I was super-excited because it made it all the way to the finals.. but not JUST that.. it came in 2nd place!!! The ring came in 2nd place!!!
Can you believe that??!!
I'm so so happy - this is such an accomplishment :D
Thank you for all your support, and for voting for me - I couldn't have done it without you :)
Now be sure to enter the two giveaways I'm sponsoring (you can win two $15 shop credits!) Hurry - they end tomorrow!! Link here and here.
Johanna Kautt from Be Thou My Vision has kindly taken the time to do a DIY guest post for us today!! I'm super excited, and I hope you are too! This lovely young lady is not only a great friend, but also a talented crafter!! Check out her blog, and please show her some love in the comments and on her blog ;)
When my dear friend, Katrine, asked me to guest post for her, I was completely ecstatic! Thank you for asking me! :)
I've got three small and easy DIY projects for you.
Tutorial number one (Woodlands Flower Hair-clip):
Supplies: needle and thread, scissors, fabric scraps, hair clip, applique.
Start out by cutting three circles (about the size of a tennis ball in circumference). Turn the raw edges under. Start gathering all the way around. You are making a yo-yo.
Once you have gone all the way around the circle, pull the thread as tight as you can (without breaking the thread). Anchor and knot.
This is what your finished yo-yo should look like.
After you have made three (total) yo-yos, sew them in a straight line, like that shown above.
Then attach your little applique to the side of one of the yo-yos.
You can also attach felt to the bottom, to make it have more stability, and to add a whimsical touch.
I cut the moss around the shape of the yo-yos.
Next you attach the yo-yos to the hair-clip. Tada, you have your woodlands flower hair-clip! :)
Tutorial number two (Mock Version of a Forever 21 Top)
Make yourself five yo-yos. But this time, make them about two times larger than the ones above.-- Do so by making the fabric circles about two times bigger than the ones you made for the hair-clip.
Arrange the yo-yos in an eye-pleasing way around the neck of the t-shirt. You will want to pin them on there. Then you turn the t-shirt inside out. Sew all the way around the perimeter of the yo-yos (with matching thread), making sure it does not go through the top layer of the yo-yos (other wise, your stiches will be visable).
This is the finished product. :)
Tutorial number three (Lace and Felt Brooch)
Grab some lace like that shown above. Cut a small section out. That will be your lace applique for the brooch.
This is the "backing" for the brooch that I used. I bought a package of 16 at a local craft store, for around $3.
Cut out your piece of felt. Make sure it will fit nicely inside the brooch backing.
Using thread that matches the lace, sew the lace onto the felt. Then use a hot glue gun to glue the felt and lace onto the backing.
Last of all, use your hot glue gun to attach the pin onto the back of the brooch. You're done! :)
About the authoress: Johanna K. is a homeschooled, stay-at-home daughter. She lives in the US (Texas) with her five siblings and her parents. She strives to please God in every
area of her life. Proverbs 16:3 is one of her favorite verses,
"Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
I recently interviewed the talented woman behind New Hampshire Land Pirate! Read on to learn more about her, her business and her tips for other creative entrepreneurs! :)
1. Name: Erin Paul Age: 26 Where are you from? New Hamphshire 2. Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop/ business. I currently sell framed original photography. I have a collection of typical New England agricultural scenes. I live in NH but i travel all over the New England area. I also paint and I plan to soon sell originals and prints of my artwork. Hopefully by 2013 I will have a 2nd etsy shop devoted to Vintage clothing and accessories 3. When did you open your shop? May 2011 4. Why did you decide to start your shop? I had been wanting to open a shop for years. In 2007 I started to take my passion for photography and painting to a next level and began producing work that I could consider "sale worthy". I was in college and the work load was pretty demanding. I graduated this May with a BA in psychology and decided I was finally going to open a shop. 5. How do you promote/ market your business? What works best? At first it was just through word of mouth, just showing some of my work to close friends and then started showing some of my work on myspace and facebook. I made a Facebook page dedicated to my artwork and started getting some solid validation that people enjoyed my work. Since i completed my degree at school I have been more active in getting my photography and paintings shown at art shows and displayed in local restaurants and businesses. I have a blog but I don't update it nearly as much as I should. I am very active in Etsy teams and do a lot of networking through them.
6. What’s your favourite item from your shop and why? Currently my favorite item is a framed photograph called "Red Doors". I'm not entirely original when it comes to titling my work haha. I have always loved the colors Red and Blue together. I was out to breakfast with my parents this summer and there was a long wait for us to be seated. There was this barn across the street and I snapped a few photos. I liked also how there were a few panes missing from the windows. I see that a lot in NH. There are a lot of barns that people use for just storage and they show a lot of wear and tear. 7. Do you also do business offline? If yes, what do you prefer and what works best? I usually don't do business offline. I've tried doing that before but all too many times I end up taking way too much money off the asking price because it's for a friend or I just don't end up getting paid at all. It's a weird dynamic selling your work to friends because you appreciate the support and I sometimes feel that I ought to just give them my work as a gift. But in order to be taken seriously as an artist, it's important that I view myself as a serious artist. I have also had my work at galleries and art shows where they take a commission which is fine, but I have yet to make a sale that way. 8. Where do you get inspiration? I get most of my inspiration from my sister. She passed about 3 years ago this January. She was the one who inspired me to paint and to be 100% myself with it. She was my biggest fan and was always bragging about my work to most people she met. Now I want to make her proud of me and always have her in mind whenever I create anything. I always get inspired going to art shows and art walks, seeing what people put out there. Even if my tastes are completely different from the work I see, I get inspired by the artists drive and determination. I also am a horrible "pinterest" addict. I could easily be on that website for hours on end and not even realize it. The same applies for etsy. 9. Who is your target audience? Who would typically buy an item from you? I'm still trying to figure that out. I feel that my photography is all encompassing in the sense that it is gender and ageless, I get compliments from people ranging from kids to seniors. I envision my work hanging in a country home or a New England summer home. Although typically most of my sales have been to post grad college students. I like to think of my work as an alternative to decorating your home with factory made prints for original unique photographs that come directly from the artist.
10. Do you ship internationally? Currently I do not. I have been selling on eBay for some time and usually had trouble with gauging cost. I think once I have more experience with Etsy and if there seems my shop gains a big international following, I will absolutely ship internationally. 11. What has been the most challenging part of starting and running your own business? Getting started. Being new is difficult and it sometimes feels like I’m stumbling in the dark. At times I find myself getting discouraged when I don’t make sales, but I have to keep telling myself that I am new at this and it will take some time to get noticed and get the hang of the networking and business skills to make more sales. 12. What has been the best part of starting and running your own business? The best is that it is all MINE. I don’t answer to a boss, its my own creation and I set my own rules. I get to create the inventory and sell it myself. My customer knows where the product comes from and who made it. 13. Do you have any business tips you’d like to share with us? On etsy, joining a lot of teams has been very helpful. It's a great way to network with other artists and get tips on how to promote your work. Also I talk about what I'm doing with everyone I meet. Since I've finished school I am constantly asked what I've been up to so it's a perfect opportunity to plug my shop (it's also a great way to disguise that I haven't found a "real world" job haha) Also, even though I'm still in the early stages, I have to make sure that I treat my work as a business. All too many times you end up seeing your work as a hobby. If you don't take your work seriously, no one else will. Its about finding a balance between work and play. 14. What are your goals and dreams for your business for the future? The plan is to expand. I also paint and I really think that prints of my artwork will be enjoyed by many and bring more traffic to my shop. I also make some crafts. I make felt flower pins, recycled paper bowls and ethereal/hippy/fairy flower head bands although I’m still debating whether or not to sell those just yet. Hopefully by sometime in 2013 I hope to launch a 2nd etsy shop dedicated exclusively for vintage items. I sell a lot of designer and vintage clothes jewelry and purses on eBay and have an excessive amount of inventory. Now that I have completed my college degree I can dedicate time to this project. 15. Where do you hope your shop will take you? The idea is to eventually make a steady profit from Etsy. I hope that I can get recondite as a serious artist and business woman. I hope my shop can my vocation my vacation so to speak. 17. What’s next now? Could we get a sneak peak of what you’ll be doing and sharing next? I have so many ideas circulating in my brain on collections of paintings to create. Throughout 2012 the plan is to continue having art openings art local hot spots. 18. Is there anything else you would like to share with us? I also write a fashion blog, I update it 2-3 times a month. Check it out: ofthefashionblog.blogspot.com/
Do you like watching movies? Do you enjoy the entertainment of a funny or exciting movie on a Friday night? Whether you're a movie junkie or not, I have the perfect thing for {a movie-lover like} you! :)
Welcome to the first ever Five Films I Find ____ Friday Blog Hop!! :D
I'm starting this blog hop so that we can share which movies to watch, and which to avoid - just in time for the weekend :D I love watching movies, and there are so many out there that I haven't seen, or even heard of. This could be a great way to get to know each other and to share our passion for a good movie :)
Please scroll down to the bottom of this post to link up your post on 5 Films YOU Find _____.
Five Films I Find ____
1. Shooter
I found this action-packed film incredibly thrilling. I actually sat up waaaay too late watching it - it was that good. At first, I thought it would be another movie about saving the President of the United States, but it actually turns out to be much for exciting than just that. I won't reveal too much, but let's just say the shooter becomes the target. I would definitely recommend this film.
2. The Whistleblower
I found this film shocking, but incredibly fast-paced and thrilling. This movie is not for the weak-hearted. I was a bit skeptical at first, as it has to do with women being kidnapped and forced into prostitution. The U.N. are actually involved, and cover up the sex-scandals. Yes, there are a few gruesome scenes, but it's definitely worth watching. The main character strives to help these women, and it's based on a true story. In my opinion, when movies are based on true stories that are horrible, I find the movies even more disgusting. If it were pure fiction, it wouldn't be as bad. But my heart aches when I learn about all the gruesome things people are exposed to. I would also recommend this film because it's intriguing and incredibly exciting, although don't watch it if you're faint-hearted (but you could, of course, cover your eyes and ears during those bits like I did ;) ).
3. Julie & Julia
I found this film entertaining, interesting and fun. Although, I did find Meryl Streep's character extreeeeemely annoying. She is too over the top and too happy-go-lucky. I'm not a huge fan of Meryl Streep either, but Amy Adams made up for it in the role of a blogger. I was immediately drawn to the film when I found out that it was about blogging. Yes, I love movies that are about things that I love doing; like making jewelry, blogging, writing, reading, crocheting, etc. The movie was very funny and very sweet. It's a great pick-me-up and I suppose it's a good thing that Meryl Streep's character is rarely ever upset. Recommended - if you don't mind Meryl Streep's high-pitched shrieks of joy.
4. Australia
I found this film long, but very good. It had the perfect combo. of what every good movie needs; excitement, love and a good storyline. I was a bit skeptical at first, as I seem to not be a huge fan of Nicole Kidman at the beginning of every movie she stars in, but she always warms up to me towards the end. The movie was touching and very exciting. It's the perfect movie for a family to watch. The men will enjoy the excitement and animals, and the others will appreciate the love scenes. Definitely recommended.
5. The Secret Life of Bees
I found this film incredibly sweet, entertaining and heart-warming. I looove Dakota Fanning, and she plays this role just as well as every other role she's played. I really loved this movie; it's really cosy, yet sad at times. I just loved it! :) Recommended.
Those were my 5 films for this week, be sure to link up your posts below. If you don't link up a post, please at least comment on the other posts :) Give a little love ;) Be sure to come back next Friday as well!
I've got a little situation. It's quite the pickle(hahahahahahha) (I love laughing at my own jokes hahaha... ahhh I just crack me up sometimes!)
The website / bait
So I've recently discovered Food Gawker!!! OH. MY. GOODNESS! I seriously had trouble leaving the site.. I want to make so much food. And it makes me oh-so hungry!
Anyway I'm so happy I came across the site (I know, I'm slow..) through Pinterest because there are lots of yummy-looking (I have yet to try them out) recipes that actually look EASY (BIG bonus) and QUICK!! The site has PICTURES of yummy food, so you don't have to browse through lots of words. Which is super!
That's right: YUMMY + NEW + QUICK + PRETTY + EASY = MUST BE THE BEST FOOD IN THE WORLD(except my Mamma's Spaghetti Bolognese of course ;) )
So I found a recipe, Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese, that I've been planning to make tomorrow for my family. And I've been planning this since I found the recipe last Sunday. I'm aching to try it out!
I can't find jalapeños ANYWHERE! I went to all the grocery stores I could think of today. I found jalapeños at ONE store though.. but they were rotten. EW. Barf.
The solution!?
I guess I could try making it with chilis instead.. but jalapeños are sooo juicy and delicious and yuuum.
And I really wanted to try out the recipe, and make it perfect!
I know most of my readers aren't in Norway. But if you do know where I can get some jalapeños in Trondheim, let me know!Please???
And if you have any other suggestions for what I could use instead, let me know!
Do you think it would be any good if the jalapeños are pickled?? I need all the help I can get! Please.
I can't not make them either.. I've already bought two whole big breads!!! I'm ready for action... where are you my jalapeño?? (I know, I'm going to eat you, but still, I wish you'd come out to "play" ;) )
Please share some of your favorite (and easy and quick and yum) recipes in the comments as well, will ya? :)
xo Katrine
Ps. REMEMBER TO COME BACK TOMORROW for the BLOG HOP kick-off all about MOVIES!! :D I'm super excited. And I'll let you know how the Jalapeño situation turns out later.... :'(
I thought I would share some of my favourite DIY finds from Pinterest with you today! :) Some are for the home, fashion-related and some things that is a must have for all (Easter) chics out there ;) I love me an easy + pretty craft project! :D
I looove browsing Etsy and other creative people's blogs...and there are SO many things I would like to get my hands on. I'm always amazed to see what beautiful things people make with their own hands!!
I thought I'd share a few things on my wish list with you today :)
5. Giraffes Sharing Food Photo Art Print by CharlenePrecious
I love giraffes! And I love this print!! When I was young, I went to Dubai Zoo with my family. My only goal was to take a picture of the giraffe. I framed the picture, and it has a pretty spot on my shelf :)
Are there any handmade products I should check out? Will you share some items on your handmade wish list in the comments please? :) Want your product featured? I will gladly write about and/ or test your products :) E-mail me if you're interested.
Ps. I've been selected as a finalist in a handmade competition. Will you please vote for me?? Last chance on 11th April. Click here to read how.
Pps. Be sure to come back on FRIDAY to join in the BRAND NEW blog hop that's all about MOVIES :D
I call it... SCUBA blue! because it reminds me of the pretty ocean on a warm summer's day. Ahhh.. I'm aching for summer to arrive! This necklace brings it a little closer, at least.
