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!

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.

Twitterpated!

Happy New Year to everyone! I am happy it's 2010, looking forward to a great year and a wonderful decade filled with all sorts of good things. 2009 certainly had its ups and downs, both in my personal and professional realms and I couldn't be more thrilled to shake up the proverbial "Etch-A-Sketch" and start fresh.

One of my new additions for 2010 is a Twitter account! I'm still messing around with this and trying to figure out exactly what my goal is with being a Twitter user. But while I think about that...you should follow me on Twitter!

Why?

Because you know you're dying to know what I ate for breakfast!

Ok, seriously.

I will be posting updates about events, art shows, craft happenings, and new additions to my Etsy shop. I'm also thinking about contests and special sales for my Twitter followers.

So head on over to twitter.com/SweetStellaOH (because regular SweetStella was #$*@ taken and SweetStellaDesigns was too long) and see what I'm up to.

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!