Snap-A-Party

I have found quite a few amazing things today thanks to Loft Party, but this is really just a lot of fun. For those of you that liked making model airplanes as a kid; you can now snap apart your dining set. Snap-A-Party comes in white, green, and pink and includes everything you need at a party - knife, fork, spoon, plate, chopsticks, toothpick, even a napkin ring - all ready to snap- apart and put to use. This is a picnic must-- no more worrying about lost pieces to the place settings.

Smell Good.

Capri Blue by Aspen Bay


Size 3.25" Burn Time: Approx. 40+ Hours



-Aloha Orchid Capri Blue Jar Candle -- Freshly picked orchids, jasmine, gardenia, and other white blossoms, all entwined in a delicate Hawaiian lei
-Boho-Luxe Capri Blue Jar Candle -- Top notes of citrus, bergamot and coriander, with a middle of white florals, raspberry and peach, and a vanilla, musk and sandalwood dry down
-Freesia Plumeria Capri Jar Candle -- Crisp and clean florals of white freesia and plumeria with a background of fresh nectarines and green apples
-Hibiscus Flower Capri Blue Jar Candle -- Reminiscent of a warm and breezy tropical night, laden with the fragrance of wild red hibiscus flowers growing on the trees along the beach
-Paris Capri Blue Jar Candle -- A top of bergamot, white tea, lemon zest and ginger, the heart, a bouquet of jasmine, lavender, leafy greens, and ripe berries; the base, wild violets, white musk, soft cashmere and vanilla
-Peeled Naval Orange Capri Blue Candle -- Sweet essence of a fresh peeled navel orange with a tart zest of rind
-Rain Capri Blue Jar Candle -- Asian dark floral scent smoothed with light ozone and rain nuances
-Tuscan Sun Capri Blue Jar Candle -- A fragrant stroll through a Tuscan vineyard, with sweet grape complemented by red currant above a delicate accord of jasmine and vines
-Volcano Capri Blue Jar Candle -- Tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons, and limes, redolent with lightly exotic mountain greens
-Wind Capri Blue Jar Candle -- Exotic mixed florals with a light lift of spring rain and wind, with light tones of woods and spice


Along with coming in the small tins pictured above they also are sold in glass jars, room spray and diffusers.


My favorite thus far is Volcano, but that is mostly because I have yet to smell the other fragrances. Someday.


A special thanks to Caldrea, Archipelago Botanicals for the scent descriptions and to Earth Essences for their great prices and the image above.

Wrap It Up!

I have always loved wrapping Christmas packages with wrapping paper. Mom would use bags and tissue with beautiful bows, but I remember learning how to wrap gifts just right with paper... there was a sense of accomplishment when the finished present was under the tree. All of those folds are probably what made Mom like using bags so much. I love the challenge of wrapping the gifts; sometimes they aren't quite perfect, but it doesn't really matter. If I wanted all of them to be perfect I would make sure each was in a box before I started wrapping, then I wouldn't have an excuse. All of that brings me to tell you that this year I am making my own wrapping paper! I love what you can buy in stores and a select few offer discounts up to 50%, but I haven't made it to those places yet. The homemade wrapping paper gives the gift even more of a personal touch and lets people know that you care. I would suggest doing something that represents you or the holiday and if possible both!
If any of you know me very well you will know that I love books, so much so that I make them and have a huge love for poppies as well. I like the tread instead of ribbon (although either will do) since it was more convenient at the time plus I do a little sewing on occasion... usually in a painting. And the typewriter was not only perfect for the tags but I love them just as much as the other elements in the paper. Of course I didn't exactly thing through what I was going to use before I started, each piece came to me as I went along but all for good reason.
I used pages from and old book and glued them together. It helps if the gift is near by so you can measure what size the paper will need to be. I then stamped poppies all over the paper with red paint (or ink will do) to add more texture. Made a bow with a pieces of red thread and added a tag. The tags are left over paper from a book I made so they are tea stained, and I have used the typewriter to add names. After cutting a small hole in the tag I tied it onto the bow and set them under the Christmas Tree to await Christmas morning! I hope I have inspired someone out there to do a little more hand-made work for the Holiday Season!

Going RED

On the note of Moleskines I broke down last night and bought my new planner for 2008. I was hoping to wait until Christmas and keep it on my list, but I was overcome by excitement when I actually saw it in the store. Several of you may have heard about the limited time Red Moleskines. I wasn't sure if I would really like to break away from the traditional and sleek black ones that I was introduced to, but upon review of the little book I couldn't help myself. It is a planner/notebook so just like the one I have been using it has space to take notes. It also comes with stickers for labeling and an extra tabbed pamphlet for keeping up with websites, dreams, hotels, blogs, movies, or anything else you can think of. A Moleskine has a specific feel to it when you hold it in your hand and this one has all of that and a vibrant color! I have already filled in upcoming dates with travel information, birthdays and parties. It is going to be a great companion this spring as I travel through Europe and mostly Italy. But wait! For all those of you out there that really wanted to get a Moleskine for me for Christmas - don't fret - there are still a few that would look great under the Christmas tree!

Sliced Bread

This is probably the most exciting thing since... well, since sliced bread. Though this news may only generate an 'oh that's neat' from some, I was pretty ecstatic because of it. Some of you may know just how much I love Moleskine Notebooks. Moleskine the legendary notebook has been starting a line of city notebooks. These notebooks are for key cities around the world: Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, New York, and many more. New books have been released this fall as well. In these amazing notebooks you will find maps to the city, area and detail, metro maps, pages for notes and budgeting, tabs so that what matters most is easy to find AND translucent sticky sheets so you can keep track of where you have been or want to go without permanently marking on the map. I think I may get one for every city I can when I travel in Europe this Spring. If you aren't planning on traveling their diaries/planners are great for everyday schedules too, or check out all of the other notebooks they offer. They have something for everyone!

Oh and be sure to see what others have done with their Moleskines in Exhibitions!

Bits and Pieces Everywhere

I have decided to sell 'Bits and Pieces'. It is a collection of 48 photos that are matted and measure 5x5 inches each (they are sold as individuals). The pictures were taken in film of details from a beautiful old house that is now being renovated. The prints are all hand done using an alternative process: Vandyke Brown. I love this process because I get to be involved in every step: developing the film, selecting the images, and coating the paper for printing in the sun light. Each image is matted and covered in plexiglass with 4 screws, one in each corner, as a frame. I like the brown bolts, they add to the architecture theme.

Each photograph is $25.00 and there is a bit of a deal if you buy a few of them. You can find them at my Etsy shop: www.megzrhys.etsy.com

Above is an image of the whole collection. Below I selected three photographs from the collection to give you a larger image to view.

Now Featuring!

Judea Jackson from Joe and Tony's

Tell a little about yourself:

-"I love ice cream and coffee, and my guilty pleasure is playing video and computer games."

How long have you been doing this art/craft and how did you get started?

-"Ever since I was out of the womb, I come from a very crafty/artsy family and I think my mom probably handed me a crayons when I was than 6 months old to shut me up. My family called me rambette because I would destroy anything in path."

Where does your inspiration come from?

-"Everywhere, I really like to tell a story. As one of my freshman professors once said to me 'Your all about the narrative, aren't you?' I really like unexpected pairings like natural textures and clean graphic lines, or baroque architecture and mod materials or colors. Lately I have been into mythology and philosophy and religion and exploring themes there in unexpected ways. My work tends to be very thing and people oriented. I don't do a lot of abstract ideas."

What do you get out of making your work?

-"I guess just the satisfaction of completing something, or telling a story. I think art is supposed to be interactive, so the best part is when other people can take part too."

Do you have any tools of the trade?

-"I think everything is a tool, if you let it be. I guess the ones I frequently use are my hands, photoshop, my camera, and any kind of fabric. I also do a lot of painting on wood and construction materials like the stuff they use to cover counter tops. I also really LOVE tissue paper, it's so versatile!"

Please share a couple of the main stores or websites you use for supplies.

-"I'm a big 'Michaels' fan, and every once in a while I will order something from dicblick, but my fave store is the $1 stores. They often have a lot of really great finds, especially in papers and basics like glue."

What are your websites? (also list etsy page)

-"Okay I have a few... my etsy is joeandtony.etsy.com, my music site is simply www.judeajackson.com (although I will probably add art and photography as well later) and most of my art and photography is up at judybooty.deviantart.com although I am changing over to Humblevoice.com where you can find me under 'Judeajackson'

Personal or not so personal quote:

-"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."-William Wordsworth

-"Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation." -Aristotle

Amazing Layers

From Etsy seller michellemoode.There are many more beautiful works in the shop. I love the layers and stitching along with the colors and textures. Definitely going on my Christmas list!

Doesn't Quite Fit

So this post is definitely one of those posts under the category of 'things i want to share'. A friend sent me a link to this commercial and I decided that it is too funny not to share with the world. Hope you enjoy.

Finding Feet

Aside from being an Artist I also get to take care of a charming baby boy by the name of Will. About 2 1/2 days a week we play, laugh and sometimes cry together. The other day the weather was awesome so Will and I had a photo shoot... more like I took pictures while he played with his feet. Still a very good thing when a baby realizes that he has more than hands to play with. Here are a few pictures of Will.

Going Big or Medium

I bought a new camera last week. Well, it isn't exactly new, it is pretty old but new to me. I won a Minolta Autocord on eBay for the awesome price of $74.00 plus shipping. So not only did I get a camera I got the satisfaction of beating everyone else's bids. I am excited to get to know my new medium format camera and to take some awesome pictures. The picture posted is the one from eBay because I am too lazy right now to take one myself. (I know pretty pathetic seeing as I just bought a camera and I don't want to take a picture.) Oh and it did come in its original leather case as well.

Onions and Potatoes

This doesn't have anything to do books or photography.. at least not yet, although I probably won't do anything with it in either of those mediums. I found out today that potatoes and onions both have a very long life; sadly I don't remember exactly how long, but I did learn that you will cut that life span in half by storing the two together. I don't know why this is but Michael Chiarello mentioned it on his show on the Food Network: Easy Entertaining. Just a bit of info that I thought I should pass on to everyone.

Short Stories

I have been a little busy the past couple of days. I made two mini books 'Short Stories' if you will. Each has a well known short story for its contents. The stories were taken from one of my college literature books. The pages are upside-down and backwards... basically all mixed up but the whole story is there. I would like to thank Hawthorne for his 'Young Goodman Brown' and Oates for her 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?' Both books are covered in Van Dyke Brown prints and measure to be about 1.75" x 2.25"

I Found Something Really Cool

I found a new website today: Talas. I am sure it has been around for quite some time but it is new to me. Anyway they have the best selection of bookbinding supplies I have seen thus far. Really Amazing! I'm really excited about this. They have beautiful papers, lots of awls, leather working tools, and tons of books for learning. Oh and I really want this:

Peachey Minature Bookbinding Tool Set
This set of 15 miniature tools are all hand crafted by master craftsman Jeff Peachey. All tools in the set are 1/4 scale in size, and are made from the same materials as the full size versions. Unbelievably cute and accurate. The set includes an English paring knife, a Peachey paring knife, a French knife, a Peachey style French knife, a backing hammer, an engineers square, a triangle, a bone folder, a wood handled scalpel, a large and small lifting knife, a cord wrapped paste brush, a pallet, a heart finishing tool and a strop. A must for any lover, maker, or collector of miniature books. Makes a great gift!
AND it is only $650.00... I know a little expensive but kind of worth it... maybe someday.

'Look what I can do'

Lisa sent me some amazing leather so that I could make her a portfolio. I really just wanted to wrap up in the leather.. it was so soft and smelled good too, but I promised a portfolio and so I made one. It is 18.5 x 11.75 with cream paste downs. This is it:

The Front (and it is actually square but I couldn't stand on top of it when taking the picture)

Inside front cover and first protector. I kept the deckle edge on the paper.

The spine... yeah I even covered it!

And a view from the top.

Alright, I'm out!

First Post

I got my Moo cards today! And one can be your very own when you buy a book from my Etsy page.