The Fountain of Youth

You can spend a lifetime chasing your dreams and building your skills. Each passing year brings knowledge and a greater familiarity with your craft. Your hands learn the motions. Your feet know each peddle and step. Mixtures and solutions are written over and over in your mind so many times that you’ll never forget them. Each day you create new thoughts and ideas to make your work better or different. That accumulation is one of the most beautiful parts of life. Each time you put on your Carhartts, still covered in yesterday’s work, you’ve grown stronger, smarter, and more capable. The seasoning of each passing year, with all the mistakes and successes you’ve seen, can only add to who you are. Always wear your dirty work vest with pride.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” -Sophia Loren

take a look at the El Paso Utility Vest worn above 

DIY: American Paper Chains

 

 

Fourth of July is this Friday, y’all! If you’re looking for last minute decorations or festive flag-inspired crafts, here’s just the thing. You probably have all of the supplies needed already. The Sibley Denim Shorts are perfect for any fishing or bar-b-queing you may have in-store this holiday weekend. Have fun and stay safe!

The Fight for the Henhouse

When there are obstacles standing before passions, the Carhartt woman does what it takes to break them down. Laura Mikulski moved to Ferndale, MI in 2006. As an organic gardener, the draw of keeping chickens seemed very alluring. They eat bugs and provide fertilizers. You can also rest assured that the flock is well cared for and their eggs are healthy to eat.
Laura’s planning and preparation led to the realization that there were municipal ordinances against keeping backyard chickens. (i.e. residents were not authorized to keep fowl within  a distance of 150 ft from any building) That was outrageous to Laura. In hopes that it would be an educational experience for the city, she looked for a way to amend these restrictions. Laura researched the plat maps and contacted the city’s assessor to find out how many properties would be eligible to keep fowl under the current ordinance. The results were shocking; there were so few properties eligible, that the regulation may as well have outlawed anyone from keeping chickens in city limits.
Laura reached out to Ferndale’s city council members and city workers to start the conversation. Several officials responded favorably, and the ball started rolling. Her fight for backyard chickens gained even more momentum when her work began winning over the locals. Ultimately, her appeals weren’t granted until 2012 when the ordinance was amended. She was the first to submit paperwork and have her coop inspected.
It was a long road to her ultimate goal, but now she and her hens can live happily ever after. If you’re in the Ferndale or metro Detroit area, keep up with Laura here.
For any of you that are looking into raising chickens of your own, Laura advises research and more research. Read as much as you can. Glean knowledge from online articles and blogs. Here’s a good starter kit of first aid care for your own little flock:

• Wazine: a wormer, for emergency purposes.  Some people recommend worming twice per year, but chickens often develop a natural resistance to these pests- use this only if necessary after a fecal test.
• Tetracycline Hydrochloride: an general antibiotic for use primarily when you notice respiratory issues or ‘headcold-like’ symptoms
• Sav-a-chick Electrolytes:  crucial for when weather gets very hot, or when dealing with an ill bird
• Flexible wrap: get the kind that sticks to itself, for use in holding bandages in place if a bird gets injured
• Gauze pads: for injuries
• Wound wash: be sure to get one without pain relievers, as those are toxic to birds
• Activated charcoal: for symptoms of poisoning
• Providone Iodine ointment: a substitute for things like neosporin, for injuries–great antibacterial ointment
• Blu-Kote: germicidal fungicidal wound dressing.  Crucial for a chicken kit- when chickens see red or blood associated with an injury, they will peck at it, and can turn cannibalistic if they’re not stopped.  BluKote turns the wound area dark blue-purple, which immediately stops the other hens from picking at an injury.
• Rubbing alcohol: sterlizing
• Hydrogen peroxide: wound cleaning/debriding
• Styptic powder with no pain relievers: for staunching blood flow, but be sure it does not have pain relievers in there, as most that are used with dogs do
• NuStock: ointment used for burns and skin disorders
• Medical scissors: for cutting dressings and feathers around a wound site
• Epsom salts: for soaking when the hen is egg bound or needs a site cleaned
• Superglue: for repairing a broken beak (it does happen)
• Tweezers: for pulling splinters
• Nutrient drench: for sick hens to revitalize and regain energy
• Probiotics: for use after antibiotics
• Gloves:  for when things get messy
• Book: The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow, contains tons of information on disease, illness, and malnutrition including symptoms and treatment
  
  The proper workwear is also essential when tending to your flock. Take a look at Laura’s look: Carhartt Women’s Kenmare Henley, Women’s Huron Shirt, Relaxed-Fit Denim Jasper Jean, El Paso Utility Jacket, & C-Grip Knuckler Glove.

DIY: Mossy Bookend

If there’s a word that epitomizes Portland, it’s green. There are so many different shades everywhere: in the tree line, on mossy rocks, bushes, grass, and natural growth.  That’s only heightened by the human eye’s ability to differentiate shades of green more than any other color. I got back from my week long trip to Portland, and I found myself missing the intensity of the hues I saw in Oregon. I challenged myself to bring back the moss from last week’s very Portland-esque DIY and incorporate into my own home. I loved the sharp contrast of the marshmallow colored Carhartt Women’s Minot Shirt and the ever vibrant greens, so I carried the theme even further and let them play off one another once again.

I’ll walk to you though the steps to make your own mossy bookend. You’ll need a cross section of a tree, self-adhesive moss paper, clumps of moss, baby’s breath, mini diorama trees, hot glue gun, scissors, and a pencil. Take the tree section and trace the top of it on the back of the moss paper. Cut the circle out and stick it to the top of the wood. Then glue the trees and little clumps of moss in the center. Cut off little bits of baby’s breath and add it in where you think a pop of buds is needed. You’re ready to use it! Enjoy the feeling of mother nature while you’re hanging in your home.

Packing for Portland: The Carhartt Women’s Guide

Packing for Portland means preparing for weather. I spent most of last week there, enjoying spring and the rain that comes with it. Take a look at the essential Carhartt items I took with me. When you have reliable rainwear, you can focus on the beautiful scenery around you. I’ll tell you what, I put the Mountrail Jacket to the test. The Storm Defender® waterproof breathable membrane is designed to keep you dry and not too stuffy.

Master Frame Buildin’ Momma

Natalie worked as a bike messenger for 6 years as she went to grad school for architectural design.  She wanted to combine her love of design, the world of cycling, and respect for the environment into a business and way of life. With its bike-friendly nature, Portland seemed like a great place to start Sweetpea Bicycles, owned and operated by Natalie and her husband, Austin. Out of a desire to help women experience the joy of cycling, she strives to make bikes that perfectly fit a woman’s body. As a mother of two, there’s no doubt her enthusiasm will be passed down to her children.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s a great time to take a step back and appreciate the ambitions and passions your own mom instilled in you. Don’t forget to tell Mom that you love and appreciate her.

Take a look at Natalie’s work wear here: Carhartt Women’s Minot Shirt, 1889 Slim Double-Front Denim Dungaree, & Short Sleeve Signature T-Shirt.

 

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is just a few days away. Don’t forget to show Mom how much you love her.
Take a look at the Crafted in Carhartt gift guide. Get inspired!

1. Handmade Trivets
2. Carhartt Women’s Lacreek Shirt
3. Clarksburg Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt
4. Erwin Baseball Hat
5. C-Grip Knuckler Glove
6. Handmade Driftwood Heart
7. Force Performance Verdon Polo

Do It Yourself: Mixed Media Collage with Faina of Popps Packing

When it comes to being creative and artistic, it can be tough to know where to start. It often helps to have a guide or inspiration to serve as a jumping off point. Faina Lerman of Popps Packing in Detroit creates mixed media masterpieces. She’s going to walk you through the steps to make some art on your own.

Supplies:

• Matt medium
• Bristol board or watercolor paper
• Watercolor paint or gouache
• Drawing Materials of choice: pencils, markers, highlighters and pens.
• Collage cut outs (small pieces from magazines like national geographic, newspapers or fashion magazines.
• A cup of water
• Paper towel
• Small watercolor brushes

Step 1: cut out collage pieces to have on hand before you begin. Choose things that have interesting colors and shapes. Make sure to cut out shapes carefully and include details. Make the shapes interesting not just a square or a circle, it is fun to reconfigure some of the images. For example, cut out a zebra in the shape of a frog.

Step 2: create an atmospheric color field on your paper. This will be the background for the collage. Try not to over work it. Use a wash or watery mixture of the colors. Think of the sky or a foggy day.

Step 3: pick out a few collage pieces to arrange on the paper. Play around with the composition. Do not glue anything until you are completely happy with the arrangement.

Step 4: mix some matt medium with water. Using your small brush paint the medium on the back of the cut out. Cover it completely. Place the collage piece on the paper and give it a quick brushing over the top to secure it in place. Try to brush out all the wrinkles.

Step 5: Let it dry. This is a good time to start another. I work on multiple pieces at one time.

Step 6: draw some marks or designs on the paper to enhance the image or to give it some extra layers. This creates a nice added texture to the collage.

take a look at Faina’s outfit here:  Carhartt Women’s Coleharbor Hoodie & Clarksburg Zip-Front Sweatshirt

 

 

Faina of Popps Packing in Detroit

If you know of vacant meatpacking plant in your neighborhood, you might consider converting it into a home and workspace. At least it worked out really well for the Detroit-based artists Faina Lerman and Graem Whyte. In 2007, the painter and performance artist, and her husband (a sculptor and architectural dabbler) seized the opportunity to buy the former Popps plant (later known as a cookie factory) built in the 1930s and rebirthed it into a bustling art center in the city’s Hamtramck neighborhood. Hamtramck is a culturally diverse city within a city. It was originally settled by German farmers, followed by a flood of Polish immigrants in the early part of the 20th century. Over the past thirty years a large number of immigrants (Yemenis, Bengali, Macedonian, Turkish, and Russian) to name just a few have taken up residence in Hamtramck along with a growing tide of young creative entrepreneurs. Since 2009, Graem and Faina have hosted seasonal indoor/outdoor installations, exhibitions and performances in the building where they also live in with their two young children. Popps Packing is not only a home and studio, it’s also an experimental arts venue aimed at promoting dialog and cultural exchange between the local, national and international communities through exhibitions, performances, workshops and artist residencies. In 2011, the duo purchased a house (Poppa Joe’s Guest House) and a house/storefront (Popps Emporium) across the street, further activating neglected spaces on the border of Detroit and Hamtramck, while providing additional housing and exhibition space for visiting artists. In 2012, they started a residency program that includes studio practice, research, architectural interventions and alternative systems projects. Popps Packing has been a self funded enterprise since it’s inception, relying on the resourceful handiness of Faina and Graem, lots of time/labor/material donations from their friends, odd jobs from clients, and small scale fundraising to keep things moving.

See what Faina’s wearing here: Carhartt Women’s Coleharbor Hoodie, Clarksburg Zip-Front Sweatshirt, Original-Fit Jasper Jeans, Sandstone Kenai Parka, C-Grip Knuckler Gloves, and Carhartt Women’s Rapid City Utility Work Apron

Carhartt Force Technology

 

Remember Detroit artist, Kate Silvio? Along her path to becoming a craftsperson, she’s picked up many useful trades and skills. Metal fabrication being one of them. Working in the metal shop can be extremely physical labor. After all the welding, cutting, bending, and hammering it’s easy to work up quite a sweat. That’s why Carhartt Force is perfect for a rigorous day on the job. It’s made with FastDry® technology for quick wicking, Stain Breaker™ technology that releases stains, and the fabric fights odors to boot.

Take a look at some of Kate’s work here. 
Check out what she’s wearing: Carhartt Women’s Force Performance Quarter-Zip Shirt, Original-Fit Canvas Crawford Dungaree, Billing Safety Glasses, and Women’s Soft Hands Gloves.