my artfest adventure in a nut shell
Michelle and I arrived in beautiful Port Townsend late afternoon and took in some sights before our art adventure began.
Artfest took place in Fort Worden State Park. We were lucky enough to stay right on the grounds with other art-festers in ‘dorm-like’ rooms.
Being new to Artfest, I didn’t come prepared with trades. I quickly found out that many art-festers make small goodies to trade with other artists and in the end you come home with loads of lovely goodies. The first dinner was a prime time for trading.
Even though I didn’t have anything to trade, many of the artists insisted that I take one anyways. Generosity in all areas ruled supreme during Artfest.
These are some the goodies I collected from other artists. 
I thought this bag of colorful yarn was a very sweet idea. It reads, "Help A Bird Build a Nest – As you take your walk through the woods, leave small yarns along the trail to help a bird build its nest with color and flair. When you return next year, look in the trees for your colors in the nests along the way. Or weave your yarns into your won art pieces, to create you own nest to take home with you."
Most of the trades include the art-fester’s name and contact info. Some even have their own blogs or websites. Here are some of their links: www.treicdesigns.com, www.uncommonarts.blogspot.com, www.heatherchevreau.blogspot.com
Another discovery of mine was moo cards. These little guys are about half the size of a business card and you can have different images printed with your contact info on the back. Here are some of their links: www.tejaesart.blogspot.com, www.eyesaflame.blogspot.com, www.pharmwife.blogspot.com, www.kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com, www.mbshaw.blogspot.com
My first workshop was Shadow Boxing with Bee Shay. In this class we cut out the middle of stretched canvas and glued layers of tissue and textured objects, then painted and dry brushed it for a faux metallic look. I found this unique light bulb and stone in the Art Asylum (a room at Artfest filled with loads of various goods they’ve collected throughout the year)
My second workshop (my favorite) was Paper Ruins with Melissa Manley. In this class we made molds of textured items (I used my flower earrings, rose shaped ring and a string of beads). We then used our molds with paper clay and created little matchbox shrines. The one on the left holds a little felted hedgehog that I received as a trade from the talented Kelly Harcus (who came all the way from LONDON to attend Artfest)
My third workshop was Beautiful Paper with Anne Bagby. These pretty papers were created from many layers of large hand-carved stamps. The goal was to stamp so many layers that you wouldn’t just see single stamped images but would create an appealing looking pattern. (almost like the scrapbook papers that are available at stores)
Our evenings consisted of camp fires complete with delicious smores…
…late night art journaling with other art-festers (more on that later)…
… trips into town to Elevated Ice Cream with Michelle and our fun roommate Catherine (notice the number of sampling spoons they’ve accumulated – it was hard to decide on just one of their many fabulous flavors)
Needless to say, it was a fun 3 days & 4 nights filled with wild laughter, creative energy and loads of inspiration. I highly recommend it to any creative soul.
artfest… where do I begin?
I recently visited my dear friend, Michelle in Washington and we both ventured up to the lovely little town of Port Townsend (approx. 1 hour from Seattle on a peninsula) for the 8th Annual Artfest Retreat put on by the oh-so-talented Tracy & Teesha Moore.
I have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect from this crazy expedition, but after experiencing such a creatively charged authentic environment … I realized it was just what I needed.
There were loads of workshops being held everyday. Below are some of the instructors that taught classes.
…more pics of Artfest to come soon.
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Strut’s Women’s Choice Award Winner
We asked you for your favorites in more than 100 categories. Our goal: Identify and applaud some of the best shops, services and local personalities geared for women in metro Detroit.
You didn’t just tell us what you liked. You told us why.
You sent us stories of wonderful, personal service. Quality food. Places and things that wowed you. You told us with exclamation points about shopping locally. You described the emotional attachment to small businesses and clerks, and how they are very much part of the landscape of your life.
ARTISTIC GIFTS
Catching Fireflies, Berkley, Rochester
April McCrumb’s paper creations (a.i. paper design) and the works of Michigan and national artists are the foundation of Catching Fireflies’ offerings. Walk through the door, and you’re pleasantly greeted by niches, shelves and displays of colorful, whimsical and one-of-a-kind stock, including jewelry, handbags, and paper designs for everyday and special occasions. A warm, welcoming and helpful staff adds to the shopping experience.
3117 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley, 248.336.2030; 203 E. University Drive, Rochester, 248.650.3318, www.catchingfireflies.com
not your typical interior designer
Meet Chris Ann Freeman of ca concepts studio in historic Williamston, Michigan.
I had the pleasure of meeting Chris when I stopped by to see my friend’s store, Bloom recently and was blown away by her talent of transforming typical rooms into works of art. 
In addition to interior design, Chris also specializes in floral design. These are a few of her creations from an Easter event.
Here are a few more shots of her design studio that is open to the public.
When I started flipping through her portfolio, I fell in love with one particular house located in Lowell, Michigan.
ca concepts studio grew out of the desire to combine several interests and skills in the fields of studio art and decorative crafts. Even as a kindergartener Chris was interested in how to make those potholder kits more colorful and sophisticated! Influenced by her maternal grandmother, Chris grew up with a female figure whose walls were painted bubble gum pink, the carpet lime green, the smell of plastic fruit on the dining room table, knick knacks from around the world, (including a squid in a jar) a greenhouse of orchids, a flower garden with only enough grass for the clothes line path and unwavering sense of self-identity. 
Upon entering college, Chris discovered a realm of resources for her desire to try everything. While acquiring a B.A. in Humanities, she was able to study three majors: music, history of art and design with a minor in studio art. Her studies included painting, drawing, pottery, stained glass, furniture design, spinning, weaving, jewelry and welding. A sculpture class led her to an Associates Degree in Welding, which led her to an apprenticeship at General Motors as a Trimmer Die Maker – Go figure!
Combining twenty years experience in business with the past 15 years specializing in decorative painting, design and artistic consulting, Chris has created a business whose strengths include design, implementation and creative usage of materials. "If you’re on the edge, you’re just taking up space." has become her motto. Go to the edge of design, take a parachute if you must and jump off.
If I remember correctly, I believe this is a working fireman’s pole that is located in the laundry room.
Talk about pretty in pink…
and what an adorable little girl’s bathroom!
This kitchen was featured in a number of newspapers in Michigan recently because of her use of recycled materials.
Being a creative type myself, I never thought about hiring an interior designer… but after seeing this fabulous creation, I’ve been inspired to do something similar when we decide to rework our kitchen someday.
Currently you can contact Chris via email at: caconceptsstudio@gmail.com
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fabulous finds from stylish birdies
One of my favorite gift blogs to peruse is Rare Bird Finds. Sharla and Mei Lynn find fabulous goods that you don’t see everywhere else.
They started the blog because they were both always on the lookout for cool new things. Rare Bird Finds is truly a labor of love for both of them. They aren’t in it for the money (who has any money left after stumbling across so many beautiful things?). In fact, it’s a part time gig for both of them and most money goes back into advertising for the blog.
Why? Because they care about the designers. Mei-Lynn currently runs an indie business and Sharla ran one for years and both know how hard it is to get your name out there. They want to help the little guy that may go otherwise unnoticed. While the posts aren’t exclusively indie, the little guy definitely get their fair share of attention.
They also love the fact that they help their wonderful readers earn the title of the "Best Gift Giver". Nothing makes them happier than when a reader tells them about how they found the "perfect gift" on Rare Bird.
Another hip thing they do is feature guest editors every Friday. I was thrilled when they picked me recently and was happy to share some of my favorite goodies with their readers. Here were my picks…
Who knew there were finger puppets for Devo fans? These quirky characters can’t help but to warm your heart. The detail on them is delightful. I can’t wait to add another one to my collection. $20 Megan Jeffery
I first spotted this oh-so-hip bag in a fabulous little store in Northern Michigan. Its price tag was a little too much to splurge on just because, so I heavily hinted to my husband that it’d make a fantastic gift. Lucky for me he listened and I’m now the proud owner of a one-of-a-kind Rebe bag that I get compliments on all the time. They use a large variety of vintage fabrics and offer many different styles of bags, cosmetic cases and wallets. $225 My Rebe
Two of my mangers adopted pooches this past year so as part of their Christmas present I gave them these very stylish customizeable dog tags. Now Queen Gretchen and Miss Lucy have the finest bling in Metro Detroit. $30 at bynicola
Whenever I wear these pretties, people always comment on them. I love the way they feel and look. Since they’re porcelain, you can select from 6 different glaze colors. $48 H.B. Jewelry
I’ve admired Chris’ amazing fabric pictures since the first time I saw them at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Being a college student at the time, I only could dream about owning one. But eventually I splurged on a piece titled catching fireflies and as fate would have it… it inspired my current gift gallery’s name. Chris is always creating new and fabulous art work. I wouldn’t mind adding I love my dog to my collection(not that I’m partial to bulldogs or anything). $550 at Chris Roberts-Antieau.com
gadizmo feature
Meghan Scott from Gadizmo thinks our take-out decision dice is pretty nice.
Sometimes the most ridiculously drawn out arguments come over the silliest things — like what to eat. Every week or so, after the long workdays have beaten us down, my friend will dig into the sidetable drawer and fan out all of the delivery menus with a sigh and ask “so what do you want?” And so it begins, the battle to find the menu that’ll please everyone’s appetite. Why not just throw the decision to chance? This little aluminum die can settle all of these big grumbly tummy questions with a quick roll, landing on either pasta, chinese, mexican, sushi, burgers or pizza (that covers all of the biggies, doesn’t it?). And then no one can be grumpy about not getting what they really wanted because, hey, it was out of your hands, the dice decided! Hilariously yours for $8.
Thanks Meghan for the props. We really appreciate it!
ginny’s and jane e’s
Another stop on my recent Florida vacation was this little gem of a store-cafe. 
It’s located on Anna Maria Island (the most Northern Sarasota key)
Being in the retail biz, I always enjoy scouting out unique shops that have a lot of personality… and Ginny’s and Jane e’s fits that description perfectly.
Imagine combining a coffee shop + cafe + antique/flea market + fun gift shop + local art gallery + used book store + flower shop + $2 Wi-Fi in an old IGA (5000 square feet old grocer)
The cool thing is that everything is mixed in equally. There are tables, chairs and sofas throughout the whole place and shelves of books in every genre and everything is for sale (even the chairs you sit on)
One of my favorite finds was a hand painted real flip-flop that you could mail to your friends back home.
They even had 2 computers there where vacationers could check their email if they didn’t have a laptop.
And just one block from this original environment is this lovely beach that goes on for miles… pretty deluxe.
quaint cortez florida
Steve and I managed to escape the grey skies of Michigan recently by jetting down to the keys of Sarasota, Florida.
One of the reasons we chose to visit this area is because of a lovely store on St. Armand’s Key that sells lots of our a.i. paper design products. After experiencing the St. Armand’s shopping district, I can see why they’re so successful.
Being the restless soul that I am, I can only handle a few hours relaxing on the beach and then I need a little adventure. So Steve and I started exploring some of the other keys and found ourselves driving by this eye-catching store.
Since we passed it the first time around, we looped through a little neighborhood to back-track and then I spotted this oh-so-adorable-I-would-love-a-cottage-like-this…. maybe-someday!
Okay, back to the Sea Hagg… which is filled with interesting antiques, nautical goods, artist wares and other curiosities.
I love how they created their fence from a variety of finds – bed frames, ornamental metal and old fences.
The garden pathway of goods.
The salvage garden… I do have an affection for windows and doors (as you can tell by my displays at catching fireflies) 
More colorful vintage nautical wares… I love all the bright colors.
Some fun goodies inside – a scoop of seaglass if you like.
Or pirate treasures for the bargain price of 2 for $1.00.
I went home with a couple of these locally made funny-frog business card holders for our store. (I hope to carry them at catching fireflies soon)
I just noticed after looking at my picture what they had painted on their check-out…"We reserve the right to slap the parents of children left unattended" ha ha!
After talking to the sales associate about this wild shop, I found out that the owner (who happens to be from the Midwest) lives in that great cottage we passed by earlier… hmmmm – now that’s what I call a retirement plan.
We ended our little jaunt in Cortez with a stop for lunch at a local favorite, the Star Fish Company.
And we enjoyed our crab cakes and sweet scallops on a picnic table with an ocean view. A perfect ending to a delightful afternoon adventure.
new soul
There’s nothing like a slick Apple ad to shine a spotlight on a new talented musician and Yael Naim is no exception. I love this little diddy…
A review reads, "What’s with the popularity of naifs? Are we pining for lost innocence? The latest faux little girl is twenty-nine-year-old Yael Naim, a Tel Aviv-bred, Paris-based songbird whose single "New Soul" — like "1234" before it — became a hit thanks to exposure as the soundtrack on an omnipresent Apple ad. Her second CD, released last year in France and now issued here, is more of the same spare, arty folk pop: acoustic guitars, parlor-room piano, school-band brass and romper-room percussion, with a bit of Mellotron and other electronic frosting. Interestingly, many of the songs are sung in Hebrew, and the way Naim purrs any word with a hard "ch" will make your loins tingle. But the high point is a stripped-down, slow-motion, kinda-brilliant cover of Britney’s "Toxic" that reads, in light of recent headlines, like a sad love note to a wayward childhood friend. All in all, pleasant stuff — perfect for snuggling up with your motek and a couple of falafel." -Will Hermes
Detroit Free Press 3.13.08
These bunnies can open wine or adorn a wall
Georgea Kovanis (excerpt)
With Easter approaching, it’s a good time to salute some of our favorite rabbits — rabbits you can actually buy at the store.
Here are some of my current favorites.
4. Here’s a fun twist — a jackrabbit in a box! Turn the crank — it plays "Peter Cottontail" as you twist –and the bunny will jump out. Such a nice little guy. $29.50 at Catching Fireflies in Berkley and Rochester. www.catchingfireflies.com
