day Archives - Page 2 of 21

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.

Grad Gift Ideas

August 17, 2020 by Jennifer Simoni Leave a Comment

Graduating from college is a big event in one’s life. At the time it’s happening you realize it’s important, but it’s not till 10-15 years down the line do you fully appreciate what was being left behind, and what opportunities and life experiences you have ahead of you. And just like no two college experiences are exactly the same, neither are the grads, and the gifts you give them to celebrate the special event should showcase who they are now, and what they want to be when they grow up.

Many grads take the ‘summer off’ and travel. Whether its backpacking through Europe, driving cross-country, or volunteering in Africa, your grad will love this travel journal to record all the once-in-a-lifetime experiences they’re about to have.

Less sentimental, and more practical is this passport cover. It’s an easy and organized way to help them keep track of perhaps the single most important thing accompanying them on their trip.

Maybe your grad isn’t taking any time off and is going straight into the real world–suit, office, commuting and all. If that’s the case, an inspirational coffee mug to get their day started right is something they’ll use daily. This one can be customized with any text you want, the grad’s name, inspirational quote, or even an inside joke.

Get your grad in the habit of sending handwritten notes. A personal, monogrammed note card set like this simple, sophisticated one can be used for any occasion, including thanking a potential employer for an interview.

Of course, jewelry is a big hit with most grads. Make it special by personalizing it with her name, graduation date, or birthstone. This necklace can house all three in a charm-like design.

Whatever your grad does or doesn’t do after college, be sure to praise them for how far they’ve come. It’s an accomplishment worth savoring before continuing the ride.

Feel the Love

August 8, 2020 by Rebecca Hadfield 6 Comments

Ok, I’ll admit it – I am a romantic. Not your stereotypical “roses and sonnets” romantic, but an optimistic, lover-of-love just the same. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy getting flowers as much as the next girl, but it tends to be the off-beat that makes my heart skip-a-beat. One of the most romantic gifts that I ever received wasn’t a piece of sparkly jewelry or a candlelit dinner in a fancy restaurant, but a group of googly-eyed rocks placed around my garden by a certain handsome fella. Given the fact that my idea of a romantic hero is less Romeo Montague and more Lloyd Dobbler, it should come as no surprise that he (and the rocks) won my heart. I suppose that little story serves to explain why I adore all of this week’s handmade finds so much.

“I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen” – Say Anything
Created without a pattern and made from a combination of upcycled and new materials, Love Bunny (above) from Design Lab 443, is quirky-cool (and adorably eco-friendly!) Tracy, a busy mom and talented graphic designer, creates fresh and original items like these out of a love for making “something out of nothing”. Be sure to check out her blog for a sneak-peek of what’s she’s currently working on, as well as a glimpse of all the things she holds dear.

“That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying “As you wish”, what he meant was, “I love you.” And even more amazing was the day she realized she truly loved him back.” – The Princess Bride
At first glance, this pillow (above) reads “As you wish”, but anyone who is familiar with the timeless love story of Buttercup and Westley will know that what it really says is “I love you”. With a pocket in the back to hold a token of your affection or perhaps a love note, this upcycled heart has been lovingly fashioned from a wool suit coat and can even be scented with your choice of essential oil. Kendra of By Hand at Home can even create a custom heart for your sweetheart; just contact her through her shop for details.

“It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect, as long as they are perfect for each other.”- Good Will Hunting
One thing that I love about handmade items is that no two are ever exactly alike. To me, the beauty lies in the differences that exist between one item to the next. These little works of art, like the one above, by Recycled Art Company embrace that concept to the fullest. Handmade with reclaimed wood and salvaged license plates, each one is perfectly, or rather, imperfectly unique. Not surprisingly, the story behind Recycled Art Company is a love story in itself. Working their way through grad school with two young children in tow, the creative “tree-huggers” behind the art are celebrating 12 years of marriage and partnership. The passion and enthusiasm that they share is truly evident in the fun, whimsical pieces that they create.

“Hearts will never be practical until they are made unbreakable.“ – Wizard of Oz
According to that logic, I suppose this pillow by Raging Wool is as practical as can be. Made from hundreds of strips of pure cashmere, recycled from thrifted sweaters and inserted by hand into a base of 100% wool (also upcycled), it is as soft and touchable as it is lovely to look at. The clever person responsible for the creation of this one-of-a-kind piece is Peg, a mother of three and self-described “fiber junkie”. A quick browse around her shop is all you need to see the care and patience that goes into each item. And, just like all of this week’s featured shops – you can feel the love. <3

What's Inside Your Beach Bag?

July 28, 2020 by Jennifer Simoni 4 Comments

Grab your beach bag. It’s time to hit the Beach!

Memorial Day is the unofficial kick-off to summer. There’s nothing like that first day, after a long winter, where you dig your chair into the sand, throw down your new beach bag crammed full of beach-day necessities, and lounge away. This nautical stripe bag from Banyan Hippo is a great summertime accessory.

Coastal Living, one of my all-time favorite magazines, has a monthly column that spotlights a celebrity’s beach bag. Recently they looked inside the bags of Tory Burch and Michael Kors. It’s not just what’s inside a bag that makes a great beach bag, but the bag itself makes a statement.

This got me thinking, about my beach bag. I grew up at the Jersey Shore, where my friends and I spent all summer on the beach. I bought beach bags like other people bought shoes. Was it a Palm Beach kind of beach day (coral and green cabana-striped bag) or did I feel more Nantucket-y (Wicker with navy blue gingham lining.) Of course, it didn’t matter what bag I used, the contents I would stuff inside all remained the same. All the things I needed to keep me blissfully beach bound for the day—a book, a magazine, a notebook (for when I felt like making lists), sunscreen, snacks, and water.

This journal from Three by Sea is the perfect size for jotting down sea side.

A food bag from Bebeloosh Mini will keep snacks sand-free.

What more could you want in a day sitting sea-side? After, I’ll shake out my towel and hang my bag up (ideally on a hook like this one from Monkey and Squirrel)

I might not lounge endlessly anymore, but I still hit the beach when I can, and all my favorite necessities come with me.

On Soup

July 25, 2020 by Diana Prichard Leave a Comment

If I were willing to buy them my husband would eat Campbell’s condensed soups every day for lunch during the fall and winter months. And probably a few times a week for dinner. The man loves condensed soup. If I plan to buy canned soup for any reason, he actually requests it.

“Don’t get the extra chunky stuff.” he’ll say, “Some of the regular stuff that I can add water to is just fine.”

Unfortunately for Campbell’s soup company I tend not to agree. No matter how badly I want to oblige I will stand befuddled in front of the canned soup section trying to choose even one can for what seems like an eternity. Always, I go home empty handed.

[Read more…]