Archive for November, 2009
Muted picks for today I am loving. For more info on the items above, click here.
I am so excited to bring this giveaway to you all today. Its from an artist I really admire: Dolan Geiman. The giveaway is for the set shown above for two DG mini prints (Peppertree Park Woodpecker and Nest) which will be given to one very lucky winner. They look great together as a set, don’t they? The retail value is $90 for this set.
This is a great opportunity to own not one but two of Dolan’s pieces, so don’t miss it… And be sure to scroll all the way down after you have entered this giveaway for information on Dolan’s Big Holiday Sale…
How do you enter the giveaway?
There are several ways to play and you may enter up to three times. First, visit Dolan’s shop, and browse around for your favorites, then come back here and tell us which pieces you like most and why. Second way to play, answer this question in the comments: One of the subjects that Dolan works with often is nature. What is your favorite part of nature and why (be specific)? Third, twitter or blog about this giveaway or Dolan’s shop and leave a link in the comments here.
The giveaway will end on December 2nd at 11:59 pm eastern time.
And be sure to check out Dolan’s Big Holiday Sale, which kicked off today and will run through December 20th. All items in Dolan’s shop have been updated to reflect discounted holiday pricing. Also, spend $100 or more receive a FREE GIFT, and spend $500 or more and receive FREE SHIPPING. If you have always wanted a piece of Geiman’s work, now is the time!
…Visit the Dolan Geiman etsy shop…and website…
Shop of the Day: If you are an avid reader around here, you no doubt have heard me talk about Natalie Jost of Olive Manna. I swear, every time I turn around, Natalie has added yet another bundle of beautifully designed pieces to her shop. I have attempted to round up some of my new favs, but honestly there is so much to look out between her Olive Manna shop and her etsy shop, it was tough to choose.
You’ll find great gifts at affordable prices for the holidays, but also really great ways to package those gifts you are giving…with lines of wrapping paper, tags, and cards to choose from. And really good news…next week we will be starting a giveaway with tons of holiday goodies from Natalie. So, check back for that!
Until then, visit Olive Manna here: website … blog … etsy
Earlier in the week, I interviewed Tania of Ninon for the latest Bloesem Kids open house tour. The full tour can be viewed here. I am completely in love with Tania’s Berlin home. Its light and bright and just down right cheery…
Much like her whimsical creations for her shop, Ninon, which we have mentioned here on the blog before. Tania just began a shop update and added a bunch of super cute wrist pouches, and of course, the always popular Les Monstris. Both can be viewed below and in the Ninon etsy shop.
To view more of Tania’s work, visit the Ninon shop.
And to view the entire house tour and interview, visit Bloesem Kids.
Yesterday, I recalled a childhood memory of my grandmother and I at the sewing machine, and today it seems I have another…I remember driving by a cotton field when I was a child and thinking it was so beautiful. I am not even sure if I realized what it was at the time, but I was almost mesmerized by it. And up until a few days ago, I had honestly forgotten that tiny moment of childhood.
Its funny how something so small can trigger a memory you didn’t even realize you had. That “small thing” is this new cotton plant collection from Jewelera. Its so inspired and inspiring.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good mustache/ beard necklace as much as the next girl, but in a (handmade) world of mustache-mania and other trends, this collection is a breath of fresh air.
Each tiny bead is hand-felted and is then capped with a vintage sea urchin bead cap. Here’s what Derya has to say about her collection…
“The Cotton Plants Collection was born when I simply came across a cotton plant photograph one day. The plant looked so pure and beautiful,I had to somehow incorporate it to my designs…”
Visit Jewelera for more jewelry from Derya.
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Image Credit: Cotton Field by Gregory Hogan. All other images c/o Jewelera.
Feeling crafty this morning. Here are my picks for today. For more info on the items above, click here.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Julie Mack about her shop, Rotten Cupcakes and we delved into some other topics as well. The interview speaks for itself, so we’ll get right to it…
-How did you get started with Rotten Cupcakes?
Last winter, I was working on a hat for my little sister Emily—she’s a freshman now in college—and I wanted to give her something that would she would love. That’s how the Original Twisted Thistle beret was born. I found that the pattern I had written worked well with a variety of yarns and needles sizes & couldn’t stop knitting the things! It just kept rolling from there.
I originally began rottencupcakes.com as a portfolio site for my graphic design work. The site has gone through a variety of iterations that never quite hit the right note for me until I began using it as a blog and a daily motivator for me to create. As for the etsy shop, it’s an embodiment of rottencupcakes: I’ve always been a maker of stuff. And I’m sure that as any crafty person could tell you, you end up with a lot of stuff. I wanted to share what I had made & send it along to others that would enjoy it.
-You are an active member of the popular flickr group, Wardrobe ReMix. How would you describe your personal style?
Constantly evolving. Style doesn’t stagnate; it grows with you. That said, at the moment it’s quirky/casual. I love bold patterns & bright colors with more simple shapes and silhouettes. I really love a lot of basics and making them look less-than-basic by mixing them together in different ways.
-Do you feel that your personal style trickles in to the fashion accessories and artwork that you create?
Most certainly! My personal style is definitely infused into each & every piece I create—that’s part of the beauty of handmade, you get a little part of the artist in the object. The knitted items in particular are descendants of my own style. I wouldn’t knit it if I wouldn’t wear it!
-Is Rotten Cupcakes your full time job? If it is not, how do you balance both?
I wish rottencupcakes was my full time job! For my nine-to-five (or six or seven), I am a graphic designer. I’m usually home by 7ish and my husband & I eat dinner together and hang out for about an hour or so before I start doing anything else. I usually prep my blog postings the night before and use most of my evenings knitting or making things in front of the television, either watching shows with my husband or watching him play video games with good story lines (no Halo, please!).
-You work in a variety of mediums: paint, ceramics, and yarn (knitting). Which do you favor and why?
I don’t know if I have a favorite! It really depends on what’s inspiring at that moment in time. I’ve been doing a ton of knitting lately but have picked up a little bit of embroidery recently and am also diving back into illustration. I guess my hands like to keep busy!
-What advice would you give to others who are looking to start a craft business? Any tips you can share?
Do what you love. And do it well. If you really love something, you’ll make it as perfect as possible before sending it off into the world. My only other tip would be: make something every day. The act of creation itself only feeds that creative spark; it certainly doesn’t wear it out!
-Anything else you would like to share with us?
Thank you for taking the time to interview me! & I really hope that everyone loves the shop & blog. <3 <3 <3
Thanks so much for the interview Julie!
Visit Rotten Cupcakes the shop, flickr, and blog for more from Julie.
