My mini-book necklaces were featured in Insight, a retailing insight magazine.  How fun is that?!!

I've been doing large leather journals with hand-stitched words for awhile now, but I usually stitch them with leather stripes across the background.  I've gotten multiple comments from customers at shows who say that those journals are too "clean and straight" looking.  They wanted to see something more rugged and organic with less planned out shapes.  These were created with those customers in mind.  Thank you for the inspiration!

 I have been selling my books at Artique at Lexington Green in Lexington, KY for a few years now.  It was one of the first stores I started selling in.  I grew up in and around Lexington and remember going to this store when I was little.  I would ooohhh and ahhhh at all the beautiful artwork.  It was exciting to be able to be a part of it.  They asked if I would do some demonstrating outside the store this past weekend, and I gladly agreed.  I even got to sit in the butterfly chair (Yes, I have pics from over of the years of me sitting on this!).  I sent the photo to one friend and said that I finally grew my wings ;)

you have to remember to...

So much of my business has been changing and growing.  I've been expanding my wholesale and am in lots of fun galleries and boutiques around the U.S.  It is not only my business that has changed this year.  There has been a lot of growth within myself.  One goal this year was to not slip into a “work trance” and to stay more balanced.  Do you know what I mean by this?  It is so easy since I work from home and have a lot to do to simply work constantly…like all the time.  I made this a habit for years.  I would literally get up in the morning and begin work within half an hour and work non-stop until I would collapse into bed.  Sometimes, this is necessary.  However, I don’t want making books to be my whole life.  I want to be more balanced than that.  Annie Dillard wrote,

“How we live our days is of course how we live our life”. 

I love this.  Making books and filling orders is definitely a large part of my life…but it is not all of me.  I’m learning balance and the continued importance of rest and play and dance and reading and simply being with people.   It has made it all so much more fun, including the “work”.  I’ve even begun to look at “work” as more “play”.  It lightens up the load and the pressure…it lightens me up.  When I feel the stress of deadlines and upcoming shows, I’ve found myself saying “I have all the right problems”.  I am so thankful for continued work and support and creative opportunities.  All of these slight changes in perspective allow me to take deeper breaths and relax into my days so much more.

These are custom leather tags that I created for a toolman to use to identify which tool box contains which tools.  This type of item could also be used as a unique luggage tag.  They are hand-stitched letters on remant leather with beads and stone to accent.

These are toothfair book necklaces that I made as custom orders as a couple of birthday presents for young girls.  They have a tooth and fairy wand stitched on the front and a little pocket on the back cover for the money to go in.  There are a few pages inside where they can keep track of when and where they lost their teeth.  All of this comes packaged as a bitty book that they can wear as a necklace.  Pretty fun, huh?!

My first outside show of the year was at the 4 Bridges Art Festival in Chattanooga, TN.  I fell in love with that place--the people were so friendly, there were local businesses everywhere, and fun art was all over.  I had just enough extra time to fit in some tasty restaurants and check out some cute, new boutiques. I stayed at a hostel, Crashpad, and was able to walk to and from the show.  It was all so fabulous!

"Unless its mad, passionate, extraordinary love, it's a waste of your time.  There are too many mediocre things in life.  Love shouldn't be one of them."  -Dreams for an Insomniac

I recently created a custom leather sleeve for a customer in California to give to her boyfriend for their anniversary.  Here is what she had to say about it:

"This is one of the best purchases I have ever made! I was looking for a certain portfolio that I couldn't find anywhere, and this seller was able to accomplish all the customizations I desired perfectly. She has one of the best prices in terms of genuine leather products out there. So glad I ordered from this shop! :)"

This notebook is a perfect companion for all tooth fairies! You can record and save each little tooth as they come out, making notes and storing memories. It is a 4.5 x 3 inches hand-bound book with 72 pages (front and back) that has a small pocket on the front inside cover. The cover was made from remnant mint leather, and it closes with a hand-made glass bead. The inside pages are also recycled and acid-free. You can even have your wee one draw pictures of what happened when they lost their tooth. The ideas are endless!  To order one, go here.

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

I was invited to do a demonstration at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.  If you have never visited the Artisan Center, you should.  They always have a fabulous art exhibit on various themes and feature so many KY artists.  I really love having my work for sell there as well as working with them.  So, I was delighted to be able to to a demo.  I took my paper cutter, sewing tools, paper, and book covers and bascially sewed and chatted with folks about book binding all day.  It was really fun as well as relaxing.  I focused on repurposed book covers, namely old Reader's Digest, and showed how I use those to create a new book.  One important thing to remember is that all book covers get thrown away...only the insides of books can be recycled.  This is a way to re-use those book covers.  Check out the video and pics...all of them are courtesy of the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea!

Since I was accepted into the KY Crafted program last fall, I was eligible to participate in Ky Crafted: The Market....and I was SO excited!!!  This show features mostly KY artists who are all part of this program.  There is one full day of wholesale and then two days that are open to the public for retail.  While it was a long week leading up to it having just gotten back from Philly, I was so glad to be there.  Wholesale day went really well.  I met buyer's from KY as well as other states and also saw many of my current KY retailers.  Everyone was so congratulatory and excited to see me be a part of the show.  The whole weekend really felt like a celebration.  The retail days were fun, and it felt like most of Lexington came out for the festivities.  The KY Arts Council did an amazing job (as always).  This is one of the shows I will definitely look forward to doing again!

I was delighted and surprised to see one of my journals on the door as you
headed into the convention center!

Amy Hess, from the Local Traveler, and me.
Amy came by to do an interview for an upcoming show...stay tuned for details...

This is almost everything for my booth on one cart!  Welcome to loading in and out...it makes me thankful for a small car that I can't fit too much in :)

Lots of preparations for KY Crafted: The Market!  It will be my first time participating, and I'm so excited!

“Let silence take you to the core of life.”
― Rumi

It is all too easy to get swept away with business and constant going, going, going...especially when you are growing something.  This year, I had a wholesale show in January, February, and will attend one in March.  I am keeping up with orders, but am working long hours and seven days a week.  One of the things that keeps coming to mind is that these are "growing pains".  I am growing and am learning how to push myself to more capacity as well as keep other aspects in my life in some sort of balance.  For me, it is necessary to take a time out now and again.  It is particularly helpful if I can get to the woods and just sit.  Being still and quiet helps me ground and re-center, enabling me to work again with renewed energy.

I found this fortune on one of my hikes in Berea!!  So true!

I recently traveled with the Kentucky Arts Council to Philadelphia to participate in the Buyer's Market.  It was my first time being at this show as well as my first time in Philly.   I arrived the evening of Valentine's Day and met up with Amelia Stamps, a fellow artist and friend.   She had done the show previously and was able to give me some insight as well as show me some of the Philly sights.  We didn't have too much extra time, but we did manage to enjoy meals in Chinatown most evenings.  We stayed near the convention center where the show was held and were able to walk everywhere, which was really nice.  The show felt like the easiest experience ever!  There were five of us who shared the booth,representing KY Crafted.  The KY Arts Council provided display and signage and were great about organizing everything.  The buyer's were also really great and quite personable.  It was really fun meeting store owners who are interested in supporting handmade products.  I'm grateful that I was able to participate and look forward to doing so again in the future!

It's official!!

The whole booth, featuring five artists

Close-up

This is what I look like writing orders ;)

Me and Amelia

The City

China Town

Little peek at The Market, which was filled to the max with food vendors, veggies, Amish baked goods, coffee, etc....Delicious!

All it takes is a little faith and a lot of heart...

-The Weepies

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony."
-Thomas Merton

This was a custom order from last year.  They are matching refillable
notebooks that are meant to be a reminder of balance.

Some days, I can feel myself beaming with aliveness.  Today is one of those days...