Crafty Girly

Shop of the Week: In My Head Studios

34-year-old artist Vickie Porter, owner of InMyHeadStudios, has a passion for paper. "I love everything about paper-the way it feels, the sounds it makes, the colors and textures. It has dimension, and I try to use that in my work."

A self-professed perfectionist with an eye for detail, Vickie's exquisitely crafted pendants create miniature spaces that call to mind old letters, or the box of special treasures you had as a child.

Says Vickie, " I have to make art like I have to breathe! I intentionally keep a messy desk so I can be inspired by the play of papers together. I have WAY more ideas for art than time to do it in!"

Using scrabble tiles and upcycled vintage dominos as the base for her pendants allows Vickie to "create something new from something old" and the addition of beads, dangles and charms give the beautiful pieces texture and movement.

An avid Twitterite, Vickie uses her three Twitter accounts not only to "connect and form relationships with people. I talk to them, post useful links, and funny stuff" but also to "share my creative process so people get to know my craft as well as me. I strive to have people think of my work when they think of me."

In addition to working fulltime as an artist in her home studio, Vickie is also leader of the 175-member Etsy Twitter Team. "Running the team is truly a joy and a blessing to be part of! The members have created such a close community-I'm really proud of that." Recently, she made the decision to help start up and run the Facebook Fans of Etsy Street Team (FFEST) with several other women. "They are all very talented and I am really excited about this new venture!"

InMyHeadStudios is happy to do custom pendants. "If you dream it, I can do it!" and ships jewelry all over the world. " I guarantee you will love wearing your pendant as much as I enjoyed creating it!"

On Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/inmyheadstudios

On Etsy: http://inmyheadstudios.etsy.com/

SHOP OF THE WEEK SPECIAL:

15% off all orders (not including shipping).

Discount refunded via Paypal.

Quick Hit

I just got my blocking board in from Knit Picks (it's fabulous by the way; highly suggest it to anyone) and I now have Sleepy Monkey blocking.  Once I pinned it all down, the pattern and the colors really popped! Never mind the mess around it.  I have to do it in the office so I could close the door and keep the kitten out because she'll destroy it and it's really cramped in there.

Fresh off the Needles!

I've had a fairly productive night tonight!  I've got two completed projects that I took pictures of fresh off the needles.  First is the Sleepy Monkey! Please, don't mind the wrinkliness of it.  I haven't blocked it yet since I just finished it.  I think it came out gorgeous, and will be even better once it's blocked.  I'm totally in love with this baby blanket! The second project is a Baby Kimono that I'm gifting in the very near future.  I finally seamed it and got the ribbons sewn on. How much use this is going to get, I don't know.  That's what I hate about Miami.  There's so many cute things to knit, especially for babies, but it's so freakin' hot that it really isn't going to get much use!  We'll see.  Maybe we'll have a colder than usual winter and the baby will get to use it more than once or twice.

Tell Me Thursday

If anyone follows the weather, you know we had a named storm, Ana that was threatening South Florida recently.  She had dissolved to a tropical "something" on Monday and was supposed to bring a whole lot of rain our way by Wednesday (yesterday).  Well, she didn't.  On the contrary, it was a beautiful day and it didn't rain at all, so I got to drive home from work with the convertible top down.  There were some big fluffy clouds passing by, but that's about it. During the summer months, South Florida is big about following the weather, especially after we were hit by Andrew in 1992.  Andrew changed the way we look at hurricanes, and changed our "hurricane party" outlook to these events.  Andrew devastated South Florida.  Not exactly like Katrina in New Orleans, but in a similar way.  This is what much of Homestead, Florida City, and a lot of the more southern cities in Miami looked like after Andrew:

So for us Miamians, when we hear there's a hurricane in the Atlantic, we scrutinize the news until we get the "All Clear", like we did recently with Ana and last night with Bill. ---------------- Now playing: U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday (Live) via FoxyTunes

Wordless Wednesday

PLEASE HELP A FELLOW ETSIAN!

I was over at Punky Jane's blog and and noticed her latest post:

PLEASE HELP A FELLOW ETSIAN!. ...Joyce Richards of Beads of Glass, was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 Lung cancer. We just found out today that it has also spread to her brain....

Several of our Etsy Twitter team members are donating proceeds from their sales to Joyce and I will do the same.  I will donate 50% of all my proceeds in during the month of August to Joyce. If you would like to donate to her directly, you can do so directly via Paypal at email address joycercatastrophicillnessaccount@comcast.net. Please help her out.  Buy from me, Joyce, or send her a donation directly.

Shop of the Week: Firebirdhouse Designs

Kristen Evans, the owner of Firebirdhouse Designs, loves creating unique jewelry designs and textiles from vintage and new components, as well as recycled/repurposed vintage pieces and fabrics. Originally a fine artist, Kristen says " I love turning beautiful things with history into useable and wearable art and that really began to be the core of my inspiration. I like th e challenges that come with recycling and reusing in new ways." Original patinas, embroidered and hand needlefelted details, and high quality components are some of the things which set Firebirdhouse pieces apart from the crowd. Her colorful shop is an everchanging display of pieces that "hold onto the charm of vintage while still having a modern or quirky edge." The shop offers free shipping to the US and Canada and ships worldwide, as well as now offering a wholesale catalog. An avid user of Twitter under the name @Firebirdhouse as well as co-leader of the EtsyTwitter Team, she says "I love the people I meet on twitter, and I try to talk, comment, and share just like I would if they were hanging out with me in my studio. I try to always be genuine and be myself. A lot of my sales come from Twitter but I don't ever make that my goal." Firebirdhouse Designs is offering 25% off on purchases over $25 from August 17 - August 23rd. Use Code SOTW in notes to seller and your refund will be issued via Paypal. Excludes Joyce Richardson Benefit items

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade firebirdhouse.etsy.com

Tell Me Thursday

Yesterday, I posted this picture of my two sleepy heads for Wordless Wednesday.  So since today is Thursday, here's my contribution to Tell Me Thursday. What was significant about this picture is that first, the cat is too cute when she's sleeping, which is totally misleading if you knew what a PITA she can be.  She loves to get into everything, doesn't let me work on the laptop, knit, spin, etc.  She's constantly battling everything that moves, and that includes feet. Yesterday, David was sick.  He told me when I got home from work that the cat was the one that kept him company all day and checked on him from time to time to make sure he was ok.  It's funny how that little kitty knew there was something wrong with him, and she laid with him all day as if she were his protector. ---------------- Now playing: PJ Harvey - Angelene via FoxyTunes

Wordless Wednesday: Sleepy Heads

Shop of the Week: Safiya Beauty

Everything about Nailah Safiya Blades’ shop at SafiyaBeauty.etsy.com is sumptuous. She creates natural bath and body products that merge natural and eco-friendly ingredients with luxurious indulgence. You can moisturize, polish, make suds, lather, and soak with her products.

Her shop announcement says,

“Safiya’s philosophy is to provide you with the finest, purest natural and organic products, but never at the risk of neglecting your need to feel beautiful and smell delicious. Our products contain only what is absolutely necessary to make the absolute best product for your body without sacrificing your desire to feel fantastic.”

It makes me want to check out her shop for something that will make me feel soft and pretty. I’m sure I won’t be disappointed!!

Nailah wants you to know that she works,

“very hard to make sure that my products are made with the very best ingredients I can find. I think as a culture, we pay very close attention to what we put into our bodies but not so much what we put on them, which is just as important. Because of that, all of my products are made with natural ingredients and contain no parabens, phthalates, or harsh preservatives. I also strive to provide an environmentally friendly product and go to great lengths to ensure this. “I’m an indulgent person and I think that shows through with my products. I really enjoy creating products that will transport my consumer to their own little private spa. I love using creamy butters and skin-loving vegetable oils because they create such opulent products. I’m also slightly inspired by food! All of my bath bombs are cookies or cupcakes – I have a major sweet tooth.”

You can even see the indulgence in her products through her photos. The way the butters peak up firmly, you can tell they have a lot of body to them and will be luxuriously creamy.

Her favorite thing about her craft is:

“how the finished product makes others feel. I love watching someone try my body butters for the first time and see their eyes light up as they rub it into their skin or as they smell the scents. That’s definitely my favorite part!”

About Twitter:

“I love Twitter! I think my biggest piece of Twitter advice would be to make sure it’s not all about you. I try to ‘RT’ [retweet] others or share articles that others may find helpful. I also use Twitter to announce any specials on my shop or when I have new blog posts.”

Are you looking for the perfect gift or favor? Custom and wholesale orders are welcomed by Safiya Beauty! They offer private labeling for weddings, showers and parties.

Follow her on Twitter @safiyabeauty Read her blog at www.safiyabeauty.wordpress.com

Special for this Week: 15% off your entire order – just mention “EtsyTwitter” in the seller’s notes and she will reimburse you via PayPal refund.