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

The Month In Photos

Purim Fun

This year, I decided to bake hamantaschen for the Jewish holiday of Purim, which was celebrated on February 27 & 28th. Usually, they come out yummy tasting and ugly, or pretty and un-delicious. This year was my year of triumph - scrumptious and gorgeous! I did have a little help, though.

Touchy Feely: Please Handle The Art

Presented by the Couchfire Collective (and curated by Megan Green with me as a happy helper!), Touchy Feely was an interactive art show. How many times have you been yelled at at a museum for getting too close to the artwork? Well, there was none of that at this show!

Our reception on February 27 was a blast! We had costumes and puppets, tons of kids, and oodles of cupcakes. The sweets were lovingly baked and donated by Petite Sweets, The Dancing Cupcake Co. and Cake Truffles by Laura.

Check out my "Chocolate Chip Checkerboard" piece - and the people playing the game!

You, Me & We: Investigating Identity

This is a show of my students' work in the Carnegie Gallery at the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Main Branch. Each student in grades K-5 at Columbus Torah Academy created a piece for this show. The students were so excited to be at the opening reception, held on Thursday, March 4. They felt like "real artists."

The show is on view until March 25 at the library - 92 S. Grant Ave. in downtown Columbus. Stop by and check it out!

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.

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.

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! 

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.

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!

Shop Local for the Holidays!

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Look no further than the talented artists and crafters in Columbus, Ohio! I created this compilation of local Etsy sellers to show what creative and beautiful work is made right here in central Ohio.

Wondering how you can find sellers on Etsy from your area? Just use the Shop Local tool at Etsy.com!

Tiny Canary This Weekend!

Saturday and Sunday, November 15-16
10am - 6pm each day
at Junctionview Studios (889 Williams Ave. Columbus OH)

Let the countdown begin... Tiny Canary is this weekend!

For 2 days, Junctionview Studios in Grandview will be transformed into a temporary marketplace where you will have the opportunity to buy directly from local and regional artists and designers.

Skip the mall, buy handmade, and start your holiday shopping early! You are sure to find original, high quality handmade gifts for all those on your list!

Be one of the first 100 guests in the door each day and you will receive an organic cotton tote bag filled with samples, coupons and other goodies from our vendors and sponsors.Food and refreshments will be available from Rad Dog, Pattycake Bakery and Kevin's Espresso Cart. Admission and parking are FREE!

Visit the Tiny Canary website for directions and a preview of the participating vendors.

Inquiries? Contact thebird@tinycanary.com.

* Please note that Sweet Stella Designs will be a vendor on Sunday, November 16th only!*

Vote for Your Favorites!

I am applying for an alternative craft show out-of-state (I don't want to jinx it by telling you which one!) and I can only submit three images on my application. So, I need your help to decide which three would wow the judges and make them want to pick me to be a vendor!

I have revised my original idea thanks to the advice of the lovely miss Alison from The Sampler. Please look at the choices below and then vote for your ONE favorite from each photo set on the sidebar poll to the right.

EDIT (7/16): Voting has closed! Many thanks to everyone who chose their favorites in each category. The winners are Donut Bracelet, Blue Cells Pendant, and Stroke of Midnight Necklace. I'll keep you posted and let you know *if* I was accepted in to the craft show!

Click on any image below to see the larger version.

Set One: Tiny Treats

Set Tw0: Resin and Glass

Set Three: Beads

Crafty Patrice!

Who is that stunning gal surrounded by gorgeous handmade creations?
It's Patrice! She's on the cover of the Columbus ALIVE this week, which features articles and info about ComFest. You can read the full story here.

There are also brief write-ups about vendor booths Etsy Team Columbus, Chop Chop Gallery, and Mary Martineau's Transformations. Please take note of the Sweet Stella Designs shout-out in the Etsy section. *grin*

Don't forget to stop by the Etsy Team Columbus booth and check out my new creations. Remember, I will be selling on Friday and Sunday only!

Gettin' Ready for Comfest 2008!

Comfest is one of the most fun weekends in the Columbus calendar, and it's fast approaching (it's this coming weekend!!). I am trying to remain calm and get things checked off my to-do list.

In addition to enjoying the food, live music, and street fair vendors, this will be my first year as a vendor! I will be part of the Etsy Team Columbus booth with eight other creative ladies: MooganCreations, Mara M., Jewels of Luxury, Miss Megan Mac, Out of the Pink Sky Designs, Arteest, Gems by Jules, and Adornables by Lyn

My biggest challenge so far has been streamlining my displays and changing the set-up to accommodate a smaller space, since all 9 of us are sharing a tent. It was so hard to do because I went a little overboard with making new things. But, I did get some fresh new display ideas that I think will work with the North Market events as well as shows where I may only be allowed one 6-foot table.

Tonight, I changed the packaging on all of my hairpins so I could use my new pricing system (print-out labels: genius!!) and have them coordinate with the stud earrings and large pendant packages.




I really have to be a designer, artist, visual merchandiser, and salesperson!

Make sure to look for the Etsy Team Columbus booth at Comfest: June 27-29 in Goodale Park, Columbus Ohio!

Sugarcraft Goodness and Summer Fun!

I have been so busy lately getting my work ready for some awesome upcoming shows. The first of which is SugarCraft, a show in Chicago curated by Wynter Whiteside.
From the SugarCraft website:
SC is an international exhibit including works by over 50 artists, specially selected from all over the world. The exhibit focuses on the theme of indulgence in the arts while representing the contemporary adoption of DIY practices as a response to mass production and consumption, as well as the fading line between contemporary fine art and fine craft. Casual viewers and art connoisseurs alike are invited to engage with both established and emerging artists.

My collage, "To Meditate on the Goodness of Sweets (Cookie Mandala)" is going to be a part of the show!

Some of my "Tiny Treats" jewelry designs will be included in the SC gift shop, aptly named "The Candy Shoppe". I made many tasty and cute little items, ranging from cookies to sno-cones!

If you're in the Chicago area, make sure to check out SugarCraft at Kasia Kay Art Projects (1044 W. Fulton Market St. Chicago, IL 60607).
Dates: June 27th- August 9th, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, June 27th 6-9pm

****
It's been awesome having RT in town! Last night, we hung out at Surly Girl for a while and met up with Patrice and JG. Then, we headed over to Tip Top to watch The Goonies, powered by the P2 Cycle, a bicycle-powered generator! It was a great time, I forgot how much I love The Goonies!
If you're curious about the P2 (the model used around Columbus was built by Nathan Ober), check out the video below.

It's Cold Out...

...and I am in love with these adorable scarflettes by Beaky. At just $18, they are a great value and a fun way to keep yourself warm in style. I am just having a hard time deciding which one I want!

Excellent Sunday!

I could hardly sleep last night, I was so excited for Tiny Canary! I've never really been involved with a craft show that was slated to attract so many people, so I really had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that I was all ready to represent my designs and share my fun, colorful collection with holiday shoppers!

Aline and Anne, our awesome Tiny Canary organizers, were so amazing! Not only did they work their butts off to promote this event all over Columbus, but they were so sweet in providing the vendors with a yummy breakfast spread and giving us a very cute little book about crafting & business!

Here are some shots of my Sweet Stella Designs booth:

Here's Megan from Moogan Creations peeking out from her sea of plush! She also had totes and 2-D artworks for sale. I wanted to get a closer look at some of her lovable new characters, but I hardly had any time to escape from my booth. It was so busy!

AmyD and Olivia goofing around after our extensive conversation about boogers.

I got to sit next to Patrice and watch her make all kinds of funky jewelry throughout the day. My favorite part was exploring her recycled bead box. Mmm..vintage lucite flowers! Patrice was wearing a beautiful necklace with a reclaimed metal dogwood flower from an old candelabra. One customer loved it so much she bought it right off her neck!

At the end of my successful selling day, I raced around buying myself a few lovelies:
* Lip Balm from Disquieting Designs (I forgot my lip gloss and desperately needed some; I was very impressed with the quality and the subtle lemon/lime flavor)
* Little painting by OrangeWillow: it reminds me of San Francisco and will fit in nicely with my wall of original artworks, hung gallery-style.
* Hair band by Gazzu: too adorable! I need more of these!
* Porcelain squirrel pendant by Lusterbunny: I have been coveting one of these for so long.

And now, how I feel can only be summed up in one photo: