Thursday, March 29, 2012

Around the World...and back again...

There is never a bad time to get away. When life gets crazy and it seems like we have to schedule time to take a breath, a vacation is a welcome thought. Vacation is not always an option but there are plenty of ways to explore the world without even leaving home. Even though we can't get out of town physically, we can definitely travel in spirit. 


Let the memories of adventure past or future getaways dance across the pages of this beautiful handcrafted journal by Soft Shell Crafts.  Sure, thinking about how much you enjoyed past vacations may just make you long for travel even more, but it will also make you feel like you are there again! Just thinking about  the places most enjoyed and sharing those memories...you are right there again.

Not much of a writer? Perhaps a short trip to the kitchen will do the trick. A great way to get away without leaving home is by trying new ethnic recipes. You could keep your favorites close at hand with the American Cheese Fondue Recipe Book. It might be fun to collect various ethnic recipes from friends and family to go back to when you feel the need to get away. 



Celebrate the small moments in life and explore the world without opening your door. 

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Wednesday Wellspring: Freckles and Frizz

Bubbling up from the well this week, an original from Freckles and Frizz!

Today, one lucky winner will receive a hand-made festive banner. This reusable eco-friendly fabric bunting includes bright and cheerful colors- perfect for party decor, bedroom, or playroom decor. Use it year after year, again and again! Made in the bright and bold colors of spring; pinks, orange, yellow, and teal! Measures about 9' from end to end,featuring 9 flags about 6"x8" strung on pink bias tape. The flags are double sided so it can hang anywhere and show off its beauty! Machine washable on the gentle cycle in cold water, tumble dry on low heat and iron safe. Made to last for years of decoration!

Freckles and Frizz is pleased to be a vendor at the upcoming Mayday! Underground Show on April 28 at Village Gate! Come by and see the artist's lovely creations in person. For more information visit the Mayday! blog: http://maydayunderground.wordpress.com/

And now for the rules (This giveaway is open to the US & Canada residents only.):

MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Go to Freckles and Frizz, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.

MANDATORY ENTRY #2: Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know- or if you are already, leave a comment saying you're a loyal follower.

BONUS ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):
1. "Like" RNEST on Facebook
2. "Like" Freckles and Frizz on Facebook
3. Tweet and blog about this giveaway and leave a coment here with the link.

The winner will be chosen using the random number generator on Tuesday, April 3rd, and will be announced in the next Wednesday Wellspring.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Treasury Tuesday: Be Koi!

I'm loving the bright colors and bold designs in this Koi themed treasury, featuring a goldfish-illustrated lavender and flax filled eye pillow by HeatherVitticore.  


Go Ahead, Be Coy! featuring HeatherVitticore

Be sure you click on the other links to see more treasuries! (I can't picture them all so you have to click on them to see!  If you don't, you're missing out!)

Featuring RNEST Members:
Featuring and curated by RNEST Members:
Curated by RNEST Members:

* If you make or find a treasury that features an RNEST member, or if you are an RNEST Member who makes a treasury, post the link on the wall at RNEST's Facebook PageYour treasury could be featured on the next Treasury Tuesday!

Friday, March 23, 2012

“Fresh From R NEST Fridays”

Happy Spring! This is the time of year when we swing open the windows, pull out Spring and Summer clothes and look for ways to freshen up our homes, out with the old and in with the new!

Jen Mackin from Old Familiar Way has recently added some great art prints to add a little whimsy to your home. There is a 5x7 art print of the Paddy's Pub Gang  from 'It's Always Sunny in Philadephia' and a 5x7 art print of some colorful and playful sea creatures perfect to brighten up a powder room or child's bedroom. 

  


Francesca DeCaire has some fabulous glass beads to brighten up your wardrobe or your backyard party! There are adorable strawberry wine glass markers, oh the sweet treats of summer! The warm weather has brought the ladybugs back to my studio so I have to mention the Ladybug Pendant perfect to brighten your day or any of your Ladybug loving friends! Francesca's Artisan Made Glass Beads make great gifts! 




Hopefully this inspires you to add a little whimsy to your life and to share it with the people you love! 
Stay tuned, Spring has just begin and that means all kinds of great things to come!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Congratulations to #12 (Julie Bjerga) for winning K5 Art's giveaway!
Please check back for more exciting giveaways on the horizon.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Treasury Tuesday: Mayday Underground Preview!

Spring is coming!  And that means one of our favorite Indie Craft fairs is coming soon as well!...Mayday Underground! (April 28, 2012 at the Village Gate in Rochester, NY).  One of the organizers (and fellow RNEST member) has made this great treasury featuring some of the Mayday applicants!  Keep an eye out for the RNESTers!

Mayday Underground April Applicant Preview by Amanda Preske
featuring HeatherVitticore, InMyHeadStudios, FrecklesAndFrizz, k5art, TatteredPearls, KiraArts, and Missrie

Be sure you click on the other links to see more treasuries! (I can't picture them all so you have to click on them to see!  If you don't, you're missing out!)

Featuring RNEST Members:
Featuring and curated by RNEST Members:
Curated by RNEST Members:

* If you make or find a treasury that features an RNEST member, or if you are an RNEST Member who makes a treasury, post the link on the wall at RNEST's Facebook PageYour treasury could be featured on the next Treasury Tuesday!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Meet the Members Monday : Eva Maron

Eva Maron, of Faerie Tails

Tell us about your craft

I mostly make purses/bags etc. I frequently use up-cycled clothes to make them, lots of t-shirts, but I will use anything that looks good. I don’t always do this, many times I will use new fabric, or a combination of new and used fabric. I have been sewing since I was 6 years old. I always frustrated my mother when she was trying to teach me because I could not grasp the ideas behind using a pattern! I would always try to change something, or do the steps in a different order. I finally realized that if I stopped worrying so much about doing everything exactly right, I could become pretty creative with the things I make. I love making bags, though I do sometimes deconstruct and reconstruct clothing. I don’t like to sell clothes on Etsy, primarily because everything I make is very specific to the body shape of the person wearing it, and that is really hard to do online. The other nice thing about making bags is that it doesn’t matter what size or shape you are, you can always pull off an awesome bag! My bags are definitely not for everyone, but I like to think they all have personality.

I also spend some time painting. I use acrylic paint on canvas mostly, and I tend to be drawn to figure painting. I do sometimes do portraits, and I also love painting trees (which are surprisingly similar to figures!) I don’t do realistic paintings, and I love to use bright, bold colors.

What is your creative process like?

When I am turning a t-shirt into a bag, I always follow the pattern, print or picture on the shirt. I try to allow the shape of the garment to dictate the final shape, size and style of the bag. I try to make sure that the bag I make represents the original garment. When I am using brand new fabric, I try to picture what it would look like as a bag, and I take into account the type of fabric, the colors print or pattern. I almost never use the same pattern twice, and if I do, it’s always in a different fabric. Every single bag is one of a kind.

My paintings are generally inspired by emotions, colors and shapes. I love the curves and lines of the human body, and I love spending extra time on the highlights and shadows. I usually start with colors and a mood, and go from there.

What inspired you to start an Etsy shop?

I can’t remember how I discovered Etsy. I originally made faerie wings, out of wire, fabric, glitter and whatever else worked. (Hence FAERIETAILS) While I loved doing this, each pair of wings was a very long process and there is not a huge group of people looking to walk around wearing wings! I do still make some occasionally, but mostly when someone who knows I do it requests something for a costume or photo shoot. I started listing my bags on Etsy around the same time I moved to Rochester. I decided that I needed something to do with all the bags I was making, and any extra income from sales would be nice to have.

Favorite item from your shop?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79844802/hobo-bag-tie-dye-pink-orange-and-purple

Its got the colors I love, and is just super cute!

Art/Craft tool you simply could not live without?

Without a doubt, my sewing machine.

What craft or skill have your always wanted to learn?

Sculpting. I have tried a few times, and failed miserably. I love the amazing things that people can make out of clay.

What artist/craftsperson/design inspires you?

I don’t know if I can name one specific artist that inspires me. I am constantly inspired by the unique people I know and their style. I am definitely drawn to more quirky, whimsical, bright colors, but I also love punk style and the steampunk aesthetic.

Favorite color?

Depends on my mood. Anything bright and bold. Hot pink, bright lime green, turquoise, bright purple, and bold orange. I also love the contrast of bright colors against black or white.


How long have you lived in the Rochester area?

I have only lived in Rochester since May 2010! I grew up in a suburb of Buffalo.

What attracted you to RNEST, and what would you like to bring to table?

I got very excited when I discovered RNEST. I had just moved to Rochester, and didn’t know many people. I wanted to find a group of people that would understand my sometimes insane hording of fabric and old clothes, my love of paint, and the desire to be successful at bringing our creations to others. I am not always sure what I can bring to the table, but I love participating in activities, and I am always willing to help out as best I can.

What do you do when you're not crafting?

In my free time I am addicted to all things fantasy and sci-fi. I watch all sorts of TV shows and movies, and I love to read. Books of all kinds make me happy. Every year I spend labor day weekend in Atlanta Georgia attending DragonCon, which is a huge (and I mean HUGE) sci-fi/fantasy/pop culture convention. I have done some amateur cosplay, but even when I don’t, I love the community and the completely different world I am in when I am there.

Career wise, I am a mental health therapist. I work with children and adolescents, though I am most comfortable with the teenagers. The kids I work with have all sorts of things going on, from ADHD, Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety and many of them have trauma. I love the kids I work with, but I also think that the heavy nature of my day to day job is why I seek out such whimsical styles and fantasy worlds in my outside of work life.

Pets?

I have five. Four cats Malcolm, Bella, Dexter and Squeakers. One dog, a 9 year old Golden retriever named Juno. Dexter is definitely my little sewing… helper. He loves to attack whatever I am trying to sew, lay on my fabric and generally get in the way. He also loves to stick his paws in wet paint, and try to run around the house!

Anything else cool / interesting about yourself that you'd like to talk about?

I think I about covered it!!!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

March 2012 Team Challenge Winner!


Congratulations to RNEST's March Team Challenge winner...
Sunshyne SilverWear, with her "Laptop Key Pendant"!


Thanks to everyone who voted!
Be sure to check back on April 5th for our next Monthly Team Challenge!
(April's theme will be "How Does Your Garden Grow?")

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Wednesday Wellspring: K5 Art

Bubbling up from the well this week, an original from K5 Art!

Today, one lucky winner will receive a scrabble-tile & ribbon bookmark. This item would make the perfect gift for any reader in your life! It lays flat against the page while the Scrabble tile and charm dangle from each end. The ribbon is white with pink and brown cupcakes on it. The charm is a silver colored heart. THe letter on the back is random. The image is affixed to the Scrabble tile and then covered with a hard glaze for a beautiful protective shine! This bookmark measures approximately 14" from end to end and will fit perfectly in any book up to 12" long.


And now for the rules (This giveaway is open to the US residents only.):

MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Go to K5 Art, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.

MANDATORY ENTRY #2: Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know- or if you are already, leave a comment saying you're a loyal follower.

BONUS ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

1. "Like" RNEST on Facebook .
2. "Like" K5 Art on Facebook
3. Follow K5 Art's artistic blog
4. Follow K5 Art on Twitter
5. Visit and Favorite K Kaboodle, K5 Art's Exclusively Vintage Etsy shop
6. Tweet and blog about this giveaway and leave a coment here with the link.

The winner will be chosen using the random number generator on Tuesday, March 13th and will be announced in the next Wednesday Wellspring.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Treasury Tuesday: Spring Fever

We're itching to see some spring around here!  Luckily, we have this flower filled treasury to look at to tide us over!
featuring PeachesPictures

Be sure you click on the other links to see more treasuries! (I can't picture them all so you have to click on them to see!  If you don't, you're missing out!)

Featuring RNEST Members:
Featuring and curated by RNEST Members:

* If you make or find a treasury that features an RNEST member, or if you are an RNEST Member who makes a treasury, post the link on the wall at RNEST's Facebook PageYour treasury could be featured on the next Treasury Tuesday!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

March Team Challenge: "Rise of the Machines"


Welcome to RNEST's March Team Challenge! The theme for this month was 
"Rise of the Machines"

Earlier this month, we asked our RNEST members to get creative and make items representing an interpretation of the theme...and now YOU, our loyal blog readers, get to pick the winner!  Here's the list of our contestants!



"These earrings are DIP Switches and are approximately 1" in length. The wires on the back have been bent flat and covered in a hard glaze for a smooth protective surface. FUN FACTS: DIP stand for Dual Inline Package Switch. Normally DIP switches are found on motherboards, expansion cards or auxiliary cards. They consist of tiny rectangular components that contain parallel rows of terminals (terminal pins) and a connecting mechanism to the circuit board."


Robot Nubbin by KiraArts
"Much more snuggley than your typical robot! (because they're made of fleece and felt instead of steel!) Just like classic Nubbins, Robot Nubbins love to be squeezed...and make great stress relievers! Just give them a squeeze, or throw them across the room, they'll love it! They make great cubical buddies!"


"Taking a walk on the digital side, Peaches Products manufacted a robot. Robot body, legs and arms are made of sturdy wool felt, and his face is needle felted on. Measures about 10" tall, and stands up on his own. He won't vaccuum the floor or really do much of anything you might want a robot to do around the house, BUT he will look freaking awesome on your couch, bookshelf, or desk. Perfect gift for the man in your life who has everything, because I guarantee you, he doesn't have one of these!"


Laptop Key Pendant by SunshyneSilverwear
"This unique pendant is made from an actual recycled laptop keyboard key. The key is coated with resin to give a lustrous look that also protects it. The one for sale is a silver 'B' (approx 20mm square)"

Cast your vote for your favorite on the poll in the upper, right corner of the blog! 
(Deadline to vote is by midnight on March 7th)

February 2012 Team Challenge Winner!


Congratulations to RNEST's February Team Challenge winner...
Francesca DeCaire, with her "Cremated Remains Memory Pendant"!



Thanks to everyone who voted!
Be sure to check back later today for our next Team Challenge! (the theme will be "Rise of the Machinesl"!)