Wow. Sometimes I really do think I have one of the coolest jobs ever. This morning, in just a matter of minutes, I was carrying two different letters: one written & signed by Abraham Lincoln and the other by Louis Armstrong. Earlier this week I helped transport one of Dizzy Gillespie’s trumpets. I’ve also carried Louis Armstrong’s first cornet and worked with original Audubon prints, antique weapons and medical instruments. Seriously - amazing.

While I’m on the topic of work, if you’re in or near New Orleans, you should really check out some of the Prospect 1 exhibits around town, including the ones at the Old U.S. Mint. I’m absolutely in love with the work of a few artists there, especially El Anatsui and Fred Tomaselli.

El Anatsui is an artist from Ghana who now lives and works in Nigeria, and he creates these amazing abstract tapestries from recycled found objects like metal foil, copper wire, and bottle caps, as well as other natural materials. These pieces are huge and they look almost like quilts from far away, but up close they’re even more stunning.

Fred Tomaselli’s pieces made me think of my friend Rachelle from greenKangaroo, because they both work with resin but in completely different ways. (Rachelle… you’ve got to check these pieces out in person!) His pieces really need to be appreciated from up close, because there is just so much amazing detail. The three pieces now at the Mint were created in response to Hurricane Katrina, and feature a variety of mixed media (images from books and magazines, leaves, and prescription pills) layered onto large wood panels and encased in resin. I could look at these pieces all day and never cease to be fascinated.

If you’re in NOLA, do yourself a favor and check out some of the Prospect 1 exhibits all around town. I’m planning to go see more over the long Thanksgiving weekend. Does anyone have any recommendations for Prospect 1 venues that are not to be missed?

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I love the new Metal for Monsters line of limited-edition pendants from Blend Creations.  I learned about it recently when I did an interview with owner & designer Vivian Cheng for the StyleList blog.  Vivian and her husband teamed up with nine artists who contributed the monster illustrations.  Only 100 of each of the 20 pendants will be available, and $16 from the sale price of each pendant will go to UNICEF, with the goal of raising $10,000 for the international children’s charity.  It’s such a worthy cause, and the pendants are pretty freaking amazing.

I’m also loving the incredible octopus art I picked up a few weeks ago at Voodoo Fest from artist Serene Bacigalupi.  She only has a Flickr photostream right now, but I told her she needs to set up an Etsy shop because I think she’d do great there.  Isn’t her art fabulous?

My friend Gwen from Sigh Co. Graphics recently brought me back an awesome octopus brooch from the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, Oregon.  She got it from the very talented jewelry artist and printmaker Liv Rainey-Smith, who has an Etsy shop dedicated to Lovecraftian goods.

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I love the beautiful new collection of images shot on a recent trip to Greece by photographer Jennifer Squires.  I’ve always been a little obsessed with images of Greece, and I’ve often longed to go there.  These photos aren’t really helping matters!

Jennifer Squires has been photographing professionally since 1996 and it really shows in her work.  She does so many different styles beautifully: everything from portraits and wedding photography to landscapes and detailed closeups.  I really love her flower images, especially the peony photograph.

Any of Jennifer’s photographs can be produced as large as 24×30 inches or as small as 4×6 inches.  They would make such a great addition to any home or office. (I love the idea of a Greek-inspired bathroom!)  All of the images are available for sale in Jennifer’s Etsy shop and you can check out more of her work at www.jennifersquires.ca.

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Jacqueline Myers-Cho got in touch recently to let me know about her new work and a book she has coming out soon.  I’ve been a big fan of her artwork for awhile now, and I’m still ridiculously sad I missed out on this amazing painting.

I had no idea that in addition to her gorgeous mixed media pieces she also makes really cool fabric creations as well, like ruffle scarves.  And not only that, Jacqueline has written a book with step-by-step instructions for cool DIY sewing projects.

It’s called STRANDS: Creating Unexpected Fabrics and Fashionable Projects, and it’s available for pre-order now.  Once the book comes out in December, Jacqueline will also be selling signed copies in her Etsy shop, Bob n Stitch.  This sounds so cool, I can’t wait to check it out!

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I’ve been sewing like mad the last couple of weeks, trying to finish my outfit for the Worn Again Fashion Show and fundraiser for Recycle for the Arts. If you’re in the New Orleans area, be sure to check it out next Friday, June 27th at the Republic. It’s going to be a blast!

Recent notable Etsy purchases include this awesome CD case made from a recycled license plate by OldRedBarn (I got this for my Little Sister’s birthday and included some mixed CDs I made for her) and a sample pack of mineral eyeshadows from PureMineralsSource. The shimmery June Bug shade is absolutely stunning!

I’d also like to direct your attention to my friend Raven’s brand new Etsy shop. Raven is an amazing artist and she’s trying to focus on her art full-time now, particularly doing custom portraits, which she is brilliant at! I encouraged her to set up an Etsy shop as another venue for her work, so go check it out.

Also of note: my friend Autumn over at Strange Folk wanted me to let everyone know that vendor applications for the 3rd annual Strange Folk Festival are being accepted now through July 6th! The 2008 show will be September 27th and 28th, Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. This event is juried, and 120 vendors will be chosen to participate. There is no fee to apply. The vendor fee will be $65, and vendors will have the option of renting a table or bringing their own tent. Last year, Strange Folk hosted 100 indie artists and crafters from across the country in a one day event that attracted over 5,000 attendees from the St. Louis area.

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A week or so ago I was in a doctor’s waiting room back at home in Gulfport, Mississippi and I spotted the most amazing handmade mirrors hanging on the wall near the receptionist. It took me a minute to figure out what the designs around the mirrors were made of… then it dawned on me that these were small squares cut from old soda cans and nailed together to form these beautiful patterns. I fell in love immediately. They would have been beautiful either way, but the fact that they were made from recycled cans made me love them even more. Luckily, there was a business card for the artist on the receptionist’s desk and I picked it up and checked out the artist’s Etsy shop when I got home.

Kathy Taylor Gray creates jewelry from rusty keys and other recycled components in addition to her beautiful mirrors. There is only one mirror currently in her Etsy shop, but I asked her to send me some images of more of her mirrors so I could show them off to you guys. She does such great work, I just had to share!

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My old co-worker Erin recently got in touch with me to get some feedback on an Etsy shop she’s helping her friend set up.

I went to check it out and immediately fell in love with the enchanting artwork! Erin’s friend is self-taught painter and printmaker Mariann Johansen-Ellis who creates whimsical pieces inspired by childhood. One look through her Etsy shop or website is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Mariann was born in Denmark, has lived in southern Spain and now resides in Singapore, where she is collaborating with Sunbear Publishing to create a series of illustrated children’s books to illuminate the plight of endangered species.

To find out more about her work or see films demonstrating her printmaking process, check out her blog.

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I’m absolutely smitten with these gorgeous mixed media art pieces and handmade cards by UK-based textile artist Helen of hmsdesign.

I love how she incorporates elements like stones and seashells picked up during beachcombing excursions with hand stitching on recycled paper bases. The look is so earthy and organic but at the same time rich with color and slightly alien.

In addition to larger mixed media pieces, she also makes super affordable ACEO cards. Find more of Helen’s work at her Etsy shop or on her Flickr.

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As I’m in my last semester of graduate school, I realized with my degree and particular skills I needed a personal business card to accompany them. While I’m reasonably adept at Photoshop, I had a vision for what image (or brand) of myself I wanted my business cards to convey, and no real skills or desire to do it myself.

I entrusted in the design skills of Nicole from nbcreative designs and purchased her damask printed preFAB business cards. While the brown and turquoise is a beautiful color combination, they didn’t reflect the vision I had for myself. For no extra charge, Nicole designed a beautiful black, white, and turquoise version that reflects the bold, dramatic, and classic vision I had in mind. She was open with her concerns and provided thoughtful suggestions to any changes we both thought would be necessary. Because each of the designs were so beautiful, I ended up paying for a bit of extra time and bought two.
nbcreative offers a variety of services, including business cards, banners, stationary design, and more. Her prices are affordable and custom packages can be developed on an hourly basis. The range of Nicole’s designs are a testament to her skills as a designer, as they range from whimsical and sweet, to bold and modern. If I ever get my own Etsy shop up and running, I’ll be surely contacting her again about banner design.

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Fellow New Orleanian Heather LeMay recently contacted me to let me know about her work. She paints and draws wonderfully quirky pet portraits, and has a quick turnaround for custom commissioned pieces. Say you want a memorial portrait of your beloved pooch…she’s usually able to accomodate most requests within 14 business days.

Heather is a fellow Etsyian as well, and her Etsy shop is full of her handmade domino pendants and earrings, which feature her original animal artwork. I like these limited edition Japanese inspired kitten & sushi domino earrings…how cute!

Find out more about getting a custom portrait of your pet done or see examples of Heather’s previous work at her website, Kayann Works.

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These Amoeba earrings by Starving Artist Bazaar are just so pretty. So delicate and bold at the same time, these lovely baubles are handcrafted from lampworked Moretti glass and offset by sterling silver chain and earwires. It’s almost hard to believe they’re only $20!

Jennifer Syfu creates all sorts of wonderful glass jewelry in a dazzling array of colors. Each piece is one of a kind and these delicate creations are inspired by some of the smallest things in nature: her collections consist of Eukaryotes, Protozoa and Amoeba.

Explore more of her work at her website or in her Etsy shop.

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The other day I was browsing Etsy when this print, entitled “Sakura”, caught my eye. I added the shop to my favorites and continued looking around.

Not long after I got a message from this shop’s owner, Melody, informing me that I was the 200th person to add her to my faves. She wanted to thank me by sending me the print of my choice in a 5×7 (all of her photographs are available in a variety of sizes).

I was bowled over by her generous offer…how kind and thoughtful! Of course I chose the Sakura print. I love the contrast of the bright and cheery cherry blossoms with the stormy clouds in the background.

Check out Melody’s shop, Aria Images, for more cool art prints and other products.

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