I Love Jason Robert Brown!

I have never heard of him before Alysa Merle's Etsy Treasury. She and her daughter are big fans of his music - and he is quite an accomplished composer, pianist, and singer. According to his official website:

JASON ROBERT BROWN has been hailed as "one of Broadway's smartest and most sophisticated songwriters since Stephen Sondheim" (Philadelphia Inquirer), and his "extraordinary, jubilant theater music " (Chicago Tribune) has been heard all over the world, whether in one of the hundreds of productions of his musicals every year or in his own incendiary live performances.

It's just a taste, but here's a YouTube video of a performance he did at Eton University in New York:



But, what made me happier, was seeing the wonderful artists she chose and she included a pair of my gemstone earrings! You can view this Treasury by clicking the image below until Thursday, April 3rd.

Alysa Merle - One Stitch at a Time

Original knit & crochet, many with recycled materials.

Welcome to my Etsy Store! All of my items are original designs, hand made by me. I have been knitting and crocheting for over 40 years, and put lots of care and love into everything that I make. I learned to knit from my grandmother when I was 8 years old, after that I taught myself to crochet, sew, embroider, needlepoint, & cross stitch. I always have multiple projects in process and I bring something to work on wherever I go. My latest interest has been in making things out of recycled materials. Two materials I have been working with recently are cut up plastic shopping bags and recycled sari silk (silk yarn spun by women in Nepal from the material left over from making saris in India). I also love working with soft and textured yarns.

Click the banner below to view her work!

Odds and Ends and Such!

Sometimes I am delightfully reminded that art is everywhere. Sometimes, good vibes are sent zooming in your direction without ever asking. Sometimes, you find these things in the last place you might look.

I was very happy to see Torrie Smiley's Etsy Treasury, filled with beautiful works of art and craft. Lifetime's of skill, talent, hard work, and even one of my gemstone bracelets!

Polymer Pendants from Staci Rose

It's a new endeavor of an old love...I used FIMO when it first hit the market. Most of the pieces I sold or gave away - I have only a few beads, and two pendants I just didn't have the heart to let go of left from those days.

Fast forward to a day I feel compelled to work with clay but can't get to a ceramic studio and don't have the fingers to use FIMO classic - working out the hard, finger-gnarling clay. I found FIMO soft! I bought a few colors to test it out and now have a nice collection, create my own colors by mixing, AND serve the Muse by creating some sculptured jewelry!

I was extremely pleased to see that Peggy, of Lucky Girl Trading Co and fellow Etsy artist, had written a very nice feature about these new pendants on her blog Lucky Girl Trading Co. - Make Every Day Your Lucky Day!

Lucky Girl Trading Company--Pretty Sparkly Things

In the spring of 2001 I was overwhelmed by sadness and huge piles of clutter. My marriage was in the midst of a very ugly ending, and he had left tons of his stuff behind. I suddenly realized that I was a very lucky girl to be rid of him, and Lucky Girl Trading Company was born. A few years later I met my lucky guy--who was selling a bit of jewelry--and married him in a hot air balloon ceremony in 2006. We've worked together to build Lucky Girl Trading into a fun and fulfilling enterprise. I've also discovered working with glass--one of my all-time favorite creative outlets. I've also discovered two ancient arts: Kumihimo and Temari. Both are centuries-old crafts, and both give me a zen-like tranquility while working. I truly am a Lucky Girl! Every day I gather pretty, sparkly things and send them to people. I imagine a person opening their mail and taking out their new pendant or chain or pouch. It's perfect--they have a huge smile on their face--and so do I. I'd love for that person to be you!

Click on the banner to view this fabulous shop!

Yay, Spring is Here!

I have lived in many different climates; they even vary greatly from state to state, city to city here in the US. And, San Francisco, for the most part, has a very mild climate. Everyone worries about Earthquakes, and some people even claim there's "Earthquake Weather", but the seasons aren't as easy to distinguish as they are in say, Vermont. Sometimes, I miss the seasons...leaves turning, snow falling, flowers blooming, scorching heat waves...and then again, I appreciate the knowledge that I will never be buried in falling leaves, the roads won't be covered in black ice, flowers bloom all year long, and I've only experienced one heat wave in San Francisco in twelve years.

Alison created a lovely Etsy Treasury that depicts the gorgeous green of spring, some lovely art, and very generously included one of my Signature Swirl Polymer Clay Pendants. You can view this until Monday, March 24th just by clicking on the image.

BY ALLISON

Polymer clay has been a way to satisfy that inner artist in me. In general the clay is all that is used, not paint added. I combine the colors of clay to make a pleasing design called a cane. I then hand form that cane into all manner of wonderful objects. Being able to own my business, create what I love, and offering it for sale is a lifelong dream.

Visit her shop by clicking below.

Golden Whisky

It's not what you think....although, I could probably use a good, stiff drink right now! The pain and weakness in my hands and arms has kept me from typing and is seriously chipping away at my sanity!

So, I definitely got the warm fuzzies when I saw Marie's Etsy Treasury, featuring fabulous art from EBSQ members - including, one of my gemstone bracelets, as well.

atelier marie mella - original and unique oil paintings

my name is marie, I am a full time professional painter, living in germany. welcome! My preferred paintings are the old flemish highly colored so called primitive (:-) If one day one painting of mine gets the slightest flair of these jolly companions, I will be so happy (:-) Working hard on texture, color and detail, I'd like to see my artwork going towards a kind of "primitive abstract" style. Click on her banner below to view the wonderful work in her shop!

Clive Owen Owes Me

...err...Tracey Allyn Greene, fellow Etsy & WWAO artist, says he does. And, she's a doll, so he better own up.

She created a great Etsy Treasury I'm sorry to say I didn't get posted in time to view on Etsy, too. But, she included a pair of my gemstone earrings and I was delighted to see them!


And, Tracey created a masterpiece from some awful mobile phone photos...my neighbors were delighted to see their babies (a Persian and an American Short-Hair Tabby) watercolored so wonderfully. It made a perfect holiday gift! Be sure to check out her shop and her talent by clicking the banner below!

Beautiful Art from the Worldwide Women's Artist Organization

I made a choice to join WWAO and have never looked back. I have found a supportive community of women artists, that, for the most part, always seem to know what I'm talking about and what I'm going through. I feel lucky to be included in this organization, contributing what I can and enjoying new experiences as well. Don't let me fool you! It ain't always pretty, but it is always wonderful! With over 300 members, not everyone agrees on everything, but that's the great part about learning experiences.

And then, real life gets in the way. As of lately, the joints in my fingers, palm, elbows and shoulders have been aching non-stop. Nothing helps, using them, not using them, ice, heat, rubbing, and I've had tons of blood tests and seen my doctor and will be seeing several specialists next week. Until then, typing is difficult, let alone creating art - the one thing that keeps me sane.

But, smiles lurk everywhere...


Worldwide Women Artists is an international collective of women artists showing and selling our original art through the worldwide web. As women artists, we give birth to our ideas in a variety of styles and media. We embrace the diversity of each other's work, celebrating the joy of creating our art and sharing it with the world.

Staci Rose Art & MyCatLulu

I was happily surprised when Becca, Etsy artist and author of MyCatLulu Notes on Art & Life blog, let me know she had created a wonderful feature about my work!

Hey, hey, hey - MyCatLulu Gocco Goodies

I'm lover not a fighter who enjoys the company of people, the songs of birds, and an occasional Mia tai. Don't like mean people, but really who would. Don't own bowling shoes, but I did play in a league when I was in 5th grade. Other than art, my passion is traveling. My last trip took me to Kauai, Hawaii...lovely.

Click on the banner to visit her shop!

WWAO March Exhibit - Our Art, Our Selves: Selected Self-Portraits

I am VERY proud to support this wonderful exhibit of self-portraits by some of the fabulous artists of Worldwide Women Organization!

To view each artist's work individually, please click on the participants names below:

Nora Blansett

Diane Clancy

Robin Hernandez

Noelle Hunt

Carole Lago

Cathy O. Lewis

Judy Matechuk

Debi McSwain

Ujwala Prabhu

Donna Ridgway

Tara Robertson

Nora Sallows

Sharon K. Shubert

Jan A. Sullivan

Teresa M. Turner

Deborah Voizin

A special thank you to Robin Hernandez for organizing this event! Robin best summarizes her professional work with sculpture, ceramics, paintings, and other wonderful multi-media art in this way:

"I make art using a variety of media. Of particular interest to me is creating art from found objects, and returning them to their former glory as prized property. In blending the human figure with these “rescued” objects--I create sculpture that is highly anthropomorphic, thus illustrating the connections we have to our personal belongings.

I am an interdisciplinary artist, not feeling constrained to work in any one medium."

Click on her banner to view her work!