Loving The Grassroots Gallery!

I love when random events collide and you end up discovering something wonderful that you didn't know existed. This weekend I stumbled upon The Grassroots Gallery

Hungerford Building
1115 East Main Street, Rochester
Door 1, Suite 157

This past Thursday I noticed that fellow RNESTer  Kristen (owner of K5 Art) had mentioned on our team blog that she was vending at The Grassroots Gallery at the Hungerford Building for First Friday  and that there were spots still up for grabs. I jumped on the opportunity and e-mailed Grassroots that very day.

K5 Art sells colorful Scrabble tile pendants and so much more! 

(For those of you who are not from Rochester or who have not heard of the Hungerford, it is an old warehouse type building in which hundreds of local artists have set up their studios. They hold many events throughout the month, but the most popular and well known is 'First Friday'.  Every first Friday of the month, most of the artists open their studio doors to the public so you can meet the artist, purchase some incredible creations, and perhaps get to see the artisan at work.)

The Hungerford Building

Kari, one of the owners of Grassroots contacted me back right away and confirmed a vending spot for me. At 6pm on Friday I was set up and ready to sell!

My little slice of heaven at the Gallery 

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about my experience there. The Grassroots folks are so down to earth and welcoming. The whole atmosphere has a warm and friendly vibe. Right away I felt at ease and they treat you as if you have always been 'one of the gang'. 

Besides the brilliant art all around, you could also enjoy a complimentary drink and yummy hors d'oeuvres, an interactive piece of art they want you to contribute to, and on many occasions, they even bring in live music.

interactive art piece 

ceiling in the main gallery

comfy room off of the main gallery. It has the feel of
hanging out in a friend's living room

They happen to be having an event on Saturday to celebrate Mary's birthday. (one of the gallery owners) and they graciously invited me to set up my wares at the shin dig. When I got there on Saturday, the whole place had been decorated with vibrant balloons and colorful streamers.

They had an extremely talented group of musicians called Last Note playing all night. And when I say all night, they rocked it out until almost 1am. By the end of the night everyone had literally kicked off their shoes and were dancing like nobody was watching, including me. It was truly a night to remember. 

Last Note

My Saturday set up 

And I wont soon forget my stellar night at The Grassroots Gallery because I purchased this awesome work of art. Goes perfect with my new purple walls. Loving it!

One of my 3 new hobbies: screen printing

For those of you who don't know, I quit my 9 to 5 last May to pursue my dream of living off of my art. Because this is the slow time of year for arts and crafts shows, I thought I'd put my time to good use and take on some new hobbies and learn something new.
A few weeks back I started shadowing at my uncle's screen printing shop in Medina,NY called "Outdoor Adventures" this past week we finally got to some hands-on work. Yesterday I designed my own t-shirt from start to finish.
I really got to see how much work is involved in screen printing. I designed my own artwork, touched it up on the computer, shot my screen and printed a t-shirt and hoodie.
I think I'm going to have to make at least 6 more T-shirts do I can wear one every day! I'm so proud of them!

How to make a functional light box, on the cheap

If asked a word to describe me, I'm pretty sure my friends and family would include the word 'cheap'  (I prefer frugal, but whatever) and for this little project, I outdid myself.  I actually saved a minimum of $50, because this project cost me $0!! (thats right, not one red cent. I happen to have all the materials needed around the house, and I bet you do to)

Materials:
*Cardboard box
*White fabric
*Tape (I used a roll of electrical tape I had laying around, although I wouldn't recommend using it for your project. It doesn't like to stick to fabric very well)
*Scissors
*Clamp on light
* A bright white daylight bulb
*White paint and paintbrush
*White piece of paper/poster board

I happen to have this box still laying around from Christmas so I put it to good use.
First, I cut out the top and two sides, leaving about an inch border around each cut-out. (in the future, I would probably leave 2 inches around each cut-out, It would've made taping the cloth easier)DO NOT CUT the bottom or back of the box.
*save the cutouts! You will need them later...

This is what mine looks like from the top.
Next, you will want to paint the inside edges white.

Then find an old white shirt...here's one!

(yes, that is my explosion of a closet, even though my boyfriend would be mortified I showed you, lets take another look...)

Just for the record, I'm usually the chick who has a place for everything and everything in its place, but hey, something's gotta give...YIKES!  ;)

Ok, so I cut the shirt up the side and through the middle of the armpit. Then used the cut-outs I saved as a template on how big to cut my rectangles. NOTE: I cut the rectangles about an inch larger than the template on all 4 sides. (I did all of the cutting by eye, who has time for precise measurements anyway?)

(Side note: after I made the first cut into the cloth, I almost had a panic attack because I thought it was my boyfriend's shirt. A quick look at the tag, size small, confirmed that it was just a shirt I have no recollection of ever wearing. Whew!)
Anywho, back to the project...

Next, I taped the cloth pieces to the outside of the box, making sure that it was taught.

This is what the inside of your light box should look like at this point, well, hopefully a little nicer than mine.

Next, take your poster board and cut it lengthwise to size of you box. Place it inside the box, making sure it curves down to the bottom. If you crease or bend the paper in anyway, it will show up in your photos. 
 
 Clamp the light so that it is pointing down over the top of the box and you are ready to shoot! I clamped mine to a curtain rod which happens to be at the perfect height for my box. 
Here are some examples of pictures I took with my new light box.  I used absolutely NO Photoshop or enhancing in any way. 

Or how about this fun 'before and after'

Yum!!
Now for some real product shots...

Find pendants like this in my online shop

It's Giveaway Time!!

So, I finally hit my goal of 222 facebook fans! Thank you SO much to everyone who has supported me over the last few years, I appreciate it to no end.
Now for the good stuff...
The winner of the giveaway will get to choose between three pendants, pictured below. (each are a $25 value)

Birds on a Wire

Chaos - Skull and Graffiti

Dave Matthews Band

How to build points and win...
My giveaway is a little nontraditional. The person with the most points by the expiration of the 'game' gets their choice of one of the three pendants pictured above. 
Earning points is easy, you don't even need to leave your computer for most of them! 
 
Point Value                                                                                                                              Action

   1                                                                                               "Like" Sunshyne Silverwear on Facebook

   1                                                                                                Follow this blog and leave a comment
                                                                                                     on this blog post. 

   1 for each                                                                                   Blog, Tweet or Post on FB about 

                                                                                                     Sunshyne Silverwear and leave the links

                                                                                                     in a FB comment on my fanpage 

   1                                                                                                Post a suggestion on my fanpage of what

                                                                                                     image YOU would like to see in a spoon. 

                                                                                                     (only first suggestion has point value, 

                                                                                                     additional suggestions are just for fun)

   5                                                                                                Post a picture of you wearing a 

                                                                                                     Sunshyne Silverwear necklace on 

                                                                                                     facebook, and tag Sunshyne Silverwear 

                                                                                                     in it, or just fill out this form

  10                                                                                               Buy a pendant from my online store. Use 

                                                                                                     coupon code "10POINTS" to get 25%

                                                                                                     off of your entire purchase! (Each pendant
                                                                                                     purchased is worth 10 points) 

   5                                                                                                Take a pic of me at the Clothesline 

                                                                                                     Festival and tag Sunshyne Silverwear in 

                                                                                                     it when you post it on facebook. (I'm

                                                                                                     booth 200) 

   1                                                                                                Post a comment on FB stating what your

                                                                                                     favorite pendant is from my online shop 
                                                                                                     (1 post max per person) 

   5                                                                                                e-mail me at:

                                                                                                     sunshyne_silverwear@hotmail.com with 3

                                                                                                     previous 'words of the day/week' (hint:

                                                                                                     I post them weekly on my fanpage)
                                                                                                 

   2                                                                                               Share your favorite lyric of your favorite 

                                                                                                    song on my fanpage.
                                                                                                    (2 posts max per person)

   2                                                                                                Name one specific place I will be or have 
                                                                                                     already vended at this year without 
                                                                                                     repeating another contestant. Post that
                                                                                                     place on my fanpage
                                                                                                     (2 posts max per person) 
  
   3                                                                                                I am part of a crafter's club called RNEST
                                                                                                     What does RNEST stand for? e-mail me
                                                                                                     at sunshyne_silverwear@hotmail.com
                                                                                                     with the answer and collect your points!
  
   2                                                                                                "like" the RNEST facebook fanpage, 
                                                                                                     and leave a post on my fanpage letting me 
                                                                                                     know you did so. 
   
   4                                                                                                I donate a portion of my proceeds to a 
                                                                                                     charity. E-mail me at :
                                                                                                     sunshyne_silverwear@hotmail.com
                                                                                                     with the name of the organization. 
  
   4                                                                                               what portion of my proceeds do I
                                                                                                    donate? (hint: this is a little bit of a trick
                                                                                                    question, points only accumulated if you
                                                                                                    get the answer completely right) 

   2                                                                                               email me at:
                                                                                                    sunshyne_silverwear@hotmail.com with 
                                                                                                    the name of my two cutie pie pit bulls. 
                                                                                                    (hint: you can find the answer on my 
                                                                                                     fanpage)
        
   3                                                                                               Finish this sentence and post the whole 
                                                                                                    thing up on my fanpage: 
                                                                                                    If I could switch careers with no risk 
                                                                                                    involved, I would love to be a 
                                                                                                    full-time ______________!
                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                                                      

  More ways to earn points coming soon! Stay tuned!                                                                    

                                                                

 Giveaway starts 9/8/11 and ends at midnight on 9/13/11. On 9/16/11 (my birthday!) I will reveal who the lucky winner is! If there is a 'tie' with two or more people having the same amount of points, I will select a winner using a random winner generator. (A.K.A. pick a name out of a hat) 

Everyone in the world is eligible for this giveaway. 

Good luck!

Erin doing her thing at the Bethel,NY Furthur show

                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

I made the news!

About a week ago I got a phone call from the Democrat and Chronicle. They wanted to to a 300 word piece on me for their "Young Professionals" feature in the Sunday paper. They had gotten my name from an old high school friend who I had recently reconnected with and who is also doing the Clothesline festival.
I was flabbergasted. Of course I would do it, so they told me they would call back in a few days for the interview. At first I was so psyched to have the opportunity, and then I got a little nervous about what I would say and how I would come across in the article. They wanted to focus on the fact that I left my job to pursue my art full time. So now I had days to over-think it.
I was so nervous when the reporter called me at 10:30am on the dot last Monday, I'm pretty sure I rambled on about about this and that and then went off on a few tangents, so after I hung up the phone with her, I was trying to think back about what the heck I even said!
I dont know how she reorganized my explosion of thoughts and feelings on the subject, but in my opinion, the article came out alright. The picture that went with the article is a whole different story. ;)

I'm SO excited for The Clothesline Festival!  I probably wont see the light of day until then because I'm  devoting this week to creating dozens of new pendants. I've even got a few new creations and successful experiments I will be debuting this weekend. See ya then! (don't forget to bering your 'word of the week' for your discount at my booth. This week it's pink hydrangea)  
Read the full Democrat and Chronicle article here.

Do It, Live It, Teach It: How to make a vintage suitcase into a functional necklace display

This was a very fun project, so easy too. (right up my alley) I've known for a while that at arts and crafts shows i wanted to showcase my silver spoons separately. One day while scouring for silverware at my local V.O.A., I spotted an old beat up suitcase that I knew would be perfect for the job. (and at 99 cents, i couldn't pass it up) I've seen other artists use vintage suitcases to sell their wares out of, but I've never seen one for jewelry. Well today was the day.

Materials:
* Vintage Suitcase
* 1/2 inch wooden dowels (4)

* 1/2 inch dowel caps (8)                                             
* 1/2 inch drill bit
* Power drill
* Wood glue
* Small hand saw
* Tape measure
* Marker

First I eyeballed it and figured out where i wanted my dowels to go on the inside. I had to take in account for the length of the necklaces when hung up to decide where i wanted the lower bar. Then I measured and marked where i wanted to drill and drilled a hole right through the suitcase. (it was surprisingly easy considering this particular suitcase feels like it's made out of a thick cardboard!)

Once all 8 holes were drilled, i measured how long the dowel would need to be and cut them to size.
*note the comfy house slippers, hey what do ya want, it's my day off ;)

I glued the dowel caps on only one end of the dowel so that i can pull them back through if needed.

Awesome finished product:

click on images to enlarge

I'm calling it 'Grandma's cupboard'
See more of my silverware creations on my web site www.sunshynesilverwear.com If you like anything you see, use coupon code 'Blog' at check out and get 20% off of your entire purchase. This code is only good for 7 days from date of post. Enjoy!

Featured as Artist of the Month!

Greetings of Grace is an online store that sells a wide range of quality pressed flowers. I have been a loyal customer for about two years and absolutely love their products and outstanding customer service. On a few occasions I have even sent them 'thank you' e-mails and included some of my artwork that was made with some of their beautiful pressed flowers and plants. This month, I got a surprise e-mail from them telling me that they featured me in their newsletter as Artist of the Month!

Check out the newsletter here and browse through the wide selection of pressed flowers at their online shop www.greetingsofgrace.com