Yummy Summer Weekend Festivities

Okay, okay - I know I've been MIA lately. But between the redecorating, planning an art show, and selling my work at markets 3 times a week, blogging was last on my list!

I did want to mention the awesome event I planned for the Couchfire Collective at the Ohio Art League Gallery & the South Campus Gateway - it's called Yummy Summer Weekend! It's a fundraiser for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and features art shows, and art market, a free movie, performances and other fun surprises.

There's an article in this week's Columbus Alive that explains the premise behind the show.

Please check out yummyartshow.blogspot.com for all the details about the event. It's tomorrow, July 31!

Redecorating

This lovely new print above my kitchen sink is by UK illustrator Amy Blackwell.

A few weeks ago, as I entered my 5th year of living at my current address, I decided that I hated everything in my apartment. The clutter was taking over my life and the colors were uninspiring. I live in a rental unit where all the trim is painted an awful peachy-beige color and with 10-foot ceilings, painting whole rooms is a task that is daunting to say the least (and out-of-the-question, I later decided). So I aimed to keep is simple and planned to paint a bright blue backsplash in my kitchen and a stripe on my bedroom wall to act as a "headboard". Then came the furniture and accessories (Ikea, Crate & Barrel, and Etsy - oh my!!) and suddenly, I was way over-budget.

One of my main inspirations to spruce up my place was my friend Jen, whose old apartment was featured on Apartment Therapy a few weeks ago - it made me want to make my place colorful and clutter-free too.

I can't say that my place is quite clutter-free (or finished in the realm of redecorating) quite yet, but I will make sure to post photos when it is. For now, it makes me feel a little more like I have a hip apartment suitable for the arty gal that I am.

Philly Love!

Paula Deen & Philadelphia Cream Cheese have teamed up for the Real Women of Philadelphia cooking contest - and one of the 16 finalists is Ann Miller-Tobin from Columbus! She (and some of the other finalists) has commissioned me to make Philly cream cheese jewelry for the big cook-off & live event in Savannah, GA.
You can watch the live show online on Monday, July 30th at 8pm EST at pauladeen.com/wroplive - and maybe you'll catch a glimpse of one of the finalists sporting a Sweet Stella Designs original!

Agora 7: This Weekend!

The Couchfire Collective and Junctionview Studios are incredibly excited about Agora 7, coming up this weekend on May 22. If you've never heard of Agora before...you must be living under a rock! Just kidding.

Agora is an inclusive event that showcases the work of local artists. There will be hundreds of artworks on display, as well as open studios from JV artists, vendors outside, music, performances, drinks, food, and general fun.

If you want to get a sneak peek at the artwork while enjoying delicious food from local restaurants, then make sure to purchase a ticket for the Preview Party on Friday night, May 21. You'll get to meet the artists and enjoy a much less-crowded Junctionview.

Since I don't roll on Shabbos, I will be having limited open studio hours (6-7:30 pm for the Preview Party and 10pm-midnight for the main event). So If I miss you, make sure to grab one of my cards from outside my studio door and drop me a line if you're looking to purchase something!

See you at Agora 7!

Details:
Agora 7 @ Junctionview Studios
Satruday, May 22, 2010
12 noon - midnight
889 Williams Ave.
Grandview Heights, OH
$5 at the door
Preview Party: Friday, May 21, 2010 from 6 - 10 pm
$20 in advance, $25 at the door
Purchase Preview Party tickets HERE.

Late-April Newsletter

Here's the text from my most recent (and re-designed!) email newsletter.

If you're interested in signing up to receive email updates, click HERE.

Snacktacular! On View Until May 7th
New Works & Old Favorites by Amy Neiwirth
Check out my latest food-themed paintings and sculptures at Wholly Craft - from sweet soft-serve ice cream to a loaded hot dog. Make sure to see my mini food shadowboxes as part of a colorful window display, too. All artwork is available for purchase.
Wholly Craft!
3169 North High St. in Columbus
614-447-3445
www.whollycraft.net

New Retail Location!
In a few weeks, some of my handmade goodies will be on their way to a very cute shop in Cleveland called Salty Not Sweet. This boutique started out as an indie craft show and then morphed in to a place to buy handmade goods all year round.
Salty Not Sweet
15613 Waterloo Rd. in Cleveland
216-481-8925
saltynotsweetcraft.wordpress.com

Handmade Nation
Movie Screening & Spring Trunk Show
Saturday May 8 - trunk show at 1pm, movie at 3pm.
Studio 35 Cinema, 3055 Indianola Ave. in Columbus
The Crafty Cotillion is proud to co-sponsor the Columbus premiere of Handmade Nation - a documentary by Faythe Levine about the rise of the indie craft movement. Before the movie, check out a trunk show featuring items by some of the fabulous & talented members of the Crafty Cotillion.
Find out more info HERE!

Sweet Stella Designs' Craft Show Schedule:
North Market Artisan Sundays
First & Third Sundays of the Month, May - October
(Sweet Stella Designs' Dates: May 2, June 20, July 18, August 1 & 15)
12 - 5 pm - 59 Spruce St. in Columbus
Crafts and good food - is there no better combination? Read moreHERE about the other awesome artists and crafters who will be participating in this season's Artisan Sundays at the North Market.
www.northmarket.com
* The first Artisan Sunday is THIS SUNDAY, May 2 - the perfect place for finding a unique Mother's Day gift! *

Pearl Market
Tuesdays & Fridays in July
10 am - 2 pm - Lynn & Pearl Alleys, off of Gay St. in downtown Columbus
I'll be teaming up with my fabulous crafty friend Mara M. (akaMaraM) to share a space downtown in the month of July.
www.downtowncolumbus.com/pearlmarket

Other Fun Goings-On
Who says there's nothing to do in Columbus?! The upcoming month is packed with all kinds of exciting events. Click on the links below for more info about each one.
Treasure Swap - Saturday, May 8
OAL's One Night: Absolutely Absurd - Saturday, May 15
Agora 7 - Preview: Friday, May 21. Main Event: Saturday, May 22
CAW Sadie Hawkins Show - Saturday, June 5

Snacktacular!

Snacktacular!

New Works & Old Favorites by Amy Neiwirth

April 8 - May 7, 2010

Opening Reception:

Thursday, April 8; 7 -9 pm

Wholly Craft!

3169 N High St. Columbus OH

614.447.3445.

www.whollycraft.net

Sweets Galore

Tuesday, March 23rd is the Cakes For A Cause auction to benefit the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. The basic idea of the event is that bakeries and bakers donate scrumptious sweet treats to be auctioned off. The cost of a ticket to the event is $21, which will provide one week's worth of meals to a person.

I'm not a baker of edible treats - but I am a "baker" of sorts! I whipped up this pretty cake necklace to be auctioned off at the event. It sits on a real porcelain plate and comes with a silver-plated chain.

Last month, I created some custom clay cupcakes for Kiesha - blogger and baker extraordinaire who wanted a bracelet bearing some of her home-made treats showcased on her 52 Weeks of Baking blog. She had some really kind words to say about my designs on her new blog, The Brooklyn Baker.

I also made a custom charm bracelet for an awesome 13-year old girl from Las Vegas. Her friends probably squealed when they saw this adorable charm bracelet. She'll definitely be the only one at school wearing one of these!

New Years Resolution Fail

One of my New Years resolutions was to be a more active blogger. And since my last post was about a month and a half ago, you can see how good I've been about keeping that up. Oh well.

The good news is that the reason I haven't been blogging so much is because I'm just so busy! Between teaching, crafting, friends, and trying to have a social life, there just hasn't been much time for the blog. It's been on my "to do" list for several weeks. Whoops.

So, here's what I've been up to for the past 6 weeks:

COUCHFIRE COLLECTIVE

In January, I was excited to become a member of the Couchfire Collective, a local group of creative folks whose mission it is to promote the arts in Columbus. Couchfire organizes many exciting events throughout the year, including Agora and Independents' Day. This year, Couchfire is planning several new events, like FEAST - an evening of dinner and artist grant proposals, and A-Holes - a weekend of artist-designed miniature golf holes.

SWEET STELLA ON TWITTER

I decided that in 2010, I should join the Twitterverse - so far it's been fun! If you're a Twitter user, please follow me - I'm SweetStellaOH!

UPCOMING AND ONGOING EVENTS

Touchy Feely

February 26 - 27, 2010

Reception: Saturday, February 27, 6-10 pm

Ohio Art League Gallery, 1552 N. High St. Columbus OH

This show, presented by the Couchfire Collective, e

ncourages hands-on participation with the artwork. I will be showing an interactive art piece for those with a sweet tooth!

RSVP on Facebook HERE.

Art Makes Noise: A Show for Artists, Musicians, and Music Lovers

Saturday, February 27, 2010

8 pm - midnight $5 cover

Junctionview Studios, 889 Williams Ave. Grandview Heights, OH

One night only! Bands, art, and more. Check out my piece in the show - perfect for lovers of concert ticket stubs.

RSVP on Facebook HERE.

Columbus Music Co-op + Relay Records CD Release Show #2

Sunday, February 28, 2010

1 - 5 pm in the North Market Test Kitchen ($5 suggested donation at the door)

59 Spruce St. Columbus OH

I will be a vendor at this event (along with other local favorites like What the Rock?!, AmyD, and Wholly Craft). Stick around to hear music from local bands Flotation Walls, Time & Temperature, Jordan Martin, and Dan & Sean from Bookmobile.

RSVP on Facebook HERE.

A SHOW OF STUDENT WORK

You, Me, & We: Investigating Identity

Artwork by students from Columbus Torah Academy, Grades K-5

March 4 - 25, 2010

Opening Reception: Thursday, March 4, 2010 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Carnegie Gallery in the Main Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library (2nd Floor)

96 S. Grant Ave. Columbus, OH 43215

The artworks in this exhibition reflect students' perceptions of themselves and reflect all of the wonderful personalities in Grades K-5 at Columbus Torah Academy.

RSVP on Facebook HERE.

LOOKING AHEAD

I have a show of my work coming up in the month of April at Wholly Craft! in Clintonville. More details about the opening reception (and some shnazzy window displays) coming soon.

Great Start to 2010

Today I was checking out my Etsy shop when I noticed that about 15-20 people had "hearted me". That usually doesn't happen to me unless I'm featured somewhere. So I headed right to CraftCult.com, a handy resource that tells you if you've been featured anywhere on Etsy lately.

Sure enough, my Butterscotch Swirl ring was featured on the front page of Etsy today, in a Treasury hand-picked by Etsy admin. Woohoo!

My ring got several hundred views today, and some other items in my shop looked like they were big hits, too. No sales, though...but it feels great to be noticed!

Another accomplishment of the day involved my finishing the first painting I've made in over a year! It's a self-portrait for the CAW: Creative Arts of Women show at the Carnegie Gallery. I am happy with the way it came out, for sure. And the process was enjoyable, too - even though it involved painting all those cupcakes.

Below is a detail of the painting -

And I also have been listing some yummy new items in my Sweet Stella Etsy shop. Below are some examples of new items - just in time for Valentine's Day!

And last but not least, I am working on an excellent collaboration with my buddy Megan for an art show in late February. More details coming soon - but it's going to be fabulous for sure.

Holy Upcoming Events, Batman!!

Hope to see you at some of these awesome events I'm involved in.

Ohio Art League - Thumb Box Exhibition

December 3 - 23, 2009

Opening Reception: Thursday, December 3, 6-9 pm

1552 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43201 (new gallery space in the South Campus Gateway!)

www.oal.org

Roy G. Biv Gallery - Members' Small Works Exhibition

December 5 - 20, 2009

Opening Reception: Saturday, December 5, 7-10 pm

997 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43201

www.roygbivgallery.com

North Market Holiday Open House & Craft Extravaganza

Sunday, December 6, 2009 (and Saturday Dec. 5 - Emily of Umbrella Girl Productions will have the spot!)

12 noon - 5 pm (8 am - 5 pm on Saturday)

59 Spruce St. Columbus, OH 43215

www.northmarket.com

Junctionview Open House

Saturday, December 12th

4 - 10 pm

(My open studio hours: 6pm - 10pm, Studio #133)

889 Williams Ave. Grandview Heights, OH 43212

www.junctionviewstudios.com

Sweet Stella Designs Holiday Studio Clearance Sale!

Sunday, December 20th

1 - 4 pm in Studio #133

889 Williams Ave. Grandview Heights, OH 43212

www.sweetstelladesigns.com

You can RSVP on Facebook, just follow this link.

CAW (Creative Arts of Women) - Definitions of Character

January 14 - February 19, 2010

Opening Reception: Thursday, January 14, 5 - 7 pm

Carnegie Gallery in the Main Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library (2nd Floor)

96 S. Grant Ave. Columbus, OH 43215

Tiny Canary is Coming Soon!

I am so excited to have been accepted as a vendor for Tiny Canary *Indie Design Market* for the third year! The event is on November 14 & 15, and just like in years past, I will be selling my work on Sunday, November 15 only. On Saturday, you'll be able to find Jen Adrion's colorful statistical graphics and prints.

Naturally, I will be very busy over the next few weeks making new items to sell. At Tiny Canary, I'll have some new sterling silver collage & resin pendants, more items from my Hard Candy Collection, and of course, the Tiny Treats that everyone loves!

The holidays are approaching and people are starting to think about what they're going to get their friends, family, and co-workers. The economy is struggling and the forecast shows that people are planning to spend less money on holiday gifts this year. Why not purchase something fabulous and handmade for the people you care about? You'll feel good about supporting a small business and the recipient of your gift will have a unique item made with care, love, and attention to detail.

One gift that's definitely unforgettable is a custom item from Sweet Stella Designs! Cake earrings for your co-worker who loves that cheesecake; a sushi pendant for your girlfriend who can't get enough California rolls; or a resin pendant with a photo of your mother's garden. Each item shows that special person on your life that you care about him or her. And with pieces in the $15 - $50 range, you won't have to worry about spending a fortune.

If you'd like to purchase a custom item from Sweet Stella Designs, please get your order in as early as possible! That way, I'll be sure to have enough time to create your custom piece.

Oh, Dear...

Wow, it's been almost 2 months since my last post. I must admit that ever since I participated as an emerging artist in the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival, I've been on somewhat of a crafting hiatus. Between starting both my full-time job (as a K-12 art teacher) and my part-time job (teaching Hebrew school) in September, I really needed a break.

Sadly, my Etsy shop and my website haven't been updated in ages. But I DID add a Sweet Stella Designs BigCartel shop in to the mix, which enables shoppers to purchase items without signing up for a special account! Right now I am featuring 3 items in my test run, and I hope to have the Bigcartel shop as a link on my website soon.

So make sure to check out my site in the next few weeks! It will be getting a lovely face-lift and redesign, as will my online shops and hopefully my poor ugly Flickr page, too.

Yummy! Art Show This Weekend

As you might recall from previous posts, I've recently been devoting my time to curating a food-themed art show, called Yummy! at Junctionview Studios' Matchbox Gallery. With over 40 artists participating, Yummy! is going to be tons of fun. 

The opening night party (this Friday, August 14th from 6 pm to midnight) will also be a fundraiser for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Please bring a non-perishable food item or a monetary donation for the Foodbank. We'll also be selling awesome limited-edition 1" buttons -  created by our Yummy! artists - for $2. Proceeds from the buttons will also benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. 

So stop by Junctionview Studios in Grandview Heights on Friday for art, food, music, Pecha-Kucha Night Volume 10, and a special movie screening! 

Details below: 

Yummy! An Explosion of Art & Food

August 14 - September 13, 2009

The Matchbox Gallery @ Junctionview Studios

889 Williams Ave. Grandview Heights, OH 43212

Opening Night Party: 

Friday August 14, 6 pm - midnight

Please bring a non-perishable food item or a monetary donation for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank

Gallery Hours: 

Friday, 1-5 pm

Saturday & Sunday, 12-5 pm

Pattycake, Pattycake!

I am excited to announce my latest collaboration: a line of exclusive Tiny Treats jewelry available at Pattycake Bakery in Columbus! You can purchase these yummy-looking wearable sweets from the bakery and wear your favorite treats from chocolate cupcakes to blueberry muffins. 

And of course, you'll want to buy some scrumptious *real* baked goods too! The snickerdoodles are one of my favorites. 

Summer Preview

Summer is almost here and that means craft shows galore! It also means that I have the summer off from teaching art and am so excited to catch up on my creative pursuits. Here's a preview of what's in store for Summer 2009. 

Sno-cone Hair Pins are the perfect summer treat!

Comfest (June 26-28th in Goodale Park): You'll be able to find Sweet Stella Designs' merchandise at Comfest even though I won't personally have a booth there. Check out the Wholly Craft! booth for my usual goods and Buckeye Bling for my colorful clay Ohio map silhouette necklaces. 

Sweet Collaborations: In July, you'll be able to purchase exclusive items from my Tiny Treats line at Pattycake Bakery! These little gems are hand-sculpted from polymer clay and will resemble the awesome, scrumptious vegan baked goods at Pattycake! 

You'll be able to purchase hairpins, earrings, rings, and necklaces shaped like cupcakes, muffins, cookies, and other sweet treats. Check 'em out at the bakery in Clintonville starting July 3rd. 

North Market Artisan Sundays (first Sundays of the month): Take a trip to the North Market to check out all of the talented craft vendors selling their wares. Support local businesses, artists & crafters and find unique items for yourself or for someone special. As always, I will have exciting new creations for sale! 

Crafty Cotillion Handmade Expo @ The Ohio State Fair (August 8, 2009): Even though I won't be able to vend at this event, I am a Crafty Cotillion member and in addition to helping to organize this event, I urge you to stop by and enjoy the handmade goods & local music from talented folks all over the city and beyond! 

Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival (September 7, 2009 at Northam Park): I was accepted as an emerging artist for this festival and I am so excited to be able to branch out and share my jewelry with a whole new audience! Be on the lookout for fresh new designs incorporating more upscale materials and techniques. 

And if you can't make it to these events, you can always order something online from my shop, or email me about a custom creation! 

It's Agora Weekend!

It's here! Agora is THIS WEEKEND at Junctionview Studios. Everyone in the Couchfire Collective (and at Junctionview in general) has been working extra hard to make this event even more amazing than the previous 5 events. There will be over 600 artworks by 300+ artists, food and craft vendors, live music, and other performances.

On Friday night May 15, there will be a preview event from 6-10 pm ($10 in advance, $15 at the door) with drinks and food and a chance to browse the artwork before Saturday.

Even though I have a studio space at Junctionview, my hours at Agora will be limited because I don't roll on Shabbos. However, I will be in my studio (#133) selling my art + jewelry from 6-8:30 pm on 5/15 and after 9:30 pm on 5/16. You'll also be able to check out my work in the display case right outside my studio.

Productive Spring...

I've spent the last 3 months planning a crafty fundraiser called the CTA Craftstravaganza for the school where I teach. This past Sunday, I got to see all the hard work come together! The event was a blast and seeing all the vendors set up with their handmade goods made me feel so proud to be part of such a wonderful craft community in Columbus.

Especially exciting was having my students see all of the creative goodness that is happening right in their own city! Of course, they were pretty excited that their art teacher makes tiny foods out of clay, too.

*Photos taken by my friend, Kevin. Check out his whole Craftstravaganza set on Flickr!*

And, looking onward, there is much more crafty goodness coming up. This coming Sunday is that first day of the North Market's Artisan Sundays! I'll be a vendor there as well, so stop by and check it out between 12-5 pm on May 3rd.

I'm also working on several custom orders, an upcoming collaboration with Pattycake Vegan Bakery, and possibly a special wedding line. Who knows what the next few months will bring!

An Ode to Salvador Dali

My parents' wedding anniversary was last month and I really wanted to get them a unique present for around their house.

Then (on Etsy, of course!) I stumbled upon a fabulous seller from Cincinnati whose business is called Pragmatic Effects. Hilary, the artist, creates an array of melting wall clocks, a nod to artist Salvador Dali.

With clocks in a variety of colors, and even those that look like they're sliding down a bookcase or draping over a mantle, a gift from Pragmatic Effects will delight any art-lover. My parents loved theirs and they can't wait to find the perfect spot for it in their house.

Etsy is really a great place for gifts that you won't be able to find anywhere else!

New Goodies for February!

I have been so busy over the last few weeks making tiny cakes and cute little treats for Valentine's Day. I also just dropped off a bunch of goodies at Wholly Craft, including fresh new cake rings (below). Wholly Craft is being transformed this month in to the setting for the Sugarcraft exhibition. My Tiny Treats will be included in the "Candy Shoppe" portion of the exhibition, which celebrates all things sweet. 

Another popular item has been the Moustache Necklace. I think it was featured on the front page of Etsy today, because I just listed more in my shop and after less than 24 hours, my listing has almost 280 views and 30 "hearts". Wowzers!

I'm also working on another shipment for the Renegade Handmade store in Chicago. So it will be all cakes & moustaches for me...at least for the next few weeks.

2008 Wrap-Up

After a much-needed break from blogging & crafting, I feel re-charged and energized and ready for 2009! I have some great goals for Sweet Stella Designs for the upcoming year, but first, I wanted to reflect on the last part of 2008. 

November: 

Auto/Bio: An MA Thesis Exhibition 

I finally finished my giant MA project (17 pieces of artwork and a 180-page paper) and it was great to see my art on the walls and have my friends and family come out to celebrate. 

People mingle at my exhibition reception

Tiny Canary Indie Design Market

This event is always a blast! So many people came out to this two-day indie craft extravaganza and I split the table space with my friend (she took the space on Saturday; I had it on Sunday) Lori who makes perfumes and bath blends under the name Violette Market. 

Here I am at my Sweet Stella Designs booth

Anne shows off her new AmyD skirt 

December:

Holiday Hop Trunk Show @ What The Rock?!

The wintry weather was a bit of a deterrent for some people, but many others hopped on down to What The Rock to check out items from my holiday collection. 

Pink & sparkly with tiny lights: just the way I like it

In addition to my trunk show, I also had some small works displayed at Roy G. Biv Gallery's Member Small Works Exhibition and the Ohio Art League's annual Thumb Box Exhibition. 

C-Note Art Show 

Every piece of art was priced at $100 and despite the dreary economy, people came out to support local artists. I had an open studio on Saturday night and it was lots of fun to see all of the different types of art on the walls. 

Art viewers enjoy the work at C-Note 

Jen and Coreroc hang out in my open studio, #133

I am definitely looking forward to the rest of 2009. There are some great events happening at Junctionview Studios (including a spiffy re-designed website) and I am getting ready to start making some Valentines Day-themed jewelry. Looking ahead to April, I have an art show scheduled at Haiku Poetic Food & Art in the Short North. 

Naturally, most of my New Years resolutions have to do with being more organized, so I hope I'm able to keep up with that!