LIVE WEB SALE July 15!! And other fun stuff!

Please check out Earth Angels Toys' second LIVE web sale on July 15 at 8pm! I will have work for sale there, at great prices, as well as many of the other EA artists! The first web show was such a success back in May that EA is offering this event again! Check it out! It's the most fun you can have with your computer on a Wednesday evening! Go to www.earthangelstoys.com and click on the blog. This will take you to the live web show!! Remember....8pm on Wednesday, July 15!
I've been very busy making up cool new items for my fall shows. The only show I am certain I am participating in this fall at this point is the Folk Art Fest in St. Charles, IL, which runs the last weekend in September. I am also doing a trunk show at Crocodile Pie Books in Libertyville in December, TBA. One other show is in the works for November in Chicago, but I am waiting to hear. I will announce all dates when I know them.
Last night I had an excellent evening with my 2 daughters at the GreenDay concert in Chicago. I was blown away by how much fun they were, the band, that is, how fabulous the show was, and of course, the music. I am a full blown GreenDay geek and lover and figured this would be my only chance to see them as they don't tour very often. It was the best rock concert I've ever seen (although, I can't say I've been to hundreds of concerts....I know what I like) and I am grateful to my classical music-trained daughters for putting up with their mom whilst she let her hair down in a most dramatic fashion last night. I had the time of my life.......
Tootles!

Poppies and Puppets

Well, the end of the school year has come. I graduated another daughter out of high school and she will be going off to college in the fall. I'll miss her terribly!! We had a fabulous party, though, and the graduation ceremony was beautiful. We were lucky we had a nice day for both! It's been so rainy and chilly here. I feel like I live in northern Michigan! However, the running has been delightful, AND I don't have to wake up at 6am to do it! The lack of heat has certainly slowed down the growth process for our crops on the farm. Corn needs heat to grow and there's been little of that. Soybeans need light to grow, and there's been little of that as well.

So, all my kids are home this summer. No music camps (no jobs!). This will be the first July 4 that we have all been together in 10 years because of music camps! We're going to make the best of it, too!

My 2 daughters and I will be going to the Green Day concert when they come through Chicago on July 13. We are very excited. I have to make the three of us t-shirts to wear so we can get all into it. Then, a couple days later, Harry Potter comes out and we plan to see that at midnight on the Ultra Screen. We've seen all the epics there...Star Wars, Pirates, etc.

Have a great summer1 I will announce my fall schedule as soon as I know it!

Pictures above are of my poppies (YAY! They grew back!!) and some puppets I made for a client!

Tootles!

Earth Angels Spring Fling 2009

Here are some images from the 2009 Earth Angels Spring Fling set on the lawn of Charlotte's Tea Room In Warwick, NY. Thanks to everyone who attended. The weather was chilly, but at least it didn't rain. We were lucky! Warwick is a lovely little town, full of hills and valleys and sweet little stores. We especially liked the coffee shop where we frequented to keep ourselves warm. The hot chocolate and cookie I had were Sunday morning's breakfast (I don't eat very well on the road ((or EVER, for that matter!)) ask any of the ladies there!) and I had a hot cup of earl grey later in the day. I also had some ice cream there on Saturday.

It was a fun weekend catching up with all the artists in attendance, as well as with Jen O'Connor and her fantastic crew of workers. I must say I love these ladies more and more every time I see them! A HUGE thanks to Cheryl Kuhn (she does the best things with old photos) who drove me from Cleveland to New York. We had such a great time getting to know each other, listening to satellite radio (Lithium, baby!) and chatting about everything from A to Z. Cheryl and I became what Jen calls us now "Rocker Chicks" because of our most interesting tastes in music. The fuzzy, frizzy hair doesn't hurt the persona either! Cheryl is a plethora of knowledge when it comes to rock bands. The girl is a rock encyclopedia, I swear!

So, what sold? Monster Purses, Monsters, and puppets. The puppets went to the Jennifer L., Michelle and Debbie T. Mostly they used them as hand warmers.

Jo Packham, creator of Where Women Create magazine was in attendance all three days of the Fling, and gave a speech on how she succeeded, failed, succeeded, failed, and succeeded again. She was an inspiration to all! What a wonderful lady. It was such an honor to meet her and help her buy some socks!!

Earth Angels is such a dynamic group of women. If you read my blog I'm sure you've visited the web site. PLEASE continue to do so for there is always new stuff to see! These women are the most talented in the world and I am honored to be a part of their world. Honored, really. Thanks, Ladies!

In a month or so I will announce my fall schedule. It is unclear right now but I WILL be doing Folk Art Fest in St. Charles in Sept. and I am hoping to get into the Do It Yourself Trunkshow in Chicago in (I think) November, and I am planning a trunkshow of my very own at Crocodile Pie Books in Libertyville in December. My lifelong friend Kim, owns this store and has very graciously allowed me to crash it for an afternoon! Dates to come!

Tootles!

Earth Angels Toys Spring Fling....and, What Else? Running!

Hello, hello!
The Earth Angels Toys Spring Fling event is just a week away now. I am getting excited for my trip to Warwick, New York to take part in this event. It should be a great time for all who attend! I hope the weather is superb! We will be under a tent, but, if you read my blog and read about the Country Living Fair last fall, you would understand that a tent doesn't always protect a person from ALL of the elements! However, I am crossing my fingers for a fabulous weekend. Besides, I will have to get out and run a few times while I'm there. I am told it is a beautiful little hamlet.
And speaking of running, in case you were wondering, the half marathon last weekend went very well for me. I took 4 minutes off my time from last year, ran consistent just under 8 minute miles (except for mile 13, which sent the runners uphill....a dirty trick indeed!), and finished in 1 hour, 44 minutes and 36 seconds. I was happy about that. I got 2nd in my division and was the 21st female out of approx 380 women, and 130th out of approx 770 total runners. I am completely recovered by now, no more sore thighs. My daughter fared well, and another friend went along with us and ran too. Of course, when it comes to racing I am not a social runner. It's all about getting a good time. That's just me, though. I figure, why do a race if you're just gonna jog through it like any other daily run? It's a challenge for me.
Back to the original reason I'm posting.......
This year Earth Angels is going to do a Web Event on the Sunday of the Spring Fling. All you have to do is go to the EA blog at 8pm on the 17th (EST) and there will be exclusive items from all artists in attendance (plus a few more) for sale just for the bloggers. This way, even if you can't get to NY, you can still take part in the event. Please visit the Earth Angels Toys web site and blog to learn more about the event.
I am sewing furiously for this event. I will be bringing about 30 or so new items to the event. The event will debut my "Moonies" as well as my "Beloved Monsters", two new creations I've only shown at shows so far. I also have hanging angels that are so unique I am not sure I will ever make them again. So, when you buy one of my pieces you are truly getting something one of a kind. My style changes all the time, my ideas change....I mean, that's the way it should be, right?
Have a wonderful week and I hope to see some of you soon!
Tootles!

Where Dreams Come Alive

So, I had to take some photos for Earth Angels of myself in my studio, and of just my studio. The top one is of me, of course, holding the beginnings of one of my Monster dolls. The bottom one is a peek at my sewing room. I can't really call it a "studio" because it is only a place to sew. Yes, it's small and messy, but seriously, even after I clean it, it ends up in mass chaos within a few hours. On the window back there is a straw hat that belonged to my Great Aunt Helen. My mother's baby picture hangs to the left of the window, with my father's college picture tucked into the frame. On the right of the window are my childhood photos, the top one my baby photo (I still hold my hands like that to this day) and the bottom one is a collection of school photos that my grandmother kept, and were returned to me when she died. Along the walls are my children's artwork, projects I've started and set aside, pinning them to the wall, and there is a valance across the window made up of vintage sewing notions. I will always take people's vintage sewing notions even if i have no idea what to do with them. I have oodles of stuff tucked away, sometimes so much that I forget what I have. On the opposite wall from where this photo was taken is a shelf that houses my CD collection, my Bose player, and numerous books that I love. And of course, there's the fabric. Lots of that. Almost a whole wall of fabric! So, I wish it could be more exciting to look at, but the truth is, the excitement is in my head. When I put on a CD (very loud, mind you) the whole world just disappears and I am in my dreams, with every stitch. If only dreams could last longer.

Speaking of Earth Angels, I am headed out to Warwick, NY on May 15, for the annual Spring Fling event. This will be my first time to Warwick and I am very excited. I am looking forward to seeing all the artists again and having a great time talking to them and the customers, who come from all over the country. If you want more information about the event, please check out the earth Angels Toys website and it will lead you to the blog with all the info on dates and times. It should be a good time. I hope the weather cooperates!

The Great Western Half Marathon is one week away. I think I'm ready to go, but again, if the weather would cooperate......SO much nicer the run!

Thanks for reading! Tootles!

Vampire Vacation

I have been absent from my life since my last show. That's when I picked up the book, "Twilight", by Stephenie Meyer. Well, I read that (about 600 pages) in 2 days, then went onto "New Moon". I read that in about 3 days. By the weekend I was onto "Eclipse". Then I had to work at the candy store for a whole week straight (selling chocolate bunnies, you know) so I had to read a little each day of "Breaking Dawn". I finished the entire series, over 2500 pages, in 2 weeks, which is a feat unto itself for me. I was totally absent from life, from the newspaper, from anything going on in my family. It was insane. Now, of course, I'm completely obsessed with anything Twilight (bought a t-shirt and a button for my purse, I go to Stephenie Meyer's blog and read all I can about it, etc). I am even reading a short excerpt Meyer wrote from a different perspective off of her site. Anyway, the whole phenomenon is captivating. I am totally absorbed!
In addition to this, I've found a new band....MUSE....who are absolutely, unbelievably compelling. Fantastic music.
I have to go now, but wanted you to know where I've been....hence...a Vampire Vacation!
Tootles!

Scenes from my Booth

Some images from Folk Art Fest last weekend! On top are some cats, bunnies, and a pumpkin, oh my! Next are my "My Beloved Monsters", then a picture of my booth, and on bottom here are the Moonies. Some of these little guys went home with some of you. Can you find yours?

Thanks to everyone who came to the Folk Art Fest in St. Charles last weekend. The weather was beautiful and it was a lot of fun! It's important to remember all the artists who work so hard all year round inventing new and creative things for your homes. Ever since the caveman days art has played an important role in human civilizations. All cultures, all corners of the world have their special art and artists and without these creative individuals our lives would be incredibly boring. Thank God for the people who feel the need to create, and best of all, share their gifts with the world. It's important that we, as a community, a country, a world, continue to support their efforts. I can guarantee you that without artists there would be no color, no music, no poetry, no stories, etc. All these things make life worth living for. So, if you came to the show, thank you! And if you couldn't make it this time, try to catch the next one, and bring a few friends! In this tough economy it's ever more clear that we all need each other. So, support your artists, wherever they are, and support the arts in general. Isn't your life worth it?

Tootles!