Archive for July, 2011
You’re not afraid of your sewing machine, and certainly not a paint brush or a pair of scissors. In my mind you are a diy maven: you can do anything! So why not create an entire outfit this weekend (from head to toe)?
I already have all the project ideas lined up for you. So, it will be way easier (and far less intimidating) than it sounds. All you have to do is click the links, read the tutorials, and get crafting…
How to Make a Chalk Lines Skirt
Make your own Retro Saddle Shoes
That’s it for me. Have a great weekend!
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Chicago-based artists Sarah and Joseph Belknap were inspired by their mutual love of color theory, the concept of home, landscape, science, and architecture when they created their line, I Am Home.
You can definitely see the science textbook and architectural influence in their color-drenched line. The Chicago Street Fences are selling out faster than they can make them, but the focus of their line is their colorful chalkboard skulls and forest magnets. The chalkboard skulls sound macabre, but they’re fun and practical. I want one in every color!
Who knew a line of realistic tree model magnets and chalkboard chalkboard skulls could go together so perfectly?
Check out their selection of work in the I Am Home Etsy Shop.
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.
Working in her cute and colorful Texas home, Carole Smith creates a line of quirky, vintage-inspired ceramics she calls McCheek’s Mayhem.
Carole crafts one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls, mugs, and adorable ceramic owls. Using handmade and vintage plaster molds, each piece goes through three firings in her kiln before they are glazed and adorned with images of birds, flowers, and letters.
Her vibrant work and dedication to quality has earned her mentions on publications like Design Sponge, Apartment Therapy, Decor 8, Style Me Etsy, and much more!
Check out what the buzz is about and investigate McCheek’s Mayhem Etsy Shop for yourself!
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.
Now, I love a good interiors book as much as the next design-obsessed girl sipping tea at the local bookstore, BUT one thing I am not a fan of is sifting through piles of books featuring fancy interiors that feel exactly the same.
That is why I am IN LOVE with Holly Becker and Joaanna Copestick’s new book Decorate. It’s perfect for the gal with eclectic tastes (like myself) because it features a variety of styles.
It goes against the grain of your typical coffee table interiors book and gets right down to the ideas, tips, and recommendations (1,000 of them to be exact). Learn how to decorate a home that is as special and unique as the interiors photographed in this book’s pages; make the most out of small spaces; discover your style and create a mood board; and SO much more.
I recommend reading this book with a pen and paper nearby because there are plenty of tips you are going to want to write down (if you don’t want to mess up the beautiful pages with dog-ears and hi-lighter). And aside from the pro tips and interior ideas, there are endless pages of gorgeous photographs, showcasing varying home design styles, for you to drool over. But, I’m not sure you can really get the true feel for Decorate without flipping through it’s pages yourself. So, I took eight photos (to celebrate Holly’s insanely popular blog Decor8) of my favorite interiors and ideas so you can take a look inside…
You can pick up Decorate on the Chronicle Books website right here for just $35, which is a total steal (its almost 300 pages). And if you would like to hear more about Decorate, follow the remainder of the blog tour…
Here are the rest of the stops on the Decorate blog tour:
Friday, July 8 – In Honor of Design | Monday, July 11 – Simply Grove & Haute Design | Tuesday, July 12 – Elements of Style | Wednesday, July 13 – Apartment 34 | Thursday, July14 – Mrs. Lilien | Friday, July 15 – Mint
Do you own Decorate already?
What do you love most about this book?
Leave your response in the comments below.
I am always hunting for the next great home decor shop, and when I come across one as unique as Red Clay Home, I just have to share it with you. The responsibly made pieces you’ll find here are stylish and affordable. BUT more important (and even more interesting) than the modern patterns you’ll find printed on place mats, napkins, table runner, and pillows is the concept. Here’s the deal…
Red Clay provides you a studio in which pioneering designers can submit their most passionate designs to our community. We paint you a sincere picture of the products’ design, function, source and production so that you can choose the products that best fit your standard of living. The power of your votes determines Red Clay’s next exclusive collection. By putting the power of design back in the hands of the people most passionate about design, we’re making the choice to conscientiously decorate the home indistinguishable, affordable and unapologetically gorgeous.
So basically, when the doors open for a new round of Red Clay design entries (which will be very soon), anyone can submit a design for consideration. Red Clay goes through the entries, decided which designs would be feasible for production and then the community votes. So, the people actually get to decide what is stocked on the virtual shelves! Pretty cool, huh?
You can get all the facts about submitting your own design at the top of Red Clay’s FAQ page if you are interested.
And if you’re in the mood to shop, here are a few of my favorite pieces from the current collection (click images for more info about each product)…
Uncovering your buyer’s wants is as easy as, well, asking them what they want! It’s so easy, yet many of us aren’t communicating with our customers.
To calculate the exact value of surveys, I consulted with my genius marketing coworkers.
They’re a superstar team of IT experts, reputation management professionals, programers and copywriters!
Using their feedback (mixed with personal successes), I’m sharing the following Top 5 ways surveys are valuable for increasing sales, traffic, and conversions:
1. Outside Perspective
When you work closely with a project, it’s hard to see flaws that are obvious to your readers and buyers. Surveys provide an outside perspective of your work. They help reveal details you could be missing.
Do This Now! >>> Ask friends, family, and coworkers to review your website and products. Tell them to be brutal, and take that honest feedback into consideration.
2. Getting Direction
Gauging your audience’s wants will help you tailor products for them. Surveys provide the road map you need for crafting the content and products your audience will read and buy.
3. Decision Making
Let’s say you have two great ideas, but only enough time to execute one. When you let your consumers decide what you’ll do next, you’re allocating time to the projects that count. After all, it’s all about what they will buy from you!
4. Testing Your Products
Surveys help you determine if the products and services you’ve released are what your consumers want, as well as decide what you’ll produce next.
5. Engagement
Surveys are not simply questionnaires. You’re conducting surveys when you ask questions in your content and receive responses. Surveys help you engage your customer base with interactive content.
Take Action Now…
> Start talking! Talk to every single customer, client, and reader (or at least a handful) that will listen. Ask them what they like and don’t like. Ask them what they want to see next.
Bottom line, surveys increase sales and traffic because they help you provide your buyers with exactly what they want.
Make your shops and blogs an open conversation: Surveys are easy when you’re constantly engaging your audience and asking them for opinions on your posts and products. Listen to the feedback they volunteer, and your sales and traffic will increase.
image above Olivetti Green by Virginia Kraljevic
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.
Do you ever wonder what separates you from the leaders in your industry?
I can help!
Learn the 8 secrets you need to know about being a leader now {It’s my Scoutie Girl contributor post for the week}.
Who knows. You might just find out you’re more of a leader than you thought.
Read my “Art to Inspire: Leaders” article on Scoutie Girl now.
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And on another note… I have some giveaway winners to announce from R.A.W.
1. Congrats to Elle who has won the 2 Japanese Style Craft Books.
2. Congrats to Anca, Linda B, Meenoo, Laura, and Jamie: you have all won a free copy of Track This Goal Tracking Guide! Email me at brittni(at)papernstitch.com to receive your prize.
3. And finally, congrats to Tenika, Sasha, Erma, Beth, and April: you have all won a free subscription to Better Homes and Gardens. Please email me ( brittni(at)papernstitch.com) your mailing address no later than July 10th to redeem.
