Birthday wishes and a new project

Have you seen the new 20 in 20 project from Aesthetic Outburst yet? Well, if you haven't, make sure you check it out. Every day Abbey makes something fabulous (like the pieces above) and then posts it as a giveaway on her blog. I love how diverse the projects are and I'm especially enamored with the embroidery pieces.

Today is Abbey's birthday, too. A little background on my dear friend. I met Abbey 12 years ago when we were freshmen in college. We took intro to drawing together and bonded over our shared hatred of the class. I think we complained about it the entire semester and then promptly enrolled in printmaking together where my first etching was a mermaid and Abbey's was a seahorse (or possibly a sandcastle). I'm happy to say that after all these years, Abbey is still one of my closest, most talented friends. Happy Birthday Abbey!

Ornament Swap

My dear friend Nicole from freshlyblended is organizing her 5th Annual holiday ornament swap! Basically, you'd make 8-10 ornaments and then trade them within your group. I did this swap twice and plan to sign up again this year. It's so much fun to get little handmade packages in the mail in December and great motivation to make something new. Every year I make some letterpress printed ornaments, this year will be no different :) Head on over and check it out!

(past swap ornaments from Aesthetic Outburst, Parrott Design Studio, Pistachio Press)

Hello Poppies!

Jan from Poppytalk has started a new award called the Poppies, "a virtual awards ceremony of sorts celebrating the Handmade Community!"  Nominations for several categories go until midnight tonight, so head on over and vote for your favorite handmade artist!

And if you're so inclined to express your undying letterpress love for Pistachio Press, here's the handmade paper goods link :)

second storie} i heart handmade

Please join us (and Pistachio Press) for i heart handmade this Friday, February 1! second storie is Rochester's answer to a growing movement towards a new approach to art + craft. This unique craft event comes just in time for Valentine's Day!

With letterpress, pottery, jewelry, fabric and much more, we bring our passion for hand-making to those who have a passion for the handmade. second storie} i heart handmade is sure to be a warm evening full of live local music, warm drinks and fine art & craft. This craft fair will truly be one of a kind.

second storie} i heart handmade
Spot Coffee
Rochester, NY
Friday, February 1, 2008
6-10 pm
live music
admission is free

www.secondstorie.net
http://www.myspace.com/secondstorie
http://www.firstfridayrochester.org


{awesome poster image by Marlene Heuer}

Wishing for the New Year

I just put together quite possibly my last treasury of 2007. I'm hoping to buy at least a few of these things in the new year {or maybe my husband will buy one or two for my birthday, hint, hint}. Check out these great shops while you're finishing all of your Christmas shopping.

A tiny secret

Ok, so I feel like I have a slight ring obsession right now. I think this little leaf ring by Amanda Conley is lovely. It's like wearing a secret...Others may not notice how cute it is because of it's size, but you'll know the whole time you're wearing it!

I love, love, love this ring from Hester Zagt Sieraden {found via Bloesem}! I tried to find more information on her, but alas, I only speak English. Hester has more rings like this on her website, and many other beautiful pieces. I can't decide what my favorite color is for this design...maybe I would pick white...

Productive!

In addition to feeling a little overwhelmed, I've been quite productive lately. I even had a chance to finish my ornaments for the Holiday Ornament Swap. Here's a sneak peek of my ornament (four-sided letterpress) and some tree decorating from this weekend.

Poppytalk Online

Poppytalk Handmade is now up and running. I hope you'll visit my page and then check out all of the other wonderful vendors! I'm already thinking about buying Christmas goodies for everyone {and myself}.

lots of new stuff

As promised, here are a few things I got at Second Storie, although I wanted many more pieces!

These beautiful earrings and a matching ring from Megan Auman.

A great hand-sewn journal from Paperoot.

A very sweet drawing from Marlene, similar to the one above.

A set of fun matchbook jotters from Freshly Blended Press.

What a week!

second storie opened Friday night and I had printed tiny t-shirts until 2am that day, slept for a few hours, got back up, printed more cards, packaged cards, heat set the t-shirts and set up my table by 5:30 that night. The heat was unbearable {it was over 90 degrees outside and must have been well over one-hundred on the third floor of VSW}, but we had a ton of people show up. The response to my new line of cards and t-shirts was so heartening! One woman recognized my work from Etsy and my friend Jen even came up from NYC to check it out {well, really to visit family a few hours away, but she also made the trek to Rochester}.

All of the other vendors were amazing and I wanted something from every single one of them! It was so exciting to make such great connections. Even though it was an exhausting weekend, I feel totally emotionally and artistically rejuvenated! I'll post my trades and purchases soon.

New Start

Every year I think of the beginning of school as a new start. A chance to finally go through the boxes of paperwork in the attic, clean out the closets, start exercising regularly, and most importantly, buy school supplies! I love going to office supply stores, and I especially love these pencils cases from Etsy sellers. I wish I had any one of these!

{From left to right, top to bottom: Cascade Lemonade, Mogo, Gifts Define, Punchanella, LouLouBell, cabin + cub}

one in ten

Although I'm leaving for Delaware tonight, I'm still going to try to bid at the One in Ten auction. If you haven't heard about it, this is an auction of handmade goods to help cover medical costs for a fellow blogger's mother. The dates for the auction are August 19-24, so I'll have to make sure I'm near a computer on Sunday. The owls above are going to be in the auction and were made by Moonstitches. For a tutorial on how to make these owls click here.

Knitting in the sand

Although I won't be able to go on this awesome cruise {maybe when I learn a bit more}, I will be able to knit on the beach in a few weeks. The family is going to stay in a beautiful house {owned by my grandma's cousin} in Bethany Beach, Delaware. I'm looking forward to some relaxation and a tan before starting the new semester. And vinegar fries on the boardwalk. And maybe reading a new book. August must be our month for travel!

second storie} indie market

I'm thrilled to be a part of Rochester's upcoming indie craft fair {like Renegade or Art Star}. second storie will be held at the Visual Studies Workshop on September 7 from 6-10 pm and September 8 from 10-6 pm. We're lucky to coincide with the Clothesline Festival {right across the street!}. Below are images from some other second storie participants.


Megan Auman uses floral patterns {a kindred spirit} and wire to create amazing sculptures.


Colette Watts Quaglia makes paintings and drawings based on nature and pattern. I'm lucky to have one of her small drawings hanging in my living room.

Dulcie Miller is a ceramic artist who also co-owns Crocus Clay Works {a ceramic studio in the Hugerford Building}.

Marlene Heuer, a Rochester illustrator, will also be there!

Birds

I wish I could have this Sara Paloma vase. It's beautiful and would have made my house much happier. Too bad for me, it sold out. Check out her other pieces, they have a really simple elegance.

Am I crazy?

I got up early and went to the 75% off day at Fabrics and Findings this morning with a few thrifty friends. We got there early and still weren't the first people in line! I got these amazing fabric swatches {among other goodies} and felt slightly insane while I was organizing them by color in my sewing closet! Be on the lookout for new stuff made with these super-cute patterns {Etsy may be in the cards for me, too}. I'm going to the final auction tomorrow morning, but hopefully I won't have anything to post about, my wallet can't take many more deals.

I love this bag from the new issue of Living. I've been thinking about making my own bias tape, so now I have a goal to work toward. Good timing, too, since I'll finally have a bit of free time soon!


I love zinnias. Luck for me MS Weddings features them this month. Unlucky for me, I don't have my subscription anymore. Reading it online just isn't the same, but I'm not sure if I want to renew my subscription.

Closing sales...

I just found out that Wild Wools in Rochester is closing. Very sad news. They had some beautiful yarns and such a cozy little store. The bright side to this, however, is that they're having a going-out-of-business sale that runs from May 16-20 and everything is 50% off.


Another sad closing is Fabrics and Findings. They've been in the Anderson Alley building for years and I can't believe that they'll be gone soon! They're closing sale is also this week...Wednesday {30% off}, Thursday {50% off}, and Friday {75% off}.


You might be able to snag a knitting bag from Made by Rachel {not me} at Wild Wools. Be on the lookout for one!

Cut + Paste

I just found cut+paste and I love it. Kind of like Etsy, but a bit more managable. I wish I had this laptop bag!