Plaiderpillar

So, you know Brigitte, right?  She’s the friendly one above on the left in the really cute outfit.  If you didn’t catch her at an art-related venue lately, you might have caught her in her gorgeous paper goods shop, PULP.  Well, it is sad news that PULP has closed up shop, but Omaha’s loss with its closing is our gain in that Brigitte’s talents will be applied to curating the Bemis Underground!  You can read more about PULP and Brigitte’s newest endeavor with the Bemis Underground here.  It is sure to be an amazing pairing.  While maintaining PULP, she kept a steady stream of artists’ work on exhibit in the shop’s gallery, and also sent out updates as to the goings-on around town art-wise.

Brigitte McQueen’s PULP is a local shop that I am proud to have worked with.  The Wrenny Wristlet bird purses and fabric containers that were for sale there will still be available through me and my Etsy shop, and hopefully Brigitte and I will be working together on fun new projects soon.  Keep an eye out, and I’ll post any news here.  In the meantime, if you want to see more, you can see the bird purses and fabric buckets in action here.

I posted a buncha pics from RECKLESS/ABANDON on my Flickr page, in case you didn’t get to stop by the show at the Bemis Underground.  Speaking of group shows, remember UNWASHED?  Well, Joel has asked me to get the word out that we’re trying to get nominated for an OEA award.  If you have a sec, could you check out the site and do a little voting?  It’s write-in-the-name style, so if you enjoyed the show and think you’d like to nominate it, “UNWASHED at the Gallery at Bancroft Street Market” needs to go in the “Best Group Show” category.  Here’s the link: www.oea-awards.com.

…and…

Woohoo!  Etsy shop update!  Mustache Men.  Get ‘em while they’re . . . facially hairy.

So what do we have here?

Here’s me with Ellie in her new dress!  There was a big Hot Shops wedding this weekend, and I got to help in a few ways.  The bride Rebecca (the daughter of Ed the glassblower from Crystal Forge) was super cool and let the girls pick out their own green dress, so Ellie asked if she could get some emerald green satin and have me make her a lil’ sumpin’.  And here it is!  Could there be a better color with her awesome red hair?  I think not.

I also got to showcase a few of our BEASTBOX goodies at the wedding.  The umbrella swing and toadstools were the perfect backdrop for a wedding.  And it was great that Rob and I had a hand in the setting.  It seems every artist from Hot Shops has contributed in their own way.  The galleries where the reception was held were full of art from the studio artists.

And the best part was that the groom, Dan, got the umbrella swing for his new bride for a wedding gift!  I mean, maybe I’m a little biased here, but I think maybe that’s the coolest wedding present any bride has ever gotten in the history of the world.  What a guy!

One of the best things about this Empty Room is how it links together great groups of people.  We get to tell our visitors about Hot Shops, Bluestone and the 22Floors residences, What Cheer and Secret Penguin, the Omaha Creative Institute, and more. I love getting to spread the word and get people linked up with these Omaha opportunities.

Thanks to all who attended Spring Loaded.  It was by far the best Omaha Craft Mafia Trunkshow.  I was floored by the turnout Friday night, and equally excited to see a steady flow of people Saturday too.  I can’t tell you how happy seeing all your monster-lovin’ faces makes me!

Looks like April will be my nose-to-the-grindstone month, followed by an unveiling of some new big things in May.  And JUNE!  Just you wait!  The plan is to focus on the large-scale projects in upcoming months, but since the Wonder Undies were such a hit, I might try to crank some of those out soon too.  Once I find out a little more about shows and dates, I’ll update ya

Your suggestions are a huge inspiration, so what craziness is going through your head right now?  Leave me a comment!  It just might end up getting patterned up and stuffed with sawdust!