Designosaurus

New Blog

2011-08-25T13:56:00.001-04:00

From here on my tutorials, projects, and inspirational odds and ends will be posted on my new TriSERIFtops Tumblr account. Check it out!

Its Button Time

2011-07-31T13:57:00.006-04:00

For years I've wanted a button machine. In college my senior project was to design the identity and merchandise for 3 bands. This meant everything: logos, album covers, t-shirts, stickers, press kits, photography, and you guessed it—buttons! I really thought that was my chance to justify buying a button machine, but at the last minute our design department purchased one since so many students wanted button design to be part of their projects.

Years later, as I participate in more craft shows, I figured this was finally my chance to get one! Now I can make promotional buttons for TriSERIFtops, and sneak in a few nerdy typography ones as well.

Before starting to make my own (well, to be honest I already started experimenting :) ), I wanted to see the variety of creative buttons available on Etsy. I curated the "Buttons!" treasury above, and here are a few of my favorites from the group...

Nesting Doll buttons by xoazuree

Loving Pastels buttons by SoleDeVita

Silhouette Birds buttons by PipingHotPapers

Coffee Bear Latte Art buttons by coffeepurse

Experimenting with Linocut Save the Dates

2011-07-30T13:13:00.005-04:00

I've been working on some simple Save the Date samples (using my fictitious couple Leslie and Peter... we've become very close over the last few weeks, ha ha).

Here's my first try at a linocut version, where I wanted the text to be a little rustic-romantic. I'm also loving the paper choices—a version with 90% bamboo/10% cotton, and one with 25% hemp/75% post consumer material. Hemp is featured above, with great flecks in the paper.

So excited to actually be working on a real Save the Date order based on this design, so stay tuned for a final version in the coming weeks!

Wedding Invitation Research

2011-07-20T20:21:00.004-04:00

I've really been wanting to get into wedding invitation design. I've done baby shower and a couple other things, but weddings just have so many possibilities! So many themes, different color palettes, paper choices, printing techniques... the list goes on and on.

I have been working on my own samples (not yet ready to post those), and started doing a lot of research. Part of that is just looking through the endless possibilities out there, especially from other handmade artisans!

Here's a peak at some of my research... a Woodland Wedding treasury on Etsy. I love the light, natural colors and earthy textures. Hoping to reflect some of these elements in my own designs eventually.

Looking for custom invitations? Contact me for details: jessie.a.katz@gmail.com

Music Night Poster Design

2011-07-05T18:53:00.004-04:00

Check out this poster I designed for Starbucks Music Night.

Every Tuesday

7:00-9:00 pm

Starbucks on Main St, Nyack, NY 10960

If you are in the area, come check it out. Want to play? Email Scott Greenberg at scott.a.greenberg@gmail.com

Custom TOMS for Sale

2011-07-03T20:34:00.004-04:00

I finally listed some custom TOMS in my TriSERIFtops Etsy shop!

My personal favorite, the paisley custom TOMS, are now avaialable...

Also available—TOMS customized to reflect your small business logo/business card.

If you make and/or sell clothing, jewelry, accessories, etc; you know the best way to promote is by wearing your product. But what if you make home decorations, paper goods, or sell vintage furniture? These shoes will make a great conversation starter about your business while you are out and about!

The pair pictured below were for Andrew of Sites and Sound Productions, a small live sound/recording studio in NJ.

Checkbox Greeting cards

2011-06-29T19:55:00.007-04:00

I've been working on some new greeting cards and invitations. Among these is a collection of checkbox cards—keep a few of these on hand and you will be ready for any last minute occasion! Purchase here.

Upcycle Magazine Feature

2011-06-08T20:32:00.005-04:00

Check it out, I'm featured on Upcycle Magazine!

Scrap Fabric Streamer Tutorial

2011-06-04T20:02:00.009-04:00

Make your porch a little more festive for that next summer BBQ!

This is a simple project to use up those small scraps of fabric you might have lying around. Looks great displayed a variety of ways—hanging straight down, wrapped around banisters, or hung the same way you'd hang bunting/banners.

If you try this project out for yourself tell us about it in the comments, or post photos on the Designosaurus Facebook page!

Materials:

Scrap fabric

Twine/string (about 8" longer than what you want the final size of your streamer to be)

Beads (solid glass beads, or a similar heavy type of bead works best)

Scissors

Ruler

Instructions:

Nyack Bee Green Fair 2011

2011-05-02T11:37:00.004-04:00

Had a great time at the Nyack Bee Green Fair on Saturday. Memorial Park in Nyack was full of natural food vendors and eco-friendly businesses. At first some visitors questioned why a jewelry designer was part of the Green Fair, but when they learned what my jewelry was made of they got really into it!

I just set up a really small table at this event (especially since I was only selling jewelry, not art prints). Looking forward to a larger setup at stART on the Street Spring Edition in Worcester, MA on May 22! There will be lots of new jewelry (especially earrings), and I'm most excited to debut some fill-in-the-blank invitations, part of a collection Scott and I are collaborating on, a couple will be ready just in time for stART!

Lots of gift card earrings

New colorful key necklaces!

Jobin was there to help our for the morning

The Art of ReUse Contest

2011-04-16T13:07:00.005-04:00

Green is Universal and Etsy recently teamed up to sponsor The Art of ReUse contest.

Thanks to my friend Jess of Some Fine Folks for bringing the contest to my attention! Once in a while I miss important items in the Etsy newsletter, and this would have been one of them if it wasn't for her.

Many creative & eco-friendly DIYers entered, and last week it was time for the public to vote. Today they announced the top ten, and I'm honored to be one of them! Next week a panel of celebrity judges will choose 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. This judging panel includes Andy Cohen, Angela Matusik, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee, Lauren Bush, Martha Stewart and Tori Spelling. Learn more about the judges here.

I'm not even going to hide it, the idea that Martha Stewart is going to be looking at my earrings makes me so excited I squeal. Not to mention I'm a big fan of Hoda & Kathie Lee on the Today Show, and I love pretty much any programming Andy Cohen creates.

Check out this Etsy treasury showcasing the top ten, as well as some other contestants with entries I absolutely loved.

Thanks to everyone who voted. Now lets wait and see what the judges decide!

Customized TOMS for Your Business

2011-04-10T18:50:00.006-04:00

Unique clothing, jewelry, and other accessories can often be conversation starters. How about custom TOMS shoes that start a conversation about your small business?

Here's a pair of black canvas men's classic TOMS that I customized for a friend, based on the logo & business card for his recording/production company, Sites and Sounds Productions. I designed the logo and business card for them a few years ago as well.

Many of us are self employed in an effort to create jobs for ourselves, and do what we really love. So if you're a musician, DJ, artist, writer, or any type of small business owner, these are a fun way to get your friends talking about your business.

If you'd like a pair of shoes customized around your business's logo, send me an email. And if you need a logo for your new business, you can email me about that too!

jessie.a.katz@gmail.com

One Day Without Shoes Wrap-Up

2011-04-09T14:50:00.005-04:00

Nyack's One Day Without Shoes last Tuesday was a great success! We heard live music, customized TOMS shoes, and walked barefoot through Nyack raising awareness for children that are forced to go barefoot every day.

Maria Whittingham (owner of Maria Luisa Boutique and ML Gifts & Accessories) and Nyack's Mayor Richard Kavesh each talked about how fortunate we are to have luxuries like shoes, that usually get taken for granted.

Here's a slideshow ML Gifts & Accessories put together from the event, and a short video at the Nyack-Piermont Patch.

Below are some of my own photos from the event; including the Eric Brown Band, some TOMS I customized, and the barefoot walk.

New Listings on Etsy

2011-04-01T11:43:00.003-04:00

Check out Designosaurus on Etsy for these and more new jewelry listings, just in time for spring!

www.jessiekatz.etsy.com

Customized Shoes: Practice Round

2011-03-30T19:27:00.003-04:00

I'm customizing TOMS at a One Day Without Shoes event April 5th. See details and a previous post about the event here, featuring a pair I customized that will be available in a silent auction that day.

I haven't customized shoes at this type of event before, and I like to be ridiculously prepared for things like this, so above are a couple pairs of shoes I customized for practice! They aren't TOMS, instead they are some white sneakers I had laying around that my aunt handed down to me, but they still gave me the sense of what it's like to paint on a three dimensional fabric piece.

Nyack's One Day Without Shoes

April 5th, 2011

10am - 6:30pm

ML Gifts & Accessores - 75 S. Broadway, Nyack, NY

More information about the event here, here and here.

Supplies for Sale with Free Shipping!

2011-03-27T17:38:00.005-04:00

I buy a lot of art supplies for various projects, but a lot of the time don't use the entire package. Some of this stuff I've had for over 5 years, and if I haven't used it up yet, I'm probably not going to.

In that case, I'd like to pass along these supplies to you, it would be a shame for then to just go to waste!

My studio needs to get organized, and to do that I need to get rid of this stuff, so it's all priced super cheap, plus free shipping! These listings will only be up for 1 month, then I'm getting rid of the stuff, so act fast.

More jewelry supplies will be posted sometime in the next week, but for now these supplies are available at Designosaurus on Etsy.

One Day Without Shoes

2011-03-26T20:02:00.006-04:00

On April 5th, ML Gifts & Accessories and Maria Luisa Boutique will be sponsoring Nyack's One Day Without Shoes.

TOMS Shoes started a One for One movement, where every pair purchased means one pair of new shoes is given to a child in need. On April 5th TOMS is challenging all of us to go a day without shoes, and experience what children growing up in developing countries go through every day.

Join us on April 5th at 75 S. Broadway in Nyack, 10:00am - 6:30pm, to show your support and raise awareness! There will be a silent auction featuring TOMS shoes customized by local artists, many of those artists will be customizing shoes on site throughout the day, and a barefoot walk at 4:30pm.

Here are my custom paisley TOMS being auctioned off at the event...

Baby Shower Invitations

2011-03-20T16:56:00.012-04:00

Recently I had the opportunity to design invites for my friend’s baby shower. It was a really fun project, and I was so happy to get the chance to do it! Here are some photos tracking the process…

First some sketches. At the beginning of the process I really wanted to incorporate the triangle bunting… but in the end the monkey became more important.

After finalizing the image and typography, I tried a few different colors. Blue? Green? Should the monkey be colored? Or just outlines?

Once the colors were chosen, I printed the invites (front and back), and the small direction cards. I find it easier to print 4 cards on 8.5” x 11” paper and cut with an X-acto. For me this is more convenient than trying to align 4” x 6” paper properly to print both sides.

I designed colorful circular envelope seals, and printed blue address labels to match the typography from the invites.

Everything cut and ready to be assembled. Envelopes, address labels, return address labels, envelope seals, direction cards, and the invitation itself.

Envelope seals.

All the invites ready to go!

Being a big dork, I like to see the entire process, beginning to end. This means what the invite looks like, even after going through the mail. So here’s the invite I mailed back to myself, with the postage stamps and a little water damage to the return address label.

The Sketchbook Project 2011: Opening Reception

2011-02-21T15:58:00.007-05:00

My friends and I went into Brooklyn Saturday (braving the wind advisory across all those bridges!) to attend The Sketchbook Project opening at the Brooklyn Art Library.

They had a great turnout! So great that when we got there with 1 1/2 hours left to the reception, only a couple of us were in line early enough to check out a sketchbook! The group of us only got to look at two sketchbooks, but it was still fun to be there, be a part of the reception and see that so many people were enjoying the project. Hopefully my friends and I will all be able to get back there when its not so packed, and we can really enjoy the sketchbooks.

As a bonus, it turns out I knew Steve, the man behind The Sketchbook Project! We were friends freshman year at Hartford Art School, then he transferred and we lost touch. Congrats to Steve and everyone else that worked hard to make The Sketchbook Project such a success!

Check out the website for sketchbook tour dates near you!

The wall of over 28,000 sketchbooks!

Looking through another artist's sketchbook.

I think her name was Jessica Meath.

Detail of Jessica Meath's book.

Check in your books!

My great friends who came to the opening with me!

I think next year all of them will be participating in

The Sketchbook Project.

Inspiration: Vintage Greeting Cards

2011-02-10T15:40:00.006-05:00

Vintage greeting cards are a fun source of inspiration for typography and image. Above is a Valentine my cousin sent me the other day, that my Grandmother had actually saved from when our parents were little.

My Grandmother never got rid of greeting cards, even if they were blank ones she had never used! She kept them nicely in a box and now my family is able to use and enjoy them. Its become a nice thing around the holidays to receive cards from my mom or uncle with a little note on the bottom that reads "this card was from Grammy's collection".

Now I keep many of these cards and stationary sets in my studio, a few hanging up and others on my shelves to reference when I need a little nostalgic inspiration.

The Sketchbook Project 2011

2011-02-03T21:37:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago I finished my entry for the Brooklyn Art Library’s Sketchbook Project 2011. The Sketchbook Project is described as a concert tour, but with sketchbooks. What a fun concept! As soon as a friend sent me the link last year, I knew I wanted to participate.

Each sketchbook has a theme. Participants were able to choose a theme (from a list of about 40), or elect to be given a random theme. I chose the theme “dirigibles & submersibles”.

Almost 30,000 people from around the world participated. The tour officially begins later this month, with a reception at the Brooklyn Art Library on February 19th, 12:00-10:00pm. Check out their website to see if the tour stops at a city near you!

After the tour, all sketchbooks become part of the permanent collection at the Brooklyn Art Library.

Here are some samples from my sketchbook. To see more, and to see thousands of other sketchbooks, try and make it to a tour date near you! Or check out participating artists here, where you can browse by name, location, and sketchbook theme.

Daily Drawing #4

2011-02-02T16:57:00.003-05:00

I drew this a few days ago, after hearing a friend of mine from college had passed.

We were in a tight group of friends together freshman year, and although we didn't hang out much after that, I got to thinking about the impact he had on my life. I realized how everyone you meet can really play a big part in who you are and how you grow as a person, regardless of how long your friendship with them lasts. This seems especially true during major changing points in life, which freshman year of college certainly is.

So on that note, don't take anyone you meet for granted, and always try to recognize the positive impact they can have on your life.

Daily Drawing #3

2011-01-30T11:32:00.002-05:00

Some of my roommates from college came to visit this weekend and we had such a good time! Apartment 2102!

Daily Drawing #2

2011-01-28T16:58:00.003-05:00

Some doodles from yesterday while waiting for the train.

Daily Drawing #1

2011-01-26T21:13:00.005-05:00

Taking time to draw something new provides inspiration for new projects, and gives your mind a creative break from current ones.

I try to keep daily drawings, but sometimes its hard to find the time... or to be honest, I just get lazy. And then if I do draw, I don't take the time to scan, archive, and post it.

Completing my book for The Sketchbook Project reminded me how beneficial it is to draw something new each day, so this year I'm going to really try and keep daily drawings (or at least semi daily), and post them when I can!

Cold Weekend for a Photo Shoot

2011-01-17T10:40:00.004-05:00

Earrings on Etsy

Most of my jewelry photos for Etsy are taken outside. Partly because there is no need to set up a special backdrop, it’s easy to hang pieces on braches, flowerpots, wooden boxes, wind chimes and more. Also, since I’m not skilled with setting up the right lighting inside, its much faster to utilize natural sunlight outdoors!

This past weekend proved a bit difficult to shoot photos, but I did get most of what I needed…

Saturday I convinced my boyfriend, Scott, to help out with a shoot where I needed to play the part of “model” to show off some new necklaces. Standing outside in a tank top and cardigan was a little chilly, but not nearly as bad as I had expected!

Sunday I worked on my own to photograph some earrings. The wind blowing earrings around made it take a bit longer, which led to very cold fingers, but I was able to get seven pairs shot, edited, and up on Etsy.

Enjoy these photos, along with a few silly images of the process, and don’t forget to check out more on Etsy and Facebook!

Heart Necklace / Colorful Hand painted Necklace (top right)

More photos on Facebook

Western Necklace on Etsy

Earrings on Etsy

DIY Holiday Decorating Tutorials

2010-12-14T10:13:00.006-05:00

I haven't had much time lately to put together original tutorials, so instead enjoy this roundup of great holiday decorating tutorials from other sites! (I know I'm a little late on the Hanukkah crafts... but there's always next year)

Yarn Wreath from Country Living

Magazine Wreath from Going Home to Roost

Found Object Party Bunting from Readymade

Glass Bottle Menorah from Readymade

Candelabra and Scouring Pad Accessories from guardian.co.uk

Twinkle Lights from Disney's Family Fun

Colorful Cabinets from Country Living

Happy crafting!

Lasts Year's Holiday Cards are This Year's Gift Tags!

2010-11-19T19:23:00.005-05:00

I’ll admit it, I have a hard time getting rid of stuff… I’m not a hoarder, it’s just the crafter in all of us!

It’s the idea that you can make something out of anything. You know as soon as something is thrown away you’ll undoubtedly have a brilliant idea of how to reuse it.

One thing I have a hard time getting rid of is Holiday cards. I save them, then the next year I usually end up tossing them, knowing I’m just going to get another group from the same people.

Finally I decided to do something with them. There are a lot of possibilities, but the one I went with this year was gift tags. Use them on holiday gifts, host/hostess gifts, thank you tags on favors, or even as place cards tied around a glass/bottle.

Materials:

Scissors and/or X-acto

Hole punch

Tag-shaped punch (optional)

Ribbon

Any or all of the following for decorating: pens, markers, crayons, glitter, paint, puff paint, beads, sequins, feathers, yarn, twine, raffia, tissue paper, stickers, charms, wire, twigs, acorns, pine cones, dried flowers and berries, stamps and anything else you can think of!

Steps:

(If you are using a tag-shaped punch skip steps 1-2)

1. Use the backs of a few greeting cards as stencils. Draw the shapes you want on the back of a few cards and cut them out.

2. Trace your stencils on the front of your greeting cards.

3. Cut your tags our with scissors or an X-acto knife. (Or if you are using a tag-shaped punch, just use that to punch the shapes from your cards)

4. Decorate your tags. This is the part where you really get to be creative! I stuck to glitter paint, pens and beads, then layered varying sized tags on top of each other for texture. The possibilities are endless! Go with a glam theme sticking to metallic paint and glitter, or keep it natural with twigs, dried berries and raffia.

5. Punch a hole at the top of each tag.

6. Thread ribbon through the hole and tie a knot. Add a bead if you’d like, for even more decoration.

Now your tags are ready to go, bringing a personal, handmade, eco-friendly element to every gift you give this holiday season!

Holiday Cards - Free Gift

2010-11-14T12:56:00.005-05:00

Now through Thanksgiving receive this set of 4 Holiday Cards FREE with any purchase at DESIGNosaurus or triSERIFtops on Etsy. Includes 4 cards, 4 envelopes and 4 envelope seals.

Designosaurus Earrings in Rockland Magazine!

2010-11-13T13:07:00.006-05:00

Hey, look up there, that’s a pair of Designosaurus earrings in print!

A pair of my Designosaurus earrings have been included in Rockland Magazine’s annual “In the Bag” gift guide, part of their Nov/Dec holiday issue! This 5-page guide includes gifts to fit any budget, and even better—you can purchase them all right here in Rockland!

This is the first time I’ve seen a Designosaurus piece in print, so needless to say I’m pretty excited. I feel honored to have been included, and am happy to represent ML Gifts & Accessories in this way.

Stop by ML Gifts & Accessories to pick up a pair, or check out Designosaurus on Etsy (lots of new items added!)

www.jessiekatz.etsy.com

Below is the issue’s cover and the entire “In the Bag” guide…

The holiday issue has some other great features as well, including tips for throwing a Hanukkah party and holiday-worthy restaurants. Contact The Journal News to get your copy.

Poster Design: Westchester Symphonic Winds

2010-11-07T10:17:00.004-05:00

Back in February I did some poster design work for Westchester Symphonic Winds, the ensemble in residence at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY. I designed three posters, the third being for their concert later today (above).

The geometric shapes of the poster are directly inspired by the beautiful architecture of the Tarrytown Music Hall, built in 1885, designed by architects Theodore DeLemos and August Cordes, who also built the Macy's building at Herald Square.

(photo from TarrytownMusicHall.org)

Below are the previous two posters I did for their March and May 2010 concerts. The inspiration for these taken from the music itself as opposed to the historic venue.

Transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving

2010-11-06T22:19:00.004-04:00

Here's a simple way to transition decorations from Halloween to Thanksgiving...

Many of us decorate with gourds, sugar pumpkins and small pumpkins at the start of fall and Halloween, after all they are beautiful on their own and a great, natural way to decorate all the way through Thanksgiving.

But what if you want to switch it up a bit? With a little metallic paint you can embellish your gourds for a chic, new look!

Make your gourds last longer by keeping them outside until Thanksgiving day, then bring them inside to decorate the table or other places where your guests can enjoy them.

Inspiration: DIY Halloween Party!

2010-10-28T14:35:00.005-04:00

Halloween is just a few days away, and if you're like me, you might feel like you waited to long to plan a festive halloween party... but thats just not the case!

Searching through Etsy you can find some fantastic crafters and designers with PRINTABLE diy party packages for those of us who may have waited too long to plan a party "from scratch".

These printable party packages are extremely affordable, because you are purchasing digital files from the artist to then print your own decorations, candy labels, cup cake liners, candle wrappers, and craft projects to keep your guests entertained!

These digital files come with instructions for what other materials you need, which most often are just a color printer, 8.5" x 11"paper and some scissors.

Check out some fun packages featured below, or search Etsy yourself for a different theme... its not too late to throw a fantastic Halloween party!

Trick Or Treat Halloween by FrogPrincePaperie

Printable 3D House by GoMakeMe

Halloween Glam Party Collection by tomkatstudio

Huge Halloween Package by shindigparties

Halloween Party Favors and Toys by FantasticToys

Black and White Halloween by Artwolf

Day of the Dead Party by happythought

Customized TOMS Shoes at the Nyack Street Fair

2010-10-11T14:15:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was the Nyack Street Fair here in Nyack, NY. ML Gifts & Accessories put on a TOMS Shoes Style Your Sole event. As if the TOMS One for One movement wasn't enough of a reason to purchase a pair of their shoes, if you purchased during the street fair you could get them customized for free! Another Nyack artist, Shawna L Handke, customized my brand new olive canvas classics with the DESIGNosaurus type and brontosaurus.

If you don't know about TOMS Shoes, check out their website to learn about how every pair purchased means a pair is donated to a child in need!

Thanks to ML Gifts & Accessories and all artists involved for a fun event and a great new pair of shoes :)

Inspiration: Petroglyphs

2010-10-07T14:31:00.006-04:00

I love the landscape here on the east coast (especially this time of year!), but once in a while its nice to pull inspiration from a place you're not so used to. I freelance for a company in Utah, and while out there for work was lucky enough to do some hiking and exploring. Among my favorite sites were rocks covered with petroglyphs...

Petroglyph: "a drawing or carving on rock, made by a member of a prehistoric people."

These shapes look simple, but are actually very complex. The combinations of graphics were an early form of communication and all tell a story. I'm really inspired by the fact that these petroglyphs are a form of communication, but even if you don't know the "language" they are still beautiful to look at. It really ties into why I love typography, words literally tell a story but they can still look beautiful doing it!

Crafter Profile: Additions

2010-10-04T14:26:00.004-04:00

This week's Crafter Profile is with Valerie William, the creative mind behind AdditionStyle on Etsy. In her collection, Additions, she creates unique and affordable pieces using hardware! The results are unique and certainly conversation starters, so enjoy learning a bit about her here and be sure to browse AdditionStyle on Etsy!

Tell us a little about yourself… Where you’re from? Art background? When you started making jewelry? Etc…

My name is Valerie, I am originally from Minneapolis. I have lived in New York City for 6 years, and now I currently live in Chicago, IL.

I have been creating most of my life, I learned to sew when I was 9 years old and I created everything from casual clothes, suits, coats, and dresses for years. I went to school for fashion merchandising and spent years in the retail industry.

I made jewelry when I was a teenager, but did not start doing it seriously until my mid thirties.

Like a lot of people, I took a jewelry class and fell in love with the design process. The day after the class I bought tools, beads and all the supplies I needed to make my own jewelry. Once I started making jewelry I could not stop. I began with beadwork; moved to wire wrapping and then sliversmithing. Many of my techniques are self-taught with a few classes in between to perfect my skills.

The important stuff — where can people purchase your items?

My jewelry is available on:

http://additionsstyle.etsy.com

http://zibbet.com/additionsstyle

http://additions.artfire.com

I also have a blog about inspiration, creativity, and business, that is updated daily

http://additionsstyle.blogspot.com

You can also visit me at

http://facebook.com/additionsstyle

http://twitter.com/additionsstyle

What made you want to start Additionstyle?

A few of years ago I was ready for a change and wanted to try something new. I wanted the opportunity to try a new medium, experiment with new techniques, and create jewelry and accessories that were young, fresh, and affordable.

What kind of jewelry were you making before you started the Additions collection, and do you continue to create jewelry in a variety of styles?

I still create sterling silver one of a kind art jewelry pieces. I sell these pieces at a few shows throughout the year and to a few galleries. I am doing less and less of this as my online business grows.

On Etsy you mention working with your daughter to start the Additions collection – how involved are both of you in continuing to design new pieces?

When I originally decided I wanted to do something different, I knew I wanted to create items that my daughter and her friends could afford.

She and I talk about designs all the time. I get her opinion on new designs, and what she thinks her friends would buy. Having her helps me keep the designs young, modern and fresh.

Why the name Additionstyle?

The name of the collection is Additions. When I started this collection I wanted it to have its own identity and when I was setting up my accounts online Additions was taken so I used my blog name at the time Additions Style.

When I was ready to name the collection my teenage daughter and I brainstormed ideas. She came up with the name Additions, which perfectly described the concept of adding accessories till you have the perfect look.

Where do you find inspiration?

The hardware is my greatest source of inspiration. I use a lot of recycled hardware in my work. When I go to the place where I get my recycled hardware it has mixed boxes of hardware, and digging through those boxes is a great source of inspiration for me. Working in my studio and going through my drawers of hardware is also a great source of inspiration. Just looking at the hardware always sparks new ideas.

Looking through your Etsy shop I noticed you occasionally incorporate materials other than recycled hardware – what are your other favorite materials to work with?

I have created a couple collections: Vibrant Hardware – which is a collection of hardware pieces with added color, Hardware in Bloom – which is a collection of hardware with silk flowers, and hardware with stones, lake stones, and gemstones.

I like to do unexpected things with the hardware and mix it with interesting things, but in the end I love working with the hardware itself. It is very inspiring for me and I love to come up with new ideas.

Out of the items for sale in your shop, do you have a favorite?

It’s really hard to pick a favorite. When I complete a piece it’s my favorite at the time, until I create the next one. If I had to choose a style, I love the pieces that have a variety of washers and chains.

What does your workspace look like?

I work in the basement of my home. For a long time it looked like a basement, bad light, junk everywhere and not a lot of space for my supplies. But at the beginning of this year my sister (she’s an organizer) came to visit for a week and re designed and organized my space.

I still work in the basement, but now I enjoy coming to my studio/office to work everyday. I know where everything is, everything I need has its own station, and I have all the things I love around me.

And finally, any advice you’d give to others who want to turn their creative passion into a business?

Create work you love. It is easy to follow trends and to design what you think people want to buy, but if you do it to make money only, it will become a job you don’t enjoy.

Keep learning. There is much to learn about creating, business, marketing, and selling. Take classes, read as much as you can, and participate in discussions on and off line.

If you love it never give up. If you have a setback, don’t give up, try it a different way, talk to new people, there is always something you can do, so believe in yourself.

It’s all hard work, and it takes time, so be patient. Always do as much as you can, never stop marketing online and off, provide outstanding customer service and the customers will come.

(interview has been edited)

Inspiration: No Carve Pumpkins

2010-09-30T10:50:00.003-04:00

Check out this great article with tutorials for a bunch of no carve pumpkins at realsimple.com! Now you can have a great looking doorstep without all the mess, and in some cases with less time.

Use these ideas as is, or get inspired to think out of the box and come up with your own no carve solutions!

All photos are from www.realsimple.com

Tuesday Tutorial: Halloween Plant Markers

2010-09-29T23:07:00.007-04:00

I’ve seen a few Etsy sellers use similar techniques for traditional plant markers, and decided to do a quick version for Halloween decorations!

Materials:

Old silverware

Newsprint of other lightweight paper

Black fine point pen

Colored pencils

Outdoor glossy varnish

Glitter paint (optional)

Paintbrush

Instructions:

1. Trace your silverware onto the newsprint. This way you know how big to make your designs.

2. Draw and color Halloween themed images within your traced outlines. Simple images work best—ghosts, pumpkins, bats, etc. If you don’t want to draw your own images, try using clip art or stickers.

3. Rip your images out, crumple them up and flatten them back out again. The torn edges and wrinkles will give an old, weathered look.

4. Use your paintbrush to apply varnish directly to the silverware where your image will go. Press your paper image down on the wet varnish and apply one coat of varnish on top. You might have to hold the image with one finger while you apply the first coat so it doesn’t move around. Let this first coat dry until tacky.

5. Apply glitter paint to selected areas of your images, if desired. Let dry.

6. Apply second and third coats of varnish. Let the second coat dry to tacky before applying the third.

Once the third coat is completely dry, you are ready to decorate your garden, potted plants and anywhere else you can find to stick these things!

Feeling ambitious? Create a silverware graveyard! Make all your images headstones, coffins, zombies & ghosts then arrange them together in one area.

As always, I’d love to see photos if anyone tries this project for themselves! Just post links to the photos below…

Crafter Profile: Jennifer of Isette

2010-09-27T19:54:00.005-04:00

This week’s Crafter Profile is with Jennifer, who by day works as a museum coordinator, and by night somehow finds time to create and run three Etsy shops, including Isette! Read on to learn about her process, inspiration, and her advice on when its right to turn your crafting into a business. Plus some awesome pics of her Renegade Austin 2010 booth, and my favorite items available at Isette on Etsy.

Tell us a little about yourself… Where you’re from? Art background? Why you started Isette?

I’m from Minnesota, but I’ve been in the Chicagoland area for the last 10 years. My education is actually in Anthropology and Humanities - I’ve loved studying human nature and material culture for as long as I can remember. “Stuff” is fascinating to me - why people keep make, collect, show and dispose of objects like they do. That’s how I ended up a museum curator!

I’ve always had a creative streak as well, and did an art minor in college. I tended towards the more sculptural and functional arts - basketweaving, pottery, bookbinding and jewelry are all things I’ve explored.

Lets get the important facts out of the way first — where can people purchase your items?

Well, on-line you can purchase at my Etsy site - http://isette.etsy.com . I’m also fortunate to have some retail locations - you can check out if there is a shop near you at my website http://isette.com (The website sometimes takes a little bit to load...it’s there, and I’m working on that :) )

You can also find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Isetteshop

and now Twitter! : http://twitter.com/isetteshop

Why the name Isette?

Isette is actually a derivative of my grandmother’s name, Izetta. I’ve always thought the name was unique and beautiful!

Where do you find inspiration?

I draw inspiration from the world around me - and I am fortunate that the world around me includes a 100+ year old museum collection that I'm given free reign over and a typography obsessed graphic designer husband!

What does your creative space look like?

I love my office. Right now it looks like a hurrcane hit it as I’ve been frantically prepping for Renegade Chicago, otherwise I’d send a photo. Functionally, my favorite pieces of furniture are a couple sets of Alex drawers from Ikea. Aesthetically, I have a lovely antique headboard framing my desk. It’s one from my mother-in-law - always one of good taste!

Can you explain the laser cut process for those of us who are not familiar with it?

Lasers can cut a variety of materials, from acrylic to wood, even leather! The laser cuts what I tell it to, like a great big cutting printer. The design process is actually what takes the longest - dreaming up the design, drawing it, cleaning it up in the computer and then plotting the path for the laser to cut. Design is a surprisingly long process for me, which is why the laser is really an important tool for me to produce my work. My designs are better for the amount of time I put in them, but the end product for the user is not exponentially more expensive because of it.

Do you have a favorite piece or design you’ve made since starting Isette?

I’m starting to go bigger than I dared to previously and I love it! I’m just starting to get some of these pieces in the Etsy shop, like the Ornamental necklace (http://www.etsy.com/listing/54085374/ornamental-necklace) and hopefully have them available on-line in October!

How do you advertise or promote your shop?

I’ve been very fortunate that word of mouth has been amazing. I’ve advertised at craftcult and craftopolis as well and have seen good results.

You have a couple other stores on Etsy, tell us a little about those?

Beadoodles is my first business, pretty much started back when I first learned how to make jewelry! It is also where I cut my teeth on Etsy - I started that shop August of 2005. Beadeux was a natural step - I have gotten a lot of great wholesale contacts and found suppliers I love, so I keep it stocked with items that I regularly use and order a lot of. I like to think of it as one of the smallest supply shops on Etsy - that way I can be assured of the quality!

How do you like to spend your time when you aren’t creating for Isette & Beadoodles, or collecting supplies for Beadeux?

Ha! There’s not much time after that with my full time job! I’m lucky to have a supportive husband and a lot of great friends that will take me out when I need a break.

Favorite childhood craft project?

Man, anything with glue. I really wasn’t much for coloring honestly, but glue, paper, and clay were some of my favorites.

What have you found to be the most fun, and the most difficult parts of running a creative business?

I really do love meeting people. So getting out there for shows, like Renegade, is always a fun experience. Also, just seeing something that is in your head come to life is amazing.

Difficult? Well, realizing that you’ve not been able to make anything new for weeks because you are filling orders, doing paperwork, or just plain busy. So I’ve been working hard to regulate my schedule to have set aside periods for “creating” “accounting” and “having dinner with my husband” ;)

And finally, any advice you’d give others wishing to turn their creative talent into a small business?

Realize the difference between a hobby and a business. It is something you like to do, and would do it even if you weren’t getting paid? It’s a hobby, and enjoy it for what it is even if it brings in a little extra money. If you want to start a business, be more critical of your processes. Is it feasible to be making 100 of these? Is your pricing good for wholesale? What if you are a hit, can you sustain it? So it’s a matter of knowing what your goals are!

Inspiration: Community Projects

2010-09-27T10:43:00.005-04:00

As I previously mentioned, last week was a bit hectic with finally opening my new Etsy store, triSERIFtops, and all the organization, photography, updating and writing that went along with it.

I missed my inspiration post on Thursday, so here it is a couple days late... and you'll get caught up with another Crafter Profile this afternoon too!

Community art projects were my inspiration last week. Sunday, September 19th was the stART on the street festival in Worcester, MA. Its always a good time with over 200 crafters, community and kids projects, performances and new this year: a vintage section.

Below are photos from two community projects going on that day. The first was a beautiful community chalk quilt. The second project was recycled totem poles with detergent bottles, bottle caps, old CDs and more. Let these inspire you to start your own community activity, or to use unexpected materials for an outdoor piece of art!

Introducing triSERIFtops

2010-09-22T19:00:00.006-04:00

I've been pretty busy the last few weeks, which is why there was no Crafter Profile or Tuesday Tutorial this week. But have no fear, those segments will both be back next week as usual!

What have I been busy doing? Opening triSERIFtops, a new Etsy store exclusively for typography pieces! As a result Designosaurus is now reorganized & dedicated exclusively to sustainable jewelry.

You think thats exciting? How about this month's alphabet posters finally being available? E and F are now ready for purchase at triSERIFtops, along with some Hand Drawn Facebook Statuses new to Etsy.

New items perfect for autumn have also been added to Designosaurus. Just a few pictured below...

So check out both stores, or even better, bookmark them and check back often for new items to come!

www.triseriftops.etsy.com

www.jessiekatz.etsy.com

Inspiration: Betsey Johnson

2010-09-16T17:02:00.006-04:00

NYC Fashion Week 2010 ends today, and there has been some really fun and inspiring stuff. Am I thrilled that a major trend looking to hit next spring is BEIGE? No... I'm not. I'll probably stick with my bright colors...

Which is why I'm happy Betsey Johnson had quite the colorful runway (as always) showcasing her Spring 2011 collection, and thats my inspiration this week. All photos are from the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website, so for even more inspiration and to see what other designers have coming, take a look there.

Now I'm not saying we should all go purchase a neon multi colored, ruffle layered, full circle dress... but we can let the colors, shapes, fabrics, or overall youthful & child-like atmosphere inspire our own work, whatever that may be!

Tuesday Tutorial: Button Hair Pins

2010-09-14T17:01:00.004-04:00

This week's tutorial, Button Hair Pins, is a simple project you can do in under and hour - perfect if you are looking for a quick way to spruce up your accessories wardrobe with a bit of a vintage feel for autumn.

And even better—you probably have all of these materials in your house already!

I am also doing a FREE GIVEAWAY this week! Everyone who comments on this post before 12:00 am, ET on Thursday, September 16th, 2010 will be entered to win a set of 5 of the button hair pins pictured above. Winner will be announced here and on the Designosaurus Facebook fan page on Friday.

Materials:

Buttons

Bobby pins or hair clips

Glue gun with glue sticks

Needle & thread

Instructions:

1. Glue buttons together. You'll want 2–3 buttons per clip, glue them together starting with the largest button on the bottom, going to the smallest on top. Use only a dab of glue between each and press together for a few seconds, make sure the holes of the button are aligned so your needle will fit through later.

2. Glue buttons to your hair pins. Use only a dab of glue on the button and press against the top of your hair clip for a few seconds. Make sure the holes of the button are on either side of the hair pin so later you can fit your needle through the holes, and around the hair pin.

3. Sew your buttons to the hair clip. The glue helps keep the buttons in place while you sew them to the hair pin, if the glue pops off a bit while sewing don't worry, the thread will hold them. You might need to push the needle through some glue in the button holes, but if you are using a sharp needle this shouldn't be a problem. Sew 4–6 times to make sure your buttons are secure.

Now your new hair pins are ready to wear!

Crafter Profile: Sypria

2010-09-13T14:51:00.013-04:00

This week we hear from Tara of Sypria (and Clean Sypria, Garden Of Sypria, and Felt Sypria). I stumbled upon her shops while searching Etsy and loved them so much, I had to include her in my Crafter Profiles!

Tara was recently able to leave her day job to concentrate 100% on her creative business, so hopefully any of you yearning to do the same can learn a bit from her interview below! Want more updates from Tara? Check her out on Twitter @CraftySypria.

Tell us a little about yourself… Where you’re from? Art background?

My name is Tara Fletcher-Gibbs, I live in North Little Rock, Arkansas in a wonderful little neighborhood with my wife Sarah and my two kitties, Leela and Fry. From taking fabric painting classes at Michael’s when I was around 6 years old all the way up to High School and spending 6 out of 7 classes in my senior year in the art department - I would say I’ve always been crafty!

^{The important stuff — where can people purchase your items?}

I currently have four Etsy shops that I sell through frequently - www.Sypria.Etsy.com,www.CleanSypria.Etsy.com, www.GardenOfSypria.Etsy.com, and www.FeltSypria.Etsy.com. Also, if you’re in central Arkansas I have my dryer balls and my more eco-friendly jewelry at The Green Corner Store on Main Street in the Quapaw Quarter.

^{Now on to the exciting stuff, you were recently able to quit your day job and concentrate 100% on creating and running your own business! How has this affected your creative process, your schedule, and your life in general?}

It has been a blessing and a curse all at the same time! I think everyone dreams of being their own boss and escaping the rat race and now that I think I’ve accomplished that - I’ve never worked so hard in my life! I wake up thinking about crafts, I have to force myself to put down the tools and make something to eat even though there is SO much to do and then I have to somehow get to sleep at night with my mind tossing and turning ideas in my head! Though I have the freedom to take a break whenever I want and go to important events on the drop of a hat - you never, ever stop working. I’m going on vacation in about a month for a week in Florida and I have every intention of bringing the laptop and continuing on with business!

^{Why the name Sypria?}

I’ve actually had that moniker for about 13 years now. Whenever I would play any kind of video game or computer name that was the name I chose (I found it in a baby name book and it is of Spanish origin, pronounced - Si-PREE-uh) and thus it just came naturally that I would use the name that everyone knew me by for my businesses.

^{Where do you find inspiration?}

A lot of odd places actually. I love roaming around flea markets and just picking up trinkets and old outdated jewelry and trying to find another purpose for it. I like looking back at pictures of myself and friends when I was younger and try to tap into what I wanted to have when there wasn’t this kind of jewelry out there. I was always “different” when I was a kid and I want to give a voice to the youth of today through the jewelry I make so that they can express their unique selves like I tried to.

^{What are your favorite materials to work with?}

^{That's like asking for your top five favorite movies when you’ve got five in sci-fi, comedy, horror, etc! However, I would probably say polymer clay and vintage jewelry. There are just so many things you can do with clay and though some vintage jewelry is beautiful in its own right - some of it needs a bit of an update!}

^{Out of the items currently for sale in your shop, do you have a favorite?}

I would have to say my ‘Flip-Cap’ Collage. My mother is an oncologist and she has everyone on her floor save all the caps that are flipped off medicine which would otherwise end up in a landfill and I’ve made collages and rings and garlands out of them. They’re so colorful it’s hard to think they people just throw away all that plastic!

^{What does your workspace look like?}

As Niecy Nash from Clean House would say, “A hot mess!!” A have a wonderfully supportive wife who has let me take over a whole bedroom. Surrounded by shelves upon shelves of supplies and work areas lining two walls there are always ATLEAST ten projects going at once! I find my mind jumps from project to project a little too quickly for my taste so I’ve had to have separate areas for all of my interests so that I can leave in the middle of it, do some other project for a bit and then come back to it.

^{How do you advertise or promote your shop?}

I am a craft show-aholic. In the months of August, September and October you can find me doing a craft show EVERY weekend. I also am lucky enough to live in a very creative and art loving community that supports local artists and we have events on the first Thursday, second Friday and third Friday of the month almost all year round so you can find me at those events as well. Other than that, it’s really word of mouth, I give out a business card with a coupon on the back to everyone I encounter who I think might be interested in what I make and with every order I also include a discount for repeat customers. I don’t blog. I just recently started the whole twitter thing and haven’t gotten into the swing of it - but I’m trying! I still have yet to figure out how to make a fanpage on Facebook!

^{I first stumbled upon your shop Sypria, but noticed you have a few more shops on Etsy as well. Can you tell us a little bit about those?}

I have CleanSypria which is where I sell all of my Dryer Balls. They’re made from 100% wool and instead of using a conventional dryer sheet which contains chemicals and animal by-products you use these to soften your clothes and pull the moisture out to reduce the drying time - thus saving you money through your electric bill and having to buy those awful dryer sheets all the time!

^{I then have GardenOfSypria where I sell my more traditional jewelry which is inspired from being out in my garden and out in nature in general.}

FeltSypria which has my jewelry made from felt (which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled bottles) as an eco-friendly alternative option for the fashionable at heart!

^{Can you remember a favorite childhood craft project?}

I absolutely LOVED making friendship bracelets. I think I made more bracelets than I have ever had friends! I remember spending time at my Grandmothers up in the Ozark mountains for the summer and just cranking them out. My mother would pack my rainbow of DMC floss and I’d come back just beaming with pride at all the little bracelets I had made.

^{What have you found to be the most fun, and the most difficult aspects of running a creative business?}

The most fun aspect would have to be just making whatever your little heart fancies. It is the most rewarding, therapeutic and empowering thing when you turn a little idea in your head into a simple thing that someone else can treasure for the rest of their lives - and get paid for it! My wife and I bought a house almost a year ago and it’s so thrilling to think that the things that I make are paying for part of this house. It really makes you think harder about how you live your life and why so many of us choose to continue with the rat race. The most difficult? You have to be the voice of EVERYTHING! You’ve got to be the receptionist, human resources, accountant, janitor, buyer, advertising department, auditor, shipping and receiver, president, CEO and all of the above! It can really be discouraging if you let yourself become too behind.

^{And finally, you are certainly doing things right to get to where you are with your business! Any advice you’d give to others who dream of turning their creative passion into a full time opportunity?}

Don’t stop! There are so many factors into why things sell and why things don’t sell. You just have to be on top of things and research, research, research! Take wonderful pictures and be PROUD of what you do. If you’re just trying to make things like what everyone else is making, you’re not contributing to the creative world, you’re just muddling it up and setting yourself up for a disappointing downfall. Be unique and it will all eventually fall into place!

^{(interview has been edited)}

Inspiration: Chocolate Packaging

2010-09-09T12:24:00.005-04:00

I love chocolate, but almost as much as the chocolate itself, I love the packaging. Packaging for organic and natural chocolate always seems so thoughtful. We just got a new health food store in the area, and to my delight there are TWO big end-caps filled with organic and natural chocolate.

I selected a few brands that I though had some really nice packaging. Some have strong typography based designs, some incorporate drawing and painting for a real 'packaging as art' feel, and others use pale background texture making the packaging match the delicate quality of its contents.

Have fun looking at these photos—there were many more varieties there, so I'm sure I'll post new ones at some point. And take notice of the flavors, some are pretty crazy. Among the favorites between my friends and I were Dark Chocolate Quinoa and Lavender Blueberry. The least favorite... Coconut Curry.

Tuesday Tutorial: Eco-friendly Autumn Wreath

2010-09-07T09:39:00.007-04:00

I’ll admit, I’m a little early with my autumn excitement, but the moment it gets even a little cool I automatically shift into gear wearing sweaters and drinking hot apple cider!

If you can’t wait to start getting your place looking festive for autumn, what better way to start than a welcoming wreath at the door (and an eco-friendly one at that)!

These flowers can take a long time if you decide to make a lot of them, so it’s the perfect project to slowly chip away at while winding down at night or something. With any luck you’ll be done before autumn ends!

Materials:

Wreath form (not pictured), or branches to make your own

Old magazines

Scissors

Needle & thread

Buttons

Glue gun with glue sticks

Ribbon (optional)

Instructions:

1. Choose a color theme and pull those pages from your magazines. I chose pretty traditional warm and neutral autumn colors, but you have endless possibilities! You can choose to be inspired by fashion trends for fall, warm cream colors that can transition from autumn to winter, etc.

2. Cut circles in varying sizes out of the pages you pulled. My circles ranged 1”–4” in diameter. Experiment with different edges on your circles; try things like points and flower petal shapes. Each circle will make one flower, the number you need depends on how much of your wreath you want covered. I used over 50 to really cover most of the wreath, but you can choose to use them more sparingly.

3. Pinch and fold the center of each circle to form a flower—there is no right or wrong way to do this, just trial and error until you get the shapes you want.

4. Sew a button to the center of each flower. This is where you can fiddle with the shape to be sure the flower stays how you want it. Remember this is paper not fabric, so it will start to get fragile if you poke too many holes, you really only need to sew the button 2–4 times.

5. Glue your flowers to the wreath form. Use a small amount of glue on the back of each flower. You can cover the entire wreath, spread the flowers sparingly throughout, or do a more asymmetric layout like I did.

6. Tie a ribbon to the top of your wreath for hanging. This is optional; you can always just hang the wreath itself right on a nail or hook.

So have fun and start crafting! As always, post any questions in the comments, along with links to photos if you do the project yourself!

Etsy Treasury: Eclectic Autumn

2010-09-05T15:38:00.004-04:00

I curated this treasury in honor of my favorite season, autumn!

The heat waves are finally past and its about time to start drinking hot apple cider... celebrate by searching through Etsy's never-ending collections of warm and comforting handcrafted items for autumn!

Inspiration: Lights in the Night

2010-09-02T09:41:00.008-04:00

A huge part of what attracts me to NYC, and cities in general, is the late night landscape. Its surreal to be in a place where it feels as light out at 3am as it does at 3pm.

I'm calling this week's inspiration "Lights in the Night". Something about the illuminated out-of-focus quality creates magical moments & colors that don't exist in the real world.

These abstract shots are also the easiest style to achieve for an amateur photographer. Just go wave your camera around in the city, bar, or full moon light to get some inspiration of your own!

campfires, AZ & MA:

neon signage, UT:

hookah bar, RI:

Carter & Steven's Farm grill night, MA:

misc lighting:

stage lighting, NY & CT:

Tuesday Tutorial: Small Pouch

2010-08-31T16:31:00.009-04:00

I'm excited about where my blog is going, I have a variety of steady post categories cropping up—Crafter Profiles, Thursday Inspiration, and now Tuesday Tutorials!

Sometimes I like to make a quick nonsense project for myself or just as an experiment. Now on Tuesdays, I'll share tutorials on those projects here.

Below are the steps to make the small pouch bag pictured above. This pouch took me a couple hours one evening, so its a great quick project when you have a little free time or want to update your accessories wardrobe for the coming season.

You should know this is my first time even attempting to provide a tutorial for one of my projects... usually I just make the project from scratch and don't concentrate on creating clear and understandable instructions. So if this first tutorial seems a bit rough, be patient and they will get better as the weeks go on!

Materials:

Scrap Paper (for patterns)

Fabric - one type for the outside and another for the lining

Scissors

Marker or Pencil

Pins

Thread

Sewing Machine (or a needle for hand sewing)

Instructions:

1. Measure & cut your patterns.

2. Fold your fabric in half, pin your patterns with the straight side along the fold and cut your fabric. Repeat this step for the lining. In this tutorial the outside fabric is striped and the lining is yellow.

3. Stack your outside and lining fabric inside out (front sides facing each other). Pin the top parts as I've shown below, about .25" from the edge. Sew where you have pinned (the bottom part will get sewn later.

4. Turn the sewn pieces right side out.

5. Stack both pieces inside out (with the outside fabrics facing each other). Pin the bottom which hasn't been sewn yet, about .25" from the edge. Sew where you have pinned.

6. Turn right side out and you have your basic pouch! Now its time to embellish however you choose—add a strap with extra fabric or ribbon, add a closure such as a snap, button or velcro, and add extras like tassels or patches.

In the comments section below please post links to photos of your bag once you try the project for yourself, along with any questions or tips!

Inspiration: Flower Garden

2010-08-26T12:24:00.005-04:00

The end of the week is upon us and you may be running out of creative steam. In that case, here is some colorful inspiration to keep you going!

Coffee Sleeve Experiment

2010-08-23T12:05:00.005-04:00

So a week or so ago I wanted to start a quick project that was just for me, something small that I could overwork and just have fun with. The result: this coffee sleeve. I got very little done at first, until last night when I couldn't sleep so I stayed up to finish it! Old buttons and flea market fabric helped to achieve the purposeful messy and eclectic look.

Designosaurus

New Blog

Its Button Time

Experimenting with Linocut Save the Dates

Wedding Invitation Research

Music Night Poster Design

Custom TOMS for Sale

Checkbox Greeting cards

Upcycle Magazine Feature

More Alphabet Posters!

Scrap Fabric Streamer Tutorial

Nyack Bee Green Fair 2011

The Art of ReUse Contest

Customized TOMS for Your Business

One Day Without Shoes Wrap-Up

New Listings on Etsy

Customized Shoes: Practice Round

Supplies for Sale with Free Shipping!

One Day Without Shoes

Baby Shower Invitations

The Sketchbook Project 2011: Opening Reception

Inspiration: Vintage Greeting Cards

The Sketchbook Project 2011

Daily Drawing #4

Daily Drawing #3

Daily Drawing #2

Daily Drawing #1

Cold Weekend for a Photo Shoot

DIY Holiday Decorating Tutorials

Lasts Year's Holiday Cards are This Year's Gift Tags!

Holiday Cards - Free Gift

Designosaurus Earrings in Rockland Magazine!

Poster Design: Westchester Symphonic Winds

Transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving

Inspiration: DIY Halloween Party!

Customized TOMS Shoes at the Nyack Street Fair

Inspiration: Petroglyphs

Crafter Profile: Additions

Inspiration: No Carve Pumpkins

Tuesday Tutorial: Halloween Plant Markers

Crafter Profile: Jennifer of Isette

Inspiration: Community Projects

Introducing triSERIFtops

Inspiration: Betsey Johnson

Tuesday Tutorial: Button Hair Pins

Crafter Profile: Sypria

Inspiration: Chocolate Packaging

Tuesday Tutorial: Eco-friendly Autumn Wreath

Etsy Treasury: Eclectic Autumn

Inspiration: Lights in the Night

Tuesday Tutorial: Small Pouch

Inspiration: Flower Garden

Coffee Sleeve Experiment