catching fireflies fun and unique gifts

2010 a.i. paper designs are done

Things always get a little busy around the studio this time of the year... between the loads of Christmas goods coming in daily, pitching our wares to various gift guides, planning out our holiday events & promotions and finalizing the 72 new a.i. paper designs for our 2010 catalog - I've hardly had time to blog.  So now that my new pretties are all done, hopefully I'll be able to hit the keyboard a bit more.

Sara, our web gal is in charge of taking the fancy photos of the new goods, but in the mean time I'll give you a fluorescent-lit sneak preview.

New marker boards and calendar keeper designs.  Since the new calendar styles are paired down from last years designs, they'll retail for the sweet price of $29.50.

 

And one style can even be personalized with your last name like "the Gillespie house happenings"  We hope to have these at catching fireflies by late November.

 

A couple of journals perfect to bring to a baby shower and fill with bits of wisdom for the new parents and new toddler talk books to record your kid's funny sayings.

Cute-cute baby frames
 

Lovely wedding frames

 

And some new everyday ones too

 

11 new ransom quote designs including 5 new square ones priced at 55.50

 

And I think these new little memory magnets are going to be a bit hit.  Priced at $10, they make the perfect little token gifts for teachers, grandmas, office mates and more.

We hope to get some of these new goodies to the stores soon - just in time for the holiday season!

pumpkin love

We have loads of fun fall goodies for available at catching fireflies - but as hard as we try, we can't carry ALL the cute stuff in the world!  So here are a few of my fall etsy finds...

a cozy home for a pumpkin-lovin' mouse from Fairy Folk's Shop

pumpkin pie truffles anyone? (they also have a pbj truffle - how fun is that?)

the ever popular baby pumpkin hat - with matching mary-janes to boot!

even grasshoppers love to munch on this tasty fall fruit. hee hee hee:)

vanilla pumpkin spice soap - sounds like a drink at Starbucks

my favorite fall activity - roastin' marshmallows --- so so cute

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diy ferndale finds

Enjoyed strolling through the DIY art fair in Ferndale on Saturday and here a few of my new finds...

Crazy cool Detroit tees for gals & guys by Detroit Manufacturing.  I snagged this pretty turquoise one and surprised Steve with this design.

Talk about green - the gals from In Your Hands make these bags by crocheting/knitting plastic shopping bags.

Love how Jamiee from letter art mounts her alphabet shots onto to chunky wood blocks.... hmmm now what to spell?

Super cute purses from Stephanie with Luv - and they're only $25!

Silent Giants: the art of poster making - love the colors-composition-layers and Flight of the Conchords.

Also dig Overdue Industries, but their shop is closed while on they're on the fair circuit. 

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inspired by kelly rae roberts

Meet the adorable Kelly Rae Roberts of Seattle, Washington.  She creates inspiring images of lovely ladies and whimsical wonders. 

Her story reads, "To me, art has been the unexpected & life-changing discovery of finding my passion. It was a dream I neglected until I was 30 years old, a whisper in my life yearning to be heard. When I finally began to put paint onto paper, my heart and life exploded with a joy I hadn’t known before.

Now, many moons later, the whimsical and playful nature of my paintings still come from the inside like a quiet yet heartfelt truth. Much like my own spirit, my work expresses honesty and tenderness while remaining lighthearted and colorful. My hope is that my work invokes a sense of clarity and peace within you as you walk your own path in life, and that it inspires you discover your own limitlessness."

We're excited to be offering Kelly's canvases, treasure boxes & necklaces in our Berkley & Rochester locations (and maybe online soon).  For more about Ms. Roberts, check out her uplifting blog (and if you like her studio pics, you gotta see her super cute house)

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silverware you can wear

Meet Pam & Randy Hall of Vintage Silverware Treasures.  They rescue old unused spoons, forks and knives, then transform them into wonderful rings, bracelets, necklaces & earrings.

I had a chance to chat with them about their unique jewelry business.

What inspired you to start creating your art and how did you turn it into a business?

We love antiquing and taking old treasures and giving them new life. We have lots of fun objects of art (if you will)  in our home from what others may consider junk.

It all started with an old fork easel that displayed a vintage plate, and it evolved from there. We started expanding ideas and friends became interested and wanted to "buy" our creations.  We thought, "WOW, go antiquing (purposely), have fun, work together and get paid?" What could be better?

 

What's your favorite thing about creating your artwork?

We love to restore the beauty of the pieces..especially when we take grandma's old silverware from a dusty attic and turn the pieces into keepsakes the family will use and treasure. I still get excited with every new pattern and piece Randy completes...and we love to see the same excitement from others.

We hope to retire sometime (soon) and focus full time on this passion and expand the possibilities with vintage silverware even more creatively.

 

Since each piece of jewelry is one of a kind, we only carry their work at our Rochester & Berkley locations.  The necklaces, earrings & rings retail for $16.95 and the bracelets for $29.95.  They also are happy to do custom jewelry using your family's silverware.

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tagua nut jewelry

Meet Veronica Martens of Chicago, Illinois.  She makes delicious colored necklaces, bracelets & earrings from Tagua (tog-wa) Nut beads.  The beads are made from the seed of a palm tree from the South American rain forest.  They are most abundant in the Amazon Basin of Bolivia, Ecuador & Peru.  This eco-friendly product helps sustain rain forests in Ecuador alone by providing jobs for almost 35,000 people.  It allows them to harvest a product that can be sold without having to destroy the rain forest.

I had the chance to ask Veronica a few questions about her work...

What inspired you to start creating your art and how did you turn it into a business?

My career began in the business world as a certified public accountant. After many years of accounting, I decided I needed a creative outlet. I took various jewelry, metalsmithing and pottery classes in my free time and also went back to school to pursue a career in interior design.
I started making jewelry for myself as a hobby, and then began receiving requests and custom orders from friends and family.  As interest in my designs continued, I decided to turn it into a business.  I started the business selling at local art fairs and eventually began selling wholesale as well to various boutiques around Chicago and Michigan.

What's your favorite thing about creating your artwork?

There are so many things I love about my work, it's hard to pick one favorite...  I love working with color and combining interesting colors together.  I also love searching for unusual pieces to include in my designs.  In the past, I've used buttons, coins, and vintage pieces.  My most recent designs use tagua nuts, which come from the rainforests in South America.

What’s the worst thing about what you do?

The worst thing about what I do is the "business" side of things.  I guess after being a CPA for 10 years, I'm still burnt out with numbers.  I don't like pricing my pieces.  I wish I could give everything away for free!

What makes your products unique?

I love making asymmetrical pieces and using materials that you don't see frequently.  That helps to set my products apart from the rest.  There's a lot of jewelry out there and most people are looking for something unique. 

Since all of Veronica's pieces are one of a kind, we only offer them at our Berkley & Rochester locations.  The 2 piece necklaces retail for $31.95, earrings $15.95, bracelets $26.95 and multi-piece necklaces $56.95.

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amy smyth made it

Meet Amy Smyth.  She is the cheeky gal behind our latest of birthday cards we put on display. When Amy decided to start a greeting card business based on her illustrations it was only natural that the products were going to have attitude.  She is from Jersey; her family lives in Philly and her husband is from Brooklyn.

Amy has had a love of paper, color and design as long as anyone can remember.  As the story goes when she was in her playpen she would be entertained for hours by looking through catalogs and feeling the paper.  Yes, you read that correctly - feeling the paper.

vintage.  happy birthday

I am going to follow you around and take pictures of you without make-up.

and, luckily, it can be dyed.

If these make you smile, click HERE to see more savvy styles.

These hip birthday cards are available at our Berkley & Rochester locations.
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2009 ann arbor art fair picks

Before heading up north to Petoskey to sell my handmade paper goods in an art fair this past weekend, I managed to squeeze in a few hours touring through this year's Ann Arbor art fair on Friday.  Here are some new artists I discovered...

Suze Ford painting to please the soul, the mind and the eye, but not the ego

Weener Ware kitschy jewelry, hair clips, cuff links and more

Metro Devious - see Detroit in a different light

Candace Compton Pappas ... also great photos of her art on Flickr

Kathrine Allen Coleman telling a story through dresses

Cherly Gail Toh dreamy encaustic paintings

and my very very very favorite new find:  Faerie House

For more fantastic artist links, check out my picks from 2007 and 2008

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10 more etsy picks

My birthday is right around the corner, so I'm hoping my recent etsy posts will make it in front of my husband's eyes... hint-hint honey:)

 

Verbena Customs Blends soap & body whips that look good enough to eat

 

Little Ellie adorable clutches & handbags

 

Studio Rona love love love this jewelry line

 

Studio Mela all about perspective isn't it?

 

Mudd Hutt Studio sweet little dishes & magnets

 

Elloh artsy office characters & more

 

Lilla Lotta fanciful printed ribbons 

Sweetness by Sarah Lamont sweet little hats for sweet little heads

 

Yee Haw giant postcards that'll make you grin

 

purl sweet crocheted critters & such

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10 etsy picks

So many talented folks out there. Here are some of my latest discoveries...

 

Icing 101 I almost want to find a plain dress so I can fancy it up with this oh-so-lovely brooch.

 

M-n-M Treasures fantastic & affordable belt buckles

 

By the order of the crown Isn't this a helpful mantra?

 

T R Mack Studio such fun color play

 

Petal Pushers What can I say... I'm a sucker for pretty posies.

 

IMH Designs more flirty flowers:)

 

Focus Line Art ...natural beauty

 

Pretty Panda sweet summer scarves

 

Bazaar Latino fabulous vintage flavored jewelry

 

Manic Muffin Isn't this pillow a hoot?

These are just a few on my long list... more to come!

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