rad

Okay, this is a fun one: I was asked to design a skateboard deck!! It will be used for a fundraising auction to benefit the building of Kennebunk’s new skate park… A bunch of  artists are designing one-of-a-kind decks, and I can’t wait to see the variety in those designs!

Check out the photo I’ve seen as an example of what they’re aspiring to (Good God, can you imagine how stoked my boys will be when this happens?):

Normally, I’d be a little bit intimidated to come up with a unique design, because we have some amazing artists in Maine, but I think my rad self is going to come up with something graphic-design based… typography heavy. And NOT grafitti, because that’s too obvious. I’m thinking something more like the industrial breakdown of letterform. Hmmm… As I get going, I’ll be sure and show you my concepts. Who knows what I’ll end up with? It’s almost always a diversion from what I set out to do.

For more information, see Maine Skate Initiative’s Facebook page. And, more specifically, you can search “Help us build a concrete skatepark in Kennebunk, Maine” on Facebook for their Kennebunk project-specific page. (that just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?)

♥

One day, only a few summers ago, I was at the beach when I looked down and saw the most perfect heart-shaped rock. I almost stubbed my toe on it, but instead I picked it up in amazement. This is it:

I had never seen anything like this before! Keep in mind, I grew up near the beach and probably have more than 1000 beach days under my belt. In my 30-something years of sandy toes, this heart rock discovery was my first. It turns out that other people have discovered these little gifts from nature, and beachgoers everywhere collect them. I heard they are made when the rock gets wedged into a larger rock’s crevice and erodes over time. That’s fine, but I think there’s greater potential in a tale of a mermaid creating them for her sailor love!! Or a shark who shaped them with his fangs for his soulmate… Someone should to get on writing that.

The first heart rock hooked me, and since then I’ve spent many of my hours at Kennebunk beaches looking for the lovely treasures. Some are more literal “hearts” than others, and that is what I like about them: the natural variety. And they are all somewhat wonky and unique, just like real love!

I keep them in a gigantic mason jar

my rock pile

true happiness...

garland crazy

I am bursting with ideas for new garland designs…. Every one I create stirs up new ideas! I love them because they are literally “jewelry” for your home. They can go anywhere: mantels, windows, empty spaces on your wall, window treatments. Here’s the one I finished today.

vintage keys and escucheons

Oh, and have I shown you this one yet? I’m so excited by this concept, letterpress printing scraps from a stationery manufacturer. These scraps would otherwise be recycled as trash. They have the loveliest snippets of wedding invitations, baby announcements, corporate event cards… it’s different every time I collect the papers!

letterpress paper garland

These will be available on my Etsy site soon, but please let me know if you can’t wait ~ I’ll  hook you up. They’re so much fun to drape around the house, giving any bored spot a little upcycled panache!!

peekaboo

I feel like Puxatawney Kate. I have been hibernating this winter. And, just like my furry namesake, I decided to peek my nose out this week and check in with the outside world.

I didn’t plan to take any time off from designing my jewelry, it just kind of happened. The flurry of the holidays came and went, and January was a time to rest and regroup. I threw away scraps of wrapping and evergreen needles. I organized the kids’ toy room. I renewed my dedication to cooking healthier meals for my family. Helped out with the PTA Winter Carnival at the boys’ school. And, I’ll be honest here, I read a lot and even took a few naps. January is made for naps, especially a January as snowy as this one.

In the last few weeks, I have occasionally wondered why I feel so mentally drained when it comes to my jewelry. All I’ve really had the energy for is nesting on the homefront. If I was working at a “real job” with other people, I wouldn’t be allowed to ride this dip in my wave of creativity (which, many of you artists know, ebbs and flows in a sometimes unpredictable way). I’d be forced to blaze through these dull moments in my creative brain, and produce results anyway. But that is not the life I designed for myself (hallelujah!), and I knew that work and jewelry enthusiasm would arrive again if I was patient. A creative spark will get me off and running, and you never see those coming until they strike you like lightening.

Enter: Erin. My constant sounding-board, and often ass-kicker, threw down the gauntlet this week (or should I say “wine glass”?). She told me it will be my task to creatively embellish her wine tasting party in a few weeks. Kennebunk wine charms for everyone! My newest wine cork garland all over the place! What else, what else?!

So I yawned, rubbed my eyes to refocus them, and took a deep cleansing breath as I jumped out of my winter hole into the sunny day.

prelude

You can’t be a Scrooge in Kennebunk. People come from far-and-wide for the famous Prelude holiday celebration in the ‘port, and the whole town gets ready for months. There are special celebrations all over town, and amazing shopping opportunities. As a matter of fact, HGTV just called Kennebunkport the #2  Christmas Town in America!!

While you are out enjoying the festivities, you have an amazing opportunity to buy some local art at really great prices, including Kate Aiello jewelry (and an 8′ long Old House Parts garland! The longest one yet!):

Clothesline Art Show (ALL work under $200)
The Irvine Gallery, Rivertree Arts, 35 Western Avenue, Kennebunk
Saturday December 4th – the end of December
for more information: www.rivertreearts.org

the trunk show

I am still coming down from the high of last Thursday’s trunk show. It was a perfect event. Lots of people came, and the cozy Seed & Bean coffee shop was a great venue. I am a no-frills person (can you tell?) and the casual style of their back barn suited me and the jewelry to a T. Everyone seemed to have a great time, enjoying not only the jewelry but also the delicious food (thank you, Jenn Bordas!) and scrumptious lemon rosemary cookies (thank you Kristin F. Simmons Custom Cakes & Pastries!).

Julie Ann LaBouve of Charming Interiors had the place looking magical with her amazing natural soy candles. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention thanks to Jenn for her many hours helping me plan this event, and Tami Chestnut and Erin Watkinson for their hard work and support. I have spent a great deal of the weekend since the show marveling over my good fortune at having such generous and uniquely-talented friends. Seriously, I couldn’t have done it without them.

the nonantum wedding show

Yesterday’s wedding show at The Nonantum was great… lots of brides, lots of inspiration!

the most popular necklace

kate and a lovely bride