Rubber Stamp Maker Gianni

What is it about rubber stamps? I find them fascinating.

Giannigoh is from Malaysia and makes the most darling rubber stamps, which she also sells.

She will do custom work as well.

Gianni is also trying to create an art community in her area so if you have any friends in Malaysia send them her way.

Here are some of her stamps that I particularly liked. How cute is that little owl?

Giannicarveshop

Polymer Clay Dragon

I sculpted this dragon for my son from polymer clay. I really had fun making this. It was such a departure from all the girly things I usually make. I put lots of claws on him and pointy things on his head and tale to make him look fierce.

My first dragon but I liked doing it so much I may make more!

From the Past Week

Since I'm doing some other things and don't have any of my own stuff to post about, I thought I would share a few more of my favorites from around Blogland this past week...

1. Miniature cuties from Atelier Sterre (via Daisy in lala Land)
2. Lovely egg basket from Marie Claire Idees Blog with complete how to.
3. Injured George by Make It Awesome via Softies Central. Poor bunny. (Cute!!)
4. Wool Butterfly Lampshade by MIXKO
5. Great idea for using an old book cover from Sweet Paul.

Chick Pops

Bakerella is a daily blog read for me. Not that I'm into cooking that much but her photos you could eat! Plus she has really, really great ideas and includes recipes and instructions for most everything she posts.
These Chick Pops are typical of the kinds of things she writes about.
Right now you can vote on which version of these Chick Pops you like the best - Big Head? Big Bottom?All Body? No Body? Or even...No Stick.
Full post, pictures, recipe and instructions on Bakerella.

Make this Drawstring Pouch

Karin has so kindly provided full instructions for how to make this cute drawstring pouch with carrying strap, including a pattern for the acorn embroidery. Of course you could put whatever you want on yours.
The instructions are clear and she uses lots of photos.
Karin has some other great tutorials here and she also inspires us with her Orange Flower Sketchbook blog.
Thanks, Karin, for sharing this great tutorial.

Spilling Beauty: Paloma Pendants

I just found Jennifer Morris' new blog, Spilling Beauty, and it's just lovely. I plan on visiting her often. Here I'm showing her Paloma Bird pendants just in time for spring.
Jennifer says that Palomas represents hope and new life. Isn't that what spring is all about?
Pendants found here.
Spilling Beauty blog.

 

  

 

Bag Love

Love this bag found at Kase-Faz.

Ladder Love

One of the things I love about Be-House is the way Bertina uses and re-uses ordinary objects to make the most beautiful displays.
In a post back on October she used a pretty narly looking ladder to make this wonderful night-time display. She shows us how she wraps the wire around plain water tumblers to make tealight candle holders. Inspired!
Now Bertina uses the same ladder for a spring display. Terra cotta pots painted white and wrapped with doilies,  wreath (she also made) and potted violets. Just lovely!
The next time you see an older step ladder that's too risky to climb, you might want to try one of these ideas.
Read the full post on Be-House.

Spring Has Sprung

Apparently everyone's more than ready to welcome Spring. Here are some inspiring images I wanted to share with you:
From Ciel D'Orage

 

From Fils et Ficellles

From Fantastic Toys with downloadable pdf file

 

Spring Colors from Fee un Voeu

Fleur Fatale

 

Spring is the time of year when everyone starts to feel hopeful again. Flowers blooming, warm breezes, promise of warmer breezes, getting outside, knowing Summer is coming, seedlings bursting open, birds nesting and Spring Cleaning. Sorry, had to throw that one in there. We are doing some major spring cleaning around here and I will feel so much better when it's finished.

Do you have any spring projects? We'd love to know about them. Send me a link or leave me a comment; I love hearing about what you're doing.

Happy Birthday, Evan!

I can't believe my baby boy is 20!
Happy Birthday, Sweetie!
Mom

Little Spring Basket

I just saw this little basket made of felt on Maya Made, a favorite blog of mine.
Maya has instructions on how to make one here.

Blumshen's Easter Shop

I just love visiting Blumshen. They always have great things for the holidays and this year's Easter goodies are no exception.
They have a wide range of decorations and supplies. Easter grass (real paper) in several different colors, papier mache eggs, dye kits and lots of other cool stuff.

The Spring Hare's Special Delivery is a candy container. The rabbit's head comes off, the cart is a container and the little chick is also a container.

 Aren't the little animal picks cute? They come 144 to a pack.

The chick cut-outs are lacquer-painted cardboard with hand-painted details. Made from German molds from the 1930s.

If you've found some Easter items or crafts you would like to share with my readers leave me a comment!

Blumshen's Easter Shop
The Spring Hare's Special Delivery Candy Container: $194
Animal Party Picks - 144 pieces: $13.50
Chick Cut-Outs - Pkg of 8: $30

Remodeled Bathroom

Those of you who know me personally (Cara!) will know that we did this bathroom a while back but I thought I would put some pictures up since I have not blogged about it.

It was our first real project in our 1850s house. I wish I had "before" pictures...

What we did:
Painted. It's hard to see in the picture but the blue has a white wash over it. It was a pretty blue but just too bright, so I put several layers of white wash (white paint mixed with glaze) over it.

Replaced the floor (it was a horrible, white sheet vinyl before). We used the laminate tongue-in-groove flooring and it is a huge improvement. The floor has withstood a lot of moisture and wear and still looks good.

Built the sink cabinet from an old dresser. This was tricky (for Herby). We still had to have the drawers so we had to cut around the piping to make it work. I painted it white and added vintage hardware. I did a white mosaic tile on the top since it had to withstand being wet.

Replaced the sink, faucet and handles.

I made the backsplash with white tiles. This was to hide some ugliness in the wall behind the sink and also to allow for splashing (thus the term "backsplash").

New window shade and shower curtain.

The little black table has since been replaced with another white dresser to hold bathroom items and clothing.

Much improved!

Yuri Munakata's Miniatures

There's something fascinating about dollhouses and anything miniature really.

Yuri Munakata's work is truly breathtaking, isn't it? She makes nearly everything in these rooms, including the rooms. All done in 1/12 scale.
Seen here: Biscuit Lover's Kitchen, Sculptor's Studio (yes, everything in that room is tiny) and Paris Kitchen.

Lots more including a Flea Market in Autumn and an Antique Glassware Shop with miniature reproduction Depression glass on Yuris website, Angel Berry

Licca's Dollhouse

These are pictures from Licca Licca's 1/16 scale dollhouse.
Amazing attention to details, wonderful color.

Licca is a doll collector and has written a journal about building this dollhouse and the furniture that she makes and alters.

I first found Licca on flickr where I first saw the picture of the kids' room. I had to find out more.

LiccaLicca
Licca's Journal: House of Duke
flickr photos of Licca's Dollhouse

Free Art

Have you seen the Feed Your Soul website?
How would you like some free art!?

From their website:

"Feed Your Soul is a free art project. Each month artists are invited to participate and to contribute a print which is totally free and available for download.

This project is coordinated by Jen Wallace of Indie Fixx to help art lovers feed their souls with art in these recessionary times and to help artists promote their work.

If you are an artist and would like to submit your work for consideration, just send an email with your URL or 1-2 images of your work."

These are four examples of some of the work that is available for download - for free - for real! Thank you so much, Jen & Feed Your Soul, for providing the world with free art!

Sweet Paul's Tea Pot Lamp

Paul Lowe, aka Sweet Paul, made this funky Alice in Wonderland" themed lamp from tea pots he collected at flea markets.

I love it when people make something functional from things that are not what they were originally intended for.

Paul made this lamp for Country Living and their website has complete instructions for how to make this lamp yourself.
And by all means you must check out Paul's blog. It's one of my favorites (see some others in the left column). Absolutely inspirational and Paul is a hoot!

Country Living
Sweet Paul
How to make this lamp.

Pale Pink Blossoms

More dreaming of Spring. Aren't these litle Pale Pink Blossom pins wonderful? Made with clay, fabric and beads by the equally-wonderful Delphine.
Tres jolie, Delphine!

See these and more loveliness at La Fille du Consul

Fils et Ficelles

Fils et Ficelles is a blog I follow regularly and here's one of the reasons why. This very, very sweet necklace she made.

Little felted birdies. Love the soft Spring colors...gives me hope that Spring will soon come.

Speaking of birds...we have some nesters in our transom window at the front door again this year. I'll try to see if I can get some pictures.

Fils et Ficelles

Recycled CD Case Light Cubes

Here's a great idea for using up some of your old CD cases.
I found this idea on the Design Mom blog. Images are printed on vellum-type paper so that they are translucent and they light will shine through.

Great idea.

Details on how-to here.

Kindergarten Bags: Design by Gina

Design by Gina is a German shop with lots of great clothing and accessories for children but what caught my eye were these cute Kindergarten Bags. The bags are nylon and machine washable. Each bag is handmade and comes in 5 color choices. I love the Baby Bambi one and the Concrete Mixer for little boys (or for little girls who like construction equipment).

Design by Gina Shop
Kindergarten Bag Baby Bambi: $35 Euros
Kindergarten Bag Concrete Mixer: $35 Euros

Gina also has a blog.

Cute Custom Made Fabric Books

Mazette makes these darling, one-of-a-kind fabric books from your photos and suggestions.
They come in 6 or 10 pages (3 double/5 double pages) and they are just as cute as can be.
What a unique gift idea and one that will sure to be a favorite to keep forever!

Mazette's Blog: Peas in the Workshop
Fabric books: $20-$30 Euros at La Boutique de Mazette

Zakka Sewing

Zakka Sewing is a beautifully photographed and illustrated book. The best part: it's in English!
The book features projects submitted by 25 Japanese zakka makers.
I've loved looking through many Japanese craft books like Cotton Time and Cotton Friend and lots of others online.
I have never been fortunate enough to own one, though I would love to. I have done a few projects that I've found online, like this little felt book and this little yoyo puppy.
It was fairly easy to figure out the Japanese instructions because they are so well drawn and photographed.
But now no interpretation is necessary!
Etsy has published an entire tutorial, including patterns, for this sweet linen wrist pincushion, which is one of the projects from the book.
You can also visit the Zakka Sewing website to see more about the book andthe authors and find instructions on several other projects, including this too-cute-for-words squirrel teapot cozy shown on the cover.

Zakka Sewing, by Therese Laskey (of Softies Central) and Chika Mori.
Photos by Yoko Inoue
Book available at Amazon where it's listed for $16.47

Minifin

Minifin is a Norwegian shop featuring cute and colorful baby and children's clothing and accessories
The store represents sophisticated Scandinavian brands that "are not over represented in other stores."

Clothing ranges from infant to about six years. They also have some nice room decor, toys and accessories.


Minifin
(via Den Gode Feen)