Thank You from an artist

I take pride in what I do, I strive to do it well and I'm rewarded when I see others enjoying my work.  One of my personal goals is to bring back the "USA made" to truly mean made in the USA.  It's challenging but I'm a firm believer that we can do it.  As I work and strive to provide top quality work, I'm grateful to you who made the choice to buy from me.  Not only did you help me but you also helped all those who were involved in the creations of my work.  

I thought about how my creations helped to improve people's lives.   Not just those who are buying my creations but with their purchases are helping me to help many families earn a living. 
 
As I sit here humbled by the interactive links of life, I realized how much we trust people to do the right thing.  How we take for granted the everyday things such as goods and services, maybe that's why I love watching "Dirty Jobs" with Mike Rowe.   He brings to light all the unsung heroes. Yes, HEROES!!!  That hero could very well be you, and if so, "THANK YOU!!!!"   

Mr. Rowe, keep doing what you’re doing...bringing light to a world that at times seems to be in darkness. Thank you for creating Dirty Jobs and dedicating time to present an awareness of such opportunities to the masses.

Whenever I watch the news media it saddens me to see so much focus on the negativity and yet all along there is so much good happening all around us.  We trust perfect strangers to do their job and do it well.   If it weren't for their dedication, pride and integrity where would we be?   Take a moment and think about it, really, where would we be?

This winter season share a smile or a hug, and say thank you to all those unsung heroes who works and makes our daily lives so livable. 

"THANK YOU for doing what you do best."
~Evelyn Nelson
 http://gofarrago.com/ 
 https://www.etsy.com/shop/SybariteStudio 
 http://pixzle.me/wp-pixzle/

Taking a moment to say...

Thank you.

To wish you and yours a truly magical and loving Thanksgiving day tomorrow. 

Let's celebrate the positive things in life whether it's 

big or small, there is much to be grateful. 

Once more,

Happy Thanksgiving

Welcome Pixzle IT! - Party Game to the Pixzle.me family

We are ever so excited to bring forth our latest creations... Pixzle It! - Party Game. 

Post by Pixzle.

Pixzle It! - Party Game 

We've been hard at work preparing for this event:  The Holiday Market presented by ATX Artisans happening November 30th, 2014 at the Holiday Inn Midtown, Austin, TX. Here's their flyer:

Post by Pixzle.

Holiday Event information 

We'll have at our booth the following: the Pixzle Petite Kits, Pocket Pixzle, Pixzle Play and Pixzle It! will be available.  Join the fun, enter the giveaways and participate in the ATX Artisans's Silent Auction:

Post by Pixzle.

Inlay Jewelry

It all started with my desire to have my own bat pendant.  Several years ago I made an awesome LED Window Bat Display.   Here's my inspiration:

The bat and cave is of my own design.  It's pretty cool how this display lights up and especially the lightning part.



As I mastered my skills in various areas of my shop, I thought: why not try some of these skills in my studio?  After my experience making the elegant butterfly jewelry I decided to make my own bat pendant.   So traveling back in time I searched for my original bat design and found it.  Yeah, I didn't have to redo all that work.  Updating it into a vector file, I was able to beta test the cuts until I finally got it.   After the cuts were made I worked on bring the inlays together and finished the look and feel.

I proudly wear my bat inlay pendant everywhere. I saw people turn heads and some actually asked where I got it.  With such interest I felt making not only the bat pendant for Sybarite Studio but also a cat playing with blocks, a dog playing with ball and the yin-yang symbol.  They're now available on Etsy.   Here's a picture of all four designs.

Each design are available with the organic cords:
Bat with Suede cord,  Leather cord, or Woven cord
Cat with Suede cord,  Leather cord, or Woven cord
Dog with Suede cord,  Leather cord, or Woven cord
Yin-Yang with Suede cord,  Leather cord, or Woven cord

Butterflies in the fields

Upon finishing my elegant butterfly collection, I needed a way to display them.  At first I thought to make a giant butterfly in which I can display my collection on, alas, when I make a small version to work out the idea, in theory it seems possible but in practice, NOT!

While I was in the midst of working out a solution to this display problem, I had a death in the family which took me away both emotionally and physically.  I dropped my work and took the first available flight out.  

Once I returned home, I one day to prepare for the next show.  During my travel, I talked about my display problem and Lisi quickly suggested why not have butterflies flying about in the field of wildflowers.   Awesome idea and with that suggestion, I started to work on my new display.

I got a wooden panel and primed it white.  Soon after I started to paint the sky, the grass, and then the wildflowers.  Let it dry over night.  The next day I woke up early to finish drilling the holes and setting up the Elegant Butterfly Jewelry Collection.   

I'm pleased with how this display turned out.  Sometimes, you need to be pulled away to find solutions.  Sadly, it wasn't that kind of pulling away I needed or wanted, yet I'm most grateful for all those who knew of my difficulty and gave me their love and support. 

Come on down, Pfirst Pfriday in Pflugerville

Here's your chance to see in person my latest creations, the Elegant Butterfly Jewelry Collection.

Aside form my other handmade items:

It's a great way to start your weekend.  See Downtown Pflugerville and visit the stores that stay open later. 

Shops that are open later invite you stop in for snacks & sips! Vendors-Artisans, crafts people, vintage & independent Sales Reps set up, offering unique items, handcrafted goods and entertainment that can be enjoyed by all. 

This is a Pfamily Pfriendly Event! Come and hang out with Pfamily & Pfriends! 

Be sure to visit the local bars & restaurants for more entertainment later into the night!

 When: Friday, August 1st, 2014 
Where: Pfirst Pfriday Pflugerville 101 Pecan St W, Pflugerville, Texas 78660
   Time: 3:00pm - 8:00pm 

 On Facebook: Pfirst Pfriday in Pflugerville

Sparkling Butterfly Collection

A few months ago I gave a gift of gratitude to my friend for helping me spread the word about Sybarite Studio. Since then, whenever she wears the Bat Earrings, she receives lovely compliments.  One day a friend of hers asked if I did butterflies.  My friend informed her that she would pass on the inquires.  At the time I was quite involved with Pixzle.me but had not forgotten the request.

It's amazing how the creative process works. While some may think--"Oh, she's forgotten or doesn't care enough to pursue it" --- far from it; the seed was planted. But as it takes time for a seed to germinate so does creativity.  When you finally start to see the first signs of a plant growing before long it's a flower blooming...that's how art is made...it takes time for the idea to gestate and evolve in one's head before it starts to take on form.  After several rounds, that form starts to take shape and it's like a striking a match, all of the sudden there's the flame, it's there right in front of you, the vision.

Once that vision is in place it's a matter of making it happen, of giving it a physical shape, of defining it through textures and paint, and giving it meaning and love. Without the passion of creating; the dynamics of your work loses all meaning and interest.

I've always loved taking picture of creatures big and small... I started my journey by tracking down my photos of butterflies and turning them into something more.  I let these photos be my inspiration for creating my butterfly designs. I used these designs to cut out the shape of my desired butterfly and then hand paint and mounted the jewelry findings to create my prototypes. Experiment after experiment, I slowly worked out the vision.



After several rounds of cutting out and carefully hand painting the butterfly wings it dawned on me to add some sparkle and seal it. I showed these prototypes, but the one that stood out was the one that had the sparkles.  My goal was to make them into jewelry: both earrings and pendants.  I made a few attempts and kept improving the look and feel until I had the closest desired prototype.

Alas, this version of the earrings was too large and just won't work. Back to the drawing board. So I reworked the design and made this second version.

I shared this on Facebook and it was pleasantly welcomed.  Given the responses for my design I went ahead and ordered all the necessary items to make the #Purple #Butterfly #Jewelry #Collection available on Etsy.  Sadly, I got sick, but it was okay since I had to wait for my items to be delivered.  One night I was so tired of being sick and luckily for me my Kitties in Kittielandia were also up and about then I decided to have some fun with them. What do you think of my models?

Meanwhile, I kept tweaking the design and improving the look and feel.  Once I had gotten my parts, I started to make the real items I wanted to put on Etsy.  As I made each one, I took photos of them and place the finished item away.  Time to edit the abundance of photos I took and narrow it down to the ones I wanted on Etsy. 

I'm glad to announce that first of my Sparkling Butterfly Jewelry Collection is now live on Etsy.   Feel free to share with loved ones, or if you have a loved ones who enjoys butterflies this might be the special gift you've been looking for.

Rainy Day

I love the rain except when you have guests visiting and can't really go outdoors, what to do? 

Well, that was an easy answer bring out the Pixzle Play.  It's their first time interacting with Pixzle Play but once they understood how it works, they started to get quite creative.  Amazing how time flies when you're having fun making patterns and what not...

 

My guests are enjoying the Pixzle Play and I'm enjoying watching them design, take it apart, and make another design.  Great company, great conversation and all along having fun with Pixzle Play.

Inspirational

#CelebratingLife #DreamHigh 

Enjoying my #SybariteStudio. 

Looking forward to #making more 

#handmade #artistic creations

Announcing new Pixzle website

The new Pixzle website is up and running. We wanted something that we could brand better than the Shopify site. Let us know what you think -- and if you have ideas for content to add. http://pixzle.me/wp-pixzle/

 

Pixzle Petite - Panda Kit

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New Pixzle Play

Welcome our latest product called the Pixzle Play on Pixzle.me 

It's similar to the Pocket Pixzle (below) but much larger instead of an 8x8 grid, it's now a 12x12 grid.

Post by Pixzle.

I made a lovely golden fish.  For more pixel design ideas check out our albums.  Once you get started there's no stopping...FUN FUN FUN

Today - Pixzle at Chemical Toy Fare

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Tip for making pixel art with Pocket Pixzle

Sometimes you just don't know what to create, why not try making a mosaic pattern. 

Here's one I did using a pattern 2 pixels side by side and then one up diagonally and then I switched colors and repeat.

Doing something like this helps jump start the creative juices. Have fun.  

For more tips and designs, follow Pixzle.me on facebook under the photo album.   Both fan's artwork and my own creations will inspire you to create your own master pieces

I look forward to seeing your creations.  You're welcome to share with Pixzle.me on facebook or email me and I'll add your master piece to the Fan's Pixel Creations album.  #pixel #puzzle #art #pixzle

Last day to enter Austin Craft Riot Giveaway

To participate in the Austin Craft Riot Giveaway, please scroll down.

Today is the last day to enter Austin Craft Riot Giveaway end.    Giveaway ends at 11:59pm. 

There's still time. You might be lucky and get your very own Pocket Pixzle #pixel puzzle art see: @AustinCraftRiot 

Post by Pixzle.

Feel free to see pixels examples at either locations:
Pixzle.Me or on facebook:  Pixzle Fan Album

I've also added a new Album called Pixzle Creations using Pocket Pixzle... Here's the latest creation.  Can you guess which futuristic robot is it?

       Amazing Austin Craft Riot Giveaway

                      Starts on May 12, 2014  and       
                 Ends on May 18th @ 11:59pm   

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: 

After the Austin Craft Riot Giveaway expires May 18th @11:59pm, winners will be announced within 48 hours, they have 48 hours to respond to e-mail. If no response, another winner is drawn and announced and the process repeats.

Seeing Spaceship

Funny, once you get started on making pixels artwork, it's like a flood gate opens up and there's all sorts of ideas popping up.  Can you guess which spaceship on which show this one's from? #pixel #fun

Pixel a Dolphin

Here's one to try making, pixel a Dolphin using your Pocket Pixzle - pixel puzzle art. 

Dolphins are ever so cute. What other water creature can you create?

There's stil time to enter the Austin Craft Riot Giveaway

To participate in the Austin Craft Riot Giveaway, please scroll down.

A few more days left before the Austin Craft Riot Giveaway end. 

There's still time. You might be lucky and get your very own Pocket Pixzle #pixel puzzle art see: @AustinCraftRiot 

Feel free to see pixels examples at either locations:
Pixzle.Me or on facebook:  Pixzle Fan Album

Post by Pixzle.

       Amazing Austin Craft Riot Giveaway

                      Starts on May 12, 2014  and       
                 Ends on May 18th @ 11:59pm   

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: 

After the Austin Craft Riot Giveaway expires May 18th @11:59pm, winners will be announced within 48 hours, they have 48 hours to respond to e-mail. If no response, another winner is drawn and announced and the process repeats.

Austin Craft Riot Giveaway

To participate in the Austin Craft Riot Giveaway, please scroll down.

As a member of the Austin Craft Riot, 

  I'm happy to announce the Austin Craft Riot Giveaway.   

Feel free to see pixels examples at either locations:
Pixzle.Me
or on facebook:  Pixzle Fan Album

Post by Pixzle.

Don't forget to come back for this amazing
Austin Craft Riot Giveaway

  Starts on May 12, 2014  and       
Ends on May 18th @ 11:59pm   

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: 

After the Austin Craft Riot Giveaway expires May 18th @11:59pm, winners will be announced within 48 hours, they have 48 hours to respond to e-mail. If no response, another winner is drawn and announced and the process repeats.

PIXZLE™ fun. These children playfully challenged one another

Loved watching them create yesterday during the Austin Mini Maker Faire. 

They came up to the table and immediately there was competition.  I totally enjoyed the back and forth play between them and their parents.  

The boy enlist help with his master piece.  His mother was having so much fun helping him... I didn't realize that more than one person can work together to create something really cool.  

His art piece is of an mining tunnel while the girl did a cat with clouds and a sunset.  Very cool and very creative.  

AWESOME job!   :D  

PIXZLE™ fun. Wow, talk about creativity...both pixel sizes...Sweet!

Awesome creation.  At first I thought why is he using the small pixels in the jumbo demo? 

Silly me, in the mad rush to get everything ready for the Austin Mini Maker Faire; I grabbed jumbo pixels that were within reach therefore, I didn't have yellow jumbo pixels for the demo.  

No problem, he just improvised with the small pixels instead.  I watched him work as he started from the center of with the black jumbo pixels and then started using the small pixels confusion set in as I asked him what he was making.  

He replied, you'll see in a moment.   

As he gradually went around and around moving outwardly people walking by stopped to watch what he was doing.  We all were ever so curious to see what it was... and little by little his design took form and finally he was done.  

There are no other words to describe this except "BEAUTIFUL" just beautiful.

PIXZLE™ fun. This Dude Rocks!!!

Watching him create this lovely work of art, I thought blue, green, black, white and ivory color pixels, I wonder what's he going to make?  

A-ha, now I see... it's like magic.  

Do you recognize this character?

Our booth at Autin Mini Maker Fare

 

Next show Pixzle will be May 24, 2014 

at

Chemical Toy Fare 

at the 

Norris Conference Center 

2525 W. Anderson Ln 78757 

Austin,Texas 

$4-12 & under Free w/adult FREE Parking

Oh, there's gonna be
KIDS CONTEST @ NOON

ADULT CONTEST @ 2PM

ONE DAY ONLY LIVE COPLAY!

AND MUCH MUCH MORE.

Play time with Pixzle Demo

Game on, more like play with us..got the big pixel puzzle art...see yah at ‪http://austinmakerfaire.com/attend/

Making Business cards

Amazing how this day is going... went down to the Travis County Expo Center and the energy there is electrifying.  Seeing so many makers is ever so encouraging.  We drove in, unloaded, and set up our display and what not for tomorrow's main event :D Austin Mini Maker Faire.    Can't wait to see what people are making.
 
Currently making Pixzle ‪pixel‬ business cards...pretty cool heh?!?‪

Packing up Pixzle for Austin Mini Maker Faire

Only hours away from Austin Mini Maker Faire-- getting things packed, to setup in shortly...Lots of pixel kits...

Maps to Austin Mini Maker Faire (May 3rd, 2014)

For the last week or so, we've been working long days to make our latest product Pixzle a reality.  We first unveiled Pixzle at SXSW to see whether or not there was any interest and sure enough the crowd loved it.  Most importantly, was seeing the excitement of children playing with the demo Petite - Pixel Puzzle Art.   They are ever so creative.  Parents had a hard time getting them to return to their family outing and continue to explore the SXSW - Create tent.     After this event ended, we felt that we had something good, well worth pursuing it, and make it available to everyone.

We had a little delay since we both fell sick and took some time to recover.  For the last two weeks we've been working almost around the clock to make all of our designs and introduce a new member to the Pixzle family.    We have much work to do this week to meet our goal to participate and make these lovely artistic kits available for the Austin Mini Maker Faire.   We believe everyone is an artist and providing them with the tools to create their own magic.

I've created an event in both facebook and G+ to make it easier for you to add to #AMMF your calendar: 

Facebook --> https://www.facebook.com/events/242722815916421/
G+ --> https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/cg11sea9gj3or95mc19evr10ma8

Just got the maps of AMMF's arena.. See us at booth #6 in the orange area of the Bizarre Bazaar below.

Here's the map of AMMF outside the arena.

So much to see and do... Thanks to Kami Wilt of Austin Tinkering School who made this possible.  She believed so much in the Austin Maker Community that she was instrumental to bringing back the Mini Maker Faire to Austin.   Best thing the Maker Faire did was to introduce the Mini Maker Faire empowering towns wanting to have their own version.  Kami saw this opportunity and made it happen.  It's been three years in the making and to see AMMF at the Travis County Expo Center excites me because I'm so fond of my first Maker Faire experience which was at the Travis Country Expo Center...we had so much fun learning, making and exploring.   Please join us and have a blast at AMMF this year.   It's bigger and better. Check out the line up at http://austinmakerfaire.com/

Pixzle at the Austin Mini Maker Faire

Busy making #pixels for the #Pixzle Puzzle Art in preparation for @ATXMakerFaire so far, I've made 5K inserts, imagine all the colors #ammf

— Sybarite Studio (@SybariteStudio) April 23, 2014

http://austinmakerfaire.com/maker/pixzle/

Meet my little helper - Bella

Meet my handy helper, Bella.. She loves her monkey and that helped me come up with a pixel version shown here.

 

Magical Father Daughter Moment

This is why I love what I do… to see moments like this is ever so rewarding.

These kits are designed to bring not one person the joy of making but two or more. You may start with Pixzle’s design and eventually work your way to making your own artistic creations…just like this young girl did.

They’re ever so cool. Currently working on a new PIXZLE to be added to the family of fun pixel puzzle art platform which includes the PIXZLE Petite (shown above) and PIXZLE Prodigious (shown below).

Evelyn made this LOVE design and has hung it in front of her office window.

She’s always wanted stain glass artwork but really wasn’t up to dealing with a soldering iron and glass cutting. This is so much easier for her to create her own artwork. Here’s one she made using the Petitie platform. It’s a happy cat. Too bad her miniature cat Sally didn’t stay around for the photo shoot.

Once you get started pixelating, you’ve entered the coolest part of living; recreating or making a whole new world. Have fun. Be you. Be COOL.

PIXZLE at the Milliennial Media's Pixel Party

After seeing our unveiling of PIXZLE Petite at the SXSW Create in Austin, TX.  Jenna of Millennial Media fell in love literally with demo Jumbo of LOVE and ever so wanted it.

After we exchanged information.  That night Ron and I got to working on introducing a new member to the PIXZLE family, the Prodigious.   We submitted a custom designed PIXZLE using their logo as they requested.  The next day we received an order for two Prodigious for their Millennial Media's Pixel Party.  We gladly fulfilled their request and mailed it in time for their event.

Today, Jenna sent me some photos of their party and from the looks of it, it was a huge success.

I just love pixels, don't you?  Thanks Jenna for sharing your success.

Post by Pixzle.

Being sick for three weeks now is a total bummer.   Yesterday was the first day of clarity for me, I felt better and got a moment of inspiration last night.  So I grabbed my felting supplies and sat down at my dining room table and started to felt while watching (more like listening) to a t.v. show.  After three episodes, I had finished this lovely tiny puppy.  

What do you think?  Am I on my way to getting better?  Is my desire to create kicking in?  I hope so.

I enjoyed SXSW Create and hanging out with member at the ATX Hackerspace booth but after this event I learn not only myself but several members ended up seriously sick.   In the future I'm gonna avoid contract and sterilize my hands.  I can't afford to be down; not in this manner, I enjoy being active and productive.   I'm looking forward to better days and a lot more inspirations.
 

Spring is in the Air

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SXSW Create

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SXSW - CREATE this weekend staring tomorrow

Post by Sybarite Studio.

Blue as the sky

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For the last few weeks, I've been working on a new product which I'll be unveiling at SXSW Create..

Swing by the ATX Hackerspace booth and see what it is.  

Here a little bit of clue, it's fun, it bring back those days of play, and it's ever so colorful. 

Lots of pieces...

Post by Sybarite Studio.

Making hands

Felting hands on my #Felted #KateBush #Doll. Almost done.

Sunny Day

#TweeterMeThis, #TweeterMeThat, #colors is what I see, just finished making this lovely batch...more to come pic.twitter.com/Nud2Ci5pd3
— Sybarite Studio (@SybariteStudio) February 16, 2014

Happy Valentine’s Day All

 

Post by Sybarite Studio.

Latest Project

More to come... love that blue pic.twitter.com/1taE1Hel0K
— Sybarite Studio (@SybariteStudio) February 11, 2014

An alternative to Traditional Valentine's Day Card

Post by Sybarite Studio.