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Time of Year

November 23rd, 2009

This week is absolutely, without a doubt, one of my favorite weeks of the year. Even though my house gets messier, despite my constant cleaning and my legs hurt from the baking and the running, there is just something so magical about it.

I wanted to let you all know that tomorrow, individuals who have Etsy shops can come here and link to their shops on Mr. Linky making it easier for shoppers to find their stores. It’s something new here called Handmade for the Holidays.

In addition to that, I’ve gathered up my friends and we have come up with some super fabulous items that we LOVE that we think you’ll love, too. I’ll be featuring these through the middle of December.

For instance, just look at this clutch that Arianne LOVES:

It’s the cutest clutch EVER and it’s homemade. See? Things like that.

Shopping homemade is awesome. I purchased many items from Etsy last year and received many, too and they were my favorite items to purchase (and receive!)

My goal is to make your holiday shopping not just easier but also more unique and also to help out that courageous person who believe in themselves enough to share their talents with the rest of us!

P.S. Any help you can offer by spreading the word would be GREATLY appreciated!

PPS. If you have a product you’d like to see featured, you can contact me with the link for consideration. Just email me at handmadepieces (at) GMAIL dot com.

Today.

October 13th, 2009

Today, I feel pretty good. It’s the first day in a long, long time that I do not have ANY plans at all. So, what do I plan to do? I do not plan to put on makeup or shower or go grocery shopping.

(regarding the makeup, I’m pretty much incapable of not applying makeup, so maybe I’ll put on just a little bit.)

I plan to do laundry all day long, light a fall candle, clean up here and there, take a nap, go to my parent’s house with the kids for dinner (Brian has class every Tuesday night) and eat a big, fat juicy apple. or two.

At some point this afternoon, we’ll get the results back from the OB’s office and then we will go from there.

I realize that no matter what the news is today, we will spend the rest of this pregnancy PRAYING AND HOPING. We know, too well, that no matter how well a pregnancy is going, at any point, anything can happen. So, whether we have a scary diagnosis or we go back to our high risk pregnancy as it is, we will take it day by day and focus on the little one growing rapidly inside of me so sweetly.

For now, though…I wait patiently and think about other things.

I think about the fluttering going on in my belly. I can’t wait for the kicks to get stronger. I can’t wait to share those kicks with my family. Last night Anna kissed my belly without even knowing that just the night before Noah kissed my belly. (a first time for both) They LOVE so much.

To help me pass the time (I never watch TV during the day, although if there ever was a day that I should, it would be today), I’ve been browsing through Etsy, not shopping because I can’t afford to, just browsing…which is fun, too.

I love this bird. Certain birds remind me of James & Jake. This one in particular is beautiful. I would put it in my bathroom, it would make me smile everyday.

bird

This costume makes me laugh. I love it.

pumpkin costume

This poster makes me dream. I love the simplicity and the retro feel of this poster. Can’t you just see it in a nursery? (by the way, this entire shop is AWESOME.)

art

This wristlet makes me want to go on a date with my husband.

wristlet

And this, well, I see it and I think YES! and also…I’ll try my hardest.

trust

It’s all I can do. That and the laundry. I can do the laundry.

Handmade Inspired {prairie mama}

September 18th, 2009

My friend, Kim, is not only funny and sweet and unbelievably adorable, but she and her sewing machine make a beautiful team creating the cutest of products.

At Blogher, Kim brought me two shirts for Anna that she had made. I brought them home for her and she nearly fainted at the cuteness. Anna is a fashionista and she fell instantly in love with the shirts Kim made.

So did I. So will you.

prairiemama.etsy.com

They also wash perfectly, in fact, I wish everything we owned washed and dried as flawlessly as these shirts do. I may be inclined to do more laundry. (but I doubt it. Laundry is dumb.)

She also made Anna and I matching skirts…they are amazing. Kim makes a ton of different items. She refurbished a few of Stephanie’s old favorite t-shirts and turned them into dresses for Ivy and was also featured on Design Mom. She’s that good, friends.

Kim also blogs here. Before sure to check out her shop. HURRY!

Reason #192 why twitter is awesome

August 3rd, 2009

I’m not sure that title is the one that should go with this post, but honestly, without twitter, this post would not exist for me, so “why not?” I say!

A few weeks ago I put a call out on twitter that said something like “Does anyone know how to make a vintage style skirt for women, cause I want one!”

And after a few days someone very smart linked me to Gock’s Frocks shop on Etsy where I saw the cutest skirts I have ever seen. I am new to the skirt scene and am finding this world without capris is really pretty nice and skirts are even prettier, so I’m embracing my very own “SKIRT MOVEMENT.” (also, all of my friends wear skirts all of the time so I was beginning to feel very manly being around them, so I decided to jump on their very cute bandwagon before I started grabbing my crotch and spitting.)

Anyway.

I contacted the shop owner from Gock’s Frocks and she just so happened to be the nicest person in all of the land and we worked out a deal and she custom made me a skirt with a yoga waistband which is pretty much the greatest invention ever.

When I wear this skirt I get more comments from strangers than anything else I wear and people ask where I bought it and I’m like “sit down, let me tell you a little story called ETSY.”

I wore it to Blogher and friends and strangers raved and I loved wearing it. I could nap in it, it’s that comfortable. (anytime I give the NAP seal of approval, you know it’s good stuff.)

Anyway, this is my skirt.

skirts from gock's frocks on etsy

(skirt does not come with Asher. Sorry.)

And here is another view:

skirt

Isn’t it beautiful? I’m seriously thinking about maybe getting this one:

Gock's Frocks on Etsy

But upon entering her shop I see that she makes clothes for girls and I picture Ariel wearing these clothes and my heart goes pitter patter. Target be damned for glittery girl’s clothes.

Just look, friends.

gock's frocks for girls on Etsy

I can’t even take the cuteness.

Anyway, the owner of Gock’s Frocks graciously sent the skirt to me for review purposes and I can’t even express how wonderful it is. I also washed it and it looks just as beautiful as it did when she sent it to me.

But what makes this skirt the coolest? It was made by hand. Love it.

If you’re interested in purchasing from her shop, Gock’s Frocks is offering free shipping to my readers (that’s you!). Just enter FOLDING LAUNDRY in the checkout.

And if you buy something, you better tell me about it and take pictures. That’s an order.

Handmade Inspired – a guest

June 17th, 2009

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.
* * *

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)

handmade123

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)

handmade456

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)

handmadecollage789

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)

handmadecollage101112
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!

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