Sunday, August 16, 2009

July Mini Design Challenge for RetroHandmade

Hello all! I know things have been pretty quiet within our team lately with everyone being so busy with kids, vacations, etc. There were 2 of us itching to do a mini challenge for July, so we went for it! Here is the post that went up on my personal blog yesterday, but felt it appropriate to post here as well.

So I finally have the results of the design challenge that I did with Hillary, of Happy Hippy Jewelry on Etsy. It was our July design challenge (a little belated), and my first design challenge ever. Basically, we gave each other a theme and then let our imaginations run wild. Typically, this type of challenge is done in a large group with everyone using the same theme and then a winner is announced, but we modified a bit for just the 2 of us!

Hillary's theme that I chose was "Summer Romance," and this is what she came up with. I have to say that I love that the "couple" are in my 2 favorite colors....Let's Gooooo Mountaineers!


Here's what she had to say about it: "I really tried to represent the coming together and intertwining of two separate souls with the blue and yellow wire wrapped pendant. I added the pink and floral accents to emphasize the idea of romanticism and to add a little bit more of a "summery" feel." She elaborated more on her design process by saying this, "I made the pendant first and really wanted to represent two unique persons entangling themselves and falling in love. I couldn't decide if it was finished and even asked for advice from other crafters, who gave me some great suggestions. I discovered how well the pink went with the bright blue and yellow just playing around with different things. I played with several things and ultimately went with it because it helped soften the overall impact of the high contrast colors without making them "disappear". Pink is also a great color for romance and the floral beads looked appropriately "summery" to me. Ultimately, I think I ended up with something very romantic but unusual and unique, which is what i always strive for."

The theme Hillary assigned to me was "weather." Here is what I came up with!
This is a 3-piece bath towel set that includes a full sized bath towel, a hand towel, and a washcloth. I first thought of using a cloud, sun, and raindrop. Those just didn't work well together. They weren't very much fun. Almost a little sad. So I picked the cutest of the three, the raindrop, and created around that. The umbrella and boots gave me the ability to add some color and interest into the project while still sticking to the theme. I have to say that the rain boots, I thought, were going to be a bit out of my comfort zone as far as getting them to look normal. It didn't take me too long to figure out how I wanted to attack them, and I think they turned out pretty stinkin' cute! This item is listed at my shop on Etsy, 15 Pieces of Flair.

There are 3 of us lined up to do another mini-challenge for August with a September 8th deadline. It will feature Hillary of Happy Hippy Jewelry, Liz of LiDDesigns, and me, Angie, of 15 Pieces of Flair. Our theme this time around will be the same for all 3 and will be....drumroll.......Hollywood Glam! I'm very excited about the prospect and will keep you all posted.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

A Crafty Book Proposal: Your Opportunity for Free Exposure

This isn't so much a "Tip for the Team" as it is an opportunity for team members. In short, I’m putting together a book of kid-themed craft tutorials, which I’m currently accepting for submission from crafters such as yourself. In total DIY fashion, I will compile, edit and self publish this book, and then market it both online and in venues that cater to the handmade community. Revenue from sales will go to publishing costs and if any profit is made it will go to the purchase of baby formula for infants in need. I currently use a portion of all my proceeds to purchase baby formula which I donate regularly to the Foothill Unity Center, a food bank located in my community of Pasadena, California.

Though featured crafters won’t receive financial compensation for their participation in this project, they will have the opportunity to have their work show-cased as well as their name mentioned along with a small bio, picture and contact info in the book, so that all who participate get due credit.

My goal here is to simply contribute to the handmade community by promoting a handful of talented crafters and sharing what they do best with the public.

Interested crafters should send the following to me at info@anisemouette.com
- tutorial
- pictures
- web site
- contact info

Please write CRAFTY BOOK PROPOSAL in the subject line and allow several weeks for response as I anticipate numerous submissions and want to give each one thorough consideration. Thank you for your participation. I look forward to hearing from all of you!

XOXO
anisemouette.etsy.com

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Summertime Smores

I've recently been slacking with my holiday postings and now since all of the summer holidays have passed, I thought maybe just a summer camp fire theme would be a cool little feature. Who doesn't love some smores around a camp fire? I know I do! I found a few cute little items for all of the smores lovers out there. The first is from artist CunningandCrafty and features 2 small pins/magnets with itty bitty appliques of a marshmallow and flame. The second item is from BabyLovesPink, whose shop is just about the most adorable thing I've ever seen. It's a sweet little smores set-up to rival even the most dedicated smores maker. The last is for the Do-It-Yourselfers out there. Maybe you won't have a chance to take the kids on a camping trip this year, but want to recreate the experience in your own home. Then sweetpiebakery has just what you need! A DIY camp fire set that includes patterns for everything felt needed to do some faux smores including the fire! Hmm...suddenly I'm craving some smores!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Friday Flickr Finds: Don't they look retro?

These Flickr finds are from our Retro Handmade Team Flickr group pool. Please feel free to check out their Flickr pages & Etsy shops!
9. pink halter apron 1

Hope you have a wonderful July 4th weekend! :-)

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Being a Girl Scout Is Finally Paying Off – Some Thirty Years Later!

I think everyone will agree that sales have been slower than slow these past few months, no matter how much interest we are able to generate. Relisting, twittering, chatterboxing, whatever… Nothing seems to be working with any consistency. So, what am I doing, you ask? Doing my best to prevent this economic bust from getting me down by challenging myself to work with new mediums. And in doing so, learning a new skill, or rather, in my case, relearning a new skill, has kept me busy as well as rekindled my love for handmade.

While I must admit that I was hardly the model Girl Scout (I hated camping then and I hate it now), my competitive nature motivated me to work towards earning as many badges as I could before dropping out (I think I lasted a year). One badge, specifically, required I learn to embroider. To fulfill this requirement, we had the option of taking a class from one of the scout’s mothers who was a whiz with a needle and thread. And she showed us how to do a number of stitches which I remember practicing, over and over, until I had them all down pat.

So, did I ever utilize those embroidery skills that I worked so hard to perfect some thirty years ago? The answer is, no, at least not until a couple of weeks ago when I decided to buy some felt after stumbling upon some really cute felt work on Etsy. At first, those skills I learned in that one embroidery lesson did not come to me with ease. In fact, it wasn’t until my third or fourth attempt that I even remembered earning that Girl Scout badge. But when I did, everything started to click and my ability to embroider started to improve. I can’t tell you the names of the stitches I’ve been using to make some new items for my shop. But who cares? The point is that I have generated new interest in my wares, from people who might have not checked out my shop otherwise, simply because I am working with a new medium, or rather, a medium I hadn’t worked with in over three decades.

So, my tip for you is to try something new, something totally different, and see what happens. If you’re lucky you’ll not only generate new business but have a lot of fun in the process and perhaps even find a new passion.

Good luck!

To see my new felt items, feel free to browse my shop: http://anisemouette.etsy.com

Friday, June 19, 2009

Friday Flickr Finds: Bright, Colorful, & Retro!


These Flickr finds are from our Retro Handmade Team Flickr group pool. Please feel free to check out their Flickr pages & Etsy shops!

2. Untitled
5. Untitled

Hope you have a great weekend! :-)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Featured Member: Littlegreenthings

1. What is your shop name?

2. How did you first get started in your craft?
My crafts really took shape when I bought a large stack of 1940's Family Circle magazines at a yard sale a few years ago. Those old ads just screamed "make me into something fun". Decoupage glue + old light switch plate + vintage magazine pic= great response. The ideas snowballed from there.

3. What inspires you?
I am consistently inspired by unabashed laughter and joy, old couples in love, wide and boundless landscapes, others' words that bring order to my thoughts, honesty, truth, being genuinely understood, friendly strangers, unconditional love, unexpected surprises, courageous hearts, whimsy and play, spontaneous fun and positive minds. Every day, though, brings new inspirational surprises.

4. What are your favorite color combinations?
My color combo of choice is most definitely real-deal red with anything. Red and turquoise, awesome. Red and chocolate brown, beautiful. Red and yellow, exciting. Red is just so feisty and energetic and stimulating.

5. What is your favorite item from your shop? 
I love my 1970 yearbook light switch plates. Their kitschy oddball nature captures my humor and style perfectly.


6. If you had to use three words to describe yourself, what would it be? 
Contemplative, playful, hopeful.

7. What superpower would you most like to have?
I have always dreamed of having a magic wand that could turn negative into positive, hate into love.

8. What is the first thing you remember creating?
My second grade teacher was all about creative writing. My first memorable story was unencumbered fantasy made from unicorns, princesses and mermaids.

9. If you could choose any era/decade to live in, when would that be? Why? 
The present is where I'd like to be. Right now is beautiful and refreshing.

10. Where can we find you? (website, blog, etc.) 

Monday, June 15, 2009

And The Winner is... { June '09 Design Challenge }



First Runner-Up:

1) Hippie flowered drees OOAK by Dcartesianos


Second Runner-Ups (It's tied again!):

5) Retro Radio Necklace by RosyRedDesigns


11) Flirty Girl Apron - Fleur by Sweetthings3
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