Environmental Art - plastic soda bottles for Christmas

Genius! I love when I come across an artist who makes it big with a simple idea.
The new Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is out now, featuring a host of fancy pants things. One that struck me is Michelle Brand's gorgeous Cascade Lancashire Chandelier which retails for only $12,000. It's made with recycled plastic bottle bottoms, precisely cut-out into flower shapes , filed, and strung together (with little plastic tags that look like the ones in which clothing price tags are affixed, you know, with the gun). Genius again!
I've long been fascinated with mobiles and chandeliers made out of quirky things, and tried to make my own before. I thought I would make a business out of it once, buying an antique form to embellish, then realizing that the shipping/tangle issue would be too much for me and gave up. I could've been Michelle Brand.

Her message is to convey that we can be part of the solution to our big mess. Recycling can be beautiful (and lucrative).
Read an article here from naturalhome magazine for more info.

ps- thanks studio marcy for pointing out the neiman marcus catalog!!

NEW in the SHOP! Butterfly Wing Necklaces and a BLOG SPECIAL!

Hey folks! Ive got a slightly new design in the shop! I say slightly only because the new part is the bail. Its small. The part that has the little link that holds the chain..that's the bail. My other design has a large bail, its got a different feeling to it, maybe a little formal I would say. This new style I would call versatile. A little more casual even? I don't know how to call it exactly, but its my new favorite. The ones in the shop are the SMALL size, 20mm. I also have a LARGE 25mm, but just haven't photographed it quite yet.
I'll put the two styles together so you can see for yourself.
NEW DESIGN SPECIAL!!!
The first three peeps to purchase one of these (or all three!) get $5 OFF! Mention this ad in the message to seller during checkout and I will refund you immediately. NEW DESIGN (above)
TRADITIONAL DESIGN (below)

DIY Instructions - Babyshower Activity - How to make iron-on onesies!

How to decorate onesies for a baby shower! This tutorial is also great for embellishing baby or adult t-shirts, bibs, tote bags and anything fabric.

This is just a simple example of what you can do to make a baby shower extra special with a group activity. I like to think I channeled my inner-Martha for this one!

photo:hiding on the guest of honor behind our "shower" umbrellas.

This past week my mother and I hosted a very small surprise baby shower for my sister! The key to doing this as a group activity is having a SMALL group. I can see that doing this in a large group would be unruly and awkward and well, noone needs that many onesies. If you are having a large party, then consider doing this project as a gift item.

Our party only consisted of five women. Four plus the guest of honor. This was her second baby so it usually a smaller party, and luckily we DID have the party when we did (on Wednesday), because the baby came on Friday! The guest of honor was also able to create her own outfit for her new baby.

SUPPLIES:
COTTON ONESIES- (white and yellow) from A.C. Moore Crafts (michaels sells them too, and you can also get plain ones at target and baby stores anywhere).

BIBS (optional)- i didnt actually find any blank ones in my town. I know ikea sells them. So if you know of a place that has blank bibs please comment below.

TSHIRT(optional)

IRON-ON TRANSFER PAPER - from the craft store, you can also find it at staples & walmart. I used the one with iron-on paper for WHITE shirts. it has something to do with the background color. They also have the option for black.

SCISSORS

IRON

PIECE OF WOOD- the instructions on the iron on paper package said not to use ironing board, just wood. So i had a scrap board inthe studio that i used. My mom used the ironing board and it worked just fine though.

PENCIL- in case you want to draw out a shape first

Prep:
To make this an easy group activity, I made blocks of color using the most basic 'paint' program on my computer. I made strips of color on four sheets of paper. Another option would be to print (reverse) images of your choice on the sheets of paper, and even words.

I thought I would let my guests get creative so I just made blocks of color.

Create:

Lay out your onesie on the table, so when you lay out your paper design onto it you can move it around.

Cut the color printed iron-on paper into any shape in the world. You can cut letters, or silhouettes, polka dots, anything. If you are cutting out letters, make sure they are backwards, as you have to lay the transfer paper color-side-down to iron it.

Arrange the paper cut-outs onto the fabric.

Iron over the paper for 2 minutes on the NO STEAM setting. Just read the package directions for each manufacturer.

Let paper cool completely.

Peel away slowly. If you notice its not comoing off easy, iron again, and let cool completely.
Give to the mother-to-be! ENJOY!

Easthampton Bearfest makes the news! Unveiling of the Bears

(for those just joining, I was an artist chosen/commissioned to decorate a bear for the town of Easthampton, details to follow all week!)

Easthampton Bearfest on the News! Yesterday was a huge success, with the unveiling of the 30+ decorated fiberglass bears. I will be posting my process of this project through this week. Ive mentioned it before on the blog, but now that they are finally unveiled I can show you all the details, and behind the scenes of how I made MY bear. Mines the first one in the video, the little green one. Then Im at the very end in the "Nature" shirt, hamming it up next to my bear while people took photos (and apparently the news station was too!).

Here's the link, unfortunately I couldn't get it to embed properly.

Easthampton Bear Fest

Etsy Handmade Weddings: featuring...ME! (okay, ALL the Popko sisters)

How exciting! My sister AnnMarie wrote an article for the Etsy Storque (their blog) about my Handmade Wedding! I knew she wrote it, but we didnt know when it would be published.

Today I was feeling a little bogged down with work and orders and my public art project that was due last week. But my frown just turned upside down for sure!

I went to the etsy homepage a few minutes ago... and there was a photo of me and all my sisters!

Here's the article that she wrote in its entirety. AnnMarie runs two shops on etsy, superduper for headpieces, and things to wear and a few vintage supplies, and also her gourmet pecan shop, cocktailparty. Way to go AnnMarie!

New Butterfly Wing Ring in the shop!

I've been busy busy taking photos of all my new butterfly wing jewelry! Here's a glimpse of the newest ring I have in there. I tried using foliage to make it a little more nature-y looking. What do you think?

Have a lovely day!

Comparison Shopping

Vermeer, woman with a balance

With all the talk about the recession, how to save money, and 'what do we deserve to buy' in excess- of course I have to think about my own business. No one really needs a necklace, do they? Yes. They do. I make things that are important. Some of my works are real heirlooms and may be passed down through generations, others are hostess gifts simply made just to ignite a smile. They make people happy, and thats important to me.

So this is not a heavy post, because when discussing jewelry it should always be about how good it makes you feel whether you can afford it or not. Who hasn't gone to the jewelry store just to try on something they could never have? Its FUN!

Women have always liked to dress up. The photo above has modern day models enjoying some delights from the luxurious Boudoir Queen on etsy, which evoke another era. Oh to be wrapped up in that decadence!

Well, you CAN have the feeling of decadence without paying the price.

I actually heard the word 'recessionista' as a new term for people shopping on a budget. Its totally ridiculous to me, as only someone with way too much money would coin that. All the rest of us call 'recessionista shopping'....well, SHOPPING.

I am here to help you with some comparison shopping to make us all feel good about designer prices and handmade designer prices....

"DESIGNER"

Ceil Chapman Dress $865

"HANDMADE DESIGN"Boudoir Queen Dress, less than $865.

(I crack myself up. This is in her sold section so I dont know the price. Her corsets go for about $250 though. (And this dress is clearly better.)

(warning: shameless plug ahead)

"DESIGNER"

Barneys New York, $2000, yes- two grand


"HANDMADE DESIGN"

Yes, me! PoPkO!, $65

and why would I end the shamless plugs now, its MY blog....

"DESIGNER" Neiman Marcus Crystal Flower Ring, $245

"HANDMADE DESIGN"

You guessed it...PoPkO!, $8

So have fun with shopping on a budget, and when you need to get something pretty, head over to your local boutique that carries handmade things. Or head to etsy- specifically my shop, (oh no did I say that out loud?). No, I mean it. Head to etsy for ANYTHING. Even soap. Everyone needs soap. And if you dont want to splurge on a tissue box cozy, go get something that is worth spending money on- like an heirloom piece of jewelry, or a scrapbook that holds memories- things that will last. And also get some soap.

I want to thank Vermeer, for letting me post his incredible painting in a blog about shopping.