Showing posts with label daydream art studios. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daydream art studios. Show all posts

02 December 2008

Handmade Holiday Gift Guide

I don't just sell on Etsy, I love to shop there also. This year, I have tried on every gift giving occasion to buy handmade as much as possible. In my search for the perfect gifts, I have found some things I never would have thought of giving. Everyone knows buying handmade gifts for women is easy, especially with all the great jewelry out there. My shop is full of pendants and necklaces in every shape, size, and color. At around $10, they make perfect gifts for any women or teen. But what about those others on your list? Here are some of the most interesting gift ideas that you may have never thought of. All are handmade, and unique, and guaranteed to make your loved ones and friends feel truly special. Recieving handmade gifts make anyone feel like you went to a lot of thought and trouble to find that perfect gift. Isn't that what gift giving is truly about? Making someone feel truly special? The thought? Here are my favorite finds, all from shops on Etsy.

For the man on your list, how about this duct tape wallet? JDuct not only has this one, but tons of other one of a kind wallets in all kinds of designs: Another cool gift for men is a screenprinted by hand, direct from the artist t-shirt, also in many designs, by DBK Apparel: For those little boys (or even girls!), how about a marshmallow shooter? They shoot pom-poms too, for moms who don't have dogs to eat the ammo off the floor. These even come in two packs to avoid arguments, from BoysToys:

For little girly girls, there is everything from mom approved, adorable handmade winter hats, also handmade with love and one of a kind. This one is from MoMos Bows, who also makes tons of adorable hair bows:
Perhaps you have one of those American Girl doll-obsessed little girls. Get some gorgeous, one of a kind clothes for them at much more reasonable prices. I had several custom made to match ideas in my head from RetroReesa, like this Totally 80's one custom made for $15:

For those teen girls, these earrings are really popular, from Daydream Art Studios:

Maybe there's a woman on your list who doesn't wear a lot of jewelry. Try some fabulous, natural, highly fragranced handmade perfume purse misters available in dozens of high end scents, from Flameworks: You can also get goat milk soap, fresh from the farm in Kentucky. This one, Yuzu, smells good enough to eat. Move over Bath and Body Works, for Wilmoth Farms: For a fashionista on your list, how about the latest French fashions, direct from the French designer herself? I love this gorgeous silk top from Malam:

She may also love these very well made (I know, I own one!) and very beautiful designer handbags, straight from the designer in Switzerland, Novita Julien. She has all kinds of bags in all kinds of fabrics:
What about Grandma, though, who already has what she wants. Does she knit? How about indulging her like she does for everyone else? Here is some super soft and high end, hand spun and hand dyed yarn, from LunaBud Knits: Is there a baby, new mom, or soon to be mom on your list? Get them something noone else will, like these onesies that will get giggles everywhere. Bambinamia has giggle worthy onesies for everybody. My favorite: What about that person who has it all? At a loss? How about these super cute mice? The House of Mouse has one available in just about every occupation and even "famous mice" modeled after just about anyone. I like this little chef:
Last but not least, don't forget that even those cards that need to be sent can be handmade! Oh, don't make them yourself, just make them think you did, with great ones like these from Macaroni and Glue: Don't forget, almost every shop on Etsy LOVES custom orders, and is happy to accomodate even "crazy" requests! Often these custom orders do not cost any more than buying the item already made, a fear that often keeps people from asking. Remember, these are handmade items, made by artists just trying to make it. They truly appreciate your business and will go out of their way to show you. Just like your mother always said, it never hurts to ask! Happy Shopping!

20 November 2008

OMG!!!


Come get a start on your Christmas Shopping at the CCA HOLIDAY CHEER BAZAAR. Saturday, November 22nd from 9:00-3:00 p.m. held at the Community Christian Academy High School, located at the corner of Highway 45 and Lebanon Church Rd across from Paducah Athletic Club.
Lots of booths including Jewelry, Fabulous Bags and Purses, Crafts, Home Decor, Christmas Decor, Children's Books, Candles, Skin Care, and all sorts of fabulous vendors in between - even Baked Goods and Cookware!!

Register for a FREE basket full of GREAT gifts from many of our Vendors!! Including this super fun pendant (and matching necklace) and from Daydream Art Studios:

19 November 2008

FaLaLaLa



Available online at http://daydreamartstudios.etsy.com and at the Holiday Cheer Bazaar at Community Christian Academy in Paducah, KY this Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm. Proceeds from the Bazaar benefit Hungarian missions and the CCA Cheerleaders.

10 November 2008

Pomegranates and Winter

Persephone was the Greek goddess of spring. She was forced to marry Hades, the god of the underworld, and while she was gone in the underworld, her mother Demeter, goddess of the Earth, refused to let anything grow or flourish until her daughter was found and returned. Hades finally relented and let Persephone return to her mother, but on her way back, she ate some pomegranate seeds- the forbidden fruit of Hades- thus sealing her fate. For punishment, Persephone was forced to return to the underworld to be with Hades once a year, one month for every seed eaten. During this time, myth has it, Demeter mourns her daughter's absence by again refusing to let anything grow, or as we know it, winter. When she returns, Demeter allows regrowth, making Persephone the goddess of spring and regrowth. Her true name, Corinne, come from the Greek word Kore, meaning maiden.





No wonder I find this story so fascinating, huh? Not only was I named for her, I think pomegranates are the coolest, most interesting fruit ever. That's why I made this new pendant:



Available now in my shop.


21 October 2008

All in the Family

It occurred to me today what a talented family I have. It's no wonder I have been obsessed with the arts my entire life, disappearing outside with a sketchpad and pencil for hours, or locking myself in my room as a child making tiny food and furniture from clay for my doll house. I see my daughter doing the same kinds of things now, without ever having known that I used to do the same thing. She spent the second half of week on bedrest drawing and coloring, disappointed she couldn't get back to her fashion design and sewing her doll clothes. My own mom had an arts and crafts room stuffed to the gills with every imaginable supply, some of them passed down to her by her mother. It's memories like that that inspire me, and stay with me and my daughter.


I also have incredibly creative and talented people on my other side of my family, who have combined that with modern technology to share that with the world. My uncle Mark has an amazing website resource of flower pictures. His fresh flower scans are gorgeous, high resolution images he obtains from local flowers he finds in sunny southern Florida, where he lives (lucky guy!), and then scans and does his magic to with photoshop. It doesn't hurt that his first love and job are in biology/ botany something or other, so he knows his flowers and scientific names. Uncle Mark, if you're reading this, forgive my ignorance of your actual job title...


Check out his site here and see some of the most beautiful macro shots of exotic flowers on the web:


Then cruise on by my Uncle Bill and Aunt Nancy's website, Starfish and Dreams. From their large warehouse and office in sunny southern California (are you seeing a pattern here?), they, along with other family members and a small staff that is like family, they have created gorgeous stationary, scrapbook papers and stickers for years under the name NRN Designs. Now Starfish and Dreams, their focus is more on cards now that the scrapbook craze is slowing down, and they make the most fun and wonderful cards! One of the coolest things they have added is an option to personalize and print cards straight from the website. They come in many different style options that you see on the front page:


But my favorite cards aren't the print at home ones, but rather these holiday diva-ish cards:


Gotta love 'em! You can visit their website here.

02 October 2008

Fall Beauties

Today is another beautiful fall day and I cannot get enough!! I finally get to open the windows this week, after a summer of captivity to the air conditioner thanks to Josh, whom I swear sweats in the snow. Yesterday I even took a long walk with my mom and Sierra, hills be damned! Of course my mom, visiting from Illinois and not used to hills at all, was not as gung-ho about the walk through the neighborhood as we were. But, at least it was just cool enough to not sweat about it.


It was also nice enough for me to take plenty of pics of my new jewelry, just in time for the team wide sale the Bluegrass Etsy team is having in a few days. One of my favorites is this necklace I made, using coral, slices of shells, and freshwater pearls:


Super big news about a super big sale coming up!! Details announced Sunday, October 5th!

18 September 2008

Big Contest, Big Prizes!


To celebrate the launch of my new line of pendants, and my 120th blog post, I am having a big sale for readers of this blog only! From now until September 26th, enjoy 20% off all orders $12 or more (including shipping). All my new pendants come with your choice of a necklace, complete with silverplated hardware, so you can completely customize your experience!
I am also woman enough to admit when I need help. Readers, I need your help! My talents apparently do not extend into naming stuff and even writing descriptions. I see witty, clever names in other shops, and I want that too! So, from now until the end of September, if you can come up with a clever name for any of my shop sections (on the top right side of www.daydreamartstudios.etsy.com), and I use it, I will give you a $20 gift certificate! Name them all and win big! Thanks all, and happy naming!

01 September 2008

Vacation


After meeting all kinds of great, interesting people all weekend and nearly sweating my body weight in water at the Arts and Crafts Show, I am off to Clearwater, Florida for a week of family fun in the (hopefully) sun! I will be back, in rare bloggin' form September 9th. Be sure to visit my Etsy shop that week, as I will be adding an entire new line of mix and match pendants and necklaces that range from super kitschy to super pretty, dozens of new gemstone necklaces, bracelets and earrings, and new paintings! Until then...

28 August 2008

Spray Paint Fun Part 3

This week I am scrambling to get everything done for the KWW Arts and Crafts Show this week, and needed to make some sort of display for my mini paintings. Maybe I'm cheap, or maybe its my eco-friendly raising that makes me dig through all the junk around the house before I buy anything, maybe its a little of both. After searching in vain for the right kind of wood to construct such a thing, I finally settled on an old, broken poster frame that has been sitting in the garage since I moved in. After fixing the frame with good ol' Gorilla Glue (that glue rocks!), I painted it lime green to match this cheap easel that's been collecting dust for several years now. Then I cleaned up the plastic "glass" from the frame and painted one side with glass frosting spray paint. I then hot glued the plastic in the frame to make sure it was secure, and then laid some of the same cutouts leftover from the necklace display board project and sprayed bursts of white and blue spray paint. The last thing was to add some shelves to put the paintings on, so I searched some more and came up with trim scraps from another household project and screwed them into the frame. Voila!
Be sure to come see what mini paintings I have- at marked down show special prices- this weekend! While you're there, pick up a goodie bag of handmade samples from me and other Etsy crafters, like these swell potscrubbers handmade by Mary Ellen's Crafts. I used one myself and can tell you firsthand, these nifty things really rock! Get one free and find out yourself, and then swing by her shop and show her some love!

27 August 2008

Fun with Spray Paint #2

My second fun thing to do with spray paint? How 'bout this fab necklace display I made from boards that came in the back of frames, push pins and corsage pins, and spray paint? All it took was a few cardboard cutouts, a good base coat of one color (also spray paint, of course) and several swooshie (yes, its a word) layers of different colors as I moved the cutouts between colors. The only cutouts I didn't move was where you see the light blue doves- the dark blue dove was a stencil dove I made and painted last.

Be sure the come to the KWW Arts and Crafts Show this weekend in Grand Rivers and check out the all new and rad pendants and necklaces I put on the display! While you're there, register to win a gift certificate and recieve a wonderful goodie bag full of handmade samples from other Etsy artists, like the super talented and very, very funny Annie Rexic!
At annierexic.etsy.com, you can get fresh and funky handmade pins, clothes and jewelry, all complete with hysterical descriptions that will keep you in stitches! She has some of these fun little handmade pins included in the goodie bags for you to take home. So be sure to drop by and say hello!

25 August 2008

Fun with Spray Paint

Josh brings me bigs cans of Rustoleum industrial enamel whenever he can. Somehow, he is always surprised how quickly I can go through spray paint. From outfitting retro hard plastic suitcases, to jazzing up the mailbox, spray paint is good for everything! This week, I'll be showing you all the fun that can be had with a few cans of spray paint! Today's fun:

22 August 2008

margaritas and free samples!

Its been a busy week of getting last minute things done for the big arts and craft show next weekend. So make yourself a Margarita and relax with me!
Margarita:
1 1/2 oz tequila
1/2 oz triple sec
sweet and sour to fill
splash of Rose's Lime juice
garnish with a lime after pouring in a salted glass, and enjoy!
I have been busy today putting together fun "goodie bags" chock full of handmade with love samples from other Etsy artists to give away, so make sure to come out next weekend and get yours while they last! A taste of what to expect:
And from me:

20 August 2008

Art Lessons


I spent the morning giving art lessons to Sierra and two other homeschool girls. We had beautiful weather for plein air painting, and the girls turned out lovely paintings of the landscape around them in only 3 hours! I was very impressed! Interested in art lesssons for yourself or children? I offer private lessons for the same price (often less) than typical art classes where there are 20 people to one teacher. The price also includes use of my studio, equiptment, and even some supplies. Learn more on my website, or call me at 270-508-0622.

xoxo

15 August 2008

Painkiller After a Long Week


School started this week, its still hot outside, and you've spent all week hard at work waiting for Friday. Sound familiar? Maybe you need a Painkiller.
Painkiller
In a rocks double glass with ice, pour in:
2 oz Pusser's Rum
2 oz cream of coconut
equal parts pineapple and orange juice to fill
garnish with a dash of nutmeg and a maraschino cherry
Enjoy! While you're sipping your pain away, check out my newly revamped website. Yeah insomnia!! The photos on the gallery page are improved and easier to see, the look is different, and hopefully everything is easier to use. Check it out and let me know what you think! Thanks! Enjoy the weekend~xoxo

14 August 2008

Kitschy Pendants and Earrings

My new pendants and earrings feature vintage/ retro photos printed on super durable and lightweight plastic. I have everything from squirrels (of course!) to guns to these fun jukeboxes:



Check back to see my flowery and paisley patterned pendants! Coming in the next week! I love paisley more than I love squirrels, believe it or not. xoxo

13 August 2008

Inventory Clean Out Sale!!

I have spent the last few days hard at work taking inventory of everything I have made in the past two years. In doing so, I have found things I have forgotten all about!! All of this hard work is in preparation for the craft shows I have coming up- the KWW's 33rd Annual Arts and Crafts Show on Labor Day weekend, the Paducah BBQ on the River Festival September 25th ,26th and 27th and Hunter's Moon Festival October 10th. Check out this little pretty:


To celebrate cleaning and organizing all my inventory (no small feat, if you have seen my studio!), I lowered all my prices in my Etsy shop!! So even if you have been there before, go back and look again! Almost everything is 25% to 50% lower than before!!
xoxo

08 August 2008

Drink of the Week

In honor of Marina Day tomorrow at Green Turtle Bay, I present to you, the Green Turtle Madness Cocktail!

In a rocks double glass with ice, mix:
1 oz vodka
1 oz Malibu Rum
1 oz Midori
Pineapple juice to fill

Enjoy!! Remember to come see me at Marina Day, tomorrow from 1 to 5 at Green Turtle Bay! Have a fabulous, fun, refreshing weekend! xoxo

16 April 2008

Ocean Breeze- new painting

It's been awhile since I finished a painting, but what can I say? The drawbacks of having a short attention span, and working on five or six things at once is that a full studio does not mean anything to show for it sometimes. Despite all the craziness this month has brought, I have been feeling pretty crafty! Here's my new mini painting, and it can be yours now for a mere $25.00! What a deal for some original art!
Ocean Breeze, oils, 6" x 6" on a 1" deep gallery wrapped canvas

14 April 2008

New Jewelry



I have had so much fun playing with polymer clay on my vases, I have started making pendants for my jewelry. The nice thing about this clay is I can make funky, chunky styles I love, but it is still super lightweight. Finished with a super shiny clearcoat, this butterfly necklace really draws attention!
I am also trying out a different store site to sell my stuff, so this piece, and a few others, is in my new etsy store. To buy now, CLICK HERE. All my other jewelry is still available HERE!
xoxo

11 April 2008

there goes plan B...


It's the darndest thing. I live in a town of 350 people. we have 4 restaurants open to the public nearby- Patti's 1880's Settlement, Iron Kettle (part of Patti's, technically), The Pelican, and The Cumberland House. In less than one week, two of the four went up in smoke. Weird, huh?

So I guess I really have more time to work on my art now!! If you haven't checked out all I have to offer, why wait? I'm just sitting here, watching the town burn down, painting away...