Monday, December 1, 2014

RNEST Holiday Show Dates

Come check out the amazing talents of RNEST artists this holiday season!


Shop small, shop local, shop handmade!





Every Saturday before Christmas - Holidays at the Hungerford, Rochester, NY 10a-3p
- Francesca DeCaire


12/2 - RIT SAU Building, Rochester, NY 9a-5p
- LimeMade


12/3 - Cobblestone Creek Charity Guild Holiday Boutique, Victor, NY, 5:30p-9p
- On Hand Lotions


12/5 Holiday Shopping Fair, University of Rochester, Wilson Commons, Rochester, NY 10a-4p
- LimeMade
- JackBear Stamps
- Moya Lazy Factory
- Sunshine on Water
- Papersaurus


12/5+6 - Metro Justice Alternative Fair at First Unitarian, Rochester, NY, 12/5 5p-9p 12/6 10a-2p
- On Hand Lotions
- Papersaurus
- Puccoon Raccoon
- CM Goodenbury Photography 


12/6 - East Canyon Artisan Sale, Wyoming Arts Council Bldg., Perry, NY 12p-
- MFcrafts


12/6 - Eastside YMCA, Penfield, NY 9a-3p
- Sunshine on Water
- Moya Lazy Factory


12/6 - Bethany Gardens Bazaar, Rome, NY, 10a-4p
- KiraArts


12/7 - Holidays at the Market, Public Market, Rochester, NY 9a-3p
- Sunshine on Water


12/9 - RIT SAU Building, Rochester, NY 9a-5p
-LimeMade


12/12 - RIT Fireside Lounge, Rochester, NY 10a-4p
-LimeMade


12/12+13 Last Minute Holiday Panic, WNYBAC, Buffalo, NY
- Fly Rabbit Press


12/13+14 Brainery Holiday Bazaar, Rochester, NY 10a-6p
- Making the Nest of It
- Artful Creations
- Moya Lazy Factory
- Christine & Co. Design
- KiraArts
- Puccoon Raccoon
- CM Goodenbury Photography


12/14 - CRAFTACULAR, Best Coffee, Public Market, Rochester, NY 9a-2p
- Fly Rabbit Press


12/20 Mini Mayday
- CM Goodenbury Photography
- Puccoon Raccoon

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

November Team Challenge: "Cozy Up"

The theme for November's Team Challenge was "Cozy Up"!


Take a look at all the contestants below and then cast your vote in the "Cozy Up" November Team Challenge album at our Facebook Page (be sure you look at ALL the entries before casting your vote!)
 The deadline to vote is by 11:59pm on Sunday, November 9th! The artist whose item receives the most votes gets their Etsy Mini on the top spot on the blog!


Beeswax Candle by EmollientsAndHide





Go to our Facebook album and "like" the photo of your favorite "Cozy" themed item to cast your vote! Share the album and spread the word to your friends, family and fans! (The winner will be announced on November 10th.)

Friday, October 31, 2014

Handmade Costumes are the Best!

Happy Halloween!
In our humble opinion, handmade costumes are the best!  Anyone can slap down some money to buy a store-bought costume...but it takes great creativity and ingenuity to make a great homemade costume!  Here are some pictures of costumes that RNEST members have worn for past Halloweens!


John of Jackbear Stamps wearing his sycamore tree costume!



Kira of KiraArts in her Star Wars Queen Amidala costume that was handmade by her mom!


Betsy of Sunshine on Water and her kids with homemade pirate costumes!


Did you make your (or your kids') Halloween costumes this year?



Thursday, October 16, 2014

The RNEST Art Cart

Written by: John Ballou of JackBear Stamps (this article appeared on his blog on 10/7/15)

Imagine an artisan of old pushing around a cart from village to village full of his handmade wares. He peddles the treasures to welcoming faces who have never seen the likes inside the borders of that their town. Screeeeeeeech!  Wait, that isn't how this is supposed to start.

The story begins with an opportunity.  At the University of Rochester the student commons is called  Wilson Commons. Within the depths of the bottom floor lies a candy counter that sells candy by the bulk, as well as house made fudge, called the Common Market.  It is run by the Student Activities Office, which in full disclosure, is where my wife works (the office, not the counter).

The Student Activities Office had an idea to sell some items by outside vendors in a cart to be built next to the Common Market.  The cart was built to look like... well, like a cart.  It has wheels (though flat now), doors, and even lights.  First it was originally designed to sell plants, then imported hats, scarves, and mittens.  Those early vendors blazed the trail, ran the risks, but couldn't sustain.

Enter the idea.  What if the cart could sell handmade goods by local artists and craftspeople ?  I'm not sure who's idea it was, perhaps it was the Student Activities Office fearless leader Anne-Marie Algier.  Maybe it was the ever professional Laura Ballou (yes, that's my wife).  Or was it the cart's current supervisor, Michael Dedes.  Let's give them all credit.

Who could provide such handmade goods?  Who could work on such a small scale?  Who could bring enlightenment to the darkness?  Sorry.... getting carried away.

Along comes a man who knows a few people who could be of service.  Let's call him Jack.  Jack is a member of a group of local heroes artists who call themselves the Rochester NY Etsy Street Team (RNEST). The group is very diverse: jewelers, knitters, painters, illustrators, designers, photographers... you name it.  Though diverse, they all share three things in common: 1) they are local 2) they make things by hand 3) they have shops on etsy.com. Jack say's that he could get an artisan to set up in the cart for a month at a time.  They could call it the RNEST Art Cart.

New plexiglass doors were installed, new signs were made, contracts got written and rewritten. The RNEST Art Cart opened in the Fall of 2013. The first year was the trial.  Could this work?  Would there be enough interest?  Jack and Michael tried to pick artisans who might succeed.  Taking into consideration the time of year, students' interests, artisans with adequate inventory.  JackBear Stamps was first, since it would be important to work out some of the early kinks.  Next came Circuit Breaker LabsPapersaurus CreativePure Bodycare Essentials, and DuncanClay.

The first year's trial taught Jack and Michael many lessons.  The successes outweighed the failures, so a second year was planned.  Leading the pack with her incredible letterpress-ed masterpieces was Chris Charles of Fly Rabbit Press.  Jack had hoped for a knitter to provide some warm hats and scarves in October, but he couldn't get one in time.

So coming full circle, back for the month of October 2014, JackBear Stamps will be in the RNEST Art Cart again until October 30th.  To finish off the semester, and throughout the holiday season, the Art Cart will feature Sunshyne Silverware's amazing repurposed jewelry and accessories.

How does the story end?  Will the RNEST Art Cart continue to flourish?  Can they keep local
handmade goods available to the University of Rochester community?  Will the mass produced forces of darkness take over? (Sorry, slipped off the edge there again)

The end is, "To be continued."

Monday, October 6, 2014

October Team Challenge: "Spooky"

The theme for October's Team Challenge was "Spooky"!


Take a look at all the contestants below and then cast your vote in the "Spooky" October Team Challenge album at our Facebook Page (be sure you look at ALL the entries before casting your vote!)
 The deadline to vote is by 11:59pm on Sunday, October 12th! The artist whose item receives the most votes gets their Etsy Mini on the top spot on the blog!



by JWPhoto



by JWPhoto


by FrancescaDeCaire



by KiraArts



by MakingTheNestOfIt



by AngelHeartCrochet




by TheCraftyWolf



by MoyaLazyFactory



Go to our Facebook album and "like" the photo of your favorite "Spooky" themed item to cast your vote! Share the album and spread the word to your friends, family and fans! (The winner will be announced on October 13th.)

Monday, September 22, 2014

September Team Challenge: "Down On The Farm"

The theme for September's Team Challenge was "Down On The Farm"!



Take a look at all the contestants below and then cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this blog post! (be sure you look at ALL the entries before casting your vote!)
 The deadline to vote is by 11:59pm on Sunday, September 28th! The artist whose item receives the most votes gets their Etsy Mini on the top spot on the blog!


Cow Hand Puppet Set by MFcrafts




Strawberry Bead Pair by FrancescaDeCaire


Now VOTE for your favorite item in the poll below!




Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Monday, August 25, 2014

August 2014 Team Challenge Winner!

Congratulations to RNEST's Team Challenge winner for 
August's "Space Odyssey" theme...


ChrisDreamsBig
with his Meteor In Space Dreamcatcher

Thanks to all the artists who participated 
and to everyone who voted!

Be sure to check back on Monday, September 8th for our next Monthly Team Challenge!
The theme will be "Down On The Farm"!

Monday, August 18, 2014

August Team Challenge: "Space Odyssey"

The theme for August's Team Challenge was "Space Odyssey"!


Take a look at all the contestants below and then cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this blog post! (be sure you look at ALL the entries before casting your vote!)
 The deadline to vote is by 11:59pm on Sunday, August 24th! The artist whose item receives the most votes gets their Etsy Mini on the top spot on the blog!


Spaceship Sci Fi Collection by thewhimsicalsweet

Doctor Who Sci Fi Collection by thewhimsicalsweet





Meteor In Space Dreamcatcher by ChrisDreamsBig

Mini Fabric Galaxy Babies by MoyaLazyFactory

Now VOTE for your favorite item below!


http://snack.to/qdt568s9

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Tuesday Treasuries: Enjoying an Endless Summer

Endless Summer featuring KarenSwimmer

Treasury Created by RNEST Member:
Ocean Blue curated by BrittanyLeighJewelry featuring TheKnottyOwlShop

Treasuries Featuring RNEST Members:
Wonderland featuring PeachesProducts
Eclectic Gallery Wall featuring PoetCharms
Pretty Pastel featuring RinaMiriam
Art on Etsy 8.4 featuring RinaMiriam
Lifestyle featuring SewIndieShop
In the Forest I See You featuring SugarAndType
Decoupage Artistry featuring TatteredPearls
Have Something to Say…Write It featuring TatteredPearls
Summer Ocean Blue featuring TheKnottyOwlShop
Naïve Monkey Applique Chest featuring LilyStitches
Red featuring LynnSchaferDesigns
Lush Lovely Greens featuring LynnSchaferDesigns
Hippy Dippy featuring MakingTheNestOfIt
Where Would We Be Without Water featuring MyBonnyMonAbri
465 featuring PapersaurusCreatives
Dutch Treat featuring JWPhoto
Corn Silk featuring CircuitBreakerLabs
In the Trees featuring ArtNMetal
Monogram Mug featuring BusyBBoutique

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Tuesday Treasuries: Lavender and Goldenrod

Lavender and Goldenrod curated by BrittanyLeighJewelry

Treasury Created by RNEST Member:
Twinkle curated by BrittanyLeighJewelry

Treasuries Featuring RNEST Members:
Hot Summer featuring MyBabyParty
Pastel featuring MyBabyParty
All About Wine featuring ArtNMetal
Cow Print featuring ChristineAndCoDesign
Blue Sky featuring ChristineAndCoDesign
My Favorite Condiment featuring CircuitBreakerLabs
Gift Ideas featuring MetalSomeArt
Escape featuring MetalSomeArt
Beautiful Glass Baubles featuring HeatherBehrendtGlass
Below the Sun featuring HeatherVitticore
Domino Effect featuring InMyHeadStudios
Happy Summer featuring JonelleMaira
Chat Noir featuring JWphoto
Feeling Bookish featuring LisaJaneSmith
Go on… Just Do It! featuring LoveLivePray
Subtle Day featuring LynnSchaferDesigns
Stars- Not Only in the Sky featuring MakingTheNestOfIt
Minimalist featuring MyBonnyMonAbri
ArtOfEricGunty Just Married featuring BusyBBoutique

Monday, July 28, 2014

July's Featured Artist: Moya Lazy Factory

Name: Jina Park
Business Name: Moya Lazy Factory
Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/Moyalazyfactory


Social Media:

Age: 48
Profession/Day Job: Mother
Where in/around Rochester do you live? Brighton
Craft(s) of Choice: small fabric goods


Did you go to art school or are you self taught?
 I studied graphic design in college in Korea.

What’s your first craft-related memory?
When I was 13, my father gave me a red heart shape tin with a candle in it. At that time in Korea it was an extremely rare, fancy thing. I was so happy to have that candle, many of my friends wanted to have that. One day I found out I could make heart shaped candles with the tin as a mold. So, my younger brother and I melted white, house-hold candles and added crayon for color. Finally we made about 20 of them. But it looked so different.


How did you get started with Etsy?
I used to make my kids Halloween costumes and stuffed animals for present. Soon some friends asked me to sell and a friend told me about etsy.


In your creative life and work, of what accomplishment are you most proud?
 Last year, I won an Artist Row award for best in category. It was a big surprise!

What inspires you, or makes you want to go dashing off to craft?
Conversation with my kids, joke around, giggling with funny stories, kids books, movies give me ideas!!!!


What influences your creativity?
Day dreams, taking everything literally.

What does your workspace look like most of the time?
 Of course always very very messy. I am a natural born messy person.


What (if anything) do you like to watch/listen to while you create?
Pod cast!! About books, movies and politics. Mostly those are Korean pod cast, but often I switch on CNN or NPR too.

 


If you could add to your craft/art line, what would you like to add?
Ceramics! I want to make ceramic dolls and animal figures.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in selling your work? 
Pricing. Most people think small stuff should pay less. But my dolls are all hand stitched, takes time.




What do you love about your craft?
People who visit my booth, they always smile while they watch my stuff. I love to watch them smile. That smile makes me happy.