'Since doing Field of Artisans shows last winter in South County RI, I've not only been able to put my work out there more, but develop lasting friendships and new opportunities (aka my Share Space shop!). So of course when the summer schedule was posted I had to sign up. 
I mean how can I not do a show in a gorgeous park and on the beach? 
All of the below photos are courtesy of the resident photographer for Field of Artisans, TJ Thran! 

Here are the dates that I am currently doing this summer! 
July 4th-Special pop up market at Old Mountain Field 2-8pm
July 16th- SK Town Beach
July 17th- Marina Park
July 30th- SK Town Beach
August 13th- SK Town Beach
August 14th- Marina Park
August 27th- SK Town Beach
August 28th- Marina Park

All of the SK Town Beach and Marina Park shows are 11-4. Addresses for both locations are listed in the shop section! 
Hope to see you in the field! 

If you have been following along on my social media for the past few weeks, you will have seen that I have become a SHARE SPACE shop owner! 

For those of you who don't know, SHARE SPACE is a collective creative space for artists, entrepreneurs and small businesses all under one roof! It really is a great community that is very welcoming to new people. Right in Federal Hill in Providence RI, but tucked away from the street, its size is deceiving from the outside. Currently it features business such as White Buffalo (great vintage finds!), Seams Brilliant (sewing heaven), Artefacts (global inspired jewelry and gifts), and the Inner Space Gallery, which features the work of people with developmental disabilities or mental illness. 

And now, me! Kate Simpson Designs. I will also be selling my mom's work, Treasures & Trinkets, which includes polymer clay jewelry, hand painted cards and signs. 
My mom and I have been talking about getting a store, and this is our starting off point! 
I have loved being there so far and can't wait to see what's coming next! 

I keep adding more work into the shop, so come check out what I have now! And depending on when you come in you might see another little expansion of things that I love! 
Hours are listed in my shop section! Feel free to contact me with any questions! 

​xo Kate 

Spending the weekend on the Cape for a friend's wedding and the LoveLocal Fest really made me realize how much I miss it. I brought my kittens Gracie and Bella home with me, and while my cat growing up Jingle Bells was not a fan, it was definitely an adventure bringing them home with me. Spending time with them and my family was interesting-surprisingly my brother was the most interested in them (especially when it came to introducing them to Jingles and a laser pointer). 

The first LoveLocal Fest of the season this year was fun. It was really windy-but the rain held off! LoveLocal Fest was also supporting the vendors by running a #ishoplocal contest, rewarding customers for shopping local and entering them in to win $50. Of course I had to participate too-my choice was The Local Juice.  I was able to get some of my favorite juice from The Local Juice, and I tried a new one! Harvest is my favorite and then I tried there new special (soon to be on their regular menu) which was made with Carrot, Fennel, Apple, Cucumber and Lemon. Seriously they are so good. I already have a countdown to the next LoveLocal Fest to get more. Hopefully I can get it sooner if they can get the permit to sell it at the Little Beach Gallery again. Or if you wanna try what they have to offer before the next LoveLocal Fest, you can get a taste at the Barnstable Market with their pop up smoothie/juice bar, or at Cape Cod farmer's markets. Check out their Instagram for where they are gonna be. 

Thank you to everyone who came by and supported local artisans and vendors and I hope to see you at the next LoveLocal Fest on August 30th from 11-7 at Aselton Park in Hyannis. Check out 
#LoveLiveLocal #LoveLocalFest on Instagram for more pictures and details of the next events! 

I am very happy to announce that I will be a vendor at the LoveLocal Fests for the entire summer this year! The LoveLocal Fests are the last Sunday of July, August and September at Aselton Park in Hyannis MA. I am looking forward to doing all three, instead of just the one that I did last year. It was such a motivating show, because of how much Love Live Local supports local artisans. While I may not live on the Cape anymore, part of me will always still belong to the Cape. 

Interested in checking out the show?
Here are the show dates: 
July 26th
August 30th
September 27th 
All of the shows are from 11am-7pm
I will be sharing sneak peeks into the new pieces that will be available at the shows throughout the summer! 

Today will forever be a difficult day, not only for myself, but for my family. Two years ago today, I lost my Nana. She was not only a huge supporter of my nursing career, having been a nurse herself, but also of my jewelry making (though she really wanted me to be a nurse first, jeweler second). It never stopped her from wanting more things that I had made. Not only would she wear it, but she would show it off to her friends. I am so thankful for everything that she did for me, I honestly do not think I would be the person I am today without her. I am lucky to have her as my guardian angel. 

It's never easy to lose a loved one, so cherish every minute you have with them. I know I can remember my Nana, and honor her by working hard and being caring, not only in the work I do as a nurse, but also as a jeweler. I am thankful to have a life in which I can do both of my passions and not have to chose one or the other. So today especially I will remember my Nana, my guardian angel, and spread all of the love and generosity that she gave to me to others.  

and Ps. cancer sucks. 

I am sponsoring one of my best friends, Jerrica, again for the Miss Rhode Island Pageant. Jerrica is Miss Kent County 2015, which became official not too long ago. I am very happy to be able to support her again, and her platform is also very near and dear to my heart. Her platform is Pictures in Our Heads: Changing Minds One Step at a Time; she created it herself, and its focus in on providing education for people and their families who are impacted by mental illness through public education and awareness activities. As I have mentioned before, it is so important to support those with mental illness. 

Back in November I supported Jerrica at the Miss Rhode Island Scholarship Gala.. Some of our friends from Salve Regina were there too! 

She wore a new design of earrings of mine at the event. I will providing her jewelry for the Miss Rhode Island Pageant as well as at appearances prior to the pageant. 

And yes, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get crowned too :) 

Here is everything I bought on my birthday at the Innovative Beads Expo. Needless to say I didn't go by my original budget, but I plan on making a lot of new pieces to put in the Giving Tree and the Jewel Box of Cape Cod, as well as at my shows and my hopefully soon to be Etsy shop.

So here's what I got!

Better late then never right?! Well anyways here is a recap of my No Craft Supply Spend July just a little bit late...

So No Craft Supply Spend July didn't go perfectly, but to be fair I only cracked twice. 

Here is what happened the first time: 
I bought washi tape on the 5th. I had done so well prior to that, going to Michael's and not spending any money. I cracked at Marshall's right at the register when I spotted washi tape out the corner of my eye. I couldn't pass up the bargain it was to buy it. I mean a whole tube of washi tape for $3.99, I would have been crazy not to buy it. 

The second time: 
I cracked at a bead store in Rockport, MA. I had never been to this bead store, and couldn't pass up the beads they had. I didn't spend a lot of money which is good, but I still did spend money. 

So all in all I didn't do horribly. It could have been a lot worse, and it was way less than I would normally spend on craft supplies in one month. I also realized that if I decide to do it again next year, to not do it in July, because all of the chain craft stores have wicked good sales. So now that it is August, I have ordered some stuff craft supply wise. I mean I do have a show to get ready for in just over a month! 

Happy July everyone! I can't believe 2014 is halfway over! 

I decided from now on in 2014, I will set at least one monthly goal. July's goal is a No Spend challenge, specifically on craft supplies! 

It's no secret I love shopping. I have not only shown pictures of everything I have bought, but also how often I go shopping (for the most part). So I have decided that for the month of July I will not spend any money on craft supplies. I am doing this to force myself to use what I have first, because I have more than enough projects to get me through a month at least! If I feel so good about it I may extend it to August too. I've seen this on other blogs where people don't spend any money at all on like anything, like going out to dinner, drinks etc. I catered it to myself, knowing how much I spend on supplies a month, how much I can save if I don't spend it. I can then put that money towards a down payment on a house or a vacation. 

The only exception to this is if I got an order for something that I can't fill with my current stock. Orders do have to take priority. But I will not use it as an excuse to buy extra or sneak in a trip to Michaels/Joanns/any other fabric store near me/any internet website, aka any type of craft supply place in the world.