Unhappyhipsters.com

You need to check out this website. Those hipsters can be so unhappy, living in their hipster houses. I'll never look at Dwell the same way again.

She had this uncanny way of making him feel so, so small.

Maybe naming him Rimbaud wasn’t such a good idea.

His sartorial attempt to blend in with the concrete did little to assuage the tension.

So Maybe I'm a Little Fanatical, I'm OK With That

You have no idea how much I love this show. Almost as much as my children.

Found here

Interview with Andria from You've Been Upcycled

Shop name: You've Been Upcycled
Shop address: www.youvebeenupcycled.etsy.com


What draws you to using trashion materials?
I love to recycle and I love to do my “arts and crafts” as my husband calls them. My kids drink Capri Suns every day and I thought it would be a waste just to throw them out, so I started making things with them. I have a 2 year old and would recycled his baby food jars and have a lot of those left over as well, so I let my older kids make snow globes out of them and help me make colorful candle holders.



What trashion materials do you use?
Capri Suns, gift cards, vinyl records, baby food jars, buttons, magazines, and vintage belt buckles.



Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?
My baby food jar candle holders. I made them for my wedding as hanging lanterns in the trees.

Where do you find your inspiration?
I see something that someone created and think - "I bet I could do that, let me figure out what they did" and come up with my own new creation. I'm a "learner" and love to make new things.



What creative ways do you come by your trashion materials?
Well, I usually use them and save them. I did come across my large collection of vinyl records through an auction at a storage facility, but other than that – I just use them and then reuse them!



What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
I’m always looking to make new things that I haven’t already tried. Right now I’m starting to make new things with my Capri Suns (like pencil holders and change purses) and designing new vinyl record bracelets. So far, that’s my favorite thing to make. I also have around 200 chip/snack bags that I'm looking to turn into something...

Anything else you'd like to add?
I just want to thank you for requesting an interview! I love the Trashion Team and have been following the blog since I started selling on Etsy – it’s such an honor to be featured.

Headboard Options

In my continuing search for headboards, I came across this post and now I'm even more undecided. I'm digging this chalkboard idea....

I have a vintage chalkboard but it's in my children's playroom. They won't mind if it's my headboard, right? And then they'll be standing on my bed, drawing. Hmmmm, maybe not so good of an idea after all. NEXT!

This may be too romantic for my (currently) non-romantic bedroom. But isn't it beautiful?

And who can pass up a huge mirror? Not me. But this may be out of my price range. Most huge mirrors come with a huge price tag.

More searching.....

Be My Valentine

These make me want to send out Valentines to all my sweet friends. The mini-petite Valentine cards are my favorite.

Especially this one...

Go here for a Polka Dot Design Valentine card give-away.

The Thrill of the Thrift

Sometimes the thrift gods smile upon me.....

Isn't this lamp just awesome?! I can't wait to find the perfect shade for it. Maybe something colorful? Floral? Stripes? Give me suggestions.

get organized

So... are you organized yet?

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Our Trashion Fantastic AlexKeller

has been reading in the blogosphere

to see how everyone is doing it.

Surely you used trash?

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vintagebyalexkeller.etsy.com

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remaker.etsy.com

rikrak.etsy.com
.

wearwolf.etsy.com
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onewomanstudio.etsy.com
.

ReSupply.etsy.com

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loneweever.etsy.com

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She wonders...

What about vintage? Reusing others cast offs...
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fishlegs.etsy.com

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JunkyardGypsy.etsy.com

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vintagebyalexkeller.etsy.com

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Happy organizing!

I'm Looking For A Bathtub That Looks Like A Disco-Ball...

What?! You have one? Yes!

And why wouldn't there be a disco-ball bathroom? It's completely logical. And beautiful in a very shiny I-live-in-a-casino way.

You can find the tiles here.

These photos came from the most amazing blog, Living With White. Which is a goal of mine. Someday when the children are grown and not covered in chocolate and snot, I will have my all white house.

Why? WHY?!

Why do these have to be almost $500?! Each!!

You are seriously killing me Anthropologie!

I love you so much but you are not helping me at all. I'll just have to stare longingly into your windows and dream of the day when $500 boots can be justified. Sadly, today is not that day. Until then, I will look for knock-offs that will pacify my boot lust.

Au revoir, my French wanna be Anthropologie....

the handmade olympics: { event 2 }

yay!
please see the MAIN handmade olympics post for all of the
fun-filled details & rules on the events!
.
now.. welcome to event 2: please leave a comment nominating:

your favourite handmade goodie for kids

.
for this event
think unique + handmade for the wee ones.
think of handmade items created for children that inspire!
think of something a child would just adore!

...............

thanks so much to our brilliant judge for this event,

the inspiring Robert Mahar of the

beautiful vintage + handmade emporium for children:

Mahar Dry Goods!

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................

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please read the RULES here.

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remember, you can nominate yourself + another in EACH event!

PLUS get bonus ballots for twittering,

blogging + facebooking about the handmadeolympics! yay!

.
................

the amazing PRIZES

valued at OVER $2000.00 USD, the handmade olympics prize packs

are just gosh-darn fantastical!

.
this EVENT will award the following prizes!

.
:: a GOLD prize pack

including $150.00 worth of handmade goodness:

a $50 gift certificate to plushroom soup

a $50 gift certificate to paisley baby

a $50 gift certificate to blueshinebaby

.

+ an *i WON* the handmade olympics banner/button image

to use on your site/blog/shop

+ an artist/crafter feature on the rikrak studio blog!

.
:: a SILVER prize pack with $100.00 worth of handmade goodness:

a $50 gift certificate to small grapes fabrics

a $50 gift certificate to the framed frog

.
:: a BRONZE prize pack

of one FREE month of March 2010 advertisting on the rikrak studio blog! yay!

.

and of course, there will be ONE overall random nomination

selected from all handmade olympics to

WIN the FAN PRIZE PACK

(a $50.00 shopping spree in the rikrak shop!)

the handmade olymipics~ EVENT 1

.
yay!
please see the MAIN handmade olympics post for all of the fun-filled details & rules on the events!
.
now.. welcome to event 1: please leave a comment nominating:

your favourite handmade goodie with an innovative design!

.
for this event
think unique + handmade.
think inspiringly fresh!
think of a handmade item whose brilliant + beautiful design just thrills you!

.
...............

.

thanks so much to the fabulous judge for this event, the brilliant Erin Loechner, of the inspiring design for mankind.com

.

.

please read the RULES here.

the amazing PRIZES

valued at OVER $2000.00 USD,

the handmade olympics prize packs are just gosh-darn fantastical!

.
this EVENT will award the following prizes!

.
:: a GOLD prize pack

including $150.00 worth of handmade goodness:

a $50 gift certificate to michele maule's shop

a $50 gift certificate to papermode

a $50 gift certificate to themefragrance

.

+ an *i WON* the handmade olympics banner/button image to use on your site/blog/shop

+ an artist/crafter feature on the rikrak studio blog!

.
:: a SILVER prize pack with $100.00 worth of handmade goodness:

a $50 gift certificate to luttrell studio

a $50 gift certificate to artisan clay

.
:: a BRONZE prize pack

of one FREE month of March 2010 advertisting on the rikrak studio blog! yay!

.

and of course, there will be ONE overall random nomination selected from all handmade olympics to WIN the FAN PRIZE PACK (a $50.00 shopping spree in the rikrak shop!)

Perfect Country House

Yes, I already have Spring on my mind. I'm not a cold weather person. I prefer a nice 80 degree day. Some sun shining on my back. I was doing my daily blog perusing and I came upon this lovely Maryland home. Isn't it dreamy? I would love to waste a day or two sitting on that porch, reading a book, taking a nap in the breeze....ahhh, but I'll wait a few more months and just stare at this house to get me through Winter.

Found here and here
"Beauty and function make a house, but family and happiness make it a home."
Carrie Raphael

Yay! I Was Featured!!!

My little blog is finally, attempting, trying, hoping to take off! I was high-lighted in Treasured Valley, a local news and info website. I'm so excited!!! And I'm excited because I'm always looking for sources to find local happenings. Living out here in Parma can get a little polarizing at times so I need to venture out. Thanks Treasured Valley, you're on my awesome list now:)

P.S. My food blog was featured too. Someone loves me.

the 2010 handmade olympics!

.

(sew) FASTER.

(paint) HIGHER.

(metalsmith) STRONGER!

.

.ladies + gentlemen!

welcome to the 2010 handmade olympics: where the handmade

world comes together to celebrate making things!

.

think alpine sewing.

downhill woodworking.

pairs cooking on ice!

and all of the other amazing things folks in the handmade world

do + make + create every day!

.

oh what a wonderful handmade world we live in!

.

now's your chance to show the world your own creative creations, or send some handmaking love out to other nicies who inspire you in the handmaking + handpicked world!

.

by entering the various events, it's a wonderful way to show the

world your beautiful creations, have some amazing judges

check out your great shops,

AND, if that's not enough fun, there are over

$2000.00 USD worth of AMAZING handmade + vintage prizes!

woowee!

.

visit rikrak for more details!

.

........................

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woohoo, nicies!

let's the GAMES begin!

.

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When Children Decorate....

This one is titled "Troll Under Glass" by my 3 yr old aspiring artist.

I'm Moving to Norway.....

because this amazing apartment just went up for sale....

WOW!!!!
Isn't this place beautiful? I only want it if it comes completely furnished. Books and all. I better learn to speak Norwegian.

Sense of Fashion...

WOW...for only being on this great site for a month I have had such amazing feedback..not only did my sales go way up..I've met so many great people!I've never shipped so much to Australia in my life! It's kinda nuts to think someone across the world is wearing my designs. It's a great feeling.During the month of December I was featured on Sense of Fashion front page 3 times! It brought so much traffic to my line..I was freaking out..with joy of course..take a looksies...

Week Three:

Week Two:

Week One:

Speaking of great people...This month Brittney from Sense of Fashion has mentioned fancyThat in her blog! Here's the link:http://brittneymirandajewelry.blogspot.com/