Sunday, April 28, 2013

I've been a little obsessed... an ode to my love of pinterest

So I'll be the first to admit it, I am a Pinterest addict. I am obsessed. On it every day and pinning constantly... I was shocked to find out that I now have almost 70 boards. How did this happen!?!?
Well, I gotta say, my ipad and the pinterest app itself have probably been the biggest lifesavers since having my sweet boy. When he falls asleep, I can at least dive into a world of ideas for when I have time to work on new jewelry, displays, and getting my booth just so. It has made me feel like I was actually able to work when I wasn't actually creating. Research right?

Fabulous ideas like using vintage wooden thread spools for price tag holders
... and thanks to Vintiquities Workshop's Blog, and her tutorial on making a jewelry display bust, I was able to tweak her design a bit to suit the displays I had created in 2013 to become everything I hoped for and more.
sorry for the crummy photo but you get the idea. :D
 The paint job on the bust itself is one of the coolest and most simple ideas I discovered on pinterest. It is an Elmer's glue tutorial. Whaddya need? Two colors of paint, some brushes, the items you wanna paint, and some wood glue. THAT'S IT! Here's the link to the tutorial on their site.... and here are some in progress photos. :D
Base coat of brown spray paint
top coat of an off white paint - got a sample that was either a screw up or no one wanted for a buck off the "mistake" table at Lowe's :D
All Dry! i ended up not liking the green so I went back and did them white also. luckily I wasn't out anything cause the green paint was left over from my shutter displays.
You can find me on pinterest here. :D

 I also finished 15 new necklaces today. You saw a peeky gander of them above on my new display piece but here are a few more nice peeks and closeups.
I can't wait to get started on more of these, bracelets and earrings to come also! These are in preparation for the MSU Arts and Crafts Fair on May 18-19. I'll be sharing a booth with my good pal Faun. She will be displaying and selling her rad prints and is so much fun, I can't wait!



Sunday, April 21, 2013

Mid April Updates!

As Spring starts to shine (or rain really...) in my neck of the woods, I am seeing little glimmers of hope for warm lovely weather as my Day Lilies and Irises show their lush green leaves. 
I have begun teaching again (a post for another day!) and have fired up the dyepots to replenish my personal stash for batt making again, frantically working on new jewelry designs for an upcoming show, and am loving being a mommy. Life for my sweet family is anything but settled still, but the promise of warmer weather certainly helps raise our spirits.
Something else that helps raise my spirits? All the amazing vegetables and herbs I have started seeds for our raised beds that will be happening this year.
Also, COTTON!!! :D Dear Laila of laigrai fibers hosted a beautiful vintage spin along a couple years back which came with a gorgeous cotton boll. I plucked the seeds from it with hope that I would be able to grow it at some point and happened upon them carefully sealed away in their little envelope. 
I can't wait to be able to use some of my very own home grown fiber. I am hoping it will be ready in time for me to dye it up at Tiller's International's natural dying class this July. 
Did I mention I updated the shop? There are several batts awaiting new homes to be spun or felted into lovely things. Many of these ones are packed with some super deliciously soft merino and absolutely amazing glossy soft curly locks.
Next shop update will be filled with luscious locks and handspun goodness!