Heather Ross & Kokka Create Classy Fabrics

Two of the most luxurious fabrics that Owl & Drum currently carries are made by a Japanese company and designed by a very talented New York-based author, artist and designer.

Heather Ross’ latest line for Kokka is called “Nursery Versery,” and Tulsa’s new one-stop shop for fabrics and crafts is happy to stock their “Three Little Pigs” and “Country Mice” fabrics.

"Three Little Pigs"

The whimsical, colorful and beautifully-drawn fabrics – featuring a mice couple and their baby, and pigs at work and play – are a top-quality blend of linen and cotton that are perfect for quilting, children’s clothes or decorating a kid’s nursery.

"Country Mice"

"They have been among the most asked for fabrics since we opened the store on Sept. 25, and now we have them!" said Bianca Howell," the co-owner of Owl & Drum.

"Heather Ross has a very loyal following and people really love the fabrics she designs."

Ross has also depicted frog princes, Volkswagen buses and big bad wolves on the popular and collectible fabrics she designs.

Since 2007, Ross’ collections of home-sewing fabrics are have been manufactured solely by Kokka of Japan and distributed in the U.S. by Seven Islands, according to her website.

The pairing have created other fabric lines, including “Far Far Away Chapter 2,” and Ross has also made some of her long out-of-print designs available through the print-on-demand services of Spoonflower.com.

Ross has also had published a number of craft books, including the recent Heather Ross Prints, which contains a step-by-step tutorial on how to create your own fabric prints. 

Now in stock at Owl & Drum, the book-and-DVD package, Ross shares reproducible artwork for more than 50 of her most popular prints and also provides step-by-step instructions for 20 craft projects using the prints on the DVD – from sea turtle stationery to a shower curtain covered with swirling mermaids.

Crafters can use the artwork on the DVD to print on fabric, paper, or any other surface they choose. Plus, Ross teaches her process for designing fabric using the computer program Photoshop, which is very helpful to crafters who want to try to emulate her.

“Obviously, there is more than one way to accomplish this, so we opted to focus on my process in particular,” she said on her online blog at heatherross.squarespace.com.

“I use Photoshop Channels, which allows me draw as I would on paper and to add colors in a way that mimics the screen-printing process. The finished files also work beautifully as digital uploads to Spoonflower . . . I have been teaching this method for a few years in a special design workshop.”

“This project is truly close to my heart. Inspired largely by the community of crafters that exists online and the infectious spirit of generosity among them, I set out to create a usable digital library of my own (favorite) fabric designs.

“I spent the better part of a year exploring new digital printing technologies and trying out new craft techniques – lamp making, bookbinding, wallpapering – searching for new ways to use my artwork.”

The book – which was published Sept. 1 by STC Craft – also contains more than five files to create digitally-printed wallpaper, including Underwater Sisters, Horses, Frog Prince, and The Owl and The Pussycat.

  

Ross also illustrated a children’s book called “Crafty Chloe,” which was published last February.

She is keen to share her expertise with people and has hosted workshops across the country. Her next “Weekend Sewing Workshop” will be held Oct. 19-21 in New York City, plus a workshop in Monterey Bay/Asilomar, Calif., next February.

For more information about Heather Ross and Kokka, visit www.heatherross.squarespace.com and www.kokka.co.jp.

For more details about Owl & Drum, which carries more than 100 fabrics made by seven designers, crafts supplies and tools, plus numerous unique gifts, visit www.owlanddrum.com.

The 2810 E. 15th St. store also sells many other items made by Tulsans, Oklahomans and artisans from Portland, Oregon, plus a variety of craft books.

Owl & Drum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12-4 p.m. Sundays. The store is closed on Mondays, but it's open every day online at www.owlanddrum.com.

For more information, call Bianca at 918-742-1404, send an email to owlanddrum@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook, Blogger.com, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

It's "Contest Time" Again At Owl & Drum!

Become a new follower on our blog or comment on one of our blog posts and you will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 Owl & Drum gift certificate.

The contest will run until October 15, and the winner's name will be randomly picked from all of the entries.

The lucky winner can use the gift certificate in our store in Tulsa, Ok, or in our Etsy store.

The winner will be announced on October 16.

Thanks for following Owl & Drum. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Check them out for our new fabrics, products, classes, stories, photos, updates, and more.

Indie Emporium 2012 Excites Owl & Drum

One of Tulsa’s most popular annual arts and crafts fairs is gearing up for another successful run at the end of the month – and Owl & Drum is proud to play a part in this year’s event.

The Indie Emporium – which was inspired by the handmade crafts revolution and is now its sixth successful year – will be staged on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28-29, at Living Arts of Tulsa, located at 307 E. Brady Ave.

Visitors to the downtown Brady District event will find a lot to enjoy. And many people will find unique gifts for birthday, Christmas and holiday gifts. Others may also be inspired to take up crafting themselves, which lots of people have found to be gratifying, therapeutic and fun.

On tap will be many of the region’s hippest craft vendors, a fashion show of handmade clothing and accessories, make-and-take crafting stations, a fine arts gallery space, a silent auction, workshops and craft demonstrations.

The event will kick-off from 7-11 p.m. Sept. 28 with a free Indie Emporium “swag bag” (a special tote bag filled with goodies) for the first 50 people through the door. 

The early bird will catch the worm – the earliest attendees will get the coveted “First 50” tickets at the door which will allow them to get their prized “swag bag” from Indie Emporium’s many helpful volunteers.

In addition to shopping for pioneering, one-of-a-kind  arts and crafts, visitors can browse the art gallery, bid on silent auction items to help fund the Community Food Bank ofEastern Oklahoma, enjoy drinks at the cash bar, and savor locally-made cupcakes and sweet treats.

Saturday’s full day of action will run for 10 hours, starting at 12 noon.

“Make-and-take” crafting projects and workshops will be staged from 12-4 p.m. and hourly crafts demos and project workshops will be staged from 12-5 p.m., followed by live musical performances. The ongoing silent auction will close at 6 p.m. 

The much-anticipated “Indie Emporium Fashion Show” – featuring original designs by talented local designers – will rock the catwalk starting at 8 p.m.

Owl & Drum is happy to be one of the event sponsors of this year’s Indie Emporium.

“I’m so looking forward to the 2012 Indie Emporium,” said Bianca Howell, the co-owner of Owl & Drum, which is located at 2810 E. 15^th St., and a Tulsa native.

“I participated last year as a vendor with my UrbanCreatures jewelry made from repurposed T-shirts and loved being part of such an exciting, happy event. Being around so many other Tulsans with the same enthusiasm as me for homemade crafts was a real pleasure.

“Now that I have opened a store in my hometown, I’m really happy to be both a sponsor and a vendor at this year’s Indie Emporium. I can’t wait!”

Indie Emporium was first held in October 2007, attracting hundreds of shoppers to the Mathews Warehouse in downtown Tulsa. Thirty-six vendors, 10 gallery artists and five runway designers participated in the first ground-breaking show.

But that was just the start for the well-received Indie Emporium.

A year later, more than twice as many people attended  to enjoy the creations of 40 vendors, 12 gallery artists and nine fashion designers . 

The VFW Post No. 577 on Sixth Street hosted the event from 2008-10, but the growing event returned to the Living Arts building for its 2011 edition. And it seems it’s now found its home in the burgeoning Brady District.

For the last three years, the Indie Emporium has served as a canned food drive and fund-raiser for the Community Food Bank of EasternOklahoma. 

“With your donations, we have been able to provide thousands of our neighbors with meals through our partnership with the Food Bank,” said Thom Crowe and Christine Sharp-Crowe, the founders and owners of Indie Emporium .

“Our 2012 show will again serve as a canned food drive and fund-raiser for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Please bring canned goods to be donated and you will receive a $3 discount on your at-the-door tickets.

“We’ll also have a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the food bank. Please see the schedule page for full details of the 2012 show.”

In addition to Owl & Drum – Tulsa’s new one-stop shop for fabric, handmade gifts and craft supplies – the 2012 Indie Emporium is sponsored by Fromex Photo Systems, made, the Indie Emporium Shop and Hatchcraft.com, which is sponsoring the Instagram Art Gallery.

In 2011, Indie Emporium opened a one-month “Pop-Up Shop” in downtown Tulsa, carrying handmade goods from a selection of the event’s vendors.  

The success of the temporary venture led to the opening of made : The Indie Emporium Shop, which can be found at the corner of Fifth and Boston in the heart of the Deco District.

Advance tickets can be bought at made for $5 each and the store is also holding special giveaways.

Tickets will cost $8 at the door Sept. 28-29. Children age12 and under  enter for free.

Attendees who bring at least two canned goods to be donated to the Community Food

Bank of Eastern Oklahoma will get tickets for $5 each at the door.

For more information about the 2012 Indie Emporium, visit www.indieemporium.com, send an email to christine@indieemporium.com, or send mail to 8086 S. Yale Ave., Unit 277, Tulsa, OK 74136.

Also, be sure to check out Indie Emporium’s flickr.com page to see photos from all five years of the event, plus visit its Instagram page.

For more details about Owl & Drum, which carries more than 100 fabrics made by seven designers, crafts supplies and tools, plus numerous unique gifts, visit www.owlanddrum.com.

The 2810 E. 15th St. store also sells many other items made by Tulsans, Oklahomans and artisans from Portland, Oregon, plus a variety of craft books.

Owl & Drum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12-4 p.m. Sundays. The store is closed on Mondays, but it's open every day online.

For more information, call Bianca at 918-742-1404, send an email to owlanddrum@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook, Blogger.com, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Cool Combo: Prairie Hive and Owl & Drum

Owl & Drum is proud to be a new advertiser in a popular, cutting-edge Oklahoma online style magazine and blog.

Prairie Hive – which recently published its latest edition and describes itself as “collecting style for the sweet life” – seeks to share its news and views on fashion, fun and the finer things in local life.

The pioneering quarterly publication, which is a collaboration of photographers, writers, craft-makers, interior and graphic designers and creative people based in Tulsa, provides readers with insight into the homes and lifestyles of a host of iconoclasts – from entrepreneurs to artists, designers to globetrotters.

Prairie Hive’s stated aim is to share with readers a wide variety of stories about interesting people, places and products in Tulsa and surrounding areas.

“We show readers how they live, work and play, then take inspiration from what we see and demonstrate how to incorporate a bit of that style into home, entertaining, crafting endeavors and elsewhere,” the collaborators write on their website, prairiehive.com.

“We hope you find some inspiration along the way . . . Each of us has a unique perspective on design, lifestyle, travel and entertaining – and we want to collectively give you something to buzz about!”

And there’s plenty to buzz about in T-Town at the moment.

Prairie Hive’s internet issue No. 7 for Fall 2012 is cover titled “Pop Mod Partnership.”

The colorful, well-designed edition – which debuted in cyberspace on Monday, Sept. 10 – features newly-married couple Nick Rhoades and Jinger Howell, their love of distinctive designs and their stylish, eclectic midtown Tulsa home.

Dozens of photos showcase their love of modern style, classic design, sense of fun and mixing and matching furniture and décor in an open-plan living space. Quality pieces of furniture are nicely juxtaposed with pop art, family heirlooms and fabulous flea market finds.

The happy couple – Jinger is an interior designer; Nick is an intern architect  – call their unique, spacious home in the Wedgwood neighborhood “The Futurama.” Hence, the title of the story about the funky duo and their cool abode:  “A Bright Futur(ama)”  

The innovative magazine features a Q&A with the couple as they describe all the planning and work that went into revamping the rundown former rental property to turn it into their one-of-a-kind dream home.

Other stories in the bumper 56-page latest edition of Prairie Hive are called “Get the Look,” “Stargazing Supper” for a romantic picnic in the park, “Celebrate the Style,” “Fashion Favorites” and “PH Travels,” which details and photographs a road trip to Wichita, Kansas.

Members of Prairie Hive’s six-member editorial team enthusiastically inform readers of the must-have clothes, housewares, jewelry, furniture, interior items, gifts, gadgets  and products they are currently “buzzing” about. There are helpful DIY projects, party planning tips and entertainment advice, too.

And, for food lovers, there are quick and easy recipes for tasty pepper jelly pork tenderloin sandwiches,  appealing apple hand pies and sweet potato chips, a guilty pleasure to be sure. All beautifully photographed and with a clever page layout, of course.

Click here to see their latest issue.

Prairie Hive launched in June/July 2011 with its debut issue cover titled “Atomic Age Archaeology.”

Previous articles and photos can be found on do-it-yourself drip art, Tulsa’s Fashion Night Out, Tulsa Restaurant Week, Goods & Goodies, Labor Day punch, Pinterest Beauty Party, special s’mores, Tulsa’s new downtown park called Guthrie Green, and a Pantone Round-up.

Prairie Hive's issue No. 8 comes out in December and will celebrate winter, the season of sweaters,  short days, hot drinks, log fires, classic dishes and (maybe, just maybe) snowfall.

For more information about Tulsa’s online style guide, visit prairiehive.com.

For more details about Owl & Drum – which carries more than 100 fabrics made by seven designers, crafts supplies and tools – plus numerous unique gifts, jewelry and baby clothing, visit www.owlanddrum.com.

The 2810 E. 15th St. store also sells many other items made by Tulsans, Oklahomans and artisans from Portland, Oregon, plus a variety of craft, sewing and knitting books.

Owl & Drum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12-4 p.m. Sundays. The store is closed on Mondays, but it's open every day online.

For more information, call Bianca at 918-742-1404, send an email to owlanddrum@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook, Blogger.com, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Dear Stella's Sophisticated Fabrics For Modern Women

She's a girl about town, with a glamour and confidence that's all of her own making. She knows what she likes and she knows what she wants - Stella's very much a modern girl, a 21st Century woman!

• 
  That's the genesis of the Dear Stella Inc. range, which showcases unique and colorful fabrics with a sophisticated sense of style.
  
  
  

  

  Gilt Trip (Metallic)

  
  The New York company's collection evokes an edgy freshness, combining the best of old traditions with modern influences. The design house - which is based on Broadway in Manhattan - hopes its beautiful fabrics will inspire both a traditional quilter and a contemporary “sewist” to reinvent their sewing style.

The idea for the character of "Stella" is a woman with an independent spirit who is creative, adventurous and hopelessly romantic, according to the company's website, DearStellaDesigns.com.

Petal Pusher

"She loves beautiful paper and a perfectly wrapped gift, and always sends hand-written 'thank you' notes. Cookbooks sit pretty on her shelves for more than just cooking, and she always makes her dinner - even if it’s just for one. 

"You may find her spending lazy days savoring coffee while pouring over her favorite magazines and blogs, dreaming about the ultimate craft room. She has a strong work ethic, and feels so much pride in making things herself ..."

Maasai Mara

Dear Stella designs are printed on high-quality, 100 percent cotton and cotton/canvas fabrics, and some prints are available with a laminated finish.

Most designs are printed on a narrow width, 44/45 inch - with the exception of cotton canvas and laminated cottons, which are printed on wider width goods of 55/56 to 57/58 inches.

Town & Country

The Big Apple company's collections include Portico, Kallianthi, Play Date, Stella Linen Cottons, It's A Shore Thing, Town & Country, Bukhara, Maasai Mara, Gilt Trip (Metallic), Play Date Flannel and Petal Pusher.

Owl & Drum currently stocks the colorful, sophisticated cotton fabrics called Town & Country, Maasai Mara, Play Date, Gilt Trip and Petal Pusher.

Play Date

The store at 2810 E. 15th St. in Tulsa, OK, also sells about 100 other interesting, hard-to-find fabrics made by other top-quality designers and manufacturers.

Plus, Owl & Drum offers unique jewelry and other items made by Tulsans, Oklahomans and artisans from Portland, Oregon. The new shop also sells craft books, equipment and supplies.

Owl & Drum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12-4 p.m. Sundays. The store is closed on Mondays, but it's open for business everyday online.

For more information, call Bianca at 918-742-1404, visit www.owlanddrum.com, send an email to owlanddrum@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook, Blogger.com, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Thank You For Making Our Opening A Big Success!

Wow! What a great start to our new venture in Tulsa.

"Grand Opening Weekend" at Owl & Drum - Oklahoma's new one-stop shop for fabrics, craft supplies and homemade gifts - was a real whirlwind of smiling faces and in-store excitement.

Thanks to all the many people who visited us to help celebrate our big opening at 2810 E. 15th St.

We had a lovely mix of children, parents and grandparents stroll around the store, taking in the wide variety of cotton fabrics, products and wares.

And quite a few people of all ages (but, especially, kids!) enjoyed making Kanzashi flowers out of 5-inch colorful fabric squares at our large craft table.

We are very grateful for all the kind words and support expressed by customers and visitors for our new enterprise. It's a real thrill to be in business in such a supportive environment.

"I love to see that crafting is alive and well in Tulsa," said Bianca Howell, the co-owner of Owl & Drum.

"It was great to meet so people who are enthusiastic about do-it-yourself crafts and who appreciate interesting, unique homemade gifts. We are really happy to be with so many creative, like-minded people."

Many "Craft Night" and special events will be held at Owl & Drum in the weeks and months to come.

And the first one is just around the corner!

Next Tuesday, will see Owl & Drum's first "Craft Night" staged. The debut craft will be needle felting, in which attendees will tease wool rovings with a needle-felting tool to create three-dimensional shapes.

The first project - which begins at 6.30 p.m. Sept. 18 - will see participants making needle-felted acorns to get ready for the fall season and all its wonderful colors. Anybody is welcome to join in, but please sign up in advance.

People are asked to pay $5 for the class, and all supplies are included. Interested people need to RSVP on Owl & Drum's Facebook page. Please click here to sign up.

Future "Craft Nights" at the store will focus on crewel embroidery, sewing classes and (possibly) a tatting class.

Owl & Drum carries about 100 fabrics made by seven designers and manufacturers. More fabrics are being added each week, and they can be bought in the Tulsa store or on its website at www.owlanddrum.com.

The 2810 E. 15th St. store also sells unique jewelry and other items made by Tulsans, Oklahomans and artisans from Portland, Oregon. It also sells a variety of craft books, equipment and supplies.

Owl & Drum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12-4 p.m. Sundays. It is closed on Mondays.

For more information, call Bianca at 918-742-1404, visit www.owlanddrum.com, send an email to owlanddrum@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook, Blogger.com, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Fun Fabric Features Fairly Frightening Family

One of the many fun new fabrics for sale at Owl & Drum is "The Ghastlies," a quirky family full of eccentric characters.

The quilting cotton fabric - made by trail-blazing California textile design company Alexander Henry - features a cast of beautifully hand-painted figures each in their own picture frame.

"The Matriach" of the family is a stern-looking woman with crazy hair named Mathilde Ghastlie, and her sisters are called Mildred, Magda and Minerva Grislie, who look like a trio of very scary spinsters.
Mathilde's "Devoted Husband" is Gaspar Ghastlie, and their children are Sebastian (a mischievous cat?!?) and Garrick, a balding hen-pecked man.

Gaspar's "Beloved Mother" is a veiled and mean-looking woman known simply as "The Widow Ghastlie." Her top-hatted father, Gunnar Grislie, is pictured with an old-fashioned lantern.

Also featured are Sebastian and his "Errant Wife" Daria (a socialite who looks like a "flapper" from the 1920s) and their two precocious young children - the red-cheeked twins Cordelia and Cassius Ghastlie.
The fabric paints a scene that is a little reminiscent of The Addams Family, that much-loved old TV show.

Alexander Henry is a textile design house based in Burbank, Calif., that specializes in cutting-edge, original cotton prints. The company offers a wide-ranging collection with themes inspired by art history, runway fashion and culture at large.

Under the direction of the De Leon Design Group - namely Marc, Philip and Nicole de Leon - the company's in-house artists paint each fabric pattern by hand. And Alexander Henry, which was established more than 30 years ago, work with a diverse group of manufacturers in the accessories, garment and home furnishings industries.

Owl & Drum, a new fabric, homemade gifts and craft supplies store, stocks "The Ghastlies" and two other popular Alexander Henry fabrics - "Where Is My 'Stache" and "Spotted Owl."

Owl & Drum - which is located at 2810 E. 15th St. in Tulsa, OK - also carries about 100 other fabrics made by seven other designers and manufacturers. More fabrics are being added each week, and they can be bought in the store or on its website.

For more information, call Bianca at 918-742-1404, visit www.owlanddrum.com, send an email to owlanddrum@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.