Vespertine Cafe

Memories of the General Store Cafe

2012-01-26T09:23:00.001-05:00

Although Vespertine is no longer in Pittsboro, my thoughts are certainly there this morning. I was so saddened to learn that the General Store Cafe closed its doors on Jan 24th. It was such a definable part of Pittsboro...almost as much as the Courthouse. I really cannot imagine driving up the Circle and not seeing the lights on around their big windows.

I could really show my age here and say how I remember going with my Mom, taking a jar to the original General Store (located across the street) to fill it with Tamari. Going with friends to get firecracker mix in the afternoons. I remember when it moved, expanded, and added the restaurant. When I would come home from college breaks, I would meet my friends there. We would order the quiche, salad, and coffee and hunker down in our favorite corner--where we would remain undisturbed for hours as we caught up.

The thought I keep coming back to today is that the General Store Cafe really helped give Vespertine life. When I first started out in March of 2007 (wow!), I was working at three Pittsboro businesses (which also helped form Vespertine) and thinking of starting my own. Being able to barter for rent and to do the night closeouts at the GSC allowed me to get my business going. My original shop was located beside the GSC, and the business they generated spilled over in to mine. Although I grew up here, I had never lived "in town" before then. I can still remember how it felt to lock up the GSC and walk home through the place I then felt was "my" town. Vance and Joyce (the GSC owners) were so inspiring to me. I loved watching their business thrive and expand. I was so excited to be working with other business people who had a vision to bring something fun and unique to Pittsboro.

I really hope that we can all collectively pause now and think about what is happening with Pittsboro. How can we better support our businesses? How can we make this a positive and thriving place to live? We can use the Mainstreet Program as a great place to start envisioning our future and figuring out what we need to make it become a reality.

At the risk of sounding overly poetic, I really feel that with the closing of the GSC, a lovely emerald jewel has fallen out of the crown of Pittsboro. Let's not lose another one.

Sweet Cards

2012-01-17T17:41:00.001-05:00

My newest window display~ bit of a Valentine's theme. I had such a great time hanging some of my sweet new love cards on pink string using these cute little clothespins with red hearts. I purchased them a few years ago at BHV (sounds like bay-ahsh-vay, en francais), the greatest department store *ever* while visiting a dear friend in Paris! <> I can't wait to go back...but, 'til then, it's always nice to find a little reminder in my crafts supplies.

Re-Stocking Excitement: Moonspoons, Blackbird Letterpress, and Re-Created Glass Tumblers

2012-01-13T16:17:00.000-05:00

Just a little re-stocking update: I just finished going through two lovely boxes of Moonspoon items. Tea Strainers, Honey Sticks, Chopsticks, and more are back in stock in a variety of styles. I also have new Blackbird Letterpress Journals and cards, including some super sweet Love Notes and Bear Hug cards, perfect for Valentine's Day, which will be here before you know it!

As I was writing this post, Leslie Fesperman Re-Created Glass just brought by a bunch of new tumblers, some cast boxes, and some wonderful "splash" plates made from fused pieces of coke bottle glass~ lovely!

Veterans Day Thoughts about the Department of Peace

2011-11-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

I work at Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast in Pittsboro NC. This year, innkeeper Karen Pullen gave away a free night to Veterans and their families. I just finished checking in some of these couples, and it left me thinking of the military, war, and more importantly~ peace.

I am an ardent pacifist but I do feel strong support and affection for the members of our armed forces--which are not exclusive to each other. A good friend of my family has spent the better part of the past few years serving in Afghanistan. Watching his family go through the extremes of pride and worry was very sobering. I also recently attended a service at Arlington (luckily not for my young friend) which was deeply moving.

I came up with some links that happen to follow the trail of my thoughts pretty closelyt:

This first one is from a favorite comedian Mike Birbiglia, who says "I love the troops. If they weren't the troops than I would be the troops, and I would be the worst troops".

One of my favorite musicians, PJ Harvey, released a very thought provoking album this year. Let England Shake explores themes of war, nations, patriotism, and the arc of a superpower. Although at times terribly depressing, I do love this album. Plus, I really like having the chorus "what if I take my problem to the United Nations" stuck in my head all day. This video gives a feel of the album:

I'll leave you with one more link, here. This one is about a direction I hope we can move towards some day. I look forward to a time when our nation decides to make a Department of Peace that is as well funded and supported (if not more so!) as our Department of War.

How beauty feels...

2011-10-20T18:26:00.000-04:00

Richard Seymour: How beauty feels | Video on TED.com

Two artistically minded ladies I know shared the above video link with me recently--I highly recommend giving it a watch. It deals with a subject I often think about, and one that I remember sparked interesting conversations in my woodworking sculpture classes: how beauty feels and where we feel it.

Several years ago I had the good fortune to visit the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy with some of my family. The whole gallery (and the building itself) is amazing, but one room in particular nearly knocked me off my tired feet--a room filled with Botticelli paintings. These intricately painted canvases are large, each one like a wall of a house, and the brush-strokes are nearly imperceptible they are blended so smoothly. As I walked through this room, gazing at panel after panel of strikingly beautiful figures and foliage, I became aware of a feeling of lightness spreading across my chest from the top of one shoulder to the other. That is the only way I can describe it. I suddenly felt as if a weight I didn't know was there had been physically lifted off of me.

That's where I feel beauty. Where do you feel it? What evokes that feeling for you?

Local Artist and Fabulous Earrings

2011-10-06T10:42:00.001-04:00

I had the pleasure of meeting NC Artist Maia Leppo last week and taking on some of her fabulous earrings. The circles are made of up-cycled tin from tea tins or other printed metal boxes. The domed shapes are sandwiched between two darkened steel rings and riveted with silver for a great contrast. Silver loops connect to silver earwires. Two sizes are available in a variety of colors and patterns.

New Product: Laser Cut Clocks and Brooches

2011-10-04T10:39:00.001-04:00

These new clocks are so delightful! I can just picture them on a bedside table or a pretty white mantle with some river stones... Laser cut from bamboo and featuring a silent clock--all made in the USA in Kansas City, Missouri.

Fall Window--New Scarves

2011-10-01T16:02:00.001-04:00

The temperatures this weekend are supposed to stay in the mid-Sixties, which means everyone in North Carolina is pulling out their favorite sweaters and boots! Personally, I love a nice scarf to make me feel like Fall, and Jody's new screenprinted jersey ones (featured on mannequin) are perfect! Lightweight, easy to wrap many many times, and best of all, they can be washed with regular laundry.

New NC Necklaces from the Studio

2011-09-24T17:56:00.000-04:00

I am excited to report after much trial, and even more error, I have finally gotten some enameled NC Necklaces that I am happy with! Here are some of the first colors~my favorites. The copper NCs are cut out by my father at his machine shop on the wire EDM, then I painstakingly clean them and torch enamel them. It is extremely fun, and I am looking forward to more colors soon!

New Product: Spitfire Girl Boxed Cards

2011-09-14T14:29:00.000-04:00

I have been eagerly anticipating this latest shipment and they are finally here and out in the shop! These boxed cards combine some of my all time favorite things: dioramas, small plastic deer, glitter, and interesting things to put in the mail. Each box card is hand-assembled in L.A. and features a cool background picture and a little figurine. You can enclose a message, close the box, write the address on a label (enclosed), slip it back in the plastic sleeve and take to the Post Office! A card *and* gift all in one, I can't wait to send one~

Re-Stock: Moonspoon Chopsticks

2011-08-13T15:34:00.000-04:00

Welcome to a new feature on the Blog (that I promise I will update more often from here on out!): the Re-Stock. This week I got in a big new batch of the totally awesome Moonspoon Chopsticks. Handcrafted in Pennsylvania from beautiful cherry wood, they are detailed with fabulous botanical and architectural motifs. Each pair comes with a little clasp that doubles as a chopstick rest.

Getting Settled in Carrboro

2011-07-30T17:55:00.000-04:00

Here is yet another update after the event, sorry! After much thought and careful deliberation, I decided to close my Pittsboro shop at the end of June and focus my efforts on the Carrboro shop. I had a big closing party and got to see so many of the folks who made working at Vespertine such a pleasure.

I spent several crazy weeks packing (and less time unpacking) and moving things around. The Carrboro shop is starting to feel really nice now, "pleasantly full", as a friend said yesterday. As of this afternoon, I now have a sign out front! Very exciting!

Carrboro Story...

2011-03-27T19:09:00.000-04:00

I am remiss for not updating the blog sooner than this! However, I do have a good reason~ This winter I had an amazing opportunity to open a second store in a space in Carrboro that I have admired (dreamed about) for years. I used to gaze across at the beautiful windows when I worked at The Original Ornament nearly 10 years ago. I think the seeds of my desire to have a shop were planted then, although they took a little while to sprout.

I moved into the space on Feb. 15th and opened on March 6th. Needless to say, I've been a little bit busy...

Thanks to some wonderful friends and family, I am able to run the Carrboro store and keep the Pittsboro shop open as well. Having a shop in Carrboro has been quite the experience, for many many reasons. My favorite though, is that I feel such potential here. I love my new customers, the surrounding restaurants, and, I must admit, the parking lots and well kept up town is pretty neat. Don't get me wrong, I adore Pittsboro, but I often feel like the merchants can't catch a break. There is such opportunity in this sweet historical town, but we have to fight for every small thing. If the Courthouse isn't burning down/being rebuilt over a year later, then a store is closing and staying vacant for months (or years, ahem, Red Star Coffee~so glad it's finally open!), or shingles are falling off the ancient awnings, there is NO place for visitors to park, the plantings are terrible.. but I digress. I want only the best things for Pittsboro, and I am ever hopeful.

My Carrboro store is located in a wonderful old building at 118 B East Main Street. It is semi-connected to This and That Gift Gallery(we share doorways and the bathroom). I really lucked out with my building mates~ not only are Joy and Paul really nice and fun, but Paul is a photographer! He generously took the super-cool 180 degree shot above. That's my new view from my counter.

Come visit! I am open in Pittsboro Tues-Sat 10:30-5, and in Carrboro Tues-Sat 10:30-5:30, Sun 12-4

Special 2-Day Sale Dec. 30th and 31st

2010-12-29T15:11:00.000-05:00

Chocolates in Vespertine!

2010-11-30T13:00:00.001-05:00

What an exciting development this is! I am now carrying locally made Escazu chocolate bars. This is amazing chocolate that I can attest to enjoying for quite some time. I am thrilled to have the Beaufort Bar (sea salt and dark chocolate), Chipotle and Vanilla, and Pure Dark. These I will have in the future as well, but just for the holidays I also have Endangered Species Hazelnut Toffee pieces in gift boxes~ drooool.

Store Renovations

2010-11-23T17:04:00.000-05:00

I am remiss for not posting these photos earlier! A few weeks ago I was finally able to get all of Flytrap's Men's Shirts hung on the wall~ I think it looks totally fabulous!

This crazy photo makes this corner of the middle room look very colorful indeed! New Flytrap cotton scarves, New Miss Fitt felted hats (ammmmazing details, check out that owl!), Kitty Rice Heat Bags, and awesome pillows from my mom.

barnwood mirrors

2010-10-30T15:47:00.003-04:00

A collaboration with my father, who has been making these beautiful frames from 100 year old barnwood and heart pine. The wood is so grooved with holes and knots~ it is full of character!

I applied some of my OneUp vinyl decals as an accent. I always have to add a little extra color...

vintage lucite earrings!

2010-09-30T13:08:00.003-04:00

A very exciting batch of earring bits arrived in the mail last week~ I found a stash of vintage Lucite leaves and awesome large filigree pieces that I have been assembling ever since. (oh yes, there are even large brightly colored owls and strawberries!) Although I'm still a little bummed Summer is over, Welcome Fall!

1st Anual Circle City Rat Rod Rock-a-Billy Rumble

2010-09-04T10:44:00.004-04:00

My friend Marc spent the day at Vespertine cutting vinyl for his 55 Chevy's debut in Pittsboro. The City Tap booked a great band and the car folks came out to fill the old Thrift Shop parking lot and mill around chatting. Such a beautiful night for a music-filled stroll through Pittsboro.
Before his transformation with the interior of the 55, soon to be sparkle silver and complete the grey-scale look of the car.
Marc's alter-ego Rat Fink in his custom converted lawn mower... Note the excited boys in the background..

plain jane..

2010-08-21T16:13:00.002-04:00

It only took me two requests on Etsy for a plain state with no inner cut outs for me to get one in the shop! You can tell I'm fairly pleased with myself.

I'm getting more skilled at cutting out the Old North State.. but of course just when I break down and buy a gross of saw blades I seem to stop breaking them as often, always how it goes!

more wanderlust...

2010-07-20T11:16:00.002-04:00

Ahhhh, the thrill of an overseas flight! These buttons were made from stickers that I got on my first ever trans-atlantic flight when I accompanied my mom and my aunt Frankie to visit family in Dresden, Germany (with side trips to Austria and the Czech Republic). Our flight out of Washington DC got canceled, and so for some reason they decided to reroute us to Texas and then to Germany. The only good part of that was that we got upgraded to Business class, which was amazing. I still have my little socks and sleepy mask they gave us... What a wonderful trip too..

happy house (with a little flag)

2010-07-15T16:36:00.003-04:00

A new design I've been working on, little houses with silver wire and flags(or branches coming soon). They make me so happy, especially when sitting in front of a postcard of my friend's (Cindy Bainbridge) paintings.

restorative beach trip

2010-07-07T16:29:00.007-04:00

I've said it before, and will continue to do so, but summer truly is my favorite time of year. There's no school, there's my birthday, there's the long days... and best of all, there is swimming in the ocean(comfortably... I have been known to throw myself in in January as well).

This summer has been especially good to me: a dear friend visiting from California and some family that I don't get to see often were in town~ an occasion that demanded a get-together at the coast! Closing the shop for a few days was really good for me too, I have returned to it much inspired and renewed.

Sneak Peek: Hannah's Dress

2010-06-24T10:30:00.009-04:00

Here is a little behind the scenes look into how Hannah's wedding dress was embellished! Hours of stitching down some wonderful loopy merino wool thread that I found on my first trip to California, followed by singeing circular flower petals, sewing them on, and finishing it all with a little gauze along the hem for an extra elegant look.

Matching jewels and headband were awfully fun to make too. The wedding was lovely(and it was an unbelievably hot day)~ very fitting for my dear friend... Awwww, pretty girl!

Haberdashery Dreaming..

2010-06-16T14:56:00.007-04:00

This week's featured seller on Etsy is very inspiring to me, even though I don't really wear hats.. and I don't actually think I could pull something like this off 'round here anyways.
I have really been feeling "Atelier Vespertine" as I am embroiled this week in embellishing Hannah's wedding dress (pictures soon) and making something in lieu of a veil to put in her hair. I was really pulling for the little deer, but it got voted down! It has been so nice to work with needle, thread, merino wool ribbon I got in California, and of course gauzy flower petals.
Photos from Zara Carpenter, check it out here!

What's playing at Vespertine..

2010-06-12T14:23:00.009-04:00

One of my fave customers (KP!) encouraged me to make a post about the music I play in the store. I thought it was a brilliant idea, because not only am I crazy about my music, but I do have some interesting stories regarding customer reactions to what I am playing. I get a looooot of questions, and a lot of great reactions when people walk in and I happen to be playing their favorite semi-obscure artist(Cat Power). Today I have a mp3 cd on shuffle that has Broken Bells, the Fleet Foxes, and these guys, that KP liked:

This a great band from Brooklyn, Grizzly Bear, that I discovered on a icy day this winter while lounging around surfing YouTube looking for John Oliver stand up routines.. I have had many customers try to guess who they are, most notably Neil Young, which still makes me giggle.

The story for this song happened recently and involves two teenage girls who walked in, and upon insulting most of the soap flavors asked "what is this you are listening to". I was taken aback because 1. this is an incredible song and 2. this is the second most popular band in the universe(I'm putting them right behind the Beatles, and I mean, very close second). I told them it was Radiohead and the first girl professed her love of Radiohead and said she was a big fan while her friend pointed out that she hadn't even recognized the song. "Oh", she said, "it must be from one of their old albums", which made me feel ancient.. I can remember as if it was yesterday laying on Hannah's bedroom floor, our heads near the speakers, listening to Radiohead... so lovely! But yeah, these girls probably weren't born yet....

This last vignette into life as a shop owner comes from when I had just opened my shop on the big street, and people hadn't figured out I was here yet. (who am I kidding, people still don't know, three years later) A couple came in the shop and browsed around, the woman was quietly admiring everything. As they were at the door to leave, the man came back, leaned into my face and whispered "I think there is a sick woman over there". I was worried and confused as they were the only people there and his girlfriend looked fine. "A sick woman" he went on, "a very sick woman, I think it has something to do with her stomach" Then he gestured to the Bose and the ambient music (which was the above song) and I realized he was attempting to tease me about my music choice. At the time I just smiled politely and waited for them to leave.. but I have always wished I'd told him to stuff it...

summer colors

2010-06-09T11:12:00.006-04:00

Got into the shop early this morning and took some photos in the soft light. Love love love the new colors of hairpins I've been working on lately. They are meant to invoke daffodils, bougainvillea, redbud blooms, and mimosas.

I went on a labeling bonanza last week: packed up all the tub teas--Rose and Provence are back in stock, then I spent wayyyyy too long on Photoshop working up new Solid Perfume and Lip Balm labels (although it was very fun to get to use all the brushes I've been downloading). Lots of flavors of perfumes including Honeysuckle, Gardenia, Patchouli, and a minty refreshing Headache Relief.

New Lip Balm flavor: black pepper! Hannah says it's great.. so there you go!

lovely cat hat

2010-05-25T15:28:00.003-04:00

Would that CatFriend (my attack kitty) would wear this! Check out more in their Etsy shop.

may flowers

2010-05-15T15:55:00.003-04:00

My CSA (community supported agriculture) from Harland's Creek Farm is getting better and better each week. I'm not sure how Judy is going to top herself after this bouquet featuring some wild roses, peonies, and iris.

This has been quite a month for me so far... Some worrisome things like friends starting cancer treatments, a sick dog, canceled appointments, and never having enough time to finish anything have plagued me. I've also had the pleasure of dear friends visiting, setting up my new studio space, finding some awesome things while cleaning and re-organizing my workspace, and perhaps best of all is that it's starting to feel like summer.

This has always been my absolute favorite time of year (no school plus my birthday!). I procured for myself some fabulous fuchsia colored sandals for exploring rivers and oceans and next week I get to visit the new Art Museum and also an outdoor concert. Planted some basil last week....yessssss...I think it will be a good summer!

When I grow up...

2010-04-30T10:18:00.002-04:00

I'd like to be Coco Chanel please! Minus the cigarette of course, all all the tragedy and heartbreak. Just the business and creative success...

I've been reading a great biography of Chanel recently after watching the new movie with the lovely Audrey Tatou about her early life.. I'm much more interested in the paths she took to set up her business and all the ups and downs along the way.

Some things I've really taken to heart are how she opened several branches in resort towns. Once I had a dream so vivid of having a second shop in Carrboro that I woke up in a panic because I hadn't scheduled anyone to work at the second shop that day! So, while I'm in absolutely no position to open another shop, I did just manage to rent a lovely little studio space in the Blair Hotel where I will have all my jewelry operations--metalsmithing and beadwork. I got my key today and I can hardly stand all the excitement and possibilities this will entail.

The main trick to Coco's success (I think) is that she had very capable sales ladies (vendeuses) and models who manned the front of the shop while she was in the back designing dresses and torturing her mannequins (live models who wore the clothes while she pinned all the bits together). This is another dream I hope to see become a reality in the next five years.

a little story about my parents

2010-04-21T14:29:00.003-04:00

this photo and story is just a little ode to the unusual and incredible and insane people who are my parents. we built our house and it is my mother's most cherished thing. i don't know how many times i've waited 10 minutes for toast to toast only to then realize she'd unplugged the toaster oven for a drive to the grocery store.. but i digress..

this spring (and last spring, and the spring before that) a family of little squirrels gnawed their way into the peak of one end of the house.. my parents have tried many things to get them to stop, and have put up all sorts of metal,etc.. but those squirrels are amazing. they have chewed some holes in the poplar logs that are incredible.

on Monday my mother was having a hard morning already, and she was sitting on the couch with her dog trying to compose herself when she looked up and saw daylight streaming in the roof/ceiling of the living room. following a major meltdown and my arrival, my father realized that he had to go get the squirrels out but his scaffolding wouldn't reach that high and our roofing friend was in CT... over lunch he had the idea to lift a ladder up on his forklift that would reach the ridge of the house. (somewhere there is also a photo of my grandfather up a ladder that is raised in the bucket of his tractor, and propped by the other side on a rotten wooden flagpole)

this photo was taken at the moment my father realized that if he stepped to the right or left to put the second ladder up he'd fall off the pallet, the ladder could only go right where he was standing. i narrated from below "and this is the point at which Bob realized he didn't want to go any higher".

so, on to plan c...

blue bird of happiness

2010-04-15T14:35:00.003-04:00

something light today: a little blue bird of happiness!

recently i got a tattoo on my forearm of a barn swallow holding a love letter in its' mouth... it is in shades of teal and turquoise (with a red heart on the letter of course). more often than not, when people see it, they ask, "is that a Bluebird of Happiness"? i love the thought, but as i am a stickler for details i often end up saying "well, no, it has a forked tail, this is a swallow.."

so, when i made this recent batch of little birds, i knew exactly what i wanted to call them.. of course, i don't think they are Bluebirds either.. but they are blue birds.. and i think they are happy.

open kiln with new techniques!

2010-04-10T15:24:00.003-04:00

(how do you like this photo? every time i would try to photograph these plates the light would reflect, and if i tried somewhere else it was too dark.. so i just tried to make this look like the most recent anthropologie catologue i got)

it's so hard to find time to go out to the ceramics studio..let alone make the most of my time when i am there.. when i was out there recently i must have had something in my coffee because i ended up having an extremely productive day. i tried something new that i have been longing to experiment with for some time~ slip trailing!

i made a batch of lotus leaf plates--porcelain pressed onto a plaster mold i made of a lotus leaf, and then made a batch of porcelain slip (which was kinda like melting chocolate..but with a sieve) and then carefully drew vines and patterns on the leaves with the slip. i am so very pleased with the results, and especially the way my floating blue glaze pools and breaks over the raised areas!

Pittsboro Courthouse in Flames

2010-03-26T10:47:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was absolutely surreal. It was nearly closing time when I got a call that the courthouse (less than a block away) was on fire. At first it seemed like maybe just the tower, and there were already fire trucks on site.. Workers had been renovating the facade, hence all the scaffolding. By the time I got home, which is two blocks away, our lovely courthouse was in flames. Even last night when I went out for a walk it was still very much on fire 4 hours later. Last night the floors fell through as well as the tower and the roof. The Chatham County Historical museum was housed on the first floor and is most likely destroyed.

My store smells so strongly of smoke.. as do my clothes and home. Downtown Pittsboro is blocked off today, and possibly longer.

My heartfelt admiration goes out to the firefighters and police who were out in abundance until late into the night.

I hope we can rebuild to its former state. It was such an icon, such a pleasure to drive into town and see the nice shape of the clock tower. Perhaps this can be a town-wide movement for renovation and rejuvenation of this lovely little place that was already on the edge of being taken over by big box stores. I hope this will be a new beginning, and not an end.

Angelina's Kitchen 1 Year Anniversary!

2010-03-11T10:28:00.003-05:00

I am so thrilled that my friend Angelina and her wonderful family at Angelina's Kitchen are celebrating ONE YEAR of being open in Pittsboro. It is hard to imagine the community without her, she has brought such warmth, joy, and amazing local fresh delicious food to town. The first time I met her, I felt like I had known Angelina my whole life.

Angelina is trying to expand into having sit-down dining, and I admit, I spent an enjoyable afternoon dreaming up some buttons for her to sell in her fund-raiser to support these efforts. Get 'em at her restaurant~ give as much as you can, and rest assured, Angelina and Co. will give back just as much!

Gentle Beauty

2010-03-05T14:28:00.004-05:00

Jeremy came running into my shop this afternoon saying "there is the most beautiful dead songbird outside your shop". He wanted me to use it as a display, (yes, interesting fellow he is) but it was so sweetly detailed and beautiful I couldn't resist taking some photos of it. I wished I could have gotten out a nice sketch book and to sit down and draw some renditions of it. Although to get the full effect I would have needed to paint the gentle color shifts in it's beautiful feathers. Luckily, Link came by and I sent the bird along with him in a little white box for him to study it with Jasper later in the afternoon. Perhaps they will draw some pictures of it.

P.S. Two friends wrote in to tell me this little bird is a Cedar Waxwing, and that they love holly berries. That probably explains why it was at the base of the Holly tree.. And why I've been seeing flocks of birds fluffing around in the trees all up and down Hillsboro Street!

My Heart Belongs to Chatham

2010-03-03T16:17:00.003-05:00

A little celebration of this great community and county I live in~ with options for other folks in the area (heart and star)...

Carefully sawed out of a sheet of silver (check out that coastline!) then tumbled to work harden it, and finished with three levels of polishing to give it a nice matte finish. Click here to visit them on my Etsy page

Show that Chatham Pride!

Chartres Star House

2010-02-17T15:10:00.004-05:00

A little something lovely from the kiln... Inspired by my trips to Chartres France. There is a lovely church there with spires of different heights, too cool.

Mouse Paparazzi

2010-02-10T14:34:00.004-05:00

"I'm your biggest fan, I will follow you until you love me...."

So, the excitement today at Vespertine is that I have a little pregnant mouse (and Mr. Mouse too) scooting around my feet! Now they seem to be sleeping, but earlier they were out foraging for food. Jeremy was sitting at the computer and they came out to his feet, I grabbed my camera, and flash going, shutter clicking, I was able to get a few shots. Mrs. Mouse didn't seem to mind at all, which brought to mind the above quoted Lady Gaga Lyrics.. (thanks Ariel and Derek for all my pop culture references, I haven't actually heard the song myself, but we had an in-depth discussion of Lady Gaga when they were in town last!)

peace houses

2010-01-28T17:04:00.004-05:00

New design from the ceramic studio: little houses. I had such a great day making a whole village of these recently. I am also kicking off my new etsy page VespertineCafe. Maybe check it out in a few days when I get more things listed, hah!

Between all the craft shows I did and the holiday season, I majorly burned out on jewelry.. this page reflects my changing gears this year. I got a commission to paint some rocks for a customer and it was my favorite thing of the holiday season... Upon reflection, I decided to focus on that aspect of my creative mind a bit more.. Let's see what I come up with!

a Valentine...

2010-01-27T15:46:00.005-05:00

Here is a little Valentine's collage of all the lovely pink and red things scattered around Vespertine right now! I am so fond of pink~ it's been really nice to get to use even more of it than I usually do... Makes me wonder why I feel I need a "reason" to use pink... Hmmm, I'll keep pondering that....

A lovely project from Leslie Fesperman Re-Created glass~ Nostalgic Coke bottles filled with kisses and a little vintage Valentine. After you scarf down all your chocolates you have a wonderful juice glass left!

what ceramic bunnies get up to when the customers aren't around...

2010-01-12T14:36:00.003-05:00

..of course they cook dumplings! I'm pretty excited that this antique bunny I found months ago is the *exact* correct height to pour water in his steamed dumplings. I'm actually going to be working on a series of these, perhaps in postcard form? Today I'm just goofing around and trying to get inspired.....

A "Plug" for my Father's Business: South Chatham Tackle.com

2010-01-09T11:46:00.005-05:00

I'm very pleased with my title for this post about something I worked on for my father: a label for his Pirate Plug Sampler! These Pirate Plugs are actually pretty cool (excellent colors) and they are a family effort lately! Wrap your mind around this for a moment: my father machined the mold, cast the lead, and powder coated them beautiful colors. Over the holidays my Mom and I helped put the reflective stickers on, cut the squid skirts and glued them on, and packaged them in neat bags with the Seal-a-Meal (which is awesome!) and then stapled on pretty paper tags and punched holes in them. Also, I tie the rigs that come with them (it's a lot like making jewelry actually). Mom and I also spent a day packaging up these awesome assortments of them and this week I worked on the label. Needless to say, the assortments look GREAT and I really hope he sells out at his fishing show this week in Raleigh!

This is the Victorian image of Black Beard that inspired my label.. I think there should be a revival of this game.....

Vespertine Chapel, open today from 1-2!

2009-12-23T17:00:00.005-05:00

I took a little break this afternoon to be the marriage officiant (yes, I am official, thanks to Universal Ministries dot com!) for one of my oldest friends(Hannah) and her love, (and my new friend, Link). It was great! I wept as per usual when speaking in public, and I think I might have surprised Hannah with how much thought I put into my speech. I found a lovely poem by Nikki Giovanni that really reminded me of them. The lovely witnesses were Jeremy, Josie, and Jasper! (ooo, triple J's, that's got to be good luck!)

Earlier this winter I was given the task of reworking Hannah's old wedding ring into two new rings for them, it was very fun, and I think it turned out pretty well (if I do say so myself!).

The Little Deer are Back!

2009-12-16T17:38:00.002-05:00

I love doing holiday windows... so much fun! I especially like when I get to combine tiny tinsel trees, tiny flocked deer, and tiny strawberry shortcake(!). These little deer are having a feast in the light of the Eiffel Tower which a lovely customer gave me and I stuffed with purple lights.

Jewelry Frames

2009-12-14T16:59:00.006-05:00

Oh yes, my parents have been very busy this holiday season! This is our newest collaboration, earring holders. Re-purposed Barnwood (and my old maple futon frame, first piece of furniture I ever bought, right here!) along with super cool drawer pulls for hanging necklaces or bracelets or rings on. They are filled with strong screen that allows you to hook many many pairs of earrings onto. Best of all, you get to see what earrings you have, rather than sorting through dishes or jewelry boxes.

BUST Holiday Craftacular 2009 - NY | craftacular

2009-11-30T11:32:00.001-05:00

NYC here I come! Mom and I leave this Saturday for the big city. I am so honored, thrilled, and totally nervous to be participating in this amazing event. There are so many awesome vendors, I really hope I get the chance to look around. This week I will be living in my back room at Vespertine making things. I already had a hand cramp that caused me to throw an egg across my kitchen because I couldn't grasp it like I normally do!

BUST Holiday Craftacular 2009 - NY | craftacular

new hairpin color

2009-11-17T16:56:00.003-05:00

Some exciting news this past week: I was accepted into the Bust Craftacular in NYC on Dec 6th!!!!!!! Wow! More about this later. I am so excited, and nervous...... But, I digress.. This little post is about some new flower hairpins I've been working on.. This color combination was so yummy to me, I had to take a photo.. Lovely teal, fuchsia tulle, crisp white, with berry colored beads in the center! It looked really good on my tray too...

Ad in Pinestraw Magazine

2009-11-06T14:17:00.003-05:00

Yes, I'm so pleased with my photoshop classes! I'm showing off again, this time an ad I got invited to submit to the lovely Pinestraw magazine in a special Pittsboro Promo section. I can't even begin to say how exciting it was when she showed me the measurements, etc. to know that I could make something myself to fit!

basket of kitties

2009-11-03T11:26:00.003-05:00

The other week I was having a conversation with my mom about something unrelated to crafting...like, banking, or something... and all of a sudden this image popped into my mind of a fleecy kitty that was filled with rice to be a heating pillow and new product for Vespertine.

This weekend we collaborated with mom sewing up the inner muslin bag filled with rice and lavender and I ransacked her polar-fleece supply to make the outer kitty shape.

When you microwave them for 3-5 minutes they produce a really moist heat that is wonderful for sore muscles and cramps. I can also see myself curling up with one some cold evening to keep warm, or draping across my cold feet..... Delightful!

new washi paper mini-magnets (with real packaging!)

2009-10-28T15:58:00.004-04:00

The objects here are very very exciting to me because they represent two things: 1. my new mini button machine arrived and I've been cranking out one inch buttons and magnets and 2. this is my third week of Photoshop class with the lovely Emma Skurnick and I was able to put an image that I drew together with some text to make a label for these sets of Mini-Magnets.

This is my current store window that I am most proud of! Hot Pink everywhere with a lovely garland of butterfly stamps on baker's twine~ very fun to make, and i have several for sale at the shop.

new soap label

2009-10-14T11:10:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my first foray into "outsourcing"! I commissioned these fabulous letterpress labels from the guys at Blue Barn House in Asheville, NC to replace my handwritten and goccoed label for Hannah's goatsmilk soaps.

I had a fantasy of saying to them "okay, I'd like an art nouveau style decoration, nature themed, with art nouveau style font saying this" and they would then email me something fabulous in a week. What happened was I was informed that that would cost $600 and that if I drew the design myself it would only be $100 for them to stick the font in. (sigh) However, it actually came out really well (I think) and I do actually still really like having a hand in the label.

I'm hoping they will be more legible and we won't get anyone else at a festival saying "Soup?" or "What is this?"; or, after they take a bit of a soap sample saying "Oh, this isn't for eating?". Granted, I don't think my handwritten label was responsible for *all* of that...

Also, my new way of wrapping affords more smelling room on the ends and also uses less paper, and is a more streamlined process. Very exciting!

empty bowls

2009-09-29T14:39:00.004-04:00

Vespertine is hosting the silent auction items for the CORA Food Pantry "Empty Bowls" fundraiser. It will be a fabulous event held on First Sunday October 4th from 12-4 at the Courthouse Circle. Buy a ticket for $15 and have your pick of a beautiful handmade bowl donated by a local artist, then get it filled with delicious stew or veggie chili made by the Heads Up Therapeutic Riding program volunteers. Feed the needy and help little children develop better motor and communication skills (and a love of horses too, I bet!)~ can't get much better! And, stop by Vespertine to bid on Julia Kennedy's fabulous painting Empty Bowl #2 or my sterling silver handformed "empty bowl and spoon" necklace with vintage German glass. My colors were inspired by Julia's painting, it is really beautiful!

luxury soap

2009-09-17T15:18:00.003-04:00

Hannah pulled a new trick out of her bag while making this batch! She stuck little sparkly glycerin stars into the goatsmilk soap to create a really magical "Three Kings" bar. It has Frankincense, Myrrh, and now, Gold (mica powder that is). I sliced them nice and thick and each one has a star and other golden shapes floating throughout.

New things around the Shop:

2009-09-15T18:25:00.006-04:00

This window was fun to put together, wood fired sushi platter from local girl Lara Okeefe with ring and button canapes and Moonspoons~new product coming soon!

New flavor of gauzy hairpins with gold highlights and Japanese seed beads made with real gold.

These colors look so amazing on the dark chain.... mmmmmmm lovely!

what's for lunch take 2!

2009-09-12T12:01:00.004-04:00

Boy, what a day! So, I got a new camera (Nikon D60 if anyone is curious) and I was so excited to have it and to have my little japanese miniature foods.. I was snapping away and coming up with terrible pictures... about the time I figured out I had my exposure and flash compensation reversed and sorted that out, one of my lights just lept off the table and broke. It's always something... I went home and stayed up very late waiting for guests to check in who didn't show up, but, I read almost all my manual! Gee, that was a little complain-y but I think I got it all out.

Today is a new day and I am armed with a new light stand bulb and an extra clip light that I have affixed at an alarming angle to my hanging ceiling light. I present you with: Miso soup.

I'm going to have my second cup of coffee now and work on my depth of field a bit more........

what's for lunch?

2009-09-11T13:50:00.003-04:00

Well, I actually had fabulous moussaka from Angelina's.... but aren't these little Japanese miniatures amazing? Look at the translucence on that roe in the cone sushi! I luckily stumbled upon someone on etsy selling these cuties, and have now tracked down the company. They come in little boxes and you don't know what meal you are getting 'til you open it up! Too Cool, and they are coming to Vespertine soon!

Two Years at 64 Hillsboro Street!

2009-09-02T14:12:00.004-04:00

Here's a little trip down Memory Lane as I celebrate 2 years at my current location! When I started renting my Hillsboro Street space, I had a limited amount of time to haul my stuff from my old space to the new one, which was full of paneling and phone lines, and get Open before I hemorrhaged any more money. I also had the added hurdle of having the current space full of office furniture that the old tenants left when they took their investors' money and moved to South America (I'm totally not joking there), and the AC Unit did not work. And it was August.

I'd like to take this moment to give a very heartfelt shout-out to my dear friends Marc and Cynthia who hauled all the furniture away, painted, raised lights, hung arches, and answered my call of "Heeeeelllllppppp!"
Love you guys.

Marc wanted to hang himself he was so hot. Note the two-tone shirt created by sweat.

Cynthia, also hot and sweaty, watches Marc on a ladder while he probably is giving orders for our next task. Note the furniture everywhere and the hideous spicy mustard colored trim that was everywhere too...

And look at me now: http://www.jessicabenton.com/stories/vespertine/

*lovely "after" photos by Jessica Benton

fun with lobsters

2009-08-29T17:17:00.003-04:00

i may have neglected to mention that i got to go on a wonderful trip to Maine this summer with my good buddy Hannah and her son Jasper to visit some of their family. Aunt Jane and Uncle Steve made us special Lobster Dinner. we had a loooot of fun eating it. i took this photo and just this week printed up some copies of it.. i think i will make some friendship/thinking of you cards out of it for the shop! yes!

Featured Artist at the Arts Incubator in Siler City!

2009-08-22T12:58:00.005-04:00

This week I was asked to be a Featured Artist down at the Siler city Arts Incubator! Very exciting! I worked so hard getting some silversmithed pieces together.. Between two days of that and tying pirate plug rigs for my father my thumbs were unbelievably sore! Last night was the lovely 3rd Friday Art Walk~ shops and galleries open, live music out in a wonderful courtyard, and a beautiful night on top of everything!

Fabulous Flame Smoothed Upcycled Glasses

2009-08-05T12:07:00.003-04:00

I was so thrilled to look out my door last First Sunday and see Leslie Fesperman with a table of these glasses set up across the street! I was even more thrilled when she brought them in yesterday for me to stock my Sellers cabinet with wonderful sets of tumblers from Corona, Boylan, olive green, and lovely brown bottles (among others).

Leslie cuts them and then moves them through her glassworking flame to make the rim of the glasses smooth and wonderful to drink from.

They are truly recycled and earth friendly and I can't wait to go to the recycling center!

Sad Passing

2009-07-10T17:15:00.004-04:00

Thinking of Rosie the Goat~ Hannah's lovely milk goat (whose milk and love are in each bar of Anole Nook Soaps) died suddenly on Wednesday. Wonderful that animals can become such a part of our lives, how great to have that opportunity, and how greatly Rosie will be missed.

Kid's Toys at Angelina's Kitchen

2009-06-30T16:49:00.003-04:00

This is one of my favorite commissions: handmade kid's toys for Pittsboro's newest place to get awesome food, Angelina's Kitchen. I have been making buttons that say "my FALAFEL is bigger than your falafel" (Angelina came up with that!) and little origami goldfish on strings and a pole. How totally summery. I also made origami cranes on a pole, but the fish seem to be more popular!

Perhaps best of all though, is that when I drop these off around say, lunchtime, Angelina trades me for amazing food: today I had greek-style green beans, falafel, and baklava frozen yogurt.......mmmmm.

resting on laurels

2009-06-19T16:08:00.002-04:00

i have been admiring this amazing chain for some time... i finally bought some (plus two other neat ones by the same designer) and when i put it together with the grey opaline crystals... it was so lovely i started drooling.

available in a single as a pendant on blackened chain too~ very cool.

they make a great muted swishy sound because the metal is matte.. wonderful!

fortune cookie mirrors

2009-06-07T12:55:00.003-04:00

I have a nearly lifelong collection of fortunes from fortune cookies that i kept in a neat little box for the longest time. i'm bringing some of them out and immortalizing them in pocket mirrors and fridge magnets. too fun! these are some of my favorites~

a spot of beauty for the weekend

2009-06-05T17:25:00.003-04:00

happy friday! I just ordered several prints from my new favorite etsy artist an very good blogger Jennifer Morris. Her colors and composition make me so happy, I can't wait to see them in person~

Museum Trip and Flowers

2009-06-03T11:29:00.004-04:00

Yesterday my mom and my uncle Dwight and I piled into the station wagon for a good ole summer road trip! it was lovely. grapes, cookies, and crackers in hand, we went to Columbia South Carolina to see a special exhibit from "Turner to Cezanne" that highlighted some works from the museum in Wales that were collected by two sisters. it was absolutely lovely, the best being this Van Gogh that we had actually never seen yet, what a treat!

Posted above are this weeks flower delivery with incredible yellow flowers that remind me of all the rape seed we saw when we went to Germany so many years ago. the land was absolutely yellow everywhere as we flew over...

Photo Shoot with Jessica Benton

2009-05-30T11:43:00.003-04:00

I am so pleased to post a selection of my photo shoot with Jessica! She arrived here at 6 to start shooting. Armed with coffee and all her awesome cameras and equipment (which I was just thrilled to see, i love neat tools!) she worked her way through the shop.

If you go to my Facebook site for the store Vespertine~Crafted Beauty you can see them in a walking tour format. Or better yet, come on by and check out the new arrangement!

http://www.jessicabenton.com/stories/vespertine/

Siglinda Scarpa Spring Studio Show

2009-05-26T13:30:00.007-04:00

This was the final weekend of Siglinda Scarpa's Spring Show. Siglinda shows her lovely organic work in her home gardens.
Tables of fanciful dinnerware are set up in the yard.
A few stunning teapots
Graceful grape arbor with guineas that came running for food~very fun to watch.
Table full of cups, pitchers, and saucers.
Under a beautiful arbor~so pretty! Siglinda also runs the Goathouse Cat Refuge. Mom and i played a game of counting how many kitties we saw running around. If you are in Pittsboro and get a chance to visit her studio, don't pass it up! For more info, click here.

yellow house lables

2009-05-22T19:43:00.005-04:00

spent this evening dusting off my lino cutting tools and carving out this little stamp for my mom's pocketbook and bag making business.

the name is from the cheerful color her sewing area is painted, and also from a van Gogh painting that hangs there.

limoncello

2009-05-22T10:53:00.003-04:00

four years ago this week, i was walking with some of my lovely family through Venice and Murano. by the time we got to Murano we were delirious with all the beauty. what a fantastic city. i dream weekly about going back, and when i found these beads at the Original Ornament, i thought instantly of the bottle of cream limoncello i bought. it is so lovely, and i was enamoured with the thought of a lemon liquour. unfortunately, it tastes a little strange. but, these earrings do not and they are super cool, so i think!

Perfect Close

2009-05-18T21:36:00.002-04:00

wow, perfect close tonight! first time ever for my store, probably. unlike my days at Urban Outfitters' perfect close (tags hidden, stacks of shirts perfectly straight) i spent the past two days sprucing up Vespertine for a photo shoot with my buddy Jessica Benton. we traded some ceramic business card holders for a press kit of photos! i am so totally excited. we are meeting very early to get it with the lights glowing in the front window and then work our way through the store.

with the help of my parents i moved furniture allll around, lifted my lovely white branch, painted a new branch for the middle room, hung new lights, vacuumed, oiled my beautiful buffet, lined everything up, and shoved a LOT of little things in drawers!!!!

will post my new photos as soon as i get a chance, and try to come by and see the store while it is clean!

Vespertine at the Haw River Festival 2009

2009-05-12T16:46:00.002-04:00

Haw River Fest 2009

On the hottest day we have had so far this year (nearly 90, whew) Hannah and I schlepped our soaps, jewelry, some small ceramics, cards, and gauze hairpins to the lovely Haw River Festival. Celebrating it's 20th year this year, the Festival is a low key celebration of the river in Bynum (a lovely place anyday). A Historic bridge (now pedestrian only) crosses the river, bands play, vendors set up, the Ruritans cook hotdogs, and kids get to paint Clyde Jones Critters with leftover wall paint. Hannah's son Jasper (and my Vespertine protege) painted a penguin for me~fabulous!

Twitter??

2009-04-30T12:56:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone, not that anyone wants to know any more of the little things i'm thinking about or doing, but i just started a Twitter account.. it's kinda fun. makes me feel important... esp. cuz i already have 2 followers! wow. so, if you want to get in on the action, check out
http://twitter.com/VespertineCafe

2009-04-22T11:18:00.002-04:00

the beautiful spring weather we have been having is very conducive to making pretty things! i got out a bag of fabric i've had since my first trip to san francisco many years ago, and finally did something super cool with it. when i singed the edges very gently, i got wonderful little petals that layered so beautifully.

the one on the far left is a water lily brooch which i'm wearing now (prototype development!) and the rest i think i will sew onto little bobby pins for wearing in the hair.

2009-04-11T14:13:00.002-04:00

Nothing says spring like wisteria! well, maybe daffodils. and tulips. and red bud trees..... we have had a rainy spring so far and it has done wonders in producing huge swaths of purple along the roads and all through town. it is heavenly~and i have been told it is tasty in salads! i'll try it and report back....

Paris Photos!!!!!

2009-04-08T15:00:00.002-04:00

oh my goodness... i have just returned from an amazingly lovely trip to Paris to visit my dear friends Ariel and Derek. i soaked up wonderful food, beautiful art, and sweet flowering plants the whole trip. i am also full of inspiration for new things to make for Vespertine~ stay tuned!

paris trip 2009-day one

My first full day in Paris wandering around looking at well manicured trees and eating at a fondue resturant!

paris trip 2009--Pere Lachaise Cemetary

Luckily for me, Derek's friends Brian and Melissa wanted to go to the Pere LaChaise Cemetary on Sunday. I say luckily because I was of the mindset of "oh, who wants to see Jim Morrison's grave?", and i would not have ended up going.. However, it was sooooo much more than that, and I am sooooo glad they wanted to go. it was so amazing, and huge! we only saw a little bit of it, and my brain got overloaded with seeing all the beautiful sepulcres and tombs. it was fabulous! thanks brian and melissa~

paris trip 2009--wandering around with Ariel

Wandering around with Ariel on a brisk and sunny day--with Panini in hand! fabulous~

paris trip 2009--Musee D'Orsay

the wonderful Musee D'Orsay~i felt terribly guilty Mom wasn't there to enjoy it with me!

paris trip 2009--L'Orangerie et le Musee d'Arts Decoratifs

design overload~that's really all i can say....

paris trip 2009--Notre Dame

Notre Dame--killed my legs! but then i spent the day wandering around and going to an amazing sewing notions shop where i spoke in French to a wonderful shopkeeper who helped me select buttons and ribbons that will be showing up in new Vespertine products

paris trip 2009--Chartres

Train trip out of town with Ariel to beautiful Chartres

paris trip 2009--Giverny with Ariel

another wonderful train trip out to Giverny--Monet's home and garden..... beyond beautiful and peaceful....siiiggghhh

paris trip 2009--#30 Rue Poissy

Ariel and Derek's neat apartment

Sale with Cupcakes

2009-03-21T13:23:00.002-04:00

Big Sale at Vespertine today, first one ever, and one day only!

And, did I mention there are cupcakes??

collaborative button vases

2009-03-14T14:56:00.001-04:00

oh so exciting! i got my friend Leslie Fesperman to blow some little glass vases for me to fill with button and wire and bead flowers. they will be for sale in Vespertine soon, i think i do need to add a little bit of sand to give them some weight. i am so thrilled with the first few i put together.

vintage buttons from etsy! so many out there, really overwhelming.

Euros Aren't Cheap Sale

2009-03-06T15:29:00.003-05:00

Mark your Calendars:

First Ever Sale at Vespertine!

One day only, Euro's Aren't Cheap Sale: Saturday March 21, 10-6

Featuring: European Flair Munchiettes, new products, Free Gifts, and store-wide savings

Wondering why i'm talking about Euros? well, it's T-Minus 20 days til i go visit Ariel in Paris!!!!!! I'd love to get some things for Vespertine, but if nothing else, i'm planning to soak up lots and lots of inspiration~

Ariel also took this lovely photo of an art nouveau doorway

weekend progress

2009-02-24T15:07:00.003-05:00

i got to spend an entire day out at my metal smithing studio (aka my parent's house) and i think i'm actually making progress! i got some awesome little vintage cabachons from www.splendorintheglass.com--great vintage beads always! i'm practicing practicing practicing!

these feature vintage german glass with blackened silver

early collaborations....

2009-02-18T13:06:00.003-05:00

i love this photo so much. i was going to use it for promotional things when Hannah and I had our show in Carrboro this past weekend, but i will try to use it in the future!

this photo was taken on my Birthday when my parents and i took Hannah down to the beach with us. we made the cake ahead of time, and purchased the M&Ms on the road down to the coast. i don't think anyone was expecting us to sort them and then do this!!!

it was a great birthday

kitty love

2009-02-05T11:17:00.000-05:00

i made this last week and i'm still gushing over how cute it is! that cat gets me every time! available in a mirror, magnet, or button. too sweet~

First Kiln of 2009

2009-01-30T12:00:00.001-05:00

i had a wonderful time making this batch of ceramics. i spent a lot of time out at my family home babysitting the little dog and we went for a lot of walks through the winter woods. i found some wonderful little grasses that had the sweetest little seeds at the end. i ran them through the slabroller and combined it with some vintage doilies i've been using to great results,i think.... check out this album for a few more pieces.

also mixed up a new clear glaze that has a bit of milkyness to it if it gets thick. quite lovely!

i also thought of lot of my most enthusiastic ceramic patron--my Aunt Brenda--who just got her other knee replaced! way to go Brenda!

a valentine appetizer

2009-01-22T16:54:00.000-05:00

i have some really wonderful things planned for Valentine's at the store, here is a little sample~ i just got all my little pink and red blank cards and envelopes in. i can hardly wait to start making cool little valentines.

and love magnets are coming too...... oh boy!

Snow Day

2009-01-21T10:40:00.000-05:00

St. Bartholomew's Cematary on Salisbury Street. so quiet and lovely......

Beautiful Rosemary House

My favorite garden in Pittsboro, this creek is always gurgling away

We had the most lovely snow yesterday!!! I got to go walking with Jeremy while it was still snowing, and it was just lovely to see town completely shut down! we were walking out in the middle of the street and enjoying the beautiful snow. we got quite a lot too, how wonderful! i couldn't open the store, it was just too fun to be home watching it all.

here is my attempt at a photo album. enjoy!

American Button Machine!

2009-01-16T12:06:00.000-05:00

Goldfish Buttons!

a Mini-collage with Japanese paper and rooster

Beautiful Japanese Paper Pocket Mirrors

In late December I half-jokingly said to Hannah, "boy, if i had a button machine i'd be unstoppable!" well......i won one on Ebay and i got it yesterday! it is fabulous. i have soooo many scraps of paper, neat stamps, little things, etc, that i can now immortalize in a button, a pocket mirror, or a fridge magnet!

so now i'll submit to the universe "boy, if i had a silk screen studio i'd be unstoppable!" hehe. that is a goal for this year or next. yes!

i really can't wait to make more mini-collage buttons and magnets..... stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T13:48:00.000-05:00

Here are some new little silver things i've been sawing out.. still getting my work area fixed up, it is very exciting~

Wow, i cannot believe this year is over! i have been singing Ella Fitzgerald's version of "what are you doing new years eve" to myself all day.... and to answer her question, i'm going to get some of my favorite wine (Il Muscato), heat up some lentil soup i made this morning, and snuggle on the couch with Jeremy and watch season 2 of the Office (we are hooked!) and drink our wine til midnight! fantastic!!!

I have had a really wonderful year.... this morning i found myself looking fondly back at all the great aspects of my life and how well the store has been doing... cant' wait to see what will happen next year!!

Happy Happy Holidays!!!

2008-12-23T17:49:00.000-05:00

I had the most lovely day today! it started with re-discovering a christmas gift from my dear friend in my box of wrapping paper where i had cleverly stored it ;) then all my shop neighbors came by to wish me happy holidays and bring me treats--soooo nice. and then most of my favorite customers came in and told me how much they loved my shop. it was so re-affirming and lovely. thank you!

Indie NC Blog and Shop

2008-12-18T18:37:00.000-05:00

I was so honored to be asked to share my inspirations with the nice editor of the blog Indie NC. it is a wonderful collection of hip art, music, food, and lots more from the very talented Triangle Area in North Carolina.

check it out:
http://blog.indienc.com/

through a glass brightly

2008-12-07T21:57:00.000-05:00

i am remiss for not posting these great photos that hannah took at John and Elizabeth's wedding party. we made some honey almond goatsmilk soaps for their favors, and i got to do some invitation labeling. they very nicely envited me along too. it was a beautiful ceremony, fantastic local food, beautiful hammered dulcimer music in the background... just great!

these photos are of jasper looking very pimp-ish in a snazzy herringbone jacket, Neko (pj's son) one of hannah and pj (looking unusually earnest) and one of yours truly!

new product???

2008-12-05T13:25:00.000-05:00

check out these new awesome little ipod/digital camera holders i made!! the eiffel tower one was made entirely out of thrift shop sweaters that i felted up and cut up. the other one features some great thread from a wonderful trip to Napa CA with my good buddy Ariel and some cool buttons from the habitat store. i'm very pleased with them!

mom and the christmas rat

2008-12-05T12:59:00.001-05:00

my mom with the christmas tree

2008-12-05T12:16:00.000-05:00

my mom got a tree for her birthday this year! had such a great time helping decorate it. do note the "comet" of the red star and swirly cluster of bright lights coming down from the top. too cool! i'll be posting some photos of my phantasmagoricaly bright tree soon!

blowing leaves

2008-11-15T15:56:00.000-05:00

today is a wonderful blustery day! leaves are racing down the main street in front of my shop. you can really hear them because there are so few cars parked on the street :) actually, i've had some very nice customers today and i've managed to get so many things done! lots of bird prints framed and loose ends tied up. here is a new card i've been making that goes with the day, i think!

Scarborough Fair

2008-11-11T19:26:00.000-05:00

this is a new platter continuing my Flora Series. the name comes from the Simon and Garfunkel song with the chorus "parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme" all of which are still growing out in the garden now. i also made a larger version that would perfect for serving a thanksgiving turkey on!

New Silver Earrings

2008-11-11T19:18:00.000-05:00

this is a prototype of something i'd love to keep making, and making it better. my jewelry teacher encouraged me to make this a signature thing..... we shall see!!

mixed bag

2008-10-11T14:29:00.000-04:00

ah, so much has been happening, and it seems to be fluctuating between good and bad within each day.

some things that have been getting me down this week are that my buddy across the street Leslie who has the craft gallery fusions is going to close. i was very sad about that for sevral days, but she's going to let me sell her new sweet little blown glass vases. they really suit my store. the other bad thing was getting an email from my old employer and favorite bead store The Original Ornament saying that they were trying to raise 10 thousand dollars by Oct. 25th to re-negotiate a loan. check out www.theorigianlornament.com to donate to keep a wonderful local and independant business open.

some good things though are that i unloaded a kiln full of good stuff last week and i've been making some great new jewelry. this morning the best thing of all though was that my parents and i went to a great tag sale and i got some amazing handmade, very old doilies for pressing in clay and other decorations, and some amazing hand painted eggs that also have crochet around them. they are so amazing. i almost couldn't even study them closely because their details were overwhelming. but best of all was that as we were leaving my parents bought me an amazing stout jewler/machinist table that is fantastic! can't wait to hook my rolling mill to it (also thanks mom and bob) and get a torch and then i'll be in business! i'm looking so forward to unveiling some fine metalwork for the holidays. well, i'll end of that good note, shall i?

Lovely Stories

2008-09-27T14:36:00.000-04:00

recently i've discovered a wonderful new podcast from themoth.org. folks get up on stage and tell true stories without notes. it is soooo wonderful! i've becomed very intrigued with the NYC playwright Edgar Oliver~ what a wonderful unique person! he's really too complex to even begin to explain, but he is very inspiring, i think.

Slow Days....

2008-09-19T18:16:00.000-04:00

boy, September has been off to an amazingly slow start sales wise. i listen to Marketplace on NPR with such trepidation lately... sighhhh. at any rate, it has allowed me to get a lot done, and start getting stock ready for the Holidays! yay! hannah has been coming in twice a week to make batches of wild soap (new fragrance blend of frankincense and myrrh with golden sparkles in it!) she also made a bunch of buddhas.. prompting her to start singing "golden buddhas fill my mind...."