NC Artists of Precision and Detail

I'd like for you to meet some artisans and crafters I met at NC Farmer's Market Fall Craft Fair. It was so fun to meet new friends and visit with old ones and share in the joy of what we recent made. Seeing what others do inspires me to do the same. All this week I've been having new ideas run through my mind.  Here is a small selection of who I met.

This little boy's portrait was watercolor painted by Andrea Wilson in Holly Springs, NC. She has also recreated it in pencil.

In addition Andrea is a fabulous acrylic painter. When my daughter saw I bought a small one of a flounder, she immediately took ownership. We are currently in negotiations. Andrea also makes polymer clay jewelry in wonderfully fun shapes and colors.

For more information on custom portraits or where you find her next, you can find Andrea Wilson by email.

Richard Coates of Holly Ridge Woodcrafting combines photography with woodworking and his end results are stunning in detail. This year he introduced revolving pen containers. So cool! Holly Ridge Woodcrafting is located in Rougemont, NC.  For more information about where to find Richard next or to place an order, you can email him.

 Pens and Banks is a family affair with Frank and Clint Johnson of Raleigh and Clayton, NC. I love the antique feel of the coin banks made with vintage post office box doors that Frank makes.

Clint lathes beautiful pens from exotic woods and other materials like corian and deer antlers. He says his wife insists the manufacture of the antler pens to be done far from the house. I can understand why. The end result from all of his hard work is a great gift for your father, boss or mentor.

You can find more information by emailing them.

Lazy Daze 2011 Are we there yet?

It's almost time for Lazy Daze!  This is one of the best arts and craft festival around. It's been confirmed as Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events for August 2011!

Last year there was 50, 000 people there enjoying the festivities. This year I'll be there as a vendor and not as a customer for the first time. It's going to be awesome!

Inaugural year of Lazy Daze

What's really cool about this is that I remember riding my bike to the festival as a kid. I only lived a couple of blocks away and it was one of the few events that my mother would let me go to unattended. I'd spend all day there shopping and looking and shopping some more. I'd come home with trinkets and charms. Still have some in fact. But I digress.


I've got alot of new items never before seen. Here's a little bit that I'll have.



Amigurumi Cat with a little heart on its chest



While Lazy Daze has the Where's Jerry Contest, you can ask me "Where's Perry?"



There's a monster with a strange little smile waiting for you.

Cupcake Ereader Case for your Nook Color or Kindle

Roomy wallet style case for your cell phone or passort

Cotton washcloths for your bath or kitchen

Deluxe Spa Set perfect for gift giving

Can't wait to see you!

What's coming up? Saturday Shopping Showcase Summer Festival!

This weekend I'll be at the Saturday Shopping Showcase Summer Festival.  It'll be at 421 Chapanoke Road in Raleigh NC. In case you're not familiar with the area, it's at that huge intersection where 401, 70 and Tryon Road meet -almost in Garner.

I'm really excited about this because it's a chance to meet new people that might not venture to the other venues I have planned. It's going to be quite large and there'll be so much to look at. I'm getting giddy just thinking of it.

If you are able to come, these are some of the items you'll be able to see there:

Get Sassy



Prescription for Sass necklace-vintage modern chic

 Sassy's Bio:
I became enchanted by Etsy the first time I visited. After many fabulous discoveries & purchases - some of you may recognize me as user (or should I say buyer!) "schnoff" - I got the craft bug! I made some things for myself & friends and then decided I'd try to multitask as a buyer & seller! "Schnoff" is not a very appealing name for a shop - although it does have a special place in my heart since it goes back to my college days - so here I am as SassyBelleWares! I hope you enjoy the sassies in my shop!

How'd you get started on Etsy?
I read about it in the NY Daily News and loved it the minute I went to the site. I was a champion buyer for about a year and then decided to try as a seller.

How'd you get started on Etsy?
Mostly seeing something I like and thinking "What could I do with that to make it wearable?!" My cocktail monkey necklaces are the perfect example of that. I love CM and wanted a way to always have him with me!

Sassy Cosmo Monkey cocktail monkey necklace

What's your favorite shop item and why?
Right now, my flapper rings because I am obsessed with the HBO show Boardwalk Empire!

Tallulah the Flapper ring

How do you unwind when you're not creating?
Reading and watching the gazillion tv shows that I DVR!

What's your favorite kind of cupcake?
Cupcakes are one of my obsessions and I have NEVER met a cupcake I didn't like. My faves are vanilla vanilla from Billy's bakery in NYC and coconut from Crumbs.

What pushes you to want to create something?
Having an idea and wanting to see if it will work out.

What's your favorite cartoon as a kid. As an adult, if you stumble upon it while channel surfing now would you stop & watch?
Hong Kong Phooey was my fave cartoon and I would absolutely stop and watch. I have actually searched for it recently and I just bought this cute Phooey scrabble tile pendant on Etsy.

What's your fantasy job?
Being a Broadway star...specifically musicals. And, no, I cannot sing or dance!

Do you have a secret guilty pleasure?
Watching Jersey Shore but it is not something I hide so I guess it is just a guilty pleasure!

List 3 things you are so obsessed with it is torture to ever say no to.
1-Broadway shows 2-handbags 3-any chance to go into NYC to do anything.

Candy Corn ponytail holder

 List 3 of your favorite Etsy shops.
I have so many but one of my faves is Lola Falk Designs.
She has fabulous bags and the ones I have given as gifts have always been a hit!

Another fave is a more recent discovery, Bungalow Bath & Body.
The whipped sugar scrubs are perfect...moisturizing but not greasy and they smell so delicious I have to keep reminding myself I cannot eat them! The pancake breakfast is a must!

Shixie is another of my faves:
The mini dress necklaces are one of the funnest accesories I have ever seen!

Do you have a favorite author? When you read, do you use a proper bookmark, bend the page, or grab anything handy to mark your place?
Adriana Trigiani...when you read her books you feel like you are right there with the characters. I use a proper bookmark...they are one of the things I think you can never have enough of!

If money was no object and you can live wherever you want….where would that be?
NYC and upstate NY. I absolutely love NYC and would love to live there. Hubby would love to live on a huge hunk of land. So, if money was not an issue I would love to have both so we could go back and forth. Also, a big hunk of land would allow me to rescue homeless animals and give them a place to live!

Daisy button stack ring

What is your best childhood memory?
My best childhood memory is growing up surrounded by a huge loving family and true friends. No matter what the occasion, fun, happy, serious, or sad there was always a gazillion people my parents, my brother, and I could count on to be there without having to ask.

Find her at:
SassyBelleWares
SassyBelleButtons

Join her mailing list for sales, discount codes and other news
SassyBelleWares page on Facebook
Follow her blog SassyBelle's Spotlight

 Also be on the lookout for SassyBelle's participation in the Etsy DTeam's Thanksgiving Sale that runs from November 26 through November 29, 2010.

Meet Kaleidoscope by Erin

Black and Pink Lace Overlay 6 Inch Kiss Lock Chained Clutch

Bio:

She's a stay-at-home mother to two beautiful and busy little boys and a wife to my wonderful and caring husband. I have used art as an outlet for as long as I can remember. I started taking private art lessons in elementary school and continued through college. I enjoy the challenge of learning a new craft and perfecting it over time. The Etsy community has been such a great opportunity to learn and grow while showing the world my creations.

How'd you get started on Etsy?

My aunt's friend told be about the site. I had never heard of it before. I checked it out and fell in love with the beauty of it.


What was your inspiration for your shop?
My love for jewelry (then) and now my love for clutches. Wonder what'll be next??



What's your favorite shop item and why?

My crane clutch. I struggled with listing it for sale. It's just so beautiful, classy and timeless.


1950's Vintage Silk Kimono Crane Kiss Lock Clutch

How do you unwind when you're not creating?

I like to watch reality TV with my husband and drink a glass of wine (though I wish it was at the beach and not 2 hours away).



What's your favorite kind of cupcake?

Vanilla with butter cream icing. I like the simple things.

What pushes you to want to create something?

My kids. I use it as an outlet to do something "productive". What's a clean house anyways? LOL

What's your favorite cartoon as a kid. As an adult, if you stumble upon it while channel surfing now would you stop & watch?

The Smurfs. I LOVED Smurfette. And no, I wouldn't stop now. Azrial would get on my nerves. :)



Sweet Honey, Organic Cotton Kiss Lock Clutch

What's your fantasy job?
Owning my own extremely successful company, selling my craft.

Do you have a secret guilty pleasure?

Anything reality on VH1, bad or good, and the Twilight Series.

List 3 things you are so obsessed with it is torture to ever say no to.

1- My family 2- Shopping for clothes that are sale (though I think the economy has cured that) 3- buying fabric

List 3 of your favorite Etsy shops.

I can't pick three. There are so extremely talented shops on my team. I honestly love ALL of them.

Do you have a favorite author? When you read, do you use a proper bookmark, bend the page, or grab anything handy to mark your place?

Nicholas Sparks. I love his stories and that I know the areas he writes about. Couldn't get any better, in my opinion.



Bridal White and Something Blue 8 inch Kiss Lock Clutch

If money was no object and you can live wherever you want….where would that be?

Hawaii. My husband and I went there for our honeymoon and we talk about moving there all the time.

What is your best childhood memory?

Fishing with my dad and shopping with my mom. :)

You can follow and show love to Kaleidoscope by Erin at Etsy, Artfire and Facebook. Also be on the lookout for Kaleidoscope by Erin's participation in the Etsy DTeam's Thanksgiving Sale that runs from November 26 through November 29, 2010.

 

Thank you.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

What is Breast Cancer? from http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/About-Breast-Cancer/

    Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant(cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. It is considered a heterogeneous disease—differing by individual, age group, and even the kinds of cells within the tumors themselves. Obviously no woman wants to receive this diagnosis, but hearing the words "breast cancer" doesn't always mean an end. It can be the beginning of learning how to fight, getting the facts and finding hope. 

But that wasn't the case for Kristi.

    Kristi Lowery Lim lost her battle with breast cancer last summer mere months after being diagnosed. Kristi was a dear college friend of my husband and a fellow physical therapist. To honor Kristi, and support her family, my husband has set up college saving funds for her three young daughters. Nothing will replace the loss of their mother, but we hope to help them carry on with positive memories and a successful future.

    100% of all sales go to 529 State College Investment funds for Kristi's three young daughters. Items listed in this shop are donated by other generous Etsy sellers.

    This is our second year honoring Kristi. Last year we blew our $300 goal out of the water by raising $1,400. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful support and love!

    Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Featured on another blog today

The Mystic Wynd's blog post today was all about hurricanes. She collected a wide variety of pieces to characterize the turbulance of such storms.  Mystic Wynd is an awesome blog, one which I suggest you follow if you don't already.

I suggest that you take a look and see how swirls and whirls are integrated in today's designs. Here's a few to get you going. But to see more, you'll have to go to her site!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45981560/storms-and-swirls-mug

http://www.etsy.com/listing/27948304/storming-the-beaches-mermaidish-witch-in

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1896349