This time of year people tend to get into an after-holiday funk, or maybe cabin fever if cooped up for several weeks. After the holidays, do you sometimes feel like this Santa?
Or worse, totally deflated like this poor fella:
One way to snap out of it is to try something new at home. I suggest you look at the ceiling.....seriously......and consider spiffing it up a bit. The example pictured below shows my vintage chandelier with added celadon colored shades and a ceiling medallion that I purchased at Home Depot and installed around the light fixture's cap. These medallions come in several cool styles and can be painted, stained, or aged as much or as little as you want. I simply painted mine white to match the trim in my house.
Here's a vintage version from a 1920's Tudor home:
Exploring new websites is naturally what many of us do when home-bound. For me, that meant exploring YouTube. I was under the impression that is was primarily a site for teenage boys to post their homemade skateboarding accident videos. But no! You can learn how to make things on YouTube. I wanted to know how to attach some jewelry findings and good old YouTube saved the day! Try a "search" on YouTube for crochet instructions, demonstrations on how to make a coffee filter flower, or how to make yoyos for a yoyo quilt.
I'm a big fan of taking classes. In fact, right now I'm taking a class titled Blogging Your Way, offered by Holly Becker, who has a fantastic blog decor8, and a second blog about setting up house in Germany, cleverly titled Haus Maus. Holly's friend Leslie Shewring is a co-instructor, and she has her own gorgeous blog, A Creative Mint. This class is offered entirely online, so even those folks who are snowed-in can take it. Actually, right now admission is closed, but so far the first week of the seven-week class is beyond my expectations, so I would already recommend it to others when enrollment opens for another class.
Another fun class I wanted to take, but didn't end up having time for: Rug hooking, in Naples, Florida. Take a look at this creative advertising for Joan's Rugs:
Joan seems to be a prolific artist, and I'm sure her designs sell well to those that don't have the patience to learn how to make their own rugs.
I've commented before about the popularity of paper crafts, especially silhouettes, which are all over the place in home decor, jewelry, fashion, you name it. Many of the intricate paper cuts in new silhouettes are done by a laser, but one Etsy seller I discovered does hers all by hand. I kid you not. Her store is papercutdiecut. The paper circle below is one of her unbelievable creations. Now go check out her Etsy shop for many more mind-blowing examples!
Doesn't the example above make you just want to get out scissors and paper and go to town? Maybe not......
For another great dose of Etsy paper arts creativity, try checking out SimpleJoysPaperie, owned by the fabulous Lana Manis, who creates these wonderfully inventive paper masterpieces. Can you believe these angel wings, all made from rolls of paper?
Lana's wreath is also intriguing, made from French paper:
As you can see on my sidebar, I have an Etsy shop too. While I haven't really found my niche yet as a seller, I certainly have found my niche as a buyer! I have found Etsy to be a fabulous resource for unusual craft supplies. If you go to Etsy and do a "search" for "vintage beads", "vintage ephemera", or "jewelry findings" you'll see what I mean.
Tip: Etsians use the term "destash" when they want to unload part of their "stash" of supplies. This is an example of a destash of jewelry/beads for a crafter by gipsieboutique:
Etsy is also a great window to what young, urban, hip folks are making and selling, reflecting fashion trends and most definitely the "green" movement. Evidently, fingerless gloves are hot sellers, along with other unusual accessories. Try a search on Etsy for "fascinator", "neck warmer" or "bib necklace" and you'll be amazed!
This is one of over 12,000 examples of a "fascinator", found on Etsy. A fascinator is actually a mini-hat. This particular fascinator was designed by RubyMartini
Two examples of neck warmers, the first from KnittingCarnival
The next is described as a "cowl", offered by mojospastyle:
Currently, there is an explosion of fabulous jewelry creations, with Etsy as a showcase for them. I like to think I'm taking a small part in this trend, because I love old costume jewelry and love it even more when it's given a modern twist by re-purposing or up-cycling it to make something new. Right now I'm working on necklaces made from old game pieces, brooches, and paper ephemera. I have many, many pieces of jewelry ready to list on Etsy as soon as I have time.
The pair of earrings pictured below were made from vintage pressed wood puzzle pieces. I like their simple, innocent look. They are for sale in my Etsy shop for $10.00.
My little pendants are made from vintage clay poker chips, onto which I've decoupaged some vintage wallpaper. I just love vintage wallpaper, the kind that isn't pre-pasted. It's wonderful in the hand, although a bit brittle, and adds such great color and pattern to so many projects.
More of my decoupaged poker chips:
I buy much of my wallpaper on Etsy and eBay. Here are some rolls of mostly flocked wallpaper I purchased from Donna Layton at undertheredroof:
I have an extensive collection of paper ephemera which includes advertising, household labels, and game boxes. I laser-copy parts of my collection and decoupage bits onto the clay poker chips. These pendants aren't for everyone, but I think they are colorful, playful, and fun. I sell them in my Etsy shop for $12.00, including the ball chain.
I like to think of my jewelry as the alternative to Zales' offerings. Aren't you tired of the little gold heart on a chain? Maybe it's time to think outside of the jewelry box......and show your love of vintage and/or handmade. Something that says "Not Made in China"!
Does the papier-mache vanity set pictured below remind you of 1972, or thereabouts? I found it for sale at the Livingston Antique Outlet in Howell, Michigan. I can imagine Rhoda Morgenstern having this set in her colorful apartment.
If you are yearning to re-visit the late 1960's to 1970's then you should check out Cathy of California's website and blog. She has really tapped in to the 1970's aesthetic, as you will notice right away once you land on her planet! Cathy has generously offered to let me borrow a few pictures from her website, so let's take a look:
Cathy sells re-packaged vintage looms in kits to make these vibrantly colored flowers. She even appeared on the Martha Stewart Show to demonstrate how to make them, and you can view a podcast of her appearance on her blog. Wouldn't you love to make some of these flowers?
She also makes burlap and felt mushroom pincushions, and many other creations. Love those colors, Cathy!
I hope I've inspired you to get out of a rut, if you happen to be in one, and Try Something New. There's a lot of time left in 2010, but as they say, there's no time like the present!
