Saturday Spotlight – Wine Country Craftsman

Wine Barrel Wall Flower/Candle Holders

Today, I wanted to shine a spotlight on another master craftsman. This time, a man who has honed his skill in woodworking to an extraordinary level. Michael Weisse, from Wine Country Craftsman, is a crafter, woodworker, tinkerer, and artist. He creates furniture and art pieces that are both beautiful and functional with a rustic charm. 

In his words:
"I specialize in creating tables and other furniture out of 60-100 year old retired grape vines from California's premiere wine growing region.

Also, I design and create fun and wonderful pieces art from recycled and salvaged items. With over 80 copyrights and a dozen patents, I have a very active mind that loves to come up with innovative and creative designs."

For a bit of a bio, I found this summation while browsing his shop:

Large Wine Barrel Wine Rack

Wine Barrel Hanging Sconce Lighting

"Michael Weiss developed his unique functional artistic design skills over his lifetime. His mother, a professional woodworker, fostered his interest in both woodworking and art and taught him the basics of functional design. 

After finishing his Masters degree, Michael’s expertise with designing functional pieces of art was further refined while working for the Walt Disney Company. He started his own company and began designing custom wine cellars and themed rooms using a variety of different mediums which enabled him to further develop his exemplary skills. 

He has traveled the world extensively, studying culture, architecture and design and in so doing has developed a deep sense of stewardship toward the Earth. Michael has maintained his commitment to the environment by using solar power in his workshop and warehouses, building with 100% recycled materials, and donating all wood scraps (even the sawdust) to local charities for their gardens."

Wine Barrel Love Sign

Olive Wood Bottle Stoppers

I just love his commitment to being eco-friendly! Makes his products even more beautiful to me! 

To visit more of his unique creations, click here.

Grapevine Coffee Table

View Last Week's Feature:

Fleur + Dot

Call for Sponsors! – February is now open

Attention all you lovely bloggers and shop owners! The month of looooove is soon to be here and ChatterBlossom is officially putting out the bugle call for sponsors and advertisers.

My wee blog was started just 6 months ago and it has charged ahead at full steam in the last 3 months or so. I have decided to put a lot more of myself into blogging than I did when I began and I think it is quite obvious in the difference it has made! Back at the beginning of September, I had only 60 or so followers and now I have over 500! I made lots of blog buddies and have an active group of followers that is growing daily. I would love to help your blog, website, or shop grow too!

I have a very affordable group of sponsorship options from which to choose. You can find all the options on my Sponsorship & Advertisement Page link located on the left hand sidebar. Here are the general stats and options:

ChatterBlossom stats: 

(only 6 months old, growing daily)

* Followers via GFC, Bloglovin', RSS: 550+

* Twitter Followers: 700+

* Facebook Followers: 400+

* Wanelo Followers: 500+

* Pinterest Followers: 180+

* Average Daily Pageviews: 150-200+

* Average Monthly Pageviews: 5000+

Sponsorship/Advertisement Options:

Premium Ad: $15.00

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2 available. Reserve a spot for Feb. 1st. Only two available per month! 

- These rotating extra large ads have the top spots on my sidebar for the entire month

- One full feature post about your blog or shop (example here)

- Option of one guest post or giveaway (example here)

- Weekly tweets

- Weekly Facebook posts 

Featured Ads: $10.00

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4 available. Reserve a spot for Feb. 1st. Only 4 available per month!

- Extra large rotating ad space directly beneath premium ad

- Weekly tweets

- Weekly Facebook posts

Standard Ads: $5.00

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6 available. Reserve a spot for Feb. 1st. Only 6 available per month 

- One month of large rotating ad space directly below the featured ads on my sidebar

Host your giveaway: $5.00

- One post to host your giveaway 

- One post to announce the winner

Ad or Button Design: $2.00

- Don't have a button? No worries! I can help. Just provide a few photos that you would possibly like to incorporate into your ad, what you would like your ad to say, and I'll take it from there! You can freely use your button on your own blog or anywhere else too. Button design, if needed, comes free with purchase of the premium & featured ads. Just email me after payment at springcypress12 *at!* gmail *dot!* com. 

To purchase your spot now, click here.

Have questions? Email me at:

springcypress12 *at!* gmail *dot!* com.

Wordless Wednesday – Waiting

A hawk surveys his surroundings atop a bare tree in the dim January sunlight.

View last week's Wordless Wednesday:

Sisterly Love

Treasury Tuesday – Colors of an Earthen January

January, for me, means a chance to see the bones of an environment. Her green robe fallen, Nature lies naked. What seems a quiet, brown monotone slowly comes into focus and life breaths a softer breath, waiting for spring to quicken its heart again.

Today's treasury embodies the colors of an earthen January. Sophie from MoonGardenStitches has put together a curation of items that tells of the earth's fallen remnants. Shells, moss, mushrooms, and even my little wooden button earrings all remind you to slow the frantic pace of daily doings and absorb the stillness that is January.

To view individual items in this treasury, click here.

View last week's Treasury Tuesday:

An Eco Kind of Love