June 2011: First Friday Picks

Wondering what to do tonight?  Here are some items definitely on my to-visit list:

GRAND OPENING of The Merchant Co., a ‘flea market’ of nearly 50 Portland and Maine artists, crafters and vintage resellers.  I am selling here – woo-hoo!  Music, wine, snacks, and a raffle tonight.  Don’t miss it!  656 Congress St., where Coast City Comics used to be!

Launch of Beaux&Arrow, a collaboration between Emblem Studio and Ponomo featuring screen printed leather… and more?  I dunno.  Go to the Portland Museum of Art to find out.  Swanky, huh?

Fore River Gallery celebrates 2 years, why not check out what they have on the walls?

Picnic Alert: And we’re not talking ant infestation…

…although that was what was happening today at work.  Gosh, those little six-legged creatures get a whiff of warm air and some wheat thins in a ziploc baggy and you have a SITUATION on your hands!!

Tara from The Rattlesnakes with really blonde hair, standing next to Maggie's Mittens at Picnic 2009.

No, no, this alert is for the far more music-y, craft-y, local happiness version of dining en pleine air…  The Picnic Music+Arts Festival!!

Starting May 1st, you, too can apply to this excellent, populated and hopefully sunny event in Lincoln Park in Portland Maine.  Applications are open through June 10th and the festival itself will be held on Saturday, August 27th.  Please note that Picnic receives so many applications that they cannot accept everyone (although they totally want to).  See their website for more details, and cute drawings of animals.

In other news, I made a logo:

Simple, informative, reproduce-able. Looks kinda like a bottle cap...

What do you think?

You Either Stay Up Late or Get Up Early

…or Both.  Sometimes I do both.

I’ve been rather neglectful of this little corner of the internet.  I like to think of it as the cyber equivalent of my bathroom which, up until I had guests over exactly seven days ago, had been ignored in the same, increasingly inconvenient way.

A little recap, here is what I’ve been busy on:

Poster by Meagan Anderson and Kris Johnsen. $8 on Etsy!

The BIG THAW Portland – she is coming to a Mayo Street Arts Center near you and it’s going to be just brilliant, I am sure of it.

Shallots, $6.50 for 5"x5" Print

I’ve been listing photos on Etsy, which while not totally profitable is getting my work included in lots of treasuries, so I cannot complain.  Above is one the community just couldn’t get enough of the first couple of days it was up.

Metal Feathers is Good.

The ‘busy season’ has started at work again, so I’ve spent less time trolling the internet for awesome things.  But in the meantime, you should probably just check out Mike’s tumblr.  Which is fun to watch because Metal Feathers, my boyfriend’s band, is on their sometimes playing, sometimes heckling the people who are playing.  All in good fun, much like their new album, Contrast Eats the Slimey Green, which is so worth listening to.

Set of 6 Bottle Cap Wine Charms, $8 on Etsy

Lastly, but not leastly, I’ve been working on a new project do develop bottle cap wine charms.  I’m also in to the idea of flipping these guys upside-down and doing custom orders for weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, etc.  The wedding market is truly untapped by Little Eye Designs.  Why, oh why?  First of all, I love weddings.  I love shooting weddings.  So why wouldn’t I furnish them, too?

This is just a little dose for now.  If you’re jonesin’ for some smarmy writing it’s probably better if you go visit The BIG THAW for awhile until all the dust settles in mid-April.  That’s where most of my efforts are, these days!

Wedding Planner #2: Mustard and Midnight

Holy mole-y!  Funny how when you’re being a good aunt, working a full time job, cooking dinner every night to be a good girl and not spend money on take out AND planning a craft fair (shh!) the blog seems to get pushed to the side.  Don’t worry, I’m here now.

And we’re gonna talk wedding colors again!

Wedding Guide #2: Mustard and Midnight

Today’s palette is bright and punchy (YELLOW!) while chic and sophisticated (BLACK!)  It’s a bumblebee wedding and you’re invited.

Lovely Yellow Bridesmaids Cake Toppers, $18.99 from onecozynest on Etsy.

Yellow is a genuinely innocent color.  It’s heartwarming, opens your eyes and has a vintage feel to it no matter what.  You try wearing something yellow and not feeling the slightest bit ’70s!  These cake toppers are super sweet, and although I can’t imagine putting the whole darn wedding party on the cake (unless you have a buche de noel or something) I would venture to say your WEDDING DRESS should be yellow and one of these pretty ladies should stand up there.  With hopefully a cake topper with a groom dressed like this:

Antique Victorian Tuxedo Jacket, $85 by getupvintage on Etsy.

Although your hubby’s arms should be about a half an inch longer to pull of this look, this antiquated tuxedo jacket paired with floppy bow tie is modest, lovable and reeks of the quality tailors used to put in men’s dress-up duds.  Who says everyone’s tux has to match?  Quality over quantity, I always say.

Gamboge Silk Skinny Tie, $18.95 from rabbitstop on Etsy.

But if bow ties aren’t your thing, you can coordinate the man with the rest of the scenery by pulling honey mustard in to his neckwear.  Skinny or traditional, a pop of color will resonate in wedding photos, especially when it’s designed to make Mrs. Wedding Day look totally coordinated and gorgeous.

You are My Sunshine Print, $15.00 from FarnumInkStudio on Etsy.

Let’s talk wedding presents.  If your friends are anything like mine, they’re getting hitched left and right with utter disregard for my bank account.  A piece of artwork meant to coordinate with their colors (just ASK, you know she won’t stop talking about the differences between every kind of yellow if you act even remotely curious!) framed with an inexpensive, but classy frame from Michael’s will remind them of their wedding day every time they pass it on the way to the loo.

Click on the image of the entire treasury above to see all the excellent treasures I could definitely write for hours about.  Also, each featured item’s image will bring you to its listing when clicked.  Happy planning, kiddos.