Super Cute Kitschy Notecards Giveaway!

It's a giveaway! Why? Just 'cause. Last week's AbbaDabba Bags giveaway reminded me that I haven't done one of my own in a loooooooong time. And so, because I like you and I'm grateful to you for reading my silliness and supporting my fellow artisans, I'm giving away a set of Kitschy Kitschy Coo blank notes from my Retrocrafted Paper Goods collection. These notecards feature super cute restored vintage artwork printed on 100% post-consumer recycled cardstock, and are accompanied by invitation-weight recycled bright white envelopes.

Leave a comment here to enter! I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, June 16th. Good luck!

Featured Artisan -- Roseworks Jewelry

This week's featured artisan is Ruthie of Roseworks Jewelry. Ruthie makes cool beaded jewelry with an earthy, eclectic feel.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I'm an eccentric artisan who loves to try her hand at just about anything! It shows in my shop too - I'm always experimenting with new forms of jewelry! I also love to read, write, and do anything that involves people :)


What 3 words best describe your work?
eccentric, bead-weaving, bright

What inspires you?
Other artisans, books, magazines, and things in every day life.

What drives you to create what you do?
One big drive is that I am disabled. Because of this I have long periods of time where I am very limited in what I am capable of doing. Creating jewelry is something I can do sitting still and when I'm not feeling well. It gives me a way to stay connected to the world and to feel productive! I also just love seeing the finished products.


What makes your work unique?
When you look in my shop you'll find a wide-range of styles and price-points. This means that there's something for everyone!

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
My work is my therapy and my solace. I'd love to have it start paying the bills at some point too.


How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I forsee a lot of growth as a bead weaver, and hopefully in some other crafty areas as well. Hopefully I will have grown my business to the point where it helps pay some of the household bills.

Where can we find you on the web?
My Main Etsy Shop: www.roseworksjewelry.etsy.com
My Artfire Studio: www.roseworksjewelry.artfire.com
My Second Etsy Shop: www.kstreasures.etsy.com
My Blog: www.roseworksjewelry.blogspot.com


Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Sunday

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." As always, full credit to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Dear Sweets,

We were unstoppable this week! Preschool is officially over and we had the week to ourselves. Despite Mommy's persistent laryngitis, we had lots of fun and took on lots of cool creative projects. Monday we made some stilts out of cans and velcro. You thought they were pretty awesome and I was glad to have dissuaded you from trying to make "rollerskates" out of your plastic cars. Lately you have lots of very detailed plans for "inventions," many of which are a little scary for me from a safety perspective. I was glad we could agree on stilts and then work together to figure out how to make them.

Tuesday morning you told me one of your stuffed dogs was going to have a baby and started asking lots of questions about how that might be possible. I confess - I was thrown off. I didn't expect to have the "where do babies come from" conversation for a while. I was very relieved when you clarified your questions. Apparently you only wanted to know how babies get fed when they're in their mommies' tummies. Whew! That one I could handle. But that conversation sure did get me motivated to do a little research on the best way to talk to you about... things like that!

Wednesday morning, you informed me that your stuffed dog's baby had been born - a little yellow bear named "Applebug Goose." What a great name! You were very busy taking care of the baby for most of the morning and you wanted to know if your cousin Twinkle could come over so you could take care of her too. I hate to break it to you, but she's not a baby anymore! Thursday morning, another one of your puppies had a baby named "Rocky Hockey." Boy, those puppies have been busy.

Daddy took Thursday and Friday off, which he doesn't get to do very often. We were ready for some serious family fun! We hit the science museum first, which you thought was actually kind of scary. Daddy and I were surprised - you love science and nature shows on TV. Maybe everything was just a little bit too big and too "real" for you. Anyway, you got a big kick out of the gravity lab (wasn't it cool to float those ping-pong balls over the air vent??), the mini tornado, and the giant kaleidoscope.

Friday we went to the zoo, which is pretty much one of my favorite places EVER. Once again, you surprised us a little bit. You weren't really impressed with any of the animals. You were actually way more interested in the little wagon we'd rented than whatever exhibit we were looking at. Dad and I were feeling a little discouraged, but when we got to the penguin exhibit, you had enough fun to make the whole day worthwhile. Apparently penguins are VERY funny.

This week you start your summer gymnastics camp and you're pretty psyched about it. I don't think you've quite figured out that preschool is over for the year - you keep asking about your teacher and which day you're going back. I'm hoping camp turns out to be a good distraction, and I'll bet you're going to love having a nice long gymnastics class twice a week.

I love you, baby girl.

Sincerely,
Mommy

Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to Casual Cottage, the winner of last week's AbbaDabba Bags clutch giveaway! Thanks so much to all who entered. I know Monica appreciated all the compliments and I always love the chance to showcase someone who does such amazing work. Look for my next feature on Monday!

Wordless Wednesday - Fashions of the Future

I Want It

I don't know if it's the colors or the shapes... this gorgeous asymetrical necklace by amber leilani definitely reminds me of childhood. The vintage opaque Swarovski crystals conjure up images of vintage baby books and candy necklaces. The blackened sterling silver chain "dirties it up" just enough. Fabulous.

Get it here. And be sure to check out the amber leilani blog, Yellow Flower.

Featured Artisan -- Red Marionette

This week's featured artisan is Kelli of Red Marionette. Kelli makes adorable little pocket critters and other whimsical loveliness.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Kelli. I have been a crafter and lover of handmade all of my life. I have dabbled in fine arts, sculpting, sewing and many other areas. I teach art at a Computer Animation University and maintain Red Marionette on the side.


What 3 words best describe your work?
Kooky, Whimsical and Cheery

What inspires you?
Colors and Fabrics. I love fabric. Its nearing an addiction.. I have to touch and feel all kinds of fabric to see if it would work well with my character designs.

What drives you to create what you do?
Originally Red Marionette started as a stress reliever. I was working in Construction Management and that was not an easy job so I would come home and sew fun little critters. It grew from there and I have since moved on from that job, so it came with me.


What makes your work unique?
Hand sewing quality and the design, definitely. I hand stitch all of the characters. No glue or quick stitching. They are durable and sturdy. I design everything from start to finish and try to keep the continuity of the look through all of the Red Marionette products.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
It does not have to be the stress reliever it used to be, so now its much more lighthearted. I do it now as a passion not because I would go insane without having an outlet. I would love to be able to do it as a part time job and be employed part time through the school. I love both of my jobs now, I wish I had more time for Red Marionette.


How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
Continuing to grow at a steady pace. I am learning so much about the business side of things still that by then I will have honed advertising and marketing for my products. I am always developing new products and designs. I hope in the future to have more time to execute the designs I have stockpiled.

Where can we find you on the web?
My Shop: http://redmarionette.com
My Blog: http://redmarionette.blogspot.com


Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.