Tuesday, March 31, 2009

April Fool's Day Sale Tomorrow

April Fool's Day is tomorrow and no one wants to be the fool. Don't be caught with your pants down and take advantage of my one day sale in my Etsy shop!

BOGO! Buy 1, Get 1 of equal or lesser value half off!

Type the code “IMNOFOOL” in the note to seller upon checkout, pay for your order, and I will refund you through PayPal within a few hours.

The sale begins at 12:00am EST, Wednesday, April 1st and ends at 11:59pm EST, April 1st. Happy shopping!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Monday Must-Have - Animalicules

Today marks a new installment of my Monday blog series titled Monday Must-Have. Each Monday I will feature a fellow talented Etsian and his or her phenomenal work. Each featured artist will have his or her own online Etsy shop where you can peruse and admire his or her one-of-a-kind body of work. Hopefully you will find new favorite artists and artisans whose work you MUST HAVE. :)

Today's featured artist is Animalicules.

Who are you (actual name/and or shop name)?

My name is Louisa and my shop name is Animalicules.

What do you create?

Cute handmade critters that I knit, crochet, and sew. My softies make great gifts for kids but I think they are just as good companions for grownups who need something to make them smile every now and then. They love to be played with but they also love to perch on mantels and windowsills and spruce up a room by looking cute.

Where are you located?

Cambridge, MA

When did you start creating?

I learned to knit as a kid, and went through phases of doing that and other crafts. In 2006 I discovered that what I really loved to knit is softies (plush toys) and haven't stopped since.

Why did you choose your shop name?

Growing up, my dad always used animalicules as a funny word for animals. I think it's a good word to describe a species of cute little critters.

What inspires you?

Anything cute! Real animals, Japanese kawaii stuff, other softies, everything mini. Plus the shapes that you can make from knitting and crocheting because that's the starting point for any softie.

What is the most time consuming part of your craft?

The knitting! Designing new animalicules takes a long time but doesn't feel like it as much because you only have to do it once for each type of critter. So much love goes into knitting things because you have to work every stitch to create the entire fabric of the animal!
What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown and why?

Probably Harvard Square, which is where the university is and has lots of shops and restaurants. There's always someone to meet there, and things to look at - books, yarn, chocolate, whatever! The best part is when it's warm and I can sit outside and do some quality people watching!

What is your most popular item that you create (and why do you think it is so popular)?

I think so far it's the sheep. They come in lots of colors and they're really cute. They're not too expensive if you want a treat for yourself, but they look awesome in a flock too, especially when they have babies!

How do you acquire new clients?

I think I'm still figuring that out. A lot of people who already knew and loved my animalicules wanted to buy them when I started selling last Christmas. So now the challenge is spreading the word about them to others who appreciate cuteness, and getting them into the hands of kids that will love them.

What's your next project going to be?

Designing more different types of animalicules. I have so many ideas in my head and not enough time to sit down and work them out with yarn and fabric. I have plans for a hamster, bat, cow, and so many others, and I haven't even started on imaginary creatures yet.

What types of things do you do to turn first time buyers into repeat clients?

I like to include my little cut paper cards with packages, and I'm always up for a custom order. Mainly I try to make the critters cute enough that people will want to give them as gifts at every baby shower they go to!

What do you do when you are not creating?

So many things! I search for cute stuff online and off so I can analyze what makes it cute and record it in my blog (animalicules.blogspot.com). Then there's my day job where I work on educational Web sites for kids. And I also coordinate a local community group. Plus I'm trying to learn how to cook and because of that I work out as much as I can. No lack of things to do around here!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I pretty much live online and you can find me and the animalicules all over the place - etsy, flickr, facebook, twitter, and most especially the Animalicules blog. I love connecting with other people who love softies as much as I do, so look us up!


Be sure to swing by Louisa's shop to peruse her fantastic work. If you're interested in being featured in future Monday Must-Have segments, please feel free to convo me in my Etsy shop or email me. Have a wonderful day!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Countdown To The Virtual Easter Egg Hunt

Follow this Blog (http://aceteamnews.blogspot.com/) for the chance to win numerous fantastic handmade prizes as the ACE Team launches its first annual Virtual Easter Egg Hunt from April 2-6, 2009.

If you hunt down the Easter Eggs you could win some of the following prizes crafted by our talented team of Etsy creatives.

aprilsoriginals - Pleated Bag in Michael Miller Feeling Groovy in Spa

ebspider - Cinnamon Spice Mug Cozy

The hunt is fun and easy. Search through ACE team stores to find hidden Easter Eggs secreted amongst product pictures. Besides the great runner up prizes this contest features a grand prize that is not to be missed.

We will be counting down over the next week giving you sneak peeks of the prizes we will be giving away so stay tuned to the ACE Team blog for more info. Winners will be announced Tuesday, April 7, 2009.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Survey Says...

Would you like another chance to win a $15 gift certificate to my Etsy shop? Here's your chance! I've created a brief survey about you and Allover Art. The survey will give me insight on how you view Allover Art and what you want. I want to make you, my customers and customers-to-be, happy! The survey should only take a few minutes, and if you complete it by Friday, April 3rd, you'll be entered in a drawing for a $15 gift certificate to my Etsy shop. I will randomly draw a winner on the morning of April 4th.

To take the survey click on the link below:

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2hs1ernfst6imjx/start

The link will take you directly to the survey. Please leave a comment on this post to let me know that you have completed the survey.

Thank you for taking the time to do the survey. I value all of your feedback and really appreciate it. Thank you! :)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Congratulations!

I apologize to those of you looking for the weekly Workshop Wednesday post. The shenanigans over the past week of our new puppy Indie has cut into my blog time.

Here he is sporting his new collar from fantastic Etsy seller GoneDoggie. The regular Workshop Wednesday posts will resume next Wednesday. To see all the past Workshop Wednesday posts, click here.

Also, congratulations to TheClayMuse! She has won a $15 gift certificate to my Etsy shop by participating in my monthly giveaway. Here's a big THANK YOU to everyone who entered. BE sure to come back on April 15th for the next monthly giveaway. Have a wonderful day!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

No Words Needed



We've had Indie exactly one week today. According to my postal scale he's already gained about a pound, and is still oh so cute.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Monday Must-Have - Recap!

Today I've compiled a list of my Monday blog series posts titled Monday Must-Have. Each Monday I feature a fellow talented Etsian and his or her phenomenal work. Each featured artist has his or her own online Etsy shop where you can peruse and admire his or her one-of-a-kind body of work. Hopefully you will find new favorite artists and artisans whose work you MUST HAVE. :)

1/12 - Tracey Gurley - Original Art and More
1/19 - Joanna's Photography - Fine Art Photography
1/26 - jaC Jewelry - Handmade Jewelry
2/2 - Drop of Sunshine - Handmade Jewelry
2/9 - Pampered Papier - Paper Goods for Any Need
2/16 - Doodle Stars - Handmade Cards, Wall Art, and More
2/23 - Nature Nomad - Fine Art Photography
3/2 - Peaches & Kream - Sterling Jewelry & Needle-Felted Love
3/9 - Crafttastrophe - Quirky Hand-Painted Shoes & Accessories
3/16 - Hollymark After Dark - Mature Handmade Magnets & Keychains

If you're interested in being featured in future Monday Must-Have segments, please feel free to convo me in my Etsy shop or email me. Have a wonderful day!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

March Giveaway - Last Day!

It's that time again; giveaway time! This month's giveaway runs from Sunday, March 15th to Sunday, March 22nd at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen. The prize this time is a $15 gift certificate! The gift certificate can be used in my Etsy shop, www.alloverart.etsy.com, where I have a wide variety of items. I have several hand-painted fine art resin pendant necklaces, brooches, rings and bobby pins!

Today is the LAST DAY you can enter. Visit the giveaway post in the link below to enter. Good Luck!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Friday, March 20, 2009

New Wearable Art!

In preparation for the Designers Downtown Market tomorrow I have created several new wearable art pieces. Yesterday I listed a number of new art pendants and today I will be listing new pendants and rings. The new listings are only a handful of the new pieces, so for all you local shoppers, be sure to come out to the Designers Downtown Market tomorrow in downtown Raleigh.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Indie!

We adopted a new puppy. :) In this post I showed the four puppies we would have to pick from and we ended up with "Rebel" who we have renamed Indie.


Gah! He's so cute! He is a six week old Beagle mix and weighs 3 pounds. The size difference between him and our 3-year old German Shepherd is quite comical. Kasey, our first pooch, weighs 105 pounds. Here you can really see the size difference.

They get along really well and enjoy playing chase and giving each other kisses. Kasey is still learning how to share attention and her toys. When Kasey isn't looking Indie likes to abuse Kasey's stuffed fish.
While I was out running with Kasey the other morning, my husband took a video of Indie playing with the fish.





Needless to say he can be a handful. At night he is quite the cryer. My husband describes his crying as "a pack of orangutans attacking and killing a water buffalo and then fighting over it." Last night was his second night with us and thankfully it was already better than the first. I am sure I will have many more interesting stories and adorable photos to share with you in the near future.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Workshop Wednesday - Recap

Each week I run a blog series titled Workshop Wednesday. Each Wednesday features either a tutorial by yours truly or another talented artist or artisan, or a snapshot of an artist's creative process. Unfortunately today's featured artist has had a family emergency come up, so while she and her family are in my thoughts, here's a recap of all the past wonderful Workshop Wednesday features.

1/14 - How To Create A Resin Finish On A Wood Tile, by Allover Art
1/21 - Handmade Dog Collars With GoneDoggie
1/28 - Handcrafted Wooden Toys With McCoyToys
2/4 - Pet Portrait Process With Allover Art
2/11 - Photoshop Tutorial With McGuinness Photography
2/18 - How To Make A Canvas Collage, by Tangente
2/25 - How To Create A Reversible Headband, by Zemphira
3/4 - Crocheted Flower Earrings With Jennifer White Designs
3/11 - How To Create An Eco-Friendly Cuff, by TuscaloosaRoad

This is an ongoing series, so be sure to check back every Wednesday for a new feature. If you're interested in being a part of future Workshop Wednesdays, please feel free to convo me in my Etsy shop or comment on this post. Have a great day!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Puppies! :)

Hooray! We are picking out a puppy today!

You may know that we already have a pooch in the family, Miss Kasey Jones. I actually did an "interview" with her a while back. She is one of my great inspirations.

We have been talking about adding another dog to the family for several months and then saw these adorable puppies on PetFinder. Today we are going to see the whole litter and hopefully make a connection with one of them. If so, we will be bringing one home and fostering to adopt since he won't officially be ours until after he's been sterilized in June. We also have to make sure that Kasey approves of and gets along with her new brother.

Since Kasey is a girl we will be looking at the male puppies, and these are the ones we get to choose from. Prepare for the cuteness:


Banjo

Dixon

Mason

Rebel

GAH! So cute! How will we be able to choose?? I'm sure several paintings will result from this addition to the family. ;) Have a great day!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Monday Must-Have - HollymarkAfterDark

Today marks a new installment of my Monday blog series titled Monday Must-Have. Each Monday I will feature a fellow talented Etsian and his or her phenomenal work. Each featured artist will have his or her own online Etsy shop where you can peruse and admire his or her one-of-a-kind body of work. Hopefully you will find new favorite artists and artisans whose work you MUST HAVE. :)

Today's featured artist is HollymarkAfterDark.

Who are you (actual name/and or shop name)?

My name is Holly Lee, and my shop is HollymarkAfterDark.

What do you create?

I create a variety of items. Some of my items are on the sweet and innocent side, and others are a little frisky! I make keychains, magnets, door hangers, earrings, and charms! Some mature, some not. ;)

Where are you located?

Hopkinsville, Kentucky. A pretty small place.
When did you start creating?

I've made things with my hands for as long as I can remember. When I was younger I did a lot of paper crafts, lately my focus is on polymer clay.

Why did you choose your shop name?

I chose HollymarkAfterDark because this is my second shop. I opened one, Hollymark08 ~ compiled of more whimsical items. I started out making mature items as gag gifts for some of my guy friends at work, and my mom suggested I sell them. I figured I'd give it a shot!

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by many things. Mostly by nature, and by the people around me. I'm also inspired by all the handmade crafters out there. It's great to see so many beautiful handmade items!

What is the most time consuming part of your craft?

Honestly, the most time consuming is either the sculpting, or the photography. Sometimes my camera doesn't want to cooperate with me!
What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown and why?

I still live in my hometown, and honestly - there's not much to it! If I had to pick a favorite place, it would probably be downtown. The historical district here is beautiful!

What is your most popular item that you create (and why do you think it is so popular)?

I don't think there's any *one* item that is the most popular. However, my mature items seem to be a lot more popular than anything else in my shop. I get the most feedback on those items.

What do you do when you are not creating?

When I'm not creating, I'm either in school or relaxing. I was recently laid off from an automotive factory, and I'm spending this time focusing on school & on creating.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

To anyone and everyone that reads this - Go for your dreams! My goal in life is to become a clinical psychologist, and I've been going to school full time to move closer to that goal. I've been through times where I worked 3:30pm until 3am, went to school from 8am until noon, and did it all over again. If I can do it, anybody can!


Be sure to swing by Holly's shop to peruse her fantastic work. If you're interested in being featured in future Monday Must-Have segments, please feel free to convo me in my Etsy shop or email me. Have a wonderful day!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

March Giveaway!

It's that time again; giveaway time! This month's giveaway runs from Sunday, March 15th to Sunday, March 22nd at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen. The prize this time is a $15 gift certificate! The gift certificate can be used in my Etsy shop, www.alloverart.etsy.com, where I have a wide variety of items. I have several hand-painted fine art resin pendant necklaces, brooches, rings and bobby pins!

Here's how you can enter:

1) Go to my Etsy shop and pick out your favorite item.

2) Come back to this post and leave a link or comment telling me what your favorite item is, as well as a way to contact you in case you win. This could be an email address, your Etsy shop, or something similar.

3) Only one entry per person, unless you blog about my giveaway. If you blog about the giveaway, be sure to leave a link to your blog in your comment and you will be counted twice.

4) I will assign each entry a number. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator. I will announce the winner on Tuesday, March 24th on this blog, as well as contact him or her.

Good luck to you all! Have a great day.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Workshop Wednesday Recap

Each week I run a blog series titled Workshop Wednesday. Each Wednesday features either a tutorial by yours truly or another talented artist or artisan, or a snapshot of an artist's creative process. Here's a recap of all the past wonderful Workshop Wednesday features.

1/14 - How To Create A Resin Finish On A Wood Tile, by Allover Art
1/21 - Handmade Dog Collars With GoneDoggie
1/28 - Handcrafted Wooden Toys With McCoyToys
2/4 - Pet Portrait Process With Allover Art
2/11 - Photoshop Tutorial With McGuinness Photography
2/18 - How To Make A Canvas Collage, by Tangente
2/25 - How To Create A Reversible Headband, by Zemphira
3/4 - Crocheted Flower Earrings With Jennifer White Designs
3/11 - How To Create An Eco-Friendly Cuff, by TuscaloosaRoad

This is an ongoing series, so be sure to check back every Wednesday for a new feature. If you're interested in being a part of future Workshop Wednesdays, please feel free to convo me in my Etsy shop or comment on this post. Have a great day!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Designers Downtown Market

***Due to the rainy weekend forecast, the first day of the Designers Downtown Market has been moved to Saturday, March 21st. ***

Next Saturday, March 21st, marks the first day of the Designers Downtown Market and my first art and craft show for 2009. The market will be located in downtown Raleigh, so all you fellow North Carolinians won't want to miss it.

The Designers Downtown Market features fine locally made arts and crafts with an outdoor big city feel. The vendors showcase some of the finest handcrafted arts and crafts in the area: jewelry, pottery, apparel, stained glass, paper crafts and more! There are five shows throughout the year. Every show is different, with new artists and craftspeople coming in every event. Browse the vendor list on the Designers Downtown Market site to find out who will be at the upcoming Market.

The market will take place at 509 N. West Street in the parking lot of Ornamentea and the surrounding area from 9am - 3pm. Come by and check it out!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Workshop Wednesday - TuscaloosaRoad's Eco-Friendly Cuff

Today marks another installment of my weekly blog series titled Workshop Wednesday. Each Wednesday will feature either a tutorial by yours truly or another talented artist or artisan, or a snapshot of an artist's creative process. This week's Workshop Wednesday features Karen of TuscaloosaRoad. She has put together a great tutorial on how to create an eco-friendly cuff.

Eco-Friendly Sweater Cuff

What You’ll need:

Sweater fabric - Your local Goodwill or other thrift stores will carry sweaters of all kinds in fairly good condition. Choose sweaters that have a tight weave - cashmere works best because it’s natural and VERY soft. You’d be surprised what you’ll find while at the thrift shop. They carry some very nice items, and you could easily spend hours there. You’ll have to remind yourself to keep on track and repeat to yourself, “I’m shopping for sweaters, I’m shopping for sweaters!”

Yarn - This can also be found at your local thrift shop.

Embellishments - anything will do…a favorite button or pin, or a stash of beads works nicely.

Step 1:

Gather your sweater fabric together and choose colors that you feel will go together nicely. Here I have 4 sweaters in a creamy cashmere, a taupe cashmere, a camel colored cotton cable knit (say that three times fast!) blend, and apple green mohair blend. I ended up using all sweaters except the taupe cashmere on this project.


Step 2:

Now your ready to design the length, style and circumference of your cuff!

Cut several strips of sweater fabric of the same length and lay them out, making sure there are enough strips to cover the circumference of your forearm.

I find that if you use the ribbed areas of the sweater, it holds nicely when you sew the pieces together.

Choose the yarn you’ll be using. Here I’m using bright mustard, rust and olive colors in a 100% wool blend. Notice that my yarn contrasts with the natural colors of the cuff material. You can use whatever yarn color suits your fancy.


Step 3:

Using a very simple overstitch, stitch your cuff pieces together lengthwise. This step takes a little while. I’d say this cuff took me 2.5 hours to stitch. Grab a cup of tea, put on your favorite TV show, and stitch away.

Make sure to overstitch the top and bottom of the cuff too, to deter any fraying.


Once you finish sewing, you’re almost done! Notice how pretty and sinewy the stitches contrast against the fabric on your cuff. It will look very organic and if some of the ends fray a little bit, that’s o.k! It will add to the character of your cuff.


Step 4:

This is my favorite step. Gather together some trinkets for embellishing your cuff. I found these at garage sales and on Etsy. I chose the enameled calico cat pin for this cuff. I’ve decided to name him Cecil. I love the mustardy yellow color on Cecil the cat’s fur. I used him as my cuff’s center-of-attention.


Step 5:

Your done! Now you have an eco-friendly cuff that will look beautiful with a sweater and a pair of jeans. And it will keep your wrist warm too!





Be sure to check out Karen's work in her Etsy shop! If you're interested in being a part of future Workshop Wednesdays, please feel free to convo me in my Etsy shop or comment on this post. Have a great day!