Is it only Wednesday? Hmm.

I got off of work a little early today so to take advantage of the extra time I decided to work on some product photos. A few that had not yet been photographed and some that needed some serious re-photographing.

I just worked on these the other night- they will probably be used as center pieces for more of my brooches mentioned here. I absolutely LOVE working with the pressed flowers/leaves again. I'm almost out so I picked some more flowers and leaves to press yesterday while out on a walk :)

I had actually forgotten about this pendant I made earlier this spring I believe. Its an earth made with white, blue, and green polymer clay attached to a circular glass tile. I didn't have my new camera at the time I made it so the photos needed an upgrade!

I made this wood burning semi recently and originally attached a hair comb to the back to wear in your hair but it just didn't quite work out the way I had hoped so I removed it and experimented around a bit and ended up taking a small strip of fabric and drilling tiny screws to secure it. Quite fun actually!

Anyway now it can be more versatile:

(click this one to see it enlarged for better detail!)

And around the neck:

Goodnight!

-Julie

"Erf" Day 2010

Well good evening fellow earthlings. Hope you all did something nice and earthy today. The weather was pretty terrible here in Los Angeles today but I managed to dedicate about and hour or so enjoying and feeling grateful for our great Mother, Earth.

While I was at work Miles and I (who is responsible for the "Erf" in this blog title) finished some miniature painted earths we started yesterday then cut them out and went around his house taping them next to every light switch and some of the water faucets as a reminder to conserve energy. He was totally into it which is really cool. He is a neat kid like that. (He is 3)

And, we also painted some leaves and rocks....

I also read Miles one of my favorite books from childhood. It had a profound effect on me and my relationship with the planet. I'm so thankful for my mom for discovering this book and sharing it with my siblings and I. The book I'm refering to is Just a Dream by Chris Van Allsburg. 

                              

I'm sure many of you have heard of this book and might share similiar sentiments about it as I. I just can't say enough about its awesomeness. At some point last year I started thinking about volunteering at local schools, reading it to the children to educate them about protecting the planet. I still think this is a good idea. I should do it! I ordered this particular copy last year from Amazon and I love the inscription I found inside.

The imagery in the book is amazing. I think it is why it had such an impact on me at a young age. It came out in 1990 so I guess I was about 7 or 8 when I first read it. 

                                          

After leaving work I drove over to Griffith Park, ordered a soy latte and the most amazing lavender vanilla shortbread cookies from the Trails cafe down at the bottom and then drove up to the top where the observatory is, the view up there is amazing. It was raining lightly but I didn't mind. I was feeling very connected to the earth and the universe. I love that feeling. I didn't have my camera with me so I don't have any pictures of this. Well I had my iphone camera but it just really doesn't do it justice.

Then I made my way over to Home Depot to and picked up some supplies for a little container window sill garden. I'm SO excited to get that set up this weekend. Hopefully the weather will warm up in the next few days. Gosh I can't believe myself, I'm such a Californian these days. Go away rainy coldness, I need me some sunshine ;)

Then I picked up my husband and we can came home and ordered Thai food. Haha.

I'm SO cold right now, our new place actually has gas heating vents throughout which we used a few times when we first moved in so I know they DID work, however I noticed yesterday evening that it stopped working and I have a sneaking suspicion that the hook up of the gas dryer last week has interfered with the heater!! Ahhhh. Need to call the plumber that set it all up and see if he can make it work again, because I have no idea where my space heater is. It gets mighty cold up here on this hill with all of these windows and hardwood floors. Eeeeee.

Anyway. OH yeah, this morning I found some papers in my Just a Dream book that I had stashed in there, I'm thinking like last March or April and one of them contained sketches and ideas for what eventually became Respect Your Mother. Its so cool, I'm so glad I found it. It gives me new inspiration plus makes me feel proud that I did move forward and create an online shop to sell my things and reminded me of ideas that I never materialized before and would like to do so now. Here is a photo of the paper ;)

                                    

I'm a serious list maker and am always jotting down words, lists, ideas, sketches on random paper and I love finding them later, its like a little mini journal of your life that you can look back on think wow, so thats what was going on in my world at that particular time. I usually become nostalgic. This group of papers contained a to do list in preparation of my mother's visit out here last spring. We had such a good time. She helped me create my outdoor garden at the old place. So much fun!

Annnd I will hush now. Happy Earth Day!

A new year, a new blog. Enjoy!

Where do we begin? Well... last spring I started a website and a blog through Yahoo web hosting where I displayed/discussed my crafts. I had just begun to create a batch of my earth inspired items to be sold online, it was certainly an exciting time. I had been making various pieces for myself to wear, mainly clay necklaces, shoe adornments and a shirt- they had captured the attention of strangers and family members who told me I should sell my creations online and well, one thing led to another and I started my website and soon after opened a shop on Etsy. I quickly turned a fourth of our (my husband Matt and I) tiny hillside studio into my "art studio" and have been an obsessed crafter ever since. I'm sure many of you have the same story, I think crafting is just one of those things that eventually takes you over.

Anyhow- one day my website was just gone, as well as my blog, I guess the term I had signed up for had lapsed with no warning email asking if I would like to renew. I'm not super website savvy so I never figured out how to get it back, I hope to one day, but for now I will continue to use Etsy and use this blog as a means to connect and display with other like minded and interested individuals. My posts may be spastic for a while but I assume over time they will find their way and purpose. I hope to talk about life, the planet, share new pieces, other crafter's pieces, demonstrations, and promote.

$1 from each of my sales (whether online or at a craft show) are donated to an environmental organization. Even though its small it makes me feel better about my place in this world, knowing that I am, and that I can in some way, help the planet. I am actually trying to seek out a sponsor who would be interested in meeting me dollar for dollar per each sell to donate that way the impact would be larger. Please let me know if you think you may know a person or company who would be interested. I don't make a ton of sales (as of yet) and my pieces are not expensive so the sponsor wouldn't be shelling out a crap load of money ;)

I like to look at blogs that have photos, so being mindful of that, I will try to keep this interesting with photos whether it be my crafts, another crafter's pieces, or random photos I will take with my new (yay!) camera :)
So tonight, I think I will sign off with a photo of one of my most recent pieces. I actually haven't made anything new in a couple of weeks due to the holidays, etc. I can't wait to start again. Plus, I got a sewing machine for Christmas so my shop should be expanding soon!! Until next time...




(I love this piece, I need to make more- this particular one was sold at my mother in law's booth at a show in Texas. Tree and bird made out of polymer clay.)