Leather Cuffs

Had a little time the other day and, with the help of a stack of leather sample provided to me by a friend who owns a furniture store, turned out a few leather cuffs! They're simple...silver button, leather strap to fasten, and a glazed pottery "stone" in the middle. Very cute and makes great gifts! Now a cuff I really like are these ones by OwlPeople...perfect for football games here in Nebraska!

Martha Copied Me

What should a friend spy on Miss Martha Stewart's site but a little gadget I have been making and giving away (or selling) for years--the Bag'Em! Or, as MS calls them, "Pretty Little Plastic Bag Holders." Martha made hers from a dishtowel and twill tape; I went all out with contrast insides; grosgrain trim and handle and french seams. I think mine are a little bigger, too. 

Anyways, they're simple to make and are great hostess gifts (and a way to use up extra fabric!) 1). Just cut two pieces of fabric the size you want to make the bag, 2). sew together at the top and french seam the sides, 3). sew a channel on the bottom for elastic 4). finish the seam after you put the elastic in and add the ribbon trim!

More on Handmade Greeting Cards

Oh, what fun it is to create your own cards! This clever greeting card book I found at Barnes & Noble (it's available online at Amazon as well) was a great source of ideas and inspiration. I especially like the collaged cards section--collage has been a mini-obsession since I discovered John Derian's decoupage work. 

There are so many great collage artists, and such creativity in their work! Linda Solovic is one who works with paper and textiles to create incredibly intricate pieces. Meghan Stratman is another amazing collage artist (she had a booth at the Nature's Market that I had an Emmy + Ivy booth at.)

I was inspired to make a few collage cards of my own. These aren't terribly detailed, but I think the baby dinosaurs are darling. I made a pattern and traced it onto scrapbook paper to make the mini-saurs. 

DIY Not?

Handmade Nation, Fayth Levine's book (yes, I have it) and soon-to-be-released film (yes, I will be seeing it) documents the rise of DIY and the new wave of art, craft and design. Full of a vibrant, break-the-rules sensibility, DIY has elevated craft from home ec class to attract a following of hip young women...and given a new meaning to the term DIY. The power of the handmade movement boils down to this: being able to use your own creativity to construct your life. 

Fayth, known as the "ambassador of handmade", attributes her title to a simple fact: "When someone takes the time to document something, she [or he] become the go-to person for that movement." Each crafter involved in handmade is documenting some niche art, from paper cutting to decoupaging to hand-stitching--and those who produce most prolifically are known well within the movement. 

Indie craft is becoming a true cultural force. Shunning mass-produced fare in favor of handmade goods, it creates an independent economy free from corporate ties. And those who are supporting this new economy love the goods, as evidenced by the success of Etsy.com. The mix includes disciplined artisans who have been honing their craft for years to funky, free-wheeling indies whose motto is "it's okay to mess up." 

I heart this movement, which allows me not only to be a part of it; but to experiment, try various mediums, explore my inner creativity, and purchase and surround my family with the work of small-scale artisans. 

The Joy of Estate Sales

My uber-fabulous friend Liz sent me a surprise package the other day containing two dozen or so vintage fabric flowers. (She is an estate sale junkie and should be commandeered as a vintage coolhunter.) The fabric was wired to create the petals, and the whole thing was wired together to shape a blossom. 

Delighted, I set out to make them into something wearable (although they also look adorable in a small bud vase.) The resulting barrettes are a little J.Crew, a smidge Lilly Pulitzer and a whole lot of Emmy & Ivy. 

They would look fabulous with a red or orange sundress....or a crisp white shirt and jeans. All spring and summer fare, for sure...but this is an accessory that cries out for an accompanying season. 

Crown Her, Crown Him

It seems that the newest rage in children's toys/playwear are felt crowns. They've been featured everywhere, from magazines to blogs. Your little one can pop it on, don an accompanying fabric cape, and with a wand, rule the world--at least in their imagination. 

Inspired by all the craftiness around me, I set out to make my own. What does it take? Some pieces of felt, elastic, fabric scraps, the ability to embroider, and a little imagination. I must say I was pleased by how my crowns turned out, but I wouldn't want to make them en masse. Some special niece will get a very royal gift in the mail sometime soon!

Needlebooks Galore

My obsession du jour is needlebooks (or needlecases as some call them.) I couldn't find any ones with even a shred of artistic flair in any local stores--in fact, the only thing I could find was needles. Setting about to obtain some handcrafted needlecases was a task one wouldn't think would be so difficult. 

After making one of my own topped with a felt flower, yours truly went on a crusade to find some lovelier than I could attempt to create. And where did the treasure of the day come from? A Flickr photostream, which led me to discover Florence Hope on Etsy. Unfortunately, they aren't selling any more of their wonderfully modern needlecases or other felt art, but a girl can look all she wants--right?