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 Re-cap

This past weekend was Tiny Canary Indie Design Market at Junctionview Studios and (as usual) it was awesome! It was fun to meet new customers and hear their reactions to my jewelry. This was my third year as a vendor at TC and my booth on Sunday was right near Crafty Cotillion gals Olivera (Wholly Craft!), Emily (Umbrella Girl Productions), and Megan C. (Miss Megan Mac).

I debuted some new creations this weekend, including my winter coffee cup necklaces and my rainbow lollie pendant (below- which I am proud to say, found a happy home!)

And now - getting ready for the North Market event and the Junctionview Studios Open House in December! Don't forget that I create custom orders (I have quite a few of those from this weekend, actually), so don't be shy about sending me a message about a special request.

Por Vida! Preview

This coming weekend is an awesome event at Junctionview Studios called Por Vida! It's a celebration of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) with art, music, food, drinks, and more, organized by the fabulous and talented Kat Moya.

The photo to the left is is a teeny snippet of the artwork I created for the show. Want to see the whole thing? You'll just have to come on Saturday Night!

Por Vida! A Day of the Dead Celebration

Saturday, October 31 from 10 pm - 2 am

$7 at the door, ages 21 +

Junctionview Studios: 889 Williams Ave. in Grandview Heights

Attendees are encouraged to come in authentic DOD costumes; check out the Por Vida blog for photos from last year's event if you need costume ideas. Last year I dressed up as Frida Kahlo!

Me as Frida Kahlo!

(Photo by Nick Fancher)

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.

Recent Custom Orders

Lately, I've been working on tons of custom orders! It took me a while, but I'm finally caught up on everything. Woohoo!

Here are a few images of what I've been working on:

Anatomical Heart Pendant Necklace

(It's not a dessert treat, but it's still pretty sweet!!)

Cha-Cha Fruit Necklace

Burger & Fries Cufflinks

Eggs 'N' Toast Necklace

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

Featured on the Daily Etsian Blog!

I am excited to have my Rainbow Cake Earrings featured on the Daily Etsian blog. 

The Daily Etsian features sellers on Etsy, cool finds, and has fun giveaways. Check it out!

Yummy!

For the past few weeks, I have been busy at work curating a food-themed art show called Yummy! It's going to be on view at Junctionview Studios' Matchbox Gallery from August 14 - September 13. We will be having an awesome opening party on Friday, August 14. Check out the Facebook invite page to RSVP. 

Also, make sure to visit the Yummy! Blog for news, artist bios, and special sneak previews about the show. We have almost 40 amazing artists participating, several of whom are from out-of-town! It's shaping up to be quite an amazing show. 

Be on the lookout for postcards hittin' the streets at the end of next week, just in time for Gallery Hop!

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. 

And Another Thing...

I cannot believe I forgot to mention this: I am one of several artists in the Columbus Crafty Cotillion to be featured in the July issue of Crafts Report Magazine! 

You can read the blog post on the Cotillion site here and you can check out the digital version of Crafts Report here. And yes, those are my cake rings on the right-hand page! *Giggle*

In July, I will also be starting a Sweet Stella Designs rewards program. For each purchase $20 and over, I'll sign your specially designed rewards card. When you collect 8 signatures, you'll have the choice of a free 1-inch glass pendant or 10% off your next purchase. Remember that in order to participate, I'll need to give you a special card to start off with, and each signature must be mine! Get excited :) 

Oh, and one last thing: if you have Facebook, you should definitely become a fan of Sweet Stella Designs! 

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! 

I Found A Gem!

While perusing Etsy, I stumbled upon a photo of this vintage pot from seller 13bees that looked amazingly familiar. 

To check out this sunny vintage pot, visit 13bees.etsy.com

Then, I realized that this was the very same enameled cookware that my parents had in their house for the first 15 years of my life. They received a whole set as a wedding present in 1972. I never knew that it had a special designer or a specific pattern name, but it's by Cathrineholm and called Yellow Lotus. 

I had an "a-ha" moment, and after some digging around in my cupboard, pulled out the last remaining piece in the set, which I inherited in college and stashed away when I purchased my new set of pots & pans. I decided not to cook with it anymore because it really is heavy! 

Here is my vintage Cathrineholm Yellow Lotus pot! Should I sell it or keep it for its retro cool?

I was surprised to see how much these pieces sell for on Ebay and Etsy. It's funny to think of them as collectibles now since they were just average pots & pans in my house when I was growing up. 

Read more about Cathrineholm cookware here:

BackGarage

Jenn Ski

H is for Home

Get It Together...

I need a swift kick. The past week and a half has been filled with utter laziness (including a great trip to MD/DC...photo above is from the National Gallery of Art). Now I must get back on track. I have summer craft shows to prepare for and retail locations to re-stock. 

I could use some words of encouragement! And maybe better time-management skills as well. 

On the plus side, I am starting a new line of jewelry that incorporates glitter and resin. I find that the hexagonal glitter looks a bit more sophisticated than the typical square kind. Below is an example of one of my new glittery pieces: "Ruby Slippers" pendant necklace. Look for it in my Etsy shop soon!

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.

It's Almost My Birthday...

...and if you're stumped about what to get for me (on May 21st), I've got some items on my wish list from sellers on Etsy.com. :)

Studio Snapshot

The very talented Melissa Vogley Woods has a blog called Studio Snapshot, where she takes photos of various artists in their studios and often interviews them to give blog readers a glimpse of these artists' work process.

I am honored to be one of the artists featured in this week's Studio Snapshot! You can check out the photos and my interview HERE!

In other interview news, I might be featured as part of an article about Wholly Craft and the alternative-craft movement in The Crafts Report magazine. The article should be coming out sometime in mid-summer.

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!

Can't Blog...Making Tiny Cakes...

My solo show at Haiku in the Short North is fast approaching. It now has an official name: Sweet Tooth! I am creating diorama displays for my miniature polymer clay food in painted wood shadow boxes.

Check out the invite page on Facebook and stay tuned for more pictures of my miniatures & small sculptures. 

The next few weeks are going to be insane, and then I am off to Florida for some much-needed vacation time. A week after I get back, it's time for the CTA Craftstravaganza! 

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!

March Comes in Like a Lion...

I have been MIA from blogging lately because I've been doing lots of behind-the-scenes work and preparing for a very busy spring!

First, I am working on an exciting fundraising event for the school where I teach: Columbus Torah Academy. It's called the CTA Craftstravaganza and it is a juried, one-day marketplace for handmade goods to be held at my school on Sunday, April 26, 2009. At the Craftstravaganza, we plan to have over 20 vendors selling handmade jewelry, artwork, bath & body products, paper goods, baby items, plush, items for the home, clothing, purses, Judaica and more!

Proceeds from this event will benefit Columbus Torah Academy.

If you're reading this and wondering how you can apply to be a vendor, make sure to visit the Craftstravaganza website where you'll find all the details, as well as the print & mail application form. We will be accepting applications until March 15th.

I am also working on the exhibitions committee for AGORA 6, to be held at Junctionview Studios on May 16. This AGORA will prove to be bigger this time around, with outdoor performances, indie craft vendors, and of course, lots of art!

And my art show at Haiku in the Short North is fast approaching! I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, but luckily I have some amazing friends who are willing to give me advice and help me work on my concepts. I really want to show all new work, so now it's definitely crunch time.

I also just found out that I'll be presenting my work at the next Columbus Pecha-Kucha, which will actually be on my birthday (May 21)! So make sure to check back for more info on that, as well as some sneak peeks of what I'm working on for my upcoming show.

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!