Persephone wanders into a few treasuries

How very pleased I was this past long weekend to wake up to an inbox with two - that's right, TWO - Etsy Convos letting me know that I had two items featured in Etsy Treasuries.

Breath Taking was created by Tamar, and if you look in the third row, third column, you will see a vintage aqua vase that I have for sale. It's from my collection of glassware that has to find a new home before I move to England. I just don't think my brother is all that interested in vases.

Organic in all the colours of the rainbow is put together by bonnybaby and she selected my butterfly art to feature. Best news - the piece sold! But don't worry, if you want your own piece, I have others for sale.

Peace out, yo.

CAI: On the Edge

In celebration of the new CK on the Edge festival, July 8 – 18, 2010, ARTspace - our local artist-run gallery - is asking artists throughout Chatham-Kent to submit to the “On the Edge” juried community initiative! Participating artists are asked to respond to an edge through their artwork. This edge can be a physical edge, an artistic edge, or even a psychological edge. As the outline states, "This is a perfect opportunity to push your limits as an artist or artisan; all medium and subject matter are welcome." and as I always state...

It's time to push my growing edge!

I'm a busy girl this summer, so when another local artist - Christy Dekoning - invited me to join in on her On the Edge submission, I was over joyed. Christy, another artist on the CK Etsy Team, is an amazing fine artist, focusing many of her pieces in water colours. She does a lot of custom portraiture and how tickled pink was I when she asked me to pose for her painting?

Last weekend we trekked out to Lake Erie and pushed our edges. It was windy and the water was FREEZING. The sky was overcast and my clothes were blowing every which way... but we captured some (24) interesting shots and I am intrigued to see what Christy comes up with.

This initiative is open to anyone in Chatham-Kent and submission is only $5 (exhibiting members discount available). A cash prize will be awarded to the curator’s choice! All submissions are due at ARTspace by Wednesday, June 30th, 2010. No work can be accepted after this due date. An opening reception for this initiative will occur at ARTspace on July 8th 2010 @ 7:00! The exhibition will be on display at ARTspace from July 7 – 31, 2010.

Persephone's Giveaway!!!

By Jen Merritt

It seems that spring may be on the way... blue, sunny skies; temperatures above freezing; I even saw some crocuses poking their heads above soil. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the warm season.

In celebration of Persephone's Awakening (and welcoming in of Spring - get the reference? If not, read up on Persephone's Greek myth), I am giving away the scarf in the photograph above. This scarflette/necklace is made from red acrylic yarn and features circles that measure 1" in diametre. I think this looks like kelp or sea weed when worn. This scarf measures 68 inches long.

The contest is open to residents of the world. It closes on March 30th (my birthday!) and if you would like to enter your name to win, here are the details:

1. Visit my Etsy shops Persephone's Awakening and Persephone's Plunders, and chose your favourite item.

2. Visit my blog and leave a comment on this post and tell me which is your favourite item.

3. On March 30th I will randomly select a name from everyone who has entered the contest.

4. Open your mailbox once the prize arrives and enjoy!

Easy as pie, right? If you promote this contest somewhere (facebook, twitter, your own blog, etc.), leave a second comment on this post with a link to the promotion, and that will count as a separate entry.

Good luck!

Persephone's last scarf this season?

All done! This scarf, that is. I finished it last weekend, actually. I seem to be losing my crochet drive. Perhaps it's due to the sunshine outside. Perhaps its that I'm not adjusting well to the decreased heat in my apartment (16.5 C, a wee bit chilly). You'd think I'd want to wrap myself in yarn, wouldn't you?

As I sit here watching Relocation Relocation (a British real estate show following people who want to buy new property in England), I realize I haven't updated my blog in some time. Here's a tiny glimpse into what's new in Persephone's world.

This scarf is made from reclaimed yarn from various projects, patiently crocheted using a size 5 hook. A total of 26 flowers, this scarf is designed to wrap at the throat for warmth and lay flat beneath your jacket or coat. A 26 flower scarf measures approx 58" end to end, and approx. 3" wide. At this time it is for sale in my Etsy Shop, but will soon be shipped out to With Love boutique in Wiarton, Ontario. If you want it now, go buy it! 25$ US.

Like the idea of this scarf but not the colours? If this is the case for you, you might consider designing your own colour combination for a custom-made flower scarf! Listing here: Design your own scarf!

Red, White and Maple - Citizens of the World, welcome to Canada!

Last night I couldn't sleep, so I hopped on my computer and around 3:30am snagged a treasury. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to feature, but being the Olympics, I thought it'd be nice to showcase some of the beautiful red and white handmade goods available from Canadian artisans. I did my best to feature artists that belong to the Chatham-Kent Etsy Team (ChristyDekoning, DancingJellybeanDesigns, TwentySix7, TwistedByShannon, London.Art.Girl, MunchkinBabyDesigns, PurplePeony, SunnyDayRain and me, JenMerritt) or the TransCanada Etsy Team. From across Etsy I searched for red items that were Canadian Made and caught my eye.
Which of these catches yours?

Go Canada!
xoxo Jen

A Spot of Colour by Jenny O

Jenny O of TwentySix7 did it again - another treasury featuring CK Etsy Team members! You may notice ChristyDekoning, PurplePeony, JenMerritt, SunnyDayRain, and TwistedByShannon. All aglory in red and aqua. Come visit us at A Spot of Colour.

Thanks Jenny!

Chase away the clouds - CK Etsy Team members featured in treasury

This treasury was put together by PersephonesPlunders and features artists from the Chatham-Kent area (and a bit beyond).


I have an item featured in this treasury! The sushi set (third row, second from the left) is mine. Other team members included are: Christy Dekoning, Brenda Braun, Shannon McDowell, Jess Wyma, Christina Seagrave, Laura Tetreault, Jenny Oriet and Steph Temesey. We would be grateful if you stopped by to visit the treasury, you see, the more views, the better! And who doesn't benefit from a bit of sunshine on an otherwise cloudy day?

"Take a bit of sunshine and the whole world looks different."

xoxo Jen

Rainbowlicious Treasury featuring CK Etsy Team member!

I woke up this morning after a night (and morning) slept in my new mattress, high in the sky of my bedroom. The mattress and box-spring tower above the foot board, and almost completely clear the headboard, as well. So much for my bed frame!

As I was saying, I woke up and checked my email while eating a bowl of (delicious) Vanila Almond Oatmeal Crisp. Have you tried it? You should. Nom nom nom! Sitting in my inbox was an Etsy Convo from flossadornments, who wanted to let me know that she included something from my etsy shop, JenMerritt, in her most recent treasury. How sweet!!! Can you find it below?

If you want to be very sweet, and if you have the time to do it, visiting the treasury and clicking on each item may help us to make the front page... I would ever so graciously thank you!

Baking up a storm; pottery-style!

Baking in the non-literal sense, that is. I did not run the kiln, but I did shape and decorate these pottery pieces, and that was just as much fun as working with the heat!

(Mini Sushi Set for the Birds - 10$ US)

I recently finished a six week pottery course taught by local potter Andrea Vuletin, offered through the Thames Art Gallery. I had previously completed a one week beginner's pottery class with Beth Turnbull-Moorish through the Thames Institute for the Arts, and in that course we learned to use the pottery wheel. In this most recent pottery class, I thought I'd be using the wheel again, but when I arrived one week late (oh Paris!) I learned that we would be hand-throwing the pieces.



We started with pinch pots, of course, and quickly progressed to rolling the clay and draping over forms. The piece above is a pinch pot to which I added feet.


This piece was made by draping a thin layer of clay over a styrofoam tray, then decorated with underglaze. I like the way the posies turned out, and I'm not sure if I will keep it for myself, or post it in my shop.

The rest of these pieces are soon to be posted in my Etsy shop, so I invite you to pop by. The next pottery class at TAG has not yet been announced, but I plan to take it if I'm still kicking around town. I'd like to try making some little clay necklaces.

Jen

Oops, made another scarf!

Tra la la... an update from Jen of Persephone's Awakening (that's me). I have been slacking in the crochet department, but I did complete this scarf last week, and am quite pleased with the results.



This scarf was created in mind of Rewind, a shop in Calgary that carries my products. She requested something in fall colours and I pulled various shades from my massive stash of yarn. I rescue it, you see - I can't stand when good yarn is throw away!

You  may recognize this scarf if you attended the CK Etsy Team Trunk Show at Eve Chocolatier. I had some of it assembled and was working on flowers as people wandered amongst the chocolate and handmade delights. If you'd like to see it up close and personal, drop by The Paper Pickle (44 Fourth Street, Chatham, Ontario) from 7 - 10 pm on December 17 (2009). The CK Etsy Team is having another Trunk Show and would love to see you there!

Introducing: Persephone's Awakening

Err... I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce the owner of the shop Persephone's Awakening... me!


Shop Name: JenMerritt
Location: Chatham, Ontario

Do you have a blog or other website you'd like to share? Persephone's Awakening

What is your favourite material to work with? I have a really hard time narrowing anything down. I started out making purses, so I have an affinity for fabric, but I would have to say that what I love most right now is beach glass. The thrill of the hunt is fantastic!

Tell us about your craft and/or the items in your shop. Much like my real life, I seem to be unable to focus on one thing for very long. Right now I make crocheted scarves, beachglass necklaces, button necklaces, and I have a few totebags left over from the summer. I'd love to narrow down my practice a bit, but I don't seem to be able to. Next journey: tshirts with appliques and bleach-imprinted designs, beach pottery painted stone necklaces, and accessories made from thrifted ties.

What is your one wish for your Etsy shop/creative business? I'd like to be in more brick and mortar shops. I don't expect to quit my day job (social worker), but it'd be nice to have a steady second income from Etsy. I'd also love to have my own space in an artist's collective building. It'd be so full of creative energy, to share studio space! Kind of like Blick Shared Studios in Belfast (incredible building!)

What's the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you on Etsy? It was pretty exciting to have the CK Team approved, but my most exciting thing was when I sold four custom crochet flower scarves in a manner of two weeks. Until I realized I then had to MAKE the scarves!

What is your favourite Etsy shop? There are so many amazing shops, but I would have to say that I am always awe-stricken with TheBlackApple.

Favourite colour? Red + Aqua.

You could make your own dream ice cream... what would be in it? It would taste like the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" soap/perfume by Lush.

Favourite place to be in Chatham-Kent? Somewhere with moss. It's such a magical plant.

Fall CLEARANCE Sale

Tonight I started arranging my pieces on a tablecloth that I intend to use for fall shows, only to find that everything clashes. Pink and rusty yellow just don't seem to work. Bright, summer colours - although very cheerful - aren't necessarily bringing about the cozy, warm feel of Autumn that I'm ready to embrace in my shop.

I decided to do an inventory of all the items I have in my Etsy shop and found many that have been sitting un-loved (and unhearted and unviewed) for some time. [side note - to see who loves you and your items, check out the Heartomatic, shared by Christy DeKoning.] In an attempt to clear out some older items, I have set up a Fall CLEARANCE Sale in my shop. I lowered the price of the items in this new Section (if you aren't using sections yet, you may want to try. It's a great way to organize your shop and be more user-friendly) and well, we will see how it goes!

I invite any of you on the team to join in - perhaps we can make it a team-wide Fall CLEARANCE Sale. If so, I can email Etsy and they may publicize it for us. If anything, it's a good way to clean out shop, maybe make a few extra sales, and participate in our first group activity!

Jen

Lake Erie Beach Glass and Copper (oh my!)

One of the most exciting things in my trip to the beach involves scouring the shoreline for beach glass. It's a treasure. And really, it's one of Mother Earth's ways of naturally recycling. I'm upcycling to the max!

The first necklace was made with a piece of green beach glass found at Erieau. I wrapped it in copper wire and it is suspended from a thin copper chain. The second piece was made a year ago using a large piece of green glass, and a smaller white piece, which was then wrapped in copper wire. The third necklace is made from brown beach glass found at Erieau. It is also wrapped in copper wire and suspended from a copper chain.

Today seems to be copper day.

Each necklace retails for 25$ and is available in my etsy shop.

Etsy Buy Handmade jenmerritt

It begins...

The other day I wrote an article for the Chatham Kent Daily Post on the importance of 'Buying Local, Buying Handmade.' To read the article, head on over here. Well, I was pretty impressed with myself. The article turned out spankin' fresh, and I really enjoyed promoting local Etsians. That was fun. I'm great. Toot toot! (That's me tooting my own horn).

The problem is, I seem to be on a roll... first the article, then organizing a Chatham-Kent Etsy Team (in the process of approval as we speak), and now Brenda has re-awakened the Chatham Kent Handmade Market blog for the use of all the local artisans who want to be linked together, promote their work, and be cool like me. And Brenda. And the others that are involved, too.

So this will be our blog. We will post newly designed items, link to local 'Minions of Creativity', as we will hence-forth be known, and promote local creative happens in which we are involved. It will be good, and I am hoping you will enjoy your visits.

And to finish it off, here is the first CK Etsy Team promotion... look what I made tonight!

I have four of these, they are sold separately. They are made from small beach glass pebbles that I found on the Lake Erie shoreline, attached to hammered copper wire spirals. 25$ each, or 10% each additional necklace purchased, throughout my shop.
Persephone's Awakening - jenmerritt.etsy.com

Stay tuned for more from other members of the team. Till then, au revoir!

Jen Merritt