I heart Art: Baltimore - and you do, too!

The ACC is in Baltimore this weekend, and tonight is your chance to check out the show for a discounted price ($6 after 6pm) and meet members of the Baltimore Etsy Street Team, Etsy corporate (the people behind the site) and MICA. Tonight's events include a bookbinding workshop and polymer clay with BEST's own Yummy and Company.

Thanksgiving Weekend sale!

I find it kind of ridiculous that I haven't posted in over a month. Everyone who gets this on the RSS feed may well have forgotten who I am by now! It's been a very busy autumn and I'm still in the thick of things as it were. I've been working on a queensized quilt that is royally kicking my butt. I have underestimated every aspect of this beast except the amount of thread needed - from the time necessary to fussy cut the charm squares to the time it takes to get all these scrap fabrics to play well with each other.

In the midst of all this I've been planning some new WVP and Welcome Home Quilt designs for spring. So, it's time for a clear-out of existing stock. Everything currently in my Etsy shop is 15% off with coupon code THANKS2010. I've got a lot to be thankful for and hopefully your future gift recipients will, too!

Water, Water, Everywhere

It's been ridiculously busy in tarabuland the last few weeks - and none of it has to do with creating the kind of art that makes me, or anyone else, smile. It has mostly to do with a torrential downpour, leaking water heater, black mold remediation and a failed transmission.

Under the guise of internet-based art therapy, I made a treasury of water-related art, just to remind me that water is not the enemy.

And now, having spent five minutes trying to get my print screen function to work, I'm going to give up and just put a link here.

I think it might be time to go back to bed and start over three weeks ago.

Columbia Art Park this weekend - June 12-13

There's going to be wine, cheese and gourmet treats in addition to a curated arts festival where I shall be this weekend. Which makes it highly likely that my husband will spend all of my profits by 3pm on Saturday.

Of course, it's not just me:

Leslie will be there, with her collection of recycled Wino creations - for those unaware, these are accessories crafted from recycled wine bottles. There are few things I enjoy as much as drinking for Leslie's art!

And Allison, glorious Allison from TigerLilly - whose pressed relief jewellery is created from whatever bits of nature she can gather up in her little hands and drag into the studio.

Okay, so it's possible I might buy a few things, too. (*wink*)

nook Book

I'm a little more tickled with these than I ought to be - particularly since I don't have a Kindle, nook or Sony eReader.

But, hey, it's the simple things, right?

Here's one (of many!) recycled books that have found new life as protective covers for the modern e-reader.

This particular piece is made with cotton fabrics and a tight elastic loop that circles the book to hold your nook (or Kindle) safe. Note, this fits the original Kindle, not the Kindle DX

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

It's Sunday! Well, the day I'm writing this is Sunday, who knows when you'll be reading this - that's one of the wonders of the blogosphere. It can, in many ways, be like putting the wrong microfilm cassette in the reader and reading from a newspaper twenty years before the time you wanted.

But today, for me, is Sunday, April 18th. I went to the local Lutheran church's Flea Market yesterday with a pile of crap from my house and did rather well. I only stayed five hours (instead of the scheduled eight) because the combination of 45-degree-F temps and 20 mph wind gusts beat me into submission. Even with woolies in my wellies! So I packed up early, dropped my leftover household goods at the local charity shop, went home, turned on electric bed warmer and snuggled up to thaw out.

Half an hour later my beloved tells me that on Sunday (then, tomorrow; now, today) he's going to visit his father - without me! Now, my in-laws and I get along quite well, but I know I can be taxing and occasionally they'd rather have a visit without me.

The ramifications required an immediate trip to the local fabric shop. I mean, a whole day to myself? Score! Little did I know they were having their annual 50% off sale of thread and notions. Little did I know I would get home in time to go back out to fetch my beloved's inhaler from the pharmacy - but that second trip is a small price to pay for a whole day of not having to pay attention to anyone besides the cat.

In addition to a trunkload of thread, I got this:

A three and a half yard jelly roll. Talk about a bag full of possibilities!

I haven't broken into it yet, though. It's only two weeks until the From Scratch Market in Allentown, PA, so I spent the day (well, before my nap) making more Well-Versed Accessories:

Like this mini clutch - just the right size for an iphone (or lipsticks and a compact):

Or this notions folio, made from a sweet little copy of 'A Compendium of Household Hints':


and this shopping list folio, made from a ridiculously pink copy of 'Life According to Maude'


and this sales folio made from a copy of 'Quotable Hollywood' that's already been promised to the brilliant, Ms. Anne:

There's a few others in the works as well - including additional needlecraft cases and research folios. It has been a very good day! (We'll see how I feel about that tomorrow when I realize there's no clean laundry!)

urchin love

A long time ago,

in a galaxy far,
far
away,

I was a child.

Okay, it was only about 30 years ago, but the galaxy was Ireland and you have to admit that Ireland in the 1970s is a whole other world from the outer ring of Washington, D.C., circa 21st century.

But I couldn't imagine a more wonderful place to be a child. As the only child to my parents I was the odd one in the family, but there was no safer place for a loner child to be alone. I spent hours and hours walking the shoreline, climbing the wreck, and collecting urchin shells by the score.

I don't know what it is about the husk of the urchin: the delicate, vulnerable shell, woefully unable to protect anything anymore. Perhaps it's the delicate shades of lavendar and sorrow urchin shells come to shore in, perhaps that's why I love lavendar. Perhaps it's their dichotomy - like a hen's egg they are both incredibly strong and incredibly fragile, their colour is the colour of soft chalk or tinted marshmallows, but their texture is rough and solid like an oyster's shell.

My urchin shells are still in storage from our move - carefully wrapped in tissue paper, packed in a cardboard tube and hiding from the light of day.

I don't feel so bad about that now, though, now that Ploust has entered my world. A few clicks away, at any time, I can find the joy of an urchin shell - I may not have the tactile pleasure of holding one, but I can look and remember. And perhaps one day, I'll unpack mine long enough to pack one off to another shore where it can be turned into a necklace just for me.

Enjoy!

Facebook Fanpages

I follow a variety of fan pages on facebook - mostly the pages of artists and artisans I know in real life, but also some that just seem like fun.

A couple of weeks ago Jenni of Lana Bella posted a free shipping/bonus on her fan page. You see, she was at 99 sales and was offering free shipping for the day and a special bonus for the 100th customer.

I just happened to be low on my tomato leaf bar, so I leaped at the chance to score free shipping and a bonus gift on my next bar.

What arrived in the mail a few days later was this:

The giant bar of tomato leaf, a bar of Karma and a jar of Karma bath salts. Needless to say, I'm tickled pink!

New Quilts

I put two new quilts up in the Etsy shop over the weekend and somehow missed putting them up here. My apologies!

They are:

A bright white reversible, featuring random strips of delicate florals. This looks much better in person than I was able to achieve with the digital image:




The first to be posted of my new 'Welcome Home, Little One' collection. I have a few more of this style ready to go and am working on a rowhouse design to come as well.

It never fails that when I hang a quilt on the line, the wind picks up. And, since it is March, I may well be photographing indoors for the next several weeks!

The Welcome Home collection will be at Hyattsville this year.

PinShooters Giveaway!

Now's your chance to win your very own ooak Skully PinCushion over at MrsB's

This is the piece up for grabs:

There are the usual requirements - find something you like from my shop or leave a tale of your favourite sewing project here.
Good Luck to all!

Let's Go Out!

I adore linen - as impractical as it may be, so it was with much delight I saw my friend Kathy finally list her grey linen dress. Even better - she's a custom seamstress, so all the curvy bits would fit just right.

I want a place to need to wear this!

PinShooters!

I finally have something new to put in my Etsy shop - PinShooters!

This is what happens when too much fabric meets a shot glass collection and functionality ensues.

In addition to several available for sale here, you can enter for a chance to win one - sometime this month - over at MrsBs!

Baltimore Craft in the news!

Baltimore's own TigerLillyShop is going to be featured on CNN's American Morning on Tuesday, 26 January at 7.40am and 8.50 am.



Update: Here's the link for the video.

Roller Derby - Go Mutiny!

I went to see the local Chesapeake Roller Derby team this evening. I didn't stay for the whole game (my companion was more than a little antsy and bad-tempered), but it has a lot going to recommend it - and not just because it's Roller Derby (although it is):

- They have purple 'jerseys'

- They have skullies on random garments, advertising and memorabilia

- They have women in tights

- They have men in kilts

- They have fun names like Dramanatrix and A-killa the Hon

I forgot my camera, a faux pas for which Iggy is not speaking to me. Apparently he really, really wanted to get his picture taken at the after party with the members of the team.

There was also a carnival aisle of vendors that ran the gamut from RawRevolution's vegan snacks to the NRA sports hunting club. I'm serious.

There were also a couple of artists there who had a lot going for them, but hands down, my favourite was Man Eating Flower. If I were not unemployed, I would have bought one right there, but I don't have a job at the moment, so I didn't. I will, however, be employed by huggy-bear's birthday and my filthy sailor will be getting this to hold my rum:

Actually, I'm quite taken with the lino-cut squid, but was unable to snipe a picture of that one. Stupid forgetting my camera and being hostage to the whims of the internet.

The best parts: the flasks are stainless, the images are individually printed from handcut stamps and the leathers are recycled from old clothing.

One of the other vendors was the local chapter of the Wilson Parrot Foundation. Long time visitors to my world know that I adore tropical birds, particularly macaws, and was ecstatic to see more than a dozen birds there - including three Petes! (for those new to my world, Pete is the blue and gold macaw I use for my avatar)

I made my donation and kicked myself again that I did not have my camera, because they would have gladly taken my picture with one of the birds.

Pretty Things

Dandelion Blu is discontinuing her sweet Graffiti Cocktail rings.

Me, I am not a cocktail ring kind of girl, although when I see things like this, I kind of want to be . . . . maybe if they were in purple . . . . .

There's still time to shop. A few of the crafty chicas in my life are currently in treasuries on the Etsy, click below for some beautiful colours and nifty goods:

BlockPartyPress
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=100284 http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=79800

SpaTherapy
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=79646

DoxalloDesigns
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=100174

Galla15
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=79645

LanaBella
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=79760

SunflowerExpress
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=79559

DC-Area Etsy Sale

The Capital Region Etsy Street Team (CREST) is holding a team sale -

Black Friday - November 27, 2009 to Cyber Monday - November 30, 2009.

Complete your holiday shopping with CREST . Please visit the following shops for amazing items and special deals. Check each shop announcement for details.

The following shops are offering Free Worldwide Shipping Nov 27 - Nov 30....
Free worldwide shipping at bijouxrocks...
bijouxrocks

Free worldwide shipping at aprilmist...
aprilmist

Free worldwide shipping at ardenjewelrydesign...
ardenjewelrydesign

Free worldwide shipping at stitchberry...
stitchberry

Free worldwide shipping at AWEshop...
aweshop

Free worldwide shipping at jetsy...
jetsy

Free worldwide shipping at sweetbeadstudio...
sweetbeadstudio

Free worldwide shipping at at JustinesJewelry...
justinesjewelry

Free worldwide shipping at tarabu...
tarabu

Free worldwide shipping at silverdotjewelry...
silverdotjewelry

Free worldwide shipping at lanyapi...
lanyapi

The following shops are offering Free Worldwide Shipping PLUS other discounts Nov 27 - Nov 30....
Free worldwide shipping plus 10% off all items at anastassiadesigns...
anastassiadesigns

Free worldwide shipping plus 15 % off all items at OceanSea...
OceanSea

Free worldwide shipping plus 20% off all items at morewarped...
morewarped

Free worldwide shipping plus 10% off all items at moonblossomdesigns...
moonblossomdesigns

Free worldwide shipping plus 15% off all items at sewartsy...
sewartsy

Free worldwide shipping plus 15% off all items at hitchcockcreative...
hitchcockcreative

Free worldwide shipping plus 20% off all items at rainestudios...
rainestudios

Free worldwide shipping plus 15% off all items at bellameidesigns...
bellameidesigns

Free worldwide shipping plus 10% off on $50 or more, 20% off on $100 or more at erinmapes...
erinmapes

Free worldwide shipping plus 20% off excluding clearance items at TashinaFalene...
tashinafalene

Free worldwide shipping plus 10% off on orders over $20 at sunflowerexpress...
sunflowerexpress

Free worldwide shipping plus 20% off and a free "Flower Power Ring" at doyoulovelucy...
doyoulovelucy

Free worldwide shipping plus 20% off on $20 or more at BrigaBauble...
BrigaBauble

Free worldwide shipping plus 10% off orders of $20 and up. 20% off orders $75 and up at BigHelmetHead...


Free worldwide shipping plus free gift with purchase over $20 at BelleCouleurJewelry...


Free worldwide shipping plus 10% off all items at GenerationsTieDye...
GenerationsTieDye

Free worldwide shipping plus 10% off on $50 or more at UPHORIA...
UPHORIA

The following shops are offering other Discounts Nov 27 - Nov 30....
Free shipping to US and Canada. $2.00 International shipping. 20% off all items at shellydaly...
shellydaly

Free shipping to US and Canada on purchases over $35 at wildhare...
wildhare

15% Off All Orchid Plants (prices will be adjusted to reflect discount) at sapphirechild...
sapphirechild

Free domestic shipping on orders over $10 plus 10% discount (on Black Friday only) for orders over $50 at theguestroomcloset...
theguestroomcloset

20% off all orders at DesignsbyJocelyn...
DesignsbyJocelyn

It's sale time!

And many, many of the Etsians I know are hosting sales in their shops this time of year.

Find free shipping by searching 'EtsyFreeShipping' in the Handmade>keyword search field.

Add Etsycrest or BaltimoreEtsy to your search and find regional artists from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District.

*Note* some of those free shipping sales won't be live until Wednesday 11/25 or Friday 11/27 - take your time, heart your favourites, and buy when it's cheap!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

A grande event, if you are in the Philly area this Sunday. I may well be outclassed, but I am putting my best effort on the block - The show runs 10a - 4p.

Leslie Brown will be there, too

sigh. Etsy . . . tsk tsk tsk

Etsy has been doing some decidedly anti-seller things lately - beyond the usual not responding to corporate resellers so they can keep getting listing fees - that I won't go into here. I am not in the mood to invite haters into my little apartment on the web.

I will take a moment to point out that this highly amusing little thread about proper grammar, spelling and listing etiquette: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6346435&page=1 was pulled by admins because they want to pee on our parade.

Me, I think it was full of great reminders. It also made me hungry for cream cake.