A Shout Out From Wingo

Big THANKS to Jimmie Lynn of Wingo Designs for the mention today. She makes FAB jewelry and does SPECTACULAR landscape designs! She did my backyard a few years ago and I don't think I could love it any more than I do!

Get Your CRAVE On

Here's another one of our featured artists, my bud Jennifer Bedenbaugh of Crave Studio. I have 2 of her necklaces and I get compliments EVERY single time I wear them! I've given several of her other pieces as gifts and people have been so moved by their beauty that I've actually seen a few tears.

All art requires courage. ~Anne Tucker

Like many people who are driven to create, I have spent a lifetime testing my passions in all sorts of mediums. While majoring in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design at the University of South Carolina, I felt I had tried it all - printmaking, photography, painting, drawing and playing music have all been a major part of my life at different points. But in the Fall of 2008, I ventured into unknown territory and took a pottery class that our local museum was offering. I quickly fell in love with clay and the entire process of making ceramic art. It is such a beautiful medium. No matter what the end product, be it something functional or sculptural, all of it starts out as nothing more than a lump of mud.

When you are passionate about something that fills you up, your soul beckons you to pursue it. I felt this way about my work with clay from the beginning. And so it was born - Crave Studio. I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by a tremendous group of amazing and talented artists and friends who have given me the courage to pursue this dream, and challenged me to open this business. I hope you will continue to support Crave Studio on its journey of growth. For more information about the new studio space or to find out more about my current work, you can follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cravestudio or on etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/cravestudio.

Sew Sew Lovely

So, so excited for y'all to meet Julia Clarke of Sew Sew Lovely! Be sure to check her out at the Local Art Gathering on April 9th!

Julia Clarke a fiber artist living and working in Greenville, SC. Julia spent most of her childhood living outside of Atlanta, GA with her parents and two sisters. . She completed her Bachelors of Arts in Business with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Georgia in 2007. She moved to Greenville in May 2010 and started her business "Sew Sew Lovely". You can see Julia's creations online at www.sewsewlovely.etsy.com, and read her blog at www.juliaclarke.blogspot.com. Her creations can also be found in Liz Daly's Designs in downtown Greenville and Sage Consignment on Pelham road. When Julia is not sewing she can be found wandering through flea markets and antique stores, taking trips to find strange Americana and dancing while doing the dishes.

"Creating things is my passion. Most of my creations seems to have a mind of their own and sometimes go down a completely different direction than I intended thus I really have no idea how something is going to turn out until I am done with it. I am always on the lookout for vintage pieces of fabric, interesting neckties and standout buttons to complete a project and give it a unique voice."

Christina Nicole

Take a minute to get to know Christina Nicole-another one of our featured artists on April 9!

Christina Nicole creates jewelry that brings timeless elegance and vintage fashion together with a modern twist... Capturing the couture classics, she restores one of a kind brooches, charms, and heirlooms that can only be recreated by her vision of celebrating the modern, yet feminine woman. Based in Greenville, South Carolina, her jewelry is inspired from a dedication to preserve the stories behind each piece so that new memories can be made. Christina also specializes in custom pieces if you would like to use your own family heirlooms. Each creation is one of a kind, just like the story behind the piece.


www.ShopChristinaNicole.etsy.com
www.Christina-Nicole.com
www.ChristinaNicoleStudios.blogspot.com

Yellow Elm

I'm hoping you've all read this post about the Local Art Gathering on April 9th. Elizabeth from Yellow Elm is one of our featured artists at the event. Here's a little about Elizabeth and her art. Enjoy!

Yellow Elm is the work of artist Elizabeth Blanton. She crafts each piece by hand, layering wool, pouring soap and boiling water over it, and scrubbing until the fibers interlock to make felt. Inspired by the soft texture and unique qualities of felt, Elizabeth first made several large felt wall-hangings. Then she decided to make a few brooches as gifts for friends, and Yellow Elm emerged as a result.

Elizabeth has a degree in graphic design.

Yellow Elm handmade felt fashion accessories are one-of-a-kind. Each headband, clip, and bobby pin is created from wool, with every fabulous detail added by hand. Each piece is a unique work of art, made for the woman with style as extraordinary as she is.

Check Me Out! I'm Famous!

Click here to see the extremely talented Christina Sawicki's blog post today. She makes FAB jewelry and is going to be a part of the Local Art Gathering which I mentioned here. I LOVE it when I get a shout-out on a blog:)

A Local Art Gathering

Please see the info below regarding a FAB event and friend and I have put together. This is a GREAT way to support our local economy and to support local, independent artists. There will be wearable art as well as art for your home and garden and all at affordable prices. Be sure to check out my blog over the next few weeks as I will be posting more info about these talented ladies!




Join Palmetto Home & Garden for a Local Art Gathering on Saturday, April 9 from 11AM until 3PM.

Featured artists include:
Christina Nicole Studios
Zoa Art
Crave Studio
Sew Sew Lovely
Yellow Elm
Art by Sarah Kargol

Please join us for this special event just in time for Easter, Mother's Day, graduations, and summer weddings. There will be everything from pottery for your home to jewelry to pocketbooks all handmade by local artists. This event will be cash or check only. Please contact Kelley Price Smith or Heather Wilson Summers via facebook with any questions.

Flare, Flare Everywhere!

I have ALWAYS loved flared jeans. My absolute favorites were some Joe's Stardust that I got in NYC about 3 years ago. I wore them til I couldn't hide the holes any longer and then, sadly, had to retire them. I am THRILLED that flares are back with a vengeance! I still like skinnies to cuff and wear with flats or to tuck into boots when it's cooler but, flares just "had me at hello".
Please check out The Sartorialist for some super cool flares in NYC, Paris & Milan. For you local peeps, check out The Gap at Haywood for the flares shown above! (vintage flare, twill flare, and wide leg trouser jeans) They also have some called SUPER FLARE in the store but I can't find them online. Trust me, they rock!

p.s.
Gap stores are offering 30% off your entire purchase until Sunday! Click here for deets!

Gap Give and Get THIS WEEK!

Thursday starts Gap at Haywood's Give and Get program. That means 30% off of your entire purchase and 1 of 4 non profit groups gets 5% of what you spend. It's a win-win situation! The discount also applies to purchases at Old Navy, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Outlet and Gap Outlet. AND (as if all of the above isn't already enough!), Gap at Haywood will be opening early at 8AM on Thursday for all of you early birds!

Click to enlarge the coupons, choose your non profit, print out the coupon, and you're good-to-go!

Taking The Easy Way Out

Okay, so I'm totally being lazy and just posting a link to my friend's blog.........but you have got to check out this Kimono Dress from Target! I got it last year in gray and in red and wore the heck out of it! Much like Michelle says in her blog, I wore it with cuffed jeggings and flip flops during the day, then put on wedges and an obnoxious necklace for a dressier look at night as well as layered a long sleeve tissue tee under it, paired with the same jeggings (no cuff this time) tucked into tall boots when it got cooler. And just to give you an idea of size, mine are Mediums.
Thanks, Michelle, for reuniting me with this dress! (you should be able to link to the dress from her blog)