End of Summer....

(wish - 6 x 6 signed giclee print from elfine)


Is anyone else completely in awe of where the time went? How did it get to be the last weekend of summer?? What did we do with the months of long, warm days??

Well, I have to say, I think I'm ready :) So bring on the fall palate, break open the chestnut tea and get ready to curl up with an afghan and watch the glorious turn of color around us!

In the mean time, how about a long over due display of the 2008 Macy's Day 4th of July extravaganza over a Brooklyn rooftop :)




















Enjoy the holiday weekend and here's to a splendid start to Autumn!!

Peach Picks: Family

(Your Family Tree Customised Bunting from Hoolala)

Well HELLO there!! Man, what a week!

As you may not be aware, I had my lovely mother in town all of last week wrapping it up with the arrival of my brother and his family for the weekend. The smarty pants in me had blog posts all set to launch each day so as not to seem adrift from the computer world. BUT who new that it would take me all of THIS week to finally get caught up on everything l missed the week before?!?

So as my first Peach Pick back into the swing of things, I thought I'd dedicate it to the people dearest to us that we may take for granted the most:

Our Family :)




Female and Male Union from AllenesBeads




Family Arch Decal from ScribbleIt



Siamese twins - pendant from yaelfran



Personalized Custom Silhouette Print from lepapierdesigns



Hung Out To Dry - Print from falldowntree



The Owl Family Ring from dillondesigns



Birds on a Wire from EarthArt



Customized/personalized Birthstone/Family Bracelet from JeMSjewels



Family Fun RECYCLEry from CLAMORED



Personalize Family Tree Dish from elmstudiosonline



a family to dress from goosegrease


What have you been up too??

stephanie congdon barnes

Being from the land of Etsy, I so often overlook (picture little horse blinders here) all of the greatness that lay beyond this one specific handmade movement. I caught a post from Little Love Blue last week, raving about this creator of little creatures. After visiting both Stephanie Congdon Barnes' blog and shop, I can totally see why!

From what I can tell her entire shop is sold out! How's that for mastery, eh? Here are a few of my favorites:



Leo J. Adams



Mrs. Benjamin Ransom



Emily, Lucy & Mary Jackson


And if all of that isn't enough for you, she has a 3-legged kitty named Chester :)





Happy Thursday!!

I have a dream

TreeHouse Workshop


I'm SOOOO excited about FINALLY posting about my intense desire to simply live in a tree :)

My original inspiration came when I caught a whimsical photograph on the amazing visionary, Janelle Grace's, & Etc. blog.



Glen Erler


I left a comment after seeing the photo above: "I love this last shot. I would live in a tree if it were socially acceptable :)"

And Janelle simply ran with it!

She has since sent me two insanely awesome links to articles dedicated to tree houses.





This one above, from cookiemag.com, I find especially adorable as you're not only perched up in the air in comfort and peace, but have a little bird hole to be sure your nest is secure.

But this one has to be my absolute favorite! If only I could get that darn teleportation machine up and running...



Nescafé Treehouse


So thank you thank you, Ms. & Etc. for someone has finally taken my love for tree dwelling seriously!!

Thank you for being a Friend

Illustration by WILL BRYANT


Madame Please Sir did a post a bit ago that I thought summed up my thoughts of the etsy/blogging world around me. So often we take for granted the amazing people who have dropped into our loves from various angles of our interests, passions or creative talents.



Kawaii Chi Chi babies from ahyingmui


I thought I'd take this moment to thank you all for being a part of my crafty little life :)



ps... Oh yeah, and you KNOW you have the Golden Girls theme stuck in your head now!

DIY Temari Ball

Temari Pendant from LuluStudio


I got such a wonderful response to my post on the amazing Suzik, that I couldn't resist sharing a whole collection of different artists' creations as well as a few links to "how-to's".


From Wiki:
"Temari balls are a folk art form that originated in China and was introduced to Japan five or six hundred years ago. Historically, they were constructed from the remnants of old kimonos. Pieces of silk fabric would be wadded up to form a ball, and then the wad would be wrapped with strips of fabric. As time passed, traditional Temari balls became an art, with the functional stitching becoming more decorative and detailed, until the balls displayed very intricate embroidery.



TEMARI Autumn flame. from KNOEVELKES


With the introduction of rubber to Japan, the balls went from play toys to art objects, although loving mothers will still make them for their children. Temari balls became an art and craft of the Japanese upper class and aristocracy, and noble women competed in creating increasingly beautiful and intricate objects.

Temari represent a highly valued and cherished gift, symbolizing deep friendship and loyalty. Also, the brilliant colors and threads used are symbolic of wishing the recipient a brilliant and happy life. Traditionally, becoming a craftsman in Japan was a tedious process. To become a Temari artist in Japan today requires specific training, and one must be tested on one's skills and technique before being acknowledged as a crafter of Temari.



Sun Temari from suzik


Traditionally, temari were often given to children from their parents on New Year's Day. Inside the tightly wrapped layers of each ball, the mother would have placed a small piece of paper with a goodwill wish for her child. The child would never be told what wish his or her mother had made while making the ball.

Alternately, some balls contained "noisemakers" consisting of rice grains or bells, to add to the play value. It is said that traditional temari were wrapped so tightly they would actually bounce."


If you prefer instructions you can actually hold in your hand:



The Temari Book by Anna Diamond from BarrelOfMonkeys


Otherwise, the DIY network has a wonderful, step by step edition complete with illustrations (for me, a little imagery goes a long way!).

So go on, get crafty with your bad self!!

*FEATURED ARTIST of the week* ~~BROOKLYNrehab~~

BROOKLYNrehab



1. What do you create?

Professionally, I've designed everything from clothing to furniture to medical tools. Though these days, I much prefer to design things that go outside the body rather than inside the body. My personal projects are equally as broad. I make jewelry and cast porcelain. I've also been playing around with my new gocco machine. My biggest passion; however, is not really creating but collecting. I love finding discarded treasures and bringing them home. Some are great as is and others I combine or transform into something new altogether.


2. What led you to take up your craft?

I see beauty in all things...I must thank my mother (who is jumping up with joy right now reading this!). She always inspired me with trips to museums and craft events. She taught me the beauty of nature and always had little found objects on display.



There was also a bottomless box full of 70's era craft supplies and an amazing craft book called "Make and Do" part of the Childcraft series (now my mom is feeling bad for accidently giving that book away!).


3. Which part of your work do you most enjoy?

I love the moment when it all comes together! I tend to have little themes running in my head....could be a motif, shape, color or even a texture. Whatever the starting point is, I start to relook at the items I've made or collected to see what fits into the theme I'm working on. Suddenly a brown plastic horse perfectly complements vintage canning jars with rusted caps. A tree slice becomes an imaginary creamer to accompany a coffee canister.




I also love collecting supplies. Hmmm collecting is not quite the right word. It's more like an obsession. I have just about everything from glass etching supplies to wood burners. I'd really love to have my own kiln, but that one will have to stay a fantasy.


4. Which part do you find hardest?

Saying "NO" to the perfect item I've found, but can't bring home b/c I don't have the space for it. Though I have found a way to turn storage into a pleasure. I have so many hiding places like my repurposed metal card file.


5. Where do you get your inspiration?

I love nature as much as I love the nitty gritty of the city. I expose myself to everything everwhere. Though these days I'm trying to tear myself away from the computer. Everyone's blogs are so amazing and Etsy itself is a world of inspiration. When I can, I love to troll through flea markets and travel to foreign lands.




6. Do you participate in any etsy groups, and if so, which ones?

Not yet, but I'd love to join one that participates in flea markets and fairs. I've never done a street event and think it would be more fun with great company.


7. What's one material your shop can't live without?

Rust, dust, and charm. I'm drawn to objects with character and hints of a past life.


8. What is your favorite item that you have purchased off of Etsy?

Just one? How about a 3 way tie...





9. If I could sell one item from my shop today, it would be...



Bubbo bought a set and look how pretty she made it look!




10. If I had enough money to pick one item on my wish list from any
shop on etsy to buy, it would be...

Quite possibly the most expensive item on here! but hey it's on sale :)



Actually I'd be more than happy with this...




11. What are the top three favorite items currently listed in your
store?

Sadly my favorite of all time has already sold (buyers remorse)



but here are my top 2 current items:



I also like the Back to School themed store I made especially for Poppytalk.




12. What undiscovered artisans would you recommend the world to know?

Jane Mount


Margaret Oomen


Camilla Engman



13. What is the best advice you have ever received?



Never give up!