Friday, July 31, 2009

My Favorite Etsy Artists #6 of 10: Crafterall


This shop practically give me goose-bumps, it is so amazing! If you love maps, paper, colors, collage, cards - then go there immediately!!!


Crafterall does these amazing topograph style cards and art pieces. They are so gorgeous and organic. And obviously done by someone with great skill with a craft knife!!

My Favorite Etsy Artists #5 of 10: Ziemabir


Ziemabir is a sweet little mother-daughter shop! I have tried my hand at crocheting flowers. I'm not giving up, but it is a slow learning process for me. How wonderful to get a handful of these lovlies to put on a cardigan sweater or to accessorize - oh I don't know - your ENTIRE life with?!?

Favorite Etsy Artists #4 of 10: TidelineDesigns

Oh how I love this shop. Anyone who knows me knows that my number one hobby is probably beachcombing, especially for sea glass.

TidelineDesigns has the yummiest photos of their found seaglass, which comes in the lovely jellybean shapes that the Gulf of Mexico simply cannot replicate.

I love how they display their products:

Their photos are art in themselves! They also sell pre-drilled sea glass for jewelry making. I can tell you from personal experience that drilling sea glass is quite difficult to do without ruining the piece. *Sigh!* I would like to spend a few months roaming the UK's North Yorkshire Coast. So lovely!!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

An Etsy Treasury with my Sleepy Owl


Thank you to Dylan's Homemade Goods for her yummy orangey-aqua-ey treasury that includes a bunch of very fun goodies!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Tutorial: How to Make a Sink Skirt


If you have an old bathroom like me, you probably have a sink with exposed pipes. Yuck! Plus, you don't have the benefit of under-sink storage. So an easy option to cover up the uglies is to make a sink "skirt." Here's how to do it...

Before:

Obtain some velcro-type fastener stuff. I used Velcro brand "Home Decor" tape. One side is a peel-off adhesive and the other side is made for you to stitch.

So stick the adhesive side around the edge of your sink like this:


Measure the distance around your sink and from sink to floor. Add about 1/2" to measurements on each side for a seam allowance. If you want to add pleats or a gathered look, add extra width to account for this. Cut your fabric to these dimensions as well as your trim if you want to add it.

Note: I did not accurately measure the length from sink to floor, so my skirt came out too long. I was lazy and just took up the excess in a "fold" and restitched. You will see this in a later photo.

Press a 1/2" seam allowance around all edges of the fabric. If you want a pleat along the top edge, press the pleat and pin to secure it.



Next, pin the velcro along the top edge of the skirt.


Pin the trim along the bottom edge of the skirt. Stitch all the way around the 4 sides of the skirt, through the velcro and through the trim. I used a 1/4" seam allowance.

Stitch a second row along the velcro edge in order to secure both sides of the velcro to the fabric.



This is what the top should look like if you included an inverted pleat.


Because my skirt was too long, I "hitched" it up a couple of inches.


Then I did the responsible thing and actually checked to be sure my new length was correct.


I secured the new length with two rows of stitches. In the picture below, you can see that the edges did not line up evenly. Oh well!


Nevertheless, it is an improvement over the naked sink and now I can hide some unsightly stuff behind the skirt!




Now, would a matching toilet skirt be going overboard???

Sunday, July 19, 2009

ANNOUNCEMENTS!

Good Sunday afternoon, world!

I have 2 exciting announcements.

1. The new CrabAppleDesign.com is up and looking both very cute and functional.

2) A big ole' change is coming in the Crab Apple World. My little experimental shop, BlueCakeAndButtercup paper goods has done quite well on etsy, so hooray for that! Now that my paper goods line is becoming established, BC&BC will soon be joining the CrabAppleDesign shop on etsy. Hopefully one shop can support two different kinds of crafts. I believe that this decision will help make wholesale promotion easier. Fingers crossed!

The BlueCakeAndButtercup store will be then be dedicated to vintage items and vintage destash supplies. It will be fun to have my own little vintage goodies shop, so I'm very excited about the transition.



Everything should be in its (new) proper place by August 1, 2009.

Friday, July 17, 2009

A Sneak-y Peek-y

I'm working on a special project for a VERY special friend. She is a teacher and has requested a custom calendar with a vintage school theme. Here's a little peek at the goodies that will be inside the calendar:

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Cupcake Coloring Book on Sale!


Hello world! Did you know that there is a 12 page downloadable (you can make lots of copies for parties, gifts, etc.) coloring book in the shop? It is now on SALE! Just $10.00 for blog readers. All you need to do is convo me and I'll set up your own special listing.

Check it out!!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Around the House

Um, 10 blog posts in 6 days is way too ambitious for me! I plan to finish my goal of posting about 10 of my favorite etsy artists/shops by the end of July - a much more reasonable goal for the occasional blogger.

Here are some highlights of what is happening around my house-in-progress...

Moo business cards:





Cool thrifted bike basket (thanks, Mom!):
Vintage reproduction goodies from Michaels and some cool stamps. Thinking about turning the stamps into buttons or magnets...

Today, hopefully I will finish my bathroom sink skirt and make 3 new journals. This is ambitious for a lazy person, which is what I've become now that it feels like 110 in the jungle outside. Yay air conditioning!

Monday, July 6, 2009

My Favorite Etsy Artists #4 of 10: BabyCakesBoutique

This lovely shop is called Baby Cakes Boutique. I'm happy to say that I am currently awaiting the arrival of the awesome aqua bird bag. Man would I love to know how to make messenger bags!!


Favorite Etsy Artists #2 of 10: SugarLust

I love these vinyl bags from SugarLust! I admire anyone who can skillfully work with vinyl...and the cutouts are so sweet.




Saturday, July 4, 2009

Etsy Favorites 1 of 10: Cat Bishop

I decided it was time to showcase some of my favorite Etsy artists. I plan to do 10 by July 10.

Here is number 1: Cat Bishop of Artsy


This talented Etsy Artist, Scupltor, and Photographer - Cat Bishop of Artsy - was featured on the front page this week. I am in love with every one of her pieces, but particularly these. Personally, I think that she has really fair and accessible prices for folks who want to start an art collection, and the beauty and simplicity of these figures is enchanting. She uses the same materials that I use and love to collect. Her talent gives the vintage pieces real personality. What could be turned into nightmarish creepy circus monsters instead become kindly loving beings with her creative touch. For those on a smaller budget, you can buy photos of these amazing scupltures to display. I LOVE ARTSY!!



Please visit her
Etsy shop to see more wonderful sculptures!