IAMTHELAB | Your Handmade Laboratory

Get Inspired – Adorn Your Walls with Neawear

This is one fun collection of wall art from the Neawear shop on Etsy. Montreal-based Janick has an incredible eye for detail. Check her out in the video first:

Nea from Christine Chevarie on Vimeo.

I guess the first thing that impressed me with Janick’s collection is her ability to take a very traditional medium, like an embroidery hoop, and transform it into a contemporary piece. I love the colors and the patterns. Did you catch that she uses the acronym ‘AOD’ in her description notes? It stands for ‘Artist Own Design’. She sounds like someone who understands the need for Design Respect, don’t you think?

Here are a few more of my favorites from her well-stocked shop. Oh, and you just have to check out her blog. Not only is it brilliantly designed, but she has fantastic taste. Between the Etsy shop, the blog and her tons of social media connections, Janick has indeed created a Handmade Trifecta of her own! I should have just turned this into a HF post. BAM! Just did.

Connect with Neawear:
SHOP | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Project #ICANDOIT365 Success Story: Rori Harrington

With the freshly revamped Project ICANDOIT365 about to launch on the 20th, I thought I would share with you one of the best success stories so far. It’s so ironic that it comes from Rori Harrington. Rori teamed up with me and created a special notebook just for the project. Here what Rori told me about her endeavor to add regular blogging to her handmade business model.

1. What affect has regular blogging had on your business?

2012 was a great year for my shop and my personal life. I found out early in 2012 that I earned a spot on the Etsy Dallas team, a group I have long admired and hoped to join. Accomplishing that goal was huge. A few days later, I found out I was pregnant. What a year! Miles was born on Halloween, right before the holiday rush. He has been such a good baby. I’m so grateful that I was able to keep up with the shop without sacrificing precious time with my son. That was possible, in large part, thanks to my incredible support system. Here are the stats:

My sales increased 156% YOY in 2012.
My shop’s listing views increased 238% YOY in 2012.
My shop’s general views increased 235% YOY in 2012.

2. How hard/easy has it been?

My doctors put me on bed rest at the end of May (we lost twins in 2011 – they were born nine days too early). So I spent a LOT of time online and reading this summer. When you approached me about Project #icandoit365, I knew I wanted to try it out. I also knew it was bound to be a challenge. I started blogging daily July 1. I don’t force myself to follow a strict calendar or posting schedule. The goal is simply to post every day. As my due date approached, I began searching for a simple way to keep up with the blog post baby.

I found Fat Mum Slim’s blog and fell in love with her monthly photo a day project. I’ve been photoblogging since then. I make it easier on myself by using my smartphone to take the photos and create the posts. There are plenty of free apps out there for photo editing and my WordPress app has always been reliable for me. The great thing about photoblogging is it can be as planned or unplanned as I need it to be. I don’t obsess over perfection. My goal is to connect with my audience as genuinely as possible and to keep building connections, whether that happens through a photo I posted of my dog or a book review.

3. What advice would you give to fellow handmakers?

Do what you love and act like you love it. There are many ways to show your love. Whenever possible, package your item like it’s a gift to a friend. Add a little bonus item or special note. It doesn’t have to be fancy — a postcard is a lovely little extra to send. Blog regularly. People want to see you’re a real person. You don’t have to blog daily. That may not work for everyone. Be present on social media.

Again, it doesn’t have to be a daily thing. I believe the people who love to buy from indie shoppers also love to get to know the artists. It also gives you a chance to get to know your customers, which can be a huge value to you as a maker. And you’ll inevitably connect with other artists, which is always awesome.

4. Why should they take the #ICANDOIT365 challenge?

As far as the business-y reason you should take the challenge, my stats speak for themselves. It also grows your community and connections. This doesn’t happen overnight, of course, but it’s a beautiful progression.

You can have this kind of success too. Why not join us for Project ICANDOIT365? Learn more here.

Simple & Delightful Handmade Designs from DOZI

Here’s some refreshingly uncomplicated paper goods from DOZI, Wendy Chung’s fun Etsy shop. Wendy’s collection is clean, bright and crisp. It’s still not too late to get your hands on a 2013 calendar and if you are looking for one with some cool graphics, this one will do just fine. At 5.5″ x 8.5″, it’s the perfect size for your office or studio.

What really caught my eye are the planners. I just adore the covers. I know we use planners to keep ourselves organized, but it sure helps me remember to use it when it look this good! The planners come in 2 sizes: a 3 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ saddle stitched version and a 5″ x 8″ perfect bound version.

Wendy’s collection also includes a selection of folded cards, also featuring her excellent designs. At $10 for a set of 4 handmade cards, this is a great deal and would make a great 1AM Promise purchase for this month. Need one more pop of modern color? Grab a set of these multi-colored mini clips.

Connect with DOZI:
SHOP | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

More Handmade Finds in the 1canoe2 Shop

You’ve probably guessed that we are fans of 1canoe2. I don’t know, maybe because of this and this perhaps? Well, as they say on those cheesy infomercials, “But wait! There’s more!” Here are a few more items from the 3-women-strong team over at 1canoe2

First up, check out these two letterpress journals. Aren’t they great? both the Guitar version and the Lines and Stripes feature original drawing from the 1canoe2 crew and printed on their very own Chandler & Price letterpress. If you are working to get organized, these would be a great and creative way to get going.

I know a ton of you are recipe hounds. What a great way to keep all your delicious finds together! There is so much to love with this Letterpress Recipe Card box. First, there’s the box. This unfinished oak wood box is handmade by one of the owner’s dad and numbered and signed on the bottom. Then, inside you will find 42 letterpressed recipe cards in 6 colors and 7 divider tabs. Both feature hand-drawn lettering and symbols. This may be one of the best housewarming present ever!

One more fun items from the shop is their Paper House Kit. Looks like a great activity for parents and children to work on together. This diorama includes 3 houses and 7 trees. Wouldn’t this make a great rainy day project?

Connect with 1canoe2:
SHOP | SITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Want: Handmade Miniature Sculpture from Patty Dear

I saw these and just had to share. They’re the handiwork of siblings Dan and Mer, the creative masterminds behind Patty Dear. The shop is named after their mother Patty, who taught this dynamic twosome ”that the wonder of childhood can stay with you in life if you let your imagination pave the way.” Dan and Mer have obviously taken their mother’s advice seriously. This is one fun collection!

Take this Winter Forest miniature stand of trees. The base of the forest is reclaimed wood with brass nail detail with a felt backing to prevent scratches. The trees are hand carved from floral foam and hand painted with acrylic. The trunks are stained and distressed bamboo. Be mindful that this isn’t intended for kids. It designed for grownups who want a little touch of childhood wonder in their personal spaces. They have a few other versions of their forest scenes, each one in great colors.

Connect with Patty Dear:
SHOP | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Get Organized the Handmade Way with Less & More

I don’t know about you, but I’m always on the lookout for better ways to keep myself organized. The desk always starts out so neat on Monday and by Friday it looks like I hosted a house party on it. Thankfully, Less & More has some pretty cool handmade ways to get your mess cleaned up. I’m so loving these wood organizers. The one above just makes you feel more artistic, doesn’t it?

Leo & Hannah, working from their studio in Vienna, Austria, are making some very functional pieces that are very well thought out. Take for instance this FELICIA organizer. It’s got plenty of room for your pens, Post-its, pencils and paper clips. How ingenious is it to put a magnet on the front? I just love that!

I seriously love these Magic Pen Cubes. Put them on a metallic surface or you can request from Leo & Hannah and they will send you magnets that screw into the wall. What a cool way to keep your pens handy. Here are a few more items from the shop. The last image is just for chopsticks, which I use almost everyday in the LAB. Which one is your favorite?

Connect with Less & More:
SHOP | FACEBOOK | BLOG

Handmade Stamps from Sarah Kathryn’s Creatiate

Get ready for some serious handmade fun with these whimsical stamps from Etsy star Sarah Kathryn’s Creatiate shop. Sarah’s hand-drawn stamps will have you decorating every plain surface in your universe. Hide the kids!

This first stamp is one of Sarah’s signature stamps, and her favorite. She is so right when she notes that it would be the perfect stamp to use for wrapping paper. Don’t you think it would be the perfect handmade item for you 1AM Promise purchase this month? I do!

Each stamp starts as an original drawing that Sarah transfers to a block of high-quality artists’ carving linoleum. I really love the handmade feel of her stamps. Not precise but oh so perfect. The Creatiate shop is so full of goodies, I had trouble curating. But hey, it’s my site and I can go cray-cray if I want to. #didit

I saved the best for last!
Be sure to connect with Creatiate:
SHOP | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Ooh la la! Stunning Handmade Clutches From Ellen Vintage

My anniversary is in March and I am sure my wife would love to get her hands on one of these gorgeous clutches from Ellen Vintage. Ellen’s choice of materials is pretty perfect. I chose 9 of her clutches to feature. If you have a blog of your own, why not do a Blog Blitz for Ellen?

If you want to see how you can use these clutches as the jumping point for your themed wedding, Ellen created this excellent collage that could easily serve as a mood board for your special day. Isn’t it perfect? I’m sure you’ll be seeing more from Ellen. I didn’t even touch her Just Peacock shop. Read on for a special LAB announcement.

By the way, the LAB will have its first Handmade Wedding Week from February 17 – 23, 2013. I will be hosting it with our resident wedding guru, Geri Hewitt from The Languid Lion. I can’t wait to share the romantic handmade goodness that you’ll need for your perfect day. I’m saving that for Handmade Wedding Week for sure!

Check this out – Handmade Concrete Jewelry from Berezki

I’m not sure that I’ve featured any handmade jewelry made of concrete before today. It is definitely not the first medium that comes to mind for jewelry making. Apparently, Alisa Berezovski thinks it is, and it’s a good thing. Her collection is out-of-this-world!

Take for instance the above earrings, called Abstract and Concrete. These earrings hang about 3 inches long and only weigh an incredible 6 grams each. I find Alisa’s entire collection to be a perfect blend of modern design and contemporary elegance. Here are a few more pieces from the collection that are worthy of a second look.

Connect with Berezki:
SHOP | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Retro Modern & Handmade: More from Lilah Vintage [sponsored post]

Well, did you click over to Lilah Vintage yet? Come on now, what are you waiting for? Late last month, I had the privilege of interviewing Amanda Trentham, the creative mind behind this vintage-inspired collection. It’s a great read. You’ll remember this:

The mid century beads you see on each necklace and earrings were made by a European designer from the 1940’s through the early 1960’s. In that time the designer disappeared and the entire collection was lost for decades. The beads were just recently found buried in a factory.”

- from Lilah Vintage Product description

I spoke to Amanda again yesterday. While we were talking about her collection she gave me a killer quote that I just have to share:

“It really shows in your work when you make things you really do love.”

Isn’t that the truth? Reminds me of the Handmade Manifesto, which I just realized is missing from my sidebar! While I run off to fix my mess, here are a few more pieces from Amanda’s collection.

Thanks to Amanda for making such beautiful things. The LAB wishes her nothing but great success with the wonderful collection.

Connect with Amanda here:
SHOP | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Handmade Profiles – Meghann Rader & Her Wearable Landscapes

Meghann Rader has the kind of Etsy shop that I find myself completely enthralled with. Hence, I was thrilled to see her add some fresh handmade pieces to her collection. The level detail that Meghann infuses into each of her wearable art pieces is truly incredible.

Her work is inspired by the lush trees and mountains that surround her in Port Alberni, British Columbia, situated on Vancouver Island. Every item in her wonderful collection is a masterpiece. Megan recently answered a few questions about her creative process, inspiration and goals:

1. What inspired you to begin your collection?

When I started out I was only selling original artwork which proved to be very difficult. I wanted to make my work more accessible to a larger audience so I decided to start turning my work into wearable art.

2. Can you name a favorite source of inspiration?

Most of my work is inspired by the green conifer tree lines and wildlife that surround my home on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada.

3. What materials do you love to use?

I love to work small and detailed. I use mostly pencil, watercolour and acrylic and can usually be seen holding an tiny brush, and ex-acto knife or a very thin mechanical pencil.

4. Do you have a dream collaborator?

I don’t think I could manage working with a dream collaborator. When the pressure is on I have a tendency to second guess myself to the point where I can’t produce anything. There are many artist’s who I would love to just be or have been around and learn from, Paul Klee, Helen Frankenthaler, Peter Doig to name a few.

5. When you need a musical muse, who do you turn up the volume for?

For me silence is golden. I usually prefer to turn the volume down.

6. How do you use social media/blogging to promote your work?

I have a website with a blog where I post updates about my work and a somewhat neglected Facebook page. For me the best form of promotion has been learning to take good photos of my work. Good photo’s get noticed by bloggers, on sites like Pinterest and especially by customers.

7. Where do you see your shop going?

I currently spend my days woodworking and in my spare time I run my Etsy shop. I’d like to keep it that way for now. I know that if I get too caught up in the business side of things that having my shop won’t be fun anymore. The best part about it is that I get to be creative and make things. I don’t want to change that.

I really like Meghann’s list of artists she would like to work with. And there is something to be said about working in silence. Why not head over to her shop and pick up a piece of her wearable art pieces for yourself?

Connect with Meghann Rader:
SHOP | FACEBOOK | BLOG | PINTEREST

Handmade Fun from Almost Done

I just couldn’t resist sharing these bold baubles from Almost Done. I love the shop’s tagline: “A playful cure for your attention deficit.” Wear these brilliant neon pieces and you’ll be the center of attention.

The price point is pretty low on these fun finds and even though Nat, the creative mind behind the collation, lives in Poland, the shipping is pretty reasonable too. Now, if I could just convince her to add some social media links to her shop, we could all say hello!

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