Etsy Front Page

I just found out that you can see if you've made it to the front page of etsy. (if you aren't an etsian this probably means nothing, it's just a super cool bit of recognition from fellow etsians) It is on this flickr page!

I found a few of my things that I never knew made it to the front page of Etsy!!

Song of the year

I know, it's a bold statement, but I feel confident in saying that my favorite song this year was Conor Oberst's Cape Canaveral. It's so good.

Anti-Sapphire Ring

I'm back from visiting my husband's family in San Diego, wishing I was still there enjoying the sun instead of freezing in Chicago. I was working over the holidays and finished a bunch of rings. I just posted them on Etsy!

Charms

I am really excited about these charm necklaces that I started selling. My favorites are the anatomically correct stomach with a sewing machine, (for days when you love your sewing machine and you just want to eat, drink, and breath sewing) and the one with the knife and the sewing machine (for days when it keeps getting jammed, puckers the fabric, and throws thread all over the place and you just want to throw it out the window.)

Men's Suits

I just fell in love with these interesting handbags by Mandinka. She creates these lovelies by upcycling men's suit coats. Aren't they wonderful? She is a member of the EcoEtsy Street team I just joined!

Merry Christmas!!
I'm so excited because I got a special gift from my mom:$100 to spend on Etsy!! Here are a few items I have been drooling over.

Amour sans Anguish














Ms. Bojangles





SprattersandJayne

I just joined my first Etsy Street Team which is called the Eco Etsy Street Team. The team is dedicated to promoting eco- friendly ways to run a small business, and educating others about ways to live a greener life!

One more

I had to add one more artist who works with porcelain to the list. Heather Knight from Element Clay Studio creates beautifully textured wall tiles, serving pieces, and sculptures, using Helios porcelain. They are to die for!

Porcelain Love

I'm still stuck on my current porcelain infatuation.
Stepanka from etsy makes these beautiful porcelain wall pillows. I want a wall full of them!

Porcelain

I have a little obsession right now with porcelain. When I used to make a lot of pottery, I loved the feeling of wet porcelain clay in my hands. This artist from Belgium makes the coolest pieces. You can purchase her items here on etsy.

Made by Hank

I am absolutely in love with these clutches from Made by Hank. You can purchase one for yourself through her site on Etsy!

Renegade Craft Fair

I recently was part of the Renegade Holiday Craft Fair in Chicago. It's such a great environment that is full of interesting and creative people. Renegade Handmade is the brick and mortar version located at 1924 W. Division St. (Chicago). Visit now and make it a Handmade Holiday!

Good friends

I needed serious help with photographing my jewelry for my website. I finally got major help on Friday thanks to my friends Peter and his witty wife Seeley. They are both photo masters and I had the treat to have BOTH of them showing me the ropes. THANK YOU PETER AND SEELEY!!!
Check out Peter's work, he is amazing.

William Good

Remember Joe Boxer? The founder, Nick Graham, started a new venture last year by hooking up with Good Will. He created a clothing line called William Good
made entirely of clothes that ended up in the discard bin at Good Will. Altering old clothes into new clothes...that would be my dream job!

Winter Blues

It's that time of year. It's icy cold outside and it seems that it's always dark, even when the sun is out. These Simen Johan photos describe my feelings about winter perfectly.

Fifty States

Here's a glimpse at what I'm working on right now. My Fifty-States project. I plan on painting all fifty states in fifty weeks. I'm about a quarter way through. Have a look here or:

Photolicious

Ellen Kooi is one of my favorite contemporary photographers. When I go to her site and look through her portfolio, I feel like I'm transported into another world. It's a strange and conflicted world, yet so peaceful.

Bon Iver

If you live in Chicago check out Bon Iver at the Vic next week!

She's got everything she needs, she's an aritst, she don't look back...

Guess what song that's from!
I FINALLY set up a blog after wanting to do it for far too long. Thank you, thank you. I'll be regularly posting news about my life, my art (both the jewelry and the paintings) and everything else in the middle. Is there all that much left in the middle?
Here are a few images for you to gaze at to get an idea of what it is I do with my days. (Most of the time it involves a lot of thread...)