Have you explored our Market?  We have the regular categories that you would expect to see in a handmade market that have a specific function in our homes or in our closet. Then, we have categories that have an established niche and are collected or supported because of that interest. (Fair Trade, Tribal Art, Weddings,…

Flowers have been a favorite motif ever since humans started decorating surfaces. Archeologists have found pottery, wooden carvings, woven remnants, and jewelry with ancient floral designs. And, why not? Once humans went beyond the function of something they made, they felt compelled to decorate it. This eventually became stylized into a language of its own…

“We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”  -Isaiah 64:8 (from the Bible) I’ve always liked this verse from the Bible and after working with clay, it took on new meaning. Even though a potter does make choices about the form, clay body, function, glazes, etc, the…

Spring is here and when I walk outside, the song birds are in full throttle! It's such a joy to hear them and watch them. I have a couple of feeder areas and love seeing who comes!  We have a category in our Marketplace for "Birds and Wings" which includes insects, bats, angels and anything…

I was thinking about the heart shape, wondering how it became the symbol for love. Clearly, the physical heart must have inspired poetry, ballads, and stories for thousands of years because of how it pounds in our chests when we think of the beloved, hold a child, face an enemy, take a risk or engage…

“Living well is an art that can be developed: a love of life and ability to take great pleasure from small offerings and assurance that the world owes you nothing and that every gift is exactly that, a gift. ” ― Maya Angelou   Click on the photos to visit our member websites.   It's…

Decorating for the holidays is a huge deal for many people, with many bringing out treasures that have been handed down for generations. Ornaments and stocking stuffers can be great small gifts that delight young and old. But, just because something might be small in size, it doesn't mean that it is necessarily "cheap". The…

As the cold weather blows through the Northern Hemisphere, we pull out our scarves, shawls and warm clothing. Some of it is practical, a barrier against cool temps, but a lot of it is also fun. There are two reasons I like Fall and Winter: I can wear my woolens (and other favorites) and I…

Is the desire for adornment an innate human drive? Most cultures seem to express their identities through their clothing, jewelry and hair styles, often messaging to the public their roles in society with what they wear. They might signal marital status, wealth, professions, cultural identity, and even subcultures born out of rebellion against those same…