Thanks to the KY Arts Council for their all their amazing support...and especially to Chris for this write-up...

Here's today's #giveagiftky staff pick by KAC's Chris Cathers, our program branch manager: He chose items from ReImagined by Luna.

Price range: $10-$90

"Once you take a look at these journals, it becomes a fun challenge to find the perfect gift among the assortment of designs and colors. These hand made, hand stitched books are a wonderful gift for anyone that you want to inspire to put pen to paper. I have given these as gifts already, and I get just as much enjoyment out of the expression on a person’s face when they examine it as they do writing in it. The artist is enthusiastic about her designs and will work with you to personalize your gift. I’ve had names and dates stitched on mine. This is a lasting gift that is guaranteed to delight!"

http://artistdirectory.ky.gov/Pages/KentuckyCraftedArtistPage.aspx?ArtistID=439

This bright remnant leather was discovered by a customer who wanted to have some custom orders created for her out of it.  She has bought several of my products before, but decided that she wanted something for herself this time.  She loved the mixing of the aqua and purple, which we did a bit of on each of the pieces.  The refillable planner has leather flower on the front and also a small inside pocket for her post-it note booklet.  She obviously likes to keep ongoing lists like me!  The colors were so fun to work with, and we were both delighted by the outcome.

Here is her response:

"They came!! They came!!!! My oh my~~I LOVE THEM!!!! It's almost as if you read my mind. They are perfect. Thank you!!! ( and yes I will be keeping these for myself. ;) ) "

These are a couple of custom leather journals that I made for a lady and her friend.  It was fun to work with her to get the colors and details exactly like she wanted.  What isn't shown is a letter to her friend on the first page of the journal that she was giving to her friend.  Here is here response:

"They are here, they are here! My journals are absolutely gorgeous! You do amazing work, Melissa! Thank you so much... they are worth every penny! When I met you at your first show, I knew then, that you would have great success.  Congratulations to you and the wonderful artist you have become. Thanks again-- I'm sure I will have future orders!"

 This was a fun one to create!  One of my neighbors, who is also an artist, had me create this rugged, manly journal for her husband for their 1st year wedding anniversary.  She had just found out that he kept notes throughout the day in a little notebook of things that he wanted to remember to share with her.  She surprised him with this gorgeous, earthy journal.  Here is what she had to say:

"Thank you, Melissa, for making this gorgeous journal for Ron for our first anniversary! Now he has a place to write down all those things he wants to remember to tell me. And he recently acquired tiny little journals that his grandfather and father kept. So this turned out to be perfect!"

I recently created a custom leather sleeve for a customer in California to give to her boyfriend for their anniversary.  Here is what she had to say about it:

"This is one of the best purchases I have ever made! I was looking for a certain portfolio that I couldn't find anywhere, and this seller was able to accomplish all the customizations I desired perfectly. She has one of the best prices in terms of genuine leather products out there. So glad I ordered from this shop! :)"

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way"–Native American Saying

This is an email that I received from a customer that I met recently.  I was so inspired by her recognizing her need to keep a gratitude journal that I asked if I could share this with you all.  Here is the email:

Dear Melissa,

I am so happy to have met you. I was literally drawn into your booth! I was in the middle of a sentence talking to my husband and writing something down for him when I stopped talking, handed him the paper, and walked into your booth! That has never happened to me before. I purchased one of your beautiful upcycled books-one with the cover from a Reader's Digest. I just love the idea of re-using covers - inspired!

While I was there, I told you about books by Rhonda Byrne. Her third one, The Magic, is a kind of "workbook" for gratitude. It's fabulous. After looking around on your web site, I know that you already live your life the way that is described in Rhonda Byrne's books. You talk about intentions and gratefulness. I love the idea of "imaginal cells" - thanks for sharing that.

I used to journal about what was going on in my life, but found that I focused on the bad stuff, the annoying things and what I was worried about. I could never go back and read stuff because it just made me feel bad. One of the exercises in The Magic is to write, first thing in the morning 10 things that you are grateful for. It's wonderful. It puts me a good mood and if I need an extra boost, I can go back and read pages and pages of things that I am grateful for. I will be filling my new journal with  happy thoughts - one of which is finding Re-Imagined by Luna!

Just got the sweetest message about my "dream" journal from Creation Inspirations:

"A mom brought her 11 year old to pick out one of your sketch journals. She chose the sky blue dream one of course! Apparently, that's the one she had fallen in love with at Mayfest. You should have seen that sweet girl hugging that journal...she wouldn't even let me bag it for her!!"

Feedback from the lady who purchased this:  

"I got this in the mail today, and it is everything I had hoped it would be. Thank you so much for a wonderful custom order!There is no where else I could have bought exactly what I wanted, except from this shop. Thanks agian for your time and effort, it is lovely and arrived in perfect condition."

 This customized book was created for a lady who wants it for plant data that she is collecting.   It has lined paper and alphabetical tabs.  The tabs will make it so that she can easily look up specific species, recipies, and the like.   The outside was a repurposed encyclopedia cover, and the inside paper is both recycled and acid-free.  

Today, I received a phone call from a customer who had bought a leather book necklace a couple months ago.  She proceeded to tell me all about her budding romance, how she has waited a long time for a good fit, and how they've now found each other.  This is where the book necklace comes in.  She had some of their photos together printed smaller and also cut apart some of the photo indexes that had tiny pictures of them together.  Then, she put them all in one of these booklets, gave it to her boyfriend for Christmas, and told him that the key on it stood for the key to her heart.  He loved it!  He was so touched by it that he cried.  He hangs it on his rearview mirror so that he can look at it frequently.  What’s especially fun is that he made a book full of pictures for her as well.  She called today wanting several more book necklaces because she wants to make him one for Valentine's Day and plans on giving him a collection of these as time goes on.  So, these fun mini books can be used for more than just necklaces!  The sized she used it just a touch larger than the ones I currently make so just let me know if you want one this size.