Be My Valentine - A Valentine's Day Card Roundup

Hi there. How are you?

Valentine's Day is no big deal at our house. No cards, no presents. It really just another day for us. We even used to host an Anti-Valentine's Day party when we lived in Rockford.

I don't do Valentine's day, but I must admit that I love paper valentines and always have. I have fond memories of decorating the shoe box to bring to school and exchanging goofy E.T., Care Bear and Rainbow Brite themed cards with all the kids in my class. As an adult, I'd send out homemade Valentines to friends and family instead of sending Christmas cards.

I've designed a new valentine this year featuring my sweet little fairy wrens. I've always thought they looked like they were talking to each other, and this is what I imagine they'd say.

Do you send/give valentines? There are so many artful, irreverent, and quirky Valentines available these days. I've pulled together a selection of my personal faves I've found on Etsy.  Enjoy!

1. You Make Me Happy by Meg Gleason/Moglea
2.You're Doing it Wrong by JulieAnnArt
3. Foxy Valentine by Michele Maule
4. There is Nobody Else by Emily McDowell
5. Capture my Heart by Jenipher Lyn/Nightly Doodles
6. You're Cute by Me!

If you'd like to see more of my Valentine finds, check out this Pinterest board.

That's all for now friends. Ta-Ta!
 

I Win!

I entered a giveaway last week on Michele Maule's blog. 

She's an artist I very much admire. Lady Luck was with me, and I won this sweet print.

It arrived in the mail just the other day. Everything about this screams cute. 

Even the package Michele sent the print in was cute!

Not only did Michele send the print, but also included an adorable owl greeting card, and a personal note. 

If you haven't ever seen Michele's work, do pop over to her etsy shop. I adore basically everything she does, but am particularly taken by her vintage camera illustrations and her little houses.

 And her chairs......Of course I love her chairs!

I haven't made anything new in the studio this week, just lots of prep work for my first show of the year, which is less than a month away. Whoa....How did it get to be the middle of April already?

Ta-ta for now!

An Interview and Something New

Hi! How are you?

For a variety of reasons, things have gotten really busy and my little ole blog has been neglected. I wanted to let you know that I am indeed still alive and kicking, and will soon have some brand new products to share with you. (See the sneak peek above!)

I was honored to be interviewed by fellow etsyian Melissa Martinez on her Working Title/Gallery 3940 blog this week.  Click here to read the interview.  Thanks much Melissa!

Have a great weekend friends. Ta-Ta for now!

Keeping it Indie Blog Interview

Greetings friends! How are you?

I'm excited and honored to be the featured artist on the Keeping it Indie blog.  There's a cute little interview and some of my artwork featured.

Brandi, the woman behind this fab blog is an old Etsy pal of mine.  In her Sweet Harvey shop, she creates all sorts of beautiful letterpress cards, screen printed textiles and illustrations.  Please patronize her shop!

I'm working hard on a big new piece. Hopefully I'll have something to show you soon.

Ta-ta for now.

Rockford Handmade Market Preview - Part 3

Greetings! 

I've got one more batch of Rockford Handmade vendors to show off. I'm heading to the Brewhouse after school today to help set up and decorate the space. I'm really looking forward to a fabulous holiday shopping experience. 

I will have a wide selection of my cards, prints and originals,  available at the show. Several of the originals are brand new, and never been seen by the public! Woo.

1. Off loom beaded jewelry by Andek Designs.
2. A wide selection of great vintage prints by The Vintage Print Shop.
3. Handmade albums, notebooks and mixed media art by Celeste Mores.
4. Handmade, natural wax candles, soap and air fresheners by Christina Candles. 
5. Gourmet cupcakes by Caked.
6. Unique jewelry created with vintage, found objects, and organic materials by mLindvall...inspired design 
7. Jewelry and origami creations by Plan 9 Design.

Rockford Handmade Market

Prairie Street Brewhouse

200 Prairie Street

Rockford, IL

4-10 pm

See you tomorrow. Admission is free!

Loose Ends and Lost Friends

 

I ran a giveaway a few weeks back and failed to announce the winner.  (Sorry!) Danielle, the talented owner of Burlap Works, was the lucky recipient of the "Meant to Be" print. She creates beautiful bags and accessories fashioned from burlap coffee sacs. If you're a local, you can meet Danielle and see her beautiful bags at the City Market,  downtown on Friday evenings. She also offers her wares on Etsy.  I  am hoping to get one of her creations for my upcoming September birthday. (Hint, Hint Matt)

On a much more sober note, I lost one of my very dearest and oldest friends today. Lynn's one and a half year battle with breast cancer came to an end this morning. Just 2 weeks ago I had a great visit with Lynn, who was one of my college roommates. We made dinner, drank wine, and talked until the wee hours of the morning. I am so grateful for this time with her and so grateful for my friendship with this wonderful woman. She will be missed by so many.

Lockets!

Happy Memorial Day weekend friends! Today (Sunday) feels so much more relaxing when I know that there's no work on Monday.

For quite some time, I have been collaborating with Cat of Polarity on Etsy. She produces clever little lockets from a recycled car part and offers a set featuring my art. The "Take Time To Breathe" collection is now available in my Etsy shop. Yahoo! The locket has 3 magnetic interchangeable lids - two with my designs and one with the definition of the word BREATHE; hopefully something this collection encourages us to do!

I'm also hoping to put together another set to sell in the shop and at art fairs this summer. Which of my pieces would you like to see on a locket? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Sending hope, grace and contentment your way!

Its Not Always Sunny in Sterling

"Windy Pods" by Annie of DwellinStyle on Etsy

May weather in the Midwest is unpredictable to say the least. Snow is not uncommon......Either is an 85 degree turn on the A/C kind of day.

I spent most of last week in flip-flops, enjoying the warmth of the spring days and dreaming of my soon to come summer vacation. But, Mother Nature does not like Midwesterners to get too complacent or too comfortable, so by the weekend, things turned downright nasty.......Just in time for my outdoor show!

I was awakened on Saturday morning by the howling of the wind. I looked out the window to see drizzle and gloomy, gray skies. Awesome! Despite the awful weather and frigid temps, Matt and I made the hour long trek down to Sterling to set up for May Fest.

Nothing about setting up my booth went smoothly. Even though the I had zip-tied sand bags to each leg of the EZ-UP tent, the gale-force winds were knocking it around. I put up the tent sides to block the wind, which did seem to help for a time. Every time I got part of a table set up, a gust of wind would push against the tent side and knock it all down. I was frustrated, but determined, so I would try again. Eventually I just tried setting things up on the side of the tent opposite the direction of the wind. The last straw was the overturning of an entire table, busting 2 frames and denting several others!!!

My booth neighbor Rebecca, of Rebeccabags on Etsy was nice enough to help me pick up the pieces of what once was my booth. (She's got adorable floral themed wristlets and bags in her shop. Check her out!) I didn't foresee the weather getting any better or having much of a crowd showing up, so without as much as one customer, the day was over for me! Matt and I repacked and were on the road just minutes after the show was supposed to start.

I was pretty disappointed, but have to admit, it was a learning experience. I will be wary about signing up to do an early May event again, unless its in Arizona or somewhere else warm. For my next show, (Art on the Lawn, June 13th) I will have everything securely hung up on some sort of wall and not deal with easels. I also know that I have to find a heavy-duty method to weight down my tent. Any veteran outdoor vendors have any tried and true suggestions?

Have a good week friends!

First Art Show of the Season

On Saturday, I will be peddling my wares at May Fest in Sterling, Illinois. Main Street May Fest is a celebration of spring flowers, the garden and Mother's day. There will be flowers, garden art, food, music, and family activities. I will be selling original works, giclee prints and handmade cards.

Last Sunday, I did at test run of setting up my booth. This is the first time I've done an outdoor show, so I wanted practice my set up before the event. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and I think I'm ready for Saturday.

One of the only things I purchased for the tent was the cute little banner, made by fellow Etsyian Amanda of Funkyshique. She made me the most adorable custom pennant bunting with my name. (I'll have to take a better picture of the bunting at the show.) Amanda was nothing but a pleasure to work with. The sharp burlap banner was made, sent and on my door step in just about one weeks time! Patronize her fab shop!!!

May Fest happens from 10 AM to 2PM on Saturday, May 8th at 4th and Light Streets, in the heart of downtown Sterling. Check out the map below for further directions. Hope to see you there!

Ciao! Ciao!


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