Showing posts with label etsy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label etsy. Show all posts

Friday, November 23, 2012

Black Friday Sale - 25% off!

Get organized for the holidays this Black Friday with Designing Life's printables!  Today and today only get 25% off of all the printables in my Etsy Shop!  Check out the amazing designs at:
 

www.designinglife.com

 


 

These are a few examples of the printable designs that are offered in my shop!
 
 
 
Thank you for stopping by my blog today!  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
 
Brooke
 
Connect with me on:
 

 


 


 


 


 


 

 
I'll add you back as soon as soon as I can!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Organizing Your Home Organization Notebook

Current Events

My last post had our family moving to Italy and relayed my prospect of looking about Italy to find Murano glass beads.  Let's say I haven't forgotten, but I haven't found any stores even remotely like a craft store here.  No earring wire, no beads, and no supplies . . . so for now I'll order supplies from online craft stores and keep my eyes open for the Murano beads, etc.

Designing Pages

In the meantime, I have found a wonderful diversion.  I desperately want to utilize a home organization binder (you may have heard them refered to as household management notebooks) and so I have started designing the PDF printable pages for my binder!  I have a seven page Master Index of PDF printable pages that I will eventually design and I have already designed quite a few of these and already have them in my Etsy Shop.  Why keep them to myself? 

Organizing My Notebook!

The Home Organization Notebook printables are for sale in my Etsy Shop but I have decided to share my Master Index.  This is my personal plan for my personal Home Organization Notebook.  Granted I have a few ideas for a school printables and we aren't quite there yet.  I have broken the types of organizational printables into dividers, then taken a few of the dividers and broken them into sections for easy access.  Feel free to utilize my Home Orgnization Notebook Master Index to plan out your own Home Organization Notebook.  While you can find may printables online, feel free to check out my shop http://www.designinglife.etsy.com/ to find the printables mentioned on this Master Index.  I'm designing more printables in this list each day, so keep checking back and feel free to make custom requests!

The Home Organization Notebook Master Index is seven pages.  I am providing JPEG pictures in this post.  If you are interested in getting the PDF of all seven pages please e-mail me at my shop, thanks!

 

 


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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

How to Arrange Picture Displays on a Wall: Six Stylish Designs

I hope you enjoy these six frame arrangements that have been prepared especially for my blog readers!  Remember if you want your own custom Room E-design which includes a frame arrangement design, check out my Etsy Shop Designing Life for more details!

Seven 4 x 6 frames with connecting ribbon

One 4 x 6 frame, two 5 x7 frames, and one 8 x 10 frame

Four 4 x 6 frames and one 8 by 10 frame

Three 4 x 6 frames, two 5 x 7 frames, and one 8 x 10 frame

Three 4 x 6 frames and two 8 x 10 frames

Four 4 x 6 frames and two 5 x 7 frames

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Boho Jewelry - Wordless Wednesday

Featuring my newest line of Etsy products - Boho Leather Jewelry

They will be loaded on Etsy soon, if you want first dibs please comment below and I will make them a custom order.
Boho Leather Feather Earrings

Black and Red Leather Feather Earrings


Boho Diamond Earrings

I Heart Leather Earrings

Hippie Peace and Love Earrings

Want to make one of these pairs of earrings yours?  Comment below for a custom Etsy listing.

I'm including a Blog Link Up - Blog Hop in today's post!  I'm excited to visit your blogs, so please link below!



Friday, March 2, 2012

My Current Project - Crayon Art

I love trying out new things.  Today, I tried out two new craft projects.  One will be revealed at a later date . . . dum dum dum.  The other is inspired by wonderful crayon artists.  No, I am not talking about the 2-4 year old crayon artists that steal our hearts away, I mean experienced crayon playing adults!

Here are my favorite examples of crayon art:

Melted Umbrella Crayon Art by lightandspoon
Item Name: Melted Umbrella Crayon Art

Etsy Shop: Light and Spoon

First, I am in love with LightandSpoon's crayon art canvas that includes a figure of a couple in the rain.  The canvas only has the crayon drippings rather than the tacky crayon coverings making this canvas classy enough for any room.

Monogrammed Circle Crayon Art by QueenCityConceptions
Item Name: Monogrammed Circle Crayon Art

Etsy Shop: Queen City Conceptions

I love this crayon art especially for a children's room.  It's imaginative and quite frankly . . . it's psychedelic!  This canvas definitely reminds me of tie die and with the finishing touch of a monogram, it is styling!












Auras Crayon Art by Woodfairyamber
Item Name: Auras Crayon Art

Etsy Shop: Wood Fairy Amber

The Etsy artisan Woodfairyamber chooses the brightest colors and the most beautiful designs to cover her canvas.  The effect is breathtaking.  This is only one of her unique designs.  Be sure to check out her shop for other excellent items!






My Attempt at Crayon Art
My Experiment . . . Gone Wrong!

To express how amazing the designs above are in the realm of crayon art, I will share with you my attempt at Crayon Art.  The canvas to the left side of the screen is my "crayon art" or perhaps my crayon not so much art.  I utilized my son's broken and injured crayons, then glued them to the top of the canvas.  After this, I pulled out my hair dryer and began to let the heat have its fun.  While the process was fun, my finished product is more like an expression of a room after a party is finished.  Well!  Maybe next time!!!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

My New Products!

As a designer, I have the challenge to learn a client's tastes, likes, and dislikes and help them to decorate their home according to what works best for them and what will bring them the most enjoyment.  However, my own taste and style often differs greatly from that of each client.  My job with my clients is to make their house their style, but in my own home and life I get to do my own thing and have my own style.

My latest creations for my Etsy shop are just that, my own style.  Personally, I'm eclectic, unusual, out of the box, bright, spontaneous, and passionate.  My artwork tends to reflect those traits.  Let me introduce you to my newest Etsy products.

abstract "clip art" clip board

During my college days, I had a brown clip board that screamed "Boring!" and never inspired me to write more than a couple words.  For me, creativity is often spawned from unbearable moments of boredom.  I began to doodle on my clip board, then I began to splot the clip board with white out, after that I tortured it with a sharpie.  Finally, when I got back to my dorm I pulled out the heavy artillery.  I used various hues of paint and all of the sudden my clip board was anything but boring.  I had created an inspirational work of art that happened to be utilized as a clip board.  These clip boards pictured on the right are the first three reinterpretations of my original clip board.  I hope one of them brings you as much inspiration in your writing as my college clip board brought me.

Clip Board 1: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88809335/clip-art-clipboard-functional-art-work


This clip board is definitely a good choice for a guy.  It's a mixture of sci-fi and mystery with the green, silver, black, and white hues.

Clip Board 2: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88810125/clip-art-clipboard-functional-art-work

Whether you work in education or simply love bright and beautiful colors, this clip board portrays patterns and colors to the inth degree.  Red on white, silver on blue, each stripe has a different pattern to offer.

Clip Board 3:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/88810945/clip-art-clipboard-functional-art-work












First Time OOAK Painting - Vinyl Record Art

recycled record art work

The other recent painted work of art that I have recently completed is my "The First Time" vinyl record acrylic painting.  I thought it tremendously appropriate to choose the 45 record labeled "The First Time" for my first attempt at painting one of the vinyl records.  I'm simply corny like that.  It is also available for sale on my Etsy Shop.  Let me know if you would like a custom painted 45 records.  I have 198 records still left in my 45 record collection, so I'm sure I'll be able to fulfill your request!

First Time Record Art:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/88812944/first-time-ooak-original-painting-vinyl

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Featured and Featuring

Designing Life has been featured on Heart Handmade's site today: http://www.hearthandmadeblog.com/home-decor/

I am very thankful for sites like Heart Handmade that seek to express the importance of buying from real people making real handmade items, whether digital designs or crafts.  This Christmas Season I am seeking to buy more goods directly from the source.  Sure, I am still visiting Target and checking out Amazon, but I am also buying more meaningful, personal gifts from Etsy.

Fine Silver Snowflake Pendant
Etsy Shop: Wild Dog Studio
jewelry

Etsy has some of the best handcrafted jewelry for sale at very affordable prices.  At times I find myself standing at a department store looking at the racks and racks of cheap jewelry just itching to find the "perfect" piece, but I'm realizing that it is much better to depend on the craftmanship and detail of Etsy sellers rather than giving my business to large retailers who care nothing about whether their jewelry will last more than a week.  If I do have a problem, Etsy sellers are more than helpful to work out a solution.  Most times, there are no problems at all because the Etsy jewelry makers take pride in their work.  I choose to trust in a craftsman (or woman!) not a mass retailer.



Adventure at Sea: Hand Painted Purse
Etsy Shop: Louche Lab


purses

I have a policy.  I want to put more money into my purse than what I spend on the purse.  This makes me a stingy purse purchaser.  In my opinon, Coach and Prada can keep their over priced "corvette" purses!  Thus Etsy is the ideal place to find affordable, stylish purses!  I fully expect that some of the Etsy sellers will progress to fashion designer stardom due to their unique and breathtaking designs.  Until then, I am more than happy to fund their passions by buying their wonderful purse creations.  Consider buying a Etsy purse as a Christmas gift this Holiday season.





 
Jellyfish Acrylic Painting
Etsy Shop: Henna Swirls

artwork

Personally, I feel that artwork is one of the most precious gifts that can be given.  That is, real art.  A random print from Kohls or from TJMaxx really doesn't count.  What time did the mass retailer spend preparing the piece?  Did they pour their heart into making the machines pump out copy after copy?  No way!  Etsy artisans pour out thier time and their hearts into each piece of artwork.  Even prints are an expression of dedication in cropping, matting, and framing.  My husband bought me a wonderful teapot print from The Joy of Color who is all the way in Israel as well as an original painting by Mad Art . . . I ADORE them both.  Want to give a fantastic Christmas gift?  Buy a masterpiece for your loved one!






These products are only a few examples of the Etsy shops wares, just imagine what you can find to cross another person off your Christmas list!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Friday Furniture Feature: Name Design Studio


Furniture Maker: Jo Supara Tarakci
Location:  Istanbul, Turkey
Specialty: Upcycled and reupholstered antique and vintage furniture and decor with a patchwork flair


Friday Furniture Feature: Name Design Studio


Though beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, a person would have to be blind to not recognize the timeless elegance of Name Design Studio's patchwork furniture pieces.  Located in Istanbul, Turkey, Name Design Studio is headed up by Jo Supara Tarakci an interior architect.  Though established in 2010, her Etsy shop began earlier this year.  For those who discover her unique wares, their world will always have the potential to be a more colorful place.

The blue and white porcelain patchwork armchair stands out due to its bold contrast of colors.  The blue and white colors are reminiscent of traditional porcelain dinnerware.  This piece would not only make a statement in the living room of any home, but it would be a family heirloom for years to come!


Pink Green Armchair

Another stunning aspect of Jo Supara Tarakci's patchwork pieces is the choice of color.  In the pink green armchair, the rose hues are paired with meadow green, the accent colors include yellow, white, and taupe.  This shop is one of the best examples of an artisan that values attention to detail and the attention has paid off.

Unique Upholstery by Jo Supara Tarakci


In the world of upholstery, the tattered and worn is often replaced with new and unique patterns.  Most chairs are considered special to be graced with one unique and desirable pattern.  The upholstery products in Name Design Studio are perfectly balanced with an array of fancy fabrics and stunning designs.  If you are looking to bring a bit of spice to a corner or completely illuminate a room with a new sofa, consider purchasing a patchwork piece from Name Design Studio off of Etsy.com.



Monday, August 29, 2011

E-Design In A Nutshell

Since opening up my Etsy shop with E-design products, many potential clients, friends, and family have asked me to explain exactly what E-design entails.  In order to take the guesswork out of the concept, today's blog will explain what is involved in a room e-design.  In order to do this, I will explain the process that I used to create my recent client's Craft Room/ Guest Room E-design.

Existing Floor Plan
The Need
My client has a small bedroom in her house that she wishes to use as a guest room and a craft room.  Many people wish to have a room where they can house guests as well as routinely use as a craft room or office.  With the limited space, she had felt limited as to her options and decided that an e-design could help to give her ideas, product choices, and a layout that she had not previously considered.
The Room
The room has one double window, one closet, one entry way, a bed, an existing set of drawers, and an existing desk.  The floor is carpet and the walls are stark white.  The windows are dressed with blinds, but have no draperies.  In essence, the room is pretty must a blank slate with tons of craft room potential!

The E-design Interview
After a client purchases an E-design, they are sent an E-design Interview that helps me to understand my client's needs, wants, color preferences, and personal style.  No design should represent the designer, but instead it should be representative of the client.  From the words and expressed needs of the client within the E-design Interview, I am able to understand how to help them best and can provide them with an E-design that helps to solve their design problems with feasible solutions.


Color Selection

The Selection Process
After I have a full understanding of the room, the client's needs, and the client's personal home style, I begin the selection process.  Typically, I begin with colors.  I choose often choose two main colors and up to two accent colors.  My client loves teal, turquoise, and a fresh look.  So I chose the color Spa from Sherwin Williams, which is a light teal that is not overwhelming, and I also chose white to correspond with this color.  My suggestion was to use the white to create horizontal lines that would serve to make the room feel larger and taller.  The main accent colors were brown and light beige, which were mostly emphasized in the accessories.


Furniture and Accessory Selection

After choosing the color scheme, I began to consider the furniture and accessories that would best suit her room.  I choose items that will help with organization, storage, and add a specific style to the room.  I found tall inexpensive bookshelves that would be able to house much of her crafting supplies and I also located decorative fabric bins that would help her to organize her crafting supplies on those shelves.  To offer her more space to work on her craft projects, I found an adjustable folding table.  Due to the small space, she could have her table set up while working on projects, but hide the table under the bed when hosting guests.

Her closet has previously been underutilized for storage.  The solution was to add hanging shelves for fabric swatches as well as utilizing pants hangers for larger fabric pieces.  This allows her to save floor space while having visual access to all of her fabric.

One of the best and most exciting proposals I made through the E-design was to use a white pegboard for craft organization.  By utilizing pictures found on other crafter's websites, I was able to help my client see how useful and beneficial this concept could be for her craft room.  The concepts provided through the E-design are not always my own created concepts, but rather I find ideas that will work for my client's space.
New Floor Plan


Floor Plan
I take the measurements provided to me through the E-design Interview and draw out a floor plan.  This helps me to visualize the clients room.  Often, my clients will provide me with pictures as well.  The floor plan will then be rearranged for the best efficiency for the client's needs.  With the craft room, I decided to maximize the wall space by moving the bed into the center of the room.  While this may appear to hinder the ease of movement, the extra wall space is much more importance for my client than worrying about the time it will take to move around the bed.  In addition, the new floor plan allows space for the folding table and her ironing board while she works on projects.

E-design Presentation
After compiling all of the furniture and accessory selections, paint colors, concept ideas, and floor plans, I put together a custom E-design Presentation saved as an Adobe file.  The client is then able to flip through her E-design and see the selected furniture and accessories, the paint colors, floor plans, and the concept ideas at her own convenience.  In addition, I provide each client with a shopping list saved as an Excel file so the client can go directly to the websites of the retailers who carry the furniture and accessories featured in the E-design Presentation.  Simple, fast, and easy!

Below are a few more examples from this clients Craft Room/Guest room E-design.



Friday, August 26, 2011

Friday Furniture Feature: Matthew Holdren Woodworking



Furniture Maker: Matthew Holdren
Location:  New Orleans, Louisiana
Specialty: Furniture and lighting made from reclaimed material salvaged from 100+ year old abandoned New Orleans homes

The French Quarter Bed

I found Matthew Holdren’s Etsy shop while browsing for unique local furniture.  His products are distinctive in that they are made from reclaimed material from old New Orleans homes.  The reuse of these materials is fantastic because instead of them being lost forever, they are being fashioned into furniture and lighting pieces that hold a part of the heritage of the New Orleans area.

The first piece that struck me as a great find was the French Quarter bed.  If you have ever been to New Orleans, then you know that intricate iron work laces the balconies of the French Quarter.  The French Quarter Bed has a headboard that is made up of some of this same ironwork.  This bed would make a statement in any room with the rich wood framing to the ornate ironwork.

Small Under Window Bookcase

I love small bookcases!  This being said, Matthew Holdren’s Etsy shop has the perfect size bookcase to go under a window.  The small bookcase made of reclaimed pine and has a stylishly rustic look.  This piece would be perfect in a dining room or kitchen for holding cookbooks or in a living room as a wonderful accent bookshelf.

Be sure to check out Matthew Holdren Woodworking’s Portfolio to see his custom projects.  Some other notable items from the portfolio are farm tables, lighting, and bathroom cabinetry.  Whether you are right next door to Louisiana or miles away, you can have a piece of New Orleans in your own home.  I hope you will fall in love with these awesome pieces of furniture as much as I have!

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