tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219226372252228352024-03-13T00:08:22.721-04:00The Art of Handmade in MaineFloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21922637225222835.post-13845370982852765382011-11-12T20:04:00.000-05:002011-11-12T20:04:13.856-05:00Life Gets in the WayFor most of the nation school has been back in session for quite a while now. When I think back (waaaay back, but let’s not go there) to those first exciting, and often scary, days of a new school year the inevitable question “What did you do on your summer vacation?” comes to mind. <br />
<br />
We all know how much kids of all ages look forward to the end of a school year, as just that… the end of a school year. It is time for fun and freedom, less responsibility, and less rigid schedules. Most importantly, more time to “do what they want”. Thus, typical responses to that proverbial question include all forms of summer activities and entertainment, social gatherings and interaction with family and friends, sleeping in and sleepovers, and the occasional heartbreak of a summer “puppy love”. For most school aged children (teens included but <em>shhhh</em> NEVER let them hear you calling them children) summer vacation affords many opportunities to be footloose and fancy free. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcihih5Rp-eM9z6-qwIyQ0dg026YKm9MPmDdId4WSYdmnSu2kuYLVPMBdMPUFwhxw_YxPHy7MSsICYEm07GVvG8R3qAfpW14knNGxldmCvWAYs_2YmrwIbIIce_FEhUj-aolYXwS4lg/s1600/IMG_5364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcihih5Rp-eM9z6-qwIyQ0dg026YKm9MPmDdId4WSYdmnSu2kuYLVPMBdMPUFwhxw_YxPHy7MSsICYEm07GVvG8R3qAfpW14knNGxldmCvWAYs_2YmrwIbIIce_FEhUj-aolYXwS4lg/s400/IMG_5364.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you hear the fog horn?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Many adults, on the other hand, look forward to “summer vacation” as an opportunity to “get some work done”. It is a time to complete projects that cannot otherwise be completed during a typical work week due to lack of time (“not enough hours in the day”) and other demands on their resources and energy; gardening, house repair, vehicle maintenance, honey do lists (always something). They, too, look forward to “less demands” on their time and the freedom to come and go, and start and complete projects without interruption. Distractions happen, the weather does not cooperate, unforeseen interruptions occur. Incomplete projects are frequently chalked up to “<em>life getting in the way</em>”. <br />
<br />
Like many people, I try very hard to make the most of those hard earned precious weekends and paid days off by planning my projects well ahead of time. This spring I spent many hours preparing a plan to maximize the use of my “time off” for the year and actually made a calendar of goals centered on activities to nurture my business. I started a monthly e-newsletter for sharing upcoming events and new product launches. I scheduled regular time for “blogging” and cross promoting team members’ shops. I planned out time for creating, marketing and selling new products. I scheduled seasonal activities in order to be prepared for the holidays (ahead of time, for once). I worked out lesson plans for craft workshops and private sewing lessons that I intended to offer – during my time off, of course. I felt very powerful with the confidence that comes from feeling well organized, prepared and in control and I had no doubt that this was the year that I was going to successfully complete all the tasks necessary to increase the success of my business. Of course, this could only be accomplished at the expense of any real quality personal time with hubby, family or friends – no time for that!<br />
<br />
Well, you know what they say – “The best laid plans of mice and men…” <em>Life got in the way</em>.<br />
<br />
Facing a lay-off at my job in early summer I was fortunate to find a new position within my current company. Very thankful for that! This meant longer hours learning a new job (I love learning new things) and unexpected activities that started impacting my carefully planned calendar. Result: no marketing materials developed, no advertising for workshops. <em>Life got in the way</em>. Oh, well, there is always next month…<br />
<br />
In July, I had an unexpected but very welcome visit from a cousin whom I <em>may</em> have met <em>once</em> when I was grade school aged. We had a wonderful visit comparing family stories and sharing genealogical information from the different branches of the family. We poured over photos and other family documents and shared memories of shared grandparents and other relatives. It was as if we had known each other our whole lives and we easily fell into conversation like we had been in touch the whole time. We have even made plans to travel to see our mutual aunt, if possible, early next summer. Result: no new products produced, no photos taken for new listings in the shop. <em>Life got in the way</em>. Oh well, I will make twice as many next month…<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdzVltn7BEDcHhj-5_0dXwkP4mT57GWDPlR7j6zqHQ4nA-AcdIka0FmzfjGXn_wTPcbVQEQ0RSSrH3K9XAsxbn3095_JiMYyDrogWR48LV_pcW5XHYaxRR0Se-J531iB19k_xvFHaTg/s1600/midnightelegancewebnecklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdzVltn7BEDcHhj-5_0dXwkP4mT57GWDPlR7j6zqHQ4nA-AcdIka0FmzfjGXn_wTPcbVQEQ0RSSrH3K9XAsxbn3095_JiMYyDrogWR48LV_pcW5XHYaxRR0Se-J531iB19k_xvFHaTg/s320/midnightelegancewebnecklace.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midnight Elegance Web Pendant by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/66777336/midnight-elegance-web-pendant">LMayJewelry</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In August, on a whim, I attended my first local “Concert in the Park” on a Sunday afternoon. I was fortunate enough to meet a fellow Etsy Maine Team member, Laura of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lmayjewelry">LMayJewelry</a>. She is a very talented local jewelry artist, not to mention a genuinely nice person, who offers a table of her wonderful creations for sale at the concerts. We compared notes on our shops and talked about the Etsy experience. I met her very lovely daughters who volunteer at these events. The music was great and the weather was nice. It was a great family oriented evening and I attended each Sunday for several weeks following. So much for my carefully scheduled blog and e-newsletter updates. <em>Life got in the way</em>. Maybe I can squeeze some in on my lunch hours at work…</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLQ0H86QITX4_flBKaC-ff9L4SH7oBUUIRfWQt84D_43H9Q1HV2mWJuq-7UP_lnMxljBk-btmPr7XdnOSNX7EThyxVal4xMNR4G9psjAhNuXAMyplm4_4JCWn0654xd_X5NYAakGggg/s1600/IMG_1281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLQ0H86QITX4_flBKaC-ff9L4SH7oBUUIRfWQt84D_43H9Q1HV2mWJuq-7UP_lnMxljBk-btmPr7XdnOSNX7EThyxVal4xMNR4G9psjAhNuXAMyplm4_4JCWn0654xd_X5NYAakGggg/s320/IMG_1281.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer + family + lobster = Wicked good vacation!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Later in August, I had a wonderful visit from two cousins (sisters), one cousin of which I had not seen for over 25 years, and their very nice spouses. They were all very generous in allowing me to share part of their vacation and I spent a couple of days joining them on their tour in the southern part of the state, showing them places I knew and exploring places I had not been to myself. We spoke a lot of family, our mothers having been sisters, and got reacquainted with each other. Again, it was like we had always been a part of each other’s lives. And thankfully we very definitely are now. Results: holiday items are not ready for listing and will be late again this year. I better get them done next month! <em>Life got in the way</em>.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlW_0-TejzmilzV8HP_69FFruqJOohV6pELbED1WaNRwVV9AchkPSXMoyqgw4wcCqwamzNskM0JkBHJLNBlckWE3eDDkgbmpsm50dGs3nUrNGkA6zJE068MnHQfZwu2YDUege_0wLlg/s1600/IMG_5305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlW_0-TejzmilzV8HP_69FFruqJOohV6pELbED1WaNRwVV9AchkPSXMoyqgw4wcCqwamzNskM0JkBHJLNBlckWE3eDDkgbmpsm50dGs3nUrNGkA6zJE068MnHQfZwu2YDUege_0wLlg/s320/IMG_5305.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Beach combing for beach glass on Bailey Island</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In September, we hosted a dear friend of my husband’s from Denver. He stayed with us for a week and I took a couple of days off to join them, again going to places in my home state, some of which I had seen and some that I had not been to before. It is refreshing to see places that you have been, and are accustomed to, through the eyes of someone seeing them for the very first time. It makes everything fresh and new again. We took a ride to Bailey Island and while walking the very small “beach” area there my husband’s friend looked down and starting picking up small pieces of beach glass. I had been there dozens of times before and had never seen or thought to look for beach glass! It was very exciting! We spent over an hour hunting for and collecting very small pieces of this treasure. Results: still no new listings for the shop. <em>Life got in the way</em>. Oh well, still a couple more months until Christmas…</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">October - I had the pleasure and privilege of volunteering at the <a href="http://www.dempseychallenge.org/2011-independent-fundraising-events">Dempsey Challenge</a>. While I have been a volunteer in the sewing group for the <a href="http://www.dempseycenter.org/">Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing</a> in Lewiston, ME for several years now, this was my first time volunteering for this function. If you are not familiar with this event, or this organization, I encourage you to check it out. Information for next year's event is already <a href="http://www.dempseychallenge.org/2012-account">available</a>. It is a most amazing and worthy cause if ever there was. It was a very humbling experience and I will definitely be doing it again next year. </div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I73bE_Kac0OKvSrLDuWJivgq1J5APkNIY_WnVOf4zwDsw6QPhr63XN_bXrxBf1xPiDrmSxoEwhRx7Qt7Y__0fFYSxjUfbkFTgeu9ZAYil9qIr43IgN2_NnAZQ08Xa9sDEQfhzoHfKw/s1600/100_4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I73bE_Kac0OKvSrLDuWJivgq1J5APkNIY_WnVOf4zwDsw6QPhr63XN_bXrxBf1xPiDrmSxoEwhRx7Qt7Y__0fFYSxjUfbkFTgeu9ZAYil9qIr43IgN2_NnAZQ08Xa9sDEQfhzoHfKw/s400/100_4383.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong>Patrick Dempsey and the Gritty's cycling team at the Dempsey Challenge 2011</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table> zip! There is goes! Again, <em>life got in the way</em>. <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wow! So, here I am. It’s mid-NOVEMBER. My well intentioned planning and scheduling has all gone up in a puff of smoke! I did manage a little cross promoting, some communications with Etsy comrades, and some linking of shops on Facebook. (Funny, my sales are double what they were last year, hmmmm). The activities I had intended to complete, to nurture the success of my business, which would have been at the expense of any quality personal time with hubby, family or friends (ironic, don’t you think) - never brought to fruition. All because… <em>LIFE GOT IN THE WAY</em>! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I wouldn’t have had it any other way! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;"></div> <br />
<img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLQ0H86QITX4_flBKaC-ff9L4SH7oBUUIRfWQt84D_43H9Q1HV2mWJuq-7UP_lnMxljBk-btmPr7XdnOSNX7EThyxVal4xMNR4G9psjAhNuXAMyplm4_4JCWn0654xd_X5NYAakGggg/s320/IMG_1281.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 578px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2146px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>FloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21922637225222835.post-47475162618300102542011-02-06T14:51:00.001-05:002011-02-06T18:58:30.287-05:00My Latest Creative AddictionLast November I had the opportunity to attend an amazing jewelry making workshop at <a href="http://www.sweetlandretreat.com/">Sweetland Retreat</a> in Manchester, Maine. I was super excited because the class was being taught by Jessica Moreau-Berry of Junque Revival fame. I have been a long time fan of Jessica's work since meeting her two years ago at an art and craft fair featuring Etsy Maine Team artists. Among her many talents, Jessica creates incredible pieces of mixed media art jewelry from found objects, decoupage ephemera, vintage beads and baubles, and her own artistic flair. She has also been a frequently featured contributor of articles and interviews to such major art magazines as <em>Belle Armoire Jewelry </em>and <em>Jewelry Affaire</em> and some of her fabulous creations can be purchased in her Etsy shop, <a href="http://junquerevival.etsy.com/">Junque Revival</a> among other places. So, when Jessica offered a class at <a href="http://www.sweetlandretreat.com/">Sweetland Retreat</a> I jumped on it. The class was called <a href="http://www.sweetlandretreat.com/past.htm#shard">Repurposed Shard and Polymer Clay Jewelry</a>. This was "THE" process she used to make some of the amazing pieces that have been featured in magazine articles. I could not pass it up!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1STAAwMcr1q0Z3HwPfWxoIodNOAYKJ-jr8tS3nzGq3k_6SV8HjIlzuFBy8eZPMSoDh9pnyucnzZ9a3Vb0UphFleBmz25wuRRv9oMkdukCOrso-3xSBKfIci4X0HYEK_nv0Sm1zzvAg/s1600/paintingfirstpiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1STAAwMcr1q0Z3HwPfWxoIodNOAYKJ-jr8tS3nzGq3k_6SV8HjIlzuFBy8eZPMSoDh9pnyucnzZ9a3Vb0UphFleBmz25wuRRv9oMkdukCOrso-3xSBKfIci4X0HYEK_nv0Sm1zzvAg/s320/paintingfirstpiece.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting My First Piece</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And am I glad I went! The class was wonderful and I had so much fun learning the process. Jessica is an awesome teacher and even though I had never used polymer clay, nor made much jewelry before then, by the time I was done with class I could not wait to get home and use my new found skills to create more pieces. I guess you could say a creative monster was born that day. </div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Since I took that class I have created 10 additional pendants and 4 brooches and I do not see myself stopping any time soon... <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93wTivlcpdbJF6xGVANJGsHefXvrBh8kJ7IbgUf7rvjIIvu_2vnumS7ZH72s_c6__dEefEhpANwfKp9k3XQY0yXhszyWY8nHpQgk0a6xecf2Fsx80y3_SgDUxhRB4EXVR9oVFLMD1UQ/s1600/onedone9togo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93wTivlcpdbJF6xGVANJGsHefXvrBh8kJ7IbgUf7rvjIIvu_2vnumS7ZH72s_c6__dEefEhpANwfKp9k3XQY0yXhszyWY8nHpQgk0a6xecf2Fsx80y3_SgDUxhRB4EXVR9oVFLMD1UQ/s320/onedone9togo1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I give full credit for my inspiration to Jessica Moreau-Berry</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
I even had to add a new section to my studio...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoG-9_N-UeArl1QajWzYCA6rWRwcKWqo70wzeZq04aoER5OBHN1p_E3977UbRbm-S0CCphIUkdPD4BemY6qdQ_uHbcxaTT1ZOAE_XEQ1pHlfupfUbtZEBRbI0pnMtQoPp9iAYqNSt4Q/s1600/100_3360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoG-9_N-UeArl1QajWzYCA6rWRwcKWqo70wzeZq04aoER5OBHN1p_E3977UbRbm-S0CCphIUkdPD4BemY6qdQ_uHbcxaTT1ZOAE_XEQ1pHlfupfUbtZEBRbI0pnMtQoPp9iAYqNSt4Q/s320/100_3360.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Jessica was very generous with her knowledge and very clear with her instructions. I know Jessica is in the planning stages of some future classes. I highly recommend if she offers this or any other class that you sign up! You will be glad you did, I know I am. I can't wait for the next one!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPOLg6ZsaRMdnkrP2E-l53R4dz4eQnenrzE3d3zvguXhOpOrFhJ7qZKPYVcJngnR1e_W1OzlM3apAHzJF_k_2FNpEi6Z_cnIMybs5fvij8eJJrjmZr4404Mbc8lK4zTCIOWK3CC3DYg/s1600/tidalpool_1_sml.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPOLg6ZsaRMdnkrP2E-l53R4dz4eQnenrzE3d3zvguXhOpOrFhJ7qZKPYVcJngnR1e_W1OzlM3apAHzJF_k_2FNpEi6Z_cnIMybs5fvij8eJJrjmZr4404Mbc8lK4zTCIOWK3CC3DYg/s320/tidalpool_1_sml.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Tidal Pool" original brooch by FloDo Designs</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZISEab7YQXA62IvxNCdigCnSNQT7IFB7msQzji85axjylXfImQHfE4ss0rJwxGPgj7RX7cSEqd5Js2TclOhL404SFIMMTk3o9JwRso5r7OTqi-M4mjyzRZQOwgwR3BysJupcSsMgaQ/s1600/time2switchgears_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZISEab7YQXA62IvxNCdigCnSNQT7IFB7msQzji85axjylXfImQHfE4ss0rJwxGPgj7RX7cSEqd5Js2TclOhL404SFIMMTk3o9JwRso5r7OTqi-M4mjyzRZQOwgwR3BysJupcSsMgaQ/s320/time2switchgears_2.JPG" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Time to Switch Gears" original brooch by FloDo Designs</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You can follow Junque Revival's blog using the link on the right of this page. Thanks Jessica!</div>FloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21922637225222835.post-68848076092289815672011-01-23T13:33:00.000-05:002011-01-23T13:33:54.483-05:00Crafting Treasures from the Bounty of the Atlantic <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fLZpEPADu9kDE1OYwv7sljhw0ywQTO4F8ngQdqoNpmNF2rCxYv_JqGRbIgrnPRxlNlp0ckvR_kJthgA_KCQZkigxxfdVXile-0JWJlsyvR8n8D6CI1BYaph7ugSw_m6QY34VOAbpcg/s1600/nubble.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fLZpEPADu9kDE1OYwv7sljhw0ywQTO4F8ngQdqoNpmNF2rCxYv_JqGRbIgrnPRxlNlp0ckvR_kJthgA_KCQZkigxxfdVXile-0JWJlsyvR8n8D6CI1BYaph7ugSw_m6QY34VOAbpcg/s400/nubble.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nubble Light</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wow, 2010 is long gone and it is hard to believe how quickly the last half of it went. I had an awesome time last summer enjoying the incredibly good weather we experienced here in Maine. It was a summer to remember. I managed to get several wonderful beach days in, in the company of my ever patient husband, and reconnected with and rediscovered the beauty of my home state. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xCqbJb1OR65p9tNuaHMHBaE3202dBAdmlHRguL0qqo6FxQuQQaDGdnLDlanRmoGxgRtCgfORtLTueWth8drq7LkOa2j5MEKonu09Bks1fvC6dXwi6QW1spFQ33K3XACj2E9AYuYmeg/s1600/crashingwaves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xCqbJb1OR65p9tNuaHMHBaE3202dBAdmlHRguL0qqo6FxQuQQaDGdnLDlanRmoGxgRtCgfORtLTueWth8drq7LkOa2j5MEKonu09Bks1fvC6dXwi6QW1spFQ33K3XACj2E9AYuYmeg/s320/crashingwaves.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pounding Surf</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I find spending time at the water's edge very rejuvenating, both physically and spiritually, and cherished every leisurely moment walking the sand and listening to the soothing sounds of the sea. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Feeling a sense of peace and calm that can only be found when the everyday stresses are replaced by the serenity of the sea, I spent hours gathering a treasure trove of gems from the sands of the beach and my imagination ran wild with ideas for how to use these natural beauties. The bits of tumbled shell brought to mind broken china; the tumbled stones, gems. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75sTQ5tPAcEkQYeAqS704S68qxpu78MDt_4d-wng_O6R_IgRY50M5AH-3ObwDgOujDJtuKSY2CrvtDQWYD7BHMlkLq9UkqKhbC0_DYHAJhHOfKTTbHDFIhemyz7LulcyFLJykGqBMvg/s1600/bountifulharvest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75sTQ5tPAcEkQYeAqS704S68qxpu78MDt_4d-wng_O6R_IgRY50M5AH-3ObwDgOujDJtuKSY2CrvtDQWYD7BHMlkLq9UkqKhbC0_DYHAJhHOfKTTbHDFIhemyz7LulcyFLJykGqBMvg/s640/bountifulharvest.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bounty of the Atlantic</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">It was very hard to leave the water behind each and every time, but the excitement of working with my newly found treasures helped. I am looking forward to another summer of wonderful weather (especially after this constant bombardment of cold and snow) and can't wait to get out there again. For now, I will spend some time turning my bounty from the Atlantic into pieces of art. I hope to share them with you one day soon.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For now, I wish all of you a belated Happy New Year and wish for you many opportunities of serenity like those I have been fortunate to experience at the water's edge.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezghI9i621FMKEFQjp2K1yUOvARcxYHKX9d3w1UWM9lTTwoHJtTdBN8FRj56dvQRbbCWpheu1jF3fZhRqtiD5e8EN6AoafAVvjGouTOxxN05FDEzNOZaGHrSuJ7mwVKatldv_CBmicg/s320/lobstahtraps.JPG" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maine</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>FloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21922637225222835.post-5691811749739347422010-07-03T21:48:00.000-04:002010-07-03T21:48:36.740-04:00Much to Learn, Much to Do...Creative people everywhere share at least one basic thing in common - we love to share our art. No matter what the medium of choice, the joy we feel when creating is an infectious kind of happiness that we can't wait to pass on. Whether we are displaying our creations, selling our wares, teaching or attending workshops there are many ways of sharing this feeling and I for one am certainly glad we do! Nowhere can this sense of sharing be found more prominently than a delightfully magical place in Manchester, Maine called <a href="http://www.sweetlandretreat.com/welcome.html">Sweetland Retreat</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3ETHE6JQWTucgt_L69z-aGWEL-dIEY4uSCmKRBtXbwnQ_pQxQ9RD2PIg0oZ16vSwKFDhTPCJYDJtaNQxSYTIO-BxGLn4NpjSjGJvuhnyXFCrumk5_aDxDclxG0SGwI_VYzBR2sbSdA/s1600/farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3ETHE6JQWTucgt_L69z-aGWEL-dIEY4uSCmKRBtXbwnQ_pQxQ9RD2PIg0oZ16vSwKFDhTPCJYDJtaNQxSYTIO-BxGLn4NpjSjGJvuhnyXFCrumk5_aDxDclxG0SGwI_VYzBR2sbSdA/s400/farm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PLcBgr7oxUXuOsx3sf4nKN_6ZyP2_WWIkfgThh50TvQMoN6rAxKHI59qu11iei9QHbatR7D8QnGJRN1nsqffujnO867-7PDhKdOpW5YGZS5wgnHkbFubLC8V6FKczgHM_tOV5ocr1Q/s1600/cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PLcBgr7oxUXuOsx3sf4nKN_6ZyP2_WWIkfgThh50TvQMoN6rAxKHI59qu11iei9QHbatR7D8QnGJRN1nsqffujnO867-7PDhKdOpW5YGZS5wgnHkbFubLC8V6FKczgHM_tOV5ocr1Q/s400/cottage.jpg" width="266" /></a>Sweetland Retreat is a charming little antique farm turned artist retreat in the heart of rural Maine. It is the brainchild of twin sisters Joy and Jamie, and Jamie’s husband Brian. This little group of artistically talented, wonderfully welcoming, downright down-to-earth individuals has taken a wonderful piece of Maine history and are single handedly (or I guess you would say triple handedly) turning the well loved, well worn former single family home into a place where artists from all walks of life can come together in the spirit of sharing their craft. The hope is that one day down the road, when all the painstaking renovation is complete, this beautiful house will become a full fledged artist’s retreat/B&B. With its incredible antique rock wall, beautiful flowering shrubs (many decades old) and flowers and its well tended vegetable garden, it is a glorious and relaxing location where one cannot help but want to overstay their welcome. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5t1nyqVaTMBBFHvkw8fyT2KnKGYDP7Z5YyrHv54QKlDLh86q5UM6VzDVM2BuhhVD8omGeW0pLzIf1H6ah-LyoKCflhOMx_fmfF8dGI2tD3OtpR8cDykQRtsOW-4E-miDTwM_OgQUyg/s1600/photog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5t1nyqVaTMBBFHvkw8fyT2KnKGYDP7Z5YyrHv54QKlDLh86q5UM6VzDVM2BuhhVD8omGeW0pLzIf1H6ah-LyoKCflhOMx_fmfF8dGI2tD3OtpR8cDykQRtsOW-4E-miDTwM_OgQUyg/s200/photog.jpg" width="200" /></a>The main barn of the old property has been carefully and lovingly turned into an open and airy artist studio flooded with many sources of natural light. This space is used to host workshops taught by local artists and teachers (Joy and Jamie included) who share a wide variety of fine arts, crafts and more. From polymer clay flower making to precious metal clay jewelry making, body scrub classes to classes on encaustic painting, beginning sewing workshops to gelatin printmaking, digital photography to etsy shop setup, knitting to Ukranian egg dyeing, the list goes on and on with more classes of various types being added all the time (I believe there was even a violin class).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnHgABQg7sxhV8GL97pjGeWq0M5s8ducjMG8BuO4ONbocfzgTuSVvhRGiVepavqspy20N7tweSX3b_vRa9i7dKTYmWrPMzN-gKwjBIMlv33gO7BvMs8O0nIOI4wRBqmvFn5zyjGCa_Q/s1600/watercolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnHgABQg7sxhV8GL97pjGeWq0M5s8ducjMG8BuO4ONbocfzgTuSVvhRGiVepavqspy20N7tweSX3b_vRa9i7dKTYmWrPMzN-gKwjBIMlv33gO7BvMs8O0nIOI4wRBqmvFn5zyjGCa_Q/s320/watercolor.jpg" /></a>I have attended a couple of the offerings at Sweetland Retreat and highly recommend them to anyone interested in a fun, creative, one of a kind experience. Some classes are held during the week but most are held on the weekends making it very convenient. Many classes have the supplies included in the price of the workshop; all you have to do is show up and have a great time! And, Joy, Jamie and Brian are infectiously warm and friendly.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6N9xvsoL5FsuXv4ovIJx2e0nBw7sS0aQMAfIQY0OtBposAhv1pp0SddkdR6qCRLF1vVyVi1FfQcrvVku-Il8XtPWPXIIVVA4me6pbSxXaJajLlgNaNaoYFFKETK1WgZvY0vfP8q9tA/s1600/SweetlandHouseS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="95" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6N9xvsoL5FsuXv4ovIJx2e0nBw7sS0aQMAfIQY0OtBposAhv1pp0SddkdR6qCRLF1vVyVi1FfQcrvVku-Il8XtPWPXIIVVA4me6pbSxXaJajLlgNaNaoYFFKETK1WgZvY0vfP8q9tA/s320/SweetlandHouseS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Check out their <a href="http://www.sweetlandretreat.com/workshops.htm">website</a> for a schedule of upcoming workshops and treat yourself to a wonderful experience. You will be glad you did!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Au0LvciDzKNFBlNn_vIpVIaiSU19ixMuN9YpyDCJYCcerxT64ZtPpIFh3TGhzHj0pWlx3i8R4MjHYCfYUj-Z9_WfkuoAC_hjPNorFud_A02a8fcbVkSC_dfdDaLGQmLATm74Wo7vfw/s1600/rock+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Au0LvciDzKNFBlNn_vIpVIaiSU19ixMuN9YpyDCJYCcerxT64ZtPpIFh3TGhzHj0pWlx3i8R4MjHYCfYUj-Z9_WfkuoAC_hjPNorFud_A02a8fcbVkSC_dfdDaLGQmLATm74Wo7vfw/s320/rock+wall.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVCAd9rafGTZQNW2ZdBk6FSsa6MBUzL2zAVRoNjNQzYIuyF0X0BJv6ZsM0KRINzh8Cpgpo3dUpTGNkQi0P7IeEZWr8haw_vXVqKi8x7vB5MVMiDRRDbT-7NrWJ7ZfrLDk46UZYt_UTg/s1600/shrubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVCAd9rafGTZQNW2ZdBk6FSsa6MBUzL2zAVRoNjNQzYIuyF0X0BJv6ZsM0KRINzh8Cpgpo3dUpTGNkQi0P7IeEZWr8haw_vXVqKi8x7vB5MVMiDRRDbT-7NrWJ7ZfrLDk46UZYt_UTg/s200/shrubs.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>FloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21922637225222835.post-9844340365783458352010-04-28T19:07:00.000-04:002010-04-28T19:07:30.510-04:00Granny Knits Inspiration - One Stitch at a TimeI think I mentioned that I wanted to introduce you to the wonderful members of the Etsy Maine Team and the timing is perfect to introduce you to Elaine of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrannysKnits">GrannysKnits</a>. We call her Granny but her grandson just calls her mom... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.133530129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.133530129.jpg" tt="true" width="320" /></a></div> Read her inspirational story on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/storque/handmade-life/working-overtime-grannysknits-8004/">GrannysKnits Storque Blog</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.138995812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.138995812.jpg" tt="true" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.47129881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.47129881.jpg" tt="true" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.65669045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.65669045.jpg" tt="true" width="149" /></a></div>FloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21922637225222835.post-84270226794658458552010-04-22T18:49:00.000-04:002010-04-22T18:49:31.865-04:00Generosity from the HeartCool blog post from a fellow etsy Maine Team member... Check it out! <a href="http://woofcreations.blogspot.com/2010/04/donation-to-ronald-mcdonald-house.html">Woof Bark</a>FloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21922637225222835.post-47128782767666062432010-04-04T12:38:00.004-04:002010-07-03T20:14:47.396-04:00Finding My Community<div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="goog_2136902517"></span><span id="goog_2136902518"></span>Living in a rural community, be it in Maine or any other state, makes starting a home-based business a challenge. The first obstacle is getting the word out to a wide audience. Finding cost effective ways to advertise and market your shop are critical. Word of mouth is always helpful but can only spread as far as the networks you have created. Complicate this with the fact that many of us with this type of business are also out in the working world, if we are lucky, full time and the challenge is greater. Opportunities for promotion and growth do not just present themselves to us… <em>Or, do they</em>?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.97809380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nt="true" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.97809380.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.133563959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" nt="true" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.133563959.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.117615099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" nt="true" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.117615099.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.125849254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nt="true" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.125849254.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While scanning one of my favorite crafting community magazines, and to be perfectly honest with you I do not exactly remember which one, I came across an ad for a website called “Etsy”. Now mind you, more often than not, unless I am in the market for a particular supply or material for my many projects, I usually skip the ads and concentrate on the articles. But, something peaked my curiosity. I went to the site and as I looked it all over and began to understand what Etsy was I grew more and more excited. The prospect of actually establishing a store front where I could point my friends, coworkers, acquaintances, relatives and anyone else I came in contact with (well, not everyone) to “see what I could do” made me a little giddy. It didn’t hurt that it was so inexpensive to get started. At the very least, I would gain some experience in working with a website. “Free” training is ALWAYS “a good thing” (sorry Martha). So, I set about following all the directions to create my shop and post all the items I had ever made, not giving much thought to what the end result would look like. I posted one of this and two of that and even offered to remake some items in different colors, sizes… you, get the picture. Then beaming with pride over my accomplishment, I called everyone I knew and practically demanded that they “look at what I did”. I was sure that within a matter of days everything I had posted would be SOLD and I would be so busy making more I would have to quit my day job!</div><div align="left" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well… 8 months later and no sales (which of course I could not understand) I stopped looking at my shop every day and stopped demanding that my friends, coworkers, acquaintances, relatives and anyone else I came in contact with (well, maybe not everyone) “look what I had done”. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.64834842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nt="true" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.64834842.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then, one day in the lunch room of my “day job”, I was reading a local newspaper, to be perfectly honest I can’t remember which one (actually I can as there is only one) and I saw an ad that contained a word that caught my eye. Now mind you, more often than not, unless I am looking for a sale at the local supermarket, or more realistically, the local fabric store, I usually skip the ads and concentrate on the articles. (Hmm, I think I heard that somewhere before…) But, this one caught my eye. It was an ad for an upcoming craft show featuring “Artists from the Etsy Maine Team”! I thought “Wow, other people really do use Etsy. I am not alone. And, from the looks of their wonderful flyer, they are very talented people”. So, I added the craft fair to my calendar. I wanted to know what this “<a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/etsyMaineTeam">Etsy Maine Team</a>” thing was all about.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ7BEVAr2GzVwyh7cY21WmHTM8D34AcV30KRs48rQKQYOxv1sFaer8aTzJGKAPKvTEtKZsrq-wOBu79zb5JmEs_Mj_xiDJgbcOLuLioVUE9OKGCiWZSKvUy2avBnfBIBWyySCPnIWcA/s1600/freeportshowflierlownodate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ7BEVAr2GzVwyh7cY21WmHTM8D34AcV30KRs48rQKQYOxv1sFaer8aTzJGKAPKvTEtKZsrq-wOBu79zb5JmEs_Mj_xiDJgbcOLuLioVUE9OKGCiWZSKvUy2avBnfBIBWyySCPnIWcA/s320/freeportshowflierlownodate.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I was a bit nervous as I headed to the craft fair. I felt a bit like I was going to meet some secret society and that my measly business cards and the fact that I had a shop (and I now use that term very loosely) on Etsy would not be impressive enough for this group of a<em>rtistes</em> to give me the time of day. But, I could not have been more wrong. </div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First, let me say that while I had been so busy setting up my shop, which at the time was a bit of a daunting task for me, I had not even perused all the myriad of offerings that the then hundreds, now thousands, of shops and sellers had to offer. I had no idea what I was in for and boy was I in for a treat! At the craft fair, each of the “vendors” offered very unique and wonderful wares. Everything was very colorful and the presentation from one table to the next was true “eye candy”. Exquisite (I don’t use that word very often unless I mean to make a point, and I MEAN to make a point here) jewelry, accessories, kitchen linens, vintage items, jewelry, children’s tutus, baby booties, soft toys for infants and other magnificent items… and did I mention jewelry? </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.104168675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nt="true" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.104168675.jpg" width="212" /></a>I met some very interesting people that day. Each of them had their own story and each had their own talent and skill, and well deserved pride in their individual products. But, equally as impressive was the fact that each of them was a member of one team. And as a team they all supported each other and their art. Every single person there was welcoming and friendly and open. They not only were receptive to telling me about their own shops but more often than not encouraged me to talk to the other vendors and promoted their team members’ items as well, and with pride. There was no competitive tone or attitude among them. They did not see me as an intruder for asking so many questions. They encouraged me to join their group and listed many of the pros to membership: networking, group support, resource sharing, idea bouncing sessions, team meetings, critique of shops and encouragement to keep going even when it did not look like success (sales) was on the immediate horizon. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wow! I left there excited once again. I immediately went home and requested my place on the team. I was eagerly accepted and immediately supplied with the tools I needed to expand my vision and re evaluate my goal for my own shop: forum discussions, resource links, list of team members. I gained a new appreciation for the available resources on the Etsy site but more importantly I gained a community. A community - available through a few strokes on the keyboard, any time, day or night, weekday or weekend - of like minded artists with the common goal to promote HANDMADE and each other.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXL7OlSfJre3RgHI7U1uRcenCOksdqNILPyMtEacs-_m0tm-d4mzPYk9MoIDPrJZ0Jnv0YCY0mntNMU03jbJqxb77U2bLIXFa2vqdq7aurrqJ7HP-P4lFND7A9NXZZMM6ydh5olArlA/s1600/IMG_3506small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXL7OlSfJre3RgHI7U1uRcenCOksdqNILPyMtEacs-_m0tm-d4mzPYk9MoIDPrJZ0Jnv0YCY0mntNMU03jbJqxb77U2bLIXFa2vqdq7aurrqJ7HP-P4lFND7A9NXZZMM6ydh5olArlA/s200/IMG_3506small.JPG" width="200" /></a>It has been several months since I met that great group of people. Since then, I have learned much about Etsy and its opportunities. I have learned much about how to really create a shop and not just a mishmash of all things made by me. I have learned much about websites and taking better product photos (thanks <a href="http://sweetlandretreat.com/">Joy</a>!) and have even made a few sales. I have learned how to brand myself (not that kind of brand) and create my shop’s identity. I have learned that this process takes time and dedication and TONS of patience. And, I have learned that I have so much more to learn. Most of all, I have learned much about being a member of a community. A community of like-minded individuals who take a little time out of their day to share their successes and failures, their achievements and their frustrations, and ALWAYS their support… </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I look forward doing my part as a team member by introducing you to many of the members of the Etsy Maine Team. I know you will be as impressed as I am…</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.100346848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nt="true" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.100346848.jpg" width="319" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
OH, and did I mention the JEWELRY???</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Photos by featured Etsy Maine Team members: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/beckyrose">beckyrose</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/junquerevival">junquerevival</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleputLand">littleputland</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/quenchmetalworks">quenchmetalworks</a>,<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jamieribisi"> jamieribisi</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thecleverkitty">cleverkitty</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/etsyMaineTeam">etsymaineteam</a></div></div>FloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21922637225222835.post-19754295958566695522010-03-14T18:19:00.001-04:002010-03-14T21:22:02.910-04:00Spring Cleaning with the Maine Team<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHj0geJ0pJ0u6kbTjFWsJpQfx_cPq_9AdHk-crAnDSz2U25YBQYNEc31EE_zNr1KobBj829oCMnyl65n0kNHmeC0s9oEx8netuee39Zn9H3G8fj2mis8XMQ3ev9r4l2N6bsgHdnc_sA/s1600-h/100_2284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHj0geJ0pJ0u6kbTjFWsJpQfx_cPq_9AdHk-crAnDSz2U25YBQYNEc31EE_zNr1KobBj829oCMnyl65n0kNHmeC0s9oEx8netuee39Zn9H3G8fj2mis8XMQ3ev9r4l2N6bsgHdnc_sA/s320/100_2284.JPG" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Everywhere you look are the first sure-fire signs of spring in Maine - the "<em><span style="color: #990000;">cone zones</span></em>" are in bloom. They are popping up everywhere!!! But, all kidding aside, many of us are feeling the first pangs of spring fever. Especially with the clocks "springing forward" and the "extra" daylight. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Generally, all creatures great and small feel a stirring this time of year. It causes an insatiable desire to "purge the nest" or spring clean! The <a href="http://team.etsy.com/profilest/me.shtml">etsy Maine Team</a> is no exception and is itching to spring clean as well!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Led by the ever enthusiastic DreaBunny of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bunnybaubles">BunnyBaubles</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DreaBunny">BunnyBeads</a> many of the team members are having "clearing out the cobwebs" sales and promotions. For a current list of etsy shops participating in the clear out, check out the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6439693">Maine Team forum</a>. Or, you can search <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> for all items with the "<strong>tag" </strong> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=mainespringclean&search_type=all">MaineSpringClean</a> to see all the items included in this fantastic sale at once. This is your chance to cash in on some <strong><span style="color: #351c75;">EXCITING</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color: #351c75;">FABULOUS</span></strong> and <strong><span style="color: #351c75;">WONDERFUL</span></strong> deals available from this very talented team of shop owners. Don't miss your opportunity! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6Juey7UgS9EZ0_Mt3-ZpVJDqu1JdIX6q9RFsUMTg2End0G1UwHe86sYQXgcUr3ulgHUF6xNEK9kyW9uYKF3xbBHfBznDHCL5FZwl2ytbPSZVe1hDRClkLCsEcGPbTuqzXkTsjW-iqQ/s1600-h/maineteambanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="26" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6Juey7UgS9EZ0_Mt3-ZpVJDqu1JdIX6q9RFsUMTg2End0G1UwHe86sYQXgcUr3ulgHUF6xNEK9kyW9uYKF3xbBHfBznDHCL5FZwl2ytbPSZVe1hDRClkLCsEcGPbTuqzXkTsjW-iqQ/s200/maineteambanner.jpg" vt="true" width="200" /></a></div>FloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21922637225222835.post-66111167825132299642010-02-27T16:46:00.000-05:002010-02-27T16:46:09.485-05:00It's all in the way you look at it...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3C-nxdN4Erv8z-BvOgEM-c8bbbUc10bZEkq1I27lXAR3zQpeLaYtM0Ado5-rfBUcrPp6kNYIgnErATff_WZ-594ithPW39c_9kpB8YeD1AlI4rsoCntMQyW2N-omUYd_pWiLA2tSBA/s1600-h/inspiration.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3C-nxdN4Erv8z-BvOgEM-c8bbbUc10bZEkq1I27lXAR3zQpeLaYtM0Ado5-rfBUcrPp6kNYIgnErATff_WZ-594ithPW39c_9kpB8YeD1AlI4rsoCntMQyW2N-omUYd_pWiLA2tSBA/s200/inspiration.JPG" width="133" /></a>I am fortunate enough to be the daughter of a very talented seamstress (although she would never have admitted it) whom I am sure originally learned to sew out of practical necessity, and perhaps partly because that is what all girls were expected to be able to do in her time. She had many skills and interests, not the least of which were sewing and quilting, knitting (hand and machine), crocheting, needle punch, cake decorating, ceramics, making jewelry and woodworking - the later of which I was not even aware that she even did for most of my life. The items she made, whether fabric or wooden, were carefully created and made to last. She took the time necessary to make everything look professionally crafted and fortunately she passed the passion and appreciation for all things handmade on to me. I pay homage to my mother by continuing to enjoy and create the things she taught me to love.</div><br />
As a fiber artist and designer my mind translates what I see into two and three dimensional pieces of art made of fabric, fibers, paper, wood and all sorts of other findings. The tools of my trade include those of a typical "artist", paint, pencils, paper, sketches and such, but there are other tools such as sewing machines, fabrics, threads and the like that I use the most. Computer graphics and digital photography lend themselves handily to my machine embroidery digitizing skills and designing interests. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxIPzLTmO-LjeAokgVficebeyeHrgEaAZiKe9KeioSHAVy6TnHewGUm-EGs2NZVlXAHiGDR_P_2JOGfB0ipDlgx5QZtg-I0x5WzO0XNsjqmQCvW9FPmdpAFjL-6CL93-XATQISDsFYQ/s1600-h/seaheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxIPzLTmO-LjeAokgVficebeyeHrgEaAZiKe9KeioSHAVy6TnHewGUm-EGs2NZVlXAHiGDR_P_2JOGfB0ipDlgx5QZtg-I0x5WzO0XNsjqmQCvW9FPmdpAFjL-6CL93-XATQISDsFYQ/s320/seaheart.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Living in Maine, photo opportunities abound. Known for our rocky coastline and deep forests there is never a lack of places to visit and revisit. Although born in Maine, I enjoy playing tourist and take hundreds of pictures wherever I go. I recently designed several sets of note cards featuring artistic renditions of some photographs I have taken on my "tours". You can find them at: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FloDoDesigns">FloDo Designs on Etsy</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In the coming weeks and months I hope to tell you more about my projects and introduce you to some other handmade artists of Maine who share the same passion as I for all things handmade. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FloDoDesigns"></a></div>FloDo Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11804273627863588906noreply@blogger.com0