Shop Update

I was finally able to take the time to update both Etsy shops. So over at Project 8256, you can now find these little lovelies:



It's part of a set of five robot cards, all tied up with a blue satin ribbon. My favorite is this one--the very classy lady robot:



And over at amelia mae, I have listed several new gift tag sets, including these:



So jump on over, if you'd like. There are just a few more days left to ship things out in time for Christmas.

Speaking of, I finally got a start on my Christmas shopping today. I've only really made a small dent, but it's better than nothing. My mother and I went out for a few hours today, and it was so nice. And we almost entirely avoided the mall. Which is even better.

I hope you are all doing well, and that your Christmas plans are rolling along smoothly.

xo,
Amy

Coupon!

Should you need a little help with your gift wrapping, I thought I would make a little coupon for the craft fair on Saturday. Print out the coupon, or just this page, and all of the amelia mae tag sets are buy two get one free! The coupon will only be valid on Saturday, at the fair, and the free tag set must be of equal or lesser value. It's a great time to buy handmade for the holidays. My sister will be there with me, and we will have Project 8256 prints and greeting card sets (chandeliers and ROBOTS).



The craft fair is being held at Vine Church at 1225 W. Lindsey Street, at the corner of Lindsey and Berry. Come by and say hello! We would love to see you!

Hope your December is off to a lovely start!

xo,
Amy

Dreamer 7 Opening

I am (ever so slowly) recovering from the last couple of weeks. October and November came at me with such a whirlwind force, and I feel like I am, bit by bit, regaining my footing. It's been such an incredible year. And when I say everything out loud it sounds a little like make believe. But amazing, and humbling, and inspiring none the less.

The opening was really lovely. And PACKED. It was part of the Norman Artwalk and I was, honestly, a little astonished by the turnout. But it was a lot of fun and the other ladies in the show were so incredible. Kind and gracious and informative and fun...I left feeling completely honored to be included in their company. Here are a few pictures:

My section of the wall:



View from the back of the gallery:


I made twenty-four of these little silhouettes. My sister was quite perplexed that I gave each of them proper names. But I thought it seemed like a perfectly reasonable thing to do.


My newest piece:


Everything will be up through the January 15. If you are interested in a particular piece but are not in the area, you can call Amber at Dreamer Concepts at 405.701.0048.

I am hoping to take it a little easy this week. But I do have to, have to, HAVE TO, clean my work and living spaces. Much needed. And much overdo. I'm also thinking that I'll post of few new things in both of the Etsy shops this week.

Oh, and on Saturday (December 8) I'll be at a little craft fair at the Vine Church (Lindsey and Berry) in Norman from 9-5. I have no idea who else will be there, but I will be and I would absolutely LOVE for you to come by and say hello. I've heard rumblings of a Christmas parade in Downtown Norman that same morning, so that could be fun, I suppose. If you like a parade.

Best,
Amy

tick...tock...

It's coming. Very quickly. I've been plugging away the last few days, trying to churn out a few more pieces. All of my time this weekend will be spent on finishing touches, trying to get everything ready to hang on Monday. Yikes. You might notice, in between all the Amys, that Jackie Porter is also part of the show. You might remember from this post that I bought a couple of her pieces at The Girlie Show. Her things are adorable, and I'm really excited that she's part of the show. I'm really excited about all of these ladies, for that matter. They are all amazing.

Right now, I'm blogging in between attempts of a Cranberry Cream Pie from this month's Real Simple. The first attempt was foiled when I burned (instead of toasted) the almonds for the crust. And THEN, oh then, I forgot to remove the plastic sleeves off of the blades of my brand new food processor. So my pie crust ended up with pieces of black plastic throughout. Delicious. And not at all dangerous. So I'm taking a little break before starting my third (and fingers crossed, final) attempt.

Hopefully your pre-Thanksgiving work is going a bit better than mine. Happy Thanksgiving!

xo,
Amy

etsy finds and busy times

I was browsing through the treasuries on Etsy tonight (these are collections that buyers and sellers can create to feature various items on the site) and came across a little yellow star, meaning that something of mine had been included. I was SUPER excited to see that this treasury was centered around Africa, and that many of the sellers included were also donating in some way.



One of the artists is a mother who is creating and selling these necklaces to raise money for her daughter and son-in-law's Ethiopian adoption:



How amazing is that?! I told Katie and she had heard of it already, via another Amy's blog , who has adopted from Ethiopia. So, I guess the word is spreading. Which is so fantastic. The necklaces can be found here.

Another great seller is Hanna from A World Invented, who is currently in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. Check out her shop as well. She does custom paintings of all types of families.

It's all so lovely, I think. And it's really encouraging to know that there are others out there trying to do the same thing. To see the results of that, the joy that comes from all of this, is so uplifting.

As far as news here--I've been plugging away working on the gallery show. I only have two more weeks to finish, and while I feel as though I've accomplished quite a bit, I know I have SO MUCH MORE TO DO. And I'm fighting off a little bit of a cold or something. And while I do believe that the holidays truly are the hap-happiest season of all, it also happens to be the absolute busiest time of the year. I'm a little overwhelmed. But exceedingly blessed. So I am leaning more in that direction.

Hope you are well.

xo,
Amy

Indie Emporium pics

So, I was finally able to upload some pictures from Indie Emporium. And here they are:

This is my booth in it's entirety. We moved the banners to the front of the table on Saturday morning, which really worked much better (and people could actually see them).



The Project 8256 side of the booth:


And the amelia mae side:


I brought several lovely little packages to show just how ADORABLE the tags look when incorporated with gift wrap.


All in all, a fun weekend. I'll (most likely) be doing another, smaller, fair in December. I'll be sure to keep you updated on all the details.

Have a lovely weekend.

xo,
Amy

back and ready to work...

I'm ever so slowly recovering from my weekend. But I am getting there, and turning my focus onto my gallery show in late November. I'm really, really excited about this, and am so thankful to finally have some quality time to focus on it. Indie Emporium was fun, and was certainly a learning experience. The turnout was, oh, a little less than I expected, but I was so thankful for those that did turn out for it. I met some amazing people (including my extremely adorable booth neighbor), learned a lot, and sold a few things as well.

I've been trying for the last couple of days to upload some pics for you to see, but am having serious problems doing so. So something to look forward to? My sister posted some on her blog, so check that out in the meantime if you'd like.

I am hoping to list a few new items in both shops over the next few days. Some banners and tags for amelia mae and a new batch of cards for Project 8256. And, I may very well be alone in this, but I am all of a sudden REALLY excited for Christmas. I realize that it's not yet even Halloween, and we still have Thanksgiving, but the thought of searching for the perfect gifts for those on my list, and then tediously wrapping them up, and getting together with family, and the decorating and the music and the lights and the rejoicing...yeah, I'm ready.

Hope you are having a lovely week.

xo,
Amy

indie emporium

Wow. Sorry I've been so lousy in the blogging department. BUT I have been mighty productive in the gift tag and banner-making department. I've been toiling away in the factory that is my house and that is my hands. And I'm really sleepy. And I'm really hoping that when next week arrives I have more to show for it than the knobby, arthritic bones that I'm fairly certain my hands are (too quickly) destined for. But I'm also really excited. Tremendously.

So here's the scoop, should you need a refresher:

I'll be at Indie Emporium in downtown Tulsa this weekend (Friday the 26th & Saturday the 27th). Loads of fun from 8 to midnight on Friday and from noon to 11 pm on Saturday. So I hope to see you there, if you're in the area. There will be goodies from both Project 8256 and amelia mae.

Hope you are having a lovely week.

xo,
Amy

a weekend off

Sorry for the delay in posting. It was a tremendously full (and extended) weekend, which left little time for things such as blogging. But I had a wonderful time with Beth. I am so thankful that she was able to visit when she did. And although I'm in this sort of frenzied mode right now, I know the time off was just what I needed. Here's a bit of a recap:



1. We went to the Girlie Show on Saturday. There were lots of amazing artists and crafters, yet somehow Beth and I ended up buying very similar items from the same girl -- Amity Treasures by Jackie Porter. She has an etsy shop as well. This is the necklace I purchased. I love it. A lot.

2. Beth's dyed vintage slip peaking out from her skirt. She's so L.A.

3. Stuffed French Toast -- delicious. Walnut raisin bread stuffed with loads of strawberries and cream cheese from Cafe 501.

4. Beth's necklace purchased at the Girlie show. An airplane, a brass heart, and a Rocky Mountain National Park charm.

5. The pin I got from the same booth--a white cowboy boot, a black enamel charm and a little sparkle.

6. I am so smitten with my new moccasins. So comfortable and perfect for fall. Just like these, only in chocolate brown (and much less at Shoetopia in Norman).

7. We, of course, made a trip to Blue 7 -- where I couldn't resist buying this bag by Loop. Mostly because I loved it--but a little because the vendor tag is a paper crane. Love.

8. While I was still admiring the paper crane tag, Beth was falling head over heals for this repurposed vintage shirt by Shanna Banana. It's pretty adorable on her, and I gave her much praise for supporting so many local artists and establishments while in Oklahoma.

9. Beth's pin from Amity Treasures. The white square says "Tim" and has a pink astronaut charm and a brass horseshoe. So, an easy sell.


There are so many other wonderful things (things other than purchases) that I wished I had photographed and could include--like all of the wonderful friends we were able to catch up with, and all of the new memories that were made. However, it is some sort of rule, I've decided, that we seem to be completely incapable of taking photographs while visiting each other. I know we'll regret that one day. But for now, we will, I suppose, have to enjoy each other's company undocumented.

The next couple of weeks will be a flurry of activity in preparation for Indie Emporium. So, posting might be a little light. But, I do hope to see you there if you're in the area!

xo,
Amy

between the sneezes...

I'm a little under the weather. Or, actually, significantly under the weather. I don't really think it's anything more than allergies, but I certainly wish I could turn out all of the lights and curl up in bed and stay there for a while. No such luck. There's no time for such things.

This past week has been focused solely on preparing for Indie Emporium. I did allow myself a little bit fun last Sunday, and accompanied some friends to Blue 7 for the Tom's Shoes trunk show. Do you know about Tom's Shoes? Click here if you want to learn more. Basically, it is an amazing company that gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold. Amazing. They were sold out of my size in the style I wanted, so I didn't end up purchasing a pair that night. But, oh, I will. I did end up buying this ring, though:



I couldn't resist. It's actually really similar to a ring that I had been eyeing at Anthropologie a while ago. Only this ring (the one from Blue 7) was only SEVEN DOLLARS. And the one from Anthropologie was--surprise!--at least 20 times more than that. Which is ridiculous, really (unless, of course, it came from a tree that grew in a magical forest. Then I totally understand.).

I am also now in the possession of new business cards! They arrived a few days ago, and I am quite pleased with the results.



They are double sided--one side for Project 8256 and one side for amelia mae. I went for a new look with Project 8256 -- away from the orange and turquoise. I found it extraordinarily difficult to get the look I wanted for the amelia mae side and still somehow coordinate with the original color scheme. And I do love graph paper.

But the best, BEST news is that in exactly one week from tomorrow my best friend Beth is flying out from Los Angeles for a visit. This will be the first time in several years that we have been able to visit each other more than once a year. I can't wait. As busy as I am, and as much as I have to do, I know that taking a few days to talk and shop and eat great food is just what I need. I'm hoping that I will be, and that my work will be, the better for it.

Hope all is well with you.

xo,
Amy

Live! And In Person!

So here's the exciting news. There are a couple of big events that I will be participating in within the next couple of months. And if you are in the area, I would love to see you there! The first is Indie Emporium, which is a craft extravaganza in downtown Tulsa. It's October 26-27, and will include crafting stations, a fashion show of handmade clothes and accessories, and craft vendors. I'll be there with both Project 8256 and amelia mae goodies, so there will be pah-lenty of gift tags, banners, prints, greeting cards and a few originals as well.



The second event is a gallery show at Dreamer Concepts Studio and Foundation in Norman. Some of the details are still being worked out, but what I do know is that it opens November 30 (which coincides with Norman's downtown art walk) and will also feature Amy Baldwin (of Curly Q Mosaics) who does amazing, amazing mosaic work. I think it will be such a fun show (and certainly colorful), and am, honestly, still a little floored that I am being included in this.

So, certainly, the next few weeks will be...busy. But in a really good, exciting way. If you happen to attend either event, please find me and say hello! I'll be posting a coupon of some sorts for my Indie Emporium booth that will just be for blog readers, so be on the look out for that. If you want.

xo,
amy

I just finished reading Craft Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco, and it honestly couldn't have been published at a better time. Unless, perhaps, that time was, oh, three months ago. I know that if you read the same crafty/design blogs as I do, you have certainly stumbled across this book, as it has been popping up all over the place. On the off chance that you have not yet heard of it, and you are, like me, trying to "turn your creative hobby into a business", then let me assure you that this is a MUST READ. It was really so, so helpful and I am sure I will refer back to it many times.



Completely unrelated to books and such, but equally important: I was updating my blog profile (i.e. adding an email link should you need/want to contact me without having to set up an etsy account to do so. whoops!), and noticed that it had my "industry" listed as ACCOUNTING. Now, you probably don't know me well enough yet to know how absolutely ridiculous that is. I don't think there are many other professions that I could be less suited for. So my apologizes if you had been visualizing me crunching numbers day in and day out. That vision is untrue.

If you feel the need to visualize me doing something, you can picture me making hundreds of little sets of gift tags, because that is all I have been doing lately. Why, you ask? Well, keep your eyes peeled for an update later this week with one, maybe two really exciting announcements. But definitely one.

xo,
Amy

sometimes i miss this city

( "millennium park chicago" from kellyhafermann on flickr)

I do. And sometimes I miss it tremendously. It's been just over a year since I moved back to Oklahoma after living in Chicago for two. And as much as I thought I grew as a person while living in Chicago, I really feel like this year back in Oklahoma has been such a season of change, and of enormous growth. I am doing things now that I never dreamed would even enter my vocabulary. And I'm loving it. But sometimes I still miss Chicago. I loved living there--especially this time of year. And late Spring. I miss the great restaurants and beautiful storefronts. The architecture. I miss the solitude of walking to the train each morning--just me with some great music. (This, of course, was only enjoyable when the weather was nice. Walking back from the train at 1:00 in the morning in the snow is not missed. Not at all.) I miss going to art museums and to the theatre. I miss my friends.

And, of course, it must be said that while I have a very long list of things that I miss, I probably have an equally long list of things that I don't miss at all. And a list of things that I missed so much while I was in Chicago that I don't have to miss now. My family, being the most important of those. And so it's worth it, certainly. And I am especially thankful that I can experience this time alongside my sister. I know that we will look back on this with warmth and joy and gratitude. And that we will have such an amazing story to share with their child--of how so many people wanted them to finally be together.

I'm really quite excited about what this next year will bring. I'm not quite sure what's in store, exactly. And I'm surprisingly okay with that. I am not someone who likes having things up in the air. I'm not that patient. And I like to feel like I have at least some amount of control. But I'm slowly beginning to realize that if I just sit back, and let it unfold as it is intended to, it's really so much better, so much more exciting.

.........................................................................

My (very Swedish) neighborhood in Chicago. The great thing about living in an exciting place is that you get a lot of friends and family who come for a weekend visit. I would always take them to Ann Sather for brunch. Unbelievably delicious.

( "andersonville" from mroczknj on flickr.)

My favorite storefront. The entire window reads, " For the person who has everything, say it with concrete." They sold concrete lawn decorations like cherubs and ladies. It's so completely ridiculous. But I loved so much the pride they took in their work.

( "chicago-andersonville" from like, totally on flickr.)

I hope you had a lovely weekend. All the best.

xo,
Amy

Pink is not everyone's favorite color.

It's true. It's not my favorite, really. Although I did go through some very distinct phases where it really, REALLY was my very favorite. I go more towards green these days. And gray. But I have to admit that I was a little surprised when I was (very, very nicely) asked if I could do the "All the Songs They Sang" print in a color other than pink. I like the print in pink, and it's sold very well. It hadn't really occurred to me that some people just don't like pink. So, just on the off chance that there are others, the print is now available in the very gender-neutral, yet sophisticated colors of light blue and tan:

So there it is. I will take them to Blue 7 tomorrow, should you live in the OKC metroplex and want one for yourself. Or for someone else. I am told they make excellent presents.

xo,
Amy

Worth Celebrating

This has been a weekend of birthdays. My mother's birthday was Saturday, and being the lady that I am, I will not disclose her age, but I will say that she doesn't look it. Not at all. I will also say that the pressure was on when it came to wrapping her gift. Now, normally I would just pass this off as self-imposed ridiculousness, but this was sister-imposed. When Katie saw the photos of my amelia mae packages, she (only somewhat jokingly) pointed out that the expectation had been set for all future gifting. So here's what I came up with:




I made the tag especially for this package, and added the yellow ribbon as it is my mother's absolute most-favorite color. She was pleased. Which is all that really matters.

We also celebrated my boss's birthday at my bill-paying job. It is, I think, an unspoken addition to my job description that I make cupcakes for everyone's birthday. It's been penciled in. Now, I am a little ashamed to admit that I typically make them from a box. Not that anyone seems to notice, as they are always met with gooey, icing covered smiles and sugar-induced exclamations of glee and gratitude. But as this batch was for my boss's birthday, I thought I would make them from scratch. So I made Mexican Chocolate cupcakes. They're vegan. And extremely rich and delicious. You can find the recipe here, if you'd like. The recipe is actually for a cake, but it works perfectly for cupcakes. I just changed the cooking time to 18-20 minutes. It calls for chocolate covered strawberries on top, but because I knew these would be sitting out all day I substituted for Emily's Organic packaged ones instead. Delicious:



Also, as part of the birthday festivities, I took my mother to see Becoming Jane. We have a mutual affinity for Jane Austen. There were a few things I didn't like, but overall I thought it was quite nice--fluffy and romantic and full of Austen-esque trials and what-not.

Between all the celebrations, I did manage to squeeze in some work-time:



I still have some cleaning up to do before it is completely finished.

So overall, not a bad weekend. Full, but happily so. Have a wonderful Monday!

xo,
Amy

Lulella Shop Update

I'm a little short on time this week, so I will have to leave the longer postings to a little later. However, I do have an update on AHOPE donations.

A few posts ago I mentioned that Katrina from lulella was donating a portion of the profits from this doll to AHOPE. Well, Katrina has added a second item! She will be donating 20% of the profits from this lovely to the children of AHOPE:



Check out those wings. Adorable. Thank you so much Katrina for your enthusiasm and for supporting such an amazing organization!

Okay. I hope you are all doing well. I hope to be back in a couple of days with a bit more.

xo,
Amy

Etsy Poster Contest

A few, what--weeks, maybe--ago, Etsy held a poster contest in an effort to create something other than the usual freebies to give away at conventions and craft shows, and so on. The goal was to create collections featuring the wide assortment of handmade goods found around Etsy.

I didn't submit a poster for the contest, and my work isn't included in any of the winning posters, BUT Project 8256 was one of the top 1000 sellers featured overall. Meaning that of all of the posters submitted (winners and not) in the contest, my work was featured a total of six times! And my "I Carry Your Heart Print" was featured in one of the posters that won an Honorable Mention:



(Ignore the white space. There was apparently some sort of a mishap.) Lovely, don't you think? It was created by seabones. If you would like to take a look at the winning entries, just click here.

OK, much to do. More later.

xo,
Amy

curiouser and curiouser...

A big thank you to Ez at Creature Comforts for blogging today about The Curiosity Shoppe. I had not yet heard of this treasure trove--and I am completely smitten. A few of my favorites:



Clockwise from top right:
1. Bird Tray Set. Yeah, I'm still not over the whole bird trend. Sorry.
2. Letterpress Art Print. So pretty. And so incredibly affordable.
3. Red Dogwood Apron With Rickrack Trim. I'm not entirely sure if it is my previous time as a shopgirl at Anthropologie, or my somewhat befuddled (and yet not fully realized) domestic tendencies, but I think vintage-style aprons have a certain sweetness to them that I find really appealing.
4. You're Swell Card. If only it came in a set with a "magical" or a "goodness gracious" -- it would come frighteningly close to totaling out my vocabulary.
5. Gothic Dessert Plates. Silhouettes AND unbreakable melamine. Delicious, indeed.
6. Alabaster Stag Head. This is about as "outdoorsy" as I get. Especially in August in Oklahoma. Yuck. But I think this is truly lovely.

Other good news for the day is that it is the middle of the month which means I am granted more e-music downloads. This is excellent news. I just downloaded the new Waterdeep album "Heart Attack Time Machine" and, oh yes, it is very good. As expected.

A good Monday for you? I hope so. I hope it is a most excellent start to a wonderful week.

xo,
Amy

ups and downs

I've had a hor-ri-ble day. Not for any particular reason, really. Nothing catastrophic happened (thankfully). It was just -- bad. But, luckily, a couple of nice little moments happened, so all was not lost:

1. I had, quite possibly, the greatest-conversation-ever with, quite possibly, the most-adorable-six-year-old-boy ever. He had a hard time saying his s's and couldn't say his r's at all, which I think just piles on the cuteness. It was one of those conversations where every single sentence starts with "Hey! Guess what!". But at six, there are a lot of really, really exciting things going on, apparently. Like--guess what--he has a new little baby sister and she already has her first tooth, and he has alll of his. And--guess what--he's about to start first grade and he even got a card from his new teacher and he can spell his whole name, even though his first name has a silent 'e'. And--guess what--he only got to swim a little bit this summer because his dog chewed the bottom of his kiddie pool and now it won't hold water. You get the idea. Pretty adorable. And certainly a reminder to celebrate the little things in life.

2. I went to Blue 7 today, (the local boutique that is so generously giving Project 8256 some floor space and not taking a single dollar) for my fortnightly restocking of prints. I have to admit that I have been feeling a little bogged down lately, but knowing that there is this other aspect to Project 8256 that requires so little effort on my part is this ridiculously huge weight off of my shoulders. Really incredible. You should go shop there. And buy lots and lots of things of which they do make a profit.

Here are some other little things that make me happy:




1. I treated myself to some new shoes. Maybe a little ridiculous, maybe not so practical. But I like them. And don't worry, they will be worn exclusively with jeans. No skirts.

2. My friend Lauren lent me her copy of Flower Drum Song. We have a mutual, nostalgic, love for a movie musical. I haven't seen it in so long. And I know it is so full of cliches and stereotypes on many levels. But oh, man. My sister and I were raised on this stuff. I only vaguely new about New Kids On The Block, but ask me to recite allll the lyrics to "Gypsy" or "My Fair Lady" or, really anything by Rogers & Hammerstein and I could deliver. What weird kids.

3. Packaging for amelia mae. I printed it on graph paper. And graph paper makes me really, really happy.

I've also really been enjoying St. Vincent's "Marry Me" album. It has a lot of layers and textures, which I really like. But not in that over-produced "my seventeen-year-old brother just hooked me up with his casio keyboard and his new "killa beats" cd" kind of way. If that makes sense. I especially like the title track, Your Lips are Red and Landmines. So check it out. If you want.

Okay, so my day is seeming a little less gloomy now. Plenty to be thankful for. Hopefully for you as well.

xo,
amy

a day of rest

Oh my goodness. I would love to be able to say that there is something new and exciting in the Project 8256 shop tonight, but I have to admit that my work week was absolute chaos, and has left me with little left. I got up this morning, went to church, came home and sat down hoping to really get something accomplished, and instead found myself curled up in bed for a little nap. Which I actually really needed, so I'm glad I was able to do so, but I didn't exactly get to check things off of my list. Tomorrow, perhaps.

I seem, lately, to be getting emails and comments from individuals who have found out about Project 8256, and find themselves wanting to do something similar but don't know how to go about it. I think that just the idea that someone would stumble across this and be somehow inspired to action is really, really amazing. Humbling. But I think that it's really important for me to point out that I was, and am still, very much in that same sort of place. I certainly never thought that this is what I would be doing with my time. This project came from a very strong, and deeply personal need. If everything had gone according to plan--to my family's plan--this never would have existed. But that wasn't God's plan. And so here I am now.

There are some things that arise in your life that, under the circumstances, you have no other choice but to step up. Rise to action. Do what you can. Those times, those seasons, may be few and far between. They are unplanned, unscheduled. There are other things that I think are unique to each person. These are the things that you feel tugging at you off and on, the things that seem to have a very deep, profound affect on you. These are causes and needs on which you can, if needed, have a planned, strategized affect. But I think this is a lot harder to do. It is for me, at least. This requires listening, waiting, patience. And maybe the answer is some sort financial support, but maybe it is simply action, behavior.

One of the things that I am the most thankful for in my job is that it has given me the opportunity to work with so many young women. And over the years I have witnessed so many struggling with eating disorders, poor self-image, low self-esteem, addiction and so on. I am certainly not exempt from many of these same struggles, but I am continually heart-broken to see so many vibrant, talented, beautiful girls who are hurting so much. My point is that, in this instance, the answer is not financial support, an event, something scheduled or planned. The answer instead is to listen, to encourage, to uplift.

So I guess my answer to those that want to give but feel as though they don't know just how to go about it, is to look deep within. What is important to you? What changes need to be made? Maybe giving financially to something is the answer. Maybe it is sharing your time. Maybe it is simply making a change in your own behavior. I am certainly no expert at this. But I do know how rewarding it is, how exciting it is, to have something for which you are truly passionate. It makes the hard work, the droopy eyes, the late nights fully worth it.

Be blessed.

xo,
Amy

the good and the bad

There are a few things that I might, perhaps, admit to being relatively good at. I make an excellent cupcake. I'm a very loyal friend. A hard worker. But there are also several things that I will gladly own up to being rather pathetic at -- anything that involves someone saying "Here--catch!". Singing harmony (although I do so wish I could). And most definitely the ability to organize my possessions. My sister is actually quite amazing at this. I have never had this ability, and instead find myself getting all clammy and suffering from heart palpitations after only a few moments in The Container Store. I just don't know what to DO with all of those things. Don't get me wrong--I love all the little cubbies and drawers. The specially sized things for spices and shoes and everything in between. And I do get a little weak in the knees if it comes in a beautiful color or lovely pattern. But having to pick out just what I need to actually contain my goods--I just can't do it.

But I am very proud to say that I have spent the majority of the weekend getting my closet and other areas in order. And it is looking so lovely. I still have quite a ways to go, but am very pleased with the progress. I am still not a huge fan of the sorting-through bit, but I do so love getting rid of what I know I no longer need. Living in Chicago took such a toll on my shoes--between walking block after block on asphalt and then the addition of a very mischievous puppy--let's just say a lot of shoes had to be thrown out. But the rest of my shoes have such a nice place to stay now. I was at Target on Friday and noticed that their shoe-sized containers were on sale for 99 cents. I love a bargain. So now each pair (or two) has its own little box with a photo on the front so I know what's inside. Love:



My sister has had her shoes organized like this for quite some time (only she uses her favorite little label printer that she ASKED for for Christmas - this is how we are different), and I, admittedly, scoffed at the idea. But I am beginning to understand and appreciate its brilliance. Here's hoping I can maintain it.

I was also able to add a few items to the amelia mae shop:



These little tags would be the perfect staple to keep on hand for all occasions. And this:




A little banner to make decorating for birthday celebrations a snap. I'll be adding more banners in other colors and phrases in the near future.

Hope your weekend was refreshing. Happy Monday.

xo,
amy

give (and buy) a little bit...

I have had one of those weeks where I keep doing things like tripping and falling, and dropping things, and somehow getting caught in the middle of some sort of cycling event and almost (but not really) hitting a man after he fell off of his bicycle in the middle of my lane. But all is well, that week is in the past, and so I can blog about only good news and lovely things.

I have been emailing (through etsy) with the lovely shop owner of lulella who approached me about donating a portion of her earnings to AHOPE. How incredibly generous. Katrina lives in Vermont and is all about reusing goods that already exist and turning them into new and beautiful things. She has really adorable items in her shop--such cute plush items (love this owl), precious clothes for little girls and the sweetest greeting cards. She is donating 20% of her profits from this doll to AHOPE:



So cute. And completely handmade. I would have loved, loved this as a little girl. And part of it is going to a really great cause, so check it out. Thanks Katrina!

Some other exciting Etsy news is that one of my very favorites, Mati Rose McDonough of Suspect Shoppe is having a print sale. It's this week only (July 25-31st) and it's BUY ONE GET ONE FREE! So, should you be looking for my favorite cat-in-boys-underpants-and-tubesocks-robbing-a-bird-of-its-feathers painting, or the beautiful "believe" -- you could get them both for the price of one and then our walls could be doppelgangers (only without the bad-luck part). That would be splendid. She also has some ridiculously adorable zoo animal prints which would be so perfect in a nursery. I would buy them myself for my soon-to-be niece or nephew, but it isn't my child, or my home, and sometimes I have to let my sister and brother-in-law make those kinds of decisions themselves. But only sometimes. (hint, hint katie -- the monkeys and the elephant... )

Be on the lookout this week for some new items in the Project 8256 shop. I think that some more along the lines of this one might be making an appearance:



Be blessed. And thanks for reading. I really do appreciate it.

xo,
Amy

AHOPE Children's Village

Some of the children at AHOPE (Photo found here)



I was perusing the world wide web, and decided to check in on the AHOPE website. And I'm so glad I did, because there was some really exciting news. AHOPE is trying to raise $1.5 million this year for their building fund as they work towards building the AHOPE Children's Village. Here is what they are hoping to build:

"The plans include 16 cottages where children will live family style with house parents, 6 transitional homes designed for older teens and young adults who are being prepared to enter adult society, administrative buildings, library, clinic with isolation rooms, classrooms and an auditorium for events, including community events. We hope to obtain land from the Ethiopian government and will build as the money comes in. This project is a real stretch for our organization but the need is very great and we know how to do what needs to be done. Please spread the word and help us provide a wonderful facility for the HIV orphans of Ethiopia." (AHOPE Children's Village 07/2007 Update)

What a perfect, exciting time to be working towards supporting them financially. I love their vision so, so much. There are so many huge organizations that are working towards fighting HIV and AIDS -- trying to stop this epidemic from spreading, trying to treat those who are already infected -- and I think that is absolutely, unequivocally crucial. But I love so much that AHOPE is taking one area, one need, and seeing what can grow from that. If the children who are sick can become strong, if they can be nurtured and educated and loved, if the community around them can begin to break down stereotypes and the wealth of misinformation that is plaguing the AIDS crisis right now in Africa -- think what can come of that! What changes can be made when children are not merely labeled "orphaned" or "sick" and tossed aside -- but are allowed the freedom to grow and learn and then become leaders in their communities? I feel so blessed to be even the tiniest part of it.

Click here for more information on the AHOPE Children's Village as well other fundraising events. Keep A Child Alive also contributes financially to AHOPE, as well as to the Barlow Clinic which oversees the prescription and administration of ARVs to the children of AHOPE.

May you be blessed.

xo,
Amy

amelia mae

I am really so excited to introduce you all to my new little project: amelia mae

It's really something that I've been trying to do for a very long time, so I'm just so, so excited to finally see it up and running. For the time being, I think that it will be mostly stocked with an assortment of gift tags. But I do hope to include originals, as well as some other little gems I have rolling around in my head right now.

There is currently only a small assortment listed, but be sure to check back throughout the week, because I will be adding more and more and more! So, here is how you can use amelia mae tags to make the perfect present:



Delicious, no? Now, not to worry because I am still working on Project 8256. It is still extremely important to me, and something I am still so passionate about. But I am taking a wee break this week to get everything together.

I hope you are all doing well. Have a lovely Tuesday.

xo,
amy

old and new

I'm not entirely sure how I seem to only blog on Sundays. It isn't intentional. Or planned. Or certainly not written down, because I do so prefer a mental note. But anyhow, it's Sunday. Again. And here I am.

So over the last week or so..I've been toiling away at this:



and this...



The close-up is on the right. There's still a bit more to be done. The shapes were cut from the pages of an old novel--from the blank space that is at the end of each chapter. The book is perfectly musty and water-stained. Or was, rather. It's now been pretty much cut to bits.

AND...this week I got a very exciting parcel in the mail from a very talented (and new) Etsy seller: lucky me beads



It's a pulley. On a necklace. I couldn't resist. And I couldn't be more pleased. So, should you be interested in repurposed vintage jewelry, you should definitely check her out. (Photo from luckymebeads.etsy.com)

So overall, a rather nice little week. And to top it all off, I got to hear little stories of people gifting or receiving my prints for wedding gifts, birthday gifts. That really just warms my heart to near bursting. I take gift giving very seriously--as in focused, on a mission, seriousness. So it means a lot. a lot. to know that someone has selected something I did as a gift. And to know that, on top of that, there are others like my sister and the kids at AHOPE that then benefit from that, well that's pretty much splendid.

I hope you all had a lovely 4th. And a relaxing weekend. I am off to c-l-e-a-n. Much overdue.

xo,
amy

some favorites...

Goodness. It has been quite some time since I have updated this little blog. So sorry for the absence.

I thought I would share a few of the little things that make me smile from time to time:



1. A new favorite t-shirt. Of a very angry bear.
2. My favorite olive green flats. I've had these for a while, but noticed that other colors are available here.
3. I love these bangles. I am quite sure that I wear them too much. I think the entire lot cost about 6 dollars. So I got my money's worth.
4. I'm still not entirely sure why I love this ring so much, but I do. It says "Sheila" -- not my name, nor anyone I know. But I had to have it.

Okay. Back to work. Hope you are having a lovely weekend. And I hope the sun is shining where you live, because it certainly hasn't been shining here.

xo,
Amy

"HIV positive man sitting at home before taking his anti-retroviral (ARVs) medicines, Cambodia." Credit: UNAIDS/O. O’Hanlo (2)


This afternoon I made a short little jaunt to the bookstore, really only hoping to find some periodicals that were 1) interesting enough to fill my lunch hour and 2) willing to be sacrificed as I really planned to cut them to bits for some future projects. Now, I am all for recycling used magazines, but my stockpile is running a little low. Regardless, I was quite pleased to find that Vanity Fair is doing a special issue on Africa. This edition is edited by Bono and others such as, oh, Desmond Tutu, Oprah, Bill and Melinda Gates, Muhammad Ali, Barack Obama, Maya Angelou--you get the idea.

I've yet to really delve into the entire thing, but I did read the article on (Product) Red called "The Lazarus Effect". I was really thankful for an article that put the need for ARVs in such simple, easily understandable terms. I was aware that ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) are the ultimate necessity if anything is to be done at all to treat those already infected. I had no idea, however, just how fast they can work. There have been patients, it seems, that see unbelievable results after only 40 days of ARV treatment. Some even improve from being critically ill to "vibrant normalcy in just three months" (1).

And each pill is only 20 cents.

Now, certainly not everyone has such amazing results. And, yes, while each pill is only 20 cents--it's really 20 cents times _____ -- well, a lot. So much that it is still very much a crisis. But it seems as though there is a little light shining at the end, and I am encouraged by that. And if me buying a t-shirt or picking the red i-pod over the pink one is going to make a difference, then I'm all for that.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, father's day (if applicable) and that Monday wasn't too bad. All three were actually quite nice on my end.

xo,
Amy


Citations, should you want them:
1. Vanity Fair Special Issue: Africa July 2007 -- "The Lazarus Effect" article by Alex Shoumatoff p.156
2. UNAIDS Epidemic Update 2006 - Press Photographs

Love Is In the Details

My weekend is winding down. But it was quite nice. My mother and I both felt too bogged down by our weeks to make our little jaunt down to Dallas, so went to Norman instead. For a much smaller amount of shopping and a nice little lunch. I did return empty handed, but with a full belly and fully refreshed. And it was really the refreshment that I was looking for anyway.

Friday night and alllll day Saturday were spent with this lovely...



My apologies for the absolutely lousy photograph, but it is extremely cloudy today. Still a few more touches until it is absolutely finished, but I am a tiny bit smitten.

Happy father's day!

xo,
Amy

it's really all in the little things

And so goes another weekend...

I hope you all made the best possible use of the weekend. Mine was spent rather entirely at my bill-paying job, so it went quite fast. But I have a three-day weekend coming up so there is some end in sight. Here are some other little odds and ends that are making me happy right now...

1. I keep finding these wonderful little treasure chests on the web from ladies blogging about their incredible finds. Having moved back to Oklahoma after living in Chicago for two years, I do sometimes miss the variety and so on. So, I'm finding these collections indispensable and inspiring and so much more. I have known of decor8 and design*sponge for some time, but just discovered Creature Comforts (thanks to decor8 for that one) and design is mine. And I'm loving them all. So check them out if you're interested in that sort of thing (pretty things and great design and good ideas and so on). As I'm writing this, the most recent post on design is mine is about a children's clothing company that is "organic, fair-trade, sweatshop-free, and beautifully designed". Sold. Blog=bookmarked.

2. I'm not much of a television girl anymore. Not really at all. But when I was in LA, my little Beth coerced me into watching an episode or two of the Office and I must say I'm glad she did. I netflix-ed season 2 and have been watching the first installment in bits and pieces. Granted, it does stick out a bit in my netflix queue, among a rather large assortment of documentaries and indie films just waiting to stop in for a visit, but it is quite funny. I think it makes me appreciate the little nuances and oddities of my own (cubicle-free) bill-paying job a bit more.

3. I'm seriously considering a quick little day-trip to Dallas sometime soon. I need a little getaway, a refresher--some inspiration. And so I keep dreaming of Anthropologie, Urban, and so on. And I'm a sucker for a little cropped jacket and I have a feeling I might find one at XXI Forever for next to nothing. I'm trying to decide if I should work in a trip to the Dallas art museum. But it is only a day trip. So we'll see.

4. I listed these two in the shop this weekend, with their third mate joining them tomorrow:





Yes, they make me happy too.

Hope you have little things that make you happy as well. Or big things. And I hope Monday treats you well.

xo,
Amy

scrumptious...

Some new goodies in the shop. I haven't really incorporated a lot of pencil drawing so far, but I must say that I am pleased with the results. I will be listing the originals this weekend. Should you be interested.



Clockwise from top left:

1. All She Really Wanted Was A Polar Bear
2. A Good Day
3. Happy Birthday, Rhinoceros

It's Friday! Well, officially, at least. I'm still working off the end of Thursday, but I'm off to bed.

xo,
Amy

knowledge, power, change

"Kicosehp NGO, Kibera Community Self Help programme, Kenya, Africa. This is the largest slum area in Africa with over 1 million people. HIV/AIDS incidence is very high. Support group for people living with HIV/AIDS. Materials prepared by the youth for the youth." (Credit: UNAIDS/G. Pirozzi)


I've been challenged lately by the idea that "knowledge is power". This is such a cliche, I realize, and I usually try to avoid overused phrases, but I think that this one rings true. I think, though, that what is more important than having the ability to gain power through knowledge, is what is done with that power. The most important part, I think, is that with power can come change. This project has been such a process, and I really don't think that it would have happened at all, or at least in this form, had I not educated myself about the true scope of the crisis in Africa, and had my sister and brother-in-law not done the same. I will be the first to admit that, quite honestly, I still know very little and I still have so much more to learn, so much more to understand. But I am trying to learn as much as I can, and I thought I would share a little of what I have learned with you:

The are 25 million people infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. That's 63% of the world's AIDS population. Two-thirds. (1)

About 2.1 million Africans died of AIDS in 2006 alone -- that's roughly three-fourths of all AIDS related deaths in the world that year. (1)

There are some numbers that seem to be improving, and many are receiving the much need antiretroviral treatment. The need is so great, however, and there are so, so many to treat, that only about one-fourth of those infected are receiving treatment. (1)

"AIDS has a female face almost everywhere in the developing world especially in sub-Saharan Africa where, on average, three women are infected for every two men and among the 15-24 age group three women are infected for every one man. Women continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic by caring for the sick and taking in AIDS Orphans more often." (2)

"By the year 2010, five countries (Ethiopia, Nigeria, China, India, and Russia) with 40 percent of the world's population will add 50-75 million infected people to the worldwide pool of HIV disease." (3)

"The UN estimates that, currently, there are 14 million AIDS orphans and that by 2010 there will be 25 million." (3)


It's staggering to me. And overwhelming. And really hard to wrap my mind around.

I guess, really, what I would love to get across more than anything is that maybe, for you, it isn't Africa, it isn't AIDS. Maybe for you it's something else. The truth, really, is that there are plenty of causes, plenty of needs, here in the United States and all over the world. So what is it for you? There are certainly many other causes that weigh so heavily on my heart. And I hope that one day I will be able to make some sort of contribution to those as well. So what could happen if we took those things that have meaning to us, and we dove deeper and we learned more and we were moved to action? What would happen? What could change? Something to think about, I guess. I'm certainly not wanting to sound like I have everything figured out, because I definitely don't. But this really has been on my heart lately. Yours too, perhaps?

Hope you had a nice weekend. Mine absolutely flew by. So, so fast. Happy June!

xo,
Amy

Some citations, should you be curious:
1. UNAIDS 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update
2. Keep a Child Alive
2. Until There's A Cure - Vital Statistics

get ready...

So here is some of the most exciting news to date regarding Project 8256...

The following little gems are all available for purchase at Blue 7 in Oklahoma City. I am so entirely overwhelmed by their generosity that I don't think I can really do it justice in this little blog. It's important to know that they are not making a profit of any kind from this, but are instead giving us exposure in an incredible, exciting boutique as a way to help us generate more support. So nice. So here's what you can find:




Framed originals of "Completely" and "I Liked John" as well as the original of "Take Wing". The other four are all new pieces. The majority of the prints in the Etsy shop will be available at Blue 7 as well.

So, should you live in the okc metroplex, be sure to go by Blue 7 (5028 N. May Ave.) and check it out. But, should you not live within driving or short-road-trip distance, then don't fret because the Etsy shop will still be around.

I'm feeling such a range of emotions right now. I'm, of course, really excited and hopeful, but I also still feel so new at all of this that I'm a little nervous, a little anxious. But mostly, overwhelmingly, I'm just extremely touched and just so, so thankful.

xo,
Amy