Paperelle

Security Envelope Art

2010-04-19T09:27:00.000-04:00

Happy Earth Week / Month / Day! (This holiday has really grown, depending on who you talk to). I thought it would be appropriate to upcycle materials when embellishing this lunchbox, it's for the Spring Handmade Cavalcade raffle. Wooo, security envelopes and mod podge! Come to the Cavalcade this weekend for your chance to win this, or one of 4 other embellished lunch boxes, filled with handmade goodies.

The "lightbulb" filled with origami stars is a sneak peek at a new product that will be available at Crafts in Chelsea on May 8th, 2010.

a Handmade {NewNew} Valentine

2010-01-12T11:20:00.006-05:00

The artisans that make the {NewNew} Etsy team so fabulous are already stocked for Valentine's Day! Wouldn't it be sweet to give your valentine this Secret Heart pin? It has a secret pocket in the back, just the right size for a little love note. Or, use it to present a ring or pair of earrings?

Secret Heart Brooch, handsewn felt, $5.00 by Lipeony

I just recommended a "Sayings" print from Virginia Kraljevic to a friend looking for an anniversary present, and discovered this charmer while browsing her shop:

Magic Bunny, 8x10" print, $18.00, virginiakraljevic

And, if you have no Valentine, this NYC graffitti card from ApertureAgog has the perfect sentiment:

F--- Valentines, photography notecard, $4.00, ApertureAgog

Now, to find a subtle way to make sure DH reads this...

Shop Feature: Sparkle Beast Designs

2010-01-08T12:13:00.004-05:00

If the name Sparkle Beast isn't catchy enough, just check out her wares:

Love it! The artist behind Sparkle Beast, Natalie, sets the rhinestones onto mesh fabric and finishes the necklaces with coordinating ribbons. I met Natalie a few years ago through our shared hobby of cosplay- namely dressing up like cartoon characters and nerding around for a weekend. She's known for meticulous colorful beadwork in her cosplay creations, so naturally she brought it to her jewelry line! I think any of these would look stellar with a little black dress. The crazy thing is- they're only $12.99 - $29.99!
I'm looking forward to seeing Natalie at Katsucon next month, one of the conventions where nerds like us show off our latest costumes. I have a booth in the artist alley, Natalie better stop by to say hello and show me what she's wearing!

Cute overload!

2009-12-30T17:19:00.002-05:00

So, I have an adorable chinchilla:

Her name is Momo, although we usually call her Chilla, Butts, Chillabutts, or Momobutts. My husband and I adopted her via PetFinder two years ago.

Just when you thought rodents didn't get cuter than big round chinchillas, my friend Mo posted pictures of her new flying squirrel, Ricochet!

Super adorable! Apparently she's not "flying" yet, but with a face that cute, who cares?

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T12:00:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who made 2009 awesome, I had a blast! Merry Christmas, from Santapus and me!

How not to be a jerk in NYC during the Holidays

2009-12-16T17:10:00.002-05:00

Last weekend I took some out of state friends around NYC to do holiday touristy type things. *shudders* Ok, it wasn't that bad. Here are some tips if your friends ask you to be a tour guide:

1- Hopstop! I commute into Grand Central daily to my job in the West Village. My husband works uptown, near "Museum Mile". As such, those are the only two areas of Manhattan I really know. So, swallow your pride, and hopstop out a walking / subway plan to get from points A to B.

2- That big tree? It's crowded. Go early. Don't walk on 5th Avenue to get there, try a block on either side to avoid a lot of the slow-moving crowds.

3- Taking the subway with out-of-towners? Save yourself a headache and buy a metrocard for them ahead of time. Hold onto it, and swipe them all through. It's way easier than waiting for everyone to buy a card, then patiently explaining how to swipe it correctly.
3a- If you're heading into Manhattan via Metro North the 10-trip off peak is the best ticket to buy. Multiple people can use it for one trip, it's cheaper and faster than getting multiple single round-trip tickets.

4- Grand Central Station has the cleanest public bathrooms. Go downstairs to the food court, and head to the west bathrooms, they tend to be less crowded. Once the potty break is over check out the food court, Holiday marketplace, the Transit museum annex, the whisper spot by the Oyster Bar, and yes- the laser show. This year Rudolph interacts with the constellations on the ceiling in the main hall. Super cheesy, and hella cute.

5- Make it special! Don't stick to Rockefeller and Times Square. After scoping out the tree and grabbing lunch we headed to Mood Fabrics, where Project Runway contestants shop during the competition. We may or may not have said "Make it Work" several times...

6- Panhandlers- I was shocked to see the United Homeless Organization in Rockefeller Center. These guys were just busted as a fraud, now there's a court order barring them from collecting money on the streets. My other favorite has to be the woman panhandling on the subway asking for food for her kids. Yeah, it's sad until you look behind her and see the poster for "Kids Eat Free Everyday, call 311 for locations"! I've since seen the same lady on the same subway for the past 2 years, her story just changes a little to go with current events. Don't be a sucker, there's a reason why so many panhandlers hang out near the tourist hot-spots.

7- Plan out where to eat ahead of time, sites like Menupages, Open Table and Restaurant.com are awesome for choosing restaurants, getting reservations and discounts. If you have a picky crowd head to Chelsea Market or the aforementioned Grand Central Market. Bonus at Chelsea Market- there's a rotating storefront with sample sales or promotional events. You've got a good chance of free samples, or discounted Kid Robot toys!

Locals- Remember, only you can prevent horizontal lines of people on the sidewalks! Keep toward the buildings while walking. The curb side of the walkway is reserved for natives who know where they are going. (Tip courtesy Sean, my native Queens consultant). Make sure your tourists are aware of their surroundings! As we waited for the shuttle train I reminded my friend that if the subway door opens in front of her, she should move to the side. She replied "duh". Duh indeed! Be nice to the New Yorkers, be aware of your surroundings, and call me if you happen to step into the Cash Cab!

New in the shop- Decoupage bangles!

2009-10-23T07:39:00.000-04:00

New in the etsy shop today- Decoupage Bangles! I'm diversifying the shop in time for holiday shopping. These bracelets are really popular at shows, and now for the first time they're available through etsy. There are two up this morning, one wrapped in manga, the other with "Little Big Planet" images from a game magazine. More are coming soon, and custom orders are welcome.

My favorite pumpkin

2009-10-22T07:15:00.000-04:00

I helped make this pumpkin in 2003 back when I worked at an aquarium. So cool! I did get a little help with the power drilling required, and the design was inspired by a pumpkin in a magazine. Still, it's the coolest jack-o-lantern I've ever had a hand in. It's amazing what can happen when you turn something on it's side!

Woo New York Anime Fest!

2009-09-27T01:22:00.001-04:00

Ok, this is crazy fun. Day 3 starts tomorrow, and so far I'm overwhelmed by all the new fans of my quirky stuff! I'm only on the computer to print out more business cards. Stop by the Javits Center at 12:15 tomorrow if you want to see the husband and I modeling in the "Neo-Victorian Fashion Show"! It should be a lot of fun, pics later!

Upcoming Shop Special! NYAF Preview!

2009-09-03T16:54:00.003-04:00

I've been making some really cool, one of a kind items in anticipation of New York Anime Fest taking place later this month. Last year's festival was my first show (not counting selling hair scrunchies at craft fairs with my mom) and inspired me to open up shop on etsy.

So, while this is very cool, I realize that most of my etsy sales go far away to other states and countries. It would be very cool if everyone could come to the show, because it'll be a really fun time, but I know that isn't feasible. So here's what I'll do- starting this Saturday I'll list a OOAK piece- it could be a decoupage bracelet, funky necklace, hand-painted kokeshi doll, or quirky kilt pin- and leave it up until the festival on September 25th.

sneak peak of Mini Kokeshi dolls in progress by ~roserevolution on deviant ART

I'll announce the listings here, and on twitter. I'll also post a little more about my inspiration for the piece. Thank you to all my fabulous etsy customers (all 47 of you!) and don't miss your chance to snap up something totally unique from me!

dusts off blog

2009-08-27T16:50:00.002-04:00

Sorry blog, I've been neglectful. Summer has been crazy- settling into the new home, celebrating family milestones, vending at All Points West, etc. I know you're not interested in excuses. How about some promises?

I will introduce new features focused on my quirkier, one of a kind pieces. I will show how my ideas evolve into finished projects. I will photograph and write up some of the DIY touches of my new home.

Please forgive me for leaving you all summer, and let's look forward to a fabulous fall!

Teeny tiny origami phone charms back in stock!

2009-06-09T22:09:00.000-04:00

Itsy-bitsy stars are super tough, they make great phone charms. They take a lot of abuse, I've field-tested them extensively. These miniature origami pieces are only ~ 1 cm from tip to tip.

If your cell phone or Nintendo DS has an empty, neglected charm loop, please hop over to my etsy shop's charm section!

Charm Bracelets, and me, are back!

2009-06-04T05:47:00.001-04:00

Hello, and sorry for the empty blog as of late! My poor computer was hit with a nasty virus that resulted in a three week stay with the geek squad, then my husband's school was hit with a virus that resulted in both of us being sick at the end of May. Fun times! I was busy in the background! Charm bracelets are back in stock, although one sold within an hour of being listed! There are six up now. The one pictured is my favorite, the bright pinks and blues are fun and cheerful! Next to be stocked are phone charms, I have dozens waiting to be photographed, and a custom request in progress. Do let me know if you're interested in a custom order, I'm happy to make something pretty just for you!

Spring, is it you?

2009-05-11T14:11:00.002-04:00

I do believe the weather in New York has finally settled on being Spring, at least for a week. We'll see how long this holds out.

My computer is in the shop due to a run-in with a particularly nasty trojan. It should be back this week with a fresh hard drive. Sadly I may have lost the latest round of photos, which include a friend's wedding, and my newest jewelry.

Without the ability to list new things I've tried out renewing on etsy, but I still feel that things are getting a little stale. I'd love to show you all the new phone charms and pins I've been creating! I've deviated a bit from my usual style with new beads and findings, as well as a lot of new-to-me vintage goodies. It's amazing how much inspiration can come from a simple jar of buttons.

I will be back when my computer is back up and running, with lots of new and different product! Also, I am confirmed as a vendor for New York Anime Fest 2009, I look forward to returning!

New Origami Jewelry...bit of a backlog!

2009-04-21T20:50:00.003-04:00

I'm a little behind on photographing new stuff, but here's a preview of what's to come. The triple loops are a new design. The pink chain is a charm bracelet, not unlike the one that you can win by entering the Modish & Cosa Verde Earth Day giveaway.

Have a happy Earth Day!

Incoming: recycled bangle bracelets!

2009-04-15T16:42:00.003-04:00

These aren't quite ready yet, they need a few more coats of varnish before I can sell them. I really, really like how they're coming out! I bought a lot of vintage plastic bangles from etsy, sanded them, and wrapped them with thin strips of paper. The map one is England, and the other four came from Newtype, a Japanese magazine. The recycled bonus there is that my friend had already crafted with them, so I'm the second person to make something out of them. These will be just spines when they hit the recycling bin!

om nom spinach pie!

2009-04-12T23:08:00.001-04:00

Or, spinach torta, whatever. Either way, it's delicious. Thaw and squeeze 1 package of frozen chopped spinach. Combine with 1 cup Ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup grated parmigiana cheese, 1 egg yolk, and a little powdered garlic, salt, and pepper. Fill an unbaked pie crust with spinach mixture, use another pie crust to make a lattice / bunny design, and brush with the egg white. Pop the whole thing in the oven at 400 degrees for ~45 minutes, and voila! Delicious family tradition. This will be my breakfast for the rest of the week. Oh yes, yes it shall.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T10:19:00.001-04:00

How cute is the squirrel vase? I bought it on etsy from Pretty Random Objects. I'm spending today decorating, unpacking, and cooking! I hope everyone enjoys their day.

Sneak Peek! New upcycled items!

2009-04-02T08:38:00.000-04:00

This cheerful cloud was made from the lid of a take-out container! #6 plastics behave exactly like commercial shrinky-dinks. The blue catseye beads are from a necklace I no longer wear, and the umbrella charm is vintage brass. He's so cheerful, raining over England. This guy is getting a backing that will allow him to be worn as a pin or pendant.

How is upcycling different from recycling?
Easy! Recycling means you're remaking an item into a similar item. I.e.- recycled newspaper becomes a different type of paper. Some properties change, but you end up with a product of similar value. Upcycling can radically change the purpose of an item, and increases its value. In this case a useless piece of plastic that many communities do not accept for recycling (#6) went from being a takeout lid to a piece of jewelry.

Environment & Crafts, crafting green, upcycling, etc.

2009-04-01T11:39:00.002-04:00

April is a mixed month for me as an environmentalist. Earth Day drums up a lot of good press, and with it comes recycled products, art ideas, etc. While these are all great I hope the momentum will carry it further than one month and help people realize there are lots of ways to be more friendly to the environment year-round. All month long I'll be focusing on recycled and green crafting methods and products. Please let me know if you have any questions about my art or experiences that you would like me to share!

I'll start with a "do want"- Recycled Cotton Yarn!

Wow, just wow. I am so impressed with Lion Brand right now. When thinking of Lion yarns my mind immediately goes to acrylics, or scratchy wools like Fisherman's, but it seems like they're keeping up with the times with more earth-friendly products.

Not only have they been making Organic cotton for a while, but I recently found out about Recycled Cotton! From their site:

"Made from cotton fabric pieces that would otherwise be discarded when fabric is cut to produce tee-shirts, our Recycled Cotton yarn reduces waste and conserves resources. These clippings are sorted by color, minimizing the amount of dyeing needed for the final yarn. The sorted cotton fiber is then blended with acrylic for enhanced performance."

It comes in with an impressive recycled content of 72%. I'm really liking the Seagrass colorway, and hope that my local craft stores are carrying this! Organic is fantastic, but I really like that this product takes fiber that is a byproduct and makes it into something new. Don't get me wrong, I love the Blue Sky Alpaca organic cotton I bought from Purl last year, but at $10+ a skein it's really only for special projects. In the past few years organic yarns have made their way into the big crafting stores, it will be great to see this trend expand and continue!

Mark your calendar! Celebrate a {NewNew} Season with the Spring Handmade Cavalcade

2009-03-26T10:02:00.004-04:00

Spring is in the air, and with it come the social affairs that take advantage of this beautiful time of year. With this in mind the {NewNew} heads to the Bell House in Brooklyn on May 9th and 10th to host the Spring Handmade Cavalcade. This two-day shopping affair will feature gifts for grads and moms, fantastic housewares and pretty paper goods for hosts and hostesses, and apparel and accessories for any occasion.

The local focus extends to the event's collaboration with charity partner St. John's Bread & Life, which addresses the issues of hunger and poverty in Brooklyn and Queens.. A limited edition artists' book will be available for sale to benefit the charity. In addition, shoppers who make a donation will receive a surprise handmade gift.

***Free, limited-edition tote bags*** are available to the first 200 visitors who RSVP on the event's website, and can be picked up by visiting on either day of the event up until 1pm, Sunday May 10. And everyone who makes a purchase at the event will be able to participate in a raffle for one of ten artist-embellished totes chock-full of handmade goods.

What: The Spring Handmade Cavalcade

When: Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10, 2009. 10am–4pm both days

Where: The Bell House, 149 7th St. between 2nd and 3rd Aves, Brooklyn

*** Fifty of these tote bags will contain a treat from me! *** I love the bag that I got from the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade, be sure to sign up for your own!

Still moving!

2009-03-20T10:53:00.004-04:00

This weekend is the final push to get all set up in the new co-op. It was tough to pack up all the crafting supplies! I'd like to share two really fun blogs with you all, both are created by the same fabulous person, Dani!

Cooking Llama
Do not visit if you are hungry! She bakes some really incredible goodies, like the above coconut custard pie...which may or may not have come from a magical coconut. Many of her recipes are adapted to be vegan, and they all look delicious.

!!!
The title really says so much! This is her journal all about her semester in Japan, which just started 3 days ago. I'm not sure how she managed to take this photo, but it's adorable. Her writing style is straighforward and a little quirky. I'm so excited for her, it sounds like an exciting and wonderful experience. Plus, there's Hello Kitty, so it can't be bad!

Bright Orange & Yellow & Lime Origami Charm Bracelet

2009-03-10T07:15:00.002-04:00

Just listed this morning! I'm wearing it as I type this, it's such a cute bracelet. I debated listing it on artfire, since you can put 10 photos there, but so far it hasn't lead to sales for me. Etsy it is! I've hit a few milestones there recently~ paperelle just topped 20 sales and 200 hearts! It makes me so happy that people like what I create. I have a huge backlog of stuff to photograph, and I'm only halfway through the samples I'm sending to the Spring Handmade Cavalcade.

Shop updates may be slow in the next few weeks, since my husband and I are closing on our new co-op tomorrow! It's scary to be emptying out our savings account, but we're ready to move. We close tomorrow, and this weekend is a painting party! A co-worker leant me her paint chip book of every color Benjamin Moore makes, it's awesome.

In silly chinchilla news- her cage door was left open while DH and I were at work yesterday...and we came home to find her sitting happily on her little house. She's hilarious, any other animal would've been gone in a flash! Silly Chilla.

Baby Shower Cake

2009-03-09T06:59:00.001-04:00

I went to a co-worker's adorable Greenwich Village apartment after work on Friday to make cakes! We made two chocolate sheet cakes from scratch, including the chocolate frosting. We used a letter stamping kit, which was pretty nifty but has flaws. The decorating frosting was whipped, which didn't really want to hold it's shape! I still think it came out great, and they were a big hit at the shower.

It's been a really long time since I've decorated a whole cake, it was quite a lot of fun!

Reusable Gift Wrapping Idea

2009-03-05T20:22:00.003-05:00

I really like to use gift wrap that won't just end up in the trash, but I don't want it to be boring. In the past I've given gifts wrapped in a tote bag, but what about a baby shower?

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For a baby boy shower I picked up a little blanket and coordinating storage crate at Target. These cost all of $4.49 total, no more than a nice gift bag and tissue paper.

I arranged the baby clothes inside, love the little dinosaurs! (There are some practical, slightly less cute burp pads underneath).

Add a bright bow, and ta-da! All done, it just needs a tag. No waste, and the wrapping becomes part of the gift!

Environmentally friendly shopping on Cosa Verde

2009-03-04T14:22:00.002-05:00

Have you heard of Cosa Verde? It's a new site for handmade goods that are environmentally concious. I really like it for several reasons-

Clean, simple layout and colors- love the simplified dandelion graphic.
Juried- and they let me in!
Lack of buzzwords- real, honest to goodness terms that have meaning behind them for categories. Hello, repurposed!

They're still relatively small compared to sites like etsy, but I hope to see it grow and thrive. If you're interested in opening a shop, I would be very grateful for a referral! You don't have to list new items there, you can import directly from your etsy shop. Cosa Verde does not take a comission, and like Artfire has different monthly fees for sellers. More $ = more items listed, but every new seller starts off with a $30 credit. Pretty nice, if I do say so myself. Check it out!

All the pretty colors~ a small review of Flower

2009-03-01T16:36:00.003-05:00

I try not to nerd out too much on this blog, but I am just in awe of this game! The developer calls it "interactive art", and that's definitely what Flower is. The premise is really simple- you're the wind. You play by moving the controller around in the direction you want to fly. Along the way you sweep by flowers and pick up petals. Each flower makes a musical note, so in a way you conduct a little symphony. The environments are all different- night, day, rain, city, field, and there's a different goal for each level. One involves painting the grass, it's really relaxing (my husband played well beyond what was needed to clear the level).

Flower is like two of my favorite games rolled into one- Katamari Damacy and Okami. Both of those are also excellent plays, but very different! Flower is available on the Playstation Network for just $9.99, it's a total steal.

I can't wait to see real flowers blooming, but it will be a little while, it's snowing tonight. Oh well.

Maps...they don't love you like I love you...

2009-02-23T07:13:00.001-05:00

"Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is one of my favorite Rock Band tunes to sing! Lots of map earrings are up in my shop, the latest pair is from upstate New York. I don't think I've really used a paper map since we got a GPS a year ago, so I have a lot to fold! I have an entire US atlas, so let me know if you have a special request!

{NewNew} Team Blog Post- Geek Chic

2009-02-05T08:56:00.001-05:00

I wrote about some of my favorite geeky handmade items from the {NewNew} Street Team, check it out!

...fifty nifty United States...

2009-02-02T11:05:00.003-05:00

I've been finding out all sorts of interesting tidbits with Google Analytics. Last Friday I had over 100 hits to my shop for the first time, and most of my referalls come from twitter, followed by the {NewNew}'s team blog, then twittergadget!

At the end of last week I twittered about another Google Analytics fact- only 4 of the 50 states showed 0 visitors! There were a few good guesses, Jen Pepper of Upstate Fancy correctly guessed South Dakota. One of my IRL friends hit the mark with Montana. The other two were West Virginia and Iowa.

As of last night though...all 50! It doesn't really mean much for my shop, but I'm happy that all of America has clicked in. The international stats are even more fun!

Good news

2009-01-28T07:54:00.007-05:00

Yesterday I hit 101 Hearts on etsy! It feels like a level-up. Someone from Greece sent me a convo about shipping, so I did a little research and updated my prices. It's now $2.90 to ship my jewelry to "everywhere else", plus $1 for each additional item. I learned that international first class really isn't that much, and other than filling out the customs form it doesn't really add much time to the selling process. I'm so thrilled that people from all over the world like what I do!

Someone from a little closer to home in Pennsylvania likes what I do to, I was interviewed yesterday by Erin of Ruju! You can read it here on her blog:

RuJu

She found me through a thread on etsy's forums. Despite a lot of dramu that goes on there (woo internet fun) it is a good way to connect with other members. She sews some really nifty items, I really like these organizers that you can snap into different configurations, and this:

A purse made from a toy football, how cool! Thanks again for the feature Erin, I really appreciate it!

It's snowing, and it looks so magical. I'm biased because I don't have to shovel it, or drive in it much, but I really like how snow looks. I'm not looking forward to the rain later, that'll make everything a slushy icy mess. Hmm...too bad the park I work in is flat, I'd be tempted to go sledding. Maybe we'll have an office snowball fight later...

Thinking Pink...

2009-01-26T06:47:00.007-05:00

I tried out taking photos against a colored background, namely a scrap of pink fabric. Overall I'm pretty happy with them, but will look for a background paper so I don't have to iron the fabric everytime I do photos. I made lots of triple dangles~ I think the green pair was first! So far only the pinks are listed in my shop, but the rest will go up as the week goes on.

I also rephotographed my cards, and I'm much happier with them!

Sugar & Spice Gocco Card

I {Cube} NY Gocco Postcard

The {newnew} street team meeting on Saturday was really cool. I went in very intimidated, and that wasn't helped by the fact that I sat about 2 feet away from Maria, the CEO of etsy! I managed to overcome my shyness a bit, it helped that lots of other new people were there. It did take almost all day to get from Connecticut to Brooklyn and back, but it was definitely worth it.

Etsy Preview- New earrings!

2009-01-20T22:04:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend a friend handed me a free decorating magazine and asked me if it would make cool stars. She knew full well how many thousands I already have, but a flip through the November 2008 edition of "Connecticut Cottages and Gardens" sealed it's fate. The blue stars are from an article on antique blue and white china, while the black and white are from an advertisement. Tonight I was in purple mode, and made three pairs with dangling glass beads.

New item, and a great article!

2009-01-17T10:40:00.001-05:00

I listed this new necklace design in my etsy shop last night, as well as a new phone charm. I love these colored aluminum chains!
A few weeks ago I chatted with a reporter from the regional newspaper, and here's the article!
Crafting a Community
Hooray! I missed the paper yesterday, so I'll go to their office on Monday for a hard copy. Maybe I'll make it into stars...

Glass, anyone?

2009-01-12T12:56:00.006-05:00

This is what my husband and I woke up to yesterday morning: We're shaken, me moreso, and it's a big inconvenience, especially since the glove compartment was ransacked of Maggie, our beloved GPS. The window is getting repaired tomorrow, but while sweeping up I kept a large piece of the glass. It's in the found stuff jar waiting to become art. I'm not quite sure what to do with it yet. I adore dichroic glass jewelry, I have two pairs of studs from MoMo glassworks. These are really sexy, and reasonably priced-

Of course I checked out etsy, and see that one of my twittering buds, Chris1, makes beautiful glass pendants-

I love the colors of this turquoise pendant, and the setting compliments it very nicely. While reading the forums I saw that someone else had a car break-in. (I know I'm not alone!) So, not glass, but beautiful wire-wrapped earrings with Swarovski crystals (quartz, close enough!) from Cristy's Jewelry.

Maybe I'll foray into ACEOs with a car window glass collage, or set them into jewelry finding, hmm...

Etsy Preview

2009-01-11T12:42:00.001-05:00

The octopus is overloaded with goodies! I'm trying out some new designs, and working to get them all photographed today. The snow makes my apartment much brighter. I can't wait to move into the new co-op...there are windows that actually get sunlight. My standards are oh-so-high.

Decorating inspiration- birds!

2009-01-06T22:58:00.002-05:00

Lately I've been favoriting bird-related art on etsy. Ornithology was a really fun course, even if my professor drove like a madman. On lab days we went all over the east end of Long Island to his birding haunts, his enthusiasm was contagious. I'm a very casual birder, I don't keep a life list or read birding blogs, but I still like to peek out the windows at them. While shopping with my mom at Chelsea Market we found an inexpensive vintage-inspired poster of North American birds. I really liked the look of it, and I think it's a good place to start for decorating my kitchen (whenever we get to move). I'm stuck with green laminate countertops, so this collage really popped out at me-I like the pop of red, the random bit of French, and of course the bright blue bird. Next is this painting from Clinecreations-

The birds look so peaceful! I think it's neutral enough to go anywhere, and I love the way she paints. I discovered this by accident on her blog, which is definitely worth a peek. Last is this set of photos-

The tufted titmouse in the snow is my favorite of the four, although red cardinals are always pretty. Plus, the red in the cardinal would go well with the first print...hmm...

I can't wait to move and decorate my new place! Come on co-op board, let's interview!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-05T00:08:00.001-05:00

I haven't been that active with my shop lately, I got hit with a nasty bug on New Year's Eve. Vacation days seem to trigger lurking bacteria. C'est la vie. I did list these earrings tonight, and I'm just now realizing that one appears shorter than the other in photos, oops. Take pity on me etsy shoppers! I'll fix it later when I have sunlight.

In happier news- I was contacted by the local newspaper, they're doing a story on the "new wave" of crafters. Free adverstising, check! I didn't mention to the reporter that I'm moving in a few weeks...

My etsy shop helper

2008-12-30T08:09:00.003-05:00

This is Momo, a mosaic chinchilla. She helped me post this necklace last night. (I'm liking my new eyeshadow, but it looks funky here. Oh well.) She's such a good helper. She nibbles on my buttons, and makes chilla-poops. If you scratch her behind the ears she makes a cute squish face. My husband and I adopted her a year and a half ago through Petfinder, which is an awesome website. My mom found her dog through them as well.

Yesterday I discovered this shop because the owner has her chinchilla in her avatar:

Etsy
Buy Handmade
OO0OSUGARO0OO

I'm not sure this post has a point, other than chinchillas are cute. Adopt one today!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T22:41:00.001-05:00

I took advantage of spending a holiday at home, and made even more decorations. I wrote up a blog entry about it for the {NewNew}, click to see!

The holiday was really based around food. For Christmas Eve I made veal parmigiana with fresh mozzerella, and cupcakes for the office:

I did use all of the stencils, but these came out the best. Devil's food cake + vanilla frosting...mmm...
On Christmas morning I made challah bread French toast:

And sweetened the coffee with some Bailey's mint chocolate, it's good stuff. Wow, for a craft blog this is awfully focused on food! I'm working on some new designs, including one of a kind pins. So far so good, but I have to let some gloss dry before the next step. I'm very impatient, I just want to finish it now.

Merry Christmas! Celebrate with pie!

2008-12-23T23:09:00.015-05:00

Paula Deen's Peppermint Pie has been a hit with my family for the past few years, and is now requested at the work potluck. It only takes a few ingredients, and is a good way to use up some candy canes! Her instructions are super simple, so here are some photos and notes to help-
See photos & notes

Step 1- Gather ingredients
Oreo makes the best chocolate crust in my opinion. I used these massive peppermint sticks to cut down on plastic waste.

Step 1a- Pour self a glass of wine
House Wine, love the label. The wine itself is just ok. The festive red glass makes the pie taste better.

Step 2- do you see what I see?
...uh-huh.

Step 3- smush!
Rolling pins, hammers, and other blunt objects work well.

Step 3- done!
Make sure they're nice & small, otherwise it'll take forever to melt.

Step 4- melt!
This is what it looks like when you first add the cream. It starts to take on that great pink color.

Step 4 continued
Keep the heat very low, and stir often.

You can take the opportunity to make a sandwich and refill your wine glass.

This is a good consistency, it won't all melt completely.

Step 5- secret trick
It always seems that a few solid pieces persist, so I strain out the mostly melted candy. Let it cool at room temperature, don't chill (the gelatin will make it solidify). Stir every 10 minutes or so while it's cooling, otherwise a skin forms on top.

Step 6- whip & fold!
For best results chill your bowl and whisk in the freezer before whipping. I have a stand mixer, so it makes super fast work of this step. (The mixer is also pink...hmm...)

Step 7- Fill crusts!
Don't worry if you have too much filling, or a few crumbs end up on top.

Sprinkles will fix it! I didn't fill these too high because they had to travel, so...

The extra filling goes well with hot cocoa or coffee, just be careful not to make a huge mess like I did...

Your tasty pink peppermint pies are done! Voila!

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Upcycling Feature on Etsy 365!

2008-12-22T16:26:00.003-05:00

What is Upcycling?

I'm featured on the Etsy 365 blog, which features a new item or shop each day. It's cool to be #7, thanks! The author of the blog runs the etsy shop The Old Oak Tree, which features natural products for babies. (Jen, take note!) Thanks for the feature, and best of luck with your blog and shop!

And I totally meant to do this last week, but I just found out that my sister is selling some of her designs via cafepress-

RUBBISH & Assemblee Line

New design!

2008-12-21T21:54:00.001-05:00

I was playing around with some of my supplies and came up with this necklace. It's just long enough so that the star rests in the center of your collarbone, so cute. The beads are glass faux pearls, and the star has a piece of the NANA logo on it (which is my favorite series of anything ever). I made another one with black chain, and experimented with another necklace design too. I'll be testing them a little, then listing them in the shop. Today I listed two new pairs of earrings- http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6266247&section_id=5750979

I hope everyone had a nice weekend before Christmas. I personally avoided all the stores, but did get quasi-lost in the Bronx en route to a friend's apartment. C'est la vie.

Handmade Holidays for my sister

2008-12-18T14:02:00.005-05:00

The package arrived yesterday, so I can finally post about these. It's been tough keeping mum, I really like everything I sent her! I cheated and posted them on flickr, which my family didn't know about, but now that's busted. C'est la vie! Onto the goodies-

The best part is that she called when it arrived, so I got to hear her open it. It really made my day!

The snowman is from this pattern, it's free but you'll need to register to see it.
http://www.freepatterns.com/fp_pdfs/Other/Knitting/mr_flurry.pdf
The white and green yarns are my grandma's, but the red isn't. I finally ran out on Snowman #4!

The instructions for the large ornament, called a kusudama, are on folding trees:
http://foldingtrees.com/2008/11/kusudama-tutorial-part-1/
http://foldingtrees.com/2008/11/kusudama-tutorial-part-2/

The other star ornaments are from instructions that came with a pack of origami paper, but zencrafter posted an exhaustive tutorial here (as well as many variations, like wreaths):
http://zencrafting.blogspot.com/2008/12/origami-star-tutorial.html

The lucky star garland is about 6 feet long. All of the origami are made with Sephora holiday catalogs. I usually give my sister makeup for Christmas, but the budget is tight this year since DH and I are buying a co-op. I figured this was the next best thing!

Christmas is coming...fast!

2008-12-17T21:13:00.000-05:00

I just listed new earrings, I had two "stocking stuffer" sales yesterday! I got them both in the mail this morning, phew. I'm very happy that my sister's gifts made it to her safely! Currently my peppermint pie filling is cooling. Later it gets folded in whipped cream, then served at tomorrow's office potluck. The DH is out at his school's holiday party (which included a recorder concert!!!)

Amid all the holiday crafting and hoopla I've joined two etsy street teams. I'm very excited to be a part of both of them.

First is the {newnew}, which is a regional group. They're very active, which really appealed to me. The Handmade Holiday Cavalcade they put on was a great show, and I'm looking forward to meeting the members soon. I'm glad that they include Connecticut! I've signed up for a blog post on Christmas day about crafting with holiday leftover (wrapping paper stars, anyone?)

Second is the Eco Etsy team! Shocking, I know. I'm having a little trouble navigating the yahoo group (google is so much simpler) but so far so good.

Not a team, but I did join indiepublic yesterday and twitter today. I haven't had time to really explore them yet, but so far a bunch of people have welcomed me! I feel so loved!

Earring preview!

2008-12-11T10:24:00.001-05:00

The Fire Mountain Gems order came in on Tuesday, and I've been playing with all the new stuff since. I was way low on supplies, it's great to have headpins again! There are also new colors of the tiny swarovski crystals, lots of teals and greens. Purple too...mmm. One of the map earring pairs are for me to keep, but I'll list the other in my shop shortly. I did photograph them individually, but they didn't come out so great. I need daylight!

Etsy finds- yummy yarn

2008-12-10T12:30:00.002-05:00

Handspun yarns always look so delicious. I have no idea what I would make with them, some are pretty enough to be displayed on their own. Here are a few of my faves currently up on etsy:

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
paperelle.etsy.com

I still have to finish a things using my regular yarn, but it's nice to daydream!

Back from the cavalcade!

2008-12-06T19:01:00.002-05:00

I had a blast at the {NewNew} Handmade Cavalcade! My mom met me at Grand Central, and a co-worker met us at the Knitting Factory. Two of my friends went as well, but I didn't run into them. I bought a sampler from Dirty Loves Clean, and the most awesomest tote bag in the history of tote bags from Fact & Fancy. The swag in the goodie bag was amazing! I love the earrings from Silver Dot Designs, as well as the uptown / downtown pendant and all the pins, stickers, postcards, and other goodies. I've yet to sort through it all.

After the show my mom and I walked to Little Italy for some delicious pasta, then to EMC2 for a talking Tim Gunn bobblehead. We took the subway back uptown to Bryant Park. The holiday shops are nice, but definitely not diverse. Tons of jewelry, lots of knitted stuff, etc. I did get a second pair of earrings at Momo Glassworks, I wear the studs I bought last year constantly. I also got the coolest keychain / phone charm / doo-dad there:

Don't be jealous. There was a really cool stall selling bags made from chains of candy wrappers, magazines and the like, but it was definitely out of my budget.

When I got home I found out that I had a sale, from my husband's cousin, but hey! A sale is a sale, and he picked it up in person! I also had a convo telling me one of my items was featured on this blog- Andee's Designs. Does this mean I'm big in Germany, like David Hasselhoff?

What a good day!

I lol'd

2008-12-05T18:16:00.002-05:00

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Nailed 'Em - Radical Knitting

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

This is a very cute Colbert Report clip about a crochet / knit artist that makes cosies for SUVs.

NY / NJ / CT area people- tomorrow is the Handmade Cavalcade at the Knitting Factory! I'm nervous about going, since I want to join the {NewNew} etsy street team! Well, I'm more nervously excited.

Sorta bad day...

2008-12-02T21:44:00.002-05:00

So...someone dropped a heavy briefcase on my feet, the subways were delayed, someone else stepped on my heel and knocked my shoe off on a crowded stairwell...yeah. At the end of the day I missed my train and had over 20 minutes to wait. Luckily the kaliedoscope is running, and I had my camera.

From Grand Central December 2008

By taking these photos and videos I lost whatever street cred I had, c'est la vie. I may as well bury it in the ground by sharing this-

View Larger Map

I didn't know you could make custom maps in google! This is too addictive. Here are some of my favorite stores and restaurants on Manhattan's (mostly) West Side. Blue tabs are fabric or art supplies, purple are clothing and other stores. So Mom, that's how far away the Knitting Factory is from Bryant Park. We'll catch the Cash Cab.

Shop Update - Charms!

2008-11-30T22:59:00.000-05:00

I had my first (paid) etsy sale on Thursday! Thanksgiving indeed. It's all packed up and ready to go in the mail tomorrow. I listed one more pair of earrings and a phone charm tonight. This will be phone charm week, I'll have a new one (or two) listed each day through Sunday.

I hope everyone who reads this had a happy and safe holiday. Mine was filled with family, friends, and lots of food! I made earrings for my mom, sister-in-law, aunt and cousin, and of course neglected to take photos of any of them. Oops. Oh well, they were a big hit, and I'm grateful to have their support.

2008-11-25T21:43:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow evening the DH and I are driving to Annapolis for Thanksgiving. The celebration will be at my brother and sister-in-law's house, then moves to Virginia for a day with cousins, then stops back in Maryland to visit (and bake cookies) with friends. For me the baking started on Sunday with pumpkin pie-

I made one big pie for Thanksgiving, and mini pies for hubby (he loves pumpkin pie). I've decided that there's no need to make pumpkin pie again, since it tastes just like the storebought kind. Oh well, it made the apartment smell great. Two of the mini-pies seem to have mysteriously disappeared...

Last night I made oatmeal raisin cookie dough. My favorite recipe is this one from Quaker, just add one cup of raisins at the end.

I saw a blog that used pumpkin quick bread mix to make madeleines. Being pumpkined out, I opted to use a Vanilla spice quick bread mix. I got this super cheap at a Williams Sonoma outlet. They seem to discontinue their new flavors almost as fast as they come out. The results...super tasty! These will not all make it to the car. Four have met their demise next to a mug of apple cider.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Three more pairs!

2008-11-22T22:28:00.000-05:00

I'm sticking with my goal of one listing a day all week, these three cover Thursday through today. I really like them all, but the blue manga pair is my favorite. The star on the left features Nana, my absolute favorite manga / best things I've read ever. It's hard to tell from the photo, but it's Nana O's eye, she's looking up at Ren onstage. I made tons of stars from the chapter of the first concert.

The pair on the left is from either a Pier 1 or Pottery Barn catalog. I liked the mix of patterns. None of the earrings match, but they go together. They're among the first stars I folded specifically to make into jewelry. I like this particular design personally, they're the right blend of delicate and chunky, but still very lightweight. Plus the stars have a lot of movement so you can see both sides easily.

The pair in the top right is made from that Japanese Teen type maganze I picked up for $1 at Book-Off. It has the most fabulous quirky stuff in it. Apparently Japanese teenage girls have an obsession with Disney, so I have a lot of stars with Stitch, Mickey, Minnie, Pooh, and other characters. These stars came from a page of tiny pictures and notes. There's a small hand-drawn heart, the word "friend" in English, and hand-written text.

In life news, I got to show my parents around the park I work in yesterday. It was freezing, but still a lot of fun. Afterwards we ate sushi at Chelsea Market. I love that I have parents that love sushi. Today the DH and I met up with friends to see Twilight, which pretty much met my expectations. Cheesy, but fun to watch. I'm optimistic that the sequels will be better since they won't have to introduce so many characters. Tomorrow I'm going to continue holiday crafting, hopefully I'll have a lot of finished pieces to give away by Thanksgiving (then I can right about them here!)

Oh Noes Vampires!

2008-11-19T20:23:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's the impending premiere of Twilight, but I felt like today was a good day to list my vampire stars. These were made with promotional materials from Dark Horse comics and feature Hellsing and Blood the Last Vampire. Alucard is centered on one, and Saya peeks out from another. More detailed shots are in the etsy listing.

The beads are Czech crystal, I bought them from a really spiffy shop in Martha's Vineyard last summer. I could have blown a whole paycheck in that bead store, it was incredible. The findings are a great gunmetal finish, I lucked out and got those on sale at the local Michaels. I do love Fire Mountain Gems, but sometimes actually seeing and holding a product is nice.

Let them wear cake!

2008-11-18T20:30:00.000-05:00

I say it about a lot of stuff, but I love these stars! I hope they find a good home on etsy. I've been working to update the shop consistently, and have posted a new pair of earrings each day for last three days. The digital macro function on my camera is amazing, I want to go back and reshoot the cards.

In good news- Ikea called, and our new table is in! We don't have the co-op yet, but I worked with their office today to send over more paperwork. What I'm most looking forward to is all the extra space! *keeping my fingers crossed*

Shop update!

2008-11-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

It's a small update, just two pairs of earrings. I'm focusing on getting some giftware in the shop for the holidays. I'll post some more generic stars in the coming days, but in the meantime there areAvatar and Bleach pairs for sale.

I've been working on a lot of holiday ornaments, too bad I can't post pictures of those here yet!

My good friend Beth helped me set up for photos. We were very limited by the amount of daylight today, but I still see a big improvement. I really appreciate the help, let's see if it translates into sales!

Keeping my fingers crossed

2008-11-09T22:20:00.001-05:00

My husband and I recently put in a bid for a new place, and it was accepted! Unfortunately, it's a co-op, so we have to go through board approval. While our entire financial history is in their hands we just get to daydream and plan for our new, and much larger home.

We made a trip to Ikea this weekend, and now have a rain check for a dining room table. My parents met us there (since they have an SUV, essential for Ikea) and the basement that the table would live in until we moved. It was a bit of a letdown, but Crate & Barrel was much better. My mom spoiled me with holiday baking goodies- like the cupcake wrappers and stencils above. I was inspired by the decorations and ornaments, and have a lot of ideas for handmade gifts (other than stencilled cupcakes). My good friend Beth joined us for shopping and lunch, afterwards we headed to the nearby Pearl Paint. The NJ location is laid out much, much better than the Manhattan one. I picked up a jar of glass etching solution in the hopes of dressing up the usual jars of cookies I send out to family members each year.
Waiting for the co-op is a bit nervewracking, but in the meantime I have plenty of Christmas craft ideas to keep me busy.

Election Day

2008-11-04T22:04:00.001-05:00

So...somehow Election Day was a floating holiday for certain government employees today. I voted, got my free Starbucks coffee, supported the economy by purchasing socks, played copious amounts of Rock Band 2, and printed up some Sugar & Spice cards.

In addition to the one that sold in my etsy shop, one of my husband's co-workers bought 5. This is my first time reusing a gocco screen. I took it out of the freezer two days ago, and ran some test prints. I had to clean coagulated ink out of some of the letters, but it turned out pretty well. I did a better job cleaning it and returned it to the freezer for another day. I have about 49 cards here. Six are flat, which was a purchasing error on my part. I'll package them together and put them in the shop. I think I'll sell the rest in sets of five. With the exception of the flat cards these were cut and folded by hand.

After snapping photos of the card lab my DH turned the camera on our chinchilla. Her name is Momo, but we mostly call her Chilla.

Mmm...sticks.

Breaking news!

2008-11-01T16:22:00.004-04:00

This just in- my first etsy sale!

Hooray! One of the Sugar & Spice cards sold! I also have to take those out of the shop, since one of my husband's co-workers asked to buy the rest. I'm so excited. Maybe this news will make the front page of the Daily Planet.

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

How-to: Folding Stars

2008-10-21T16:31:00.000-04:00

I'm not quite sure why I was drawn to this little origami, other more complicated shapes have always frustrated me in the past. But I'm glad I gave it a go, because now I'm totally hooked. Here is a site with clear, well-photographed directions:

Foldastar.com

Commercial star-folding paper is available. Klutz makes a kit, which is sold at Kinokuniya bookstores. I've also seen it in craft stores, it runs about $7.00. I've seen packs of folding star paper ranging from $1 - $10+ in other places, like Pearl River Mart, or hole-in-the-wall Chinatown shops. (Have I mentioned lately that I love working in Manhattan?)

I prefer to make my own. Until two weeks ago this was accomplished by using a good old pair of scissors. I've upgraded to a guillotine style paper cutter, but still use the scissors a ton. Some tips:

* Practice on cheap scrap paper! Typical copier paper is a good weight to start with. This craft doesn't have to cost you a dime!

* Different papers need different sized strips- If your paper strips are too wide it will be difficult to get a good, sturdy star before running out of length. Generally the skinner the paper, the shorter the length required.

* Experiment! My favorite materials to make stars from include junk mail, catalogs, magazines, manga, maps, fliers, posters, etc.

* Stars can then be turned into jewelry, or displayed in bowls and jars. A word of caution- if you make a bowl of these at your desk warn co-workers that they are not candy!

Mystery Bottlecaps!

2008-10-19T12:59:00.000-04:00

What will they be? Nobody knows....oooh...ahh...except for me....

...and my husband...

...and the fact that the tokidoki ones are almost dry...

...

Oh well.

Abingdon Boys School Magnets

2008-10-14T07:06:00.000-04:00

For Lindsay...although I'm having a hard time sending them out! So cute!

Spooky Shop update

2008-10-07T22:28:00.000-04:00

I picked up this cool octopus earring holder at Urban Outfitters, and felt that it would accent my zombie accessories well. What do you think? I took many more photos, so there will be an earrings update before the weekend.

I got a little creative with the descriptions, mwa-ha-ha! I'm excited that Halloween is on a Friday this year. Some friends are planning a group for the Greenwich Village parade, but I'm not sure what the theme is yet. I voted for "Where's Waldo" or "Pac-Man", but it may go to superheroes. Decisions, decsions...

It's extra paycheck month!

2008-10-06T18:30:00.000-04:00

October is a 3 paycheck month! The last was back in April, and I dutifully put the extra cash into my savings account. But October is a new ball game! Lately I've felt the need to overhaul my wardrobe. I bought a vintage ring off the street in SoHo, a blazer at Esprit, and am continually hunting for the perfect pair of boots. One thing that would look super chic with the new blazer-

An "Oscar the Octopus" necklace from Pulp Sushi! What a coincidence- the NewNew etsy street team is giving one away! All you need to do is blog about it? I'm so there.

This would go well with some of my earlier etsy purchases, like the squid cuff from hollyhawk. Oh, and I would so wear it while eating fried calamari.

Now I'm hungry.

Spoils of war

2008-10-02T22:24:00.000-04:00

I had promised myself that a new paper cutter was first on the list of things to buy with any profit from the show last weekend. I priced out several, read some reviews, and decided on a 12" Dahle guillotine. The DH and I met up after work, took a trip to Dick Blick, and lo! We are now the proud owners of a sharp, dangerous chopping device!

For the record- the Dick Blick on Bond Street in NYC is sweet! It has usurped Canal Street's Pearl Paint in my opinion. They have a lot of the same merchandise, but the layout is so much simpler at DB. It's cleaner too, everything at Pearl seems to be covered in a layer of grime. I also picked up some glitter, mini-canvases, and more acrylic varnish.

The picture has nothing to do with this post, really. I just adore this phone strap. It will be listed in the shop soon! I'm going to have to restock on ninjas. They came from Pandora's Locker, which has a plethora of fun kitschy charms.

Postcards are in the shop!

2008-10-01T07:17:00.001-04:00

I listed the "I Cube NY" postcards in my etsy shop this morning:

Paperelle.etsy.com

I have ~25 left, let me know if you would like a larger quantity than what is listed. I'm so glad I took the time to make these, they got a lot of love at the show. I did try burning the edges to give it a more authentic look, but this paper doesn't singe well. Live and learn.

I do still have the screens...hmm...what else can I make with the cube?

Home from New York Anime Fest!

2008-09-29T10:09:00.000-04:00

What an incredible experience! I had so much fun, especially when meeting all the fabulous people that stopped by the table and said such nice things. I would definitely like to do the show again next year. I'm going to be busy uploading items to my etsy shop and filling this blog with more content, in the meantime here are some photos of the booth-

Off to New York Anime Fest's Artist Alley!

2008-09-26T06:53:00.000-04:00

I spent last night finishing up a few pieces and printing out a gocco postcard! It's an edition of 40, I'm going to singe the edges a little bit before I go. I'm so nervous, this will be my first time selling at a show since elementary school! Ah, the good ol' days of hair scrunchies.

I'll be at table #35 with my partner in crime Beth, stop by and say hello!

Step 1

2008-09-24T22:32:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Paperelle blog! This is the new blog for my etsy shop of the same name. I will be posting information about upcoming products, sales, and specials as well as how-to's, chinchilla photos, and other babble.

I've tried all sorts of arts and crafts, and my overstuffed apartment shows it. I can't remember a time when I didn't draw, my mom taught me how to sew when I was 8, learned knitting from a roommate at 20, and continually try different things. My recent focus has been on upcycling, or taking materials destined for a landfill and making them into something beautiful. I've folded way too many origami stars from junk mail, magazines, manga, maps, and anything else that comes to close to my scissors. I love decoupage, am addicted to gocoo, have rediscovered the joys of shrink plastic, and will pick up any object that looks interesting (and relatively clean).

This coming weekend I will be at the New York Anime Festival's Artist Alley, table #35. My good friend Beth will be selling some really cool miniatures and beaded goods alongside stars, ninjas, and bottlecaps.

After the show I'll have new listings, lots of photos, and a better looking layout (hopefully). Here goes!

Paperelle

Security Envelope Art

a Handmade {NewNew} Valentine

Shop Feature: Sparkle Beast Designs

Cute overload!

Merry Christmas!

How not to be a jerk in NYC during the Holidays

New in the shop- Decoupage bangles!

My favorite pumpkin

Woo New York Anime Fest!

Upcoming Shop Special! NYAF Preview!

*dusts off blog*

Teeny tiny origami phone charms back in stock!

Charm Bracelets, and me, are back!

Spring, is it you?

New Origami Jewelry...bit of a backlog!

Incoming: recycled bangle bracelets!

om nom spinach pie!

Happy Easter!

Sneak Peek! New upcycled items!

Environment & Crafts, crafting green, upcycling, etc.

Mark your calendar! Celebrate a {NewNew} Season with the Spring Handmade Cavalcade

Still moving!

Bright Orange & Yellow & Lime Origami Charm Bracelet

Baby Shower Cake

Reusable Gift Wrapping Idea

Environmentally friendly shopping on Cosa Verde

All the pretty colors~ a small review of Flower

Maps...they don't love you like I love you...

{NewNew} Team Blog Post- Geek Chic

...fifty nifty United States...

Good news

Thinking Pink...

Etsy Preview- New earrings!

New item, and a great article!

Glass, anyone?

Etsy Preview

Decorating inspiration- birds!

Happy New Year!

My etsy shop helper

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Celebrate with pie!

Upcycling Feature on Etsy 365!

New design!

Handmade Holidays for my sister

Christmas is coming...fast!

Earring preview!

Etsy finds- yummy yarn

Back from the cavalcade!

I lol'd

Sorta bad day...

Shop Update - Charms!

Three more pairs!

Oh Noes Vampires!

Let them wear cake!

Shop update!

Keeping my fingers crossed

Election Day

Breaking news!

How-to: Folding Stars

Mystery Bottlecaps!

Abingdon Boys School Magnets

Spooky Shop update

It's extra paycheck month!

Spoils of war

Postcards are in the shop!

Home from New York Anime Fest!

Off to New York Anime Fest's Artist Alley!

Step 1

dusts off blog