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Recently I have been asking everyone: “Why handmade art?”

The market is saturated in mass produced low cost art reproductions that can be found in Target, Walmart, World Market, Crate and Barrell….just about everywhere!

So why do you specifically choose to buy art that costs more from an artist?

Here are the top reasons I’ve found:

• Meet the Artist- you get to know their inspiration, hear their story, make a new friend and get an awesome piece of art all at the same time!
• Supporting our local/national economy
• Originality- no one else has one just like yours
• Beauty is more essential in our lives than most people realize and there is nothing like a handcrafted item

I’d love to hear if you have any more reasons. Comment below and thanks for sharing.

If you like knowing what I am doing, please be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the right (the grey email opt-in box) to get all the juicy details on my newest pieces and discounts exclusively for my newsletter readers!

I turned 30 this last week and it’s gotten me thinking about my goals and achievements. June also marks my first full year in business!! Crazy!

Looking back, it has been a busy and awesome ride- 15 arts and crafts shows, getting my work into two permanent locations (Indie Genius, and Repotted), selling on Etsy, and making lots of new things I have never tried before.

So today I am going on a visual journey, highlighting some of the things that have happened over the year.

A big thanks to all the people who supported me!

(Hover over images to read a brief description)

Here’s to 30 and another awesome year.

If you like knowing what I am doing, please be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the right (the grey email opt-in box) to get all the juicy details on my newest pieces and discounts exclusively for my newsletter readers!

In the summer I love drinking just about anything (soda, juice, water, tea, lemonade…) out of a straw. I don’t know why but something about the straw makes me feel like I am on vacation. And who doesn’t want to feel that way!? But I don’t like wasting stuff- and straws are really just a waste. A tube of plastic used once and then tossed…not so good for the environment.

So last year when I was busy making Christmas ornaments I came up with a way to reuse said straws. After I drink with them, I would rinse them in the sink and then collect them in a “used straw” cup. Then in the studio whenever I needed to poke a small hole in anything the straw was the perfect way to do this. Once the straw is filled with too much clay to keep using, I just snip off the full part and keep going. Quite clever if you ask me.

This year I am making mini-ornaments. Irresistible, adorable, tiny, little gingerbread men and Christmas trees but I realized my old straw trick won’t work. These little cuties are too small to use a standard straw. Luckily, I was quick on my feet and thought what about coffee stirrers?! I happen to have a box of them that I found in a cabinet of the house I now live in, so now they have a purpose- mini hole punchers for clay!!

Now it is time I get back to my studio, sip my drink out of my straw and make some more ornaments!

If you like knowing what I am doing, please be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the right (the grey email opt-in box) to get all the juicy details on my newest pieces and discounts exclusively for my newsletter readers!