Heartful Handmade Blog

san francisco open studios

The San Francisco Open Studios is a four weekend citywide event with hundreds of artists opening their studios to the public.  When I was down the coast from San Francisco, I made it up for the tour several times, but only went to those at Hunter's Point.  That's because I'm a first-class wimp when it comes to navigating the City by the Bay.  It's a one-way town and I get dizzy when I go around in circles.  

santa cruz open studios art tour

The Santa Cruz Open Studios Art Tour is a diverse and always top quality tour featuring artist's open studios throughout Santa Cruz County, a wide geographic area in one of the most beautful regions of California.  There are 300 participating artists opening their studios across three consecutive weekends in October:

the artful glow of sea shells

Desiree Gillingham-Produit creates fine art lighted wall sculpture and Tiffany style lamp shades using natural sea shells.  I read an article about her shades a few years ago and curiosity lead me to call her to set up an appointment.  I wanted to see for myself what this reviewer was raving about and Desiree's studio was not far from me in Carmel Valley. 

I had purchased a hand wrought floor lamp a couple of years earlier from a local iron artist, but had never come across the right shade for it.  That lamp was not on my mind when I called Desiree, but as I stood in her studio that day surrounded by the glowing beauty of her shades I knew my search was over. 

another handmade blog

Marichelle's blog Heart Handmade is a thoroughly enjoyable place to hang out, follow links, meet people, find cool handmade products, learn some crafts, and traipse around New York with someone who knows the town.

the window is the view

Alan Masaoka is a glass artist.  He does commissioned architectural stained glass, and glass artwork.  We had neighboring studios when I was in Carmel Valley.  Well, actually, my studio was in the alley behind his.  I would direct people to my studio by first asking if they knew their way to his.  As often as not they did, so I'd tell them to just walk through his studio, out his back door, then up the stairs to mine.  Why not give 'em the scenic route? 

sniffle in style

Brezomayo's heartwarming Linen Bird Pillow is what initially drew me into her Brezomayo Designs Etsy shop.  This pillow is as authentically what handmades are about as it gets.  100% natural linen + vintage tea linens + vintage buttons + basket weave trim + embroidery, all craftfully combined in a fetchingly sweet pillow you just want to hug. 

a raincoat for all seasons

If your idea of a raincoat is a basic waterproof trench coat, let me introduce you to Iris Mansard.  Calling herself the Raincoat Lady, Iris Mansand designs raincoats that don't have to wait for rain.  Made from a fabric that she calls futuristic, Iris Mansard designs are really wear-anytime-you-want-to coats.  Which makes them perfect for practical types like me who always figured the only people who need to invest in a raincoat are those who live in the Pacific Northwest. (That's before I moved from California to Memphis.)

stylin' to a tee

Confession time:  I have always had a pretty un-American attitude about tee shirts:  That they're ugly, unflattering, and not to be taken seriously.  I wear them, though, to lounge around the house, to walk the dog, to hike.  My sons manage to find tees that have interesting graphics and statements on our life and times, but mine are mostly giveaways from high-tech companies I worked for, making me a walking billboard for (sometimes defunct) Silicon Valley ventures. 

monterey county artists studio tour

This is a fun studio tour.  You get to visit the studios of Monterey Peninsula (and Salinas) artists while taking in the beauty of this magical area.  I lived in Carmel Valley for over 14 years (minus two spent in the Carmel Highlands) and was a participant in this tour myself several times.  I had only one regret as a tour participant — that I could not both open my studio and be a studio tourist. 

mill valley arts festival

This festival began in 1957 with a group of artists showing their work in downtown store windows. As it matured over the years, the festival changed names and locations several times before finally settling in the historic Old Mill Park.