Beautiful Layers: Creating a Path » Crafty

Studio Time

lorrie — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:42:39 +0000

Since moving into our new home, I’ve been slowwwwly unpacking my studio and getting things organized just enough to use the computer and make jewelry. This is the first time in my life that I’ve had a real room for my creative adventures, and it’s not too small or two big. My own wish would be to have another window, which I don’t think would be too impossible to install down the road.

My first purchase?

This Braxton Trestle Desk from Target. A steal at $150, and really well made and easy to put together. The first shelf houses printer paper and the second, design books. I needed it just for computer work and writing and it’s perfect.

The room was painted before we moved in to a nice shade of creamy off-white which I enjoy, and have wondered if I should paint it, or if I should go any direction with this room aesthetically? My main goal now is organization. I love that I have a closet now. It has one of those canvas closet caddies that I’ve stored paper and notebooks and extra giant natural lighting bulbs. And then I have a tall stack of drawers for my packaging supplies.

Well anyway, I’ve been thinking of really going all out in this room and making it the best that I possibly can, because this is where I spend a lot of my time. This room should inspire creativity which means lots of uncluttered surfaces.

I need the room to function as a computer/design room, a jewelry studio, a place a paint and sew, and a place to just be.

I found this studio on flowdesignstudio.com and think an island like this would be really useful.

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bird bracelets in the shop

lorrie — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:09:29 +0000

Weekend, where did you go? It always seems that I spend most of my weekend having fun…going to the movies, going to dinner, thrift shopping, making jewelry…getting a bunny (!) that by the time Sunday rolls around I find myself needing another two days for responsible grown-up stuff like cooking or cleaning.

I recently got into jewelry making right before the Floyd craft show back at the beginning of October. It started out innocent enough with a couple pairs of simple wire and bead earrings and now I find myself frantically trying to find high quality silver wire for hammering.

I’ve been collecting images of other jewelers that I like and seem to have discovered the beginnings of my own style of jewelry making. I’ve got a long way to go, but I love the look of these first couple of bracelets.

To me, they seem funky and antiquey at the same time. I wanted them to have small details or unexpected elements that are hard to find in most mass-produced jewelry. They look really worn together too.

I struggled with what to name them and decided on movie characters that I like. There seems to be an endless and I went towards what I think the character might wear.

Here is the C. Baker bracelet:

And the Giselle bracelet:

Sunday chores are calling my name…

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a handmade christmas

lorrie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:08:02 +0000

I have to admit, even though it’s two weeks until Thanksgiving, I’m secretly thinking about and planning for Christmas. Last year seemed to really fly by before I had a chance to actually enjoy everything that I love about the season. It was our first Christmas together in Virginia and it felt like we were going from one place to another all the while missing the time together that we really craved.

This year I’m getting started early. Not necessarily with the decorating, which I think can start to get, less special? If left up for too long, but with making decorations, gifts and creating new traditions. Sometimes when you are a family of two it’s hard to just have time for each other and I want that.

That isn’t to say that I don’t look forward to the gatherings with friends and family, because I love that too. I looked at the calendar, and friends we have six weekends until the week of. Six weeks (!), no need to panic, we just need a plan.

Here is a small list of what I want to do in the next 6 weeks:

Watch favorite holiday movies
Holiday Baking
Creating and sending out personalized Christmas cards
Cooking a nice breakfast for me and Josh Christmas morning
Get together with friends to play games and exchange gifts
Host a christmas eve get together with one half of Josh’s family
Christmas Dinner on Christmas day with my family
Cookie exchange
Handmade gifts
Picking out a Christmas tree and decorating
Christmas decorating/ making new decor
Make a Christmas album with Josh

This is what I can think of so far and plan on getting started with a few of things things, particularly the handmade gifts this weekend. I have a ton of ideas floating around in my head and a lot of little projects around the house that I look forward to starting.

I love these glitter feathers! I got them from Michael’s last week and couldn’t resist, now I just need to figure out what I’m going to do with them. I kind of thought one of them would be a really cute headband.

And it doesn’t hurt to have the Sufjan Stevens Christmas Album handy for getting in the spirit…

What are you making this weekend?

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Forgotten Finds Handmade

lorrie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:36:50 +0000

The hunt begins, again. I opened my shop a few months ago with little plan or direction in sight. I just wanted a space on etsy where I could sell vintage finds and handmade goods, but then I got married and got a full time job and well…

That was that. And now, here I am with direction, ideas, motivation and new goals. The Forgotten Finds ball is rolling and I’m ready for it! My goal is to update the shop at least every other day until the week leading up to Christmas. To say I am excited is an understatement.

I’ve been working on a new jewelry line, new paintings and all around having a good creative time in my little workspace. Today I’ve added two of my latest and (close to) favorite vintage finds.

This beautiful Kromex canister set:

I’ll admit after I set up this little display I could not help but think “oooh I like this…” “these canisters would look great here…” but alas, keeping them would defeat the purpose of Forgotten Finds so they are for sale here.

And this little guy:

I’ve had this trophy displayed all over the place, on my desk , displayed on the kitchen shelves and on the coffee table and I love it! Such a great find.

In the spirit of getting the ball rolling I’m offering a free pair of made-by-me earrings to my first 4 customers! I have lots of jewelry posts coming, I just need to take the photos and edit them.

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