Category Archives: talented artists

not your grandma’s craft fair

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not your grandma’s craft fair
I had the chance to attend the Detroit Urban Craft Fair this weekend and was introduced to a whole new subculture of the craft world. This rather new event is put on by a group of crafty chicas that go by the name of Handmade Detroit.  A lot of these crafters are very connected online with blogs and have individual shops on Etsy (a online store where you can sell and buy handmade goods) .
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ann arbor art fair – like no other

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ann arbor art fair – like no other
Steve and I have been going to the Ann Arbor Art Fair every year since 1995.  Back then I sat on a curb and did hair wraps for $1 an inch to make some extra cash during college, but now we get to enjoy and indulge in the many beautiful art pieces showcased during this wonderful event. In addition to the artist tents, there are many talented street performers scattered about… along with great .
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magical firefly photos

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magical firefly photos
I love walking our dog, Samson after dark during the summer nights because it’s cool, quiet and numerous fireflies always cross our path.  I recently stumbled upon these amazing photos of fireflies taken by Steven David Johnson in the Shenandoah Valley.  Here are his two lovely girls catching fireflies. Wishing all of you magical summer nights filled with fanciful fireflies.

‘it’s sidewalk chalk – no foolin’

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‘it’s sidewalk chalk – no foolin’
I don’t know about you, but when I think of sidewalk chalk… rainbows and hopscotch come to mind.  But Julian Beever takes it to a completely other level with his amazing works of art. Julian is an English artist who has been creating chalk drawings on pavement since the mid-1990s that create the illusion of three dimensions when viewed from the right location. These trompe-l’oeil drawings are created using a projection called anamorphosis and .
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dogs, frogs and cats – oh my!

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dogs, frogs and cats – oh my!
Meet Rich Kolb of Yardbirds. He has the very cool job of creating humorous animal sculptures from various scrap metal pieces. Rich and his dad created the first Yardbird in August of 1991 in Jamestown, Kentucky. His dad had spent most of his career making things from metal and the first bird came about from talking about and tinkering with scrap materials. People instantly loved them! Today, Rich creates numerous critters of all shapes .
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500 years of art in 2:52 minutes

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Need a little dose of culture, but haven’t the time to make it to your local art museum?  Not to fear, take in 500 years of female portraits in Western Art in a matter of minutes.  It’s rather mesmerizing and quite soothing… just like an art museum. I’ d like to thank Lynn for sending me this link.  I invite you to share some of your favorite finds… just email them to: studio@aipaper.com

party pooches

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party pooches
Meet Jill Beninato… pet photographer and altered artist extraordinaire.   She lives in Virginia Beach, VA with her husband, daughter and four crazy dogs. She has a BFA from the Maryland Institute, College of Art in Baltimore, MD where she studied fine art and metal smithing. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these Artist Trading Cards (ATC) she posted on her blog. They make me want to chop up a picture of Samson and give him a .
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vinyl style – jeff davis

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vinyl style – jeff davis
Meet Jeff Davis of Vinylux. He’s creating hip art and reducing land fill waste one record at a time. Part of his mission statement reads, "While literally billions of LPs still exist in the world, most are slated to become garbage before too long. Vinylux products take advantage of these obsolete piles of records and give new life to this neglected, but not forgotten, material.  Over the past 4 years, we have recycled about .
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delightful deb damboise designs

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delightful deb damboise designs
When I first spotted these scrumptious letters, I was immediately drawn in by the wonderful combination of colors, textures and patterns. I had the chance to ask Deb a few questions about her lovely letters… Where are you located? I live in a small town in New Hampshire with my husband Steven and our kitty Peppermint!  I love the changing of the seasons (although winter gets a bit long) and I love that we’re .
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a spot for your scary dreams

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a spot for your scary dreams
These furry monster journals created by Sarah Jane Evans are hungry for only one thing… your nightmares.  All you have to do is recite the spell that is printed inside the journal: I’m called a Nightmare SnatcherAnd a daymare catcher too.I snatch up all the frightening thingsAnd keep them far from you. Scary dreams and scary thoughtsAnd things you dread to see;Terrors real or make-believeGive them all to me. Write them down and draw .
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