Hot Off The Press!

Come and get 'em!

All new for you, InkSpot Workshop desktop calendars are now stocked in the shop. As always, you will get 12 months of fresh, modern and whimsical designs to liven up your workspace. They also make great gifts

Hurry, these are a limited edition meaning limited supply.

My personal favorite!

Stickyfingers - Fabric Edition

Happy Sunday to all of you creative types! This week's tutorials are all about using fabric. Whether you sew or not, don't worry these are all super duper easy! As always, I aspire to inspire so go and make something! Want to be featured in Stickyfingers? just send me some pictures of your finished projects, looking forward to seeing them:)

Here's a great use for your leftover fabric. How about making your own Fabric Flowers Garland? Kayte Terry gives you the steps here over at Creature Comforts.

Now that the kid's are back to school in full swing, how about making them a special Notebook Lunch bag? Kate Pruitt, offers up an exclusive here for Design Sponge.

Even if you don't sew, this Fabric Yo Yo tutorial from Heather Bailey, offers up some simple stitches anyone can master. Make It and Love It shows you some cute uses for these little gems.

500 Colored Pencils

Everyone knows I'm ALL about COLOR! I get super excited when I see pastels, chalks, magic markers, paints and colored pencils at artist stores. I vividly remember Mrs. Kindee's 1st grade class where she had a small set of 6 fat magic markers, each with a unique scent, blueberry was my favorite.

I have a small arsenal of artist's supplies, although I can't draw my way out of a paper bag, similar to a woman who doesn't cook but loves cook books. I did draw some flowers a few months ago with some colored pencils and I must say they turned out better than I thought they would. Not to mention it was something fun to do with my 3 year old that didn't involve Lightning McQueen.


Then I stumbled upon the 500 Colored Pencils program, from Social Designer. Can you imagine having 500 colored pencils???? How clever is this? It's a subscription and here's the way it works... you or your BFF can get 25 different colored pencils a month for 20 months! at just $1.32 a pencil, what a steal. Each color has it's own unique name like Coral Gable, Smoked Salmon and Jessica, these were all incredible shades of pink by the way.

Are you asking yourself.. where would I keep 500 colored pencils? No worries, they have that all figured out for you. Whether you want desktop storage or modern wall art, they have just the lucite container to suit you.

I'm thinking these are the keys to unlocking my inner artist!

iCANDY - 55th edition

Happy Friday and welcome to this week's edition of iCANDY. No particular theme this week, just some super cute and delicious items I found from my Etsy favorites. ENJOY!

1. Micro Tiles - Element Clay Studio, NC $200.00

2. Apricot Jalapeno Jelly {yum} - Mirasol Farm, WI $6.50

3. Lever Du Soleil Earrings - The Bijou Babe, MD $188.00

4. Doppio Espresso Cup/Saucer - Of Mine Design, CA $14.00

5. Linen Crochet Ponytail Holder - Namolio, England $8.75

6. Hand Knit Scarf - Fringe, CA $74.00

Coming Soon

Thank you everyone for their well wishes. Our backyard is nice and dry (now) although all my flowers and pine straw were washed away from the temporary 20 foot river we had flowing through it. Good reason to start over! With 2 sunny days in a row, it's hard to tell where the flood of Atalanta actually took place.

All of this down time has allowed me to finalize the details of my 2009 holiday line for both InkSpot Workshop and Fire Hydrant Press, whew! it's been a ton of detailed work. Additionally, I have been finalizing my 2010 desktop calendar, which will make it's return this year due to popular demand. This is just a sneak peek and as usual you can expect 12 months of fun, modern and colorful designs from InkSpot Workshop. October is a design inspired by my daily plight with these critters. Stay tuned, everything will make it's debut in early October.

Bye Bye Backyard!

We are getting hit mighty hard by the rains pounding the South. Look at my poor backyard:(

I now know the meaning of Flash Flood!

Stickyfingers

Happy Sunday! This week's edition of Stickyfingers brings you fun, crafty tutorials from a few old friends you've seen before and you get to meet a new friend too. I aspire to inspire so by the end of today (or at least this week) I hope you go and make something! I love to see pictures of your finished projects so please send along so I can feature you.

The amazingly clever Patricia Zapata, of A Little Hut brings us this easy tutorial for those of you who like to recycle. These modern Yarn Gift Tags are easy to make, click here for instructions. Also, Patricia has recently launched a new craft book. I bought my copy last night and I anxiously await it's arrival!

No stranger to Stickyfingers, Amy of The B-Line always has wonderful craft tutorials. I'm most impressed that she makes each and every one herself, instead of just blogging about them {like yours truly}. This time she shows us how to make the timeless cocktail umbrella and offers other uses besides adorning your fav Mai Tai.

I was reading my friend Jessica's blog and she introduced me to the idea of knitted bangles. How great would these be for Fall? She offers several links to tutorials she has found, my favorite was this one, by Cloud Hopping.

Do You Mochi?

Do you Mochi? I learned of these ice creamy delicacies, just 2 years ago while having Sushi in Mawah, NJ with a co-worker. I have been smitten ever since. Often times the craving for these ice cream balls, robed in a chewy, rice dough greatness, just hits me over the head unexpectedly. They are available in a variety of flavors such as strawberry (personal fave, happen to be eating as I post this), chocolate, green tea and plain.

They are so unusual in that they are ice cream that you chew and they are not too terribly sweet. Tiny cubed squares of plain, mochi rice dough (outer part of the mochi ball) are finding their way onto topping bars at frozen yogurt shops nation wide. Next time you are at Pink Berry and you see the topping called "mochi" give it a topping test drive.

Just in case you do not have a Japanese restaurant or international market close by, you can get a fix of Mochi at Trader Joe's.

iCANDY - 54th edition

Happy Friday! Welcome to this week's edition of iCANDY, lovingly brought to you by InkSpot Workshop's blog - The Spotter. This week is choc-full of beauties from a few of my favorite Etsy peeps. Enjoy!

1. Embroidery Wall Hanging - Lovahandmade, VA $28.00

2. 8x10 Fine Art Print - Honey Tree, CA $25.00

3. Autumn Leaves Garland - Bumble Bee Enterprises, OH $10.00

4. Flower Clutch - Studio Karma, Turkey $50.00

5. Poppies Hook Earrings - Jewelry By Natsuko, OH $30.00

6. Luminary - Fine Art Stoneware, OH $26.00

Jingle Bells!

www.inkspotworkshop.com

While working my day job...

Picture this... It's 11:00 a.m., I'm already starving for lunch and while I wait for my appointment in the OR, this local magazine cover is screaming out to me. As I quickly turn to page 11, I see an article about a new "gourmet" popcorn shop, boasting over 100 flavors. Could there really be such a place? Truth be known, I don't even like popcorn unless it is flavored and I certainly could not fathom 100 flavors? {mouth watering}

I honestly could eat this entire cover, instead I stole the zine from the waiting area to ensure I would have the proper digits for my gps.

I fire through my meeting about scalpels {stomach growling} just so I could hurry up and find this little slice of heaven or should I say haven? Big shocker for the day is that there is nothing in Calhoun, Georgia except for a hospital and my new favorite shop, Popcorn Haven!

As soon as I saw the sign, I swear I heard harps begin to sing. I literally parked my car and ran inside as though they were having a clearance sale on Jimmy Choos. The rest was popcorn love history! The picture above is Butterfinger, one can only imagine...

The owner's (originally from Chicago of course) favorite flavor and my first one to sample was this most unique combo of Cheese Coated Caramel Corn. My fingers are stained orange from doing nothing but snacking on this all day long! I really can't get enough.

After I had about all the savory and spicy flavors I could handle, I moved onto the sweets. Here is Strawberry Cheesecake. They actually make this by using real pie crusts and strawberries. I also bought Key Lime Pie! Somebody really needed to stop me.

Quickly realizing I was running late for my next appointment and it was going to be just me and a bunch of nurses, I ordered yet another bag of goodness and the show stopper. Shown above is White Chocolate Pretzel and my ladies went wild for it.

Twin brothers and masterminds behind Popcorn Haven.

The best part of Popcorn Haven isn't just the unique flavor combinations, or the nice people who work there, they have a website where you can order! Think I know where everyone is getting their Christmas gifts from this year.

Stickyfingers - Soap Edition

Happy Sunday! Welcome to this week's edition of Stickyfingers, lovingly brought to you by Inkspot Workshop's blog...The Spotter. I'm all about soap today and have 3 easy and fun tutorials I found while scouring the web for you. As always... I aspire to inspire so go make something! and most importantly, have some fun.

Too gorgeous! Thanks to the Soap Queen you too can make these Bee & Honeycomb soaps by clicking here.

Fall is just around the corner and wouldn't these Gothic Pumpkin Soaps, make stunning hostess gifts? Soapy Love shows you how right here.

What to do with all your new soap? Creature Comfort has this free tutorial and download for Paper Wrapped Soaps right here.

iCANDY - Sept 11th edition

 

Need I say more?

1. Moon Over Manhattan - Maid Of Clay, CA  $34.00

2. Abstract Print - Century Butterfly, AR  $15.00

3. Shower Curtain - Custom Shower Curtains, Toronto $85.00

4. Wall Vinyl - Wall Stickz, SD $28.95

5. Pop Up Greeting Card - Capecuu, Hai Noi $6.29

6. 5x7 Abstract - Andrew Smith, $15.00

LUCKY day

Considering I started out the day at 6am, only to step (in the dark) into a large pile of doggie poop, my day actually turned out pretty great.

A few months ago a local Atlanta editor for Lucky Magazine contacted me after seeing my items at The Beehive. I sent some scooter cards from my Vroom Set to their NY office to be photographed and ....voila! here they are. 

Thanks to a Twitter buddy and my next door neighbor, I was alerted that InkSpot Workshop had made the news stand. Even though my little feature is just in the Atlanta circulation, it's still fun to see your name in print.

Thanks LUCKY!

Stickyfingers - Cupcake Edition

Who doesn't love a cute cupcake? In fact, cupcakes have become so popular they are being called the "new" thank you! Well I can definitely relate. This week I'm all about bringing you some easy, fun and unique ideas to do with these tasty morsels. As always, I aspire to inspire so go and MAKE SOMETHING!

How about using cupcakes as your seating cards? My DIY Wedding Day shows you how here.

Leave it to the QUEEN to come up with this clever craft. Learn how to make Cupcake Paper Carnations here.

Must have an equally adorable cupcake stand to display your tiny treasures. Thanks to Cake Journal, you can lean how here.

How about some really adorable Girly Girl Wrappers? Thank you Food Art Party (my new favorite blog) for this free printable and many others, click here.

Etsy Exclusive

Since opening my Etsy shop in April 2008, I've been asked to design custom Etsy shop banners for some other Etsy sellers. I really enjoy this aspect of graphic design and have decided to offer this exclusively in my Etsy shop. Looking to revamp your shop? Just drop me a line, I'd love to help you! Below are some samples of my work.

It's so important to have a consistent look in terms of getting your shop's personality out there. I also offer matching custom product hang tags, stickers, mini seller thank you cards and business cards. These are available as "printable" files so you can make as many as you need!

iCANDY - 52nd Edition

Welcome to this week's edition of iCANDY, enthusiastically brought to you by InkSpot Workshop. Most of these eye catching beauties have graced the front page of Etsy in the recent past, rightfully so I might add. It's so much fun to scour my favorites each week and bring these artists up on your radar. ENJOY!

1. Bottle Print T-Shirt - Mary Ink, Nashville $28.00

2. Parfum Balm - Nostalgia Organics, Scottsdale $10.00

3. Amoeba Necklace - Starving Artist Bazaar, Phoenix $35.00

4. Open Your Heart Print - Gabrielle Kai, Georgia $30.00

5. Natural Cotton Flower Pillow - Orange Slice Art, New Jersey $45.00

6. Peach Flowers Necklace Set - Tijusai, Lithuania $27.00