BEST!

In case you want to know way to much about me, my bio is up at the Batimore Etsy Street Team Blog now!

New Life For Left Over Paint Chips

Need some ideas for using up those left over paint chips from your last home improvement project? Check out these ideas in my newest post on Crafting in a Green World!

New Work, Finally!

I was finally able to get a new batch of work made! I hired a nanny to come hang with the boy, 2 days a week, so I can get in some quality plate breaking time. Hopefully I will be right on track with a bunch of new stock for the spring craft show season. Can't wait!

Junk Mail Love - Part II

Get another dose of my Junk Mail Love on Crafting in a Green World today!

Engauged!

Please check in with this Brand New shop on Etsy, from designer Kit Puliz, called Engauge. I can't wait to see what great designs she has up her sleeve! Good Luck Kit!

Delight!

FYI - It is woodland creature week on Delight.com!

Junk Mail Love - Part I

Read the first of my Junk Mail Love posts on Crafting in a Green World!

Kitchen mini-makeover.

I had to do a mini kitchen makeover this week to make room for my new Kitchenaid Mixer! (Thanks mom!) So, I moved my spices into these great magnetic cans from Bed Bath and Beyond. They stick right to the fridge. Just think of the organizing possibilities!

When I filling out papers for my mixer with the manager, he had to ask for my email address. Imagine me standing in the fine porcelain/wedding registry section of BB&B trying to tell him, not too loudly, that my email was actually Juliet@IbreakPlates.com. He looked a little scared.

Can you tell I like green?

CB2

I must have been living under a rock or something. Has anyone else seen CB2? It is the contemporary Crate and Barrel. Lots of great stuff.

Feeling Fancy

I just had to show everyone this amazing necklace from ImogeneandAnnie. So. Nice. This makes me want to work in silver again.

We're the B.E.S.T!

The Baltimore Etsy Street team is in full effect! Check out our teams blog learn about all of the members, see some work and learn about future events! Daily member profiles will be starting on Thursday!

Crafting in a Green World

For most contemporary green crafters, myself included, crafting with recycled materials began at childhood. Growing up before prepackaged craft kits were everywhere, I was forced to recycle if I was going to satisfy my need to create. I learned that a well appropriated paper towel roll can be transformed into anything from a fort to a pair of boots, given enough tape.

Today's green crafters have taken this childlike creative spirit, and combined it with rebellion for mass consumerism and a concern for the planet. The result is the creation of imaginative and functional objects with a twist. It is a great feeling to give a new life to what some might think of as trash. Goodwill has become the new craft store!

I am so proud to be a part of this growing green crafting movement and excited to share my finds on a new website called Crafting in a Green World, part of the Green Options network. Please check it out and learn something new about living green and crafting green! Feel free to leave comments and suggestions on either site! Here is my first post!

Mmmm...

This was so much fun, I had to share. Dip fresh mint leaves in candy chocolate (the kind that hardens when it cools.) Really yummy!

Must See...

220 pieces of toast make up the flip book style video of the Book of Spam. It is a must see.

Vintage Bead Boutique!

There is something so satisfying about burying your hand in a big pile of colorful beads, isn't there? My friend Annie is a lot like me in that she loves beads, but does not really like to use them in her work. She has decided to share her vintage collection with the world in her new Etsy shop VintageBeadBoutique. I can't wait to see what amazing finds she has stashed away.
(I think she is just looking for a new reason to visit Providence RI...)

From the "why didn't I think of that" file...

Paris designer Thomas Jaillot together with Marco De Michelis will introduce a Silver Scissor that wraps around your wrist. From Toy Me.

Max Mead Cartoon

Whatever.

Beer Bread, Yum.

This being home all day with the baby thing, has made me pretty dependant on the Food Network for entertainment. Sometimes, I have to feed my compulsion to craft with cooking and because Nolan loves the grocery store, it works out pretty well. I have been taking photos of some of the meals I have cooked so I can work on a cookbook for next year. Tonight I made beer bread with dill and cheddar.
Here is the recipe courtesy of Farm Girl Fare...
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder (make sure it's fresh!)
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill (or 2 teaspoons dried)
1 cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
12 ounces beer (I used Yuengling)
Optional glaze: 1 egg & 2 teaspoons water, beaten

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, dill, and cheddar in a large mixing bowl. Slowly stir in beer and mix just until combined. Batter will be thick. Spread in a greased 8-inch loaf pan, brush with egg glaze if desired, and bake until golden brown and a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool 10 more minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SO Yummy, and smells great too. Next plan is to make a sweet variety with Hard Cider and brown sugar.

SO MANY great calendars on Etsy!

From seller Diana Fayt.

From seller LizardPress.

From seller SmackofJellyFish.

From seller SusyJack.From seller Criswellcole.

From seller Happify.

From seller Joom.

Aren't you glad it is over?

Presents Opening Children by Rob Sheridan. Creepy.

Happy Holidays!

The last few weeks have gotten away from me because of the holidays and this little rock star. Please check back soon for new posts and shop announcements!!!

Surprise!

After a wonderful dinner at Taste, and a quick trip to the wine bar, Jason surprised me with this little gem last night. Guess he wants to buy the cow after all...

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by the lovely and talented Catherine Chandler (isn't her work great!) So here are 5 weird things about me...

1. I was voted "Most likely to be a millionaire" in high school because I used to make stuff and sell it to all the rich kids.

2. I love Martha Stewart. Her new kitchen line at Macy's and craft supplies at Michael's are SO nice! I cook from her Everyday Food book all the time (and love the show.)

3. On a similar note, since being stuck on the couch breastfeeding, I have become a Food Network addict.

4. Really stupid things bother me, i.e. clapping, ice clinking in a glass, chip bag crinkling, giant blow up holiday yard ornaments, the continued use of the phrase "rule of thumb," people who say use the word seen instead of saw, Rachael Ray, I could go on and on and on...

5. I used to shoot concerts for fun. (Yes, that is Vanilla Ice on the bottom!)

OK-I'll Tag (gosh, everyone has already been tagged except...):
Whitney Jane
Dandelion Blu


the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Holiday Heap

You can shop for everyone on your list by stopping by Holiday Heap this Saturday in Baltimore. Shop from more the 40 vendors (including myself) at St. Johns Church on St. Paul St from 10-5. How great would it be to be finished shopping on December 1st?? I dare you! Click on the link for more info and a list of vendors.

Now on Etsy!

Gift Certificates are now available on my Etsy Page!

I'm a Baltimore Smart Woman!

My issue of Baltimore SmartWoman is out now! It will be in news boxes through December. Who knew breaking plates was so smart?? Welcome Smart Woman readers!

New rings and brooches now available!

Ta-da! New rings and brooches in my Etsy store!

New rings and brooches!

New rings and brooches! I will hopefully get to put some on Etsy this week. If you see one you would like reserved, please leave me a note and I will post it for you.

Sarah Cihat

Looks like I have some competition in the "used ceramics from Goodwill" department, but I will gladly share my plate stash with this cool artist from Brooklyn! Sarah Cihat reglazes and refires old ugly Goodwill castoffs to make new modern designs like those pictured above. Maybe we should join forces...I can break the plates she reglazes to make jewelry!

Baby's first day at work

Maternity leave is defiantly over, and I am very happy about that! I have been getting in the studio to make a batch a week for the past 2 weeks. It is hard to find time to solder, but I can do a lot of prep during the week in hopes that I can score 3 hours of non-mommy time to solder. This week I am working on rings and cuff links. Since Nolan has has a bit more awake time where he is not eating, I decided to bring him down to watch! (Don't worry, I kept him safe from flying plate shards!) It didn't last too long, but it was fun while it did. Off to tape my pieces!

Finally!

I have some new work up on my Etsy site! There is much more to come!!

New plate!

Check out this plate I just won on eBay! I can't wait to break it!!!!!!! (I think I have a problem...)

Megan Auman Home!

Just in time for the Holiday's, Megan Auman has just opened her online shop for home goods! Soon you'll find all the non-wearable stuff she's been working on - wall panels, wire pillows, and ornaments!

So there are more then just pumpkin costumes for babys now!

Freakin' cute.

Showpony

When there's not enough room in that fantastic vintage handbag for all your groceries the vintage shopper has the answer, all the glamour of a real vintage bag with the practicality of a shopper - genius from Showpony.