style - Boho Chic

Golly, I sure do get lucky in the Etsy treasury department.  My hairclip "gypsy rose lee" is featured in this fabulous Boho Chic collection curated by loosethreads2.  Her caption reads, "For nature loving, fringe, feather, walk in the forest, make your own cleaning supplies, natural childbirthing, free spirited, bohemian hippies.  My kindred spirits!"  I hear that sister!  This collection is just divine.  If you are one of those free spirited, bohemian style girls, get ready to shop...

gypsy rose lee - a handmade fiber art hair clip

I am in creative overdrive (I think thats a good thing?)

I am very pleased to report an encouraging opening weekend at our new shop, Redemption.  It was so wonderful to personally greet all the visitors who climbed out of their cars exclaiming, "What IS this place?!?!" and "I saw the ART sign go up last week and I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen here!".  I did take a bunch of photos, I plan to begin posting them ASAP.  However, after a lot of bustle getting ready for the shop to open and then a long weekend at the shop itself, I must admit I had been getting pretty behind in the domestic duties department.  I have been doing so many dishes over the last two days!  I'm just about caught up with that (finally), the dishes, I mean.  Now I am sort of in creative overdrive.  I have been very productive lately, but the living room is looking like a tornado dispersed my materials over every available surface.  Thread, snippets of fabric and ribbon, boxes and bags of beads, various and sundry jewelry making supplies, etc... are scattered everywhere.  I have two custom orders to complete and I'm also working on a bunch of new cocktail rings!  (Look for photos of the rings here later this week, and they will be available for sale at Redemption this weekend.)

I've been featured in two of the most beautiful Etsy treasuries.  The first was curated by SatoriPhoto and the theme is Miles From Your Eyes.  Not only are all of the items featured really original and beautiful, but collectively they have a storytelling quality as well.  Oh, and there is my lovely handmade bloom for your hair (that's me, gazing out the window).  I really think this is a lovely collection, well done!




This treasury was curated by PrankePaintings, the theme is A Pick of Soft Colors.  Wow, the title is an understatement, the soft wash of pink/red/orange is just so pleasing to look at.  My necklace titled, "she just loved and loved" is featured here!  There are lots of lovely things to see, you may want to take a closer look at both of these treasuries, just click on the title to go to the treasury page (or click on a thumbnail to go directly to that item/shop for more information). 

Come visit us at Redemption this weekend!

Wow, things sure have been busy around here!  Today we'll be setting up shop at the new space, isn't that exciting?  Jeff has been working on the gypsy cart that I'll be using as my primary display area.  Travis and I put a base coat of paint on the cart yesterday and it looks so GREAT!  We're going to add more paint later, but we've got to get this show on the road!  I'm getting so antsy about setting up that I just keep making more new things, and more new things, and MORE new things!  I'm rapid-cycling through all my crafting skills.  One moment I'm sewing, then I'm making jewelry, then its back to sewing, then I'm working on some cards, sheesh!  Guess I have a little nervous energy or something!?!?  I'm just excited to get started!
Oh bummer, I took a few photos of the gypsy cart last night while we were painting, but I left the camera at the studio!  I guess I'll have to post them later.

Jeff has been working away at his garden art pieces for the shop.  There are several trellises, birdbaths, even a giant weather vane!  They are very imaginative and colorful, made almost entirely from reclaimed materials.  I'll shoot some photos of those when we move them to the shop today. 

Last night at the studio Jenny was making some awesome handmade journals out of reclaimed materials.  She used old record album covers for the journal covers!  The paper inside was even reclaimed, packing paper and brown grocery bag paper, etc...  Wanna see 'em?  Come to the shop this weekend!  (Okay, maybe I'll shoot some photos too.)

After I get my things set up at Redemption, I'm hoping to photograph my new pieces so I can start posting them in my Etsy shop. 


In other news, my handmade earrings "a pair of pears" were featured in an Etsy treasury.  The theme is "Pears or Pairs?".  Too cute, very clever and I love the colors as well!




My lovely hair bloom was also featured in a treasury.  The theme is "For my queen of hearts - for a little girl who has completely captured my heart"  aaawwwww, it was made by a new Mommy who has a preemie in the NICU.




Please take a minute to comment and click on some of the other shop's items.  Please tweet and 'like' on Facebook if you can.
Together we can make these treasuries successful and bring traffic to all of these wonderful shops.

inspiration - faded

The iris are in bloom in my garden, they are so beautiful its almost too much.  The blooms are so huge and showy, they threaten to break the stems at the first suggestion of strong wind.  I think we're going to have to stake them.  I have the standard lavender/purple variety and then I also have these amazing peach/apricot color iris that are so incredibly beautiful.  The other day when I went for a morning walk, I spied pale yellow iris blooming in front of a neighbor's house.  I thought that was a pretty unusual color.  They are very pretty.  Just the first of the peach iris has bloomed so far this year and the lavender ones are all blooming now.  My white clematis is also flowering.  Here are a few photographs from the garden this time last year. 

And the chives are flowering...

And I have lots of different hostas...  I have a pretty shady garden. 

These teensy tiny little pale blue flowers came up in the front under the roses.  I don't know if they are weeds or forget-me-nots, or what... but I think they are impossibly darling and I love them.

This is a potted fern that lives indoors in the winter, but she's much happier outdoors when the weather permits. 

There will be more garden photographs to come, but for now I've got to get down to business!  This morning I discovered another lovely treasury I must share with you.  My hair bloom is featured in this stunning collection of faded and muted handmade goods.  Thank you kangaroostitches for choosing to include me in this wonderful collection!  How perfect for a hot summer day, it just feels cool and summery.

Interested in the hair bloom?  Get more info here.  Look out for shop updates today!  I made a new necklace yesterday and I have finished some beautiful new wedding-appropriate hair accessories!  I also have some new earrings.

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.

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 which I confess my inability to finish one task before starting another...

I have approximately half a billion projects started right now...  uhhhmmm, and I keep getting NEW ideas and starting more!  What is wrong with me?  Sometimes the thought of finishing things just fills me with dread.  Now that I've publicly confessed that personal fault, I am going to make a concerted effort to choose some long-unfinished projects and get them wrapped up!  Maybe I'll post my progress for accountability purposes.  Ooohh, that makes me feel squeamish.  :)  I think that means its a great idea.  First 'to be completed' project will be posted this week.  There, I've made a commitment.  This is going to be good for me!  I can already envision the finished sewing projects and organizing tasks...  Aaaahhh, the wonderful feeling of a task freshly completed. 


I have 8 (yes, eight) new pairs of earrings to post in the shop!  I just need to photograph them.  So, look out for a shop update (or a couple of them) over the next few days.


My new green hair clip has been featured in two very beautiful treasuries, "Mossy Green" and "Discovering Spring"!  Green is my favorite color and these are just so springy!  Here they are, (you can click on the treasury title to browse the treasury or a specific image to view the item details):

So Treasured...

  Treasury is an ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery comprised of lists of items. Lists contain 16 items. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme or whatever they like. Any Etsy member can create a Treasury list, and there is no limit to the number of lists you can create. You can edit your lists as often as you desire, and post comments to other members' lists.


  It all began on July 22, 2010.  The first of many Etsy treasuries I was lucky to be featured in.  Do you see my fabric flower corsage in the top row?  (You can click on the treasury title or the individual items in the images below to check out the treasuries!)   
 




  Since then, I have been featured in 83 treasuries!  Can you believe it?  I can't!  Well, I would like to share a few of the most recent treasury lists with you.  It is such a fun way to shop and explore Etsy to find new artists and amazing vintage stuff.  Some of the themes and collections are so AMAZING.  You'll see.



  My friend (and a fellow artist) Jenny of ReturnStudio created the above list.  (The jewelry she makes is so cool, please take a  moment to check out her shop.)  My cards are featured in the top row of her treasury list!  Suuuuuch goooood stuff!  Clever theme and I adore the color scheme!




  I absolutely love this treasury.  Great stuff again!  Can you find my necklace?  Its in the third row, on the left.




  Two by two, oh my gosh!  Is that cute, or what?  I have a pair of sweetheart earrings featured here.




  I.  Love.  This.  Theme.  Pretty much love everything in this list.  Great collection.  They featured my sweet and sassy headband with flower and feathers (and a bunch of other neat stuff). 




  Finally, this is the most recent treasury.  Nice shopping guide for Easter or Mother's Day.  My hair clip is in the last row, on the left.


Thanks for taking some time out of your day to take a peek at the treasuries!  I would love it if you would leave a comment here or on the treasury pages! 
Thank you to everyone who has featured one of my items in their treasury lists!  It is so exciting each and every time I get a new treasury notice.

We are delighted to be included in another Etsy Treasury!

  About Treasury:

Treasury is Etsy's ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery. Create and share lists of items.
Beautiful, diverse lists may be featured on Etsy's home page.  (This potential is why its exciting to be featured in a treasury.)

You'll always discover gems when you hunt for treasure in Etsy's community-curated treasury lists  — you can find your favorite themes or create your own collection and share it with friends. These amazing Etsy Finds come from bouncing around Treasury and exploring associated tags, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's something for everyone, so dive in!

This morning I have awakened to a lovely surprise.  I fed the kitty and sat down at the computer with my morning coffee, only to discover that my 'citrus and melon - handmade fabric flower corsage' (pictured above) has been chosen for ellabelleboutique's treasury called 'cool summer melon'.  See it here!  I just posted this corsage in the shop yesterday, its one of my favorite new pieces.  Find it in the shop here.