incredible...

Box from Bot & Dolly on Vimeo.

This ends with my favorite Arthur C. Clark quote...

Inspiration Packages

We've created some one-of-a-kind grab-bags you won't want to miss. These Inspiration Packages are filled with art beads, project samples, manufacturers samples, vintage trims and other bits that will inspire you. We have done grab-bags in past years, but they were in opaque bags and it always drove me crazy wondering if the person who got the one with the lovely mix of blue goodies even LIKED blue. 

Yeah, I know...

Still, this year we packaged the bags in clear, shimmery bags. You can see what's inside. You'll be inspired. I promise.

In store only, but you can call us and we'll try to help you choose one. 

These are all priced at only $9. 

They make good gifts for crafty friends, too!

Inspiration is for amateurs. -Chuck Close

“Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work.”

Chuck Close, a photo-realist painter who's work asks questions about portraiture, paintings and photography, is full of some amazing advice. He's a painter who works, despite serious physical limitations, daily. He's produced art on a heroic level for decades. By that, I mean a lot of art and really LARGE art. This painting is around 6 feet wide. 

I've admired his work for a long time, but this recent article left me with a quote I'm really going to embrace. I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed with store and mom and me activities lately and I've not felt like I was inspired. I read this quote and thought 'okay, then! back to work, girl!'

I'm off to design some new projects. You go read this article. It's really good. 

Image taken for instructional purposes from the page of the Pace Gallery. Learn more about Chuck Close and see this painting and others by Close right here on the Pace Gallery site. 

I've been seeing ear cuffs everywhere... and we just got some naked brass ones in, and they have a little hole making it easy to add whatever you feel like.  (They can also be enameled or soldered!) Here is a simple design from Free People.  I like this example because it would be easy to add on to it... maybe add a charm, or connect the chain to a swarovski ear post. So many possibilities!

Inspiration Collage - beaded wrap bracelet

That bracelet is lovely.

That bracelet is also $480.

I'm pretty sure it would look almost as nice with some Toho seed beads instead of the peridot that Anne Sportun used in the original. With these filed cube beads. And this Soft Flex stringing material so it'd be nice and soft.

But if you are wondering what to get me for Christmas, I'd like this ring by Anne.