Button Rings!

I got these cool button rings last week from my friend & fellow RNESTer, Erin of Sunshyne Silverwear.  She's the one who made my recycled spoon pendant necklace (which you can see a bit in the picture below) and she's recently started making these wire-wrapped button rings.  And we know how much I LOVE buttons!  I had to have one! (or two!)

Erin had shared the tutorial on her Facebook page last month and my DIY tendencies were tingling, telling me I could make some myself, since I had access to the tutorial...but I just am not much of a jewelry maker and wasn't interested in dealing with buying the wire and the tools involved and messing with the wire-wrapping.  And Erin was already making them and had some I liked, so I decided it would be SO much easier to just get one from her!  

Plus, I found that Erin was interested in doing a trade!  So we did a swap!  Even if she hadn't been interested in trading, the rings are very reasonably priced at $8.

*Photo courtesy of Sunshyne Silverwear

Here's a look at some of the other rings she's done.  You can actually see the two I have (both are the second from the right...one in the first row, the other in the third row).

She isn't selling them in her Etsy shop yet, but she told me that they will be available at her booth at craft shows.  Here's her show schedule for the year so far if you want to catch her.  You should also check out her website and sign up for the newsletter she's recently started if you're interested in any deals, coupon codes or specials she's running (she has one right now that involves the button rings!)  Go "like" her page on Facebook too!  She just hit a milestone of 600 fans! (I'm halfway behind her with 300!)

Treasury Tuesday: A Warm Woodland Winter

Made this cozy treasury the other day as it was snowing...

A Warm Woodland Winter

Mayday Scores

A couple things I got at Mayday Underground this weekend...

A necklace made from a vintage wooden checker from In My Head Studios.

A "Doctor Who" fandom pin from Papersaurus Creative.

I feel bad that I can't remember the name of the artist I got this cool little Twig Gnome from... since we have been at many of the same craft shows.  

Treasury Tuesday: Recent Favorites (August 2012)

Every so often I make a treasury of items taken straight from my Etsy favorites list.  Here's the one I did for August.  I think I should try and do one every month!  I'd just have to try and make a point to favorite new items!

Recent Favorites August 2012 by KiraArts 

(This treasury features my good friend, kaseyAjohnson, and fellow RNESTer, Papersaurus!)

I am often amazed how pretty and coordinated my "recent favorites" treasuries end up looking, considering I just put them in the same order they are in on my favorites list (with a few omissions, simply becasue I often favorite multipe items from one shop and I don't like to have 2 items from the same shop in one treasury). 

You can check out this week's Treasury Tuesday post on the RNEST blog for more Etsy Treasuries!

Monster Drawing by Henry

 So, remember that 13 year old kid, Henry, who was across from me at the Mini Mayday show?  

I forgot to mention the awesome monster drawing he did, inspired by my monsters.  He just drew it while sitting there at the show...and quietly came up to me and gave it to me.  It was so sweet!  I wanted to hug him! (but I restrained myself.  I thought he might have been weirded out if I hugged him.)

 I love it!  I'm going to frame it and put it on the wall in my craft room.

Mom joked with me that when Henry gets famous, I have an original piece! LOL!

 I love the little details he does (like the robot arm) and how he puts his own style into it.  How many 13-year-olds have this kind of a developed drawing style?  This kid is a prodigy!

Another cool detail...I didn't notice this when he first gave it to me...but there is a little Nubbin peeking out from the monster's pocket!

And he drew an owl for Casey...inspired by her owl stuffers!

We both insisted he take something from our booths as a trade.  He seemed hesitant and slightly embarrassed, but he ended up picking out a Nubbin from my booth (not sure what he got from Casey's).  I wanted to make sure this kid knows his art is worth something, as well as introduce him to the craft show culture of making trades among artists.

New Monster Monday: Mayday Finds

This week's New Monster Monday doesn't have monsters made by me, but features items I got this weekend at Mayday Underground!

First is a monster "ornament" from Erin Makes Stuff.  She actually knits all her monsters herself.  Her booth has a sign that says "We're not socks and we never were!"  My knitting skills are limited to the knit stitch (I don't even know how to purl!) so I am really impressed with the stuff she makes!  I especially like the square beads she uses to make the teeth.

I like squishing his face and messing with his lips to make him happy or sad!

I also got this cool little turquoise octopus from Peaches Products.  I traded her a Bunny Nubbin and a Ninja Nubbin for it. (yay for artist trades!) 

 I added them to the collection of small plushies in my craft room. (from left to right: (top) blue Mini Monster from EcoLeftz, Owl Nubbin, Octopus and Owl from Peaches Products. (bottom) Nubbin, Monster Ornament from Erin Makes Stuff, Finger Puppets I won in a blog giveaway from Happycloud Thunderhead.

I have my own Owl and Nubbin because I can't find that particular color of fleece anymore...and, you know, I am allowed to keep my own work sometimes, right? ;)

It provides a happy little corner of inspiration while I'm sewing!

Craft Show: Hearts & Crafts MidWinter Market 2012

This past Sunday was the Hearts & Crafts MidWinter Market at Java's coffee shop.  I love doing this show, even though the venue makes things challenging for figuring out my display.  This was one of those shows where I forgot to take a lot of good pictures (and the ones I did take weren't that great)  

This first one was taken by my booth-neighbor and fellow RNEST member, Francesca DeCaire.  You can see more of her good pictures of the show on her blog.

The view from my corner spot. 

 A shot I took of my table.  I was in the back in the corner.  It was a challenge to figure out how to fit everything into such a small space.  In hindsight, I think I'd do it differently next time and try to consolidate more (I have a hard time not putting EVERYTHING out).  I think next time, I'll put the Nubbins and Owls in the same suitcase and have extras behind the table, and just replenish the display as they are purchased.  And that way there will be more room on the table for the sweater monsters.  I think no one bought any of the sweater monsters because they were  harder to get to.  The majority of my sales were Nubbins and Owls...as well as the Ninja Nubbins and my new Robot Nubbins.

My favorite stamp-carver, John from Jackbear Stamps was my neighbor on one side. I was so glad to have fellow RNESTers on each side of me.  During periods with less customers, we brainstormed about future RNEST plans & ideas.

And Francesca was on the other side of me.  She makes really cool lampworked beads. (check out her Etsy shop!)  I had a great time being next to her and talking and getting to know her a little better.  This woman is a pro and a marketing idea machine!

"Pin It To Win It" Contest from Sunshyne Silverwear

One of my friends and fellow RNEST member, Erin of SunshyneSilverwear, is having a "Pin It To Win It" contest!

The prize is a $25 gift certificate good towards any of the beautiful, handmade, recycled spoon pendants in her shop!

To enter the contest, all you have to do is create an imaginative Pinterest board using any product image found on www.sunshynesilverwear.com. Then post a link to your boards either on the SunshyneSilverwear blog, or on the SunshyneSilverwear Facebook Fanpage.*  Be sure to check her blog post for additional details.

*(Please don't post contest entry links on this blog post.  You must post them on SunshyneSilverwear's blog/Facebook page in order for your entry to be valid)

Haven't heard of Pinterest? Really?  I know I must have mentioned it before.  Anyway, it's awesome!  (and, for the record, I  have been sponsored to say that!) Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where you can "pin" your favorite items, links, and images from the web. It sounds simple enough, but it can be addicting, so you I'll give you fair warning!  But it is a wonderful way to collect all the cool stuff you like from the web into one place.  You can also follow other people's pinboards and other people can follow yours.  People use pin boards for their home decorating, style/fashion, recipes they want to try, products they like, and wedding planning.  I, personally, have created my own Pinterest boards for fun craft projects, kids' crafts for the homeschool art class I teach, and handmade gift ideas, just to name a few.  The possibilities are endless!

 To read a little more about Pinterest's possibilities, read their official 'About' page here.

One last thing...As of right now, creating Pinterest accounts are by invitation only. If you do not currently have a Pinterest account, e-mail Erin at sunshyne_silverwear(at)hotmail(dot)com and she will send you an invite so you can take part in the contest!  Happy Pinning!

Etsy Favorite Friday!: Boy Wizard Pillow

The last few weeks I haven't done one, but Etsy Favorite Friday is back! And I decided that in honor of the last Harry potter movie coming out today, today's Etsy favorite item is the Boy Wizard Pillow from Etsy seller wdkimmy (aka: Pantoufle de Verre).

Boy Wizard Pillow

She has pillows for other Harry Potter characters: the Girl Wizard Pillow, Red Head Wizard Pillow, and Evil Boy Wizard Pillow. She also does various superhero, comic book, and fairy tale characters.

Etsy Favorite Friday!: ArtSnack

I met ArtSnack at Mayday Underground (sorry, the artist's real name escapes me at the moment!). Her work is great because it's like play food in pillow form! Her work is delightful and the foods she chooses to translate into pillow form practically scream summer!

Pink Watermelon Pillow

I think the watermelon is my favorite! My mouth is watering just looking at it! (I may just need to go buy a watermelon this weekend!) Mmmmm...

Orange Creamsicle Pillow

Mmmmmm...Ice cream!

Ice Cream Sandwich Pillow

Be sure to check out ArtSnack's Facebook page as well as her Etsy shop!

Treasury Tuesday: Summer Joys (and more!)

I went a little Treasury-making-crazy this week. Curating Etsy Treasuries can be a little addicting sometimes.

Summer Joys

The weather around here has been getting warmer and warmer, and summer feels like it's just around the corner. So I was inspired to make the Treasury above with items that remind me of the simple joys of summer.

I (heart) Buttons!

If there's one thing I love as much as buttons..it's photos of buttons! This treasury includes work from fellow RNESTers PeachesPictures and AlisonTyne.

Spools!

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you already know how much I love photos of vintage wooden spools of thread. It's kind of ridiculous how happy they make me.

I (heart) Wooden Toys!

Wooden toys are just so great. I love them for their simplicity, natural beauty, durability, and classic feeling. You just can't go wrong with wooden toys!

Bird-Watching featuring PeachesProducts

With spring finally being in full bloom, the birds are back and twitter-tweeting away (well, y'know...not really with Twitter...bird don't use computers! Ha ha! ~ahem~) Anyway, after that trip to my grandmother's house and watching the birds outside her kitchen window, I was inspired to make this treasury highlighting some pretty bird-inspired work, which includes a feather hair comb from my friend Casey of PeachesProducts. I know birds and bird themes are ubiquitous on Etsy (and everywhere else!) but they're just so pretty!

Be sure you go check out the Treasury Tuesday post on the RNEST blog and go see more treasuries that feature some other awesome RNEST members! (if you don't, you're missing out!)

Feet Photo #1 (Spring)

I took this picture as I was leaving the luncheon at the Methodist church that I went to with my Grandma on Wednesday. I saw all the pretty pink flower petals on the ground and, inspired by the memory of the "Rejoice" photo that I love that's on Lisa Barker's business card, I took a picture of the ground and my shoes. (of course, it doesn't beat Lisa's photo!)

I'm glad I was wearing cute shoes! I'm liking this idea of taking a series of photos of my shoes/feet. I think it would be cool to do a series of them by season. This one would be spring. I have an image in my head of my bare feet in the grass with dandelions...then my red shoes in the fall with leaves...and then my boots in the snow for winter (although I may need cuter winter boots for that!).

I hope Lisa doesn't mind that I was inspired by her photo and "stole" her idea!

But, "we're all idea thieves" you know... ;) I'm sure there are whole Flickr groups out there that are dedicated to photos of people's feet and/or shoes.

Etsy Favorite Friday!: Our Secret Treehouse

This week's Etsy Favorite, Our Secret Treehouse, is a shop that I discovered because I met its creators at Mayday Underground. Richard, the cartoonist counterpart of the team, visited my booth and was wearing a shirt with this cute little beaver design on it. I commented on it, and he told me he'd designed it himself and that their booth was around the corner from mine. So one of the times I left and let my mom run my booth, I popped over to check their stuff out!

Woodland Critters - XOXO Print 5x7

I had a nice time talking with them. We talked about how they are planning on adding some new woodland critter designs and joked around about how "Beavers will be the new owls!" (although...I don't think anything will be truly de-throning owls for awhile!)

Zombie Dinosaurs - The Complete, Three-Button, Medulla-Snacking Set

The zombie dinosaurs make me laugh!

They've got some really cute designs. I think they should offer T-shirts in the Etsy shop though!

Etsy Favorite Friday!: Loran Scruggs

This week's Etsy Favorite Friday features Loran Scruggs. She makes whistles and other items out of bottlecaps, tin cans, aluminum cans, and other items. I actually found this shop rather randomly...they had left a comment left on an Etsy blog post about sock monkeys, and the profile picture struck my eye. The profile picture was the photo below...

Yes...the it is the coveted Hitachino Nest bottlecap! The whistle has been sold (of course!), but she has some other cool works...

Bottle Cap Whistle

Dr Pepper Soda Whistle

(all image credit: LoranScruggs)

I want to know where this gal gets her bottle caps! She has some cool ones!

Treasury Tuesday BONUS: The Lilac Festival is Coming!

Treasury Tuesday BONUS! This Etsy Treasury is inspired by one of my favorite local festivals...Rochester's Lilac Festival! The festival starts this upcoming weekend on May 13th and goes to May 22nd, with craft fairs on the 2 weekends.

The Lilac Festival is Coming!

Many of the items featured are from fellow RNEST members, others are simply from artists who live or have lived in Rochester, and some items just have colors that remind me of the beautiful lilacs in Highland Park. I'm looking forward to going this year!

"Rejoice"...

I'm one of those business-card-collector type of people when I go to craft shows. I picked up a bunch from various fellow artists at this past Mayday Underground show...

But the card on top is my favorite. It's for Lisa Barker Photography. I met Lisa at the November Mayday Underground show... our booths were next to each other. She is also one of the organizers for the Hearts + Crafts Indie Market in Rochester, NY. She is a very cool and sweet gal.

And I absolutely adore this image. I love the design, the composition and the colors, but most of all, I love the sentiment..."Rejoice". It calls to my mind the Bible verse Phillipians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." It's a verse that I need to remember when the stresses of life (and sometimes hormones) turn me into a weepy basketcase.

She really needs to offer a print of this image in her Etsy shop, because I would definitely buy one for my house. Maybe if I ask her nicely? ;)

Etsy Favorite Friday!: AbbyTryAgain Photography

I met Abby of AbbyTryAgain at her booth at the Second Storie show a few years ago. I remember how nice she was because she was out of business cards and so she just gave me a mini print and wrote her info on the back. (I think I've talked about her before).

She uses vintage film cameras that she buys at thrift stores. In this age of digital photography, there is something special about photos taken with actual film.

She had a giveaway on her blog awhile back and one of the prizes was the print shown above of the vintage wooden spools of thread. (I blame this photo for sparking my current obsession with vintage spools and photos of vintage spools.) I didn't win the giveaway, but I went and bought a 8x10 print from her Etsy shop.

I think this vintage pincushions print is the next one on my wish list.

Link Roundup: Other People Sewing Monsters!

Here is yet another link roundup! This roundup features other bloggers' sewn monster projects...

Monster Tooth Pillow (image credit: The Long Thread)

Crayon Monster Art Tote (image credit: Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky!)

This one isn't a tutorial, but check out this monster that a blogger's son made! A boy after my own heart! I'm quite impressed! I made a comment on her post that "I hope he keeps that love of sewing and doesn't get "too cool" for it when he gets older and grows up to be a crafty man!" Crafty men are the best! (image credit: RiceBabies)