I am most excited about today’s post.  If you aren’t reading Erin, you need to head over to her site and add her to your Google reader like NOW.  Trust me.  Her only flaw is that her skin may be too perfect and that she doesn’t post nearly enough.  I could read her all day, everyday.

She also has amazing taste, so who better to ask to write a Handmade Inspired post for me? I’m so lucky that she graciously agreed.

See for yourself how delightful she is.
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Hi lovely people. Erin from It’s Your Movie here. When Beth very sweetly asked me to write a guest Handmade Inspired post for her my first reaction (apart from feeling very lovely inside and gracious) was pure excitement.  And a little panic.  But mostly excitement.  This is a subject I am both familiar with and love to talk about.  (Okay there are a lot of subjects I love to talk about.  I love to talk!)

I have been very into making and decorating things my entire life and very clearly remember the day I discovered etsy. We had just moved into a shabby little house that had nothing handmade OR inspired decorating its walls. I was feeling kind of gloomy and was googling something or other (this part is not important, just stick with me here) and then lo and behold! Fanfare played in the outskirts of my imagination as etsy.com loaded onto my computer screen for the very first time.  Art! Jewelry! Letterpress! Clothing! Toys!  I was in disbelief and felt pretty small when I started scrolling through and realized the sheer volume of brilliant people out there making art.

I have had many items saved in my favorites folder over the years and it is difficult to cull them down into just a few items, but if I could purchase things at will at this very moment, here are the things I would buy.

Fondue and Fondue Jr sell light switch plates, tissue boxes, and other small items that have been covered in super fun vintage wallpaper. I adore vintage wallpaper and often fantasize about doing a bathroom or closet in it.  Realistically I think it is so kitschy that it should be digested in small doses. These little accessories are just right.  I would definitely do the switches in my kitchen and in my daughter’s room if I had some spare cash.

Tollipop oh Tollipop! These watercolors are so youthful and sweet and they make me feel both spunky and a little wistful, like a child. I specifically love the Bundle Of Joy print. Looking at it conjures up that glowy feeling you get when your baby rests her head on your shoulder.

Speaking of wistfully beautiful illustrations, I am IN LOVE with Jen Corace’s illustrations (please click over and check out her gallery– “swoon” doesn’t even cover it) and this handmade planner from If’n Books features a Corace illustration on the outside and blank pages full of promise on the inside. Sometimes it’s nice to use our hands to write things down rather than just type type typing all the time right?

(Left to right, Fondue, Tollipop, If’n Books)

Gypsystudio and Gemma Factrix are just two of many lovely jewelry shops (are you listening husband?) that I peruse. They both incorporate feminine details and vintage beads mixed with hammered metal.  This combination of materials is as contradictory as any random day in my busy-mom life. I also love the feminine whimsical details at shops like Sea Unicorn.  Okay fine, I just love the bow.  I just. love. bows.

(Left to right, Gypsystudio, Sea Unicorn, Gemma Factrix)

And then there is the whole letterpress thing. I have a soft spot for letterpress and I’m not even entirely sure why. Things just look so much more official when pressed with a letterpress. I love the way pressed paper feels and looks and probably even smells.  (I haven’t checked to be sure, but in my imagination it smells wonderful.)
I wish I had my own letterpress in my garage right this second.  Letterpress and printing are happening in such a fun way right now.

So pretty. (Left to right, Sweetbeets, Kseniya, CindyTomczykArt)

And the messages!   I want to buy them all and tuck them into my bag or pocket and then whisk them out for friends whenever the occasion is appropriate.

So fun.  (Left to right, linocutboy, richiedesign, laladexpress)

Thank you Beth for asking me to come ramble on your blog. I hope I have left ya’ll feeling happy and inspired.

And in case you didn’t know…  (this is the part where I whisk the card out of my bag and surprise you with it) you are AMAZING!