Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Annie Lesperance Jewelry

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Look what I found this week in the Try Handmade Inbox.

Annie Lesperance: As far as I can remember, I always loved to create things. But it is when I discoverd jewelry making that I knew what I wanted to do. I am still learning new techniques every day and this is the part i love the most about metalsmithing…Sky is the limit!
All my jewelry are entirely handmade using sterling silver, stones and pearls. My inspiration comes from nature and organics forms and I like to experiment with different textures. I really love to create beautiful jewelry for people to enjoy

Blue Scarab Jewelry

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My name is Amber Bryce-owner, designer, and soul creator of Blue Scarab Jewelry. Jewelry, to me, is an extension of oneself-your personality, your being, your soul.

From a very young age I had an intense interest for art of all kinds. I always enjoyed creating-anything I could get my hands into I would put my own spin on it. As I grew older I found myself dabbling in many different artistic medias, from drawing and writing to clays and mosaics. But creating Jewelry has always been what I come back to, because I feel such a strong connection with each piece I make. So much of myself is poured into each piece, because my creations are spawned from such a deep inspiration. I find inspiration in the moldings of old buildings, victorian dresses, fabrics, textiles, and most importantly Mother Nature herself. Moods, textures and even music spawn my creativity, constantly etching designs and images in my mind.

When I create jewelry, I don’t like to limit myself to any one technique. My repertoire of skills as an artist is ever growing-I love learning new techniques, all the while mastering old ones. Craftsmanship is very important to me-I want my customers to feel good knowing that I take great pride in providing them with an heirloom quality piece of jewelry that they can wear and pass down for many years.

Kirschbits

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Look at these great bags by Kirschbits that I found in the Try Handmade Inbox! I love seeing products that are both beautiful and reasonably priced. (Please buy the hobo bag before I do…)

Kirschbits was born in Schleswig (a small historic -and viking related- town in the northern most region of Germany) through the skills and creativity developed through my curiosity and desires to make different things, try different materials, and above all, Hand-making everything I shape in my mind.

Kirschbits is me, Vanessa Kirsch (Graphic Designer, Artist) a Venezuelan living in Germany. I make different kinds of handmade stuff (handbags, jewelry, art, design and graphics, etc). I throw in a whole bunch of ideas, concepts and above all, love and professionalism in everything I do.

Lemon Aid

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“LEMONADE” Mixed Media Collage Print, by Linda Woods

“When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” When Dale Carnegie first spoke those pithy words of wisdom, his intent was to remind us that no matter what comes our way, it is up to us to make the best of it. For me, though, as soon as I hear “When life hands you lemons…”, I think “Lucky me!” That could be because I always associate the cheerful little yellow fruits, not by their sourness, but by their powerful mood-lifting effects. And, it’s not just me; research has proven that just a sniff of fresh lemon really can boost moods and increase optimism in test-subjects. It sounds counter-intuitive, and I stumbled upon it completely by accident, but the tart juice of the lemon is actually an age-old remedy for nausea, too, and is commonly recommended by naturopaths. I can vouch for this first-hand; when I was pregnant with my son and deep in the throws of morning all-day sickness, the only thing that could calm my tummy and allow me to function was to (literally) suck on a lemon.

So, when life hands you lemons, here are a few ideas for what you can do…

”When life hands you lemons, wash your socks!” Can doing laundry make you happy? It can if you use an eco-friendly product with an uplifting fragrance like the one pictured above by Maylee’s Garden. Scented with pure lavender and lemon essential oils, this all-natural, vegan laundry soap is made by hand by the always effervescent Libby, and contains absolutely no palm oil or harsh detergents. It’s also great in cold-water and suitable for HE/front-loading machines.

“When life hands you lemons, go shopping!” …and be sure to keep your positive eco-karma intact by bringing along a handy reusable shopping bag. This reversible one, pictured above, handmade by Charity of Lil Hipsters, features a cheerful lemon print on one side and a fresh green solid on the other.

“When life hands you lemons, take a bath!” Scrub your troubles and bad mood away with the zesty Lemon Slice soap made by DeShawn Marie The handmade, 100% vegan soap contains a triple-squeeze of lemon (lemon peel, lemon essential oil and lemongrass essential oil), along with nourishing coconut milk and exfoliating dried chamomile flowers. After you’ve toweled-off, visit DeShawn’s website for details on her soap club, which offers a different soap every month!

“When life hands you lemons, rub it in!” Into your cuticles, that is. The next time you find yourself in a seemingly endless line-up, instead of impatiently tapping your fingers, massage Pure Intox’s conditioning, lemon-drop scented balm (above) into your dry cuticles instead. The uplifting scent of lemon will energize and relax you while you wait (patiently) for your turn.

Of course, when all else fails, go ahead and make that lemonade.

Old Fashioned Lemonade
1 cup Simple Syrup (recipe below)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 cups cold water
Ice and lemon slices, to serve.
Directions: In a pretty pitcher, combine simple syrup, lemon juice, and water. Adjust sweetness/tartness by adding more sugar or more lemon juice. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices.

Simple syrup: In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water. Simmer until sugar is completely dissolved.

In Bloom

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There’s nothing like fresh cut flowers. Here in the NYC area, it’s one of our few inexpensive luxuries. A simple bunch costs about $10, and adds instant freshness to any room. Placed in an office, on a kitchen counter, coffee table, or windowsill; flowers, like tulips, are an easy and inexpensive addition to your home. All you need to do is fill a container with water, add flowers, and done. (Small vases are perfect for small spaces, from Anna’s Pots. )

Tulips are the flower I buy the most often, and, I think, completely underrated by many people. Depending on where you live in the U.S., fully bloomed tulips can be found from the end of March through April. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, about 60 miles north of Seattle, is a popular tulip festival in the U.S. Showcasing fields and farms of tulips, the vistas are the closest thing we get here to Holland. For a tulip fix all year round, this beautiful felt appliqué pillow from Alexandra Ferguson would freshen up any room’s decor.

On the east coast, Washington DC hosts its Cherry Blossom Festival, the countries’ most famous. Under the category of “who knew”? The cherry blossom festival first bloomed in 1912 when the Mayor of Tokyo gifted the U.S. with 3,000 Cherry Blossom trees. First Lady Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of a Japanese Ambassador, planted the first 2 trees. Visually the cherry blossom tree bloom is stunning and an apropos introduction to spring. (This cool cuff from The Shag Bag shop has a subtle cherry blossom pattern. It’s available in different colors.)

Peonies, another spring flower, are closely related in look to the cherry blossom. (This barret from The Belle And The Beau captures the beauty and fun of peonies.)

There are so many different flowers that bloom at different times during the Spring. Everyone has their favorite, from tulips to azaleas to roses to daisies to Dogwood trees; some bloom in March, others in May. That might be the best part of Spring, the seemingly endless roll call of new blooms.