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

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!

Project - Custom Order Pendant and Christmas Fun

Christmas was a busy season in particular for me this year! It was a beautiful Christmas with Kyle's family, and I handmade almost everyone's gifts this year, minus my Dad and brother's gifts. Most of  the ladies received lovely aprons, I made Kyle's dad a tin of his favorite cookies. I knit my sister a giant squashy circular scarf for the cold weather in Missouri, along with some handmade hair accessories for her and my sister-in-law.

 Kyle and I almost got snowed in in Virginia Beach, they had a huge snow dump Christmas night into the the 26th and there was 8 inches on the ground by the time we made it out of the city! We had second Christmas over Google video chat with my family as we opened our gifts from them once we got back home, and then again when they received our gifts!

I had a request from the husband of my former Intervarsity staff worker to design a custom pendant as a Christmas gift to her, I was honored to do it and it holds a lot of meaning for both of them! He also ordered an apron from my shop for her (while she ordered another apron for his mother! Their family gave me lots of business for the holidays!)

This pendant is hand cut and assembled from sterling silver.

Hope you all had a blessed holiday season, stay tuned for shop updates!

Jewelry - Small Wonder

"Just in time for the holidays, Small Wonder is an invitational exhibition of small works by some of the region’s most sought-after artists. Finish your holiday shopping at the closing reception and find out the winner of the raffle. Enjoy hot chocolate, baked goods and receive free gift wrapping for your purchased artwork.

Whether adding to your personal collection or looking for a meaningful holiday gift, with such a diverse range of media and artistic styles, Small Wonder has a little something for everyone. Proceeds support the exhibiting artists and 1708 Gallery’s exhibitions and programs."

Hey all you Richmonders! Check out 1708 gallery's annual show, Small Wonder, opening Friday, November 19th - December 18th ! I have a piece in the show, along with some other fabulous artists, so go check it out! 

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!

Jewelry - Prototyping

I'm prototyping a new piece for a show I'm participating in that I need to turn in to the gallery next Saturday.

I'm working with a theme of the history, comfort and nostalgia behind fabric/vintage quilts and juxtaposing that with traditional ornate jewelry shapes. Aside from the silhouettes I will be doing some stitch work, layering and possibly embroidery to accent the shapes of the jewels/ beads etc that are not present in this form.  

The prototype is just from one piece of fabric but I will be using vintage quilt blocks as the base for the final piece, and potentially use the remainder as a small wall hanging that will accompany the necklace.

I'm so afraid to cut into the quilt blocks, they are so beautiful! I don't want to mess up and destroy them!

Thoughts?

Chuck wants to help.

Jewelry - Undergrad Jewelry Work

I graduated from VCU's Craft and Material Studies program with a Bachelor's degree last winter. My jewelry work is currently being represented at Quirk Gallery in Richmond, VA! Here's a sampling of my past work.