Surprise! MD Home and Garden Show

So I just found out this week that I'm actually showing at this years Spring Maryland Home and Garden Show! I had been wait listed because I had forgotten to apply until the last minute and it had filled up fast (this winter was crazy!) so I'm super happy that I'll be participating, however since I assumed I was not in, I went ahead and gave a large portion of my inventory to a store last week. It figures, one should never assume :) 

Luckily I have pulled some all night miracles and I'm completely if not overly ready for these next two weekends! So come out and see my new work and get in the mood for warmer weather :) 

My booth this year is C224! This years garden theme is called "Color my World" so it should be a good display! I'm also looking forward to visiting the Baltimore Bonsai area because I just can't resist tiny trees :) hope to see you there this weekend or the next! 

Xoxoxo - Amy 

Here's some photos of what's being packed up for this weekend:

I love cats, but do I love them this much?

Saw this book today and I was instantly relieved: obviously someone loves cats far more than I. Though I was momentarily tempted to try my hand at this, I quickly  decided to pass. (My mediocre knitting skills far outweighs my desire for a knitted replica of Han and Sock)  However, if anyone wanted to knit my cats for me... 

Adobe Kuler App: Endless color!

I've been playing  around with this delightful little design app from Adobe the last few days. It's called Kuler and it functions as a color extracting tool creating color schemes from the things around you and from your existing images. Simply snap a photo of that inspirational landscape and voila! Kuler turns it into a pallet of colors ready for you to create with. It's a simple idea with endless possibilities. Oh and the best part is: it's free!

I'm planning on taking lots of photos this Spring and I'm looking forward to using some of the palettes Kuler extracts in my Ayano Necklaces this year :)

Check out the  Kuler App here!

Hana and Sakura color schemes!

Twisted Sisters Now Carries Our Jewelry!

If you are in the Annapolis Area and are looking for an excellent shopping adventure, you cannot miss Twisted Sisters! Run by a group of super talented style minded ladies, their shop is full of funky vintage inspired finds and an amazing collection of handcrafted wares by local Artists.  Oh, and the one of a kind furniture they make is to die for! It's an absolute gem of a store and I am so happy to announce that they are currently carrying my jewelry line! Go check it out if you are in the area, you won't be disappointed :)

Check out their Facebook page it's full of great photos and directions to the store.

Inspiration Sunday

I've been spending a lot of time researching and exploring Japanese traditional textiles related to Shibori hand dying. I of course love Japanese patterns and fabrics but I've really been concentrating on the patterns displayed in this particular type of fabric. Since Shibori patterns are made by a resist dye process done by hand-tying, knotting, and stitching, no two patterns are alike. I've been highly inspired by the freedom and chance of this kind of pattern and I'm planning on incorporating my own Shibori patterns I make this year into my designs. Which brings me to my main point: Tie dye party?? I think yes!

  HGTV has an awesome intro to indigo dye if anyone is interested!

Arashi Shibori technique uses a pole or stick to wrap fabric around and dip into the dye vat. You can create all sorts of patterns depending on how you wrap the fabric with twine or string. (image courtesy of Honestly WTF)

 

ori-nui Shibori pattern

 tying fabric for the resist. (image from eye-swoon.com)