Archive for November, 2011
Morning Violeta marks a fresh project for Violet D., a concert and fine art photographer from Bulgaria, and I’m totally digging the inspiration behind her focus:“I love early morning hours, those first moments that set the tone for the whole day. That is what I wanted my [Morning Violeta] project to be. A nice little piece of art that sends you daydreaming. Something to look at first thing in the morning and give you the dose of inspiration you need to carry you through your day.”I’m also loving her use of the TtV (through the viewfinder) technique to create special glimpses of scenes to share by employing her trusty combo of a 1950 Kodak Duaflex + a Canon DSLR.
This post is part of photography week on Papernstitch. Every day this week, we’ll be featuring a different (and equally amazing) photography shop…*And if you are a photography lover, be sure to check out the ultimate photography gift guide as well.
Featuring friends and patrons of his work, Matt Schwartz, the photographer behind She Hit Pause Studios, has been showcasing an amazing eye for his favorite scenes for the past 8 years. Using large format polaroids, he has immortalized his version of the pin-up girl, uncovered secret surf spots, and otherwise let us in on his travels to dreamy locals full of interesting odds + ends. A special transfer process is what helps to add that floaty, heavenly look to his final images.
Hands down, the Surf Cow is my favorite. What’s yours?
Visit She Hit Pause Studios to view the entire collection.
I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. Combine that with some bizarre weather patterns, and I’m feeling a bit grey. I don’t want the shot of bright color to jar me loose, just the relaxed, simple mellow that grey can bring. Don’t think that this means I want my space to look cold or uninviting. Quite the contrary. Sometimes you need the world around you to fade back a bit to bring the rest of life down to a dull roar.
Greys are temperamental. A blue cast can either make a grey look cheery, or make it appear cold and lifeless. This is best mitigated by using a slightly darker tone, especially if you’re trying to meld with an existing cooler palette. Personally, I’m a fan of the warmer types of grey, those with a slight greenish cast. You can see these differences easily in clothing, where two black pieces don’t match at all. These warmer greys are stunning with natural wood, especially walnut and teak, or any other non-yellow variety. Grey and wood seem to bring out the best in each other. The wood livens up the grey by introducing a natural finish, and the grey keeps the wood in a relaxed vibe. There are options from the lightest grey-white to the deepest charcoal and everything in between. Don’t be afraid to mix different tones and textures – it’s a great way to get visual variety while keeping a monochromatic palette. And if you get in the mood and need a lift, a pop of bright color against this neutral background can change your whole perspective.
(above) Dark Grey Bedding
Cool Grey Wall + Concrete Finish
Faded Flooring + Medium Tone Surfaces
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.
This post is part of photography week on Papernstitch. Every day this week, we’ll be featuring a different (and equally amazing) photography shop…*And if you are a photography lover, be sure to check out the ultimate photography gift guide as well.
A bit of a daydreamer myself, Susannah Tucker’s whimsical prints and jewelry pairings have really helped me ease into this week. Yes, I know its Wednesday. Daydreamers take their time.
Something even dreamier is the 10% off that Susannah is offering to Papernstitch readers, using code PAPERNSTITCH at checkout.
Visit Susannah Tucker on Etsy now to slip into your own dream.
This contributor post was written by Michael Ann of Michael Ann Made. This is Michael Ann’s first contributor post on papernstitch. She’ll be here every month to share a new diy project with you. Take it away Michael Ann…
Hello papernstitch readers!
I am so excited to be a contributor on papernstitch and can’t wait to share a fun DIY project with you every month!
This month I thought it would be fun to share a little fall fashion DIY - embroidering a plain old sweater with a bold fair isle print. This is a great project for a rainy evening, and is simple enough for even the most timid seamstresses.
Here are the materials you’ll need:
1. A sweater! I found this one for free in our laundry room free pile… Score.
2. Embroidery thread of whatever fun color you desire!
3. Embroidery hoop, needle, scissors, pencil for tracing the pattern.
4. A pattern. You can use the one I made by just saving and printing the photo below…
Here’s how you make it:
1. Trace your pattern onto your sweater. I used the old “window as a lightbox” technique, pinning the pattern to the backside of the sweater, holding the sweater up against the window during the day, and making a small dot with the pencil for every dot on the pattern.
2. Set up your embroidery hoop and start stitching! I stitched little V’s for every dot to mimic the look of a knitted sweater. Using little X’s for a cross stitch look could also be cute.
Once you stitch everything in the area, take off your hoop and move it around, stitching until you complete your design.
3. Step back and admire your work!
I love embroidering because it is such a simple way to really transform an item! This plain little sweater is now prepared for all the fun of fall.
Happy Stitching!
Michael Ann is a sewer, knitter, crafter, thrifter, living a crafty life with her husband in Portland, Oregon. You can find her at her blog Michael Ann Made where she shares projects, tutorials, and bits of inspiration to help you live a crafty life too. You can also follow her adventures on twitter.
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This post is part of photography week on Papernstitch. Every day this week, we’ll be featuring a different (and equally amazing) photography shop…*And if you are a photography lover, be sure to check out the ultimate photography gift guide as well.
With the first snowfall having hit in various parts of the country, I’m still not ready to dive head first into the idea of Winter. So for now I’ll indulge in the lovely warm weather images of Alicia Bock. Her photography, taking you from “Paris to the seaside,” might just be enough to tide me over til the next heat wave. I’m thinking the Last Days of Summer print will do the trick.
Want to spoil yourself? Right now take 25% off all orders from www.aliciabock.com or www.aliciabock.etsy.com with the code PAPERNSTITCH.
Soak up some late rays with Alicia Bock and enjoy.
We love to pile hundreds of tasks onto our overflowing proverbial plates. Creatives are passionate, you become obsessed with your work and unable to stop.
But you have to remember that your work suffers when you push yourself until you’re strung out.
So, here’s what you should do to avoid burn out:
Don’t slack, schedule your tasks and hit them. And when you’re done, stop. Don’t work 24/7. It’s easy to do as a freelancer or creative, but don’t. When your list is done, stop and reward yourself. Do something simple that you love: read during a bubble bath, enjoy a pot of tea with friends, or vegetate on some horror flicks in a dark room (one of my favorite rewards!).
Finish a big project? Did you score and exceed your sales expectations? Go out to dinner, get your nails done, or buy that little thing you’ve been wanting.
Remember: In a way, our work is out life, but don’t forget that we’re working to enjoy our lives! On that note, I’m stopping now to watch some horror movie goodness.
How will you treat yourself this week?
Leave your response in the comments below.
image credit Take Time to Do…
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.
