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Pastel Hippy Upcycled notecards
These 4 darling butter yellow cards measuring approx. 2.5 x 2.5 inches (6.5 x 6.5 cm), are accented with salvaged wrapping paper in a pastel, retro motif, a crumply distressed paper bag square with a heart hand stamped on the front and a lovely pastel pink bow.4 matching… → details -
Rainbow Bright
Three strands of multicolored small glass beads – no particular pattern or order. Approximately 7″ → details -
Fireworks Barrel Bag
This bag is hand knit in a cylinder shape, black yarn is used throughout and mixed with a rainbow of colors (gold, orange, red, pink, purple, blue and green) all of pure wool. It is then topped with a fluff black eyelash yarn to give it a flirty look.… → details
Lemon Aid
“LEMONADE” Mixed Media Collage Print, by Linda Woods
“When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” When Dale Carnegie first spoke those pithy words of wisdom, his intent was to remind us that no matter what comes our way, it is up to us to make the best of it. For me, though, as soon as I hear “When life hands you lemons…”, I think “Lucky me!” That could be because I always associate the cheerful little yellow fruits, not by their sourness, but by their powerful mood-lifting effects. And, it’s not just me; research has proven that just a sniff of fresh lemon really can boost moods and increase optimism in test-subjects. It sounds counter-intuitive, and I stumbled upon it completely by accident, but the tart juice of the lemon is actually an age-old remedy for nausea, too, and is commonly recommended by naturopaths. I can vouch for this first-hand; when I was pregnant with my son and deep in the throws of morning all-day sickness, the only thing that could calm my tummy and allow me to function was to (literally) suck on a lemon.
So, when life hands you lemons, here are a few ideas for what you can do…
”When life hands you lemons, wash your socks!” Can doing laundry make you happy? It can if you use an eco-friendly product with an uplifting fragrance like the one pictured above by Maylee’s Garden. Scented with pure lavender and lemon essential oils, this all-natural, vegan laundry soap is made by hand by the always effervescent Libby, and contains absolutely no palm oil or harsh detergents. It’s also great in cold-water and suitable for HE/front-loading machines.
“When life hands you lemons, go shopping!” …and be sure to keep your positive eco-karma intact by bringing along a handy reusable shopping bag. This reversible one, pictured above, handmade by Charity of Lil Hipsters, features a cheerful lemon print on one side and a fresh green solid on the other.
“When life hands you lemons, take a bath!” Scrub your troubles and bad mood away with the zesty Lemon Slice soap made by DeShawn Marie The handmade, 100% vegan soap contains a triple-squeeze of lemon (lemon peel, lemon essential oil and lemongrass essential oil), along with nourishing coconut milk and exfoliating dried chamomile flowers. After you’ve toweled-off, visit DeShawn’s website for details on her soap club, which offers a different soap every month!
“When life hands you lemons, rub it in!” Into your cuticles, that is. The next time you find yourself in a seemingly endless line-up, instead of impatiently tapping your fingers, massage Pure Intox’s conditioning, lemon-drop scented balm (above) into your dry cuticles instead. The uplifting scent of lemon will energize and relax you while you wait (patiently) for your turn.
Of course, when all else fails, go ahead and make that lemonade.
Old Fashioned Lemonade
1 cup Simple Syrup (recipe below)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 cups cold water
Ice and lemon slices, to serve.
Directions: In a pretty pitcher, combine simple syrup, lemon juice, and water. Adjust sweetness/tartness by adding more sugar or more lemon juice. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices.
Simple syrup: In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water. Simmer until sugar is completely dissolved.
Hittin’ The Road
Please welcome new columnist Sarah Safranski to Try Handmade! She’s going to be treating us to a weekly column on how you can create popular styles using handmade wares. Looking to recreate a particular style? Let her know in the comments, and she’ll see what she can do :)
:: Erika
Having grown up in the Midwest, the summer months meant three-day weekends and road trip adventures. Our destinations were always peaceful and relaxing, but packing up the car and getting there was half of the fun.
The first essential for any road trip is the weekend bag. This option by StudioOneDesigns is roomy, made from sturdy material, and has lots of pockets to hold all of the little things you need to keep track of while you’re on the road.
When you’ve got a long ride ahead of you, comfort is key. This sweet yellow dress by Gina Michele is the perfect combination of ease and style. Made of bamboo jersey, it is both wrinkle resistant and eco-friendly. You’ll arrive at your destination looking as good as when you first stepped into the car.
Getting lost along the way can make for fun road trip moments, but eventually you’ll need to head in the right direction. This compass necklace by Rubyann Designs will point you in the right direction.
When you finally reach your location, you’ll want to do some exploring. These cute handmade and eco-friendly flats from extraseed will allow you to walk around all day without aching feet. The neutral color will match every outfit, and leave room in your bag for souvenirs.
You’ll want to take lots of pictures to document your trip. This braided camera strap from Loray:n is both stylish and timeless. Made from leather, it’s sure to last through summer road trips for years come.
So, what are you waiting for? Call some friends and hit the road! Just don’t forget the music and snacks.
Interview with Stephanie Weber, Pickle Things
[hLeah]
Stephanie Weber of Pickle Things has lived in Portland for the past five years. In her own words, ‘I love it here. Of all of the places that I have lived, I feel the most at home here. I like that it is so beautiful, has a great neighborhood/community feel, progressive and eco conscience and has fabulous restaurants.’ She lives with a dog, birds, fish and soon a cat and roommates who actually own all the animals. A self-described independent, perfectionist who cannot sit still, Stephanie loves fabric (specifically vintage patterns), cool glass jars, 70s embroidered wall hangings, screwball comedies from the 30s-40s, macaroni and cheese, vegetable gardens and rain. Don’t miss Stephanie’s shop and her blog.
PeriwinkleDzyns – Geek is Chic
Please welcome the newest contributor to Try Handmade: Rebecca Hadfield! Every week she will be bringing you eco-goodness with her column “Going Green.”
She’s a fan of upcycling and recycling, and is a maker (zenbecca) and blogger (natch!) herself. I’m also told that she’s crafty like ice is cold.
Please stop by the comments section after reading her first post and make her feel welcome!
:: Erika
[hRebecca]With the rapid advance of technology, the electronics manufacturing industry is disposing of its obsolete parts at an alarming rate, making e-waste a concern to both the industry itself, as well as the public. By diverting unused computer and electronics components from the landfill and into our jewelry boxes, crafters such as Ruth Smith are leading the eco-crafting brigade.
As soon as Erika gave me the go-ahead to write the “Going Green” column on Try Handmade, I knew my first piece would be about Ruth Smith of PeriwinkleDzyns. Not only is Ruth a friend of mine, she is an an amazing crafter whose work is innovative, clever, and eco-friendly. Her beyond-cool jewelry appeals to such a broad audience – from the geeks to the chic. “Initially, I expected it to only appeal to geeks. You know, IT workers like myself; gamers, computer nerds and such”, says Ruth.
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