Ali's Edible Estate on Apartment Therapy

Check out Ali's house on Apartment Therapy! I love seeing her new landscape and the cute little drawings. Go Ali! Have a look at her Etsy shop, ipullprints.

Five Under Five

I am enjoying Daily Candy emails this week that are doing a series for different locations of "Ten Under Ten" things you can do around town that are under ten dollars. Well, I looked at Craft Athens and found some really great finds for under five dollars, before shipping! Here we go...


Let's talk art. Who doesn't love buying cute artwork to adorn the walls of their homes? This print is by ipullprints and meets our $5 mark.


Magnets are a fun way to spruce up a fridge, office, or craft room. Christy Wooke has a very affordable and customized magnet for $4! What a steal!


Pretty much everyone knows a gal that loves earrings. I spotted these Sky Blue Earrings at Joyful Creations, and they meet our $5 price.


Check out this lovely giraffe pendant from Jenny at Mountain Majesty. This little charm is $4. Animal prints are so in, don't you know?


If jewelry isn't your thing, why not some new lippy? This yummy German Chocolate Cheesecake Lip Balm is only $2.75 and is made by my friend Daisycakes Soap.

Handmade Wedding

Our good friend Libby from Daisy Doodles on Etsy is getting married this weekend! We threw her a fabulous wedding shower last week, but my cake message written in icing got a little runny. Other than that it was, like I said, pretty fabulous! Libby has been planning her big day for a while and has found some great things to spice up her big day right on Etsy!


Wedding favors are these cute little garden kits complete with seeds, soil pellet, and they are even personalized! These fun favors are made by Kikibird Crafts.


Libby found these very pretty pendants by Art Made By Tammy for her bridesmaids. I love the colors and the vintage style. Libby showed me these when they came in and they really are charming.


Finally, let's talk cake. This little birdie cake topper Libby found is super cute. This little bird couple is made by Red Light Studio and the birds can even come out of the nest! These are simply perfect for the almost newlyweds, Libby and John! Best wishes, Libby!

Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa Spring Market

This is a reminder that the spring edition of the Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa is happening Saturday May 2nd, 11am to 7pm and Sunday, May 3rd from noon until 5pm. Mark your calendars cos I know there will be many wonderful handmade goodies this time around. Also, this is the first time that the Craftstravaganzaa is two days! Come check it out and say hello.

Flossy the Pony is in my Shop!

Flossy the Pony, originally uploaded by sugar-cookie.

Hello all! I have just added some of my fab Flossys to my SHOPPE SUGAR COOKIE on Etsy. I just love the way they came out! I hope you do, too. Now you can have your very own pony!

Think Spring

This little canary pillow makes me feel ready for springtime! This adorable softie is by Jenny of Prairie Dog Inc. You can check out her shop for more lovely birdie pillows, knits, and felted charms. Yay spring!

Flossys., originally uploaded by sugar-cookie.

I made some little ponies to help organize my embroidery floss. I call them Flossy the Pony. They are very helpful, and they look very cute. You can read about my inspiration for Flossy at Rancho Cocoa.


After I posted about Flossy, blogs I never knew posted about it. Check out what Cuteable had to say, as well as Feeling Stitchy and Super Cute Kawaii, too. Thank you to all the blogs that are excited about Flossy! Just keep an eye on Shoppe Sugar Cookie to get a pony of your very own.

Hello, Bunny!

As some of you may know, we found a very adorable bunny! We call her Oreo and she is a very good bunny. Oreo loves to sit on my lap and have a salad! I am learning to care for our new pet and you can read all about how we found her here.


I was looking at Jones Handmade Goods and thought these crowned rabbit cards would be perfect to send announcing Oreo's addition to our "family."

Craft Athens Team: Meet Christy Wooke

Christy Wooke is one of my favorite artists that I met here in Athens. She is a super sweet gal and has such style with her tiny works of art that adorn everything from post-its to wooden disk magnets. I caught up with her to learn more about her and her inspirations.


Tell us about yourself and your craft.
I want to be an illustrator, so I guess I'm that. I'd just like to be paid for it. OFFICIALLY. To supplement creative frustration, I started selling things I could draw on.

How long have you been crafting?
"Crafting," I'd say 1 year.

Are you originally from Athens? If not, how did you wind up here?
I'm moved to Athens after I graduated from college. I'm not sure why, but I think I had this idea that Athens was a haven for artists.

What are some of your favorite and least favorite things about living and crafting in Athens?
Favorite: Big City Bread. Being surrounded by farming country. Living in a liberal county in the middle of Georgia. I love that I live in a town where I can be outside a lot without breathing Atlanta pollution. (I draw a lot outside.) Athens feels small (in a good way). Everyone knows each other, at least peripherally.

I love living here, I just can't afford to! Which is something I don't like about Athens...

Least Favorite: Jobs...?


Do you feel Athens is a good place for artists? Why or why not?
I think whether or not Athens is a good place for artists depends ultimately upon the individual. I find people here are very supportive, and I feel welcomed here (especially by the crafting community here). But realistically, I personally make a very teeny, tiny amount of money on anything artistic or crafty, and of course I'd like to pay my bills AND afford groceries. I do think Athens is great if you're content to stay here. But for most of us, you aren't afforded opportunities for greater success than community recognition. I want to build a career that involves drawing all day instead of trying to illustrate on the side. Where's the jobs, Athens? Maybe if I interneted more...

Please tell about some of your favorite things to make.
Coffee.

What is a typical day like in your studio?
No such thing. I draw on post-it notes at work --sometimes. I try to sell those... The majority of work I do at home is for larger-scale, non-craft projects. Usually I get to work on crafts/small illustrations a few days before a craft show on magnets, pins, pin cushions and the like. You know, the fun stuff.

Name five websites that inspire you.
I'm not really online much. So I'll name the 5 I visit everyday: Politico, Wikipedia, gmail, Universe Today, and ...... I can't name 5. I'll name 5 artists instead: Jim Woodring, Walt Kelly, Kurt Vonnegut, Gary Panter, William Steig. Too bad they're all men.

Besides making things, what else do you enjoy doing?
EATING. But also I read and watch a lot of movies, listen to music, and nerd out with video games. I also love petting my flop-dog and being outside at Big City Bread doin' things (usually reading...).


Thanks, Christy! You can check out more of Cristy's work at her Etsy shop and keep up with her and her creations on her blog!

Snow Day!

We were very thrilled to see snow last weekend in Athens. Only I was less thrilled to get my car stuck in the snow, too! We were at the Tracy Street Warehouses for Canopy's Birthday Party when it piled high!




Here is a lovely cactus in the snow!




The next day we finally made our way downtown the next day. We were happy to get out of the house where it was warm. We had no power! I was glad to get a hot tea at the Grit! I was also happy to see some snowmen around town, too.

AUX Event Report

Here are some scenes from last week's Aux Event here in Athens. All these photos are by Raoul de la Cruz.




We spotted some Craft Athens team members at the handmade market. I especially liked some of the new goodies I saw, like prints from ipullprints!



We went inside to watch and hear Dark Meat.


It is always nice to have a parade here in Athens. I have been to so many here in Athens!


Later on we caught some music by Killick. We enjoyed his handmade instrument.






We came back later that night to see Maps and Transit. I especially liked Julie Phillip's silks aerials combined with the music and projected paintings.

Home is Where the Heart Is

Some Craft Athens Team members are showing houses in the Home is where the Heart Is auction. Please come and see houses created by Jangles, Genevieve Gail, and Sugar Cookie!

Here is more about the event from Genevieve Gail:

The event will take place at the Lyndon House on Friday, February 20th from 6-8pm. All of the houses will start at around $20 and bids will go up in $5 increments so you can get an awesome piece of local art for a great price! So, if you live in the area and want to get out and support your local Athens Area Habitat for Humanity come on out!!! We will have hors' devours and a cash bar and then you can grab a great dinner downtown afterwards. There, I just planned you the perfect Friday night date- ha ha. Oh, and if there is anyone interested in donating but can't make it to the event please shoot me an email and I can get you in contact with the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity peeps.

Aux Event

On Saturday, February 21 the third Aux Event held at Little Kings. It looks like another fabulous line up, as usual!

Sale on Ducklings...

I just spotted this adorable print called Ducklings for Sale in the Shutterstitch Etsy Shop. This print makes me ready for the warm days of spring! This print is so cute and reminds me of this video from Sesame Street where the little baby chick hatches from an egg. It used to drive me to tears as a child because I thought it was so cute.

Craft Athens Team: Meet Beth Cyr

If you live in Athens, you may have seen Beth Cyr's nature inspired jewelry around town in some of your favorite shops. I know I have! Beth is a very talented jewelry artist, but that's not all she does. Please read more to learn about Beth.


Tell us about yourself and your craft.
My name is Beth Cyr. I never really know what to tell people when they ask
me what I do. I don't know how to classify myself other than an artist. So I
usually say something like, I'm an artist, I make jewelry. Jewelry artist
sounds kind of pretentious. I also sometimes say that I am a metalsmith, but
it doesn't seem to cover it either. Jeweler/metalsmith kind of works, but
there doesn't seem to be a single word that covers what I feel like I do.
Its silly, I know.

How long have you been crafting?
I've been working with metal since... 2001 I guess. I took an intro to
jewelry and metalsmithing and signed up to major in it the next semester.

What made you start the Craft Athens Etsy Team?
Athens is so incredibly supportive of the arts, but I hardly ever get sales
on Etsy from people in Athens. A few people I know shop on Etsy, but it
seems like for a long time, everyone I talked to had no idea what Etsy was.
So I wanted to create a team that would help bring awareness to Athens
residents that they can shop local online, on Etsy.

Are you originally from Athens? If not, how did you wind up here?
I am not originally from Athens, I was born in Connecticut grew up in
Alabama and in northwest Georgia, just south of Chattanooga - then came to
University of Georgia and ended up staying! Which had not been my plan even
when I graduated, but it just sort of happened and I love it here.

What are some of your favorite and least favorite things about living and
crafting in Athens?
I think my favorite things is that as a whole, its very acceptable to be an
artist. Athens residents really seem to respect and like to support local
businesses, whether you're an artist, musician, farmer, or just a local
boutique. I'm not sure that I have a least favorite!


Do you feel Athens is a good place for artists? Why or why not?
I definitely think so. Most artists like to be part of a community that in
general supports the arts. And Athens is big for music, visual and
performing arts, so it has a lot to offer.

Please tell about some of your favorite things to make.
My favorite things to make are anything that involves a torch and a hammer.
I find that pieces that don't involve both of those elements just aren't as
fun.


What is a typical day like in your studio?
A typical day involves spending a lot of time on the computer! I usually
make a list of projects I need to work on. Since most of my business is
custom work, I keep a board with all my orders listed on it. It helps to
keep me focused on what tasks I need to get done that day.

Name five websites that inspire you.
Astronomy Picture of the Day - I love astronomy!
Etsy Metal - my other street team - amazingly talented friends!
Flickr

hm... I don't think I have 5... I spend a lot of time on Etsy!

Besides making things, what else do you enjoy doing?
I've been reading a lot lately and doing a little bit of writing. I try to
do yoga just about every day as it makes me very happy. I also love movies,
all kinds, even some pretty bad ones. I'm pretty easily entertained!


Thank you Beth! Please have a look at Beth's shop on Etsy and check out her wonderful creations!

LOVE

There is the LOVE performance coming up on February 6, 7, and 8 at Canopy Studio and I am in this show! I posted all about it at Rancho Cocoa! I hope you can come!

For Your Walls...

I have been looking at my collection of art and trying my best to get it framed and put on the walls of our home. I have been doing good, but I am always looking for new art to decorate the walls. I have been inspired by some of my favorite decorating blogs, Apartment Therapy, Design is Mine, and Designsponge, to name a few.

But you don't need to look far for something to spruce up your walls. Just check out some of the Craft Athens Etsy shops.


Cindy Jerrell of Black Cat Graphix has been one of my local favorites for a while. I love her style - to me it is like stepping into another time or place. And if you have ever met Cindy, you might think she looks like her art - and to me she does! I always love seeing her work grace the cover of Flagpole each October!


Joe Havasy is another local artist I admire. The amount of work he produces is unreal, and just check out the detail and color! I also like all the characters that Joe imagines. There is one for every personality! I check Joe's Etsy shop often because things are always changing, and I like to read his comic in the Flagpole, too.


I met Cathy for the first time last year. I have seen her art here and there downtown. Her Etsy shop is called Kitty Butt. Look at that little kitty! Just look at those eyes! Now I gotta go and give my kitty a great big hug.

Love is in the Air...

If you are looking for gifts for your sweetie, I have some clever ideas for you, direct from Craft Athens Etsy team. First up is this adorable Heart Bead Set from Jangles. I love the pure red and white heart with the little accent beads on the sides.


Well, I am not sure I will be carvin' my initials on a tree anytime soon, but Beth Cyr's Tree Bark of Love Pendant will be a fine substitute. And you can have it customized with you and your sweetie's initials.


Board game night? A Valentine? You decide with these clever LOVE letter Scrabble Magnets from Be Inspired, one of our newest Craft Athens team members!

I hope these lovely lovelies inspire you to check out Craft Athens team member's Etsy shops this Valentine's Day!