Photo Fun

There's a farm supply store across the river from where I live and I like to go in there every now and then to poke around, especially in the Spring, to see the baby chicks. They have a display of little plastic animals, all types and sizes. Adorable. I couldn't resist buying a couple, they were so cute, and now every time I go in there, I add to my collection!

 One day I decided to start making them earn their keep, and give me a good reason to keep buying them...

                        
                                           photo props!

just passing through...

      The meerkats are my hands down favorites!

if I need some heavy lifting, no problem.

                          Y'all come on back now, ya hear?

The Party Dress Book - Mary Adams

I had the pleasure of meeting Mary Adams, author of The Party Dress Book, How to Sew the Best Dress in the Room, when she appeared at Ristretto Roasters, a very cozy little coffee shop in Portland, a week or so ago. Mary is a clothing designer living and working in New York City, but grew up and began her career here in Portland. I had pre-ordered her book at Amazon, wrapped it up and given it to myself at Christmas, and spent all of Christmas day reading through it! With a forward by Amy Sedaris, an enthusiastic customer, her story is interesting and will be familiar to artists in any medium.

The book is filled with sumptuous fabrics, ruffles, pleats, pintucks and layers and layers of color.

  

The inner spiral binding is a practical touch, much appreciated. 

 And if just being able to visually feast on the images in the book isn't enough, the final chapters are devoted to a tutorial in which you can create your own dress using the full size pattern supplied in an attached sleeve. You can take ideas and techniques from the book to create something quite unique, or use the pattern to go in a totally different direction. 

This book is beautifully done and if it doesn't make you want to sew, it can provide you with raw inspiration you can take anywhere!

Spring dreaming

Living in the pacific northwest, we see signs of the approach of Spring much earlier then in my home state of Michigan. By the end of this month, I'll be cutting heavily budding branches off my white quince for forcing indoors and creating small bouquets of camelias for the table and the snow bells are already poking up. Yes, there's rain, but the color of that new growth just waiting to burst forth is a fair trade in my mind.

          I created this collection in appreciation of what's to come. 
                                        I am so ready!
     You can get a close look at each lovely item in this treasury here.

ring in the new year...

I've been making lots of rings lately. They're quicker and more fun than earrings because you only need to make one... So here are a few recently completed babies photographed and settling nicely into my etsy shop.

 a beautiful piece of Louisiana petrified palmwood in sterling

something similar using a piece of Nevada boulder turquoise and a touch of 14kt gold

another example of boulder turquoise

a sweet little pearl ring in sterling and 14kt gold

something fun in swirly blue glass and sterling

You can find these and many more rings in my etsy shop.

And below are some very interesting rings from several of the many etsy shops worth checking out!

 resin ring  quercussilver       acrylic ring  dillondesigns

 sterl sculptural ring  mariagotijoyas    paper yarn rings  paperphine

                                      
                                    Happy New Year!
                                  

Celebrate the New Year in Vintage Style!

Beautiful vintage party dresses and accoutrements abound on etsy. Here are a few of my favorite shops...

Dresses and Shoes Dear Golden Vintage

1940's round corde purse Raleigh Vintage

Timeless Vixen 1950's "Ceil Chapman" Taffeta

Victorian hair comb from Wicked Darling

1940's  black mesh chiffon dress Traven 7 Vintage

Jewels Aged and Opulent Jewelry

top left My Vintage Jewels          top right Aged and Opulent Jewelry

bottom left Wicked Darling         top right Aged and Opulant Jewelry

Have a sparkling new year!

For art minded people!

Being as I am an old art history major, I was pleased to discover ArtHistory101 on etsy. Marla's store is chock full of all that good stuff you've forgotton over the interveining years since that last art history class. Her printed tees are wonderfully soft and her drawings, sublime. You're sure to get delighted comments from friends you never suspected had art history in their background!

If you dream of the giddy world of Fragonard, or marvel at the engineering of a Gothic cathedral, or simply want to keep the 3 orders of classical greek columns close to your heart, I do recommend you check out ArtHistory101 (Their service is great too!)

and be sure and check out their pop quiz buttons and magnets...

Yet Another Portland Studio Sale!

All of you last minute shoppers are invited to join Sandy Visse & Debra Glanz along with guest artists, Betsy Bensen, Marilyn Nycum, and Dan Ennis for the gazillionth annual Holiday Sale & Party. In the offering will be the work that you have come to know and love with some amusing new stuff.

             Saturday, Dec. 11 & Sunday Dec. 12   10am – 5pm  
                              At Sandy’s studio
             8307 SW Homewood St., Portland OR 97225

 

For those in the Portland area who have not yet been to Sandy's studio, you may have seen it in your dreams. Right after I first saw it 3 or 4 years ago, I went home drew up the entire site plan, along with the water feature adjacent to it and handed it to my husband saying "I want this"! When you see me, please don't

ask if I'm in my new studio, ok?

           Debra also has an etsy store where you can buy her work.

I'll have a variety of jewelry available, from stocking stuffers to special pieces you can add to your wish list.

The felted scarves of Marilyn Nycum and terra cotta tiles of Dan Ennis will be also be features. You;ll just have to come see those in person. We hope to see you there!