wow. just, wow.

You like this? This is a cute little vintage "treat pedestal" available on BHLDN by maker E. Isabella Designs. It is an astounding $78.

This is an article from ReadyMade Magazine's MacGyver Challenge a year ago, telling you how to make the exact same thing. For $78, you could make more than a dozen, and have them on every table at your wedding. Things like this are why some people spend $20,000 on a wedding instead of on a downpayment for a house.

If you really need to buy something like this, because you don't like to use glue or have an aversion to DIY, you can buy a similar item on Etsy for between $12 and $20.

Meet Your Maker: Holiday Show!

The next Meet Your Maker indie craft show will be held Sunday, December 13 from 11 till 5 p.m. at the Fenario Gallery in Eugene! This should be a really great show, and GREAT motivation to get some stuff done. I've been quite lazy at the art lately, but with good reason. Also, my fellow artists and crafters, there are still spots available! If you can find a way to be in town that weekend, sign up soon. Spots are only $30 . . .http://meetyourmaker.net/

it's etsy day!

Woohoo! The Etsy community is uniting to make today a huge Etsy visiting day. You can visit my Etsy page at http://www.nightgarden.etsy.com! Stick around and browse other Etsy finds as well!

more making, less consuming

I didn't previously mention that I have some overlapping goals right now. My New Year's resolution was to be more organized and tidier (which I did mention). And more recently, while cleaning the house for a visit by the appraiser, I determined that the new art studio won't be nearly large enough for all of the art and craft supplies I currently own. So I'm selling or giving away approximately 20% of my stuff for Lent. 

I haven't given anything up for Lent in quite some time . . . it's an interesting experience, not being a religious person. But I've already culled about 100 books from my collection, and 10 bags of fabric, clothing, and art supplies I no longer need.

While going through all of this stuff, I came to the realization that I could probably make art all year without buying any new materials. So that's my latest part of the project. I'm planning to go the rest of the year without buying any new art materials, just using up what I already own and salvaging a few vintage materials, mostly for free.

My first project is exciting, and will be part of the spring line: I'm making books using vintage book boards (tossed at my job when old books are disassembled) and materials I already have in my house. I'm thoroughly pleased with the first one so far, and will post photos soon!

You're the bee's knees.

xo