Mission Shop Reopens for Holiday 2011

The shop is back for the 2011 Holiday Season! Open now through December 30th. We are featuring mine and Kelly Nedderman's jewelry and design work, along with gift items from Melissa Borrell, Christine Dhein, Robyn Dunbar, Reed Easley, Heathered, Casa M, emiko oye, T-We Tea.

There will also be rotating weekly trunk shows with guest artists:
Saturday December 3rd: Tree Trimming Party w/ Christine Dhein's Pin-up Ornaments and Elizabeth Street Cosmetic's Lipsticks and Glosses, 4-7pm
Friday December 9th: emiko oye Trunk Show and Valencia Holiday Walk, 4-7pm
Saturday December 10th: Ornament Making, 12-4pm
Friday December 16th: Derek Duncan Trunk Show, 4-7pm
Hours are Fridays & Saturdays 12-7pm, Sundays 11am-6pm
And by appointment 415.420.0527

Visit here for event listings and updates
https://www.facebook.com/events/251728731541874/

Mission Open Studios

Join 10 artists from the Metal Arts Guild for Artspans annual Open Studios

OPENING RECEPTION Friday September 30th 6 - 8
Open Saturday Oct 1st from 12 - 7
Open Sunday Oct 2nd from 12 - 5

724 Studio, 724 Valencia Street @ 18th (next to Mission Cheese)

San Francisco, CA

Shana Astrachan • www.shanaastrachan.com
Raissa Bump • www.raissabump.com
Jeff Burwell • www.burwellarts.com
Rebecca Deans • www.rebeccadeans.com
Derek Duncan • www.etsy.com/shop/dmdmetal
Masami Kelly • www.masamikelly.com
Kelly Nedderman • www.kellynedderman.com
emiko oye • www.rewarestyle.com
Jenny Reeves • www.jennyreeves.com
Jenny Windler • www.jennywindler.com

More information about Open Studios SF at www.artspan.org/artists
More information about MAG at www.metalartsguildsf.org

Facebook invite here www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=263241323698194
My Artspan profile www.artspan.org/artist/shana-astrachan

Workshops at Workshop SF

Hello Friends and Fans-
I am teaching a series of workshops coming up at Workshop in San Francisco. The first one took place this past Tuesday eve as half of the makeup artists duo Fox & Doll. We had so much fun teaching Beauty School Rebel. The workshop covered faking perfect skin, glamorous cat eyes and classic red lips. It was so much fun! I am looking forward to our next two dates with Workshop, June 9th and July 15th. We are also working on designing a follow up class that covers smokey eyes and nude lips, hopefully coming very soon! Sign up for the next class here...

http://www.workshopsf.org/?page_id=140&id=704



In the meantime I am teaching a series or jewelry classes also at Workshop. Join me for Feather, Leather and Chains the evening of Tuesday May 31st. There are still just a few spots left so sign up now. In case Tuesday doesn't work for you we will be doing this one again on June 15th. In this class you will learn beginning jewelry basic skills and will walk away with at least two pairs of finished earrings and one necklace. Sign up for Tuesdays class here...

http://www.workshopsf.org/?page_id=140&id=710

Custom Candle Holders

Last month I made these custom candle holders for the new Locanda Restaurant on Valencia Street in San Francisco. This month they opened and it is so exciting to see them on the tables!
See the process here. And check out the restaurant if you get a chance, delicious!

The process started out with cutting up anchovy cans from Locanda's sister restaurant, Delfina.

Then to the drilling holes for the light to come through (16 hand drilled and deburred holes in each)...bending into the round (more like an oval to account for the next step)...riveting the seams...then really rounding out with a hammer and metal stakes (my buddy Reed really worked it here, thank you Reed).


The last steps seemed to take forever, cutting down the original lids and tension fitting them into the bottoms, each one was custom fit!

And then meticulously adding the smallest bead of JB Weld with then end of a toothpick (and lots of ventilation) to seal it up.

Done and delivered!

And there you have 40 candle holders filling up a lovely and bustling new restaurant in the heart of the Mission on Valencia Street.

Here are some more pictures from the amazing meal my sister and I shared at Locanda.

Shop closed till next holiday season

A big "Thank You" goes out to all who supported the shop the past few months. It was a really great experience and I loved getting to see more of you all, along with connecting with new customers and the neighborhood. I am planning to do it all again next November. Till then I'll be working on my usual crazy mix of projects!

April's Kombucha Workshop

Date & Time: Saturday, April 23rd, 11:30am till 12:30pm

Location: Urban Interstice Gallery, 3443 26th Street, between Mission and Valencia St.

Cost: $25



Kombucha is a fermented drink of a sweetened tea that has been brewed using a macroscopic solid mass of microorganisms. It's said to contain essential nutrients like viable probiotics, amino acids, antioxidants and active enzymes, and have many health benefits!

In this workshop we provide you with an alternative to commercially produced Kombucha by teaching how to brew your own, saving you lots of money and getting unique flavors. I will show how to safely brew a supply at home. Plus each participant will go home with their very own S.C.O.B.Y. baby, the 'symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast'.

Class size is limited. Send an email to shana@shanaastrachan.com to sign up. Call 415.420.0527 with any questions

Bring:
a pen for taking notes
a tupperware container with tight fitting lid

You will take home:
printed recipe and directions
a S.C.O.B.Y. baby to get started

You will need the following once you have your baby home:
a large glass jar as pictured above
a dish towel
green or black loose tea
sugar

Name Necklaces

Lucky Megan got this beautiful necklace from her hubby Andy this past year. She wanted a 'name necklace' so when Andy came to me with this special project I was excited to create a custom version just for her. In all gold this necklace sweetly has Megan engraved in a scroll font across the front. And how lovely she wears it!



I now make these necklaces also in silver and offer a few options for fonts. See the Fox and Doll versions created for Fox & Doll Makeup.



Custom orders welcome, listed here on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72166268/custom-name-necklace

Finger Saved by Ring

It is true. One of my rings has saved a finger from being mangled. Kevin bought a ring from me in 1998 and had not taken it off since, that's 13 years! It has been so cool to see how the ring has worn over the years. We run into each other about once a year or so in the neighborhood and he always shows me the current state of the ring. What was once a concave textured surface slowly became convex, it has been fascinating to see this change over time.


The piece that saved Kevin's finger and the replacement

But recently Kevin contacted me because he was in need of a replacement ring, the original was crushed beyond repair. Someone had shut a car door with his hand in it, but luckily the ring on his pinkie finger was the first thing the door hit. Wow, it bent nearly in half and snapped. Not only was he lucky the ring was there but also that it opened up on the seam, from close inspection it seems this was likely the solder seam. Because it opened up he was able to have friends pry it off without having to rush to the emergency room. Wow what a story! I am proud to have contributed to saving Kevin's finger, and that he came right back for a replacement.

The original design as first created in 1996

Beginning Crochet Class

Date & Time: Wednesdays February 9th and 16th, 6:00pm till 8:00pm

Location: Urban Interstice Gallery, 3443 26th Street, between Mission and Valencia Streets
San Francisco, CA

Cost: $45

In this class you will learn all the basics of crochet including chaining, single
crochet, double crochet, slip stitches, and color changes while making a wash cloth with a decorative edge or a skinny scarf.


Materials:
worsted weight 100% cotton yarn for wash cloths (a second color if you would like a contrasting decorative edge
or
worsted weight soft wool yarn for scarf
G or H crochet hook
darning needle for weaving in ends

Worsted weight is a medium thick yarn.Class size is limited. Send an email to shana@shanaastrachan.com to sign up. Call 415.420.0527 with any questions

Kombucha Workshop

Date & Time: Saturday, January 29th, 11:30am till 12:30pm

Location: Urban Interstice Gallery, 3443 26th Street, between Mission and Valencia St.

Cost: $15 to $25 sliding scale



Kombucha is a fermented drink of a sweetened tea that has been brewed using a macroscopic solid mass of microorganisms. It's said to contain essential nutrients like viable probiotics, amino acids, antioxidants and active enzymes, and have many health benefits!

In this workshop we provide you with an alternative to commercially produced Kombucha by teaching how to brew your own, saving you lots of money and getting unique flavors. I will show how to safely brew a supply at home. Plus each participant will go home with their very own S.C.O.B.Y. baby, the 'symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast'.

Class size is limited. Send an email to shana@shanaastrachan.com to sign up. Call 415.420.0527 with any questions

Bring:
a pen for taking notes
a tupperware container with tight fitting lid

You will take home:
printed recipe and directions
a S.C.O.B.Y. baby to get started

You will need the following once you have your baby home:
a large glass jar as pictured above
a dish towel
green or black loose tea
sugar

A New Year!

Hello 2011!!! A new year means new plans!!!
2010 was full of adventure and challenges. Looking ahead to the new year I of course expect more of the same...good travels, friends, business...along with the challenges of time, money, and all else running a business and balancing life brings. Some things I am thinking about doing or working towards in the coming year include opening a more permanent shop location, working on a book idea, teaching more workshops, and creating lots of jewelry and objects. I hope you will join me in following along to see what is next. Your feedback about my ideas and designs are always welcome.
In immediate news my shop at 3443 26th will remain open with limited hours until the permanent space comes together. I will also be of course open by appointment, just call 415.420.0527. Regular hours will be Saturdays from noon till 6pm.

The best way to check in is to follow me on twitter, http://twitter.com/ShanaAstrachan

In the meantime I thank you all for your continued support and wish you happiness, creativity and lots of love in the year ahead and always. Cheers. Shana

P.S. Check out the cover of the February/ March issue of Dwell Magazine, the building that my shop is currently located in is featured, along with my amazingly talented family.