Boutique Banter

Another brilliant Etsy shop to consider is porkchopshow (The Porkchop Show) with its trinkets and art parts. Recently I was looking for some objects to enhance my collages on canvas and found this wonderful shop with laser cut wood cuts. I found Scott’s shop on Etsy and immediately was drawn to the vintage brownie cameras. My grandmother was never without her brownie and I knew I had to have them for a future collage honoring her. As I continued to browse the shop, I fell in love with every wood cut set I saw. There were the Dark Dolls, the vintage tickets, the clock faces, butterflies, the typewriter keys and more. I ordered the cameras and was thrilled when I received them. The workmanship was excellent and the cameras themselves were perfect! After my purchase, Scott and I struck up a conversation and I realized the depth of his artistry.

Scott is an imaginative artist with a keen sense of humor. Read part of his bio:

“Imagine an artist blessed with a virtuosity rivaling the prissy court painters of Versailles. Imagine an artist rummaging through time discovering the lost thoughts of Lascaux cave painters. Imagine an artist flambeing the schizophrenic flotsam of 20th century art into a riotous food fight…

His art plots a secret path belonging to an erratic collector of underwear fads. He pushes the viewer into obscure subcultures misted with pink fur and preposterous ice cream flavors. His work reveals a counter reality based on love and charm, exposes memories trapped in Victorian jars, and revels in the sweet voluptuousness of pleasure.”

If you love vintage ephemera, be sure to visit The Porkchop Show. You’ll find lots of uses for Scott’s little treasures from jewelry making to scrapbooking to collaging and beyond!

I recently discovered a wonderful Etsy shop and purchased the most beautiful fabric. Malka of Stitch in Dye on Etsy makes quilts, pillows, coasters, table runners and anything else that she can sew on her machine. Most of her items feature her exquisite hand-dyed and patterned fabric. She also likes to mix in thrifted, vintage and new fabric into her creations. For those of you who craft as well, Malka sells hand dyed and batiked fabric.

Malka does take custom orders so feel free to contact her through her Etsy shop A Stitch in Dye. Also, please check out her blog at http://stitchindye.blogspot.com/ Malka updates her shop often, so check back to see the new offerings.

Malka’s creations are absolutely fabulous. Be sure to visit her today!

It’s that time of year when everyone resolves to make some changes. But if you shoot too high or try to go it alone, you just may be creating a set-up for yourself. Take a look at some strategies that may help to make this year’s resolutions a reality.

Keep your resolution realistic. If you aim too high you are setting yourself up for failure. Instead of the 25 pounds you want to lose, start with a realistic 5 or 10. Likewise, try to make only one resolution. Overloading yourself with goals can be overwhelming and then it will be difficult to be able to meet one goal.
Give yourself a reward. As you hit little milestones along the way to your goal, reward yourself frequently. If you have resolved not to spend as much money and you resist something you really want, treat yourself to something special like a great cup of cappuccino or time spent with friends.
Don’t try to quit everything at once. If you resolve not to eat any junk food, it will only end up with your binging and feeling guilty. Set a more realistic goal like not eating a specific junk food and build from there.

Tell your support system about your resolution. The more people you have cheering you on, the greater your chances of achieving your goal.

Wait until spring to start your resolution. When I received a gift certificate to Curves a couple years ago, I knew it would be difficult enough to start a new routine of exercise, much less in the cold dark days of winter. Once the weather changed and the days were sunny, it was much easier to begin to make my changes with the start of a new season.

Set yourself up for success and you will succeed! Here’s to a Happy, Healthy and Successful New Year!