Archive for June, 2011
After a week off to showcase our wonderful readers, I am back to discuss another element of the home that becomes an Interior Obsession. Last time, we took a look at the combination of black and white for your interiors. Today we’re going to take a peek into the many possibilities for wood floors. Wood floors immediately warm up a room, a big difference from the hard and colder qualities of tile, stone or concrete without going quite so far as carpeting. Most of my architectural clients use wood flooring in their main living areas, especially those on upper floors. Wood flooring is also a great way to showcase area rugs, as we saw in my post from a few weeks ago.
Not only are there a huge range of colors from which to choose, but sizes and patterns as well. Think about contrasting a bit with your furniture when you choose a color – A very dark floor with very dark furniture can be a bit overwhelming. Wide planks give the look of a more solid, homogeneous surface than do skinny ones, which offer a little more texture. You can even mix the two. Edges can be finished completely flush for a very modern minimalist look, or can be rusticated or even recycled. Herringbone-set boards are a great way to add a pattern while keeping the whole look simple, and parquet tiles are also making a comeback. Modern touches can include continuing the flooring surface up the walls and even onto the ceiling. One look that I really enjoy is an inset wood floor that helps to delineate a larger space, much as an area rug might. This works especially well if you don’t have a good place to terminate your flooring. And don’t forget that a painted floor can be a great look, especially if you want to cover up an existing wood floor that just isn’t up to snuff.
(above) Herringbone
Inset Wide Planks + Recycled Pallets
Thin Flush Planks + Painted Wide Wood
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
I know you like handmade, and I am willing to bet you also have a vintage streak in you. So, I hope you won’t mind me suggesting you bookmark Wesley Asher. It’s such a great shop.
Where else can you find a vintage needlepoint next to a knotted handmade necklace?
Visit Wesley Asher on Etsy now.
Every now and then, I ask someone special to curate a gift guide for papernstitch. And this week, I asked not one but two incredible ladies to join in the fun!
Although I don’t typically gush about weddings around here, I simply cannot resist a nicely styled event every now and again.
So, today we are “getting wedding with it” because…
I have asked Megan and Emily from Enjoy Events Co to curate a handmade gift guide for bridesmaid + groomsmen gifts, which you can see right here.
If you are unfamiliar with Enjoy Events Co, it is an event planning + design company based out of the Bay Area. These two can help you plan any celebration from birthdays and launch parties to showers and weddings. And now they are sharing their favorite handmade picks for your wedding party. Here’s what Emily and Megan have to say about their top picks from papernstitch…
“We pulled together a great gift guide for all you bride & grooms-to-be out there. Not sure what to get your bridesmaids or groomsmen? – well look no further. We have pulled our top picks and created a few gift guide ideas your bridal parties are sure to love.”
Here is a sampling of their selections for the gift guide….
Top. Chevron Cufflinks + Sneezy Sheets (silkscreened handkerchiefs)
Middle. American Everyday Cookbook + Hippie Love Headband + Clear Blue Seas Necklace
Bottom. Leather iPad Sleeve + Porcelain Drop Vase + Striped Hair Clip + Whale Tote Bag
*Please visit Bridesmaid + Groomsmen Gifts on papernstitch to view all 15 pieces from this gift guide. And be sure to take a look at Emily and Megan’s stunning portfolio as well. These are just a few of my favorite events they have styled…
For more from this talented duo, visit Enjoy Events Co and Forget Me Knot Weddings. You can also follow their tweets on twitter @enjoyeventsco.
*images not included in gift guide via Kelty of Steep Street (styled by Enjoy Events)
You don’t have to dive into the deep end when it comes to starting your creative business. You can take steps gingerly, starting at the shallow end of the creative pool.
In fact, many people that work full-time as artists now started with full-time work and creative work on the side.
Here are some tips to help you start a profitable creative business while maintaining other full or part-time work.
1. Draft a Realistic Business Plan
It’s tricky to start a side creative business when you’re already have a full time or part time commitment. Look at your current work load and draft a business plan where you can realistically fit in creative tasks.
2. Create a Schedule
Being organized and setting up a schedule will be crucial for success, especially in the early chaotic days where you’re not use to handling it all.
3. Set Goals and Daily Action Steps
Set business goals, then list daily actions steps you need to do to hit your business goals. Make sure you cross them off every day!
4. Don’t Take on Too Much
You just can’t do it all! You’ll find that out the hard way when you schedule too much and get behind. Just do a little bit each day, divide your daily tasks into easy bite sized steps. It’s better to work slowly toward your goals than to get overwhelmed and end up doing nothing at all!
5. Set Real Goals and Track Numbers
It’s easy to forget that your creative side business should be just that, a business that turns over a profit. Set profit goals and carefully track every cent you spend. Get serious and set up a business name and get a business license to motivate yourself to behave in a businesslike fashion and really make money.
There’s nothing stopping you from creating and making money for it. Draft your plans, then go forth and create!
What are you going to do right now to move forward with your creative side business?
* Image from MoKoPo Creations
Vanessa wrote this post. She is a full time copywriter and webmarketer with a passion for art, creativity, and thrift. She writes about thrifting, creating, and saving money every weekday on her blog, Thrift Core.
I’ve seen plenty of wall decals in my day, but nothing like what I am seeing from the husband and wife team at Harmonie-interieure. They have amazing style and great taste when it comes to their designs. So, you’ll find lots of interesting typography mixed in with bolder, graphic images. Perfect for your modern home, but also, somehow, these trendy stickers fit right in with more traditional/classic decor.
The stylish wall decals start at under 100 bucks and that’s for a decent size. So, if you’re tight on money, but want to make an impact, this is the way to do it. These pieces easily take over an entire wall.
And if you’re looking for an even less expensive alternative, Harmonie-interieure also sells posters (like the one above), with prices starting at $36 for a 17×21 print.
Visit Harmonie-interieure now to shop for your home.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered the pns exhibition giveaway! It was SUPER tough to make a decision because every shop was so great.
I sat down early this morning and went through every single entry and visited each site, looked at all the products, etc and made a list. I narrowed it down from 166 to 30, then to 10, and then I was totally stuck!
I absolutely could not choose.
Now, I don’t know if its my indecisiveness or just the sheer goodness of all these shops, but in the end, I decided to choose TWO WINNERS instead of one!
So, without further ado, the winners are…
Nan Lawson and Kate from Otillies Closet.
Congratulations ladies! Please email me at brittni(at)papernstitch(dot)com and I’ll get everything set up for you right away. Thanks again to everyone who entered this giveaway!
Guest post by Laura of Violet Bella and Violet Bella’s World.
This eclectic boho bunting is the perfect way to accessorize any space in your home in a very personal way. Make sure to include items that have meaning to you. I used to heirloom doilies and fabric pieces passed down from family members, along with things that are sentimental to me like feathers. You can add this bunting in a window or doorway, on your mantel, or even just hang it on the wall…
Here’s your supply list:
Here’s how you make it:
1. Sew any parts the need to go together first. My vintage lace was too short, so I sewed 3 peices together to make it longer. I also needed to sew the pom poms on the velvet strip.
2. Once all of your little pieces are put together, lay it all out on a large flat surface and place everything where you want it to go. This is the fun part. Change things up until you get it just right in your eyes.
3. If you want to add a photo (or bookmark like i did), all you need is a hole puncher and yarn. I just tied it in a loop in one of the holes of the lace.
4. Pin all of your pieces down so you dont lose their perfect place. I like to pin it all at once so I dont have to keep coming back to the table for each piece.
5. I used vintage ribbon to create two loops on the end for hanging. You can use anything, yarn, string, ribbon, etc.
6. For the feather, I just used a needle and thread and pulled it right through the stem, and attached it to the lace. I wanted it to dangle, so I left a space between the feather and trim.
7. Then all you have to do is find the perfect spot in your home for your new little bunting! I love this bunting so much more than a typical fabric bunting (not knocking them, i love them too)… just b/c it can be so personal with your own stuff. Use stuff that has alot of meaning to you, and you will enjoy it so much when you walk past it and are reminded of great memories!
If you make a bunting, Id love to see it!
Laura wrote this post. She is the talent behind Violet Bella, a shop featuring handmade jewelry and clothing. And Laura is also the editor of Violet Bella’s World.
Thank you so much Laura for this unique bunting tutorial!
For more ideas for quick and easy projects, click here to visit the craft tutorials and diy page filled with more than 50 diy’s. If you like this project, please help us spread the word by using the twitter and facebook buttons below. Thank you so much.
