Some NY Giants ABC art from me...

I've been wanting to build my repertoire of ABC's with team related themes. Team inspired ABC's are always great for little boys rooms-and Dad likes it too! So I figured it was a good time to commemorate the NY giants winning last nights Superbowl and add the NY giants team to my latest creations in my Etsy shop.

Check it out..

Kindle Cases on Etsy...

So you think Santa might bring you something hot this year, like maybe...a Kindle Fire? Well you are going to need to a case for that thing right? Before you buy a $40 one from Staples, check out these Etsy shops with some real cuties to cozy your Kindle (or other devices). There is definitely something for everyone one on ETSY! Support Handmade!

PSST-Can you keep a secret? I made a couple of purchases from Berties Closet (#2) (I LOVE them!)

1-Adimaas-$35

***2-Berties Closet-$23 (I have personal experience with this shop! Great Workmanship!)

3-Old Bird Lady-$25

4-Willow and Company-$45

5-Anny and Me-$24

6-CrafTime9-$18

7-Rabbit Smile-$25

8-Dobeeubags-$38

9-BoutiqueID-$53

10-Dixies Window-$52

Monday Inspirations..can't go wrong with scandinavian style

Many artists maintain blogs in addition to their shops and websites to help promote their artwork. Usually their blogs go hand in hand with their products. I'm still working on that-lol. Seriously, one of my faves on Etsy is a shop called Handz ReStyle maintained by artist Jan Skacelik from the Czech Republic. His art prints feature mid century modern home design themes with some Scandinavian flare! I've featured his work before, but today I'm talking about his blog- Design Attractor. If you love all things Scandinavian you'll like this too. I found these gorgeous pics there and had to share! Hope your holiday plans are coming together nicely! I'm headed out of town again-this time to lovely Traverse City to finish my Christmas shopping and have a little date night with my husband-yay!

Here's a look at some pretty scandinavian rooms...

Etsy artist finds...wooden toys

These simple and cute wooden toys from Armadillo Dreams are so sweet! I think I like them just sitting on my bookshelf or kitchen window sill. They are made to order so if you think you like them for a Christmas gift-better order some up today. Speaking of Christmas I don't even have my tree up! Guess I'd better get crackin' too...

BTW-you still have today and tomorrow to enter my 2012 Calendar and Love print contest!

Happy Shopping...

FREE 2012 CALENDAR AND LOVE PRINT GIVEAWAY!

I figured Cyber Monday was a great day for a giveaway and to tell you about my Etsy shop promo! From now until December 31st get a free 2012 calendar when you purchase anything in my Etsy shop. Calendars make great gifts right?! If you you'd like to win one then leave a comment giveaway ends Thursday! PLUS-go to my facebook page and like Area Fare for a chance to win my flowered "LOVE" print!

Hope your weekend was relaxing and fun! My 2 little guys are so worn out from all the playing! Chasing the big boys around is a lot of work. All of their older cousins are football fanatics so they both were trying to get in on the that action! They pretty much just ran around and fell down in between the other kids. I was sure one of them was going to get taken out but everyone was very mindful of the them, giving Ezzie the occasional toss and "good job buddy!" It was cute and they had the best time ever! :)

Well, I'm off to get some cyber Monday shopping done-I don't mess with Black Friday. How about you? Did you brave the BF hoard? Find anything good-really good?

You have until Thursday Dec 1st to enter the 2012 Calendar Contest and the FB Like "LOVE" print contest! Good Luck!

Jen's Art Additions...love print

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a quick one today-I'm supposed to be putting together my pirogi casserole-it's gonna be so yummy! We are having a big T-day this year at a hall. I know it sounds so-uncomfortable right? But, actually it was so fun last year! The "hall" is situated on Lake Huron and has a big stone hearth. We had karaoke for the kids and a crafting area, ping pong table and "hang out" spot for the older, cooler kids-lol and everyone brings a dish to pass! Then all the younger women pitch in to clean up while the men watch football and older folks play cards! We invite everyone-related or not-I think we are at about 60+ people this year! I can't wait-the boys have a ball playing and then pass out early just in time for momma to have a glass of wine and relax!

Anyways-I made this print for myself because I just LOVE (love) art prints. I showed it around a bit and  found that other people really liked it too, so I put it in my Etsy shop today (click here).

Hope your holiday is lovely!

Have a look...

Etsy Artist Finds....2012 Calendars

I love calendars. I think I get this from my mom who is a real calendar nut as well! There is just something about them, it's probably the artwork for me. Perhaps it's the anticipation of a new year or a new month. You flip the page and it's a fresh start! I don't know-is that silly? I'm working on a little 2012 calendar too, but I'm planning to give them away as extras to people who purchase things from my Etsy shop this holiday season. I wanted to have it finished already but I've been swamped with other stuff and I've been completing some home projects that needed attention and fresh coats of paint! Anyways my "promotion" will start on Monday so look for that.

Last year we bought my mother-in-law a calendar from Snapfish that had all the birthdays in the appropriate days and pics of all the grandkids and adults-she loved it. Calendars are just so useful-I like useful gifts don't you? They are also little enjoyable works of art that make you smile! Here are some Etsy calendars that make me smile....

1. Handz

2. Nella Designs

3. Monkey Mind Design

4. Khristiana Howell

5. Art is Everything

6. Inkspot Workshop

Check out this article on Houzz for some more cool Etsy 2012 Calendars!

Etsy Artist Finds...things I'd like in my kitchen!

This time of year people start asking the question,"What do you want for Christmas?" and of course my token response is usually something like "oh, I don't know, don't care, doesn't matter, nothing really, whatever you find I'll love...." or something like that right? Well, this year is going to be different. I'm going to start directing people to my blog- "um-yeah-go ahead and check out Wed Nov/16/Etsy or this day, this day, and this day...." and so on. haha. I figured what the heck-they are going to get you something regardless-so speak up and not only will you get something you wanted but it'll take the stress out of it for the person who's shopping for you! Just a thought!

Anyway-if any family members are reading this today-ANY of these cute kitchen linens are just great for me! I'm loving the simple designs, mostly white, some gray, linen looking, pops of color from these Etsians!

Don't forget about Etsy when you are doing you Christmas shopping-you don't even have to leave the house!

Happy shopping...

1. Shop Amy Sullivan
2. Sweet Nature Designs
3. Erin Dollar
4. Madder Root

Etsy artist finds....Snug studio

I really like this little shop called Snug. They have a cool, modern, simple aesthetic that really appeals to me. The little cutting boards are so fun-I like the cloud. You may recognize the little birdie mobile from my Monday Room Envy post. This shop is in Hannover, Germany-sound familiar? When I was searching for a bio on Snug I came across a post from Holly Becker (decor8) from last year about these artists. She lives there as well and says she has visited their workspace often. Click here for a link to that post. Snug was founded in 2010 by Kerstin Reilemann, an interior designer and Berit Luedecke, an architect. They say that "the greatest source of inspiration are their own childhood-memories of camping trips and things like their grandmother serving coffee. They mix natural materials such as wood and ceramic with a healthy dose of modern design and viola-snug-ly goodness!

Anyway, check out this cool Etsy shop, their Big Cartel store, website, and blog to see more designs!

Happy shopping....

Snug Studio-Etsy shop

Etsy artist finds...cool mobiles

My son had a little party in his class yesterday for All Saints Day. They weren't in school on Monday so it was like a little Halloween party too. I went in to do a craft with the kids. I had a nice vision of making a Halloween mobile. The kids would love it. They would sit down and color the bats/ghosts/pumpkins and then cut them out and help me thread the shapes through the yarn and I would "help" them tie it. They would be super cute and a well balanced work of art!

Well, my bat mobile vision quickly turned into a monstrosity as the kids exclaimed, "I can't cut", showing half colored shapes-"I'm DONEEEE" and "TIE, TIE, TIE". I was just throwing them together, trying to get it done, holding up a totally lopsided bunch of yarn, paper and Popsicle sticks saying, "Here you go buddy, put this in your cubby-your mom is gonna LOVE it!" hahaha.

On the way home Ezzie proclaimed it was the best day ever! Just being in his class was the best thing ever and a source of a couple of chuckles for me!

But it did occur to me that there is more to making a mobile than meets the eye and it takes some patience and skill. Here's a few Etsians with mobiles a mother can be proud of!

Check it out...

1 ,  2  ,  3 ,  4

The mailman must have known today was Etsy day at our house too, because he brought my lovely art print from TWOEMS today. I love this shop. I did a write up on this shop a while ago and I finally bought one of her Prints last week (as I vowed I would!)

here is my print and some more of her stuff...

Thank you Melanie! I love it!

Etsy Artist Finds.... and me finding myself.

Back in early 2007 I discovered Etsy. Life was different then, I was  different. I loved re-furbishing and painting furniture (mostly kid things). I signed up for Etsy but never really got around to making it happen.

Instead we got slammed by the wave of recession sweeping across Michigan and rapidly to the rest of the country. My husband worked for Chrysler and you know-that didn't turn out so good! lol-I can laugh now, but we nearly lost everything we had-except each other. 

Included in the loss was my creative spirit. You know, life has a way of forcing priorties on you and at the time all my creative juices were being poured into figuring out what the hell we were gonna do! We lived on the road for over 2 years chasing work in my husbands new field. First we stayed in hotels then in our motorhome. Ezzie was just a year old at the time. We were like modern day Okies (ala the Grapes of Wrath).
Now when someone says- "What do you think you'll be in doing in five years?" It sounds cheesy to me-I just laugh! Seriously? We had a brand new house, 6 gorgeous, wooded acres and in an instant we were living in a hotel room in some other state! Still, I felt blessed. I was with the 2 people I loved the most, having some really cool adventures, and we were executing a plan.

Years later when everything calmed back down, and we bought another home, I started thinking about me again. The things I love, the things I want to do. I rejoined Etsy, began blogging, and started cultivating my dreams. I realized how special it was to be able to connect with a community of creatives like me, who were pursuing their passions the way I had dreamed of doing. That's why I love to feature Etsy shops in my Wednesday posts. I hope it doesn't feel too much like a commercial, it's just something I really believe in! SUPPORT HANDMADE!

OH YEAH- Remember my art print contest starts tomorrow so be sure and check that out and you could win some fare for your area--from ME!:)

Here's a few artists that are packing a geometric punch.

Check em out...

ZIPPER 8 LIGHTING:








NENA VON:

THE PAIR A BIRDS:

 LAMPSHADE DESIGNS:

Etsy Artist Finds...feathers

What can I say I love Etsy! There are so many cool shops and wonderful artists out there to find. I like having these focused weekly posts because, let's face it-if I was wasn't actively searching for some of these things I probably would never come across them. The Internet is vast and seemingly limitless right? Anyway, I've been focusing on feathers this week as my inspiration. Here are few Etsy shops who have some feather inspired pieces of their own.

Have a look...

1.) Beepart- London, Ontario, Canada AF feature

2.) Mermaids Dream'-Novia Scotia, Canada

*3.) Michelle Brusegaard-North Dakota USA

*4.) Monorail- Austin, TX

*5.) Tangerine Home- San Diego, CA

6.) Swirly Garden- Bettendorf, IA

*7.) Giardino-Cleveland HTS, OH

*8.)Golly Bard -Upperville, VA

*9.) Amber Alexander- Vermont, USA AF feature

* shops with this star are also some of my faves from my own Etsy shop Area Fare Kids

Etsy Artist Finds....

Well in keeping with my Wednesday tradition I've trolled Etsy in search of cool things that (loosely) go along with my weekly theme. I am exploring some fall decorating trends including zig zags, crochet and deep bright colors. This journey was sparked by the Missoni frenzy over at Target. Even though they're sold out you can always shop at Etsy folks! lol-but seriously here's a little shop with some cute pillows to dress up the house this fall...


Habitation Inc: This Indianapolis, IN shop stocks pillows and some crocheted housewares that are perfect for some fall color and texture. Shop owner Lesley Herron says that she began making her own home fashions originally because she was decorating on a tight budget. She decided to share her talents with us too and Habitation Inc was born.Her shop is a collection of handmade Bohemian Chic & Modern Eclectic pillows and home décor.  She enjoys using various designer fabrics, handwoven Uzbeki ikats, vintage hand dyed Japanese shiboris and reclaimed burlap coffee sacks.

Check it out...

Etsy Artist Finds...

I have 2 boys and a husband so life around here tends toward the masculine. I like it though. You can't beat a little orange and grey combo. Ezzie's backpack is orange and grey camouflage-he loves it. He's been wearing it all over town and out playing in the yard,hiding in the bushes, doing a little covert black ops-shooting at the neighbors and such. I tried to explain to him recently that "it's kind of frowned upon" bringing a rifle to school even though it's not real. He was like "WHAT?WHY?"-lol-He's 5.

 All rampages aside I found this cool shop Edubarba (from Sevilla,Spain) while stalking the fave shops of my fave shops on Etsy. You know how is right?! I love the colors, lines and uniformity of his work. I've always liked technical drawings, charts and scientific illustrations. Some of his pieces have elements of that and remind me a bit of my old college notes from anatomy class. I also love the graphic calendars-they would make a great gift don't you think? Just a thought.

His prints are simple and cool--Just perfect for any big boys room!

(This shop went on vacation today-but be sure to browse his sold section and add him to your faves-if you like!:)

Check it out....

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR MY GIRL ANN & HER BIKE FASHION SMALL BIZ "IVA JEAN" ON THE DAILY CANDY WEBSITE....CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

ETSY ARTIST FINDS...

With travel still on my mind, I found some Etsy artists with wares to compliment the travel minded shopper.

Have a look...

SHERRY TRUITT STUDIOS: This shop has some really cool pieces including necklaces, bottle stoppers, and drawer pulls. Her vintage map jewelry is popular and has even been featured in a wedding magazine.

HEATHER FUTURE:This student/artist says "I'm always trying different techniques and getting excited and passionate about something new. I'll work intently on one project for a few weeks, and then need something completely different to keep my mind excited. So I've got lots of different work in both my Etsy shops, along with other projects, from murals to private commissions to gallery projects, that don't end up on Etsy." Her shop is filled with lots of things. Check it out!

Brightwall:I've featured this shop before but artist Erik Taylor has some cool upcycled luggage and other stuff too. The best part-he's a Detroiter! Check him out...

ETSY ARTIST FINDS...SUMMER CAMP STYLE

This summer has been wonderful for us! We live in Northern Michigan so when summertime comes there is much to do. Last weekend was my parents 40th wedding anniversary-I know right. They have my nephew for a few weeks and wanted to do something fun-maybe a romantic dinner later this month-but for the time being they decided to camp nearby at Clear Lake! We went for a visit and spent the day swimming, kayaking, and just lazing around the campsite well into the evening. It was nice!

Today's Etsy artist finds represent a little summer camp style.

Hope you like...


Toxic Guinea Pigs: Maggie O'Reilly lives in the suburbs of Columbus OH where she creates her bright illustrations. I'm loving the vintage campers! For more of her work visit these places:

oreillyink.blogspot.com
www.oreillyink.com

Jumahl: This Etsy artist started as a carpenter in housing construction, later apprenticed in furniture design and construction for several years, spent twelve years as a boat carpenter and custom yacht joiner, designed and fabricated custom millwork for a high end construction company, and started building old time banjos for Kevin Enoch in 2005. The love of birds and photography led him to create these cute vintage camper birdhouses! Love them!

KS Peddler: This artist creates some fun signs to liven up your cottage, camp, beachouse or whatever! I'm loving her custom family signs. Have a look...

COOL ETSY STUFF...

I found this shop in my Etsy taste test group.

Back in January I did an Etsy feature and told you how much I like skateboard stuff, remember?  Well, I found these recycled skateboard deck stools yesterday and I think they are so cool. They come from a shop appropriately called Deckstool, out of Philadelphia. The artist got the idea from his brother when he asked him to build "some kind of furniture" from his broken pile of skate decks. They were all broken in a uniform kind of way that made the design of the stool logical. I thought these would be cool in a teens room for when his buddies come hang out and watch each other conquer something on the PS3. My 36 year old bachelor brother would probably like one too! :)

Check it out....

Deckstool-Philadelphia, PA

THINGS I LIKE...

As I drove away from Transformers 3 yesterday with my son, 2 nephews and their friend, the subject turned to what a job is and why do parents have to go and more importantly why will they have to go someday. They all knew that it was to get money and they all seemed to think that having a job didn't sound like much fun! lol-I told them of course some jobs aren't fun, and that they all needed to go to college for something that is interesting to them. Then I sounded like a true parent when I uttered " If you do something you love you'll never work a day in your life!" My 12 year nephew then proceeded to argue that "Confucius was kinda wrong" and "he didn't really believe that anyone likes a job all the time-every aspect of it." hahaha-Too smart for his own good I suppose. What do you think?

Well, I know that I like what I like. If I become overly influenced by others, I tend to feel like something is missing and that I'm off track a bit. We all gravitate toward what we like because it fulfills a need. Sometimes there is so much out there to choose from, and so many people telling us what we should like, that it becomes difficult to figure out what it is that we actually love.

Sometimes I feel this way about ETSY. There is so much stuff! Well, I just did my first Taste Test. It's a tool they developed to help buyers come in contact with the sellers they might like, based on the things that they gravitate toward. It's pretty cool. Mine was pretty right on-there were like 9 of my favorite shops in the grouping-it was like a magic trick! hahaha-click here to go to my taste test. It also shows other people who have similar tastes so that you can browse their fave shops and find even more stuff you love! Give it whirl....

 Now here's something I like:

The artwork of Michelle Armas. The lovely bright colors, juxtaposition of her brushstrokes and abstract quality of her work just make me happy!