Freshly Made Archives - Try Handmade

EllesBeads

August 21, 2020 by Chelsey Mona 5 Comments

When I was a kid, we got in the car and drove my dad out to a nearby town to take a hot air balloon ride. I remember watching the balloons gliding through the sky. These earrings remind me of that day.

Elle got started in handmade when she was struggling with depression and loneliness. Jewelry-making was her way to be totally immersed in something that was not only positive, but kept her mind off of what she was going through. She fell in love with jewelry making and never looked back. Her style incorporates vintage pieces with modern beads.

Encouraged by friends and family she jumped into selling through her shop Elle’s Beads. After taking a blind leap, she learned as she went setting up up a business strategy, goals, and a budget.

I’ve met such great artisans, both in real life and through venues like Etsy, and I feel like I have a sense of community and belonging now.

Elle’s grandmother is a huge influence. She uses her antique sewing machine and vintage buttons to make a lot of her creations. She’s also inspired by items that people cast away as trash. She has a way of viewing things not as what they are, but what they could become with a little bit of fabric, paint, or beads. She’s also started sewing now due to her grandmother’s influence (she was a seamstress) and makes a point to only use eco-friendly materials in the accessories she makes.

My favorite item is my Vintage Sapphire and Silver Glass Pearl Necklace. It’s the first eco-friendly piece I ever made and it’s from an old vintage earring I repurposed as a brooch. I’m really passionate now about reusing old materials and making them into something beautiful and new. This necklace is a constant reminder to me of the beginning of that journey.

Elle supports the views that many of us handmade artisans have, even though handmade goods can cost more than mass-produced goods, especially those imported from overseas, they’re so much more valuable! When you buy something handmade, you’re supporting an artisan – a small business and an entrepreneur. You’re supporting a craft and a subculture that values the importance of keeping craftsmanship alive. Each handmade item is a little bit different and Elle, like all handmade artists puts her love and a part of herself in every piece.

These adorable vintage birdies are my personal favorite!

Elle is a full-time paralegal working for a non-profit in North Carolina. When not working at her day job or on her business, you can find her relaxing in front of the television, catching up on the latest book club book, or talking on the phone with her family. Online you can find her on Facebook, Twitter and her blog.

Hoboe Jane

July 12, 2020 by Chelsey Mona 1 Comment

Are you a hat person? Me, I LOVE hats. I wish people wore them more often. And you wont find more interestingly designed berets then Hoboe Jane‘s! These quirky hats are a simple way to add a sens of fun to your look. Hoboe Jane’s creator Kristy has a background in sculpture and art and some of the hats have hand painted elements. Kristy picked up her love of arts, crafts, sewing and design from her mother, a Kindergarten teacher and has been exploring creative venues from a young age.

Kristy is influenced by lines and patterns in nature and also draws heavily from the fantasy movies she watched growing up like “Labyrinth” and “The Princess Bride”.

Kristy’s favorite item in her shop is the Spider Swirl Beret Hat. It’s a good representation of her style as it includes both hand painted elements and design with felt.

When I make my items, I think of a story that goes along with each piece. Like with the Spider Swirl Beret Hat I’ve made, she is a wandering tarantula from the northern regions of Chile and has made her new home on this very hat and wants to live with you now.

Kristy started making her own clothing and accessories in high school and to help with the family budge she started redesigning her old things and turning them into brand new objects! While she’s always loved making skirts and bags within the last year, she found a new love for making hats.

I love the work I create and I hope my love for it shows through, in my products. I try to give my work a sense of fun and joy, so whoever purchases an item will have their very own one of a kind piece.

Larger retail organizations may sometimes have better prices, but you are getting what you paid for. Retail stores sell numerous multiples of items, making them not as unique, quirky, and creative. I try to make my items as affordable as possible, for the everyday customer.

Hand made goods are much more personal and unique. Much more passion and care goes into everything we create ourselves than if it is made by a machine in some obscure factory.

You can find out more about Kristy Albury at her art website or at her experimental music site Retro Juju.

A Stylish Design

June 29, 2020 by Chelsey Mona 1 Comment

Do you know a bride who is in need of accessories for her wedding this summer? A Stylish Design is a new shop that has a variety of floral accents to make her day perfect. Every bride wants her wedding to be a perfect extension of herself and her groom. Amy, the maker behind the shop, has always loved designing, but it wasn’t until her own wedding that she really discovered her creative passion, so she really understands the attention to detail that brides want. Each of her pieces can be custom made to match your style & vision- no two pieces are alike.

After struggling to find a job specific to her field, Amy took the leap into selling her handmade goods. With a degree in design and her love of weddings, she’s discovered the perfect mix in starting her own business.

I love my pillows. I’m a self-taught at sewing, but have taken classes to learn how to do things a little more advanced. So, I’m looking forward to making more custom made ring-bearer pillows.

When designing her own wedding, Amy found it difficult to find unique, customized, affordable options and was inspired to help other brides with these important details. Since each wedding is unique, A Stylish Design can customize the details to match your specifications. Amy will also be offering other wedding design services through her website.

I’m inspired to help you make your wedding a memorable one and will approach each design with uniqueness & creativity.

So if you’re a bride to be, know a bride to be, or just like floral accents, go check out A Stylish Design.

Usagi Rabbit

June 23, 2020 by Chelsey Mona 1 Comment

When I first came across this shop, I immediately was reminded of the Japanese animated film My Neighbor Totoro. So it should come as no surprise that Jacqueline, the artist behind UsagiRabbit is infatuated with Japanese culture. A student slowly working her way toward a college degree in linguistics, one of her goals is to learn to read Japanese. These whimsical bunny creatures are part Totoro and part Care Bear and so cute! Some are just for loving and cuddling, while others are put to work protecting your small electronic devices.

Jacqueline got her start in handmade when she couldn’t find the things she wanted in the stores. Though her shop has only been open since May she’s been creating art since she was old enough to pick up a coloring book – from making clothes for her dolls to patching up her jeans.

I used to knit scarves and a friend suggested I try selling some of them at a small local craft fair. I took the plunge and it was a blast! I loved meeting all those other crafters and artisans. Artists are some of the nicest people you can be around. Finding Etsy really got me thinking that I could make a go of this. It’s full of so many inspiring stories and helpful fellow sellers. I really want to try my best!

Her skills have been honed over the years with help from her mother (a lifelong seamstress) and various friends and teachers along the way. Isn’t it wonderful how the creative community came together to help this artist learn the skills to realize her vision?

There’s something about the feeling of the wool in my hands and the slight hum the thread makes that fills me with satisfaction.

Jacqueline first starts planning her creatures with a drawing and some key concepts.When she’s inspired a piece can come together very quickly; sometimes the process can take days or weeks. Once a design is decided on, she chooses colors and felts and cut out the pieces. The most time consuming part of the process is sewing the pieces because it takes a long time and the stitches have to be just right! Lastly, her creation is stuffed with pure cotton and sewn shut. Thus is born the latest addition to the UsagiRabbit family!

Well, I love all my finished creations (even though some of them can be quite beastly during the making) but if I had to choose just one I guess my favorite would be the orange rabbit with a yellow flower on its belly. It makes me smile when I see it.

Born and raised in New Jersey this Texas transplant is inspired by her travel and experiences of other cultures. She has no sales so far, so let’s get her started – shall we?

Jacqueline Turpin Handmade

June 10, 2020 by Chelsey Mona 3 Comments

I am a sucker for quirky illustrations, so I just love these embroidered pillows! Jacky who’s namesake shop, Jacqueline Turpin Handmade, uses her background in Interior Design to create unique home and personal accessories with an illustrative twist. Her shop ranges from her illustrated embroidered cushions to adorable felt brooches.

Born and raised in Swansea, Wales, it was a move to rural France, when she found herself without a day job, that brought her the opportunity to explore her creative passions. She was considering illustration, but came across free-motion stitching, and from there re-discovered her love of sewing. Jacky has a B.A degree in 3D Design from Buckinghamshire collage and spent 12 years in Hong Kong working as an Interior designer and as a Interior stylist for an architectural firm before moving to France with her family.

My favorite item at the moment is probably the bunting. I’m pleased with the way it turned out, and think it is something people can use over. Saying that, I also have a fondness for the old lady and school girl figures – they remind me of my childhood in the UK.

My influences are memories of home, 1970s/80s Britain. I have always loved vintage 30s – 50s decor.

She’s currently only selling online, but hopes to visit some local deco type shops soon to see if they would be interested in stocking a few pieces for a trial. You can also find Jacky at her website. She’s had no sales yet, so let’s help give her a kickstart!