ah... jewelry. art. design.

Sweden!

2010-12-12T18:51:00.001-08:00

I'm very honored to announce that I am now featured amongst some incredibly crafted products, in the new web store Elsa Leonie by Miller & Sandström. Just in time for Santa Lucia Day in Scandinavia!

"We strive to offer our customers carefully select high-end accessories and especially from foreign designers that we lack in the Swedish market.

Our range constantly changing and we strive for environmentally friendly and handmade products that are timely.

Our core values are strength, charisma and thoughtfulness." - elsaleonie.se

One of A Kind - Now through Sunday!

2010-12-03T06:35:00.000-08:00

If you are in the area, stop by the Merchandise Mart downtown Chicago. There are hundreds of artists selling handmade goods for the holidays. My booth is in the Etsy artist pavilion # 2016.

Here are some teaser pics of the new displays and some of the freshest new designs. I have a big variety of antique glass items and many map options available in stock.

You can make some holiday crafts at the Etsy booth, get a free subscription to Readymade mag, there is a bar and cafe right around the corner from where I'm set up.

Stop by to say hello. :)

Autumn update

2010-11-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

It's almost that time of the year! The weather is finally beginning to really cool off here in Columbus, the leaves are falling and I'm finding myself spending more and more time in the studio preparing for the holiday season! It really seems like it has sneaked up on me this year with the unseasonably beautiful weather. It has been wonderful.

I had a little bit of a set back this week finding out I need to have a surgery in a couple of days - but glad to finally know why I've been feeling run down over this past year. Fortunately, all things considered, it is fairly minor as far as these things tend to go. I'll be okay and should just be out of commission for about about a week... and then I'll be back at it, finishing all the new designs I've been working on and ramping up for Christmas orders!

Due to health reasons, I am disappointed I had to cancel my participation in a great holiday fundraiser in Bexley, OH this weekend. I won't be there for the fun, but I encourage you to check it out this weekend at the Jeffrey Mansion. My very talented friend, Cynthia Vardhan is there selling her delicate porcelain.

Hand decorated porcelain, by Cynthia Vardhan

It was so kind of a customer of mine to write a little feature in her Website Bakery blog for me. That really brightened up my day!

Stay tuned. I'll be getting some pics up soon of the newest work in progress... and some sneak peek shots of the new studio in its now lived in, fully functioning state.

Poppytalk Handmade - Pre Holiday Market

2010-10-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

Stop by the Poppytalk Handmade Market this month to check out a collection of fantastic handmade and vintage products to inspire some Pre-Holiday shopping! I'll be featured until November 19. If you mention you linked to my shop via Poppytalk Handmade, I'll refund 10% of your order total (excluding shipping costs)! Just a little THANKS for your support - from me to you! xo

p.s. Thanks to Jan and Earl at Poppytalk for their continued awesomeness in putting these virtual markets together!

Metropreneur - Sales Success on Etsy

2010-10-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

I recently was a guest speaker to a Studio Professions class at CCAD about my jewelry biz and utilizing the web for sales. This article is a great follow up to that discussion, specifically regarding sales via Etsy. Thanks to Walker Evans of Metropreneur for putting it all together.

Here's a link to the article!

Coming soon...upcoming exhibitions

2010-08-31T09:32:00.001-07:00

See me in Chicago in Wicker Park along Division St - September 11 & 12. I'll be set up selling jewelry... stop by to check out the latest!

My sketchbook is in the works. I plan to post photos as I near completion before it is mailed to the Brooklyn Art Library and goes on tour...

June 4-6 - Columbus Arts Festival

2010-06-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

A patron of the Arts Festival for years, I am honored to be a part of this year’s show. As a CCAD alumni and current jewelry instructor at the college, I am additionally pleased to be participating in the Festival while it is on CCAD’s campus. I will be at booth N-194 selling my handcrafted sterling silver jewelry.

My inspiration comes mainly from antiques and the preservation of mementos from the past.

Silhouettes of curios spotted in flea markets and my grandmother’s antiques are painstakingly cut from silver sheet with a jeweler’s handsaw.

Patterns seen in antique textiles are often reworked into some of my designs. Redrawn, etched into printing plates and pressed into sterling sheet through a hand-cranked rolling mill.

I always have an eye out for unique glass buttons and cabochons from decades past. Often in vibrant hues and pressed with floral patterns, I carefully hand-set the glass in custom sterling settings.

Old maps have always fascinated me. Silver settings showcase a favorite location from my collection of antique atlases. If you don’t see the place you are looking for, I can make a custom piece just for you!

2010-05-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Spring Sales Event - April 17th

2010-04-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

Come see me in a couple weeks at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center in Cincinnati, where I'll be selling jewelry as a part of the Crafty Supermarket!

Last show of the season - December 12th

2009-12-08T08:49:00.000-08:00

Come see me this weekend at Handmade Arcade in Pittsburgh, PA. Directions and more info at www.handmadearcade.com

This is my last show of the season, you can see my jewelry in person and maybe even get a bargain on some sale items!

This Weekend - Let the Handmade Holiday shopping begin!

2009-11-12T06:29:00.000-08:00

The 3rd Annual Tiny Canary *indie design market*
November 14 & 15 * 10am - 6pm each day

Come see myself along with nearly 50 artists from across the Mid-West to the East coast selling our handmade designer goods. For more information visit www.tinycanary.com
You don't want to miss this!

Visting Jewelry Designer

2009-11-06T09:22:00.001-08:00

It's been such a busy couple of weeks, so this post is a little late. Belated though it is, it is definitely worth mentioning!

Screencapture of www.davidyurman.com

Last week, I had a fortunate opportunity to meet David Yurman, while he was the visiting artist at the Columbus College of Art and Design where I teach a jewelry and small metals class. He came up to our jewelry studio after his lecture and spoke with students and took a look at some of their designs and recent pieces. It was quite a valuable experience both for students getting their hands into metalsmithing, and for myself to hear about his progression from welding belt buckles on a small scale to his unplanned growth into one of the major worldwide jewelry designers in fashion today. He delivered a rather inspired lecture spanning five decades of his life as an artist and designer.

Thanks Etsy! I am the Featured Seller!

2009-10-31T06:40:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Etsy, and the supportive community of buyers and sellers! I am happy to announce that I have been selected as this weekend's Featured Seller! I am honored (and quite humbled) that they have selected my shop. Read the interview HERE.

xoxo,
anne

Sweet!

2009-10-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

...I got a sweet little plug in Daily Candy's fall wedding guide!

AND... a Groom's Gift Guide!

In my Studio...

2009-09-20T11:37:00.001-07:00

Recent Wedding Band Commission

2009-09-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a busy summer... trying to catch up and post some of what has happened recently. I attached some photos of some sterling wedding bands that were commissioned earlier this summer. The diamonds were all taken out of antique rings owned by the grandmothers of the couple.

North Market Artisan Sunday - July 19

2009-07-17T19:53:00.001-07:00

Stop by the North Market in downtown Columbus Ohio this Sunday, July 19th from 12 - 5pm for some fresh local food AND some great shopping. I'll be there selling my jewelry along with many other talented local artisans at this week's Artisan Sunday!

Lazy Daze of Summer Festival - July 18

2009-07-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

I'll be here tomorrow from 11 - 6pm!

Cain Park

2009-07-10T00:14:00.001-07:00

This weekend, July 10-12, I will be selling my work at Cain Park in Cleveland, Ohio. Stop by, say hello and check out some fresh new work, right off my bench.

Press: Brides Maryland Magazine

2009-06-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

I was excited to receive an email from a customer of mine letting me know her wedding and my map pendants were featured in Brides Magazine. Her wedding was absolutely gorgeous!

The Classic Man.

2009-06-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

Featured in Studio Rik Rak's blog today, my Macro Square Sterling Ring.

New Items in the Shop!

2009-06-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

Check out the new items in the shop! Fresh new designs direct from my studio.

Shop Makeover

2009-05-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my bestest bud Aline for giving me constructive critiques on my shop, and for lending me her eye and photography skills... my shop photos have been overhauled. More updates soon as I gradually revamp the rest of my photos and websites with new and updated work.

Thanks Aline!!!!! You are a true gem!

Agora... this weekend!

2009-05-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

Come see me this weekend! I'll be selling jewelry outside Junctionview Studios alongside Kelly Malec-Kosak this Saturday during Agora. Stop by the preview party on Friday night and I'll be in my studio with some of my work. I may even be up for demo-ing some silver soldering and some other processes. If you place a custom order during the event, I'll be offering FREE SHIPPING.

I will be selling some older work at a discount, clearing things out for the summer season. Stop by and check out some of the good deals!

custom wedding chain

2009-05-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

I recently completed this chain for a dear friends wedding... all five different types of links are handmade and individually fused. A custom 24" sterling chain so the groom can wear his wedding band around his neck when he cannot wear it during surgeries.

Place - Composition Exhibit

2009-04-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Through June, my map jewelry will be a part of an exhibition at Composition, a beautiful shop in Colorado.

The theme of the show, PLACE, makes my heart swell... and the photos on Flickr are nearly convincing me to hop on the nearest plane, train or automobile to go see the show in person.

The vintage school maps they have on display are dreamy... I can picture these hanging around my house. I remember loving these layered pull-down maps in school... I always wanted to roll them up and down and use the teacher's pointer stick to point out all the places I'd love to travel.

Fashion Capitals of the World

2009-04-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

New in the shop, inspired by the great trend-setting runways of the world, and my new found obsession with Project Runway. If only there was a Project Jewelers Bench...

Here it is... the Antique Map Bracelet featuring the fashion capitals of the world.

CCAD Art Sale - Saturday!

2009-04-16T07:56:00.001-07:00

Join Me April 18
for the
CCAD Art Sale
Work by Students & Alumni
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. In the Loann Crane Center for Design

Admission:
$50 First-choice from 9 – 10:30 a.m.
$5 General from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Faculty, staff & students free with valid CCAD ID

Admission is charged at the door.
Cash, checks and credit/debit cards are accepted.

Free parking

This popular event features blown glass, ceramics, paintings, handmade paper, drawings, apparel, photography, sculptures, prints and jewelry. More than 125 students and alumni bring original work to this one-day sale. Go to CCAD's Web site for a campus map and directions.

weekend ice cream outing

2009-04-07T11:15:00.001-07:00

Fictional lands...

2009-04-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

Illustration by James Gurney from Jouney to Chandara.

This morning I attended a presentation by James Gurney at the Columbus College of Art and Design. Better known as the creator of Dinotopia. An amazing illustrator, he gave a very detailed lecture about his illustration processes from plein air paintings, dressing up as his characters and taking some comical photo references, visiting store rooms of archeological museums, and getting private access to the Library of Congress' collection of millions of books. His work is really quite amazing and his daily blog holds a wealth of technical information for illustration and painting exercises as well as a history of illustration and academic realism. I regret not taking my son out of school for the afternoon to see his lecture, but I will be purchasing a copy the imaginative books for him to discover. I especially loved the detailed maps he created of his fictional reality and the imagined antiquarian journal where the story began.

Coming soon... baby birds!

2009-04-04T13:50:00.001-07:00

A female Peregrine Falcon is nesting in the nest box monitored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They have a live webcam streaming 24 hours a day from the 41st floor of the Rhodes State Office Tower downtown Columbus where the nest box is located. You can watch it here. Pretty soon there will be baby falcons fledging and learning to be the fastest animal alive!

April Showers!

2009-04-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

Columbus Love!

2009-04-01T14:25:00.000-07:00

I was excited to find recently that Eva at Sycamore Street Press compiled a Columbus City Guide for Design*Sponge. It made me happy to see a list of many of my favorite places around the city. If you've never been to Columbus, you should plan a road trip and use this list as a guide. You will be sure to enjoy yourself!

New Website Launched!

2009-03-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

After a couple weeks in front of the computer, it is live! A new shop is open at www.anneholman.com. There are even some new items listed... and more to come, now that the site is done I can get back to working in the studio!

Brooklyn Bride

2009-03-05T20:52:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn Bride, today, featured the wedding of one of my recent customers Jessica and James. A beautiful Victorian wedding, I love the dresses. Included in the photos is a snapshot of James wearing his new Paris/Brooklyn cufflinks!

I told Jessica that my heart just about melted when I saw an excerpt of Walt Whitman's Song of the Open Road on the invitations. Perfection!

Photos from Jane Shauck of Iris Photography

Valentines Cufflinks

2009-02-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

See the complete cufflink collection available for purchase here.

Damask Sterling Pendant

2009-02-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

Inspired by elegant historical Victorian mourning jewelry and grey winter skies.
Available in my shop here.

Poppytalk Handmade Market

2008-12-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Jan over at Poppytalk for including me in this month's Poppytalk Handmade Market!

It is the month long Holiday Madness & Boxing Sale Marketplace! Dec 15 - Jan 09/09

Stop by to see some of the beautiful work she has chosen this month...I may have to get myself some treats for the new year!

ohio love

2008-12-11T21:01:00.000-08:00

Exclusively available at Tigertree in the Short North.... my signature Ohio pendants, now in satin finish sterling AND a beautiful oxidized sterling silver. Give your loved ones some Ohio love this Christmas!

Drive By Collection

2008-12-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

Over the course of the past several years in looking through atlases on a daily basis, I've become aware of the sheer number of towns with funny names... some even have an interesting history to go along with them. One that sticks out in my memory is Utopia, Ohio...now a ghost town after the Ohio river flooded and wiped out a majority of the population in 1847.

In all my traveling this summer, I began to take notice of interesting road signs and started a collection... here are some of the highlights.

Hungry Mother State Park, Virginia
Maybe a good spot for a camping trip? Why do I imagine wild starved mother bears?

Bloody Basin Rd in Mayer, Arizona... a road I think I'll avoid.

I'll avoid the Horsethief as well...

Bumble Bee, Arizona (now a ghost town) and Crown King, Arizona a 'living' ghost town where over $2,000,000 in gold was extracted from the Crowned King mine back in the gold rush era, and the saloon was carried in by mule back from a neighboring mining town. What...no services?

And my favorite... Bland, Virginia.

For some reason, taking this exit didn't seem all that appealing.

Recent Sounds in my Studio...

2008-12-10T20:08:00.000-08:00

Some recent favorites frequently heard in my studio... some are new albums this year, and some are old favorites that were rediscovered over the past several months.

I saw the Swell Season show in September and was completely blown away.... it is comprised of members of the Irish band the Frames and features Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard (the couple in the movie Once). It was just awesome... Glen is passionate like no other musician I have ever seen perform. The above poster was screen printed by local artist Clinton Reno.

Camera Obscura "Let's Get Out of This Country"

Always a favorite... Neil Young's "Harvest"

Bell Orchestre "Recording a Tape the Color of Light"
I saw them play a couple years ago at the Wexner, and this album is always one that I go back to.

Fleet Foxes [self titled album]
I am still kicking myself for not going to see them play when they came to town. One of my favorite moments this summer was driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina when their song "Blue Ridge Mountains" came on the radio. It was no less than perfect.
Here's a photo I took on that drive to put it into context.

MGMT "Oracular Spectacular"

Wendy Sutter and Philip Glass "Songs and Poems for Solo Cello"

I've always been a huge fan of Philip Glass, so I am always on the look out for new recordings. My love for his music was reignited this spring when I was in Ann Arbor, Michigan on a trip to see the Dalai Lama speak. Philip Glass was a participant in a panel discussing Buddhism, philosophy, and how it influences creativity and art. I was pleased to find this album released this year. His compositions performed on cello...it doesn't get much better than this.

Mr Postman...

2008-12-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's packages before they went out to the post office...

Holiday Essentials for the Gentleman

2008-12-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the North Market yesterday in spite of the snow storm and terrible road conditions! It was a great time as always!

I was pleased to find that I've received some recent press for my Antique Map Cufflinks!

The cufflinks were mentioned as one of the items in Yahoo Canada Lifestyle's Holiday Essentials Guide for the Gentlemen.... you can read the article here.

And... there was a feature in Out Magazine's StyleList! Check it out here!

I am completely floored by the press... time to get in the studio and start cutting and soldering cuff links!
I recently received a note from some fantastic customers, Adka and Ivan in Prague, thanking me for the cufflinks I made for their wedding. Included in their online wedding album was this photo of Ivan wearing his new cufflinks!

Holiday Sale!

2008-12-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

My last sale of the winter holiday season is tomorrow, Saturday 8am - 5pm, at the historic North Market in downtown Columbus Ohio! Come on out for the holiday festivities...live music, free holiday samples from the delicious food vendors, xmas trees, and MANY handmade goodies!

Stop on by my table upstairs for some great deals!

I'll be offering a special on all earrings in stock. Get $5 off your purchase of any 2 pair, or $8 off when you purchase 3 pair. A great deal for those last minute stocking stuffers.

I will also be offering free shipping for any custom orders of my sterling silver map jewelry placed at the market. A truly unique and personalized gift for those on your holiday list.

Custom map jewelry available to order in time for the holidays:

Pendants $60
Cufflinks $105
Lapel Pins $60

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T08:08:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I am sitting here watching the Macy's parade with Tristan, as is tradition before the rest of a weekend of Thanksgiving festivities begins. There is so much to be thankful for this year...

... one being a huge thanks to all of my customers and supporters over the past couple of years who have made my jewelry business possible!
I just posted some new items in my Etsy shop in honor of the day, and am offering a Thanksgiving weekend special. If you mention my Thanksgiving blog post in the 'notes to seller' on your Etsy order, I will give you 10% off your entire order.

Please wait for a revised Paypal invoice pior to submitting your payment. This is valid until Sunday 11/30 at midnight EST. This offer can be used one time and is not valid with any other specials in my shop.

Thanks again for a great year and enjoy the weekend spending time with your friends and family! Warm wishes! :) Anne

TINY CANARY this weekend!

2008-11-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

Can you tell I've been busy getting ready for Tiny Canary? I haven't posted anything here for a month ago when the planning was seriously getting underway!...

Well, let the countdown begin... Tiny Canary is tomorrow! YES tomorrow!!! Hope to see you there!

For 2 days, Junctionview Studios in Grandview will be transformed into a temporary marketplace where you will have the opportunity to buy directly from local and regional artists and designers.
Skip the mall, buy handmade, and start your holiday shopping early! You are sure to find original, high quality handmade gifts for all those on your list!

Be one of the first 100 guests in the door each day and you will receive an organic cotton tote bag filled with samples, coupons and other goodies from our vendors and sponsors.

Food and refreshments will be available from Rad Dog, Pattycake Bakery and Kevin's Espresso Cart. Admission and parking are FREE!

Visit the Tiny Canary website for directions and a preview of the participating vendors.
Inquiries? Contact thebird@tinycanary.com.

Tiny Canary Preview

2008-10-16T07:07:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it has already been a year since the first Tiny Canary event! Aline and I have been working tirelessly to get the 2nd annual event organized, marketed and promoted... and it's going to be a good one!

I am fortunate to have such an awesome friend to work with who shares such similar views in just about everything. Between political rantings and having a sounding board for frazzled nerves, we seem to find this balance that allows us to be super productive. Somehow while managing our individual businesses, checking out the latest political news, teasing each other to no end, and being moms to two energetic boys... at the end of the day, we actually have accomplished quite a bit.

The vendor list is just about finalized and the beautiful posters and postcards are being delivered today... ready to spread around the city.

Plan to save some of your holiday budget to stop by November 15-16, there will be some perfect gifts to give, and they are all handmade!

Here is a little preview...

For the Fashionable Man...

2008-10-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

Customized cufflinks as seen on Uncrate.com

Supermarket HQ... feature of the day!

2008-09-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

Everyone is crazy about the map jewelry!

Check it out here!

Every location on Earth...

2008-09-28T22:27:00.000-07:00

...well almost! You can now have a custom heirloom made with five of your favorite locations!

Now available in my Supermarket shop, a enviable custom vintage map bracelet. You have your option of oxidized sterling (as pictured) or a lovely mirror polished sterling silver.

Entirely hand fabricated, and each link individually soldered; this bracelet is extremely durable and will last for years and years to come.

Weekend Event!

2008-09-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I can now say I survived my first hurricane... I never thought I'd say that living in Ohio. After 75-80 mph winds rushed through last Sunday, losing some of the largest and most beautiful trees in the neighborhood, days of power outages, canceled school and cleaning up the mess left behind... we are about back to normal again.

School starts again tomorrow for Tristan after 4 days off and I'm heading downtown to the riverfront to set up for the By Hand Riverfront Arts Festival at Genoa Park.

This will be my last major outdoor show for this year, and I have hopes for beautiful weather!

The preview event starts Friday from 5pm-10pm. Then continues Saturday from 10am-10pm, and Sunday 10am-5pm.

For more details you can visit the website here.

Many thanks!

2008-07-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

It's been quite the whirlwind of a summer, I am working consistently trying to keep up between biweekly traveling out of town to sell my work at art festivals and filling all my internet orders.

June has been, to date, my best sales month ever thanks to all the recent interest, press and new shops selling my work! I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm about my work more than I can even express.

I will say, that at times I feel completely overwhelmed, but in reality, all the endless hours of work in my studio are some of the most satisfactory moments! I feel I need to pause from my hectic schedule to make a public note of appreciation.

I finally am doing what I have wanted to do my entire life and have been supporting my little family for well over a year now on my jewelry sales alone. I feel humbled by the recent attention, but rather proud to have been able to achieve what I have over the past 8 years struggling to keep my goals a priority while navigating through the challenges of single parenthood.

I don't know that I would have believed that making my living by doing this was even possible it if you told me 6 years ago, as I was balancing a full load of classes, two jobs, and putting together a thesis show while being a full time single parent of an active and curious 2 year old.
My persistence and focus have seemed to have worked to my benefit, always telling myself to never give up or compromise any of my goals.

I am so gracious to all who have been purchasing my work, and flattered to be making objects with such a personal significance that will be a conversation piece for years to come. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make my aspirations come to a reality.

Maps Featured in the Storque

2008-06-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Etsy for selecting my Custom made Map Pendants as the Etsy Find of the Day in the Storque today!

Three Rivers

2008-06-13T05:52:00.001-07:00

Come find me this weekend Friday through Sunday in Downtown Pittsburgh at the Three Rivers Arts Festival. I am at Booth #67.

In Remembrance

2008-06-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

Today, I completed my piece for the Anti-War Medals exhibit at the Shaw Contemporary Jewelry Gallery in Northeast Harbor, Maine.

The Anti-War Medals exhibition was first shown in November 2003 at Velvet da Vinci in San Francisco as a response to the War in Iraq. The exhibition then toured during 2004 and 2005, adding new pieces in each country where the show appeared. The expanded exhibition with 200 artists from 16 countries returned to Velvet da Vinci in November 2005, as a response to the continuing war and occupation in Iraq.

The exhibition revived in October 2007 at Thomas Mann Gallery I/O in New Orleans, with some of the original pieces and many new ones, will continue to travel for as long as there is interest.

The next stop is Northeast Harbor, Maine at Shaw Jewelry, with an opening date of July 17, 2008.

I wanted to create something that recognizes the lives lost during times of war, most of which are deaths of innocent civilians, as well as honor those who lost their lives in the service. This is such a potent subject, it is difficult to create a piece to represent my feelings about war in general and the current conflict. I sat on this for a few months trying to find the best way to portray these feelings as a war medal.

I researched the total casualties since the beginning of the Iraq war... which unfortunately are increasing each day that the war goes on... these are the total deaths by country as of June 5, 2008.

Sounds in the Studio

2008-06-04T10:57:00.001-07:00

Besides the massive thunderstorms and rain beating on the roof of the warehouse, the sound of the keys clicking on my laptop as I am returning emails and ordering supplies, and the scanner doing it's scanning thing. Today is the business and paper work side of things.. hopefully later this afternoon I'll be back to hammers and fire. The noisy and more dangerous parts of my day! :)

I am currently listening to these albums on repeat.. they seem to fit my mood well this week...

Fionn Regan : The End of History

Death Cab for Cutie : Narrow Stairs

Rupa and the April Fishes : Extraordinary Rendition

New Retail Shop : Rare Device San Francisco

2008-06-04T10:33:00.001-07:00

I am so pleased to bring the news today that I have a retail venue on the West Coast!

Check out Rare Device at 1845 Market Street in San Francisco. My custom map jewelry is also available for purchase on the Rare Device online shop.

It is quite an honor to be selling here amongst so many talented designers. It is a lovely store... where I had absolutely no will power last time I visited the city and picked up some amazing items for my home!

Including these beautiful prints by Camilla Engman. (one of these days I'll actually find the time to get them properly hung on my wall.)

Photos from Philadelphia

2008-06-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

Here was the view out the front of my tent... as we were all wondering if the severe weather warning was accurate. Moments before the thunderstorm came and the decision was made to start packing up early.

The view out the back of my tent at Art Star Craft Bazaar... we were set up in the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing... right on the Delaware River. You can see the wind and rain starting to come through.With the extra time on Saturday, I met up with a college friend from CCAD.
Here we are exploring some ruins of an unidentified building in the woods near her neighborhood.

I have always loved all the brick, stone and iron work on all the historical houses in Philadelphia. After dinner, we stopped in a little shop called Delicious on the north side of Philly... that featured an array a beautifully hand crafted clothing and jewelry, but we also had a lot of fun playing with our reflections in the crazy fun house mirrors at the back of the shop.

The New Displays

2008-06-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some images of the new displays I promised a couple weeks ago! ;)

Art Star - Philadelphia

2008-06-01T04:59:00.000-07:00

Come see me today at Art Star Craft Bazaar at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing....unfortunately the threat for severe weather and the thunderstorms had me and many others pack up early yesterday, today is forecast to be beautiful!

Check out some of the newest pieces! I'm really excited about this one.

East Lansing Arts Festival

2008-05-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in Michigan this weekend... stop by the Arts Festival in downtown East Lansing May 17-18. Look for me at booth 13... (i'm not superstitious, i'm not superstitious.... is that convincing enough?). Hopefully all goes well!

I have reinvented my display for the summer and will be set up for the first time this weekend. It is somewhere between an apothecary and a sushi bar... I'm not sure which, but either way I hope it works for selling jewelry.

I have a ton of new work for sale.. evidence that my torn up hands and exhaustion amounted to something over the past few weeks. There are some great new etched pendants and earrings that I am very happy with... so new that I don't even have photos yet.

I'll be taking some pics of the set up and posting them soon! Hopefully tomorrow night if the hotel internet cooperates.

My fingers are crossed for decent weather, though the forecast calls for wind, rain showers and not the warmest of weather. I am bringing many layers of clothing, umbrellas, and the rainproof walls for the tent....wish me luck!

Feeling Bookish

2008-05-09T23:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, I have been rather absent from my blog lately. There has been so much going on, I have to find odd moments in between to sneak a post in these days.

Well, it is official, I have been published in my first book! 500 Pendants and Lockets by Lark Books.

I went out to Barnes and Noble tonight and found it just waiting there for me. I could barely wait to sit down before flipping through to find my work!

What followed was a extremely geeked out moment of disbelief. I bought the copy we found there, and then we drove to another local store so my friends could buy a copy as well.

Project Night Night

2008-04-15T22:28:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-04-15T22:20:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-04-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-04-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

{ 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!

Crafty Site of the Day Gadget

2008-03-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

I just got notice from Beth at Eucalyptus Handmade that my website will be featured on her Crafty Site of the Day gadget, a downloadable gadget for Vista or Google desktop.

Thanks Beth for the promo! What a cool little feature!

"The gadget showcases a different craft-related website every day (crafty bloggers, artists, designers & crafters working in all media, craft organizations, cool craft supply stores, retail stores that sell crafty wares, etc.). It includes a screenshot, a brief description & a link to the featured site. To read more about the Crafty Site of the Day gadget & download it, click on this link: http://www.eucalyptushandmade.com/gadget.aspx "

Craft Congress

2008-03-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

It will be a busy busy week around here as I am tying things up to go to San Francisco for the weekend to attend Craft Con! Myself and Olivera Brattich, owner of the fabulous shop, Wholly Craft, will be representing Columbus Ohio! I am really looking forward to this, it should be eye opening and a great opportunity to meet some of the incredible folks at the forefront of the independent design and craft movement!

Here is a bit of the press release:

” . . . This unique business development conference will bring together over one hundred key individuals from the independent/DIY craft and design community. Crafters from across the globe will take part in this exciting opportunity for debate, discussion, and knowledge-sharing in an effort to explore and shape the DIY craft movement.

Craft Con was born in 2007 as Craft Congress in Pittsburgh, PA. This launch event brought together more than fifty indie craft show organizers from across the US, Canada, as well as the UK, to share knowledge, skills and experiences. Topics ranged all the way from guerilla marketing strategy to securing corporate sponsorship. Colleagues from across the world were able to meet face to face for the first time. Establishing a strong and supportive network for those who attended, the event also sparked crucial discussion about the future of the craft movement.

Craft Con 2008 heralds huge growth for the project. The event in San Francisco has been planned via the internet by crafters from all over the world. April’s conference will welcome participants from all areas of crafting, making a special effort to connect younger and upcoming crafters with the experience and savvy of their antecedents. Craft Con will facilitate much broader discussion and planning in key areas of concern for the movement, in particular the viability of sustainable business and enterprise and expanding the influence of crafting in society.

Topics for discussion will include:
Business: Profit Models, Legal Structures, Alternative Business Models, Getting Published; Philosophy: What Does Handmade Mean?, The Politics of Crafting, Crafting Green

Workshops will include:
Project Management, Product Development and Broadening Your Base, Seeking and Retaining Sponsorship, Computer Social Networking Toolbox, Real Life Social Networking Toolbox . . . ”

Visit www.craftcon.org for more info.

cool minty glass

2008-03-29T20:27:00.001-07:00

Scrumptious oxidized silver with translucent vintage African glass beads! Find them now in the shop!

sounds in the studio today...

2008-03-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

...besides me hammering away making custom wedding bands:

kaki king : dreaming of revenge

under byen : samme stof som stof

spring green

2008-03-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

have you seen the new earrings in my shop?

sterling silver, and afghani lemon olive jade...

my favorite color right now: springy olive green.

the color of sprouting spring bulbs!

a few of my favorite things!

2008-03-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

well, it finally is starting to feel like spring! it has been a foggy, rainy day, and the crocuses are peeking their little sprouts out of the front lawn!

tristan and i went out for a late lunch after his chess tournament this afternoon, and we rediscovered a hidden gem downtown columbus that i nearly had forgotten about. benevolence is a wonderful little vegetarian/vegan restaurant tucked down a side street/alley near the north market, where we usually end up on a weekend when we are looking for a special lunch out! being a vegetarian for as long as i have, over ten years, i am not sure how i can temporarily forget about a veggie friendly restaurant in this city.

the food was as delicious as i remember from the last time i was there, and the decor made me feel like i was in a lodge in alaska, with long wooden tables and benches made from a vertical slice of a tree trunk, along side antique kitchen tables. i loved the natural wood framing the windows with the plants partially blocking the urban view and making me feel temporarily that i am not in the middle of downtown. i wish i had deep window sills so i could do this in my house!
after lunch, we headed over to the north market to get some jeni's ice cream, which is impossible to resist when i am anywhere near one of her shops. and eating it at the north market is always a treat, since these are 2 of my favorite things about columbus! :) i ended up getting two flavors i had never had before, and i was swooning! i had a scoop of 'lime cardamom yogurt with lingonberries' and a scoop of 'goat cheese ice cream with cognac and fig'! wow, what a combination!

as we sat eating our ice cream, tristan was looking over the railing at the vendors below us. he said, "mom, can i have a few dollars so i can go buy you something? you have to act surprised, okay?"

so he led me down to the flower stand and had me turn my back while he picked out a card and these beautiful hydrangeas! he told me i have to wait until easter to get the card.

it just about melted my heart! :) it was the sweetest thing ever!

winter hibernation

2008-03-08T21:25:00.000-08:00

as quiet as my blog has been, it appears i have been hibernating this winter. in reality, i have been stocking up on inventory in preparation for summer... kind of backwards from a bear's instinct, i know.

well, i can't deny that i've been napping as much as possible, waiting for the sun to show it's face again.

we once again are snowed in, reminding me of 'real' winter, as i once knew as a kid in northern minnesota.

we had an ohio blizzard today. entirely different than a minnesota blizzard.

this was the most sleet-and-ice-free snow i've seen in columbus (i didn't know it was possible)!
the snow in the yard was up to my knees!

snow day

2008-02-22T14:43:00.000-08:00

since we are snowed in, or rather, iced in for the day, i thought i'd share some of my favorite winter aerial photos from my trip out west.

i love how the snow accentuates some landscape elements, while completely hiding others.

the DIY life...

2008-02-16T10:34:00.000-08:00

Deb and Wendy over at DIYthing just released the first issue of their online magazine DIY City Mag featuring many of the independent designers and resources for do it yourself-ers in New York City. This is an amazing resource for finding supplies... can't wait until they feature Columbus Ohio! Each issue will be featuring a different city.

They contacted me when they found the New York version of my map pendants in my Etsy shop which they wanted to include in their NYC favorites. This led to an interview about my background and my work that you can read here! Check it out! Scroll down when you link there.

minty greens..

2008-02-14T18:26:00.000-08:00

...on the front page of Etsy tonight!

I was surprised as I logged in tonight to see my floral pendant looking back at me!

Lots of Valentine's love to all... I've found some new favorites!
I'm loving that ring to the left of my necklace!

if i were a tree would you be my leaves?

2008-02-14T18:22:00.000-08:00

happy valentines day!

gifts for your sweetheart

2008-02-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

This week I was featured in the blog Indie Fixx in a post about Indie Wedding rings! Featured among other talented artists, I was flattered to be one of the picks!

On another note, my custom map cufflinks seem to be a popular gift for the guys this valentines day!

It might be late to place an order for Valentines Day, but isn't it sweeter to just surprise him with a thoughtful gift any other day of the year when it is least expected? :)

studio open house

2008-02-11T16:31:00.001-08:00

This past Saturday the artists' group I am a member of, the Couchfire Collective, held an open house at our studio space. I just got back from my visit to California this past week, and somehow between a cold and catching up on orders, managed to clean up for the evening and pulled out some artwork, some older and some recent to display for the night along with a trunk show of my jewelry. Here are some photos from my studio before the evening got underway! Thanks to everyone who came out, it was a fun evening!

on my desk

2008-01-30T20:31:00.001-08:00

a different perspective.

2008-01-28T10:10:00.000-08:00

I recently treated myself to one of Edward Tufte's beautiful hardbound books about information design. Envisioning Information is just a visually astounding book in general, but seems to be written specifically for the way that I think about statistics and language. I've only skimmed the books illustrations and diagrams and read the first few chapters, but I can tell this is going to become a standby reference.

In the vein of aerial photography, satellite imagery, and the recent show I had at the Ohio Art League gallery that was themed around mapping... and a wonderful commission of map pendants for a suite of bridesmaids, I've had maps on my mind incessantly for the past month or so.

What is a map but a document of something that is constantly changing? It is so temporal.

I've been playing with Google street recently, and fascinated by the moment in time that was captured as the camera traveled along the streets of San Francisco. This takes mapping to an entirely new level. An intimacy and voyeurism unlike any other type of mapping. People can be seen at several different points in their bike commute to work depending on the speed at which each was traveling. A man hailing a cab. A woman taking her dog for a walk. A street fight. A fire truck on its way to an emergency. Building construction and demolition. Time seems to have paused... at least until new photographs have been made to represent the same location.

Geographic maps and aerial photography however, look at something from far above...erasing the minutiae of reality that can be seen at surface level. Does that make it closer to fiction, or more documentary?

This summer I flew to the Bay area of California, and was fortunate enough to get a window seat on a day with clear skies. I spent most of the flight documenting the landscape across the country from my tiny window. Later this week I'll be making the same flight for the second time, it should be interesting to see how the season change has effected the landscape, and if I can recognize the same landmarks this time. There is something that is magical about flying and traveling thousands of feet above what is so familiar to us. A temporary removal from the minutiae to gain a new perspective...

trends in mapping

2008-01-21T17:19:00.001-08:00

Camouflage class in New York University, where men and women are preparing for jobs in the Army or in industry, New York, N.Y. They make models from aerial photographs, re-photograph them, then work out a camouflage scheme and make a final photograph (LOC
Originally uploaded by The Library of Congress

Much of my current body of artwork is inspired by or references maps in some way... literal, or just as a visual organization of information.

Anytime i find references to aerial photos or satellite images, my heart goes pitter patter... there is just *something* in seeing our daily life from above like an ant farm.

In my recent discovery of the Library of Congress' Flickr account, i found this treasure taken in 1943 by Marjory Collins.

I have a feeling that perusing this growing collection of photos is going to be a new hobby of mine along with one of my all time favorites googlesightseeing!

new necklace in the shop!

2008-01-20T11:46:00.000-08:00

Sterling silver, vintage glass, and black stone... brand new, available now in the shop!

new years resolutions... underway

2008-01-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

In lieu of posting my New Year's resolutions on January 1, only to be let down that I broke them already by the 3rd, I am posting them now, that they are fully underway! Proud to say that they are all still in tact!
#1 : I am by no means a domestic goddess, or remotely resemble June Cleaver, but I revel in the moments that my house and my studio are well organized. Not always an easy task for a self employed single parent, when I am constantly trying to stay on top of the daily to do list. I just found this list of 31 simple tasks in Real Simple mag online. I don't know that I am going to hang lint rollers by each of my doors as it suggests, but there are some really great simple tasks that would make things run a little smoother in the daily grind. Some of which I have already done this year!

#2: I made a rather lengthy list of all my goals for the year, small and large... many of which you will see in my etsy shop as well as in some other upcoming collaborations with Aline. Keep your eyes open this year with some developments of other really exciting art ventures in Columbus Ohio... they are all so new, that I can't divulge any secrets yet! :) I assure you, they will all be spectacular!!!

#3: Thanks to Emily, for recommending the wonderful gift package from Equivita that I won in a silent auction this past fall at Agora. In my resolution for wellness and fitness, this was the perfect kick off to get myself on the right track! I went in for the 5 Keys Fitness Assessment, and a deep tissue massage that worked out a lot of the knots and tightness that have developed in the hours spent at the workbench and on my computer. I am feeling better already, and will be going back this week to meet with a personal trainer for my individual fitness plan. Once I figure out what I need to be working on, I am committing to continue with some regularity!

Almost through week two of 2008, only 50 weeks to keep all this up! Cheers and best wishes to all of you for the New Year! May 2008 be the best yet!

etsy gift guide

2008-01-07T12:13:00.000-08:00

Made for comfort, the Modern Square Inline ring is currently featured in the Etsy Gift Guide for 'Significant Other Male'

These can be made custom to your sizing needs... plan ahead for your special occasion!

Ohio Art League Reception Tonight!

2008-01-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

Come on out tonight to the Ohio Art League Gallery from 6-9 during gallery hop in the lovely Short North district of Columbus Ohio!

The exhibit is Systematic Layers, a show featuring the work of myself, Susan Li OConnor and Michael Litzau.

I have several new pieces of artwork on exhibit including the newest piece, a ring titled Forever...?
Forever...?
Sterling silver, Vellum, Epoxy Resin
The vellum 'diamond' is adorned with a clear resin depiction of the world... you can see North America and the northern part of South America in the photo above.

snowy new years drive

2008-01-03T15:54:00.000-08:00

jewelry for the gents

2007-12-21T08:18:00.000-08:00

What is classier than a man who wears cufflinks? One who loves geography!

After the many requests I have received to start making mens' jewelry from guys who repeatedly purchase my jewelry for their wives/girlfriends.... finally, I have something for them too!

Sterling silver vintage map cufflinks...
will be available in my Etsy shop beginning in early 2008. here are some photos of
custom cufflinks made for the holidays.

custom made for the mayor of bayville, maine! (above)

Here is another pair I made as a Christmas gift. I was so happy with how these came together, that I may be inspired for another line of cufflinks!

Sterling silver with Amber reclaimed from a pair of vintage clip on earrings!

Keep an eye out for more men's jewelry in 2008! It should be a fun year.... stay tuned for more exciting ventures!

handmade 2.0

2007-12-19T15:25:00.000-08:00

Check out this article in this week’s New York Times sunday magazine discussing the emergence and merging of the diy craft scene, web 2.0, and etsy. Once I read that article, I became completely absorbed into the article's author, Rob Walker's blog murketing.

festive finds and last minute shopping

2007-12-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

A nice surprise for the last couple full days my shop is open for Christmas orders... my Red Deco Blossom Earrings are on the front page of Etsy... go see... now... before it's too late!
If you order today or tomorrow, I will ship via USPS priority mail so that it arrives to you by Christmas! Thanks to all my great customers, it has been a fantastic season!

ornament swap

2007-12-14T07:01:00.001-08:00

It's about time i take a little moment from the hectic studio / shipping schedule i have been on. I have a stack of about 25 boxes that are awaiting a trip to the post office, and another list of orders to be completed and delivered to some of my local customers.

Fortunately I was on the ball and had my ornaments made on the earlier side for the 2007 Ornament Swap hosted by freshly blended. I racked my brain for something personalized to the recipients that could potentially become a family heirloom... something to remember this holiday season. How do I do that for a list of 9 people of whom I have never met? The lightbulb lit up and I came up with the perfect solution... since all I know about them is where they live, I could make a larger version of my map pendants... big and glossy with a vintage map of the area where they are living. In lieu of using silver (to make this affordable to make) I used a nice thick piece of copper which i heat patinaed, following with an oxidation and a matte finish to give them an old world antique sort of feel.

So here are the results.... enjoy!

one final christmas sale!

2007-12-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

Wow, it has been one heck of a busy holiday season this year!
One last chance to come purchase work from me in person before Christmas and it is coming up this Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at my alma mater,
Columbus College of Art and Design!
Admission for early birds is $50.00 (from 8:30-10:00) and $5.00 (from 10:00 am-2:00 pm.) All admission fees go to their student scholarship fund. If you are still looking to do some shopping for the Holidays and want to buy something unique and handmade, this is a great way to support young budding artists as well as alumni of the school. There is always a ton of amazing artwork for sale...you really shouldn't miss out on this!

If you do miss it, you can always shop on Etsy, or email me!

flowers, blooms, and winter blues !

2007-12-03T14:06:00.000-08:00

Mmmm... blue, silver, white, silhouettes, plants...a few of my favorite things!
What a great surprise last night to find that my blue japanese glass cabochon necklace was top and center of this lovely blue treasury on the front page of Etsy! Stop by the shop to check out some other glass bouquet pendants!

I spent a busy night packaging up orders and rearranging furniture getting prepared for the delivery of my new love... I got a steal on an amazing sofa by Gus*, the Toronto design group, at a designer furniture store that was going out of business around the corner from my house!

After a fantastic weekend of jewelry sales at the North Market, I decided to treat myself to a new sofa, which I have been dying to get for a long time. Not expecting to be lucky enough to find anything that wasn't yet sold, I planted myself on the little Jack sofa as soon as I saw him without a red SOLD tag!
Now he is in my red living room... a perfect fit! I couldn't be happier!

the stainless steel frame matches my Bankas table perfectly...and the linen cover for the down pillows have a very subtle metallic screen print of a victorian floral pattern... so unexpected and pretty!!!

Custom Map Necklaces in Progress

2007-11-26T10:55:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for the holidays! Check out the shop to order a custom vintage map pendant for the one who is hard to buy for.

More press!

2007-11-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

Tiny Canary was featured in Etsy's news column the Storque!

I have received an email from Etsy's marketing team inviting me to film a segment for Fox 28 news in Columbus. I'll be on Tuesday morning, Nov 28 talking about buying handmade for the holidays, Etsy.com, and my own designs.

Here's the video:

Lifetime Goals...Amazing Weekend

2007-11-20T07:37:00.000-08:00

This weekend ranks up there as one of the best of my life, I am still feeling a little euphoric and overwhelmed from all the happenings!

Tiny Canary was a HUGE success with over 1500 in attendance and many sales all around. I made some new friends, met some great customers, got a lot of positive feedback, bought and traded for some amazing handmade goodies (that I will be posting later on in my blog once I have the time to take photos of all of them and once they have been received as gifts so that I don't spoil any surprises!)

On top of all that, I got home late and exhausted Saturday night and opened my mailbox to find an envelope from the publisher, Lark Books. I had almost forgotten about the application I had sent months ago, but as soon as I saw the envelope I knew what it was! I was very nervous to open it... but when I did, I soon discovered that my work had been accepted to be included in their new book '500 Pendants and Lockets' that will be released in the Summer of 2008. If you are a jewelry lover, these books are probably familiar to you...
...lovely coffee table books with full color glossy pages. I was completely floored as this is from an international pool of applicants. (I am sure Kate and Aline could sense my excitement... squealing and jumping up and down for an hour!)

The piece of mine selected is an installation of a series of over 40 pendants titled 'Inheritance'.
I have been collecting for several years now, from my friends and family, samples of soil from locations all around the world in which they have traveled, lived, or worked. Each sample is encased in a tiny glass bottle with a handmade sterling silver top containing the longitude and latitude coordinates as well as a small map of the location where it was collected. Here is an image of some of the necklaces! Now that I've been published in a book, I am one step closer to needing to find some new goals. Next on the list is to be published in Metalsmith magazine!

tiny canary press!!!

2007-11-15T21:26:00.001-08:00

I was really excited to see that Jan over at poppytalk made a post about Tiny Canary this week and my name was mentioned as one of the vendors! Thank you, Jan, for the bit of promo!

We were also featured in the Columbus Alive this week, who is also a sponsor of the event. Check out the article here.

Another sponsor of the event, Ryan Morgan of John Dawson Insurance, has been an awesome support of Tiny Canary as well as many independent businesses across the city... really an all around insightful and genuine person. His ideas about business and sponsorship are inspiring... he really explains it best in his blog post about his partnership with Tiny Canary and the lovely Amy D!

And congrats to Olivera Bratich, the owner of Wholly Craft!, who will be a vendor at Tiny Canary. She was featured in the Columbus Dispatch's 'shop talk' column today along with a event listing for Tiny Canary!

Just one more day to finish final preparations... the tables are being delivered in the morning, so we've got a big day ahead of us. Here is a sneak peak of something special for the event...

And just for fun, now that the lighting is almost complete... here is what happens when you mix a box of clip lamp reflector pans with a creative 7 year old...

2007-11-14T18:28:00.001-08:00

This weekend! Come by and visit myself along with an amazing line up of other artists who will be selling their handmade goods at Tiny Canary! You REALLY don't want to miss this if you are within driving distance of Columbus!