Lucky Me & The Little Things

On the weekend, normally my husband toasts waffles for the little guy in the morning for his breakfast. This morning we realized we were out of the frozen waffles, which is not something you want to tell Nolan about, unless you enjoy the sensation of getting your teeth pulled. So I offered to make some pancakes instead, and this alternative was very well received. Rather than looking through all my cookbooks to look for a basic pancake recipe, I hopped on the trusty interweb for some help, which I found here.  It’s a basic pancake recipe, but I don’t remember adding sugar, or that much baking powder or that much butter to a pancake batter before. Then again, I don’t make them often, and the few times I have made them they were the Dutch kind, which as mostly anywhere else in Europe are more like crepes compared to the Pancakus Americanus often found on this part of the globe. What I am trying to get to is that they were absolutely delectable, and made for a cozy all family weekend breakfast that made me wish we do more often. Hopefully this is something that will indeed happen, sponsored by that delicious basic pancake batter recipe.

On a side note, I topped my pancake with left over cranberry sauce that I had made or Thanksgiving, which was really REALLY good! I still have so much left over from sauce that I am now also going to be looking for a recipe for cranberry sauce cheese cake if there is such a thing. Maybe I’ll report back on what that search resulted in later.

So before and after cooking up a way too filling and turkey dinner, I took advantage of the room created in the shop by moving many pendants to clearance in the Etsy shop and at this point have been able to add all the new pendants in three different sizes.

Next on the list are the ‘tiny’ pendants, and the ‘sideways’ pendants. Those are the two new vintage wallpaper pendants shapes and sizes that have been well received at the shows I have taken them to, but they have yet to make an appearance on the site, which will hopefully happen this afternoon!

Happy after turkey day!

Yesterday I spent some time adding quite a few clearance vintage wallpaper pendants (only $15!) and earrings (only $30!) to the etsy shop to make room for some fresh new ones on the site. Today I will spend my day editing all the photo’s I took of the newbies, and then adding them to the site after and before the thanksgiving grocery shopping I still need to do today.

Then if I am lucky I will also even get out a newsletter to tell you all about the big savings you can have this weekend both on the site, and on Saturday at the  Designers Downtown Market. Cross your fingers for me, I have quite the to-do list today. If I really do accomplish it all I think I may have several happy glasses of wine while baking pie and chopping veggies this evening. I seem to perform best under pressure, so we’ll see if this holds true today!

Just a quick post as I am in the front end of a slew of shows this holiday season. As I am writing this it occurred to me that I haven’t even taken the time to update my shows schedule on the site!! *note to self* But I have every weekend booked with shows, into the first weekend of next month! I love that about this time of the year.

The Made Of Money jewelry is flying out if here and I love it! I frequently find myself sitting down and making up a whole batch of new ones, shocked that I am out of stock yet again. It feels great to really be on to something. It also feels great to finally get through that pile of foreign chance I have had sitting around forever. Funny enough I am actually going through that pile much faster than I had imagined, and am already having to think of ways to find new stocks of foreign coins. One of the ways I have thought of, is to offer people with that same pile of what-am-I-going-to-do-with-this-change? to make free made-of-money jewelry in exchange for their change.

So if you are already one of those people that would love to make such an exchange-for-change (hah- witness tagline for the program already in progress!) you just let me know.

Anyways- I am adding a new batch of Made Of Money jewelry to the Etsy shop this week. I know I have been talking about giving this line their own spot on the website, but the fact that they sell so fast makes me a little bit grateful that I haven’t taken that step yet. Sold out items are a heck of a lot easier to update at Etsy than it is on the site.

Now if you excuse me I have some more coins to beat up on my worktable.

Only one day left for The Handmade Market!

Today on my final day of giving you a glimpse into the vendors that you can expect to find tomorrow I am getting into the Bath and Body product vendors. Now of course this is a little different from all the other vendors I’ve been chatting about as with all the vendors it’s mostly been about how their products ‘look’. With B&B products it’s not much about that at all is it? It’s about the feeling and fragrances, and that’s impossible to relay through a computer screen (thought I am looking forward to the day Al Gore invents that too), and I don’t have any personal experience with any of these products. So instead I will just share what each company offers as far as a story, cause, or experience.

The first reason why I just have to LOVE the soaps that Jill Woodward makes for Duckweed Farm is because she lives on a FARM, with GOATS! and she makes her products from the bountiful milk of her adorable, happy and healthy goats (and adorable they definitely are, just visit her site and see for yourself). And all of this as a result of an intentional drastic change of lifestyle after a devastating medical diagnosis. If only all devastating events in life resulted in a life filled with goats and handmade soap, this world would be such a happier place. And if you ever feel the need for a smile, just go visit her website and check out her ‘kids’.

One of the things that I noticed right away when looking at the products Erika Hollen makes for Jackson Sage is the fact that there are gluten-free, and vegan options, a recycling program that allows you to return her empty containers for re-use and a great discount on what you are having it refilled with. Oh and also- products to pamper your pooch with! I love a business owner that goes the extra mile for her customers, especially if she smells really, really great too!

One of the things I like about checking out the Ablutions products made by Monica Meyers is that the scent collections are categorized as culturally and spiritually inspired ‘rituals’. And I am convinced that I no longer need to fret over the cost of a plane ticket to an exotic vacation location, all I really need to do is grab a few products of any given collection and be transported while staying in my bathroom. Secondly Monica also offers three different products of which 100% of the money you spend on those them gets donated to AnimalKind and their great spay-neuter program.

So there you have it for a great collection of socially responsibe and great smelling bath and body goods vendors.

That also marks the end of my sharing all the great vendors you can find at tomorrow’s The Handmade Market. All you need to do now is come over tomorrow some time between 11am and 5pm to visit (and smell) them all in person. For directions and all other information visit the site. I hope to see you there!

And now for another installment of ‘look what awesome vendors you will find at The Handmade Market this Saturday!’ I will gush over the apparel and accessories you can expect to find. The first few are for the adults among us, and towards the bottom you will find the vendors that your kids are currently breaking into their piggie banks for (I didn’t tell you!).

Ann Baran weaves adorable goods for Anna Bea Weavers, and I love their colors and textures. Her hats and shawls are currently my favorite. Don’t be surprised if you see me trotting about next summer with one of her summer hats on my noggin.

Adam and Hiromi’s creations for AHpeele are incredible. I am a sucker for Asian inspired graphics and their screen printed goods are covered in it. They offer apparel for both dudes and ladies, which is a bonus because guy goods are often hard to find in the handmade category.

Speaking of handmade goods for dudes, what guy wouldn’t love a unique handmade buckle from Buncombe Buckles? Not to say that these belts aren’t awesome for us ladies too, but I feel the need to point out the fact that there are some great reasons for guys to check out the show Saturday, OR to give you a heads up that you can make a great dent in your holiday gift shopping list for the men in your life too! These buckles are made from recycled steel, brass, concrete, copper and tin parts by Celia Gray in Asheville, NC.

Dynagirl Vintage is the works of Ashley (formerly owner of the awesome store Firefly!). She creates one of a kind dresses that are all constructed of recycled t-shirts. I can not wait to check them out as I can only imagine how cozy an entire dress made of pre-owned shirts will feel.

Bliss makes discarded garments lovable again with her company Sew Bliss Sew. Her pieces often feature shapes such as leaves, boats, bikes, animals, and other lovable shapes cut from one garment, and stitched onto another to make it a wearable piece of art. Even if you have a little one with an appreciation for recycling, talent, and art he or she can proudly wear one of the adorable onesies she also makes.

Valerie Williams never fails to deliver style and whimsy all at the same time with Holland Cox. The style of her bags are always stylish cuts, and her fabric selections provide that touch of whimsy everybody needs a little of in their life. I am personally pretty crazy about the woodgrain clutch above, how can you not be!

Elizabeth provides style along with usefulness for your little one with the products she creates for Hoobaleedoos. I especially love her stuffed blocks, which show off all the adorable fabrics she uses. There is nothing like something baby can chew and drool on that also show’s baby’s wonderful sense of style!

I am personally so excited to have Mary from Pear back at the market! Not only are her products bags stunning and unique, but every time she is unable to sell at the market we almost have to beat the customers looking for her off with a stick. If we get a penny for every customer that charges towards us wide eyed and confused and asks us “Is Pear not here this time?!?!” we’d be rich ladies. Like a whole $10 richer. So if you are one of these Pear addicts, come on by- she’s back!! And now you are going to have to have a baby too because her diaper bags absolutely rock the big ones.

Every time I think the products Beth makes for Monkey & Me can’t possibly get any cuter she proves me dead wrong. She has the insane ability to find the absolutely most adorable fabrics on the planet, and then make them into the ‘most unique fashions for your little monkey’. The dresses, the pants, the bibs, the onesees and tees, are totally adorable. Makes me want to have lots and lots of babies just so she can supply me with their entire wardrobe.

Just two days lest to go, can you stand the excitement? I can’t.

The thing that get me excited every time I see the works of Elijah and Rhonda for Figs & Ginger is the adorable little animal shapes that are worked into their products. There is just something about those little critters that makes your heart melt. One of the things I noticed this time around is that they offer necklaces that host a whole little family of birds or fawns! How great of a gift that would be for a mom! Seriously, the fawn necklace with the single baby fawn would look so fantastic on me!! I’m just sayin’.

The thing that I love about the jewelry Beth creates for her line Freshie and Zero is that it defines the saying ‘less is more’. The clean cut work she creates with the lovely geometric shapes of wire and chain and a surprise bead here and there makes it easy to love and wear.

Nancy Nelson‘s jewelry is wonderful because of it’s simplicity and elegance, and I love the pieces she does with organic shapes such as branches and bark. But right now I am especially excited about the designs that feature different shapes and textures etched on the oxidized silver pendants. When nature and jewelry collide you may say I am a happy camper.

What I love about Rosy Revolver is that the designer Jessica somehow accomplishes to combine bold elegance with a lot of whimsy and a little bit of rock and roll. Never would I have thought to witness domino’s, dice, or ornate brass drawer pulls worked into jewelry. And not only do I find all of above in her designs, to name just a few, but I also want to own it and wear it and make all my friends rage with jealousy and admire my fine sense of style.

The work that Sarah creates for S.Tector is wonderfully elegant. From what I can tell she is never done exploring all the possibilities that her craft and talent offers, but it always represents class and grace.

The variety of texture and play and the occasional set gem in Sara Westermark‘s work excites me every time I stray to her shop. I personally can not wait to see all her lovely goods at the market. Secretly I am hoping she brings a big stash of rings, the ones with a little tiny gem set on it. If she does I will probably have to make one of them mine. We’ll call it my birthday present for 2009.

I love, love, love not only the work of WPR jewelry, but also it’s designer and creator Wendy. She makes stunning jewelry and continues to reinvent her works by going  sometimes soothingly simple, and at other times painstakingly intricate. But let me warn you, Wendy is one of those people that will have you share your life story with her before you have even told her your name. I love her genuine interest in what seems like every person that passes by her, and her warmth almost never fails to make you pull up a chair and just hang out and chat while you admire her beautiful creations. Don’s say I didn’t warn you!

Now I better get back to my own creations or I won’t have anything to sell Saturday! Check back tomorrow for more.

The Handmade Market is getting closer and closer and our preparations are beginning to wrap up. It’s almost to the point where there’s not much left to do except wait anxiously for Saturday to arrive and hope all the work we have put into it the last few months pays off once again.

Today I am sharing something from all the vendors that make and sell wonderful home goods such as art, photography, accents, pottery.

Alena Hennesey is a woman of many talents as she makes a variety of goods, but most of them based on her adorable and organic graphics. I especially love the little fat bellied cozy birds, they make me smile every time I spot them. So do the deer, and the bunnies.

Stained glass is Amy Keith‘s talent, and she does it well. I (and my husband) are big fans and seem to walk off with at least one of her creations each time we run into her at a show, either for ourselves or for a gift. I love the pieces she makes with the bubbly colorful glass rounds, though we don’t own one of those (yet). Maybe that should be our next purchase!

I am  big fan of the re-using of goods that seem to no longer have any purpose, and making them into new functioning products. So I can’t not love the journals Kacie creates for heirloom journals.  She fills salvaged books with recycled sketch paper, thus turning them into one-of-a-kind journals destined to be filled up with many memories, thoughts, or doodles.

I love Stephen Shelton‘s photography as he has this ability to find interesting texture, color and contrast in things that to the most of us just looks like something that’s been knocked around by the elements for much too long. His work often doesn’t even look like photographs at first glance, but like a incredible piece of abstract painted art. Then, when it turns out to be a photo it’s just all the more incredible to me.

Jen Arthur‘s photography is breathtaking to me. I especially love ‘nature’ and ‘travel’ series that just show the absolute beauty in all the things that are around us every day. Personally I make it a point to notice the beauty around us all every day, but Jen has the incredible ability to actually capture it.

I thoroughly enjoy both the photography and the art that Kendra creates for Kendra Studios, but I am especially fond of the paintings with the bright animals like the frogs and the birds. I am a big fan of color and animals and I love the way Kendra brings those together.

The very main reason why I really enjoy Meredith Steele‘s painting is the goofy little still life work of things like peeps, fisher price toys, and robots. Now when I say goofy I certainly do not mean to say the work is not to be taken serious, I just love that she sometimes uses such cute and funny subject to make into her beautiful art.

Mikel Robinson’s work for Robinson Studio is wonderful just for the fact that each and every single piece is created exploring life and its meaning and connections. I love it when artist put such a meaningful purpose behind their work (much because I can’t, no matter how hard I try). But the cherry on top of Mikel’s work is that some of his pieces can also light up, so not only is his art interesting and meaningful, it also provides an interactive experience.

Renee’s creations as Wolfie and the Sneak never fails to intrigue me. I have often hovered over her goods and admired her works, but I have yet to own something of hers. This really is only because I just can’t make up my mind about which one needs to be mine. Though I have a sneaking suspicion (pun intended) that if the practice makes perfect poster above makes it to the market it will most likely make it to my house as well!

I can’t rave enough about Tasha McKelvey and her great variety of ‘clay goodness.’ I am especially in love with the adorable bird-and-nest-with-eggs goods that I am lucky enough to own a gorgeous sugar and cream set in. But then there are also the porcelain flower and ginkgo jewelry, and the bird nest ring, and.. just check it out for yourself. I think you will agree that it’s simply impossible to walk by her booth without getting yourself a little sumpthin’ sumpthin’.

That will be all the sharing I will do for today. Again- if you are impatient to check out the rest of the vendors just mosey on over to the vendor gallery on the market site. Otherwise check back tomorrow for another post of drooling courtesy of yours truly.

The Handmade Market is coming your way in a mere 5 days! And in my excitement and impatience to get to Saturday already I thought it would be fun to share all my favorite things about all the designers that will be selling their wares at the market.

Today is a jewelry sharing day. At this show we will have more jewelry designers than we’ve had before, but when you come by you will see why. Each and every single one of them is so unique and talented they all stand out on their own. So today I am sharing one half of the jewelry vendors, and Wednesday you will see more.

Maryellen from Twist Style makes these rings that absolutely make me drool every time I see them. Not to mention the Bouquet flower rings she also makes. I have a big weakness for rings, and these certainly top my list.

I remember the exact moment when I first saw one of the necklaces made by Tracy Antonik for Photo Glassworks. I absolutely adore the simplicity of the design and the variety of images that are sandwiched between the glass in these pendants. I have a specific weakness for the Asian graphics, but the photograph ones are pretty amazing too.

I love the way Jane from Ergane combines amazing postage stamps with vintage watch crystals and then uses those pendants in earrings and necklaces. The result is so unique and delicate and attention grabbing. As you may know I have an appreciation for vintage and (seemingly) useless reused paper components, and so I love the way Jane creates these beautiful teasures.

There are many things Betsy makes for her company foundling that absolutely love, but one of the products that stand out for me personally are her poppy pins. I love the how airy, romantic and delicate they look. I first noticed them as the hairpins which are amazing enough, but the pins that can liven up any sweater, or scarf, or bag, or jacket, or…. It just doesn’t get much better.

Lori from Isabel’s Rose is a bit of a whiz when it comes to making lampwork beads. The reason I say this is because there are many talented lampwork artists out there, and they all make amazing beads, but Lori does something so unique with the craft that it can’t help but stand out. I absolutely love the bird beads, but the cupcakes are pretty friggin’ adorable too.

And last for today, though certainly not least, are the amazing works of Sonya for metamorphosis. Her talent for metal work and color mixing and using bits of findings and other doo-dads in total new ways makes me a little bit weak in the knees. Currently my favorites are her little delicate stacking rings, though the totally HOT feather coctail ring pretty much rocks the big ones too.

That’s it for the love of the Handmade Market artists for today. If you are impatient to check out the rest of the bunch, just get yourself to the vendor gallery and have at it! Now it’s time for me to dive back into the market preparation works again; send out a few more postcards, make a few more vendor badges, and then ofcourse work a bit on my own stock. I’ll be back with more praises tomorrow.