Project Night Night

I am so excited to have been asked to contribute to the silent auction to benefit Project Night Night, being held in San Francisco.

Benefiting homeless children by providing comfort packages across the US, Project Night Night's mission is "dedicated to improving the lives of homeless children, one sweet dream at a time. By providing items of reliable comfort, Project Night Night seeks to advance the emotional and cognitive well-being of each child we help. At Project Night Night, we believe that every child should dream big."

"There are approximately 298,000 homeless families in the United States. Since one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population is families with children, homeless families often have to break-up in order to enter emergency shelters. Although families are generally reunited at the conclusion of
their shelter stay, the separation places enormous stress on both the parent and the child. These environmental stresses negatively influence a child’s early experiences and often lead to an increase in mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, poor sleep habits, and behavioral issues.

To ease the anxiety associated with shelter living, Project Night Night includes in each Night Night Package both a baby blanket which can be cuddled as well as a stuffed animal which can become a cherished friend. Finding comfort is vitally important for children in order to feel secure, loved, and valued -- even in the midst of the upheaval and uncertainty attendant to homelessness."

Summer Show Schedule.

Check it out.... look over there on the right of your browser window -------->

You will find my list of upcoming shows... where to find my work in person for the rest of this year. More will be added as the year goes on! Looks like a busy year once May 1 hits! Hope I'm ready!!!

More from S.F.

From Venessa, reporting on Craft Congress for Etsy's Storque.

I'll write more here myself soon!

And I was happy to see someone familiar on one of my favorite fashion blogs Fashionist.
Emily Howes was a fantastic moderator at Craft Con. Visiting from Sydney, Australia, Emily is a Phd candidate with a thesis on Indie Craft: Design, Youth and the Handmade in Net Cultures.

Representing Columbus Ohio!

Not only am I one of the featured artists in the latest offering from the Sampler, but I had the honor to meet and sit on a panel at Craft Con with Marie Kare, the original mastermind behind the Sampler, an ingenious marketing tool for independent crafters.

On the panel, I was presenting information on the artist collective of which I am a founding member: the Couchfire Collective. The presentation including the history of the group, its mission, and the rewards and challenges of being part of a growing endeavor. Soon to be available online, a podcast of the presentation. I'll post a link when it is ready for listening! I hope I didn't make a fool of myself!


Columbus City Sampler: As seen on CraftZine.com. Featuring an array of handmade items from Columbus Ohio, on sale now, at the Sampler.

My contribution to the collection was fifty pairs of copper and oxidized sterling silver earrings. These earrings will soon also be available in my Etsy shop.

Craft Con 2008

I got back earlier this week from a whirlwind trip to San Francisco for Craft Con 2008. I am still trying to absorb everything I heard and saw. I met so many other amazing inspired people who are pioneers in the handmade movement. I will have to relay the experience in small bits, as there is so much to tell.

Pictured above is Faythe Levine, of Handmade Nation and Betsy Greer from Craftivism, on a panel discussing Craftivism, Community and Politics. Earlier in the conference, Faythe presented a trailer of Handmade Nation, her documentary slated to debut at a film festival this fall.

Handmade Weddings

{ vintage map custom sterling cufflinks }

For your groomsmen, your groom, or maybe a nice anniversary gift.
My cufflinks were featured today on Etsy's wedding blog.

...and check out coordinating pendants for the bridesmaids too!