...................diy adventures with berry

River Trail Man

2011-12-03T16:18:00.000-08:00

I've seen this face spray painted just above the water line in a couple different places on the Lansing River Trail. It's my favorite graffiti art I've seen in Lansing so far, it makes me smile every time I see it.
Artist unknown.

Bike Rack Cozy

2011-12-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

Bike Rack Yarnbomb
Lansing, MI
Artist unknown.

Nato Pressure

2011-12-03T16:08:00.001-08:00

Nato Pressure Skull
Holt, MI
Artist unknown.

The Girl Of My Dreams

2011-10-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

"The girl of my dreams flew to Italy and all I got was this lonely stencil."
East Lansing, MI.
Artist unknown.

New Dress Before & After

2011-08-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a few little changes is all you need to turn an unflattering piece into something you'd actually wear. This is a really soft stretchy vintage polyester dress. It's really dark purple with a neat modern pattern that kind of looks like streamers and confetti.

I really like the fabric, but the shape was really boxy and it needed something more than just taking in the sides to make it smaller.

I pinched a piece of fabric near the waist, off to one side, and twisted it around(similar to how you twist fabric when you're tie-dying a t-shirt) until the waist was fitted to my shape. I hand-sewed it in place, and it has the look of a little knot flower.

Then I shortened the sleeves a couple inches and added two bright red buttons to the bottom of the v-neck.

This dress is in my etsy shop now!

Before

After

Esty Shop Update

2011-07-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

A lot of new stuff in my etsy shop. Bags, clothes, and my mom's handmade rugs.

Yarnbomb in East Lansing

2011-07-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Electric blue scarf woven through the rim of a trash receptacle.

East Lansing, MI on Grand River Ave. in front of the empty buildings near the corner of Grand River and Michigan Ave.

Artist: Berry (I was inspired by Knitta Please, but this is my first and most likely only yarnbomb. I just don't have any good ideas for it.)

2011-07-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

New to my etsy shop are Floor Art Rugs made by my mom, Bonnie Lynn.

They are very eco-friendly. She finds thrift store sheets that are in good shape, turns them into yarn by cutting them into strips, and then crochets them into a light weight, durable, machine-washable rug.

Replacing Paper Napkins

2011-07-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

I put some old handkerchiefs in my rooster napkin holder. They're a re-usable replacement for paper napkins and much nicer to look at.

Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe

2011-06-10T15:38:00.000-07:00

My Grandma and I went to Sweetie-licious in Dewitt the other day for lunch. It was fun and the owner is inspiring! They have a lot of vegetarian options and they're specials this month are the roasted asparagus sandwich and salad. Their coffee is fair-trade and tasted really good. If you are a fan of antiques and 50's style, you will love this place.

Samurai

2011-06-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

Samurai Sun Silhoette on a bench seat in East Lansing, MI.

*Artist unknown. If known, leave a comment. Thanks!

Dead Stream Corners

2011-06-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

Dead Stream Corners in the alley beside Flat's in East Lansing, MI.
Other lettering by Joeski.

Deluxe Kitty

2011-06-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

Kitty from the Deluxe Inn. Lansing, MI
Building now demolished.

*Artist unknown. If known, please leave a comment. Thanks!

Rug Skirt on Etsy

2011-06-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

I finally listed the skirt I made out of a rug while ago. It's a pretty cool vintage rug with deer in the woods and the sun setting.

Thread Tension Problems

2011-05-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

I've met a lot of people that say they have trouble with their thread tension on their sewing machine... I'd never had that problem until now, but I discovered the source! After removing the needle plate(also called a throat plate or slide plate) I noticed some compacted lint bunnies had collected under the plate in the grooves. I carefully removed all the lint with a q-tip and some tweezers and my machine is back to normal!

Band Page

2011-05-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

I made a facebook page for my band a while ago. Cat Midway

New Bag Designs

2011-05-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

I have some new bag designs! Some are made from t-shirts and some are made from western shirts. They all have a snap closure, a pocket inside, and are fully-lined.

For now, they are only available locally at Rubie's Paradise Salon in Lansing and The Record Lounge in East Lansing, MI.

Online Coupon

2010-10-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

This is a coupon you can print out and take to Rubie's for $3 off. Right now there is also a stack of them on the counter at Rubie's if you don't have a printer!

Why Be Something That You're Not

2010-08-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed a huge oversight in the film "American Hardcore"... The Midwest! But now you can read the new book by Tony Rettman, Why Be Something That You're Not Detroit Hardcore 1979-1985.

Exact quotes from the people who were there are intermingled with the author's narration to tell the story. Their commentary is hilarious. The last third of the book is posters, pictures, and gig anthology. Almost every page throughout the entire book is littered with flyers, photos, zine pages, and other nostalgia.

The Midwest bands/venues/zines covered are mostly from Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Detroit, MI and Ohio. There are also a lot of quotes from the bands who traveled here to play from Washington, D.C. and California.

Cat Litter Without Plastic... Or Other Chemicals

2010-08-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

I think Feline Pine Scoop is the best natural cat litter...

1) it is made from renewable pine trees and nothing else

2) has a nice pine smell

3) clumps really well, easy to scoop

4) a lot of times it's on sale and you can get a free rebate on the website along with other special offers

5) it comes in a recyclable cardboard box

Banned Again

2010-06-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

"Dear Berryunconventional,

I'm sorry, but while you may make items like this for yourself, you may not offer them for sale. Harley-Davidson's licensed products may be resold only in substantially the same form in which we originally approved them. They may not be used to create completely new and different Harley-Davidson-branded products without our knowledge or permission. Please remove this and all similar listings from Etsy immediately and refrain from selling items made in this manner here or anywhere else in the future."

Milk Without Plastic

2010-06-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Calder Dairy in Michigan. Now being sold at the Lansing City Market. Glass bottled, non-homogenized, and no hormones!

Wine Bottle Lamp

2010-05-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

I saw this beautiful wine bottle lamp in a magazine. It's from vivaterra.com. They have a lot of neat stuff made from natural and recycled materials. Their wine bottle lamp is $439, but you can make your own for much less! I found this guide on wikiHow.

I love these night-lights made from real leaves.

AvE House Pictures

2010-05-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures Eric Gallippo took at the AvE House show May 22!

AvE House

2010-05-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

I'm playin' at the AvE House this weekend with Nathan K. and Joshua Barton. They have 2 dogs and a cat, fyi in case you have allergies.

Chris Callihan made this awesome flyer for the show!

Fashion Show Update

2010-03-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

Hair/Fashion Show Sat. March 27 Mac's Bar 6-9pm all ages

There will be a $5 cover charge, but included with the cover is a $5 off Berry Unconventional coupon and a raffle ticket. Here is the list of raffle prizes:

-more Berry Unconventional coupons

-Two $50 gift certificates to Fish Ladder Tattoo Co.

-Three $20 gift certificates from Mongolian BBQ

-Rubie's Paradise Salon shirts and hair products

-Framed photography

More Fashion Show Info.

2010-03-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

A couple more details about the fashion show...

All ages!

$5 cover includes:

-a $5 coupon towards a Berry Unconventional item at Rubie's Salon & Boutique

-raffle ticket to win prizes such as Rubie's Salon coupons, Mongolian BBQ gift certificates, Fish Ladder Tattoo coupons, and more...

Palm Oil...bad!

2010-03-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

They're are so many strange, destructive ingredients in processed food. One of them is palm oil, what a lot of companies are using to replace illegal trans fats. Click the link below to see how it is destroying rain forests and the animals that live there.

You are one little person, but one little person spends a lot of money in their lifetime. How you spend it does make a difference!

Effects of Palm Oil on the Rainforest

photo: Monika Betley

Wild Weekend March 26-27

2010-03-05T15:16:00.000-08:00

March 26 Hair & Fashion Show
Hair by Rubie's Salon & Fashions by Berry Unconventional
Mac's Bar
2700 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI
6-9pm
$5 cover includes Berry Unconventional coupons & raffle ticket to win awesome prizes!

March 27 Country, Rockabilly, Folk Show
Squonky Tonk, Chaz Brackx, Kevin Zimmerman, Cat Midway
Basement 414
414 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI (down the ally behind the Nuthouse)
9pm

More Show Details

2010-03-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

March 26 @ Basement 414

Squonky Tonk, Cat Midway, Chaz Brackx, Kevin Zimmerman

(Squonky Tonk is: Veloura Caywood, Lord Vapid, Rich Tupica, Corey Kellicut)

http://www.myspace.com/missvelouracaywood,
http://www.myspace.com/chazbrackxmusic
http://www.myspace.com/kevzim

Cleaning Without Plastic

2010-03-02T16:51:00.000-08:00

Sea sponges work well to replace plastic/foam sponges and shower poofs. They're a renewable, natural resource and biodegradeable! They come in different sizes and colors, bleached and non-bleached.

You can find them in the paint department of stores or on the internet. This is one website I found that sells them. Natural Bath & Body Shop

Cat Midway March 26

2010-02-16T19:33:00.001-08:00

My one-woman band, Cat Midway & The Knick-Knacks, is playing March 26 with Veloura Caywood at Basement 414 in Lansing, MI. Starts around 8pm, so far I think it's free or donation. I'm very excited to be opening for Veloura, she is awesome.

The Bonitos

2010-02-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to say that Billy Hopeless, founding member of the Black Halos, has a new band The Bonitos.

New Stuff On Ebay Tonight

2010-02-07T17:02:00.000-08:00

These and a few others now in my ebay shop! All one of a kind, original designs!

Chris Callihan Poster

2010-01-19T17:48:00.000-08:00

To see more of his artwork visit:
http://myspace.com/christcallihan

Shopping Bags

2010-01-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

I had a ton of fabric I didn't know what to do with so I decided to make a bunch of large shopping bags. They are reversible and machine-washable! The fabrics range from unicorns, cowboys, graffiti, psychedelic tapestry, etc... Maybe it will make grocery shopping a little more fun. I have them for sale at:

Rubie's Salon & Boutique
2008 E. Michigan Ave.
Lansing, MI 48912
Open 7 days a week

local artist Chris Callahan

2010-01-11T06:49:00.000-08:00

I woke up with a migraine today, but a little coffee and I'm ready to go! I have so many things I want to do today, so many new ideas. I also commissioned a flyer from local artist Chris Callahan and I can't wait to see it and plaster the town!

New Uses For Vintage Butter Dishes

2009-12-29T16:50:00.000-08:00

I love vintage butter dishes, but don't like keeping butter in mine so I use it in the kitchen for keeping rubber bands, twist ties, and clothes pins that I use to close up packaged food. Vintage butter dishes would also be cool to use in the bathroom to hold jewelry, hair bands, nail clippers, etc!

Website Re-Designed

2009-12-16T08:43:00.000-08:00

I still need to add press clippings etc to the gallery page, but otherwise the new website is up!
berryunconventional.com

Octopi

2009-12-15T09:14:00.000-08:00

This is the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Rubie's Delivery

2009-12-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

I'm taking more clothes to Rubie's Salon & Boutique today, including this Bride Of Frankenstein mini dress I finished last night and a few skirts. Every time I stop in there are more goodies for sale from local artists!

Rubie's Salon & Boutique
2008 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI
Open 7 days a week! Across the street from The Green Door and Gone Wired. Parking in the back or on the street.

Recycling Wrapping Paper

2009-12-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! Don't forget to recycle your wrapping paper and tissue paper this year! There are so many fun ways to recycle it:

1) Pieces that aren't too destroyed can be trimmed around the frayed edges, flattened, folded, and used again next year.

2) Use for backgrounds when you frame holiday pictures.

3) Use in collages, scrapbooks, and paper mache. If you're not crafty look for local art programs you can donate the paper to, such as schools, colleges, and after-school centers. (One Lansing, MI after-school program you can contact is the Reach Center on Washington Ave.)

4) Cut into squares and use as scrap paper for notes and lists.

5) Cut, fold, and tape into envelopes for future gift cards and letters.

6) Cut rectangle pieces, fold in half, and use as holiday cards next year with your greetings written on the inside, or if you have a computer and printer you can write something with a snazzy font and then print on the paper. Keep in mind that a lot of wrapping paper has a glossy finish so be sure not to touch the ink until it has dried or it might smear.

7) Cut into strips for bookmarks. If you make them big you can write a label for the bookmark on the blank side.

8) All left over paper scraps can be thrown in the "mixed paper" bin at your local recycling center!

"Unauthorized Listing"

2009-12-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

In accordance with the law I always state in my ebay and etsy listings that I use "licensed t-shirts", meaning that I don't screenprint my own band shirts and therefore am not ripping anyone off... And yet once again one of my listings has been deleted because of "trademark violation".

Full Ebay Shop

2009-11-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

Tonight I listed 23 items on ebay. Many are totally new designs!

*Visit my ebay shop*

The Jesus Lizard

2009-11-28T16:02:00.000-08:00

The night before Thanksgiving I went to see The Jesus Lizard with my boyfriend and a couple friends. They are awesome! Every band member is exceptional. I was entranced. The sound at the Crofoot in Pontiac was really good and they have neat orange plastic and chrome Jetsons-style bar stools. It was also easy to find and had a well-lit parking lot across the street.

Sneak Preview

2009-11-27T18:19:00.000-08:00

I'm preparing to list a bunch of t-shirts I have altered next week on ebay. These are a couple of them...

Turn It Down

2009-11-10T17:32:00.000-08:00

Turn It Down! started as an independent Lansing, MI zine and then became an article in the weekly local paper City Pulse. Rich Tupica covers local music, shows, and artists. The artists he chooses to write about are usually off the beaten path and more interesting than the typical 'let's interview whatever famous person is in town this week and ask them the same lame questions we ask everyone'.

Turn It Down Lansing website

Turn It Down Lansing Music on myspace

Turn It Down blogspot

Rubie's Paradise Salon & Boutique

2009-11-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

Rubie's Paradise Salon in Lansing, MI started a boutique in their backroom about a year ago. More and more local artists have been adding to the shop and there is some really neat stuff! I have about 30 pieces for sale there now too: guys and girls clothes I have altered, handmade purses, and some un-altered vintage clothing and jackets. They are open 7 days a week!

Rubie's Paradise Salon & Boutique
2008 E. Michigan Ave.
Lansing, MI
(517) 367-2206

Samples of what I have at Rubie's...

Late October Sunset

2009-10-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

Shoe Printing

2009-10-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

Last night, while drinking Witches Brew, I got a couple ideas. I was working on altering a giant black hoodie, tried to fix the zipper(you know how they get warped and bubbly and make you look like an alien is poking out of your tummy), ended up removing it all together and now it's a "cardigan-hoodie". I thought about spray painting something on it, but then I got the idea to put shoe prints instead. Here are some instructions if you'd like to try it!

Shoe Printing

Find a pair of shoes you don't mind slopping paint on and have an interesting pattern on the bottom.
Find clothing or fabric you want to print. Paint may soak through the layer you are printing on so be sure to protect your table surface and/or the layers of fabric underneath with tinfoil, glass, box board, etc...
Quickly brush paint onto the underneath of one shoe.
Press the shoe onto your piece of clothing or fabric as hard as you can, pressing down all areas...or not, depending on the look you want!
Lay a piece of thin cotton fabric over your prints and set with an iron to be sure the paint won't wash out in the washer.
I recommend then dipping the clothing in water and drying it in the dryer to further set the paint. Then when you're ready to wash it, wash on the delicate cold setting or hand wash.

Witches Brew

2009-10-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

I tried the spiced wine called Witches Brew from Leelanau Cellars in Michigan last night. They only make it until Halloween and then you have to wait until next Fall. I really liked it! I didn't know what to expect. It was on sale for $5. It's really spicy and really sweet. Especially spicy and fragrant when it's heated up as the directions on the bottle recommend warming it in a cauldron. I used a microwave... A nice cold October night treat.

IF YOU CARE

2009-10-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

I found a tip in a magazine about baking brownies in cupcake cups and I thought that would be fun to try. When I was looking at baking cups at the store I came across some brown paper cups from the company IF YOU CARE. The name made me smile because it's kind of sarcastic and makes it sound like you'd be an ignorant fool to buy anything else.

And their products are awesome! Their baking cups are unbleached, grease-proof, and no grease is needed. Their parchment paper is coated with silicone(natural), making it re-usable and no grease needed, instead of quilon(a chemical containing chrome, which is toxic and leaves trace elements when incinerated). They also make 100% recycled aluminum foil and coffee filters.

Cereal Boxes = Mailers/Gift Boxes/etc...

2009-10-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Cereal Boxes are:

1) Great for mailing non-fragile items like clothing.

2) Light-weight so they keep postage cost down.

3) They're recyclable.

4) They're free! There's always a ton in the box board bin at your local recycling center if you're not a cereal fanatic like me.

5) Gives your packages/gift boxes character or turn them inside out so the graphics are on the inside.

6) Clean, any runaway cereal crumbs can be shaken out!