Cute Shoes – and they’re Vintage!

I found these totally adorable shoes today on Etsy:

Cute Vintage Shoes

They’re available from Tbone4Life and they’re only $12.00 (plus shipping)! If they were my size I would be buying them today. But they’re not, so you have a shot at them 🙂

If they’re gone when you see this, go look at her shop anyway – she’s got some super cute goodies at great prices. And they’re vintage, so you’re being eco-friendly and fashion conscious all at the same time.

Comfy and cute shoes – totally of the good!

Pretty Trinkets from a Super Destash Shop

Now you know I love finding little hidden goodies online – especially when they are unusual, and vintage (yay for reusing and repurposing vintage!) – and when they’re also a great deal, well you know I am impressed.

I stumbled across this lovely Destash Shop – Stoss on Etsy the other day – and look at the pretty Monet vintage trinket box I found!

Monet Trinket Box with Butterfly and Jewels

Wouldn’t that be perfect to hold your own little treasured pair of earrings or ring?

And, completely different – these pink earrings are cute and maybe a little kitschy and fun:

Pink Beaded Bubble Earrings
for those days you feel like playing June Cleaver. Or Natasha in disguise 🙂

Little goodies like this are just fun – go, check out the pretty (and even useful!) goodies over at Stoss!

Sparkling Vintage Glass DIY Earrings – and Shameless Self Promotion

Absolutely I’ll admit it – this is self promotion, because these lovely jewels are available in my Artfire Shop. But they’re also lovely – and it’s easy to turn them into glamorous earrings!

Light Topaz Honey Gold Vintage Glass Teardrop or Pear Jewels in Patina Brass Settings
and here’s another view, that shows the tiny variations in these pretty vintage stones:
Honey Gold - Light Topaz - Vintage Glass Jewels in Patina Brass Settings

Simply slip these pretty teardrops onto your earwires of choice – and if you order from my shop, I’ll add a free pair of earwires to your order – in golden or patina brass to match the settings – in your choice of leverbacks, elongated kidney wires, or classic simple earwires.

It’s just that simple to make yourself (or your mom?) a great pair of holiday earrings. 🙂

Made with Human Hands, Part 1 – Gorgeous and Upcycled!

I have found the most marvelous artist on Etsy. Her medium here is fabric and fiber and a little faery dust, I think.

Katwise Faery Coat

Her name is Katwise, and her Etsy shop is here.

You can see her work is colorful and fun and gorgeous and filled with LIFE. It’s also made with upcycled sweaters and thrift store goodness and many hours of work and, I suspect, love. I had a hard time selecting which picture to feature here – her work is full of color and each offering is different. I think it was the happy feeling of the picture above that spoke to me.

Here’s just a bit of her story (this is from her Etsy profile stuff):

My name is Kat. I am a crazy-yet-calm hitchhiker girl who has circled the globe too many times to count. I have always found new ways to thrive on my art and costumes. I strive to infuse everything I do with a sense of celebration. It is my hope that you put on something I make and feel some of that spirit coming through.

Go to her store or her website if you’d like to learn more about her art or her time in Tibet or Brazil. Or just go there for fun – you’ll smile and your life will be a little richer. Trust me.

Paper Roses + Vintage Skirt = Winner

I’m always looking for paper inspiration and goodies, right? And in my recent quest I found this yummy vintage skirt. The vendor is calling the print, “Paper Roses”, which is how I found it. Serendipity! It’s so fun to find surprises that are as cute as this one – and as affordable 🙂

Paper Roses Vintage Skirt
“Paper Roses” Vintage Skirt from kellyemeraldhart at Etsy

Of course once I found her shop I had to look around. She’s got really good prices, vintage skirts and dresses I’m definitely going to check out, and some goodies that I thought were both attractive and really interesting. Take a look at this artwork:

Paper Art - Polaroid into Prints from kellyemeraldhart at Etsy

Polaroid into Prints – from kellyemeraldhart at Etsy

She’s taken her own polaroids – and turned them into larger prints. You can buy a pack (as in this listing) or get each one separately for only $2.00! I love the water-color-ish look of them – and the uniqueness – and of course the price!

Original artwork – and vintage pretties – this is a great shop you definitely want to visit 🙂

P.S. AND she’s having a sale!

Recycled DIY Design and Storage

This is such a simple idea I’m crushed I didn’t think of it – but it’s so cool I have to share 🙂

I discovered this idea over at Domestically Speaking Blog – there’s bunches of useful info and fun ideas over there and you really ought to check it out.

And this idea is lovely – fun – easy!

Painted Bottles - Pic 1
Painted Bottles – Do It Yourself 🙂

More Ideas for Painted Bottles

She shares how she made them and it’s worth reading the tips she offers – but basically? You take clean empty bottles, drop in several drops of acrylic paint, put the lid back on the bottle, and shake! Much prettier than painting the outside of the bottle because you get not only the color – you get the shine and gloss of the glass.

Check out her blog – and then add a terrific punch of color to your house with recycled bottles. 🙂

PS Once again, this could be great for brides. Use silver or white paint on the inside of the bottles, and add real or silk flowers, as centerpieces for your reception tables. Or make a big grouping of the bottles, in your wedding colors of course, to add drama to any table. You’ll think of more ideas than I have – and you’ll be adding a personal (thrifty) touch to your wedding!

Doors. Color. Think about it.

So this post is about doors. Not paper, this time. I’ll think of some way or other to incorporate paper – later (yes I thought of shoji screens already, thank you.)

This is an inspiration piece. Something caught my attention the other day and I started looking up pics of doors – with color. Amazing some of the pretties that are out there!

Case in point:


Turquoise Door 1-photo by Jason Williamson, found on Flickr

I found this wonderful door on Flickr – it’s the work of Jason Williamson. The photo I mean, not the door. You notice it’s not a fancy-schmancy door – this is not rich folks territory. But they believe in color.

And:

Yellow Door

A yellow door – with character. The article is about Vanishing South Georgia over on WordPress – please do follow the link to read more.

Once again – not rich folks. But real people who added something special to their home.

And one more:

Chartreuse Door

Yes, that is definitely a Chartreuse Door. And it’s a little fancier, yes. And you really ought to go peek at her blog – Curlin Reed Sullivan – she is absolutely celebrating chartreuse, and her blog is much fun to read!

The point of all this is – one, decorate your door. Add some paint. It doesn’t cost much and it’s easy to change. But more than “decorate your door” is the idea that – well, adding color is good, adding some special personal touch is good, and it DOESN’T HAVE TO COST A LOT OF MONEY.

All it costs is – taking a little time, and caring to make life just a little more special. And just like the commercials say – that’s priceless.

Beautiful Simplicity in Decorating – Definitely DYI!

Please take a look at these pics. And tell me if you agree with me – I bet you will – that they are beautiful, and refreshing, and soul-calming.

Beautiful rooms in Filicudi Italy - as seen in style-files.com
Beautiful rooms in Filicudi Italy – as seen in style-files.com
.

It makes me feel good just to look at the pics. And it inspires me. Yes, these rooms are in an exotic (to me) island halfway around the world. But the ideas here are absolutely universal.

USE LESS STUFF. Clear out the clutter. Have a wonderful color. Let the light in.

Let me be sure to give credit where it’s due – I found these wonderful pictures, and more you will love, over at style-files.com. Totally inspirational!

This is completely do it yourself. GET RID OF SOME STUFF. Let the bones of the room show. Add some light. Take away some of the crap.

Do I seem to be stuck on that idea? Well, yeah, I am. Use less – and love what you have, MORE.

PS You may have noticed that I included this post in the category “Going Green”, and I haven’t mentioned recycling once (till now). But I have mentioned “using less” – and that is a very important green idea!

Costuming a la Project Runway (sort of!) Shosuro Jim-en by Kankywompous

Now you know how I love seeing artistic creativity, especially when it’s original work, and especially when it’s budget-friendly. This is fabric creativity, not paper, but it’s right up my alley all the same.

The artist is Kankywompous – see her work here. Her project – that reminds me of Project Runway – was to create a Japanese kimono outfit (kimono, obi and haori) for a small contest on the following Saturday. To find the fabrics, do the cutting and sewing of all the pieces from Wednesday to Friday (night) – and oh yeah, there was a “real” job during that time too – I’m applauding!

And check out the result!

Shoshuro Jim costume and Shoshuro Jim with Mask

See the detail:
Costume - Lining Detail et extravagant!

And they won first place! The artist mentioned, “I started cutting and sewing about 11am Wed and stopped at about 10pm that night with both the Kimono and Obi finished at that point.

The Haori I had less time to work with, as I had work in the morning, so after I got back on Thurs, I started the cutting and sewing of the jacket. The Haori is lined with the same print as the outer layer, but in a brighter color to add a nice pop.

At the event, which is part of a two day CCG Event for Legend of the Five rings, it placed 1st in the costume contest (out of four placings).”

You have to admire that kind of creative rush (and can I add, I absolutely love that lining!)

Free Earrings Giveaway and there’s a catch :-)

It’s not really a catch though – it’s a question. I’m having my first Free Earrings Giveaway at Paper Jewels. All you have to do to enter the Giveaway is send me an email telling me what pair of earrings you’d like to win AND (this is the “catch”) tell me one thing you’d change 🙂

You want those earrings – but in another color? Or, you’d make them in silver, not gold? Or you wish they were smaller (or bigger)? Or – well, you tell me. 🙂

You could win these pretty paper earrings:


Japanese Kanji Onna, or Woman, Lacquered Paper Earrings or these: Lacquered Paper Pansy Earrings with Amethyst and Swarovski Crystals

Or, well, you pick your pair! Just tell me the one thing you’d change 🙂 Hint: these CAN be made to match your bridal gown / wedding party. Or you can choose your honey’s favorite color – and use these for the perfect First Anniversary Gift or Mother’s Day earrings 🙂

The Giveaway runs until April 15, 2010 – so we have something nice to look forward to on Tax Day.

Good luck!