It's Alive!!!

Hi everyone -
Just a quick update: Yes, I'm alive!!! I've been SO busy! Just started cosmetology school at Gene Juarez Academy this week and I'm pooped. My little brain was filled to capacity this week absorbing all sorts of fun "hair" information. I go to school 3 days a week, 10 hours a day. The school is fabulous, but this ol' girl is tired!!!

Craft-wise: I'm still working on my witch. She should be done this coming Sunday. I've named her too, and I think you'll get a kick out of her, least I hope so.

Be back on Sunday!

New work for the New Year!

Happy New Year's everyone! Out with the old, in with the new is my motto. Anyone have any interesting NY's resolutions? I try not to make them, but I'm actually going to this year, AND stick to them.

As some of you may know, the past 12 months have been extremely difficult for me; a serious head injury, losing my beloved horse, a major surgery, and the letting go of several not-so-healthy friendships. Well enough of that gloom and doom I say! I'm onto a bigger, better, more positive life/year ahead. I'm vowing to get healthy, rid myself of any negativity; either by others or myself, and be surrounded by a light of positivity, happiness and love all around me!

So having said all that, I'm working today on some new fun pieces for Valentine's day and the coming Spring; hearts, rabbits, and all things blooming. First I better clean up this craft room!

Yet MORE Etsy Listings! and Pictures!

Hello dahlings! Hope you are all doing well this lovely Fall day. I've got more items going on Etsy tonite. Lots more! I'm excited to get them into my shop. Don't know why I didn't before, guess I got all caught up with Halloween, and these are mostly all Winter items. I'll probably be putting on about 20 pieces or so I think. Bet you didn't think I could paint such sweet little things did you? Surprise! So let me tell you what I've put up - and here's a few pics too....

First are some soft sculpture Vintage Snowman hats. These are full size top hats that I made of heavy weight black fabric, decoupaged with a vintage old thyme Christmas card, and embellished with holiday trims; berries, etc.. Finally, it's all grunged with cinnamon, and sprinkled with German glass glitter. These make gorgeous centerpieces for a holiday display!

Next are several prim Christmas stockings. These are about 22" long, sewn of various flannels, trimmed with tea dyed cheesecloth, embellished with a rusty ornament, and then stuffed with either a snowman or a gingerbread man, cinnamon sticks, berries, and moss.

Then I've added a few more snowman and angel bottle toppers/tree toppers. These are great to put over a gourmet food gift such as butternut squash puree from Willams-Sonoma, or a bottle of wine! You can even add a gift card into the pre-folded cuff at the bottom. Or if you don't want to do any of those things, they make a perfect tree topper as they're open at the bottom and will fit over the top of your Christmas tree. A perfect hostess gift.

Finally, are my tole painted wood items. I love to paint, AND cut wood with my giant RBI scrollsaw, so besides Halloween, snowmen are my favorite! I've got all sorts of sweet and whimsical creations; mittens (LOVE these!), sled, ornaments, shovel, and a large Winter Wonderland snowman sign that's one of my favorites!

So if you get a chance later, please stop on over at my Etsy store and check them out. Let me know what you think too! I always love hearing everyone's thoughts. Till later...now back to painting...

Oh My Brains Are Going to Explode!!!

My head is so full of new and exciting projects that I want to make, I don't know where to start! I know, I should finish up what I'm currently working on, and yes, HE is going to be making his debut shortly, BUT in the meantime, I just can't help myself!!! I went fabric shopping yesterday and wanted to share some of my finds, then I'm going back to work...

And,

Aren't these just toooooo fun?!

Arts a Flutter and Us!

In addition to our website, blog, and Etsy store, we're very excited to announce that By Way of Salem will be joining the gallery of very talented artists at Arts a Flutter starting on October 1st.

Our work will be displayed for sale among the other featured artists as a way to further promote our craft. Please stop by and see us!

My Name is Jeannine and I'm a Craft-aholic.....

Oh how I love to shop at Ben Franklin Crafts! And Michael's, and quilt shops, and fabric shops....Yesterday, when I should've been working, I was scouring the aisles of Ben Franklin's looking for purchase-worthy items. I always manage to buy something!

So for my fabric collection, I bought some Halloween material - just small amounts of each; some pumpkin colored fabric, and the other has spell books and potion bottles on a black background. It was a must have!! Also I splurged and bought myself a hard bound sketch book that I'm going to not only draw in, but also put in my clippings of ideas from magazines, etc. that I come upon. I've got this collection of little sketches and doodles that I have, they're everywhere. Now I can put them all in one book, and use it as a "reference" resource.

Finally, I had to do something about the dreadful lighting in my craft room. I've tried everything to illuminate my paint table in my effort to see, and I had to succumb to an overhead shop light. I know - totally unattractive, but to those of us who are truly blind as a bat, no matter how many pairs of magnifying glasses we have, I can see now!

How Effective is Your Display?

We wanted to let you all know of a company that does fabulous displays for craft shows and at super reasonable prices! It's called Woodland Marketing. They are attractive and sturdy as well as space-efficient and portable with a large selection of shelving designs for displaying your products, collectibles, or artwork.

They're made of white pine and MDF, but also have finishes available as well for pretty darn cheap. They've got this really neat bushel basket display also for all your little prim make-do's. Worth a peek!

My Pumpkin Fairy is Back!

Well, I'm sort of sad to say that my Pumpkin Fairy listing on eBay didn't sell. But that doesn't mean a whole lot to me and I'm not discouraged. I've never been overly thrilled with eBay anyway, oh maybe in the very beginning, like years ago, when the policies weren't so restrictive and the fees so high. I just don't think it's the right venue for me. There are some really great artists who do fabulous on Ebay and I wish them nothing but the best! Maybe I'll be back...who knows.

So onto Plan B: Etsy and Arts a Flutter. Both are really great sites, and offer a lot of support for the artist as well as great selling, blogging, marketing, and advertising tips and advice.

In fact, Ms. Pumpkin Fairy will be a featured item on Etsy this Friday, September 18th, in the Holiday Showcase, so be sure to watch for her there!

Till then, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing; making the crafts that I love, and posting them for all my dear friends to see and share with me. Thank you ALL for your support and encouragement!

We're Setting Up Shop - ETSY

Hello Dahlings...wanted you all to know that we have put up our new store on Etsy at: www.bywayofsalem.etsy.com. We may not list all our items for sale on Etsy, so please make sure you stop by our blog and our website to check out what else we've got. We hope you all will come visit us on Etsy! And of course our website: www.bywayofsalem.com.