Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts

March 26, 2011

Saturday Stamp Making

It is bunny season, with Easter right around the corner. So I decided to have some bunny inspiration and carve a rabbit stamp using a rubber block and linoleum cutting tools (all found at hobby lobby).

It started with a drawing.


Which I then redrew onto the rubber block with a sharpie.


Then I started carving away at the negative space.


Finally I stamped the rubber block into a little ink pad and pressed it onto paper!


Voila! Instant bunny stamp! Normally I would have drawn the original image as a mirror image so that the bunny would be facing the other direction, but this was a Saturday fun project so it was no big deal!


Have a lovely Saturday,

Stacie

December 20, 2010

office gifts: pumpkin chocolate chip cookies



Over the weekend I finally got up the courage to do some baking. I have not cooked anything in quite a while. But I love cooking, so it did not take long for me to get my apron out and get my cook on!


I had stumbled upon this recipe for Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies on Catherine Campbell's blog, and knew that they would make great holiday gifts for my office friends. Added bonus, I had a bunch of mason jars just waiting to be used as fun gift containers.


Since I really could not venture out to go shopping for ribbon to decorate the mason jars, I kept it simple with a swatch of fabric on top and a dainty bow of yarn around the lid. Filled inside with 4 scrumptious cookies. I have to make more for the rest of my office (I ran out of mason jars!)


I love giving gifts. I love that some people really appreciate the handmade touch.

Do you ever find with your own family handmade is not seen as special? I am not saying that is the case with my own family, but I can see how difficult it could be for the handmade community during holidays to give lovingly handcrafted items and have them not hold up in the eyes of the recipient. You know, since there are people out there who still think that handmade = a popsicle ornament.

The value of time is underestimated. Lovingly baking Christmas cookies and sharing them with the one's you cherish could be gift enough for me this year.

But I won't look a gift horse in the mouth, say, if the gift horse is bringing me Season 1 of Glee on DVD....

May 15, 2010

goal number one: curtains

 I have crossed off one of the items from my weekend to-do list: curtains for Violet's window and closet. I found this awesome Kaffe Fassett fabric, and decided to go for simple white panels with the pretty fabric for a trim.
I used the rest of the fabric for a full panel for her window. I really love the way it looks with the sunlight shining through it.
Oh, and I made Violet's crib skirt from an Alexander Henry Fabric. I think it is super cute!
Violet seems to like the curtains! What do you think?

-Stacie

May 2, 2010

the gameplan for violet's room, take a look!

So a few weeks ago I mentioned that I was working on an idea board for Violet's room redesign. Today I will reveal to you phase 1!
1. Antiqued Birdcage Mirror from Ballard Designs
2. I Love You, Ditto pair of prints by Gingiber (my shop...)
3. Gaggle of Girls by AshleyG
4. Optical Illusion Quilt by Just Love to Quilt
5. Pink Bird Seed Fabric purchased from Downstairs Design (Fabric By Alexander Henry)
7. Telephone Girl print by theblackapple
8. Silhouette Print Lampshade by smilaprojekt
1. Mellow Hummingbird Curtain by Anthropologie
2. Coffee Sack Pillow Cover by BrinandNohl
3. Sibly Floor Lamp by Anthropologie
4. Thinking of You by blackoutwell
5. Dear You, Sing Me a Song by blackoutwell
6. Portrait of a Badger by blackoutwell

Violet's room is already painted this nice aqua color, so I am trying to create a room that is feminine, but still coordinates with the strong wall color. I am really loving the rose red colors, grounded with splashes of dark brown. Also, years ago I saw the color combo of red, blue, with a nice accent of green in Domino Magazine, and have been dying for a chance to try it out in my own home.

Some items, particularly those from Anthropologie, will serve as inspiration pieces, because I do not think I can afford them at this time.

I hope that you enjoy! Let me know what you think? Will miss Violet like this! And, at the pace I am moving, can I pull it off before she is a teenager?

Stacie

April 15, 2010

what what? two prints in one week?

Alrighty, folks.

I set out to make something else entirely, but came up with this (I would say) witty print! Do you agree?

Ah, the battle cry of the eternal hermit. Yes, everyone knows that the polite thing to say to a friend who is far away is, "I wish you were here". But let's get real: A good majority of us like our alone time.

If what I have described sounds all too familiar, then perhaps this lovey print is for you!

The image size is approximately 8X10 with a small white border on archival paper. 

Alright, folks, I've got some pretty fun posts planned for the near future: An interview with this lovely artist behind "blackoutwell"
Amy Blackwell

And an idea board involving the redecorating of Miss Violet's bedroom, involving this pretty fabric:
Have a good evening!

-Stacie

April 13, 2010

la la la latte

La La La Latte

Alright... it is time that I came clean you all.... I used to work for Starbucks. This is the first time that I think that I have actually mentioned them by name, partially out of professional courtesy, and partially because I did not want some of my blogging friends to realize that I made their lattes for many years without them even knowing who I was!

Anyways, in the spirit of my old employer, I have made a coffee inspired print. I hope that you like it!

"La La La Lattee" is a 10x10 archival print of one of my original illustrations. It is available here in my Gingiber Etsy Shop!

Hope you like it!
-Stacie

April 11, 2010

the owls are here

shop update complete!

Olive the Owl. Purchase her here at my Gingiber Etsy Shop!
Regina the Red Striped Owl. Purchase this cutie here.
Greyson the Gray Owl. You can learn more about him here at my etsy shop.

So you remember a few months ago when I posted about my ugly fireplace? Well, I have taken the first steps towards making this eyesore into a beauty! Pictures to come....

I hope that everyone had the loveliest Sunday. Violet is still under the weather, so I am not sure if I will be going to work tomorrow. We will see!

Goodnight,

Stacie

April 10, 2010

etsy sneak peak

Alright. I decided to expand on my little owls. This trio will be ON SALE TOMORROW in my gingiber etsy shop! Please do check them out! I am kinda partial to them..... if the don't sell I guess Violet will have some new little buddies to play with!

Violet is sick.... yet again. Keep the little one in your thoughts.

Thanks for all of the sweet comments recently! You have brightened my day!

Oh, and did you know that I have a twitter? The link is in my right hand column, but you can also just click here to follow me!

Alright, see you tomorrow for the mini shop update!

-Stacie

April 6, 2010

a little something and easter pictures

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I might be like a year late on the owl trends, but lately I am really digging them! I just made this sweet little plush owl. Watcha think?

Little Violet has been eying him, but I am hesitant to let her chew on his sweet little face.
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And, yes, I know that she is the most adorable little girl that has ever existed. It is okay to dote on her, friends. She is sporting her Liberty of London Easter dress in this picture.

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 Have I ever put a picture up of my husband, Nathan? Well, here he is with Violet. Aren't they too sweet?

Alright! Let me know what you think of the owl... I am hesitant to show my attempts at plush animals because there are so many people around that make the most lovely plush animals around!

-Stacie

March 27, 2010

d.i.y. striped rug

So I have had quite the undertaking with my home here in Arkansas. We have had 3 separate floods within 1 year that resulted in all of our carpet being removed due to water damage. Well, we finally got real carpet installed in our home! However, my tan couch on top of my tan carpet left me needing something to balance the room, both spatially and in terms of color. Also, I tend to love my floral prints (see couch for proof). So, I decided to reuse two old rugs that used to lay on our cement slab floors and give them a makeover! Brown vertical stripes really grounded my couch, and I am really glad I did it. And, it only required some masking tape and a can of spray paint!

Here's how I did it:
 1. Tape off the entire length of the rug with tape. I stuck with a simple striped pattern, but I would love to try this with a stencil from Stencil1.
 2. Next, Take the rug outside on a sunny day and spray paint away! Be sure not to over saturate the fabric, because this could cause the paint to run. Be sure to use flat paint.
3. Let the paint dray for at least an hour before removing the tape.
4. Carefully remove the tape to reveal your new painted rug!
Just so you know, The rug looks great, and I really cannot tell that I used spray paint for the pattern, because it feels really natural to the touch. I think the key is to not over saturate the rug.

I know that there are a lot of D.I.Y.'s out there, but just know that some projects are as simple as getting an idea in your head and going for it. This is one of those D.I.Y.'s, and I hope that it inspires you to take a few hours during a lovely day and accomplish something great!

-Stacie

March 13, 2010

The Art of Matte Stephens

Hello!

I wanted to pop in this Saturday to share with you the beautiful illustrations of Matte Stephens. Check out Matte's etsy shop! It features quirky and amazing limited edition pieces of art. Here are some of my favorites:
 
 
 
 


I hope that you enjoy this work as much as I do!
Have a great day!

Stacie








March 11, 2010

cupcake alphabet poster

So I did not have time to do a full update, but I was able to list a new poster print this afternoon! Take a look!
 



The poster image measures 11x17 with a nice boarder for framing!

Also, Miss Violet was a brave little soldier today. Her surgery went really well. Here is a cute picture of her in her hospital gown!
Have a great day!

Stacie

March 9, 2010

i'm featured on decor8 etsy take 5 tuesday!

Oh my goodness! 
I am having such a lovely week! First I was featured on Etsy's "The Storque" (see this post) and today I am honored to be one of Decor8's pick for the weekly feature "Etsy Take 5 Tuesday"! Please bounce over there to take a look!

Thanks for celebrating with me! I am feeling kinda pumped to keep on moving on!

Oh, and I wanted to show you a little plush animal that I made today:
This is a little bit of skunk love. I know he is rough, but he has a bit of charm, no? This is my first real attempt at stuffed animal making. I hope you like him!

Okay, have a great night, lovies!