Tags

I made these tags the other day out of clay and cute vintage stamps I recently bought.

The cloche one is my favorite. 

I need to make more to keep for myself and a bunch for the Sowa Open Market. 

I think it would be cute if I had a shelves to add baskets and hang these for organization, with images to go with what the basket is holding what.

I'm off to work on that nightstand some more....I can't wait to share it. 

Painted Knobs & DIY Light Box

The weather was beautiful today, warm and sunny. Not normal for March here in New England but I'll take it. 

I got a lot done today, I took photos, made new clay knobs, painted some chalkboard tags, took more photos, worked on the nightstand, cleaned and then I relaxed and read some magazines outside. 

I still feel like I could of done more. 

I've been wanting to make a light box for taking photos of small items inside the house when there are days that are dark and cloudy or just so I dont have to bring things up and down the stairs.

I tried the cardboard box idea but I need to get fabric and didn't want to drive to the store so instead I used a small frosted storage bin from Ikea. 

 Ikea Snalis box

It worked for my knobs but is not big enough. 

I used my clamp lights, one on each side and a piece of white poster-board for the inside. My clamp lights are too strong because it started melting the side.

I think I'll look for a large bin and buy some fabric.

This is where I learned how to make the light box

www.theswitchboards.com

I also searched Pinterest 

There were a lot of pins on diy light boxes 

via http://www.studiolighting.net/homemade-light-box-for-product-photography/

These are my new herringbone knobs I hand-painted, the first two photos were taken in the light box. I had to fix the levels a bit in Photoshop. 

This photo was taken in my kitchen as most of my photos are.

As you can see there is a big difference. I think I need more lighting for the light box. 

here are some other knobs

I'm loving this green color right now. 

orange with metallic silver numbers outlined with a turquoise.

These will be up for sale soon on my etsy. 

I also took lots of photos of the vintage goods for our new etsy shop i mention a week ago.  I want to have many items ready to list and share it when I have at least 20 items on. 

These are vintage silver serving spoons, we have a box full of beautiful silver pieces. 

I'm hoping to have the shop up and running by next week. 

I'm excited for the week....and the awesome weather were suppose to have all week!!!

A Little Organization & A Shop

 Before I get to the organization and shop part I have to say today and yesterday were awesome, mainly because of the weather. It was so warm and sunny and it just kept me going. 

I've also been painting this nightstand since Monday, so far the inside color is not working for me. No big deal I'll try something different but other then that I've been working on the computer and on smaller items.
You can see the nightstand on my Facebook page.

I recently organized my computer area/home office and not only was I having a hard time finding items It just needed to be done.

I also needed to have items near by for storing my receipts for work and my Etsy papers.

eeek I just realized my "at sign" is upside down

I moved my printer and added the paper holder, its nothing fancy but will do for now and it was free. Next to the paper those boxes hold my cords I dont use on a daily basis like iPod, extra camera cords and etc...the other one holds my label maker.

This is what it looked like before...a mess

  I had to organize the printing paper from my cardstock because it was confusing my guy and now its easier to get the paper I need. I made tags to label for him mainly.

The magazine files are holding my Etsy,receipts,blog items and my custom work info. These cost $1.99 for 5 at Ikea. As you can see one was covered with paper and I haven't done the others yet.

To the let are some old books and a 1940's block printing book. 

 I would like to get a better container to hold the pens and little pads of paper but I haven't had time to go get one yet.

The cute owls figurines are made of brass, we think the bigger ones are paper weights.

I also organized the magazine files in the cabinet and my binders filled with design ideas.

I still need to work on the rest of the cabinets and then the closet near by. I want to make space for all my packaging items so everything can be in one place.

 The last thing I want to share is we've decided to open up another Etsy shop, this one will be just for vintage goods and we have a lot. 

Like this

a coffee burlap sack 

 

so old mason jars in need of cleaning but in great shape. 

We also have 1930's London news papers, old books and cute fisher price toy from the 60's, Johnson Brothers dishes and so much more so I think it makes sense for us to sell it separately from my shop.

My guy does most of the collecting of the items and I run the shop.

This is our shop's name. 

I've design the banner also. I'm finishing up on pictures and want to list a bunch of items before I spread the word.

I'm excited about this

by the way my guys name is Jim I dont need to call him guy anymore.

Linking my organizational skills to these parties here

Updated Utensil Holder

I finished giving this old utensil holder a makeover. I did not take a photo of it before because...I forgot. But imagine it not painted and bare wood. 

I painted it in Taylor's Chalk by Martha Stewart paints from the depot, I didn't touch the inside or the handle.  I distressed it light around the edges and added some chalkboard paint to make it a little more fun. I purposely made the chalkboard part uneven to keep it "old" looking.

I have this fork,knife and spoon stamp so I stamped the sides and sanded it a bit for a more worn look. 

I will be adding this to my Etsy shop with more details about size soon. 

I also primed my door in the mudroom, and worked on my piece for the Habitat Heroes make sure you check it out its a month long link party for a good cause, and you can win prizes at the end, also tomorrow look out for my guest post by the author of Gourmet Gifts, will be giving away a copy as well. 

Handmade Knobs

I've been working on these for a while now and getting ready to put them on my Etsy shop. 

I keep coming up with new ideas and I'm enjoying making them.

I also love the fact that I can make them for my own furniture to sell or around the house.

I just have some cleaning up to do, sealer, and more photos, that sun better come out. 

I also went to Target yesterday and picked up these

I dont care for the purple edges but this I can fix.

For 4.98 a piece they were perfect

They had these in small and large and at 3.98 and the cute candle for $1.98 not bad.

Come back for my link party tonight!

Custom Stamp & other things

After I kept reading about baby Jewels self-inking stamps on a few blogs I kept telling myself I'm going to get one.  I did some researching like always and her price was defiantly the lowest.

She has some already cute ones or you can get one custom made, so I sent her a e-mail with a high resolution JPEG photo of my logo.

She sent me a e-mail back fast with the size and everything else I needed to know.

I ordered my stamp on Thursday the 9th and she had it shipped out the next day. 

Very excited about my new custom stamp....I can use it on my tags and I can stamp my furniture!

On to other things....

It was absolutely gorgeous yesterday and today, but it was suppose to rain and it didn't so I went around the house and took some photos.

we dont have grass...just weeds, and lots of toys

part of our driveway

my "peace" roses

 

 my extremely large pallet and smaller one

I started to clean my deck off, and hose it down.

This is the corner that gets the most sun on the deck and I want to make boxes for herbs. I'd like to have a lot of fresh herbs this summer.

my lanterns could use a wash down.

I planted a shade only plant in this large Terra cot-ta pot, now I'd like to add some annuls.

This year I want to make our deck a fun, comfy place to be all summer. I just wish there weren't so many spiders who want to get comfy on there also.

Before I go I wanted to share the custom order I finished the other day

Hot pink chevron tags

Later today I'll be taking photos of my dresser, my guy promised to help me move things today.....and hes keeping that promise.

Don't forget about my link party tonight!

My giveaway ends tomorrow night.