Treasure New Mexico

I was just informed that the very talented inspiredbyelizabeth has included my long-eared beanie with pompoms in her treasury promoting New Mexican artists! 

Check out some of the amazing things being created in the Land of Enchantment :)

Miniature Rhino

So many of you (and me) love tiny things, and if you are one of those people and you haven't seen this shop yet, you will most definitely fall in love!  Even the name says "miniature"

I love the Cabinet of Curiosities sets, small bottles filled with even smaller items!

Not to mention the Message in a Bottle Service!

And the custom embroidery :)

MiniatureRhino: a happy, cute little online space.

Blackbird Jewelry

On our adventures in Asheville, NC last week, we went to go see my Uncle's studio which is part of the Cotton Mills Studios.

This space is shared by a number of artists including painters, potters and fiber artists.  Mixed in was a jewelry artist with some very intriguing pieces, Blackbird Jewelry.

I love her Back Beads and the silver earrings and necklaces, don't you?

More adventures were enjoyed and more photos and shops to share!

Go With The Flow

This print by thewheatfield is so right. There are some things in life that you just can't control and you should just live it the way its flowin' :)

ShainaMote

I just wanted to share this shop with you, I think it is lovely and clearly very well thought-out.

It seems that everything about ShainaMote has so much thought and energy behind it, the clothes are gorgeous, the fabrics are beautiful and the photographs! Oh the photographs.

The artist has a clear view of what type of feeling she wants to convey to her shoppers. She styles the photographs brilliantly and has just enough background interest to keep your attention but not to detract from the piece being highlighted.

Now I need to learn how to do that with my photos and my not-quite-so-brilliant camera...

Super Cute Recycled Goodness

I came across SoSheSews the other day in the Etsy Fora and am thoroughly pleased with her very cute, very practical and very recycled selection. Her diverse shop offers wallets, clothing, bags, coffee cozies, hair pins and more!

Here's a little blurb from her profile about why she sells on Etsy:

"I am really interested in re-use, particularly in the garment industry and see it as an opportunity not only to save resources and avoid contributing to inhumane industries, but also to promote one-on-one trade where the buyer deals and interacts directly with the craftsman."

Her creations are made from fused plastic bags, recycled and repurposed fabrics and other whatnots. I wish I could one of each of the items in her shop :)

Make up your mind weather!

Its a rainy, gloomy day here in New Mexico. I wish the weather wouldn't play games with us like it does, one day its sunny and gorgeous and spring-like, the next its cold, gray and wet. Make up your mind weather!

So here are some sunny pictures to help us all think of the coming spring :)

Sun Flower by janeheller

Le Soleil by honeytree

Summer Road by judemcconkey

Color and Inspiration

What inspires you? Is it the way you feel at a given time? Something somebody says? Music? A picture? For me, its color. I love color. Yes I think those grey backgrounds and muted tones are chic and sophisticated a lot of the time, but I couldn't live like that, I need color! Color in my house, color in my clothes, color in my food.

stephaniecorfee might be able to help me out with the color in the house part. I absolutely love her shop and want to put it up in the house we're moving in to in a few weeks. I want to carry it around with me and show everyone so they can be inspired too. But I guess posting some of my faves here will suffice for now, won't it?

As always, clicking on the pictures will take you to the listings in her shop :) And please feel free to share your inspirations in the comments!

Ahh

'Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.' - Warren Buffet

I love trees. Especially the big leafy ones, the leaves bring fresh green, sometimes flowers in the spring, provide lush joy through the summer and paint the ground with awesome colors in the fall. Even in the winter the trees can look so magnificent and gorgeous. I want to enjoy trees for decades to come, and I want the next generations to enjoy them as well. So please go plant a tree :) any kind of tree!

She Remembers a Time by SherriConley

Cafe Drawing

While I was waiting in a cafe this past weekend, sipping my tea and knitting, a gentleman came over and asked if he could draw me. "Sure" I wasn't about to say no, even if the request had caught me a tad off guard. My friend wasn't to arrive for another hour so the man and I made small talk, he had some books with him which sparked discussion of politics, muses and music. I found out he was a construction worker whose job that day had been rained out so he came to the cafe to relax and draw. Luckily, I was his subject :)

Here is the picture that came from that session:

Friday Feature - SissysArt

I decided to do today's feature on SissysArt. She creates all kinds of artistic works in a variety of mediums and each piece has sentimental value as she is most inspired by things that are going on her life. Read on to find out where she got her start, her dreams, and her hero (and, as always, simply click on the photos to go to the listing in her shop ;)):

1. What is the first craft you remember making?

I remember my grandma teaching me how to make apple dolls just like she used to make when she was a child. We would carve out the faces and then sit them on the window sill to dry. I remember how amazed I was that they looked like little old people the more they dried and shriveled up. Then we would use cotton (she saved the cotton from her vitamin bottles) for the hair and make little stuffed bodies and clothes for them. I had the best time making these!

2.Are you the kind of person who enjoys teaching yourself or taking classes with groups to learn?

I like to do both. I enjoy taking classes for the social aspect, plus I always feel like it is so much easier to learn from someone who has been doing it for a long time. However, I'm mostly a self taught artist simply because I can't find a class for everything I want to learn. I would love to take a soldering class from Sally Jean Alexander but she is a few states away from me, so I've taught myself from books, you tube videos and internet sources.

3. When you are not creating, what can you be found doing?

Housework! It's a never ending battle and I'm never caught up. Seriously though as far as fun things to do, I love working in my flower beds, spending time with my family, going for walks. I live a pretty simple life and I like it that way.

4.If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?

My husband and I would love to travel to Europe some day. My son went and back packed through Europe with two of his friends a couple of years ago and I just love looking at all of his pictures. Especially the ones from Italy and Greece.

5.Who is your hero?

My Mom without a doubt. She was a creative woman who had such a kind heart and was so giving to others. She always worked hard all of her life and it wasn't always easy, but she still found time to be there for her family.

Thank you SissysArt! Don't forget to check out her blog to keep up with this amazing woman!