Sparkles and Sticks

Coffee Chases the Blues

This blue button, eco-chic, coffee sleeve is one of my favorite items in my shop right now.

I'll be posting a new coffee sleeve design tomorrow, so stay tuned! : )

The Doors are Open

In the wee hours of 2008, as Ashley and I were celebrating a very sober and very sleepy New Years (we had just come back from a three day trip to see castles in North Wales so we were knackered), I declared my New Years resolution.

"I am going to open an Etsy shop."

And now, as 2008 threatens to quickly come to a close, I am please to tell you that the doors of Welsh Grl 2 Designs on Etsy.com have opened.

Please, stop by. : )

Do not "Ignore" this video!

Did I mention that I love British humour?  (Look at that, I immediately slipped into British spelling there.)  And accents?  It took a lot of focus to not burst out laughing in our silent office atmosphere as I watched this.

Dressing the Stars With Etsy: Angelina Jolie

I realized just how pathetic I can be when I saw a preview for The Changeling a few weeks ago.  I was sitting there, watching, and thinking about how good this movie looks, how Clint Eastwood is an awesome director, how Angelina Jolie’s costumes are so cool, but wait.  Angelina Jolie is in this movie.  I can’t see it.

Wait, what?  Am I still not over this?

You’d think that Brad Pitt left me for Angelina Jolie, not Jennifer Aniston.  But as a hardcore Friends fan, even four years after they stopped making new episodes, I side with “Rachel.”  And as far as I know, Jen and Brad weren’t “On a break” when it all happened.  But, actually, they could have been, for all I know.  It’s not like I have direct contact with them or anything.  Geez, I need to let this go!

In order to get past all this, I have decided to “make friends” with Angelina Jolie.  And by make friends, I mean play virtual Barbie and dress her up for my weekly “Dressing the Stars With Etsy” series.

Here are the clothes I have recommended for her.

1. Sweater by K Coline, $185

2. Wool/Silk Botanical Ring Sling by Bronwen Hand Crafted, $125

3. Chiffon Shrug/Bolero by Larimeloom, $63

4. Midsummers Night Necklace by Sadie and Leo, $25

Agree?

The #1 Reason to Move to Springfield, Missouri.

My crafty hero, Elsiecake, made a very very, very exciting announcement today.  On February 1, she will be opening an online and brick and mortar boutique called Red Velvet Art.  It will be full of "independent art, music, fashion, decor & crafty stuff" and "full of the cutest indie goods around made by some of my favorite artists in the whole world!"

Can I get a woot woot?

Elsie used to design a really awesome and super popular line of scrapbooking supplies for KI Memories, but a few months ago she announced that she was leaving her post there to pursue other dreams and work on a big, secret project.  Though my first thought was "what on earth am I going to do with out all her cute scrapbooking supplies?" my second one was “oooh, I bet she is opening her own art gallery.  Cool.”   Third thought?  “How much do plane tickets to Missouri cost? : ) She hinted that she would tell us what this special project was sometime in the future.  Now, the future has come, and an art boutique is a bit like an art gallery, no?

For those of you non-crafty types who are scratching your head as to why I am so excited about a person you have never heard of who is opening a store states away from me, let me try to explain.  Elsie is a bit of a celebrity within the crafty world.  Trust me, I am not the only one who is excited about this.  Try imagining that your favorite band announced that it was going to open up this really cool used cd store.  It was going to have open mic nights and sell cds full of songs that were recorded during impromptu jam sessions they held with other really cool bands that you adore.  Or imagine that your favorite author is opening a bookshop on a similar premise, and she would probably be writing her next book at a laptop in the adjoining coffee house.  Or, if that doesn’t help you feel in the know, imagine that Ed McMahon is on your doorstep with a bunch of balloons and a gaint check.  Does that help?

Join in the online celebration today, folks.  Head over to the Red Velvet Art website, or Elsie’s blog.  See you there! : )

Photo copyright elsie flannigan

Christmas Gifts Panic Attack Remedied

In case there is anyone out there who I haven't told yet... I have decided to go completely handmade this Christmas.  All the gifts I am giving will be made either by myself or by a fellow crafty gal/guy.

While this is a brilliant idea in theory, and I really do believe that my holidays will be brighter without the consumerist focus dampening them, I got a little overwhelmed with the idea the other day.  I started writing out a list of people I am giving presents to.  Hmmm, a bit longer than I expected.  Then I put a star next to people who I am shipping internationally to.  I have to get their gifts done first, and wow.  There's quite a few people with stars next to their names.  A heart next to people who I am shipping to within the United States.  Yeah, a few people there too.  Then there are a couple people that I want to give presents to but don't *have to*, a few people I have to give gifts to but don't necessarily want to, and then some people who require extra attention because don't really like handmade things in the first place.

One panic attack and a cup of coffee later, I was ready to strategize.  Here are a few of the ideas that I come up with to simplify and de-stress my process.

I put a few people on my list on the back burner.  If I get to them, great.  If not, oh well.  Love shouldn't have to be shown through gifts anyway. 

I decided to focus on smaller and easier projects that create a big impact.  No need to knit a lace blanket when a stockinette stitch one in beautiful colors will be just as appreciated.  Gloves, hats, and scarves are easy little knits that can be big hits when cleverly embellished-I'll focus on those.

As one of my crafty heroes Ali Edwards says "Don't try and re-invent the wheel."  I am not going to be writing any new patterns or coming up with any groundbreaking ideas for my Christmas gifts.  Instead, I'll take joy in knitting patterns and following "How To's" that others have already devised.  There are sooooo many free crafty ideas on the internet, why not make use of them?

Act like the turtle, not the hare.  I am starting now and will maintain a pace of slow but steady progress until Christmas Eve.

Here are a few projects that I found online today that I am thinking of trying:

Vickie Howell's Hand Like a Hole Gloves

Alli Lucy's Paper Covered Pens

Japanese Inspired Ornaments

Paper Roses (Cute Hostess Gift!)

I'll keep adding to the list as I find more projects that inspire me.

Do you have any tips or reflections about going handmade for the holidays?

My Mr. Darcy is Gilbet Blythe

I have oodles of friends (and family members) who go absolutely nuts for Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy.  They own copies of all the bazillions of movie remakes, and proclaim that Colin Firth is the best Mr. Darcy ever.

Personally, I never really got it.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I dislike Mr. Darcy.  (You can stop throwing rotten vegetables at me now).  It’s just that I met Mr. Darcy long after another man already stole my heart.

Gilbert Blythe.

Ahhh, Gilbert.  I met him when I got the Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea videos for Christmas back in the late 80’s.  At that time I liked him, but I wasn’t too into romantic relationships yet.  My focus was aimed much more towards Anne’s relationship with her “bosom friend” Diana Berry, and her foster parents Matthew and Marilla.

In my Junior year of High School, I re-discovered my Anne movies and began playing them endlessly for the second time in my life.  His patience, intelligence, and the cute way he said “about” won me over.  I was older, and ready for Gilbert.  Like Anne, Gilbert stole my heart when I was young, but it took me a good number of years to realize it, and be ready for it.

I read Pride and Prejudice in my Senior year of High School and watched the Keira Knightly film when I was in college.  I enjoyed them, but Mr. Darcy just didn’t do it for me in that way.

I guess it’s kind of like they say in that annoying book: “I’m just not that into him.”

Too Freakin' Cute

Today, I found these online at Scrap In Style TV.

Are they real ipods?  No.  Are they downloadable cards in the shape of ipods?  Yes!  Are they downloadable Christmas cards in the shape of ipods?  Yes!!  Are they the cutest freakin thing I have ever seen in my entire life?!  Yes!!!

I wasn't going to send out Christmas cards this year, partly because they generally cost a lot and my list of recipients gets pretty out of hand, but I am now.  These things are just too fun to pass up.

Dressing the Stars With Etsy: Claire Danes

I think Claire Danes would look amazing in this ruffled, Robin's Egg shirt created by Treehouse 28.  It is currently listed at $55.  It reminds me of a look she rocked at the 68th Annual Acadamey Awards.  Cashmere top and silk skirt?  Loved it.

Dressing the Stars With Etsy

It's no secret that I love handmade items.  At least, it shouldn't be.  I love making things and buying things that others have made, and there are lots of other people out there that feel the same.  Case in point: Etsy.com. 

Right now, the handmade movement is still a bit on the underground side, but it's growing so fast that I think it will saturate mainstream culture in no time at all.  Pretty soon, it won't just be the cool girls working in indie coffee shops that are wearing handmade; it will be the gals splached all over glossy magazines as well.  After all, don't all the truly cool trends originate with us "common folk" anyway?

So from every Wednesday from now on, I am going to get ahead of myself.  I am going to pretend that it's five years in the future, that I am a fashion writer for a sexy glossy magazine, and I am spending all the hours of my day tracking down the makers of the crocheted gloves I saw Sarach Jessica Parker wearing when she was photoed walking the around New York.  Actually, that doesn't sound like a job I want to have at all, so instead I'll just scoure Etsy.com and find clothes that I think my favorite celebs would look good in/should buy.  Sound good?

Claire Danes is first.  Suggestion coming in just a few moments.