Favorite Artist of the Week: Elloh

I'm in love with the whimsical prints and paintings by artist, Elloh. This Presidential Facial Hair Hall of Fame print set is hilarious. Check out more of her art about popular movies and tv characters on her Etsy site.

Favorite Artist of the Week: Christy Wooke

Christy Wooke's little wooden pins are so darn cute. They remind me of storybooks I read as a kid. I can't resist the rain boots. Check out her work on her Etsy shop.

Sculpture

This fall I did a massive project with my elementary art students. Jeff Mather, a resident artist from the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, spent a month in my class teaching my kids about sculpture. The students learned about perspective and made a design for a sculpture to go on our school grounds. Then Jeff and I collaboratively merged the drawings together to create one sculpture design. The art classes, parent volunteers, and I spent 6 days digging post holes, pouring concrete, sanding, painting, and drilling to create our permanent work of art. Once it was completed there was a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the event. The kids had a ball learning to use all the power tools and saw that when we all work together we really can accomplish something big!

Athens Magazine

My pillows are featured in Athens Magazine's "Handmade for the Holidays" article that came out in December. There is an interview with me and a photo of my pillow and another photo of me. Check it out before the end of the month

Buy 2, Get 1 FREE!

Special Holiday Offer 12/11- 12/18 only...

Buy 2 pillows or 2 photos (or one pillow and one photo) and get a matted 5x7 photo FREE! This special offer is available on my Etsy site. When you check-out, just tell me which 5x7 photo you want for free.

Engagement Photos

I am looking forward to shooting Jason and Elizabeth's wedding 2 days after Christmas. Here are some of my faves from the engagement portrait session I did with them.

Hot New Pillows

Favorite Artist of the Week: Monica Jones

Monica Jones has the most delightful rabbit cups and paintings. These pots with arms on them are so clever, too. Monica did the 283 Holiday Market with me today. She's a sweet lady!

Gift Idea- Digital Family Scrapbook

Last year for Christmas I took a lot of family photos that were well-worn, cracked, or discolored at restored them in Photoshop. I made a disc for each relative and created this cd cover using some of the photos I restored. It's a great way to share treasured memories with loved ones and also never worry about losing the only copy of those photos to fire, etc.

Fabric Christmas Ornaments

Nice idea for Christmas ornaments made with recyclables such as fabric scraps from The Red Thread

Black Apple Doll

Check out this great demo video of The Black Apple (#1 Seller on Etsy) showing Martha Stewart how to make one of her dolls.

Pinhole Camera

Download this awesome free pinhole camera template from Corbis.

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283 Bar Holiday Sale

Join me and some other fabulous crafters this Sat. Dec. 6 for a Holiday Market of goodies. You'll find everything from ceramics and t-shirts to lotion and earrings. Of course my photos and pillows will be there and my sis, Allie, will have her fab beaded jewelry.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping and support your local artists at the same time.

The market is located at the 283 Bar at 283 E. Broad St. in downtown, Athens, GA from 11-4. See you there!

Favorite Artist of the Week: Beth Cyr

Beth Cyr makes amazing jewelry and metalwork. Her Organic Vine earrings are some of my favorite earrings to wear and I always get a lot of compliments on them.

Pretty Little Pillows

Yay! I'm going to be published! This little Poppy quilted pillow will be in the book Pretty Little Pillows by Lark Books, due out in 2010. I just finished creating the template and instructions on how to make it, that will be included in the book, along with a bio of me. Exciting!

More Pretty Little books in the series www.larkbooks.com/catalog?limit=10&query=pretty+little

3 Day After Thanksgiving Sale

I am offering 10% off everything in my Etsy shop from 11/28-11/30. Go to http://www.shutterstitch.etsy.com/ to get a deal!

T-Shirt Quilt

Hooray! I just finished a t-shirt quilt for my friend, Sarah. She was in the U.G.A. band and has been saving up her favorite shirts for years. It's nice that she has them all in a cozy throw for the couch, just in time for winter.

Favorite Artist of the Week: Allie Low

Fabulous global necklaces and earrings by my sister, Allie Low.

Craftstravaganzaa!

Yesterday I shared a booth at the Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa with my sister, Allie. She makes fun beaded jewelry with a global flair.

It was a very chilly day but we had fun showing off our latest photos, pillows, cards, and jewelry. Thanks to all who braved the cold to come to our booth!

Take a Trip

As the holidays approach, many of us take long trips, far away to visit relatives. Here are some photographs of my fabulous trip to Italy that will leave you wanting more (not of Aunt Erma's fruitcake that is...)

New Pillows

I have been working on a lot of new pillows lately. Some are asymmetrical, use crooked lines, or use new shapes that I haven't done before. The bottom pillow here is made with a vintage white and blue star handkerchief.

Craftstravaganzaa: Holiday Market Nov. 22

Come see my work in person this Sat. Nov. 22 at Craftstravaganzaa!

Athens' largest craft fair with modern flair! This handmade market of artists and crafters brings together over 50 vendors from around theSoutheast, featuring an array of quirky and innovative artists with anentrepreneurial spirit. From fine arts to fashion, you'll find an emphasis on recycled materials, local and green production methods, and often an edge to the work that sets it apart from what's at the traditional county fair.There's a variety of wares in a range of prices, so you can enjoy the hassle-free holiday shopping with the satisfaction of knowing that your gifts will be truly unique.

November 22, 10am until 6 pm. Corner of Pulaski and Clayton Streets, Athens,GA.

http://www.athensindiecraftstravaganzaa.com/

Photo Pillows

I made a lovely photo pillow the other day using my Horse on Farm photo. I used a special kind of fabric that can go through my printer, then washed the fabric photo in a solution to make it washable and safe for cuddling. I quilted around the horse to make it puff up a little too.

You can submit your own photo to me to be made into a pillow at shutterstitch@gmail.com , price for all this loveliness = $40.

Newbie

Hey guys! I'm new to blogging so be nice to me.

I am an art teacher with duel passion- photography and sewing! I just couldn't decide on one or the other, so I do both in my business, Shutterstitch. Shutter (for photography) and stitch (for sewing).

I am an elementary art teacher by day, so I work on my craft by night, on the weekends, and in the summer.

I love to travel and have been fortunate enough to take some awesome trips around the world to Italy, France, Barbados, and Nigeria. (Some trips were study abroads, mission trips, or for fun!) You'll see some of my travel photography posted here.

I have an online shop on Etsy. If you've never shopped on Etsy before, you are missing out! It's the best website for shopping for handcrafted goodies from around the globe.

My Etsy site is http://www.shutterstitch.etsy.com/ .