Ivy House via Joanna Goddard | Ivy Hair via Pinterest | Ivy Wall via Girl and Cassiopeia | Solar Ivy by Solar Ivy | Ivy Corset by Lyndsey’s Boutique | Ivy Wall Art by Miss Green’s Wardrobe | Ivy Headboard by Dallas Coleman

We’re embarking on the greenest time of the year again, and whether it’s a thing of beauty or an invasive pest to you, ivy is here to stay. Its evergreen nature makes ivy a grand living statement of fidelity: faith in love, partnership and friendship. Ivy circlets adorning the head reflect eternity, the green circle of life, the hopeful ring-around-the-rosy. It’s a solar-powered sun-sucker that will climb wildly on anything anywhere anyhow to fulfill its craving for sunlight (see above for the Solar Ivy, a solar-energy system inspired by ivy). Immortality and a lust for life are the boons of its myriad three-cornered leaves. Yet it leads a codependent, selfish existence, knocking other life-forms off the living ladder so that it may conquer, thrive, and take over. Ivy is a gold medal winner of the award for survival of the fittest, known despairingly by another name as “the plant that ate Seattle”. If ivy were a human, she might have eaten all the rest of us by now. But what a grey world it would be without her! Poison ivy (albeit a different variety altogether than the traditional English) is not a mind-controlling temptress without cause—she has a raging fire to green the earth.

Ivy, close partners in crime with kudzu (another fast-growing invasive, particularly in the south), can grow up to a foot a day. People who plant it innocently hoping for a little cutesy green groundcover have no idea what they are getting themselves enmeshed with, and often find themselves ruing the day they introduced that overzealous ivy into their garden! It fights for attention, pulling water and nutrient sources from other plants, and, like the annoying kid at the all-you-can-eat buffet, takes way more than its fair share. Many gardeners and landscapers end up cutting their ivy back in order to give other plants room and resources to grow, but it is as hard to extinguish as it is easy to plant.

Ivy is ubiquitous, abundant, annoying, and very lovely as an interior accent. Do your part to clear away the tangled masses of ivy by picking some to make into your very own Ivy “Curtain”!

To make mine, I detangled and cut several 1-3 feet lengths of ivy, plucking the roots off so that all you’re left with is the connecting vine and the leaves. I spray-painted my cords of ivy in a range of metallics (gold is my favorite), leaving little peeks of green here and there. This gives the ivy a nice inside-outside sort of a look. I also painted a branch that is about the same width as a little side window of mine, and gave it a nice shiny sheen. A nice touch is to throw a bit of gauze or sheer lace fabric over the branch/curtain (like a towel on a towel rung), and tie the ivy onto that.

Using curtain rod holders, I affixed the branch to the wall by stuffing the ends of into the rod holes. Next, I took the strands of ivy (dry after 24 hours) and tied them (use twine if your vine is not cooperative) to the branch about 3 inches apart.

Ivy to the window! Ivy to the wall! Indoors, ivy lasts about a month or two before crinkling and sagging when on its last legs. When painted and given a finishing coat of clear artist’s shellaq, it can last up to two or three months as an indoor art accessory.

Give your garden a break and give yourself a bit of green sheen by making a living ivy curtain for your loneliest window! You no longer have to look outdoors to see green. Happy spring from TreeHouseHold!

All ivy curtain images by Heather Buzzard.

About the contributor:
	Heather Buzzard is a freshly hatched graduate of Emory University, where she studied creative writing, sociology, religion and environmental science. Her time is spent frolicking as a musician in two Atlanta bands, dressing up for silly photoshoots, inventing recipes, and drooling happily over her Indie Fixx work.

It’s a rainy & cold day here—you know the kind of day that make you just want to never come out from under the covers. Maybe, I will do just that.

1. Sub-Studio
2. spinspin
3. Kathy Mellor
4. wanderthisway
5. Zubinski Products
6. krakracraft
7. kategreiner
8. Anna Fraser
9. hmstrjam

{{from Simple As That}}

{{sweetapolita}}

{{Oh Happy Day}}

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American readers. See you on Friday.

For today’s Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx, I interviewed Karen Brazell from Life With Tigers (Etsy Shop).  In addition to living with some tigers (okay, 3 cats), Karen makes and sells cat toys, the most adorable dolls, soft sculpture, greeting cards and art prints. As a cat lover, many of her creations are cat-themed, but that’s not all Karen creates. There’s stuff for dog lover, mushroomphiles, robot fans and more. Everything is cute as cats though!

Onto the interview…

What’s the name of your business, what do create and sell and how did you get your start?

My business name is Life with Tigers. Around my house, the phrase “that’s what you get when you live your life with tigers” was muttered frequently, especially when it involved cleaning up after mischievous felines or after stepping on the dreaded early morning hairball. When I started my craft business in 2007, I felt that “Life with Tigers” was the perfect name for my project, especially considering I was making cat softies as well as toys for cats themselves. Today, in addition to cat, dog and robot softies, I make greeting cards, art prints and the infamous Severed Leg Catnip Toy!

What’s something you’ve learned as an adult that you wish you knew as a kid?

That no matter how cool it is at the time, you will look back on your current haircut and cringe.

Share something silly about yourself.

I have about 13 nicknames for each of my cats, sometimes changing by the hour depending on what they are up to. I also am a total klutz in the kitchen and cannot be trusted with the stove, ice cube trays or with anything that can be dropped. If it can be spilled, I WILL find a way to spill it spectacularly.

Were you an arty craftsy kid? What other types of crafty stuff to you do?

I was a very craftsy youngling! I made comics out of cut up magazines, made a life size alligator piñata, silk-screened my own pants in high school and always told myself “i can make that” to talk myself out of spontaneous purchases. In addition to sewing, I absolutely love to build things out of found materials. Metal, paper, wood, LED lights? Check. Goggles, clamp, reciprocating saw? Double check!

Cats or dogs? Hot or cold? Day or night? Coffee or tea? iPod or vinyl? Vanilla or chocolate? Summer or winter? Half-full or half-empty?

Cats, day, coffee, iPod, chocolate, winter, half-empty.

Do you have a favorite type of cookie and do you have a recipe you can share for it?

For me, the fresh-baked, chewy chocolate chip cookie is the way to go, but I have a soft spot for Hydrox sandwich cookies (how can you NOT love a cookie named after atomic elements). In fact, as a kid my family called me Karen Two Cookies. No recipes to share, as I am a cookie-buying girl (see klutz above).

What’s better all the money in the world or all the free time?

All the free time, for sure. I currently maintain a 9-5 job as a web designer in New York City, so my evenings and weekends are consumed with Life with Tigers work, as well as work for another business I am a part of, Ink and Sword, where I sell some of my Pet Care Public Service Announcement design prints with another artist/designer Jed Dore, my business partner.

What does indie mean to you? You can give a literal definition, choose to be a little esoteric or a combination of both.

I’ve always been a big fan of doing things myself. It was never a statement against the evils of “the man” or anything, but it was because of the satisfaction I get when working with my hands and creating something that never existed before, or repairing or re-purposing something and giving it new life beyond its intended purpose. If this idea fits me into the indie mold with like-minded folks, then consider me molded!

Share 3 things that you are crushing on right now from other indie artists/crafters/designers.

Right now, I am crushing on the jewelry of Jenny Topolski. I spent a very rainy weekend at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this year sharing a tent with her, and I stared at her acorn necklaces for hours. Got one of those, but missed out on the sperm whale bones necklace, which is awesome.

Wendy over at I Heart Guts has made me smile this week. Her plush internal organs are so fun. The bladder plush is life size and says “urine good hands”. Right up my alley, really.

I’m also excited to go to Renegade London this October and find Robin & Mould so I can snatch up one of their sleepy dog pillows for my feline staff to nap on!

I interviewed Christin Morgan of Love, California for today’s Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx. Christin makes and sells fun those fun I {heart} state pillows that you’ve being seeing around….and if I lived anywhere else besides Delaware, I might buy myself one.  Please don’t do the old joke us Delawareans have all heard an million times—Dela-where?

Btw, I also come up with my best ideas  in the shower.  See what I’m talking about below. Anyway, onto the interview.

What’s the name of your business, what do create and sell and how did you get your start?

Love, California. I make state pillows, state ring bearer pillows, constellation pillows and messes. This all started a couple years back on a coffee table in Glendale, CA after trying my hand at sewing Christmas ornaments.

What’s something you’ve learned as an adult that you wish you knew as a kid?

You know, I can’t think of anything. I guess you learn things as you’re supposed to. If I had understood how to drive and dodge cars on the LA Freeway at 5 yrs old, or how much taxes would take from my income at say age 12, I’d be even more neurotic than I already am. Childhood should be simple.

Share something silly about yourself.

I sit in the shower and pretend I’m under a waterfall. It’s where I come up with my best ideas.

Were you an arty craftsy kid? What other types of crafty stuff to you do?

I was! These days I really enjoy painting and figure drawing.

What’s better all the money in the world or all the free time?

Money. Free time usually costs something.

What does indie mean to you? You can give a literal definition, choose to be a little esoteric or a combination of both.

Indie is a label that makes you sound cool… and I use it daily. I first associated the term with music only. I blushed a little when I realized I was an “indie designer”.

Share 3 things that you are crushing on right now from other indie artists/crafters/designers.

1. Hitree’s Modern Felt Pillow

2. MirabelleCampa’s Leather Cord Bangles With Silver Plated Tubes

3. Zen Thread’s Redwood T

What’s the name of your business, what do you create and sell and how did you get your start?

Hi! My name is Lola. I learned to sew at the age of 11. Since then, I love things that are handmade, I appreciate them more. In 2007, I opened Sew Lola on Etsy. I make one of a kind purses, jewelry, and home decor using vintage finds. Visit my shop!

What’s your creative process like?

I make my own patterns in my sewing studio. Before a season starts, I plan ahead to bring something new to my shop. For this Fall season, I am making messenger bags with vintage plaid fabrics and doilies. I love visiting antique shops and fairs to find vintage fabrics, buttons, and lace. I enjoy every process, from planning what to make to packing the finished creation.

Were you an arty craftsy kid?

Yes. When I was a teen, my mom asked me to make the ornaments for our Christmas tree. I had a lot of fun making them every year. At that time, I never thought I could make a business making things.

What other types of crafty stuff do you do?

I love learning! I am self taught and also know how to make candles, soaps, crochet and knit.

What does indie mean to you? You can give a literal definition, choose to be a little esoteric or a combination of both.

For me, indie is a lifestyle, a simpler and more enjoyable way to live, like visiting u-pick farms, supporting fellow crafters, re-purposing and recycling and enjoying quality time with friends and family.

What’s your favorite color?

I love blue.

Share 3 things that you are crushing on right now from other indie artists/crafters/designers.

1. Nadinoo clothes make me smile.

2. The cute little houses of Jessica Jane Handmade.

3. The vintage finds and lovely photography of Sadie Olive.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from vintage textiles, old lace, mother of pearl buttons and the lovely feedbacks I receive from customers and visitors of my shop.

It also takes me back to when the mister and I were 1st dating when I was just 16. Now that I think of it, Mr. Indie Fixx used to wear a lot of plaid back in those days, so maybe that has something to do with all my fond feelings for it?!

Here’s a collection of tartan images that I discovered on Pinterest…if you aren’t yet pinning, why the hell not? It’s so much fun!

{{ note to self }} {{ raspberry and red }} {{ dolce and gabbana ready-to-wear fall 2008 via style.com & tory burch autumn/winter 2011 via vogue }} {{ alexander mcqueen on mywardrobe.com }} {{ l.a.m.b blazer & opening ceremony skirt on shopbot }}

{{ cath kidson }} {{ mrs pomeranz }} {{ mrs pomeranz & ralph lauren fall 2008 ready-to-wear via style.com }} {{ wedding dress by isabelle randall & mango via carent de shopping }} {{ asos }} {{ emma watson via people & ties from various via GQ }}

{{ ralph lauren }} {{ scotland shop }} {{ topman }} {{ anta }}

{{ sofa on tapet eksperten }} {{ summer thornton designs via unexpected interiors }} {{ living etc uk october 2011 via a mad tea party with alis }} {{ house to home }} {{ domino via immunerable goods }}

{{ flor }} {{ tailgating from country living & the art of tartan from country living }} {{ pendleton mills blankets}} {{ lonny mag }}