Project To-Do: Chain Chandelier

I know it's offensive and annoying when you create a piece of art or design a product to sell and someone sees it and says "Ooooh, I want to make that too!"   I know because it happens to me whenever I do a craft fair.  And you know what, I bet most of those people never make a pillow and end up buying one from Target a couple weeks later. 

Buuuut, I am guilty of also being one of those people that sees something awesome and/or useful and says "I can make that myself!"*  Sorry, it's the crafter in me, I can't control the urge.

That is the case of this amazing Pendant light from Floto + Warner that I found on Refinery 29.   The public seems to have mixed reviews, but this is one of the most beautiful light fixtures I have ever seen.

I also think that it would be even more beautiful if it was made from the my own old/found chains and necklaces.  So, hats off to Floto + Warner for your amazing creation and thank you for the inspiration!  However, this is being filed in Projects To-Do. 

* I'd say 90% of the time I don't have time to make it myself and either buy the original or, I never aquire that item because I can't get past paying for something I can make myself.

DIY: Glass Ornament Christmas Tree

I decided not to get a real Christmas tree this year because I'm still trying to get the house in order (a year after moving in) and because it's one more thing to keep away from the puppy (although she seems more interested in "burying" soggy rawhide bones in our bed).

But I need some holiday decorations in the house so, in addtion to our chocolate advent calendars and evergreen garlands on the porch, I crafted a table-top Christmas tree out of glass bulbs.   It only took about an hour and a couple supplies.

Supplies

• 18" styrofoam cone
• 100 glass ornaments in various sizes (I bought my ornaments after last Christmas and got them cheap.  You can also get a tube of plastic bulbs at Target for $1 and they'll look just as nice.)
• hot glue and hot glue gun

Instructions

1.  To place the bulbs, dab some hot glue on the metal hook of the ornament and poke it into the styrofoam cone.  If your bulbs don't have a metal hook you can just dab on some hot glue and press it to the cone.  The hot glue will slightly melt the cone and the end of the bulb will sink right into it.

2.  Install the bottom ring of bulbs on the base of the cone.

2.  Once the bottom circle is done all you need to do is full up the rest of the cone with more bulbs.  If you have big gaps you can plug them up with small bulbs (it's okay if they don't reach the cone, you can glue them to the larger bulbs).

2011 Calendar: Woodland Garden

This is the calendar I designed for my swapmate Marissa from Marissa Makes for the Design Crush/Greedy Girl Calendar Swap 2011.  

The calendar is printed on 55% linen and 45% combed cotton from Spoonflower and is approxmately 19"x 25" and is finished with mitered edges.  And that means that the calendar can be used as a tea towel/dish towel in 2012!

SHOP HERE

New 2-Color "Tribe" Print on Pillows

I designed the Tribe print this summer, but just got a chance to try screen printing it.  I was a little scared of trying a 2-color, but it worked without a hitch!  I'll be posting some more in different colors later this week.  Purchase these pillows as a SET of 2 and save a couple bucks!

SHOP HERE.

Friendsgiving 2010

Saturday night Jess hosted Friendsgiving at her awesome apartment in Greenpoint.  I made cranberry sauce (recipe below) and peanut butter & chocolate toffee cookies.  There was also veal, green bean caserole, kale salad, quiche, mashed taters, apple pie and much more.  We also got to say goodbye to Preeya and Dave before they head on their year-long trip around the world! I'm going to miss them so much, but I'm sooooo excited for them!!  The night ended with us drinking a can Four Loko so we could try it before it's banned - let me just say that the world will be a better place without that crap.  With Four Loko and wine pumping through our veins we turned Jess' computer into a YouTube juke box of 90's grunge rock.  I'm thankful for my friends, they're the best!

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

This cranberry sauce is tart and full of delicious cranberry flavor, but you can add up to 2 cups of sugar if you like things sweeter. 

• 1 lb. whole cranberries
• 2 oranges (Valencia is best)
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/2 cup crushed walnuts
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cinnmon stick
• 1-2 sprigs of rosemary
  
• 1/4 tsp. allspice
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

In a medium pot, combine the cranberries, sugar and water. Stir to blend. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and add the cinnamon stick, allspice and nutmeg. Stir to blend and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Some of the cranberries will burst and some will remain whole. Turn off the heat and add the orange juice (be careful not to drop any seeds in the sauce) and stir.  When the sauce has cooled stir in the walnuts.  Pull out the rosemary and cinnamon stick before serving.