California based Anthony Hansen‘s artwork is made mostly from found automotive sheet metal. His various hearts are incredible. I also love his description about his work:

“Creating hearts out of found/reclaimed elements constantly reminds me of the humanity that we all share, and how closely all of our different lives and journeys are connected”

Anthony has no online store, but he posts his show schedule, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see his work in person.

*edit* you can find his work at Fiona Bleu Gallery in Morro Bay, California…

I’m scared to death of mice. Scared. to. death. A couple of years ago, I inadvertently brought a mouse home from the pet store. He was a little white, pink-eyed guy who had hitched a ride in a bag of dog food. When I saw him looking up at me from the bottom of our pack porch stairs, I screamed bloody-murder, slammed the door, ran back into the house and dealt with my serious case of the heebee-geebees. It took me a couple of seconds to realize that a wild, attack-prone mouse wouldn’t be white with pink eyes. My husband was the lucky mouse catcher that day {he’s also my spider & creepy bug go-to guy}. I couldn’t stand the thought of a pet mouse being sent into the wild to fend for himself {I have a VERY patient husband}, and, I certainly didn’t want him hanging out at our house. He was caught, and returned to the store {with big apologies for our trauma}. Phew!

Not sure how I can find mice cute while being completely scared of the real life versions…but I absolutely LOVE the little mouse cards by Bestiary Ink. They come in a set with different mousey illustrations. I think I love the knitting mouse the most. Adorable! Bestiary Ink also has a nice collection of prints! Lots of sweet animals {not just mice!} in her collections.

My business partner and I did a small craft show to benefit a local school this past weekend. I’m sick of doing craft shows. I’ll just come right out and say it. Schlepping our stock {paper is HEAVY}, and display {iron…seriously, what were we thinking…an IRON cart!!}, putting everything up, taking it all down. I get really cranky. Especially when it’s in the snow. Hmm…maybe it’s just the snow that’s making me cranky….

Anyhow, the one thing that I like about doing shows, is that we meet some fantastic artists and crafty people.  I just LOVE that! This past weekend we were lucky enough to be see a favorite vendor from a show we did two years ago {more about that in my next post}, and someone new! Her name is Karyn, and her shop is Den-10 Studio. I’m totally in love with her little prints! I think I have to have the thermos print for my kitchen….and how adorable is her bff print?! So sweet! You can buy all of her prints at her Etsy shop.

I met owner/artist Jeannie of Me Art at a VERY slow craft show this last holiday season. It gave us a great chance to chat, for me to become totally smitten with her business. I really wish the internet would do her work justice…because it’s quite fantastic. When you submit your photo to her, you get back a really high quality, unique piece of art. Another service that she offers is taking a bunch of your kid’s artwork {I have a MILLION pieces tucked away in the attic}, and making it into a single picture. The result is a modern and sweet masterpiece! Love it!

I have to thank Poppytalk blog for finding the fun jewelry and wall decor from Nea. I absolutely adore her sweet embroidered pieces to decorate your walls…framed in vintage embroidery hoops. Sweet! She sells her goods in her Etsy shop…check them out!

I love Michele Maule’s artwork. My very favorites are the typewriters {I have a bit of a thing with old typewriters}. I love her colors, the mixed media pieces and her self portrait series. Love love! She has a really cool site too…with a little Sigur Ros playing as you flip through her portfolio {perfect music to art pairing, if you ask me}. You can buy her work on her Etsy shop. You can’t beat being able to buy a piece of original art starting at $50. Take down one of those posters on your wall, and put up something unique.

I’m really excited to feature 3cd Kid Stuff! They are a Chicago based design firm with a new etsy shop filled with fun prints for kid’s rooms. I love the sketchy quality of their animals…filled with character. Adorable!!

They have generously donated a signed Alphabet Letters print for me to give away to one lucky reader {see below…but the frame is NOT included…it’s just the print} . Here’s how you win: Visit 3cd Kid Stuff, check out all of their sweet prints, and leave a comment here letting me know which is your favorite. Mine is that adorable yellow bird {above}. I will randomly choose a winner on Friday, November 14th at noon. So, leave your comments before Friday the 14th at 11am {Chicago time}. Good luck!

My business partner and I were fortunate enough to work at an art and craft show with Erica Hunzinger for a few years in a row. Not only is she super sweet and fun to have around while we were working our booths, but she is an incredibly talented artist. Every year I’d look forward to seeing her new pieces. The show we worked together is no more…so I’m glad that I can keep up on her amazing paintings on her website!

Labels: artists

Our new painting arrived yesterday (above)…and I couldn’t be more excited about it! I commissioned Chicago based, Anne Leuck Feldhaus to paint a picture of our dear old Basset Hounds who passed away last year. It was a gift for my husband’s birthday. She did an amazing job and captured the essence of our dogs. So so sweet.

A video of herself painting the piece is on her blog.

She also has an Etsy store with little prints and things to buy. I love her style!

Labels: artists