Modish

Eco-Friendly Find: Pouch

Today's eco-friendly find is a little shop called Pouch, hailing all the way across the pond from Bristol, UK.  The entire shop is filled with handmade bags, belts, stuffed owls and much more all made from vintage and re-purposed fabric.  They're fun, fresh and affordable in colorful designs and recycled from found materials- they're eco-rific!

For the Mums: Ceramics

For the next few days I'll be bringing you handmade Mother's Day gift ideas, starting with beautiful ceramic pieces because well, moms are as precious as porcelain, awwww:

1. Porcelain bottles with platinum decals by Coe & Waito, at Peek Keep- $72
2. Pink Lollipop porcelain "wall pillow" by Stepanka Ceramics- $47
3. Illustrated bird vase by Little Flower Designs- $65
4. "Shhh" series cup and saucer set by Bailey Doesn't Bark- $21
5. Fern platter by Pat Pyott, at Zanisa- $62
6. Mocha flourish pendant by Sofia Masri- $67
7. "Fly" earthenware bowl by Paloma's Nest- $44

Try This at Home with Maddy: PROJECT- Mother's Day Classic Silhouettes

Continuing on with Mother's Day is a project that has a classic history but thanks to cyclical trends, is now thoroughly hip - the paper silhouette picture! The task seems totally daunting, especially if you're creative but photorealism isn't your forte but that's okay! There's an easy way to get that classic look while not freaking out about freehand. Gift silhouettes of yourself and your siblings (if applicable!) to your mom, or snap a few pics of the children of any other mommy in your life and start cutting! Remember that silhouettes don't have to just be cut out of black paper with a white background - make it more modern and unique by using hip color combination like chocolate brown with a blush pink backer paper!

CLASSIC SILHOUETTES

Archival Paper in Contrasting Colors
Surgical Scissors (you need a smaller blade scissor for the tiny details)
Glue Stick
Tape
Digital Portraits of your Subjects in Profile
Access to a Computer, Digital Editing Program, and Printer

Snap several shots of your subjects in profile, with white or light backgrounds preferred. Keep the backgrounds against a clean, flat wall to save yourself time in the editing phase. Load your shots into your camera and open them in Photoshop or a similar editing program. Convert your photos to black and white. If there is any tone or objects in the background, paint them out with the Paintbrush tool in white. Also using the Paintbrush tool, paint highlights and light tones on the subject carefully with black. You ultimately want to end up with a digital silhouette as a starting point, with the face in the direction of whichever way you wish it to sit when it's finished.

Save and print out your image. Take printed silhouette page and stack it on top of a single sheet (or double if you plan to make a duplicate) of archival paper in the color you wish your silhouette to be in. Tape the sheets together hinge style, with one piece on either end of the top sheet that folds over to the back sheet. With your surgical scissors, begin to cut the face side first. When you get to the hair, stop. This is where you will want to stylize your silhouette, because you clearly can't cut each individual hair if your subject has flyaways! For curly or wavy hair, follow the general shape of the hair and add in some graceful curly pieces to give a sense of the texture - it's okay to follow the hair in your printout, too, just remember to simplify! For straight hair, remember to cut slightly into the ends in thin, triangular slivers so the hair doesn't appear as a blocky mass.

When you've finished, use a glue stick to apply your silhouette onto your backer paper. Don't use liquid glue - it will add moisture to the paper and will cause it to buckle. For an even more personal touch, sign your creation with your name (and a note, if you wish) and set it in an antique-feeling frame prior to wrapping and gifting.

Maddy Susser is a graphic designer and artist that has a soft spot for all things paper and English period pieces (in other words, men in tights and funny vests). Armed with a number of years in marketing for retail on a small business and corporate scope she collects tidbits of information learned along the way and puts it into easy terms to share, formerly on her blog Try This at Home, and now on Modish. She's currently working on a line of paper goods.

Brighten and inspire

I'm. sooooo. in. love.

This is photography by Samantha Lamb and I think it's just stunning.  The depth of field in each one is really engaging and elegant, the color palettes are luscious and the end results are quiet, storied, palpable.  I just love every. single. photo of hers that I've seen so far, in fact, I've been lost for the past half hour just trying to decide which ones to show you here!  Find all her collections on her website, where you can email her if you're interested in purchasing a print, that is, if you can narrow down your favorites and actually choose one to order!

And while you're in the photography mood, be sure to take a peek at Design for Mankind's inspiration e-zine #4, out today.  It features some incredible photography that was inspired by the unexpected- there's some good stuff in there, and it's free to check out, so hop to it!

Handmade Spaces: Sixth & Elm

Today's handmade space is from Chantelle of Sixth & Elm, creator of wonderful woodburned boxes, frames, wall art and more.  She creates while tucked away in the basement of her Toronto studio where she's free to be as messy as she'd like- let's take a look!



What do you create in this space?
Chaos, mostly, but I do occasionally turn out some pretty nice pieces of hand-burned wooden artwork. Like all makers, I also play with other mediums down here including wire-working, candle-making, paper crafting, polymer clay, screen-printing and anything else I can get my hands on. This is also the place where I stash all the salvaged items I keep because I "may have a use for it someday," though for most of the items, that day has never come and it not likely to anytime soon. There aren't many uses for antique centrifuge parts, for example.

Can you describe what we see in the pics a bit?
The pictures give evidence to the large amount of random materials I like to collect. You have to get pretty creative with storage if you are a pack-rat and can't stomach the word "de-stash" so I have little organized jars of beads and findings, trays for little spools of wire and organizers for more pliers than any human should need in a normal lifespan. I also have my sewing machine, gocco, woodburner, flex-shaft and various other tools I was too weak to resist.

How do you feel when you enter your "handmade space?"
I feel free to be as creative as I want, because the more creative I get, the more mess I make and that becomes a problem when you are crafting in your living room or other shared space. Although I love that chocolate brown paint I have, it doesn't look very good spilled all over the couch cushions. Down here I have complete authority to let my mind lead my hands where they want to go and not have to worry about a hasty clean-up in the middle of a project because I want to use the dining room table for dinner.



It'd be fun to have a space where you can get the walls and floor dirty, don't you think?  Thanks for sharing Chantelle!

To see all of the creations that Chantelle makes here, check out her etsy shop and keep up with her on her Sixth & Elm blog!

If you'd like to share your handmade space with modish readers in the future, I'm accepting new submissions!  Just email me with the subject "handmade spaces" and include some photos and your website address for consideration!  Thank you! 

Softening

I'm about to hop in the shower after a sweaty yoga workout, which I successfully kept up with all last week and again this morning, hoping to keep it going every weekday morning to start my workdays fresh and invigorated.  I've done yoga off and on for 10 years now, and think that the best part of it is going on with your day after your practice, feeling yourself lifted and open, you stand taller and your feet feel more grounded, you feel soft, secure.  And a side benefit is that clothes seem to hang better on your elongated, toned torso, like these beautiful tees and tunics by Flux Productions-

I wish I had one to slip on after my shower, made from slinky soft burnout material, thin and drapey and oh so yoga-ish, with hand screen-printed designs on each that give a nice nod to nature.  There are some tees for guys too along with some beautiful jersey scarves...find all the lovelies at Flux and add a little more softness to your days.

Free (or at least cheap!) Plants by the Score

So you missed the window of seed opportunity, but don't have the budget to spring for new plants?  You can always trade (and don't forget the Punk Rock Garden Swap). 

See, there are many ways to fill out your garden without dishing out a ton of dough.  Seeds we've covered here and here a bit more; but maybe next time you cut up a kiwi you'll want to save a few seeds for an experiment all in the good name of gardening. 

Oh, you.  You're such a cut up.
Propagating by cuttings:  In water:  Cut 3-4 inches down of a stem you want to try.  Mint is super easy.  pinch off the lower leaves, stick in a glass of water; if the cutting is short enough, I'll use a shot glass. (Hey, I'm way done with those days of needing them.)  Change the water often.  If you don't you'll end up with a soggy, smelly rotting stem in water. It's not pleasant, trust me.  Roses, basil, tomatoes, mints, catnip--I've had success with rooting all of these in water.

In soil: Using a leaf to turn a new leaf: My Jade Tree and Christmas Cactus have parented many a friend's houseplant just by giving them a fleshy leaf to stick slightly down in some clean ol' dirt.  Some kalanchoes are called mother of thousands for a very good reason.  They line the margins of their leaves with little plantlets, ready to drop them at any given time. Soon the next plant over is threatened by an army of baby kalanchoes.

Mad props, plants in the house: Rooting Hormone: this is a powder you can find at most garden stores; you dip the stem/cut end in the powder and then in the dirt the cutting goes. I've tried it and didn't have any more luck with it than with the natural alternatives.  The bottle says not to use it on edibles which made me leery [read: scared] enough to give it away to someone else who wanted to give it a try. I've also heard of dipping the cutting in honey before adding it to the soil.  Adding crushed aspirin or crushed willow branches to your rooting water are easy alternatives, though the only one I've tried is the willow branches.  I didn't actually cut them, I just put a stick in the water, and it seemed to work well enough.  Personally, I've had lots of success with no additions to water or soil.

A somewhere - in - between - cutting - and- dividing method that works well for woody perennials such as lavender and rosemary is layering. With layering you pin a stem in place on the ground (either with a rock or by burying it in the soil.) Some of these plants prefer to have a notch cut into them before the actual layering.  This method takes a little time.  Last year I just pinned a stem of rosemary to the ground with a bobby pin (stuck it straight down in the dirt) and left it alone.  It grew roots just fine!

You be digging this, we be digging that: The general rule is to wait for a plant to finish blooming before taking cuttings or dividing. 

Dividing roots: Peonies, azaleas, lambs ear, a bazillion types of plants will be just fine if you take a sharp shovel and chomp right between stems and down through the root mass.  Think of it like cell division, only on a really big scale.  Or, maybe not. But get part of the plant, and part of the root structure, then plant them in their new home and water.

Bulb division: Think garlic--one head of garlic has tons and tons of little cloves (bulbs!), each providing you with the opportunity for a new head! Though garlic is best planted in Spring, a lot of other bulbs abide by the division rules.  I have huge, thick patches of daffodils in my yard, and once the leaves die back a bit, I go in dig em up then divide them up. The newly divided bulbs might suffer a bit the next year, but the year after that they're back in full bloom.

Beg Borrow and Steal your way to Eden:  Many areas have Native Plant Rescue groups.  When I first heard of native plant rescue, I envisioned wearing all black with a ski mask, going out and finding small tribes of plants,  digging them up and speeding home to add them to my own yard.  Not nearly so racy a concept, these are clubs that go out to  pre-construction sites, with the owner's permission of course, to rescue the plants before demolition or development begins. I've stumbled on some great deals for plants through Freecycle (obviously free) and Craigslist (at minimal cost).   Or. . . just pinch off a pretty stem when you see one, but I'd suggest you ask first!

Things to remember: take cuttings with clean, sharp shears or pruners and cut the stem at a 45 degree angle.  Stem cuttings should be no longer than 6 inches.   Remove lower leaves that will be below water or soil level.  The roots will grow from the leaf scar you create. 

Some plants are trademarked and/or patented items, not to be duplicated.  May sound odd, but it's true! Make sure you know the origins of the plant you're duplicating!

The Virginia Cooperative Extension sure has a lot to say on the subject, if you want to learn more!

Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish thumb wants her to believe otherwise.  When mud pies aren't on the menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.

From garbage to gorgeous!

Well, let's just continue with the eco-friendly trend all week long as I introduce you to Garbage of Eden Design, creator of accessories made from up-cycled plastic- her pieces make use of the garbage that we would otherwise throw away everyday like plastic newspaper and grocery bags- sweet! 

The results are fresh and exciting, in bright bold colors that are fun for the spring in an eco-friendly wrapper that's fun for everyday of year!  Check out more designs in the Garbage of Eden shop, and check out their featured artist on etsy interview this week to learn more!

Try This at Home with Maddy: PROJECT- Mother's Day Spa Salts

Hello, everyone! Sorry I missed Tuesday's post, but I've been quite sick since coming back from San Francisco for work. It's quite a persistent cold! Anyway...

Mother's Day is coming up and I thought it would be great to start a series on gifts to give to all the mommies in your life! It's been a tradition since childhood that my mother generally receives some sort of handmade token from me on Mom's Day, and I love the fact that something you make is so much more meaningful because you took time out to create something. I'm starting out with a favorite of mine - bath salts - which becomes the gift that gives back if you "accidentally" make extra! If you're looking for some recommended sources for all of these materials, click on the links in the ingredients list for some companies I prefer.

TRIO OF BATH SALTS
Bath salts are a quick and easy way to make any bath more soothing. Including them in multiples allows the receiver to choose a fragrance that best suits their mood, or the mood they'd like to be in!

Large Coarse Salts or Bath Salt Base
Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils
Food Coloring (optional)
Bath Salt Containers (in your choice of size and material)
Wax Paper and a Large Surface to Dry Salts on
Disposable Spoon or Other Mixing Tool
Mixing Bowl or Container (Must Not Be Used for Food!)

With a kitchen scale or by eye, measure out the number of ounces of salts that your container will hold; add on an additional two to four ounces to compensate for any salt shrinkage that may occur as you add wet materials to them. Move measured salts into a mixing bowl or other large container that you will NOT use for food in the future - obviously, not a good idea to eat essential or fragrance oils, even if it smells like chocolate, or blueberry muffins, or whathaveyou.

Begin with your food coloring - if you choose not to color your salts, you can skip this step. Color choice is based on personal preference; if you have a color theme that your scent doesn't fit into, it's not a big deal. Because food coloring is a wet ingredient, it is important to add this in slowly and in small quantities at a time. Add it in drop by drop, mixing the salts as you go with a spoon or other tool that you can dispose of after the batch is complete. When you have achieved your desired color intensity, put the food coloring aside and continue to mix for five minutes or so as the salt dries and absorbs the last bits of dye. If after this the salt still appears wet, spread it out on wax paper over a large, flat surface to allow it to dry further before proceeding - it will not absorb the fragrance well while it is still too wet.

Once your bath salts are dry, you can begin to add fragrance. There is no exact formula to tell when you have exactly the right amount of fragrance added, but you can certainly under- or over-fragrance these salts. When you've added too much, the salts become incredibly wet and begin to shrink. There's no "in-the-process" way to really tell when you've added too little - you just have to wait until they're dry to test their aroma. If it's too weak, you can just add more fragrance and let them dry again. Since you need to air dry them, some of the fragrance will be lost in the process, so personally, scenting salts stronger is better for me.

After placing your salts back in the mixing bowl, begin adding your fragrance, blending it in as you add (as you did for the coloring). Eye droppers are extremely helpful during this process so you can have a greater "drop by drop" control of the fragrance - you don't want to add a lot at a time. It's good to take short breaks between adding batches of fragrance to ensure your salts are absorbing them by mixing without adding additional fragrance.

After adding the fragrance, the salts should look a little slick, but not sopping wet. There should not be excess fragrance in the bottom of the bowl after blending; if there is, drain it out of the bowl. Distribute salts evenly over a sheet of wax paper on a large, flat surface and let them dry for a couple of hours (or until dry to touch). The salts must be allowed to dry thoroughly before being placed in containers.

All that's left then is to pack them up and design the packaging! Your salts will be able to be used immediately, although I've personally noticed the fragrance pops a lot better when used after a week or two - so for best results, start planning early for Mom!

Enjoy!

Maddy Susser is a graphic designer and artist that has a soft spot for all things paper and English period pieces (in other words, men in tights and funny vests). Armed with a number of years in marketing for retail on a small business and corporate scope she collects tidbits of information learned along the way and puts it into easy terms to share, formerly on her blog Try This at Home, and now on Modish. She's currently working on a line of paper goods.

Come sale away, come sale away with me...

Sales!  Specials!  Deals!  Words you like to hear, eh?  Check these goodins out now:

Get 20% off ANYTHING in the Alena Hennessy shop by using the code springsale at checkout, including select items that are already 30% off (so you could save 50%!) and her brand new, wonderfully lovely eco-friendly line of goodness.

I'm a little late to the party, but the celebration is still going on over at the Naughty Secretary Club who is having a sale for the rest of this week to support Administrative Professionals Week!  (Ya know, cuz they're the secretary club? Get it?)  Get 25% off any of their kitschy cool goods by using the code SECRETARY in the voucher field at checkout.

And My Windup Bird is turning 4 this year!  4?  That's old in indie land where many business don't make it past a year or two, so a) big super duper congrats to you, My Windup Bird!  And b) thanks for being so cool and offering a free t-shirt with every online purchase!  You rock!

Oh and, while I'm at it, might I mention that more cute goodies are now for sale in the Modish shoppe?  Felt necklaces by Moufelt and bags and pillow cases by Jenna Rose are now 20-25% off- check, check check, check'a check it out!