DIY: Botanical Specimens & Shadowboxes

If you're looking for a quick and fun craft project for this week I suggest checking out design*sponge for their new DIY pressed botanical specimens tutorial. If I weren't leaving for Britain this week I would definitely get into it but as it is, I'll have to wait til I'm back at the end of the month :(

Let me know if you create anything special of your own this week!

Also, if you're in the mood for a more time consuming or stimulating craft, you might check out this DIY shadowbox project with Moomah also found on design*sponge

For Grassroots Creativity

Yay! New N.E.E.T magazine available for everyone's viewing pleasure. It seems so rare when it's updated that each issue is just that much more special. Get to it!

Greenwich Decor Amour

I recently stumbled upon this Design*Sponge (click on link to see detail and more pics) sneak peak into the home of Salvini-Swanson, co-creater of Greenwich Letterpress. I'm absolutely taken with the crafty design of this place and all of the unique found pieces that are incorporated into it's eclectic style. I've definitely come away with quite a few tips and ideas and I hope that by posting this so will you! Enjoy my dearest readers!

My Ever Expanding Etsy Cart: Enchanted Theme

Moonelighte: Midnight Fantasyland Druzy Strand $32

Whichgoose: Cocoon comb (when i get married I'll definitely be buying one of her crowns)

Beasley's Wonders: Egyptian Empress Circlet $24.99

Blue Planet Creations: Skeleton Key Necklace $14.95

The Honeycomb: Woodland Headband $28

DIY: Faux Feather Wreath

I want to start on making one of these gorgeous Faux Feather Wreaths IMMEDIATELY! How fantastic to have hanging on my door? Although I probably should laminate it as I do live in rainy Seattle. 

Visit the above link to the Etsy tutorial and make sure to check out Tiny Bazaar for a variety of feather cut outs. Plus I love the idea for using them as gift wrap decor like below!

Rosie O'Donnell's Etsy Shop???

What the...??? Did you all know that Rosie O'Donnell has an Etsy shop? Cause I just found out...and I'm kind of REALLY weirded out by it. Especially since in all her product photos she's lurking in the background super creepy. 

Her crafts are definitely not typical of what I would expect from her but some are kinda neat and the profits do go to her charity...but still Rosie, don't pretend you're some indie craft artist who's in her 20's and spells "you" as "u" and uses no punctuation. Please? It's off putting. 

And that's the end of my rant of the day...thank you!

DIY: Cord Crafts

Tired of looking at the same old heap of cords that comes with basically everything electronic? Frustrated with how similar they all look? Here's some great suggestions for creating your own decorative phone chargers and electrical cords! So pretty! Plus although seemingly time consuming it looks like the steps for creating your own would be relatively simple. 

Leafy charger cord

Big beaded cord

Via Free People

N.E.E.T March '09 Issue

Yay so happy that N.E.E.T online magazine has just put out a new issue for March '09! The last one was put out in December and since then I've been growing a little impatient to be honest. But now all that is behind me...check out the newest issue here!

If you're not yet familiar with N.E.E.T magazine, it's a independent virtual collection of all the best new Etsy finds, vintage clothing shops, and odds and ends, plus every month the fashion spreads just get better and better in my opinion. My experience with N.E.E.T is that I NEVER go away without finding at least 10 new crafters to watch and drooling over at least a dozen vintage dresses I'd love to own. And the best part is that whenever you seen something you like, just click on the link and it will open in a new page so you can shop and browse the mag at the same time! So go go go right now and you'll be so happy you did. 

Laura Normindin: Anthology of Internal Exploits

Wow I am so in love with Laura Normindin's book art called the Anthology of Internal Exploits and Internal Joys! It's just perfect. Laura created this wonderful hand bound book with treated Japanese paper in 2003. I wish that I could have an opportunity to look at it in person I want to know what the type says! Don't you?

By the way...I couldn't choose between all the beautiful pages so I've decided just go ahead and display them all!

Oh and p.s. she is also the artist behind Sufjan Steven's Michigan album art!

Etsy Find: Moorea Seal Designs

This week my friend Moorea's Etsy shop SEA.L Designs just opened! Things are moving soooo fast in her shop I'm so happy for her. But I also was going to be pissed if the necklace I wanted was bought before I got to it. 

Luckily, it was still there last night so I was able to buy this gorgeous Sparrow Feather Necklace! On a vintage gold chain and with a hand painted design by Moorea, it's a great steal at only $20. 

So get to it before everything is gone! 

Joetta Maue: More Artsy Embroidary

I love Joetta Maue's collection of embroidery hoops and sarcastic stitches. Apparently she's a huge fan of different textiles especially white linens and handkerchiefs, she makes everything feel so witty and fresh! I'm suddenly inspired to go break out my hoop and thread ugh I wish I weren't at work!

Check out more of Joetta's work on her flickr account here.

Lisa Dahl: Home Sweet Home

This paintings by Lisa Dahl are painted with acrylic over bed sheets and a little touch of embroidery. Her composition is just beautiful and I love the arts and crafts sort of feel. Perfectly simple and homey. 

found via dear ada

Etsy Find: Valentine's Day Gifties

Are you all ready for Valentine's day? Even if you don't have a someone special this year, these Etsy finds are great self-gifting too! 

Hello Valentine Paper Doll: Wool and Water

Papercut Print: Elsita

Anatomical Heart Lightbox: Munstre

Even Your Farts Are Cute: The Beautiful Project

Personalized Couple Cross Stitch Pattern: And Wabi-sabi

Boyfriend Gift Set: boygirlparty

Barbican Tea Cup: Esther Coombs

Love Heart Wooden Blocks: Sleep Dream Play

Fringe Necklace: I Heart Norwegian Wood

A Call To The Craft Of Embroidary

Sublime Stitching "Forest Friends"

Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray

"Naive Embroidery" via WGSN

Etsy Find: Cabinet of Curiosities Etsy Team

Oh la la look what I found! The Cabinet of Curiosities Etsy Team! 

Check out some of the obscurities I found while browsing through the member shops...

Rebecca Mitten- a spoon full of blue crab and seashells

Dear Dodo- dodo day

Fanciful Device- amber antidote

Liza Corbett- the confidence woman

Mary Toft- black crow headband

Poodle Breath- sinking fairy tale

Sarah Ogren- the tree sisters

The Runny Bunny- sarah deer with the flower crown