Update - House to Home

Today is one of those wonderful days where everything you have on your list gets done. It's a great feeling! I even fit in my run earlier than I thought and now I have a bit of free time. Aside from creating overstock for the gallery, Kirk and I have been doing some home facelifts. One was an entranceway re-do which included a new coat of paint. I was touching up a few spots today and I realized  that the paint hadn't been mixed properly and now there are all of these lighter patches all over the wall... I guess I need to do a facelift to the facelift now :)

Also as an early Christmas present to myself I purchased a lovely new rug from Anthropologie and some pretty new fabrics from Palladium so I guess this winter break I'll be busy making our house a home! It's also time for Holiday baking fairly soon and I'm looking forward to trying out some new recipes. What is your favorite holiday tradition??

xoxoxo -Amy

Gallery of Gifts!

Just wanted to let you all know that you can find my work at the Carroll County Arts Council Gallery of Gifts starting tomorrow through January 12!  I just finished installing my pieces there and I already found a ton of Christmas gifts I'm going to purchase :)  If you get the chance you should check it out and get some handmade goodies to give this year!

There is an Artists reception tomorrow at the Tevis Gallery where the boutique is and I along with the other artisans will be there to chat and answer questions. I myself will be there around 6pm -7:30. Hope to see you there!

xoxoxo -Amy

Weekend Remake

Happy Thanksgiving weekend! We're giving our entrance way a facelift with our free time :) Hope you all have a a nice relaxing day.

xoxo -Amy

Found It

This is all I want for Christmas:

Current Obsessions

Over the knee boots

Latest volume of my Japanese fashion mag

Shaking it up with online Zumba classes for ps3!

What's you're latest obsession?

xoxox -Amy

New Items in Store

Happy Friday everyone! Popping by to share a photo of one of many new designs that are up for purchase in the Shop.  Remember that Small Business Saturday is just around the corner! Shop for gifts while knowing you are supporting local art. Click here to browse the new items.

Petite Flower Bracelet - Ready to Order!

Wow what a dreary day it is here in Charm City! I don't know about you but for me these cloudy rainy days make working so much easier. I got up this morning, heard the rain, and just got right to work. Armed with my camera, light boxes, and hot mug of spiced apple cider, I felt pretty unstoppable :)

This weekend was the conclusion of one of my favorite show venues: Ridgley Middle Craft Fair. This was my 3rd year in a row showing there and as such I've built up a bit of a following. It was not only great to sell in such a warm and friendly environment, it was also a joy to see so many familiar faces.  Thanks Ridgley for another great year! My next show is on the 3rd of December at Roland Park Country School's Holiday Fair.


Before I get back to my photo session I just wanted to share the link to my brand new bracelet design that is ready for Christmas giving up in the shop! Go check it out HERE.

Just a Few Photos

Things have gotten so busy this last week! I've barely come down from my studio (at least that's how it feels). I just wanted to share a few photos of some of my new work including these adorable Little Bird Pins and a brand new bracelet design.

My next show will be at Ridgley Middle School on the 12th from 10 am - 3pm. This is such a fun show to make it to if you can! The turn out is amazing for such a small venue and the people are so lovely to be around :)

xoxoxo -Amy

Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Made chicken soup from scratch for the second time this year! Kirk was sick last week when I first attempted making it and it came out pretty darn good. (at least thats what he told me since I'm a vegetarian) This second time around I have mended my mistakes and hopefully tonight it will be really darn good :) Thought I'd share the recipe I've been toying around with:

Ingredients

• 4 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped carrots
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup butter
• 8 ounces egg noodles
• 12 cups water
• 9 cubes chicken bouillon
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley

Directions

1. In a large stock pot, saute celery and onion in butter or margarine.
2. Add chicken, carrots, water, bouillon cubes, marjoram, black pepper, bay leaf, and parsley. Simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Add noodles, and simmer for 10 more minutes.

photo courtesy of the eclectic cook

Josie Natori at Target!

Ahhh I'm so excited that Josie Natori is the featured designer for Target right now! She is an amazing designer that I've been following for a while  and I just love her work! You can check out her blog here.  I don't know about you but I'm heading over to Target :)

Just a few of my favorite items from Josie's line:

Hina Draped Dress

Bone Bracelet

Halloween Treats!

This cake is spooktacular! 

WOW I saw these incredible treats on Martha Stewart's website today and they are nothing short of amazing!

Get the recipe for this haunting cake here!

(images from marthastewart.com)

These bones are edible! Wouldn't they be the perfect Halloween party sweet? And with only two ingredients, these are pretty sweet for your wallet as well :)

• YieldMakes about 18

Ingredients:

6 Large egg whites

1 1/2 Cups sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Put egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water; whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and mixture feels warm to the touch, about 5 minutes.
2. Return bowl to mixer, and fit mixer with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until very stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes.
3. Transfer meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip, such as a Wilton #1A. Pipe bone shapes, each 5 to 6 inches long, onto two baking sheets lined with parchment paper (as shown below). Bake until crisp throughout, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

40% off SALE!

We're having a super super sale right now in  our Etsy Shop to celebrate Fall! Now through October 31 enjoy 40% off everything in the shop :) Simply use the coupon code: FALLFEST11 at checkout.

Happy Fall everyone!  xoxoxo -Amy

Nails Inc. to the rescue!

 I'm always on the look for interesting hair and makeup trends, and this one happens to make my list of mightily amazing! I can't wait to try these magnetizing polishes from Nails Inc.  for Halloween. And you have to love the names of the polish which are named after some of London's most famous "attractions":  Trafalgar Square, Houses of Parliment and Big Ben. I'm ordering mine from Sephora :)

Wednesday Finds - Cover the Ceiling Lean Against Walls

Wednesday finds us eyeing those bare spaces and dreaming of what could be!

Check out the Treasury HERE!

Blog Feature!

Hey everyone, just wanted to drop by and share a link! My work is featured today over at Ms. Charms Chic Blog! She is a fashion reporter in the Baltimore area and covers amazing local artisans and their stories. Pop over for a look HERE!

One More Day

Ahh So tired from the show today! The best thing to come home to is a bowl of TJ Butternut squash soup and a hot pot of green tea. Rejuvenation at it's finest :)

MD Home and Garden Fall/ New Bracelets

Tomorrow is the MD Home and Garden Fall Show! I will not be in attendance Friday but my amazing Mother will be working the show that day in my absence! So stop by if you get the chance :)

I've also listed a few new bracelets in the shop today! The Pathways Moss Bracelet and the amazing Petal Drops Bracelet are both up and available to ship out, check them out HERE.

xoxox -Amy

Look Book Charm Bracelet

It's finally back up in the shop: My signature Look Book Charm Bracelet is available now with a new selection of colorful charms that just ask to be touched! These are some of my favorite bracelets to make because the patterns are showcased in such a fluid way. It's like wearing a catalog of choices, on your wrist!

Get one or gift one today in the shop HERE.

Just a few Photos

bunches of bracelets 

loving the pearls this season

snapped a few shots of some new work before they made it into their respective boxes (and before my camera ran out of batteries) 

Show Prep

Tomorrow is the set up for the Home and Garden show and I'm wrapping up my work so I can hopefully have a few hours of relaxation before this long weekend. Although I'm not the most well rested leading up to a show, I do believe I'm the most hydrated : Today I think I drank about a gallon of Green tea :) That may be a new record. 

It's pouring outside currently and it's on these days that I feel the most comfortable to be working up in my tower. When I look out  my second story window onto the wet pavement, I feel content that I'm  surrounded by my tools and fabrics in my well lit studio space.

xoxoxox -Amy

Latest Etsy Obsessions

I need this insanely awesome dress by Qoo Qoo in my closet now!

Love these baubles from Homako. They would make any outfit happier!

Foxes on your ears? Yes please! I'll be adding these studs from Leanimale to my Christmas list for sure.

I love Etsy. What are your obsessions this week?

xoxoxo - Amy

New in the Shop

As requested by so many people, I've finally made the mini version of my signature 3 flower necklace available in the shop! I'll be listing the blue version soon as well. This dainty version is a great everyday piece while still remaining delightfully eye-catching. You can check it out here!

 It's a big blue sky kind of day and I actually have some time to enjoy it, although if I were smart I'd probably use this time to begin my Fall studio cleaning...

Go outside and enjoy this beautiful weather!

xoxox -Amy

What I'm Reading

These were supposed to be part of my beach reading this year but it has quickly become Fall reading due to my lack of actual reading time :)

The Future of Power is a really great read so far and I applaud how the author takes a relatively difficult topic and explains it with clarity and ease. What I have really enjoyed  is the topic of Soft Power which  uses positive, attractive plans of action to achieve outcomes  in a way that military strength cannot.

The second book I've just started but I feel it will be  filled with very, very interesting facts. I need only point to the cover titles. 

What are you all reading right now?

xoxox -Amy

Fells Point Festival Recap

new design debuted at Fells Point

So I've warmed up finally from this past weekend's show, but I still can't believe how cold it was! Despite the shivering and the occasional rain drops, we had a lot of fun! Thanks Fells Point for hosting such a well attended show. I loved that we were sandwiched between the water and a row of lively bars and boutiques, I don't think we could have had a better spot. Everyone was so friendly and I had the chance to meet with some lovely people :) I will be putting this show on my list for next year! 

I have a nice break in my show schedule for next weekend but you will be able to find me next  at the MD Fall Home and Garden Show in Timonium Oct 14-16.

xoxoxo -Amy

Update in Photos

New Packaging idea to keep things secure

All wrapped up

Continuation on the bangles experiment, this one I actually like.

xoxox -Amy

Wednesday Finds - Happily House Boat

Wednesday Finds us seafaring across the great blue, living in style and staying dry. Let's make the most of this rainy weather!

see the treasury here

Pretty Little Things

Dainty and sweet! This lovely little leather and pearls piece is finally finished. I think it's rather darling, so I will most likely name it as so: Darling Dogwood Necklace.

When things calm down after the show this weekend I'll try and list some more items on both the website and etsy, but you know how I am, we shall see :)

Mt. Washington Show

New Pin Design

It's a rainy weekend but I'm all packed and ready for tomorrow's show (amazing right?) and I'll be crossing my fingers for some breaks in the rain.  I'll be selling my wares at booth # 40 in Mt. Washington at the Wine Jazz and Art festival tomorrow from 11am - 6pm,  so venture  out and have some fun!

xoxox -Amy

Giveaway Alert!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am the featured artist over at Love Jewelry by J's Blog today! She is hosting a giveaway of one of my necklaces as well as a coupon code for a discount in my shop. Plus, there is a nice write up of my work and designs. If you get the chance go over and check it out and
Find out how to win here!

Friday Finds - Bonfire Cozy

Friday finds us warming up to the idea of colder weather! See the treasury here

xoxox

-Amy

Idea to Reality

I've been playing around again with the little hearts design I have. I was wanting to create something a bit larger and less "floral" looking than my previous designs that incorporate this little guy. So I ended up keeping it super simple and I think I've found what I was looking for:

Idea to...

Reality!