Rock the Vote!.

Rachel Bone's Nomination | Baker Artist Awards
The nominations are in for the Baker Artist Awards, and you can view mine RIGHT HERE. And guess what? I need your votes! The Baker Artist Awards consists of two separate prizes, the Mary Sawyers Baker Prize and Baltimore's Choice:

Mary Sawyers Baker, one of Baltimore's early philanthropists, studied voice as a young girl in Paris, traveled extensively, and embraced the arts throughout her life. She established the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund in 1964 to honor her husband, a well-known Baltimore civic leader. Up to three artists are awarded up to $25,000 each—money that winners may use at their discretion. The Mary Sawyers Baker Prize winners are selected by a private jury. Winners will be announced in March 2010.

Baltimore's Choice provides an opportunity for the public to participate in the Baker Artist Awards. All users receive one vote upon registration. Registered users then accrue additional votes the more they interact with the site—up to 10 votes. The five artists with most votes at the close of voting become the 2010 Baltimore’s Choice winners and win $1,000 each. Public voting for Baltimore's Choice ends at 5 PM on February 15, 2010. Winners will be announced in March 2010.

Looking at Baltimore artists all day & picking favorites? What a great non-facebook way to procrastinate during your Friday workday!! Thanks for looking!

Alethea Norene

In an effort to stop myself from talking opinionatedly about either the ipad OR the state of the union, I've decided to just tell you to look at these beautiful photos from my friend Alethea's "Norene Project." I can't wait to see where this goes. (all of it).

Quit your day job, or don't.

Check out this CNN video of our pal & fellow Baltimore crafter talking about working for herself.
There's been skepticism about etsy.com lately, and how their mini-campain "quit your day job" gives sellers false & unrealistic hopes of becoming insta-entrepreneurial-successes. But I don't subscribe to the cynicism or finger waggling. Say what you will about it being a longshot to quit your day job and make things in your basement for a real salary, but I think they're suggesting the potential, not the promise, right? ... and they offer you that potential for 20 cents per listing, and a small commission of each sale. Not a bad deal when you come in just wanting to see if you can sell things, and don't want to break the bank opening a store, or paying for your own website, huh? Also, if you really read that slogan and quit your job to sell your needlework just because Etsy mentioned it, and then didn't make a million dollars... well, you're an idiot, not a victim. But I still feel your pain.
I'm happy to give Etsy credit with helping start & maintain Red Prairie Press as my career. I also work extremely hard, chose something to make that turned out to be particularly lucrative in comparison to other crafts (by luck, not genius), and promoted myself too, but etsy, much more than any other online resource, has had a big hand.

I know Etsy is not a perfect site. I also know that it's very rare to make enough on etsy to support yourself. In fact, I don't even do that. I also have my own website, 30 wholesale accounts across the country, and 20 craft fairs each year. I apply for grants annually, and sell my paintings on the side. Is it easier than just sticking with your dayjob? Nope. Is it more stressful & risky? probably. So maybe you SHOULDN'T quit your miserable day job. But that slogan would get a lot more criticism for Etsy, who's main purpose is to box out "the man" and give the little guys like us a shot.

In conclusion, GO ALLISON! It's always inspiring to see other crafters making it happen. It's even inspiring to see that it's a struggle, so long as we can all stay above water & wave to each other now and then! Might we all be so fortunate as to have jobs we love this much our whole lives, and have a resource like etsy to support our crazy ideas.

PS- to join a great conversation about all this, and read other people's much more intelligent thoughts on similar matters, check out Crafting an MBA.

Buffy the coherency slayer

from B'More Green Blog
Heyyyyyyooooooooooh.
bet you thought I was back to blogging every day, huh?
Well, take THAT consistency police!
Actually, I've been in bed since Saturday night with a stomach bug, which I not only do not recommend obtaining, I downright recommend AGAINST!

Now that I'm at least back in an upright position and all caught up on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 1... it's back in action. And speaking of action, hows about how we're getting an energy star refrigerator tomorrow!?!? huh?

Even more exciting, BGE comes and takes away your crappy old non-energy efficient fridge for free, and then PAYS you $50 for it?
neato!
AND THEN,
Not only do you get the $50 from BGE, but you can also get a $50 rebate for going energy efficient. AND save money on energy bills because you have a sweet new fridge that doesn't leak energy!

Read all about it on B'More Green - A blog run by the Baltimore Sun, about green conscious living in our fair city.

On the verge of the mends, after what has been a personal record amount of time not eating anything (previous record: 5 minutes). As good as I am at Dr. Mario, I'm going to have to concede that I may have lost a few points to those creepy virus monsters in this round. But if I've learned anything in the last couple days, it's that I have a wonderfully caring husband... and that we should always be ready with a wooden stake & some holy water, because chances are, we are living RIGHT ABOVE the mouths of hell, and you never know when
a) your entire body with reject itself from the inside out
AND/OR
b) vampires will come and almost destroy the 90's.

Just saying.

Sherlock Holmes

Have you seen it? Did you love it?
I'm going to have to give it two enthusiastic thumbs up.
All the haters can leave this blog, because despite some negative hype we heard, it was freaking funny, and I love going to the movies. In a week full of hassles (our car being apparently totaled, taxes being worked on, rental car being hard to come by, business backups, apparel cancellations, a cold, etc.) it was a no hassle, don't think too hard, just laugh and enjoy type of movie, and Robert Downey Jr. & Jude Law (who somehow pulls of a mustache on his magical babyface) look like best buddies and like they're having so much fun, and this reminds me of how lucky Phil and I are to both enjoy OUR jobs as much as we do, and how rare that is, and I just got so happy for them that they got to make this movie. Also I love cleverness and surprises and this movie celebrates both. And also, Rachel McAdams is super badass (even though she has to get saved a million times), and the costumes on all three of them? Holy eyeballs, they just made my heart swim. And did you see that copper bathtub that the guy dies in? woah. I mean... how snazzy was THAT!? (the tub, not the death) I want that. minus the poisoned bath bubbles, if you please.
Thanks.

(and this is why I have NOT been hired by anyone to write movie reviews)

Did you say 2010?

Ohhhhh, I thought you said 1910! my mistake.
Okay you're right, I'll sign up for text messaging.
(especially since the guy at the sprint store informed me that I pay more for those freaking mass "merry xmas" messages you people send me than it costs to just put texting on my plan).

I would like to announce my arrival into 1993, by saying:
"OMG GSS WHO HS TXTING NW ON HR NEW CELLIE!!!!!???"

wasssupppp social life!!!! NP! TTYL! LOL!

The helpful young lad at the mobilized telephone shop not only stood staring with his pimply chin hanging low & mouth open when I shrieked in disbelief at the information that YES, my old phone of 3 years HAS had speakerphone all along, and I just hadn't looked hard enough. He also helped us find new phones by sidling next to us creepily while we browsed, causing me to cross the store floor approximately 13 more times than I really cared to do just to see if he'd follow me (yes). He next blew my mind by telling me you can put MUSIC and PICTURES on your phone (shut. up. PICTURES?? like.. PHOTOGRAPHS? ON MY TELEPHONE!??? you're joshing me, son. next you're gonna tell me people check their email or look up directions on their phones, like some sort of james bond flick).
However, he also politely explained that maybe one of the data phones wasn't for me just yet, and didn't make fun of me when I said the keypads on most of the phones he showed me were too small for my fat fingers.

anyway, I think I'll put on my comfort fit shoes & apron and get back to my real job (tshirts, basement, simple machines) now.
or is there an "APP" for that?*

*(j/k bffs. I know I'm far from ready for an iphone. I'll be too cheap to pay for it long after I become hip enough to figure it out)

Shine Collective in a new space!

Want some good news about Baltimore?
Indie Label carrier, and Oh-So-Hip shop Shine Collective has moved and reopened in a big new spot in Clipper Mill, right behind Woodberry Kitchen! Now that you're doing your resolution jogging & yogilates and eating less cookies and more broccoli and all that, perhaps you should reward yourself with some new fashionable attire, rather than that $17 Chai-double-mocha-spresso-chip-a-latte from Stealbucks (which, even when you add the words "soy" & "Organic" is about as healthful as a double bacon chubba-mcburgey burger from old McDoogles my friend. Don't be fooled).
Shine boasts carrying indie and alternative designers (many of them locals! GO TEAM!) as well as a few fashion well knowns (none of which I know personally, because I can barely dress myself as it is, but that's beside the point) and awesome accessories, homegoods & paper gifts worthy of impressing anyone, design savvy or not.
Keep up the health kick, champ! You look terrific.

Cranky McCrankerson

from krize on etsy
Is it festivus?
Is that why I feel like my gripes are slipping through my mouth left and right this week?
what gives!?

While I sit mumble grumbling over my taxes this morning, coughing into tea, and whining into the phone at USAA insurance (terrible people. never use them. they are being just wretched about giving us a rental car while our car, with $5000+ in damage on our car liable to THEIR insured woman who hit us, sits in the shop until FEBRUARY 8TH! thank goodness neither phil or I rely solely on a car to get to work!) I realize perhaps my problems are a WEE bit miniscule in comparison to...well...most problems. But I'm still going to grumble about them to myself.
Luckily, someone made a likeness of how I look this morning, and threw it up on etsy! Now you can hang out with a mini version of me anywhere in the world, without having to listen to my complaints! You can buy one HERE from etsy seller "krize".

just don't use the word "ginger" or me AND the doll will sneeze in your face on purpose.

R.I.P. pocket tshirt dress

UGHHHHHHHHH. not to get back into blogging with a complaint, but... well, here's a complaint:

Dear Alternative Apparel,

Um...... are we really still friends? circle one, YES or NO.
It's like.... I love your styles, and your products... but every time we work together, and I find a style that's a best seller for me, you cancel it without warning, just... stop making it altogether out of nowhere... and I'm left scrambling, and canceling orders, and disappointing people.
also, I have to find new styles, take new photos, make a new wholesale catalogue in the middle of a season, and confuse myself, along with everyone else (except you). And seriously...... I have important thumb twiddling to do.

I'm just asking for communication, that's all.
talk to me!

grumpily yours,
red prairie press

Crafting for Haiti

Want to do something to help out Haiti but don't know what? Are you a crafter or someone who loves to shop handmade? Well, the fine ladies of Craft Hope have created an Etsy shop where crafters can donate items to benefit Haiti relief efforts. All proceeds from the sale of the handmade items will go to Doctors without Borders in Haiti.

Please consider shopping at the Crafters Hope for Haiti Shop (and check back often as they are updating new items DAILY!) Feel good about giving a donation to a good cause and get a unique handmade treasure at the same time, what could be better?! They have raised over $4,000 already in the first few days!

If you are interested in donating an item to the shop please go to Craft Hope's blog HERE


I just donated to the Red Cross, but thought this looked like a nice bonus donation, so I'm donating a calendar and it should be up in the shop soon! Shop for a good cause, Enjoy, and be well!

worth a thousand words:

taken by Alicia

Dear Shelton, WA:
You make our hearts soar when we're with you,
you make our hearts sore when we're not.
so humbly yours,
rachel & phil

ps: Do you have any idea what a magical place the American west is?
pps: Baltimore, we love you too, but for different reasons. We will see you this weekend.

Art in the New Year!

Hi from the rainy & beautiful state of Washington! We're having a wonderful time, and enjoying lots of longlost friends & family and luxuriating in the amount of vegetarian options everywhere we go. (Photos to come of these travels). Wanted to tell you about this great show at School 33 coming up the 29th with work from my friend Evan LaLonde. Photography, drawings, a manmade wooden waterfall, memories of Prettyboy in the summer, and the first show I know of to start the new year off strong!

In other news, Phil & I managed to get ourselves in a car accident (sitting still) about 2 hours before getting to the airport to come out here Thursday! We were waiting to turn left behind another car, when a car came from behind us and crashed into us without breaking, sandwiching us between themselves and the car in front of us. Lucky for us, we are invincible in 2010, and walked away with minor whiplash, and no one else was hurt either. AND, Lucky for our car, it now gets to have a new front & back bumper, lights, trunk & exhaust. Lucky for MD, no one in NH can fix us in time to get us back home in a week, so we are driving our heap o metal (which was looked over by professionals and determined to run fine & safely) back to Baltimore and fixing it there.

In the meantime, I'm off to enjoy strong coffee & get my toes wet (literally) here in Washington.

Resolve

Here's my resolution. I thought of one.
I, Rachel Bone, will take and store properly on my computer (and back up somewhere else) better quality shots of my artwork.
I bet you'd think that the key words in there, (after a major natural-disaster-of-computer-sorts in December 2009 that you may or may not know about depending on whether I had your phone number at the time) would be the words "BACK UP SOMEWHERE ELSE" but here, in 2010, I'm focusing on "QUALITY."

And there you have it. "I will be more organized and keep better records" is my new years resolution for 2010.
Now you know, and can hold it against me all year.

West to Seattle tomorrow. Can't wait!

Happy New Year!

Hi pals! Remember me? It's been a bit of a hiatus on this blog, hasn't it?
We've been having too much fun in NH to stop and say hello.
Had a great christmas with lots of family and lots of woodstove warmth, which is suiting Mr Sammy incredibly well. We've been skiing, ice skating, hiking in the snow and enjoying our parents. I've been practicing my embroidery skills (staying as close to said woodstove as safely possibly) and we have been cooking up a storm. We made a great 5 course meal for my parents a couple days after christmas. Check out the finishing course: cardamom ice cream (hand whipped) in a hallowed out clementine with sesame crisp & raisins. Phil and I headed to Boston to see some close friends for New Years, and then on a whim, ended up driving to Lebanon, NH and having a great weekend with my sister & brother - in - law & our two awesome nieces. Sledding, swimming, fort building & sing-alongs ensued. Now we're back in NH for a few days before a trip to Seattle to see Phil's grandparents and taste the winds of the west. Hopefully this trip will put an end to my recent habit of eating my weight in cookies, but somehow I doubt it...
Anything you think we should see in Seattle? It's our first time there!

I find myself happy to take a mini-break for the first time in a while, but eager to see what this year has in store... I have a few ideas... I'm pondering ways to keep things exciting, plotting ways to obtain more workspace (and involve phil more) and enjoying the fact that until January 15th, I can't do anything about any of it!

Hope you all got in a good rest and didn't make any resolutions too hefty to keep.... I sort of forgot to make one, but I'll let you know. Perhaps a sugar ration should be on the list?

that's ridiculous.

Hello from snowy, sugar coated utopia!
be well!

-rachel