Back into the Swing of Things

Hi Everyone!!



We're back from our trip and are slowly but surely catching up to the fast beat of the city :) I have tons of pictures to share so get ready for some wilderness posts later this week! OH, and Peach Picks Thursday!!

xoxo
Amy

*FEATURED ARTIST of the week* ~~Xenotees~~

Xenotees



1. What do you create?

Mostly t-shirts with what I like to think are unique designs- I really strive to be original. You’ll never see clipart on my shirts! My friend Ana, from fricdementol.etsy.com said this a while back “I think they are very educational and fashionable!” which I thought was so cool!


2. What led you to take up your craft?

For many years I’ve been drawing in my sketchbooks, taking photos, and doing the occasional “finished piece”. Since my husband & I have our own business (called Monoroid) screen printing t-shirts & record covers, it seemed like a natural progression to get some of my crazy ideas onto wearables. It’s really exciting because I went to art school for so many years and I never really “did” anything with all the training I’ve had. Over time, that can start to make you feel pretty bad and unmotivated. Doing Xenotees is just what I needed in order to get my creativity back in working order!


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

That would probably be the feedback that I get from happy Xenotees customers. Sometimes I just can’t believe how sweet the comments are! It’s also really great to have worked on a design, or had the concept in my head for a long time, and then see it printed on a shirt for the first time- it’s dizzying!






4. Which part do you find hardest?

The hardest part is finding time to do all the things I need to do, the age-old dilemma, I suppose! It would be great if I had more time to finalize new designs and get them printed! I also get really behind with leaving feedback for my Etsy customers because I like to make it as personal as I can. That means hours of playing the “memory game” searching through feedback left for me & reading what the customer said in order to respond appropriately… One of my favorite people on Etsy, Nicole from lillyella.etsy.com, said it best – “I don’t like to leave cookie cutter feedback”… Too true!


5. Where do you get your inspiration?

For me, that’s a long list! From so many artists, my family, my cats, good spicy food, gardening, meeting wonderful people like you…




I could go on and on! I guess from life, really, would be the short answer. It might sound pat, or simple, but it’s true. When I finally get to move to the country, it’ll be even better!


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

I sure do- that would be the Etsy for Animals Group –



Team EFA! It’s a great group of shops that love animals, which is what I'm all about!


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

Cotton!


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

That is a difficult question! I would probably have to say my Western Art Glass Gingko Leaf, whipped up from a Jameson bottle.



To choose between that and my Bailey Doesn’t Bark glasses would be pretty impossible though!



They are both such meticulous artisans, I just love everything they do!


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

Probably my Star Moss skirt! If only Etsy had video so I could show it off a little better. It looks great when you spin it around. (Hmmm… maybe I should redo the pictures for that one!)




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

One? Just one?!

I have to say it’s a tie between this Blind Spot Jewelry ring



& I want one of these in each color, but especially black!



Why do keep asking me these painful questions?! haha


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

Pet Lobster shirt in Slate

Giant Saw Blade in Grass Green

Good Luck Fork Shirt in Grass Green


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

Again, I could make you such a long list, but I’ll try to refrain! I’ll stick with some of the amazingly talented people I’ve found on Etsy.

RJ, from Bailey Doesn’t Bark,

Brian Western, from Western Art Glass,

Ana, from Fricdementol shop

and I just discovered this artist on Etsy myself today & I love her work- Robin Carlisle from Drenchedinwhite !

I wish I could list them all & if I didn’t mention someone I just can’t remember right now, I’ll start feeling guilty from this second on, in order to make up for my aging brain malfunctions! Really, it’s insane how many incredible artisans are there, and I discover new ones constantly.

Oh, one person not fully on Etsy, is my husband & I think he is an amazing undiscovered artist. Here are just a few examples of what he has done so far. They don’t include all the crazy drawings that only I get to see, for now!



Here are some from a show he did with his good friend Sam, who is also insanely talented (their art is mixed together):
The Human Hair show


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

Start an Etsy shop! Seriously- until then I was only selling in one store in Brooklyn & a lot of my ideas remained in my sketchbook. It’s amazing to know that my designs are all over the world! Not to mention all the incredible people I’ve met on Etsy. It would be impossible to even count them all at this point!



Really, I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life. I was never previously a person you would ever hear utter “My friend, you know, the one I met on the Internet”!

3 days of Children's Books: Day 3

Drum roll please........

"The Snowy Day, a 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, is the simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. Keats's illustrations, using cut-outs, watercolors, and collage, are strikingly beautiful in their understated color and composition.



The tranquil story mirrors the calm presence of the paintings, and both exude the silence of a freshly snow-covered landscape. The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with a day of humble adventures--experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day. Awakening to a winter wonderland is an ageless, ever-magical experience, and one made nearly visceral by Keats's gentle tribute."





I about fell off of my desk chair when I saw this book pop up on an Amazon search for top children's books. This was my very favorite EVER!! The pictures and excitement, coloring and simplicity. Oh man, this is it :)

Thank you for taking this journey with me! I hope you'll all take some time yourselves to think about these long forgotten treasures that shaped and molded our young crafty minds!

Happy Weekend!!

3 days of Children's Books: Day 2

Oh yes!! Day two of Children's books brings The Red Ripe Strawberry. Do you ever just remember a moment with a scent?? I can actually remember how this book smelled as you pulled each page over the next :) There's something purely magical about that, don't you think?!?





My second pick is The Story about Ping. This book bordered on scary for me as I always became so nervous for little Ping as we neared the end of his tale as I new he'd get his little duck booty smacked for good measure. But beyond that, it has remained a very important childhood book for me :)

I saved my very favorite for last so be sure to check back tomorrow!!

Happy Thursday!!

3 days of Children's Books: Day 1

We're on vacation!! Woo hoo!!

5 full days of getting back to nature, peace and quite, time for just us. I thought I'd leave you all with some childhood whimsy and maybe dredge up some wonderful memories of begging to have that favorite book read "One more time!"

Now, you all remember the Big Hungry Caterpillar, so I tried to pick more personally specific books in my endless google searches. I nearly gasped and teared up with each new find!

I originally got this idea from the wonderful Leanne over at, Kindred-Design and her post entitled Storytelling




No Roses for Harry

"When Harry gets given a coat with roses on, everyone thinks it's lovely except Harry, who can't bear it. He's determined to lose it but that proves more difficult than he imagined."

This is one of my absolute favorites. The illustration of the rose weaved birds nest towards the end will live forever in my young mind :)

Do you remember this one?? Any of the other Harry books??

Barns

Dee Johnson


We're going up north this weekend for a real live vacation (more on that later) and it got me thinking of growing up. My father lived with two other bachelor for a bit in my childhood on this amazing non running farm. You can only imagine the hours my brother and I spent exploring the cavernous, nook ridden buildings on the property :)



William Dalton


I did a search on flickr and came up with these reminiscent homesteads. I hope you may find a teeny bit of nostalgia here as well!



im pastor rick



meirion matthias



walla2chick


You can take the girl out of the midwest, but you can't take the midwest out of the girl :)

Happy Tuesday!!

A Birthday

Blogmaster2000 celebrated a birthday this weekend. He is one to, in no way, WANT a birthday, CELEBRATE a birthday, or ACKNOWLEDGE a birthday (unlike some people I know.....). So what am I going to do?? Make today's blog post especially for him :)





As a non traditional non birthday gift, I got him this little cactus. Anyone know his genus?? I've named him Ricky. I thought he would be perfect as a cat deterrent (they eat any plant in fang range) but as it turns out, his spines are nice and soft and they like to rub all over him!





Lastly is the birthday cake!! We don't have a traditional kitchen (yes, we live in the dark ages... or just the top floor of a 100 year old building....) so it's very difficult on baking! Plus, this little Carrot Cake is probably worlds better than anything I could come up with!!

So there it is! Happy Birthday Blogmaster2000!!!

Made possible by Bloggers like you

You guys are the best :) But really, you guys are the BEST! Not only are your blogs insightful and inspiring, but MAN are you talented!! I had some time last weekend to really look through some of your profiles and realized many of you are not only crafty but have your own gorgeous little shops on Etsy!




So, this is my ode to you :) I'm sure I missed a few people here and there but I wanted to share what I've discovered so far!



Sea Spray Mist Lacy Scarf from MyissaG



FuLL HeArT from thepeachpit



LaLa Deux Earrings from ValerieTyler



Day Sleeper ACEO Print from artkitten




Camping 1952 from everydaymoments




Still Life Photography - Threads from cornflowerbluestudio
(the sweet little sweater has disappeared but I thought this was equally as lovely!)



Dorothy's Poppy Journal from RedOtter



noemi necklace from thebline



Vintage Mirror from revampboutique



Snake Skin Bracelet from nanouke



Citrus Sparkle Bracelet from lillyella



Eco-Friendly Metamorphosis cards from staceywinters


I have a lot more discovery in my future!! Have a wonderful weekend!!