Archive for the 'etsy' Category

Inspiration Junkie Post

Published
by
robayre
on March 3, 2010
in Cool Links and etsy
. 2 Comments

(today’s 365 screen cap)

Oh Gosh. March has stormed in with a gust of inspiration. I have two pages of my full sized sketchbook just filled with ideas for things I want to do. It’s one of those time periods where the days are just not long enough
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I love twitter, don’t get me wrong, but in the last couple of years since I’ve been using it I’m sad to realize that I post most of my cool link finds there, instead of sharing them here, like I used to do. Today I want to post a few things here that have caught my eye lately. If you follow my twitter, they might not all be new to you. Hopefully, I’ll do more inspiration posts occasionally.

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Through my google alerts I found this tumblr that reposted a piece of mailart I created and sent to Germany years ago. Thanks to that, I discovered the Good Mail Day tumblr that posts beautiful mail images. I love me some snail mail so I had to subscribe to that right away.

Speaking of… I found a snail mail themed Etsy treasury featuring my stationery sets.

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(image by littletjane)

I remember when I first started Etsy there was (and probably still is) a lot of talk about how the most successful shops specialize in one kind of item and offer that single thing in a variety of colors or styles. I was given advice that I might want to start up more than one shop for my variety of items. I really struggled with that, and worried that my shop wasn’t cohesive and I think that lack of confidence then created a lack of togetherness. I love so many different areas, and I didn’t want to have to split things apart, or only focus on one single area forever. It wasn’t until I became comfortable and recognized my style that I realized my shop was perfect the way it was, with a large variety of items. Yes, I carry paper products, fine art, handspun yarns, home decorations and jewelry all in one shop and I’m proud of it! When I come across other Etsy sellers who are also Jack-of-all-trades, I feel a kinship. One of these sellers is littletjane. I just had to add littletjane’s blog to my “current crush” list (see sidebar). I’ve been following her blog for a while, but more and more I’ve realized how awesome she is. I love all the things she shares on her blog, but also the things she creates and has in her shop. Check her out at her website, twitter and etsy shop.

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and last but not least I have to share this cool video by Jenni Rope that I saw on the craft blog. It was one of those things pieces that creates jealousy in my heart because I wish I had created it. Beautiful!

Welcome March!

Published
by
robayre
on March 1, 2010
in General Update, My Artwork, etsy and shop update
. 2 Comments

 The countdown to spring is on! 19 days left. If the rest of those 19 days are as nice as today was, this should be a breeze. The snow was all melty and I was able to drive around with my window rolled down half way.

Today was one of my days where I have to go in to work at 2 a.m. so I had the daylight to myself. I got a lot done. Grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc., etc. I also finally got around to listing the rings I made last month for Thing-a-Day.

  

The circle Paper Wrapped Spiral Stratum Rings are a new offering for my shop. I love the pendants that I make like this so much that I had to make some as rings as well. Dare I say, these rings are even more beautiful than the pendants?

Other rings that have been added are more collage based, similar to other rings that have been in my shop previously. I love this abstract piece above. It is very much like something I could see myself wearing all the time.

Here is a ring dedicated to my love of Polaroid. When I was in college I used to incorporate a lot of the polaroid shape into my artwork, printmaking primarily. This was about 10 years ago now and before Polaroid was becoming extinct, so I don’t think my teacher understood or appreciated it very much.  It warms my heart now to see the Polaroid image in so much artwork nowadays. Each time I see it, it’s like me sticking out my tongue and giving a big raspberry to that teacher and saying “See, other people get it, why couldn’t you?”

 

And finally, here is the last ring. Picture it as a whisper of the spring to come. It looks like the underside of a leaf, but it’s actually a real leaf skeleton, with a green cardstock paper visible from behind, all encased and preserved in resin.

Day Nineteen - Framed YoYo Quilt Set in Pink Gingham

Published
by
robayre
on February 19, 2010
in General Update, etsy and shop update
. 1 Comment

Today I was inspired by an Etsy front page that had all pale, soft pinks, whites and naturals. You can see the collection here. I immediately went up to my studio and grabbed this pale pink gingham and made one of my framed yoyo sets. I’ve been making yoyos (a quilt, vests, jewelry) for 17 years and making and selling these framed sets for 5 years. It was perfect because I actually had two other sets finished, but I just had not taken pictures of them yet, so finishing this set got me into action and now all three have been added to my Etsy shop here.

I was featured…

Published
by
robayre
on February 16, 2010
in Cool Links, Coverage, General Update and etsy
. 1 Comment

on the blog CreatureComfortsBlog with my white on white Paper Wrapped Spiral Pendant. It’s a collection of work that was inspired by her brother’s drawing. What a wonderful article to be included in because I am in love OBSESSED with childrens’ artwork.

Check it out, and others like it at my Etsy shop!

Day Thirteen - Teaching a 7-year-old how to knit

Published
by
robayre
on February 13, 2010
in General Update, My Artwork, Projects and etsy
. 3 Comments

Today for my Thing-A-Day I taught my 7 year old niece to knit. She’s been wanting to learn so I brought along needles and yarn. It’s the second time I’ve taught a 7 year old to knit, but honestly, I think 8 would be ideal. Although she took it up pretty easily she also got lost just as easily and was hoping that what she was working on would be able to turn into a sweater, lol. cute.

I also finally got around to listing the three new paper wrapped spiral pendants to my Etsy shop.

 

Also, I got a message that I’m featured in this Etsy Treasury with one of my Quilted and Framed Yoyo Sets. It will be up until Monday so please head over and check out the links :)

Day Eleven - I Want A Pony

Published
by
robayre
on February 11, 2010
in My Artwork, Projects and etsy
. 1 Comment

Today for my Thing-a-Day post I made this mixed media wearable art pendant. It’s your birthday and here’s confetti and the horse you’ve always wanted.

Robyn fun fact: I’ve never wanted a pony or a horse. I love animals, and I had my share of My Little Ponys when I was little, but I’ve never understood the whole wanting a horse thing. In fact this silhouette is traced from a zebra. Now, zebras are animal I can understand. Having a pet zebra would be a fashionable accessory to me = I love black and white stripes.

If you’ve always yearned for a horse, well, now is your chance. I’ve listed this pendant in my Etsy shop.

Cool stuff and thanks

Published
by
robayre
on January 22, 2010
in Artists, Cool Links, General Update, etsy and life
. 1 Comment

I’ve received so many things lately and I wanted to post a long overdue public thanks and share some of these wicked cool items.

I was sent a copy of The Happy Book by Meg Leder and Rachel Kempster. I’m all about Happy so I was glad to receive it. Imagine if the Listography Journal and Wreck this Journal had a teenage daughter. I think it might be The Happy Book. It’s one of those books that encourages you to carry it around and fill it up and the more you use it the less it will look like what it did when you brought it home. The Happy Book is filled with almost 200 pages of prompts for you to fill up, paste-in, list and draw all the happy and positive things in life. One of the rewarding things about this book, and others similar to it, is that you can pull it out later when you might be feeling down in the dumps and it will hopefully fill you with joy again. The manifesto of the book is “Thinking about what makes you happy, makes you happy. Writing about what makes you happy, makes you happy. Reading about what makes you happy, makes you happy.” I had an idea when I was first reading the introduction that I’d like to keep the book in a somewhat public place (car, coffee table or carry it with me in my bag) and encourage my friends, family and acquaintances to also fill out pages in my book. That way when I opened it up it wasn’t just my happy thoughts, images and experiences, but other’s as well, and I would be able to draw fresh inspiration by other’s happy things.

It has been years now and I am still so grateful that Rosa Murillo saw my website and sent me an email introducing herself. We have become friends and I treasure that. She calls me, I don’t answer (hehehe), but we’ve skyped a couple times and I am always thrilled to see a new blog post on her site. She is such a creative inspiration to me (although she’d probably cringe at my liberal and frequent use of that “i” word). She sent me a wonderful package before Christmas and it contained the ring above. I don’t see anymore in her shop right now, but she’s made a bunch here. I commented on one and low and behold she sent it to me. I love it! Of all jewelry I love rings the most. But not just any ring. Believe it or not, I’d put my nose up to a tiffany diamond ring, but I can’t say no to a piece of artwork adorned on my fingers. Thank you again for the lovely ring, Rosa! I’m compiling a package for you and hope to send it soon, but really, what is soon? You know me, and that might not be until summer, wah wah wah.

This ring came from my new penpal (through the penpal party) Angie of PangeaStore. I have a special place in my heart for lockets. It probably stems from watching the movie Annie too many times as a child. At any rate I admired the rings from Angie’s Etsy shop that have eensie teensie little lockets on them. When her next letter arrived it had one in it! oh my goodness. It’s a ring, it has a locket and it’s miniature! I know, I know, I almost fainted. I’ve been thinking about what I need to put inside of it. I was going to just print out tiny pictures, but then this week I saw this post on the Black Apple about lockets with tiny drawings in them.

And finally this week I stopped by the P.O. Box and was delighted to find this scarf from Trisha at Made During Sleepytime. I had entered her giveaway for this super cozy and stylish scarf and WON IT!  I wore it all today and love it so much that I think I will need to follow her tutorial and make myself a couple more. Honestly though, Trish, you should sell these. I’d probably save myself the aggravation of sewing it and just buy more from you :) Love it!

Miniature Scrapbook and kit

Published
by
robayre
on January 5, 2010
in Projects, etsy and shop update
. 10 Comments

Last month my sister was looking for Christmas presents to give to her scrapbooking friend, when I remembered awesome miniature ornament books she made with pictures of us from our trip to Ireland. I thought “How about one of those books put together in a scrapbooking style?” She and I spent one evening putting together books, hers for her friends, mine for my shop. Originally we were going to decorate the inside pages so all that had to be done was to print out mini pictures and glue them in, but then we came up with the idea of putting together a kit, so that someone who enjoys cropping, could do it all themselves. I had SO much fun putting these together. I want to make more and more and more.

There are two kits currently available in my shop here and here. Each “scrapbook” is mini less than 3 inches squared, hard covered and handbound with scrapbooking papers. They have ribbon closures, so you can tie them closed and hang them up somewhere. Each kit contains one book and over 30 little items to decorate the scrapbook pages, including all sorts of corresponding papers (solids, designed, edged, circles, hearts, embossed), sequins, brads, paper flowers, ribbon and tags.  All you need for this kit is to print out miniature pictures of your own and get to scrapbooking on a lilliputian scale!

Knowing me, is knowing I LOVE everything miniature and I’m pretty smitten with these books and kits.

The Happy Post

Published
by
robayre
on December 14, 2009
in Fun, General Update, etsy, life and shop update
. 11 Comments

Cross off one more item from my 2009 To-Do List. #28, I’ve decorated for Christmas. It might be pretty lacking in it’s lame, limp garland wrapped around the front porch, and the plastic tree my cat won’t stop eating, but everything is made better when you view the snowflake curtain I have been working on. I was inspired by this flickr picture and just wanted to make so many snowflakes that were all staggered and overlapping that it was more of a snow storm than anything :D It’s hanging between the kitchen and breakfast nook and makes me so happy that I just want to hang out in there all the time now.

Here’s another holiday picture, but not of my tree, but my friends’ Tom and Nikki. We went sledding last Friday. What a great evening. It was one of those nights, and I’ll quote Nikki “I was laughing so hard I thought my chest was going to explode”. Best.Feeling.In.The.World.

I still haven’t found my wallet BUT I sold another one of my handspun yarns this weekend. That makes me unbelievably happy.  I also got a great message from the person who purchased this painting. “it’s absolutely beautiful. Even more stunning than in the photos!” Wow, made me feel like a million bucks.

And last but not least, I’m thrilled to present the following paintings I finished this weekend.

 

These paintings make me ridiculously happy.

They are all available in my Etsy shop right now.  Clicking on the images will take you to their respective pages.

still in it

Published
by
robayre
on November 23, 2009
in General Update and etsy
. 2 Comments

My studio is still in a flurry of paper. The piles of paper are mounds of randomosity AND awesomosity. This summer I acquired a cigar box of old stamps and was organizing them a bit to add some to each paper kit. I had to capture this picture, well, because you can see, pretty-pretty.

 

I was excited to see today that my grass journal made it to Etsy’s front page early this morning. I think Cal Patch put it perfectly when she said “In the world of Etsy, being featured on the front page is one of the highest honors” and when it turns out that it was an Etsy curated front page, well, that is enough to gush over.

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