Friday Favorite--Swan Quarter House

I want to try to get back on my Friday Favorites routine.  I might not get here every week with one, but hopefully at least a couple times a month. 

I know many of you are not quite in the Halloween frame of mind yet, so maybe this is going to seem a bit premature to you.  I, however, have been seriously engrossed in Halloween since the 4th of July holiday was over, so it seems normal to me.  Either way, I hope you enjoy this adorable shop I'm showing you today.

Swan Quarter House is full of delightful needle felted sculptures, inspired by vintage holiday decorations, but with a touch of modern whimsy.  I think Jodi's work is fabulous.  There is something about her whimsical touch that hits really close to home.  She adds the same sort of little playful details that I strive for in my work. 

I've chosen a few Halloween pieces to feature here, but trust me, Jodi has lots of other adorable items in her etsy shop.  I love many of her Christmas things as well. 

Trickster



Pookie

 

Brothers Boo Bunnies

 

Blackie

 

And because I couldn't resist showing one of her Christmas pieces after all....

 

Bitsie

 

Aren't these all just as cute as can be?  I hope you will all take a minute to go check out Jodi's adorable creations in Swan Quarter House. 

 

More Halloween work for me today!  YAY!

Have a great weekend!

Lisa

 

 

 

 

Friday Favorites--Angela McLean, My Pink Bag

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted a Friday Favorite!  Let's try to get back on track, Lisa!! 

I've had this feature in mind for several weeks, ever since I received my Summer issue of Art Doll Quarterly magazine and discovered Angela McLean's amazing brides.  Most of the magazine was focused on bride dolls submitted in their recent Bride Doll Challenge.  Angela's work stood out to me because it is so fresh and unique.

Angela makes these fabulous bride dolls from PAPER! (And have I mentioned I have a thing for paper? Yes, I think I have...)  She uses different weights of paper, beads, micro beads, and paper embellishments to create these lovely gowns that have such wonderful dimension and detail.  They are beautiful little works of art.  I think her work is stunning and I've been dying to share it with you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angela also does custom orders.  You need only contact her and send her a photo of your bride that shows the details of her dress.  She will create one of these lovely paper dolls especially for you.  Wouldn't that be a lovely keepsake of your wedding day? 

 

You can find Angela here, at My Pink Bag on etsy. 

 

I hope your enjoyed these lovely paper dolls! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa

 

 



Friday Favorite--Garden Markers

Have you missed my Friday Favorite series?  I have!  I'm sorry I haven't gotten a favorite shop listed for the past couple of weeks.  I'm going to make up for that today by listing three different shops.  Switch things up a little bit.

So, it's spring, right?  Well, at least according to the calendar!  This year's weather has been nutso-crazy!  But the promise of warmer weather is out there, and soon everyone will be planting their gardens.  Today I thought I would show you three different etsy shops that make adorable garden markers. 

First up, Amy Lea 'n Me.  Amy makes these adorable garden markers with forks.  She embosses a colorful piece of clay (she doesn't say, but it appears to be polymer clay) with the name of a veggie or herb (she can also do flowers on request).  The pieces have been sealed so they are good to go out in the weather.  I love how colorful they are!

 

 

Amy Lea 'n Me Vegetable and Herb Garden Markers

 

This listing is for a set of five, you pick the veggies you want, but she can do any quantity you want, just send her a message.

 

My next shop is Bowen Design.  Glen hand-draws a picture of the fruit, vegetable or herb on to all weather, non-fading vinyl and includes a dowel for sticking them in the ground.  I think the drawings are really nicely done--they sort of remind me of seed packets. 

 



Hand Drawn Garden Markers by Bowen Design

 

        

 

This listing is for 15 garden markers, and again, you get to choose which ones you want.

 

Our final stop is From Artisan Hands.  Barbara creates her garden markers by rolling a slab of stoneware and cutting it into a unique wedge shape.  They are then stamped, glazed and fired.  I think the colors are quite earthy and beautiful.

 

 

Stoneware Garden Markers by From Artisan Hands

 

Barbara sells her garden markers in sets of three, your choice of words and colors.  She offers a flat rate shipping if you want to order multiple sets (which of course you would!)

 

I hope you have enjoyed our trip to the garden shops today.  Which group of garden markers is your favorite?

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa





Friday Favorite--My Craft Garden

This week sure got away from me quickly!  I've been in the studio working on some brand new ideas that I hope to be able to show you next week.  But for now, it's Friday, and time for a Friday Favorite.

Spring is here.  (Right?)  At least the calendar says so.  Nothing says spring to me like seeing the first flowers of the season pop out in bloom.  Well, that's not happening around here yet, so I went looking for some on etsy.  I have had this shop, My Craft Garden, in my favorites folder forever.  I found them early on when I was putting together a treasury.  Being a polymer clay artist, I was highly impressed.

Now I've done my fair share of miniature work, with lots of tiny details.  I've rolled many an itsy-bitsy rose in my day.  However.  I have NEVER done flowers with the sort of realistic detail that these have.  And they are TINY!  All of these wonderful bouquets and mini gardens are made to dollhouse scale, so that means most of them are maybe an inch high!  Oh my!!  Go have a look around their shop.  I know you will be impressed.

Mini Pot with Red Verbena

 

 

Daffodils and Daisies

 

Mini Garden

 

Daffodils, Tulips and Iris in a Rattan Basket

 

Roses

 

Aren't these lovely?  I hope you will go have a look at My Craft Garden.  They have almost 300 items in their shop, all as beautiful as these I've chosen here.

 

I wish you all a very Blessed and Happy Easter!

Lisa

 

 

 

Friday Favorite--The Drifter Leather

SHOES!!  Wonderful SHOES!!  What woman doesn't love shoes?? 

Today's Friday Favorite is something very unique.  At least I've never seen anything like it on etsy until this past week.  HANDMADE SHOES!! Made to order.  Custom fit to your foot!  How cool is THAT?? 

The Drifter Leather is a team of three family members, Callie, Christianna, and their mother Maria.  They are continuing a family tradition of making beautiful shoes from the highest quality materials.  They have a lovely selection of several different styles.  Lots of adorable ballerina flats, some really cute lace-ups, and even boots.  They also make other leather accessories.  The shop is in Greece, so don't count on them to wear this Easter, but oh my gosh they are so cute!  They would be adorable with a pretty spring dress, or even a pair of jeans. 

Here are a few of my favorite pairs. 

Red Alert Ballet Flats

 

Beige Rose Flats

 

Leather and Lace

 

Chocolate Twist

 

Pink Tea Party

 

Aren't these shoes adorable?  I wish I could have every pair!  Go have a look at The Drifter Leather and see all the other cute styles they have available.

 

For the record, I have a TON of shoes.  Far more than any one person needs.  I have actually been trying to purge some of them.  What I love about shoes is that they will always fit....no matter how much chocolate you eat! 

 

Have a wonderful weekend!  It's supposed to snow here.....I thought it was spring??

Lisa

 

 

 

 

Friday Favorite--Dianne's Baskets

As I was trying to decide what shop to feature today on Friday Favorites, I tried to think of something different than I have shown you before. Since Easter is just around the corner I wanted to feature a shop relevant to the upcoming holiday.  I searched first for chenille bunny, and didn't find anything that immediately spoke to me.  Then I thought, "How about a BASKET?"  Duh!!  An EASTER BASKET!!  There has got to be a nice shop on etsy that sells beautiful handmade baskets, right?  RIGHT!  Dianne's Baskets!

I know people joke about taking 'basket weaving' for an easy college credit, but those are the people who have NOT done basket weaving!  It is NOT a simple little granny craft!  It takes talent, and skill, and precision to make a beautiful, well-made basket, and Dianne shows that she has all of the above. She has an extensive collection of baskets in her shop, from purely utilitarian to wonderful works of art.  She weaves each basket by hand in her Wisconsin studio, from the finest quality materials available.  I hope you will take the time to go have a look around her etsy shop. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

Pastel Colored Bowl-Type Basket

 

Round Easter Basket

 

Round Quatrefoil Basket

 

Bucket Basket with Wire Handle

 

Egg Basket

 

Carolina Charm Basket

 

Wouldn't any of these be lovely filled with Easter treats?  I hope you have enjoyed this little taste of Dianne's Baskets and that you will go have a look around her etsy shop.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa

 

 

 



Friday Favorite--Eried Handmade Jewelry

Wow!  It's Friday already!  Where did the week go? 

So, of course, since it's Friday, it's time for another favorite etsy shop.  I have my friend Marian to thank for this week's favorite.  She discovered Eried last week and sent me the link.  I'm so glad that she did, and I'm sure you will understand why. 

Eri is from Athens, Greece.  She is an architect professionally, and has come to the jewelry-making business in recent years.  Her work is stunning.  You can see her architectural training in her elegant design style.  She makes the most beautiful, delicate beads from polymer clay, and combines those with lovely precious stones and silver.  Her jewelry pieces are wonderful little sculptures you can wear.  I am so excited to share her work with you here today!

In Eri's words, "Flowers are born out of stone."

calla lilies between amethyst

 

two lonely dots between black onyx


red flower petals between white coral


water lilies around your neck


tulips around your neck

 

Don't you agree that Eri's work is amazingly beautiful?  So simple, so elegant, so lovely!  Please go check out her shop, Eried.

 

Happy Friday!

Lisa

 

Friday Favorite--Whitney Smith Pottery

Did you miss the Friday Favorite feature last week?  I did!  So here I am, back with another favorite etsy shop, Whitney Smith Pottery.

I discovered Whitney's pottery long ago, when I was making a treasury on etsy and I featured her nesting lotus bowls.  I love her simple, modern take on ceramics.  Her exquisite work is both beautiful and functional and would look lovely in any home setting, both traditional and modern.  Her palette of colors is delicious, and her simple shapes are very pleasing. I think you will enjoy her work, and I urge you to go have a look around her etsy shop.

She has over 100 items available, but of course, I have to narrow that down to a few of my favorites.  NOT an easy task, but here goes:

 

Leaf Platter and Lotus Bowl Ceramic Set

 

Vessel with Dogwood Flower

 

Dogwood Flower Bowl

 

Nesting Lotus Bowls

 

Bird Sugar Bowl and Creamer

 

Poppy Serving Bowl

 

 

OK--was I right, or what?  Don't you just love Whitney Smith Pottery?  It is form and function at its very best!

 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Lisa

 

 

 

 

 

Friday Favorite--Arlene's Boutique

It's Friday!  It's also COLD COLD COLD here in my town.  Below zero wind chill factors.  YIKES!! I don't even like to go out in the cold, but when I do, I certainly bundle up.  It got me searching around on etsy for some cute winter scarves.  I found Arlene's Boutique and knew I just had to share!

Arlene's scarves are probably more about fashion than warmth, but they are wonderful!!  She has a whole range of styles and colors and yarns available.  I'm choosing to show some of her unique ruffled scarves here, but she has over TWO HUNDRED items in her etsy shop, so obviously, you will need to head over there and check out her selection. I can only feature 5 or 6.  How do I choose those....well, it's not easy because she has so many really pretty ones!

Valentine's Day Red Ruffle Scarf

 

Turquoise Blue Chartreuse Green

 

Red Purple Brown

 

Olive Green

 

Pink Hot Pink Purple

 

Brown and Gray

I don't knit or crochet or do anything handy with yarn.  My grandma tried to teach me to crochet many, many times, but it never stuck in my brain.  My friend Marian does beautiful knitting work, and sometime I will show you some of the fabulous stuff she has made.  Today I just want you to enjoy these lovely scarves and hopefully pay Arlene's Boutique a visit.

Have a great weekend!  It's supposed to 'warm up' here on Saturday....
Lisa

Friday Favorite--Silverado Jewelry

Where did the week go??  I can't believe it is Friday again already, and I haven't been here all week!  OOPS!!  I will try to be better next week....

Since it is Friday, that means it is time for another Friday Favorite.  Today we'll have a look at Silverado Jewelry. 

I actually discovered Silverado Jewelry at a craft show last fall.  Stephanie had a lovely display of all kinds of jewelry she could personalize on the spot.  I had my eye on a necklace, but didn't get back to her booth that weekend.  Luckily, I had picked up her card and discovered she also had an etsy shop.  So right before Christmas I purchased myself a little gift, this necklace:

Mother's Necklace with Three Stones

 

OK.  I know I am not a mother, but I love this necklace.  I ordered it with my husband's birthstone (December), my birthstone (November), and I chose April's for the third stone, because it is a 'diamond', and diamonds are forever. David and I are forever.  I was so pleased when it arrived, and I must say, every time I wear it I get compliments. 

 

Here are a few other examples of personalized jewelry available from Silverado Jewelry:

 

Birthstone Ring

 

Personalized Necklace

 

Virtues Necklace

 

Pet ID Tag

 

Personalized Necklace with Two Discs

 

Stephanie has a wide selection of items to personalize.  They would make great gifts for Valentine's Day.  Mother's Day will also be here before you know it.  Go have a look around her shop.  I'm sure you'll find something you like.

 

Have a great weekend and try to stay warm!!

Lisa