DIY Collage Planet

I did some collage work today, for the first time in such a long time, and it was so fun! And what started out as just playing with strips of paper and scissors become something that I actually really like! I thought it would be something abstract and oceanic, just some meditative cutting and gluing. But once I trimmed the edges and stood back it became a planet! It made me kind if miss my Fiddleheads For Fiona Etsy shop, because I think other people might like it too. So since I can't post this there, I'll post it here.

And since I won't be selling these guys, at least not anytime soon, I'll just tell you all how to make them instead. All it takes is a round base of some kind, a plain old glue stick, some paper, and some scissors. And if you have an exacto knife and a cutting mat that would probably help at the end, but scissors would probably work. For a base I used this, and I get decorative papers from here, but there are lots of sources.

Just choose some papers you like the look of together, cut them into strips, and glue them down in layers. Then trim around the edge of your circle with a knife or a pair of scissors to trim the papers that are hanging over.  If you do have the cutting mat, flip your planet face down and cut around your base. Otherwise, just do your best with scissors.

I always forget, but really should always remember, that it is so creatively renewing and restorative to work in another medium for a change. As I sat staring vacantly at my Instagram feed in the middle of the day, for the millionth time, I realized that I desperately needed to put my phone down and do something before my brain turned to mush! And I'm so glad I did.

2013 Holiday Open Studio Event! Now With Tsuga Studios Too!

Nick Kekic, of Tsuga Studios, is an amazing third generation glass artist who lives right over the hill from me.  So since our studios are so near each other we have decided to join forces this year for our open studio events in the hopes that those of you that can make it out for one event can try to make it to the other one as well. I promise it will be worth your time, his work is gorgeous, and his open studio events are the only time you can nab great deals on seconds of his work!  Everything in my studio will also be at least 20% off standard retail prices, and sometimes more, so both open studios will also be a great way to get a really great deal on some truly unique handmade gifts!  

Here is a sneak peek of some of the new Rebecca Haas Jewelry designs I'll be offering at my sale, alongside many classic favorite designs.

There will also be lots of one of a kind collage and paper art, including ornaments for your tree, from the Fiddleheads For Fiona Studio! Here's a little peek of some new paper work you can expect to find:

We will be serving some light and belly warming refreshments, (right now I'm thinking egg nog!) as well as some munchies, and lots of good cheer.  Please feel free to plan to stay a while and socialize.  I've been buried under piles of jewelry for too many weeks now!  It's time for some fun!  So please check the top image for time and place info, and I really hope you can make it!

Autumn at Fiddleheads For Fiona

I'm shipping out this lovely set of teal pieces today, and I just had to take a picture of them all together.  I love seeing how customers choose to put together little collections.  And while I am here, showing off these four cuties, I figured it is a good time to give you all a little peek into what in new right now in the FFF shop.

And of course there are lots more new designs as well, so if it's been a while, click here to head on over to the shop and take a look! 

Caught Up

Phew! What a weekend.  Pretty sure that working all weekend is not the intended purpose of Labor Day Weekend, but sometimes that's the way it goes.  But there sure are going to be a lot of check marks on my to-do list once I get back from the post office!

New Work

I've been taking advantage of a little bit of down time to by finally creating some new designs that have been floating around in my head for a while now.  It has been a really nice break from all of the jewelry making, and I love it when there are lots of new designs in my Etsy shop!  It is also almost therapeutic to work with all of the bright patterns and colors while surrounded by an oppressively muted palette of grey, white and brown.  March really is the ugliest month around here.  Sorry Vermont, but you know it's true.  Here's a little preview of the new work:

 If you are interested in seeing additional photos and details on these pieces, or to see a few additional new pieces, click here to head to the shop.

Inspiration Strikes!

My shipment of new papers has just arrived.  I absolutely cant wait to make some new designs with these beauties.  Now to just get through the stack of current orders. . .

Wintery Studio and New Work

So remember back when all I was posting about was food, and I promised you some photos of the new work I have been working on?  Well here it is, and a little peek around the wintery studio.  It is snowing here in earnest today, and everything is hushed and white.  It's a good day to hunker down in the studio.

 See the drawing in the photo below?  And see the necklace it became above?

 

All of a sudden The Philadelphia Buyers Market is just around the corner!  So it looks like my post holiday downtime has sadly come to an end, at least for a little while.  But I love the process of putting together a new line, so I'm not complaining.  Not much anyway ;)

If you are interested in additional information about any of the new pieces you see here I will be posting them in my various online shops as the day goes on.  As they go up I will add a direct link to each image in this post, so if your image isn't live yet please check back in a little bit later!

New Work For This Weekend's Open Studio, (Plus Coupon Codes For Online Shopping!)

I'm really looking forward to my open studio this Sunday.  I've been busy making lots of new work, and I can't wait to get people's reactions to it.  Also, my studio really needs cleaning, and the only time it seems like I can motivate to do a good job is to first invite over everyone I know.  Here is a little sampling of some of the new work I'll be offering this Sunday.  And remember, everything will be 20% off retail price, PLUS 20% of the profits will be donated to Emmett's preschool, The Little School in Weston, VT.

 I hope you can make it to the Open Studio, which is This Sunday, the 9th, from 11-5 (or later), 256 Haywood Rd, Chester.  But if you don't happen to be in rural Southern Vermont,  or those hours just don't work for you I am offering a 20% discount on my everything on both of my websites from now until the end of the day on the 9th.  Just enter the coupon code OPENSTUDIO when you check out on both www.rebeccahaas.com and www.fiddleheadsforfiona.etsy.com!

Merry

This year Emmett is finally old enough to get into some of the rituals of Christmas, which is really fun.  And we are in the middle of perpetrating the Santa Claus story on him too, which is really odd and hilarious.  "Well, you see, there's this guy, with a red suit, some flying reindeer, and a sleigh. . . "  Poor kid looks pretty confused (rightly so) about the whole Santa scenario.  

But mythical stories aside, we went out and chopped down an actual tree (by "we" read "TH" when it came to the chopping down part) this weekend, wrestled with getting the lights to work, and managed to trim the tree as a family.  Emmett LOVED it.  He kept saying: "we're decorating the tree!!" and racing back to the ornament box to hang yet another ornament on the same heavily drooping branch.

It was pretty darn cute.  And it made me feel so happy to hang so many homemade ornaments or ornaments made by friends, folks like Jeni from Odette NY, Nick from Tsuga Studios, and Sasha from What, No Mints? And we still use the little origami paper light covers that my friend Mohammed taught us all how to make at a tree trimming party in our old Brooklyn apartment.  It's so special to hang all of our ornaments with a personal story, and now we even have a few beauties made by Emmett, and I'm sure there will be many more to come!

So we are enjoying the holidays so far, in our quiet way.  I'm still working like a dog (don't know why people say that, since our dog does is not exactly the picture of industry) but am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  And luckily I enjoy my work (perhaps preferred with a little more moderation) and feel very happy with the idea that so many people out there will be exchanging one of my pieces with a loved one this holiday season.  That is pretty amazing.

 I hope you all can steal a moment or two every day to stare at your tree, preferably with a glass of something bubbly in hand.  Tis the season!