...getting ready!!!

Hello...I am using the next week and a half to work on my studio "wish list," those charms, silver, new pieces I've been dreaming about adding in time for the BIG STUDIO OPEN HOUSE next Thursday, Friday and Saturday (September 9, 10, 11).

The past weeks have been filled with glitter, bitties, Halloween, and more. I'm hoping to play with silver for a few days...so many ideas, so little time :)

I'd love to hear from you this week...comment here or on the studio Facebook page to be entered in a random drawing for a 1/2 inch silver initial charm. Check back on SUNDAY to see if you are the winner.

Oooh...I gotta get working...tray of bitties calling my name!

our last market...then fall shows!!!

Tomorrow (Saturday August 28) will be Brown Dog Studio's last appearance of the season at the Piedmont Market (8-noon, Cotner and A Streets). I have been busily making glass charms for fall shows...some of these have made it onto the tables already :) Next week, more charms and then some SILVER...I'm so excited!

Jamie W,a new studio FB fan, is the lucky-ducky winner of this week's random drawing for the 3-pk of polishing pads...contact me Jamie so you can make your silver and charms all shiny!

I'm still taking calls for private trunk shows...some of you are trying to find THE date for you and your friends.

Now...for what's really important...what kind of PIE do I need tomorrow at market?

shows...gearing up for fall!

I was down on campus with Sheri last night for our annual meet-and-greet with sorority girls at Big Red Welcome. We were letting girls sign up for private trunk shows in their houses...also, if you're a mom of a sorority girl, you're welcome to contact us to arrange a showing for a group:)

Hopefully tomorrow it will feel enough like FALL so that these new pumpkin charms aren't too out of place. I'm letting everyone know that this Saturday (Aug 28) will be my last visit to the Piedmont Market for the season. I LOVED being there this year and plan to head back next spring! I'm going to take one weekend (Labor Day!) off before I start my VERY busy fall show season, beginning with the studio Open House September 9th, 10th and 11th.

I promised that everyone could start calling to arrange for private trunk shows for groups of 5 or more. These take place in my studio, generally reserving a 2 hour block of time, as sometimes another group will follow you! When you call, have a few evenings or Sunday afternoons in mind. The ONLY 2 Saturdays that will be open are September 18 and October 18. These are not dates that are available for dropping in, only for scheduled showings, please.

***Add-on info, thanks to Lisa's question...for those 2 precious Saturdays, I will maximize time if need be by making them into 4 slots...10-noon, 1-3, 3-5, and 6-8. I decided Lucy and I need time to sleep in :)

Evenings will be decided as you call me and I look at my calendar. Sundays will be a maximum of 2 groups per afternoon, probably a 1-3 and a 3-5 slot if I'm available!

This week's give-away is a 3-pk of my favorite polishing pads, good for your silver or glass charms. Comment on this blog entry, become a new fan or comment on the studio FACEBOOK page to enter the random drawing, and check back Friday to see if you're the winner!

Now check your calendars so we can find a time for your group to gather in my studio...I promise this is a lot of fun :)

I'll be at market TWO more days!

I will be at the Piedmont Market tomorrow (Saturday August 21, 8-noon), and then again the following week, and THAT'S IT before my Fall shows begin. I'm oh-so busy getting everything ready for my Open Studio Show September 9, 10, and 11(remember, I had to move it forward a week!)...and then the FUN begins! Shows almost every weekend until December. Can she do it? Can she still plan coffee dates with her friends? Will Lucy tell her mother she's too grouchy to work with? Yes, YES, and I HOPE Lucy tells me if I'm too grouchy...that girl's my right-hand gal :)

On Monday, I plan to let you start reserving times for private studio Trunk Shows, beginning in September. These are perfect for groups of 5+ friends, co-workers, sisters (and MOM!)...you get extra-special help for custom orders, plus there's usually a lot of laughing while you help Susie pick out what SHE needs! I only have 2 available Saturdays, some Sunday afternoons, and one or 2 evenings per week. If you have a group that can come during the school day, we can work with that, too.

Now for this week's lucky-ducky give-away winner...Natasha is a new fan on the studio Facebook page and should contact me to claim her prize, the "secret locket".

Hope to see lots of friendly faces tomorrow at market...I sure hope Mary Helen has a pie with my name on it!

...date changes and give-away!

I've had a whirl-wind past few weeks and thankfully I received a phone call today to let me know I had an incorrect date in my fall scheduling...one that conflicts with dates I'd planned for my BIG fall studio show. Can't have that overlap the Cathedral Art Show!

So...Cathedral will be Wednesday September 15 (evening)-Sunday September 19. I'm almost certain that my open studio show will move one week earlier, to September 9, 10, 11. I'll finalize that later this week, but whew...thanks for the call, Katie:)

In all of my recent events, I've been having fun working with a combination of glass charms and SILVER. One very popular item this week was the "secret" locket... I'm asking everyone for what they would like on the outside... ...and then the secret-inside of a locket they might wear! You can comment on this blog entry, or go to the studio FACEBOOK page to add your two cents. You should check back on Friday to see if you are the random winner.

I'll be mentioning this again next week (when I have the kiddos' school events calendar in hand), but I'm going to open up the studio schedule in about a week for private trunk shows. These shows offer more time with me than regular open houses or craft shows and have been a lot of fun!

to market, to market...

Lucy and I will be at the Piedmont Market tomorrow from 8-noon. I've made the new glass charms I've finished over the past few weeks available for shopping...at market and in my studio, so you faithful summer followers are getting a sneak peak of what I'm rolling out for Fall!
...the new "rescued silverware" jewelry made last week!And a taste of the other market vendors...Mary Helen's pies, cookies and pesto...

... Jodie's beads and jewelry

... Mrs. Little may be on break until her next batch of corn is ready

...don't miss the tender cucumbers, potatoes and beets! There's also an assortment of fresh herbs
And you never know WHAT else...often there's a new vendor bringing surprises:)
I hope to see you! Gina B. became a new fan this week on Facebook, and is the lucky-ducky winner of the free 1/2 inch silver disk. Contact me, Gina...I'll bet we can figure something out to add into your order from this week, just in time for delivery!

I'll be REALLY working on charms over the next month, especially as soon as the kiddos are back in school and I can get my schedule going. Can't wait to see what I'll get ready THIS week:)

busy studio weekend...and WEEK!

The studio has been busy with shows and creativity...so many ideas making their way into new glass charms, silver and jewelry!
...wonderful bubbles combined with my silver, colorful beads on bracelet or chain

...vintage spoons (and one of my prized cake forks...I had a hard time giving it up!) made into whimsical pendants...my first one sold on it's first day out!

There will never be 2 that are exactly the same...should I make a few "blanks" to add your sentiments? ...and I'm on a roll with these fairies, princesses, and "chicks"...hint...look for these NEW themes: ice cream, soda, cookie, candy and SEWING (thanks, Amy), in addition to coffee, chocolate, cupcake, and scrapbooking...any more ideas?

Speaking of ideas...Lucy and I welcomed a group of friends to a private trunk show over the weekend...2 hours of dedicated studio time, perfect for shopping and special orders! Your friends (sisters, moms!) are great at helping pick your favorite photos, finding THE perfect charms, and knowing exactly what Aunt Susie wants for her birthday. I LOVE watching what everyone chooses, and I always end up with some new ideas for even more additions to the studio. (Yipes!)

I'll be ready to accept "fall" dates for private trunk shows as soon as I get my children's school calendars at the end of this month. I'll book 2-hour trunk shows for groups of 5+ friends...daytime, evenings or weekends (other than my open houses, these are the only evenings and weekends I open the studio!).

I'll be working with a lot of silver this week, so let's make this week's give-away one of my 1/2 inch silver disks...fits a name, an initial, short word...say "hello" here or on the studio FACEBOOK page (or become a new FAN of Brown Dog Studio on Facebook!). Mention some of your favorites, or what you're wanting to look for in future shows...Check back on Friday to see if you were picked by the oh-so-scientific method (out of a hat!).

I'm in Omaha Tuesday at Yesterday's Scrapbooking (4-8) for shopping and custom orders. Then...working in the studio to make even more pretties!

winner...studio hours and shows

This one-of-a-kind necklace sold on it's first day out...in Hastings. I was inspired to create 5 more this week, but due to the variation of "rescued" spoons and my play with saw/colors, there will never be two that are exactly alike. I even used one of my prized cake forks to make a pendant (reference to cake, of course!), 2 patriotic/star pendants, and a few surprises.

I have been oh-so-busy with glass charms, and although some will work their way into my inventory, most will make their BIG debut during the September studio open house...although if you come to the studio during Thursday hours (10-2), you'll be able to sneak peek/purchase early!

I loved the suggestions I received here and on Facebook (you can still "like" me by becoming a fan of the studio, you don't even have to make me your friend if you don't want to;)
Amy B. is the lucky-ducky random winner of the free $12 glass charm...contact me, Amy, and I'll put you in my WINNER book!

This week, find me Saturday morning at the Piedmont Market (Cotner and A Streets) from 8-noon, Tuesday evening in Omaha from 4-8 at Yesterday's Scrapbooking (3673 N 129th St), and during Thursday studio hours (10-2). I've penciled the dates of September 16-18 for the Studio Open House...Big-Big!

...more jewelry

Hastings Art-in-the-Park was so much fun. The organizers did a great job, the crowds were friendly, and the summer heat was not over-the-top-HOT like we've seen in the past few weeks. Lucy and I learned how to assemble and take down our new tent...we are WOMEN with tools:) We even attached a photo of the Brown Dog to the tent to point out the studio muse when asked about the name, and boy were we asked! Lucy was thrilled with the number of 4-legged, furry visitors that accompanied their owners to the park.

Somehow we managed to forget we brought the camera...I think it was the last-minute run I made to Walmart 10 minutes before the show to purchase camp chairs (which we'd forgotten in Lincoln)! So all I have to show is a close-up of one of the new shirts I made for us to wear at shows.

Sold lots of charms, some new silver and necklaces...had great requests/suggestions for charms that made me think, "why did I never think of that?" I'll let you find these this fall when they're in my new line-up!

For this week's give-away I have a request...ideas for occupations, hobbies and maps...some of them will make it into my inventory...add those ideas here or on the studio Facebook page and you'll be entered in the random drawing for a free $12 charm, winner to be announced here on Friday! I have so much work planned for this week...inspired (!), but we're off to the movies with my auntie this afternoon...lovin' the stay-cation:)