Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Black Mascara

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One drawback to ordering handmade goods is that they are not always in stock. As a consumer, I appreciate that this means everything I do order has been freshly produced. However, I choose not to live without black mascara.

I have become a fan of the mineral mascara that Myra makes at Funkey Monkey company. But the last time she listed it, it sold out before I got around to placing an order. And the mascara that I had was about to run out.

I was happy to discover that Lucy at Mum Mum’s Crafts, whose lip balms I tried and liked several weeks ago is also making mascara now. So I tried it. Like the other mascaras that I have recommended it is non-toxic and expires in three months.

The black natural lash building mascara is smooth and creamy. It slides evenly onto the eyelashes. I let it dry, then combed out a clump. I was very pleased that the clump went right onto the brush in one piece, and did not splinter and make a powdery mess on my face, or get into my eyes.

I reapplied the mascara later, for a touch up. And I am pleased about that too. It went on easily, and the brush did not stick or make lumps.

I have not had any problem with the mascara running or flaking. And I even took a shower with it on one day. I tried not to get my face wet. But that usually does not prevent mascara from turning into a splotchy mess. I do not expect that from mineral mascara. I expected to have a wet mess on my face from the steam, to clean it up easily, and then need to reapply.

My past experience has been that any mascara mild enough to provoke no irritation on my skin does not stay on in the shower, or even on humid summer days. So I’ve definitely found my new summer mascara (months away I know.)

One other positive note. I received this mascara five days after I ordered it. I mean exactly five days, not five business days. And yes, I am so ridiculously detailed that I keep track of the shipping time for every handmade order that I place and only recommend those which ship within two weeks.

Happy holidays everyone.

Sarah McNeil

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I’d like you to meet the art of Sarah McNeil! I would say her style is delicate with pinch of nostalgia. The soft colors and sturdy lines draw me in. Sarah’s sketches and paintings each produce a small friend to collect.

Have a furry friend that you would love to have captured in a painting? Sarah McNeil does that to! It’s special when an artist can combine their personal style & portrait work to create unique pieces. I’m sure it’s both challenging and rewarding.

Sarah writes this about herself:
“Sitting in my studio making pretty things and drinking tea and coffee at the same time.”

To me, that sounds simply lovely. I wish I could join her!

I just adore this sweet collection of art. You will find originals, prints and even some soft, knitted brooches (cutest little things ever). All available in her online shop, Sarah McNeil! She also maintains a blog entitled Everything for your viewing pleasure!

Reflections on a New Year

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Print above is from The Big Harumph

As I write this, the New Year is just days away… Every year for as many years as I can remember I have had more resolutions than I could count: Eat less candy, workout more, save more money, be more tidy, and on and on the list goes. How about you? What kind of resolutions do you set each year?

This year I won’t set a single resolution. It’s not that I don’t think resolutions are valuable, I know they are! For me they’ve never lasted long, but I’m still glad that I kept each one for a week or two or three.


Image above is from The Wheatfield

This year I’m allowing myself to dream new dreams. Always a pragmatist, I’ll let you know that this is because I feel the time is right for me to try different things and to redefine what I value and what I would like my future to look like. So this means shifting my work focus, and spending more time doing things I love: decorating our family home, hiking, and hanging out with family and friends. It sounds simple, but something in me knows that this will fuel my creativity and my perspective.

Life’s disappointments often ask us to become jaded and to be fearful of trying new things. We so easily tell ourselves that we cannot accomplish the wonderful things we would like to do. This will be a year where my own voice grows stronger and as I work and rest and play I will remind myself that with diligence and persistence that I can accomplish new things.


Image above is from Valentina Design

I have heard experts suggest every year as we set resolutions that we be careful not to set too many, that we write them down and revisit them weekly. I am certain this is good advice, but this year – I’m choosing to dream and to believe that I will find growth both personally and artistically and that my life will continue to spring forth more beautifully than each year before it.

I want to hear your dreams and resolutions for the year ahead of us. It’s the perfect time of year for us to sweep away old disappointments and to look ahead with expectation!

What’s In Season Now: November Edition

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Here, last weekend marked the final Farmer’s Market of the year. While it’s a bittersweet passing of time for growers — the loss of convenient, weekly contact with customers is never a welcome thing, but the late fall and winter downtime that is a result of a lightened market schedule is imperative in the planning of the next year’s crop — it’s mostly just bitter for shoppers. Especially those new to eating local and those who are not accustomed to stocking up. Many will have few choices other than to turn back to their local chain supermarket to feed their families.

Last year in On Year-Round Appreciation, I briefly grazed the topic of keeping in touch with your local growers year round, and the advice there is still relevant and useful to this day, but if you’re committed to eating local even in the off-season you may need to dig deeper. The end of organized markets doesn’t necessarily mean the end of local food, but you may have to do a bit more homework to find it. And even if your local Farmer’s Markets are still open, doing your homework may yield you better sources of local food than you had before.

Most locales are still supporting some growth, though the variety will be less impressive than it has been. If your markets are still open be on the look out for those early spring vegetables that are making a comeback for a second season this year. Greens are huge — spinach, lettuce, kale, chard, collards — as are fast growing root crops. Think: radishes. Also keep your eyes peeled for long-season crops that are just now ripe, such as leeks, egg plant and winter squashes, as well as those crops that store well for winter like potatoes, onions and garlic. Those that store well can be stocked up on now, and eaten throughout the coming cold months. Just be sure to ask the grower to make sure the variety they’re selling is one that stores well; not all do.

While you’re out there also ask the vendors you frequent whether or not they’ll have limited crops available during the time when the market is no longer operational. You may be able to pick up local food on-farm all winter. If your market, like mine, has already closed for the winter search Local Harvest for growers near you and get on the phone to line up sources of your favorites for the whole winter season.

Of course the transition to the non-growing season also means a transition to those foods that have no season. Meats, soft dairy and hard cheeses can be produced and harvested year round and are excellent staples for hearty, warming winter meals. Canned products, if you didn’t can your own during the months of summer bounty, are also something you may want to be on the lookout for as December approaches. Think outside the box and even a simple jar of jam can go a long way. Raspberry, spread atop a pasture-raised pork loin is to die for.

However you choose to round out your winter pantry this November, happy local shopping!

Interview with Jennifer Atkinson of Resign…Resin Design

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Previously featured a couple of weeks ago, here’s a fun glimpse at the woman behind Resign.

1

What is your craft / art / creative endeavor?

Handcast resin jewellery and homewares.

Each of my designs is initially modelled in clay, creating the delightful imperfection which makes them truly unique. The clay model is then moulded in rubber to form the mould I use for my castings. Finally, each piece is handsanded to a deliciously tactile, smooth finish. This fully handmade process ensures no two pieces are ever exactly the same.

2

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

I have always loved the sensuality and imperfection of handcast resin but upon moving to the States a few years ago, I was unable to find anything like the pieces I desired. So…with time on my hands I decided to make them myself. After much research, experimentation and encouragement from family and friends, here I am sharing my story with you.

I’ve always enjoyed a degree of creativity but have never taken anything to the next level. The impetus for this was actually my eldest daughter returning to Australia for school last year, and my need for something to help me cope with her being so far away. What really started as a bit of a hobby is now keeping me quite busy.

3

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 generally work alone so production can be slow, depending on what else I have going on at the time. My family are great for encouragement and testing new designs for functionality and fit though.

Unless I have a big order to fill, I usually restrict myself to my sons school hours on the days that I feel creative. At the moment I’m very much a one man band so I can pick and choose when I want to work depending on demand, so it’s still easy to find the balance. If business continues to grow though, I will have to introduce a bit more structure.

4

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?

Like so many others, Etsy is where it all started for me. I can be found at Resign.etsy.com. They make it so easy and affordable to set up a little shop and before you know it you have your very first customer! All my business has come via etsy. Blogs and shops have also found me there, which has led to increased publicity and wholesale opportunities. My goal for this year is to start my own website as well.

I have to say I think I prefer the anonymity of selling online, I still feel a little selfconscious being the identifiable face behind my pieces…silly huh! I was invited to exhibit at The One of Kind Show in Scottsdale recently but didn’t think I had enough inventory at the time, so will work towards that this year. I also have my pieces in a few gift shops and boutiques both here and in Australia and I have a steady stream of new enquiries from people wanting to stock them.

5

What do you wish I had asked you?

“What is the one thing you need before you have any chance of success?”

Unwavering confidence in your work (and a supportive family).

I’ve always had the supportive family but it’s taken me quite some time to develop the confidence required to really feel like I can do this. I was my biggest hurdle but once I gained that level of confidence everything just felt so much more achievable…and it was!

How right you are, Jennifer — thank you very much! And if you would like to be interviewed next, just head on over to DIY Interview.