around the workshop

starting new projects, using new materials, pushing creativity...

Here's a sneak peek, more details to come.

my craft book library

Last post I showed a peak inside a vintage craft book I found at a resale shop last summer.  Even though the internet is a great source for tutorials and inspiration, I still love a good craft book.  Here are some of my favorites from my library.

1. Alabama Stitch Book -- lots of great embroidery inspiration, although some are a bit intimidating.

2. Doodle Stitching -- lots of cute little simple embroidery patterns and projects.  This book inspired me to start drawing my own embroidery designs.  This is a great book for beginners.

3.  Drawing Lab -- If you are looking to improve your drawing skills and gain more confidence I highly recommend the exercises in this book.  You will feel like an artist in no time!

4.  French General: Home Sewn -- Beautiful photos of French Country inspired projects.  The fabrics used in this book are so beautiful you want to reach through the pages and grab them!

5.  Printing by Hand -- Lots of great, simple techniques for creating your own fabric prints.  Get ready to get dirty!

What are some of your favorite craft books?

inspired by: vintage craft book find

Last summer I was in a resale shop with some friends when I found this vintage craft book from the seventies.  The colors and crafts remind of things I saw in my home and my friends homes when I was a little girl (yes, I was actually alive for a few years in the seventies!).  

I can't wait to dig into these pages for inspiration!!!  Can you say macrame?

Here is a little peak at what's inside...

for the love of clutches

My husband Tony and I love a date night.  My husband is a bit of a foodie so our dates usually involve driving into the city and eating at a new restaurant he wants to try.  We have had lots of great dates, with great conversation, and great food.

When we go out I love to dress up a bit and carry a great clutch.

Here are some of my faves:

I own a clutch very similar to this one from Feral Empire.  The leather feels so soft and I really like the extra long tail on the zipper.  I wasn't sure how I would like the fold over design, but it works well.  By the way, this clutch was packaged super cute!

I was really debating over buying this clutch when I bought the fold over clutch above.  (An email to my sister was the deciding factor).  I still love this clutch from moxie and oliver.  I like the asymmetrical flap and the cute little heart.

Here are some other clutches I am craving right now:

from its so clutch

from found by marie

from Independent Reign

my etsy shop: new listings for valentines day

I had some days off of work over the holidays and I went into major "heart" mode.  I finally got most of my Valentine's Day goodies listed in my shop and I've even sold a few.

"love you" cement heart

red letter initial cement heart

see more cement hearts

quilted pillow with pink heart

zig zag pillow with red heart

more pillows here

red circle "love" embroidery hoop art

heart fabric "love" embroidery hoop art

more embroidery hoop art here

balance for a new year

*blows dust off blog*

*tap tap tap on microphone*  "Is this thing still on?"

Wow.  It's been a long time since I posted.  What happened?  I'll talk about that in a second, but first...

Today is a day when a lot of people plan and set goals for the new year.  I guess I'm no different.  This year my biggest goal is BALANCE.

About the time I stopped posting to this blog I started working a lot, like 60-80+ hours a week a lot.  I was working on interesting projects and getting recognition for my efforts, but I didn't have balance.  I wasn't doing any crafting beyond filling orders in my shop.  I wasn't blogging.  I didn't set foot in a craft store for months.  Not doing these things isn't necessarily a tragedy, but these are all things I REALLY enjoy doing.

If I created a pie chart for how I was spending my time, work was a PacMan eating my life...

Not only was I not crafting; I wasn't working out or eating well.  I wasn't spending as much time with my husband or friends as I would like.  I wasn't taking care of my house the way I like to.  I started to fear that if I got hit by a bus my eulogist would only be able to say, "She was always very responsive to emails."

So this year I am looking for balance.  I am looking to balance a job I love with all the other things in my life that I love.  Too much of any one thing is never a good thing.

I am working on new tutorials for this blog.  I love the sense of community that comes from sharing crafting ideas together through the Internet.  I will also probably start blogging a bit more about my life, my inspirations, things I love, and some of my struggles and stumbles along the way as I work to balance my life.

Happy 2013 to All!!!

me: documentary + design = heaven

My husband and I both love to watch documentaries.  Last night I watched a documentary about Charles and Ray Eames for the second time.  I loved it again!

source

If you love documentaries and you love design I highly recommend this documentary (which you can watch online!  cool!):

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/charles-ray-eames-the-architect-and-the-painter/watch-the-full-documentary-film/1950/


If you get inspired to own a piece of Eames yourself there are lots of great selections on Etsy.


Some of my other favorite documentaries:

King of Kong -- a surprisingly entertaining documentary about the world of competitive classic video games.

Man on Wire -- I just watched this again a couple weeks ago.  Inspirational documentary about drive and destiny.

me: which do you like best?

Good morning lovely blog readers!  I am seeking your opinion.

I decided to embark on my first blog advertisement.  I will be advertising my shop on Elise Blaha Cripe's blog for the month of February.

I love Elise's style and posts.  Her blog is one of my guilty habits during my lunch hour (or lunch ten minutes between running to meetings) at work.

So....I need to design an ad.  I am so not a graphic designer.  Sometimes I create something and love it.  Other times I just can't seem to get it "right".  (I use GIMP free software to edit all my pictures and create graphics.)

Which is your favorite?

Number 1

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4 (I don't like this one because I think the colors are kind of depressing, but I like adding the "handmade home accessories".)

Any winners?  Or do I need to go back to the drawing board?

me: all i want for christmas...

Lomography Paper Pinhole Camera

Stash Happy: Felt: 30 Fun Projects for Felt (and Fabric) Lovers

Learning Resources - Jumbo Numbers & Operations Stamp Set

Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing

Moleskine 2012 12 Month Color A Month Daily Planner: Set of 12 Monthly Planners

Stained by Sharpie Brush Tip Fabric Markers, 8 Colored Markers

OK, maybe this isn't quite all.  I always have a permanent spot for diamond earrings on my wish list.  What crafty things are you hoping to get for the holidays?