Apple... I heart you!

Today, of all days, I get this message in my inbox from Crissy Herron of IndieBizChicks.com about this chance to win a $500 Apple gift card!

Why am I surprised about THIS message when I get several of her newsletters a week? Because THIS morning, I woke up to a HUGE gift with bright orange wrapping paper on it, 3 silver star balloons hovering above sparkling in the sunlight, and the words Happy 30th Birthday fancily written on the paper. Little did I know that in mere moments I would be sobbing like a child who just licked their scoop of ice cream right off the cone and watched it plop to the ground. (I love ice cream, I would cry if it were me too...and I am not a child)

Back to my story....my wonderful, thoughtful, amazing boyfriend gave me an iMac for my birthday. Yea? See why I cried? Amazing, right?

So there is no other day that could have been more perfect to get this message about a gift card.

I would help my mom buy a computer now or help fix my macbook to pass down to her. She needs to learn the greatness of mac!

I heart Apple.

“I’m posting this to enter a contest offered by Cashier Live, a point of sale software company, at Indie Biz Chicks. Enter to win here!”
Go. Do it. Enter.

Image borrowed from here.

Holiday Boot Camp - Salut!

I have decided to give this a try this year. Why not? This is a time for change. New move, new decade..the 30s, new job...I want to make this business work. Sounds like a good place to start.

I, __Casey Janowski___, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I’ve learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!

Let's do it!! WOO

Kerrytown BookFest - 2011 recap

September 11th was the day of the 9th annual Kerrytown BookFest in Ann Arbor, MI. Thanks to Kate Kehoe of Chicalookate, I was able to snatch up a last minute cancellation. Boy, was I lucky!! Not only was this the most beautiful day, it was close to home, I had a super fabulous location, I met amazing people, and got to see some local crafty lovelies - Nicole Ray of Sloe Gin Fizz and Amanda from Dang Argyle. Fab Nicole took home the prize for the best display... unfortunately I didn't get to snap a photo but she always has these amazing props worked into her display like old crates and vintage typewriters. She totally deserved this award.. Congrats to her!!

I am proud of myself for taking the photos that I did. I wish I snapped more but it's hard to focus when you get scooped up in the excitement of shows. Let me share a few...

Every show presents the challenge of setting up, at least for me. Some people have it down to a science..but when you could fill a 10 x 10 tent with merch, it's hard to condense it to a 6 ft. table! EEEP!! What do I bring and what do I leave?? Here is a little peek at the right side of my table.

Here is the left side of my table.

Tip: Purchase bed risers. Bring them to shows. USE THEM!! I cannot remember where I heard this tip. If I could they would get all the credit because THIS has been such a huge help... not only for me but for the customer. It is so much more comfortable for people to look when things are closer to eye level. It's also good for you when you are behind there working on something or just standing.. feels oh so right!


Here is my table all set up. I am very happy with it and will be referring to these photos in the future to recreate this set up.

Here is the lovely Kate Kehoe of Chicalookate! She's a maker of quote magnets, record bowls, and record cover notebooks. (I have 3 polka notebooks that go EVERYWHERE with me) She is also a talented photographer and she creates coasters, notebooks, magnets, pocket mirrors and so much more with her awesome photos! (I have the cutest pocket mirror from her too!) She purchased one of my necklaces and was sporting it at the show. Thanks to this fab lady I was able to get in as a vendor!

Cute mother-daughter sport Fartsy Arts necklaces. Mom purchased a large, chunky, 2 in. camera pendant and adorable daughter got the Peter Pan Peanut Butter necklace!

This lovely volunteer who's husband had a booth a couple spots over from me purchased one of my funky headbands!!

Lynn Yates - Exhibitor Committee Chair was so freakin' sweet and bubbly! She came by and scooped up one of my new notebook necklaces that was finished at 2 a.m. the night before. Thanks Lynn!!

Storms-a-brewin'!!

This woman was so nice! She was working on binding a book with this little contraption. I zoomed over to check it out and got a little mini lesson about book binding. She had what she called a "caterpillar stitch" which was stitched along the front and back of this tiny book. I can't really explain but, it's worth a Google!


Some of my newer necklaces and my earrings. The two pieces on the bottom are my new line of jewelry holders made from antique letterpress drawers! Soon to be listed on Etsy. Custom colors available too!



Hope you enjoyed the mini tour!

rain, rain, go away.. please?

Sometimes I love rainy days... today.. I do not. Frankly I am a bit fed up with it. When I have time to sit around and play.. it's just fine.. but when there are things to do and yard sales to be had, stuff to sell, and moving money to make......rain is just not the most welcomed guest.

I am hoping to gather up my yard sale mess that I made in my house as I frantically rushed everything indoors this morning when the monsoon hit. Once that is done and under control, I am hoping to get some stuff made for a show this Sunday - Kerrytown Bookfest 2011.

Looking forward to a new show!! Will post pics next week.

Stay dry folks!!!!

a Virgo's high... the organized studio

Ahhhh!! a Virgo's paradise!

For the last two days I have been organizing my art room. After working hard to make stuff for a few shows, this poor space has been used, abused, and neglected. It was time to put stuff away, organize some loose treasures, and get an inspirational space back so I can create!!

I love this room. I am so lucky that my better half let me move in and take over this room as a studio. It has great lighting and a great vibe. My only complaint today is the HEAT!! too much sunshine and a 2nd floor room in an old house doesn't get too much AC....but that is tiny compared to the happiness it brings me.

I would like to share a few of my favorite little things.

This is one of my favorite little things in this room. It's just a simple little sketchbook but it holds so many goodies inside!!! After I go to a show, or purchase something, I immediately come home and put a business card in here!!


It is so great to have all my cards in one space. I hate when they are loose so what I do is separate the cards with a blank back from the cards with info on the back. The blank ones I glue in and the ones that are two sided I staple, just in case I need the info/website on the back. I started out by organizing into sections, but now I just throw them in. It is great because I have a little bit of space around each card to make notes. This book gets me excited when a birthday comes up or the holidays approach because it gives me an excuse to visit all these great artist's websites and shop handmade!!


I am in the process of organizing my fabrics the same way. I plan to attach these small swatches of fabric that I have into a book that is sectioned into two sections: Mas o menos (more or less.) One section will have swatches of fabric that I have a little of...for small projects and the other will have swatches of fabric that I have lots of...to make cool new outfits!!


This piece was a GREAT surprise!! It was 50% off at Michaels one day!! It is perfect to separate the old photos I use in my work. I am also trying to get my greeting cards organized. This has slats that you slide in the drawer that separates each section. Great thing about it is if you want to store a box or something larger, take the slat out and instant extra space!!! Highly recommended!

This is probably my favorite wall in my room. I have old letterpress drawers that I am using for rubber stamp storage. I love looking at all of my stamps. They get my creativity flowing!! My laptop is usually facing this way because it gives me happy tingles in my tummy!!

These little shadow boxes were my moms. She used to store her mini perfume bottles in them but gave them to me! They serve the same purpose for my smaller stamps.



This tiny little shelf hold only a VERY SMALL handful of some fun things...my favorite on here is the tiny Frida Khalo figurine I purchased for ONE DOLLAR! Her head comes off too! why? I have no clue. The rest of my stuff is packed for my move. It's so hard to not unpack it and just put it up for the remainder of my stay. Needless to say, I will probably cry when I have to give up this room.


Ah!!! BOOOKS!! I lovvvvveeeee books!!! This, again, is just a VERY SMALLLLL collection of my books. This antique dresser was a South Carolina Craigslist find that I love. $50 bucks!

I was going through some things in storage and found all of my Essential artist books! Time to get cracking on my art history lesson plans. No excuse now.. they are staring at me!



That concludes my mini tour......van Gogh hopes you have a great day!! Thanks for visiting!!