Some have come and gone and some are here to stay. Owls for one, will always be popular. I remember when everything had owls on it…back in the 1970’s. My grandmom collected owl stuff back then. Today, I collect ALL woodland creatures….well, not the real ones, just things in their likeness.

But what’s going to be our next animal trend? Can we guess it? If you think you know, leave a comment below. Here are a few of my ideas.

1. Armadillo from Christine Dominic Jewelry

2. Zebu from JHill Design

3.  Giraffe  from District Thirty

4. Kiwi from Paper Victory

5. Alpaca from Danger Crafts

6. Platypus from Mint Parcel

7. Hippo from John Murphy

8. Tapir from I Am Kritch

9. Crab from Red Sofa

10.Okapi from Handymaiden

11. Tamrin from Cutezville

12. Mole from le animale

Now, I’m looking at terrarium miniatures. Here are some that I’ve got my eye on…make sure to read down to the bottom of the post to win a terrarium mini house from Little Red Door!

1. Little Red Door
2. Doodle Bird Imaginariums
3. The Oak Leaves
4. Jennifer Arndt
5. Adoro Me

6. Suzanne’s Pottery Farm
7. Alma Pottery
8. Jade Flower
9. Whimsical Cottage
10. Koalachickens

Win a Mini House from Little red Door!

Leave a comment on this post below and share your terrarium experience or plans. Also, make sure to visit Little Red Door. You can also share your favorites from their shop too. Multiple entries will be accepted. I will randomly pick one commenter who will win the mini house pictured above. This giveaway will end Friday, December 15th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be notified via email, so make sure to check your inbox (as well as your spam folder) after December 15th.

For me fall always represents a fresh start. The in and out focus of the summer is over, and my clarity returns. I love the feeling of settling in, getting cozy, and digging into inspiration. This time of year feels like when you have the chance to melt into the couch with your favorite blanket and a good book. The perfect cocoon to create something beautiful.

from left to right…{{ItzFitz}}, {{ LexLuxe}}, {{Tina Tarnoff}}, {{Yorktown Road}}

from left to right…{{perch!}}, {{Raceytay}}, {{rokeliux}}, {{Tramp Millnery}}, {{pigeon toe ceramics}}, {{MursBlanc}}

About the contributor: Khristian A. Howell makes patterns, lives to travel, and eat lots of olives.  Yep, it’s kinda that simple.  Be sure to check out her new fabric line High Society with Anthology Fabrics AND her new project SHOWSTOPPER – Road Map to Rocking Your Trade Show!

I spent lots of money supporting the vendors and bought myself and others some wonderful goodies. Mr. Indie Fixx is off the hook this year for my birthday, since I bought my own birthday presents… a month early, but oh well! Here’s what I bought: a couple of bags from Hello Bluebird, some jewelry from Yummy and Company,a necklace and a pin from peppersprouts, some yummy soap from Meow Meow Tweet, some ceramic pins from found studio, earrings from Lauren Markley,  and a felt pinwheel & garland from Giant Dwarf among a few other odds & ends.

I also took tons of photos and I’m sharing some of the best today and tomorrow. Today’s batch are all of goods for the home.

Ceramics from Robert Siegel.

Photography prints from Emmalyne Photography.

A wonderful display of goodies from Peg and Awl and The Black Spot Books.

Wall art from peppersprouts.

Prints from Tugboat Printshop.

Fabric mushroom terrariums from Paper Satchel.

Poster prints from Jen Skelley and Nate Duval.

Porcelain woodland creatures from Kg + Ab.

Porcelain mixed nuts from Kg + Ab.

Baby quilts and throws from Winks.

Little clay curiosities from SeaBelly

Coasters from Just A Jar Letterpress.

You can still bid on Day 9 Auction items as well until January 27th at 11:59 pm EST, so let’s make it count! Be sure to visit the Haiti Relief Fundraiser page for all the details about the donaters and the auction particulars.

How does it Work? Each day I will share a new batch of items you can bid on via the comments. You will be able to see everyone’s bids and rebid if you get outbid. The highest bidder will win the item and pledges the amount bid towards the Red Cross International Response Fund. The item will then be sent out in the mail to you from the artist, crafter or designer who donated it.

How to Bid. Leave a comment on this post with the following:

• your name
• your email address
• the item number
• your bid amount

Keep checking back throughout the day to see if you have been outbid. I will do my best to keep up with moderating comments, so you will be able to see everyone else’s bids. If you are outbid, rebid! You may bid on multiple items, just be prepared to win! The goal is to raise as much money as possible!

Item # 1 Tree Print w/ Rachel Carson quote from Earmark Invitations

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts” ~ Rachel Carson.  A gorgeous print with a distressed design and a large illustrated tree. It is simple and beautiful and we hope you agree. Print is 8″ x 10″ and is matted in a 11 x 14 double mat with a laid texture. Valued at $20

Bid on it and make it yours! The bidding period for this item will close January, 28th at 11:59 pm EST.

Item # 2  Spinning World Necklace from Sherry Truitt

The spinning world is a seasonal diagram found in the front pages of a 1935 world atlas. This is the view of earth called, spring begins. It’s a great piece for new beginnings. The world is forever preserved in domed magnifying resin and is set in a 16mm sterling silver loop bezel and hung by a 1.5mm, 16″ long sterling beaded chain. This necklace is ready to ship in a signature box. Valued at $40

Bid on it and make it yours! The bidding period for this item will close January, 28th at 11:59 pm EST.

Item # 3 Charcoal Soap and Squalane from Zaja Natural

This listing is for 2 sets of 1 charcoal soap and 1 squalane each. There will be 2 winners–the 2 top bidders will each win a set. The charcoal soap is a gentle facial bar that will leave your skin feeling smooth and thoroughly cleansed without stripping your skin of its natural moisture. Perfect for all skin types. The squalane  is a clear, odorless and colorless oil of very low polarity that is perfect for moisturizing your skin. Squalane is believed to boost the skin’s ability to naturally regenerate, nourish, hydrate, oxygenate and protect itself. Valued at $33.50

Bid on it and make it yours! The bidding period for this item will close January, 28th at 11:59 pm EST.

Item # 4 – Vase from Plays with Mud

Sweet little rustic-inspired vase, perfect for pencils or flowers.  Approximately 4″ tall and 3.5″ in diameter.  The glaze breaks along the text, making the variation and design of this vase completely unique.  The text reads “you make the world a brighter place”, because you’re making the world brighter by participating in this auction. Valued at $15

Bid on it and make it yours! The bidding period for this item will close January, 28th at 11:59 pm EST.

The Indie Fixx Galleria is an online showcase of handmade, indie-made & vintage goods. Think of it as an ‘indie mall’ featuring a mix of designers & boutiques to provide a curated shopping experience. Participants do pay a fee to take part, but the Galleria is juried.

I’ve been aware of Sofia’s jewelry for a while now, but only recently discovered her talented mum and after doing so decided it would be really interesting to interview them both for my Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx interview series.

Work by Sofia Masri

1. What’s your story? What do create and sell and how did you get your start?

Sofia: I had been making gemstone jewelry and my mom, Raquel, had been making mosaic pieces for a couple of years when we took a ceramics class. Soon after, I began making porcelain jewelry and Mom decided to create tiles, buttons, and home décor pieces. We both have art and design backgrounds and had worked with many media in the past so this felt like a natural progression for us. Since we signed up for the class as a way to spend time together, neither one of us thought that it would lead to two businesses. But here we are!

Work by Sofia Masri

2. What’s the best part about working with family? And is there a downside?

Sofia: Aside from having a shared interest, the best part is that we know we can count on each other for help when we really need it. Mom has helped me at many shows, we help each other glaze when we’re on a deadline and consult one another when we have creative dilemmas. I wouldn’t really say that there’s a downside, but working with a loved one inevitably leads to a few tense moments here and there. We bounce back quickly, though!

Raquel: I love working with Sofia, she is not only my daughter but also my best friend. Since I am not computer savvy, I can always count on her to help when I have questions and to give me encouragement to move forward. I want to be like her when I grow up! Sometimes we argue about whose turn it is to fire the kiln, but there is always a way to work it out.

Work by Raquel Masri

3. What’s your creative process like?

Sofia: I usually begin with a mental picture of a piece, occasionally even just a feeling I’m trying to convey. Then I put it on paper. Sketching is an important part of the process for me, I think I have enough sketches to produce ten different collections at any given time! I translate the design into clay, fire the pieces, glaze them, and fire them again. I usually don’t choose a glaze color until I’m ready to brush it on. I know that if I chose one ahead of time, I’d just end up changing my mind anyway. After the pieces come out of the kiln, I’ll pair them with matching beads and findings and assemble them.

Raquel: When I sit down to work I usually don’t have a plan or sketches. The ideas just come as I work and they kind of grow and evolve. In general, I like the end result. I also get my ideas when I’m lying in bed at night, I keep a notepad on my nightstand so I can work on them the next day. Unlike Sofia, I’m extremely indecisive about color. It takes me a long time to choose which piece gets which glaze.

Work by Sofia Masri

4. What are your creative inspiration?

Sofia: I draw a lot of inspiration from the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. I’ve spent a lot of hours in antique stores these past 15 years, it’s almost a magnetic attraction.

Raquel: I get inspiration from nature and vintage objects that have been passed down to me from family members. For color, I love to browse the latest trends at fabric stores.

Work by Raquel Masri

5. What blogs and mags do you read and what shops do you shop at?

Sofia: I read Vogue and Australian Vogue Living. I know I’m not alone when I say that I still miss Domino. Some of my daily blog reads include design*sponge, Desire to Inspire, Oh Joy!, and of course Indie Fixx. When I have a little extra cash, I like to give it to antique stores, Etsy sellers, and sometimes Anthropologie in return for some beautiful merchandise.

Raquel: I read Metropolitan Home. I don’t get to read many blogs but when I do, I go to Apartment Therapy. My favorite store is Anthropologie, I love it (it runs in the family)! I’ve found some treasures at the neighborhood thrift shops, which I visit often. And, of course, I am an Etsy regular.

Work by Sofia Masri

6. What have you recently been reading, watching and listening to?

Sofia: I like historical fiction and collect antique classics, but I’m not reading any books at the moment. I’m watching season three of Mad Men, my Pushing Daisies DVDs (still sad it was canceled), and I’d watch Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, The Prestige, The Age of Innocence and Amélie every day if I had the time.

Raquel: I recently read Out of Captivity by Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell, and Tom Howes. It’s an unbelievable story about three Americans who survived five years as hostages in the Colombian jungle. I’ve also been looking through The Find by Stan Williams and Charles King. It’s a great source for decorating with thrift shop items as well with flea market objects. I rarely watch TV except for Lost. I watched once and I was hooked! Can’t wait for the new season to start.

Work by Raquel Masri

7. What’s new? Any products or projects you’d like to share?

Sofia: Right now, I’m working on some geometric, more streamlined jewelry. I love the intricate details of my current work, but my eyes have been craving something a little different. I’m also working on a small one-of-a-kind holiday collection featuring my porcelain pieces mixed with antique and vintage jewelry components, ribbon, fabric, and beads.

Raquel: I want to experiment making pieces that combine fused glass and porcelain.

Work by Sofia Masri

Work by Sofia Masri

Work by Raquel Masri

Work by Raquel Masri

1. What’s the name of your business, what do create and sell and how did you get your start?

Tasha McKelvey – handmade clay goodness and I make handmade pottery featuring woodland themes like birds, faux bois, mushrooms and leaves.  I also make ceramic jewelry with the same sort of aesthetic – flowers, ginkgo leaves and birds.

The business name used to be Pottery by Tasha McKelvey, but a few years ago I dropped the “Pottery by” part.  I had started making ceramic jewelry in addition to pottery.  I changed the name to reflect the change in how I saw my myself as an artist, no longer just a potter but also a designer.

I always knew I wanted to be an artist, but as a kid I figured I would have to be an art teacher to support myself.  In high school, I started working as a potter’s assistant at The Poddery (www.thepoddery.com) in Mathews, Virginia.  I learned the basics of making pottery while working on someone else’s pots.  When I went to college and took my first Ceramics class at the beginning of my Sophomore year, I knew with in a week I wanted to make pottery for a living.  I started my business and vending at craft shows the Summer before my Senior year.

2. Share some of your inspirations.

I draw my inspiration from my experiences.  I grew up surrounded by handmade objects – my family ate all our meals from wooden bowls when I was a kid.  My parents are avid bird watchers and gardeners.  My first experience working in a pottery at 16 years old, was working alongside two potters visiting from Japan.  All of this mixed together to form my work – flowers, birds, ginkgo leaves on functional pots & jewelry.

3. What do you like to listen to while you create?

This American Life podcasts, Harry Potter Audio Books and my iPod mix, which right now is heavy on Sun Volt, The Flaming Lips, Mates of State and Belle & Sebastian.

4. What would the perfect day involve?

It would take place in Europe, involve fresh baked goods, cheeses, beer and all my favorite people would have to be there.  With all those elements present, it really wouldn’t matter what we did because I know it would be awesome.

5. What blogs and mags do you read and what shops do you shop at?

I used to read more magazines, but now I mostly read blogs like Craft: Blog, Apartment Therapy, Modish & Indie Fixx.  I still like getting an occasional issue of Ceramics Monthly or thumbing through a friend’s copy of Crafts Report.

I buy a lot of things on Etsy or from my crafty friends, but I go to Anthropology and H&M when I need something a bit quicker.

6. What have you recently been reading, watching and listening to?

I just got Handmade Nation a few days ago and I am enjoying reading it before I fall asleep. Last winter, I read all of Jane Austen’s novels – except I am still working on Emma.  I don’t really read much in the Summer.  I started re-watching Northern Exposure on Netflix in the studio – it was one of my favorite shows when I was in high school and it is funny to watch again all these years later.

7. What’s new? Any products or projects you’d like to share?

I’ve been having fun making some new faux bois plates & trays.  The weathered wood grain goes well with my little birds and new woodland themes like mushrooms & gnomes.