April 3, 2009
I Made It! April 4th at Union Project
Comeout and say ‘hello’ to me and all of the other vendors at the I Made It! Market at the Union Project tomorrow. I’m sure that there is going to lots of great crafty goodness for sale. Show some support for local artists and crafters!
April 3, 2009
I know it has been a long, long time since my last blog post…. It is Spring time now, and I am turning a new leaf. I am going to start back by posting two (that’s right 2) entries on one day. I was inspired to get back to the blog by Tara from Handmade in PA. She is going to be posting blogging tips tomorrow (I definitely need to check those out!) Her blog is great and features all sorts of amazing work from artists and crafters in the Keystone State!
My day is off to a great start because of Handmade in PA. I received a message on Etsy from a previous customer who saw one of my clocks featured as a favorite on the blog this morning and purchased it right away! Thanks! So, check out Handmade in PA. Do it.
November 29, 2008
Now that we are all full with delicious food and have spent some time with friends and family, many will start to think about holiday gift giving. In order to get the gifts, many people were up shopping early this morning at the malls and chain stores. Maybe it is time to mix it up a little bit this holiday season?
It feels good to support local and independent artists. I received an order through my Etsy shop this evening and the customer said “always glad to spend locally!” It turns out that the customer address is right near my office. So not only is she satisfied with spending her money locally, but she is going to have the item hand delivered and her shipping fee refunded!
Looking for some ideas or places to pick up awesome gifts from local or independent artists?
Upcoming shows for Yinz in Pittsburgh (Stop by and say hello to me!)
* I Made It! Market
December 6th, 12-5 PM
Union Project * 801 North Negley Ave * Pittsburgh, PA
* Holiday Arts & Crafts Show
Sunday, December 7th
CC Mellor Library * 1 Penwood Place * Pittsburgh, PA
CityCraft Handmade Holiday Happy Hour Market
Thursday, December 18th, 2008, 5-9 PM
Navarra (next to Bossa Nova) 131 Seventh Street (Downtown)
Pittsburgh, PA
Ohio Folks
Bazaar Bizarre- Cleveland
Sat. Dec. 13th (12 PM- 9 PM)
Sun. Dec. 14th (12 PM- 6 PM)
78th Street Studios: 1300 W. 78th St to 1305 W. 80th St., North parking lot, North entrance — accessible from W. 78th OR W 80th St.
Rhode Island Folks
Craftland!
Providence, RI
235 Westminster Street, Providence, RI
Craftland 2008 will be open 7 days a week from December 5-24, 2008.
SEARCHING FOR HANDMADE GIFTS?
On your quest to find the perfect handmade gift, check out some of these shops. You can always stop by my shop, garbella, too!
Here are some of my friends’ shops and shops that I love for you to check out:
This is one of my favorites. Check out his gallery to order ready to frame prints of all sizes!
Recycled Notebooks by Subu
Xmittens!
Carnelian Waterfall earrings by Mel McCabe
love these buttons!
Happy Shopping!
November 11, 2008
Wow… what a great event! Thanks to everyone who stopped by the garbella table this past weekend. I had so much fun and got to meet a lot of awesome people. My family also came through for me big time; I couldn’t have kept up without them. It is estimated that 10,000 people came to Handmade Arcade! That is awesome. Kudos to the HA organizers and all of the vendors, the great DJs (I loved the music), the food vendors, especially My Goodies Bakery and Franktuary (Deanna and Megan are cool). This was the first of many holiday shows for me this year. I got some great feedback, tried out a new display, and determined that I must pack the car the night before a show so that I am not scrambling to set up in time!
If you stopped by and are interested in something that you don’t see in my etsy shop, please send me a message or e-mail and let me know. I’d be happy to do a custom order or the list a new item.
I am still recovering from HA, but it is a good recovery. I am getting ready to finally post new clocks and screen-printed art blocks on the site, so check back in a day or two.
My table at Handmade Arcade (photo courtesy of Subu of the Pittsburgh Craft Collective)
Today was an off-day and tomorrow I am back in the studio working on custom orders from the show, some new shirts for the Lil Kiziguwaz and some other large screen-printing jobs. Somewhere in there I am going to list my new clocks in the etsy shop and start getting ready for all of the upcoming shows!
October 27, 2008
My beautiful sister got married this past weekend. The wedding was so much fun (after all the stressful planning, organizing, prepping was over). We had a great time. My mom is super crafty and has always been a do-it-yourselfer. Since I was a child, she has always made the curtains, pillows, pajamas, house decor, you-name-it. So when it came to my sister’s wedding, she did it all! Admittedly, it was a stressful ordeal, but my Mom’s touches made the wedding really special for my sister and her new husband. I helped out along the way too with the initial design of the invitation (we made them), the favors (see below) and with my sister’s jewelry (below too).
Things we made: save-the-dates, invitations, favors, bouquets, boutonnieres, place-cards, jewelry, centerpieces, flower arrangements. I am sure that there is a lot more, but that is all I can remember for now.
Necklace from the front
Necklace from behind
wedding favors (magnet) love in different languages
Now that the wedding is over, I can get back to crafting for the upcoming shows.
Hunt Armory in Shadyside- Pittsburgh, PA
Saturday Nov. 8th- 11 AM-7 PM
Sunday Nov. 9th- 11 AM- 5 PM
Craftland!
Providence, RI
235 Westminster Street, Providence, RI
Craftland 2008 will be open 7 days a week from December 5-24, 2008.
CityCraft Handmade Holiday Happy Hour Market
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
5-9 PM
Navarra (next to Bossa Nova) 131 Seventh Street (Downtown)
Pittsburgh, PA
Bazaar Bizarre- Cleveland
Sat. Dec. 13th (12 PM- 9 PM)
Sun. Dec. 14th (12 PM- 6 PM)
78th Street Studios: 1300 W. 78th St to 1305 W. 80th St., North parking lot, North entrance — accessible from W. 78th OR W 80th St.
October 3, 2008
As it gets colder outside, I was trying to warm up by thinking about some summer highlights. One that stands out was getting to see some of my neighbors and students perform their original songs and dances in a few different venues.
I designed and printed the “Lil Kiziguwaz” shirts for the dance troupe and hip hop group. They performed at the MGR Foundation Youth Peace Rally in Market Square in front of hundreds of people, at a Somali wedding for hundreds of friends and family, and at the Lawrenceville United Summer Celebration at Arco Park at the end of summer. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was there to watch them perform! and to honor Lawrenceville United for their programming for Lawrenceville Youth this summer.
I am designing some new shirts for the Lil Kiziguwaz and they are hoping to set up some more performances for this Fall.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl watches the Lil Kiziguwaz perform wearing the shirts that I designed and printed for them!
September 30, 2008
Yesterday’s I Made It! Market /Sundae Market in Schenley plaza was a lot of fun. Well, the only part that wasn’t fun was when a sudden burst of wind sent handmade goods crashing to the ground and launched a few huge tents across the market. I heard the screaming, looked up and saw one tent tumbling towards my section and people covering their heads. It was crazy. Luckily, nobody was hurt and everyone pitched in to help the vendors who got tossed around by the wind.
Despite the gloomy weather at the beginning of the day, business was pretty good. I got some good feedback on my new designs and new t-shirt brand. I was also lucky enough to have some family visit and watch my table for a bit so I could check out all of the other crafty vendors. There was a lot of cool stuff and the DJ was rocking all day.
Highlights:
Here is a photo of my space at the market:
I have so much to do before Handmade Arcade! I just burned a few new screens and I am really excited to print some new stuff.
Thank you to Ben (i think?) of Sundae Market and Carrie from I Made It! Market- this was a really great event.
September 25, 2008
I have recently set up a new in-house craft studio in the spare bedroom. This is in addition to my basement screen-printing studio. While it might sound like I am taking over the house, you have to understand that Steevo has like 18 million bicycles and all of the parts, spandex gear, shoes, cases of clif bars, gallons of gu, etc. to go with the bikes. Enough to fill up two houses, so I think it works out. One of the new things that I have been working on is clocks. A long time ago, I was dabbling around making lamps and clocks and I finally got back to it. Here is one of them:
I am also working on some new designs for screen-printing. Look for new shirts, clocks (screen-printed), dresses, tote bags, and onesies for the lil’ ones. I’ll post some photos soon.
September 25, 2008
A few nights ago, some friends stopped over to our house and were kind of freaking out and pointing when I came to the door. I turned towards my mailbox, the direction they were pointing, and saw a huge insect a few inches from my face. A praying mantis!I hadn’t seen a praying mantis since I was a little kid.
I took a bazillion photos of it and we all marveled at how cool and beautiful it was. After watching it for several minutes, it actually became a little bit creepy. It was rocking back and forth and rubbing it’s pincher like hands together. Not to mention, it kept looking at me!
Well, I think they signify good luck and I was happy to see it. We could use some good luck as we move forward on the 3-year, slower than molasses, remodeling job on our house.
September 15, 2008
To start this blog off right, I think I will start off by telling you that my nickname in high school was “garb,” short for my last name. This was also my brother’s nickname and actually stuck with him a lot longer as many of his friends still call him that.
What is in a name? I had an internship at a photography school/workshop facility in Italy during one of my college summers. As any woman who has visited Italy knows, “Ciao bella” is heard frequently. I had some long hours to think while working in my 13th century castle darkroom. I remember thinking that ‘garbella’ had a nice ring to it and decided that if I ever had a business, then it would be named garbella.
So, there you have the meaning/ loose connection behind the name.
Check back soon for new designs, ideas, featured crafters, everyday musings and wonderings, etc.
