Shower Art Heads to Brooklyn, NY. Get Effin' Ready.

My sweets. 

If my broken ankle heals in time (translation = by June 20th), Doug and I will both be heading to Brooklyn, NY for Renegade.

If the ankle isn't in good working condition by then, Doug will have to make the trek all alone. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Brooklyn requires a lot of walking. Plus, our awesome friend who offered to let us stay with her lives in a walk up on the fourth floor. That will be almost impossible on crutches. EEeeeeeeeeeeek!

Regardless of who is manning the booth - if you're in Brooklyn on the weekend of 6/23 and 6/24, please stop by and say hello. You'll get to see Shower Art in person - along with 300 other amazing indie crafters. It'll be worth it.

Shower Art - Holiday Craft Show Schedule 2011

Doug and I are frantically getting ready for the holiday craft show season that is about to hit. We start getting ready earlier and earlier every year -- and it STILL always takes us by surprise. Sigh.

We have two new products to introduce this year: 

T-Shirts! Oh yeah baby. We turned a popular Shower Art piece into a concept for a t-shirt with the help of Barry Blankenship.

Soap Dishes! We got tired of people always asking, "So this is Shower Art? But what do you DO with it?" Ummmmmm.... NOTHING. You just look at it. Like you do with other art. (I have a bad attitude - that's why Doug does most of the customer service). Now you can have Shower Art in the shape of a functional soap dish. Yes, yes you can.

This year we are participating in three shows: 

EtsyRAIN Handmade Holiday Show - Seattle, WA

Saturday, November 26th and Sunday, November 27th
11:00 - 5:00 both days

Location:
Intiman Theatre
201 Mercer Street
Seattle, WA 98109


Be one of the first 50 people in line each day and receive a swag bag filled with crafty goodness. 




Urban Craft Uprising - Seattle, WA

Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday December 4th
11:00 - 5:00 both days

Location:
Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
305 Harrison Street
Seattle,WA 98109
(the entrance is on Mercer Street)

Be one of the first 100 people in line each day and receive a swag bag filled with crafty goodness. If you want one, plan to get there between 9:00 and 10:00 to wait in line. There's always a line around the block to get these.







 
One of a Kind Show and Sale - Vancouver, Canada

Thursday, 12/8 - 10:00 - 9:00
Friday, 12/9 - 10:00 - 9:00
Saturday, 12/10 - 10:00 - 9:00
Sunday, 12/11 - 10:00 - 5:00

Location:
Vancouver Convention Centre West
1055 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC, V6C 0C3
  
Tickets:
Adults $12.00
Seniors (65+) $6.50
Students (13-17) $6.50
Children (12 and under) Free

If you are around for any of these shows, come on over and say, "Hey!" If you can't make it to any of our events but still want to buy some Shower Art for your friends and family, email me to arrange a private peek in our studio inventory. We'll drink coffee and dig through bins. It'll be awesome.

In closing: We love you.

Unanimous Craft -- It's ALIVE

I made this. I made it good. Oh yeah.


Unanimous Craft is a taggable, searchable index of resources for indie business. 


You can find accounting spreadsheets for your profit and loss statement. You can find inspirational blogs. You can find potential places to sell your products wholesale. It's all in there baby -- and tons more.


Indie business folks can post their own resources too and share them with the Unanimous Craft community. Then, we all vote on which ones are the most useful. Oh heck yes. 


It's not over either. You can even curate lists of your favorite resources that share a common theme and bookmark them -- and then share them with the rest of Unanimous Craft.


If you own a resource - say it's a website that you operate - you can sign up to write little updates that are shown on the same page as your resource.


The site just launched on Monday, but already there has been a huge amount of interest. My lovely EtsyRAIN Beta testers did a great job of finding flaws and providing feedback so this updated version of the site is working great. 


I'm offering a couple of specials to get the ball rolling: 


1. Until the end of March, 2010 - Premium Memberships will be $45 per year (that's $15 off the full price of $60). You get to fill out a fancy profile and one Premium Member is shown on the front page each time the site refreshes. You also get discounts on additional advertising on the site and you get shown on the Premium Member page. It breaks down to $3.75/month for front page exposure on a potentially popular website.


2. Advertising on Unanimous Craft is currently set at an introductory rate. It will stay at this price until I reach 10,000 page views/day. BUT - you can purchase as much advertising as you would like now and lock in the introductory price -- so when other people are paying much more -- your ads only cost $20/month. Awesome Sauce.


In any case, please tell your crafty friends who might be interested in the site. You can also follow Unanimous Craft on Twitter and fan us on Facebook. There is also a forum thread on Etsy where you can post your feedback. 


Many thanks everyone -- and I love your faces.
Rosalie

I Builted a Website on the Internets

This is it. I did it. This website finally launched. It's been about a year since I started -- but it's done. It's done. It's finally done. What's EtsyRAIN? It's the street team for everyone who lives in Seattle and the surrounding areas and sells their handmade goods on Etsy. We've got over 700 members that now get to play with my creation. The site is built in Drupal (swoon) which is an open source, database driven, content management system. What's that mean? Basically that we can enter content in one place -- let's say an event -- and have it show up on a calendar, as a featured event on the front page and also in a sidebar block of upcoming events. And we only have to enter the content once. If you've ever updated a straight HTML site -- you know why this is awesome. Basically, if something changes, we only need to change it in one place -- not on every single $&*#&$#ing page. The site has a crafty calendar that we're adding all kinds of crafty related events to. It will soon be THE place to go to see what's happenin' crafy wise in this great city. Also, our Premium Members (they pay $20/year to get special discounts on shows and other benfits) get to create their own profiles on the site to highlight their work. It's cool. For reals. I heart Drupal.

Shower Art - Don't put it in your Facehole

It's Shower Art. Don't eat it.

Don't rub it on your body like soap.

Don't wear it like a belt buckle.

Just hang it in your shower and giggle once a day.

And...if you can tell me what's wrong with the Shark Week Shower Art -- you win a prize. But only if you're the first one to figure it out. Leave your guesses here as comments.

Rock on.

Have a super Tuesday.

My Girl Crush on Betsy

The cutest lady in the world just traded me "Lord Bratnose" for the Glitter Cats. Betsy cans things. She cooks. She's adorable. She sews the most amazing skirts. She has a super cute blog. She has a super cute Etsy shop. And another super cute Etsy shop. She embroiders things with scary twin ladies who can explode birds with their minds. See. Cute. Cute. Cute. If Doug and I ever considered Polygamy -- I think Betsy would be one of our top choices for second wife. What? So anyway, here's the crazy beaded eagle on black velvet that Betsy-face traded me for bARTer Sauce. Did I mention Betsy named him Lord Bratnose? I have no idea why. What's bARTer Sauce? It's an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Whatever I get -- I trade for something else and everyone I trade with has to tell me a story. I document it all on my website: http://www.bartersauce.com. And now -- we have a Facebook Fan Page. "Who doesn't," you say? Well, yeah, that's a good point.

New Shower Arts...

Some new Shower Arts for your viewing pleasure. Go ahead: waste your Friday. Waste it.

New Shower Arts...

Some new Shower Arts in all their glory:

My New Favorite Shower Art

Urban Craft Uprising ....it's air conditioned

If you're in Seattle right now, you know one thing: it's freakin' hot. It's hot. Super hot.

So cool off this weekend at Urban Craft Uprising. Over 100 indie vendors in one giant, air-conditioned place.

It's gonna rule. Plus it's free. Plus, if you get there early enough, you'll get a swag bag filled with awesome stuffs.

The Art of Comedy -- First Thursday Art Walk in June

The Comedy Underground and Urban Craft Uprising joined forces to bring you The Art of Comedy. This gallery show takes place in the lobby of the world-famous Comedy Underground and features artwork that is either humorous in nature, or made by stand up comedians.

This month we feature the artwork of Jenna Colby.

“Bubbles popping and bare feet.” Ask Washington-state artist Jenna Colby to describe her work, and you don’t just get a string of adjectives; instead, you get a lovely little “word picture” that lets you know just how her art feels.

"Blue Ruin Gallery. Pittsburgh, PA"

View Jenna's work at: http://www.soopajdelux.com/ and soopajdelux.etsy.com

And as always, a barrel-full o the funniest indie crafters this side of the Factoria Mall join us in the lobby of The Comedy Underground to show off their hilarious wares. Support us by supporting them. And they'll support you. Or something. Someone will do something to support someone else. Or everyone will. Or we'll all just have a beer and pay for it ourselves and then go our separate ways. One of those things will happen.

Hilarious Indie Crafters of the Moment: 

Ceramics by Urbana

Decapitated Dollies by Scary White Girl Designs

T's by Midairdesign

Underwear by Shesho Designs

Shower Art by Ugly Baby

Shirts, Buttons and Pillows by Man Made Monsters

The exhibit will be followed at 9 PM by an evening starring two of my personal favorite stand up comics -- Feature: Hari Kondabolu and Headliner: Gabriel Rutledge. You may have seen Hari on Jimmy Kimmel Live or Comedy Central's Live at Gotham and Gabriel was the winner of the 2005 Seattle International Comedy Competition. 

Jenna Colby - Biography

http://www.soopajdelux.com/

soopajdelux.etsy.com

Jenna Colby is a self taught artist who has always been creative through different mediums, but decided to focus on painting three years ago. Originally from Ohio, Jenna has traveled and lived in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but has called Seattle home since 1999. Growing up in a small town Colby was always fascinated with cities and has been influenced by her travels and the people she has met and observed. “I make it a point to take note and assign a story to the passer by, giving each moment in time purpose and creating color.” After developing and beginning to show her work, Jenna came into contact with the work of artists like Mark Ryden and Yoshimoto Nara. Thinking back, she says, “Their work really moved me. It made me nervous, giddy . . . I’m not sure if there is a word for it. But after experiencing that feeling, I decided that is what I want to do to others. I want to make other people feel that way.”

"Art Star Gallery. Philadelphia,PA"

Jenna Colby's work is clearly reminiscent of Mark Ryden and Yoshimoto Nara--anyway, that's what I thought as soon as I saw it--but is sweeter and more ethereal.

"Urban Craft Uprising. Seattle,WA"

“Bubbles popping and bare feet.” Ask Washington-state artist Jenna Colby to describe her work, and you don’t just get a string of adjectives; instead, you get a lovely little “word picture” that lets you know just how her art feels. Jenna seems to know a thing or two about states of mind. Even her exhibit title—It’s Not Real: Dream Diaries, Secret Messages, and Other Clues from Far Far Away—lets you know you’re in for something special when you view her work. Delicate, ethereal, sweet, Jenna’s paintings capture a curious personality in a brief moment of time ready to take you on an internal voyage. Her take on it is this: “A random passerby on a random day in a random moment has a story to tell, a history, a set of beliefs and intentions, all happening, all true and real, but unnoticed by most.” It is these moments that Jenna freezes in her colorful yet airy portraits of characters who are twiggy in form but bursting with emotion, sensation, and moodiness. That is her intent—to communicate the language of mood. “I make it a point to take note and assign stories to the passerby, giving each moment in time purpose and creating color within supersaturated environments even if the color exists only inside.” Now residing in Bremerton, Washington, Jenna once made Pittsburgh her home for a period of three years: “Pittsburgh woke me up and started me on my way. I have carried the lessons learned in that town with me and although I just lived there for a few years, I feel like I am from Pittsburgh.” And so she’d like to share her work with its residents with the help of Blue Ruin Gallery. Enter into the charmed world of Jenna Colby’s airy, emotional portraits.

"Blue Ruin Gallery. Pittsburgh, PA"

Balderdash Makes Kathy Martin a Winner!

Last week I hosted a Balderdash contest where people had to give a synopsis of the movie title "Wide Open Faces." The funniest one gets a surprise package of indie craft goodness from....me! This week the winner is from Kathy Martin Studios. Here's her entry: 

"Wide Open Faces is a rags to riches tale. The casting director of an online reality show is challenged to get the least likely contestant ever to go on "Last Chef Stirring". The direct must chose a bum off of the streets and turn him into a gourmet pro fast! The challenge that decides it all: The Open Faced Turkey Sandwich Face Off! ....now if they can only get the guy to wash his hands after he visits to bathroom we'll be in business!"

Ha! Nice work. Very nice work. 

I'm going to take a week off from contests and devise something really, really clever. Or just enjoy the nice sunshine.

I'm off to the studio later this afternoon for my latest bARTer Sauce trade. EeeeeeeeeeEEE! I'm so excited! 

More Balderdash...now with more dash

What the honk? 

I concur. 

This is the image I found when I searched Google Images for "Zazzera"  - which is - coincidently - the word for my new Balderdash contest.

Here's how it works. I post the definitions of the word Zazzera that my friends and I came up with when we played Balderdash and then you add your own as a comment. 

The funniest one gets a surprise package from me. It's mostly a surprise, but it's sure to include my favorite soap: Estrella Soap. 

It's seriously the best. 

And you might get some gocco-ed postcards handmade especially for you by me. 

And you might get some Shower Art. 

Anything is possible. 

Here's what we came up with for Zazzera: 

1. Available for children's birthday parties, weddings and barmitzphas. 

2. Phrase heard often in the jungles of Africa which means, "You missed a spot." 

3. A word invented in 1789 by Daniel Webster when he realized the section for the letter z of his dictionary was a little thin.

4. A priceless gift to give at a wedding to the bride and grooms parents in Egypt. 

5. The little sister of Zena the Warrior Princess who wasn't nearly as popular.

6.  A zebra who has lost track of it's herd. 

Okay - now your turn.

I Make Money Mistakes

I went shopping. Then, I looked at my bank account online and said -- "wait, I still have so much money -- I'm gonna buy more stuff." (not something you would normally hear me say -- which explains my excitement) I didn't pause to consider that I SHOULDN'T actually have that much money in my account.So I will pay the price later. None of this will come as any surprise to Doug. He often laughs at me when I pay for things out of the wrong account or send checks to the wrong people or panic when someone cashes a check that they've held onto for months. Well, he used to laugh. Until we started a joint checking account. mmmmmmmwwhahahhaahahahaha.... For some reason he still hasn't given me the login information for that account. Humph! Who cares though...just look at one of the great things I got on Etsy: It's pink. Really pink. And it satisfies that weird urge I've had to buy things with chandeliers printed on them. I once had a plan to have all kinds of pillows with different kinds of chandeliers printed on them, a chandelier wall decal and chandeliers printed on our curtains. These plans all fell through when it came time to actually PAY for said items...but it was still a good plan. And to have your dreams realized for $22 -- well, now that's a good way to go. Hot damn that's pink! Check out the rest of the shop: PrettyRaccoon on Etsy. Everything there is pretty. I didn't see anything with Raccoons.

Hang Art in Your Shower

with our help.... New Shower Arts:

Not Sure What I Was Thinking...

When I said I was going to post blogs about the special vendors I met at Urban Craft Uprising. I did manage to sneak away from my booth for about 10 minutes to walk around, but only because Doug was around too. Otherwise, it was jam packed with folks pretty much constantly.

If you're a vendor and you're ever wondering whether to do a UCU show. You should. It was the best show we've ever done after an hour and a half. And we do some really good shows so the bar is already pretty high!

Now I know why when you talk to other vendors who have done it, they get a big smile on their face and tears well up in their eyes. I know you can't see me right now, but there are tears. For sure.

I'll have to hold on my post about the cool folks I met but I'll be posting some pictures soon.

Now I've got to run to get ready for Day Two!

Urban Craft Uprising This Weekend

It's finally here: Urban Craft Uprising!

This weekend at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

If they have wifi, I'll be posting pictures of our booth and all the nice vendors I meet. So you'll feel like you've been there even if you can't make it. Although -- I don't know why I'm doing you any favors if you don't go to this show. Actually, I think by not going to this show, you're punishing yourself enough so I won't add to your distress.

Doug & I will be there selling Shower Art - waterproof art you can hang in your shower with a suction cup AND Franken-Scarves - upcycled scarves made from t-shirts and jersey top sheets and finished off with some free motion embroidery.

Craft Show Sunday

You know you want to go.

I know you want to go.

My cat, Karma, knows you want to go.

Why don't you just go?

The first 50 people in line get a super fantastic swag bag FILLED with great stuff. And I DO mean great stuff -- I do not mean stacks of business cards -- I mean awesome stuff that would probably take care of lots of your holiday shopping.

UCU - Cool

Applications are being accepted now for Urban Craft Uprising. If you make cool stuff you should totally apply. I've never done the show myself, but I've heard great things from vendors who have. I've got my application in -- do you?

Shower Art -- Thought of the Day

Ponder this baby-makers:

And if it's too hard for you to see, let me zoom in a little:

Do you see the fear in her eyes?

Perhaps I'm feeling especially sensitive to babies because I'm about to get on a plane.

Or maybe I really just don't like them.

Either way, this Shower Art that Doug made sums it up nicely.