Celebrate Bob Marley’s Birthday…

Coming from a 100% Jamaican household, we grew up hearing the songs of Bob Marley.  A man that touched so many people across cultures through his music, now that’s “SWAG” as the “youngsters” call it now!  Here are some awesome Etsy Bob Marley artwork and a clip of one of my favorite songs by Bob.

Cool and Aesthetic Ways to Organize Your Earrings

That’s right, it all comes down to organization, especially with jewelry.  The average woman has well over 10 pairs of earring and organizing them can be challenging.  The key to organizing jewelry is putting it on display so that you can actually see what you have.  If you see it, your more than likely to wear it.  I’ve scoured the web to find really neat ways to “display” your earrings.  Check them out:

What’s cool about this display is that it is an “artful” one, very eye catching!

This is actually my favorite one!  I love that you can create this using old picture frames, that way it can go on your bedroom wall as an actual display.

This a great way to store small and stud earrings, it’s small enough to fit into a drawer, but visible enough to view your earring collection.

So You’re Fed Up….Now What?

I’m in an inspirational mood today so, this post can apply to anyone because at some point we’ve all gotten fed up. The type of “fed up” I’m referring to is the frustration of getting up every day and doing an occupation that you either have no interest in or no passion to pursue. This type of frustration is common among many people, even those who may not admit it themselves or anyone else for that matter. The big question is, “What are you going to do about it?” Now that doesn’t mean, just quit your job abruptly, but if you have a dream that you want to pursue, you should have a plan to make that dream become a reality.

Most people don’t really know how I started up The Pink Locket, but really it came from love of creating things, especially wearable “art.” At the time I was re-locating to Atlanta and just landed a job, but at the time our family was operating on a one income household. I figured I had nothing to lose and saw The Pink Locket as an opportunity to do something I loved and make a little extra money. That was 3 years ago. Now if someone asks me, they’ll get a different response. I now see it as an avenue for many different things. I see it as a brand, a business and a passion and this is just the beginning.

So what’s your passion, what is it that you really want to do? How are you going to get there? What’s the plan? What are your goals that will enable you to pursue your passion and make a living off of it? Are these goals measurable? What do you need to alter in your current lifestyle, so that you’ll be able to pursue this passion? I know these are a lot of questions, but these are the same questions you should ask yourself every day until you are doing what you love. The one thing I do know is that life is too short to be doing something you just don’t love.

Etsy Store of the Week: Pilous Percilla and All Night Diner

Twin Peaks Dale Cooper

This week’s pick for Etsy Store of the week is Amanda from Pilous Percilla and All Night Diner

Tell me briefly about your Etsy store

Both Pilous Percilla and All Night Diner offer hand embroidered art, mainly in the portrait format.  Our patterns are all originals created by Mr. Flex AKA James.  Pilous Percilla concentrates on classic sideshow performers of the circus and All Night Diner is our place for everything else we love…musicians, film and TV and more!

What’s the story behind your craft?

I (Amanda) have embroidered off and on for years…usually making ironic onesies and “subversive” wall hangings for friends.
In November of 2010 James gifted me with another of his hand-drawn cards (typically of my favorite things…animals in people’s clothes, owls in arm chairs and circus-themed images) this one featured General Tom Thumb and I immediately proclaimed that it would be a fun image to embroider! James made up a pattern and transferred it onto fabric for me and that was it. We started making lists of all the awesome people/items we would like to make into embroidered art and decided to start an etsy shop and try sharing our work.

What are your greatest inspirations?

Music, film, television, books, the circus

What gets you going creatively?

We really feed off of each other and are always bouncing around ideas for new work.  James and I both get really excited to start new patterns and we are eager to see where our little shops can go!

My Etsy Shop Feature of the Week: Das Linoleum

Those We Love

This week’s Etsy Shop of the Week feature is Das Linoleum check out these lovely prints…….

Tell me briefly about your Etsy store.

My store features handmade (that is, hand-drawn, hand-carved, and then hand-printed) linoleum prints. All of the images are based on experiences or ideas I have, for example, when traveling; things I see; things I dream of. My store features prints that are illustrative, decorative, and affordable. But because I know that not everyone is looking for print art to put up on their walls, I occasionally also include hand-printed postcards, notebooks, etc. in my store that are both practical and feature cool art.

 

What is the story behind your craft?

I have gotten into making linoleum prints after I moved to Athens, GA, last summer. For years I hadn’t been working with linoleum, but I always draw and make doodles, so I thought I make use of this creativity. I had made one or two linoleum prints before I seriously got into what I am doing now and those prints were very much liked, so I decided to work more on this, to teach myself, to explore, and to get better at what I am doing. And then I started selling some of my art…

 

What are your greatest inspirations?

I love print art of all sorts, but I am especially inspired by poster art and political art. I find female artists inspiring, because it expresses empowerment and strength when women transform their feelings and experiences into artwork. One female print artist I like very much is Anna Heyward Taylor from South Carolina. But I am also inspired by the work of other Etsy artists, because there is a lot of great art out there, in the vast online art world.

 

What gets you going creatively?

Mostly when I need a break from work, I start carving linoleum. But my inspiration to start the first sketch for what I will later work into a linoleum print really comes about spontaneously, for example, if I enjoy a nice summer day outdoors and I see a lovely scene somewhere that I want to capture in my art work. As I sketch the scene on paper, things change from what I have seen in real life to how I experienced them in my heart and mind. So working creatively for me is really a kind of free-flowing process that is very much emotional.

What About Him?

Copper and Silver Two Tone Cuff Links

Who said Valentine’s Day isn’t for guys too.  Check out my Etsy Treasury on ideas for HIM.  Give him a gift he’ll remember…

Lets Celebrate the King…

Today is the celebration of Martin Luther King Day.  As we continue on our day in remembrance of his dream and how much we are truly living his dream this day in age, I took the opportunity to skim through Etsy and found some wonderful items, here are some of my favorites.

Keepsake Pin

A Song of Hope Necklace

Martin Luther King Screen Print Postcard

I Have A Dream Wall Vinyl

Shop Indie Entrepreneurs this Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches and we begin to make our lists and start checking them twice (not because Santa Claus is coming to town because most of us are on a budget this season) take a look at some Indie Crafters.  Trust me, you will not be disappointed.  There are truly some creative Indies out there with “out of this world” items.  Check out Etsy, Artfire, WinkElf, just name of few.  If that’s not convincing enough, here are a few good reasons to Shop Handmade this Holiday.

1.      Support CraftPreneurs- Believe it or not they are part of the economy.  As a matter of fact small businesses make up a great percentage of the economy.  Not only will you be supporting a fellow entrepreneur, it’ll help put money back into our local and domestic economies.

2.      Personable and Unique Items- It’s true!  A lot of these items you’ll see on these Indie Market sites are the most unique and personable ever.  Indie crafters put much time and hard-work into their product, very seldom will you be dissatisfied.  The items aren’t mass produce, so you definitely won’t see them on the racks or shelves of large retail giants.

3.      Avoid shopping mall crowd-This is what everyone hates about the holidays, waiting for someone to pull out of a parking spot, dealing with packed malls and long lines.

If these reasons aren’t good enough, well just scope out some of the great holiday gift items I found from some Indie Preneurs.

Teal Clock-$40

Bridges of Madison-$19

Tierra Earth-$18

What to do with with that Red Stripe bottle…

Set of 4 Recycled Redstripe Beer Bottle Tumblers - $36

Ever wonder what to do with those extra beer or wine bottles after a party?  Well check out Carroll Creek Glass, located out of Frederick, MD.  These creatives turn recycled glass into handcut glassware.  When I saw these Red Stripe Beer tumblers, I was sold.  Combining the elements of environmnent, wine and art these unique glasswares will make great gifts.


Attention Atlanta Artists: Upcoming Craft Shows for the Fall

Fall is on its way, this is true.  Before we know it, the holiday season will be here.  One of the nicest places to find the best and most unique gifts, either for yourself or a loved one, are craft shows.  The most talented come out to display their labor of love and hard-work.  In addition to snagging a piece of rarity,  buying at craft shows helps to support our local communities and economies.  Here’s a rundown of some shows that are worth checking out if your a crafter or shopper or both.

Dunwoody Music Festival 10/23-24

Vendor Fee: $200   Deadline: 9/8

Fall Jonquil Festival 10/23-24th

Vendor Fee: $100   Deadline: 9/15

ICE 11/20-21

Vendor Fee: $225    Deadline: 9/16

Faith’s Craft Shop 11/13

Vendor Fee: $50    Deadline:  First Come, First Serve

Metro Market 11/20-21 and/or 12/18-19

Vendor Fee: $130 (each weekend)   Deadline: 9/5