there is no feeling like the one i get when i’m sitting down with a cup of coffee and my daily blog reads to discover that lo and behold!- i’ve been featured in one of my favorite blogs!  thank you modish!

 ok. . . back to curing my cold. . . i swear.

i do believe that i’m coming down with a slight cold, so the bead of the week post is coming a little early.  (i’m going to TRY to stay away from the computer/bench tomorrow to get some rest. . . try)

if you live in baltimore, you know all about artscape.  according to artscape’s website, it is america’s LARGEST free public art festival.  WOAH.  right here! in baltimore!

every year in july, steve and i attend artscape to drink a giant fresh-squeezed, sugary lemonade, debate between thai food or indian food (and end up getting both), sit on a grassy knoll to enjoy a musical act (one year it was thievery corporation), and of course, peruse the artwork coming from all over the country.  one year, we came home with a piece from had matter art.

so you may be wondering where this post is going. . . wellllll, i’m here to tell you that this year, artscape is introducing a brand new exhibitors section to its repertoire- a section right now called DIY@artscape!

Bonus:  reduced application and booth fees.

for more information click here.   application deadline is march 30th.  good luck!

i’m going a bit crazy with these scalloped frames, i know.  today i just could not resist a black and gold version.

the possibilities are just endless.  i find myself waking up early in the morning to fiddle around with all the ideas developed overnight.

currently, i’m working through the logistics of creating miniature scenes  within the frames . . .

now it’s off to a beautiful lunch with liz.

it’s going to be a quiet one here today as i check off the things on my “to do” list

1. huge, gigantic update at the vintagebeadboutique, as promised

2. prepare for the valentine’s shows previously mentioned

3. package and send off orders

have a lovely friday everyone! keep those studio e-mails and comments coming!

xoxo

it’s a dark day here - not so good for picture taking, so i pulled this one from the archives. you may have read my previous post entitled “a note on martha” (see below). i am going to extend the picture and ideas deadline to the end of next week (friday, the 18th  25th).

i just know that you want to share some of your studio photos and organization ideas with the dear blog readers! to make things interesting. . . it’s CONTEST time! woohoo! for every e-mail or comment received, i will assign a number to the sender. at the end of next week, i’ll draw a number and the winner will win a $40 gift card to www.imogene.org

boy do i love a contest!!!

available soon here

one of my favorite holidays, valentine’s day, is coming right up! it’s true- i’m a sucker for february 14.  i’ll be participating in two valentine’s day shows this year.  i hope you will be able to stop by and say hello in d.c.   unfortunately, i won’t be present in st. louis, but it looks like it will be a fun fun show!

1. crafts and kisses (d.c.)

2. indie valentine (st. louis, i’ll be sending my jewelry to the st. louis craft mafia).

also, some v-day jewelry will be available in my etsy shop today.

a quick note: the french lessons #2 earrings will be available soon. i wasn’t happy with the result of the english “kisses” hoop, so i’ll be working on that again this week.

as you all probably  know by now, martha’s blueprint magazine will soon cease to exist.  at the supermarket the other day, i decided to give it one last hoorah and i brought the jan/feb edition home with me.  all i have to say is this-  while the “out-of-the-box organizing” ideas presented are gorgeous, they in NO WAY whatsoever reflect my work environment (or my budget- wastebasket pictured $120).

photo from blueprint jan/feb 2008

okay.  there is no denying that the above workspace is beautiful and inspiring.  but really, if i had that same scarcity of objects, books, work surfaces and tools as displayed above, i don’t think i’d have that much of an issue with organization.  i suppose the difference is that blueprint presents us with office organization tips and not STUDIO organization tips.   i’m slowly learning that the two have some differences.   i’m always looking for new (and pretty) ways to organize and spruce up the studio.  got any ideas?  i would love to see photos and hear your stories about how you keep your space.  feel free to e-mail me and i’ll do a photo and idea roundup at the end of the week!  you can contact me at annie@imogene.org or leave a comment here.

(still have love for you martha)

you may have noticed that i haven’t updated the vintagebeadboutique in quite a few days. don’t fret! there is a HUGE update coming on friday. are you excited? i certainly am.

some of you may have noticed that we were experiencing some technical difficulties here at the site over the weekend- just part of the growing pains :). the good news is we’re back!

to get you up to speed- my beautiful usual weekend breakfast (see! you didn’t miss much):

slowly, but surely, we’re gearing up for a revamped imogene.  if all goes according to plan, the unveiling will take place on january 31.  in the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for serious new sales as we work behind the scenes to bring you a brand new look!

i was feeling a little antsy today so in the late gray afternoon, steve and i made a trip to housewerks.  i learned about this gem via  for queen victoria studios‘ blog.  i oohed and ahhed over a vintage dollhouse, a huge selection of old steel chasing and stamp tools, a plethora of stained glass transoms, and other fascinating antique interior and architectural elements.  now, it’s back to work for me.  but first- a few pics from the day:

the first half of “french lessons earrings #2″