An Introduction

This is the new paper doll I have mentioned before. She has been ready for a while, but I had to do a final print to make sure the outfits still fit when everything was cut out. And that inexplicably took a while, but now it is satisfactorily taken care of and the new lady is ready to be seen.


She will be in my shop shortly. However, she will be available first at Craft Hope for Haiti, a shop of craft work sold to benefit Doctors Without Borders work in Haiti. The Craft Hope organizers have apparently had an fantastic response from artists and the public, which is so terrific.

There is some lag time in getting items posted, so I am not sure when this doll will be available. Do visit the CraftHope Shop though to see all the other wonderful things that have been created and donated to this cause.

Artwork v. Housework and an Important Cause

Unfortunately, in this match I am afraid housework won out. Not so bad, however, as things are now so much more comfortable 'round these parts. Not perfect, but a great improvement.

Now that I've spent one whole day at home, I am planning to head out again to visit some dear dear friends all the way in Wisconsin. I am intending to drive, which I realize is completely insane, but so are airline prices. And this gives me a chance to stop off in Ohio and do a bit for a cause in which I believe so very heartily:



Wish me luck!

#200

Sign seen on my drive home from Syracuse this past weekend:


A message I fully support. Now if only I could remember to make it over to the farmer's market...!

Art-to-Go

If you happen to be around the Burlington, Vermont area tomorrow evening, and are in need of something totally awesome to do, why not stop by Studio STK at 12 North Street and take in some crafty, do-it-yourself, handmade goodness! Chic and hip are the new "craft" buzzwords - you won't find any fitsy-futsy doo-dahs around here. What you will find are handcrafted jewelry, silkscreened clothing, ceramics and pottery, and quite a bit more!

If you don't happen to be in Burlington, but are feeling left out - come on up next month! or the month after! This is going to be a montly extravaganza (small art gallery style - I don't want to lead people astray with my enthusiasm).

Learn more about the whole deal over on my other blog, Art-to-Go!

A Good Cause

I just came across this site while browsing through blogs - not quite sure how I got there, but glad I did! It looks like a really wonderful organization - Women for Women International. I would tell about it, but it is probably a lot easier to go and learn for yourself!

Over the last year, I have become very interested in micro-loan and micro-credit programs and especially in craft cooperatives. Another favorite site of mine, also selling fair trade goods, is Fair Trade Quilts - their patchwork quilts by Mayan women are just amazingly gorgeous. Someday I will have one of my own!

It is difficult to be interested in doing good in the world, and to learn how hard it really is. I mean, little things are important, and little things are accomplishable - things like recycling and composting, biking and walking instead of using a car, turning the heat down, turning off lights, using insulated curtains to conserve heat - things like that. But hopefully, those things will become just a part of life, and then there is the desire to do something more. Only, when one is in school, or working, or both, so often life become busy busy busy and trying to figure out how to do this extra is a real conundrum.

I do feel that learning about all the great things that are happening, and passing the news along, is another little way to support good and combat all the horrors that seem so abundant in the world.