Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Delaware, USA

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[hTara]

I’m in the first state, for the first time, for vacation. So I thought it fitting that I should bring you the best of Delaware for this week’s shop local post!

On our first night here, we stopped in a tiny little building set just off the main boulevard of Rehoboth Beach. Heidi Lowe Gallery is an “Innovative Jewelry Studio” that houses small exhibitions of jewelry art throughout the year. I got to see a display made up exclusively of earrings!

The inside of the gallery is quite simple and the displays change with each exhibition. For the jewelry exhibition, Heidi had affixed black silhouettes to the cream colored walls. Each silhouette displayed a single earring.

Heidi Lowe Jewelry Gallery

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Moved by rhythm…

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If you’ve been reading my posts lately you know that I’ve found this New Year to be really meaningful. I’ve been learning new things about myself, and what happiness and fulfillment really mean to me. I was chatting with a group of friends last week and we got to talking about life’s rhythms and living more simply. At first the idea of “simple living” was a bit of a turn-off for me, as it almost sounds unattainable. Let’s face it – life is complicated and the devil is often in the details. But as one of my friends explained, it can be more about prioritizing those things in your life that are the most important and structuring your life in such a way that you’re really taking care of your most important needs.

That I can sign up for, and it’s really what I’m all about these days, so it totally clicked with me. This last week I’ve been trying to build more structure in to my every day life through scheduling that is a bit more detailed, but still allows for some flexibility and breathing room. So far I’m finding it to be a very nurturing practice.

We live in an interesting time – perhaps unlike any other. For many of us, we work facing computers day in and day out. For some, upon arriving home, more hours are spent in front of a computer, socializing, shopping and reading…. While I love my computer as much as the next person (and perhaps sometimes more) there is something about how our work and play is structured these days that may not always be ideal or even totally satisfying.

I think that is why nature photography resonates so strongly with me. It is always a reminder to me of where true beauty is, and lately it’s been helping me to consider the many ways nature can inform us. Fruits and trees and flowers have their predictable patterns and seasons, and they need to nurtured, as do we.

Throughout this post I’ve shared the beautiful work of Lupen Grainne, whose work I found on Cargoh. Lupen is a self taught photographer from Portland, Oregon who now lives in Sonoma County, California.

Interview with Lynn Lefler of WomanWithTools

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What is your craft / art / creative endeavor?

Hand hammered jewelry using the ancient techniques of repousse and chasing. I mostly work in silver. My favorite items to make are pendants and earrings.

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

I started by taking a U.C.L.A. extension class in making handwrought jewelry (as opposed to doing the lost wax casting method). I then was introduced to a German man who specialized in repousse, and studied with him for several years. Before turning to jewlery making, I wrote episodes of some animated t.v. shows.

Is there a story behind the name of your shop?

Yes. I was at the airport checking in for a flight to New Zealand. This was before 9/11, when one could still take things like hammers and saws into the cabin of a jet. I had my toolbox with me, and the airline attendant asked me what was in it. I told her it held my jewelry making tools. Somewhat surprised, she stated, “Humm, a woman with tools”. I have been a woman with tools ever since.

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 make jewelry by myself. I do get input from family and friends as to what items they like the most. I work best in the morning; it sort of sets the tone for the day. I am still trying to figure out how to balance everything in my life. It’s sometimes hard to concentrate on making something when my little dog comes over, drops a toy at my feet, and stares up at me.

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 used to have my work in a few galleries, but it’s hard making a profit on silver jewelry that takes such a lot of time and work to make. I’m not too good at selling my things in person, so online is perfect for me.

Right now my only shop is on Etsy.

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

I’ve made friends with a lot of fantastic and talented people on Etsy. It’s hard to limit to 3, but I admire Tasha at http://www.etsy.com/shop/earjeans, Judy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ConfectionsInGlass, and Shoshi at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShoshiPo.

What inspires and motivates you?

Ancient metalwork that I see in museums and in books. Beautiful designs such as those from the Arts and Crafts period, and the jade and wood carvings of the Maori people of New Zealand.

What do you wish I had asked you?

How I met my husband. It was in a Kung Fu class. I was one of two women in the class. Now how many people can say that?

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

Make your own cheese

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Mmmm, this looks fabulous. Making your own cheese? Delicious!

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Choices from Urban Cheesecraft include mozzarella, ricotta, goat cheese, paneer and queso blanco. They’re also a source for cheese making supplies like vegetarian rennet, cheese salt, citric acid, and butter muslin.

A little about cost comparison:
If you choose organic milk for your cheesemaking, compare the price to organic cheese. If you buy regular milk, compare the price to regular cheese. Keep in mind however that if you spend $5 on milk, you will make twice as much cheese as you would buy for $5- organic or not! So for $5 you get two typical logs of chevre.

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A little about milk:
You do not need raw milk to make cheese. You can use regular pasteurized milk from the grocery store as long as it is not ultra pasteurized or ultra-heat pasteurized. Even some of the large organic brands now do this to milk. Its only benefit is a long shelf life. They use high heat and kill the microbes that help cheese happen so it won’t work. So, find a milk that you like and works, then stick with it. Oh and this kit works with cow’s or sheep’s milk too (or you can be like Europeans and combine them to play with different tangy flavors). You can also use lowfat milk or nonfat milk (yield and creaminess will be noticeable with nonfat).

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I think I’m going to have to give this a try!

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Interview with Amy Turn Sharp, Little Alouette

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[hLeah]

LA_1

“Each product is made by hand and usually all the wood is surrounded by cups of tea, laughing children, and disco music so each product will come to you infused with love and bliss!” says Amy Turn Sharp of her handcrafted wooden toys. Amy and her husband Joe, the handsome British carpenter, have lived in a small village just outside Columbus, Ohio for about nine years. They have two kids, Finn, age 5 and Blaise, age two, who have tried out all the wooden toys their parents make and have given them a seal of approval.

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