New Weekly:Thursday Theme-Birch Bark

I’ve decided to add yet another weekly feature. I apologize for the cheesy alliterative titles for the weeklies, but they make me laugh. On Thursdays I would like to start highlighting gorgeous items that fit a particular theme. I’ve found that objects often are even more lovely when you look at them in the context of other similar objects. Collections can be stunning. This week the theme is birch bark, which at first thought may seem rustic, but in actuality can be so fresh and clean looking.

Birch Bark Purse, $75 by Lynn Cyr

Organic Wall Art-White Birch Forest by Kayo of Snow Owl Wood Shop

Rustic Birch Blocks, set of 3, $15 by CrowBiz

Birch Bark Ring, $50 by esdesigns

Sunday Sustainability Tip: Mind your B’s

This week I want to remind you to mind your B’s…..your bottles and bags that is!

One quick easy way to reduce waste is to stop using so many bags and plastic bottles. Invest one time in a couple of great bags to throw in your trunk for whenever you go shopping, a BPA-free water bottle, and a couple of sturdy coffee mugs.

Go Green Travel has a great article on choosing a healthy water bottle.
You can find awesome sources of reusable mugs and bags as well that have plenty of style too.

Recycled Classic Tote from The Craft Pantry, $20

Mug by Gina DeSantis, $24

Friday Favorites: It’s a Snow Day!

If you don’t happen to see your favorite activity, by all means leave it in the comments…I’d love to see it.

Here’s a few items perfect for this snowy day. Today I’m all the Friday favorites are from Cleveland Handmade members.

SNOW pillow, $12.50 from Daydream Designs

Sterling Snowflake Pendant, $28.00 from Metalworks Jewelry

Snow covered slate roof photograph, $8.00 from Photohale

Swarovski Crystal Snowflake Necklace, $19.00 by Brittany Chavers

Snow Lovers Beanie, $30.00 by LazyTCrochet

Pointed Snowflake Original ACEO, $11.50 by LifeNeedsArt

Bazaar Bizarre West 2009 – Don’t be a Boxhead

Get your head out of the big box store! (That’s old-school booooring shopping!)

Visit myself and plenty other artists for all your holiday shopping needs. There’s food, there’s fabulous ipod music, there’s fun (maybe Xan will even come walk on stilts again this year), and the people-watching is pretty good too.

All you need to know is it is the same location as last year: 78th Street Studios: 1300 W. 78th St to 1305 W. 80th St., north parking lot, north entrance (behind the building) — accessible from W. 78th OR W 80th St.

Saturday December 12th from noon to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday December 13th from noon to 6:00 p.m.
There’s over 75 vendors making tons of unique items.

Bazaar Bizarre 2009- Don’t Trample the Artists

For the first time ever Bazaar Bizarre Cleveland is offering a Thanksgiving Weekend show beginning on Black Friday (You know, the day after Thanksgiving, when people go so nuts about holiday shopping they get up at 3 a.m. or earlier to hit crappy big box stores and traumatize the employees!)

Here’s the scoop on Bazaar Bizarre East:
12635 Larchmere (across from Vine & Bean) during the Larchmere Holiday Stroll. 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
The show takes place November 27th and November 28th

Get up at a decent hour a day after stuffing yourself with bird, check out a ton of handmade items (50 vendors) and find something for everyone on your list. Just be sure not to get **too excited** so you don’t trample the artists in your shopping frenzy k’?

Beachcliff Art Walk in Review

Last weekend I had the pleasure of participating in the Beachcliff Art Walk. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the art walk, since this was the very first one, but all in all it turned out to be a lovely event.  The owners of Studio 22 arranged it, and managed to do an excellent job of running it.   We lucked out that the weather was GORGEOUS, they had an amazing lineup of talent, and a never-ending supply of water bottles.

I did manage to sneak away a couple times throughout the day, and thought I would share some photos of my fellow artists.  John Musarra of ARC-REN, Architectural Renderings

He had some wonderfully detailed work.  I was personally thrilled to see that he had one drawing of Mahall’sBowling Alley in Lakewood, which is such a classic place!

Fellow Cleveland Handmade member SusanK (on the left) along with the lovely designer of Silverbay Designs

Abby Wilson, with her Cement Gardens, which happened to look quite lovely in front of the  Pure Enchantment shop.

My latest jewelry display.

I’m not sure why my husband didn’t tell me to fix my hair before taking the picture!    I was so happy it wasn’t a windy day!

Eco Friendly: Kenny Coop

Every now and then I’ll see who is checking out my shop on Etsy, and in doing so I actually discovered Kenny Coop, a couple from Akron, Ohio that actually has their own Etsy shop. Upon checking out their shop I instantly knew I had to feature them when I saw their tagline “Living Vegan Selling Vegan”

Kenny Coop sells 100% pure soy candles with cool names like “frog”, “loon”, “buffalo” and “koala”. These candles have no animal products and certainly are not tested on animals either.  They also have lead free cotton wicks so you can breathe easy.

Your Weekly Green: zJayne Little Bird Wristlet

Spring is underway and Earth Day is coming up soon, why not celebrate both with this darling wristlet pouch by zJayne. It’s made from recycled t-shirt, so you can confidently know that your purchase was eco-friendly.

Little Bird Little Pouch Wristlet, $12.00 by zJayne

WIN: Valerie Tyler Designs Earring Giveaway

It’s contest time, but this time instead of hosting on my blog, my earrings are being given away to one lucky winner who visits the Cleveland Handmade Blog.

You can win these modern beauties:

It’s really simple to enter, and all the contest rules are on Cleveland handmade…so what are you waiting for, go check out the Cleveland Handmade shops and give yourself a chance to win free earrings!

Birds, Butterflies and Bees—Oh My!

Spring is on it’s way and with it comes the chirping of the birds, the flutter of butterflies and the buzzing of bees amongst the lovely new blooms of flowers. Here’s a showcase of Spring jewelry that pays homage to the gorgeous birth of Spring.
The items can be found in the following shops:

1. Landing on Water Necklace, $25.00 by fleurfatale
2. In the Garden Necklace, $42.00 by virtuallori
3. Bee Charmer Earrings,  $14.00 by Lillyella.
4. Flower and Butterfly Necklace, $34by fleurfatale
5. Alight Necklace, $145.00 by Smashing
6. Skye Flower Earrings, $14.00 By Valerie Tyler Retro Collection
(that’s me!)
7. Flora Earrings, $18.00 by fleurfatale
8. Lilac Orchids Flower Earrings, $12.50 by Valerie Tyler Retro Collection
9. Garden Flutter Necklace, $22.00 by Lillyella
10. Climbing Clematis Necklace, $57.00 by Valerie Tyler Designs (That’s my shop!)
11. Patina Copper Flower Necklace, $39.00 by Novadesigns
12. Columbine Necklace, $95.00 by Kathryn Cole Jewelry