Valentine's Day: Free Printable

Happy Valentine's Day

from the 

Hudson Valley Etsy Team

Print out borderless on 8.5x11" card stock, makes two per sheet, use invitation envelopes 4.57x5.75" 

Link to Free Printable

Visit our VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE for more great gift ideas!

Jody

www.astudiobythesea.etsy.com

Gift Tags - Free Printable

Seasons Greetings from 
the Hudson Valley Etsy Team!

Our Holiday Craft Fair in Beacon is only weeks away.  Get ready to give with these fennec fox gift tags you can print at home.  Have your special persons been naughty or nice this year?

Click on link below for Naughty and Nice pdf

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4emWuO6AltReEc0eEZfWldyNXM&authuser=0

Instructions:

1. Print out the downloaded file on a sheet of card stock
2. Cut out each tag along the pale blue lines - use scissors, x-acto knife & ruler or paper cutter.
3. Punch out holes with a hole punch or just attach to your gift with tape or glue. I also drew in gold marker along the edges for more decoration.

All images © Jody A Lee 2014

www.astudiobythesea.etsy.com

This gift tag sheet is for your personal use only
All commercial use of them or these images is prohibited

Happy Holidays!

Jody 

Imaginative Realism

Jeff Jones

Imaginative Realism is the new name for fantasy art.  That covers all the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and gaming art that took realistic painting or sculpture in the direction of things only seen in the imagination.  I do crafts, but my main employment has been as an artist working in the publishing industry, making paintings that will grace the covers of fantasy books.  

In September I was lucky to attend Illuxcon7, the premier convention for Imaginative Realism, created by Patrick and Jeannie Wilshire.  The Allentown Museum of Art is inundated every September with artists, collectors, and students of the fantastic from all over the world.  Only non-digital work is allowed, so the galleries are filled with the most amazing work in traditional methods - oils, watercolors, graphite, and the three dimensional work is beyond description, especially because I haven't the faintest idea what they are using to create their strange and lifelike beings.  There are also wonderful classes and discussions going on in the nearby Baum Education Center, and a stream of students getting their portfolios reviewed by professionals.

Allentown Museum of Art

Here are some of the artists I met and the work that I saw at Illuxcon7.

Stephen Hickman

John Jude Palencar

Bob Eggleton

Marianne Plumridge

Bob Eggleton & Marianne Plumridge

Richard Hescox

Annie Stegg

Travis Lewis

Rebecca Guay

My art display

Mermaid: Blue Eyes

I only have photos of a small part of the show, but more and larger views of the artists' work can be seen at:

http://www.illuxcon.com/#

Illuxcon is thoroughly inspiring for me.  I love seeing work this good, and find it gets the creative juices flowing in ways that just working alone does not.  It's a pleasure to meet the artists, the collectors, and the fans in an intimate and low key setting.  We all wander around talking and chatting and having a great time.  We also sell some art, which is always good too.

Jody

a Studio by the Sea

Stickley Museum

Some times you head off the beaten path and you discover little unknown treasures.  In the summer I was looking for inexpensive flooring for a room I was finishing, and found I could get some at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in New Jersey.  On the drive to Morris, New Jersey, I passed a sign that said "STICKLEY MUSEUM."  My head turned, as any one who loves the Arts and Crafts Movement in the United States knows the wonderful furniture made by Gustav Stickley.  Of course I had to find out what this museum could be. 

It turns out that there was a beautiful property in New Jersey that Stickley bought, and then built as a school for boys to learn a trade.  The school never took off, but he lived there with his family for a short time as his country estate when he was at his most successful, furnishing every room with pieces designed especially for himself and to his specifications.  I took a tour of the lovely grounds and the building with an agreeable and knowledgeable old docent. 

Below is the main building, called the Log House, which is filled with many of his original pieces, wall hangings and decor.  Every room has been loving restored, right down to an old Cornell pennant on the wall of his daughters' room, as it was seen in photographs.  Inside, the fireplaces are of brass with typical arts and crafts style mottos beaten into the metal.  Everywhere are small soft golden electrical lamps hanging from posts or the ceilings, lighting the dark rooms.  It's like stepping into an illustration for a proper home from the Arts and Crafts Magazines of the time.  I was so pleased to come upon this hidden gem!

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms

The tour entry

A box of the beautiful joinery used by the Stickley craftsmen.  No nails!

The gift shop is in the old kitchens.  There was a giant stove and ice room because he thought he would have a school here.

I wasn't allowed to take photographs inside so you can get a better idea of the treasures within by visiting their website: 

Stickley Museum

What a treat that was!  I love the design and craftsmanship, it was so lovely!

Jody

a Studio by the Sea

DIY Thank You Card

DIY Thank You Card

from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team

Here's a little Flower Garden thank you card you or the kids can easily make!  Just like those expensive cards you find in stores, it becomes three dimensional when you add your own selection of buttons.  All you need is a printer, glue, card stock paper, invitation size envelopes, buttons, a ruler, and a scissor or other method of paper cutting.  I'm not sure how I collected all these buttons, but lots of crafty people seem to have the same secret stash.  This is one way to make use of them!

Download card design free printable here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4emWuO6AltRSkdXZ1I2VHJ5djg/edit?usp=sharing

Print out full bleed if you can.  Otherwise the image will be short on the edges.  Cut in half.

Glue on buttons at the top of the stems.  Let dry.  Fold in half, and it's done!

Jody - astudiobythesea.etsy.com

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Egg-free Irish Soda Bread

Because two people in my family are allergic to eggs, I've had to look for baking recipes without eggs.   I keep this scone-like bread in a plastic bag after it cools so it will stay moist.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

4 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp salt

1 tsp soda

1 tbsp caraway seeds

1 cup raisins

2 cups buttermilk

Chop up butter with flour, sugar, salt and soda in food processor.  Pour mixture into a bowl and add caraway seeds, raisins, and buttermilk.  Should be a very soft, almost runny dough.  Pour out onto a greased baking sheet and with floured hands shape into a circle.  With a knife cut a cross on the top.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or just until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool, slice, and serve!

Jody

www.astudiobythesea.etsy.com

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day 

from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team!

Our "Hearts" go out to all our friends and customers!

Valentine's Day Mask by Dara Gallery

Rat Heart Pendant by Drusilla

Red Crystal Heart Bracelet by Tink's Treasures

Eye Heart Ewe card by Wishbone Letterpress

Button and Glass Heart Necklace by Shannon Chomanczuk

A Personalized Heart Glass from Amber Lynn

A Filigree Heart from Pulp Sushi

A Heart for your family from Charms of Faith

A Mended Heart from a Studio by the Sea

    Jody

    a Studio by the Sea

Gift Tags from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team

Free Gift Tag Design!

A free printable for you from your friends and crafters of the Hudson Valley Etsy Street Team!  Some winter mice are all ready to celebrate the season in these gift tags by member Jody Lee of a Studio by the Sea.  All you need is a printer, card stock paper, and something to cut out the tags with. 

 Click here to link to the pdf file to download.

Instructions:

1. Print out the downloaded file on a sheet of card stock
2. Cut out each tag along the pale green lines - use scissors, x-acto knife & ruler or paper cutter.
3. Punch out holes with a hole punch or just attach to your gift with tape or glue.

Happy Holidays!

All images © Jody A Lee 2013

www.astudiobythesea.etsy.com

This gift tag sheet is for your personal use only
All commercial use is prohibited