A Perfect Day, start to finish.

Yesterday was one of those rare days where everything went just right.  I woke up early and puttered around in the studio, adding some finishing touches to a few projects.  Enjoyed a beautiful morning with coffee on the patio, feeding our bird visitors, watering the flowers, and yoga before the little guy woke up.  Jacob and I went to the park, made new friends and we found out about the nature education & storytime that happens there every Wednesday; we stayed to enjoy storytime and a short nature hike.  It didn't rain so I hung the laundry on the clothesline.  And a nice surprise: a new customer of mine from Market Day took the time and effort to include a bit about the journal she bought from me on her blog; you can check it out at: www.craftleftovers.com.  Thanks, Kristin!

I'm so lucky to spend my days with the best little guy ever and doing what I like to do.  Doesn't get much better!  Here's to a wonderful summer. 

All in a day's work...

Today was a busy one.  I worked really hard scouring the antique mall for treasures.  Sounds fun, right?  Well, if you're into that sort of stuff, which I am, it definitely is!  And for me, it's part of my job....because making journals out of old books requires finding old books.  Which means that I have to go shopping.  Because it's a job requirement.  Lucky me! 
Found some good treasures today: a few Trixie Beldens (I was fresh out of them!) and my best score was a few volumes of these 1961 Popular Mechanics Illustrated "Home Handyman" Encyclopedias.  They're in pretty bad shape and were crying out for a makeover.  It was kind of funny that I found these today, because I'd just visited a good friend who, along with his lovely wife, are currently in the middle of home remodeling hell (Hi Jerry & Pat!).  Around our house, the home handyman is working on a new fence so we have enough room to put in a swingset for the little guy (who, by the way, will celebrate two weeks of being potty trained tomorrow!).  Father's Day is around the corner so these books found their way to me at just the right time of year.
I also worked on some ideas for my display for Art in the Park in Dallas Center this Saturday, that I'm pretty excited about.  Usually my displays are pretty basic, involving a tablecloth and cramming as much stuff onto the table as I can.  But since I'll have a lot more room for Art in the Park, I'm trying to spruce things up a little.  I don't have it finalized yet, but I can tell you that it involves a birdcage and a beautiful vintage typewriter.  You can always come check it out Saturday, at Mound Park in Dallas Center, from 1 to 5, and I will be sure to post some pics afterwards. 
Okay, back to work.   

Market Day is almost here...

I can't wait until Saturday.

I love Market Day. Love, love, love it.

Are there people left in Des Moines who don't know about Market Day? I certainly hope not, but if that should be the case, then please, help those folks educate themselves. Send them directly to this week's Juice or to www.marketdayiowa.com or the Market Day blog, www.marketdayiowa.tumblr.com. Or, you could read this post on www.lacybrunnette.com. I just did. And lo and behold, there was a photo of my journals! It is always exciting to find myself out there on the internet.

The best way to learn about Market Day, is of course, to show up. And you can do that THIS SATURDAY. Downtown Des Moines @ 4th & Walnut from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. You won't be sorry. I promise. You will, however, be amazed, delighted, and happy. And when you buy from local artists, makers, curators, & collectors, you make us happy too. So everybody wins.

Where to find me: Market Day & more.

Lots of fun stuff coming up and you should come check it out! Here's where you can find me over the next month or so.
On Thursday May 26 I'll be at the Valley Junction Farmers Market again, in the Green Grounds Cafe booth, 4 to 8 pm. Music, food, and crafts...what more could you ask for?

MARKET DAY!! I am very excited to be part of Market Day again this year. Hands down, a truly awesome event! This year Market Day will be located in the Kirkwood Building downtown at 4th & Walnut, just mere steps away from the downtown farmers market. 9 am until 2 pm the last Saturday of the month, May through October. And of course there will be the Black Friday sale in November (more on that down the road). www.marketdayiowa.com.

Dallas Center Art in the Park: Saturday June 4, 1 to 5 pm in Mound Park in Dallas Center, IA (one block west of downtown D.C.) This is a new event for me this year and I am looking forward to it. I get to host a young artist in my space and I think that will be lots of fun. There will be art, food, and more so come check it out!

It is lots of fun to meet people and see returning customers and friends and check out what other crafters & artists are doing.

Craft Show Display

Craft Saturday was lots of fun. This is what my table looked like. I'm happy to say that the new collage print cards were a hit! It was great to meet new customers and see some returning ones. Next up for me is the Farmers' Market in Valley Junction this Thursday evening; you can find me at the booth for Green Grounds Cafe. Find it on 5th Street in Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines. You can find all the info at http://www.valleyjunction.com/.

Craft Saturday!

If you're in or around Des Moines today, stop by the 4th Street Theatre downtown and check it out. Lots of lovely handmade items; you're sure to find something you love, either for yourself or maybe a unique Mother's Day gift. Noon to six, on 4th Street between Court and Walnut, downtown Des Moines (right next door to Java Joe's). Hope to see you there!

Spring is here and life is good....

Spring! Finally! For me, spring means craft shows. I am busily making journals and collages and cards for my first show of 2011, Craft Saturday. Seriously can't wait. It was good to have a bit of a break, but 4 months without a craft show is plenty long for me. I really like doing them. I also have some other opportunities on the horizon for spring which I'll mention a bit further down the road. The last two weeks have been 2 of the happiest ever for me. At the end of March, I was relieved of my day job due to a "reduction in workforce." The reasons, whatever they might be, don't matter to me. The result does: not having to force myself to go to a soul-stealing day job for a while is like a precious gift to me. I am loving my life so much now that I don't have to go to work. I truly feel like a new woman. Or maybe, my old self. Probably a combination. I feel super-lucky to get to have time with my son, who is fun and amazing and wonderful every day. We are having lots of fun playing outside. We are busy working in the art room. He colors while I make books. I love how he announces each color after he uses it: "I colored green!" I've been enjoying simple pleasures like hanging the towels out to dry on the clothesline. And somehow at the end of the day, I am tired from working and playing hard, rather than feeling exhausted by stress and anxiety like I had felt after a day at my old job. My ultimate dream, of course, would be to never have to go back to working at a day job. I know that's probably not realistic just yet. But it doesn't mean I've given up hope. For now, though, I am grateful for every day that I get to work at home and enjoy life the way life should be enjoyed. If anybody would like more info about Craft Saturday, you can find it here: http://www.craftsaturday.com/. You can find us in downtown Des Moines on April 30th from noon to 6 p.m. in the 4th Street Theatre, which is adjacent to Java Joe's. Would love to see you there and I know you will enjoy all the fabulous handmade items. Happy Spring!