I’ve been meaning to do this every since its inception…maybe this will be the year that I finally stop putting it off.

by lori l. dunbar of Marzipaninc.com

by Sarah Draws Things

by Illustrateur

by Gennine

by .nique.

It was a good day. I bought a few things–gotta support independent artists—and sneezed on about 3,000 people—my allergies were rearing their very ugly heads.

I was disappointed by the lack of woodland creature stuff though, usually there is a plethora at any indie craft show. Is that trend finally over? I for one would be sad. I”ve been into woodland creatures since the first time they became a trend….back in the 1970s.  If anyone has any info on the trendiness or lack thereof  of woodland creatures, please advise.

Anyway, it was a lovely day and made even lovelier by being able to spend time with Jr.

Hi, I’m Julie Gibbons. I’m a maker—but more importantly, I am an admirer of the things other people make. Here, I want to share some of my favourite types of handmade things with you. My first favourite ‘thing’ is the brooch.

Brooches are definitely not what grandma used to wear – gone are all the rhinestones and swirly gold bits! Originally made of metal primarily because of their function as pins to hold clothing in place, now the idea of the brooch is as broad as anything you would like to stick on a pin and decorate your clothes with. In fact, only one of the brooches I’ve chosen here is made from metal.

What is it about brooches that is so appealing to me? I love the singularity of them, that they are self-contained little works of art. I like the way they make a statement right out front, demanding to be looked at. There’s something special about these individual things that sit brazenly on the front of shirt or jacket. They can complement your clothes enhancing colours or shapes, and provide a focal point for your outfit; they can tell a story, and intrigue with their form and mastery of materials. And there is such an endless and amazing variety. I’m a big sucker for a brooch, and have {ahem} a small collection.

Here’s a few I found on Etsy recently.

{DogDaisy92 – paisley leaf felt brooch}

This is such a beautiful and delicate piece. Velvet embellished with machine stitching on wool, this leaf reminds me of medieval decorations. I love its soft textures, and am so drawn to touch it! Rich and simple at the same time, it would be equally at home on a woolly sweater or a silk dress.

{SconnieAndJam – Caravan and Kombi Brooch}

This particular piece is laser cut, and then hand-coloured. It is so fab, so very cute and fun! It is 10cm (3.94in) wide, which means it would need to be on a surface that remains fairly flat, like a fitted shirt or sweater (it would look completely awesome on something high-necked and aqua-ish!).

{DesignedByJane – Bouddica Felt Brooch}

I love the colours of this one. It is so reminiscent of Eastern European folk art, in both its form and the colours. It makes me want to wear big gathered skirts and boots and go walking in the forest, hunting for mushrooms and gathering berries.

{OhMyAmpersand – blue glass flowers}

The multiple layers and textures in this one are lovely. The pretty blue glass flowers sit proud on this piece providing colour and shiny texture. The green leaves frame the flowers, and the whole floats on richly coloured and textured wood. Pretty and modern at the same time, this piece would look wonderful on just about any outfit, from blouse and jeans to pinstripe business suit.

{JennyMaynardDesigns – Korean inlay fantail}

The only metal piece in this group – and what a beautiful piece it is. Korean inlay is a very specialised technique. Here, the surface of the metal (in this case, mild steel) is heavily textured by engraving it very finely, before fine silver is pressed into it to form the design. Such a special piece deserves to be worn on a special jacket.

I hope you have enjoyed these picks! Next post might be about handmade shoes. (Are you drooling yet? You should be…)

About the contributor:
	Julie Gibbons is tractorgirl, a maker of homewares and accessories, and a lover of colour, texture and pattern. She completed her PhD Fine Arts in 2001, majoring in Silversmithing. Now she blogs about contemporary craft, surface design, food and books at tractorgirl.

Do you know who they are? Leave your guesses in the comments 10 points to whoever gets them all correct!

Inspired by a recent scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream,  I decided to put together an outfit for Indie Style 101.

1. Mint green dress by Fleet Collection
2. Mint leather and silver bracelet from Pick Your Limb
3. White leather ballet flats from Balielf
4. Mint and gold bunting necklace from Virginie Millefiori
5. Brown leather hobo from Vintage Case

What: Spring 2012 Art Star Craft Bazaar

When: Saturday, May 12th & Sunday, May 13th, 11-6pm

Where: The Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, which is along Columbus Blvd, between Walnut & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA

Here’s some goodies I am hoping to check out in person.

1. Wider Awake 2. Giant Dwarf 3. Corina Dross 4. Bathtub Jungle 5. Dahlin Accessories
6. Courtney Fischer

Some tips in choosing flowers:

1. Choose flowers with a variety of textures and shapes.

2. As far as color, there are 3 choices: stay monochromatic, choose a few contrasting or complementary colors, or go wild and crazy with the colors.

3. Whatever you do, do not create a completely symmetrical shape.

4. Don’t be afraid to include non-floral elements like twigs, evergreen sprigs and more.

Here are some lovely arrangements for your inspiration.

by kellyink

by ♥ darsha

by Elderberry Fairy

Finally, here are sites you can visit for more tips and how-tos.

• Martha Stewart Flower Arranging Tutorial
• Eight Basic Flower Arrangement Shapes
• The Flower School
• Flower Arranging at Southern Accents
• Cori Cook Floral Arranger
• 10 Flower Arranging Tips at Simply Stated

Wouldn’t it be a lovely idea to celebrate Mom with a tea thrown in her honor? Plus, it’s a nice excuse to make finger sandwiches and to sit out in the yard drinking tea and/or Champagne!

Thanks to both Jasmine Norrie of Betty Le Bonbon Cheek Boutique for writing the article and to Samantha Walker who contributed the illustrations used in the article. Be sure to check out Samantha’s shop too,  she just might have some digital kits for sale that you could use for invitations to your tea. I like the Damask Kit.

And if you need a source for good tea, try Harney & Sons, it’s where I buy most of our tea.  The Soho Blend is my latest obsession.

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