color Archives - Try Handmade

Watercolor Love

June 15, 2019 by Susannah Rodgers 4 Comments

Watercolors are my favorite medium to paint with. I’m always astonished by how each painter is unique in their process and execution of this medium. The following artists are some of my personal favorites. Notice how the use of watercolors change from artist to artist and celebrate the difference with me.

Geninne’s Art Shop is full of intricate watercolor paintings. The artwork here makes me feel like I’m looking at beautifully illustrated scientific classification books. This particular painting, Crafty Bird, would be a cherished gift for your crafty friend or to yourself. I want one for my sewing room!

Several months ago I was fortunate to win a print of Lisa Kaser’s work. I instantly fell in love with all of her quirky characters and the sense of storytelling portrayed in each piece. Her use of gentle colors and humorous scenes invites peace and conversation. You will love the high quality of her work.

I marked CGalla Fine Art as a favorite almost one year ago and I check in every couple of weeks to gaze into the melting colors and movement of the paintings. I can’t get over how much emotion is conveyed from the brush strokes. The up-close faces are my favorite but there are several landscapes and still life paintings as well. This is an exquisite gallery!

I just about fell over when I discovered Be Happy Now. You will be smiling from ear to ear each time you glance at the artwork found there. Calendars, prints, collages and originals are all waiting for you to dive into. I’m fascinated by the lighthearted portraits painted in brilliant color combinations.

Do you love a little mystery in your art? If so, skip on over to Oh My Cavalier. The drawings and prints will have you dreaming of forest adventures and make believe friends. There is a vintage feel to the artwork and the restrained use of color is fantastic. I’m captivated!

As you have seen, watercolors are an intense and quite intriguing medium. Aren’t the different uses and styles wonderful? I hope you found a few artists to add to your favorites and perhaps a piece or two of artwork to add to your ever expanding collection.

Handmade Spring Fashions

June 11, 2019 by Kristin Huston Leave a Comment

[hKristin]

It’s Spring Fashion time here at the Seasonal Handmade column and I am here to help you buy a piece or two that will inject a little freshness into your wardrobe.

Let’s start with the basics. How about a tee? Just because we often run around town in tees and jeans doesn’t mean we have to look sloppy. This tee from Limey T’s features a great mum print in lovely shades of blue. Just right for spring and just right for looking sassy while you run your errands.

Another great tee is this lovely circle print shirt from Eliza + Axel. The hand appliqued circles elevate this tee into something that would look great with a skirt and some ballet flats for a casual dinner out or lunch with your girlfriends.

If you want to “spring” for something even dressier try this lovely and romantic tank from Armour sans Anguish. Not only will this top look sophisticated this spring, but the rich blackberry color will take you into fall with the addition of a jacket or cardigan.

Speaking of cardigans, is there any item of clothing more versatile than a lightweight cardigan? This darling specimen, from Good Egg would look great over anything from tees to tanks to summer dresses. Not just that, but it would make a gorgeous layering piece for the fall and winter.

What if you’re a skirt and dress kind of girl? This lovely purple skirt from Zoe Chen would make a great, fun addition to your spring wardrobe and would be easy and breezy in the summer too!

What could be easier and breezier than this perfect dress from Treehouse 28? Universally flattering, this style will look great at the beach and walking down the street in a big city.

And if your closet is full, but you’d still like to add some springtime to your wardrobe, why not accessorize? These fabulous earrings from WillOaks Studio add both color and whimsy to your jewelry drawer.

A new handbag is always a fun way to celebrate a new season. This one from Deyitta is adorable and has some darling spring birds chirping their way across your accessories.

Finally, put some skip in your step with these lovely vegan shoes from Hydra Heart. Cute and planet-friendly, what more could a girl ask for?

Now that you have some ideas for decking yourself out this spring, go forth and buy handmade! Next week we will be looking forward to memorial day and finding some fun handmade goodies to make your long weekend even better.

Handmade Summer Into Fall

June 6, 2019 by Kristin Huston Leave a Comment

[hKristin]

Last week we talked about back to school which must mean that we’re edging toward fall. I like to buy as many multi-purpose and multi-season items as I can, so I have spent this week thinking about how to extend our summer purchases into the autumn days ahead. This week I focused on a particular color scheme – orange, rust, amber and red – that will still look fresh in the coming months when the leaves start to change.

My first find this week is a gorgeous photo from The Garden Shed. Gerbera Daisies always lend a cheerful touch to your wall and the vibrant color will help perk up any dark corner.

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Crochet silver crown

May 26, 2019 by Erika Jurney Leave a Comment

I adore this crochet silver ring!

Lena Marie Echelle: The assumption of jewelry as tactile is a basic component of the definition of jewelry as distinguished from other art forms, and it is part of the intimacy of the medium. Because of this, texture and movement are as important as color in my work. Many of my pieces open or close, have moving pieces, bells, or secret elements that rattle within hollow spaces. I use mixed metals in my work, building up dimension and texture through shell forming, folding, forging, punching, repousse and chasing techniques. In a simple process where silver dust and filings are fused to copper sheet, I have found a method that produces wonderfully reticulate surface textures and beautiful color contrast. The excitement of the unknown and the timely recollection of previous ideas, the practice of creating and distilling forms and concepts, and the pleasure of seeing others’ reactions to my jewelry encourage me to keep working.

Warm up with Oversized Knits

May 15, 2019 by Sarah Safranski Leave a Comment

While everyone else is complaining about the winter weather, I’m sitting in sunny Honolulu and daydreaming about falling temperatures, snow and bundling up with chunky knits. It may sound crazy, but the holiday season just isn’t the same without scarves, coats, mittens and warm socks. Plus, it’s hard to enjoy hot chocolate in 80 degree weather. I’ll be heading home about one week before Christmas this year, which is just enough time to really get into the holiday mood.

This dark gray hooded sweater by An An Wang is perfection with exquisite detailing and bold details. It’s casual enough to wear on the weekends with jeans, but could also function in an office setting or even as a warm layer over a fancy dress, and of course it can easily transition from a fall coat into a winter layering piece. I have to admit that I don’t know much about knitting, but one look at this sweater and you can easily see all of the care and work that went into creating it.

Speaking of bold details, how great are the huge statement-making coconut buttons on this scarf by Tommify Design? The neutral color gives the scarf a natural look and makes it versatile enough to be worn with any color coat. It can be wrapped tightly around your neck as shown or worn loosely–either way it looks great!

Chunky winter knits don’t always have to keep you warm. This crocheted flower by MK4designs would be the perfect addition to a winter coat or sweater. The champagne pearls sewn into the middle of the piece add just the right amount of shimmer. This would be a great stocking stuffer for someone who loves to make a statement!

The holiday season always goes by so quickly. I’ll be home and bundled up in front of the fireplace before I know it. I can’t wait!

**The image featured at the top of this post was created by Vivian Lau.