Schaedler Rules!!!

I have to confess, I am one of those annoying people who feels the need to straighten other people's crooked pictures. Yes, if I walk into a doctors office, and there is the inevitable crooked, framed picture, I normally exercise great self control and don't touch it...but, on occasion, people, I do seize the moment. Yes, even in your house, I will be tempted to straighten out that baby. Part of me is a trained 'graphic' person and I like to see things lined up, well, straight. I worked for Gensler New York, in their graphic department about 5 minutes before computers took over the world. In the graphic department, the most valuable tool @ the time was a Schaedler Ruler. I still have mine, and cannot live without it. Schaedler Precision Rules are marked with thinner-than-hairline calibrations which represent divisions as fine as 64ths of an inch!!!

Which leads me to the meat of this post. I am getting ready for a craft show @ Garden City Center on June 11th. There is so much to do. Editing, printing, hundreds of photos, cutting presentation boards, gluing, matting, pressing, framing 5x7's, and then finally, laying out all those hundreds of 4x6 photos onto card stock, more gluing, pressing, signing, dating, labeling and then lastly, stuffing. When I am making the cards, the Schaedler Ruler saves my life. Yes, all the way down to the 1/64th of an inch as I need to know that everything is lined up. I have learned that if my margin is off by 1/16 of an inch, well, I can live with that now...good enough...yet, another part of the process. For the next 2 weeks, I will have my hand to the plow...starting today with 17, 5x7's glued, matted and now pressing overnight...let the games begin!!!

The Violin Shop

I saw this violin shop at the indoor farmers market last year and I knew I had to take some photos. My initial thought was that if I got the right shot, it would make a fabulous card, framed or matted 5x7. Dennis McCarten not only makes violins, but repairs them as well. They hang beautifully, different woods and grains, different sizes, each one with it's own unique story.

Dennis McCarten has been making and repairing instruments for nearly 2 decades. This was a natural evolution from his lifelong love of wood and wood working and his immersion in Irish tradition music. His shop can be found in The Artists Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.

Aspray Boathouse Holiday Sale

The weather was perfect for December 11th. Sunny, 45 degrees. The Aspray Boathouse was a very busy place in the 1700's; now a refurbished and most lovely waterfront venue. The vendors were all ready to roll by 10:30AM. The shoppers were non-stop for a good part of the day as the Aspray show was planned in conjunction with a historic walk around Pawtuxet Village (founded in 1638 by Roger Williams). Some people left and came back with more cash in tow. I had my best day of sales to date...and for me, the thrill was that I was just selling the photos. Over 50 different cards, framed 4x6's, framed 5x7's. All the gluing, pressing, signing, dating, labeling, stuffing, matting and gluing some more, and framing (whew) paid off!! We were even treated to a live operatic performance at 5PM. I hope you can get a feel of the warmth of the venue, along with some of the gifted vendors from the photos!!

A hearty thank you to all who came out!!

10% Discount in my Etsy Shop Lilleypics

'Inner Visions'
'Child of Wonder'
'Let The Mountains Sing'

Etsy has just made it really easy for us to mark our handmade goodies down, with the use of coupon codes. I have marked down everything in Lilleypics by 10%, using the code 'rhodagirls3'. These 3 pieces are some of my original artwork! Remember, there is still no shipping on all cards for another few days. If you want to give the cards as a Chanukah or Christmas gift, they will be wrapped in rice paper, decoratively tied w/ hemp string. Your final price will automatically be adjusted to reflect the change of price....so happy shopping everyone!!!

10% Discount in my Etsy Shops, Lilleypad and Lilleypics!!

'She Sells Seashells'
'Aqua CZ Dangle'
'Ruby Reds CZ'

Etsy has just made it really easy for us to mark our handmade goodies down, with the use of coupon codes. I have marked down everything in Lilleypics by 10%, using the code 'rhodagirls3'. Remember, there is still no shipping on all cards for another few days. If you want to give the cards as a Chanukah or Christmas gift, they will be wrapped in rice paper, decoratively tied w/ hemp string. Every piece of jewelry in Lilleypad has also been marked down by 10%, using the code 'amylikesjack26'. Your final price will automatically be adjusted to reflect the change of price....so happy shopping everyone!!!

Free Shipping on ALL CARDS in the U.S. for the Month of November!!!!

All the shipping fees on my cards in Lilleypics on Etsy have been marked to $0.00 in the United States for the month of November.

My cards are a great handmade gift, and they frame beautifully!! There are more Holiday deals in the works...so, be on the lookout....!!

And Now, They Are Cards...

Bouquets, Pezza Farm, R.I.

Pezza Farm Flowers

I made the cards from the photos I took @ the Farmer's Market, from the Pezza Farm. I am so thrilled with the vibrant colors and the compositions of the cards! It is wonderful to paint a full canvas, a landscape, rather than a tight macro shot, which I have done so many times.
Both cards can be found in my Etsy shop, Lilleypics.

Strings!!

'Dennis McCarten's Shop'

I saw Dennis McCarten's violin shop at the indoor farmers market last year and I knew I had to take some photos. My initial thought was that if I got the right shot, it would make a fabulous card, or framed 5x7. Dennis McCarten not only makes violins, but repairs them as well. They hang beautifully, different woods and grains, different sizes, each one with it's own story.

The 'most liked' photo (as noted by you, my fellow bloggers) from Dennis McCarten's Violin Shop,
can be seen in my Etsy shop, Lilleypics.
1 card for $4.

Wordless Wednesday

3 Polar Bear Cub Cards

These beautiful 5x7 cards can be found in the Etsy shop of mvegan5.

(10% goes to the EFA animal charity of the month)

Hearts and Flowers!!

Lovely Valentine's Day offerings...send your sweetheart a card of beautiful roses or bleeding hearts, or a pair of delicate filigree heart shaped earrings with a ruby red glass teardrop bead.

Special order cards are $4 a piece. Contact me through my Etsy shop, Lilleypics.
The earrings can be found in my other Etsy shop, Lilleypad.