Slide Frames are back! Import woes...

So we sell these great slide frames and glass from Ranger. They are easy, you just make your collage and put it between two pieces of glass then open the frame and slide the whole kit and caboodle into the frame. Voila! Instant gift with cute picture or pithy saying. What's not to love?

Last year the folks at Ranger hit a big snag with these. The frames are manufactured overseas at one factory and the glass at another. When the product was ready to ship here to the US the last minute quality check revealed that the glass and frames didn't match up. Oops. The Ranger folks didn't import any of it since you generally need both parts to match. We had lots of sad people wanting these, especially last Christmas (they make great ornaments.) The products were featured in several craft magazines and the few stores that had any sold out. We had only a few empty frames left with no glass to fit in them. That is a big problem with importing, often the items have to be ordered really far in advance and when you aren't there, day to day, to check on quality you never really know. The folks at Ranger were sad, I am sure, to loose all those orders for this items last holiday season. They resolved their manufacturing problems and the frames and glass fit (I know, I checked!)

So the frames and glass are back. Wahoo! see them at both stores or at ornamentea.com

Retro Restock

We've unpacked a shipment of wool felt including a giant amount of the Retro color mix shown here. This assortment was inspired by the fabulous Betz White and we love the soft, sherbert colors. It sold out quickly the last time we got it in so we ordered an extra big amount. I would like to fill up a swimming pool with these and just roll around in them, kinda like those ball pits they have at playgrounds but I wouldn't share it with any sticky children. Can you imagine my own sticky children emerging from a bath in tiny, multicolored felt balls? Actually, I can imagine that and it's making me laugh out loud.

Well, go check it out...we have new felting tools and books in, as well.

Studio Sale

So if you happen to be in Pittsfield, Massachusset this coming weekend please visit my friend Crispina's Studio Sale. You'll find lots of her signature recycled wool goodies and I am sure it's loads of fun...this is one of those events that makes me wish I had a machine that could beam me anywhere for a few hours of fun.

Both of our children learned to walk on one of her giant potholder rugs and they snuggle under a sweet baby pink blanket made of cashmere and wool sweaters from ladies of long-ago.


If you go, tell Crispina I said hi!

(I would have nicked a photo from her site to show you here but the clever folks have it all in fancy flash, so you'll have to click through and see what I am talking about...)

Book Reviews for this rainy Monday

Susan Lenart-Kazmer's book is in at both stores and, really, it's better than you thought it would be. It's a fancy coffee-table art book that also happens to be a great how-to book. Check out the thousands of images of Susan's work plus shots of work by Bob Ebendorf (from ECU) and other tremendous artists. If you are interested in incorporating anything out of the ordinary into your jewelry, the Blade Runner meets Stone Age Princess look of her projects will get you very excited. The chapter on hinges in particular got me really excited. Susan also talks about her favorite tools and tips, like using a pan of pumice to protect flammable objects from the torch. If this inspires you as well, remember that Ornamentea and Panopolie can special order almost any studio tool your heart desires, just ask to see our Eurotool catalog.

Semiprecious Salvage by Stephanie Lee is like an illustrated mystery novel that happens to be a great how-to book. She weaves together a narrative of expedition and discovery with techniques and projects that make you stay up late and dream of jewelry. More romantic and flowery than the Lenart-Kazmer book, the projects in Semiprecious Salvage are sweet and heirloom. I love her use of materials like plaster and silk ribbons and had to create my own 'messy soldered' chain after just a few minutes with the book...There are also great how-to photos for etching, different wire wraps and patinas.

Both of these books share a love of incorporating the odd bit into your work and each inspires with great images and in-depth how to directions. They both have a place next to may favorite reading chair right now, and will move to a prime spot on my studio reference shelf.