August Market Day - What a blast!

Market Day is a monthly event downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Casual atmosphere, 40 vendors selling art, vintage/found items, homemade and handmade goods. Its art and craft... not arts and crafts.

I have loved getting to know the other creators and all the shoppers. Des Moines is full of really great people!

Be sure to make it to the next one. Saturday, September 25th.

My booth continue to evolve. This month I made a new sign, headband stand, a new fabulous product - JOURNALS!!! many more signs, now with wire... and more exciting adjustments.

Check out Market Days website www.marketdayiowa.com

Enjoy your day! Mimi

Its Creepy Animal Day!!!

When I go thrifting the number one thing that catches my eye are animal figurines. When I find a really special one I can't help but buy it! My friends call them my creepy animals!

There are so many of these wonderful little guys in the world and I want to share my finds with you. Maybe they will brighten your day like they do mine!

Send me a photo of your creepy animal!

mimibirddesigns@yahoo.com - Mimi

Its Creepy Animal Day!!!

When I go thrifting the number one thing that catches my eye are animal figurines. When I find a really special one I can't help but buy it! My friends call them my creepy animals!

There are so many of these wonderful little guys in the world and I want to share my finds with you. Maybe they will brighten your day like they do mine!

If you come across your own creepy animal send me a picture

mimibirddesigns@yahoo.com - Mimi

Artist Feature! Cassie at UrbanEcology

Who is behind that fabulous etsy??? Here is where you find out! Meet Cassie of UrbanEcology!!

Meet Cassie: I am Cassie Landhauser Fine Arts Degree from ISU minored in textiles Aspiring art teacher :) Loves - orange juice with pulp, being barefoot, feather pillows, my boston terrier puppies, and vintage fabrics Dislikes - anything that takes away from me making shtuff!

Her artistic roots: I became artist because I didn't want to choose a major at Iowa State University. I loved making stuff and the people at in the Design college were cool.... so I thought, what the heck! Fortunately, my whim turned into a great passion. I absolutely love painting, bookmaking, mixed media, and drawing. Textiles were a natural next step for me. I have always been attracted to the aesthetic quality of fabric. started sewing when I was very little, but never really became interested until college and beyond. After college I moved into a townhome with husband and realized I could not find the decor I wanted in stores. Sooo... I decided to make my own! It is my hope that I can help others create their own unique space in their home.

Inspired by....
I love seeing other people's spaces! I love to scour apartmenttherapy.com to see what people in other cities are doing. I also love to browse etsy for color and pattern inspiration. Most of my art is inspired by different cultures, history, and people watching. And of course, my totally awesome vintage blue sewing machine :)

Why etsy? I just started, but I love how everything imaginable is available on Etsy! Plus, everyone I have worked with is very supportive. :) I love to be challenged, so I encourage custom projects. If I don't have what you want, I will do my best to find it.

Check her out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/UrbanEcology and then get comfy with one of her pillows!

Its Creepy Animal Day!!!

When I go thrifting the number one thing that catches my eye are animal figurines. When I find a really special one I can't help but buy it! My friends call them my creepy animals!

There are so many of these wonderful little guys in the world and I want to share my finds with you. Maybe they will brighten your day like they do mine!

If you come across your own creepy animal send me a picture

mimibirddesigns@yahoo.com - Mimi

Who is behind that funky etsy? Angela lives in L.A. and runs an amazing etsy shop full of some of the coolest plates, sculptures and more. She opened in December of 2009 and 8 months later she has had almost 600 sales! Go Girl! I believe its because she is true to herself. She creates what she wants, what she thinks will work, what she thinks is cool and.... we all love it!

Meet Angela from BeatUpCreations

I never thought that I would be an artist or craftsman but I recently lost my job and needed to do something. I found Etsy and began making and selling stuff several months ago never really thinking that I would actually sell something or make money!

My dad and my brother are professional artists and I just never thought my ideas were good enough to pursue so I never took my ideas seriously. I have no formal education or training in art so everything is pretty raw and probably pretty naive artistically but its all I know.

I just try to create things that I love. Im totally inspired by pop culture, animals, juxtapose, antiques, taxidermy...

I love Etsy for providing such an awesome playground for my items to get noticed! I am still surprised every time something sells.

Check out her fabulously funky etsy!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeatUpCreations

Thanks Angela!

-Mimi

Its Creepy Animal Day!!!

When I go thrifting the number one thing that catches my eye are animal figurines. When I find a really special one I can't help but buy it! My friends call them my creepy animals!

There are so many of these wonderful little guys in the world and I want to share my finds with you. Maybe they will brighten your day like they do mine!

If you come across your own creepy animal send me a picture

mimibirddesigns@yahoo.com - Mimi

Artist Feature! Jamie at AForestFrolic

Who is behind that amazing etsy? Here is where you find out! Meed Jamie from AForestFrolic.

Get to know Jamie: I'm a Mom of 3 busy little girls who are turning into craftaholics , just like their mama, tee hee. I get a couple of hours in the studio during the day, while the baby naps, and so the older two follow me in and have their own little area they craft at too. I've become a night owl since that's when I usually get inspired (because I know I won't be interrupted by wee ones). Even though I'm exhausted by the end of the day, I typically get a burst of 'crafting energy' and can stay up for hours making things. I am happy when my hands are busy and messy and I always have glitter all over myself (because it's one of my favorite accessories ;)

What inspires her: I love bright colors...they inspire me so. I love looking at artist magazines and scouring the internet for inspiration too (but then half the time I waste away my art time because I find so much inspiration, ha).

The artist in her: I've always been an artsy girl and used to make all kinds of things, like potholders on the loom and braided and beaded jewelry, when I was younger and actually made a wee bit of money from it (now my 9 year old is trying to do the same thing and I just smile). I took art classes in high school, but for the most part I am self-taught at the things I enjoy making now. I learn from trial and error usually, which can be frustrating but also rewarding...when something turns out better than I expected because I 'messed up.'

Loving Etsy: I started selling on Etsy about 2 years ago. I had no clue what I was doing with my first shop...my pictures weren't great, I didn't 'tag' well, and the list goes on. I learned from other sellers and learned from what worked and didn't, and I managed to do pretty well considering. But I needed a change, and I decided to do the ol' swicheroo and opened 'A Forest Frolic,' where I decided I'd sell a variety of my crafts and not just paper goods. I've sold mini clay sculptures, whimsical party banners, scrapbook embellies, pendants and magnets made from recycled Domino's and Scrabble tiles, and I love making paper mache cottages and trinket boxes. You name it, and I've probably tried to make it (although I have a ton of stuff that I don't think is 'good enough' to go in the shop, so it never makes it to the picture stage ;) But that's the fun of art! I guess I am way stricter on myself than anyone else would be.

Making Friends: My focus outside of making great products, is customer service! One of my favorite things about Etsy is having the chance to really get to know my customers. I enjoy chatting and letting them 'pick my brain' per se. I've made many good friends out of customers and blog readers and I wouldn't have it any other way. And I try to make their experience with 'A Forest Frolic,' the best ever...right down to the whimsical star confetti and handmade packaging!

You need to check out Jamies shop, I could get lost there for hours! So inspiring! www.aforestfrolic.etsy.com

I would suggest following her on her amazing blog too. http://aforestfrolic.com

Thanks Jamie!

-Mimi

Its Creepy Animal Day!!!

When I go thrifting the number one thing that catches my eye are animal figurines. When I find a really special one I can't help but buy it! My friends call them my creepy animals!

There are so many of these wonderful little guys in the world and I want to share my finds with you. Maybe they will brighten your day like they do mine!

If you come across your own creepy animal send me a picture

mimibirddesigns@yahoo.com - Mimi

The Beautiful New York City

First time to New York.

What were my favorite things? New York was so visually stimulating. And I'm not talking about the giant t.v. screens flooding Time Square. I'm talking about how everywhere you look there is something beautiful! Whether its a building, a view of the city, street art, or a fabulous fair happening down the street, I was always enthralled with what was around me. I wish I could have just walked the city all day and all night taking photos... but I was with a group of fabulous friends and to avoid looking like a total tourist I snapped when I could. Still took away some amazing sights, hope you enjoy!

My beautiful sister and I enjoying a warm New York morning.

Thanks for a great trip Naomi!!!