But she MADE me do it!

When two of my  DIY Hanukkah decorations listings sold on Sunday, I got really pumped! When I checked to see who had bought them, I was surprised to see that a certain cousin of mine in Winnipeg had bought the second one! I shot off an email right away—hey you didn't have to do that! Family after all have privileges. I know he reads this blog, so I will keep his name to myself, but his reply still has me giggling. “She made me do it” he wrote, blaming his adorable wife who is probably right now cutting out dreidle and candle decorations.

Well I couldn't help myself. I sat down and designed this new set of cards for them.

These cards are on their way to you my unnamed Winnipeg cousins, as a thank you for being so cute and for supporting my new business!

The rest of you can find the new listing at my shop. But hurry, Hanukkah is only a couple of weeks away. 

Birds of a feather—Jenny Mendes

It started with a message from SherriConley on Etsy that my Kitty pattern painting was in her "Hello Kitteh treasury". I am always excited to see what the treasury is all about and who else I am sharing the treasury with.  This kitty salt and pepper shaker caught my eye.

I was hooked at first glance, but what I found next really blew me away. I am a folk art fanatic and Jenny's bird collection swept me off my feet.

There are bud vases, plates and much more at her shop and you can view more work at her website. The birds are by far my favourite. All of her pieces are hand built and painted. Each one is a masterpiece.

Enjoy!

Hey, I made a new friend—Valerie Krohn

It has been an exciting and exhilarating  three weeks. My etsy shop has kept me busy with five ketubah orders, three sets of new years cards and my first sale of a pattern painting. Each transaction is so much fun. Many buyers are etsians themselves, and it is always a treat to see what they make and how they are doing.

Valerie Krohn (aka NovaFolia on etsy) purchased my Kitty pattern painting after seeing it on the  craftcult gallery. I got in touch with her for some shipping info and then noticed that she was a shop owner herself. I of course went to her shop so see what she was up to. She has a small shop like me with the most striking jewelery!

Her earings and brooches are one of a kind, crafted with a combination of polymer clay (in her words) "(no paint or other media) using a technique that combines inlay and marbleized clays. "

She packages each item beautifully in a gift box which is an added extra. She also gives you good ideas of how to wear her brooches:

"In addition to your lapel or shoulder, here are some other ideas for how a brooch can be worn: on the neck of a turtleneck, to fasten a cardigan (a la Michelle Obama), at the waist, as a belt buckle, on a hairband or clip as a hair accessory, on the back of a dress or jacket (pleat the fabric in the center of the garment at the waist, and pin it with the brooch so the garment will be more fitted). Or, use a brooch to add interest to a purse or hat."

As doodle and colourful pattern fanatics, we were naturally drawn to each others work. By the end of our first etsy convo, I felt like I had made a new friend. Valerie now owns two of my pattern paintings and I am going to get in touch with her this week to order my own NovaFolia one of a kind wearable piece of art. You should do the same. Her shop is irresistible.  You can find her at etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/NovaFolia.

The Etsy community is awesome!