Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

by

[hKristin]

Are you ready for a fiesta? I know I am! Cinco de Mayo (if your Spanish is rusty, that means the Fifth of May) is a Mexican holiday commemorating the Mexican army’s defeat of the French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. So, now that you know what you’re celebrating, let’s get to the handmade stuff!

What is Cinco de Mayo without some good Mexican food? Kitchen Stories has an easy solution for you! Not only will their Mexican Spice mix make your enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas easier, but the cute graphic tin will look great in your kitchen!

cinco-1

Now your food is looking good, so it’s time to make sure you look good too! I love this Fiesta Brooch from Frank Creations. What a colorful way to show your Cinco de Mayo spirit!

cinco-2

From a Mexican feast to Mexican elements for your home, this cool handmade mosaic shrine by Blue Terracotta was inspired by funerary temples in Mexico. It would look exceptionally beautiful in an entry way or living room.

cinco-3

Another way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is by supporting Mexican artists. I found two wonderful illustrators whose fabulous work will help to make any room feel more cheery. First up is Geninne’s Art Store. This wonderful print of a puppy has a cool collage feel.

cinco-4

Next is Rosie Music whose shop is filled with fanciful watercolor illustrations. This example of her work, from her umbrellas series, is just the right thing for that empty bit of wall that you have.

cinco-5

Another piece that was inspired by Mexico is this amazing photograph from Jen Murray Photography. The vibrant colors could liven up even the darkest space.

cinco-6

Last but not least is my favorite item of this week’s batch, an eco-friendly Frida Kahlo softie created by Sew Sew Suck Ur Toe. What a fabulous way to bring Frida Kahlo, and the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, into your home!

cinco-7

I hope that you all have a fabulous Cinco de Mayo fiesta! Join me next week when we send some not so subtle hints to spouses and kids everywhere as we spotlight some of the best handmade Mother’s Day gifts!

Handmade Memorial Day

by

[hKristin]

Memorial Day is coming up fast and whether you are throwing a backyard barbecue, traveling, or simply honoring family, friends, soldiers, and other loved ones, you can find handmade items to help make your Memorial Day special.

If you are having a party to celebrate Memorial Day and welcome the summer season, there are great, creative handmade solutions to help top off your festivities. How about these fun paper flowers from Tru Luxe? They would look gorgeous hanging above a table full of food and will look fresh and beautiful even after your party guests have gone home.

memorial-1

I mentioned a table full of food, didn’t I? And we all know that you can’t have a table full of food without something sweet. These Itty Bitty Bites from The Fetching Hound are sure to have your guests reaching for more and rubbing their tummies with delight.

memorial-2 [Read more…]

Handmade wedding dresses, veils, and jewelry

by

[hKristin]

As promised, I am continuing our wedding series this week with a spotlight on the bride. As a bride, your options really are limitless when it comes to having a handmade wedding. The choices that I am showcasing represent one tiny facet of what’s available, so if these aren’t your thing, I encourage you to do some searching – you really can make your day one that your guests will always remember when you buy handmade!

Let’s start with the most important decision most brides will make: The Dress! Despite the fact that I have been married for years, looking at wedding dresses never gets old.

This first option, by Joan Shum, just screams “bride!” It is romantic, elegant, and has touches of fun while still maintaining a traditional aesthetic. If you love the look, but not the length, all of Joan Shum’s dresses can be made in any length you like. Wouldn’t this be stunning as a tea length gown?

The next option is simply gorgeous, and is a cost effective and eco elegant option for a modern bride. Created by Isadora Clothing, this dress would be perfect for an outdoor wedding. Just imagine it on the beach or in a garden! Perfection!

Once you’ve picked out a gown, deciding what to do with your hair is the next consideration. Whether you choose a traditional veil, a tiara, or something else entirely, there are options aplenty, beginning with this lovely veil designed by Veiled Beauty. Called, “A Little Something,” this veil is just that, a little bit of pretty for your big day.

How about a tiara too? This tiara, from Anca Pe’elma, has the right mix of sparkle and sophistication. Too beautiful to wear just once? Wear it around the house after the wedding, I won’t tell.

This next option is for you if you’ve ever been Carrie Bradshaw in your fantasy life. Made by Violet Delight [Since the writing of this post, this Etsy shop has been closed. If anyone has a new link, please let me know.] , this choice gives a nod to tradition with the veil and flower, but the overall design and peacock feather are a glamorous take on vintage modern.

A bride needs special jewelry for her special day! Not only can you add a little shimmer to your earlobes with these lovely earrings by Amber Sky, but you can also get your “something blue” taken care of as well.

Another option is this fabulous bracelet by Handwired Jewelry Design. Like the earrings above, this bracelet will work on your wedding day and beyond with its fanciful mix of pearls and swarovski crystal.

Last but not least, what will your attendants wear? This simple dress from Amanda Archer can be made in a variety of colors and will have your bridesmaids singing your praises! Not only will they look great in your wedding pictures, but this is one dress that won’t be gathering dust at the back of their closets!

I saved the whimsy for the end. This flower girl dress is every little girl’s princess fantasy, come to life! Created by Sweet Plume, this confection is all color and fun and is guaranteed to make your guests smile.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our look at wedding designs. If you’re not planning a wedding, but instead find yourself an invited guest, tune in next week when I will show you some great picks for handmade wedding presents that the bride and groom will love!

Winter Delights

by

It’s winter here in the UK. The car was frozen over last week, temperatures have plummeted to zero (celsius) and I’ve broken out the scarf, hat and gloves more than once this week. Unlike most of my friends and family, I love winter. Even though in Manchester, where I live, the weather is less like on the stereotypical snowy Christmas card and more like constant rain. Even though I may not see a sunny day for weeks at a time, I love winter.

The reasons why I love winter are plentiful. For one thing, I am an avid knitter, and there’s no better excuse to cast on than freezing cold days! For me, knitting is also the perfect pastime to while away the gloomy evenings while snuggling up on the sofa with my husband. At the moment I’m knitting Christmas gifts – I won’t tell you what they are or I’ll spoil the surprise, but I hope the recipients will love them!

Not only do I love knitting woolly accessories, I adore wearing them too. That’s why I’ve been enjoying the chilly days this week – it’s given me a great excuse to layer up an array of vintage hats, crocheted scarves and toasty mittens. What better way to show off gorgeous handknits and raise the profile of the handmade movement?

I also love winter because that wonderful holiday Christmas falls smack bang in the middle of it! From the end of the summer, I look forward to Christmas because it means ten days’ holiday, spending time with my family and friends, and excellent food, courtesy of my dad. This year, I’m also trying to buy mostly handmade gifts and I’ve already got some amazing presents for my family!

When I was about 10 years old, it actually snowed on Christmas Day – really snowed, enough for sledding. My parents live right next to the beach, and we had so much fun sledding down the sand dunes! It doesn’t really snow very often here in the UK but every day during winter I wake up hoping that there will be a beautiful white blanket outside when I open the curtains (although I hate scraping ice off the car!).

So, I’m really excited that winter has arrived, even if it’s a little bit early this year. Although I expect that in February, I’ll be waiting most impatiently for spring to arrive!

Image credits, top to bottom:
HidenSeek
Dollyknits
Zukas
Ialbert
AnnasEmporium
WallEnvyArt

Handmade Summer Into Fall

by

[hKristin]

Last week we talked about back to school which must mean that we’re edging toward fall. I like to buy as many multi-purpose and multi-season items as I can, so I have spent this week thinking about how to extend our summer purchases into the autumn days ahead. This week I focused on a particular color scheme – orange, rust, amber and red – that will still look fresh in the coming months when the leaves start to change.

My first find this week is a gorgeous photo from The Garden Shed. Gerbera Daisies always lend a cheerful touch to your wall and the vibrant color will help perk up any dark corner.

Orange-1

[Read more…]