Tis the Season...

...for blushing brides and beautiful weddings!

by Amy of Amy Olson Jewelry

As spring arrives, I have been busy creating my Spring Bridal Collection for 2008 and working on custom bridal jewelry, which is just love to do! It thrills me to be apart of a bride's big day by adorning them with unique one-of-a-kind jewelry. Here are a few pieces from the current collection.....
Pink Garden Necklace

Spring Vine Lariat

Pearl Sway Necklace

And, of course, other talented members of Boston Handmade are also offering beautiful bridal and wedding items...

Katy of MuchachaK offers gorgeous custom reversible clutches for the bride and her party as well as jewelry rolls, which make a perfect gift!
The Original Muchacha K Custom Reversible Clutch

Custom Single Pocket Jewelry Roll

Crystal of Vintage by Crystal makes all kinds of beautiful wedding items. Here is what she has to say about creating for weddings, "Ahhh weddings… You’d be hard pressed to find a woman of any age who doesn’t dream about the glorious events of her wedding day. But preparing for those events can prove to be a real challenge! So many details…flowers, food, dresses, bridesmaids, party favors, etc. etc. What’s my favorite thing when it comes to weddings? The cake of course! What girl doesn’t love cake? But long after the rich devils food, creamy frosting and sugary embellishments have been gobbled up…the thing that remains to be cherish forever is the sweet cake topper featuring tiny representations of the loving couple themselves. That’s where I come in! I make a simple variety of vintage inspired wedding cake toppers that have the charm of individuality (no two are the same) and even use vintage lace, flowers, old photo portraits, beads and whatever else I can dig up at flea markets, garage sales and yes…ebay. "
"I usually concentrate on holiday decorations but started making cake toppers when one of my best customers asked if I ever thought about making wedding items. Then the lightbulb when on and I started putting together cake toppers right away. My brilliant customer bought them all (she owns a store in Long Island, NY) and got a great response from her customers. Now I make them regularly and even do custom orders for clients using their own photos, wedding colors, wedding dress style etc. I’ve even done two birds in a tree, goldfish, and dogs on wedding cake toppers! And when a client wants a gift to give a special couple on their special day, I make boxes and wreaths in a cake topper style featuring the bride and groom. The bride and groom are made from spun cotton (my specialty), and dressed in crepe paper, vintage lace, tissue paper, tulle and embellished with vintage millinery flowers, my grandmother’s antique Czech beads, and more! Their faces are usually borrowed from antique photo portraits of people from the past, but occasionally I’ll customize the topper by digitally antiquing photos of customers. The bases are made out of anything ranging from an old cheese box, an overturned vintage mini cake pan, sheet music on cardboard, etc. It all depends on what I’ve dug up at the flea market that week!"
"I’ve never had a wedding myself (a few years down the road, and who knows…), but still I can’t help but giddy with excitement when helping a lucky lady prepare for her special day. It’s just too much fun!"

And here are some beautiful pieces from Vintage by Crystal and if you are interested, in a custom order, just check out her shop!

Mosaic Monday - Wedding Bliss

May is here and marks the beginning of the wedding season! Here are some nuptial inspired delights from members of Boston Handmade:
Vintage by Crystal
Twigs and Heather
muchacha K
The Hole Thing
Lush Beads
Elizabeth Brennick Designs
Lucie Wicker Photography
Nancyrosetta
Cozy Cottage Creations
Mimi K
Sea Glass Things
and thanks as always to Mimi K for putting together this mosaic! To see more work by all members of Boston Handmade check out our Flickr group.

Boston Handmade at the Mass Market THIS Sunday

With the sad loss of MassArt's beloved Punk Rock Flea Market, a few crafty alums of the school have put together a new incarnation that should prove to be just as successful!

The Mass Market, a DIY flea market featuring local artisans, bands, book makers and the like will take place this Sunday, May 4th, 10am-5pm at Mass College of Art's Pozen Center. Come say hi, hear some music and check out the craftiest folks in Boston!

Among other local crafty favorites Distro.y, Ben Sisto and Pine Cone + Chickadee, Boston Handmade member Glamourpuss Creations will be featuring lots of bright spring colors like magenta and cobalt blue.

Botanical Inspirations

by Linda of All Dunn

If you're in Boston, and want to take a pleasant drive west, you might set your compass for the Groton Public Library to see their exhibit, Botanical Inspirations. The multi-media show will be up through June 14, with the reception on Saturday, May 10, 12:30-2:30 PM. I have three pieces in the show, including "Tree", shown here.

"Integration" by Merril Commeau, a colleague of mine at Lowell Fiber Studio,will be there too.

Boston Handmade Artisan Fair TONIGHT!

Come one come all to the first Artisan Fair of the JP First Thursdays season!!!!

TONIGHT from 6-8pm visit the Boston Handmade Artisan Fair located at Curtis Hall in Jamaica Plain, 20 South Street, featuring jewelry, clothing, art, paper goods, accessories, housewares by:

thirteenthstory
Amy Olson Jewelry
Stonehouse Studio
The Hole Thing
Elizabeth Brennick Designs
muchacha K
Twigs and Heather

And at Rhythm and Muse (470 Centre Street) Boston Handmade member Lucie Wicker Photography will be showing her art.

Each First Thursday of the month from May through August businesses along Centre and South Streets in Jamaica Plain are transformed into galleries featuring works from local artists. Open receptions, at each location, from 6-8pm, offer a chance to meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and experience JP's fabulous businesses in an entirely new light.

Tonight in addition to the Artisan Fair and art shows there will be music by John Frazee Trio on the JP Licks patio and jazz from Groove Thang on the lawn of the Loring-Greenough House. Spontaneous Celebrations will have a Junk Percussion Band & Stiltwalkers as a taste of Wake-Up-the-Earth Day (May 3), marching from JP Licks to the South Street Mall.

Also, from 6:30-8pm "WORD ON THE STREET", Poetry Readings will be held at the FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH trailer (633 Centre Street) featuring Boston Poet Laureate, Sam Cornish, and poet Lisa Beatman, along with Boston City Councillor John Tobin, and Sandee Storey, M.C., Co-sponsored by Jamaica Pond Poets. Open Microphone sign-up begins 6pm.

See you tonight in Jamaica Plain!

Workspace Wednesday...

with Crystal of Vintage by Crystal

It’s impossible to hide the truth, so I won’t even bother. My studio is a mess! And not just your standard, “Oh I was working in here today and it got a little messy” mess. It’s a big time disaster and I kind of like it that way. Bring your wading boots and a shovel…you’re going to need them for this tour!

I use a lot of different materials for my crafts and often what I make depends on what I already have available in my studio, so it’s important to be well stocked. My studio consists of a small spare bedroom in my Dorchester apartment and everything I collect from flea markets, garage sales, ebay and crafts stores end up hanging on the wall, hanging off a door, in the closet, tucked away in one of my many drawers, on a shelf or, if all of the above are occupied, on the floor.

I sit in a chair and have an L-shaped desk setup (consisting of my childhood vanity and desk) with a TV for background entertainment. I need to have everything I need within arm’s reach since I work on several pieces simultaneously and use lots of different materials for each piece, I sort of get a donut effect where I’m surrounded on all sides with half finished projects and materials normally stored in other parts of the studio. It’s like a creative cocoon where the process is ugly and sometime a little hairy and instead of butterflies emerging, neat and creative works of art and crafts emerge! (How’s that for a metaphor?) I see my studio as an ever changing collage and while things can get a little chaotic, it’s a lot of fun to work in! I hope you enjoyed my little tour! :-)

The Joy of Miniatures

by Nancy of Nancyrosetta

These little oil paintings make me so happy. I love when something can perk up your day just by looking at it, these little landscapes do that to me.



North Attleboro artist, Kim Morin Weineck creates these minuscule landscapes with oils on tiny stretched canvases. They are sold with little easels to stand them on, and are very affordable for an original oil painting. These little works of art are only $40.



Her paintings are all about comfort, and it shows.


If you find these as sweet and comfortable as I do, please check out her website for more of her art at BretonBleu.com

I am the proud owner of this little masterpiece.



I placed it in my own studio on my workbench for inspiration anytime I need it.

If you are in the Norwood area, please stop by Custom Art Framing and Gallery 9 to view more masterpieces by many talented artists, along with Kim's full size works. They are truly a sight to behold.

Monday Mosaic - Blue is the Color...

...of this Boston sky.
I am sure of it, it's lingering just beneath the clouds. So in lieu of a lovely spring blue sky, here is a collection of photos from Boston Handmade members featuring true blue.
Featured in this Monday Mosaic is work by:
All Dunn
Christine Marie Art
Stonehouse Studio
Mimi K
Amy Olson Jewelry
Vintage by Crystal
Lush Beads
Nancyrosetta
The Hole Thing
creatively anew
Cozy Cottage Creations
thirteenthstory
Sea Glass Things
Elizabeth Brennick Designs
Lucie Wicker Photography
Twigs and Heather
Thanks to Mimi K for putting together the Monday Mosaics and to see more work by Boston Handmade members check out our Flickr Group.