average jen

happy new year!

2011-01-06T15:28:00.001-05:00

thanks for a great 2010! there's lot of changes happening in littlest bean land, can't wait to share it with you!

fall / winter shows are coming!

2010-11-18T19:36:00.008-05:00

ah, my poor little neglected blog... it's so hard to find things interesting enough to say when all you do is cut felt! but i've been cutting a lot of felt, and here's where i'll be showing all of my work in the next few weeks...

first up, on saturday, november 20th, crafty supermarket in cincinnati, ohio. i've never done this show and am looking forward to it - they're are some great vendors!

next up is bazaart, on saturday, november 27th, which i have attended every year for the past 10 years... it's one of my favorites, and i'm so excited to be doing it this year! you can also check out the new exhibit at avam while you're there!

then, on december 4th, it's holiday heap... you can tell by this crafty yeti that it's going to be super awesome this year. this is a fantastic, fun show, and i can't wait to do it this year! there are some vendors you can't see anywhere else locally, and the venue is just a beautiful place to hold a show.

the next day after holiday heap, on december 5th, is merry mart! this wonderful show is held at the creative alliance, and this year, i'm not only showing my work there, i'm organizing it with my friend allison of tigerlillyshop. it's going to be great!

whew, are you tired yet? i'm tired just thinking about it! but, if i'm not tooooo tired, i'll be heading up to new york for the bust craftacular.

maybe i should go rest now. i hope to see you at one of these great shows sometime soon!

crafty bastards is tomorrow!

2010-10-01T21:03:00.002-04:00

come by and see me in booth 35! and if you're so inclined, vote for me! get the full info on crafty bastards here- if you can make it, you should. it's just about the best lineup of crafty folk i've ever seen! plus, i have lots of new work. see you there!

the bean turns five

2010-09-02T09:58:00.000-04:00

this has been a big few weeks for us. the bean not only started kindergarten (gulp), but she also marked the fifth anniversary of her arrival into our world. we had a few things planned to end our very busy summer, and one of them was our first trip to dutch wonderland. the bean decided she wanted to try the roller coaster... and she did! she was so brave, and loved it so much that she just had to go on again immediately. then we had to try everything, and all the time she was giggling and screaming "this is fabulous!" (i have no idea where she picked up that expression.)

as the last ride of the day she opted to get on one of those circles that spins so fast that you're glued to the wall... not my favorite. she wanted to go alone, so i told her what the ride would be like, kissed her goodbye, and waited breathlessly for the ride to stop so i could see her face. i knew either she'd come out crying or triumphant, and all i could do was hope for the best and be there when it was over.

i think that's what being her mom will be like all the time from now on. but for the record, she loved it. so proud of my big girl.

happy birthday, bean.

artscape is tomorrow!

2010-07-15T22:05:00.004-04:00

artscape is tomorrow, and i'm so excited, and also hoping the weather decided to be very un-baltimore-in-july-like and be cool and beautiful. even if it doesn't, it's looking like the weekend will be amazing! so many great exhibits, performances, and, of course, artists! i'll be in the diy section, booths 31-34, with quite a few members of BEST, so please stop by and say hello! i've got some brand new work to share, including these kanzashi-inspired bobby pins that were lucky enough to get just a hint of sparkle after this picture was taken. (you'll have to visit in person to see!)

you might want to print your map in advance just to make sure you see everything! see you there!

indie art by the sea - this weekend

2010-07-01T09:50:00.004-04:00

this saturday, july 3rd, i'll be at indie art by the sea in newport, ri. the show is from 11-5 and takes place along the water in ft. adams state park. the weather is supposed to be just beautiful, and i'll have tigerlilly shop and sweet pepita nearby for company.

i am soooooo excited to do this show. some days, i feel really lucky to be doing what i do. i mean, have you ever had a view like this from your office?

pile of craft, tomorrow!

2010-06-25T20:59:00.004-04:00

it's my favorite-est local show to do, and not only will i have lots of new work never-before-seen in baltimore, but i'll have a bunch of stuff on super major sale, since i'm streamlining my line a bit and already thinking about work for the fall (yikes!)

it's happening tomorrow, june 26th, from 10-5 at 2640 St Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21218, inside St John's Church. for a complete(ly awesome) vendor list, visit cccm's website.

hope to see you there!!!

our ocean should be blue

2010-06-19T14:36:00.005-04:00

since i saw this photo a few days ago, my need to do something to help out in the gulf has increased greatly. i'm always one of those people who runs in the direction of trouble to try and help out (often to my husband's chagrin), and it's really hard for me when i just don't know what to do.

i've always felt a special attachment to the ocean, often finding myself making the 3 hour drive there as a younger person needing to clear my head. i hope one day to be brave enough to try snorkeling or scuba, because i need to see the brilliant colors that lie beneath the surface of the water.

i can't ignore what the water in the gulf looks like now, but i can try to hope that it will once again be the brilliant blue it always is in my mind. i'm still not really sure what to do myself, but i'm going to try and help out the people who do know what to do.

the audubon societ y is working to help rescue and protect the wildlife and habitats of the area. to help them, i'll donate $5 from the sale of each of these ocean blue flowers. they're made from eco-felt, which is made entirely of recycled plastic bottles, so they're environmentally friendly as well. you can choose your flower to have a 2" silver plated barrette attached, or a bar pin, so that it can be worn on your shirt, hat, or bag.

if you'd prefer, donate directly. every little bit helps.

rainbows!

2010-06-13T22:23:00.005-04:00

this year was the bean's first year of school, and it was a year she developed her artistic skills unbelievably fast. she went from drawing scribbles to drawing our entire family. and for the last few months, everything's been rainbows. when she graduated from preschool, i wanted to commemorate the occasion with something special, and i knew she'd love this rainbow necklace from my talented friend tamara over at block party press.

she did love it! and she's been wearing it nonstop. i have to admit, i was a unicorns-and-rainbows kind of girl myself, (was? maybe still is!) and her love of rainbows has sort of rekindled my love affair with them. and so my new rainbow headband was born.

i knew it was just right, because she snatched up the first one i made and put it on, claiming it for herself.

i'm going to post the headbands, made to order, in the shop now, and it's also available in a brooch version.

wow. rainbows still make me happy. nice.

more to come

2010-06-08T20:00:00.005-04:00

two posts in one week, can you believe it? well, i've been kind of overwhelmed with the amount of ideas i've had, so i've kind of been just playing and making all kinds of new things. i'm trying to photograph them a few at a time, since my computer time's a bit precious these days.

these little hand-sewn felt earrings are reversible, so you can wear them with a few shades of green. just switch sides and a different color is visible.

here they are in a pink and wine combination. they are hung from really comfortable oxidized sterling ear wires.

i'm loving these so much. they actually are pretty difficult to make, and they require a bit of precision, but they are so beautiful on. i'm still fine-tuning the process, though i should have several pairs for Pile of Craft.

i have more to come, maybe if i'm feeling extremely ambitious i'll post more this week!

a quick preview

2010-06-07T11:09:00.002-04:00

just a few images of some of the new work i'm making. (there's a bunch, i'm really excited!) the little guy started walking and he's keeping me pretty busy, but i was able to get these two necklaces photographed this morning.

this one and a few others, which i'm calling "peek-a-boo" necklaces, will be making their debut at Pile of Craft in a few weeks.

and this little one, made from embroidery thread and a secret new ingredient i've been experimenting with, will be posted in my etsy shop later this week.

hope you're enjoying your spring, which feels an awful lot like summer here in baltimore!

art star, here we come!

2010-05-13T09:29:00.000-04:00

my east coast tour 2010 continues with art star craft bazaar this weekend!!!! i'm super excited, it's the first time i'll be there, since this is the first year i'm doing more traveling. i've got a ton of work to take, already packed and ready to go. i'm still working on some new pieces, but here's the new stuff i have so far.

this is an updated version of the vintage flower headbands, with some newly found vintage plastic flowers.

i'm loving these new felt feather barrettes! these have a vintage button accent and are secured to an alligator clip. and yes, i cut each of those notches by hand, separately!

the bean is trying to make off with these new flower headbands (which is always a testament to cuteness.) they're tonal felt with czech glass seed beads sewn to the center. they're stitched to the nice stretchy headbands that everyone has been asking for.

so, i hope to see you in philly this weekend, may 15th and 16th, down by Penn's Landing on Walnut Street (click here for directions.) i'll be in booth 113 with my friend jennyjen42. hopefully i can manage to be in the same tent with her all day without buying this.

see you there!

a first birthday and other randomness

2010-05-10T20:43:00.001-04:00

it's hard to believe it's been over a month since i've blogged! we've begun what i'm calling our "east coast tour 2010," which so far has included richmond va, for the spring bada bing show, and new york city (or as the bean says "you nork") for a belated birthday trip for me. we were lucky enough to get tickets to the tim burton show at moma, and spend a day in the super cool natural history museum. i am a longtime fan of tim burton (at 14 i already knew i wanted to live in a house just like the one in beetlejuice), and rick and i have a very special attachment to the nightmare before christmas. i'd never been to the history museum, but am now totally obsessed with it. the dioramas... love.

then we settled in back home for a relaxing (ha!) weekend at home to celebrate the little guy's first birthday. it's amazingly hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that a year has already gone by. i made this super sweet little dinosaur cake, inspired by the one here, though i think that one is cuter.

anyway, wow, a year. it's been a rough one, an amazing one, there's just not enough words to describe it. but we're lucky, very, very lucky, to get to see a smile like this every day. we love you, boo!

national press

2010-04-08T07:24:00.006-04:00

so, this issue of southern living magazine has been out for a few weeks now, but i'm still super excited about it! look at my little flowers, just popping off the page there. thanks to everyone who let me know they saw it before i did!

in other news, back to working and enjoying the sunshine. spring bada bing is next weekend!

spring scheduling

2010-04-02T20:59:00.003-04:00

i can't believe it's april, but april it is. spring is here, and i've got the show schedule to prove it.

first up, on april 18th, spring bada bing in richmond, virginia. this show was my very first ever, and it's put on by the super-awesome richmond craft mafia. it's held a plant zero, which is a really fun venue, and i'm really looking forward to it this year.

next up, may 15-16th, in philly- one of my favorite cities, is art star craft bazaar. this is my first art star, and i'm really excited about it. i'll be sharing a booth with my friend jen of jennyjen42.

indie art by the sea is technically a summer show, but what the heck. i'll be in fort adams state park in rhode island for the first ever indie art show. looking forward to it!

still waiting to hear back from a few other summer shows (fingers crossed!) but you can always keep up with me here on my website.

hopefully i'll see you this spring!

at last...

2010-03-19T00:02:00.004-04:00

under the heading of "things i've wanted to do for going on two years now but haven't had the chance to do"- a new swatch sheet! now i'll be able to take more specific custom orders, rather than guessing whether your idea of chocolate brown is the same as mine!

does this picture make anyone else as happy as it makes me? oh, the colors!

and yes, i'm singing etta right now.

spring is here (almost!)

2010-03-18T10:54:00.004-04:00

just a few photos the bean (4) took yesterday of our first official springlike activities. yay, warm weather! may your days be filled with blue skies, long shadows, and chalk drawings.

a break from the norm

2010-03-09T22:49:00.006-05:00

i love what i do, i love playing with color, i even love cutting the same shapes over and over. and over. but once in awhile, while my hands are busily cutting, my mind is working in an entirely different way. so i took a break in the last few months, and started playing around with those ideas. the ring above is just one of them. my friend sherry of dandelionblu took the pictures for me (in addition to making some pretty amazing enamel jewelry she's a very talented photographer) and i'm so happy with the way they turned out. the pieces may be popping up somewhere in the future, but for now, i'm back to work on my flowers. spring show season is coming!

dreamy

2010-03-03T21:53:00.002-05:00

you may not know, since i rarely have the time to blog these days, but i am crazy about photo styling. crazy. we get a catalog once in a while that has such completely abysmal photo styling that mr bean dreads its arrival. while i'm paging through pointing out bad color combinations or misplaced props i know he's wishing he could run away... on the other hand, when i get a new magazine that has some amazing photo shoot in it, he's desperately afraid that i'm going to decide that our dining room needs yet another new dramatic installation or that the hallway must be repainted in stripes.

when janelle from baltimore magazine asked me to give her "lots" of pieces for a photo shoot, i was completely floored by the concept. i've told her before that being an anthropologie display veteran has totally warped my sense of the word "lots." my mind started racing and i imagined the most amazing sets and clothing. for me, after a job where spending a 40 hour work week stringing gumdrops is completely normal, a project that uses "lots" of anything has the kind of attention to detail that i go crazy for.

the magazine came out last week, and it surpassed even my fairly overactive imagination. just check it out for yourself.

this beautiful photo shoot was a collaboration between the lovely people at red tree and baltimore magazine. you can see the whole shoot here or go here to see more photos from behind the scenes. and of course, make sure you pick up a copy!

please buy me this

2010-02-23T20:13:00.001-05:00

thank you, juliet, for reminding me how much i love this shop.

color therapy

2010-02-08T16:40:00.000-05:00

if you have friends on the east coast, you may have noticed that most of the pictures they've been posting have been white. we have so much snow around here that even i, who am lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful hues every day, desperately needed some color around here... so we finally found the perfect place for our rainbow maker, which is a lot of fun - it results in the bean screaming "rainbow" at random times through out the day and the cats giving chase to rainbows that disappear and seem to totally blow their little cat minds.

we also made recycled heart crayons, after cleaning out our endless supply of broken and de-papered ones. these will be packaged and given with our greenstarstudio valentine cards when the bean finally goes back to school. we used some of the smaller bits to make a waxed paper heart chain, which i'll post tomorrow, hopefully.

i've also been digging deep for a tropical flower vibe, and have started making a few spring flowers to hold me over until we can have some buds in our garden. (i'd actually settle for some green grass about now.)

and really, we're feeling better already. i can tell, spring is just around the corner.

snow day(s)

2010-02-07T22:53:00.002-05:00

the snow came, we shoveled and played, we aren't sure if we'll ever get back out of the house. the bean found it amusing until the cold seeped through four layers of clothing, while the little guy preferred to watch it from the comfort of our living room. i can see the value of both of those strategies.

birds on a wire

2010-02-04T22:13:00.002-05:00

this bag makes me think of one of my favorite songs, and i want one. they're new work by my friend jen of jennyjen42. check out her shop!

how have i missed this shop?

2010-01-25T13:56:00.003-05:00

i am so in love with these bears right now. i've done needle felting, and it's painful, and tricky to get such clean results... i'm so impressed and i want them all! they're by ememem, check out her shop!

haiti

2010-01-16T20:20:00.002-05:00

oh, haiti, it's so awful watching events there unfold. i wish there were more that i could do, but for now i'm donating money to the Red Cross. we've already donated what we could, but i will also be donating 25% of sales this week (maybe longer) to the Red Cross International
Response Fund. if you can give, give, or if you'd like to shop, i'll give for you. some of my local friends are giving as well:

10% of sales this week will go to the Red Cross International
Response Fund- yummyandcompany

10% of each sale for one week to Doctors Without Borders/
Médecins Sans Frontières- AtelierAdornments

$5 from each sale this week will go to the Red Cross International Response Fund- thebrokenplate

10% of sales now through 1/20 to American Red
Cross- sweetpepita

10% of sales now through 1/20 to American Red Cross- galla15

10% of all sales until the end of January will be donated to the
American Red Cross to support relief efforts in Haiti- lolamiren

10% of sales now through 1/20 to American Red Cross- dandelionblu

$5 from every sale through the end of January to Doctors Without Borders- tarabu

$5 of every sale till the end of January to Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation- jennyjen42

10% of sales now through 1/20 to American Red Cross- Namoo

you can also give directly to the Red Cross on their website here or donate $10 to haiti relief by texting “haiti” to 90999. thank you!

so inspired by this

2010-01-04T21:11:00.001-05:00

amazing papercuts by Jen Stark.

unfinished business... and a new start

2010-01-03T19:11:00.008-05:00

this wreath, which the bean and i started last year, was finished on december 23rd of this year. two new stockings were completed at 11:35 on christmas eve, just in time for santa to fill them up. as with many things, my blog included, there just isn't enough time during the busy holiday season. for most people, this is true. with parties to attend, gifts to buy, places to see, the holidays can be crazy stressful and not so much fun. but when your business is based around this already busy time, things can get infinitely more... well, insane.

i have spent the last months thinking about my blog and how i wanted to use it. i'm certainly not the most important blog out there, i know. but it is important to me to give an accurate representation of how my life really plays out. i'd love for this to be a happy-martha-fun-perfect-stylish blog, but that's not my reality. my house is cool, but messy, my studio is worse, i don't always bake the prettiest cookies, and i even forgot to put the advent calendar up until much later than i care to admit.

since i've had my kids, i've often found support in blogs out there, ideas, encouragement, a kind of community. but somehow in the 'branding' of these blogs, the reality of imperfection can be lost. i feel the need to be honest, although i will not show you a picture of my living room at just this moment, thanks. what i will do, for myself and for other moms out there, is be more honest. and i'll start here: sometimes i think this career path is the most insane choice i've ever made. i'm not the only one... i was so happy to see this new york times article which really voiced the reality of this life much more eloquently than i ever could.

the nice thing about having a business based around the holidays is that there is a natural and necessary break from the insanity, and along with the new year creates the perfect time to reflect and plan. 2009 was my first year as a full-time artist, and i've learned a lot. it's been a tremendous and tumultuous time - i mean, i'm not sure what i was thinking trying to pull this off with a newborn! but i made it! and i had fun, and i'm feeling excited and hopeful about the new year.

i am so, so, so grateful to my husband, who supports me through this craziness, and my mom, who helps me out so much whether she's pricing work, distracting the kids or sending over a home-cooked meal. i am thankful for my amazing etsy customers, the wonderful people who come to shows and tell me how happy my work makes them. and i couldn't make it without my friends, the ones who visit or help at shows, and the girls of BEST, who keep me going when i think i can't.

i thank you all, this wonderful community, i love this crazy life. i hope you have an amazing 2010, i can't wait to see what it holds in store for me.

bring on the weekend

2009-12-10T23:24:00.005-05:00

ok, so i made it through last weekend, all three shows, and the snow. whew. i'll be heading to pittsburgh this weekend for the wonderful handmade arcade, and my work will also be at

squidfire, thanks to shannon of sweetpepita. if you're in pittsburgh, please stop by and see me, or come visit shannon and my BEST buddies down in canton.

exactly two week until christmas. gulp.

buy handmade and help others

2009-12-01T22:27:00.001-05:00

It has been a difficult year for many Marylanders because of the tough economy. Many are without jobs and without food. In an effort to help those in need this holiday season, several BEST members will be donating a percentage of money from the the sales of their handmade items from December 1-14. Buyers will have a unique opportunity to support handmade and help feed hungry Marylanders.

The Maryland Food Bank provides nearly 14 million pounds of food annually to 1,000 Network Partners - including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, low-income day care centers, after-school programs, senior centers, rehabilitation centers, and other feeding programs. They supply food for over 50,000 Marylanders each week who otherwise would go hungry or not eat enough, including families with children, the elderly, the homeless, the homebound, low-income workers, the recently unemployed, and people with AIDS and other health problems. For every $1 contributed to the Maryland Food Bank, they are able to provide 3 meals to Maryland’s needy families and individuals.

From December 1st through 14th, the following participating BEST members will be donating a percentage of their sales:

blockpartypress- 10% of Etsy sales
sweetpepita- 10% of all Etsy sales
jenmenkhaus- 10% of all Etsy sales
glowgirl - 10% of all Etsy sales
yummyandcompany- 10% of all Etsy sales
atelieradornments - 10% of all Etsy sales
lanabella - 10% of all Etsy sales
lolamiren - 10% of all Etsy sales
thebrokenplate - 10% of all Etsy sales
tigerlillyshop - 10% of all Etsy ring sales
greenstarstudio - 10% of all Etsy sales

Take some time to visit these Etsy shops, support handmade and know that when you make a purchase between Dec. 1 - 14, you will be helping to provide food and services to someone in need this holiday season. Here are some other ways to support the MD Food Bank:

* Make a direct monetary donation

* Purchase and donate food through the Food Bank's “Virtual Food Drive”

* Deliver the food directly to the Maryland Food Bank at 2200 Halethorpe Farms Road. Please call 410-737-8282 to arrange your delivery.

* Volunteer Opportunities

(Thanks Tamara, of BlockPartyPress, for organizing this drive & writing this lovely post).

file under "what was i thinking?"

2009-11-30T11:36:00.004-05:00

i've always been a person who believed if i think i can do it, i can. well, this week is pretty much going to test that theory once and for all. because i will manage to be in three places at once this weekend.

i'm really excited about the Holiday Shop-n-Stroll, from the awesome folks who brought us Handmade Mart. i'll be there in a tent, in december, and i'm looking forward to it!

i'm super disappointed not to actually BE at this show, a favorite of mine, but thanks to my friend emilie, my work will be at Holiday Heap. i'll be stopping by at the end to do some quick shopping, since there will be some great vendors there!

i'm trying out the Greenbelt Festival of Lights this year with the ladies of BEST. i'll be there sunday, but my work will be there on saturday too!

so, as you can see, i'll be spread pretty thin this weekend, but i have plenty of work for all of these shows thanks to my can-do attitude and lots of coffee. but since my work can't be three places at once, if there's something you're interested in, just tell me, and i'll make sure it gets to the right show. now if only someone can make sure i get to the right show!

ok, see you around this weekend!

thank you!

2009-11-25T00:00:00.003-05:00

to all of my wonderful customers, friends, and family, thank you for letting me do what i love! as a special thanks, i'll be offering free US shipping and $1 international shipping on any order over $10, from wednesday, november 25th through monday, november 30th. just checkout as normal, use the code "thanks" in the "notes to seller" section at checkout. i'll refund your shipping via paypal once i receive payment. have fun!

happy thanksgiving!

quarantined.

2009-11-20T00:03:00.002-05:00

image by shopworthy

well, not really, but we've learned that having a child in pre-school means having perpetual runny noses, and lots of other fun stuff. the sickness hit the day after halloween, and somehow, here we are 2/3rds of the way through november!

well, after having a busy week in the shop last week, i'm now caught up on orders, recovered and getting ready for the few shows i have in december. (you can find my schedule here.) i'm a bit behind in beefing up my etsy shop, but if there's something you want, please please contact me and i'll be happy to make it! i'm just a little behind on photos.

i'll post more on my shows soon, but in the meantime just wanted to share that we are healthy! awesome!

happy halloween!

2009-10-31T21:39:00.004-04:00

from a hula girl,

a mischievous alien named stitch

and these guys.

images from my favorite season

2009-10-30T10:12:00.006-04:00

sometimes we try to cram a lot of fun into our weeks. starting with the bean's field trip to the always nostalgic (for me) clark's elioak farm, for her first field trip, we kicked off our harvest season.

then we spent the weekend at baugher's, getting our pumpkins and generally getting into the autumnal spirit...

and topped the weekend off with the annual lantern parade, where rick and i decided we were definitely building our own lantern next year.

i was feeling inspired by tamara's post last week on her block party press blog which featured an amazing image of her son enjoying all that fall had to offer. with that in mind, i squashed all terrified-mom instincts and let the bean have at this bail of hay.

i was well rewarded.

flashes from the past

2009-10-28T17:02:00.005-04:00

rick and i celebrated an anniversary this week... and i was thinking a lot about how much a different world we inhabited back when he proposed to me. i'd decided pretty early on that while marriage and kids were fun to think about, it was something i thought about as a path other people chose. i wasn't going that direction... all i wanted was to travel and have fun. a world beyond 30 never even occurred to me, like somehow at 29 everything would just end. that's it.

rick and i had been dating just a bit over a year, a year which had been really rough for me in a number of ways, when we decided to take a trip to california to see some friends of his. they lived in l.a., not too far from disneyland, and we had heard about how the haunted mansion (something we both really love) was transformed every year into a nightmare before christmas ride, something we both loved too. i remember thinking how funny it would be if he proposed to me on the ride, and it kind of left my mind as we prepared for the trip.

well, to make a long story, very short, he did propose to me, on the third ride, at the end of the day, after we had a beautiful dinner in an new orleans style restaurant right next to the haunted mansion. i was so shocked i barely left the ride standing, and after stumbling into the art gallery with all of the nightmare before christmas memorabilia, i purchased these jack and sally figures, which we used on our wedding cake. it's funny, but i totally knew we were supposed to be together after that.

i look at this picture of us, taken on that day, and i can't believe how completely unaware we were of what would be in our future. and by that, i mean our little family.

last night at dinner we were talking about halloween costumes the bean had worn, and rick pointed out the year she was a bee, which i had totally forgotten, since i hadn't made the costume. i remember this particular point in my life being so insane at my job that i didn't have the time, and clearly, barely remembered the day. it was a particularly life-affirming moment when i found this photo just to prove that she had indeed been a bumblebee one year, because just this week i was discussing with friends the role motherhood plays in our lives, and how even though i still work (at least two jobs), it's never enough, and it should be. it is.

taking a breath. i think.

2009-10-19T09:59:00.003-04:00

i'm super excited because my brain is just whirring away... i have about 5 weeks until the next show, so i'm able to take a breath and make some fun new things... here's a preview of one of the wall pieces i'm making, and i'll also be working on some christmas pieces that i've been thinking about for some time.

i'll also be delivering an order to double dutch, so if you're in hampden you'll be able to find barrettes, headbands, and brooches there, plus i'll be working on photographing a ton of one-of-a-kind stuff to put up on my etsy shop.

maybe i won't be taking a breath after all.

squidfire! and what i'm not doing.

2009-10-10T23:41:00.005-04:00

i'll be heading up to philadelphia next weekend for squidfire's first art mart in philly. i'm very excited to see one of my favorite cities, and there will be some fantastic vendors there as well. i should be working on making more headbands, which i sold out of last week at crafty bastards. what i am doing is nothing even remotely connected to headband-making. this includes thinking about apples, enjoying some of the october breezes, seeing a movie with a clown zombie, and thinking up at least 6 new things that i'd like to make. i've gotten a start on making some of these ideas a reality, with different degrees of success, and hopefully once we get some nice sun i can get a few images up.

until then, i'll be continuing to enjoy this beautiful season. and making headbands.

vote for the best!

2009-10-07T10:52:00.001-04:00

our BEST blog, where i write many of my craft-relate blog posts, is in the running for Baltimore's craftiest blog. please vote for us today! (and tomorrow too!) don't worry if you are out of state, your vote counts anyway! thanks!

150 days, or thereabouts.

2009-10-05T22:07:00.003-04:00

the little guy is 5 months today, hard to believe. i'm starting to feel optimistic that things will return to normal, whatever that is. i keep thinking that niecy nash from clean house is going to show up at my door, and in a way, i kind of welcome that idea. (hey, maybe she'd like to try out a felt flower in her hair. hmm...)

anyway, i realized i hadn't posted a pic of my little tiger lately. it's certainly not that i haven't taken any, since, like we did for the bean, i'm documenting each day of the first year of his life. (if you'll follow along while i go on a tangent here, it's probably the coolest project i've ever undertaken. there are tons of similar photos, but it's amazing to see how much they change in a matter of days. you just don't notice it when you're with them.) annnnnyway, it results in a lot of pretty boring photos of him doing pretty boring things. like sitting in his chair at the table. but really, i can't ever get enough of that smile...

a day well spent

2009-10-04T14:29:00.004-04:00

thank you to everyone who stopped by yesterday, it was lovely to see you! i had a wonderful time. also, thanks to the lovely people that put on the show, you are the best! i didn't get much time to see much outside of my booth, but here was our little home for the day.

the view from the front, just before show opening. so colorful!

sweetpepita's beautiful new scarves, pixie hats, and our collaborative arm warmers.

all the adorable sweetpepita kid's clothes.

my beautiful new necklace display.

two of my newest necklaces, that i'm so excited about.

all the barrettes and hair thingies.

my re-invented shutters (thanks, hon!) holding a sampling of brooches.

thanks again, crafty bastards, see you soon!

i didn't rest.

2009-10-02T10:59:00.002-04:00

so, i was packed up yesterday, but instead of just letting it be, i had to make this necklace for crafty bastards tomorrow...

...and these earrings.

and in case you wonder where the bean is while i'm taking these photographs, now you know.

see you saturday!

2009-10-01T09:32:00.003-04:00

just a sampling of my brooches available at crafty bastards this saturday... if you see one you want and won't make it down, contact me and i'll post it on etsy for you. i also have new eco-felt barrettes and headbands, lots of new large flower wool headbands, and some sweet new necklaces.

see you saturday! booth 3. crafty bastards.

on sunday, we sleep.

come see me this weekend!

2009-09-29T09:54:00.003-04:00

it's this weekend! i promise i will get preview photos up before friday, but in the meantime, i'm busy sewing and cutting, cutting and sewing all kinds of new work to add some color to your fall wardrobe. i'll be introducing at least six new pieces, and maybe more if i decide to just keep the coffee pot crankin' all week. make sure to come see us in booth 3! follow me on twitter and i'll be sure to post photos and updates from the event, and maybe even a coupon code!

in the meantime, i wanted to share this little bit from my friend juliet, over at the broken plate. it's a great tribute, i think, to the wonderful craft community that i am so lucky to be a part of.

I guess my bullshit reason is that I am really proud of what I have been able to do with my silly breaking plates business. I am proud that I am surviving the crappiest economy that I have had to deal with by making things with my own hands out of objects that would be trash. Although I may not break plates forver, I want to remember the time I did forever because, well, it was pretty damn fun. I want to look at this tattoo and remember all of my awesome BEST girls, all the silly fun had at craft shows (spray tan and wine, anyone) and all of the odd calls, seemingly out of the blue, from a magazine that likes my work. Really? Rachael Ray? Crazy. So yes, I wil be a grandma with a tattoo, but when my grandkids ask about I can say “Sit down Deary, let me tell you a story about breaking plates.” The real reason, is that it is awesome.

i get by with a little help

2009-09-23T09:38:00.003-04:00

i'm hurtling toward the holiday show season at a pace i had never imagined i could maintain. but with the bean off to school in the mornings, and the little guy being bored into sleep by the sounds of me cutting felt, i'm actually getting things done. no matter how freeing working for yourself is, as anyone who has ever been self-employed can tell you, it is the hardest work you will ever do. i'm pretty sure there is more caffiene than oxygen running through my veins, and my side of the bed has hardly had a dent in it over the last few weeks. but i will get through!

when exhaustion collides with stress, which for me is mostly over having too many ideas of new work and not being able to convince my darling children that they will be happier if they sleep more, often i have to cry for help. luckily, my BEST friends helped picked up my slack for the street team, my mom came over to help me pack and price an entire rubbermaid container of work (woohoo!), mr. bean has been dutifully pricing work and repairing displays, and my sweet friend jill brought me a little handmade finery, a beautiful necklace from pressed glass and silver. and really, not to sound shallow, but jewelry and shoes will always cheer me up.

and crafty bastards, which i am beyond excited about, is next weekend in dc. i'll be sharing booth 3 with my good friend shannon, from sweet pepita, and will be among some of the most amazing crafty talent around. so keep watching, i'll be posting some previews of my new work, soon! if i can stay awake.

vote for me!

2009-09-10T15:52:00.001-04:00

full color

2009-09-09T09:55:00.001-04:00

loving this! so cheerful! by horst glaesker.

halloween is coming

2009-09-04T16:02:00.002-04:00

well, not really, unless you are in your local craft supply store. (in which case thanksgiving and christmas are right around the corner, too.) but these take a while to make, so i'm listing them now. you pick your colors, i'll whip up a one-of-a-kind brooch just for you!

happy birthday, bean.

2009-09-01T21:59:00.002-04:00

you go, my little supergirl.

let them eat cake

2009-08-31T23:53:00.003-04:00

the bean will be four tomorrow. it sounds weird to say it. it wasn't that long ago that we were pacing around the house, rick watching american splendor and me trying to decide if i was indeed in labor. (ok, i knew i was but somehow was still in denial.) my little girl was so strong from the beginning that the midwife actually jumped at the screams that came out of her with her first breaths. i remember that so clearly. it can't have been four years.

when she started talking about her birthday party three months ago, yes three, she was going to have a princess party. ok, i thought, easy enough. as the big day got closer and closer, the requests got more specific, until eventually they cake had to be a princess rainbow castle cake. now, being the avid color lover that i am, the rainbow part sounded great, and i was lucky enough to find this great tutorial on cake rainbow-ing. i never thought it would work, but it did. and thanks to her gigi, the outside fulfilled the castle and princess requirements.

we planned a simple but fun party... and of course, since i am both an overachiever and one crafty mommy, we had a wand-making session for the party princesses. as i watched the bean skillfully and stubbornly attach 50 some jewels to hers, i marveled at her little hands. hands that didn't need my help. i remember so clearly when those could barely wrap around my finger, and yet here they are. almost-four hands.

i don't know what this year will bring. and while i could probably squint hard and imagine that this bigger and brighter girl is my baby, i know she's ready to do bigger and brighter things. those strong, stubborn little hands have so much potential. so with luck, and some rainbow cake, we start year four.

bring it on.

gettin' much sleep?

2009-08-09T21:54:00.005-04:00

image by krisblues

this is the question most new moms are familiar with. usually we'll nod, eyes half-closed and respond with something like, "oh, sure, like 2 or 3 hours at a time." this seems reasonable to us in our sleep-deprived state. the answer is met with a knowing smile, and that's it. conversation over.

i know i got the question a lot when the bean was new, and yes, i'm still getting it now. but this time, i find the one i get more often is, "how is it with two?" i'm not sure what people want to hear, but i always tell the truth. depending on the day, i may say it's a thousand times harder than i ever imagined, or i may tell them that we're getting by.

maybe it's because i'm a sahm this time around, or a wahm i guess, but the only thing i can relate my days to is this. you will understand if you've ever worked retail during the holidays - that feeling of looking up from your work and seeing no end in sight. there's not a minute where at least one doesn't need me, and more often both need me at once. i often feel that in some way i'm neglecting one or the other, and that is a pain i can't quite describe. i know, i know, i'm a total wuss. i don't know how people do this.

as stressful as my days are, sometimes, though, having a second baby has opened my eyes to things i couldn't see with my first. the first time i looked at this little guy next to his big sister, i broke down and cried. it seemed like just yesterday the bean was a tiny screaming little red thing, all colic-y and determined - i knew from the second she let out that primal first scream that she was going to be a force to be reckoned with. at almost 4, she still is more of a force than ever, and the little guy, well, all he wants to do is cuddle.

having a second makes me appreciate every moment more, because i realize how quickly they go by. it's made me re-think many decisions i thought i had made. you might have noticed, my blog and my shop have been a little quieter than usual. i'm slowing down, intentionally, but i'll be back. i've got lots of new work coming bit by bit, and i'm getting ready to kick off the show season at crafty bastards on october 3rd. you can catch my crafty blogs over at BEST, and i'll be here occasionally posting new work and updates from the bean residence.

i hope you enjoy the rest of your summer. i'll see you soon!

guest blogging on indiefixx!

2009-08-07T23:14:00.003-04:00

i'll be helping fill jen's crafty shoes while she's on a much needed vacation... check out indie fixx next week!

the booty. and a break.

2009-07-24T22:04:00.005-04:00

so apparently i started this blog post almost 2 weeks ago and forgot about it. hmm. i have, however been enjoying all the goodies i scored at artscape. it was great few days and i made some great purchases and trades. most are above, but happily, my beautiful print from illegible ink is already on my wall! the bean scored a cupcake necklace from block party press for helping me at the show, tiger got a giraffe-yeti from cutesy but not cutesy, and i treated myself to a much-coveted tee from red prairie press and a necklace from the broken plate...

it was a great time, thanks to everyone who stopped by! i hope the weather is as good next year!

artscape, here we come!

2009-07-15T09:49:00.004-04:00

i'm not going to pretend it's not chaotic around here. our entire house looks like my teenage bedroom. there are crafts in the kitchen, the dining room, the living room, and even my car. everywhere i look - there's felt.

well, it's almost time, there's no denying it. the dreams of showing up to my booth with no work have started. mr. littlest bean sighs every time i pick up my scissors. there are boxes in my living room, packed and ready to go to artscape. that's because it starts on friday!

i've somehow managed to get a ton of new work ready to go, and despite my dreams, i am ready. i'll be there with fellow BEST members, so i'll be having a great time while i'm working. we'll be collecting craft supply items for Art With a Heart. so when you stop by, please bring any unused craft (or office) supplies or gift card to our BEST tent at artscape or to any of our participating artists at artscape to receive the discount. there's more info here if you need it.

we're in booths 16-21, on charles st., in the diy section. so stop by and say hi! see you there!

more new work!

2009-07-06T22:00:00.003-04:00

new one of a kind necklace... 100% wool felt, vintage plastic, and embroidery.

new adult headband... i'm loving reds right now, i guess...

i wish i had more time to write... but right now i'm busy hugging (and smelling) babies, playing with preschoolers, trying to enjoy the summer, and... oh, getting ready for artscape!!! which is a mere 11 days away. this is some of the new work i'll have there, and more is on the way!

papercrafting...

2009-07-01T20:37:00.002-04:00

have you seen this? amazing!

coming soon!

2009-06-29T21:48:00.000-04:00

i just picked up some eco-felt, perfect for my vegan friends and so very environmentally conscious. this felt was purchased especially for a secret new project i'm working on with sweet pepita, but i'll also be making brooches and barrettes with it soon... i'll keep you posted!

some of the new work i mentioned...

2009-06-17T11:39:00.000-04:00

gotta run, but there's more in my photostream!!!

next up... pile of craft

2009-06-16T23:19:00.003-04:00

i cannot wait for the show this saturday... it's my first of the year, and i'm looking forward to seeing everyone. i have a ton of new work, so please stop by and say hello, and see what i've been up to!

Shop handmade and have fun at this year’s Pile of Craft, a DIY art and craft show. There will be over 50 amazing, local, crafty vendors showing off their astounding apparel, jewelry, accessories, ceramics, paper goods, fine art and so much more! Saturday, June 20th, 2009

10am - 5pm
@ Saint Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
(Inside St John’s Church)

more info here

the new little man

2009-05-21T21:37:00.003-04:00

he has arrived. i knew from the beginning that he would be my little tiger... from the minute the bean heard the white noise while the midwife was looking for his heartbeat - and thought there was a tiger in mommy's belly. then later, when she chose a special friend for him, it had to be - a tiger.

we waited a long time for him... i mean, it was the typical nine months, but it was a very, very long, hard nine months. i breezed through pregnancy with the bean, but with this one it was just one hurdle after another. it is not something i'd like to go through again.

but here he is, now, and he is just a sweet and mellow as could be... he's just 16 days old, and already we can't imagine our home without him. welcome, little tiger.

happy anniversary, hon.

2009-05-03T06:31:00.000-04:00

can't believe all that's happened since then. love you!

upcoming shows

2009-04-30T12:38:00.002-04:00

i have been working diligently cutting and sewing pieces for the few spring shows i'm able to do this year. i'm especially happy with the flowers above, but you can see lots more in my flickr photostream.

here's the shows i'll be doing through the summer... i'll be back on my regular insane schedule in the fall. hope to see you sometime soon!

Squidfire Art Mart - May 9, 2009 (ok, i won't be at this one, but my work will, thanks to sherry!)

Pile of Craft - June 20, 2009

Artscape - July 17-19, 2009

still here.

2009-04-10T20:31:00.004-04:00

this will be us soon. image by goosegrease.

ok, it's been close to a month since i posted. i'm going to have to face the fact that i am NOT superwoman and i cannot do it all. bummer.

i am waiting not so patiently for this baby, and nesting like a crazy person. i'm hanging out with the bean, and trying somehow to schedule some shows for the spring/summer so i can get back out there. i'm hoping to be at the summit of awesome in may. i'm scheduled to speak, but babies can be unpredictable.

i'll post my show schedule, soon, but in the meantime, i'm just going to catch up on my sleep. see you soon!

last week's work

2009-03-16T15:28:00.002-04:00

i've been spending a bit of time thinking about what kind of work i'll be making this spring and summer (and probably fall too) since i'm not exactly sure how i'm going to find time to make as much work as i did last year... one of the things i'm considering is making more detailed work that i can cut in one sitting and embroider in another... i did some experimenting this week and came up with these:

these will be available to be made into brooches or headbands (since people inevitably want the opposite of what i've made.) i'll be popping them in to my shop this week, a few at a time.

what do you think?

petit elefant feature

2009-03-12T11:05:00.002-04:00

thanks to the lovely ladies over at petit elefant for the sweet write-up yesterday!

another best giveaway

2009-03-10T18:33:00.000-04:00

it's hard to believe that just last week we were shoveling snow... and now it seems like springtime really is almost here. to celebrate, BEST members put together this mega-giveaway of springtime goods just for you. all you need to do is be on the BEST mailing list and leave a comment on the original post about a favorite work from one of the many talented BEST artists.

good luck!!!

snow day! for real.

2009-03-02T23:15:00.002-05:00

even though i am beyond ready for warmer weather, it was the bean's first real snow and she couldn't get enough of it. so i guess i'll have to deal.

where did february go?

2009-03-01T21:53:00.004-05:00

ahh, the end of the weekend, and the month. geez. can't believe it's march already, and on top of it, it's snowing. ug. february was pretty busy for us around here... we had a nice vacation, then we got home and started re-arranging our entire house, and then i started making new work again. finally.

i worked on these most of the week/end, and i'm really pleased with the way they turned out. and the bean loved them so much she actually cooperated while i was taking the photos. they'll be in the shop tomorrow, hopefully.

on a totally unrelated note, i am always happy when the ACC show rolls through town. this year, i was asked to participate in a informational session at the show about selling on etsy, which was great. (thanks for lunch, matt!) and friday, my friend kristy and i spent several hours walking the show and i was able to catch up with some artist friends i hadn't seen in awhile. all good.

so good-bye, february, and hello march! (snow, good-bye to you, too!)

embellishments!

2009-02-25T09:48:00.002-05:00

we've been spending a lot of time moving things around in our house in preparation for another person to be added into the mix... and one of the things that had to be done was to move my studio, again. i've had some trouble getting back into the swing of things after the holiday madness, especially with my materials scattered all about, but now i am ready.

it didn't hurt that i had a deadline, either. my friend shannon, of sweetpepita, will be at the AltCraft section of ACC this week, and that meant i needed to make more little felt bits for her adorable pixie hats. (as she puts it, they are the chocolate to the hats' peanut butter? i probably screwed that up.) anyway, i think i ended up with somewhere close to 80 of them, and they just look so awesome together i had to share.

i've got lots of new work in progress, and have a lot of work on sale in my shop now to make room for the new, so stop by!

and if you're in baltimore, stop by and see the ACC show!

oh, coraline

2009-02-16T22:05:00.003-05:00

rick and i were lucky enough to get out of the house long enough to see coraline last friday. i had heard nothing but good things about the movie, but i also went with pretty low expectations, as i was really afraid of being disappointed. we saw it in 3d, which also made me a little nervous. for one, i tend to hate the gimmicky way it's often used, and also, because lately i'm prone to motion sickness in any movie.

the opening sequence was breathtaking - i was happy to go home after that. the rest of the movie was pretty good too. excellent, actually. i am a huge fan of stop motion animation, and while i think it would be amazing to work on a stop motion film, i acknowledge that i am a weird combination of way too spazzy and way too obsessive to ever do it well.

if you haven't seen it yet, go. it won't be the same on a tv screen, although i will happily watch it again at home sometime in the future. the detail, and oh, god, the garden - the garden will inspire you.

CPSIA uspdate

2009-02-12T22:37:00.002-05:00

so, february 10th has come and gone, and the CPSIA is now in effect. we were all given a year reprieve, which means they have a year to figure out how to allow us to comply without putting us out of business. we do still need to put pressure on elected officials to put the law into effect in a way that makes sense. if you value your ability to make/ purchase handmade for kids, please download the action kit and spread the word!

read more about the current state of the CPSIA here.

hear some of my side of the story here, just published in the catonsville times.

thanks, all of you, again, for your support! for me this fight is more about having access to handmade toys and clothes for my kids than anything else!!!

image by greenstarstudio.

baby, it's cold outside

2009-01-29T23:04:00.000-05:00

you always know it's cold outside when pippi and satchmo curl up next to each other waiting for heat to come out of the vent...

amend the CPSIA - help us!

2009-01-28T10:24:00.003-05:00

Via Etsy:

Many of our members are aware of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and the resulting sense of confusion sellers of children's items are experiencing. These sellers need to know how the legislation will impact their businesses and need to be informed.

The CPSIA is by no means a done deal. We are in conversations with the executive director of the CPSC, and they are listening to the micro-business community! Discussion is ongoing: makers and supporters of handmade and vintage items still need to voice concerns.

In light of this need for information, discussion, and feedback hinging on this important CPSIA issue, Etsy has launched a special temporary forum. Please post any relevant threads there.

Furthermore, for up to the minute info on the CPSIA, we would like to refer folks who are involved or concerned about the CPSIA issue to BuyHandmade.org's new blog, which includes resources and news updates. The Etsy homepage now proudly sports the new badge from BuyHandmade.org, reflecting the focus on this issue.

Please take the Buy Handmade Pledge and show your support for sellers of children's items by placing the badge on your websites and blogs.

Image from sweet pepita.

baltimore magazine again

2009-01-22T21:14:00.004-05:00

my friends at BEST and CCCM had a sweet little party to celebrate the december issue of the magazine, and lots of nice people from the mag showed up and tya photographed it all... and surprise, when i got my february issue today, there was this sweet little spread. thanks again, baltimore magazine!

my favorite christmas gift

2009-01-22T11:46:00.003-05:00

rick and i didn't do a whole lot for each other for christmas this year, but he did get me this wonderful pendant which is one of the best presents i have ever gotten. whitney at luckymebeads is just one of the nicest people to work with, she even saved a matching pendant for me so i can have another made when this little one arrives.

she'll do silhouettes of your pets, your significant other, anything! i would love to have that necklace above, but i really don't see us having that many kids... definitely check out whitney's shop, i'm sure you'll find something you love!

Obama!

2009-01-20T14:32:00.003-05:00

oh, so proud of this country. hopeful, and eager to get back on track. thanks, President Obama.

necklace by blockpartypress.

business of craft meetup, this sunday

2009-01-20T11:02:00.002-05:00

BEST will be hosting its first business meet-up at the Creative Alliance on Sunday, January 25th. The meet-up will feature roundtable discussions led by Cynthia Blake Sanders, MD Lawyers for the Arts; Rebecca Cason, former director of the Buyer's Market of American Craft; Jen Menkhaus (me!), working crafter and one of the founders of the Baltimore Street Team; Nita Gale, web designer; Ariella Levin of Baltimore's Best Bookkeeper; and Thomas Wynn, professional photographer.

Practical discussions will include legal and accounting basics; marketing, wholesale and pricing; and looking your best– on the web and in promo photos. Lunch will be provided (mouth-watering white bean hummus sandwiches!), a great time to get connected with other local artists and crafters to make new friends, show off your work, and share ideas. Come join us!

Come join us! Register through the Creative Alliance, here.

snow at last!

2009-01-19T22:51:00.002-05:00

we had the snow pants, the boots, the gloves, the hat, the coat. we've been waiting for snow. when we woke up this morning to see snow coming down, the first thing the bean wanted to do was get out there and make a snowman. it didn't matter that there was barely enough snow to cover the grass-she was ready. now snow isn't nearly as fun to me now as it used to be. i mean, i don't get the day off "work", rick goes in anyway, and the bean's not in school yet, so snow to me just means snow. it's pretty and all, but it's cold.

we bundled up anyway, and got outside, and while the bean ran laps past me and threw snow in my hair, i tried my best to scoop up the little bit we had and make the obligatory snowman. he's about barbie-size, and the bean lost interest before i could go find mini-eyes, nose and a scarf, so there he stood, guarding our front walk.

then we got to go in and have tea and cocoa, which really is the best part about snow.

a very belated happy 2009

2009-01-13T09:35:00.005-05:00

hope you all had a nice transition from 2008 - 2009! rick had the week off, so we had some much-needed family time. not restful, but good. we had a really nice christmas, then made it to cincinnati to see rick's family, eat some chili, and see the festival of lights at the cincinnati zoo. (that's the zoo in the photo above.)

we spent our typical quiet new year's eve, in our pajamas, playing games and snacking. lovely. since new year's i've been obsessively (between naps) trying to clear my house of all the clutter of the holiday selling season. you would not believe how much room felt can take up!

2009 has been a bit crazy so far. we've all been sick, had several trips to the doctor, one broken furnace, one broken camera, an almost-trip to the ER, and a bunch of busy-ness surrounding the event BEST is hosting at the creative alliance.

i'm super-excited to start out, i've got lots of new work swimming in my head, and lots made. as soon as i get my camera working, i'll have lots to share.

happy new year!

Merry, Merry!

2008-12-24T09:22:00.000-05:00

well, i'm done. i've packed up my last cookie, wrapped my last present, finished my last craft. i'm going to take some time just to be.

thank you all so much for your support this year, it has been a wonderful one. i feel very lucky to know you all and i'll be back in the swing of things in 2009. my shop is closed now, but i'll re-open early january with new work and some sale work too.

have a peaceful holiday, and a joyful new year. thank you!

for more info about the image, please click on it.

christmas stuff

2008-12-22T10:30:00.003-05:00

some of our ornaments, including an owl from sweetestpea.

our tree is looking a little funny this year, partly because it's not quite vertical, and partly because the bean decided to group ornaments together in no particular method that makes sense to me, but seems to work for her. the tree is a work in progress this year, as we are rearranging ornaments on a daily basis.

i have to share my very proud mommy moment, too. the other night we sat down to write our letter to santa, and the bean asked for two things for herself, and five things for her pets, family, and friends. i have never been so proud. of course, now i am fulfilling santa orders for pets and others as well, but it's totally worth it. that's the spirit of christmas, y'know?

Shop Local with the BEST!

2008-12-17T18:03:00.002-05:00

check out the Shop Local Baltimore article in the Storque today! i'm proud to be featured among the other talented baltimore etsians... thanks etsy! (that's me!)

merry mart, tomorrow!

2008-12-06T21:41:00.003-05:00

i'll be at merry mart tomorrow, in the theatre. my work will be at squidfire as well. stop by and say hello!

baltimore magazine

2008-12-02T21:36:00.003-05:00

i've been really, really behind on my blog lately (too many shows) but i wanted to share the artivle from baltimore magazine that i am so excited about. the issue features other BEST members and local crafters as well, so check it out!

in the leaves

2008-11-24T08:42:00.002-05:00

alright, it has gotten bitter cold around here. i'm not used to having snow/frost on leaves as we're raking them up. rick and i thought it would be fun to have the bean out there with us, and it was, although if we were looking to speed up the process we were definitely mistaken. because what's more fun then jumping in the big pile of leaves you just raked and throwing them up in the air?

absolutely nothing.

check out this shop

2008-11-18T21:37:00.004-05:00

my dear friend, and one of the most talented artists i know, just opened her etsy shop! it's called chidra stitch, and she's going to be featuring really beautiful hand-embroidered leather cuffs. i love the one she gave me, and i wear it all the time. so stop by and show her some love!

christmas work, on the way!

2008-11-17T10:18:00.002-05:00

in my shop now...

thanks, craft mafia!

2008-11-16T19:47:00.000-05:00

holiday heap was great! and thanks to everyone who stopped by and said hello...

holiday heap, tomorrow

2008-11-14T07:43:00.003-05:00

so tomorrow is holiday heap... i can't wait, because it's a really fun show, and a chance to say hello to my baltimore friends who have lost out to the ginormous pile of felt that has been demanding my attention lately. i have been cutting like crazy, and i'm seriously considering trading in my hands for scissors (think edward scissorhands.)

there's an awesome list of vendors, and i'm hoping to get a little shopping done too. so if you stop by my booth to say hello, be prepared to work - i may dash off to shop! but don't let that stop you, come by and say hello. see you there!

Holiday Heap 2008 is a juried indie craft fair featuring over 50 renegade crafters from the area and beyond. A free event, open to everyone, and perfect for purchasing out-of-the-ordinary gifts for the upcoming holiday season. Held in the heart of Baltimore in the beautiful neighborhood of Charles Village, the fair will take place November 15th from 10-5pm at the 2640 Space at St. John’s Church (located at 2640 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218). It is the Charm City Craft Mafia’s FOURTH fair of this type, and the second annual Holiday show. Look for Handmade jewelry, clothing, toys, ceramics, paper goods, knitwear, bags, accessories, soft sculpture, books and more! Music provided by Sleepy Records, Snacks provided by Red Emma’s Bookstore, Super fun post-shopping interviews with new local craft group HELLO CRAFT, and a chance to win the mother of all raffle baskets full of — you guessed it — goodies from all of your favorite Craft Mafia members, to benefit a local arts charity.

one more thing about handmade arcade

2008-11-13T20:00:00.001-05:00

just found this image of me and my booth at handmade arcade. none of my pictures turned out... thanks, tigerlillyshop!

one down...

2008-11-12T21:51:00.004-05:00

handmade arcade was awesome! just the nicest people, nicest organizers, great customers, adorable city. now on to holiday heap on saturday, this time no traveling!

off we go...

2008-11-07T15:51:00.001-05:00

...to handmade arcade! just a sample of the work packed up and ready to go!

squirrels like pumpkins, too

2008-11-06T19:55:00.001-05:00

we did it!

2008-11-04T22:15:00.004-05:00

we voted. we waited in line about 45 minutes, and the whole time the bean kept asking what ride we were going to go on... or when we were going to see the "boat" (instead of "vote.")

i feel hopeful. and am glad to have had the ability to cast my ballot. and i can't wait to tell the bean her first voting story sometime down the road...

voting pin by minorthread

handmade arcade, this weekend!

2008-11-04T10:30:00.004-05:00

handmade arcade is 4 days away. i'm busily packing / sewing / cutting / freaking / trying to remember to breathe. there will be so many great vendors there, i'll need to do some shopping, too! if you're in the pittsburg area, come by and stay hi!

ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!

more pumpkins

2008-11-02T09:27:00.000-05:00

halloween

2008-11-01T10:23:00.001-04:00

this kid just won't stand still...

where i've been

2008-10-22T21:30:00.003-04:00

because i am even more like an adolescent girl than you will ever know, i've spent the last 2 weeks devouring not one, but four large volumes of teen goth romance novel. everyone was reading it at the beach this summer, and something just called to me to pick up the book last week. (i mean, it is halloween season.) two weeks later, lacking sleep and avoiding the ever- growing need for inventory for handmade arcade (two weeks away!), i finished it. all of them. and because i am more of a geek than you will ever know, now i am obsessing about the movie. where were the teen vampire love movies when i was a teen?

off to sew. nonstop. for the next two weeks. gads.

wow.

2008-10-14T22:17:00.003-04:00

i never, ever expected to even get 100 hearts when i opened up my shop, and in just a year... 2500! i feel like i'm constantly shaking my head in amazement. thanks.

pumpkin farm

2008-10-12T19:51:00.005-04:00

i love this time of year. it seems like there is color everywhere, the days are cooler, and we get to go to the pumpkin farm. it's always a struggle for me not to end up with a car full of pumpkins.

the last few years we have gone to Baugher's Farm. i like it there because they really have enough to do to keep us busy for half a day, at least. we get to take a hay ride to the pumpkin patch, pick our pumpkin (from the vine), and cart it back. this year, the added bonus was a giant hay mountain for the kids to play on.

there is also a small petting zoo, with animals walking around, a great market (mmm, apple dumplings), playgrounds, moon bounce, make-your-own scarecrow, and lots of other little activities. the bean did not want to leave.

in the end, there was so many distractions we somehow only came home with one, very slanted pumpkin (and lots of food from the market.) so we'll have to head down to the farmer's market on sunday and get the rest.

rings!

2008-10-10T11:40:00.002-04:00

new work! now off to enjoy the gorgeous day, happy friday!