Sex and the City

These past few weeks have been so energy consuming, that I have not made anything but earrings for a very long time. In fact, I did not make any puppets since February, I believe. That's how it works for me, I fear. When worries come through the door, my creativity goes out the window.

But this week, I finally managed to sit myself down and bring to life a project I first thought of two months ago. It's almost too late, as the hype is already gone I fear, but still it's better late than never. So please welcome the wonderful, sexy, fun loving, devoted and oh so trendy Sex and the City girls!

This is my original draft

And here is the gang, which will be available in the shop

tomorrow (Saturday the 19th of June)

Carrie Flutterbutt is wearing her signature tutu outfit

with Louboutin cowgirl boots

Miranda is wearing a printed strapless day dress with a

trendy oversized straw bag and huge earrings

Charlotte is wearing a strapless coral velvet dress'

with black lace and satin roses. She also has a 

sequined evening handbag and is wearing her 

matching pink diamond ring and earrings.

And finally, Samantha is wearing a super reveling yellow

micro mini sequin dress with her signature statement jewlery

which include a purple crystal bracelet, huge gold earrings 

and, of course, the flower ring she got from Smith.

I hope you like them, and remember to check back for the 

shop update tomorrow.

It's raining earrings!

I am adding more earrings to the SharonArt shop, after selling almost all of the first batch.

The price range is 16$-20$. I hope these also sell well, so I will have an excuse to make more. I do enjoy making these, even though it is not easy (myself and delicate tweezers, is not a good combination). I am completely hooked on these dark blue-black Czech glass beads, they sparkle so beautifully, they really were a great find.

Experimenting in a new field

My devoted readers probably noticed I have been complaining about lack of inspiration, or more accurately - a lack of drive to create (though I have several ideas for projects, and received some wonderful ideas from you, my dear readers). This, combined with a phenomena I recently got aware of, drove me to get my hands on a new endeavor - earrings making!

There are several jewelry makers on Etsy I follow and admire who I found out are not goldsmiths or silversmiths, but actually are buying ready made jewelry parts and putting them all togeather, while charging high prices. That annoyed the hell out of me, especially since I just spent a large amount of money on one of these shops. I decided I am going to make myself the earrings I like from now on, and then decided to also sell them - at a much better price than the wannabe jewelry smiths I previously looked up to.

So, I am proud to present the first of my new earrings collection! I am selling them on SharonArt, since they do not fit on Raisinlike, which is a much sillier shop.

Humming bird in a hoop earrings in matte gold and aqua

Lovey dovey skulls

Red Babushka earrings

Sweet humming bird earrings in matte gold and pale pink

Flower tear drop earrings in matte gold and blue

 I hope you like them as much as I do. I am not used to such delicate work but I am quite pleased with how they turned out!

Whatever shall I do?

I am going through a little wave of blah, which is much like a tsunami, only it covers you with an overwhelming sense of blah (which, you must agree, is way better than walls of water). Still, if it was water instead of blah, I would not be worrying about my shop.

I want to come up with a new and exciting product, but all I can think of is blah as well as a little "munch munch" every now and then. I think the only thing I've done successfully these past few weeks, outside of work, is gain weight.

I am all dried up, let's eat!

So I am calling out for help - if you have cool project ideas for me, or a source of inspiration which always helps you, or anything else you would like to share - please comment!

Desperately seeking sunglasses

I am desperately looking for mini buttons/pins/charms like these, size about 1.5 Inches (about 4cm) with lenses that can be taken out. I know they exist, because I had two and used them. I need them in all colors I can get. All I found so far are one piece with nondetachable lenses, which won't do. I have been looking for days now.

(Note, the above photo is from eBay, I did not shoot it myself or have any rights to it).

What I need is to use them as I did with my Mini Me (photo below). Please let me know if you sell these or know where I can buy them online, thanks!!!

Rubber stamp

Every aspiring dictator needs a rubber stamp. I already have one for my Etsy shop, but it is in English and I have plans for Israel too. So I was shopping for a Hebrew stamp and that brought me to the amazing, talented and oh so nice Mekoopelet.

After I initiated contact ("Hello I plan to control the world, and need a rubber stamp") Mekoopelet and I started a correspondence where I described what I am looking for, she sends me a draft  and so forth. We worked on several options, including either my website address or my phone number. Combining both would create a big stamp, and I wanted a relatively small one. She also suggested several illustrations, based on photos I sent her. It was quite clear from the get go, that Pinky would have to appear as my logo.

 

An advanced draft

Eventually, I decided I want to go with the smaller stamp, with my name and the Pinky sketch only and asked Mekoopelet to create two separate mini stamps - one with my URL (for business purposes) and one with my phone number (for stamping my books and taking over the world) and so she did! Yesterday, I received this wonderful wrap in the mail.

Next Pinky and I did some test stamping. Needless to say, he was very excited. Mekoopelet also sent the beautiful mounted stamp card you can see on the photo.

Finally, when we agreed we are satisfied, Pinky called Shafani (Pinky's stuffed bunny) to help with an official rubber stamp portrait. Remember this portrait well, for it may flutter on the flags of our proud nation one day soon (you would expect my portrait wouldn't you? But I know Pinky, and I know who is really having the last word around this house).

Are you a megalomaniac freak or a handmade artist? Do you sell vintage clothing you need to label or maybe would simply like to get your books back when you lend them? Email Mekoopelet today, order a stamp and tell her Pinky sent you.

Who wants to be a milliner?

Obviously I do, since I have been spending last night making new headbands. Birdy ones too - with tiny wonderful mushroom birds, and slightly larger nested birds (with tiny eggs as well). They turned out so lovely, if I may say so myself, and today I spent the last hour of light shooting my beautiful friend modeling my creations on her wonderful curly luscious red hair.

Pink butterfly

Red bird

Bird in the nest

Four headbands are currently available on my shop. I will be adding more later.

Shabby kitsch and a little gardener

Yesterday I found myself dwelling in a shabby-kitsch kinda mood. I bought all sorts of lovely butterflies in the craft shop and ended up making two headbands full of ribbon, flowers, and butterflyish loveliness.

The first one is lilac and sky blue with a touch of baby pink.

The second is all sorts of wonderful pinks with butterflies, ribbon, and roses.

I will be adding the headbands to the shop very shortly. I hope I did not overdo it with the sweetness, I just love this type of hair accessories!

Last but not least, is my recent addition to the shop - a wonderful little hand puppet called Sarah!

Sarah loves flowers and gardening. She also likes soccer, hot cocoa, and Emily Bronte and is very friendly and huggable. She is waiting for you in my shop, all ready to spread joy and cheer throughout your home. Operating her is as easy as pie!

Seriously freaky stuff

Two nights ago, I was lying in bed, half asleep, and thinking all these illusive fluid thoughts you think as your mind gradually slips into the first stage of sleep when suddenly my eyes opened - I saw an image of a polymer clay Flutterbutt ring, it was there as clear as the computer screen is in front of me now.

This, of course, ruined my sleep. I turned on the light and created a reminder on my cell phone so I can go back to sleep without getting out of bed. There was no need to do that, since the first thought on my mind the next morning was "I didn't touch my Fimo in over a year, I wonder if it is not too dry to work with".

Well, I am afraid it wasn't. Last night I stayed up, even though I was very tired, and made three samples. One is too horrid to show a living creature. The second was strange, and I turned it into a brooch.

The last one was even stranger, and I made a Fluttering out of it.

I am not sure what to do with these. My mom says no one in their right mind would wear such a jewel, which must mean there is a huge market out there waiting for more Flutterings!

So, what do you think?

Thou giveth and thou taketh

Yesterday my friend and I headed to the Tel-Aviv fabric district (נחלת בנימין). She was looking for fabric to make a summer bag (she already bought decorated bamboo handles online) and I was hunting for ribbon to make Flutterbutts.

The car park was packed, so I had to park my car on the top of the 8th floor. We were annoyed at first, but then we caught a glimpse of the view. It's a good thing my cell phone exploded, cause my new cell camera turned out to be excellent.

A view of the sea


The fabric district and pedestrian mall

So, we headed down and as soon as we left the parking lot, we stumbled upon an amazing ribbon shop. Honestly, I know why I need this type of ribbon, but what do others do with it, not to mention the longer more exquisite type? I have no idea, but I tell you - If I could marry a shop, that would be it.

Next, we went looking for fabric (and some food at the nearby market). My friend finally found two fabrics she loved - one Chinese dragon on red, and another more abstract pattern on something I would call ashy-lavender-rose-kinda-thing color.

Nice selection, we didn't buy here though

At some point I realized we are stepping on silver sequin, the cracks on the road were simply filled with it

The streets of Tel-Aviv are paved with silver

Finally, we returned home tired but very pleased. My pleasing, though, was short lived since these last few days have been very bad for me. Problems are pouring like rain, and I am stressed out of my mind. So much so, that I found myself reorganizing my ribbon collection which was in terrible shape (for my personal use, the shop ribbons are perfectly organized elsewhere). I wanted to display it in plain sight for a while now, to inspire me and make my creation process more orderly. I had just the perfect solution - since my friend sent me a wonderful wall mounted organizer from Portugal months ago. Problem is, I had no wall to hang it on, till I realized I can fold one of the culomns and stick it to my studio door with tacks.

And so, I turned into one of my most hated cliches - the woman who cleans when she's panicked. But it does make sense organizing things when you fell you have no control over things. Here is a little haven of control right at the tip of my fingers. After several hours of that, I was tired enough to go to bed and fall asleep instantly.

That, by the way, is the first Flutterbutt I ever made

Finally, this morning I sent the prize to Jen, my blog giveaway winner. Oddly enough, I also won a blog giveaway, and received this wonderful collection of stationary from Karen at Purple cat's corner. Hopefully, this is just the first of good things coming my way (and headed from me to the world).
Karen also sent me lovely magnets for my promo packs, which reminds me - If you have promotional items you want to send me to ship to my customers, please contact me. Anything up to the size of a standard business card will be welcome.

Animal magnetism

There comes a time in every woman's life when she realizes her shop is clean of hamsters. Yes, only one hamster magnet remained after the sale we had last week. I therefore spent the Passover holiday (or part of it..) hand sewing some new hamsters.

This little hamster is a Liberace fan

This little hamster enjoys ripe French cheese

And this little one, has seriously crazy eyes

Get them for your kitchen or office, or both. A hamster magnet a day, keeps the clutter away.

פרויקט הפסח הסודי נחשף

כבכל שנה, התבקשתי להכין את מתנת הפסח לדודות של רותי. שלא כבכל שנה, רותי התחתנה עם דני, כך שהמתנה משניהם. ההנחיות שלי היו להכין משהו פרקטי (בשנים קודמות קיבלו הדודות תכשיטי אוכל מניאטורי ואוגרים מגנטיים).

בשיטוטי בחנות מלאכת היד חיפשתי השראה, וזו לא איחרה לבוא - פרקטי ומגניב, היר איי קאם! וכך התחלתי בעבודה (מאוחר מדי, כהרגלי). ראשית ביקשתי מהזוג תמונות, וקיבלתי. התיישבתי לצייר אותם עם שרפי (זה התחביב החדש שלי, ציור בשרפי - כמו שאני עושה בתמונות המוצר בחנות הסרטים שלי) על נייר.מאחר ודני יצא מאד דומה, אבל רותי יצאה בת מאה, ציירתי ראשים אלטרנטיביים, במטרה להדביק לה אחד מאוחר יותר.


הזהרה - התהליך המתואר מכאן והלאה נע בין השערורייתי למגוחך. ככה אני עובדת, כי אין לי הדרכה או הכשרה או סבלנות ולכן אני עושה מה שבא לי.

מאחר והתעצלתי לחבר את הסורק למחשב החדש, צילמתי את התמונה, העליתי אותה למחשב, והעליתי אותה לפיקניק כדי לסדר את איזון הלבן (זאת התוכנה הכי טובה שיש לי למטרה הזו). אחר כך פתחתי ב-MS Photodraw והברגתי לגברת ראש חדש.

עכשיו לשלב המגוחך באמת - פתחתי Paintbrush והתחלתי לצבוע. לא, אני לא צוחקת. יצא לא רע יחסית. אחר כך פתחתי שוב בפוטודרוו והוספתי טקסט. כעת הפכתי למראה, כפי שמיודענו ליאונרדו אהב לעשות. בנוסף בישלתי תוספתן.
כדי להמשיך את טרנד ה"חשבתי שרק באריטראה עובדים ככה" נאלצתי לנסוע לתל אביב לחברה שיש לה מדפסת, כי לי אין. כלומר יש, אבל היא לא עובדת כבר קרוב לחצי שנה. שם הודפסה הכבודה (פלוס התוספתן). אז דילגתי חזרה הביתה, ופתחתי קרש גיהוץ. אני שונאת לגהץ.

אין ברירה אלא להודות, שלמרות שאני מגהצת לא משהו, יצא פגז קומפוט! שלא לדבר על התוספתנים.

לסיום - עת לארוז. מאחר ומדובר במתנה לליל הסדר (אגב, במשפחה שלי לא נותנים מתנות לפסח כבר שנים. אני מתחילה להרגיש מוזר עם זה שאין מתנה לדודים למחר..) ופורים היה לא מזמן, חיפשתי את התיקים והארנקים למצות וארזתי יפה בצירוף מצה קטנה ריקה, שיוכלו לכתוב ברכה אישית לכל דודה.

וזהו - פרויקט הפסח הסודי הושלם בהצלחה. עד השנה הבאה, שלום ולהתראות וחג שמח וכשר לכולם!

Some blah and another international cooperation

Today I am feeling rather blah. I had an actual lump of blah stuck in my throat for several hours, but even now that it is gone, I am still sort of blah. My shop, for example, needs refreshing with some tasty new items, but I have no inspiration. Plus, I was commissioned to create Passover gifts for seven aunts, but didn't start working on them yet. I know what I am making, but keep procrastinating. Blah.

In the midst of all this blah, there is the beautiful result of yet another international cooperation with Dave from Craftiness. Dave and I already worked on a cross seas pen project, which was just for the two of us. This time, Dave the wood craftsman and me decided we will create a commercial product to sell on Dave's shop - a wooden hand painted kaleidescope!

First, Dave curved four maple wood eggs (made out of maple growing in Austin Texas, where he and his family lives) and shipped them to Israel for me to paint on. I hand painted the eggs, using ink and acrylic paint in the styles Dave and I worked out before hand (mainly, not too cute). It was a real challenge for me.

The front of the eggs - a sleeping woman, gazing at the stars, bear
and "מים רבים לא יכבו את האהבה" which means "Many waters cannot quench love" (Song of Songs, 8-7).

The back of the eggs

Finally, I shipped the eggs back to Dave to be turned into kaleidescope. Dave polished, glazed, and turned the eggs into unique pieces of art. As he wrote in his item description These eggs logged about 14,000 miles of travel so far, I cannot wait to see how much further they will travel.

The final result. The eggs are available for purchase here.