Avoid the Mall... go to RRCS6!

I'll once again be participating in the Rock n' Roll Craft Show! It'll be Thanksgiving Weekend, Friday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. I've always enjoyed doing this event, not only because of it's unique locale at Third Degree Glass Factory, but for the fact it's a boutique-style event. I'll be there all day Sunday behind the registers so come by and say hi!

St. Louis Craft Mafia

I'm happy to be one of St. Louis Craft Mafia's newest members! The St. Louis Craft Mafia is an indie collective of local artists and crafters who strive to combine to high design, graphic /find arts and punk DIY aesthetics in all our work. The famiglia motto, "all handmade all the time" results in unusual art and craft you can't resist. I'm happy to join such a fun group of guys and gals!

Villa Design now local!

If you're in the St. Louis area and can't make it one of my shows, I'm happy to announce some of my items are now available at Cooperella Cafe & Art. It's an adorable little shop in Maplewood filled items from local artists.

Cooperella
7140 Hazel Ave.
Maplewood, MO 63143-3027
ph: 314.769.9180 email: cafe@cooperella.com

Going Crazy with Bottle Cap Magnets

And before you ask, I did not drink all the beer. :) Getting ready for a mass resin pouring session. 100+ magnets and 20 pairs of Infinity Earrings.

2010 Calendars

At about this time of the year calendars start popping up in stores and online and I've been combing through Etsy for one at work and at home. Here are some of my favorites!

Top Left ~ Matchbox Style Calendar 2009 and 2010 Printable Digital PDF by Govango
Top Right ~ A Year of Birds - 2010 Fine Art Calendar by Bomobob
Bottom Left ~ 2010 Letterpress Calendar - Limited Edition by Parrot Deign Studio
Bottom Right ~ Missing Q Press 2010 Letterpressed Calendar by Missing Q Press

all photos are the property of the respective artists

St Louis Artists Boutique

I'll be participating again at the Kirkwood Artist's Boutique this weekend!

Have I mention you ROCKwell?

As a full time graphic designer, I've become somewhat of a font geek. When I spied these on Poppytalk, I thought they were hilarious yet witty at the same time. Can't pick a favorite I love them all! They are available from A Favorite Design, and you can find her Etsy shop HERE.

Monet Glass Buttons

A different style, based on the Monet series. These are about the same size, the swirl buttons, about 1/2 inches wide. They are very addicting to make!

Tower Grove Farmers' Market ~ Last Day!

So sad, lots of the farmers markets around the area will be closing up for the season. Tower Grove Farmer's Market is one of the biggest and for the last day, the hours will be extended from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m this Saturday, October 24th. I'll be there along with numerous other artists.

ShowMe Etsy will be present in full force!

New CiM colors ~ Mink, Poison Apple, Mermaid

There will soon be 3 new colors added to the CiM glass line: Mink, Poison Apple, Mermaid. I had a chance to test these colors out before they are released to the public and love them. It's amazing all the new colors CiM has come out with this year, and it keeps getting better and better. My first impressions:

Poison Apple ~ This is a bright juicy green that sorta reminds me of Lifesavers candy, but more saturated with color. It works very smooth and melts like butter. It doesn't react with silver which can be a good or bad, depending on the look you're going for. This also stayed mostly opal for me after annealing the beads in the kiln.

Mermaid ~ When I first saw this, I immediately thought... "Oh my goodness, they duplicated ASK Tribal Turquoise." Tribal Turquoise was produced by Arrow Srprings and Kugler (ASK). And I must say, it's pretty close. Mermaid is about two shades darker, but it's a beautiful shade of opaque teal. There are streaks, which I do like especially when working with organics. This color also does not react to silver.

Mink ~ It's a toss up whether this color Mermaid is my favorite out of the new colors. This does stay opal-like after annealing which I do love and reacts great with silver. You can see in the leaf picture the the silver reacted with a light blue haze. I'm very much on a earth-tone kick now, probably because it's fall.