Playing With Mud, or Something

Don't ya just hate when you NEED something and it is NOWHERE to be found?

GAH!

I have a custom line I am doing for some wedding pieces that require 12 mm round 

resin pieces I have to cast. ...and nooooooo, no one sells a mold for that.

After much frustration, I realized that I could probably make my own mold!  AHA!

Voila!

While I was writing this post, my boss came up to my desk (yes, I am at work, playing with toys, win) and he said "Perfect! You can make me the plastic parts I need for my car!"

So next project, plastic car pieces...time to grind some Legos and green army men!

<3
nicole @erra

Oh How Did I Forget...?

Forget What?! you ask?

Well, just when I started working my "desk" job almost 6 years ago, I walked into a super sterile desk area, like anyone. But I couldn't hang things...really nothing. After a few weeks, I had finished a lil' box of tea I had picked up when I was studying in London. Instead of throwing the box out, I thought it best to make my paper clip holder MINE (...and it lived in my drawer...where it wasn't "seen")

((see the arrow above? that's where I lived, in Notting Hill!))

How did I forget about this guy?

 I use him everyday!!!!

Maybe it's like the post-it note theory- that when you look at something everyday you stop seeing it, like a wall of post-it note reminders.

So I guess I need to get more on board with smelling the roses.

Fortune cookie says: Don't be afraid to take a chance when the opportunity of a lifetime appears

Pretty rockin'...and it's been there for over 5 years

love 'n peace

n

Back to School Resolutions

I remember the days when starting a new year in school could be compared to the New Year.
So much excitement- you don't know what new things will happen and what new people you'll meet. I also always had a sense of a resolution, something I was going to get better at or being to do.

It's been years since I was in school, but I still have this same sense at the end of the summer- when the smell of the air begins to change. Time for weeding out the warm weather clothing and shoes from my closet, putting away all of our picnic wares and decorations (don't worry- we still party, just inside or out by the fire pit!) I want to go buy new clothes, office supplies, yummies to pack our lunches with...........

Then the lists start: what needs a deep cleaning, clearing out all 8 of my email inboxes (ugh), detailing our cars, taming the paper monster...there is just a lot!!!

I'm going to do two things for sure
1. get my butt back to doing yoga (yay!)
2. plan our food menu for the week, every week, together

I found some great ideas, to make it a fun project for us, on Pinterest :)
(come follow erra on Pinterest, too! www.pinterest.com/erracreations  )

hope one of them can help you too!


http://pinterest.com/pin/94364554665569856/



http://pinterest.com/pin/94364554665569653/


http://pinterest.com/pin/94364554665580594/

I think the magnets may win!!! I'll share what we do - soon!

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!