yes, you can// mercury mirror glass

"yes, you can!" is the first in a series of monthly DIY installments, yes, ladies and gents, the world of DIY and tutorials is coming to this blog! Each month I will be posting photos, steps, and tips on a DIY project that I've completed (this month it's mercury mirror glass, next month could be anything!), but before I go on I have a few questions: what do you want to DIY? Is there something you've been wanting to try but haven't? Let me know and I'll add it to the list, I'd love to hear what you have in mind.

Now, on to the steps!

As usual, I came across this DIY on pinterest and was so excited about trying it out! After looking at a few tutorials I decided to follow this one and am very happy with the results!
First, I spent a few weeks cultivating and cleaning some clear glass jars and bottles (kombucha, jam, jam, and jam :)

Following the instructions, I filled a spray bottle with equalish (I eyeballed this one) parts of vinegar and water, though I have heard that using plain water works well~ let me know if you try it! Also, I got a handy coupon and purchased the Krylon Looking Glass Spray from my local craft store; next time I think I'll grab two bottles so I can create another batch in the future.

side note: While looking for this spray, I got extremely super totally very distracted by all of the different spray paints and found that I just might need to add the glitter spray, chalkboard paint spray, and gold spray to my new "Spray Paint Wishlist". Ahem, anyways.

Working semi-quickly, I misted each glass with a layer of the water/vinegar mixture then followed with the Looking Glass spray; let this dry for a good 2-3 minutes, then dap with a cloth or paper towel and repeat three to four times. //tip: Give this step time to dry before you proceed with more layers, otherwise you'll end up wiping away everything//

Aaaand you're done! Once mine dried I wrapped some with muslin ribbon, lace, and yarn and they now sit as a collection on my dresser (photo to come!), for now anyways.
In the future I plan to use these for table centerpieces, adding tealights and some greenery, and there are so many more ways you could use them!
Enjoy!

Encourage One Another {book clutch DIY}

{sorry, source is unknown}

For this weeks contribution at Deep Roots At Home weekly series, Encourage One Another, I decided to share a crafty idea. : ) I was first introduced to the book clutch from this Girls With Glasses video a while ago and just loved them, not the $325 kind of love, just the "Oh, I bet you I can make that for less!" kind of love. Which is why I was so delighted to come across this book clutch tutorial! It seems like the steps could be shortened and possibly streamlined so please let me know if anyone tries this! I already have a clutch and am looking for a book that is just the right size...

Do you have an encouraging link you'd like to share?

Then, click on the link above to post your encouraging link! 

Topics can range from yummy recipes, character building posts, insightful posts, or practical, everyday tips.

A Wonderful Kind of Ugly

Do you have an item/accessory/trinket that you just love...but everyone else thinks it's hideous?
Well, the pair of shoes you see is my "Wonderful Ugly" item. Those Simple shoes are probably the most comfortable pair of shoes that I own; I could wear them all day long, they're just practical and super comfy. However, around these parts, they're known as my "granny shoes" (I prefer to call them my "Whole Foods Shoes"). 
This reminds me of my journey selling on Etsy; at first, I had to remind myself "not to despise meager beginnings"; to do what I could with what I had. Rather like my "Whole Foods/Granny Shoes", my methods weren't terribly streamlined or professional (and are still being refined) but practical and they worked for the time being (I'm glad to know that I did the best with what I knew at the time!).  I'm so thankful for the helpful people and resources that I have discovered and am still discovering (You know who you are)! I'll be you have a "Wonderful Ugly" item as well, don't you?    ; )
 

Also, I wanted to introduce you to a great, new resource for selling your crafts online, in fact, it's called How to Sell Your Crafts Online (groundbreaking title, I know ; ). It is being released on Amazon in October and seems somewhat similar to one of my favorite how-to books, just more relevant to Etsy sellers.
What sorts of books/resources do you find helpful? Let me know, I'm always looking to expand my library!

Inspiring People {Sarah Mendenhall}

So, for today's post, I'd like to introduce you to an inspiring

young woman and her blog. I came across her and her sister Hannah last

year and am so impressed by their fervor and desire to serve and trust the Lord.

It was difficult to condense all that they do but for now

I wanted to introduce you to...

{Captured by Little Light Creative}

...Sarah Mendenhall!

The elder of the two Mendenhall sisters, Sarah is a lover of Christ,

her family, and all things sweet and vintage.

On her blog, forgiven. love much, there is much inspiration to be found

in her cute, creative, and modest approach to dressing in a feminine way;

each week she posts different outfits for each day as well as some

yummy recipes! I appreciate her evident contentment as she serves

her family at home.

Sarah also keeps a shop on Etsy called,

Spancy Ketosherosh Vintage,

which showcases her fun vintage finds as well as an arrangement of

handmade items. Sarah uses this venue to donate to Compassion International

by using 50% of all profits from her handmade items towards this ministry,

you can learn more here.

Recently, I was able to benefit from winning this adorable headband during a

giveaway that Sarah hosted. Quality is important to me,

especially in handmade items, and I am very happy to say that I'm very

content and impressed with her work

--I'm looking forward to working with her again in the future!

Before we wrap up this post, I'd like to share an interview I had with Sarah-

-enjoy!

Sarah, what was your main drive in creating your shop?

When I started thinking and praying about opening a shop, I simply wanted a way to develop some small business skills and make a little money for myself and the future. Now that I have been open two and a half months I have come to realize how it can be used for so much more! I have met many new people, networked, participated in giveaways and been able to donate some of my proceeds to a worthy cause.

How exciting! That leads to our next question about where you donate 50% of the proceeds from your handmade items, how did you come to desire to donate to Compassion?

My family has sponsored children through Compassion International for over 10 years now. When I was working full time I always donated a portion of each pay check to CI. I want to be able to continue to give even though my income is much lower than when I was working outside the home. :)

I'm always interested in how people choose the name for their business, how did you choose yours?

:) Funny little story. When I was five years old I named one of my dolls Spancy Ketosherosh! When I was throwing around names for my shop my sister Hannah suggested SK and it stuck. :)

What influences you the most in your business?

I believe that modest fashion, style, and home decor doesn't fit in a tiny little legalistic box. God has given so many people the gift of creativity in making clothing and home goods.

What do you hope to do in your shop this year?

I hope to expand my inventory and add some additional handmade items. I would love to continue to upgrade my packaging and streamline my shipping!

You can catch up with Sarah more by her blog or her shop!

What about you?

Do you have an inspiring friend in your life?

Someone you think would be helpful to showcase?

Drop me a line! I'd love to share that connection here.

Just email me and we'll start that conversation. :)

Frei. Libre. Libero.

{Design*Sponge}

Don't you just love free tutorials/DIY's?

I'm a big fan of them as I really enjoy recreating what I see in magazines or

stores (I'm sure you know what I mean!).

Well, Grosgrain Fabulous is doing a free DIY for the month of May--

I know, I'm excited too; "Free" and "DIY" are on my list of favorite words.

So, head on over and take a peek at what might fit your fancy!

For myself, I will be looking at thrift shops for a fun patterned dress

so I can turn it into a skirt like this one.

This paperbag skirt is pretty groovy too

(though it may be pushed farther out on the project calendar!)

And finally, as an Aunt to three (almost four!) little stickies,

I think these Dish and Spoon toys are too cute!

Let me know if you end up trying any of the projects!

Have a great Wednesday

Lists

{as seen on Design*Sponge}

Today I was getting ready for the day,

when I came across yesterday's "to-do" list.

I love my "To-Do" lists.

If you haven't started making them, and you'd like to be more organized

(and remember things!), then I'd highly suggest creating one for yourself.

My Dad suggested ranking my items with A, B, and C

according to the order of importance.

Mine looks something like:

Make biscotti-A (check!)

Blog-B (check!)

Read psych book-A

Get beads for project-A

Cast on N and J's hats-C

Practice piano-A

I just loving crossing things off at the end of the day.

It also helps me evaluate how much time I spend on each item and

what I need to be doing first.

I've kind of gotten to the point where things are out of mind if

they're not on "The List", it's pretty bad, BUT if they are

on "The List" then that shouldn't be a problem.

I also have a separate one for knitting and craft projects, so

that I don't get caught forgetting someone's birthday present!

How do you organize your days?

It's All in the Packaging

{as seen on, oh, hello friend}

Crafters and small business owners alike, pay attention!

This post has to do with you and the growth of your craft!

Perhaps you already know this, in which case it's always good to be reminded

of things and to cross reference what you've learned.

If this is new information, I'd encourage you to read and see what you can

apply!Today I came across this article, How to Deliver an Experience, via

Etsy newsletters, and I found it to be so encouraging in the area of shipping

your product.I've read it in just about every "small business" book I've read:

it's really all about the packaging.

Naturally, it all makes perfect sense.

You make knitted finger puppets, it's a longtime hobby and you do it just

about everywhere you go. You decide to sell on etsy and are so excited to

be making a profit with your favorite craft; your first buyer makes a purchase

and you jump on the opportunity to make them a returning customer, your

one stump is that you don't have that much capital to spend on specialty

wrapping, stickers, stamps, or tissue paper.

But since your motto is, "Do the best you can, with

what you have, where you are." (thank you, Teddy),

you decide to do just that.

So, you lovingly wrap your knitted finger puppets in some brightly colored

tissue paper you got at Target, oh, and you place a few of your business

cards along with the puppets, just in case. Then you decide on the smallest

box at the post office and--wait, you make notecards too! They're not on your

shop yet but you decide to write a personal note on it (you never know),

thanking the buyer for his purchase and letting him know of the other products

you sell (like those beaded scarves you love making), and you add another

business card in the note ( just in case one falls out). Then you tape it up and

handwrite the buyer's name and address with that floral design you enjoy

drawing, better write "have a great day" on the back, just so they don't forget

you. Then you place it in the trusty hands of the USPS and off you go, making

more items and hopefully sell more items. The point being that a) you don't

need commercial packaging to make a difference, and b) it's not that hard

because it's a way of promoting what you love doing.

Your product is an outflow and representation of you and your work,

what does your work say about you?

The excited crafter will want to make her customer as satisfied as she can with

her craft and to stimulate future business. The seller in the article added her

logo and name no less than five times in her package, how can you forget

something after seeing it five times?

What can you be doing to ensure a cheerful, unforgetable business experience?

After reading, ask yourself what more you can be doing to promote what you

love, how can you stand out to your buyers?

Let me know what you think; I'd love to know what you come up with!

Looking Over

{Design*Sponge}

As we are looking over the brink of a new year,

this is a great time to reflect and introduce new things.

I have a few thoughts brewing on resolutions, goals, and Edwards, and once those thoughts are organized you can find them at The Pickwick Portfolio!

In the mean time, I'd like to introduce and re-introduce some wonderful and inspiring resources!

This is by no means an exhaustive list but they are the highlights of

creative, online finds for this year. Perhaps you've seen them already and perhaps these are brand-new, regardless, I hope they help to creatively jump-start you into the new year.

Caro, Mica and I in downtown Alexandria, VA

A Wholesome New World

In the past few years, our family has really branched out in the area of nutrition and my sister Mica has been quite the leader/researcher in this area. Not only has she come up with some yummy recipes and new traditions but she's also learned a lot about the history and the "why's" of what we do in the kitchen. Her "foodie" posts mostly cover gluten and dairy-free recipes and she also includes some interesting facts and tid-bits.

This is a great place for all of your health and nutrition interests!

L-R: Ana, Alyssa, and Amy

Days to Remember

Pressing Toward the Goal

Everything Good

The three blogs above are authored by some very sweet, new friends that I met in November at our annual church conference. Living in the wintry north and being delightful "stay-at-home daughters", they offer a wonderful perspective on making home a sweet place to be.

This is a great way to receive sound encouragement--they also have a shop (Rosebud & Wilbur)!

Kyleigh Fox :)

A Drum of a Different Beat

Kyleigh Fox is the sister of Cait Cady (whom you've seen here before) and I have had the dear pleasure of getting to know her a bit through email and meeting her-at last!- in person recently. She quilts beautifully and has a unique creative touch; more significantly, Kyleigh has a wonderful perspective on living Biblically and doing everything she can to please the Lord.

I am challenged by what she has to say and am blessed by her posts.

Inspiring photo from the blog

Soule Mama

If you haven't check this one out yet, please do! Amanda has a wealth of creative knowledge and is just so inspiring; she also does things as naturally as possible and I'm always inspired after reading her posts. Right now I am using some of her projects as an inspiration for an upcoming shop item/new project--stay tuned!

I Still Love You

You might have seen the button for this on my sidebar.

I love Melissa's creativity, DIY's, and tutorials! It's a great place to get calligraphy ideas, color and placing, as well as some great ways to refashion your favorite clothing items.

She also has great photos and an easy to navigate site.

Flying Fingers

If you are in the Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown area, I would highly suggest making a visit to the Flying Fingers yarn shop! It's an adorable shop set-up, snug in the main street of Tarrytown. They have a wonderful, colorful selection of wool, angora, and blended yarns!

And if you have a moment to spare, take the 30-second walk up the street to Coffee Labs! It's a warm coffee shop with their own roaster, right in the cafe!

Don't forget to ask about their burlap sacks (and get one for me too!).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Well that's all for now, what are your favorite places?

Do you have a blog/shop that you just love?

Let me know and after a preview I'll feature it here!

Creative Inspirations

As I have been planning and preparing over the past few months, I have made a small list of things I have learned about hobbies, creating things, and the hidden arts. Attatched to each lesson is a photograph that has inspired me or is just on of my favorites!

First, as a job "well begun is half done",

I think the best place to start in your own industrious endeavours is in the purpose of your business. This may seem obvious but is vital to the growth and flow of your own shop.

Why are you doing this? Where do you plan to go with it?

And more importantly, whom will you glorify with your endeavour?

As believers we understand that,

"...the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

And that, as an extension of this, we ought "to do everything as unto the Lord".

So, before starting anything we must say in our hearts with the Psalmist,

"Bless the Lord, O my soul!

And all that is within, bless His holy name!"

Peonies are one of my very favorite types of flowers. It is such a pity that they do not grow well in Houston, and an even greater pity that they are $4 a stem in Whole Foods.

Do you have a favorite flower? A favorite anything?

I've found it very important to establish exactly what it is that I like and what sort of style that I pattern my hobbies after.

It doesn't have to be perfect.

If you don't draw attention to it, people do not generally notice.

Contrary to popular belief, this is true at piano recitals, speech presentations, string quartet practice, and yes, in your hobby. Whether it be painting, tatting, knitting, sewing, or cello practice. There are not as many professionals out there as you may think. In fact, that majority of the people you share your art with love you. And they really won't notice when you play an E flat instead of a D, that you increased five stitches in your scarf, or if you accidentally forgot a stick of butter in a cookie recipe...okay they might notice but hey, sugar and flour are very forgiving when baked.

This is one of my favorite Norman Rockwell paintings.

There is so much description in the frame that tells such stories. Which is one of the things that I love about Rockwell; the detail he adds and how he makes his point in each of his paintings.

His artwork always inspires me; and if I were a painter, I would quickly take out my brush and try to capture something from my life.

But alas I am not!

What does end up happening is that I try to consider what detail I am showing people in everything I do. Whether it is writing, art, or simply talking with people; how am I representing the Lord, myself, my family?

What is it that people walk away thinking?

Take good photographs.

This is very important when selling things online or simple posting them on your own blog.

Although I am no photographer, I have learned to appreciate a photo taken in the right lighting and proper emphasis on the subject. Take the time to test your lighting, create an interesting shot, and use the attention of the viewer to your advantage.

And finally, I think it very important that you enjoy what you are creating.

People will be more prone to take interest in what you are doing if they see that you are excited about it.

So, the next time some project catches your fancy, take it up! Do something with it, learn more about it!

Who knows, it may be your next favorite hobby...

to add to your budding collection.