VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES!

Etsy is having a contest right now for Handmade Kids items. There are seven categories, Art, Eco-Friendly, Furniture, Decor, Clothing, Toys, and Accessories, with forty finalists in each. You have to be registered to vote, but that's free, and takes just a minute, and each category you vote in places you in a sweepstakes to win a $350 shopping spree. If you aren't familiar with and registered at Etsy yet, you do want to be anyway. It's a great website, selling only handmade items, or the materials to make your own.

Anyway, I just went through all the categories and voted, and also created a mini of my favorites as I went. These are favorites, and I did vote for a lot of them, but not all, and some of the items I voted for have sold out and the picture isn't available anymore. But aren't these creations wonderful? (If you'd like to see more photos of each one, check out the prices, or see what else the shop owner has, just click on a picture and you'll be taken to the appropriate shop.)

CRACKED POTS AT EDGEFIELD, MY FAVES

The Cracked Pots at Edgefield Garden Art Show is easily my favorite such event of the year, and not just because it's been a good show for me personally. No, I love that show because there are dozens of artists, and an almost overwhelming variety of garden art to look at, all of it from recycled materials.

I had a feeling I wouldn't be getting away from my area (no booths at the show, as they want the art to flow through the grounds) very often, as the show draws serious crowds, and DH was out of town, so I'd be flying solo. I wanted to see everything, though, so got there several hours early the second day, camera in hand. I wanted to share my favorites. Unfortunately, I don't have names for all the artists, though, because many hadn't yet arrived. If you know who did the uncredited art, please let me know!

First up is a new Cracked Pots artist. I love, love, love her art and will probably have to have a piece. The artist's name is Janet Julian. Here are several of her pieces, made from salvaged posts and wood, and hand-painted.










Joe and Mackie Clifton make wonderful creatures and creations from scrap metal oddments, including toaster, spatual handles, old rebar, etc.



I think I'll do the other artists tomorrow. I keep falling asleep at my keyboard! No, wait. One more. I don't know her name, but isn't this wonderful?