Spring Break, My Foot!

No, really, my foot. My feet -- both of them -- are tired. My dogs are barkin', figuratively and literally. I decided to take on a project through Taskrabbit to get a quick stack of cash, and it's turned into so much more than just a little project. I've probably walked 40 miles across this city in the last two weeks! It's the reason I've been quite absent, on here and on Facebook and on Etsy, and on all of the platform I'm usually so active. I plan to be done with the project by Tuesday next week, but until then I might still be a little scarce.

However, I do have things in the works. I've got another sale on GroopDealz -- you'll be able to purchase many of my City Map Necklaces for only $13.99 starting Sunday April 20th!

I've still got many of my pieces available at Paperish Mess here in Chicago, including the ever-popular MLB Game Used Baseball Pendants, Earrings, and Cuff Links. This wonderful little shop is full of treasures from artists around Chicago, and it's well worth a visit if you're wandering around Chicago Ave. on a relatively warm Spring day.

I'll be a vendor at my first Randolph Street Market of the season on April 26th and 27th -- this is the best place in the city to see tons of amazing vintage pieces, and the Indie Market (where I'm stationed) is a real treat, too. So many things you didn't know you needed (but you do).

We're going to be hosting another Orange Dot First Friday at the Flat Iron Arts Building (studio 215!) on May 2nd, and as far as I know, Atom Basham will still have his fabulous paintings here for viewing and for sale, and now he has prints available! Get ready to part with your paycheck, because once you see them in person you won't want to leave without taking something of his home. There are temporary mural paintings going up in the hallways as I write this, and it's very much a "now you see it, now you don't" sort of thing, so see it while you can.

You can view all of my show/market updates on theBigCityBumpkin.com

So until then, I'm going to make myself a faux-chicken sandwich, and watch the Brady Bunch. See y'all soon!

Let it snow, let it snow

While I'm just about at my capacity for bitter cold weather this season, it seems a lot nicer when it's at least snowing.

I'm sure everyone who has to commute to work by car/bus/train/walking this morning would disagree with me... this is when I count my blessings, that I get to stay at home and just enjoy it.

It's not over yet, though... 7-inches and counting, and we're helping a friend move to his new apartment today! There, see? It's not all smelling the roses over here, after all. ;)

So I've got a few new venues for my jewelry in the works, and the first one is the flash sale website Groopdealz. 20 variations of my city map necklaces are going up for a deeply discounted sale on the main page this Friday, so now is a great time to sign up, and snag them for a fantastic price.

I'm a quick shipper, so if you're thinking about a City Map Necklace as a gift, they should make it in time for Valentine's Day!

Skeleton Key Necklaces

Just a quick post to let y'all know that I have eight new Skelton Key Necklaces listed in my Etsy shop!

Skeleton Key Necklaces

I've always been fascinated with skeleton keys, and although the decorative ones are very pretty, I think my favorite key is the most simple one (on the far left in the picture above).

If you want to go all out, just wear ALL of them!

Skeleton Key Necklaces

I have a few more designs to list, but I'm going to be incorporating them into more complex necklaces. Hopefully they'll be up this month (still waiting on a few supplies to arrive).

Romantic Bohemian Dreamcatcher

I know, I know, it's 0-degrees outside, but I'm still holding out hope that this foreign concept of warmth still exists, and might actually be something I experience for myself in the near future. Of course, this is Chicago... so it could be the middle of June before we get to take our sweaters off. I saw a man on the news last night, he had just moved here from California, and though he bemoaned the Winter weather, he said hopefully "But we've only got two months until Spring... one month, maybe..." Bless his heart, he has no idea.

Still, we must march on, assuming that the seasons will change and Spring will arrive, no matter how far away that seems right now.

I'm starting to work on my Spring dream catchers. Most of these pieces would be beautiful hung on your wall at any time of the year, but there's something especially hopeful about the last one I made.

Bright Pink Floral Dreamcatcher, available in my Etsy shop

Something about the colors, the floral pattern, it's just... insistent. Warmer days are coming, I promise.

The fabric on this one is especially nice -- it's from a Ralph Lauren skirt! It's a medium sized dreamcatcher, but once it's hung on the wall it really packs it's punch -- bright, happy, fresh, and oh so hopeful. It won't be long now... right?

New Pieces -- Titanium Treated Quartz Crystal Necklaces

As if I haven't already posted enough of these ALL over Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter... here's one more heads up that I made new pieces, and that I really love them.

They can all be found in the Nature Girl // section of my Etsy shop!

New Spring Pieces

I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend, and maybe got the chance to spend it with a special Momma in their life.  Unfortunately, my Momma is over 700 miles away... but I got to have a nice phone call with her at least, and it sounded like she was having a lovely day.

I'm just looking forward to tomorrow, when the temperature should warm up again... can you believe the whole weekend was in the 40s and 50s here?  Ugh, it was gross... give me my real Spring and Summer, already!

Just a quick update with some of the new pieces.  I suppose you could call them my "Spring collection", although I don't know if I would go so far...

Most of them are based on vintage botanical drawings, memories of growing up in rural Virginia, my fantasies of being a homesteader, and reminders of my Mother (what with Mother's Day, and all).

All of these pieces can be found in the Pendants and Jewelry section of my Etsy shop, and I'm always adding more, so check back often!  This is also where you can find my nautical pieces, and the Pink and Black Triangle Necklaces (both added just today).