Etsy Shop Update!

Happy November friends! 

The holiday season will soon be upon us and there are TWO, yes TWO DIFFERENT 2014 Calendar Digital Download Calendars in the shop today! Back by popular demand is the painting series from last year's calendars in an updated format, as well as the brand new line! 

Both available as Instant Digital Downloads, these are great gifts for friends, coworkers and hostesses alike!

2014 Calendar Version One

2014 Calendar Version 2

Also in the shop are Digital Downloadable Paper Dolls! Their look has been updated and they are a great gift for the kiddos in your life or anyone who appreciates sweet paper doll art!

Olive & Henry Paper Dolls

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!

2014 Calendar Preview!

Hello friends!

 I have to apologize for my severe lack of updating over the past year, we have had a crazy 12 months! Last November my husband and I purchased a house, and immediately set about renovating and revitalizing it. That process consumed several months and is still ongoing, we've made great strides but as we are doing much of the work on our own it is pretty slow going!

In April Kyle and I had the happy news that we were expecting a baby! Much of the spring and summer has seen me nannying through first trimester exhaustion, and seeing that family move on to Boston, and trying to revitalize our front yard as a novice gardener. Since then I have been resting from years of nannying and busy growing our baby BOY, and trying to make new work for this holiday season! 

I am happy to announce that I will have a booth at T.C. Williams' Handmade Holiday again this year on November 16th, with a fresh line of calendars and note cards. I'm sinking now back into 3rd trimester fatigue, but am plowing through to prepare goodies for the show and for baby's arrival in December!

Here's a special preview of the artwork I've done for the new line, and I hope if you are in the area you will come out and support me and other local handmade artists at the fair on November 16th!

As you can see I have also updated my blog design and am rebranding the product line slightly, there will be lots of goodies to choose from at the fair, including special DIY gift wrapping kits, grab bags, and artwork from last year!

Thanks for reading and hope to see you all there!

Shop Update!

Instant Digital Download Paper Dolls in the shop today! 

Paper Dolls on Etsy

Check them out and spread the word! Happy Spring!

Happy Valentines!

Happy Valentines Day dear friends!

As a special thanks for my readers and customers, I'm offering a special V-day card download free, just for you! All you need to do is click on this link and download the PDF: Honey Bunny Valentine from Mari Makes (If the Google Drive preview version looks a little off, don't worry it should download just fine!)

For best results, print this card in Fine quality on heavy paper or cardstock!

First fold lengthwise, then trim white margins with scissors or paper trimmer, taking care to keep a straight clean edge,then cut straight halfway between the two cards to complete! 

They look adorable with rounded corners if you have a corner rounder, or left square! 

These cards fit into a standard 4.375" x 5.75" size envelope.

Have a sweet Valentine's Day celebrating everyone you love!

Note: This card is © Mari Foster and is for personal use ONLY,
not for sale or use in any other commercial venue by anyone but me.

Thanks for reading!

Society6

Happy New Year friends!

You can now purchase high quality prints of all your favorite Calendar Critters on my Society6 page! They offer high quality art prints and ship them directly to you. Check it out!

Stay tuned for some fun new things coming to the shop and blog in the coming weeks!

Shop Update! Digital Download - Illustrated Gift Tags

A new Digital Download is available in the shop! Get your copy of my illustrated gift tags\on Etsy for $3.74 and print them as many times as you like! Ready for all your wrapping needs this holiday season!

Happy Holidays and thanks for reading!

T.C. Williams' Handmade Holiday!!

Hey everyone!! I will be at T.C. Williams' Handmade Holiday fair THIS SATURDAY Nov. 17th from 10-3 selling all kinds of my handmade goodies! Illustrated note cards, calendars, quilt and fabric jewelry, ornaments and maybe a few surprises! Come do some holiday shopping and support local handmade businesses!! 

P.S. I'll be offering gift wrapping!!

Esty and Other News!

Hey friends!! My Etsy shop is now partially re-stocked with paper goodies and a DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of my illustrated calendar that you can print at home!! Check it out!

Mari Makes on Etsy!

For followers in Virginia, Mari Makes will be selling at the upcoming 3rd Annual  T.C. Williams Handmade Holiday Craft Fair, on November 17th from 10am-3pm! come do your Christmas shopping and support a great cause! Proceeds from the fair will benefit Joining Hearts & Hands LLC, and school clubs and athletic teams. Last year, the craft fair raised $1300, which helped build a form four (fourth grade) classroom in Tanzania.

Thanks for reading and supporting handmade businesses!!

Getting Down to Business!

Happy October friends! 

It's one of my favorite months of the year, and it also happens to be my 2 year "blog-iversary" this month (and my baby sister's birthday!) YAY! 

 I am celebrating by officially launching Mari Makes in the business sense! I am applying to sell at some local handmade craft shows, and restocking my Etsy shop (very soon!) with some sweet somethings for you all! For now, I did a little photo shoot at home today, and here's a little sneak peak of what I've been working on! 

Tell me what you think!

Handmade calendars with my original watercolor illustrations!

Illustrated Note Cards!

Recycled Quilt and Vintage Yoyo necklaces and brooches!

Recycled Quilt Miniature House Ornaments!

The whole table!

Thanks for reading!!

Jewelry - Now available online at Quirk gallery!

 My "His and Hers" brooches are now available for sale online in the shop at Quirk Gallery!

Stoked! They're working to put more work from Quirk represents into the online store daily, so check it out!

"His and hers" Brooches 

Update: one of my Heirloom quilted necklaces is now in the shop as well! check it out!

Heirloom Necklace #3

Project - Gingham Curtains and Knitting Needles

[Sorry it's been so long since my last post, I've been on vacation visiting my family/sister in TX and MO!]

 Kyle and I are switching apartments twice between now and September, so I needed to finally round up all my loose knitting needles (there are quite a few... I ordered a ton of new ones in the fall for my failed sweater knitting attempt which I may or may not share at a later date.) SO! My latest project - in the midst of packing up our apartment!

From red gingham curtains and a big mess of knitting needles.... to this!

Using a tutorial I saw originally on Design* Sponge, this sweet, easy case took me about an hour to make from half an old gingham curtain.

{BBB Craft Knitting Needle Case Tutorial}

Thanks for reading!

Jewelry - Quirky Love!

Love the super sweet ladies at Quirk Gallery!

Here's their post about my new work on their blog

New Work from Mari Foster

They have been so supportive and excited about my work since I first walked in on a First Friday wearing my "Letters" pin! If you are in Richmond check them out on Broad Street! 

In other news, I dropped off Heirloom Necklace Two at Try-Me yesterday for 1708 Gallery's Lucky 21 Auction on April 9th! 

From the website:

"The Auction artwork will be on view at Try-me beginning with 

the opening reception on Friday, April 1st from 6 to 9 p.m. 

The artwork can also be viewed Monday, April 4th - Thursday, April 7th from 4 to 7 p.m. 

The Auction gala will take place on the evening of Saturday, April 9th from 7 to 10 p.m."

I'd love for my Richmond friends to go by and see it before the Auction, pictures don't do the detailing justice!

Thanks for reading!

Jewelry - 2 new pieces, now at Quirk gallery!

These two new necklaces are now available at Quirk Gallery!

Tell me what you think!

Jewelry - Heirloom Series, Necklace Two

Project - Button Libraries and Quilted Jewelry Part 2

 

that just happened.

Last week I began the arduous and insane task of organizing my vast button collection. I got it into my head to make a sort of card catalog of all my buttons in empty cigar boxes so I could easily sort through and see what I have as needed. I spent 4 days just getting yellow, red and purple sewn onto cards (reusing our Christmas cards that never got sent out...oops) 

I have a long ways to go, as I have approximately 4 times the amount of these colors in white, brown and black buttons, not to mention all the metallics and random other bits. It's going to take forever! but it will look puuurty.

On another note, I'm participating in an auction benefit show called Lucky 21 being put on by 1708 Gallery in Richmond, VA that opens April 1, 2011, with an auction gala on April 9. The show will take place at the Try-Me art center on West Main Street.

Using some fabulous vintage quilt pieces my Mom gave me for my birthday this year, I made a second quilted necklace to put in the show this year, here are some progress shots and a taste of the final piece! I spent the last 3 days pulling 10 hours straight  each, embroidering till my fingers nearly fell off. Sorry the pics don't do it justice and the colors are off! The fabrics are not as pink as they look.

the Walter has claimed my workspace.

 

What do you think?

Thanks for reading!

Jewelry - "Heirloom" necklace

"Heirloom" necklace, originally uploaded by Mari Fray Foster.

Jewelry -Quilted Jewelry

    

Jewelry - In Progress

Diving right in, here are some in progress shots of the final piece! Had some mishaps with the thin parts as I was turning them out, so I had to cut them off and will remake those as a next step.

[ PS. I am amazed how much you can get done when you leave the TV off all day... ]

freshly cut from top layer and batting

pin, sew, cut, turn out

in progress!