[uhp-steyt fan-see] - adjective

1. not exorbitant or extravagent by city standards, however in a rural setting (like upstate new york) it is in fact, quite fancy.

2. a wonderful blog dedicated to art, design and other things that are indeed upstate fancy.

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Nov
24
etsy
2010 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: the bookworm

I decided to do something a little different this year. I’m breaking up the normal holiday gift guide into blog posts rather than a mini site. First up a few ideas for the person on your list that just can’t seem to put a good book down.

Clockwise from top left: Bookrest Lamp $69, Romeo & Julienne Cutting Board $10, Nerdy Eyeglass necklace from Munieca $25, Conceal Bookshelf $11, Pictorial Websters $23, Good Read Flip book by Green Chair Press $5, Half Glass bookends $58

Clockwise from top left: Custom Bookshelf painting by Jane Mount $100, Dishes I’d Rather be Doing Tea towel by Dear Colleene $15, Personal Library Kit $18, Bookplates by Mary Kate McDevitt $20, Book necklace from Black Spot Books $40, Kindle (i really do read more with this) $139, Ceramic Mug from Aedrial Originals $18

Feb
09
etsy
ARTIST INSPIRATION with wook woodworking

Please welcome Alexandra Snook and Edward Way from Wook Woodworking sharing what inspires them 

Ed and I are husband and wife, and we run our own small furniture design company.  I would have to say our primary inspiration is always the natural world.  Repetition of form and natural textures as in the beauty of old weathered wood, the spiral in a shell, or the smooth undulations in the grain pattern of Cherry are all inspiring.  Wood itself is really our greatest inspiration.  The variety of species and their corresponding colors, textures and grain patterns never cease to amaze us.  Motivation, however, can come from an entirely different place.  Reflecting on the works of great designers, architects and sculptors is usually what gets us really fired up about creating.  And once we have a  concept, it’s into the studio we go, working days, nights and weekends and often skipping meals and not getting enough sleep. Great design incorporates function and form in a seamless fusion, and amazing designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry and Ray and Charles Eames (looking very cool on their motorcycle in the picture above, might I add) all exemplify this.  In terms of our personal style, we probably most relate to an Asian aesthetic.  Clean lines, impeccable joinery and appreciation for the original material all greatly influence our work.  We also love to use sustainable materials and try to do so whenever possible.  We are always on the lookout for new products and materials that satisfy our want to produce eco-conscious pieces.  

Thanks so much for letting us share our inspirations with you- Alexandra and Edward 

wook

Jan
28
etsy
MORE AFFORDABLE art

Trish Trish bo bish, bannanna fanna fo.. Okay enough of the name games, on the serious side, I LOVE Trish Grantham’s work. She has a great sense of color schemes that are playful, without being overbearing. And of course the characters in her illustrations are adorable. The best thing about these paintings is they are affordable paintings, not just prints. So check her out and send her some love from upstatefancy.   

trish

Jan
14
etsy
FOUR SCORE and 7 pillows ago

Spice up your couch with a little Lincoln. These little pillows from Big Stone Head are sure to add some presidential flair to any apartment. Maybe Abe will be able to help you through some hard times by imparting some presidential wisdom. But if your too cool to have a conversation with an inanimate object he’ll still be there to look pretty darn cool just hanging out. If your home is a bit too modern for ol’ Abe check out the Obama pillow for a more contemporary look. 

lincoln

Dec
22
etsy
SLOW AND STEADY wins the race

I’m a big fan of handmade soft toys, and todays find made me almost fall out of my chair. Terry the Tortoise, from Hel Made, is self proclaimed as being the fastest tortoise in the UK. I do wonder how he would do against my one eyed walrus in his home turf. Its a battle of the sea creatures! Terry definitely will win in the uniqueness category, his shell is intricately made with layers of hexagons that demand attention. But my walrus might win a sympathy vote, due to his eye-loss from doing battle with the great corgi Einstein

Dec
16
etsy
TWEET TWEET sew sew sew

I love seeing slices of life frozen in time. I have a fascination with snow globes, and shadow boxes, and pretty much anything three dimensional with a little world inside. WIth this being said it is a shock that i have not seen these tiny wonderlands from Mossywood Lane. The colors are so bright and vibrant and she has a very well balanced design sensibility. I see a story book waiting to happen with these wonderful creations

Dec
15
etsy
A ROUGH TIME for printers

I work full time as a graphic designer, mostly doing print pieces. We all know the economy isn’t great right now and it affects quite a bit of things. I love that Because Studio has managed to find the humor in a situation i see on a daily basis. A lot of clients don’t have the money right now to spend on a 5 color pantone job with letter-pressed envelopes and die-cuts. These little prints say everything that I have been feeling. Pieces can still be beautiful even when you don’t have a lot of money to throw at a job. 

Dec
05
etsy
ADD SOME COLOR to your walls

I’ve always dreamed of having one big wall and filling it with small prints and paintings. It would be like being the curator of your own personal gallery. Well if this ever does come true, I have to have a piece from Eggman Studios. Michelle Knowlen, the artist behind eggman, has very unique illustrations that fuse bright colors and antique ideals with a modern twist. My favorite piece has to be the bird on the typewriter, there is no way you could have a bad day with that painting to brighten things up. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Dec
04
etsy
HOW OLD was this tree

I really like small things. Things that are adorable and stylish but don’t take up too much room. These hand stitched samplers fit the bill, and get an extra gold star due to their woodland themes. I love all the work from Miniature Rhino, there is something a bit quirky about all the creations but they all have sentimental roots. I can’t wait to see what they have in the new year.

Dec
03
etsy
CHRISTMAS TREE oh christmas tree

The clock radio went off this morning and Mariah Carey started singing that lovely christmas song of hers ( a  guilty pleasure ) and it put me in the Christmas Mood! These little trees from Cary at little love blue are dying to be added to your holiday celebration this year. Not only does she make some amazing little pieces but she is also amazingly sweet, throughout December she is donating 20% of all my shop proceeds to the March of Dimes.

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