Archive for the ‘handmade’ Category
I’ve been wearing my hair up in a bun a lot now that I have my bangs trimmed up again. And I have been calling it my fun bun for some reason. It’s really more a utility thing than fashion, but I’d like to make more of an effort for cuteness if possible. You know, add a little more fun to my bun.
So what do you think of these hair goodies from Fresh Sewn?
Pretty cute, huh?
Oh, and Natalie does wedding bouquets too…LOVE!
Check out Fresh Sewn to see the whole collection.
Since we’ve moved here, I’ve been hearing people say that it snows every once in a while in Seattle, but that it wasn’t a regular occurrence. So I was super excited to see it snow, really snow, for a few hours yesterday. It was so pretty. And quiet. And lovely. Jeff and I layered up and took the pup out with us for some winter fun. And I felt like a little kid at Christmas (I realize that snow is not that exciting for some, but for a girl that lived in Florida most of her life, it was pretty exciting).
What did you do this weekend?
*This year, one of my new year’s resolutions is to share more of myself on the blog + really connect. So you’ll see more personal posts sprinkled in the regular content from time to time.
I’ve been stocking up on all things organizational this month to plan out my year and one of the things that I’ve been looking at is calendars. Lots of calendars! All types of calendars too. I have already found my big wall calendar for the year, but I want something small to carry around with me wherever I go too. Maybe something like this mini calendar from Ready Go? Isn’t it cool? I really love Ready Go. And actually, I kind of feel like I need to throw a party just so I have an excuse to buy some of the other goodies in this shop - like these printable flags, gold glitter cake bunting, and these gift tags.
Visit Ready Go now to see more.
This post was written by Patty of P.S. it’s in the details.
I have a super easy DIY to share with you this month. It involves one of my new favorite things: chalkboard paint! Krylon makes a chalkboard spray paint that is really fun to use. I’ve been using it on a lot of things lately and I found out that it works well on cardstock – from which you can then cut or punch shapes!
Since Valentine’s day is right around the corner, why not get a head start on a few creative accents for your tags, gifts, or cards!
Here are the materials you’ll need: 1. Krylon Chalkboard paint 2. white cardstock 3. large heart punch (I used Fiskars) 4. chalk 5. paper towel 6. assorted decorations (glitter, ribbons or trims, three-dimensional paint, charms, etc.)
Decorations are up to you! Grab some red, pink, white or purple things from your craft stash!
Here is how you make it:
1. Set up in a well ventilated area (outside is best). Place your white cardstock on newspaper. Follow the manufacturer’s directions on the can to apply the chalkboard paint. I found that several light coats work best (rather than one heavy coat). It dries really fast so you won’t have to wait too long.
2. Rub a piece of chalk, on its side, all over the chalkboard paper. You have to ‘prime’ the surface to get it ready for use.
3. Take a soft paper towel and rub the chalk off, like you would to erase a blackboard.
4. You are now ready to write on your surface!
5. Use your paper punch to punch out the heart shapes.
6. Embellish! (Just a note – I found it easier to write the chalk sentiments before doing the embellishing. Keep in mind that you have to handle your little hearts with care so you don’t smudge your words.)
There are so many things you can do. I’ll share a few ideas – glitter around the edge (brush very edge with glitter glue then sprinkle glitter). Add dots of 3-D paint around the edge. Add a colorful brad and some trims….
Adhere a lace trim around the back edge and add a few buttons. Use a pencil eraser dipped in glitter paint to add polka dots…
Make a heart from red Stickles. Add a charm. Adhere a sparkly sequin trim around the outside edge…
After you decorate your hearts, you can add them to your tags, cards or anything that needs a special Valentine touch! I have an example of one of my favorite hearts on a tiny glassine envelope. (Tucked inside is an iTunes gift card – shhhhhhh!)
This is such a flexible technique – once you have your cardstock painted with the chalkboard paint you can use any shape punch (although larger punches are better because they give you more room to write).
The next time you are at a craft store or hardware store check out the paint aisle for chalkboard paint. You’ll be glad to have a can of it in your craft stash! Happy creating!
About Patty: Patty Schaffer is the owner of P.S. it’s in the details, an Etsy shop where you can find creative paper things that will make you ooooo and ahhh! Her shop specializes in paper accents for scrapbooking, card making, gift giving and home decor. Patty also shares DIY and craft projects, news on upcoming shop releases and other fun things on her blog, Capture the Details.
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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!
I am looking forward to a very colorful 2012 – filled with new paths to walk down and a few old ones to keep exploring too. So as this week kicks off, it seems appropriate to have a little of both for you…
The first papernstitch exhibition of 2012 starts today. It’s brand new and it’s up right now. Although I’ve been pulling together a group of artists + artisans monthly for more than three years now, somehow it still fresh to me every time. But for sure, the first few days of a new exhibition are always my favorite. So to start this one off, I pulled a few shops for you with pops of color that I am completely loving…
(image above) top to bottom. left. Ready Go and 3 Girls + a Goat middle. Bialakura Photography, Moldarina, and Don’t Get it Twisted Crochet right. EKate Designs and Slipcover Your Life’s Stitchery
You can head over and check out the entire list of shops in the new exhibition when you have some time. And of course, let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you. Like this? Awesome! Help spread the word by clicking the social media buttons below and sharing this with your friends.
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.
