I was in a Treasury!

"Mission Possible/" title="RocketScience-1 by Jenipher's Life, on Flickr">

Yay! Lovely Joon, (whom i will write more about later) created a Treasury on Etsy for Spacey Items and she and her husband picked my "Mission Possible" astronaut necklace!

Thank you so much Joon, i really appreciate it!

Loads of new Etsy items up!!

Many of these items are on my website too!

Clutch On To Those Animals!!

Okay, i am beyond excited about Meg's animal clutches!! Meg's shoppe, Tsurbride is where she sells her sweet leather animal bags and wallets. Her husband is also an artist, so make sure to check out his Etsy too!!



*How long have you been crafting?

My mom first taught me how to sew when I was 7 years old, so it's been about 20 years now. I started by making some pretty terrible looking clothes for my Barbie dolls. Eventually, after much guidance I got better and ended up going to college for fashion design. Since I graduated I've been working a technical designer for various fashion brands (it's sort of like being an engineer but for clothes). Once I started working I put my sewing on the back burner, but my step-daughter got my going again when she asked me to make some clothes for her Bratz dolls. Once I started back up I couldn't stop!



*Did you always craft in this genre?

Pretty much. I always like to dabble in different things though such as photography, painting, and even jewelry making - my mother-in-law taught me how, and it was with the jewelry I made that I first started my Etsy store. I have a blog where I like to post the crafty things my husband and I get up to: www.tsurubride.com.

*Who or what inspires you?

I come from a very artistic family. Both my grandmothers were big sewers, my brother and I would always draw cartoons or build things growing up, and my mother has always inspired me through her endless encouragement. Now my husband inspires me too. He was the one who really pushed me into started my own business and is always doing what he can to help me out. Coco Chanel was one of my early inspiration, her start as a millener to one of the greatest fashion houses - a real rag to riches story - and while my aspirations have never been that lofty, it can't help but move you and make you try your best.



*What defining moment made you decide to turn your hobby into a business?

As I started above, my husband was always encouraging me to grown my hobby. With the purses, they just kinda started taking off on their own. First one friend wanted one, then another. I would go out on the town on the weekends, and people would ask me where I got my purse from, and after enough requests I realized that maybe I could expand my hobby into more. It's been a gradual transition, starting the business as made to order, but now I'm trying to create stock and apply to some craft shows.



*What changes were made to your regular schedule to make this go from a hobby to a business?

I still work full time but my nights and weekends have definitely gotten busier! Some of the steps I can do just chilling out watching TV, like tracing out patterns and cutting out fabric, and then I try to set aside some nights and weekend hours to just sewing. Things are moving at a good pace for me though: time to work, time to craft, and time to relax. It's a healthy balance.

* You have an amazing talent, with great product! What do you find is the best way to market yourself?

Thanks so much! I'm still starting out so my marketing will need to continue to grow as I do. Word of mouth is still a big part of my business, my blog attracts some traffic, and every now and then I'll buy a showcase on Etsy. My biggest marketing force is my husband. He also has a blog that talks about music (www.tsururadio.com) and he gets a lot of traffic. He has a ad for my blog, and he always talks about me in posts, and he's also a member of a number of forums that he uses to pimp out my shop. He's a marvel. I also find always carrying my product is a simple and free form of marketing. Whether I'm out during the week with my tote, or out at night with a clutch, you never know who might stop you and ask you where you got it. I always carry business cards, just in case. I've also just joined an Etsy Street Team for Columbus, who are all about cross-promoting, and who are also just a great group of people.




*What challenges have you found while taking your craft into the business world?

I think the hardest thing is having people place value on the idea of something being homemade. People don't always realize the time that goes into something, and so they expect to be able to get your product on the cheap. I have had a couple offers for wholesale, but the asking rate is so low that it would just cover my cost of materials, and forget about labor! There's also cold calling on stores, asking if they're interested in your product, it's never an easy thing to do, and I can get stage fright sometimes.



*If someone from out of town were visitng you, what key places would you bring them to?
(galleries, coffee shops, parks, museums, etc)

The Short North area for sure. It's just North of the downtown core and filled with great galleries, restaurants and shops. I've always lived close by the area since I moved to Columbus and whether I'm walking there or biking there I love having such a great little area close by. I also love the Topiary Garden - they're sculptures are a representation of Georges Seurat's painting "A Sunday On The Island Of La Grande Jatte" -- makes for some great photos!



Whether your an animal fan or not, you'll surely love these fun bags! So head over to Meg's etsy to see her sweet treats!

Introducing...my Copper Collection.

I wanted to create a collection of jewelry that emphasizes my love for Vintage inspired jewelry. This copper gem is my favorite of my new collection. A nice sized, faceted, Opal Quartz sits under a vintage inspired, textured triangle bead cap. A tiny Garnet lays under the Opal. A little Brass flower houses a creamy Freshwater Pearl and another tiny Garnet accent. This lovely selection hangs on a 22" Copper chain, and has my signature cherry dangling off of a round copper clasp. The matching earrings hang on elongated Copper ear wires.

Life > Work

It's been a while....

Life has been getting in the way of my own work. My jobs, family and boyfriend are taking up all of my time. I really am trying to blog more. I went home and had a ton of blogging ideas, but annoyingly, my family's internet was down. Thus, i wasn't able to blog at all. More about that later. Today i FINALLY updated my website, and Etsy site with new items.

What ya think?

Typewriters, Irons, and Artwork! Oh My!

I've been admiring Michele's work for AGES!!! I just look at her work longingly, wishing i could buy all of it!! (or at least any of it, and one day Michele i promise i will!) Buying things right now just aren't in the cards right now, so I'm just drool over her work. And you should too!! Not only is her work amazing, but she's super friendly. And inspiring to anyone who is just waiting for the day they would like to take their art to the next level and make it their full time job. So sit back, look at the pretty pictures and look at the stellar work before you.



*How long have you been crafting?

I have been making things and art for just about 8 years now, but ever since I can remember I have loved to create things. Art was always my favorite activity in school, and it's something that I have always been driven to do.

*Did you always craft in this genre?

I have always stayed pretty close to the fine arts. Both of my grandmothers tried to teach me how to crochet. They also tried to teach me how to sew and hook rugs, but I never really took to it. However, I did really love drawing and making watercolor paintings for people.



*Who or what inspires you?

I like to find inspiration in things that make up my everyday life. A favorite cup, a vintage typewriter, my favorite water towers,certain flowers...these are the things that surround me. I have always liked the idea of art as a journal, or a story, and that is what I am trying to achieve with my work right now.

*What defining moment made you decide to turn your hobby into a business?

I don't know if there was a defining moment, but there was certainly a defining time. I recently moved to Pontiac, Michigan while my boyfriend attends graduate school at Cranbrook. I had been looking for a job for almost two months. I must have turned in over 30 resumes, and had several interviews, and still I had nothing. I have almost 6 years of experience working as an assistant department manager for a couple of health food stores, and had actually had three different interviews for one here. However, they wanted to start me off as a cashier, and I had promised myself 2 years ago that I would never, ever, cashier again. Out of all the various jobs I have had, that is my least favorite...and I swore I would never do it again no matter how much I needed the work. So, when they offered that job to me I said no. I said that I would much rather keep looking for another opportunity, or work on making art my full time job...and here I am :)



*What changes were made to your regular schedule to make this go from a hobby to a business?

I didn't have to change a whole lot, because this is what I started doing full time. However, there are a few things that I had to learn to do to keep myself on track. I always make a to-do list. If this doesn't get done I feel like my head is spinning in circles. Also, I had to learn to take breaks. I would try to get everything done in one go, but things just don't work that way. I had to teach myself that it's ok to take breaks and stretch my legs every now and then.

* You have an amazing talent, with great product! What do you find is the best way to market yourself?

Well, I am still pretty new to this, but I have found that having a blog is a great way to promote yourself. It gives people a chance to see what I am working on and it gives them a little bit of a sneak peak. It also allows people to connect with me, as an artist. People can see where I am coming from through the writing in my blog. They can get to know me on more of a personal level, and I think that is really important when it comes to viewing art work, or even when making a decision to purchase a piece of work.

My blog address is http://www.how2drawacupofcoffee.blogspot.com just in case you'd like to check it out.



*What challenges have you found while taking your craft into the business world?

One of the biggest challenges is that there is a lot of competition in the art world. Sometimes it's all just a matter of being at the right place at the right time, or even knowing the right people. I am not much of an outgoing person. In fact I have had a really hard time talking to people, especially about my work. Unfortunately, this is something that is REALLY important when it comes to selling art and making all those right connections. But, I am working on it, and I think with the help of the internet I am building more and more confidence in talking to people and discussing my work.



*If someone from out of town were visitng you, what key places would you bring them to? (galleries, coffee shops, parks, museums, etc)

Well, the Detroit Institute of Art just finished their big remodel so I would definitely take them there. There is also a handful of great little boutiques and cool art related businesses in Royal Oak. One of them being the 323 Gallery on East Third in Royal Oak. Also in Royal Oak is an amazing Farmer's Market where you can literally buy a weeks worth of groceries for about $20-40 bucks. This includes breads, meats, cheeses, herbs...all from local farmers! It's really amazing and I shop there every Saturday :) I love promoting local arts and farmers, because I think it's SO important, especially here in Michigan, to support small business people, and the environment.



Head over to Michele's etsy, or her blog (where she posts on a daily basis, with pictures!). Enjoy!

Saturday Morning Pancakes

Don't you love those Saturday mornings, when you don't have anywhere to be. (Well, not very early anyways..) Those Saturday mornings, you can take the moments , enjoy the morning Sunday and make delicious Saturday Morning Pancakes.

Enjoy those pancakes all year round, on every day of the year. These "pancakes" are round rondelles of a dark stained wood, with a Jade "cherry" on top. Dangling below are a cute set of Pewter fork and knife charms.

Eat Up!!

Sweet, Awe-Inspired Cards...

I came across Erin from Noulou Cards and Paper's work ages ago. Her work captivated me right away, for I, just like Erin herself, enjoy "child like" imagery. Once i got to chatting with her, i realized how sweet and wonderful she was, which makes me love her work even more!! Enjoy this wonderful interview from a very talented lady. :)

I am IN LOVE with these wedding invitations. I want them....one day. :)



I have been drawing for as long as I can remember, spending many a night in my bedroom growing up, drawing the scenes from the back of Disney movie cases. I still have them all in a folder, and one is even hanging in my little girl's room!

I used to LOVE play dough, and I've more recently tried out shaping little ornaments and figures out of clay. I would love to learn to sew someday, and try out different printmaking techniques. And I really should try to start making scrapbooks for my kids, I suppose!





Most of my work has a noticeable "childlike" quality, which I guess is due to the many children that have overtaken my family in the past couple of years. (My sister will soon have four, and then there is my two!) I really enjoy observing the people and places around me, and all things from nature. Lately, I've also really been enjoying all things French...so I guess I like nature, with a little bit of fancy!

Following the birth of my daughter, I had a difficult time with leaving her to return to the "work force". So, with the help of an incredibly supportive family, I was able to pursue a career from home doing something I truly loved. Plus, with a rapidly growing family, someones got to do all of those birthday invitations, right!

Learning how to manage all of the financial aspects of a small business has proved very difficult for me, as I am a total right brainier! Luckily I know a wonderful accountant, who has been of a tremendous help.

I'm afraid it's not too exciting, but... if you found your way to Baton Rouge, I would recommend visits to The Red Stick Farmers Market on Saturday morning, Sushi Yama for lunch (the best sushi by far around here!), the quad at LSU (to lay on a bench under the shady trees), and a craw fish boil at my aunts house (because you just have to in South Louisiana).







Check out her shoppe, see her other creations are be awed. :)

These are a few of my favorite things....

I've always taken a liking to that song, so alas, i might as well take a liking to sharing some pretties i have found!!



1. "Remember" by Geninne. These colorful drawings are absolutely amazing!

2. "Cherry Baby" by Jen Nale. This plate is right up my ally! Can anyone guess why?

3. "Sorry" by PressaRussa is by far the coolest sentiment for sorry I've seen. -card

4. "Make Art" by Melissa Vest is a bag everyone should carry!

5. "Into the Woods" by Eva Soehjar. Her style, her jewelry, every things adorable!

NEW ETSY GOODIES!

I just added a bunch of new goodies in my Etsy shop! Head over to it and let me know what you think! :) Graci.

Tea Time Tensha

Sweet Simplicity!

These romantic earrings show your sweet side. Simple, yet elegant, these collage Tensha flower beads will show off your girlie side.

Spring Green Swarovski crystals dangle off of Sterling Silver lever back ear wires.

PS: Look for the matching necklace!

Miniatures To Make Even Your Barbie Jealous

I LOVE miniatures of all kinds. You must be used to this by now, and i LOVE food of all kind. {Again, used to it!} So, of course, i had to talk about these ardorable livelike jewelry items. Monica from Mini Mania finds fun miniatures and makes them into jewelry. Cute as a button, aren't they?



How long have you been crafting?

- Other than the typical arts and crafts in school, I've been crafting for a couple of years now. I never thought of myself as crafty or particularly creative, but the more I get into it, the more the ideas flow and it's so much fun! It helps that I am a jewelry person and I love all different kinds of jewelry.



Did you always craft in this genre?

- I started off working with polymer clay, but I eventually decided that I didn't want to work with it as a full-time business. I still work with clay as a hobby though, and I sometimes incorporate it into the kind of jewelry I make today.



Who or what inspires you?

- Besides my love for jewelry, which I've had since I was a kid, I am also attracted to miniatures, sweets, and all things that are cute, bright, cheerful, and happy! These are some of the things that inspire me and that I try to incorporate into the jewelry I make.



What challenges have you found while taking your craft into the business world?

- The challenges I've found while trying to turn my craft into a business is pricing my items and dealing with the accounting side. I'd rather make my jewelry, than worry about the numbers part!! I've also never been very good at math so I find this part difficult. Thankfully with the help of spreadsheets and trying to stay organized, things are a bit easier now! :)



PS. I'm originally from the Philippines but have lived in quite a few different countries for most of my life. I'm a TCK (third culture kid!) :)



Head over to her Etsy shop to see more of her adorable work! Just make sure you eat before you do. :)

Paper-tabulos!!!

Ohh...how i have a weakness for paper goodies. But, when they are handmade paper products? Well, now there's my kryptonite. Asa has a BRILLIANT shoppe called Inky Livie. She has a wonderful drawing style and can create cards in so many different genres.



How long have you been crafting?

I have been drawing all my life, and have always loved putting my hands to work on paper. The very first invites I made though, were for my best friend's 18th birthday-- if I remember right, I handmade about 50-60 invites, all individually (and painstakingly)handcut, handdrawn and handwritten! Needless to say, I loved it :)





Did you always craft in this genre?

Yes. I love paper. Although many, many times I find myself wishing I knew how to sew or knit or crochet.



Who or what inspires you?

You will see a lot of artist's bios say that everything that surrounds them inspires them, and cliche as it may sound, it's true. Once you are in this world of art and craft, you cannot help but look around you with an artist's or designer's eye. I am inspired by the various forms of art-- from architecture to music to fashion design , and at the same time, by the everyday things that surround me.





What challenges have you found while taking your craft into the business world?

I think that the biggest challenge, as with any parent, has been trying to keep a balance between my homelife and my work. I am a full-time mom first, a businesswoman second. It was critical for me to create a work schedule for myself that will not take away from my taking care of my children (Inow do all my work at night starting at 8pm-- my kids' bedtime). It is especially difficult when you are running a business from home, because it is so easy to switch into "work" mode by stepping into my studio, or sitting in fornt of my computer. I am getting better, though, at NOT working during the weekends that I am just home :) And I am lucky because I have had the support of my husband ever since I started my shop-- i.e., he puts the kids to bed as I start my "workday", or rather, "worknight".



Although, i do think Asa has gorgeous images of her work, these small sizes don't do her justice. Head over to her Etsy account to really see her beautiful work! :)

You Captured My Fruit.

For as long as i can remember, food art, in any genre, has always captivated me. Well, obviously, looking at the name i chose for my own business. Produce (fruit and vegetable) artwork really tickles my fancy though. So, it's very understood why i adore them so much. Tim Chumley has a keen eye and works in many genre's.



How long have you been crafting?

I've been a photographer most of my life, receiving my first camera when I was six. But my interest in photography took off in high school and stayed pretty even until about five years ago, when the quality/cost ratio of digital imaging became reasonable. I quit my day job (teaching in grad school) 18 months ago to practice photography full time. I've been producing my own prints for sale for about a year.





Did you always craft in this genre?

I've never "crafted" before.



Who or what inspires you?

In fine art photography I appreciate photos that tell a story or evoke an emotion, or that offer a unique perspective on something traditional. My fruit series is an example of a different perspective. It's not expected, and because of that it draws a lot of attention.



What challenges have you found while taking your craft into the business world?

The promotion process never stops. I have to constantly look for new opportunities and outlets for my prints. For example, I recently started selling large framed prints on Amazon.com. The other lesson I've learned is: compliments don't pay the bills. Everyone who sees my work "loves my work," and it's rewarding to hear. I never get tired of compliments. Some days that's what keeps me moving forward. But those remarks don't put kids through college.



Head over to Tim's etsy for more images, and make sure to head over to his website to see all the other amazing images he's taken.

The Crafting Avenue.

I first met Avery about a year ago, Avery has a shoppe called Avenue Handmade. She makes cool recycled jewelry out of spoons and hand stitches greeting cards to give them a textured effect.



How long have you been crafting?

My whole life, it seems! Being homeschooled from kindergarten on, I can't remember a time when I wasn't finding creative ways to occupy myself, coming up with projects or games to do with my brother and sister, or making toys or gifts out of miscellaneous household items. I once made an entire dollhouse out of cardboard boxes and furnished it with furniture (and dolls!) I made out of popsicle sticks, glue, and fabric scraps. Oh, and there was that switchboard system I created out of a cardboard box and a set of airplane earphones…I guess one of my favorite materials was cardboard. *grin* I also loved origami as a kid. And friendship bracelets—I think making those was pretty much a rite of passage for almost every girl growing up in the nineties. Friendship bracelets were the first craft I ever sold, I think. I was a Girl Scout in middle school, which is when I learned how to use a sewing machine and read a pattern—I think the first thing I made was a culotte set! Haha. In high school and beyond I learned to crochet, and continued to make things (clothes, jewelry, cards) for my own use, partly out of thriftiness, but also because most mass-produced items just didn't appeal to me in one way or another. I always handmade most of my Christmas gifts because I never had much money to buy things. The year I learned to crochet, everyone I knew got a crocheted scarf or hat or purse! In the past year or so I've kind of found my niche as far as jewelry goes. As my personal tastes and interests have evolved, I've developed a more distinct style in what I create—which ends up incorporating mostly vintage or recycled household items, so I guess you could say I've simply returned to my childhood roots. Recycled silverware jewelry isn't such a far cry from dollhouse furniture made of popsicle sticks, when you think about it.



Did you always craft in this genre?

Which genre? See above. :)





Who or what inspires you?

Well, there's the obvious: color, texture, pattern, shape--when I'm working on jewelry or making a scarf, my most immediate sources of inspiration are probably visual ones. But on a whole, I am inspired by stories--the stories inherent in old things (whose hand held the spoon handle I turned into a pendant? whose clothing was held on by one of my vintage buttons? who found their way with an old map that I made into a collage?), the stories that we create around objects that are important to us, the stories we tell about ourselves with what we create, or how we style ourselves. My husband and family inspire me to work hard, and to have confidence in myself.



What challenges have you found while taking your craft into the business world?

I think I was a bit naive when I began trying to sell my jewelry. I had no idea that the marketplace for handmade goods was so large--and so competitive. I struggled for a while, and it took me some time to find my own unique niche and style among the thousands and thousands of other artists who are already out there, being successful. It was a challenge to keep making what I love (rather than what I thought would sell) when I suddenly realized that my creations were just a tiny speck in an ocean, not the rare, unique things I had thought they were. Fortunately, I have some incredible friends who are not afraid to tell it like it is and who really helped me get some perspective on the issue, and although I may not be as successful as I'd hoped by this point, I feel like I am beginning to really come into my own as a designer and artist--and that's so much more important.

Marketing is a challenge for me. It's not in my nature to self-promote. But I'm learning. Also, I'm not a very business-minded person, so I have always been pretty intimidated at the thought of getting incorporated and paying taxes and treating my craft like the legitimate business that it is. I'd much rather just go back to the barter system or something...keep it simple, right? But that's not the world we live in, so I'm trying to adapt. I just officially incorporated my business! Now I have to start collecting and reporting sales tax...but that's a challenge I don't want to think about right now.



I'm sure she'd love to hear from you! Let her know what you think of her perdy jewels! :)

Paintings You Wish You Could Eat!

I 1st saw Abbey's painting's on Etsy. Abbey's shop is called Ryan Studio. She has these brilliant paintings on there that make me hungry just looking at them. I love her painting style, and love all of the random subjects she paints. She also has a neat blog where she posts her daily paintings.



My name is Abbey Ryan, and I currently live in Philadelphia.

How long have you been crafting?

I have been painting for as long as I can remember. I only really started to study painting in college, but I have pictures of me at age 3 and 4 standing at my easel, painting away! So, I guess I have been seriously doing oil painting for about 8 years. I graduated with my MFA in painting in 2007, and since September I have been selling my small daily oil paintings online - http://ryanstudio.blogspot.com



Did you always craft in this genre?

I have consistently painted with oils since college, but I also do scientific illustration and design work. In addition, my personal studio practice (aside from my daily oil paintings) consists of works on paper using ink and graphite. These are shown on my web site, http://abbeyryan.com.



Who or what inspires you?

I find that I am most inspired in my life by positive energy, freedom, and nature. Color is an important inspiration for me - as it relates to light. I'm drawn to moments where colors are subtly manipulated through the presence or absence of light. The music of Bob Dylan and Patty Griffin have also been huge sources of inspiration for me as well. I spend so much time in the studio, and am usually listening to either Bob or Patty. :) And of course, I am also inspired by my amazingly supportive family (especially my mom, Liz Ryan, who's also a painter -- http://eryanstudio.com ).





What challenges have you found while taking your craft into the business world?

I am relatively new to the business aspect of making art. I've found it to be incredibly inspiring and exciting to sell my work directly to art-lovers via the internet. Thus far, I've also relied just on word of mouth to get my work out there. I think getting publicity is the biggest challenge, but it's also a really fun part of the process, too.



So head over to Abbey's shop and tell her hello, she's really nice and I'm sure she'd love to hear from you! :)

Calorie Free Cupcakes

Jessie has a shoppe called Cake Spy. I've been happily reading her blog for some time now, and am quite pleased to write about her on my blog. Her drawing style is RIGHT up my ally! She has her own adorable drawing style, and humorous adventures her little "cake spy" takes.

I have been making stuff since before I can even remember! My mom has a picture of me in my high chair with pigtails, concentrating intensely and coloring happy faces.



That having been said, I am rather new to the crafting culture, and so far have only been doing framed pieces. I am looking to add cupcake plushies and figurines to my offerings soon.





I try to get inspiration from everyday life, in a flaneur-like fashion: bakery cases, cool buildings and architecture, and magazines and books. I also love a lot of "blogs" out there, from design-y ones like Oh Joy or Decor8 to foodie ones like Cupcakes Take the Cake, Whipped, Bake and Destroy and the Urban Housewife. In terms of art, I love great line drawings--some of my favorite artists are Saul Steinberg, James Thurber and William Steig; for painters, I adore Wayne Thiebaud (the cake guy!) and Jean Miro.





Some challenges I've found have been cost of goods--since I sell framed pieces, the costs can really add up so I have to be smart about that. Also, it might be a little bit outside of what you asked, but taxes!! It's a whole lot more to keep track of than if you had a day job and had your employer do it all for you. I have to mentally take 20% off of each sale for the taxman!



She's a very talented gal, so go check out her etsy, and then head over to Jessie's blog to read about the cake she spies. :)

Adorable Avocados

Abbie from Miss Avocado has adorable drawings of women. I really enjoy her style and unique layouts for her art! Although the image below is what 1st captivated me to message Abbie, i really really enjoy the cafe girl, and the angel man on the unicycle.



How long have you been crafting?

Growing up, my Mom kept a range of art supplies around: sequins, fabric, poster paints, construction paper, and more. I guess in light of this you could say crafting has always been a part of my life. I grew up making homemade gifts and sewing (although I have to admit I knit some outrageously over-sized sweaters as gifts when I was first learning).



Did you always craft in this genre?

For Etsy I've been producing collages and prints of my illustrations mostly. I do really enjoy working with textiles though and tend to knit and crochet a lot (easily mobile crafts are the best).





Who or what inspires you?

Old bookstores, good coffee, reading blogs, my nieces, going for walks, random trips to the library, design magazines, and new sketchbooks waiting to be filled up.



What challenges have you found while taking your craft into the business world?

I think a challenge for me is finding the balance between the creative, right-brained side and developing smart business practices (keeping records, research for instance).

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Check out Abbie's other prints at her Etsy site. :)

Stamp-tastic Jewelry.

I never realized other people had fascination with stamps besides me. This jewelry is a fabulous tribute to another gal's love of old stamps. Betsy has a shoppe called Fox Glove Accessories which houses beautiful photographs of her clever jewels.



How long have you been crafting?

I've been cutting/pasting/taping/stringing/printing/stitching things together for as long as I can remember! But in July of 2006, I decided that is was time to sit down and create a cohesive body of work that I could grow and create a profit from. Thus, Foxglove Accessories was born!



Did you always craft in this genre?

Oh no. When it comes to crafting, I'm all over the place. Recently I've been re-discovering sewing, trying my hand at woodworking, and perfecting my lemon meringue pie recipe.



Who or what inspires you?

Typography, Joseph Cornell, gaudy wallpaper from the 50s, beautiful wood grain, books that make me cry, full attics that haven't been touched in years, ribbons, and the meticulous layouts and designs from the postage stamps I handle every day.



What challenges have you found while taking your craft into the business world?

It can be so emotional! When you put your skills, creativity and heart into a business, it's hard not to take everything personally. Sometimes I feel like Foxglove Accessories is an awkward 12-year-old-girl that's growing faster than her body can handle. Over time, I'm sure she will blossom into a sophisticated, confident woman. But until then, I'm still working up the courage to take the next big steps. Don't worry, though - girls grow up fast!



Head over to Betsy's shoppe to see all of her stamp-tastic jewelry. :)

North Carolina, Here I Come!!

I've breifly mentioned that i am going away in past posts, but today is the day! I head over to a friends house later tonight and we leave tomorrow morning for Charlotte NC. I am SO STOKED!!!

I'll be back in 10 days, so for over a week i will be without blogs. GASP! For a blog addict, this may cause quite a stir. I won't have access to write or read anyone elses journals.



Instead i'll be out an about in a new state with some awesome people. I will take plenty of pictures, i'm sure i will share. Have a brilliant week!!