Adorable.

I have been working on a number of custom orders this summer.  I rarely get to see my pieces "in action" so I just love it when y'all take the time to send me a photo or two of yourselves wearing something I've made especially for you.  This morning, while checking messages and emails (one of the tasks I don't necessarily get excited about) I found a new message from Chad and Meg who have just been married.  Congratulations you two!!!!  Attached were the most darling photos of their flower girls wearing custom made hair flowers (by me!) aren't they just precious!?!?!  Meg, you look stunning as well!  Lovely photographs provided by Mary Clark Gaston at Psalm 27 Photos.  I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see the rest of the photos!  I'll be checking out Mary's blog...

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Well, I don't know about you, but I am pretty disappointed in my lack of blog posts lately.  I do, however, have a valid explanation.  For those of you who know me, you are familiar with the headaches that I have been struggling with for years.  Sometimes I get a real doozie of a headache and it might last for a few days or even a week or two (I know, its not pleasant).  In the last month, I have had two rounds of headaches (one right after the other) so I have spent a fair amount of time hanging out on the living room sofa.  The interesting thing is that in order to cope with day after day of chronic pain, I have found that I must create art!  Its like some kind of art therapy, dreaming up beautiful things and then keeping myself distracted from the pain by making them with my own two hands.  So, although the headaches keep me from things like going out with friends and family, or cooking and cleaning, or attending to my emailing/computer tasks...  I have been creating prolifically in an effort to get through another long stretch of headache.

I have some tremendous new earrings, in an entirely new design.  I have some dainty cream color lacy flowered headbands, a hot pink flower hair clip, a cream flowered bridal hair clip, I am also finishing up an entire collection of wedding accessories and flowers-to-wear (boutonnieres for the Groom and three groomsmen, hair clips for the Bride and three Bridesmaids, a matching garter for the Bride, a hair clip for the flower girl).  I am so excited to share it!  I will definitely be doing more of these, it was lots of fun.  I have also been painting some birdhouses.  I will shoot photos upon completion.  Lets just say my front porch looks like a bird village.  Yesterday I made a paper child's crown (you know, for playing dress-up) and it is FABULOUS!  

I would love to show your the fruits of my labor, but that brings me to the second point.  I also have not been posting because we have had an accident with our camera!  It has broken and now we are waiting for the insurance adjuster to call so we can get on with ordering the new one. 

It is my darling husband's birthday today and we are taking a day off together.  We have not had a date in a long time, so I think its going to be a wonderful day.  We are going to go to the farmer's market and I am going to bake a pie.  I wonder what else the day holds for us?  (I'll have to dig out an old camera...)

Speaking of the farmer's market, I would like to share some photos that I took on my last trip to the local market.  I bought 3 quarts of strawberries and I discovered garlic scapes, yum!  Just try putting three quarts of strawberries in your backpack and riding your bicycle home...  I ended up making strawberry syrup (we ate it on lemon pound cake).  The berries were already partially pulverized from the backpack + biking.  The garlic scapes were amazing!  I had no idea what they were when I saw them at the market, it only cost $2 for a big handful.  My friend Ari suggested making pesto, that was a GOOD IDEA.  Here are the recipes I used:

Strawberry Sauce

Garlic Scape Pesto

Oh, can't you just smell the peonies?

style - Boho Chic

Golly, I sure do get lucky in the Etsy treasury department.  My hairclip "gypsy rose lee" is featured in this fabulous Boho Chic collection curated by loosethreads2.  Her caption reads, "For nature loving, fringe, feather, walk in the forest, make your own cleaning supplies, natural childbirthing, free spirited, bohemian hippies.  My kindred spirits!"  I hear that sister!  This collection is just divine.  If you are one of those free spirited, bohemian style girls, get ready to shop...

gypsy rose lee - a handmade fiber art hair clip

I am in creative overdrive (I think thats a good thing?)

I am very pleased to report an encouraging opening weekend at our new shop, Redemption.  It was so wonderful to personally greet all the visitors who climbed out of their cars exclaiming, "What IS this place?!?!" and "I saw the ART sign go up last week and I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen here!".  I did take a bunch of photos, I plan to begin posting them ASAP.  However, after a lot of bustle getting ready for the shop to open and then a long weekend at the shop itself, I must admit I had been getting pretty behind in the domestic duties department.  I have been doing so many dishes over the last two days!  I'm just about caught up with that (finally), the dishes, I mean.  Now I am sort of in creative overdrive.  I have been very productive lately, but the living room is looking like a tornado dispersed my materials over every available surface.  Thread, snippets of fabric and ribbon, boxes and bags of beads, various and sundry jewelry making supplies, etc... are scattered everywhere.  I have two custom orders to complete and I'm also working on a bunch of new cocktail rings!  (Look for photos of the rings here later this week, and they will be available for sale at Redemption this weekend.)

I've been featured in two of the most beautiful Etsy treasuries.  The first was curated by SatoriPhoto and the theme is Miles From Your Eyes.  Not only are all of the items featured really original and beautiful, but collectively they have a storytelling quality as well.  Oh, and there is my lovely handmade bloom for your hair (that's me, gazing out the window).  I really think this is a lovely collection, well done!




This treasury was curated by PrankePaintings, the theme is A Pick of Soft Colors.  Wow, the title is an understatement, the soft wash of pink/red/orange is just so pleasing to look at.  My necklace titled, "she just loved and loved" is featured here!  There are lots of lovely things to see, you may want to take a closer look at both of these treasuries, just click on the title to go to the treasury page (or click on a thumbnail to go directly to that item/shop for more information). 

Come visit us at Redemption this weekend!

Wow, things sure have been busy around here!  Today we'll be setting up shop at the new space, isn't that exciting?  Jeff has been working on the gypsy cart that I'll be using as my primary display area.  Travis and I put a base coat of paint on the cart yesterday and it looks so GREAT!  We're going to add more paint later, but we've got to get this show on the road!  I'm getting so antsy about setting up that I just keep making more new things, and more new things, and MORE new things!  I'm rapid-cycling through all my crafting skills.  One moment I'm sewing, then I'm making jewelry, then its back to sewing, then I'm working on some cards, sheesh!  Guess I have a little nervous energy or something!?!?  I'm just excited to get started!
Oh bummer, I took a few photos of the gypsy cart last night while we were painting, but I left the camera at the studio!  I guess I'll have to post them later.

Jeff has been working away at his garden art pieces for the shop.  There are several trellises, birdbaths, even a giant weather vane!  They are very imaginative and colorful, made almost entirely from reclaimed materials.  I'll shoot some photos of those when we move them to the shop today. 

Last night at the studio Jenny was making some awesome handmade journals out of reclaimed materials.  She used old record album covers for the journal covers!  The paper inside was even reclaimed, packing paper and brown grocery bag paper, etc...  Wanna see 'em?  Come to the shop this weekend!  (Okay, maybe I'll shoot some photos too.)

After I get my things set up at Redemption, I'm hoping to photograph my new pieces so I can start posting them in my Etsy shop. 


In other news, my handmade earrings "a pair of pears" were featured in an Etsy treasury.  The theme is "Pears or Pairs?".  Too cute, very clever and I love the colors as well!




My lovely hair bloom was also featured in a treasury.  The theme is "For my queen of hearts - for a little girl who has completely captured my heart"  aaawwwww, it was made by a new Mommy who has a preemie in the NICU.




Please take a minute to comment and click on some of the other shop's items.  Please tweet and 'like' on Facebook if you can.
Together we can make these treasuries successful and bring traffic to all of these wonderful shops.

grateful.

  My handiwork can be seen in a featured wedding on the Style Me Pretty wedding Blog!!!  How exciting is that?!?!

  It is so gratifying to make things that people actually love.  Beautiful things that make people happy, like they make me happy.  It still feels sort of surprising and wonderful to me each time I get a thank you note from a happy customer that is particularly praise-filled.  Each time I just feel so grateful to have been chosen from among so many other talented artists and crafters in the Etsy community, its pretty humbling really.

Lindsey's custom order - handmade wedding accessories.

  I made several custom pieces for Lindsey's wedding, (see photos above).  Turns out she is absolutely, positively delightful.  She is also a fabulous photographer, so its no surprise to me that she had an artistic vision for her wedding and oh boy, did she ever make it happen!  After I sent out the finished accessories, I couldn't wait to see the wedding photos.  Well, the photos are amazing, and the planning/details of the day were absolutely stunning as well.  Guess what?  Lindsey's lovely wedding was featured on the Style Me Pretty blog!  Its not hard to see why, I could go on and on about all the fabulous details.  From the reclaimed wood wall decorated with mirrors and frames at the reception, the dresser with the suitcases stacked on top for guests to stash love notes and cards for the bride & groom, the clever use burlap everywhere, Lindsey's gorgeous dress, the bridesmaids in their cute, belted dresses and cowboy boots, the darling ring bearers in their little vests and caps carrying a banner proclaiming 'here comes the bride'!  Then there was the flower girl in her ruffled linen dress, aaawwww, and that huge ornate gold frame with the wood backing and the engagement photos tacked to it, and the tree slice cake stand and the beautiful wedding cake...  See?  I could go on and on.  I LOVE this wedding!!!  It was also really cool to see the things I made "in action" on the big day, in the photos.  Thank you Lindsey, for being so darn sweet.  I couldn't be happier to help you feel beautiful and look so lovely on your wedding day.

Go here to see Lindsey's wedding photos on her website.  (P.S.  You definitely want to see her website, she is an amazing photographer.  Get ready to ooh and aaawww over precious photos of couples and kiddos.) 

Go here, just for kicks, if you want to know just how stinkin' sweet Lindsey is.  She posted an entry on her blog about the things I made for her!  She linked to my Etsy shop and said the nicest things about me.  She even included the cute little "reserved" sign I made for her when I listed the flowers.  Lindsey mentioned in one of our conversations that she had forgotten to take a photo of the packages before she unwrapped everything and she was bummed, well I had taken photos of all the pretty packaging.  So I sent them off to her and she included those pictures in her post as well!  What a delightfully thoughtful girl.

Go here if you want to visit Danielle Capito Photography's blog post for more photos of the wedding...

Definitely go here to view the Style Me Pretty blog post featuring Lindsey's wedding and my hair flowers!  (Don't miss the section right under the photos that says "Click here to see even more in the image gallery!")



  Get the Look:

  Today I offer you two new hair clips inspired by Lindsey's custom pieces.  They are similar but not exactly the same.  These are more in the cream, antique white and gold colorway, with just a hint of pale pink.  I have also included foliage on the single flower clip.  I really like that shade of green with the other colors.  These are also not really lacy, but they still have a light, feminine appearance thanks to the use of tulle, netting and organza.  The larger arrangement of three flowers has lots of natural color muslin incorporated.  I just love that shabby chic, cottage garden, farm girl sort of feel you get from natural muslin.
  The shop update has taken place!  Click on the links below to check out the pieces.  I also have one more similar hair piece (which is more lacy) that will be finished quite soon, perhaps in the next few days.

golden sunshine and daydreams - a handmade hair adornment

sweet Evelyn - a handmade hair adornment

shop update - rustic summer style

It finally feels like summer around here.  Today I offer you three new pieces of jewelry to refresh your summer wardrobe.  Go to the shop and get 'em while you can!

                                          

                                                        rustic red flower pendant necklace 

ancient ruin - handmade earrings

wading in the surf - handmade earrings

  Other news, the men have been painting and mowing at the location that will very soon become "Redemption".  They are beginning to move the first things over to the shop space today.  The mail man delivered a box of fliers and business cards from the printer today.  We got a stack of posters last week, so things are finally coming together!  Are you as excited as I am?  Meanwhile, all six artists have been busily creating new works that will be featured at Redemption...  I saw a few photos of the work in progress and they made me even more excited.  I will be taking plenty of photos to share over the next few days/weeks, as we continue to move things and get set up. 

inspiration - faded

The iris are in bloom in my garden, they are so beautiful its almost too much.  The blooms are so huge and showy, they threaten to break the stems at the first suggestion of strong wind.  I think we're going to have to stake them.  I have the standard lavender/purple variety and then I also have these amazing peach/apricot color iris that are so incredibly beautiful.  The other day when I went for a morning walk, I spied pale yellow iris blooming in front of a neighbor's house.  I thought that was a pretty unusual color.  They are very pretty.  Just the first of the peach iris has bloomed so far this year and the lavender ones are all blooming now.  My white clematis is also flowering.  Here are a few photographs from the garden this time last year. 

And the chives are flowering...

And I have lots of different hostas...  I have a pretty shady garden. 

These teensy tiny little pale blue flowers came up in the front under the roses.  I don't know if they are weeds or forget-me-nots, or what... but I think they are impossibly darling and I love them.

This is a potted fern that lives indoors in the winter, but she's much happier outdoors when the weather permits. 

There will be more garden photographs to come, but for now I've got to get down to business!  This morning I discovered another lovely treasury I must share with you.  My hair bloom is featured in this stunning collection of faded and muted handmade goods.  Thank you kangaroostitches for choosing to include me in this wonderful collection!  How perfect for a hot summer day, it just feels cool and summery.

Interested in the hair bloom?  Get more info here.  Look out for shop updates today!  I made a new necklace yesterday and I have finished some beautiful new wedding-appropriate hair accessories!  I also have some new earrings.

etsy treasuries - featured!

I just posted a new headband in the shop and it been featured in a treasury already!  Thank you BumbleBeeBead for including my work in your list of "favorite things"!

If you are interested in this lovely hair adornment, skip on over to the shop and find out more about it. 

We've been lucky enough to be featured in THREE treasuries in the last few days.  How nice is that?  This one has a peacock theme.  I love these colors, so lots of the things I make seem to fit this description.  Overwroughtdesigns has chosen my peacock necklace for this collection.  Thank you for including me!

If you want to find out more about this necklace, go here.

Finally, janehamill has created this treasury for an Etsy STAT Team challenge.  This week's theme is "guiding".  Her interpretation of the theme is "Let your dreams be your guide".  Isn't that wonderful?  She has included my "sweet dreams" bunting in this collection.

The bunting?  You want to wish "sweet dreams" for yourself or someone you adore?  Well, I just miiiight know where you can get it.

I have some (more) fabulous new things to post in the shop...  Stay tuned to find out when the next Etsy shop update will be.

Pretty boxes, ribbons and twine - new packaging!

As my Etsy shop grows, I find that I'm spending a bit too much time crafting boxes and bubble mailers out of recycled materials just so I can ship out each order.  Jeff and I have a strong personal commitment to repurpose/reuse/recycle, and we make every effort to apply this philosophy to every area of our lives.  This includes packaging.  So, thats where my dilemma of timing came in.  I was definitely having fun making boxes and envelopes to accommodate all the different size items I was sending out... but I was spending a LOT of time working on these creations (see photos below). 

I mean, don't get me wrong, I enjoy making origami paper boxes out of pretty bits of paper and making boxes out of (inside-out) cereal boxes...  I love decorating these little boxes and envelopes, each a little work of art in itself.  However, I'm getting busy enough now that I need to spend my time making the actual goods, rather than the packaging.  I needed to invest in ready-made boxes.



What I needed was a time saving, earth-friendly packaging approach.  So I did some online hunting around and I found just the right stuff!  Now I can pack up all my orders easily and quickly at my little "shipping station".

beautiful boxes - 100% Recycled Jewelry Boxes

I think the embossed, matte finish paper is nice, and I like the chocolate brown color.  Box board consists of 100% recycled materials - on average 80% is post consumer.  Non-tarnishing ultra white synthetic cotton filler is 100% recycled.  Paper wrap material is 100% recycled, Process Chlorine Free (PCF), and manufactured with renewable hydroelectric energy.  Made in the USA.

Abaca twine ribbon is made from manila hemp fibers from a species of banana native to the Philippines.  I chose this pretty apple green color.  You can unwind the ribbon if you wish, its about 1-1.5" wide, with a papery feel.  These Eco-Friendly products are made by artisans in remote villages around the world - creating jobs and fair wages for hard working communities.  Distant Village Packaging is providing more that just great eco-friendly and sustainable products.  It is a sustainable model that supports real people in many ways.  This ribbon is made from 100% natural plant fibers.

Sinamay Natural Organza Mesh Ribbons are hand made from natural fibers.  This stuff is so gorgeous and its lovely to work with.  I couldn't choose just one color, so I got both the aqua and the amber/light brown color.  Both the ribbon and the twine are made from natural and sustainable materials.

MiniMoo Cards - How CUTE are these?!?!
With a photo on one side and my info on the other, these make the perfect tag/business card.  the weight of the paper is nice and heavy, the finish is velvety...  I love them!  The really cool part is that you can order one pack with many different photos in the same pack.  You don't have to get 100 of the same photo on every card. 

I don't know about you, but I would be pretty pleased to get THIS festive little package in the mail!  The wrapping is almost as pretty as the contents.  Packaging made of recycled materials and its recyclable.  You might even consider reusing the packaging before you recycle it!  (Thats what I would do!)