My famous purse...

I was hoping for the day that my Birch purse would make it to the Etsy.com front page, and it finally did! I got a nice note from one of my customers telling me that my purse was being featured - how exciting!!!


I went to a local craft fair yesterday to shop for Christmas gifts and got inundated with questions about my purse (not this one, but one of my other models that I carry around). It seemed that everyone wanted one! I ended up giving away quite a few business cards - I wonder who will be the first one to purchase it!! :)

Black Friday... it's not a myth!

Well, after a few months of having my own storefront on Etsy.com, it finally happened... I sold an original painting, and a hand-bound blank journal... all in the same day!

I've sold journals and paintings in the past, but this is the first time that someone has bought a painting of mine online. I was more than ecstatic, and I'm sure my customers will be very happy with their purchases. Here's what recently sold on my Etsy.com shop...

My "Autumn Leaves" oil painting - an original 12 x 16:

And one of my hand-bound blank journals:

Thank you to everyone who helps to support the "handmade movement". I personally made a pledge this Holiday season to buy ONLY handmade items... for both adults AND kids! You'd be surprised what you kind find out there, and you're helping the local economy at the same time.

I was featured on the Etsy Front Page!!!!

Yes, you read correctly... and for anyone selling on Etsy.com, this is an amazing honor!! Most of the front pages are curated by other Etsy members using the Treasury feature (where we each showcase our own favorites), and if we're lucky enough, Admin will take note and select one of these Treasuries as their Homepage.

Well, this particular one was selected by Admin itself. Just a really nice selection of miscellaneous items that shared a common color palette, is where my Birch Bark tube found a home. Although me being featured on the FP didn't result in a sale (yet!), many items in my shop received many "hearts", and the added traffic certainly can't be bad!!

Tomato - 4 x 6"

I love painting Tomatoes, almost just as much as I love painting apples... for some reason, I tend to gravitate to these to food items the most. But the thing I love most about painting tomatoes is the variety of color you get, especially in the stem and leaves! And the nice cast shadows that they give on the curved shapes...

This painting can be purchased through my Etsy shop.

Birch Bark Purse

I can't even begin to say how much attention my Birch purses have been getting! I honestly can't go anywhere without at least someone commenting on it. If it's attention that you're looking for, this is the purse for you!

Made entirely out of upcycled/recycled Birch Bark that I've reclaimed from the woods behind my house (no trees have been cut for this - simply pieces of birch that were left behind by loggers). The purse measures approximately 9" long, and about 4.5" in diameter. The end pieces are made of 1/2" thick Poplar wood and the inside is lined with a nice beige fabric, with a felt liner underneath to give it more cushion.

The handle is also very unique - made from a branch that I found in the woods that had been gnawed by beavers. You can actually see the teeth marks! Embellished with some wooden beads and grosgrain ribbon, the handle is soft and will sit flat when not in use.

This AWESOME purse can be purchased through my Etsy shop.

SOLD - Come Home Safely - 10 x 14"

SOLD 

No matter what your stance is on war, most of us can sympathize with those who have loved ones fighting for our rights. It's a sadness that we all feel. However, I wanted this painting to speak to the HOPE that we all have here, HOPE for those fighting for us that they WILL return home safely! You can't help but notice all the yellow ribbons - they're everywhere. It's the universal symbol that we use when we think of our troops abroad.