To end the week on a light note. Many of Poor Dog Farm’s paintings and ACEO prints start off as a simple concept: take an animal (generally a bird) and put them in a hat. Sometimes matching hats with birds or mammals or even amphibians can end up being to cutesy.  Not these paintings. These are the right blend of serious and comical. Enjoy.

Okay, okay. Enough is enough. Here’s a collection of handmade goodness that represents all things that are not snow, white or cold.  So draw your blinds and block out the memories of shoveling endless mounds of white and enjoy a taste of spring.

You can probably guess that I’m not doing a good job being  “in the moment.”  With one look at the beautiful blue bird in lush green grass and gorgeous metalwork for the garden- you might just catch what I’ve got a little of.

How about this beautiful pendant by Charmed I’m Sure (Mechanicsburg)?  Made from recycled parts, this piece is a delightful assemblage on copper using pictures from a discarded Audubon Guide and a sheet of weathered copper given to me by a friend.

We met Sandra Webberking (Springfield) at the Buyers Market of American Craft Show. She is a delight and her work is fabulous! I like her artist statement… being an avid Gardner, it seems natural that I gravitated toward creating whimsical sculptures for the garden I spend so much of my free time in. I value the process of finding objects, listening to their story and reincarnating them into the creatures they will become.”

Kate, along with her husband, bring together farm, food and design at The Steel Fork. They also design and create sculptural metalworks using recycled farm machinery – Gatski Metal. Kate is also the mother of two busy little children.

These illustrations are outstanding from Leah Felicity, of State College.  They’re so expressive and rich with personality.  Take a moment and think about what you would look like as a Leah Felicity illustration, I bet it’ll make you smile.  Enjoy.

Here’s a little about Leah from her profile:

In my spare time, I enjoy bright colors, animals, cooking badly, reality television, gobbling books whole, and contributing nothing to trivia. My favorite color is purple and I only drive Dodge Neons. I live in State College, PA with my fiance, dog, and stuffed animals that stare at me while I sleep.

three gifts that were under my Christmas tree

brown leather journal by green trike press

original watermedia painting ‘marilla’ by sean huntington

casserole by mike yoder

all handmade in Pennsylvania and loved…does my guy have good taste or what?

sweet and silly treats for all hallows eve.

collage tags by pinkflamingo61

little pumpkin print by Karen Faulkner Art

ghostly cats by kilkennycats

all handmade in PA and found on etsy using the shop local tool.

Elizabeth Sterling and her husband John market their one-of a kind furniture and jewelry boxes at shows in the Northeast and Midwest, through their web site, and their etsy shop, so wabi sabi. Elizabeth shares her life and love of all things handmade, homemade, and homegrown in her blog so wabi sabi.

Recently I had the pleasure of discovering the acrylic folk art paintings of Ryan Conner through her Etsy shop, kilkennycat.  I’m always interested to compare notes with other self-taught painters. Ryan was kind enough to answer my questions with the sort of playful enthusiasm apparent in her work.

How long have you been painting?

I’ve been painting my cat folk art for the last six years. Before that I “painted”‘ via programs on the computer.

Do you work in any other mediums?

I have dabbled a bit with polymer clay, making Halloween ornaments, sitting pretty kitty sculptures, and random clay VWs to hang on the wall.

What other self-taught American folk artists inspire you?

Sherry Dooley is my absolutely favorite living folk artist. Her textures, colors, and the way her painted girls are filled with feeling, just amaze me.

Why cats and VWs?

Why cats? It’s a good question. I wanted to start painting something that was around me, so I decided I would paint my cats sitting on my antique furniture. I was amazed when I listed my first painting online and someone actually bought it.

Why VWs? Why not?! I love Volkswagens and thought it would be hilarious to paint a couple cats behind the wheel of a Bug. I figured, there are so many people who are nostalgic about their first Bug, and there are the same people who absolutely love cats…mix the two and voila!

How has living in Portland, Oregon influenced your work?

It just so happens that when I moved to Portland, Oregon, I found a perfect four-square smack dab in the middle of the Alberta Arts district. There were so many influences of art and people that encouraged me. It was amazing and it was fate!

What is your favorite thing about living and creating in Pennsylvania so far?

The VIEW! The fauna, the flora! It’s breathtaking! Coming from the Pacific Northwest, this is what you’d imagine to see. Rolling hills filled to the brim with forests! Lakes and streams, babbling brooks! I have it all in this little hidden jewel of a town. Surrounded by my love, my family, my cats, and Victorian houses! It’s all I need to keep painting and creating.

Thank you so much for interviewing me for Handmade in PA.  — Ryan Conner

Karen Faulkner is a watercolor artist specializing in gestural flowers. She strives for spontaneity, freshness and simplicity in her work.

Karen Faulkner, of Southeastern PA, specializes in bringing original watercolor paintings to art lovers of every budget.

Her paintings are vibrant, simple, and have a distinct fluidity that underlines Karen’s choice of medium. Her chosen subject is “abstract flowers that have the feel of Asian painting.” At $20, her 5×7 original watercolor paintings allow you to add a bold touch to a small shelf. Or put a large grouping over a sofa for a major impact!

Karen describes how she got started:

I’m mostly a self-taught painter. I started over ten years ago and first started selling my work by word-of-mouth. Once I opened my Etsy shop in 2007, things really started taking off and I’m painting more than ever!

As she continues to grow her business, Karen hopes to “expand the use of [her] images to prints and other items, such as jewelry, pocket mirrors, and stationery.” But more than anything, she says, “to keep painting what’s in my heart and staying true to my creative vision.”

You can find Karen Faulkner Art on Etsy, on Trunkt, and at her blog.

Tomorrow, I’ll be kicking off a new feature – East vs. West Throwdown! Up first, bookbinding with Subu & Leahmackindotcom. Make sure you come back tomorrow to vote for your favorite! And if you haven’t, use the “Subscribe” button to the right to receive Handmade in PA.net in your email inbox every day.

This week’s giveaway is sponsored by Lynda, of LEDesigns. Read on to find out how to win a set of these Colorful Poppy Blank Greeting Cards, based on an original watercolor by Lynda. [Read more →]

When you scroll through the Pennsylvania Etsy shops, it’s hard not dwell on Kristen Stein’s work for a minute. Her colors & striking shapes pop out of the other images on the page. [Read more →]