Sunday, April 25, 2010

Handmade Gifts for Mom

If you want to show your appreciation for mom but don’t want to go the mass produced route, check out these two Etsy shops.

Open Door Handmade shop is full of bright, cheery hand painted gift tags.


This group of tags is “perfect for tying to a bottle of wine, tagging a gift bag ... or just to celebrate your friend for his/her special day!... you can adorn them with your own ribbon or twine.” Or you can “frame them and they can become your little instant collection of original affordable art.”

The Domestic Nest has some cheerful reclaimed leather bottle covers to present a bottle of wine to mom or if she doesn’t drink alcohol a non-alcoholic beverage or fine bottle of olive oil.



For a chance to win one of these lovely reclaimed leather bottle covers go to The Domestic Nest Blog and follow the instructions. Your chance to enter the giveaway ends Tuesday, April 27th at midnight.

Happy Shopping!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Handmade Gifts for Mom

If you want to show your appreciation for mom but don’t want to go the mass produced route, check out these two Etsy shops.

Open Door Handmade shop is full of bright, cheery hand painted gift tags.


This group of tags is “perfect for tying to a bottle of wine, tagging a gift bag ... or just to celebrate your friend for his/her special day!... you can adorn them with your own ribbon or twine.” Or you can “frame them and they can become your little instant collection of original affordable art.”

The Domestic Nest has some cheerful reclaimed leather bottle covers to present a bottle of wine to mom or if she doesn’t drink alcohol a non-alcoholic beverage or fine bottle of olive oil.


For a chance to win one of these lovely reclaimed leather bottle covers go to The Domestic Nest Blog and follow the instructions. Your chance to enter the giveaway ends Tuesday, April 27th at midnight.

Happy Shopping!

Friday, April 9, 2010

The Power of Home

Home is one of those places that often conjures up thoughts of comfort, warmth, safety, and joy.


I've always lived in a newer tract home, you know, the plain kind that lacks individuality. It doesn't have the character found in the lines and details of a Victorian, a Craftsman, or even a Mid Century Modern.


So when I make representations of home, whether it is in ceramic or fabric, the depictions are literal like these pillows.


I like those renditions of home but they're so literal. So now I'm thinking about creating some ceramics that evoke the feelings of home but don't necessarily have a traditional house shape. Here's the beginnings of a piece that is currently in the forming stage.


My intention is to represent the ideas and feelings of home like softness and containment. I plan to fill the holes with soft textiles that entice the viewer to become more intimate with the piece through touch. My goal is to evoke feelings of peace or pleasure in the viewer.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Shoe Trees

Have you ever seen a shoe tree?

Pretty interesting, don't you think. Imagine driving down the highway and out of no where you pass a tree full of shoes hung by their laces. After seeing one just outside of Reno, Nevada I discovered there are more of them around the United States.