What's New At EarthWorks (08.31.12 edition)

So it's time for another look at "what's new" here at the store.  As you know, we have alot more in the store-front than we do on the web store, but that's changing for us quickly.  We've had several artist sign up to start selling their items on the web store, and that's exciting news for all of us. 

First up will be the lovely and talented Ms. Erin Ewer of Liquid Fae Studios.  We'll be featuring her on the web-store starting next week,  and she'll kick off this fall's schedule of artist events with us on September 22 from 6pm until 9pm.  I am still trying to talk her into selling a few originals, but even if she can't part with any of them maybe you can admire the original whilst purchasing a reproduction in one of the many different ways she applies them.  :)

More good news?  I don't have it in my hot little hand yet (so anything could happen) but I have a pretty good feeling that I will have my special event ABC license in time for this event.  Its going to be very strict, and I'll only be granted such a license 4 times a year - so you can bet we'll be using them all up to close out  2012 and have a 'big deal' once a quarter here at the store in 2013.  And I promise I won't have Chic-Fil-A cater anymore, and I also promise not to let Dewey shop for the event.  (hahahahah).

So, what's new in the store this past month?  I've shown you a little here and there, but let me show you more . . . . 

PL&BB -
Penni

More From Michelle Lawrence

Michelle Lawrence brought us 10 new pieces today - all as wonderful as the first 3, but these are in the 11x14 and 12x12 size range. 

I couldn't wait to share two of them with you.  "Breath of Life" (a set) and "Fairy Garden".  Stunning!  And affordable - the set for $65 and the 11x14 is only $40.  Amazing, affordable and very special!

I told Dewey that if  "Fairy Garden" is still here on Saturday night, he might want to check my bags at the door.  So, come and save me from myself.  See what Michelle has added to the store.  Just to name a few, so you can imagine:

"Aurora Borealis"
"Aurora Sky"
"Pathways of Color"
"Silver Kiss"

How can you not want to see those? 

PL&BB-

Pen

Welcome Theresa Beaman to the Gang!

Trust your own instinct.  Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else's.  ~Billy Wilder

Dewey & I are happy to introduce our newest artisan, Theresa Beaman.  Theresa has just relocated here from Colorado (which we think is almost as nice as Virginia) and we're going to teach her how to be a LoCo.   I think she'll catch on real fast. 

Theresa is bringing us all some fun, fresh home-fired and hand-painted ceramics for all seasons and occasions.  She's brought us some great fall and halloween goodies, and promises more real soon.  I am impressed by a woman who unpacks her kiln before the kitchen!

Come by and see them for yourself!

PL&BB-

Pen

We've got Dirty Paws!

I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist.  ~TFB

We are happy to welcome Dirty Paws Pottery (and Bruce Bucklin) the EarthWorks family.  

Bruce is bringing us some beautifully functional and affordable ceramic art, and we know you're going to love it.

Kiln fired, Raku, Gas fired.  He does it all, and it's spectacular.  Come and get them while they last.   :) 

See you soon.

PL&BB - 

Penni

Photography at EarthWorks - Best of the County!

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.  When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.  ~Ansel Adams


Here are a few of my favorite photographs in the store today.  Just a few . . . . 

Come on in and I'll show you the rest! 


PL&BB - 
Pen

New Book by SC MacDorman at EarthWorks Now!

 The follow on to the Susan's oh-so-fun "T.C., Key Lime Man" is on our shelves now.

Come and get your copy of "Jesus Slept Here"  at EarthWorks today.

Dewey & I give it two thumbs up, 5 stars and a can of corn too!

"SC MacDorman lives in Leesburg, VA.  This can also be written:

Mad Mr. Norgi sees invisible vulcan cigar.

Curious.  "

Wanna know why that says that?  Come get the book, and you'll see.

PL&BB-
Pen

Canvas Dragonfly Wall Hangings In Store Now!

 Jeannie Baer from Stokely Studios was in this morning with a fresh stock of our favorite canvas dragonfly wall hangings.

Come in and see all the new babies!

PL&BB-

Pen

EarthWorks Welcome's Michelle Lawrence

Well, there you have it.  Simple clicks and the photo's are loaded.

So, EarthWorks has become more enamored of Google technology and they craftily have become even more imbedded in our infrastructure.  We'll see how this goes.  I won't cancel the other service quite yet.

But even more importantly, join us in welcoming Michelle Lawrence to the EarthWorks G&G family.  We love her bright, modern canvases and know that you will too. 

Her first offering are large canvases - 16x24 but she's going to be bringing smaller canvases (in the 11x14 and 12x12 sizes) to us in the near future. 

Oh, and she makes dog charms too.  How can you not love that!

PL&BB-
Penni

Yes, I changed the blog site. :)

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.  ~Arthur C. Clarke

I started this change to Google technology a few months ago, but then I got sidetracked by other things and just shelved it.   But today as I was slaving away at photo editing in advance of taking all the steps to publish one silly little photo to the old blog technology (think cash for clunkers!)  and I said to myself, "Self, just take advantage of the rainy morning and knock that change out of the park.".  And so I did.

And no, I'm not planning on linking any of the old posts to this new google format, but if you have a favorite (????) I can always re-post it for you here.  

So, next up will be my 3rd blog post on the google product.  It will be a photo that gets loaded with one click of a button in Picasa.  Wish me luck!

PL&BB-
Pen

Opportunities for Joy!

Many an opportunity is lost because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers.  ~Author Unknown

One of the greatest things about the daily interactions at EarthWorks are the opportunities.  Not just opportunities for us (we seize them before they fly by), but the opportunities we give.  And I'm not talking about the sale of a product translating into dollar bills. I"m talking about the feeling you get when someone chooses something you created.  Wow!

We've all applied for a job  and won it before.  Then you sit down with your training manual and a trainer and start to learn how to execute your job the way someone else (your boss) like it done. It's quite another to put your creativity on a wall or a table with a price tag and your name on it.  There is no manual for that, and it's as scary as any stage fright I ever experienced in front any crowd (singing OR speaking).

When you walk into EarthWorks and begin to think maybe you can give this whole artist thing a try (usually because Dewey has been badgering you for a bit), it is far scarier than any job you'll ever apply for.  In pop culture terms, you wonder if you'll end up being that horrific singer on the Idol auditions that everyone talks about the next day BUT you also dream that you might just be the Next Big Thing. 

But that's where we come in to help. And our favorite days are when we sign new artisans that have never "put themselves out there" before.  That gives me the opportunity to give them a call and say "Guess what?  We just broke the ice on your work . . . ".  Even big burly men will squeal with joy, and that is far better than dollar bills, ya'll.