My Artfire Hotlist...

Hello Everyone:

Well, it's no secret now that I love Artfire, is it? I have 2 shops (or studios) on Artfire, one for my teas, and one for my altered art (and eventually, my 'zines). This is something that I had wanted to do on etsy, but, because I had already established tea sales as well as 'zine sales on the same account, I didn't want to confuse my existing customers.

But I like having the two stores, it makes things seem a lot cleaner, at least from a consumer perspective, and from a vendor perspective, it's just a little easier for me to manage.

Anyways... on to my current Artfire Hotlist... These are items that I want, want, want on Artfire, and I thought I'd share them with you! Just be warned, I will not be held responsible if you find yourself spontaneously spending on some of these amazing things!

First item is from SoapDeli, one of my favorite vendors!

I have such a tHiNg for handmade soap. I just love the way it treats my skin, I love the way it lathers, and I love, love, love the way it smells. You simply cannot buy commercially processed soaps that smell as amazing as SoapDeli's soap. The biggest challenge for me when I visit her studio is not whether to buy, but which soaps to choose, because she has such a huge array of tempting soaps from which to choose, and each one sounds so deliciously yummy.

This is her Grapefruit Twist Salt Bar. I chose this one because she recently sent me a sample of one of her salt bars, and I really enjoyed it, so I'd like to try another!

As a long-time customer of SoapDeli, you can trust me when I say to you that you can't go wrong with a purchase from her studio... stop by, and choose a bar or two! They make great gifts too!

Up next is this amazing little needle felting tool...


Now, I must tell you that it is with great hesitation that I even share this photo with you, as I really, really, REALLY want this tool. As some of you know, I love to needle felt... and is this not the most fantastic needle felting tool you've ever seen?

It's found in the studio of Flights of Whimzy, and it's called a Whimsical Needle Felting Tool. In addition to a couple of these really amazing little tools, made of upcycled porcelain cabinet knobs that have been repurposed into the handle of three 38 star felting needles, Flights of Whimzy also features every color of the rainbow of merino wool roving. GORGEOUS!

Up next is another item that I hesitate to share, from CraftySteph's studio...

This curious little item is called a Tea Stir Stick. It's made with a cinnamon stick, with beautiful beads and a cute little teacup charm strung up and attached with a wire to the cinnamon stick. This is a fabulous (and tasteful!) alternative to the teaspoon!

I really love this idea, and at $2.75 it's quite the bargain too!

At CraftySteph's studio, you'll not only find several of these cool Tea Stir Sticks to choose from, but also some tempting hand dipped incense sticks, and some tea bag wallets too -- great for when you're on the go!

Now we come to the final piece for today's hotlist... and it comes from MNHPhotography...



I LOVE this photograph! I have such a fascination with bare trees and the grey skies of winter. Sometimes, when we're out driving, I'll see a tree with bare branches, such as this one, and behind it the beautiful Pacific Northwestern winter-y sky, I'll ask my husband to pull over so that I can snap a quick picture of it, but nothing that I capture even remotely comes out this beautiful.

The title of this photograph is "Out of the Fog" and it truly is lovely.

In MNHPhotography's studio, you will find an amazing assortment of photographs, each one skillfully capturing nature. Among her collection you'll find birds, trees, streams, and sun "shows" (that is, some beautiful sunsets or sunrises).

As you can see, Artfire artists... are on FIRE! Stop by and see what strikes your fancy!

~Anne