Some Favorite Etsy Finds

I love to sift through Etsy looking for unique hand crafted and vintage items.  Here are a few of my recent favorite finds.

Funky Owl Coaster set by Funky Chicken Design

Green Metal Buckets by Daily Memorandum

Hello Summer Print by Cathy Nichols

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polka Dot Stationery by Rue Renee

 

 

"Dreams"  print by Art at the Speed of Life

 

Antique Schoolmaster's Desk  by Daily Memorandum

Mini Post Card Pillows by Lisa Wine Studios

This is why I love Etsy!  So many creative people and so many unique items.  The perfect place to shop for the person who has everything.  Including yourself!
But also a place to find creative inspiration.  What will I find next??

Let's Make This Fun!

Decorating needn't be so serious.  Have a little fun!  Try something new!  Explore all the possibilities with color and pattern.  Here are some rooms that will,  hopefully, inspire you.

Hand Printing Anyone?

I enjoy things that are handmade.  Whether I have made them or someone else.  There is something very satisfying about handmade objects.  Creating them is especially rewarding.  I have tried many types of arts and crafts projects over the years.  Some have become part of who I am.  Knitting, for example.  But other things like quilting, cross stitch, embroidery, spinning and so on, have been tried and eventually fell by the wayside.  Not enough time, didn't enjoy the process and other reasons.  I recently came across this book and had to have it.  It is called "Print Workshop"  by Christine Schmidt.  It is a book filled with hand printing techniques and original projects.  I love wood block art and other forms of hand printing and this book looked as though hand-printing might be something I could do.  It is filled with great illustrations and clear, step by step instructions for some tempting projects.  Some of the projects are more complicated than others, but there are plenty of cool ideas for beginners.  Plus the projects in this book can open your eyes to all the possibilities in hand-printed art.  For instance, who would have thought that wrapping string around a wood block and then using it like a stamp would have such pleasing results?  I'm going to give that one a try.  I also want to experiment with using vegetables for stamping.  Ever hear of potato stamping?  We tried it years ago,when my kids were small, as one of our experiments with art.  Lots of cool ideas in this great book.  Now, just finding the time to actually try some of them is something I need to figure out.  Stay tuned!  If anything works out, I'll be sure to post the results here.   
 

Collectibles: Brass

Brass Pig

Brass Quail Figures

Folding Brass Rabbit Bookend

Brass Vase

Hammered Brass Footed Tray

Small Brass Canister

Brass Shell Vase/sculpture

Vintage brass has recently come to my attention as being a great collectible.  It comes in many forms; candlesticks, bookends, paperweights, sculpture, doorknobs, vases and much more.  It will last almost forever and is readily available and very affordable.  Much of the world's finest brass pieces come from India, where the craft of brass and other metal work has been handed down from generation to generation.  With an occasional polish, your brass pieces will look great for years.  So, open your eyes and begin to look at brass in a whole new way.  You'll be surprised at what you find!