elissa22's Profile

The last time I deep cleaned my kitchen like this was when I was 8 months pregnant over seven years ago. This was major. I cleaned - reorganized - purged from 3pm until 11pm yesterday. My kitchen looks amazing and I had a lot of fun doing this project. My flowers are stunning and I can't wait to cook a great meal tonight!

This is a great article! Another great avenue to purchase fine art, photography, sculpture, fiber art, ceramics and glass is at national juried fine art and crafts fairs. There are hundreds and hundreds of fairs happening in every state and city all year long. There you can meet the artists and make that super special personal connection. I mainly collect non functional ceramics and sculpture and I find that these venues provide the best exposure.

Some of my favorite shows are The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, American Craft Council Show in Baltimore, Atlanta, San Francisco and Saint Paul, Smithsonian Craft Show, American Concern of Arts & Crafts at Lincoln Center, Society of Arts and Crafts - Craft Boston Shows.

A good magazine to subscribe to is American Craft Magazine. They are great about listing shows nationally.

Great Post! I also collect bugs, bones, nests and skins. This summer I found a baby deer, moose antler, porcupine needles, lunar moth, birds nests, horse bones and an entire snake skin. I will make my husband pull the car over to look at a dead animal up close if I've never seen one up close before. I often mount and frame my finds in deep shadow box frames from Michael's Craft supply store. They always have amazing frame sales and often purchase mine for up to 60% off. Another place to get supplies is from the boneroom.com

I am blown away by the amazing colors of insects, intricate weaving of a nest, elegant shapes of bones and the fact that a snake can crawl out of it's own mouth and leave it's old skin behind. Mother Nature is the ultimate designer and I am always humbled by this planet and the creatures that inhabit it.

That's great advice! How would you recommend cleaning enamel pots? The same way?