tomorrow: artists' talk.

Left: Drop Stitch [detail] Right: Anchored II

If you haven't made it to see my newest artwork at Gallery Neptune in Bethesda, tomorrow is your last day! Be there at 2pm to hear Joyce Zipperer and I talk about our work. Details at the very bottom of this post. But first, I have some press to share!

Some press mentions for my exhibit this past month at Gallery Neptune include: dcist, DailyCandy, Washington Post Express, a Gazette conversation and review, as well as a 'Don't Miss' recommendation in the 'Must-See Events of the Week' in the Washington Post Magazine:



Details for tomorrow:

Artists' Talk:
Saturday, November 14, 2pm

Gallery Neptune
5001 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814 [2nd Floor]
A few blocks from Bethesda Metro Station [Red Line]
Click here for map


Anchored I [detail]

Fashion. Art. Cocktails.

Thanks to everyone who made it out to my opening last week, what an amazing turnout!

The show continues to receive great press mentions, including NBC [thank you!], DC Art News [thank you!], and Washington Post Express [thank you!].



Here's another Saturday night opportunity to mingle around my newest works of art at Gallery Neptune. In addition to being surrounded my art, tonight's event also features models in De*Nada Design's fall/winter collection, shoes by ShoeFly, fashion photography by Violetta Markelou, and yes, complimentary cocktails.



Special Event: Fashion Art Cocktails
October 24, 7:30-10:00 PM

Gallery Neptune
5001 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814 [2nd Floor]
A few blocks from Bethesda Metro Station [Red Line]
Click here for map

Gallery Hours:
Thursday–Saturday, 12-5 pm, also by appointment
Please see web site for details and additional event information.

My show will be on exhibit through November 14.

opening tomorrow.

My gallery show opens tomorrow night!

All the pieces are up, and I can't wait till the world gets to see them up close. Here's a peek at one of my newest pieces, titled Drop Stitch.

Drop Stitch [detail] size approx 3'x7'

My newest installations are larger than ever before [Drop Stitch is 7 feet tall!] and I've also introduced some found objects and wood into the pieces.

The show opens tomorrow, Saturday, October 17, 7-9pm, and will run through November 14. According to dcist [thank you!], and Daily Candy [thank you!], you'll really want to see this show.

Gallery Neptune
5001 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814 [2nd Floor]
A few blocks from Bethesda Metro Station [Red Line]
Click here for map

Gallery Hours:
Thursday–Saturday, 12-5 pm, also by appointment
Please see web site for details and additional event information.

my upcoming show.

I'm working on new pieces for my upcoming show that opens next weekend, Saturday, October 17! The exhibition at Gallery Neptune will feature new directions in my Knit Together series in a two-person show with metal sculptor Joyce Zipperer.

Show opens Saturday, October 17 and runs through Saturday, November 14. Here are the details:

Opening Reception:
October 17: 7 PM

Location: Gallery Neptune
5001 Wilson Lane :: Bethesda, MD

October 17-November 14

Gallery Hours: Thursday – Saturday, 12-5 PM

I hope to see you all there!

Crafty Bastards!

...is tomorrow!
Saturday, October 3, 10am-5pm.
Find me in booth #18, right here

Today I was featured in the Washington Post Weekend:

Yes, those are my hands knitting on the cover! The print edition has great pics for the full spreads!

Can't make the event? I keep an updated list of upcoming shows on the right. You can also find me everywhere online, and visit my shop where I ship around the world.

ps...don't forget to vote goshdarnknit Craftiest Bastard 2009!

raniahassan.com

Introducing my brand new web site: raniahassan.com

There you'll find selected art work from the past four years, as well as news, resume, and press details. It's quite interesting to see how my knit paintings have developed.

Please update your links!

And now, I'm of to knit some more...

James Renwick Alliance Award

See the blue ribbon? I won an award!

This past Friday was opening night at Artomatic. As it turns out, there was an award and golden ticket waiting for me in my space. I received a Craft Award of Distinction from the James Renwick Alliance [JRA] for my Knit Together installation.



From the Washington Glass School blog:
The judges were Mrs. Deena Kaplan, long time art supporter and world class craft collector, Mr. John Kotelly, Esq., former President of the JRA and avid craft collector, Dr. Paul and Mrs. Elmirina Parkman, both Past Presidents of the JRA, founding members of the JRA and long time craft collectors, Ms. Judy Weisman, JRA Acquisitions Chair and long time craft collector and consultant.

Thank you to the James Renwick Alliance, I'm so honored to have been recognised and selected for this award.


Visiting Artomatic? You'll find my work on the 9th [top] floor, section 3. The show is open through July 5. Please see web site for hours.

JRA awardees, by craft category, were:
Fiber: Rania Hassan [me!]
Clay: Laurel Lukaszewski
Metal: Michael Sirvet
Glass: Phil Vickery
Wood: James Long
Mixed Media: Eric Celarier

ACC baltimore.

Have I mentioned I'm in the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore?

Yes, yes I am.

The Craft Council defines the section I'm in, 'AltCraft,' as: This section features rising indie crafters whose work illustrates the innovative techniques and materials of the burgeoning new handmade movement...

The show started on Friday and is open today [Saturday] from 10am-6pm, and then tomorrow [Sunday] from 10am-5pm. For more details, please visit the American Craft Council's show web site.

Stop by and say hi! If you can't make it, here is a quick peek at my installation of all new knit together paintings.

In the next week I plan to update my Etsy shop with new works. Stay tuned!

POOL.

Goshdarnknit is at POOL! It's an art+design+fashion show in Las Vegas. Our first trade show, and our first time on the west coast with our brand. We've made some amazing contacts, and gotten to know some great exhibitors. And of course, we've had lots of fun. Here are some pictures of our booth:

Saturday.

This is it, it's your last weekend to Buy Handmade from local indie artists and designers before the holidays!

Lucky for you, tomorrow the Bloomingdale Holiday Art Market returns for another fun show at the Big Bear Cafe.

Our vendor list includes:
Andrea Haffner
De*Nada Design
Sean Hennessey
goshdarnknit
Kristina Bilonick
Neighborhood Fiber Co
Realm Jewelry
Tiger Flight

Skip the mall and join us for some last minute holiday shopping at the second annual Bloomingdale Holiday Art Market:

Saturday, December 20th, from 4-9pm, at the Big Bear Cafe, First and R St NW in DC.

Hope to see you all tomorrow!


Thanks dcist and washingtonian for writing about us!

ps...if you absolutely can't make it tomorrow, Sean and I will also be at the Black Cat Rock'n'Shop again on Sunday!

bloomingdale holiday art market.

Arts! Crafts! Cider! Fun!

Yes, it's happening again! The Bloomingdale Holiday Art Market returns for another fun show at the Big Bear Cafe. We're looking forward to our second annual handmade art market in the neighborhood and hope to see you there!

Save the Date! Saturday, December 20th, from 4-9pm at the Big Bear Cafe, 1st and R St NW in DC.

Come shop with amazing local artists including: Andrea Haffner, Sean Hennessey, Realm Jewelry, De*Nada Design, Kristina Bilonick, and more!


Buy Handmade this holiday season and support your local artists and designers! Have you taken the pledge yet?

Skeleton + Escape

Here are some of my latest notebooks, posted beside the drawings in my own Moleskine where they were first created...

Plan B [Escape]

gocco printed on pocket Moleskine cahiers [above]
first began as an ink drawing in my own sketchbook [below]


Skeleton Trees

gocco printed on large Moleskine cahiers [above]
first began as an ink drawing in my own sketchbook [below]


I hope you all had a lovely, spooky, haunted, eerie Halloween! xox.

crafty your vote.

Here's the news I promised... drumroll, please!



I'm so excited to announce that I've been selected to be one of 10 Crafty Bastards running for Craftiest Bastard 08! I'm their 'Paper Products' category pick. Voting is open now through October 1st. Please click here to go to the voting page. Vote early + vote often, and of course, tell your friends to vote too!

The Crafty Bastards fall event will be on September 28th, and you can also vote then. I'll be in booth #72, please do be sure to visit and say hi!

This coming weekend are my first two big shows of the season. Friday and Saturday will be Arts on Foot, on the south sidewalk of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, booth #21. Then Sunday is Adams Morgan Day, Sean and I will be set up in the Arts on Belmont section, booth #16.

Am I ready? Of course not! With just 24 hours to go for everything to be all packed up, I'll probably start thinking up ways to redesign my booth display tonight. And of course, campaign promises.

skeleton tree.

Meet my latest hand printed Moleskine creation for September, Skeleton Tree:

It started from a drawing in my own Moleskine in January while I was sitting outside among many trees, waiting for a friend.

I've screenprinted the illustration on both kraft and black covers, and both versions are posted in my Etsy shop.


Exciting news from August was having my work featured in HOW Magazine! Being a designer by profession, it was truly an honor to be featured in this awesome publication.



I've been busy in my studio working on a whole lot of new things for all of my upcoming shows. This coming weekend will be the busiest ever, I have three full days of shows in a row! Friday and Saturday is Arts on Foot, then Sunday is Adams Morgan Day. I keep the event list on the right sidebar updated and also started a monthly newsletter! If you'd like to subscribe, please enter your email address on the right.

It's hard to believe that August flew by so quickly. I do hope you're all enjoying the last days of summer. It's time for me to sign off to get back to my studio, some more exciting news is coming up soon!

fly away.

Introducing my latest illustrated, hand printed Moleskine for August 2008: Fly Away.



This illustration is based on an sketch I drew in my own Moleskine a few months back. After drawing and redrawing, I finally settled on this version, now available on both large and extra large Moleskine cahiers!


Fly Away on an extra large Moleskine [above] and large Moleskine [below]


This multi-layered print was handprinted by me in small batches, and as always, is available for sale in my Etsy shop.

about handmade.

Why do you make handmade? I've seen this question asked a lot recently. Here is a brilliant animation that crankbunny did to explain why she makes handmade. I think it's the best explanation I've heard so far.



You can read more about her animation process and tools in this storque article, and visit her website here.

pyramid atlantic store.

Something exciting opens tonight: the Pyramid Atlantic Community Arts Store!

Sean and I will have some of our artwork there, and of course notebooks and lunch bags as well!

I got to take a peek inside when I dropped off my work, and it looks amazing. The organisers have done an incredible job setting it up. Downtown Silver Spring will have the awesomest handmade shop in the area.

The grand opening tonight is from 5-7pm, and the address is: 924 Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring. Store hours will be: Thursdays: 12–8pm, Fridays: 12–7pm, and Saturdays: 10am to 7pm

Looking for more info? Check out the Pyramid Atlantic site.

blue tulips.

Introducing my latest illustrated Moleskine notebook for July, Blue Tulips:


....and some of the latest additions to my screenprinted Moleskine series:

Imaginary Friend on an extra large Moleskine (left) and large Moleskine (right)


Knit Buddies (left) extra large Moleskine, and right: new edition Roxy

If you didn't make it to Crafty Bastards this past weekend, here's a peek at what our space looked like from where I was sitting:



Spring was such a busy time, Artomatic came and went, and then Crafty Bastards, and soon it'll be December again. I'm planning to introduce a new notebook each month from now till the end of the year, so check back soon to see how I'm doing. I have a stack of illustrations waiting to be used, and I can't wait to see how those look printed. But I'm going to try and be patient and work on them slowly, one month at a time. And like all the rest, they will be sold individually via my etsy shop.