ReadyMade Projects Editor Derek Fagerstrom (left) and Publisher and CEO Grace Hawthorne hard at work in the studio at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Guest blogger Lydia Regalado is an arts educator and blogger who writes for Art&Seek about people who gather to make things.

What can you make out of virtually anything? Two things: a clock, and a lamp. That was the inspiration behind last night’s ReadyMade workshop at the Dallas Museum of Art. Inspired by Frank Gehry and the Materials & Meanings exhibition, participants created a lamp made out of cardboard. The directions were simple and basic, providing possibilities for complicated designs. The best part is that materials to create this lamp can easily be found around the house or office. ReadyMade Projects Editor Derek Fagerstrom and Publisher and CEO Grace Hawthorne, led and designed the workshop, en”light”ening participants on the history of DIY culture and their magazine ReadyMade as they went along.

ReadyMade is a publication that helped pioneer the DIY movement of this decade. First published in 2001 before words like “green” and “sustainability” were part of our vernacular and design, this bimonthly magazine is for people who like to make stuff. Each issue is based around a theme: fashion, lighting, small spaces, to name a few, and comes chocked full of ideas and projects for every skill level. Just looking at the pictures can get your creative juices flowing. Around town ReadyMade is available at Borders, Barnes & Noble and Urban Outfitters. Check it out!

Next Up: DIY Dialogue at the DMA and a visit to MAKE!

If you didn’t get to make it to last night’s workshop, or are interested in hearing about pre-fab, re-fab, DIY design, materials and culture, Publisher and CEO Grace Hawthorne and Projects Editor Derek Fagerstrom of ReadyMade magazine will be conducting a conversation as part of the Dallas Museum of Art’s Late Night celebrating the Center for Creative Connections tonight at 9 p.m. in Horchow Auditorium. After the lecture, peruse the wares of the Dallas Craft Mafia, on display on the Concourse from 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10 or less. More information.

Also this weekend, Jennifer Perkins, Austin based jewelry designer and author of The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl’s Guide to Handmade Jewelry, will be at MAKE studio in Bishop Arts leading a jewelry design class, Saturday, September 20 at 1 p.m. There will be a book signing from 3 to 4 p.m. More information.

See you there!