Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.
I am incredibly goal-oriented and deadline-driven. Give me a deadline and while I may be a procrastinator, I will also be wholly motivated to meet it — even if at the last minute. Give me a challenge that needs conquering and I will become obsessed with accomplishing it.
It’s probably these inward tendencies that make me particularly fond of the Eat Local Challenge, a movement that as of October 1st entered its fifth year.
Art Nest is a place to celebrate everyday beauty, hard work, living creatively, artistic achievements and remembering to live simply.
I make these pincushion rings using my favorite fabrics, lush colored wool felt and nickel free, silver plated adjustable rings. I’ve been using mine for nearly four months now. I don’t think I can ever go back to storing my pins in a red tomato.Wearing my pincushion ring allows for more freedom while I sew at my machine. When not in use, I hang the pincushion on the bobbin winder.
We all know about the 3 Rs – reduce, reuse & recycle. When it comes to plastic bags, though, the last option is generally not a viable one. First of all, there is virtually no market for recycled plastic bags. Glass, paper and metal are all commonly recycled, while plastic bags are literally left to blow in the wind. We all need to take personal responsibility and place our focus on reducing and reusing to combat the bag issue.
Reducing is easy; we can all minimize our personal consumption simply by making reusable cloth bags part of our regular shopping habit. Reusing, on the other hand, sometimes takes an artistic eye and some innovative thinking to come up with a solution. It’s a good thing that there are some clever, crafty people out there willing to take on that challenge on our behalf.
Yes, I am not ashamed to admit it: I am a Harry Potter fan! So much so, we have saved up to take the family to Harry Potter World in Florida later this year, and we simply cannot wait to see the next film in the series next week. We have been the family who have queued up outside the bookshop at midnight when the new books have come out and read them non-stop; we bought the Hogwarts scarves, the wands, the wands the following year when the newer edition had pretty lights, and and we have also been the ones (husband excluded) dressing up to go to the cinema on the opening night.
Unfortunately this year my daughter’s still on her school camp on that first night, so we have to wait a whole 3 days! Now we are completely used to being accused of being very uncool as far as the Harry Potter thing is concerned (they either haven’t read the books or are jealous of J K Rowling’s success), but even I had my doubts as to whether dressing up not on the first night, is too much. Those doubt were quickly quashed though, and we are now busy planning what to wear!
A quick internet search reveals some amazing fan-made costumes, but sadly they mostly aren’t for sale. On Etsy, I absolutely love this one above by Bbeauty Designs of Bellatrix lestrange’s outfit. Evil and nasty though the character is, there’s no doubt that Helena Bonham Carter always gets to play the most interesting people and wear the best clothes.
The detail by limebarb that has gone into re-creating the uniform of the Beauxbaton students is amazing! It is just like the ones in the films.
Lastly I love this charm bracelet by 1luckysoul. What a fantastic idea. It has kind of a steampunk edge to it too and is so original.
The only sad thing is, this is the very last film!
Amber Alexander, whose work reminds me of a modern day Beatrix Potter, is an artist to watch. This Vermont based artist creates interesting characters with her paints and brushes. Her watercolor and acrylic work is stunning!
It’s rare to find art that can find a home on any wall. That is another great aspect of Amber’s work. You could hang any of her paintings in any room of your home and it would simply ‘fit it’.
You will find affordable prints, originals and even some cards featuring Amber’s artwork in her shop. There is a lot to choose from that will make your collection all the more special. Enjoy!