Okay, I had to do it...

Two posts in one day. Are we shocked and amazed?? Don't get used to it...I just foundt his random thing and had to post it.

I love Etsy. I mean, really love it. I'm trying to find handmade presents for all my friends this year, and I ran across this book, Baby's first physics book - Pat Schrodinger's Kitty, in Electric Boogaloo's Shop.







For those of you with kids out there, I'm sure you own, have read, or at least have heard of Pat the Bunny. This book kick's Pat the Bunny's little fluffy white tail.

Knit-Wit

Yeah, I know that the cold weather only last for about a week here in H-town, but these lovely scarves by Houston designer Olga Tarasova make me want to bundle up!





Olga's scarves are hand-felted and dyed, which make them not only warm and cozy, but awesome to look at as well. The texture of felted scarves is such that they tend to be more sculptural and rigid that your standard neck wrap...which makes wearing them like wearing artwork! In fact, Olga's scarves can be found at the Asher Gallery at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

And if you're feeling crafty but not so cold, Olga also hand-spins amazing art yarn as well.



Olga's scarves, art yarn, felted journals, and other goodies are available at her Etsy store, Cherdak. And if you're more of a hands-on shopper, try on the scarves at HCCC.

Aprons for all

Do you know a cook, or a lady who likes to at least pretend to cook (like me)? Maybe a spiffy new apron is in order. Check out these handmade darlings from Houston-based Amaria Studio:





Cute, cute, cute! You can purchase the aprons from Amaria Studio on Etsy or in person at the Fa-La-La Holiday Market at La Centerra in Cinco Ranch on December 6.

A gift a day (or at least as close to a gift a day as I can get!)

So you're looking for handmade things to give to your peeps for the holidays...well, I've found some cool ones, and I hope to post a new one every day. That's saying a lot for a blogger who's last post was two friggin months ago, but I gotta start somewhere, eh?? Here's today's idea:

Get your holiday card on! Since it takes FOREVER to write all those cards, better get started early. Here are a few cute new designs from Houston based stationery designer Amie Needham from A Punkin Card Company:




Amie's cards are available as singles or sets and are a steal at $3.50 for a single and $30 for a set of 10 (other set sizes available). Shop online or find Amie at a local market and shop in person.

Update after Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike has been all over the news, so I’m sure that you’ve all seen and heard at least a little bit about the damage caused to Galveston and surrounding areas.

Our home in Sugar Land suffered almost no damage. We lost a small part of our fence and one shingle from our roof. It could have been so much worse, and I think God that He watched over our family during the storm.

I am sad to say that Simply Art Gallery, one of the locations that carries my jewelry, was probably completely destroyed during the storm. The gallery is located in Galveston on the Strand. It had 9 feet of water in it, and I am certain that there is extensive damage to the building and that much of the art was lost.

I have received an email from the one of the owners of the gallery…both owners made it through the storm safe and sound and will go back to salvage what they can of their homes and the Gallery when power and water services are restored to the island.

My heart goes out to all of the people of Galveston, Kemah, and the surrounding areas that felt the full force of Ike’s wrath. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers, and I look forward to visiting a rebuilt Strand and Kemah Boardwalk soon!

With love,
Stevie

Shaking things up

Just when you think your world is just fine the way it is, you have to go and shake things up a bit. That’s the way the world works, right? My husband and I recently decided to shake up our lives quite a bit…on July 26, we had our first baby, a little girl named Kaylie Elaine. And they’re right (whoever “they” really are…): having a baby really does change your life.

Between the middle-of-the-night feedings, the constant wondering what “wah” really means, and the baby wearing, I’m sleep deprived, sore, and generally exhausted. But I’ve never felt more joy or creativity. Creating life is a person’s most important work of art, and nurturing that life and seeing it grow does the same for a person’s inner fire. I feel like I have so many new designs swimming around in my head – now if I could just find the time to make them all (see above comments about being exhausted).

I am happy to report that Kaylie truly does enjoy my work (she sleeps right through my hammering and the tumbling machine noise). I hope that one day, she’ll appreciate fashion and art the way I do. But if she wants to play in the dirt and hunt for bugs, I’m okay with that too.

As much as the munchkin will let me, I will continue to create new jewelry collections and appear at local Houston Markets and Art events. The holidays are coming up, so please check the Events page to see where I’ll be this season. And know that I may be a bit slower to update the blog and online store…but I have a good excuse.

Cheers,
Stevie

Now why didn't I think of that?

As a soon to be mom, I have thought at least a few times how having a baby will affect my choice of jewelry. I know that may sound silly, but I'm a jewelry designer...I think of these things! Well, good for me that someone else was thinking too.


The Friendswood, TX jewelry artist behind Sparkly Strandz came up with this neat necklace: the Nursing Necklace. Designed for mothers who are nursing, the necklace gives your baby something to sparkly grasp at (besides your hair or something else). The necklaces are made from glass crystal (not lead) and beads strung together on a continuous loop of wire. And since we know that babies can be quite strong when they want to, the necklaces are made to be pretty sturdy.

Sparlky Strandz jewelry and crocheted baby items are available through the designer's website or her Etsy store. Cheers.

Bayou City Artists...Part 2

And here's Part 2 of the Houston artist write-up. There will also be other artists from around the Houston Metro, so don't miss them either. The complete list of artists is here.


The canvas works of Ray Phillips tell tales of both struggle and redemption. Layering many images together, the contemporary artist creates finished pieces with a gritty, urban feel. Trained at the Glassell School, Phillips has worked in both the musica and graphics industries. Ceramic artist John Whitman's goal is to make "pottery with a presence." Creating stoneware pottery since 1988, Whitman creates bowls, jars, pitchers, and other items that stand out from the usual crowd.

A man after my own heart, former Mechanical Engineer Eric Ober traded the world of pumps and pulleys for sculpture in 1999. His works include everything from large, outdoor installations to wall sculpture to his signature series (pictured). Kevin Peterson's art will make you think...in a good way. Placing images of children alongside stacks of bullets and graffiti, his works are strong and rich. He uses many different textures and 3D elements to make his paintings come alive.

I can say from experience that these artists are top notch. I had the pleasure of speaking with and viewing Kevin Peterson's art at the 2007 Winter Sale at the Winter Street Studios. I've also been a patron of the Bayou City Art Festival for about 6 years, and it keeps getting better. With all these Houston artists plus many more from the Houston Metro, we can definitely say to the art world that Houston is where it's at!

The Festival runs from 10:00am - 5:45pm on Friday, March 28 - Sunday, March 30 each day. Tickets are $10 for adults ($8 in advance from the website), and children under 12 are admitted free. And with a performances and a cool Creative Zone especially for kids, you can make art a family affair!

Hope to see you there. Cheers.