The Benefit Auction Is Over...BUT....

You can still find some beautiful items for Christmas
from these amazing artist!


Graphics Illustrated by Vinnie at
Corona-Evans Illustration

The Peace & Love Market has chosen Bernie Berlin's A Place to Bark as their special cause and have made this exclusive OOAK "Christmas Charm Bracelet" to be sold at their 'Benefit Auction"! It only takes a few seconds to sign up at 1000Markets and then you are ready to bid.



Here is a list of the talented artist who put their time and love into this project. Be sure to check out each shop as I know you will find a Special Christmas Gift for that Special Someone!

Brief Moments
by Maribeth

Jewel Fire Designs
by Katy

BaublesButtonsBeads
by Debbie
Founder Of Peace & Love

Five to Nine Design
by Lee

Libertyo
by Cheryl

Charming Trinkets
by Susan

Ever so Dear
by Diane

PattyMara's Sacred Heart Cafe
by Patty Mara

Abby Horowitz Designs
by Abby Abby Horowitz

My Three Jewels
by Ronnie

One Heart Jewelry
by Debi

Moon Box Studio
by Katy Jane

Broken Wing3
by Peggy

The Heartsleeves

“Born in the glory and pageant of the noble working cities of Boise, Cleveland, Schenectady, Boston and Syracuse, The Heartsleeves is the voice of the no frills sincerity of real world American life.”

That’s how Jared Nathanson describes his band The Heartsleeves, five normal guys from forgotten cities who share of passion for music. Check out the interview below to hear Jared get chatty about Boston, their love of all things jazz and whether they are Pro or Con the three minute pop song.1. Your bio sounds like you guys are all from different places. How did Boston become your base?

Purely circumstance, but we’re all from “forgotten cities.” I’m from Schenectady, New York. Once the birthplace of GE and a city of great industry and history. It’s been going through some tough times, but I love it and it will always be my first home.

Boston was the choice because I wasn’t ready for NYC. I wanted something big enough to hold a healthy art scene. (I got my BA in Fine Arts -always a very useful and lucrative degree.)

The HeartSleeves was formed, essentially, when I met Wayne “Rhino” Flower at a community open studios art show. He was showing his art while Curtis Mayfield was pumping out of his “boom box.” We got to talking music. Wayne, a Boise, Idaho boy had spent his youth in the burgeoning music scene of the late ‘80s west coast, especially early 90’s Seattle. He had an extensive career in music as a drummer and bassist in very influential bands like The Halo Benders, Treepeople, Violent Green (great punk bands I had never heard of at the time). He was this deep and soulful dude and we exchanged the trite “we should jam together sometime” knuckle tap.

About a year later (it should have been sooner), we ended up working on some of my songs in my living room. Just a vocalist and a bass, which is not a very good combo for song craft, but as Wayne liked to say, his bass became like a “big comfy chair” for me to lay out my melodies. We even recorded a few songs on his laptop with Wayne tapping a drumbeat on a cardboard box. We worked on several songs from the album there, “Learn To Live, “Symptoms of Rebellion, and “Glory Pour Down,” which was a song I had been working on since 1994.

We hooked up with my dear old friend and sax genius Joel Greenlee, a proud Cleveland native, and Jazz/Afro Pop player, Ariel “REL” Rejman (The Great Buriers, Air and Space Museum) in a jazz quartet. REL in turn brought in his band mate Joshua Lee Loomis. Josh is a one man music machine and the creative force behind the “The Great Buriers.” REL, was born in Israel but raised in Boston and Josh was another upstate New Yorker like myself, raised in the fine city of Syracuse.

We were playing in this dungeon practice space at the Fenway and I thought a lot about our origins (Boise, Boston, Cleveland, Schenectady and Syracuse) and our influences (Punk, Jazz, Soul, Rock, Country). That’s where I came up with the tongue and cheek phrase “Born in the glory and pageant of the noble working cities of Boise, Cleveland, Schenectady, Boston and Syracuse, “The Heartsleeves” is the voice of the no frills sincerity of real world American life.” It felt like it fit.

When Joel and Wayne moved West, we were very lucky to find Ben Margolis (The Peoples’ Donut) and Robert Gilmore (Air and Space Museum) on sax and bass.

2. What is the music scene like in Eastern Massachusetts and how do you guys fit in, or not?

Boston has a nice group of original bands, but we’re competing with cover bands and DJs at any venue. If a venue can pack in folks to dance with a DJ or rock out to the hits or golden oldies played by tight professional musicians, why take a chance playing original music?

More and more, the wonderful and filthy clubs that used to pride themselves on original music are either having gentrified face lifts or they’re closing down. I was very proud that we got to play The Abbey Lounge in Cambridge before it closed down last year and I was very excited by the reaction when we played Jacques Underground last week. For many talented bands doing the “original music” thing, it is hard to find places to play. Personally, I think The HeartSleeves’ sound straddles the indie and mainstream scene. We are pretty accessible and seem to be able to play our original music in cover band venues without too much trouble. I did get asked to play some AC/DC the other day which was like asking Stevie Wonder to play Ministry.

I think Boston audiences respond to sincerity and that’s all we have. We aren’t in your face or crazy, we’re sweet melancholy music pulled from real life stories and loves and we mean it all sincerely. In that way, I think we really do wear our hearts on our sleeves and I think people respond to that kind of honesty.

3. Who are your musical influences?

I grew up watching “Soul Train” and “Hee Haw.” [I can't be the only one, can I?] I loved watching The Comodores or Heatwave hanging with Don Cornelueas and you never knew who would be jamming with Buck Owens and Roy Clark on a given night. Real, soulful country music, like old country, outlaw country and alt country, has a lot of emotive connections with soul, blues and jazz. I love emotive music. Music that has sincere power and profundity in it. Usually, it’s all just a pretty way of wailing your pain away.

We call our sound “Neo Eclectic Soul” because we are really a stew of many things, Soul being maybe only the most obvious.

I write songs with a heavy influence from The Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, Jimi Hendrix, Al Green, Johnny Cash, The Velvet Underground, Rashaan Roland Kirk, The Band, everyone at Motown and Staxx, David Bowie, Sly & The Family Stone, Josh White and my muse and inspiration — Nina Simone, probably the most dynamic singer this side of Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald. Nina Simone is my place of inspiration.

4. Your lead guitar seems to be a saxophone. Is this a conscious choice in your song writing?

Absolutely! I love jazz, especially the saxophone when played by Rashaan Roland Kirk, Cannonball Adderly or John Coltrane. They all had this love/hate affair with the popular song.
Our first sax player Joel and I have known each other many years and I have always had fun playing off him as if we were two vocalists. The sax is a vocal instrument and usurped by the guitar as the lead instrument in the early days of rock. The sax can hint at the melody, it can be seductive while being just as aggressive as the guitar, but with sensuality that I think guitar only has in the best of hands. The sax shouldn’t be condemned to be a piece of parsley on the plate and we’re just trying to put it back on its throne. After Hendrix, rock guitar is a very much known quantity, and somehow sax, even when it’s tearing it up in a whirlwind of machismo, still has the subtleties and emotional resonance that guitar rarely delivers. I write with the sax in mind, always and with a lot of room.

I work with Ben all the time to help refine the sax in each song. For The HeartSleeves, the sax can be mellow and supportive like a keyboard, smart and sly like a flute or strong and arrogant like a lead guitar. We’re working with an additional sax player now, so we’ll have tenor and alto saxophones weaving some sweet sounds together.

5. The songs on Dirt & Water have a strong jazz element. Were any of you schooled in jazz through a university music program? If not, how do you think you’ve come to write songs steeped in jazz?

Dirt & Water is a Jazz song in that it was created live by the whole band as a jam and we just happened to record it. I loved the original jam so much I just kept asking everyone to listen to it. The first part of the song was literally one song idea that was going nowhere and all of a sudden Joel came up with this incredible melody that cut through and redirected everything. In an instant the whole song came to us and we just did it. That’s Jazz.

It doesn’t hurt that Wayne and I are huge jazz fans or that Joel and REL are trained Jazz players. I got my start as an improvisational performer and I love pulling lyrics and melodies out of chords and little pieces of inspiration live. So that helps too. I think most of us are very into Jazz, and many of us have studied Jazz in college, either as history or theory. For me, Jazz is the clearest hybrid of art and music I’ve ever witnessed.

6. Dirt & Water (the entire record) has a live but polished feel. Was replicating the live mood of a gig a goal in the recording process? Any interesting stories from the process?

We record live and then only do necessary secondary tracks. So vocals, sax and guitar might be a mixture of the best of three or four takes, but a lot of it comes from that first live take. We really are striving to sound live, with just a gentle polish. Plus, I think too much recording and mixing will suck the life out of a performance. Most music is so overproduced and auto tuned that all the interesting “nooks and crannies” are buffed right out of it.

7. What do you guys have against the three minute pop song?

Nothing at all. Some of our newer songs are shorter popish songs, we just started out not caring about limitations. However Motown and Staxx pop songs are a heavy influence for me and I think songs like “Last Night” really express this. I just write the song and then I try to cut it down to its most simple form. Sometimes that’s 4-7 minutes, but a few are shorter.

I love pop music; I just don’t like hollow pop music. I think pop has gotten a bad name in the last 20 years. The Beatles were pop. David Bowie was pop. We have a strong pop influence in our sound. Pop can have sweet hooks and still be about something real.

8. Some towns end up being known for a certain type of music, are there any Boston musical clichés you love to hate?

Boston is a “guitar rock” city and I get a bit bored with the overtly macho heavy rock sounds. ‘70s and ‘80s guitar rock is something I was never into. Every once in a while someone kicks it up a notch and I try to be there when they do. I was more into Funk, Punk, Glam, Folk, Country Rock and Art Rock.
Boston is a loyal town that remembers its glory days. Some of those days are rich in rock lore. With the death of WBCN (for many, it had been a shadow of its former self for years) I often wonder if it’s time for a new voice for original music in Boston.

A good Boston cliché would be the nurturing and supportive nature of music fans for original bands. Many bands would never have made the bigger stage without them. Boston people are tough, but loyal, and I like that. I’m the same way.

9. If you could hit the road opening for any band, who would it be and why would their fans appreciate what the HeartSleeves have to offer?

If I’m thinking of the bigger acts, I think audiences that likes Death Cab For Cutie, Dave Matthews, The Strokes, The White Stripes, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Bright Eyes, Wilco, would find we had something to offer them in our mix of ‘60s, ‘70s and contemporary soulpop, however, I would love to open for Sharon Jones and The Dapp Kings or (if she was playing and sober) Amy Winehouse and The Dapp Kings. Those two have really got it going in new directions. Plus,the Dapp Kings are amazing!

Top of the list of the living? I would want to play with Levon Helm or Al Green. What can I say… Living gods.

10. What’s your favorite gig venue and why?

We love Jacques Underground. It’s one of the last dirty, black basements out there where people who really love new music congregate. Otherwise, we’re still fairly new to the scene and have yet to play the sweet spots like the Middle East.

11. Where should people look for info about where to see you live?

Our site, The Heartsleeves has links to everything FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter and iTunes related. We also encourage everyone to download our whole album free from our site and if folks like it, we ask them to please let us know and tell their friends. Nowadays, that’s the best way to get word out.

Kseniya Simonova's Sand Painting Is World-Wide Wonder

Artists step into health-care reform debate

By Casey Selix | Published Thu, Aug 13 2009 12:58 pm
The advocacy group Americans for the Arts and 20 other nonprofit arts organizations today called on Congress to pass legislation that will create a public insurance option for individual artists, according to a statement from the coalition.

"Like others who have fallen through the cracks of the current system, many in the cultural workforce work independently or operate in nontraditional employment relationships, leaving them locked out of group healthcare coverage options," says the statement. "Additionally, soaring health care costs are consuming the ever decreasing budgets of nonprofit arts organizations hit hard by today’s economic recession."
In Minnesota, about 14 percent of artists are uninsured, according to Artists Count, a 2007 survey conducted by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. That rate is nearly double the state’s overall uninsured rate.

"It's a huge issue for artists because of their high rate of self-employment plus their low income, which makes health insurance really, really difficult to afford," Springboard for the Arts executive director Laura Zabel told Minnpost last August.
St. Paul-based Springboard has developed an Artists' Access to Health Care program, a joint project with the Neighborhood Involvement Program that offers low-cost vouchers for health-care services and free screening at health fairs.
The coalition’s statement to Congress includes these requests:

• "A health care reform bill that will create a public health insurance option for individual artists, especially the uninsured, and create better choices for affordable access to universal health coverage without being denied because of pre-existing conditions.

• "A health care reform bill that will help financially-strapped nonprofit arts organizations reduce rising health insurance costs to cover their employees without cuts to existing benefits and staff while the economy recovers.

• "A health care reform bill that will enable smaller nonprofit and unincorporated arts groups to afford to cover part and full-time employees for the first time.

• "A health care reform bill that will support arts in health care programs, which have shown to be effective methods of prevention and patient care."

The Man Behind Mem's Portrait

Many have asked me who did the drawing of me and so I would like to introduce you to Indian Artist Burgess Roye. Burgess and I have known each other for many years and also share the same birthday!
Burgess Roye, Ponca, was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma, moved to Western Colorado in 1980, and now lives in Grand Junction, Colorado. I was the first and last white person that Burgess did a drawing of and it was done from a picture taken of me at a friends wedding. He presented it to me as a birthday gift almost 20 years ago. (I really should have it aged) ☺

Burgess Roye - Ponca

"I was taught the symbolism regarding my culture from my grandparents. My art reflects this and enables me to be comfortable about being an Indian in a modern world." ~Burgess Roye

Burgess Roye can be reached at Native Expressions Gallery & Center, 320 S. 1st, Suite B, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501-2208

Burgess's mother Delores Roye and brother Paladine Roye were also artist and both are now deceased. Paintings by Paladine can be found online.

Drunken Chocolate Pecan Cake

I can't help myself:) Infuse a favorite southern drink with everyone's favorite sweet!

INGREDIENTS FOR CHOCOLATE PECAN CAKE:

* 12 ounces semisweet chocolate
* 1 cup unsalted butter
* 8 egg yolks
* 1/2 cup bourbon
* 1-1/2 cups sugar
* 8 egg whites
* 1-1/2 cups whole shelled pecans, ground

INGREDIENTS FOR CHOCOLATE FROSTING:

* 1 pound semisweet chocolate
* 3/4 cup butter
* 1/2 cup shelled pecan halves
* Whipped cream

TO PREPARE THE CAKE:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Melt the chocolate and butter in a saucepan, stirring to blend.

Combine the egg yolks, bourbon and 3/4 cup of the sugar in the top of a double boiler. Cook over simmering water until creamy and light yellow, beating constantly with a wooden spoon.

Beat the egg whites and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold in the egg yolk mixture. Fold in the melted chocolate and the pecans. Spoon into a 10-inch spring form pan. Bake for 1-3/4 hours. Let cool in the pan. Remove the pan side.

TO PREPARE THE FROSTING:

Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring constantly until smooth. Let stand until thick enough to spread, stirring frequently. Level the cake top, using a serrated knife. Frost the cooled cake. Decorate with pecan halves. Serve topped with whipped cream.

SERVINGS: 10 - 12

Enjoy Folks!

Life Is A Balance Between Holding On And Letting Go...

It has been awhile since I have blogged but my life has been so busy recently. Between the gallery, my grand daughter coming for a visit, all the critters having different needs and these extreme headaches, life has been sending me in a thousand directions.

I have closed my shops at 1K for the time being but they were nice enough to let me have the option of coming back at a later date. Hopefully someday I can return but for now I am trying to give 100% to one thing at a time. I miss all my friends at 1K and Peace & Love Market but will stop by and say hi when I can. I have added a wall here and invite all of you to say hi when you have a moment. Peace & Love Market has a great Match Game going on right now so I hope y'all stop by and check it out. They have some great prizes being offered from the Artist.

I am also having a book drawing starting today for my book Tea For Two "Natures Apothecary"
You can find info at the Critters Section on the far right.

I hope everyone is doing well and may life bring you everything you hope for and much more!
Mem

A CHARMING PROCESS

Deb Hann who is the founder of the Peace & Love Market put together a Charm Swap. I had never made a charm or a charm bracelet but was willing to try. I soon realized from conversation at the P&L forum that others had never done this before either so that gave me the confidence to take a deep breath and just have fun.

I made about four different charms out of four different mediums and didn't like any of them. I finally started by weaving a web into a small gold loop with seed beads on the side.
I then printed out in very small print the words Peace and Love. I used wall paper glue and put peace on one side of a gourd seed and love on the other side. Once these were dry I glazed them with a natural glaze, wove another side onto the gold loop and then place the seed inside the pouch I had made. I then took two apple seeds, drilled a hole in the end of each, made a jump ring for them and place them at the bottom of the loop for a decorative dangle.

I have been doing weaving for years. The Native Americans call the finished process "Dream Catchers" but I did not want to duplicate what they have done for years. They actually do theirs with cat gut, silver feather (if jewelry piece) and normally leather and real feathers. They also only do one design which is significant to the story of the dream catcher.

I call my pieces "Knotty Webs". Over the years I have made over 3-5,000 pieces and have never done an exact duplication. I use mixed medium and I also make pouches which is unique to Knotty Webs only. My Knotty Webs could be found in casino's in Las Vegas and Arizona for years. I only recently started doing them again and no longer sale them wholesale to Casino's.

Because of lighting while I was making these and a thing called aging, I almost had to change the name to Naughty Words..I mean Webs. I did have to say a blessing over them when I was finished because of all the swearing. :)

Nine of us participated in the Charm Swap and it was like waiting for Christmas as we each teased each other with a little bit of information each day about our charms. Deb and I talk on the phone almost everyday and she never once cheated by letting me see any of them in advance! (I even begged a couple of times)

The day I received them in the mail I almost broke my neck trying to get back up to the house. (I left Kev in the dust and that's a true story)

I especially want to thank Deb for suggesting, hosting and making this charm swap a blast. I would also like to thank all of those who participated and shared their awesome little charms with me.

I have added a picture of the cards that were sent with them, each person's charm and my finished bracelet. I have truly enjoyed this so much and cannot wait until the next time. Come see us at Peace & Love Market anytime, stop by the forum, say hi and maybe next time you can join us in the Charm Swap.



I have added a link to each participants shop. Take the time to visit these talented artist, say hi and most of all "Happy Shopping"!

Baubles Buttons & Beads
Jewel Fire Designs
Charming Trinkets
Truly Unique by Elise
Brief Moments
Liberty Originals
Mem's Pocket Palette
Clan Of The Mountain Dreamers
Streetnoodles

No longer just a sighting~wife discovers REAL NINCOMPOOP in back yard.. Is able to capture it on camera!

This story all began when my hubby wanted to plant his own garden. Being born and raised in the city he had never had a garden and so he planted a small one of his own with Watermelons, Cantaloupe and Squash. I was worried that the direct sun would burn the leaves once they started sprouting so I suggested he build a garden trellis over it.

I know all of us have grown up hearing about Big Foot, UFO'S and other Creatures that have haunted our dreams and woven their way into our lives. When I was growing up my Dad spoke often of the "Nincompoop". I knew that it could not be a good thing and even heard other parents refer to their children as Nincompoops! Was this some kind of monster that inhabited the bodies of little children and even grown-ups while they sleep?

My hubby had been out in the yard working but I thought it was odd that he had not come in the house for quite some time. I thought maybe I should go check on him. I took my camera with me knowing that he had been working on it a long time. (I was going to have a beautiful Garden trellis and wanted to make sure I got a picture of it to post in our Garden section at Peace & Love)

I could not believe my eyes when I walked into the back yard and to my horror came face to face with a Nincompoop! I screamed, trying desperately to shoo it away but it just stood there staring at me. I began to take pictures and regardless of what I did or said it stood there, unshaken by my bewilderment; with a pride that was eerie like the black clouds filling the skies of Texas.
Photo's of Nincompoop taken 5-11-09 in the Texas Hill Country

I have resigned myself to the fact that the Nincompoop is not going to go away and have debated rather I should call professionals who research sightings. (I have decided I do not want the media bombarding my house.) I guess I’ll just keep the Nincompoop, figure out what he eats and try to keep him away from the garden. Sophie does not seem to be afraid and has yet to bark at the Nincompoop so I have come to the conclusion that it is harmless.

My hubby you ask? I think the Nincompoop ate him:) ©~Mem

1000 MARKETS THE NEW WAVE OF THE FUTURE FOR ONLINE SHOPPING

Let me introduce you to Matt
who is the founder of 1000 markets along with his business partner John

I have chosen 1000 markets as a feature this week because I think that it will truly be the new wave of the future. Matt Trfrio is the CEO of 1000 markets and I believe had a vision that brought markets we all enjoy rather it be on the river walk, along the ocean or near a down town park to each persons home. I estimate that 1000 markets has 1940 shops and 70 markets to date. It's a place where you can put on your favorite jammie's, grab a cup of coffee and meander through shops full of "One Of A Kind Art", "Hand Crafted Treasures", "Unique Jewelry" and much more. It also has specific markets so that you can find exactly what you are looking for. Unlike many online shopping sites, you must be approved to open a shop. Shop owners cannot just register and open a store. 1000 markets wants to offer the best of the best artisans and merchandise and go to great lengths to make sure that 1000 markets maintains a high quality in merchandise and artisans. 1000 markets is also Unique in that it is 100% free to open a shop. By this I mean there are no setup, listing or hosting fee's. At 1000 Markets, they deduct a small fee (5.5% plus 50 cents) when you make a sale. That's it, there's no other fees. I myself am very impressed with the extremely nice setup for your shop. It's simple, attractive and makes it easy to add attractive photo's of your merchandise. I have opened shops at other sites online and I prefer 1000 markets over all the others. Matt and John have impressed me by the fact that they didn't just open a site and then disappear. They are very hands on and always maintain communication between the buyers, merchants and themselves. You will also find 1000 market's staff who are always there to answer questions and make sure that 1000 markets continues to move forward. I have added only a few markets out of the many markets and shops and encourage everyone to experience strolling through this unique community of talented artisans. You might be one of those creative people that not only enjoys shopping at 1000 markets but finds a new home for your hidden talents. Peace & Love in the new millennium is all about capturing the essence of the era from the 60's and 70's; a flashback in time to when handmade products were fashioned from a culture of free spirit thinking. The merchants of Marketplace of Blessings are a group of artisans who are dedicated to delivering high quality products that reflect a Christian theme - items that would be a blessing to give or receive and fit in with the Christian aesthetic. The merchants of Old Town are an eclectic group of artisan shopkeepers sharing a common goal for healthy commerce along with providing a sense of neighborly conduct among all mercantile members of Old Town. Offering exceptional quality & uniquely crafted merchandise will be the result, however, neighborhood participation of the shopkeepers in our Old Town community is our loftiest goal. The merchants of the Furever Friends Market are dedicated to delivering high quality products for both you and your pet. Our merchants understand that pets are valued members of your family, whether they be a cat, dog, bird, fish or something a little more unique. Your Furever Friend deserves to be treated to the best handmade goods that money can buy. Reclaimed To Fame is comprised of a select group of merchant artisans whose products are designed by recycling used materials into new products. Eco Friendly is a diverse group of artisans, each committed to hand crafting products that benefit the environment and the community around us. At Modern Heirlooms you can find Fine handcrafted items, reminiscent of your grandmother's attic, with a touch of modern vision. When you buy at Handmade Haven not only are you buying an item, you are buying in to the "branding" of it, and a little piece of the creator. You instantly recognize that loving hands have carefully crafted something really extraordinary, something that carries with it a little piece of the creators personality.

IN MY SEARCH FOR REALLY UNIQUE ART I FOUND ARTIST~ERIKA IRIS SIMMONS

I have been in search for several months now for really unique artist! My whole life I have been surrounded by musicians and because my son is a musician in Austin I am still surrounded by a world of musicians and I love it. I was so impressed when I came across Erika's art! I love the fact that she has incorporated some of the most talented musicians, people that will always remain classics and those who in their own right will always hold a place in history.

Erika is an artist who specializes in using non traditional media such as old books, audio cassettes, playing cards, magazines, credit cards, basically whatever she can find.

She says:
“It feels great to work with strange, older materials. Things that have a mind of their own. Most everything I use has been thrown away or donated at some point. Past its prime, like some of the finest things in the world.”

What she’s created with some old cassette tapes and reel tapes is simply remarkable. Using these old tapes, Erika has turned them into works of art in a series that she calls “Ghost in the Machine.” The series portrays celebrities and musicians such as Marilyn Monroe, Bob Dylan, Robert DiNero, Jimi Hendrix, Ian Curtis, and Jim Morrison.

In her series you will find The Monet Series, Ghost In The Machine and her Remixes.

THIS WEEKS FEATURED ARTISAN~KATY CURTIS

It is my pleasure to introduce Katy Curtis and her shop Jewel Fire Designs Katy's Jewelry is gorgeous, illuminating beautiful colors that blend like a kaleidoscope. Every piece sparkles with a minty green, rich gold or soothing blue that draws you back to her shop time and time again.

Katy is a member of our market Peace & Love and has been such an asset to our market. She has been a huge support for Debbie and I! She always makes us laugh, always willing to help and participate. She has some wonderful ideas and is the owner of Katy's Coffee Shop in the Peace & Love forum! Not only does she make sure we have coffee but she bakes too.

Katy has been generous enough to share a bit of her story with us even though her life keeps her very busy.
Katy Curtis

"As I have read through the different Peace and Love interviews over the last several months one thing as become perfectly clear to me, We all saw the sixties and seventies with different perspectives but yet still similar in many ways.

I grew up in Springfield Mo which is a fairly big city now but back in the sixties it was much smaller and the world of protesting the war was a long way away for most of us. We were caught up in dances, dating and buzzing around steak and shake drive in. I don’t really remember talking about the war till I went off to collage in 1966.

I went to the University of Wisconsin and what a rude awaking from my ordered little life to a university that was rife with protesters and lots of strange things going on.

I managed to get through it all without to many scars and even lived through the race riots in Milwaukee the summer I lived there which is another story. As far as I am concerned I learned way to much about life at 19 years old. I worked in the emergency room at a hospital in Milwaukee during the riots it was a crazy place!

I married into a career military family and soon learned a whole new way of looking at life and war. We lost so many friends to Vietnam but our family and most of the people we knew were proud to be serving in the military.

I have always had to be doing something with my hands and that was nurtured by my Grandmother who could do anything with her hands. She used to make beautiful clothing by just looking at a picture and never needing a pattern. She was a wonderful Christian woman who shaped my life in so many ways.

I have through the years done about every art form there is but have always come back to jewelry. It just calls my name, I love taking all these wonderful beads and making them into something beautiful for someone else.

I started out making only Christian Jewelry and grew into all sorts of fun mediums and styles.

So for the last 20 years or so I have created jewelry and to support that habit I have been a counselor in a residential drug facility for women and my husband and I are marriage and pre- marriage counselors in our church. I am semi retired and only counsel on a need to basis with girls who need extra help. We keep busy with our church and our new Grand baby Who is the joy of our life.

I love all forms of art and the people who love to create. 1000 Markets is such a wonderful place to help us make our work shine and I am looking forward to meeting new friends and seeing how this place is going to grow.

No matter where we lived or what our views were about what was going on in the sixties and seventies we all are old hippies at heart."

Katy is also the founder and manager of

THIS WEEKS FEATURED ARTIST~JULIE MAGERS SOULEN

The first time I came across Julie's photographs I was so thrilled. It took me back to my life in Colorado where I was born and raised and her pictures brought me lot's of happiness and some sadness for what I feel I am missing.

Julie’s introduction to photography was through the viewfinder of her dad’s Kodak Brownie 127. She was eight years old. Although she was always drawn to the images she could create on film her talent remained just a hobby until 1999 when she began publishing regularly online at Denver Post. Her work was featured for seven years as part of collaboration with her husband, Ric, in their groundbreaking column A Colorado Journal. During that time Julie immersed herself in the world of the Rocky Mountain foothills of Colorado where she lived off the grid. The secluded, forested ridge where her house stands filled her Nikon with landscapes and sky capes and her spirit with a never-ending sense of wonder. Her photographs have been published in magazines and other publications and was recently featured in an art book, Paws for Charity.

New work is posted three times each week on Julies Blog and you can also buy her photography at her online shop, Julie Magers Soulen Fine Art Photography

Julie not only does photography of nature, landscapes and flowers but she also has a section in her shop called
"Works Of Man"
and "Old West".


Today, Julie still lives in that remote house in the forest, but her skill as a photographer has matured and grown. The tools she uses now have changed from film and chemistry to digital images and computer software. But the joy of creating unique and compelling art is something that will remain, always, in her heart.

THIS WEEKS FEATURED ARTIST~VINNIE CORONA

This week I asked Vinnie Corona to tell us about himself and his beginnings in the art world. Vinnie was the artist behind our amazing graphic for the Peace & Love Scavenger Hunt and I was so impressed by his art when I went to his website.
He is also the man behind our Game Master and friend, Maribeth.

He was so gracious about being our Featured Artist and I am so happy to share his story.

“I live in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ with my beautiful wife Maribeth, my 4 wonderful little kitties, and my 2 very feisty cockatiels. I'm a freelance Illustrator and have been one for over 12 years now.

I became interested in art at a very young age. My father drew a book of dinosaurs for me when I was very young, and I couldn't believe how cool it was. From then on, I drew all kinds of things on everything. Paper was fine, but there were so many more surfaces to discover. My gamut of possible canvases included tabletops, various appliances, magazine covers, dollar bills, and pillowcases. I even created animations on my mother’s checkbooks (my mom wasn’t too pleased about that). Even during high school, I continued to draw on everything from my cellar walls to the very shoes and pants I was wearing. I was in and out of bands at the time and music also created an outlet for the illustrator in me. I created album covers galore. I even procured a little cash painting bass drum heads and the backs of jean jackets for friends (What can I say, it was the 80s).

Nowadays, I create illustrations for editorials, portraits, advertisements, textbooks, cd covers, and really anything that comes up including graphic or web design stuff. I have my own website that I promote through mailers and networking with other artists. I’ve also been advertising in the Directory of Illustration for several years now.

Recently, I’ve started creating small metal robots made from nuts, bolts, washers, and wing nuts that I make into necklaces.

I’ve named them BOBs (Bunch of Bolts) in honor
of my father who used to make me robots out of pipes and tubing and nuts and bolts. He was a very creative plumber! I have them listed in my Etsy shop SomethingWhimsical. Something Whimsical for me, is from my childhood. It’s my inner kid having fun. Actually, it’s almost BOB season again, so my shop will have more creations in the coming weeks.

In my personal life, Maribeth and I enjoy sharing our creative energy by taking pottery classes and going on photo shoots. We’ve written songs together and have so much in common, it’s downright scary. We also love to travel but our hearts are happiest when watching a nice rental movie with some takeout and spending time with our furry and feathered family.”

THIS WEEKS FEATURED ARTISAN~MARJORIE'S CRACKED

Marjorie is one of the first people I had met at 1000 Markets and also the founder and manager of Reclaimed To Fame . Reclaimed to Fame was one of the first Markets I became a member of and I have truly enjoyed it.

Marjorie offers very Unique Jewelry in her shop Marjorie's Cracked. I asked her to tell us a little about herself and her Jewelry making.

"I'm Marjorie Cunningham of Marjorie's Cracked Plate Jewelry and I design wire wrapped jewelry using smoothed shards of china, porcelain, ceramic and even Waterford crystal. And because my grandmother gave me the knowledge of how to crochet, along with a love of it, I also crochet with wire, creating necklaces and bracelets that are incorporated into my broken china work.
Broken China Jewelry

I've lived on the Jersey Shore all my life and am a true clam digger! So of course, I couldn't leave out sea glass and unique broken shells from my jewelry line. Which pleases me no end since the shore has been such a part of my life. There's nothing like walking along the beach and finding those bright little pieces of sea glass, which unfortunately it's becoming harder and harder these days to find.
Sea Glass Jewelry

During the day I work as a paralegal, which is an interesting and rewarding field. But it can certainly put a damper on my creativity! I sometimes design jewelry in my mind before I go to sleep at night and when I wake up in the morning, I want to jump out of bed and make my idea into reality. But instead the law firm work is waiting for me. And sometimes by the time I finish with that, I've lost the vision that I'd had the night before. So it's quite a conflict. And it's also quite a challenge to find enough time to create jewelry and market it when most of my day is taken up with the law.

Living on the Jersey Shore is the best of all possible worlds. I'm right between New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, three of the finest cultural cities in the world. And yet I live in a suburb, which isn't as crowded and noisy as the cities can be. I have a 24-year-old daughter and my mom lives just a couple of streets away. So my life is quite full and content. And I have my jewelry, of course!"

Broken Waterford Crystal Jewelry

You can also find Marjorie on her blog at her Etsy Shop or find this busy lady at her website

2009 Paws For Charity Art Book Project Brings Artists Together to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer

Sara Harley (with Cassie and Mulligan)
Editor, 2009 Paws for Charity Art Book

Upper Branch, Nova Scotia, Canada
April 7, 2009

The 2009 Paws For Charity Art Book Project has brought artists from the US, UK, and Canada together to raise funds for breast cancer charity.

The Art Book Project was created by Sara Harley, one of the original founders of the Paws For Charity group - a group set up in 2006 by Harley and 3 other businesswomen in Ottawa, Canada. The group's goal in 2006 was to raise funds for breast cancer charity - a cause that was near and dear to the hearts of all four women. Since then, the scope of Paws For Charity has expanded and three of the women continue to raise funds for various charities.

The Art Book Project was something Harley dreamed up after creating some photo books to give as Christmas gifts. She played with the idea of creating a book herself to raise funds for breast cancer, but through her original work with the Paws For Charity founders she knew about the synergy created with group projects. In January, Harley got busy from her home in rural Nova Scotia and went online searching for photographers and artists. She sent out invitations to people throughout the world, asking for artwork and photographs featuring dogs and cats with the goal of raising funds for breast cancer charity. One hundred per cent of the profits from the sale of these books are donated to the Avon Crusade for Breast Cancer.

"I was overwhelmed by the generosity of people from around the world", Harley said, "I received 99 submissions for the first edition of the Paws For Charity Art Book....a wonderful result for the first year."

The artwork printed in this book comes from 19 US states (Nebraska, Tennessee, California, Indiana, Alabama, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, Maryland, Kansas, Virginia, Colorado, Oregon, Georgia), 2 Canadian provinces (Ontario, Nova Scotia), and 3 locations in the UK (Brighton, Pembrokeshire, Wiltshire).

There is a story behind each image in this book. Throughout the year, these stories will be posted on the Paws for Charity blog (pawsforcharity.blogspot.com). One of the stories is about Vanessa's portrait. Vanessa was diagnosed with breast cancer over two years ago, and she tells about her life philosophy. One of the photographers who contributed to this book had a mastectomy two years ago and is now living life loudly with every fiber of her soul. The blog will tell you who she is. The blog will tell the stories behind all the artwork in the Paws For Charity Art Book.

We all know someone affected by breast cancer, and Harley is no exception. Her mother died of breast cancer when she was 21. This book is dedicated to all mothers, sisters, family, and friends touched by breast cancer.

The 2009 Paws For Charity Art Book can be viewed and purchased online at: www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/606337

The book features artwork and photography of dogs and cats, submitted by artists in the US, UK, and Canada. All the proceeds from the sale of our books are donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade (a registered 501(c)(3) public charity). Proceeds are sent directly to the foundation from the book's publisher.

Photographers and artists willing to contribute images to the 2010 Art Book can find information at: www.pawsforcharity.blogspot.com

Press Contact:
Sara Harley

Just A Note
to Mem McD date Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 11:34 AM
subject Re: Paws For Charity Art Book Project
11:34 AM (41 minutes ago)
Thanks! Your blogging has helped make our book the number one best seller at Blurb.com!
Sara Harley
So I would like to thank all of you who have contributed!~ Mem & Sophie

You May Not See Me Around As Much

Now that it is spring I will be out and about most of the time. I have gourds and vegetables to grow and will be taking advantage of the warm weather to work on more bowls and canvas art.

I will also be fishing so it's going to be a busy summer but if you have a question or need to get a hold of me feel free to contact me or leave a quick message in this post.

Weekly featured artist will not be shown again until fall. We will still have featured artist and a spot light artist but they will not change weekly.

Have a great summer everyone and stay safe!
Mem

PEACE & LOVE SCAVENGER HUNT HAS BEGUN!

Welcome to Our First Annual Peace & Love Trivia Scavenger Hunt!

The theme is April Showers Bring May Flowers with "Music & Dance"

"Our Peace & Love groovy graphic was illustrated by Maribeths husband Vinnie." We cannot thank him enough, nor can we thank Maribeth enough for the great job she has done as our Peace and Love Game Master! Thank you both!

We want you to access your inner flower child and go on a pilgrimage through our shops to seek out the answers to our sacred trivia. So jump on the Peace & Love Caravan and enjoy the ride! The journey begins on April 5th and ends at midnight EST on April 12th.

The Rules of Your Trivia Journey:

Throughout the Peace & Love market, trivia questions & answers have been planted in shops for you to find and harvest. (Participating shops are listed at the end of this post.)

When you find our groovy graphic, read through the shop’s blog post to find the trivia question. Then somewhere in one of their product descriptions, you will find the answer. Be sure to take down the name of the shop and copy the trivia answer exactly how you see it in the product description. Then, before leaving the shop, please comment on the shop’s wall referencing the hunt in some way.

The first pilgrim who emails me the list of shops with the correct corresponding answers will win a beautiful dress with matching jewelry, all lovingly made by Mem's Pocket Palette

Please go to Maribeths shop to contact her with your answer and do exactly has she has stated above. I am asking that you also stop by her wall, say thanks and give her a big hug for the great job. BriefMoments

The hunt ends officially at midnight EST on April 12th. I will be contacting the winner in the days following the hunt.

Our pilgrimage is open to everyone on 1000markets, our shoppers and all of our guest so come join in on the fun and collect a little trivia along the way.

Shop Holders of the Sacred Trivia

Abbyhorowitzdesigns

Baubles Buttons Beads

BriefMoments

Dyedianadye

Jewel Fire Designs

JulieMagersSoulen

Libertyo

StreetNoodles

Mems Pocket Palette

THIS WEEKS FEATURED ARTIST~DEBBIE HANN

It all started here on this day for me~Mem

Debbie from Baubles Buttons Beads wrote this on the forum at 1000 Markets and I was hooked.

We had a short conversation on the thread then the conversation started through messages and she asked me to manage the site with her. I of course was elated!

Forums → Discussions about Markets (Merchants Only) →

Discussions about Markets (Merchants Only)

(This area is only visible by group members and 1000 Markets merchants)

---

"PEACE & LOVE MARKET"

Baubles Buttons Beads wrote

I'm interested in starting a 'New Market', my idea is simply pulling from the 60's-70's...The Hippie Movement, with a twist~ I'd like to use "PEACE & LOVE", as the Market name and have a slogan like, (here's the twist part)! Yesterday Hippies, today Boomers!

Knowing 'The Boomers', are the biggest part of the so called working class, I believe they're a great group to target!!! Also, there's a huge 'RETRO' following, I feel this market would be reaching a fabulous population and could do nothing, but grow with 1000 Markets into GREATNESS!!!

I've been making a list of what I'd like to see in this Market, like awesome simple empire waist style shirts, they're so back in style now... (embroidered), skirts made from jeans( I love repurposing unloved items, giving them new life)!...I have an artisan friend, who has made them like none I've ever seen...tie dyed clothes, art work, candles, incense, healthy (tree hugger) granola...and the list goes on...

Basically my memory of the late 60's-70's was family, living off the land, loving nature, recycling, handmade anything and everything, music, education, peace, adulthood, pondering jobs, ...and then It started over again, but I look different now, family is still #1, I look forward to retiring someday, I still till the land, love nature, recycle, still love handmade everything, music, (work in a school), want world peace,(and to save Mother Earth), remember my youth (sigh), as I'm now considered a boomer and maybe at times, a Geeky gadget person!

I can't help but think this wouldn't be a 'BEAUTIFUL MARKET'! What do you think?

PEACE & LOVE, Debbie~

aka Baubles Buttons & Beads Posted: January 28, 2009 at 8:27 pm

So let me introduce you to the founder of the Peace & Love Market and her Hubby Jerry!

Since that day in January Debbie and I have had many conversations on the phone as well as through email and I have come to know this woman as someone with many facets in her life! I have gotten to know her family as she has mine and we have found that our path in life has taken many of the same journeys.

Debbie is a bit shy and unlike myself does not handle confrontation well and tends to stand in the corner a bit. She makes me want to shout to the world "No one puts Babe in the corner" (From Dirty Dancing) Unlike many of you though I have seen the strong Debbie. I have seen the woman who never gives up, works through all obstacles around her and deals with life on life's terms. I have seen the woman who would do anything for anyone and only wants the best for others. I have seen the incredible spirit that she is and hope that in time all of you will get to know the Debbie I have come to call "My Best Friend"!

In Debs Own Words:

"To know me, you'd figure out right away, 'I LOVE KIDS', my grandkiddo's are everything to me, my son is one of my best friends. My neighbor kids (grown up now with families of their own), have all found me on facebook, and then there are the special needs kiddo's I work with...

I'm a 'Para Professional, I work with a teacher in a self contained Special Education class at a Middle School.

Our typical day is 'Never' typical, it's always changing. My job is assisting our students in all aspects of their day, I do a lot of one on one work! Each task is different for each student, they work at their own pace, because of their varied learning disabilities. I'm a very flexible and extremely patient person, which is perfect for this job!

Last week one of our non reading kiddos, read a sentence to me without an error, this was monumental! It was a fantastic day for both of us!

Sometimes we take things for granted! In my world, I see students struggle to do what you may consider a simple daily task, like tying shoes!

I can't tell you what these guys have taught me... Honestly, life lessons, that I can't begin to share with you, but, I'm sure you can imagine. I know that some of them will be my friends for the rest of my life. I'm so grateful to have had this time, to know them, learn from them and watch as they learned something new, a baby steps to an outsider... (but to me, as 'HUGE' as what Armstrong said, as he stepped onto the moon... "One Giant Step For Man", One Giant Leap for this Kiddo)! My heart is full!"

I have added some pictures that Deb had sent to me of a project that her kids at school did. I thought they were amazing and wanted to share them

.

Some people knew Deb on Etsy as eco' logically worn where she did scrap books and such!

Her motto is:

"Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do,or do Without" Upcycling is a passion of mine, I've been collecting buttons and assorted treasures along the way for years, always with the notion that 'someday' I'll make them into something fun!"

"Well... someday's finally come! I'm creating jewelry that I'm putting my found treasures into, and hopefully they'll become a treasure for 'YOU'!"

Deb says:

”My mom taught dancing and my dad was very artistic, before my mom passed away, they had a beautiful wood shop out of their home, where my dad made all the wood items and my mom painted them, so I came by my craftiness because of being raised with it...Oh and I love pansies because my grandma had some by her back step and use to tell me she loved them because as she would point out, they each had sweet little faces, I still keep her pansy doily’s near to my heart!”

Deb just recently started doing jewelry and I think she is a natural!

You can find Deb at her 1k shop Baubles Buttons Beads or at her Blog. Even though you don't see her sometimes she can always be found at Peace & Love Market.

Today's Spot Light Artist~Jan Finnell

I am now going to be doing a Spot Light Artist as well as a Weekly Featured Artist. I am hoping this will get more people introduced to the public. Check back tomorrow for our Featured Artist!

As promised our Spot Light Artist~ Jan Finnell!

Jan is a very unique lady who stays busy with her talents and her shops. She has been very kind in writing about what it is like for her and sharing with us the shops that she has.

Jan:

"I have had a great time being a seller since opening my Etsy shop in the summer of 2006. I can hardly stand to look at my early pieces now, though - the jewelry was so simple, though colorful. I had so many beads and buttons saved from countless productions that I wasn't using, and when I read about Etsy in a local newspaper and how a stay-at-home mom had a booming business there, I decided to try it out. I am inspired by other periods in time and have a lot of vintage beads and other embellishments that often inspire a piece, but I also make jewelry that's contemporary and use gemstones and glass beads. My shop is very eclectic, with altered art pieces and commissions from private customers and anew "Twilight" theme section. I also LOVE Steampunk and have a section for that, and am bewitched by Chandelier crystals, which I use liberally. I have some more on deck to finish, as I just found some that are crying out to be utilized. Luckily, I have a local supplier with some very unusual pieces.

I bought a felted wool necklace from a seller in Belgium on my first visit, and opened my own shop a month or two later. My shop has evolved greatly, as have my techniques. I've spent a lot of time looking at other sellers and learning from them, trying out different components, sourcing new supplies and inventing my own pieces with lots of trial and error. Luckily, I learned quickly, enjoy taking pictures and writing my copy and am having fun selling all over the world. The first time that a buyer came back again was a wonderful day, and I now have many repeat customers. Staying fresh is important, and my customers tell me that they come back just to see what crazy new thing I'm into. I am bored by shops that just do the same thing over and over, even in different colors, from year to year. Trend-spotting on Etsy is one of my favorite pastimes, and as I live in New York City, where materials and inspiration are plentiful, I can jump on a trend quickly.

I have opened shops on DaWanda, ShopHandmade and now 1000Markets. I've made a total of three sales at the first two places, and will be letting my DaWanda shop expire in May. I don't have a ton of time to devote to networking on all of these sites. Etsy is my most successful place, I know it well, have figured out certain strategies that work for me most of the time, and find that it's easy to do business there. It's also an attractive and hip-looking site. I'm waiting to see how successful 1000Markets will be once it launches and the word is out. It's also got an attractive design.

For me, the down aspect is all of the time expected from sellers to create a presence online. It's a ton of work and takes away from time spent creating and getting out to see new things for inspiration. That's the only thing that I don't like.

I enjoy dealing with people online as well as off. I'm interested in my customers and want them to be happy with their purchases above all. You have to take great pictures and show every angle of the piece. I show the back, the inside, closure, etc. I won't buy from a seller who can't be bothered to show all of the piece - if I can't pick it up and hold it, I expect the seller to show me what I can't actually touch. Some sellers don't want to give away how a piece is made, but your buyer is who is really important. Show all of it!

I have done a few craft shows and enjoy talking with people there, but it's hard for me to do them as I don't have a car in NYC. The last few shows I did weren't cost-effective for me, so unless I have a great deal for a table, I won't do them again. I am so happy to be able to sell online for just this reason and can work from home.

I think that a good market does a lot of advertising for their site - they don't just leave it up to the seller. I market a lot off-site - I have postcards and business cards, I use Flickr and other websites I frequent and send out blasts. I also have started making pieces for the theatrical community in New York, where I have worked as a costume designer for over 20 years. I always made my own jewelry and accessories for my shows, so making things that hold up to repeated wearings and handling is important to me. My goal for this year is to get my jewelry in magazines and online for my target market and be carried in some local boutiques and museum shops. I have done some wholesale and have to do more - it's the only way to make money regularly.

It's important to be able to be "findable" at a site. They have to make it easy for you, or it's pointless to be there.

I do a lot of buying online, for my costume career, from clothing and shoe stores, books, etc, and for my shop. I buy a ton of supplies on Etsy - even with the shipping, it's cost-effective, as it cuts down on my shopping time in the city. I do buy certain things locally and off-Etsy that I need to choose personally and because I don't want everyone to know where all of my components come from, as your shopping history is available for all to see on Etsy. I enjoy shopping online as I am a tenacious searcher and will usually find what I need. Having my shop has taught me to narrow my list of hardware components so I can buy in bulk and not have a lot of odd stuff left over that I'll never use. I also sell supplies that didn't work out for me, or multiples, as well as vintage that I've collected over the years.

I wish that I could have had a shop 20 years ago - I would have been a better businesswoman earlier on. It's funny, but I now think seasonally, and more like a marketer, which amuses my family no end."

Jan Finnell Over The Top at 1000 Markets

You can also find Jan at her blog

Making A Choice

I recently announced that I would be doing a write-up about online shops from a vendors point of view as well as the founder's point of view. I received some really good write-ups from people as well as a lot of support on this subject and I would like to thank those people before I begin and let them know how much I appreciate the thought and time they put in to it.

I also got responses from market owners that stated they needed more time to put something together. In reality this write-up would only be fair in my opinion if it has the views of the vendor, buyer and market owner so I have agreed to do it at a later date.

With all of that said and done the main reason I have decided to hold off is although I feel this is something that should be addressed I believe everything happens for a reason and that nothing happens by mistake. When I decided to do this write-up I was angry, not for myself but for a dear friend. I would have done this article sitting in judgement of people, places and things and today I am choosing not to do that.

I started this blog before I even landed at some of these markets and I do it to build other artisans up, not to tear them down. I want to see everyone succeed, not just myself and I do this because it is important to me. I ask nothing in return of any of you and I think all of you are aware of that. I ask nothing from markets that I am at other then to treat myself and other vendors with respect and professionalism.

If I chose today to post my anger that I felt then I am giving people, places and things control of my life and I choose not to do that.

I will be doing my original planned featured artist within the next couple of days.

I also wanted to update everyone on the gourd project as I have had several ask about it. We will still be doing the gourd but I broke one of my carving tools (my favorite) and have ordered another one. (I need to finish mine before I can take you step by step.) I am also doing several projects at once, back & forth to Houston with Kev's Dad dying and dealing with the progressiveness of my own Dad's Alzheimer's so be patient with me and we will get back to it. I got this far for those who have asked:) It looks pretty boring right now but the end results are going to amaze all of you. Most of all, you will know exactly how to do it yourself.

Mem

THIS WEEKS FEATURED ARTIST

MARCOME'Marcomé (pronounced Mar-ko-may) is a Canadian singer songwriter. Gifted with a pure voice, she blends lyrics with a unique wordless language that brings us in an atmospheric universe. Marcomé carefully fuses different world music influences with jazz style and classical vocals creating a new world music genre. Marcomé produces, arranges and engineers her musical work. She is a keyboardist, programmer and sound engineer as well as a proficient percussionist.

After completing her post-graduate studies in commerce and communications, Marcomé worked in theatre, in both music composition and sound creation. She then moved into the music industry. Her impressive professional experience and background as a quality sound and mastering engineer, has allowed her to collaborate with renowned artists and producers. This is the source of both her musical inspiration and artistic sense. Her industry collaborations include work with such artists as Diana Krall, Cecilia Bartoli, Le Cirque du Soleil, Branford Marsalis, Sir George Martin, Tom Waits, Daniel Lanois, Pat Metheny and Yes.


The making of Seven Seas:

Marcomé's debut album entitled Seven Seas, was released in Canada, USA, Europe, Asia and the Middle East in 1995 and received critical acclaim. All the lush sounds and vocals of the original release have been enhanced, Seven Seas Remastered is born; the magic of the sound is breath taking. Co-produced with Michel Robidoux (Frank Zappa), Seven Seas Remastered incorporates keyboards, fretless bass and traditional world beat instruments while layering her vocals over the pieces of music. Marc Langis (Celine Dion), on fretless bass, Michel Donato (Oscar Peterson, Toots Thieleman), on counterbass and Michel Dupire (Roch Voisine), on percussions enhance Marcomé’s ethereal voices. The first single Yeku, broke into the Top 50 radio airplay chart in the province of Québec.

The music video enjoyed significant video play on Bravo! Television’s “Video Hits” program and played in high rotation on MusiMax music television for months! By understanding the subtle use of space, reverb and time delay, Marcomé blends world music rhythms, middle-eastern intonations and new-age ‘airiness’ then layers it with her sublime voice.
Marcomé also creates her own languages by using various poetic devices. From this she gets a new and fresh vocal and musical sound. In 2001, Marcomé was asked by Bruno Pelletier to take part in a conceptual concert “Carte Blanche à Bruno Pelletier” at Montreal’s Francofolies, along with Maurane, Nathalie Choquette, Nanette


The making of River of Soul:

Marcomé slowly began writing new compositions for what would eventually become River of Soul. The years that separate Seven Seas and River of Soul allowed the artist to mature and evolve both emotionally and spiritually.

Marcomé’s strength lies in her ability to weave and create multicolored sounds with strong melodies. In this River Of Soul succeeds. It is a recording imbued with intimacy and laced with introspection. It was cinematically conceived; it’s a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. Welcome to the River Of Soul, a voyage filled with spirituality, imagination, sensitivity and a surreal sense of being. River Of Soul was co-produced with Michel Robidoux (Leonard Cohen) who also adds his exquisite guitar playing to the mix and Martin Lord Ferguson (Cirque Du Soleil). Michel Dupire’s (Sarah McLachlan), sophisticated percussions adds a distinctive touch and ryhthm to the overall sound. River Of Soul is an album, which many people will discover a deep connection within.

The first single & music video entitled River of Life sets the tone and unleashes the magic within. “Come and run in the river, let the waters rejoice in your life”.

Listen to the sounds of Marcome'

THIS WEEKS FEATURED ARTIST

Experience the awesome talents of ROB DREXEL

"I have produced and successfully sold my PIT FIRED pottery in many upscale craft galleries coast to coast and even a touch in Europe. I still appreciate my quality gallery representatives (inquiries are invited!), but with our rapidly changing market economics, the internet is a natural expansion of my sales (and survival ...) efforts. Galleries sell my work starting between $40 and $50 for the small pieces and ranging up to $2000 for the large "masterworks".

You can read more about Rob at Drexel Earth Forms Dramatic Decorative Pottery
Read his Biography which I assure you will make you smile and even laugh. See his amazing Image Gallery, learn Techniques for Pit fire,
Horsehairing, Serene Sand, Nuevo Archeologicol and Various Sand Techniques. You can also find his Gallery Locations.

You will find Primitive Pit fire Pottery, Drexel Collector Editions, Horsehair Pottery, Functional Bowls For Everyday, Accent Mirrors, Incense Burners With Image Medallions, Playful Sculptures and Primitive Pendants at his 1000 market online shop.

I especially love the pit fire pottery and how the colors draw you into a world of imagination and creative thinking. With every piece and every color a picture evolves in the eye, the mind, the heart and the soul.

Rob says that after 18 years of pottery, some interesting years living in Europe and a short stint in Costa Rica, Rob and his Swiss partner Nikola are back in the states building their own mostly-green home in central New Mexico and getting to know their new daughter Kiara.

HAND ART

I received this from a friend. Each week I will be showing a new one. This man does all of this on a hand then he photographs it for posterity. It takes him 4 hours to do one hand and all pictures are done of animals. I just love it and am amazed by his talent. Just wait until you see the rest. You are going to have a no way moment:)
Click on picture to make it larger.

Featured Artist~Musician Aaryn Russell

Aaryn Russell was born in Orange County California and has been playing music for 27 years, starting with his Dad's band in elementary school. Aaryn spent a lot of years in the basement teaching himself to play the guitar and during his teenage years he and a couple of friends started a band. At 15 and 16 years of age they often played in local bars around town. (In Colorado) Aaryn not only writes poetry but has also written most of his own music over the years. (picture on the right is Aaryn at 15) Aaryn plays guitar, piano, keyboard, base, sax, clarinet and harmonica.

Currently he performs with a variety of groups in Austin Texas including Muppletone, Bee vs. Moth, Mike Truth & The Replacement Killers and Mostly Dead.

In August he did the Mid-West tour with Bee Vs. Moth and in January they did the Chicago tour. Find out how you can book a show by contacting Aaryn Russell or just find out where you can hear him play, where you can listen to his music online or just to say hi!

Aaryn also paints when he finds time. Most of his painting is done with oils and would be considered abstract. He admits that between his own band Muppletone (which has retired) and the other bands he does not have much time to paint anymore but plans to get back to it someday.

He considers his greatest accomplishment in life his nine year old daughter and has made being a father his number one priority. His life also revolves around his best friend and companion, Michelle.

As a father he has always shared his love of music and the arts with his daughter. She has grown up with musicians, artist and the creative minded in Austin and they both do their part to help keep Austin Weird.

Speaking of weird, Muppletone is doing their reunion play at "Make Austin Weirder Fest" March 8th at the 710. Starts at 5:30 P.M.

Pictures from here and there in Aaryn's life.

Fire...I need Fire!...

Aaryn Looking At The Black Sun

THIS WEEKS FEATURED ARTIST

This weeks featured artist from 1000 markets is Maribeth, shop owner of Brief Moments which is an adorable shop with lots of unique photographs and jewelry. This shop is a must see especially for all of you who are vintage lovers.

Maribeth

I’m from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ and I’ve been taking photographs pretty much all of my life. My first photographs were little Polaroid pictures of my stuffed animals all lined up on my bedroom floor waiting to be put into some fun, action-packed movie role. (What can I say, I was totally in love with Han Solo at the time!) Then when I became a freshman in high school, I was obsessed with exotic, far-off landscapes—basically any place that wasn’t New Jersey! This continued well into my college years. But now, over the years, I've been drawn back home and back to smaller, less grand moments—my cat sleeping on the window sill, a wave inching its way forward on the sand, or my father’s dusty organ sitting in the corner waiting to be played. I still love those magnificent landscapes, but I find that most of my work now focuses on taking snapshots of people and places and objects that are dear to me—all the brief moments that evoke more simple, more serene everyday emotions.

Strange Little Tid-Bits About Me:

Favorite Color: Pink. Over the years, I’ve tried out other colors as my favorite---like purple or blue---but I keep coming back to pink as crazy as that sounds.
Most Eaten Snack: Popcorn. I love it and so do my cockatiels, so it’s a win, win situation.
Most Watched TV Show: Right now, it’s a tie between Monk and Psych on USA. They come on one after the other, so it’s really a toss up to which is my favorite. I also like Medium on NBC but that gets a bit too creepy at times.
Random Tid-Bits: I absolutely LOVE tea. I enjoy Order as much as I desire Change. I seem to have misplaced my sense of humor living next to my sister.
I find comfort in rainy days
and cozy kitties.