Showing posts with label Handmade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Handmade. Show all posts

Monday, April 12, 2010

So Busy, But Great Surprise

While trying to figure out my own life, I happened upon a great undiscovered Etsy Artist. JMVdigital offers the Etsy world a unique look at American life. The works can be described most as nostalgic. I'm loving this American Dream.

"I want to call out, or call forth the specialness of life – even in loss, emptiness, plainness and decay. That’s why my photographs are often rich in color and bold with contrast. I’m striving for simplicity and a keen attention to details as I try to capture timeless, yet temporary moments. I’m trying to convey a mood, a specific perspective – a perspective that’s not necessarily part of our universal human experience, but a perspective that evokes strong feelings about the unique scenes in the world around us."
- JMVdigital

Friday, September 4, 2009

So what exactly is this Etsy thing?

People are talking about Etsy.

What could cooler than being able to shop online? Being able to browse and purchase all types of unique HANDMADE everythings, right at your computer.

Etsy.com. We are designers, innovators, artists and creators. We love the items we make and are passionate about creating.

I first fell in love with Etsy because of my passion for creation, I thought it would be the ideal place to share my creations with the world, and although all of this is true. I have come to realize that I can also benefit from shopping on Etsy as well. I am extremely "over" the whole "run out and get a whole bunch of inexpensive trinkets for friends and family members at some store phase". Everyone does that and it I am beginning to find it slightly mundane. Many of these items that I receive remain wrapped up in cellophane for a few years before they are eventually thrown out. Now that I have found Etsy, I cannot wait for the holidays to arrive!

I know what you are thinking... you don't really love the look of artisan items, basketweaving, handpainted shelves, etc. I don't love that either. While this type of item is also available on Etsy, what really draws my attention is the large amount of handmade, "indie" or underground, if you may, sellers with unique and modern styles. While some items may have an old time inspiration, the design elements and style is anything but dated... Take this innovative dress for example... made from an antique quilt top and antique cotton feed sack, super cute and with modern flair! It is the finds like this that keep me on Etsy and out of designer stores and places like Target. ((Pretty Birdie by Stephanie Teague)


Etsy is also a great place to browse handmade soaps. One seller I met recently specializes in vegan soaps like the one pictured on the right.

"All of my soaps are made with nourishing coconut milk, herbs, fruits and vegetable bases."
-DeShawn Marie

How can one resist something this luscious...?
So we know that Etsy houses a great selection of trendy handmade items with a country touch and modern flair. With that being said, it is important to note that Etsy is not solely a place for homestyle inspired items. Take this cute fabric bangle for example... this one is my own! A beautiful scrap of Japanese print fabric wrapped around none other than a recycled duct tape roll! Sustainable, and trendy.
Hopefully you have enjoyed my intro to the wonders of Etsy! I hope to bring you a few more indepth articles later on! But for now... what are you waiting for? Head on over to Etsy and see for yourself what it is all about!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Fashionable Sewing Queen's Palace

If you follow me on Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook... you already know I cannot get enough of BurdaStyle.com...

It's just that I have spent so long being disappointed in many of the mainstream sewing companies patterns, even Vogue.

Its not that their patterns arn't lovely... they just are not targeted to a younger crowd.

Burdastyle patterns are SOO fabulous and trendy and many are FREE!

They just updated their site and it is now easier than ever to search patterns by season, style, ease of construction, and more options are available as well.

If you have a pattern you'd like to share, users can also add creations and patterns, who knows maybe could be a good marketing technique?

The pictures above are dresses which I have made using some of the patterns on Burdastyle... sorry that the picture is not more professional looking!


Check it all out at http://www.Burdastyle.com

-AzureChina