Etsy Top 5 of the week

since I went to my brothers wedding this weekend I decided to post some Etsy shops that specialize in wedding gifts and such...
cake topper by Vintage by Crystal

adorable clay figurines from xpcraft - the figures "both of them symbolize fortune, happiness and wealth in China."

beautiful vase by KristenKSwanson

super cute t-shirts by Polymer

handpainted wine glasses by MarysWorkshop

what happened to the top 5 etsy on friday!?

well, my power went out in the middle of trying to post on Thursday night and then Friday morning we left for my brothers wedding in Chicago! so, the top 5 Etsy shops will be updated on Monday, check back then.

inspiration: rain

I love rain storms and last night it poured so I tried to take some pictures of the rain. Most of the shots didn't look very interesting, but with some I was getting "sparkles" from the flash lighting up the rain drops - I thought it was pretty cool.

Kat MacLeod - illustrations

simply stated: home & organizing | Blogs | By RealSimple.com

I found this link through Meet Me at Mikes, one of my new favorite blogs, and knew you would like it. Artist Kat MacLeod creates these beautiful illustrations that have so much expression with few lines - also lots of texture and color and patterns. follow the link above to find out more, that post has lots of other links to her work.

FOUND Magazine | Find of the Day

FOUND Magazine | Find of the Day

Mary Laredo Herbeck: Works in Progress at 555 Gallery

We had a great time at Mary's show opening last night - Works in Progress that she has been working on as the artist in resident at 555 Gallery and studios. Marys work was very inspiring, as usual. Here are a few pics from the evening.



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Alana Delts - update and pics

I posted about Alana Delts here and now I have pictures of her work (yes, she uses actual fabric and other things) and a link to her blog, go check it out!

Hello Mr. Caterpillar

Etsy Top 5 of the week

Graduation gifts! since I'm going to a graduation party this weekend, and so many others are celebrating their graduations this month, I thought grad gifts would be an appropriate theme this week.


GetFun: Hello Kitty School Graduation Doll Crochet Pattern















Earmark: The Writers Gift Set













CreativeWoodworking: Charging Station
















Cards by Jenny and Judy: Graduation Flipbook Album












Captured Time Books: Graduation Altered Journal

Happy Birthday Colin!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Colin, Happy Birthday to you!!

inspiration: Karen Kimmel

Karen Kimmel
beautiful work by artist Karen Kimmel - blogged at Design Sponge

inspiration: Alyssa Ettinger pottery

ReForm School: Alyssa Ettinger Knitware Bowl

blog surfing today and came across this super cool knitware bowl by Alyssa Ettinger at Reform School.

inspiration: Alana Delts

myartspace: Artist Profile Page: Alana Delts
mixed media artist originally from Russia but now lives and works in New York. I really like her use of fabric embedded in the canvases (at least that's what it looks like is going on in the images) - it would be nice to see in person. you'll have to visit her page on myartspace.com in order to see the images...

Inspiration: The Heidelberg Project -- Still going Strong

I did not realize that Tyree Guyton was still going strong with his art intiatives in Detroit. Check out his website The Heidelberg Project.com . And check out his call of entries for an exhibition on Heidelberg Street this August: "It's all About the D" Click Here to see the call for entries . I think we should at least send in a proposal--maybe get some other artists to get involved (Mary).

knit cozy for out of service gas station

I came across this project through Knit.1 Magazine Blog - "grad-student and artist Jennifer Marsh sent out a call for contributions of knit or crocheted panels that were to be sewn to create a gigantic gas station cozy, in order to raise awareness about gas consumption in the United States."
what an incredible project and at such an important time considering the major rise in the cost of gas. Although, I always wonder about projects like this and how much awareness does it bring about? The people contributing and participating are already concerned about the issue, but how much is it affecting everyone else?
visit the International Fiber Collaborative for more information.

jewelry sale in my etsy shop

Etsy :: kellydarke :: Kelly Darke

I have posted some jewelry for sale in my Etsy shop - styles that I don't make anymore.

WSU Professor Appears On 'Jeopardy' - Detroit News Story - WDIV Detroit

WSU Professor Appears On 'Jeopardy' - Detroit News Story - WDIV Detroit

I think this is from this past Friday, so I missed it - but still very cool - go WSU!!

The Mist

we just watched The Mist last night - what an awesome movie! Classic Stephen King creatures and suspense. but what I liked most about the movie is how much it makes you think about the human condition and what would people do if they were cut off from the rest of the world - no communication with anyone and monsters (or any life threatening crises) outside your door. Marcia Gay Harden is incredible as Ms. Carmody, an extreme bible preaching local who tries to convince everyone it is the "end of times"... Also, it has one of the most tragic and surprising movie endings ever - I don't usually gasp and yell "NO!" at the screen - I was completely shocked - I couldn't stop thinking about the movie all night.

top 5 Etsy shops for Friday the 13th!

ok, it's Friday the 13th so for all you horror movie fans out there here are a few appropriate pics:

Friday the 13th coasters featuring Jason from HotTaTasFaktory.etsy.com














a collaged box from jaybeePrints.etsy.com















art by Edwardo Manson

















mosaic monster montage by FinalScore


















and a metal maniac from Doodlemonkie

found some old jewelry of mine

that I will be selling in my etsy shop at a huge discount. this particular bracelet used to be one of my best selling pieces... I haven't made this style in so long, I had forgotten about it. The jewelry is all in good condition, just pieces that were prototypes for new ideas or just a style I don't make anymore. Some of the pieces I might keep for myself like this tiny little earrings:

look what I found on my desk this morning...

my husband is so great - he picked flowers for me for our anniversary yesterday...

Spraygraphic Community

Spraygraphic Community | Creative Social Community | Creative Portfolio

a cool new artist website - you can create your own portfolio for art, design, film, music, and writing.

Happy Anniversary Colin and Melanie!

new fiber necklace inspired by Silvina Romero

This is one of my new jewelry pieces using fiber: reclaimed yarn and then wrapped and embroidered with cotton embroidery thread.

I had come across the work of Silvina Romero a while back and was very inspired by her use of fiber since I had been unraveling sweaters to reuse the yarn in my own work. I wonder, how does inspiration really work? Am I inspired by her work because it was similar to my own - or is my work similar to hers because I was inspired by her work? It just seems that the more I get into fiber work, the more amazing fiber work I find all around.

inspiration: Stephen Scott Smith

myartspace > Artist Profile Page

another artist found through myartspace.com. I was really drawn in by the installations, but I'm not sure what's going on in them - I couldn't find any details about the materials or theme or anything - but, visually they look great, especially the map of the United States - it could be paper - maybe...

David Byrne - Playing the Building

David Byrne’s New Band - Lyricism in Girders, Harmony in Rusty Pipess - NYTimes.com

David Byrne has retrofitted an organ with switches and relays to "play" different parts of a building by vibrating pipes, tapping the columns, blowing air through water and heating pipes, and more - the building is the "Battery Maritime Building, a 99-year-old former ferry terminal at the end of Whitehall Street that has sat mostly dormant for more than a half-century." (NYTimes) Anyone can play the organ to play the building - the sounds must be so interesting - what an incredible to way to find beauty and art in an unexpected place.

Inspiration: Tula Telfai

Two Autonomous Systems
2007
oil on seven adjoined canvases
80 1/2 x 100 inches

ESOPUS MAGAZINE

ESOPUS MAGAZINE ::: Home

I came across this magazine at Borders yesterday and was completely drawn in by the cover of this issue. I don't remember ever seeing this magazine before, but it only comes out twice a year and if it sells out it would be easy to miss it at the store. It is published by the Esopus Foundation Ltd, a non-profit organization, so it does not have any advertising, just great images of art. Check out the website to get more information and pick up the latest issue. From the website: "Esopus is a twice-yearly arts magazine featuring fresh, unmediated perspectives on contemporary culture from a wide range of creative professionals. It includes artists’ projects, critical writing, fiction, poetry, visual essays, interviews, and, in each issue, a themed CD of new music."