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Defining a creative economy

Uncategorized | March 9, 2009

It was show-and-tell time at a recent meeting of Boys, Bobbins and Beer. Jason Henschen displayed his work in progress – a yellow cotton sundress for his girlfriend – to Matthew Sharp, a novice who was struggling with his own project, a receiving blanket.

From an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Karen Heller:
From tents to saucy dresses for girlfriends and anime costumes, these guys use their hobby to stitch together friendships.

Boys, Bobbins and Beer is an all-male sewing circle launched in November, 2008 that gathers in Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill. Eight to eleven men–ranging in age from 23 to 50–gather to sew, do some beer-tasting and bake.

One of the co-founders, Json Henschen, made a nine-foot tent that he used on his 2,633-mile trek of the Pacific Crest Trail while raising money for the poor. His current project: a saucy little silk charmeuse dress that he’s making for his girlfriend to celebrate their four-year anniversay.

Set designer Curtis Coyote is working on a fanciful quilted coat out of upholstery fabric that he found in the trash, as much art as garment.

Matt Hagele is there because his wife told him to go to learn how to sew on buttons.

Whole Foods manager Abe Heller is launching his own line of bibs, diapers, hooded towels, a knitting-needle bag and pajama pants for his wife based on a retailer’s design. He making gifts for everyone he knows.

Jon Cannon makes drum cloth covers. Barista Dan Lemoine is creating a costume to enter in a competition–the Chemist character from the video game Final Fantasy Tactics, kind of medieval peasant meets Japanese anime.

Most of the the guys have experience with the needle, learning sewing in home economics classes or from their mothers. Dan was always doing crafty things.

Says other founder Parker Whitehead, ” I grew up in Oklahoma, where self-reliance is a good thing. He’s fashioning a priest’s cassock; why? something about flying.

They meet in the back room of Fabrics on the Hill. Owner Kathryn Greer says, “This is the first all-man’s group we’ve ever had.” She’s worked with seamstresses for years, but says, “The guys tend to be more interested in the mechanics.” She lets them use the in-house machines for free.

Jason is excited about his pair of pinking shears, not knowing what they were for. And he’s dually excited about his rotary cutter. Jason’s is eighteen millimeters. “Hah! That’s nothing,” says Parker. His is 45mm. Guys will be guys.

Jason and Parker launched the sewing circle as a lark, but the men love it, sewing more than they imbibe.

For the entire article, go to: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20090207_Karen_Heller__Boys__Bobbins_and_Beer_stitch_together.html

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WAC Accessibility Statement

The Wyoming Arts Council believes that experiencing the arts should be accessible for all, including people with mental and/or physical disabilities, older adults, military/veterans, people living in institutions and those who lack access to the arts due to geographic isolation, cultural difference and economic hardship.

Governor Mark Gordon
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