My dear little sister (she’s not that little any more) has created her own blog called, Emolyn Knits: Handmade, Custom Designed Knitwear.  She is an up-and-coming, second generation knit garment designer and her work is lovley! (We grew up on a small sheep farm with a mother whose profession is spinning, knitting and natural dying; clearly it rubbed off on Emolyn)

This last year she’s been taking on some pretty large projects; the most intensive being a custom-fit knitted dress with a hood.

As many of you artists out there understand, sometimes it takes a while before your destined craft form finds you.  This appears to be it for her.  It’s a wonderful thing to see.

You may run into her knitting away on the subway in NYC.  If you do, tell her howdy from her big sis.

Segment #3: Support for Living the Creative Life:

Fearless Creating: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting and Completing Your Work of Art and Coaching the Artist Within by Eric Maisel

Letters to a Young Artist: Building a Life in Art by Julia Cameron

Artists Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, Julie Cameron

Home-Based Businesses for Dummies

Centering in Pottery, Poetry and the Person, by M.C. Richards

Wild Mind: Living the Writers Life, by Andrea Goldberg

SARK’s New Creative Companion: Ways To Free Your Creative Spirit, by SARK

Here is segment #2: Journaling!

The Diary of Frida Kahlo, Carlos Fuentes

How to make a Journal of Your Life by D. Price

Spilling Open: The Art of Becoming Yourself and Brave on the Rocks by Sabrina Ward Harrison

The Journey is the Destination ed. Kathy Eldon

Wreck this Journal by Keri Smith

The Artful Dodger, by Nick Bantock

Good books are incredibly inspiring to me and are a great resource for when you’re feeling stuck. I’m always on the lookout for not too cheesy books about bookbinding, craft business, journaling and living the creative life.  I created a handout to give my students at the close of a class and I’d like to share it with you in segments.

Segment #1: BOOK ARTS
Segment #2:VISUAL JOURNALING
Segment #3: LIVING THE CREATIVE LIFE

Happy Reading (or just looking at pictures)!

Penland Book of Handmade Books by Lark Books

500 Handmade Books by Lark Books

A Degree of Mastery: A Journey through Book Arts Apprenticeship by Annie Wilcox

Making Memory Books and Journals By Hand by Kristina Feliciano, Jo Lethaby, and Jason Thompson

Bookworks by Sue Doggett

Books, Boxes and Wraps by Webberly and Forsyth

Cover to Cover by LaPlantz

Any books by Keith Smith

I’ve had a great time coming up with a design for these mini-address books that are now for sale from my Etsy shop.  They are about the size of a cell phone and fit perfectly in your back pocket or the palm of your hand.

For you bookmakers out there; I took the already printed address book text blocks (from Paper Source), attached decorative paper end pages with a chain stitch along the spine, made mini-covers and assembled all the pieces.  Then because it would be both cute and functional I added simple button and wrap around closures.

Check ‘em out: www.afainbooks.etsy.com

I’m still new to cracking the Etsy Code: consistent, frequent sales and a solid customer following.  Though I know to list my products often and have been making sales right along it sometimes feels that some “savvy” sellers are in on a big secret that I’m not.  Is it good photographs? Networking within the Etsy community?  Fancy packaging? A particular price point?  Text block and cover kits for Coptic book structures are my best sellers thus far.  However, just yesterday, I sold a $250 hand-embroidered book custom fit to an altered box.  You never know!

My marketing mentor, fellow bookbinder and blogger Book Girl shared this lovely new e-book by Dot Creations with me a few days ago.  It’s full of great advice collected fron 30 Etsy sellers.  Aaaannnd IT’S FREE! All she asks is that you share it with others, so here you go: Download Secrets of Savvy Etsy Sellers Good Luck!

I really enjoy trading with fellow artists for work that neither party could afford otherwise.  It’s a great way to share, support and receive inspiration within your creative community without money being involved.  Ian Brownlee and I arranged to trade work well before we became dear friends.  I think it was actually one of our first conversations; to trade a painting inspired by “home” and “rain” for a large, hand-embroidered sketchbook.  The following is what resulted:

Ian is inspiring to me in many ways:
-His work is amazing (simply put)
-He is incredibly dedicated and is prolific as a result
-He is versatile; creating both wall paintings and mural projects
-He is one of the most authentic people I know and it clearly shows in his work

If you’re in the Asheville area be sure to checkout this work at Gallery Minerva and a new group show called On The Verge at the Asheville Area Arts Council.  You can also find one of his murals at Rosetta’s Kitchen on Lexington.

Here is an article by Brian Gallagher for WNC magazine.