Archive for October, 2009
Shop of the Day: A fairy tale of jewelry awaits you at Fleur Avenue. Everything from tiny golden chair necklaces, to skeleton keys, and chandeliers.
Special Offer: 15% off everything in Fleur Avenue shop. Use code “papernstitch” upon checkout and wait for refund after payment.
Visit the Fleur Avenue etsy shop and website for more.
Giveaway: Today we have a giveaway from Rebecca of Bananasaurus Rex. Rebecca has generously provided a very cool prize, and the best news is its winner’s choice! The winner of this giveaway will get a market tote of their choice from Bananasaurs Rex. Details: All overlock-stitched inside, no raw edges. Comfortable 2 1/2 inch wide shoulder straps. Size: 14 inches tall x 15 inches wide, about 8 inches deep. Materials: cotton. Retail value= $25 each. Winner to receive one market tote.
How do you enter the giveaway?
There are several ways to play and you may enter up to three times. First, visit the Bananasaurus Rex shop and browse around for your favorites, then come back here and tell us which market tote you would most like to win. Second way to play, answer this question in the comments: What do you usually pick up at a quick trip to the market (your staples)? Third, blog, twitter, or facebook about this giveaway or Rebecca’s shop and leave a link in the comments here.
The giveaway will end on November 4th at 11:59 pm eastern time.
Visit the Bananasaurus Rex shop and website for more from Rebecca.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Xin of Doinky Doodles. We talked about her experience as an artist and maker, her collection at Doinky Doodles, and her brick and mortar shop by the same name. And we even have a special discount offer at the end of the interview, so be sure to check that out.
But first… Doinky Doodles has been featured in magazines internationally, and most recently her work was chosen by Fred Flare for singer and musician Sliimy. It seems the more I see of Xin’s work, the more I love it, and I hope you will too….
-How did you get started with the Doinky Doodles?
Initially, I was working with my elder sister, and this was around 2006. We were working together on our label called Maki Squarepatch. Back then, I was solely in charge of creating the works while my sister was the marketing person-in-charge. Well, 2 years down the road, I realized we held very different goals for the label, thus I decided to work on my own and to mark that change, the label was given a new name called Doinky Doodles!. So, Doinky Doodles! was started (or rather, continued) from there. I am still learning…with regards to marketing and the economics-side of business.
-Everything you create for Doinky Doodles is made using 100% recycled clothing and fabrics. How important is recycling and reusing to you? And why should other people care?
I grew up being quite fascinated with my maternal grandmother who was quite obsessive in collecting almost anything. But what I really loved about it was when she begin to show me the things she made from the materials or found objects. When I was younger, I never consciously wanted to create in order to be more environmentally-friendly, but now I love what found objects and materials themselves provide for me. Their existing textures are very fun to work with. It is only in recent years with the documentaries, films, media in general…talking about environmental issues that I became a lot more conscious in my working processes. Making sure the work processes produces as little wastage as possible. I appreciate customers care in knowing that I work with recycled fabrics so they have a better understanding when I tell them I cannot duplicate a work. Once something is made here at Doinky, there really is just one of it- in colors and textures.
-Is Doinky Doodles your full time job?
Yup!
-How did you get your retail space started? Do you only sell things you create there, or are their other designer/ creators as well?
Upon settling on the space, my mom and I took approximately 4 months getting the shop ready. She helped me find the right people to fix up the space. Like people to make the cupboards, fix the lights, construct a restroom, etc. She is really brilliant at that. On my side, I worked at creating the overall look and feel of the space as well as inviting local crafters/artists/designers to contribute their creation to the shop.
-Your paintings and drawings seem to be a direct extension of your handmade goods for Doinky Doodles. They are playful and a little eerie (in a good way) at the same time. Do you prefer one media over another?
I do love both media equally. But when it comes to the act of doing it, I do prefer painting over sewing. Sewing…I get pricked with needles and it hurts like hell! For painting, the accident-risk is near zero.
-What advice would you give to others who are looking to start a craft business? Any tips you can share?
The latest lesson learnt would be—Learn to keep very strong mentally and independently. I used to whine like a baby when the going gets tough. Whine to my friends, family, pets…etc. Till one of my friends told me to buck up and not whine like a baby, and focus, focus, focus.
-Anything else you would like to share with us?
If I am not sewing, I would love to be a dough-kneader at some grandma-grandpa-type bakery. I am in love with freshly made bread at bakeries. The smell, the colors, the shapes…everything about bread is very wonderful.
Thanks so much for the interview Xin! Please visit Doinky Doodles shop and website for more, and don’t forget to use these discount codes for your order…
Special Discount Offer from Doinky Doodles:
-Enter “papernstitch1″ as the discount code at checkout for purchase of 1 item. (10% off)
-Enter “papernstitch2″ as the discount code at checkout for purchase of 2 items. (20% off)
-Enter “papernstitch3″ as the discount code at checkout for purchase of 3 or more items. (30% off)
Here are my picks for this mid-week morning. Lots of posts today (including a new giveaway and a special interview). For more information on the items you see here, visit the papernstitch site.
On Monday, I created and shared a tutorial for making your own equestrian- inspired prize ribbons over on 100layercake. And today , I thought I would share the full tutorial here for anyone who wasn’t able to check it out. Horse show ribbons have been making their way into a lot of decor lately, and I thought the look could easily be translated into a unique form of wedding place cards, that could also double as a favor for guests to take home as a keepsake. OR used as eye-catching decorations in your home, by skipping a couple of the steps. OR even incorporate them into holiday packaging somehow (as Molly Jean suggested in the comments from 100layercake- great idea Molly!).
There aren’t many supplies needed for this tutorial, just a couple of things you can pick up at any local craft store. The materials needed include: ribbon (thin, easy bendable, wire ribbon is suggested), thin wood or chipboard circles (any size, but we used a mixture of 2 and 4 inch circles), craft glue, scissors, paint (optional), and access to a printer.
Prepping a couple of items ahead of time will help save time later. So, start with painting your wood or chipboard medallions with acrylic paint or enamel, if you would prefer the woodgrain not to show through. Several coats may be necessary depending on how porous the material.
While waiting for the circles to dry, design and print table numbers and name plates. Simple is perfectly fine here, since the ribbons themselves are a lot of look. I chose academy engraved LET Plain as my font, surrounding by a thin circular border. I suggest using Photoshop, Pixelmator, or some other comparable editing tool. Once those are printed, cut out the table numbers and use a paper cutter, if possible, to cut the name plates apart. Set aside the names for later and glue the table numbers onto your now dry wood circles.
The next step is the most time consuming. There is a bit of a learning curve here, but once you get the hang of it, its really simple. Grab your ribbon and starting at one end, begin folding the ribbon in even increments, holding the inside part of the fold (see image). Use your index finger to guide the ribbon towards the inside, eventually creating a circle.
You will use about a yard of ribbon (maybe more depending on size) for each finished piece. Run a bead of craft glue around the inner ring of the now ribbon circle, when it is face up. Place the wood circle, that now has the table number glued on to it, on top and press down until secure. I used a quick tack glue, so the materials would bond quickly.
Once dry, cut extra pieces of ribbon to hang from the bottom. Add your print-out name plates that were cut out earlier. And glue all pieces to the back of the wood medallion (there still should be some room). Turn back over. Fluff. And you are all done! Hang with a sewing pin on a framed piece of fabric-covered cork, and you have the perfect place card for an outdoor farm wedding.
Shop of the Day: Looking for some enchanting illustrations for those empty picture frames you have lying around? Check out the work of Matty Cipov: whimsical prints, animal magic, masks and things that go bump in the night.
…Visit Matty Cipov on etsy and visit his website...
Sponsored Post: If you are getting ready to change out your bag for the fall season, you will want to check out these organic fiber bags from Sacs Bio by Ira Grant. Well-designed, handmade, and eco-friendly.
Visit Sacs Bio by Ira Grant for more from the collection.
