a peek behind Lark Studio...

Handbags + wine = good times

It's in the Bag 2009 Charity Handbag Auction

 

National Blog Posting Month

November is National Blog Posting Month or NaBloPoMo for short.  During this month the goal is to blog everyday, including weekends, to help set the habit of blogging. Needless to say I 've gotten out of the habit a bit, but I'm participating in NaBloPoMo again this year to get back in the habit. If you are a blogger, consider joining in. Marathon blogging is a very good excercise and it can be quite fun! Feel free to leave a comment with a link to your blog if you do.

Free stuff, sales and classes

Sorry for being so quiet lately. I've been relishing all the love my recycled eyeglass lens and security envelope necklaces and pendants have gotten over the past few weeks. You can read about them here, here or even here. Thanks!

It's that back to school time of year and I'm gearing up for some craft classes I'm teaching at the new JoAnn's superstore in Midlothian. You can sign-up at the store or you can click the Pay Now buttons below and sign-up here. If you sign-up here please note that there is a $1 online processing fee attached to the price of the class, and you will need to get to class approximately 1/2 hour early to receive your supply list and to purchase your supplies at the store.

Speaking of supplies - have you ever wanted to learn to crochet? Well now is the time! Thanks to Lion Brand Yarn you can get FREE class supplies for the Crochet 101 class at JoAnn's in September and October. Sign-up for my Septeber 2 Crochet 101 class and receive a free Lion Brand Yarn tote filled with the yarn and hooks you need for the class.

If you want more yummy yarn you can stop by Lettuce Knit in Richmond this weekend for their "BIG SALE". The sale is August 22 & 23 only - Saturday 9-6 and Sunday 1-3. Lots of goodies and all sales are final. They are located in the original Stony Point shopping center: 3030 Stony Point Road. 

Upcoming Classes:

Jewelry 201 - Chunky Necklace Wednesday August 26 6:00 - 9:00 pm
$40 (One 3 hr session)

What you learn:

• How to use chains & headpins
• Fastening techniques
• Innovative design styles

Crochet 101 - No cost for supplies! Wednesday September 2 6:30 - 9:00 pm
$35 (One 2.5 hr session)

What you learn:

• Single & Double chain
• Introduction to tools
• Selecting your first project

Craft Night - BYOC (Bring your own craft) Saturday September 5 6:00 - 9:00 pm
$10 (One 3 hr session)

Come hang out and meet other local crafters while you work on your own project. Classroom tools will be available for use. (NOTE: This is a social event. No formal instruction will be given)

Help me say it and win

I need a new slogan/motto for my business and I would like your input. Lark Studio is going green(er) this year. I'm using the supplies I have and when I need to purchase something I'll be using only second-hand materials aside from some basic findings. How can I let folks know in a short, snappy statement? I haven't been able to come up with much, just these:

• Making junk look good
• We make junk look good
• Trashion for you and your home 

So, please, please, please give me some suggestions/feedback in the comments of this blog post. If I choose your suggestion you can shop Lark Studio with a $10 gift certificate!

Hit me with your best shot!

Supplies, supplies everywhere!

Are you an artist, crafter or maker with just too much stuff?  Do you go crazy during this time of the year wanting to clear out and organize?  Well, I feel ya.  And I have a solution for you. 

The 2nd annual Crafter's Anonymous Craft Swap will be held this Sunday at Artworks from 2 - 5 pm.  You can bring your unused, unwanted supplies and swap them for other supplies that you may need or want. There will also be crafting/making stations set-up so you can sit, chill and create throughout the day. The event is a fundraiser for Art 180, so there is a small fee to enter.  Check out the website for the swap for more information.

See you there!

Question for you creatives...

For all you professional crafters, artists, makers...how do you spend the first 3 months of the year?  Is it all about rest - taking time away from your business?  Or is it mostly about planning - coming up with what you will create for the year?  Or do you jump right back into it after the holidays with actual making?

Let's get some dialogue going on this here blog.  Leave me a comment and let me know your process!

How did I ever have time to have a full-time job?

Whew...I've been busy since I left my full-time job.  So much so that I have to wonder how I juggled both my crafty endevours and work in previous years.  When I decided to get up from my week long nap after my "retirment" began, I was all about planning our first Fall Open House.  The DH and I haven't had a number of people over to our house at one time since about 2000.  That is way too long!  We had done some remodeling in 2008, and were celebrating both our birthdays and our new found freedom from working for "da man".  What better way to commemorate all of that than with a party, right?  The DH even showcased is expansive collection of classic hip-hop posters throughout the house. The event was a great way to kick off the holiday season - good times, good food and good friends!

Since then, other than the requisite break for Thanksgiving cooking, its been all about holiday craft shows.  Sorry for the last minute-ness of this, but if you are looking for cool gifts in downtown Richmond, stop by the Fawn Shop.  We are only open through Saturday December 13th so hurry on down!

Can't make it to the store?  No worries, I got you covered.  Come see me at the Richmond Craft Mafia's fourth annual Handmade Holiday show.  We went bigger and better this year - featuring over 30 local artists and crafters from the area, the show will be 2 days and at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond.

What time is it?

I thoroughly enjoyed my vacation in Las Vegas.  In 18 years, the DH and I have never taken a 7 day vacation.  Unplugging and being away for that long was very nice and we have vowed to do it more often.

If you are a reader of this blog you know my motto:  have (good) music, will travel.  We chose Vegas because the original members of The Time were reuniting after some 20 odd years and of course we had to see that up close and personal:

 

Believe it: that's me and DH with the band! For more photos of the trip check out my sets on Flickr.

Speaking of time - I've decided it's time I take some serious time to figure out this whole creative/crafty itch I've got.  I started searching for clarity while on vacation but it hasn't come yet.  In the interim I have decided a good place to start is to clean my crafty house.  I took a look around my studio and literally I have had some of the items there for years (yes, that's plural).  So, I'm liquidating these crafty assets in my Etsy shop.  Everything from fabric to vintage jewelry finds to display items - it's all going.  If you are local, check here first (it will show larger items that I can't ship but are trying to part with).  I'll be adding items in batches over the next several days, so check back often.  And remember, all prices are always negotiable.

Wish me luck on the journey.  Anyone got a back scratcher?

The color of design

Rifferaff, author of the blog Make It, has a very interesting post up entitled "The color of design".  Head over and check out the post and the rest of the wonderful blog about building a craft business.

A passion for fashion

A quick photo recap of the "Printemps sur la canal" - Spring fashion show featuring Erin Taylor Designs and Sew Ono Ap*par*el

The designers: Erin Taylor and Ono Mangano