time Archives - Try Handmade

13threads

December 6, 2019 by Erika Jurney 6 Comments

13threads: Although born and raised in Scotland, I have also been incredibly lucky to have lived, worked and studied in Los Angeles, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco and Zurich. Now back living in Edinburgh I have the opportunity to focus my passion for sewing and design into a full-time job. (Ok I need to revise this bit. As a mother of two, my ‘passion for design and sewing’ are moments grabbed between the school run, their social life and my need to have the occasional morning coffee with friends).

Lots of things inspire me but I am especially interested in the history and design of fashion, traditional costumes and textiles. I like to mix the old with the new to create something a little bit different and special. Many of my pieces are one-of-a-kind or limited editions and are all designed, cut and stitched by me in my room with a beautiful view of the castle.

Crescent Maille

December 6, 2019 by Erika Jurney 5 Comments

Crescent Maille: From the moment I picked up two pairs of pliers and started crafting my first bracelet I was immediately hooked. Chain maille is a passion and a joy. Creating jewelry in traditional weaves and using these weaves as a starting point for my own designs, I strive to make jewelry that is as much a pleasure to wear as it is to behold.

I work primarily with sterling silver rings, made by hand by the best sources. Sterling silver is pliable but durable, so luxurious, with such brilliance; though metal, it feels soft to the touch. When crafted to perfection, a silver chain maille bracelet is an amazing thing, mesmerizing as it bends and moves and molds itself to your wrist; it feels almost alive.

Crafting chain maille is very labor-intensive and time-consuming; many pieces are made from hundreds of individually linked rings and take hours. I value my time and trade, and believe in fair pay for all artists and artisans; I won’t under-price a piece just to sell a few more.

Interview with Courtney Filer-Dougal of My Sunset Road

December 3, 2019 by Erika Jurney 1 Comment

Previously featured a couple of years ago, check out what Courtney is up to today.

I’m a metalsmith & jewelry designer. I strive to make beautiful, wearable pieces that women will reach for everyday. I love when customers describe one of my pieces as a favorite.

How did you get started? Have you worked in other creative areas before the kind of work you’re doing now?

I’ve been making things for as far back as my memory can reach. My father is a painter (and a chemist) and painting was my first love. Painting was difficult for me to keep up with after having kids and when I discovered beading it was easier to stop and pick back up again as the babies allowed. Eventually I moved on to metal and fell in love ;)

Is there a story behind the name of your shop?

Yes, it’s my street name! I thought it was both unique and simple enough to be memorable to a customer while also having a personal meaning to me.

Do you work alone? With a team? Do you engage your family or friends in the work? What is your process? How do you ensure you get your work done yet still have a life?

I work alone 99% of the time though my husband (a CPA) and I share a split office/studio in our home. The only time I have help with my own work is when I enlist my 8 year old daughter to help me package large orders. She recently helped by putting my logo-stickers on 95 boxes for the Academy Awards Gift Lounge.

I also get loads of help from my mom with my kids..that’s priceless during the holiday and show seasons.

Where do you sell your work? Which venues are your favorites? Do you prefer selling online or in person? Do you attend shows or fairs? Is your work in a gallery or brick-and-mortar store?

I sell my work via my own site. I also have shops in Etsy and Supermarket. I sell through a handful of great boutiques on both the East & West coast and I’m always excited to add another one to the list.

Do you have any favorite handmade shops or sellers you’d like to recommend?

So many! My 3 favorites are:
www.beckyoh.com
www.mudpuppy.etsy.com
www.geninne.etsy.com

What inspires and motivates you?

It sounds cheesy but definitely my kids. They keep me seeing things in a fresh perspective and also force me to stay organized – I’m always grateful for that.

What do you wish I had asked you?

“What do you do when you’re not making things?”

I homeschool my kids full time. It’s the best part of having my own business, I can be home with my children every single day.

Thanks Courtney. And if you would like to be interviewed next, just head over to DIY Interview.

Pretty Stinkin' Green

December 1, 2019 by Chelsey Mona 1 Comment

I first came to Pretty Stinkin’ Green when I stumbled across their fun tee-shirt skirts. Then I saw these graphic coffee sack totes and I loved the combination of vintage fabrics with the burlap. When I found out that the business is the result of a flourishing friendship, I loved it even more!

Deb and Hannah met about three years ago at their local scrapbook store in Traverse City, Michigan. They quickly became friends when they realized their shared hobbies ran deeper than paper crafts. Every time they got together their minds would go crazy with ideas.

we came up with new projects that we wanted to try, things we wanted to make, ideas we wanted to put into action, and we just couldn’t help ourselves, we wanted to do it all!

I can identify with that! But when a move forced them apart, they kept in touch by trading scrapbook kits and blogging together. That has been just less than a year ago, and they are closer now than ever! And while they continue to enjoy paper crafting with each other, Deb and Hannah have also continued to share their other passions, like green crafting, and inspire each other along the way. The focus of their business is to use upcycled & recycled materials. Nearly every part of ever item has had a prior life! Reuse, recycle & create!

Both Hannah and Deb gather inspiration of inspiration from blogs and websites, but their biggest inspiration comes from each other. Nearly everyday they’re exchanging ideas and inspiration.

Deb:: My favorite item changes constantly. I always get excited to make something new, or to put a twist on something that we have just made. That is what makes Pretty Stinkin’ Green so fun, we work with new materials all the time and we are challenging ourselves to come up with new ideas.

They are super friendly and love making connections with their clients! They’re open to special orders and love to work through the process of bringing an idea from inspiration to creation. And they’re not just limited to the types of items in their shop; they’re working on a custom bridal garter right now!

They also love to package their items creatively, they are paper crafters after all. You won’t find your item shoved in a priority mail box if they can help it! Their green mission is evident in their use of recycled products in their packaging. Each item is carefully wrapped up and sewn shut in recycled paper and mailed in old flour bags or reused boxes, carefully padded to ensure your items arrive safely!

Hannah ::I love the Stinkin’ Market Totes! I use a different one everyday! They have so much room inside, and can hold everything you want to take along with you. I also enjoy taking a couple along with me when I do my shopping, and then I don’t have to use paper or plastic bags!

Pretty Stinkin’ Green currently has items listed on both Artfire and Etsy, each with its own stock of unique upcycled products. Though, in the near future, their online listings will be with Etsy exclusively. Their items can also be found in a few unique shops in Traverse City, Michigan and a handful of craft shows this summer (Northern Michigan and West Central Ohio). Keep up with the latest by following them on their blog, Facebook and Twitter.

On Sacrifice. And a Challenge.

November 25, 2019 by Diana Prichard Leave a Comment

As if the sometimes overwhelming commitment weren’t enough, confusion in recent years over whether or not a locavore diet is “worth it” — not just for ourselves, but for the environment — has added a new dimension of frustration for budding farmer’s market foodies.

A recent article from Newsweek, ‘Swallowing Eco Hype‘, highlights an interview with author James E. McWilliams who, despite his book’s title, Just Food: How Locavores Get It Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly, claims not to be entirely anti-locavore himself.

While McWilliams and I may not see eye-to-eye on every point of the argument – few of them, indeed — there’s a strong case to be made for some of the underlying fundamentals to the approach he has taken in tackling the problem at hand.

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