Beautiful Stitches

Image c/o Joetta Maue

Joetta Maue’s embroidery work is awesome! I just love the way stitched text looks. The above image is Hooped Words. It kind of reminds me of a series of sculptural, fabric, wall-hangings that I did a while back. But, I digress. For more from Joetta Maue, click here to visit her site.

Oh Happy Day

Yesterday, when I was reading through my RSS feed, I read something really cool that Oh Happy Day has come up with. It’s called the Pretty Little Things Club. Here is how it works. First you buy a subscription to the PLT Club right here. Then every month Oh Happy Day will send you a pretty little thing–just for you. The items are promised to be very cool and very small, but that’s all the info you’ll get…it’s a surprise! Who doesn’t love a good surprise?

Mobile Maniac

Hex Mobiles from Wallter

I have always enjoyed the idea of mobiles and I am now convinced that I love anything and everything with a a hexagon shape. I came across the Wallter shop many months ago and have had it bookmarked ever since. Wallter has a great selection of mobiles right now, with 5 different styles and tons of great color options. Check it out if you get a chance.

Image c/o Wallter

Art for Obama

UPDATED: I am not going to go into politics, but for those that will be supporting Obama in this extremely important election, I just found out about a really great fundraiser! It is an auction that will feature the work of some extremely talented artists. Here’s a little about the auction:

ART FOR OBAMA is an online auction of photographs to benefit the Obama Campaign. Fifty of the country’s most prominent artists and photographers have donated their work for this cause. The auction will launch on October 3rd and will run for one week. All proceeds from the auction will go to MoveOn.org, which are currently devoting their energy to helping the Obama campaign. 

This is a great way to support your candidate and get a beautiful piece of art at the same time. For a list of artists (complete with images of their work), click here. I will post another reminder about this later this week.

Photo Transfer Tutorial

There is an EXCELLENT photo transfer tutorial on Hollis Brown Thornton. It is extremely detailed with tons of pictures. Go check it out!

Blog of the Week

I just found the My Love for You blog a week or so ago, and it is already in my top 3 blogs. I REALLY love this one! After finding the My Love blog for the first time through another blog (sorry, I can’t remember which one because I read so many), I browsed around for about 30 minutes and noticed two things: 1. We seem to have similar tastes in artwork and design (because I saw that we had posted about the same things several times) 2. This blog has the best interviews with my FAVORITE artists! I just can’t say enough good things about this blog. Go check it out and see for yourself.

Paper N Stitch Giveaway

The first ever Paper N Stitch giveaway is here! To celebrate our 200th post AND the upcoming launch of Paper N Stitch the website, I am giving away artwork to not one, but two lucky winners.

So, what will you win? Each winner will receive a package with 2 small, signed and numbered etchings, 1 medium sized, signed and numbered etchings on handmade paper, and 1 handmade/ hand-painted notepad. Each piece was made by me with love and is pictured above and below. Each prize package is valued at $40 retail.

All you have to do to win is comment on this post no later than Sunday, October 5th by 6pm. I will choose two winners at random on Monday, October 6th and will announce the winners on the blog that day.

Happy Friday!

Well, as much as I try to fight it, I just can’t do it all at the moment. So, I won’t be posting anything else today. But I wanted to say Happy Friday to everyone! I promise things we will be back to normal by Monday. 

The official invites are going out this weekend for the Paper N Stitch online exhibition.  And I am going to try to post the details for the 200th post giveaway tomorrow. Here’s some eye-candy until then:

Image c/o Helmo

Janice Jong

1 Dollar Store and Bella’s Cafe (both by Janice J)

These colorful prints from UK artist, Janice J, are the perfect (and affordable) solution to humdrum walls. The combination of line and color creates dynamic imagery that is influenced by various forms of architecture: from the mundane to the spectacular. For more from Janice J, click here to visit her shop.

Fantastic Font

1. You are not Everything by Luceee 2. Helvetica Typeface Exploration by UnaOdd 3. Hello I Love You Print by Juliapott 4. Feeling it Out by Mike Perry

Living with a graphic designer, I have come to appreciate type in a way I never thought possible. Of course, I am nowhere near as obsessed as he is. Anyway, I thought I would put together a couple of my favorite pieces right now that celebrate type in some way (handwritten or otherwise). Number 1 has been in my favorites for a while. I should really just buy it already. Also, Mike Perry (from image number 3) has some  incredible work and you should check it out.

Because 2009 is right around the Corner

Gathered Together Calendar by Saelee Oh and Jill Bliss

I always look forward to the joint calendar that Jill Bliss and Saelee Oh put out every year, and I just saw that the 2009 calendar is now available. Yippee! And I found this great picture on Saelee Oh’s blog from the making of the calendar.

Image c/o Saelee Oh

200th Post Giveaway

I am celebrating my 200th post (actually I am little late on this- I think this is my 205th post) with a special little giveaway, but you’ll have to wait a little longer for the details, so stay tuned to learn more. Just know that something is coming.

No=Yes..Huh?

N and O Metal Letters from Kitcsh Cafe

I have been contemplating buying these letters since they were listed on Kitsch Cafe a couple of weeks ago. I think they would look really great on a fireplace mantle or a bookshelf. Don’t you?

I have been so busy getting everything together for the Paper N Stitch website and searching through the outpouring of submissions I have received for the first online exhibition, I haven’t had much time to post. This may be my last post for today. We’ll see how it goes.

Double Duty DIY

I have been itching for the next DIY project to come around and I was finally able to take some decent style shots. It’s been cloudy lately and the photos I took before were not the best. Anyway, now I am ready to post it up. This tutorial pulls double duty: it’s a modular bulletin board + coasters. Sounds like a strange combination, I’ll admit; but it makes a lot of sense if you think about it. 

Many of us are not very fond of clutter, especially in a workspace. I personally find it almost impossible to work at my desk if there is a lot of stuff on it. So, I thought I would make another bulletin board to tack up all my notes and inspirations. But, I wanted to take that idea a step further, so I began thinking of other things that I need or would use a lot in an office space.

We recently invested in a Case Study desk, and have been religiously using coasters to protect our new purchase. So, why not make a bulletin board that could also be used as coasters? The whole thing will cost less than $4.00 to make!

Here’s what you need…

Materials: 1. Cork (I picked up a 6 pack of cork coasters from a craft store for less than $2, but you could use a roll of cork and cut to size if you prefer.) 2. Ribbon or Fabric (Something I seem to have a never ending supply of- Choose ribbon that is small to medium width) 3. Scissors 4. Your favorite heavy duty glue (I like to use quickset super glue) 5. Velcro

How To: 1. Wrap ribbon around your cork square vertically until desired affect is achieved. Make sure to pull the ribbon as tight as possible. Cut off excess ribbon and glue both ends of the ribbon to the back. 

2. Repeat the process of wrapping ribbon around the same cork square, but this time wrap the ribbon around horizontally. Then cut off excess ribbon and glue both ends of the ribbon to the back.

3. Cut a small piece of velcro to attach to the back of each piece. Try to keep the cuts small and even from square so when you take them down, it will still look nice.

4. Attach all cork squares to the wall in your preferred pattern. Now you can hold notes and photos in the interwoven wrapped ribbon and pin up anything that is too big to fit otherwise. Once they are all hung up, it’s time for a drink. Pull one down and use it as a coaster, re-arrange your modular bulletin board and you are ready to start all over again. Fun and organized! Here’s what it looks like:

Note: If you would prefer to just use these as coasters (or they will be getting heavy use), I would recommend putting a sealant/ top coat over the finished cork squares so the fabric does not get ruined. For more Paper N Stitch DIY projects, click here.

Other sites that have linked to this post:  Decor 8…..Apartment Therapy…..CraftStylish…..Craft: zine….Anne Kaz….One Happy Corner…Finding Myself….One Pretty Thing…..Threadbanger…..Ruby Rooms

Meet me in Brooklyn

Snowdrift by Rachel Sumpter

As if anyone needs a reason to visit New York when the leaves are falling, Cinders Gallery in Brooklyn, New York is showcasing some of the most incredible work around. If you are planning a trip to NY anytime soon, make sure you stop by.

Gold Fronts by Jeremy Taylor, What Button Reunion by Kyle Field, and Lyra by Jacob Mickelson

I have pulled some of my favorites from the Cinders Gallery site, and am so impressed with the selection of works and price ranges available. One of my favorites is the piece below from Matthew Feyld. I am very lucky to own one of his drawings myself. It’s quite the conversation piece and everyone who comes over always asks about it.

Spacecamp by Matt Furie and Untitled (man and bird) by Matthew Feyld

Later this Week…

Just wanted to give a little preview of a tutorial that I have coming up later this week. I won’t tell you what it is, but you may be able to take a guess from the photo. I think I say this everytime, but it is my favorite How To so far.

Remember if you ever have a tutorial that you would like to share with the Paper N Stitch readers, email me at papernstitch@gmail.com and we will get the ball rolling.

Ruffled Feathers Giveaway

Images c/o Ruffled Feathers

A  couple of days ago I received a really sweet email from Carrie of Ruffled Feathers. She wanted to let me know about a great little giveaway she has going on this week for these scarves (scarflettes actually). To celebrate the change of seasons, Ruffled Feathers is giving away three scarflettes. For all the details, click here. But hurry, the contest ends Sunday, September 28th.

Trash to Treasure

Tennis Racket + Blank Wall = ???. I found these great vintage tennis rackets a couple of days ago at a thrift store. I actual purchased three, but they’re not all pictured. Anyway, I had no idea what I was going to do these guys, but I decided to bring them home and I thought about possible uses on my drive home. And then it came to me: a jewelry caddy! And although I am really not one for sports, I think the quirky vintage-appeal outweighs the fact that it is a piece of sports equipment.

I had an empty wall in the bedroom that I had been meaning to jazz up a bit. And I was happy that I was able to put one of the racket’s to good use so quickly. But I still have two more to use in the future. Any ideas?

Paper N Stitch Site Update

I wanted to give a quick update on the Paper N Stitch site (and also another sneak peek of the design). The invites for the first online exhibition will go out late this week. Below is a screen-shot of what an interior shop page will look like (this is not the main page). I am so thrilled with the design and usability of the site! My fiance, Jeff, has done a wonderful job, and I can’t wait to share the official launch with everyone on October 15th.

Thanks to everyone who has submitted their work. I am truly blown away by the incredibly talented artists and makers that have contacted me. If you haven’t already, there is still time to submit. There are a couple spots left for the first exhibition and then I will start rolling submissions over to the second exhibition. Click here for more info on how to submit.

More DIY

1. Undercover Crate Tutorial via Craft: 2. Masking Tap Window Screen via Apartment Therapy 3. Bike-Borne Lunch Bag via Made:

I wanted to share a couple more DIY’s today that I wasn’t able to include in this previous post from last week. I love the privacy window idea from Apartment Therapy (#2). What a simple and affordable solution. I still can’t believe its masking tape!