Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

felt like it

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In the few minutes I had to spare at Providence Open Market this past weekend I came across a tent I haven’t seen there before.

What caught my attention was the stuffed green bean {quite similar to Bartie the Pear pictured here} I was originally introduced to through twitter. My favorite handmade store in providence was showing off some new goodies one fine day, the cute as pie green bean with a face being one of those adorable pieces. Since then, I have been on the lookout, hoping to see these adorable stuffed animals in person.

I was all alone in my booth this past Saturday so I wasn’t able to handle all of lovely offerings on Felt Like It’s table. But I took a business card and vowed not to just place it in the recycling bin as I do with so many others. This time I would scour the internet for this person’s work. I am so glad I did. Vegetables with a face are too cute to pass up. These need to find a place on my studio refrigerator soon. I need a gentle reminder to eat some veggies instead of all those vegan cookies I have been munching on lately.

I have this fascination with owls. They are so cute and stout and generally well depicted by crafters. These are no exception. Felt Like It has a way with picking fabulous color combinations. I just love how she gives her pieces such cute little faces.

Felt Like It’s subject matter seems endless. She interprets everyday items in a fun, light-hearted way. We are able to interact with her pieces differently than we would with the real item. Unless you are into hugging your hamburger that is. {That’s right, she makes stuffed hamburgers too!}

Enjoy Felt Like It’s shop. Get some plushies for a little one you love. If you are in the area stop into Craftland and play with these in real life. Go on, you know you want to hug a pear.

Far East Style, Home Town Goods

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hand printed pillows from Tulusa Home Goods

Normally my shopping instincts are sharply honed onto pretty things to wear: clothes, shoes, jewelry, anything I can sew a flower on to, that sort of thing. But every now and then my eye is caught by beautiful home accessories, and I get the itch to beautify my living space, not just my closet!

block printed place mats from Tulusa Home Goods

Sue Henry is a sculptor and ceramic artist whose work moved over to textiles when her children came along. A dusty studio filled with fragile, breakable things was no longer practical with little ones running about. She decided to take up carving linoleum blocks – the tactile experience reminded her of her first love, working in clay.

Sue has been an artist all her life, and remembers her first creative instinct being about creating comfortable places to live. As a little girl, she wanted to be an architect and an interior designer. It just seemed like a natural next step to print her designs on textiles to create beautiful, functional home goods.

chrysanthemum hand carved block printed table runner

Seeing the lovely things that Sue makes really got me thinking about how I’ve been neglecting my living spaces lately. Her designs are full of movement and energy, and I love the bold colors she uses, which really make the designs stand out.

mehndi print table linen

Every item at Tulusa Home Goods begins with a linoleum block hand carved by Sue. She is inspired by her travels to India and South East Asia, and her love of cooking, architecture, and design. The designs are printed on cotton or linen canvas with solvent-free block printing ink. The pillows are stuffed with organic kapok, a fluffy, soft, and environmentally friendly alternative to polyfill. The textiles are designed to be functional and durable, and are machine washable.

stack of handcrafted, hand printed pillows

Included in the collection at Tulusa are pillows of all sizes, including large meditation pillows, and table linens of all types. Sue’s favorite part of the creative process is carving the linoleum block, so there’s really no limit to what she can print on, once she completes a design.

close up of wave print from hand carved linoleum block

Right now, the most popular item at Tulusa Home Goods is the Ganesha pillow. Ganesha is a Hindu deity who is the remover of obstacles, and the bringer of good fortune and new beginnings. A good friend to have around as we approach the busy holiday season and the new year, wouldn’t you say?

hand printed pillow featuring Ganesha

You can find Tulusa Home Goods at Sue’s online shop, and you can also contact her for custom orders or to be invited to her December pop-up shop in Alexandria, Virginia.

Goodness Gracious

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Looking for something spectacular for your yard? Stop looking now. I’ve found it.

Designed to become an everlasting part of your family tradition, The Great Bowl O’ Fire is an unique work of art hand-cut by artist John T Unger. No two are exactly alike, as the flames are drawn free-hand. Gather friends and family to celebrate around a roaring blaze year-round. The raised bowl allows you to sit comfortably without having to lean forward to stay warm. Keep your feet toasty, tucked below the rim of the bowl and bask in the full-body radiance that a raised firebowl offers. An outdoor fire pit is a great way to extend the outdoor living season.

The Great Bowl O’ Fire makes a stunning focal point for yards, patios and gardens. Unlike many outdoor firepits which look dirty or empty when unlit, The Great Bowl O’ Fire functions as a gorgeous sculptural element either hot or cold. By day, the flame shapes cast intriguing shadows both inside and outside the bowl and the rich tones of the patina suggest a warm blaze. At night, with a fire burning, the bowl casts flickering shadows as lively as the fire within.

The Great Bowl O’ Fire is a gorgeous sculptural element even when not in use. The play of light and shadow as the sun moves across it is as entrancing as the dance of fire.