Etsy Eagle Team

 It is official.  The new Etsy team that I have created with three other Etsy shop owners is now a fact.  We are all based in Eagle, Wi. USA.  We are planning local events for our little town as well as events that will encompass our worldwide following.

So far ( new members are coming aboard ) what the three of us offer and what some of us make is different from each other.  Of course, that can change in the future.

The other three Etsy shops are;  promisespromises.etsy.com
                                                 scrapbookingforever.etsy.com
 and                                           debsdetails.etsy.com


Now, a little about each shop.
promisespromises is a shop that features two artists...actually a mother & daughter.  The mom, Sheri creates extremely interesting horse totems.  I am still learning about the totem meanings, but from what I have seen of Sheri's work it is all handmade and painted with the symbols and meanings of what I take to be American Indian lore.  Very fascinating.  Sheri does keep horses on her property so she has first hand knowledge of the animal that she observes on a daily basis.  Eagle is a bit of horse country (many people keep horses here).  Her daughter, who also shares her shop specializes in mixed media and especially pet portraits.  Alyssa can paint a portrait from a snapshot...this enables her to paint for people worldwide.  Alyssa's portaits are engaging and beautiful.  Be sure to check out this shop and tell your friends about it.

scrapbookingforever's owner is Angie.  Angie like me just opened her shop this past November.  Angie carries hundreds of scrapbooking supplies many of which I have not seen before.  She also specializes in making up custom scrapbooking pages and custom calendars.  When you are short of time or don't have the know how or creative abilities that she has contact her and see for yourself what she can offer you.

debsdetails is a shop run by two sisters that in their spare time teach belly dancing!  Deb creates and has just started getting into cement and her sister, Cindy paints. They also sing together as a music group called 'Fallen Angels'.  See their unique items in their shop.  You don't know what you might find!  All very creative I might add.

When you access their web Etsy stores be sure you find an item or two that you like and please 'heart' these items.  This always helps a shop owner because it allows the shop owner to get a handle on what interests the public as well as helping to make that shop more active.  With 170,000 Etsy shops local artists such as ourselves need all the help we can get.

Happy New Year!

A Good Friend's Geranium

Do you like geraniums?  My good friend Marion does.  She does so much indeed that she wallpapered her kitchen in a gorgeous rosy geranium print many years ago.

Here the wallpaper is.  I call them scatter geraniums because it is almost like someone cut a handfull of geraniums and tossed them into the air...and, then they were painted that way.  It's so artistic!


She has collected geranium prints, flowers, books, recipes, knick-knacks, etc. and continues to do so.  See below two beautiful prints hanging in this room.

I, several years ago made a gift to her of a 3 dimensional rosy geranium pillow that she perches on the kitchen's bow window padded seat.  What do you think?

Hand Eye Coordination

The first question 99 out of 100 people ask me when I show them something I have made is invariably , "How long did that take you?"  And, they almost seem to me to imply that I am crazy for putting time into an artistic endeavor.  Do you really suppose that when Michelangelo completed a sculpture that this was the first question on everyone's lips?  I don't think so and by the way I am not comparing my work to his.

But that question does give me pause and I have actually come to hate it.  This innocent question rankles me because a creative and artistic piece of work SHOULD take time.  It probably should take a lot of time!  It's just that in this day and age, with all of our technological  wonders that can mass produce items very fast... the handmade is not common any more.  Indeed it is less expensive by far to accumulate the cookie cutter items in life.

All of this brings me to the reason I am writing this blog.  In the December 2009 issue of Forbes Life magazine, ( this is a special issue ) editor Gary Walther has devoted the entire issue to handmade luxury.  As he writes, "The desire for the handmade and handwork is the hallmark of luxury now, and reflects a longing for all the adjectives on Ms. Glover's shopping list."  Priscilla Glover told The New York Times in December 2001 , "I don't want some brand trophy right now." 

Mr. Walther adds, "For decades, luxury had denoted scarcity, quality, pedigree, authenticity, and class  (  in the Gary Grant sense of the word )."  And then, since the 1980's "boundaries have blurred and logos have blossomed.  A cotton T-shirt could be marketed as a luxury garment with the right label  inside and a few spoonfuls of sequins sprinkled on the front.  Up until last year we were living in an era of luxury inflation that not even the tech-bubble bust could halt." 

He makes the point that this "mass luxury" has now made connoisseurs of former consumers.  Again, Mr. Walther quotes Ms. Glover, "I want something original, special, beautiful, charming, and even precious..."  He calls to one's attention that his December issue is not about things, but it is about "the mind, eye, and hand of the artisan that imbue an object with the spirit of authenticity." 

I could not agree more with Mr. Walther.  It's what I do in my work.  Do we really all need the next mass produced item that our neighbor also has?  And, I am also like Ms. Glover; I would rather have something original and special and charming and meaningful to me.  Let's face it.  Our homes and lives are stuffed with stuff.  People are now beginning to reevaluate (I think the economic times have brought this on fast) what means the most to them and what they can live without and actually don't even really want.  As the slow food movement has gained steam and is going mainstream; I believe the true luxury of an original handcrafted work ...for one to possess... will mean more to the consumer...to more consumers in the near future and rightfully so.  This is why I joined Etsy.com, the headquarters for the handmade movement. 

The Luncheon

It is the day after and Marion and I, Candy, the two hostesses are a bit tired but happy.  Everything went well including the weather.  Just before the arrival of the guests I sprinkled antique German mica snowflakes on the carpet.  My how they glistened!  Just like diamonds!  All noticed when they entered.  The snowflakes looked like fresh fallen snow.

We began with button mushrooms filled with crabmeat as the appetizer and washed these down with apple chips in cider punch.

Shortly after we tasted Marion's Apple Rutabaga Soup which all proclaimed was most delicious as indeed it was.  Smooth and very tasty some of the ingredients were sweet potatoes and granny smith apples.  This was our first course.

Next on the plates was juicy beef tenderloin with cranberry sauce, pomegranate pilaf, red cabbage, lemon braised brussels sprouts and crescent rolls.

More favors were passed out including the gingerbread mini wreaths (pictured in a previous blog) and decorated sugar cookies.

Before doing our intermission craft project we decided to eat one of the three desserts.  The little Christmas tree cupcake was served and enjoyed by all with many questions as to how it was created.  When serving it I added some snow (powered sugar) to the plates.

Now we proceeded with the craft project.  Each lady gittered and decorated two candles with paper snowflakes and embroidered (by Candy) Christmas ornaments and the words 'Merry Christmas'.  Each candle creation was different and unique.

Note that the rubber bands were cut off after the glue had dried.  Don't they look professional?  Do know that our guests are long time crafters.  Crafting these candles with embroidery is the kick off to this Holiday season. 
Pictures of our guests come next:

After finishing our candles we ate the last two desserts; the chocolate raspberry roulade and the lemon pot de creme with crystallized rose petals from my garden.  During all of this time soft Christmas music played in the background.  The rose petals I picked last September and crystallized them then and stored them until today.  Yes!  You can eat rose petals.
Now that the luncheon is over I am getting back to my embroidery projects that will soon be appearing in my shop on Etsy: candytheartist.etsy.com

And, last but not least each lady was presented with an embroidered Holly & Berry pin embroidered by me.  You can purchase this very same pin on my Etsy web site.  Click on the link above.  It is pictured here.  By the way, the Holly pin as pictured here is very close to actual size!

The Day Before

  Well, tomorrow December 2 is the day of the luncheon.  I am SO EXCITED!  I love to plan these affairs and  entertain my guests.  It is a highlight of the year.  I love to surprise them with many small gifts some of which I have already written about.  And, the food itself is creative to make and prepare.  More pictures of the food will be taken and posted tomorrow.

     Today I worked on finishing the three different desserts.  One of them is a Christmas tree cupcake.  Of all the desserts I have ever made this one although simple was challenging.  It consists of a tree base and a tree top that are baked separately and then put together via frosting.  The two parts must be level and the assembled tree must be frosted as it is being turned so as to keep it level.  See the pictures.

Tomorrow I will plate the tree cupcake and add a little snow (powered sugar) to the base.  I can't wait to present it!  Unusual yes?  What do you think?

Today I also finished making the individual pots de lemon creme that will have some crystallized rose petals as the top garnish (picture tomorrow).  The crystallized rose petals I picked from my garden in September...that is I picked the rose petals and then crystallized them.  They are perfectly edible as I use no pesticides in my garden.

     I also set out the gingerbread and decorated sugar cookies on the table as part of our centerpiece.  The smell is yummy!

Several pictures from different angles are posted here.

The center clear glass bowl with the snowman inside will have 'real snow' in it tomorrow.  I will explain this tomorrow.

A few more pictures of the Christmas decor now follow.  Be sure and look for the red fireplace mantel scarf that I embroidered with snowflakes...some in a metallic thread.

This is a Christmas tree cut from one sheet of paper without any breaks.  Very time consuming...but, oh so rewarding!  I made this.

These are wreaths
          I have made
                from vintage holly from Germany
                   and assorted ribbons I shaped into
                         poinsettias.

A portion of the Christmas tree where I have made most of the decorations.  These would include Victorian embroidered cones, velvet birds, glittered real pinecones and sumac, individually strung one by one acorns from local trees, and more.  Please post a comment.  You must sign in to do this.

Thanksgiving Day 2009

In my last blog I mentioned that I was working on a new project for my shop on Etsy.  Well, this new project is now finished.  I embroidered a sweet little 6" tall paper doll, outfits and toys.  The set of seven pieces is not embroidered on paper but on fabric.  That makes the set soft, bendable and actually an heirloom meant to be around for a long time.  What do you think?  Different, yes?

Want to see some more pictures?

Here the little doll is dressed in her Winter cape with fur muff.

The details are dainty and exquisite.  See the shoe buttons on her spats?

Mindy in her nightgown of heavenly blue also has tiny pink flowers and green leaves.  The shading adds a lot to the garments.

See her pink slippers!  She is ready for bed.  And, I am too after eating turkey dinner...or, at least a nap.candytheartist.etsy.com

Other Preparations For Up Coming Luncheon

Between our lunch and deserts we will be doing a craft project.  Marion and I are supplying two candles for each lady to decorate as she pleases and, of course, take home with her.  I have prepared several different punched out shapes of snowflakes in various colors, ribbons, glitter, and some embroidered Christmas motifs.  The craft project is always fun because each lady's creation is totally different.

As additional luncheon favors I have embroidered a Holly and Berry Pin for each lady.  We are giving them in a box that I have decorated the top with a
holly leaf in red.



Another favor is a set of three Christmas magnets: a tree, a deer and the word 'JOY'.  These I have flocked, micro beaded and glittered.

Why go to so much trouble?  Well, I believe that one's guests should be pampered.  And, I like to make the occasion memorable.  In future blogs I will picture and detail our food.  We are having three different desserts.  Only because I LOVE making sweet treats.

This blog is short as I am working on new embroidery projects that will be in my Etsy shop soon.  Here is a peek!


I'm working on a set of paper doll clothes and doll and toys.  All embroidered.  They will be ready to play with OR,  they could be framed.

Look for them in my shop soon: candytheartist.etsy.com.  Happy Thanksgiving everybody!http://www.candytheartist.etsy.com/

December 2, 2009 Ladies Luncheon

     This is my very first post to my new blog!  I am so excited!  Here goes:

     This coming Dec. 2  myself, Candy and a very dear lady friend, Marion are hosting a ladies luncheon at my home for four other lady friends.  So, there will be six of us.  We have been planning this for months.  The day of the event is coming ever so close.  But, not to be stressed out or wringing our hands.

     Marion and I have divided up duties that include who makes what food, who is picking up the other guests from their homes, etc.  I, Candy have done the embroidery for one thing.  Most people who read this blog have found it thru my web site www.candytheartist.etsy.com.  which as you may or may not know is the web site to go to for everything handmade.

So, for starters I embroidered the menu.  Here it is.  The word 'Menu' is embroidered on paper.  The rest of the menu is printed.  Our luncheon is called 'An Embroidered Christmas Luncheon'.

The red band running across is a ribbon.  What do you think?

Of course, one must have favors at each place setting.  In a matching enameled tin pail that has stripes in red, white and green we are giving a red pen, Christmas notepad and candy canes.

A part of the table's centerpiece consists of Christmas candles that I have embroidered.  The rectangular candle I glittered the top of and embroidered Merry Christmas on both sides on the same paper I used for the menu.  The top of the candle is decorated with a print of an original holly leaf stem and berries that I watercoloured this Fall.  The holly bush is in my backyard.  I am an avid gardener.

Another embroidered candle has a chickadee on fabric on one side and sprigs of holly leaves and berries on the other side.

I also custom made dining room chair back covers that are piped in red & green...and also feature the same chickadee and sprigs of holly leaves & berries.


Both sides are shown here.  What do you think?

The back side is the same as the back side of the candle.