A big whopping thanks to Ken for making my space looks even better and Lynnette for making me sound like an interior design expert!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
studio revisited – working from home
In case any of you are contemplating making the leap to self-employment or working from home, you should definitely to read this great article by Lynnette at Neighborhood Notes. As a bonus, you'll get to see more photos of my design studio – this time shot by a pro (www.kdaphoto.com).
A big whopping thanks to Ken for making my space looks even better and Lynnette for making me sound like an interior design expert!
A big whopping thanks to Ken for making my space looks even better and Lynnette for making me sound like an interior design expert!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I'm in love...
...with a machine! Yes, you heard me right – I am absolutely, head-over-heels in luuv with a 20-pound hunk of steel: my friend Amy's button machine!
Just look at these little darlings:
I'll be selling them at this season's craft fairs around town, but should you live outside the greater Portland area, don't fret: I've listed some at my Etsy store.
Just look at these little darlings:
I'll be selling them at this season's craft fairs around town, but should you live outside the greater Portland area, don't fret: I've listed some at my Etsy store.
Monday, October 27, 2008
holiday savings at ecru
Here's a heads up for all you fellow paper fanatics: LeAnn at Ecru is hosting a holiday open house this coming Saturday!
It's a great way to kick off your holiday shopping: not only will LeAnn provide some yummy nibbles to nosh on, she's even offering 20% off on everything in the store!
In case you're not familiar with Ecru, they offer a huge selection of modern paper goods that range from swanky to funky. You'll find unique indie lines like UrbanBark and Smudge Ink as well as big-time faves like Russel+Hazel. To wet your appetite, here's a sneak peek of some of Ecru's holiday cards:
ECRU MODERN STATIONER
Holiday Open House: Saturday November 1 • 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
1215 NW 11th Avenue • Portland • 503.227.2611 • www.ecrupaper.com
It's a great way to kick off your holiday shopping: not only will LeAnn provide some yummy nibbles to nosh on, she's even offering 20% off on everything in the store!
In case you're not familiar with Ecru, they offer a huge selection of modern paper goods that range from swanky to funky. You'll find unique indie lines like UrbanBark and Smudge Ink as well as big-time faves like Russel+Hazel. To wet your appetite, here's a sneak peek of some of Ecru's holiday cards:
ECRU MODERN STATIONER
Holiday Open House: Saturday November 1 • 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
1215 NW 11th Avenue • Portland • 503.227.2611 • www.ecrupaper.com
Sunday, October 26, 2008
etsy find
Yes, I've been shopping Etsy a lot lately, but there are just so many great finds! Take a look at my latest treasure: these vintage porcelain dolls just begged to come live with me!
They're from an old doll factory in Thüringen, Germany, where they were discovered buried in the mud. Apparently, these late 19th-century dolls are called "frozen Charlottes" and were also known as "pillar" or "penny" dolls.
I can't wait to carve out a sliver of time to try my hand at some mixed media assemblage art – at just a couple inches tall, they'll be just perfect!
In case you want a little Charlotte of your own, I found these three here, but have found some more here.
They're from an old doll factory in Thüringen, Germany, where they were discovered buried in the mud. Apparently, these late 19th-century dolls are called "frozen Charlottes" and were also known as "pillar" or "penny" dolls.
I can't wait to carve out a sliver of time to try my hand at some mixed media assemblage art – at just a couple inches tall, they'll be just perfect!
In case you want a little Charlotte of your own, I found these three here, but have found some more here.
kudos to eSoule!
The new issue of Sunset magazine arrived in my mailbox this weekend, and I was thrilled to see one of my favorite Portland artists featured right there on page 44: Elizabeth Soule!
I've featured Elizabeth's photography on my blog before when we've both been vendors at Portland's premier handmade market place, Crafty Wonderland. Her whimsical subjects (small toy animals) are captured beautifully with dramatic lighting and colorful backgrounds.
If you want to own one of these fun and creative pieces, simply check out eSoule's website or visit her Etsy store!
I've featured Elizabeth's photography on my blog before when we've both been vendors at Portland's premier handmade market place, Crafty Wonderland. Her whimsical subjects (small toy animals) are captured beautifully with dramatic lighting and colorful backgrounds.
If you want to own one of these fun and creative pieces, simply check out eSoule's website or visit her Etsy store!
Friday, October 17, 2008
shop talk – pomegranate
During my recent visit to Bend for a little R&R, I couldn't leave town without stopping by Pomegranate, one of my favorite gift and home décor stores in the area.
While I did know Pomegranate has two locations, I had never stopped by their River Mall store. I must admit, based on the address alone, I did expect a bit of a strip mall situation. But reality couldn't be further from the truth!
Pulling up to the site, my heart skipped a beat as I came face to face with the cutest little barn, its doors wide open and ready to embrace me. And that was just the beginning!
Besides the darling barn, there is a small cottage as well as the main house, all filled to the gills with a carefully edited selection of must-haves and can't-live-withouts.
Their fine selection of luxurious stationery, leather-bound journals, and boxed notes makes you long for a fountain pen and gold wax so you can write long epistles while seated at your secretaire.
And if you love sudsy scented soaps like me, don't miss their little powder room-turned-soap-heaven tucked in the back of the house.
I couldn't leave the store without this little orange tin from France – it now graces my studio next to some old woodcut letters.
And while I don't have any good photos to share, trust me when I say you'll won't want to miss the attic, which is filled with baby goodness.
POMEGRANATE
120 River Mall Avenue • Bend • 541.383.3713
While I did know Pomegranate has two locations, I had never stopped by their River Mall store. I must admit, based on the address alone, I did expect a bit of a strip mall situation. But reality couldn't be further from the truth!
Pulling up to the site, my heart skipped a beat as I came face to face with the cutest little barn, its doors wide open and ready to embrace me. And that was just the beginning!
Besides the darling barn, there is a small cottage as well as the main house, all filled to the gills with a carefully edited selection of must-haves and can't-live-withouts.
Their fine selection of luxurious stationery, leather-bound journals, and boxed notes makes you long for a fountain pen and gold wax so you can write long epistles while seated at your secretaire.
And if you love sudsy scented soaps like me, don't miss their little powder room-turned-soap-heaven tucked in the back of the house.
I couldn't leave the store without this little orange tin from France – it now graces my studio next to some old woodcut letters.
And while I don't have any good photos to share, trust me when I say you'll won't want to miss the attic, which is filled with baby goodness.
POMEGRANATE
120 River Mall Avenue • Bend • 541.383.3713
Monday, October 13, 2008
invitation sample
Late last week I received my samples of a very fun invitation I recently designed for a CPA firm up in Seattle. Yes, "fun" and "CPA" really can be used in the same sentence!
Peterson Sullivan was using a wine theme for their upcoming open house so I suggested we create a passport that served both as an invitation and as a game piece: bring the passport to the event, taste the wine and pick up a sticker from each of the four regions to "stamp" your passport. Then use your passport as your entry form for a chance to win a fabulous prize!
I designed a cover that mimicked a U.S. passport but used a wine-inspired crest that used the firm's logo in the shield. The gold foil finish turned out beautiful, making it look so real!
Peterson Sullivan was using a wine theme for their upcoming open house so I suggested we create a passport that served both as an invitation and as a game piece: bring the passport to the event, taste the wine and pick up a sticker from each of the four regions to "stamp" your passport. Then use your passport as your entry form for a chance to win a fabulous prize!
I designed a cover that mimicked a U.S. passport but used a wine-inspired crest that used the firm's logo in the shield. The gold foil finish turned out beautiful, making it look so real!
Friday, October 10, 2008
fall etsy find
I was literally running out the door when I practically bumped into the postman and glimpsed a package from TruLuxe among all my bills and junk mail. So just had to come back inside and share my latest Etsy find:
These darling little acorns are actually felted wool balls nestled into real acorn tops. Perfect for the fall season! And shipping was super-fast, too - just three days from Boston to Portland, wow!
So go check out all the little acorn babies at the TruLuxe etsy shop!
These darling little acorns are actually felted wool balls nestled into real acorn tops. Perfect for the fall season! And shipping was super-fast, too - just three days from Boston to Portland, wow!
So go check out all the little acorn babies at the TruLuxe etsy shop!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
shop talk – the arrangement
I love shopping in my own Northeast neighborhood. I'm quite lucky to have some great little boutiques practically around the corner!
Take The Arrangement, for instance. I always seem to have plenty of time to shop there since it's conveniently located next to hubby-magnets such as Pizzicato, Beaumont Market and the hardware store. Take your time, honey; I'll be right over here!
The Arrangement is a great one-stop shop for cards, gifts, home decor, and fashion accessories. It's packed floor to ceiling with goodies that just beg to be bought!
They've got one of the largest selections of soaps and lotions and yummy smelling bath salts, all packaged up so prettily, it's almost a pitty to break the seal.
And while I enjoy seeing what's new at The Arrangement any time of year, it's especially fun around the holidays when they decorate the store to the hilt.
I love coming here when I don't really need anything because that's when I make the best discoveries: the perfect hostess gift for my girlfriend, that special soap for my mother-in-law and oh yes, a little sumthin-sumthin for myself, too!
THE ARRANGEMENT
4210 NE Fremont St. • Portland • 503.287.4440
Take The Arrangement, for instance. I always seem to have plenty of time to shop there since it's conveniently located next to hubby-magnets such as Pizzicato, Beaumont Market and the hardware store. Take your time, honey; I'll be right over here!
The Arrangement is a great one-stop shop for cards, gifts, home decor, and fashion accessories. It's packed floor to ceiling with goodies that just beg to be bought!
They've got one of the largest selections of soaps and lotions and yummy smelling bath salts, all packaged up so prettily, it's almost a pitty to break the seal.
And while I enjoy seeing what's new at The Arrangement any time of year, it's especially fun around the holidays when they decorate the store to the hilt.
I love coming here when I don't really need anything because that's when I make the best discoveries: the perfect hostess gift for my girlfriend, that special soap for my mother-in-law and oh yes, a little sumthin-sumthin for myself, too!
THE ARRANGEMENT
4210 NE Fremont St. • Portland • 503.287.4440
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