Crafty Superstar

After a gorgeous Easter weekend, we have a very rainy day here in Wisconsin. Perfect for a good read! I just finished Crafty Superstar - have you read it?

Here's the short and sweet on what author Grace Dobush writes:

"Crafty Superstar offers you a wealth of information and advice about selling your crafty goods part-time, whether it is online, through local start-up boutiques or at indie craft shows. Not only is author Grace Dobush a crafter, but she also maintains a full-time job while selling her handmade goods for extra cash on the side. She is joined by experts in the industry who all share their own advice and stories, helping you to determine how and where to sell your handmade wares."
Description taken from MyCraftivityStore.com

I learned about this book when it was discovered that our local Indie Craft Market known as the Craftacular is featured as one of the Major North American Indie Craft Markets. Awesome news for founder Naomi Richardson at Glitterworkshop as well as all who vend there - an honor.

I would recommend this read to anyone starting out in the Indie Craft world as well as the veterans who need a little boost. Inspiring, funny and chalk full of good business advice from many successful and well known Indie artists. Pick up your copy today!

XOXO Molly

Front Page News!

Can't believe Whimsy House made Etsy's front page again - a true honor. Rings have been so popular lately... better stock the shop good and full.


XOXO Molly

Spring Fling Craftacular...

Spring Fling Craftacular... SAVE THE DATE!

Madison's own indie craft show is back for a spring event! Join us on April 24th at the High Noon Saloon where over 20 local artists and crafters will be selling their creations.

You can shop for everything from jewelry, to housewares, to clothing while sipping a cocktail and supporting your local art community! More info to come...

XOXO Molly

Front Page!

Whimsy House was lucky to be featured on the front page of Etsy this morning...


A treasury choosen by Etsy - what an honor! Nice way to start the day. Happy Friday!
XOXO Molly

Wonderous Wendy

Last summer I fell in LOVE with Wendy's Eco ~ Hand Dyed ~ Southern Girl Etsy Shop, Creole Collection, and have been addicted ever since. Check out my interview with Wendy from last summer - creative inspiration indeed! Yesterday my latest purchases arrived and I had to share...

It's just darling in person! Love Wendy's sense of color and style and the extra special touches like the lace at top...

Lucky for me, Wendy has become one of my special Etsy friends - what a wonderful world of creative people out there! Check out the sweet eco hats she made for my girlies...

And the necklace for me... all from recycled clothes and trims! Amazing!

I have many more goodies from Wendy that I will share in with you in the future - betcha can't wait! Wendy has opened yet another Etsy shop for our collective enjoyment (yes, I'll share!) Creole Sha - be sure and check it out. And I hear she's doing her first show in a few weeks so I will post the details as soon as I know more.

XOXO Molly

Here she is!

So happy to be introducing my latest show display piece - Lucy! She didn't come with that name but don't you think it fits? I adore her!

Of course the minute I found out that I will be at The Creative Connection Event's Handmade Market my mind started racing with display ideas. By trade I'm an interior designer so displaying small items like earrings and necklaces is challenging ~ entire room scapes come together more naturally. I knew I needed a statement display piece and Lucy will do the trick.

I found her via CraigsList, a resource I should use more often. She came from Haag's Antiques
in Columbus, Wisconsin. They are closing their shop so everything (yes, I said EVERYTHING!!) is 50% OFF through April 18. I also snatched up this group of goodness along with a gorgeous screen and old store rack for display.

I know I would have hauled home many more treasures had my littlest Love, Sophie, not been along to help. We stopped at McDonald's on the way home as a reward for her (relatively) good behavior. Phew - after all that excitement, I need a nap!

If you have some free time over the weekend I would suggest a trip to Columbus to find your treasure... enjoy the hunt!

XOXO Molly

The Bee Bowl by Elle

Happy spring day to you! We live for these seasonal changes in Wisconsin ~ as soon as one season begins to wear heavy on us another one blooms and the renewal begins. How lucky are we?! Despite the forecast for snow on Saturday, we revel in 60 degrees and sunshine today. The blessing is not wasted on this Midwesterner! I want to share this fabulous pottery my kindergartner, Elle, brought home from school this week. The arts are strong at her school which is fortunate as Elle is quite the artist ~ coloring before and after school, cutting, gluing and taping anything she can get her hands on. We have many the over flowing Rubbermaid containers guarding her precious work as she simply cannot part with anything (shhh - don't tell her mommy does some weeding from time to time!) This special project was created with the help of a local pottery store owner who became the Artist in Residence for a month. Each and every child made a "Bee Bowl" with the extra special touch of melted glass at the center. She really outdid the unrecognizable bowl I made as a kindergartner many eons ago... Way to go, Elle!