Studio Update

Things have been ramping up here at CCreech Studio! The kids are back to school and my time is opening up a bit more.

As you saw from a previous post, I have been working to add more mini journals to the Etsy shop. I had a chance to get some new colors of scrap leather this week, so the process continues! Keep an eye out for more, including these in a landscape orientation:

In addition to journals, I have been getting back to my fabric designs on Spoonflower! A recent contest there on botanical sketchbook designs started the creative wheels rolling. Having just completed an international sketchbook exchange earlier this year, I had plenty of material to inspire new designs. I have created a number of botanical designs as well as some coordinates.

I am currently waiting to proof 15 of these new designs to make sure they print up properly. Once those are ready and approved, they will be available for sale as fabric, wallpaper and gift wrap. Here is a sneak peek of six:

Another collection will include designs and coordinates based on my red poppies drawing. Some of these will be for sale in this round of proofs while others will be proofed at a later date. 

And finally, I have a collection based on my small-mouth salamander drawing in various shades of blues and grays. These have yet to be proofed, but I love how they are coming together!

These designs would be fantastic for various home decorating projects, but also for scarves or other accent pieces. Spoonflower just recently brought back their Poly Crepe de Chine fabric, which works really well for scarves and more. Also, keep these in mind for gift wrapping for the upcoming holiday season! 

If you don't see something for sale or have a question about scale, just ask! I am happy to work with you to refine a design to a different scale and get it proofed and ready to order.

I will continue to work on and refine fabric designs, but will also be starting another round of the international sketchbook exchange so stay tuned for new drawings, new items in the shops and new designs! 

Mini Journals are Back! 4 new just added to shop...

I have added four new mini journals to my Etsy shop! 

I love portable little leather journals. They travel well, keeping any notes or drawings nicely protected, and make wonderful and affordable unique gifts.

I have been wanting to add more to the shop for some time. I finally had a chance to work on these over the weekend and love how they have turned out!

The structure is simple, but solid. These journals are approximately 3.5" x 3.25" (nearly square) and contain three, hand-sewn signatures of 70lb, acid-free, blank Strathmore drawing paper for a total of 96 pages in each.

 Bee Charm Mini Journal





For a finishing touch, I added a charm to the front of each journal. This gives them a little personality and makes for great gift-giving for you or someone special.

  Camel Charm Mini Journal            

 Starfish Charm Mini Journal (SOLD!)




I will be adding more like this, and in other color leather as well, so stay tuned for updates!

 

Mum Flower Charm Mini Journal

Shop Small Business This Year!

Happy Small Business Saturday!

I am currently offering several different promtions my Etsy shop for your holiday shopping pleasure!

• SALE ITEMS: Type sale in the search box to find discounts on regularly priced items.  
• 15% off of all purchases made this weekend! (Sat., Nov. 30 - Mon., Dec. 2) Use Code:
  SMALLBIZSAT13 at checkout.
• FREE GIFT with every purchase made this weekend! (Sat., Nov. 30 - Mon., Dec. 2)

Botanical Silk Wrap Bracelet: Silver Morning Flower on Red

100% silk, hand-dyed ribbon. This one has a beautiful focal button, others have natural stone beads. See the shop for the full selection!

  

 

Note Card Sets - choose 6 per set

These feature my original botanical and nature artwork and are printed and packaged for gift-giving.

I also have leather wrap bracelets, adjustable natural stone pendants, earrings, original art and more!

I will continue to add new items to the shop each week, so check back often to see what is new! Also, feel free to contact me directly if you have any specific requests for stones, colors, etc. 

Please keep me in mind as you go about your gifting this holiday season!

25% off Sale!

I am finally running a sale! 

Select items in my Etsy shop are currently 

25% off!

There are some great deals here, just in time for spring and short sleeves!

Check out a couple of the 20+ items currently on sale:

This gorgeous triple wrap features shimmering 4mm round Pietersite stone beads. Also known as eagle’s eye, this rare variation of tiger’s eye contains shades of rich browns, coppery reds, cream and a surprising gray/blue. The stones are wrapped in 1.8mm bronze metallic leather with an antiqued gold button closure. Fits petite to medium wrist when wrapped 3 times.

This adjustable pendant features a gorgeous, large Mookaite jasper nugget in a deep goldenrod color with dark brown markings. This earthy design is finished off with dark brown metallic and cream glass beads. The stones are attached to 1mm dark brown, waxed cotton cord with dark brown S-Lon thread and two adjustable sliding knots allow the wearer to choose up to an 18” length (36" cord) when fully extended.

So, stop on by and look around, you just might find a great bargain!

Check back often for new items, too!  
 

About Me!

Recently, Etsy created a new, more detailed section for each shop owner called the About page. It allows a shop owner to share the story of their shop and why they do what they do.

You can find the link to a shop owner's About page on the left-hand menu, towards the bottom of the page under Shop Info.

I finally have completed my About page profile, complete with photos. So, if you are curious to know how my shop came into being and what prompted my current migration to jewelry and bookbinding, check it out!

Beauty of Bookmarks Treasury!

I have created a new treasury in Etsy! It's called Beauty of Bookmarks and features a range of gorgeous ways we can use to mark our favorite reading material.

Of course, I am a little partial to bookmarks since I make them (and I am a librarian and avid reader!), but I happily found a number of different styles on Etsy to include here. Check out the wonderful work of these various artists!

What are some of your favorite bookmarks? Do you make your own? I'd love to hear all about them.

FOLK Magazine, Issue VI - My First Ad!

The mail arrived yesterday, and as my 5-year-old always says, "is there anything for me?" Since all the mail is usually for me (and my husband), I usually rephrase a bit to, "is there anything FUN for me?" Well, there was!

My first issue of FOLK Magazine arrived. This is issue VI of the young magazine, which started up in September 2011. The magazine is, by their own description, "devoted to presenting a fresh and youthful interpretation of simple country lifestyles. We focus on the stories that make America our collective home sweet home. FOLK reaches across the many representations of American Country style to celebrate personal expression in our homes, businesses, and lives."

FOLK Magazine is put out bimonthly (one issue every two months) and each issue has a particular theme. Issue VI is Vintage. This is my actual copy - sitting on my bead mat :)

Not only is this my first issue, but it is the first issue in which I have put an advertisement for my Etsy shop! I was thrilled to see my little ad in the middle of the magazine:

I have yet to sit down and read through the articles, but it is gorgeously laid out, and I can't wait to take a peek. Maybe when the kids are out in the sandbox this afternoon...

Being a new publication, FOLK Magazine is also growing by leaps and bounds, so if you are interested, check out their subscription page for details on how to get your own issue. They are distributed via most Barnes & Noble stores and other independent retailers nationwide so check out their store listings page to find which retailers carry it. (NOTE: as of today, August 1, the store listings page is being updated, so check back later to see if the full list is up!)

The thing I love about this magazine, in addition to the content, is the fact that they put an emphasis on helping American, small businesses and artisans obtain affordable placement in a national magazine. The current list of advertisers for this issue, including myself, are listed on FOLK's Advertising page. Links to online shops are included.

And if you have a small business that fits the FOLK genre and you are looking to advertise, you can contact Hillary Lewis, Director of Sales and Marketing, advertise.folk@gmail.com.

Enjoy!

New Pendants!

Gemstones - I just love 'em. The natural colors and patterns that the earth creates and that people shape and polish grab my attention every time.

What is your favorite semi-precious gemstone? Do you have a "thing" for a particular natural object that inspires your art or jewelry? Let me know!

For me, I really enjoy the small rounds that I have been using to create my bracelets. I tend to use the 4mm (which are fairly small) and the 6mm stones. Recently, however, I ordered some larger stones that caught my attention - some Mookaite jasper nuggets and some fossil coral puff squares. I ordered them thinking I might use them in my bookmarks. But when they arrived and were actually a bit larger than I thought and it started the creative juices flowing...rather than use them for bookmarks, I thought they would make fantastic pendants!

One thing I love about a chunk of gemstone is the simple beauty of the stone itself. I strive to use only natural stones that have been cut and polished, but otherwise not enhanced. I want to emphasize that naturalness and simplicity in my pendants whenever possible. Also, my personal wardrobe is pretty simple these days as I have young children, so I love a simple necklace or pendant to add some interest to a solid-color shirt or other casual outfit.

For my first pendant, I used black leather cord (1.5mm) and a beautifully patterned fossil coral square (approx. 3/4 inches square.)

Instead of metal pins and jump rings, I preferred to attach the stone using some matching S-Lon thread, looped through, knotted and carefully glued so that the pendant can still be moved on the cord. It turned out very well. 

I made the next few pendants with various Mookaite jasper nuggets, which come in a gorgeous, earthy range of deep maroon, dark red, pink, pearly white, and goldenrod yellow, some of those all on the same stone! This time, I experimented with some 1mm waxed cotton cord. Although I am sure I will make more with leather, the waxed cotton offers a nice alternative for those who do not care for leather, and I really like the lighter weight and drape of the waxed cotton. I used both dark brown and black waxed cotton cord, but also a lovely light yellow that went very nicely with the goldenrod Mookaite nugget.

Dark goldenrod stone with dark brown markings. 

Pink and goldenrod stone - already sold! :)

Toffee-colored stone with some dark gold markings on the bottom.

Another Mookaite nugget - this one with beautiful deep maroon, red, and cream colored markings.

As you can see, I paired some of these stones with some complimentary Czech glass beads, which add a little sparkle to the design without overshadowing the stone.






I purposely made the pendants longer and with an adjustable closure so that the wearer could easily slip them over the head and choose the length.

Finally, here is one that I did with a gorgeous malachite teardrop-shaped bead and a 4mm malachite round. With the silver Czech beads and black cord, it makes for a striking pendant. 

I have some great ideas from my bead stash and some new waxed cotton cord colors that should arrive this week, so definitely stay-tuned to the Etsy shop for more beautiful pendants! 

FOLKbarn at the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market

Are you in the Ohio area this weekend? If so, stop by the FOLKbarn at the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market today through Sunday!

I am excited to be participating in FOLK Magazine's pop-up booth within the barn. The booth features handmade artisan creations and antique & vintage goods from artisans all over the country. I have sent some bracelets as well as some of my hand-made jotter journals, including:

Moukaite Jasper Triple Wrap Bracelet. Made exclusively for the FOLKbarn!

Pietersite Double Wrap Bracelet. Made exclusively for the FOLKbarn!

Safari Jasper Double Wrap Bracelet. Made exclusively for the FOLKbarn!

 

Orange Star Jotter Journal Set. All jotter journal sets feature prints of my original artwork and include 3 mini-notebooks made with recycled paper. Great for sketches, notes, lists, and more!

Lady Slipper Orchid Jotter Journal Set.

 

Red Tulip Jotter Journal Set.

 

American Red Raspberry Jotter Journal Set.

Use this 10% off coupon towards a purchase this weekend, or next weekend at the FOLKstore in Beaver Dam, KY.

And, of course, you can find more bracelets, jotter journal sets, and hand-bound journals in my Etsy shop.  Happy shopping!

Studio Update: What Have I Been Up To Lately?

It's been awhile since I have given an update on what's been going on in my studio this spring...so here it is!

I have been keeping steadily busy adding items to my Etsy shop, including a number of new bracelets and some hand-bound mini journals - here's a sampling of my recent offerings:

Safari Jasper Leather Wrap Bracelet. This quad-wrap bracelet features 4mm safari jasper gemstone beads in warm earth tones of khaki, olive green, and rusty red with beautiful camouflage patterning. The stones are wrapped in a rich 1.8 mm red-brown leather with a wood grain button closure.

Moss Agate Leather Wrap Bracelet. This was a custom bracelet done for a birthday present. It features 4mm moss agate stones with 1.5mm brown leather and a unique matching green and silver dragonfly button closure.

 

Carnelian Leather Wrap Bracelet. Some brighter colors for spring and summer include this double leather wrap bracelet featuring gorgeous 6mm carnelian stone beads ranging from fiery reddish-orange to translucent white. The stones are wrapped in 1.8mm pearly white leather with a simple, round, pearly button closure.

Lapis Lazuli Wrap Bracelet. For something a little more delicate, this double-wrap bracelet features stunning, deep blue 4mm lapis lazuli gemstone beads that contain beautiful flecks of gold pyrite. The stones are wrapped in dark blue S-Lon thread and finished with a matching, translucent blue button. It’s like wearing tiny gemstone globes!  

Sea Shell Mini Journal. A compact 4” x 2 ½”, but full of character this mini journal has a sea shell paper cover with rusty red Italian book cloth, 36 sheets (72 pages) of 70lb acid-free, blank Canson drawing paper, and is hand-sewn with natural-colored waxed linen thread. The simple binding contains a little flair of macramé down the front cover, reminiscent of mariner knot work.

  

Blue Mini Journal With Nautical Button Closure. Another compact journal at 4” x 2 ½”, this one is hand-sewn with natural-colored waxed linen thread in a chain stitch or Coptic style, it is filled with 48 sheets (96 pages) of 70lb acid-free, blank Canson drawing paper and covered in deep blue Italian book cloth. An antiqued gold button and knotted, waxed linen thread rope allow for easy closure. The inside is decorated with beautiful sea shell end papers.

In addition, I have been working on a pen and ink house portrait commission for a friend of mine. It's almost done and will be delivered within the next two weeks. I'll post an update when it is finished.

As always, I have more ideas than I have time, but I have some new things planned for the shop so stay tuned!

What has occupied your creative time this spring? I'd love to hear from you!

Happy March! 10% off in my Etsy shop!

Happy March, readers! Are you ready for spring? Get a head start and celebrate by taking 10% off of anything in my Etsy shop between now and March 15! 

Use coupon code: THINKSPRING12 

There are lots of great gift items, including natural gemstone wrap bracelets, jotter journal sets and a hand-bound blank journal made with heavy-weight Wyndstone art paper. Take a look!

  

 

Brecciated Jasper Leather Wrap Bracelet 

 

Leland Bluestone Macrame Bracelet

African Daisy Jotter Journal Set 

New Jotter Journals!

QUICK UPDATE: I have been working on some new jotter journals to list in my Etsy shop and just put my first set up. 

These feature a print of my American Red Raspberry plant illustration. I look forward to creating more sets featuring other original illustrations including more botanicals, natural objects and wildlife. Stay tuned!

I have been a busy bee for the last few weeks and am happy to finally announce that my Etsy shop is now open!

I have listed 6 bracelets and will be adding more of those as well as some of my botanical art and hand-bound journals. 

Please stop by and take a look around and feel free to share with your friends. 

I'd love to hear what you think of it and what else you might like to see there - just let me know!