what i did on my summer vacation...

Sorry (again) for the lousy job at blogging.  It's been a busy few months.  But I have been working away at several different projects, one of which was designing and making invitations for a friend's wedding.

Luckily (?)  I had already planned on taking this last week off from work in an attempt to start some new, very exciting future projects and to catch up on things around my house.  I didn't get to accomplish any of those, but I did manage to finish the invitations.  It was an intense week, but I am pleased with the result, and hopefully the bride and groom will be as well.


The inspiration for the overall design came from this print.  The bride's favorite flower is the sunflower, so we pulled our colors from that.

Here's what they looked like all packaged up:

Each invitation received two tags--one with the "forever" image and one personalized with the recipient's name or names. Couples and families received tags like those above, and single individuals received tags that looked like this:



For more detailed shots of each card, you can visit my flickr account.   

I hope you are all doing well and staying cool!  Oh, and I have lots of new banners in my paper goods shop, if you'd like to check those out as well.

xo,
Amy

shop update

I'm ever so slowly getting back into a more natural (for me, at least) pace of things. Which, basically, means that I've been able to start spending time in the studio once again. My new space is all set up, and has really made such a difference. I was able to create a few new pieces last week, and they're now up in the amelia mae shop:

a few new collages:

"A Simple Song" 

"Still Here" -- this one is also available as a print .

and a few illustrations on wood:

"forever" - also available as a print 

"please don't ever go" - yep, this one is available as a print too.

This week I hope to tinker around a bit with a new idea I have rumbling around. Hopefully it will work out.

Oh, and if you are in the OKC area, my sister and brother-in-law are having a HUGE garage sale to raise some additional (and much needed) funds for their adoption. And by HUGE I mean really, really gigantic. Apparently we know a lot of really generous people who also happen to have lots of things they no longer need. It's this Thursday through Saturday (April 24-26) in Edmond. If you are interested in attending, email me and I'll send you all the info you could possibly want.

xo,
Amy

because...

because we all have those memories...



just added to the amelia mae shop.

Hope you had a nice weekend. Mine was a little exhausting. I'm actually really looking forward to Monday.

Best,
Amy

new things

I've added a few new things to both the amelia mae and the project 8256 shops.

These two prints are now in the amelia mae shop. I love some wood grain. And I really love incorporating text into my pieces. Available in grey/orange and pink/red:



I also have a new greeting card to the project 8256 shop. It says "i miss you so." on the inside. So sad.




And, in the spirit of personal choice, I also created a listing where you can select any five greeting cards for $15. Not bad.




Oh, and the exciting news from before is OFFICIAL, so I can share it without fear of jinxing. I am moving into an adorable little house. I love it. A lot. So the the next few weeks might be (a little) more chaotic. Fair warning.

xo,
Amy

shuffling about

This is (I am hoping) a quick little post to let you know that there are a few (actually, kind of big) changes going on in the amelia mae side of things. My gallery show closed last weekend, and so now I have all these pretty little things to sell and no place for them. It seemed a little silly to be selling original art pieces next to sets of gift tags, so I have now opened another Etsy shop. My original pieces will now all be housed in the original amelia mae shop, but with a whole new look:



And all of my gift tags and banners are (ever so slowly) being moved into my new shop: amelia mae paper goods.




So, have a look if you'd like. I'll be adding lots of new items to the amelia mae shop over this coming week. For the time being though, you can find lots of little silhouettes looking for a good home:



Happy Monday. Hope your weekend was lovely.

xo,
Amy

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

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

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

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

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

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