It's Christmas Eve!

I grew up in the midwest where it's below zero this time of year. While I'd quietly prefer to stay home, cozy in my pjs with a hot toddy, every Christmas Eve my family gets all bundled up and makes a frigid journey to the candlelight church service.
This lovely cowl by GrayDesigns will help keep me warm.
...as will these fun handwarmers by HelenGrayDesigns.
And when we return home from church, we always have a feast of hors d'oeuvres and toddies! I'll bundle up in this hand crocheted throw by Fringe as we track Santa's location on Norad.

This Weekend: Holiday Heap!

Only 4 days until the Charm City Craft Mafia's Holiday Heap, and I can hardly wait!

This year's fair will have 60 of the best local and national crafters, as well as a yarn-spinning demonstration by Three Ravens and a raffle to win a huge basket full of goodies by supporting Arts Every Day! Check the CCCM blog to see vendor interviews and raffle basket sneak peeks.

GrrChe, a local food truck, will be outside for lunch and snacks.

Check out the vendors beforehand by visiting the vendor page. Sugar Paperie will be there and I do hope that you'll stop in and say "hey!". The show will be held on December 3rd, from 10am to 5pm inside St John's Church at 2640 St Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21218.

Designers I Could Just Eat Up: Hillery Sproatt

I met Hillery Sproatt a couple of years back at the MICA Art Market, while searching for the perfect little birthday gift to myself. I found her delicate, feminine etchings irresistable and I came home with a piece entitled, Balancing Act. It hangs on our dining room wall, reminding me as I pass to take a breath and chill.
A local printmaker and fiber gal, Hillery is a Baltimore favorite and can be found at the Charm City Craft Mafia's Pile of Craft and Holiday Heap craft shows. Which means that I am forever tempted by her lovely work. This is the newest addition to my burgeoning collection, Speckled Spectacle, a dense collection of people busied with their work and united in labors of love.
My birthday is just a few weeks away. I'll keep you posted on what sweet treat I come away with! Maybe another piece by Hillery?

Trend Watch: Geometrics!

a token of true affection print by treasure frey

pink triangle print by toems

greeting cards by Carson Too

Designers I Could Just Eat Up: Young Alexander

I just love these guys and their dishware! I met Young Alexander at Artscape this past July and purchased a pair of itty bitty bowls from them. Then I came back for a few chevron plates that will adorn our dining room walls.

Their retro-inspired motifs are hand-painted and reminiscent of vintage diner ware which I am quite fond of! Even though our kitchen cupboards are bursting with dishes, I can't help but add to my collection of mix-match old and new, humble and fancy.

Paisley Plates

Retro Leaf Plates

Diamond Serving Plate

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Autumn - I love it! Crisp, cool air, crackling leaves. The excuse to bundle up in a cozy sweater, and nestle on the couch with a good book. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's divine.

fair isle painting by squidwhaledesigns

butterfly mug by my friend, Shawna of pinkkiss pottery

bartlett teapot by clamlab

This Weekend: Monster Craft Mash

The trickin' and treatin' begins on Monday, and that frees up the whole weekend to shop for treats of the crafty sort. So why not head down to Dupont Circle in the District, for the DC Craft Mafia's Monster Craft Mash. Held in the parking lot at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, over 40 talented crafters will be featured.

Sugar Paperie & Found Studios will be there, as well as local favorites like NAMOO, Jill Popowich Designs in Metal, Yummy & Company, Design by Night, among others. So come on down - we'd love to see you!

For the Home: Swinging Basket Chair

Something in me stirs a little when I think of the early 1970's. Avocado green kitchen appliances, shag carpeting, and a floaty basket chair. My mom had one of these when I was a kid. I have fond memories of reading by the window, nestled into my floaty chair.

Rattan Hanging Chair #1

number 2

number 3

I'd love to add one of these to our den, aka reading room. Cozy and boho-chic. Which one do you like best?

Weekend in the Studio - Hooray!

This week, my adventurous husband has tapped into his inner Hemingway character. While he is spending 5 days traveling solo down the Chesapeake Bay, I will be relishing in my solitude, working in the studio (and to be quite honest, making a mess of the entire house). I go wild when he leaves for a few days. Any clear tabletop falls victim to my craftiness. The glitter comes out, ribbons come unwound, and I get super productive.
This weekend it's just me and my music, coffee, and binders filled with inspiration. My plan includes creating some mini art pieces for the holiday show season. I'm bursting with ideas and excitement. I hope to have some new work to share soon. Stay tuned!

Collections: Eva Zeisel Pottery

At the age of 105 (that's right!), designer and potter Eva Zeisel is still rockin' it. Zeisel began her career as a mid-century potter who designed everyday dishware for companies such as Hall, Sears, and Red Wing China to name just a few. These days, she keeps ever so busy collaborating with young companies like Klein Reid and Design Within Reach.
This little teapot started it all. I bought this in my teens at the Shipshewana Fleamarket for a mere $14. Drew and I scored a place setting for 12 at Home Anthology and it became a wedding gift from my mom.
Ebay has helped me with the rest of my collection.

I scored a pair of these Schmoo shakers from a little thrift shop in my hometown. While crazed and perfectly imperfect, they cost me 50 cents. A collector's dream!
While her pottery is highly collectible, Crate and Barrel has re-issued her 1952 Classic Century line, making beautiful design available to the masses.

Don't forget to apply..to Holiday Heap that is!

Perhaps Baltimore's hippest holiday show, and the Charm City Craft Mafia wants you to apply!
APPLY NOW! Applications are due October 8th at midnight! Best of luck! oxo

Trend Watch: Chevrons!

super cool diy project by thebabyblackbird.com

classic chic invitations by Richie Designs

salad plate by Young Alexander

gouache painting by Squid Whale Designs

Sugar Paperie's Off to St. Louis

Back in July I set out to do my first trade show, Buyers Market of American Craft, with a few pals from Baltimore Craft. Held in Baltimore, it seemed foolish not to take the leap into more widespread wholesale opportunities. The past few weeks, I've been busy shipping out orders made during the market.

A box of storybook cards is headed off to Craft Alliance in St. Louis. Now Sugar Paperie cards can also be found at Smyle Store in East Greenwich, Rhode Island & 925 Silver Store in Baltimore. As always, you can pick them up locally at Trohv, Woman's Industrial Exchange, Greenberries and ArtSpring. Hooray!

Collections: Milkglass

I love milkglass. It's creamy white, just like homemade vanilla ice cream, making it a great addition to any type of decor. The varying textures provide for a fun and interesting cluster. And best of all, it's cheap and relatively easy to find. Made popular in the 1950's, milkglass is an opaque glass poured into vintage glass molds. And this is how I like to show off my collection in our home.

Designers I Could Just Eat Up: Ashley Lloyd

Beautiful. Haunting. Mysterious. Delicate. Bold. Fierce. Meet Ashley Lloyd. A master milliner based in Manhattan, Ashley is a collector bringing to life the untold story of her gathered relics. A MICA grad, Ashley is currently working on her collections of avant-garde head-pieces while collaborating with other designers as well. If only Alexander McQueen could have met this talented gal. It would have been a match made in heaven. To read more about her work, check out this wonderful article by Design Sponge.

Rainbow Brite

As a child of the 80s, I adored Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, Barbie and the Rockers, and of course, Rainbow Brite. I'd dress like Punky Brewster (layering my socks, and all) and yearned to be Cyndi Lauper. Drawings of rainbows, hearts, and shooting stars embellished my bedroom, and I had the habit of putting my clothes in rainbow order. Only to have my sister mix them all up.

My color sense comes from these carefree childhood memories. I still love rainbows and striped grosgrain ribbons. Occasionally I buy stickers, and I have a box full of sparkly glitter.

Unicorns

The truth is, I never grew out of stickers, glitter, rainbows, or unicorns. A girl can always dream.

Unicorn screen print by amandakindregan

Me and My Unicorn by alicebgardens.

Unicorn Mask print by MATTY8080

Music in the Studio: The Givers

Playing every day, from dawn till dark is In Light by the Givers. They have a sunny global beat (as heard in Vampire Weekend, Rusted Root and Paul Simon thank-you-very-much) and some sexy female vocals (think Florence and the Machines, Cat Power, Zooey Deschanel, and Baltimore's own Beach House & Celebration).The Givers have a sound that is happy-go-lucky, cheerful, dreamy, and carefree. Like a perfect summer day, dancing barefoot in a lush grassy park, without a care in the world. This Louisiana band has a sound I love, one that's a little bohemian and a whole lotta fun. Watch this video and I dare you to say that it doesn't give you goose bumps.

Designers I Could Just Eat Up: Essimar

I can't seem to remember how I stumbled upon Essimar , but I am thrilled that I did.
I love the play of color and seemingly simple repetition on each tiny little card.
I had a reversible fleece shirt like this in the 80's.

Essimar takes me back to my childhood days of Rainbow Brite, legwarmers and Cyndi Lauper.

For the Home: Home Anthology

One of my best kept secrets is no more, but I'm okay with it. You see, one of my favorite sources for home furnishings and groovy sculptural objects was featured in the Baltimore Magazine's Best of Baltimore.

Years before we were homeowners, I stumbled upon a mecca of mid-century home goods. The shop was Home Anthology and it began in a gorgeous loft space in Oella Mill. Time has passed, the mill has filled with fancy condominiums, and Home Anthology has moved closer to that house of mine that I always dreamed of filling with a mix of mid-century & traditional wares.
photo courtesy of Home Anthology

Tucked back in an unassuming warehouse-esque strip mall, Home Anthology is located in Catonsville. Opened only on weekends, the shop owners spend the rest of their week scouring estate sales and yard sales all over the country. Sounds to me like the perfect life to lead!

I have a history here, as the quiet girl who comes in to browse, measure furniture, and dream. Once, I spotted a 12 piece place setting of the famed Eva Zeisel Hallcraft for a song. Being the sensible person that I am (a white lie when it comes to antiques, I'm afraid), I went home to 'think about it' and called my mom to tell her that I found the perfect wedding gift for her to purchase for my husband and I. I got the a-ok and frankly, my heart stopped until the collection was in my hands. Ironically, that wedding day was 4 years ago today!

Home Anthology is filled with clean mid-century designs, from furniture and lamps to art objects. If you can't make it into the store, check out their website. It's filled with beautiful things, just promise to leave me a few of them!

Journals & Daydreams

Introducing sweet little journals, perfect for notes, to-do's, and daydreams:

Vintage Modern Ribbon Lined Journal

Preppy Scottie Dog Unlined Notebook

Preppy & Pink Lined Journal

Back to School

Ready or not, the school year is just around the corner. As an art teacher, my dress tends to have a funky flair. I was tickled pink to find Thief & Bandit, a super hip etsy site filled with hand printed necklaces and clothing. Based in Richmond, we're almost neighbors!

Here are a few pieces that I just adore:

Hand Printed Fabric Necklace in Pink White and Black

Braided Headband in Red

Feather Leather Headband