Gearing Up

How's my Dollfaces? Tonight finds me cleaning and straightening my little art cave, trying to calm and center myself before the storm of the next several weeks. I am happy to announce that I've been accepted to both Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar and Alliday on the 10th and 17th of December, respectively. Along with the excitement of participating in these amazing, 100% handmade shows comes the sobering realization that holy bajeezus, I've got to produce enough inventory for two shows plus ye olde internete shoppe, on top of all the family and holiday related business and happy times that this time of year brings. I have so many ideas and plans for new offerings, new show displays, new things and projects I want to share with you, and such precious little time. I am trying to learn to not let myself be overwhelmed by the big picture, and to just focus on one task at a time until I reach my goal, or, as my mother would say, to "eat the elephant one bite at a time". I feel like I'm looking for some magic organizational tool or method that will help me feel less overwhelmed and keep me on track. My attempts at scheduling each hour of my day haven't worked, especially with two little girls. I'm good at making lists, and I do work better with one, but I still feel scattered sometimes. So much of the time I feel like I'm running on a treadmill, just barely staying on top of the day to day needs of my little business and my family, with no time to get ahead or reach the really big goals. I hope (and I think) I'm not alone here.



In other news, we celebrated our Sugar Pea's fifth birthday with funnel cakes (birthday girl's request), and I just shipped a big ol' box of Sweetheartville saint candles to a brand new store opening the first of November in Rogers, AR called Heirloom Food and Gifts! I cannot wait to shop there the next time we visit family in the Ozarks. Sweetheartville goods can now be found at retail stores in two different states, with more to come, hopefully. These are exciting times. So much work to be done! Do you have any tips for staying on track while juggling a business and a family? What sort of calendar, planner, or other organizational tools have helped you?

Native Son

Hello, sweethearts! I've been working very hard to prepare for Indie Emporium, which will be here in less than two weeks. Besides readying my wares for the show, I've also finished a new collage. I've had this idea in my mind and my sketchbook for months now, and I guess our recent trip to the Will Rogers Museum gave me the kick in the pants I needed to make it reality. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out!



Our most famous and most beloved Okie is on an Oklahoma Flag Blue background surrounded by the emblems of our state--Indian blanket flowers, rose rocks, mistletoe, redbud branches, and scissortailed-flycatchers. The banner shows our state motto, "Labor Omnia Vincit", or "Labor conquers all things." I chose to use a slightly less well known photograph of Will. This is something that's not talked about nearly enough: young Will Rogers was a total hottie. But then, I kinda have a thing for Cherokee boys.

Look for an Okie Pride candle very soon, and maybe a print, too!

Win a Sweetheartville Print at Audrey Eclectic!

Happy Monday, friends! I wanted to let you know that my dear friend Heather of Audrey Eclectic has featured me on her lovely blog today. Head on over there to learn a little more about me, and enter to win your choice of one of my prints!

Prints!

I'm so excited! As of today 8" x 10" prints of my work are available for purchase in ye olde shoppe, including all of the Saints of the Domestic Arts as well as "Feminine Phrenology" and "Use It Up". Yippee!

St. Margaret, Patron Saint of Baking

Introducing the newest DIY saint in the Sweetheartville canon, Saint Margaret, Patron Saint of Baking.



Ain't she sweet? This was my most favorite saint to dream up yet. If it's possible to gain weight via Photoshoppery, I must have gained twelve pounds today. Fun times! I'm having such a blast designing these pretend saints I don't ever want to quit.

So tell me, what DIY pursuit or career would YOU most like to see a patron saint of? I have a few ideas in the pipeline, but I'd love your feedback. I'm all ears!

I'd also like to thank everyone who offered encouragement and votes of confidence after my last post. It means so much to me to have so many wonderful, creative, kindhearted people in my life cheering me on. I feel like big, exciting things are just around the corner for my art, Sweetheartville, the Welcome Little Stranger project, and of course, my sweet little family. I'm full up to burstin' with ideas and plans, and I can't wait to see what each new day brings.

Building Your Brand

Hello, folks! Just thought I'd alert you to a little series of guest posts I did for my good friends at the Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar blog on the topic of Building Your Brand. Look for an installment every day this week, and hopefully take away a tip or two for your handmade or small business!

Spring Saints Special!

In celebration of Spring, I'm offering free shipping when you buy any 3 Sweetheartville Prayer Candles from now through April 15th! If you've had your eye on one or a few, or need some Mother's Day gifts, now is your chance. Happy Spring!

Roadside Fun Postcards

I just added these fun postcard sets to the Sweetheartville shop! Get your kicks on Route 66.

A New Crop O' Saints

I am just tickled to death to share with you some new art I've been cookin' up over the last couple of weeks. Allow me to introduce you to some lovely ladies, those Patron Saints of the Domestic Arts.

First we have St. Flora, Patron Saint of Gardening:



Then comes St. Helene, Patron Saint of Sewing:



The lovely St. Charlotte, Patron Saint of Crochet:



Followed by St. Lucy, Patron Saint of Knitting:



And finally, St. Maribel, Patron Saint of Embroidery.



All of these lovely lady Prayer Candles are available in the shop with more to follow, I'm sure!

Saint Ginger, Patron Saint of Manicurists

There's a new saint in Sweetheartville, and she's here to wrangle ragged cuticles, sculpt acrylics and gels, and wield a polish brush with precision. She's Saint Ginger, Patron Saint of Manicurists, and she joins Saint Tammy in the Sweetheartville Beauty Operator Prayer Candle lineup.





Speaking of the nail techs, I've designed a new Beauty Button just for the nail-doin' ladies and gents:



Also newly added to the Beauty Button line is this cheeky design:



And for something a bit different, these two birdie buttons are little pieces o' art which can be pinned just about anywhere you need some colorful quirkiness.





Of course, all of these and several other new designs are available in ye olde shoppe.

Miss Amy's Stitch and Kitsch

Me: Sigh. What's this world coming to? Everyone is hateful and nasty and my Facebook feed is full of people who I have nothing in common with but friended because they asked me to and we were in the same English class in 9th grade. I work all the time, yet my house and yard still look like the scene where an Amnesia-riddled Goldie Hawn sees Kurt Russell's place for the first time in the 1987 hit movie Overboard. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will never end. People are so judgmental. My new job is stressful and I need to lose 40 pounds. The Gulf of Mexico is ruined forever and Nashville is devastated and tornadoes are killing other Okies, and no one "gets" me. Boo hoo hoo. I'm going to go eat worms.....Oh, whatever can this box on my front porch contain?....*SQUEAL*



Will you look at this doll?! Seriously. Could Miss Amy be any more amazing? Look at her hair and her little red high heels, and her dress! My Sweet Lord, do you see the mothereffin' vintage hankie dress?!!



Get over to Miss Amy's Stitch and Kitsch right now and get yourself one, or commission one that looks just like you. Better yet, commission one that looks just like Miss Amy because she is the most gorgeous pretty red-haired beauty lady that ever lived!



Thank you, Amy.

*Beautiful photo of Miss Amy by Dynamite Dames Photography.

Featured!

A very eventful week in Sweetheartville was capped yesterday morning by the most exciting news: my St. Tammy Prayer Candle was featured in the Etsy Storque's Get The Look: Decor as part of a lovely collection inspired by Sandra's beautiful home. I see a lot of my own style in Sandra's decorating, and I am absolutely honored to have had a bit of my art included in the feature.

If you'd like to be the first to know what's going on in Sweetheartville, don't forget that you can find me on Facebook as well!

St. Tammy, Patron Saint of Hair Stylists

I gave you a brief glimpse of St. Tammy when I returned from Deluxe. Now here she is in all her bouffanty glory:



"Saint Tammy, full of style, blessed are thou among beauty operators. Holy Tammy, Backcomber of Bouffants, pray for us now and at the hour of our chemical processes. Amen."



As I ever so slowly hone my amateur Photoshop skills, digital collage is becoming just about my favorite artistic medium. Working in a digital format has really opened up a whole new world for me. I want to create more, more, more!



Speaking of more, ye olde shoppe is fully stocked with Beauty Buttons, including "Chemically Dependent" and "Curl Up and Dye".




Stay classy, Dollfaces.

A Deluxe Honor

Know what those Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar Dollfaces went and did? Against their better judgement, they made me a "Featured Artist" on their website!


Well, of course they wanted photos of lil' ol' me, and not wanting to disappoint, I called up my friend Autumn, and her ridiculous photography skills, and she very kindly obliged me with a downtown photo shoot. Pro that she is, she even managed to get a few of me with my poor old sunlight-sensitive Swedish blue eyes open, and that is no small feat.

Dispatches From a Madhouse

It's been a wee bit crazy around here, with no end in sight, but I'm making the commitment to blog at least once a week. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my bloodshot eye.
I found a real live Dia de Los Muertos skull at the flea market, and I love her, especially her Frida hair. Frida will most definitely not be going to the attic with the other Halloween decorations. She's here to stay.


Not just any Horror Teeth. These are from Hollywood.


My wittle wadybug.



Osage graves in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.



I don't have many after death wishes, but if a headstone is purchased for me, I think it needs a lift up photo door. Preferably containing this picture.


A crazy, crafty mess.


Know what I went and did? I decided to take Sweetheartville to the next level, and signed up to do my very first craft show. On December 6th, I'll be shilling my wares in Oklahoma City at the first annual Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar. I've got lots of new items in the works that I'll be revealing soon. I'm so excited, but a little overwhelmed with all there is to be done. Besides crafting up an inventory, there are tables, tablecloths, packaging, displays, promotional items, signage, oh, and that whole Etsy shop thing. I've just listed new vintage craft supplies, including these super cute pillow/plush printed panels.



So hop over there and start your holiday shopping already.

Magnets!

Whew! I've been working my little fingers to the bone here in Sweetheartville. I just updated my shop with lots of vintage crafting books and kits, and this awesome vintage metal owl sculpture.




Not to mention tons and tons of one of a kind magnet sets made from vintage children's books and vintage wrapping papers. They would make wonderful, inexpensive gifts, and are easy to mail. I'm really having fun with my new-to-me garage sale button maker. Can you tell?