One Little Word: 2012: Fruit

Hello All,

It has been much too long.  I have blog posts floating in my brain waiting to be posted.  Hopefully I get the time to write them all.

I thought I'd jump right in with my word.  I wanted to do a word this year and I wanted my word to have to do with making, producing, really making what I see in my head come to life.  I wanted to be done with excuses.

I want to sew.  I want to sew gifts.  I want to make quilts.  I want to make my little girl skirts.  I want to finish the 10 half started projects I have going.

I want to doodle every day.  I want to make the kind of mixed media that is waiting to be created.  I have all the tools, now I just need to practice.

I want to make Farm Chicks be a good year.  I want to reopen my etsy shop.  (Soon, as in this week)  I want to work with Sam and build and weld items.  I want to order some fun business supplies.  I want to get organized and serious.

I want to decorate our house with meaningful things.  I want to make some pillows.  I want to support more etsy artists and buy the prints that I love.

I want to finish our downstairs and share the remodeling projects with you on this blog.  I have pictures and crazy videos!

Speaking of blogging, I want to blog so many things.  I want to catch up and do a 2010 recap.  I want to share weddings I was in this last year.  I want to share creativity posts.  I have so many and I am really excited to write them.  I want to do a big blog redesign.

I want pinterest to just be inspiring and not consuming.  I want to make happen the things I pin.

I want to send out happy mail.  I want to write real letters regularly.

I want to travel- like a big trip.  I have a 10 year high school reunion in Wisconsin that I might go to, but I would rather go to Europe again while Luna is still free to fly.  I want to visit my best friend in Hawaii. I want to seek out little towns right around me and eat lunch at a diner and thrift shop.

I ordered quite a few goodies from tboo

So my little word for 2012 is fruit.  Matthew 3:8  Bear fruit in keeping with repentence.  It is out of joy and a full happy heart that I want to make things this year.  I feel like God has filled me with these creative gifts and I am really finally understanding what that means and being ok with it.  Fruit has a lot of meaning on the surface and a bit deeper.  I love fruit, it's good and sweet and I love going outside and picking it.  So it brings a good image to mind.  I found this little blurb on a blog post and I liked what it had to say spiritually about fruit.  I like using fruit because it ties the producing and making back to God and gives Him credit and helps me remember to turn to him for strength too.  I wanted a daily visual reminder of it so I turned to etsy.  I'm looking forward to an etsy order from England.  I ordered the fruit lockets pictured up above.  Here are some other things I liked too.  I want to make a little charm bracelet.  I might order one of these and add the locket to it.

Amanda Davie mixed media and art jewelry  I really like so many of her pretty pieces.

I also thought some of these little fruit pieces were cute.  I'm a little worried because I have never gotten into jewelry making, but I'm getting the urge and think it would be so fun!

Weston Perry

Jewel Be Charmed

Hey Girl

These are cracking me up.  They are so hilarious!  I can't wait for Sam to see them.  You have to check out Ryan Gosling Handmade for more great ones.  Courtney showed me these and I had to share.

Front Page

It's been so nice to be on the etsy team. Everyone has been so supportive and generous. A couple of weeks ago we decided to take turns featuring different shops in treasuries. I was featured last week, and it was so nice to get more exposure and hits. And yesterday Tera made an amazing treasury featuring many team members that landed on the front page! It was so exciting for me. This was my first time on the front page. Yay, the little yellow basket from my shop sold right away!

Bubble Mailer DIY

I finally ran out of all the bubble mailers I had, so I decided to make one. I found this awesome tutorial from Randi, so click here for the full tutorial. I had this vintage wallpaper from an antique shop and I was dying to use it. Don't be intimidated, it really is quick and easy, it only took about 5 minutes to make. Because as the girl at the post office said... "Cute packages are a must!"

Stocking Stuffers

There is still time to get a few last minute gifts. I just added a few gifts, and they're all under $5! According to the post office you have until Dec. 21 to send a package first class that will arrive in time for Christmas. And with every purchase you also receive a free ornament!

Now I better stop adding things and get busy making gifts!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

I've been having fun dressing up the boxes of my etsy orders. For a fun alternative to wrapping paper, I used ledger paper. You can buy a big notepad at a thrift store for a couple of bucks. It's a nice neutral color and the pages are extra long.

Black Friday Sale

I hope you all ate tons of turkey and had a good day. I just wanted to let you know that you can take part in Black Friday without leaving your house! I've got a big sale going on this weekend starting today on Black Friday and ending on Cyber Monday. I'm offering free shipping on everything in my shop! Now through Christmas you will also receive a free ornament with every purchase. Check out all the other great deals going on at Etsy. You can do a search by typing EtsyHolidaySale, or EtsyFreeShipping. It's a great time to buy a handmade gift!

Embroidery Trio

I couldn't help squeezing in a few more fall items in the shop.

Full Swing

Christmas crafting is in full swing. I have deadlines and a show only 2 weeks away. These silly tubes are apron strings waiting to be ironed. I'm trying to assembly line them. (I'm not the speediest seamstress) But it does get better in time, you know what they say.

Christmas items are starting to pop up in my etsy shop. My advent calendars are back. I'm going to have a fall sale later this week to make room for Christmas, stay tuned.

I've probably been inhaling too many spraypaint fumes. Ah, but nothing is more satisfying than turning a humdrum pale gold dresser into a playful tangy tangerine! Blue lagoon, smoked paprika, key lime and cherry red spray paint gave my drab, stale picture frames a second life. They're waiting to be turned into chalkboards, calendars, and towel holders.

Sam and I are going to work on a big set up display this weekend. I am so excited for this craft fair. I've got big dreams of a bright cheerful set up- think Heather Bailey meets Anna Marie Horner. I look forward to sharing more pictures soon!

I hope you can squeeze in a little time this week for being creative, it's so worth it! Happy Wednesday!

Is there anything you would love to see in my shop for Christmas? I'd love to hear some ideas.

Fall Leaf Coasters

I am really happy with the way these coasters turned out. I decided to add the leaf after I turned them right side out, which makes them reversible.

On a completely different note, I am getting back into yoga and it feels so good! I have terrible posture and the yoga helps prevent getting headaches. I'm finally falling into a routine at our new place which feels nice. Enjoy the weekend!

Halloween Banner

Here are a few halloween banners I made. I think I'll do a few more too. I had so much fun making these. I've been saving cereal boxes, so I cut those out and used spray adhesive to attach the scrapbook paper to them. Check out my shop to see what else I've been up to!
I thought I'd give you a little glimpse into our home, you can see part of that awesome view, I'll share more pics soon!

This thing was a beast to take a photo of. I spent way too much time and got really frustrated!
Have a great weekend everyone! Hope you get outside and enjoy it!

Fall Centerpiece

This seemed so cool in my head, and yet I feel like it turned out mom-ish. I thought stitching around the edges would make it more hip. I'm not so sure. This is supposed to be a little table runner you can place your centerpiece on. I have one more idea in my head. (You know my new philosophy- yes I'm going to make it. I'm not giving up.)

Finally, I'm feeling brave enough to list some things on etsy that I've made. I really would rather be selling stuff I make, but really it's so much easier to sell vintage items. My feelings don't get hurt if some vintage item doesn't sell because I wasn't responsible for making it. But the whole point is to sell handmade. I'm feeling like I'm kinda getting a sense of my style.

I'm also learning while designing and making things that it takes 3 takes to perfect something. This is really hard to deal with. I want it to be just right the first time. But now I just kinda accept that if it's a new idea it takes a few takes.

On another note, I'm really wanting to say some bad words because I shelled out a lot of money to get the lens cleaned on my camera and now I see a little black spot on that first picture- argh! I've been really good with putting my camera away and keeping it clean. So maddening!

I have more to share tomorrow!

Winner Chosen by Our Little Visitor

The giveaway goes to...

Lana of Extraordinary Housewives!! Congratulations

We are babysitting Ingrid for Andrea for a few hours. We couldn't help but exploit the cute little kitty by having her pick our winner. She didn't mind at all. Thanks so much everyone for the kind words and all the good inspiration. I love hearing what makes you happy.

Summer Giveaway

click to get a closer look!

I'm celebrating summer by giving away a tote filled with goodies for the beach. I'm giving away one of my reversible totes, a vintage flat sheet, do it yourself magazine, 4 chartreuse plastic cups, a fun red nail polish pen, some sunscreen, and a mini journal I have embellished. Yes, I'm giving it all away to one reader!

I'm celebrating new beginnings! My old banner was making you and I cringe for far too long, so finally, a new banner. I am also celebrating the restocking of my etsy shop. I'm excited to bring you many fun vintage items. And I'm going to be loading it up this week with mini books with different themes. I'll be doing a camping theme, a summer fun theme, and a travel theme.

Here are some fun things in the shop right now:

Isn't this just the cutest woodland Smokey the bear fabric? (sold in record time) I love it!

I also have some of my budget bags in the shop. I left them blank so I can customize them however you would like. I can stamp anything you desire on them.

To enter the drawing for the summer bag, simply leave a comment telling me something inspiring you right now- new music, a fun blog, a good etsy shop, a great movie, anything you would like. And please don't be shy. Even if you have never commented before don't be afraid. You don't need a blogger account, you can just leave an anonymous comment and just tell me your name. I'll draw a winner next Monday. Good luck!

Your Opinion Please

Alright. I have this big stack of zippers. I made a few pillows. I would like to know if you think I should make more pillows like this, or if you would like it better if I make a laptop case, or a purse with the same style. Or any other ideas?

Anthropologie really inspired me to make these. This one was my practice one. It's a bit messier, but I kinda wanted it that way.

And I didn't forget about that giveaway, soon, soon I promise. Some new things are slowly appearing in my shop.

It's Back

Getting a good idea should be like sitting on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something.
-E.L. Simpson

The creative mojo is back on.  I've been delightfully holed up in my studio creating.  Etsy update and giveaway coming soon, stay tuned!

Etsy Love

I will be updating my etsy shop this week for Valentine's day!  This card and others will go up tomorrow (when the sun is shining brighter so the pictures turn out!)

To Sell or Not to Sell?

I love these!  I love all things that are orange!  I'm sick of my green bowls, and these are bigger. Problem is, I think these would be a good etsy seller, I don't know if anyone would want to buy my green ones.  Don't they resemble these Ikat tea pots Grace posted on Design Sponge?  They have a gold rim inside on the top too.  Whaddya think?  By the way, etsy update coming this Friday!  

And the winner is...

Congratulations Morgan at Mrs. Priss!  I randomly drew your name to receive this little notebook.  It's a moleskine cahier notebook that I hand embroidered and embellished with vintage pearly buttons.  I hope you enjoy!  Thank you so much everyone for leaving such kind and encouraging comments.

Grand Opening

I just opened an etsy shop!  This has been something that I wanted to do ever since I started this blog, just about 2? years ago.  I have been into making things out of wool felt lately.  You can visit All Things Artsy to check it all out.  In order to celebrate I'm going to have my first give away!  Leave a comment and I will pick someone to receive a felt moleskine notebook cover by next week.  Hmm, I haven't decided on which one yet.  It's getting way too late!  In the morning I will pick something out.  Keep looking, I have many more things up my sleeve to add to this shop.