curious giraffe.

I'm in a little of a rush because I'm about to head out to make some trips to IKEA (make a few returns), Joanns (to stock up on some supplies - yay for sales!), thrift stores (because the hunt makes me happy), and to see Morris for dinner and wind-down time!

Though in a rush, I really wanted to make a quick update: I've been working hard on cranking out some new original art, and while doing that finished up some custom orders for a few of my favorite etsy customers.

{ work in progress }

{ second generation; "i heart giraffe" }
tweeked the colors a bit - he's matured!

{ customer's favorite "curious george" plushy }
the object of my inspiration

{ my take on the cutie }

{ the final products! }

I should be shipping these out very soon once I get them all packaged up safely. Let me know what you think! The recent pieces I've been working on are nothing like the style people recognize me for. It's a risk, but they're quite a bit of fun, so I hope people respond to them well... will release those soon!

xoxo,
Steppie
http://steppie.etsy.com

love for the bunnies.

The newest addition to Designs by Steppie: "Bunny Love"



These little bunnies are in love... and have got even more love to spread to you and your home!

This is an original mixed media painting on high quality canvas stretched on a 8" x 8" frame. The tree and bunnies are cut out of quality patterned tissue paper, and were placed onto a bright painted backdrop with quality acrylics.

"Bunny Love" currently comes in two different colors.

Teal + Cherry Edition

Blue + Pink Edition

Coming soon to Designs by Steppie?
Adorable quality prints of "Bunny Love" matted and framed!

Comment with your feedback!

xoxo,
Steppie
http://steppie.etsy.com

mel the unicorn.

So, there's this little fabulous girl in my life named Melanie.
I say "little" because she's just that...
Under 5 feet, but a ball of energy.

Anyway, I was so excited when she asked me to do a custom piece for her!
And, of course, she wanted a painting made of her favorite animal:
THE UNICORN!

All she asked was that it have the colors orange and blue.
And I think I'm a little in love with it.

So much in love with it...
I think I want to make more,
and add a line of "Mel the Unicorns" into my shop!

The unicorn actually reminds me a lot of Mel...
Big doe eyes, bright, friendly, and adorable.

I think I want my next version of this
to be in red and turquoise...
if you have any other ideas, comment & let me know!

Want a unicorn for yourself?
Comment with your contact info
or e-mail me at DesignsBySteppie@gmail.com!

I'm also working on getting prints of these made soon.
If you'd like to be notified, when they are available, let me know!


Leave me comments - and let me know what you think! (:

xoxo,
Steppie

panda bearrrr.

I found it only right that I eventually added an "I Heart Panda" to my "I Heart..." painting series. Why it took so long? Probably because I was over-thinking it and wanted it to be PERFECT-O.

For those that don't know me personally, panda bear is probably my alter ego. (; We share the droopy eyes, the mushy cheeks, and the mischievous grin most see as friendly and welcoming. ...Little do they know!

Anyhoot, I had a BLAST with this painting.
I hope you like it as much as I do -- please leave me comments!


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"I HEART PANDA"

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WANT ONE OF THESE ADORABLE PANDAS FOR YOURSELF?
Unfortunately, I don't have this listed in my Etsy shop just yet because I'm holding onto it for a future home boutique. HOWEVER, like all my art, it is completely available for custom work! so if you like what you see and want to see one on your wall, comment here, convo me on Etsy, or email me at skuoch@gmail.com!

Leave me comments and let me know what you think. :)

xoxo,
Steppie

the art zoo.

Good thing for Google Alerts, because I just found another one of my items featured on a blog!

This time on a photoblog featuring handmade products by independent artisans and crafters, called The Art Zoo!

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The snapshot:


Thank you so much, The Art Zoo! You can find the link to the entry here.


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In other news, there are TONS of things going on for me this week.

1. Preparing for an open home boutique, which will take place on Saturday, September 13th! Come out if you're in the OC area! It should be tons of fun. Aside from the other fabulous vendors selling their excellent goods (art, jewelry, bags, make-up, and even cookies!), there will be free taste testing, snacks, refreshments, and raffles frequently throughout the day! :)
2. Preparing for my sister's friend's baby shower this coming Saturday. I'm helping my sister with preparing some of the decorations and activities, so that should be exciting!
3. And, of course, stocking up on new inventory like a crazy woman...

Some of my new little babies?
"Flight" wooden framed mirrors, cute clothespins, tote bags, more journals, more paintings, more buttons, and so, so much more! I've been resisting from putting these goodies on my Etsy shop because I want to save them for my show on the 13th. But I'll take some time out to post them on my blog so you can see my new projects!

Anyhoot... back to work! Leave your comments. :) They keep me going!

xoxo,
Steppie

i am a ninja.

Ninjas.

I think we're all a little ninja deep inside. Whether you like to show your sly and fantastic ways to others, or whether you prefer for it to come out at night.




Ninjas are known to be a wee bit of trouble. But they're also witty, intelligent, and daring. And heck, they're just pretty damn awesome!

...So awesome that they make an awesome painting! (:

To see the listing for this: "I Am A Ninja" Canvas Painting (8"x10")


I want to paint more ninjas, but in different colors -- have any ideas?
Leave me comments with your ideas and suggestions!

xoxo,
Steppie

new features!

So, the updates have been lacking lately because I just spent the past weekend in the city of sin, Las Vegas! It was a very much needed break -- and a fun one indeed (Happy birthday, Anton!) -- but now it's time to get back to work! Lots of new items I'm working on, and lots of planning to get done for an Open House event in September and a large craft fair in November... wish me luck!

Aside from all the craziness, I wanted to make notice of some exciting news: My items just got featured on two different blogs - it has been a good week!


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Blog: http://createathoughtetsy.blogspot.com/
Shop on Etsy: CREATEaTHOUGHT.etsy.com


CREATEaTHOUGHT has a shop full of adorable items, and updates her blog very frequently with her favorite sellers and items. I recently got the honor to be featured on her blog after she had purchased one of my "I Heart Whale" ACEOs! I'm glad you liked it as much as you did, CREATEaTHOUGHT!

Check out the blog entry here:
http://createathoughtetsy.blogspot.com/2008/08/week-of-features-two-steppie.html


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Blog: http://kbeezweinz.blogspot.com/
Shop on Etsy: kylieB.etsy.com


kylieB has the cutest clutches and little goodies in her store! In her blog, she talks about her recent projects and also features three of her favorite items on Etsy every week. This past week, she chose to feature my "Chillin" canvas painting! I was thrilled when I found out. Thank you so much, kylieB! (:

Check out the blog entry here:
http://kbeezweinz.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-3-favirot-things-this-week.html

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In any case, this reminds me that I've been meaning to feature some of my favorites on my blog! Look out for that very soon! (:

And for those that missed my last post, make sure to become a fan on my new Facebook Fan Page! I'd love to see you there so I can keep you updated with my recent projects and items (there's even a feed from my blog, so it'll be easy for you to keep up with my blog posts!).

Oh, and leave me comments.
Because I love them. (:

xoxo,
Steppie

I GOT A SPOTLIGHT!

GOOD NEWS!

I got featured on my first blog! Here's the link:
http://charmedjewellery.blogspot.com/2008/08/httpwwwsteppieetsycom.html

I recently got interviewed by CharmedJewellery.etsy.com and she recently put my spotlight on her blog! Much love to her for helping me spread word about my shop. :)

Check out her Etsy shop (CharmedJewellery.etsy.com) and blogspot (http://charmedjewellery.blogspot.com/)!

I should probably feature a few of my favorite sellers on my blog... oh, who could it be?! I guess you'll have to wait to find out!

xoxo,
Steppie

ACEO obsession.

Woo - it's been a while.

The week's been crazy busy with my dad's Khmer Navy Reunion on top of many projects that I've been working on! I've recently been experimenting with greeting cards ("OH DEER!"), but we'll talk more about that next time!

What I wanted to talk about today?
ACEOs!

So for those that are curious...
ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals." Basically, they are miniature works of art the size of a trading or playing card (2.5" x 3.5"). They are an inexpensive way to purchase my artwork - and a new obsession hitting Etsy!

What do you do with my ACEOs?
Collect them, display them (in albums, frames, books), trade them, give them as gifts, use them as bookmarks, decorate your walls, and who knows what else!

There quite a bit of ACEO collectors on Etsy, but I've recently jumped on the band wagon. Actually, I just recently got accepted into the ACEO team on Etsy! You can visit them on Yahoo! Groups here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EtsyACEO/!


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Most of my ACEOs are reproductions of the originals in my shop, but a few are originals themselves! Here are a few of them:

"Sitting in a Tree" (original on cork!)

"I Heart Whale" (print)

"Chillin" (original with inks)

"Modern Tree" (print)

All ACEOs are carefully packaged in a super-clear acid-free ACEO sleeve to keep it protected and happy!

"Giraffe Silhouette" (shown in ACEO sleeves)

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I hope you like what you see!
Leave comments with suggestions for future ACEO creations!

In addition, I've been meaning to start my own ACEO collection soon - comment with links to your (or your favorite) ACEOs!


'Til next time - happy blogging!

xoxo,
Steppie
http://www.steppie.etsy.com

modern abstractions.

I just returned from my trip in Sin City for Hip Hop Internationals two nights ago, and couldn't wait to get back and start painting again.

But before I go into my new creations, I've got to say: the trip to Las Vegas with my fellow CADC heads - it was absolutely amazing. We didn't proceed to the Worlds competition, but placed 4th in the USA finals. But more importantly? We met some amazing people from all over the country - and all over the world! Definitely an unforgettable trip.

But is it nerdy that I was excited to come back to make some new artwork? Probably, but there's no shame here!

So, without further ado!

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The second in my mixed media Acrylic&Fabric series: "MODERN TREE"!







This one was a fun one - and has inspired future paintings. I'd love to know YOUR feedback - please leave me comments! I love receiving them!

+ To view the listing: "Modern Tree"
+ To view my Etsy shop: http://www.steppie.etsy.com

Happy blogging! Hope to hear from you soon!

xoxo,
Steppie

101 hearts in 10 days!

Yup, that's right kids - my Etsy shop has been open for exactly 10 days, and as of a couple of minutes ago, I have exceeded 100 hearts (101 to be exact!)!


For anyone not too familiar with Etsy, adding "hearts" means adding your favorite sellers (or items) to a special list that is tucked away so you can access and find them easily later. I don't know how long it usually takes to receive 100+ hearts on Etsy... but being a little over a week old, and receiving so much love from potential buyers and fellow sellers...

Well, I couldn't have asked for more.

Comment & leave me feedback: how important are "hearts" to you?

xoxo,
Steppie

i heart whale.

I've been meaning to expand my "I Heart..." series - which currently has the giraffe featured - and I started sketching up some doodles of animals today, and finally decided that the next item in "I Heart..." series would feature whales!

Here is the final product:


The feedback I've been getting on the "I Heart Giraffe" painting has been outstanding - and a lot of people have been saying it would be perfect in a baby nursery! With that in mind, I'm hoping that painting and my new "I Heart Whale" paintings will find new cozy homes soon.

The listing for "I Heart Whale" can be found here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13438866


Leave me comments with your opinions on my new artwork!
Your feedback means a lot to me!

Happy shopping!

xoxo,
Steppie
En Rouge Designs

playing catch-up.

I spent this past weekend at my parents' house, and when it gets late into the night - when the creative juices start flowing the most - I can't help but miss my paint brushes.

Nerdy, I know.

So, anyway! Time to continue my last post... in explaining how I've got to where I am right now.

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About two weeks ago, when it dawned on me that I'd be moving out of my apartment soon, I decided to make a LiveJournal post about all the furniture & knick knacks that I would miss about my bedroom at The Love Boat. I took this LJ entry & cross-posted it into a couple of my favorite decor communities to see what feedback I would get.

Links to my entries:
ourapartments:
http://community.livejournal.com/ourapartments/146840.html
saucydwellings:
http://community.livejournal.com/saucydwellings/1439614.html
ourbedrooms:
http://community.livejournal.com/ourbedrooms/1237993.html

But it was a certain photo in my entry that made a lot of commotion - and the feedback I received was... well, more than I expected.


The canvases found above my bed were actually my first "real" paintings. I made them to match my room, and didn't think too much about it. Thinking back to painting the thing, I remember how long it took me - while this painting still takes a while to re-create, it doesn't take nearly as long!

Anyway, amongst a lot of positive feedback from the communities, I also got individuals asking if I had artwork for sale. I never thought painting and selling would ever go into the same sentence for me. I doubted myself, but once I started getting more feedback, I started to realize that I had nothing to lose (except maybe my dignity - just kidding).

I busted out my 16x20 canvases and old paintbrushes on a whim, and just started painting... and then I got addicted and couldn't get myself to stop. By the advice of my sister's friend, I started up my Etsy.com shop, and posted up my paintings. And now - it's all I'm ever thinking about.

Within two days of setting up shop, I MADE MY FIRST SALE! I remember just finishing one of my newer paintings ("Don't Give A Hoot"), and walking back to my room after watching "So You Think You Can Dance" with the roomies. Then, I saw the e-mail from Etsy in my gmail inbox - "Dear steppie, Congratulations on your sale at Etsy!" I screamed. Yes, screamed. I ran outside to the living room, told the roomies my news, and we started screaming and jumping up and down. Nothing beats that first sale.


My first sale - "Chillin'" (white background):



It seemed like FOREVER 'til that first sale, but I think it was due to sitting in front of my Etsy shop all day long for two days straight waiting for something to happen. While I received a lot of positive feedback from Etsy sellers and buyers on their forums and chatrooms, actually knowing that someone appreciates your artwork so much to purchase one of their own - that's probably one of the best feelings an artist can ever feel.

I logged back onto LiveJournal, letting the people that had initially inspired me know just how much their positive energy helped me in doing something I never thought I could ever do. Their support, once again, was outstanding! I actually made another sale from one of the community members - and got a comment from one of the mods of ourapartments, thediamondlife, that shocked me greatly.

thediamondlife: "i loooovvve i don't give a hoot. these are amazing. i'm not in a position to buy right now, but to help in your sales i added your shop info to our profile page. good luck!"

My Etsy shop info on the profile page of ourapartments:


Being placed on ourapartment's profile page is (1) an honor, since I adore and respect the community so much, and (2) more than I could ever ask for! I recommend you check out the community on LiveJournal if you love apartment decor or just being around positive, creative people!

On a side note, while celebrating my first sale with my fellow Etsy sellers, they let me know that it's pretty rare to make sales during your first week at Etsy - usually sellers are still setting up shop, listing new items, and getting their name and shop known. Though it seemed like forever 'til I made a sale, knowing that I'm doing pretty well considering my circumstances has motivated me to continue to make paintings and keep pushing to get my name known.

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I'll be heading back to my apartment in Irvine later tonight - which means, more time to paint all these new ideas I've been cooking up on canvas! Once I get some more new creations, I'll be sure to let you guys know.

Thanks so much for all the support so far!
Please continue to leave me comments - and spread the word about my blog!

Happy shopping & blogging!

xoxo,
Steppie
En Rouge Designs
http://www.steppie.etsy.com