Etsy Nest Furniture for the Kitchen and Living Room

I came across some really amazing furniture lately so I wanted to share some recent favorites for the home:

Kitchen:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53380453/pair-of-midcentury-modern-chairs-in

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85881960/white-1960s-small-saarinen-style-table

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80935893/kitchen-lighting-with-custom-fabric-drum

Philly Bikes, Center City South

Here Come the New Ceramics!

Cases of ceramics with photo labels

Boxes of ceramic items in transit



I'm spending the weekend working on new items for the holidays and FINALLY adding new items to my ceramics shop on Etsy: allisonsceramics.etsy.com It has taken me forever because my work was in storage in my dad's basement for the last 5 years and I had no place to house it in my own house, but that's all changed!

Today I will start posting them to my Etsy shop and next Friday they will be for sale at the University City Arts League Holiday Craft Sale along with my photography, cards and wall hangings. The UCAL Holiday Craft Sale runs through December 23 and has wonderful handmade art work from their many students and professional artists. a portion of the proceeds benefit the Arts League in their providing visual and performing arts classes in West Philadelphia.

Bushkill and Dingman's Falls

Bushkill Falls in the Pocono region of Pennsylvania is about a 2 hour drive north of Philadelphia and has some beautiful hiking trails and waterways to explore, including more waterfalls than you can count. Bushkill trails include many, many stairs and the red and blue routes are fairly challenging, like a hour on the stairmaster. You'll feel the burn. These pictures are from both Bushkill Falls (a series of falls along a 4 mile trail) and Dingman's Falls (two falls) only about a 20 minute ride apart from each other on route 209. If you keep traveling north on 209 you'll pass many other falls and lakes as you drive along the Delaware river. Bushkill is a tourist magnet, so get there early to avoid the crowds. They also have animal talks where you can see and learn about rescued animals from the region including owls, skunks, frogs, turtles, possums and more.

Etsy-Tastic Spring Items!

New Banners for My Shops! Let Me Know What You Think!

I just created two new banners since my trial of Adobe Elements is getting ready to time out. What do you think? I changed the photo shop banner because it still had paintings in it from when my shops were united. I also found a seller on etsy who makes coffee cup sleeves out of your shop banner! How awesome is that! I ordered one of each of the shops. Here's the old one:

I'm not sure I love the overall color tone, I may keep working on it.

I really like the painting shop.

I'm also working on a ceramics shop banner for a shop COMING SOON!
Bookmark it now! I'll be getting pieces up there soon!

Saturday Night, Dec. 5th Opening of Two Week Art Sale at UCAL 5 - 9 pm

This Saturday, Dec 5th with be the opening night of the 2009 craft sale at University City Arts League at 4226 Spruce St. from 5 to 9 pm. The sale continues until Sunday, Dec. 20th, M-F, 3 - 9 pm, Sat-Sun, 12 - 6 pm. Over thirty artists will be selling ceramics, photography, paintings, prints, jewlery, pottery, cards, clothing, textiles, handbags at very affordable prices. Drinks and snacks will be provided and it's a great time to see this beautiful building and the fantastic classes they offer. I just finished taking a clay handbuilding class which was a great break from the usual work week grind. I'm going to start a new class in January, depending on how much you buy at the sale! I'm selling photographs and cards of Philly.

http://www.ucartsleague.org/

West Philly and Black Friday thru Cyber Monday Sales

BIG SALE!

Buy Two Get One FREE
on Any items in my shop:

Card Sets, Photos, Matted Images

Here are some of the new photos I took in West Philly last weekend that are included in the sale. I wandered far and wide through the neighborhoods and found lots of colorful signs, homes, graffiti, shops, though I couldn't find the sign on Lancaster Ave. that says "The Hollywood Blvd. of Philadelphia" or was it Wilshire Blvd?

20% off all items in both stores

This Weekend Only!

http://www.allisonostertag.etsy.com/

http://www.allisonspaintings.etsy.com/

SUPER WEEKEND: SHAD FEST and ARTS CRAWL

Join me this weekend at the Shad Fest in Fishtown at Penn Treaty Park on Saturday April 25 from 11 - 5 pm! I will have new images from the Eastern State Penitentiary, from my trip to Charleston (beautiful bridges, pelicans, boats on the water) and from my series "My Fairmount," images of homes, signs, businesses and details. There will be a run, guided trolley rides, kayaking, music, food, kids activities and of course art and craft booths. Follow the link to directions and all the activities.



Then join me on Sunday April 26 for the Fairmount Arts Crawl at Rembrant's Restaurant at 23rd and Aspen Streets, next to the Penitentiary, from 2 - 6 pm to check out my show in the cafe (room behind the bar). I will have framed individual photographs, large photo collages and image grids of the "My Fairmount" series, along with a first draft of a hardbound book of the series. Follow the link for a list of events and venues for art as well as the artist profiles.

BIG OLD PAINTING SALE end of March One of a Kind!

I was looking at some paintings today and cleaning up older items on etsy when I thought, since things have been slow this month and I can't really get paintings framed by Mark until they sell, I would have a sale and take $15 off my original, one of a kind room paintings and branch paintings which regularly sell for $99 each. I love these paintings and I want them to find good homes soon. Each one has a simarly bright color palette, painting in acrylic on wood panels. I paint on wood because I want a super smooth surface and a matte/flat finish when the painting is done, so the shapes and color take center stage. If you scroll down on the page to look at the older posts, you can see details of the framing (not around but behind the painting) and features of the paintings.

I started collecting pictures from home magazines, tearing out my favorites and keeping them in binders, editing them down and after a while, I realized what I liked about some of the images wasn't the room or furniture, necessairly, but the colors and shapes. Then I thought I could paint simple versions of the images where I reinterpret the original. Here's my blue and red bedroom painting with the original.

This is a new one I'm working on now with the magazine page above. It still needs alot of work. I'm taking a break from it until I'm ready to fix it.

This is one of the branches paintings with the actualbranches I photographed in Elfreth's Alley. I'm always taking pictures of trees with interesting shapes.

Philly Made Crafts Holiday Sale

I'll be at my last (I think) Holiday craft sale at Studio 34 Yoga this Sunday from 1-6ish at 45th and Baltimore Ave. I'll be selling new photos (gardens, animals, parks), new cards, Philly card sets to buy for your friends or send to far away relatives, magnets and original paintings! Scroll down to the item on Vix Emporium and Made in Philly sale.

It will be great!



Then I'm running off to the Mill Creek Farm fundraiser at the Ethical Society on the Rittenhouse Park square. Five Philly Etsy team members donated items to their silent auction including necklaces, card sets, framed photos and vegetable prayer flags. The event was great last year with plenty of free food, awesome auction items like acupuncture, dinners, art, etc. and live music and free beer. Tickets start at $20 and it's from 3-7 pm.