Oh, Mother Nature...

Here in Pittsburgh- it really feels like fall is here!!! (Which is crazy, right? It had better change!)

Which makes me think of back to school shopping!

In the next few days- one of my favorite blogs will be hosting an erra back to school giveaway!

So stay tuned!

In the mean time- here are a few goodies I can't wait to pick up for "back to school"!!!

From Anthropologie- by Seychelles

By Middlemost Design

By Tractorgirl

Whipped Soap from Sugar Baby Soaps

(really not tiny)...umbrella from ModCloth

<3 erra

TGIF is now SLIF

SLIF?
Take a guess!
I love acronyms, maybe too much so, but they make me happy.

TGIF!
What are you doing crafty this weekend?
Here in the erra studio, I'm afraid it is not a making weekend, but a studio re-vamp weekend.

Why- well...lets go back...
Mini me background if you don't know
*grew up in a small biz family- art and craft supply store
*grandparents were both artists
*grandma had thousands (ok, maybe hundreds) of unfinished projects, as well as supplies, at her untimely death of 69
*grandpa passed away this winter
*nothing had really been dealt with in the house....gulp

So, we closed on the house last week and for everything that wasn't obviously just junk...we transported it into my workshop/our basement (sorry to my man of the house <3)

So over the next few weeks I'll share the progress, the awesome vintage finds (which some will also be listed at www.etsy.com/shop/erravintage) and the fun creations I come up with gramma goods!

Like this wicked awesome set of shears....!

www.erracreations.com

Happy Craftin'!

<3 nicole @erra

What To Make...Or What Makes You

I had a very interesting conversation with a fellow friend/artist yesterday. 

They have been suffering from some dark depression, etc., and the thing(s) that have helped them most are friends encouraging to get  art-ing again and the act of art-ing.

How awesome is that. Not the down-in-the-dumps, but how making and creating is saving them!!

I know about that- I've worked almost every job, have had tons of "kick-in-the-faces", 

and just not liked where my life was heading.

When I started making things again, it wasn't to make money, 

it was to because making was making me happy again! 

WOWZERS!

Wouldn't you know- I've finally realized my dream job- my dream life!

I'm not sure where my end goal is, whether it be a brick and mortar storefront or travelling for shows or online, but as long as I'm making, and get to see my art making other happy and laugh- all is well here <3

erra's new bicycle chain wine charms
www.erracreations.com

Moral of the story:

 sit down, relax, think, and ponder with a glass of wine

how you are going to make your life awesome and happy!

<3 nicole @erra

Erra Creations Loves the Night Market and wants to see you tonight!

Boy, what a summer so far...!

Just wanted to share a guest post I wrote with all of you for Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's- Project Pop-Up, Night Market.

The really exciting part? I have been the only person at all of them! Not food, organizers, nada, just erra!

So stay tuned for Night Market VI on Sept 27!!!

<3 nicole @guest post, gallery crawl, boutique 208, erra

Erra Creations Loves the Night Market and wants to see you tonight!

by Nicole Bloch, Erra Creations

I love Downtown Pittsburgh! I used to work Downtown and now jump at every chance I can to go into town for music, food, theater, art and now shopping with the awesome start of Pop-Up shops like Boutique 208! Besides the art in the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's quarterly Gallery Crawl, has always been one of my favorite affairs to attend because of the vibrant people who light up our city at night.

It was only a year ago that Pittsburgh had not yet experienced a night market. And me? I'd never heard of such a thing. When I did learn of it, I'm pretty sure I squealed with excitement! An artisan and food market that takes over a parking lot in town after work hours- sign me up! 

I am the chick behind Erra Creations and I am a born and raised Pittsburgh artist. I love to tinker with just about anything and have become known for my wares from reclaimed bicycle parts! I do shows and events all over in the north east- and can honestly say the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's Pop-Up: Night Market is one of my 3 favorite events of all time! In addition to the artists who come to show their work, there is amazing food-music-people! Whenever I am asked why I love it so, I reply- It's the best parking lot party ever!

I am so honored that Erra Creations has been the only artist at every Night Market- and hope to see you this Friday night for Night Market V!

Yay for June-eve!

Greetings and salutations!

     May was a CRAZY wonderful month. Had an amazing time at Dirt Fest and counting down the next 51 weeks until I get to go back (yay for Oskar Blues!)! Curious? Be nebby here : Dirt Fest

Powder coated bicycle chain? cool

made into necklaces with vintage marbles? awesome

Right now, they're only available at Boutique 208 and West Liberty Cycles and shows I'm hanging out at!

(online soon- I promise!!!)

Because it's June-eve, I have curated erra's tunes to groove to for June 2013!

Follow erracreations on Spotify!

Listen here

love and peace <3

n

Tunes To Groove To

happy movin' and groovin'!

here in the erra studio, we love music!!!

enjoy erra's monthly playlist curated for your creative times on Spotify!

a new one every month! 

sign up to the right for our mailing list so you can be the fist to know when a new playlist is created!

erra's grooves for April 2013

Lunch Time Crafting

 I have come to figure out - sitting at a desk, working on accounting things all day, makes me over anxious for 5 o'clock!!! I used to spend my lunch hours frantically running around getting every errand possible- done! (I can hit 4-5 stores in my hour break!) *gulp*

So, in lieu of the craziness, I have found that Lunch Time Crafting is the bestest!!

Stay tuned for the creations that arise!