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

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.

a mix of metals - inspiration

I love old things with a patina, with evidence of age and use.  So I guess its pretty natural that I'm drawn to the warm natural tones of metals.  Therefore, I give you today's color inspiration - all things metallic!


First, my new 'sweet dreams' paper and burlap bunting is featured in this pretty collection of copper items.  I painted the lettering with copper metallic paint and I chose paper colors that suggested patina.





Second, my pretty bronze and gold flower pin is featured is featured in this romantic treasury collection.






Here we have a pretty pillow I've made for my living room.  I used some scraps of fabric, a few old buttons and a handmade flower.  I love the copper and gold flower on the brown pillow with the sort of pewter-finish buttons.

This is a photograph of a sculpture that my husband (the wonderful and amazingly talented Jeff) recently finished and listed in his Etsy shop.  You may click on this link to view the sculpture directly.  Its meant to hang on the wall and it features lots of texture and different metal materials.  Its very cool and kinda spacey.

Finally, we can't really talk about metals and patina without a solid example of RUST!  I love rusty things.  A number of years ago, Jeff went to Arizona to work with his uncle in his construction business for a few months.  While he was there, he made a number of very srtiking photographs.  He loves to go adventuring with the camera in his backpack.  (So do I, but I'm a scaredy-cat... I'm always looking for rattle snakes or fretting about falling off cliffs...)  This is one if the scenes he discovered.  Talk about patina!

banners and buntings and garlands - oh my!

Busy days are good, but they can be overwhelming.  I've made a pot of tea and I'm being calm - on purpose, you know (tea can do that for you, especially pouring it from a proper teapot).  Pour hot tea, drink, repeat.  I think I've been spending FAR too much time with my face glued to the computer these last few days.  (I'm drinking the tea in front of the computer... see?  I can't relax, it must be the tea.  Not really, I just have a really long to-do list.  :)  Anyway, I've been terribly productive, but I'm starting to feel like I'm in a photoshop trance.  Today I packaged an order for my Etsy shop and I took such great pleasure in wrapping it, writing the thank you note and making the card.  I usually include a free gift, most often its a handmade card.  It was so nice to just step away from the keyboard and the screen and make something with my hands!  I will be very happy in a week or two when things start to settle down again and I have time to make some pretty things. 

Speaking of pretty...  just look at this gorgeous, romantic treasury I found today, featuring my butterfly hair clip!  I love the curvy lines of the violin photograph with the ladies... I love the jewelry & accessories, what lovely choices!  The soft colors are so dreamy.
   


One more, this one is entitled:  Flowers All Around.  Aaahhh, I just can't wait for that time in my garden when there are indeed flowers all around.  Can you spot my headband?





I am currently enamored of buntings, garlands, banners, etc...  You can decorate your child's room (heck, why not your room too?), the fireplace mantel, a shelf or bookshelf, string across a window, or use it for a party or shower decoration or a child's photo shoot.  Planning something with a carnival theme or a circus theme?  Buntings are a natural design element.  Yesterday's shop update included 3 buntings.  This is just one of them, so if you want to see the others, you'll have to head on over to the shop.

etsy treasuries - featured!

Oh my, I have been so busy I have sadly neglected to keep you all up to date on the wonderful treasuries I have been lucky enough to be featured in lately.  I want to be sure all the curators who've taken the time to build these lovely collections and the wonderful artists who are also featured get noticed too!  So please take a moment to browse these fabulous collections and if something catches your eye, by all means, click and you'll be redirected to the treasuries or to the shop directly.

My handmade cards are here.  Don't forget about Japan, they still need our support.  Click on my cards to find out more about the organization I'm donating to. 



My leather flower pin is here.  Its made out of the most fabulous upcycled leather furniture swatches (not craft store poor quality stuff).  I just llloooove so many things in this treasury.  The soothing color palette...



Butterfly hair clip is here.  I love this one.  This collection makes me think of napping outdoors on a late summer afternoon.  Great stuff.



Butterfly hair comb is featured here.  The title says it all, 'summery blush'.  Beautiful.



Fabric flower necklace is here.  This is very cute.  I wish we had Etsy as a resource when we got married!  Oh, the brides today are so lucky!



Fabric flower headband is featured here.  Ice cream anyone?  ;)



Earrings featured here.  Okay, I love this collection soooo much!!!  I might just describe my style as 'rustic elegance'.  So good. 

Wedding Inspiration

Big thank you to the frosted petticoat for featuring my handmade fabric flower necklace on the CUTEST dang inspiration board.  I don't want to spoil the fun, so you'll have to head over to the the frosted petticoat to check out the super fun theme.  Be sure to browse the blog there, be forewarned if you're already married... you'll find so many great ideas, you just might want to tie the knot again!

If you love this necklace, you can find it in the shop.

Speaking of weddings, you might want to check out the shop if you are interested in this little number.  It is one of a kind and I posted it today!