Chronicle Craft: My Neighbor Kayte Terry, Philadelphia’s Martha Stewart
November 19th, 2009 | Jimmy Contreras | Craft, Guest Authors, Home
This post was written by Jimmy Contreras, who recently worked with Chronicle author Kayte Terry on a workshop in Philadelphia to launch her new book, Appliqué Your Way.
My name is Jimmy Contreras and I recently opened my very first store: a home, gift and baby boutique in the gentrifying Italian neighborhood of South Philadelphia – or as we like to say, “Souff Philly.” My store is on East Passyunk Avenue. It’s like a small town’s Main Street, lined with mom-and-pop shops — butchers, bakers and tailors – and dotted with two small piazzas. If you’ve seen any of the dozen or so “Rocky” movies, you’ll instantly recognize South Philly. I’m also only a few blocks from Pat’s and Geno’s, famous for their cheese steak rivalry. (Geno’s is my favorite, btw – ordered “whiz whit.”)
I met Kayte Terry on a hot summer day. It was June or July, not long after I opened JimmyStyle. This is a neighborhood being revitalized, and at first glance, she looked like a typical South Philly hipster with her funky glasses, vintage outfit and graphic designer husband. (She has this sense of style that’s hard to describe but instantly recognizable.)
She told me she worked for Anthro (as Anthropologie, which is HQ’d here). At that point, she had just moved to Philly from New York. She was trying to get to know the neighborhood. I ask everyone where they’re from – that’s my thing, I ask everyone. She told me about being a freelance stylist and window designer, and so we started talking about things I wanted to carry in the store. I needed books. And, get this: Kayte had a book coming out with Chronicle in a few months. I couldn’t believe it! It was fate.
Fast forward a few months, and I’m at the New York International Gift Fair. Chronicle had a huge booth there, filled to the brim with books and anything/everything Moleskine. I asked about Kayte and the rep pulled out an advance copy of her book. It was beautiful. I was on the phone the next day with Kayte. I wanted her to do something, anything, at JimmyStyle!
At JimmyStyle, we have an artist-of-the-month series. My only mandate is they have to be local – you can paint with mud, but it better be from the park at 13th and Wharton.
I thought: let’s introduce Kayte to Philadelphia. It just seemed like the neighborly thing to do!
We ultimately did two events with Kayte: a Wednesday evening press reception and a hands-on workshop on Saturday, Nov. 7. As luck would have it, our press event ended up falling on the same night as Phillies’ World Series Game – and during a mass-transit strike by SEPTA, which crippled the city. But we had a solid turnout and great coverage! (Check out PhillyChitChat.com for some more photos. ) We had a dozen media outlets represented, including “Philadelphia” magazine, which is photographing Kayte’s craft room for their Web site! Our friends at Paradiso Restaurant did the food for the press event, and Pure Design gave us a beautiful centerpiece inspired by Kayte’s work.
To get ready for the events, Kayte did a display in my bright-pink storefront window. I have this old fireplace mantle painted white, and she did a little living room vignette with paisley, quilted “fish” trophies and fabric logs and flames in the fireplace. She also made these streamers from scraps of fabric that have been all the rage on the Avenue. Our friend Marnie Hall, who hosts The Gossip on Philly.com, came by to interview Kayte while she was working. It was Marnie who coined the phrase “Philadelphia’s Martha Stewart.”
Kayte’s mom, Patty, came in from Connecticut to help with the workshop on Saturday. Patty made these adorable little kits with all of the materials to make three of the projects in Kayte’s book: woodland felt ornaments. It was a craft she and Kayte made years ago, when Kayte was a kid, so it was awesome to have Patty here to demonstrate it!
I loved Patty’s tights. The number one thing I loved was her cool, fashionable tights. She looked like she was ready for a photo shoot. I saw where Kayte – sorry, Katherine – gets it from. Her mom.
We had a great turnout. We’re a small store and it was our first hands-on workshop, so we capped it at 12 people – well, 13 if you count me. I totally got my craft on.
The kits (and the book) are still available at JimmyStyle, 1820 East Passyunk Avenue, while supplies last. They make great holiday gifts for the crafters on your list.
-Jimmy
Kayte Terry will be doing two events in San Francisco this weekend, click here for more info.
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