still the same and eventually those same old irritations will remind me of why I left in the first place. I go into this knowing this is temporary, but I'm going to love every second of enjoying the good bits: like yoga with Eleni, and the farmer's market, hanging out on rooftops, picnics in the park, brunch in the East Village, late nights with some of my favorite people, mini-adventures to discover my new neighborhood, and just adoring this apartment.

I'm staying in an apartment filled with reminders of my artsy family, of the aunties and uncles that showed me a world of creativity and endless possibilities. This feels so nice. I am exactly where I should be.

The Upcycle Workshops @ Mew Gallery

2009-05-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to the crafty workshops at Mew this month. May is focused on upcycling, and if these go well I hope to do some basic knitting and crochet workshops in June. I'm busy making kits that every person attending the workshop will go home with. There are still spaces available. See below for details.

Tuesday Night *Upcycle* Workshop Series

Workshop #1 Paper
May 12th from 6pm to 8pm
(get $5 off if you register for this one by Wed. May 6th)

Overwhelmed by Junkmail? Learn how to turn it into one of a kind journals and stationary! Upcycle all that extra paper in your life and learn how to create super easy journals, envelopes, magnets and stickers from maps, menus, and magazines.

Workshop #2 From Jeans to Jewelry
May 26th from 6pm to 8pm

It seems like everyone has a few pairs of jeans that just don’t fit right… or they have the whole sandblasted butt, low-rise thing you can’t rock anymore…or they’re just so worn they’re un-wearable… What can you do with them? Make them into jewelry! Miss Koco will show you how to give your old denim new life.

$30 per workshop
*includes all materials and light refreshments

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required no later than the
Friday before each class: 215-625-2424 or mewgallery@yahoo.com
Mew Gallery is located at 906 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

i'm workin on it...

2009-04-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

"Nothing will work unless you do." - Maya Angelou

I know, I know!

Think Green

2009-04-04T05:57:00.000-07:00

I'm showing Fresh Kills: One Man's Trash... in a show at the Plastic Club.

"THINK GREEN"
AN EXHIBITION ABOUT ECOLOGY
Opening Reception
Sunday, April 5th
2 - 5 PM

The Plastic Club
247 South Camac Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19107

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i'm new

2009-03-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

Kutiman you are sooo clever. Thruyou is a collection of youtube remixes. I want more, I want to see live versions. I want a cd, a dvd even. Kutiman, make it happen.
I'm in love with I'm New. A jazzy space music sound mixed with occasional sultry female vocals gets me every time. The little drag queen in me that adores gay house anthems, wants to sit in front of a mirror and lip sync to Just a Lady all day in clear heels, big fake eyelashes, and way too much makeup.

And just look at how adorable he is: