Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

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.

Spring Organization: Kitchen

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One room in your home that you may spend the most time in is your kitchen. Especially if you have a large family to take care of; preparing school lunches, sorting groceries after shopping trips, creating a dinner menu for the month. Keeping your kitchen organized will keep the stress minimal and allow you to actually enjoy spending this essential time in your kitchen instead of having to worry about whether or not everything is in its place.

When you enter your kitchen to prepare a meal, make sure all of your favorite recipes are neatly written and are all kept in the same place. The easier things are to find, the quicker you can get down to business and complete the meal prep and have more time to spend enjoying the meal with your friends or family. The recipe box pictured above comes complete with illustrated letterpress recipe cards for a cute, handmade look. The box that holds the cards is even handcrafted by the artist in her Dad’s woodshop. Find this item along with many other original letterpress designs over at the shop of 1canoe2.

Organize your kitchen utensils with this unique handmade concrete canister. The artist at Culinarium has created a unique concrete mixture that allows his products to have a smooth texture that is physically similar to that of ceramic or aluminum! In this shop you will find other handmade items made from eco-friendly materials such as recycled rubber, concrete, cork, and aluminum for a chic, industrial style design.

If you have been on Etsy lately, then you probably noticed the trend with these adorable magnetic spice racks. SaltCitySpice turns these functional spice racks into works of art for your kitchen. There are many styles in this shop, but my favorite is the one pictured above. A silver serving platter has been altered with a chalkboard paint for a re-writable surface to jot down your shopping list, to label your spices, or to write down meal ingredients. Magnetic tins of your favorite spices are within easy reach and can be arranged on the surface in any configuration your heart desires. Find a large variety of these magnetic spice racks at SaltCitySpice!

Organizing With A Little Rustic Charm

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There are so many talented artists out there creating beautiful, functional works of art from re-purposed and recycled materials. One of my favorite trends right now is the application of old re-purposed barn wood into projects like the ones shown in this post.

The handmade owl rack shown above is available at HappyAcresArtworks. It is made from re-purposed barn wood and has been hand painted to give a natural, worn-in look. The artist from HappyAcresArtworks was raised on a 150 acre dairy farm in rural Chester County Pennsylvania and credits her upbringing for her desire to take inspiration from nature in her work. Use this owl rack to organize and hang your treasures in any room. The color scheme of her items are especially well-suited for a nursery or young child’s room.

TrueConnection is another wonderful shop specializing in one of a kind pieces made from reclaimed wood. From their wedding decor to their home decor, each piece is beautifully crafted and has it’s own unique character. The wood used for the items at TrueConnection comes natural with nail holes, knots, and a natural wood grain variation. The farm house entry table shown above is rustic and charming. Use it to keep your shoes off of the floor and out of the doorway and to keep your everyday items like keys, mail, or even your umbrella neatly placed at your home’s entry for easy access.

Last but not least, check out this simple, adorable earring holder from ParadiseHillDesigns. Keep your earrings neatly and artfully organized with this rustic, yet refined handmade frame. The weathered pine used to create this piece was gathered from the side of an old cabin and has been carefully sanded, but otherwise has its natural beauty shining through. The interesting character of each piece of wood is what makes projects like these so beautiful. The artists at ParadiseHillDesigns create many other earth friendly products such as picture frames, decorative boxes, home decor, desk accessories, and more.

Have an item that you created from reclaimed wood?
We’d love to see it! Link to your projects in the comments.

Once Again Recycled Designs

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I love these dinner napkins and grocery bags made from upcycled vintage linens.

Once Again Recycled Designs: My name is Megan and I am an Interior Designer. The inspiration behind my creations is coming up with unique, functional designs that make life a little easier and saving the world…well sort of… I wanted to find a way for my designs to stand out and also to do my part by recycling. So I decided to take on the challenge of designing with 2nd hand finds at thrift stores, garage sales, and yes, even the garbage. “One mans trash is another mans treasure” I have discovered pillow cases make great bags, linens can be chopped up and sewn back together as baby blankets, pillows, coasters, placemats…the possibilities are virtually endless. I have two amazing children who also inspire me create fun kids stuff. So…will see how it goes…