Guess how many?

If you like guessing games and you like stickers then you should not miss my Guess how many? Contest currently being hosted by the awesome rikrak studio blog! All you have to do is either follow me on twitter, follow my blog or sign up for my newsletter AND guess how many envelope seals (stickers) I have made over the course of 175 days (late Dec 2009 through May 2010 to be more exact). So easy right? Not so easy to make so many envelope seals! All of which were hand punched by hand and I would say probably about half of them were individually hand lettered with my calligraphy. Did I mention the person who guesses closest to the correct number without going over wins a subscription to my Vintage Envelope Seals of the Month Club? Yes, each month you will receive 20 vintage envelope seals from me in the mail for a whole year! That is 240 envelope seals just for guessing how many I made over 175 days. So if you have not had the chance to guess yet you better hurry up! The contest ends on Saturday, Nov. 13th.

Click HERE to guess!

If you're going to San Francisco

"If you're going to San Francisco,

be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

And if you're going to San Francisco,

be sure to go to the third annual SF Renegade Craft Fair."

It is always a treat to meet and greet the amazing Renegade artists. And any excuse to get away from my ailing and misbehaving computer which crashes on average 10-15 times a day works for me!
Here are some of the artists who I hope to see again or meet for the very first time! More tomorrow...

the mincing mockingbird . ex libris anonymous

oh, hello friend . berkley illustration

craftyFOLK . alliebeans

giant dwarf . the sweetie pie press

chocolate and steel . the renegade craft fair SF

Renegade LA

If I had my way, I would be in LA for the 2nd Annual Renegade Craft Fair Los Angeles. So if you are in LA don't miss this awesome opportunity to cruise to The Cornfield and show how much you appreciate the handmade community. Here are 5 amazing artists selling their handmade wares this weekend:

(1) California Quail limited edition print (2) zodiac constellation (3) Don't Hold Back Print

(4) Garden Marker Plant Stake (5) Yummy Rainbows Earrings

• Saturday & Sunday - July 24 + 25
• from 11am – 7pm
• Los Angeles State Historic Park (aka The Cornfield, located at 1245 N Spring Street)
• Mark your calendars for the San Francisco Renegade Craft Fair, July 31st - Aug 1st

Enamoured by Enamel

Sleek, super smooth and opaque. I have always been in love with enamel. It has that "je ne sais quoi" factor. According to the Vitreous Enamel Association (VEA), enamel is weatherproof, vandal resistant, scratch resistant, fire proof and lasts and lasts and lasts. Kind of makes me think we should be living in enamel houses. Or an enamel house in France. Happy Bastille Day! Bonne Fête Nationale! Bonne Fête de la Bastille! Enjoy all these amazing handmade and vintage enamel works.
(Et ma Made in France Etsy treasury ici)

Heart Pendant . Weightless, Necklace . Bright Cherry Post Earrings

Above the Clouds Necklace . Love Kitty Earrings . Mariner Necklace

Bluebell Earrings . Vintage Enamel Bin . Red (cuff links)

Brooch of Love . A Star to Guide me Home . Red White and Blue Necklace

Run for the Carnations

Rider up! And they're off! The Belmont Stakes is the final leg of the race for the Triple Crown and the longest of the races! Mix yourself a Belmont Breeze (recipe below) and enjoy the races! A handmade horse and equestrian collection for inspiration:

The Belmont Breeze (the official drink of the Belmont stakes)
1 1/2 ounces Bourbon
3/4 ounce Dry Sack
3/4 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 ounce Simple Syrup
1 1/2 ounce Fresh Orange juice
1 1/2 ounce Ocean Spray Cranberry juice
► Shake all ingredients with ice and top with half 7up and half soda, approximately one ounce of each.
► Garnish with: fresh strawberry, a mint sprig and a lemon wedge.

Race hard! Race safe! Good Luck!

Talk Derby to Me

It's the most exciting two minutes in sports & the best day to show off you fancy hat! Happy Kentucky Derby Day y'all! And May Day too! May the best horse win & may all the horses have a safe and healthy race! Neigh! Neigh!

show ponies with equestrian riding hat gift tags

and they're off!

the final stretch!

because I didn't want to let a good photo go to waste!

you can find these gift tags and more in my Etsy shop!

She's crafty

In a world full of crazies it is nice to know there are creative folk doing their part to remind us that the world is still full of enchanting and wonderful things. And where does one find these folk? Well there is a little nook in the northwest where little bears run along side ice cream trucks, owls dress up in pastel cloaks, flower painted horses skip-to-my-lou and the square dancin' misses' wear apple green polka dotted bows in their hair. A place where you will find craftyFOLK. Thank you to Sarah Golden, the talented artist who founded the enchanting world of craftyFOLK! Without people like you, this world would be off its rocker! (And I can't wait to meet you in person at the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco, July 31st-August 1st!)

"rah roar"- Feed the Bears Magnet

"hoot who" - Set of 12 Owl Stickers

"neigh" -  Wooden Dale Horse Brooch

"bow bow" - Green Polka Dot Wooden Bow Necklace

all handmade by craftyFOLK

Hoop Hoop Hooray!

Hoop Hoop Hooray! It's March Madness Mania! Follow my bracket and hold your breath! Go Gaels! Go Bears! Go Grizzlies (my alma mater), Go Hoyas, Go Badgers! And since it is all crazy mad on the court, I am offering free shipping on all domestic purchases in my little Etsy shop! Sale ends Sunday, March 21st at 11:59EST. YOU WIN! Go teams! Hoot! Hoop!

Pinewood Derby Star

2010 Pinewood Derby Car, 2nd place, as seen in the window of Ace Hardware, Moraga, CA

Congratulations Sam! I had so much fun helping you paint your derby car! You did such a great job and I am so proud of you! You are a rock star! And thank you Georgia, Sam's younger sister, who helped too!

My Oscar Ballot

Three for three! I have won a couple of Oscar ballot pools before. Not sure why because I am not really a film fanatic.  I think I am just lucky! Above is my 2010 Oscar Predictions.  No betting this year but it is still fun! Happy Academy Awards Sunday!

Hearts for Haiti

(clockwise from left to right) red and black heart print, a lotta love earrings, wee felt owl, apple jacket, persevere red droplet earrings, zinnia circle necklace, take heart bracelet, copper wire bookmarks

(clockwise from left to right) heart for Haiti ring, battle ready pin back button set, modeling beeswax hearts, vintage '80s rhinestone sunglasses

(clockwise from left to right) loved cotton pocket tags, sprinkle heart necklace, recycled tin heart necklace, red felt heart, to you with love mini zip clutch, recycled atlas heart envelope seals, peace felt heart, kyanite silver earrings

Hearts for Haiti is a new Etsy shop that was created for the sole purpose of accepting donations from Etsy sellers and selling them to benefit the people of Haiti. The Hearts for Haiti shop has already raised thousands that goes directly to Doctors without Borders to help fund their humanitarian efforts. The items shown above have been generously donated by other Etsy shops, including myself, for you and for Haiti! I was honored to create the images for the shop banner and avatar (see above) but this pales in comparison to the countless hours the Hearts for Haiti volunteers have given. Without them and of course Victoria, the mastermind who initiated the creation of the shop, Hearts for Haiti would have been a fleeting idea. Thank you! Together we can make a difference! We heart you Haiti!

the last chime of '09

10...9...8...7...6.....5....4......3...2...POP....Champagne...bubbles...noise maker...Happy New Year!

for auld lang syne...xxoo...cheers...2010...fireworks...don't drink & drive...bed...aspirin....football...

Rabbit, Rabbit.....let's do again for the Tiger in 4707!

{for your new year's resolutions...print.cut.resolve pdf by Julie of the up up, blog}