If you're one of those people who collects and hoards beautiful fabrics, well . . . there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. But you could use another place to get your cloth fix, so check out cool cottons, at 24th and SE Hawthorne.

Cool cottons, as the name implies, is all about woven cottons in an astonishing rainbow array of prints.

I think Shannon Buck's prints have such a wonderful light, carefree quality. Which is really something when you consider the process by which they're made: the old, old technique of carving the image, backwards, into the surface of a printing block. You can see lots more at her business website, Loaded Hips Press - AND get a tarot reading, too.

Let's do the acronym first: IPRC stands for Independent Publishing Resource Center. I think the IPRC is one of Portland's great creative resources. It's a space dedicated to self-publishing, art-making, and expression.

The IPRC has been around since 1998, offering the use of copiers, typewriters, computers, and more to creative Portlanders.

I squealed when I first laid eyes on Dolls For Friends - these cute and slightly-edgy little personalities practically climbed out of my computer to introduce themselves. They are designed and brought to life by Jill and Erin Lynch, who also run a design studio called eljl.

It's amazing, how many innovative projects make their homes in Portland. One such is Indie Arts, which is a DVD magazine about art, creativity, life, and soul. It's the brainchild of Karen Landey, herself a local artist, and it's also great viewing. You can preview some of the content, and order single copies and subscriptions, over at the Indie Arts website.

Here's a whole new spin on book and zine-making: make 'em from fabric instead of paper! Here's a simple method:

-------------------------------

First, choose some fabric. This project works best for woven fabrics. You can use solids or prints, and you can use several different fabrics in the same book.

Next, decide what size you want your finished book to be. Cut yourself a template from lightweight cardstock. It should be the same size as your book would be if it were opened flat.

A really cool art show has just opened at Central Library in downtown Portland. It's a Mail Art show. What is Mail Art, you ask? Well . . . .

Mail Art is any piece of art that uses the Postal Service as part of its creation. It can take lots of forms - postcards, zines, letters, artistamps and more. The artist then mails these pieces of art to other artists, and the postage and Post Office markings become part of the piece.

This week's project will be familiar to some of you, but it sure is perfect for this week between Christmas and New Year's. It's based on an idea which exists in many spiritual traditions: that lighting a candle for someone or something you love gives it special reverence. So this candle is covered with reminders of your favorite people, places, and things. Make one to ring in 2008!

So first, get yourself a pillar candle.

If you have some bored kids hanging around the house this week, or some hard-to-entertain family in from out of town, this project provides hours of fun . . . not to mention, cute ornaments you can hang on your tree or give as gifts.

--------------------------------------

You'll need to make up a batch of Salt Dough for this project. It couldn't be simpler to make.

I'm one of those people who carefully save the wrapping paper from every gift I receive. I always have good intentions of re-using it to wrap future gifts . . . but the reality is, this saved paper is often kind of dinged-up, torn, and wrinkled. Not really usable except for very small gifts.

And so, I finally devised this little project. It's a nice way to use up all those pieces of leftover wrap.