etsy treasuries - featured!

I just posted a new headband in the shop and it been featured in a treasury already!  Thank you BumbleBeeBead for including my work in your list of "favorite things"!

If you are interested in this lovely hair adornment, skip on over to the shop and find out more about it. 

We've been lucky enough to be featured in THREE treasuries in the last few days.  How nice is that?  This one has a peacock theme.  I love these colors, so lots of the things I make seem to fit this description.  Overwroughtdesigns has chosen my peacock necklace for this collection.  Thank you for including me!

If you want to find out more about this necklace, go here.

Finally, janehamill has created this treasury for an Etsy STAT Team challenge.  This week's theme is "guiding".  Her interpretation of the theme is "Let your dreams be your guide".  Isn't that wonderful?  She has included my "sweet dreams" bunting in this collection.

The bunting?  You want to wish "sweet dreams" for yourself or someone you adore?  Well, I just miiiight know where you can get it.

I have some (more) fabulous new things to post in the shop...  Stay tuned to find out when the next Etsy shop update will be.

Pretty boxes, ribbons and twine - new packaging!

As my Etsy shop grows, I find that I'm spending a bit too much time crafting boxes and bubble mailers out of recycled materials just so I can ship out each order.  Jeff and I have a strong personal commitment to repurpose/reuse/recycle, and we make every effort to apply this philosophy to every area of our lives.  This includes packaging.  So, thats where my dilemma of timing came in.  I was definitely having fun making boxes and envelopes to accommodate all the different size items I was sending out... but I was spending a LOT of time working on these creations (see photos below). 

I mean, don't get me wrong, I enjoy making origami paper boxes out of pretty bits of paper and making boxes out of (inside-out) cereal boxes...  I love decorating these little boxes and envelopes, each a little work of art in itself.  However, I'm getting busy enough now that I need to spend my time making the actual goods, rather than the packaging.  I needed to invest in ready-made boxes.



What I needed was a time saving, earth-friendly packaging approach.  So I did some online hunting around and I found just the right stuff!  Now I can pack up all my orders easily and quickly at my little "shipping station".

beautiful boxes - 100% Recycled Jewelry Boxes

I think the embossed, matte finish paper is nice, and I like the chocolate brown color.  Box board consists of 100% recycled materials - on average 80% is post consumer.  Non-tarnishing ultra white synthetic cotton filler is 100% recycled.  Paper wrap material is 100% recycled, Process Chlorine Free (PCF), and manufactured with renewable hydroelectric energy.  Made in the USA.

Abaca twine ribbon is made from manila hemp fibers from a species of banana native to the Philippines.  I chose this pretty apple green color.  You can unwind the ribbon if you wish, its about 1-1.5" wide, with a papery feel.  These Eco-Friendly products are made by artisans in remote villages around the world - creating jobs and fair wages for hard working communities.  Distant Village Packaging is providing more that just great eco-friendly and sustainable products.  It is a sustainable model that supports real people in many ways.  This ribbon is made from 100% natural plant fibers.

Sinamay Natural Organza Mesh Ribbons are hand made from natural fibers.  This stuff is so gorgeous and its lovely to work with.  I couldn't choose just one color, so I got both the aqua and the amber/light brown color.  Both the ribbon and the twine are made from natural and sustainable materials.

MiniMoo Cards - How CUTE are these?!?!
With a photo on one side and my info on the other, these make the perfect tag/business card.  the weight of the paper is nice and heavy, the finish is velvety...  I love them!  The really cool part is that you can order one pack with many different photos in the same pack.  You don't have to get 100 of the same photo on every card. 

I don't know about you, but I would be pretty pleased to get THIS festive little package in the mail!  The wrapping is almost as pretty as the contents.  Packaging made of recycled materials and its recyclable.  You might even consider reusing the packaging before you recycle it!  (Thats what I would do!)

love is a gypsy caravan

I love my husband.  A lot.  He is the BEST.  I have not been feeling very well this week, perhaps the rainy weather has been contributing to my usual achiness.  I have had a headache all week.  This headache has really been slowing my productivity, during a week that I wish to be extra-productive.  So, while I have been at home all week, working away at my projects here, I have been aware that Jeff has been at the Studio working away at his projects.  I just haven't seen any of his work this week because I haven't visited the Studio.  We have talked about the gypsy cart he's building for me to use as a display at the new shop, but we decided that I would wait until this weekend to see it.  I like surprises.  Well, this morning he was off to the Studio before I woke up (as usual).  I gave him a call so we could have a chat and plan our day and while we were talking he directed me to look at some photos he took yesterday at the Studio.  Imagine my surprise when I saw THIS on my computer screen!!!!!!

"Is THAT my gypsy caravan?!?!"  I yelled to him, over the phone.  "I LOVE IT, aaahhhhh!!!"  I knew he was going to build something amazing, we even sat on the sofa together and made sketches, but COME ON!!!  This is way cooler than our drawings.  AND its not even finished yet!  Hopefully we'll start painting it this weekend.  Don't you just love that arched window on the end?  We salvaged it from a local school building that is being renovated.  The side windows will be able to open (sort of like little cabinets) and there will be space inside to hang/display jewelry and other handmade goods.  The arched window will not open, we'll just use that space for display (sort of like a storefront window).  This is the perfect solution for a display that can be used outdoors, then easily moved inside, all while protecting my handmade goods!  THANK YOU JEFF!

Well, I'm signing off.  I have much to do today.  My new miniMOO cards arrived in the mail yesterday.  So I'll be pricing my things with my lovely new 'tags'.  I'll post some photos later.

The countdown continues, only 3 more days!

While I can easily say that things are always crazy and busy around here, this last week has been especially so.  However, all for good reason(s).  Recently we photographed Claire and Nick's engagement session so I have been busy in the office with editing and post-processing.  (Stay tuned for a peek at the photos!)  Meanwhile, this idea that has been floating around in our local artist cooperative just sort of came to fruition rather quickly.  We have been looking for a location where we could set up shop for the summer and sell our work.  Some of us are selling online via our Etsy shops, but we also wanted an opportunity to have a local venue where we could have a more personal interaction with our customers.  Well folks, we've found our space and we're setting up shop this weekend!  We will be unofficially open for business, so stop by and say hello!

I would like to introduce you to my friends and fellow artists.  These are the members of Studio Rico Oeste (our local artist cooperative), who will be featuring their work at the shop.


Jeff Long a.k.a. "jefficus", and my husband, find his shop online at http://www.jefficus.etsy.com/.  Jeff is a photographer, artist and fabricator.  He went to the Art Institute of Seattle for Industrial Design.  Do you want to know what he is doing as I type, right this very moment?  The man is building me a gypsy cart (out of other people's discarded "junk") in which to display my wares.  Isn't that the most wildly romantic thing in the world?  (Well, if you're me, then it IS.)  I will be posting photos of the cart very soon!  Pictured, this is a new lamp that Jeff has just finished called the Tech Light.  Its made out of recycled and repurposed parts and pieces of things.  Look for Jeff's garden art, lamps, furniture and more in the shop!

Rick Weese, a.k.a. "Rico Oeste", the man behind the plan.  That's right, our artist cooperative is named after him, Studio Rico Oeste.  Artist, sculptor and lover of junk, Rick made the file-cabinet table pictured on the poster above.  Pictured below is a sculpture Rick made out of recycled junk.  (When I say "junk", that is like a term of endearment in our vocabulary, it doesn't mean garbage... but you already knew that.)  Look out for his furniture, sculptures and more in the shop!

Jenny Roth, wanderer, lover of junk, and creator of one-of-a-kind "modern tribal" jewelry as well as handmade journals, find her shop online at http://www.returnstudio.etsy.com/.  I adore her jewelry, she has creative vision that is just so unique.  You will never think of your kitchen junk drawer in the same way after you see what she can create out of old rusty stuff.  You can find out more about the fabulous neckpiece pictured below here. 

Jeff Dyke, a.k.a. "Padre", carpenter, scavenger and super-fantastic pinstriper.  Hey, if you don't want your soda or your bible pinstriped, then keep it out of Padre's way...  but if you have something that needs a little personalized va-va-va-vooom, you know who to talk to!  Bring him your guitar, your toolbox, your favorite chair, ANYTHING you can think of.

Finally, this is Jonathan Wesley White, a.k.a. "Juan Blanco", artist, photographer, etc...  Check out his shop online at http://www.artistetc.etsy.com/ or his learn more about Juan via his website http://www.artistetc.com/.  He is currently showing a series of paintings at a local coffee shop called J.P.'s.  Here is one of the paintings in the series.

Oh, wait!  I almost forgot about me.  I'm part of the group too.  I'm Jennifer Long (in case you didn't already know that), most people call me Jen.  You can find my shop online at http://www.pair.etsy.com/.  I'll be selling a wider variety of things at Redemption, so if you are local and you are a fan of my work, you'll be pleasantly surprised at all the fun things you'll find when you stop by to say hello and meet the gang.

There you have it.  Six local artists, working away this week to bring you an exciting new shopping experience in Holland, Michigan.  I'll keep you posted with any news, including the "official" opening date!

a mix of metals - inspiration

I love old things with a patina, with evidence of age and use.  So I guess its pretty natural that I'm drawn to the warm natural tones of metals.  Therefore, I give you today's color inspiration - all things metallic!


First, my new 'sweet dreams' paper and burlap bunting is featured in this pretty collection of copper items.  I painted the lettering with copper metallic paint and I chose paper colors that suggested patina.





Second, my pretty bronze and gold flower pin is featured is featured in this romantic treasury collection.






Here we have a pretty pillow I've made for my living room.  I used some scraps of fabric, a few old buttons and a handmade flower.  I love the copper and gold flower on the brown pillow with the sort of pewter-finish buttons.

This is a photograph of a sculpture that my husband (the wonderful and amazingly talented Jeff) recently finished and listed in his Etsy shop.  You may click on this link to view the sculpture directly.  Its meant to hang on the wall and it features lots of texture and different metal materials.  Its very cool and kinda spacey.

Finally, we can't really talk about metals and patina without a solid example of RUST!  I love rusty things.  A number of years ago, Jeff went to Arizona to work with his uncle in his construction business for a few months.  While he was there, he made a number of very srtiking photographs.  He loves to go adventuring with the camera in his backpack.  (So do I, but I'm a scaredy-cat... I'm always looking for rattle snakes or fretting about falling off cliffs...)  This is one if the scenes he discovered.  Talk about patina!

banners and buntings and garlands - oh my!

Busy days are good, but they can be overwhelming.  I've made a pot of tea and I'm being calm - on purpose, you know (tea can do that for you, especially pouring it from a proper teapot).  Pour hot tea, drink, repeat.  I think I've been spending FAR too much time with my face glued to the computer these last few days.  (I'm drinking the tea in front of the computer... see?  I can't relax, it must be the tea.  Not really, I just have a really long to-do list.  :)  Anyway, I've been terribly productive, but I'm starting to feel like I'm in a photoshop trance.  Today I packaged an order for my Etsy shop and I took such great pleasure in wrapping it, writing the thank you note and making the card.  I usually include a free gift, most often its a handmade card.  It was so nice to just step away from the keyboard and the screen and make something with my hands!  I will be very happy in a week or two when things start to settle down again and I have time to make some pretty things. 

Speaking of pretty...  just look at this gorgeous, romantic treasury I found today, featuring my butterfly hair clip!  I love the curvy lines of the violin photograph with the ladies... I love the jewelry & accessories, what lovely choices!  The soft colors are so dreamy.
   


One more, this one is entitled:  Flowers All Around.  Aaahhh, I just can't wait for that time in my garden when there are indeed flowers all around.  Can you spot my headband?





I am currently enamored of buntings, garlands, banners, etc...  You can decorate your child's room (heck, why not your room too?), the fireplace mantel, a shelf or bookshelf, string across a window, or use it for a party or shower decoration or a child's photo shoot.  Planning something with a carnival theme or a circus theme?  Buntings are a natural design element.  Yesterday's shop update included 3 buntings.  This is just one of them, so if you want to see the others, you'll have to head on over to the shop.

etsy treasuries - featured!

Oh my, I have been so busy I have sadly neglected to keep you all up to date on the wonderful treasuries I have been lucky enough to be featured in lately.  I want to be sure all the curators who've taken the time to build these lovely collections and the wonderful artists who are also featured get noticed too!  So please take a moment to browse these fabulous collections and if something catches your eye, by all means, click and you'll be redirected to the treasuries or to the shop directly.

My handmade cards are here.  Don't forget about Japan, they still need our support.  Click on my cards to find out more about the organization I'm donating to. 



My leather flower pin is here.  Its made out of the most fabulous upcycled leather furniture swatches (not craft store poor quality stuff).  I just llloooove so many things in this treasury.  The soothing color palette...



Butterfly hair clip is here.  I love this one.  This collection makes me think of napping outdoors on a late summer afternoon.  Great stuff.



Butterfly hair comb is featured here.  The title says it all, 'summery blush'.  Beautiful.



Fabric flower necklace is here.  This is very cute.  I wish we had Etsy as a resource when we got married!  Oh, the brides today are so lucky!



Fabric flower headband is featured here.  Ice cream anyone?  ;)



Earrings featured here.  Okay, I love this collection soooo much!!!  I might just describe my style as 'rustic elegance'.  So good. 

In nine days something WONDERFUL is going to happen!

In nine days, something very exciting is going to happen.  I am going to park my gypsy cart and set up shop!  Wait, it gets even better...  its not just me, there are six of us (not gypsies, artists - don't be silly).  Jeff and I belong to a local artist collective called Studio Rico Oeste.  Our members have discussed the desire for a shop/space for quite some time, and the search for just the right space has brought us to this point.  Our ideas are coming together (pretty quickly, I'll say) but I think the concept is good and the location is quirky (just like us).  I would love to give you more details, but I have SO much to do!  I will update with any big news and hopefully some photos very soon! 

Stay tuned for the opportunity to meet my compadres in this endeavor!

Its Wedding Season!

I have had the pleasure of working with several brides over the past few months to create custom hair accessories and jewelry for their weddings.  This process has led me to explore new materials and themes.  I can't even tell you how much fun it is to send a few photos to a bride-to-be and then get an email back that is filled with exclamations of joy and excitement.  (They don't realize that I often have the same feelings of joy and excitement.)  So, I wanted to share a few custom orders with you today. 

This order is composed of six pairs of gray carmina pearl earrings accented with small hematite stones. I packaged them in individual tiny silver boxes, perfect for presenting these chic handmade earrings to six lovely bridesmaids.

The next custom order is one of my favorites!  I really had fun experimenting with different variations on the theme during the design process.  It was really interesting and challenging trying to find sources for the strawberries and the berry blossoms/foliage that suited the look we were going for.  In the end, I made the blossoms and leaves myself.  I LOVE the finished piece!  This is the initial design sketch (I know, its very basic).

This is the finished hair comb!  You can read all about the nitty-gritty details in the item listing here in the shop.