fashion for the rest of us

TGIF and TGIF. Ready for a little fashion...for the rest of us?

My favorites? The Toms

The sweater

The cardigan and bracelets

Everything

Absolutely EVERYthing


Your favorites?


Psst...all images are from Pinterest

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a prized possession

You probably wouldn't guess that one of my most prized possessions is a wooden dough bowl. But it's not just any wooden dough bowl. It belonged to Pome and Minnie Rae.

Pome was my grandfather. It was his job to make the biscuits each day. He would mix the ingredients, then knead the dough in this very bowl as Grandmother Bailey prepared the meal. Such wonderful memories.

My family will sigh and give it a healthy eye roll when I begin to reminisce about Pome and Grandmother Bailey and their dough bowl. They can be cruel. Terribly, evil and cruel.

I love, love, love my dough bowl.


Do you have a treasured possession or family heirloom, full of memories?

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earth shattering, life or death kind of questions

I love this. Think hard and finish this phrase:
If I could say one thing to myself 20 (or ten) years ago...


This is what I'd say:
"Lori, your kids will learn about fairness, good morals, healthy lifestyle, and being a happy person through example. That's how they learn. Walk the talk. It works."

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are you a blogger blogger? did you know...

...that you can easily go in and change not only your template, but your layout and blog width? It's amazingly simple to do.

To give you a safety net, first go to your "design page", then "edit HTML", then click on "download full template". There, you're safe.

Now, click on the "design tab" > "template designer" and you'll see a page similar to the one shown below. Choose a template. I chose "Simple". Click the "apply to blog" button in the upper right corner.

Next, you'll click on "layout" and, as shown below, you'll have the ability to choose between eight blog layouts. You can even choose your footer layout. Once you've made your choices, click "apply to blog" again. (See how easy this is?)

Now it's time to choose your width. First, decide on the width of the "entire blog" by moving the scrollbar. You can see I adjusted my test blog to a width of 1150px. I've chosen 210 for my left sidebar and 150 for my right sidebar. The only thing you need to do is pay attention to how your existing sidebar items fit your new format.

Once you've chosen, click "apply to blog" once again. You're done! Enjoy your new design.

Once you've done these things you may want to adjust the width of your blog banner to fit your new design. If so, click here for a previous tutorial on adjusting your blog header width.

Problems or questions? Give me a shout in the comment section.

I participate:

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may not feel like it, but...

...it's time to get ready for fall. Here in the south, we're only receiving a marginal break from the scorching summer heat. Doesn't mean that cooler days aren't just around the corner.

It's design time for Studio Waterstone - possibly the most exciting part of my entire process. This week, I'll be creating new cases and clutches. Then I'm moving on to laptop cases, key pouches, and finally large bags. Okay, not all this week. My arm aches at the thought!

In my opinion, the best part of making is the initial design process.

Which part do you love, the conceptualizing, sketching, hand's on work,
or the end result?

***

for your monday inspiration...

and don't forget...



Have a wonderful Monday.

Psst...bottom 3 images are from Pinterest.

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i heart macro

I know. That's one honkin' humongous picture, but I love it full sized and so well, here tis.

So proud of my "find" today. $1.95 at Goodwill and I thought it was a beautiful little creamer.
Googled this fella, Mr. W. J. Gordy.

Turns out he was a well known potter and has works displayed in the Smithsonian!
I don't think it's worth a mint - probably not even $30. But I love unique pottery and feel as though I found something significant.

Isn't it pretty?

***

It's time for "I Heart Macro" slash "I Heart Close Ups: Up Close Photography for Macro Makers and the Camerologically Challenged". Join me by blogging your up close/macro picture of the week. Grab the button* to show that you're participating and link up here.

<a href="http://www.waterstonejewelry.blogspot.com"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5613077984_956a8186b6_m.jpg" width="240" height="169" alt="studio waterstone" /></a>

*Instructions for grabbing a button*

Copy the code shown above. Go to your blogger and instead of using the "compose" tab, click on the "edit html" tab. Paste the code you've just copied. Then switch back to the "compose" tab and you'll magically see the button! Finish your post, publish and you are done. Easy peasy.

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it's a wrap: studio saturday

It was a week filled with a lot of, "I've almost got it." and "Let's try it this way." Ever had one of those? Nothing new in the shop, but I feel as though I'm moving just a little closer. Frustrating and exciting at the same time.

Earlier in the week I began working on a logo for a customer, first the maker's mark (I didn't even know what it was at first) and now a logo. Eventually we'll move on to new banners.

Effort #1 - love the front pocket

I'm working on iPad cases. I made three different variations and I love certain aspects of each. Will probably settle on a combination using recycled leather and/or wool. Thought's and/or suggestions? I'd LOVE to hear your opinions.

Effort #2 - I love the little zippered pencil pouch on the back.

And, yes, I will eventually size them to accommodate 13" or 15" laptops.
If I ever settle on a style.

Effort #3 - Is this not the coolest patterned suede?

Help a girl out here and offer up your critiques.

See you tomorrow for "I Heart Macro".
Oh, and please have a wonderful Saturday.

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happy happy joy friday

Each day flies by at the speed of sound. But each week seems as slow as molasses as I count down to seeing Mr. W again. Is that kind of time even possible? At any rate, the week is drawing to a close and I'm already excited about what's ahead. But first, let's look back...

Just in case you missed it, on Tuesday we had a SUPER easy infinitity scarf tutorial for fall and on Thursday we peeked into artist, Marcia DeCoster's gorgeous studio.

And now, I'm so glad it's Friday! I've got a little "fashion for the rest of us" fall inspiration and a peek into my studio to see new projects - think gadgets.

Now, for a look ahead...

Loving the wool I accumulated this week.
Ready to be recycled and refashioned into clutches and cases.

My first attempt at an iPad case (don't look too closely at the stitching), complete with a front pocket and back zippered pouch for pens.
After a few tweaks, I'll be ready to add a few to the shop.


And here's what I loved this week. Kinda gets me in the mood for fall.

Which look is your favorite?


All fashion looks are from Pinterest.

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featuring studio spaces: marcia decoster

It's time for Featuring Studio Spaces! Each week we will feature an artist and his or her creative space. We'll gather lots of juicy tidbits ranging from inspiration to design and functionality.

This week we're talking with master beader and author, Marcia DeCoster of MAD Designs. Marcia's gallery of work is exquisite and her studio is a study in brightness, creativity, and organization. Ready to be inspired?

Marcia, tell us about the work you do in your studio.

I weave tiny seed beads and crystals into beadwoven jewelry. The studio houses all the ʻinspirationʼ in the way of books, images, art and of course beads and crystal. Since I teach my designs as well as sell kits to make my designs the studio also houses the beads for kits, the purchasing, manufacturing and shipping departments.

There is also an illustration department (my new IMAC) and the IT department, backup drive, printer, Wacom table and a Photography studio.

Did you have a specific inspiration when organizing your space?

I wanted the space to be bright, organized, spacious and full of artistic bits, which make me happy. I have work by other artists I admire as well as a significant library of inspiration books.

What works especially well for you?

On one whole wall we installed slot wall and I use acrylic trays designed to fit into the slot wall to hold my ʻdesignʼ seed bead collection and crystals. This is also where finished kits are kept for a visual inventory. I use Bisley cabinets to hold the contents necessary to make kits, each kit/color having itʼs own drawer.

What’s your biggest issue with storage/organization/design?

Keeping track of the shared beads for kits, and managing the piece part inventory for kits. Itʼs hard to keep track of beads that are shared and to keep the right amount of inventory on hand.

Level of importance: design aesthetic or functionality?

Totally design aesthetic for me. I like not only my work, but my tools to have a level of design aesthetic, although hopefully without compromising on function.

I use silverware trays to keep the labeled baggies, and lettered their fronts with scrapbook stick onʼs. I love my Gingher scissors and my assorted scrap catchers that I keep around the studio for bits of thread and such.

What kind of space/organization issues do you face and what have you done to rectify this situation?

Ah yes, the mess....I always leave a mess in my creative wake. I go from one set of beads to the next, pulling piles of beads out for consideration and before you know it, all available work surfaces are covered, sigh. I have found that I just need to commit to doing a deep clean every month or so, and a pick up and put away weekly to restore some order.

Do you use/prefer/need artificial light or natural light?

Iʼm fortunate to be in Southern California and have a bank of north and west windows in the studio so I have plenty of natural light. Since Iʼm a morning girl and rarely work late into the evenings this works perfectly.

Interesting tidbits...

I like to have as much of my stash as possible out and about. Things tucked away in drawers tend to get forgotten. I used the closed space for bulk stock, packaging and the like and I use the slot wall as well as bowls and containers to keep the beads and findings that I use during design. The slot wall is perfect for this.

When you create designs that will become kits it is important to know the bead numbers. So every tube of beads that comes in gets a little baggie with the color number and if Iʼm being really efficient the price. I hole punch it and hang it on the slot wall. I track my crystal colors the same way.

How has your creative space evolved over time?

When we moved into this house the space was an overlooked former outdoor porch that had been closed in. It was hideous with 1980 linoleum, lattice work room dividers and dark paneling. We cleaned, carpeted, painted, and furnished with matching Ikea tables, bookshelves and cabinets. Now itʼs light bright and airy and a pleasure to work in.

How has having your own creative space affected your work?

Iʼve always managed to carve out a corner for whatever endeavor I have done, but your own space where youʼre ʻmessʼ does not have to be cleaned up in order to serve dinner, or go to bed, is a huge plus. I like having both my work and my inspiration supplies out and about where I can access them as the time is available. It helps me to be creative to be able to see pieces in process, I relate to them and think about them differently then if they were tucked away at the end of a session.

Thanks so much, Marcia!

Where can MAD Designs be found? You can visit Marcia and shop on her website, MAD Designs and follow her creative endeavors on her blog. Also, be sure to check out her book, Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence: Elegant Jewelry Projects with Right Angle Weave.

*****

Interested in having your studio featured in Featuring Studio Spaces?
Just click the little contact button at the top of the page and we'll set it up!

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earth shattering, life or death kind of questions

Oh yeah?

Okay, maybe not. The fact that we can't do everything is a good thing to keep in mind as we go through our busy lives. BUT...

This also reminds me that there is always something on the back burner...that something that we really want to try out. And today we're talking about creativity and art, the fun stuff.
Today's earth shattering, life or death kind of question is:


What is at the top of your list?
It's that one thing that you're itching to try out.



Psst...the artwork shown above is from Jennifer Johner at Dearest Someday.

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diy easy scarf tutorial

Fall is in the air and scarves are on the brain. I am, after all, a scarf fanatic, with an entire section on Pinterest devoted to the subject. This is one of my favorite scarf tutorials to date.

It has affordability, softness, comfort, and simplicity all rolled into one. I love it. So much so that the model and I were fighting over said scarf. So, I made a second one for me...which she'll probably take.

You like? It's an extra large - which is good for a project like this.

What You'll Need:
Dress (or skirt) with a wide bottom section, similar to the one shown above
Sewing machine

What You'll Do:

Lay the dress out flat with the front and back hem together at the bottom.
I made two scarves, one wider and one narrower.


For the narrow scarf, measure 12" from the hem and cut straight across.



For the wider scarf, measure 20" from the hem and cut straight across.



Fold the fabric over with wrong sides facing (right side on the outside) and pin.


Set your machine to a zig-zag stitch. I set it for wider stitches with a medium stitch length.



Stitch around the entire pinned section. It will naturally pull if the fabric is knit, like mine, creating a wonderful ruffling of the edge. In fact, the harder you pull, the more ruffle you'll get.

And that's it! No, really, that's it!



On the wider scarf, I only stitched the seam closed.



On the narrower scarf, I zigzagged around both edges because I loved the ruffled effect.




Now, run to your closet and dig out that old skirt or dress. Then play. A lot.

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