Archive for the ‘fashion + accessories’ Category
You may remember E.Kate Designs from Erin’s to-die-for studio space featured here on the blog last year. But I know you didn’t forget about the beautiful pieces that she creates there. I’ve been getting lost in the sunny shots of Erin’s globally inspired jewelry lately. I can’t seem to choose just one favorite, between the bitty brass bullet necklace or the sapphire and ginkgo gold earrings, among other enticing picks. Which would you choose?
Special treat for you: using code “heymrpostman” during checkout will get you free shipping!
I’ve been getting some last minute things for Alt recently (new top, accessories, and shoes) to make sure I am looking half as cute as all the other ladies that will be at the conference this year, and I have been on a serious jewelry hunt! The perfect necklace I asked for for Christmas sold out before Jeff had a chance to snag one and I have been searching for something else ever since.
So I’ve been favoriting quite a bit of jewelry lately, needless to say, and one of the shops I am loving is called giantLION. These simple seed bead necklaces and bracelets are all the rage right now (I am seeing them popping up everywhere) and I really like the pieces that the designer, Caroline Whittington, has been dreaming up. Definitely a shop to check out.
P.S. If you’re not big on the seed bead trend, Caroline has other styles of jewelry available as well.
Bonus! Visit giantLION and take 25% off your order for a limited time with code WINTER25 while the winter sale is on.
Today I have the pleasure of sharing the creative space of Amber Kane, a textile designer and high school art teacher hailing from Pennsylvania. If memory serves, this is the first ever studio tour here on the blog complete with a loom. Yeah!
Amber opened a shop called Fabricated Ends where she sells her handmade scarves and jewelry and she was kind enough to share some photos of her studio and answer a few questions I had for her. Let’s get to it with a little Q and A…
How would you describe your work?
My work is deeply rooted in process and discovery. My goal is connect to each piece, learn through the process of creating. My designs are inspired by a combination of nature and pure imagination.
Where is your studio located?
My studio is located in our Mechanicsburg home. Mechanicsburg, is small town, with a few local galleries and art stores. It was important for my studio to be in our home, as when I come home from my job as a high school art teacher, I want to put on my pjs and head into the studio to work until I go to bed.
How long have you been pursuing work as an artist and shop owner?
I would say that I have always been in love with process of creating, but did not start working towards selling my work until three years ago. I had never considered selling my work, until people began asking to buy things from me, I then started to realize that I could make money from doing what I love and began selling online, joined the Pennsylvania Craft Guild, and started doing craft shows.
I have long admired artists that work in fibers, but I don’t know much about it myself. Can you tell me about your process?
I learned how to weave while in college, and liked it but didn’t love it. I really fell in love with the process when I started to learn how to make it my own, and stopped following the rules. While the piece is on the loom I often push around the weft strings to create movement in the piece. Once the piece is finished being woven I do a variety of techniques, I sew into it, for added surface design, I braid sections and add metal to the piece, to play with the idea of a scarf and necklace in one, or I crochet into the woven the piece. There is not an exact rhyme or reason as to which techniques are done to which piece, I normally decide along the way, as I get to the know the piece, I begin to understand what it needs and wants in order to be finished.
In what ways do your promote yourself and your work online?
I use a variety of methods, blog, twitter, facebook, and etsy. I love doing the blog, and use it both share my work and share work with others. When I have time I create a lot of blog posts and schedule them. This way I’m not stressed if I don’t have time one morning to get one finished. I have my blog connected to my facebook and twitter account, which helps a lot. I try to spend time each day interacting with people on facebook, and have begun to try to do the same on twitter.
Visit Amber’s shop, Fabricated Ends, and her blog for updates and more. Thanks so much for sharing your space with us today Amber!
If you’re still looking for something special to spend that holiday gift money on, look no further than Simon and Ruby. This handcrafted jeweler (Lindsay Farrer) shares a story with each piece + helps you style it with suggestions and gorgeous photography. Aren’t the product shots beautiful?
Tell your own story this new year and turn heads with some stunning pieces, like the Victoria earrings paired with the Keats necklace!
This contributor post was written by Beth of Parsimonia.
For me, the start of 2012 isn’t about resolutions; I’ve made tons over the years and usually forget about them before February rolls around. Instead, I like to look at it as a fresh start, a year brimming with bright, shiny possibilities along with the feeling that anything is within my grasp. As such, I thought it appropriate to bring you some bright and shiny DIYs to inspire you for the new year. The last one isn’t a full-out tutorial, but I know that you have what it takes to recreate it them — you are papernstitch readers after all! Here’s to a year of possibility! 
(above) Gold Chevron Paintings by Makeunder My Life
99 Cent DIY Candles by Emily Henderson
Glittery Gold Bow Clutch by The World Is My Oyster
Metallic Gold Mason Jars by Lovely Little Details
Gold Tree Stump Side Tables via Love Maegan
Have a great weekend!
Beth is the writer behind Parsimonia: Secondhand With Style, where she blogs about her first love (thrifting) and her second love (cooking), as well as DIY projects, sustainable style and other bits of inspiration. She lives in St. Louis with one husband, one fuzzy dog and lots of dreams, and recently launched an online vintage store.
Cursive design features the work of jewelry designer Sarah Fox. Her handmade pieces are bold with a sculptural feel mixing materials like wood, metal, lace and beads. They’re the perfect accessory when you need a pick me up.
Night & Day is my favorite necklace in the collection thus far. What about you? See anything you like?
Christina is the writer behind the design blog, Down and Out Chic. She’s a budget-friendly design huntress that’s passionate about art and the handmade movement. She adores all things striped and polka dotted and would spend most of her afternoons vintage shopping if her closet were big enough. Find her on Twitter or at D&OC.
This contributor post was written by Katherine of Making Chicken Salad.
Sometimes I like a simple, inexpensive little craft to be able to sit down with to take a break from a busy day, and this project fits the bill nicely. It breaks down to less than $5 per necklace (depending on how fancy you get with your jewelery supplies–mine came from the craft section at Walmart) and once you have your materials assembled you can have a brand new necklace in 15 minutes or less. I have all of my supplies for this project sorted and stored in a muffin tin, and my son have been pulling it out of the cupboard every day for the past week for quick craft sessions.
Here are the materials you’ll need: 1. shrinky dink film 2. colored pencils (not water soluable) 3. small hole punch 4. small piece of twine or ribbon 5. necklace chain 6. jump rings and clasp for your necklace 7. needle nose pliers
Here is how you make it:
1. Take a profile photo of your child/husband/wife/dog, or whomever you would use for your necklace with your phone or digital camera. Make sure they are stading against a white or light background in a well-lit area.
2. You will be using your phone or camera screen as a mini mightbox to trace your image. With the rough side of the shrinky dink film facing UP, place it on the screen and gently trace the image outline with a sharp, black pencil. I found this much easier to do with a bit of blue painters tape holding the film in place.
3. Remove the film from your phone and color in your silhouette, and draw a cute little red heart.
4. Cut out your silhouette and heart, leaving a small border around the edge of each image. Punch a small hole near the top of each cutout.
5. Bake the shrinky dinks in a 250 degree (F) oven for approximately four minutes on a foil-lined metal cookie sheet. You will know they are done when they have completely flattened out and the edges are no longer curled. For even baking, place the baking sheet in the oven while it is preheating so that the shrinky dinks are heated evenly on both sides.
6. Remove the shrinky dinks from the oven and let cool while you gather your jewelery making supplies.
7. Attach one of your jump rings to the silhouette pendant, then slip it onto the necklace chain. Loop your twine or ribbon through the heart, then tie it to the pendant charm with a little bow. Finally, attach your final jump rings and clasp to each end of the chain and your project is done!
About Katherine: Katherine Jalaty lives in Northern California, where she spends her time taking care of her family and making things for her new home. Her blog, Making Chicken Salad: The Art of Something Out of Nothing, is where she shares DIY projects, recipes and bits of inspiration from her own life and from other artists. Keep up with her on the blog or on Twitter @katherinejalaty.
