For the Home Archives - Try Handmade

Sweet Dixie Designs

August 31, 2021 by Chelsey Mona

Jane of Sweet Dixie Designs began painting furniture as a creative outlet after graduating college 25 years ago. With a degree in Textile Design, painting furniture began as a fun outlet. She painted rocking chairs and stools to give friends as baby gifts and then it just grew into a business. Her experience ranges from painting large items such as armoires to smaller home accessories and she has sold them through craft shows and stores. After taking some time off from painting while her children were little, she wanted to get back to being creative. She found Etsy and opened her store selling photo frames in November. These frames are a great way to add color and pattern into your home decor and to showcase your special photos. Isn’t the little scalloped detail along the edges sweet?

Jane is inspired by what she sees happening in home decor magazines and even fashion magazines. You can definitely see her textile background in her fabric-influenced patterns.

I have always loved color and pattern and like the idea that at first glance it may look like the frame is covered in paper or fabric and then you realize that it is paint. My style isn’t really modern or traditional, I just like what I like.

Jane is a mom of three and her fourth child is her “Sweet Dixie” a rescued greyhound, her shop’s namesake. She enjoys finding new patterns and colors and hopes to add a variety of items to her shop as time goes on.

I think buying handmade is so important. After being out of the craft market for a while coming back into it I now see how many people make a living from their art. The time and care that goes into each item cannot be duplicated.

Sweet Dixie Designs frames would make great gifts for that upcoming baby shower or wedding. Go visit her shop, there are tons of great designs and color schemes to choose from!

Organizing With A Little Rustic Charm

August 25, 2021 by Sarah Simpson

There are so many talented artists out there creating beautiful, functional works of art from re-purposed and recycled materials. One of my favorite trends right now is the application of old re-purposed barn wood into projects like the ones shown in this post.

The handmade owl rack shown above is available at HappyAcresArtworks. It is made from re-purposed barn wood and has been hand painted to give a natural, worn-in look. The artist from HappyAcresArtworks was raised on a 150 acre dairy farm in rural Chester County Pennsylvania and credits her upbringing for her desire to take inspiration from nature in her work. Use this owl rack to organize and hang your treasures in any room. The color scheme of her items are especially well-suited for a nursery or young child’s room.

TrueConnection is another wonderful shop specializing in one of a kind pieces made from reclaimed wood. From their wedding decor to their home decor, each piece is beautifully crafted and has it’s own unique character. The wood used for the items at TrueConnection comes natural with nail holes, knots, and a natural wood grain variation. The farm house entry table shown above is rustic and charming. Use it to keep your shoes off of the floor and out of the doorway and to keep your everyday items like keys, mail, or even your umbrella neatly placed at your home’s entry for easy access.

Last but not least, check out this simple, adorable earring holder from ParadiseHillDesigns. Keep your earrings neatly and artfully organized with this rustic, yet refined handmade frame. The weathered pine used to create this piece was gathered from the side of an old cabin and has been carefully sanded, but otherwise has its natural beauty shining through. The interesting character of each piece of wood is what makes projects like these so beautiful. The artists at ParadiseHillDesigns create many other earth friendly products such as picture frames, decorative boxes, home decor, desk accessories, and more.

Have an item that you created from reclaimed wood?
We’d love to see it! Link to your projects in the comments.

A pincushion for every day

August 5, 2021 by Erika Jurney

Check out these whimsical creations from The Daily Pincushion, and I dare you to only choose one to be your favorite.

Alison Hoagland

July 28, 2021 by Erika Jurney

These jewels of glasses are just wonderful.

Alison Hoagland: What intrigues me most about working in hot glass is the process of transformation. From the moment I dip into the furnace full of hot molten glass there is a small window of opportunity to blow, shape and coax the glass into a conceptualized form. Whether I am making a simple ball shape or a more complex vessel form, I am ever challenged by the immediate need for intense focus and attention. It is this challenge that continually captivates my imagination for self-expression in color and form. For me, blowing glass is the ultimate metaphor for transformation and it is this process which brings me immense satisfaction.

name design studio

July 14, 2021 by Erika Jurney

name design studio
Retro style handmade armchair upholstered with best quality fabrics with beautiful combination of the lovely colors. Thai Hmong fabrics, floral printed fabrics and Turkish velvet fabrics are used in upholstering the armchair. The wood construction and the foam rubber are brand new. The frame is made of kiln dried hardwood. Very comfortable and lovely piece suitable for homes, offices, cafes etc.