i must create

copycat

2012-02-11T18:12:00.006-05:00

I copied my favorite salad from Panzanella in Carrboro... YUM.

Romain with Caesar dressing, goat cheese, tomatoes, bacon, chick peas, roasted eggplant & onions. Pita and hummus on the side, and nice red wine.

let the games begin!

2012-01-15T13:15:00.005-05:00

Here we go... we are ACTUALLY going to do this stuff.

1. This weekend we got wood floor samples.

2. This weekend we also got quotes from 2 painters for scraping our 17 foot popcorn ceiling, and painting that same room. (more quotes coming later this week)

I will continue to update as we embark on our first major home project!! I am excited, anxious, nervous, and I am going to try and remain calm and not take out all of my stress and frustration on David.

Next step for this week is to clean up the other rooms so we have a place to move the furniture while the living room becomes a mess. I will take 'before' pictures, too.

new year plans

2012-01-02T21:35:00.004-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOWELL & LOUISE!!

Two years ago today, we opened our etsy shop. It was a little idea to keep the creative juices flowing... kind of like this blog is for me. Something to provide accountability for us to keep thinking/designing/creating.

We definitely neglected the shop in order to focus on planning a wedding, and taking some pretty awesome trips in 2011. This year, I aim to get back on track. There will be plenty more sewing projects and I intend to keep the shop more updated and looking spiffy.

Apart from Lowell & Louise, we have a LOT of house projects planned for 2012.

*scrape popcorn ceilings

*paint great room

*wood floors on first floor

*back yard detached studio/office

I have already started a wall treatment for the upstairs vanity, and I have several other small interior decorating projects coming up soon. 2012 is off to a great and creative start!

rings

2011-12-31T10:31:00.008-05:00

wedding DIY - wedding bling

My engagement ring was a collaboration between David and JewelSmith. He knew I would like something unique. I love it. And I know that nobody else will have anything like it.

When choosing our wedding bands, I thought I wanted something simple, easy, and "off the rack." But the little creative bug wouldn't let me just PICK something, I had to have a say. So we went back to JewelSmith and designed a wedding band to coordinate with my engagement ring. I really love that they "go" and not "match." The tiny flower below the diamond is the same flower used as a pattern on the wedding band.

For David's band, he picked something we found on etsy (a seller in California). I also picked something from etsy when choosing jewelry for the big day (a seller from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK). Supporting DIY-ers around the world!

cookies

2011-12-29T06:55:00.004-05:00

We went to a holiday party at Tamara's house earlier this month. She made some delicious chocolate sugar cookies with little thumbprints of jam on top. I tried making them... and it was less successful. Also, I set some parchment paper on fire in the oven. oops!

I found a different recipe for "hot chocolate cookies" and decided not to give up on baking just yet. These turned out VERY well. The base/dough recipe was similar, but these had more chocolate. Plus, a toasted marshmallow. And more chocolate. The recipe made 5 dozen, so David's coworkers got some, my coworkers got some, and we took some to another holiday party. They were a hit!

quickie- part 2

2011-12-18T16:38:00.005-05:00

And by "quickie" I mean this one took a LOT longer than the first one. First of all, I wanted pockets. I used a dress I already had as an example, and traced the pockets. No biggie. I had everything all lined up and ready to go, and sewed the best seam ever... to realize then that I sewed the pocket on inside out. Doh! I got good use out of the seam ripper, and everything turned out fine. The second side I was sure to attach in the correct direction. I love the fallish color and pattern. Although I am sure I will be rocking this all year round with boots & tights, or flats or sandals.

This is the same fabric I used when making Mary's nesting bowls. More bowls to come, and I am working on a schmancy beaded boudoir pillow!

textiles

2011-12-17T08:51:00.009-05:00

We used some of our Crate & Barrel wedding gift cards to buy ALL NEW window dressings!

For the living room windows:

For the office/craft room windows:

We also got this fabulous heavy & cozy throw using a fab.com giftcard from the Elders:

The interior is starting to come together. In 2012, we plan on having the living room popcorn scraped & painted. Then we are going to install wood floors.

My goal is NOT to panic during the process.

*images via Crate & Barrel and Happy Habitat

fabric bowls

2011-12-03T10:51:00.005-05:00

Here is another project from Sewing in a Straight Line: fabric nesting bowls!

I made these for Mary for her birthday. I think they are perfect for holding pins/brooches or other chunky jewelry right on top of the dresser. The bigger size could be good for keys & things right inside the front door.

pop tarts

2011-11-18T20:06:00.009-05:00

I found this cookie-cutter/mold thingy at Williams-Sonoma. We had some money left on a giftcard, and this little purchase helped us use it all up.

I followed the dough recipe from the box. I filled some tarts with Nutella, and the others with strawberry jam. HOLY COW these are good. Bigger than a store-bought pop tart, and soo so much tastier. I barely finished one for breakfast. It was perfect with coffee. I only used half of the dough so far, so I will be making them again on Sunday to have my treats set up for the mornings of the workweek.

favors

2011-11-15T22:25:00.004-05:00

Wedding DIY - favors

The container store had plenty of choices for boxes in several colors and patterns. However, they ran 50 cents to one dollar each. That can really add up when you are making over 100 of these things. So, I got the cheapies on sale at Michael's, with a coupon. They ended up costing me less than 10 cents each. I hole-punched some of them, and the others I glued on the punched-out pattern.

On the inside, we placed a paper muffin cup which held a chocolate truffle, and a custom designed magnet favor. David and I designed 3 different patterns for the magnets. We used some of the same symbols from our invitations (made by Tamara). We added a cute little C & D on the edge with our wedding date.

ceremony

2011-11-15T22:19:00.010-05:00

Wedding DIY - ceremony

We put together a little slide show for guests to watch while they got seated and ready for the ceremony to begin. We chose old family photos, as well as pictures of us as a couple when we were first falling in love (awww!). We paired this with some of our favorite love songs.

David and I picked our ceremony music as well... Then David chopped it up and mashed it together to make a beautiful instrumental processional.

Together with our super awesome officiant, Erin, we created a ceremony PERFECT for us. This was a fun process. It was so nice to have some creative freedom here. We chose some excerpts from a lovely poem called "I like you" by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. It is really sweet. Read it.

cake towers

2011-11-15T22:09:00.009-05:00

Wedding DIY - cupcake towers

Yeah. This did not go quite as planned.

I wanted to make several cake stands since we ordered mini cupcakes for the wedding reception. I planned on these going with my "colors." Turns out I really didn't pick "colors" for my wedding.

I used a guide from the wedding craft book I got in the spring. (There are a lof of fun ideas in the book, and they all can be done in a non-wedding-y way). I had trouble covering the edges of the support pieces. It was looking a little too arts & craftsy, even for me.

Then, the cake table ordered by the caterers would only fit ONE big tower of a cake stand. So, my multiple cake stands would not fit.

The project was fun to play with, and now I have some fun ribbon with which to decorate holiday gifts. However, I have a surplus of cardboard things just taking up space in the craft room.

Since I did 6 weddings in 2011, I think I am going to give the wedding stuff a rest for now.

invitations

2011-11-15T21:55:00.012-05:00

Wedding DIY - invitations

When we got engaged, I knew we wanted to do something unique for our invitations. Our obvious choice for screen-printer was our friend Tamara. A lot of ideas floated around, and we settled on a subtly nautical theme, in a natural & neutral color palette. We had to bring in our love of maps as well. I found the envelopes online, and Tamara did the rest.

I had the idea to do something funky for the reply... we asked our guests to get their creative juices flowing. These replies serve as a kind of guest book for us. We get to have a keepsake from so many of the special people in our lives, even if they were unable to attend the wedding.

Getting the reply cards back was SO fun for us. Thank you to all of our friends and family members for sending us creative, cute, silly, and colorful responses.

sparkly safari

2011-11-01T17:46:00.003-04:00

Gotta love anything gold and glittery!

We don't really decorate our house for any holidays, so I wanted something this year. David vetoed my sparkly acorn idea for Fall. Sadface. So. I got some cute little animals and sparkled 'em. An elephant and a zebra... not holiday specific, and cute enough to keep out all year round!

Maybe one day we'll branch out from our one pumpkin candy dish for Halloween/Thanksgiving, and one bunny candle for Easter.

we're cookin'

2011-10-14T20:25:00.006-04:00

It is almost autumn time in NC... it is starting to get cooler, and it is darker earlier. This means more time to cozy up and try some new recipes. We got a few new cookbooks as wedding gifts and tried some new things already. These were a HIT! Unfortunately, these things were too delicious and we ate everything right up before I thought to snap some photos. I'll let you use your imagination.

*Lemon Chicken Soup

*GOOD Garlic Bread

*Mediterranean Couscous

*Pretzel Tots with Jalapeno Cheese Dip (Smiths: you will be eating this next sports-watching thing we do at your house)

*Sweet CinnaBundt Breakfast Bake (Heise-Fiore house: you will be eating this Halloween weekend)

*Baked Parmesan & Herbed Eggs

Things I look forward to trying again soon when the weather gets even cooler:

-Chicken & White Bean Chili

-Penne w/ Butternut Squash & Goat Cheese

-SandwHich-inspired grilled sandwiches like the B&B (butternut squash, bacon, brussels sprouts, and good Vermont Cheddar)

-Roasted Sweet Potato & Red Onion over Spinach with salt and lime dressing

Holler if you want any recipes & tips!

2011-10-11T13:26:00.010-04:00

So many lazy evenings are spent perusing the endless possibilities posted on Pinterest.

I made a braided bracelet with nuts from the hardware store:

We tried several recipes (like apple cider cookies with caramel centers) that I have found this way, and I am sure I will find many more! I will also find more clothes, jewelry, home decor, and more to break my little piggy bank. However, the feeling of being inspired and being creative... that's priceless.

I love finding out what my friends like too. It will be so easy to find gifts that fit with their personal and home decorating styles.

beads & braids

2011-09-17T12:25:00.004-04:00

My friend Sabrina found a pretty how-to on Pinterest, and I gave it a shot. I have moved back into a jewelry phase and will be experimenting more with seed beads.

I love white and gold together.

wedding DIY

2011-09-10T15:05:00.003-04:00

I love gettin' crafty! I have a few things left to do before my wedding. Which is 27 days away. I have favors to assemble, postcards to scan, music to compile. Check back here after October 7th for updates on the wedding DIY... the good, the bad, and the awesome.

quickie

2011-08-02T21:40:00.006-04:00

I made a 1-hour skirt! I saw a video online on how to make a simple skirt in just 1 hour, and only sewing in straight lines. I picked up some fabric and whipped this up, lickety split!

I might try a patterned fabric next time, which may hide some of the imperfections of cheap fabric. I definitely did not splurge as this was a first attempt. Also, I may adjust the measurements so that it is not so thick at the top, and not as flared at the bottom. SO easy though. I can see more of these in my future. To wear and to make for gifts.

Check out the instruction video (and a cute DIY blog) at:
www.BrettBara.com

Totally just ordered her book.

time flies

2011-07-16T11:40:00.006-04:00

Where does the time go?? I wanted to craft over the annual "don't drive and just stay at home over Memorial day weekend" weekend. We had to catch up on some things after our big vacation, and then David took a trip to Atlanta and I took a trip to Charleston. And it has been go go go since then. I have been working on a few wedding craft projects, but you'll have to wait until after the big day to see those :-)

I missed my chance to have a good stay at home weekend to make a dress or curtains or pillows. So the sewing is put on hold for the time being while I address invitations, plan music, assemble favors, and plan this big ol' shindig.

Mary and Hannah organized a wedding shower for us. It was FABULOUS. A picnic with tons of food, fun games like bocce and a newlywed quiz, and the cutest potted plants as favors for the guests. David and I were overwhelmed by the joy and support from our friends... and all the generous and thoughtful gifts. We are getting excited about the big day, and can't wait to see all of our friends and relatives!

In the meantime, my list of crafting projects and ideas will keep getting longer.

I would like to make this:

Project instructions here

Paris & Paros

2011-05-24T09:02:00.008-04:00

A fabulous trip to France and Greece. Congratulations to Brett and Maria! And a BIG thank you to our sponsor, Ray Winton.

crafty plans

2011-04-24T12:13:00.008-04:00

One of these days, the map lamps will be up on etsy. For real. Since most of March (and a little bit of April) were spent like this for poor David:
Not much of anything got done in the world of crafting and creating. I spent my time taking care of D and the pooch and the house. Not much else happened.

I got a wedding craft book a while back. Made some tissue paper and dress pattern flowers for the bathroom. Leaving the wedding decor to a REAL florist.

I found a 1954 dress pattern at the Scrap Exchange. This is going to be a summer project.

After a vacation to Paris and Paros, we'll be back on track for wedding planning & crafts and cranking out stuff for etsy. And a trip to IKEA for more house changes (couch, curtains, etc)

spring cleaning

2011-04-06T07:21:00.003-04:00

It is that time of year... the days are getting longer and I am getting a LOT more done in a day. We decided to "redo" the walls of the house. We are taking down all current shelves, artwork, and decor to rearrange it, switch out some things here and there. David has a show coming down this week, so we will have a few more framed photos to add into our already extensive art collection.
Which reminds me... we will be having a friends and family art show at our home! Canvas paintings, photos, giant city view prints will all be for sale, and priced to move. More details on that later.

Stay tuned for before and after photos of the walls!

video

2011-03-27T09:36:00.007-04:00

I like to make things. When I create something, it is usually with my bare hands, and there is a physical & tangible object that results. But, I suppose this can count too! I "made" a website for our wedding. And by "made" I mean that I filled in the boxes with which I was prompted, and uploaded some pictures.

We also made a video as our save the date... the first of many wedding DIY projects. Here is our video!

bloggers

2011-03-08T18:06:00.003-05:00

Awww yeah!
Check out the love for Lowell and Louise on these local blogs!

Triangle Honeymoon
*theres a giveaway here!!

Durham Magazine

Booyah!

I have been busy with wedding planning things, and have been neglecting the etsy shop. We have plenty of new product to show to the world, but we need to find the time to stay at home and get it out there on the interwebs.

crock of carnitas

2011-03-04T20:14:00.006-05:00

My sister is quite the homemaker... she bakes bread from scratch, tries new recipes, and will be (most likely) making a wedding cake for me this fall. Don't get me wrong, this chick has a JOB. And will be pursuing a doctoral degree in just a few months.
Aaanyway. She tied a recipe for homemade pulled pork bbq in a crock pot, and it was delicious. I've used the recipe a couple of times. Last weekend when we were up in DC, she made a crock full of carnitas. The same method, but the ingredients are a little different.

Here is our take for this weekend:

4 pound pork butt
1 white onion, chopped
1 big dried red chili pepper
1 tiny chile de arbol, crunched up
zest of 1 lime
1/2 packet of low-sodium taco seasoning

Throw all that in the crock pot on low, and let it do its thing overnight. In the morning, pull out the bone and the giant red chili. Shred the pork using forks, and add back to the crock pot. Add a small can of green chilis, and let it simmer for another hour or so.

We serve 'em up on soft corn tortillas with diced tomatoes, cilantro, guacatillo sauce, and a wedge of lime.

Guacatillo Sauce

5-6 tomatillos
1 avocado
1/4 cup cilantro
1 tsp lime juice
1 small/medium jalapeno, chopped
white onion (about 1/2 cup, chopped)

Combine all ingredients (except avocado) in a food processor. Add avocado and "pulse" a few times to blend it in, but still have a thicker consistency.

It is time to get excited about cooking again!!
Sunday's dinner menu: baked chicken on mixed greens with cheese tortellini "croutons" along with roasted Brussels sprouts

easy as pie

2011-02-13T18:14:00.012-05:00

One of David's longtime pals is getting married in just a matter of days. She asked around if anyone had cake stands or pie plates she could borrow for her wedding, and we showed her the ones I had made with thrift store finds here and here. So, she requested that I make some for her wedding! Glass is harder to find than silver or brass candle stick holders, and the same goes for platters and plates. But I did it. I think I found some awesome designs, and we know that NOBODY will have anything like this at their wedding, or at their house. Amelia, I hope you love 'em!

good idea

2011-02-05T17:07:00.003-05:00

check out this cool project...

ROMAN SHADES

My friend Hannah did this! With IKEA fabric! I'll be stopping by the one outside DC later this month. They'd better have the fabric I want in stock this time! I want to get started on my window treatment project for the kitchen.

But first, finishing the pie stands! Stay tuned for pictures of the finished project.

inspiration

2011-01-29T08:17:00.003-05:00

I am so PUMPED. Today, between work & class obligations, I am going to hunt for some supplies. I am going to make some dessert-holding decor for a pal's wedding! Her wedding is next month, so I need to hop to it.

I also got HANDMADE WEDDINGS in the mail yesterday. So many fabulous ideas. I am getting inspired for home crafts, not just wedding crafts.

Tonight, Mary and I are going to try our hand at baking a fancy cake from scratch, and making fondant! We'll see how that goes and we might just have ourselves an affordable option for my October 2011 nuptials.

David and I pow-wowed about our Save the Dates. We're opting for electronic, rather than tangible snail mail (we'll save that for the invitations). This will take a little bit more work on our part, but the cost will be very low, and I think it will be really fun.

Lots of ideas and plans... now I just need to find the time to put it all in action!

happy birthday...

2011-01-04T11:46:00.006-05:00

to Lowell & Louise! David and I started our little crafting business in January of 2010. One year later, we are still going strong! David has new lamp designs. I have new jewelry. The website is not looking so hot, but we'll fix that this year. I plan on paying more attention to the esty shop to keep it looking good & active. And I plan on promoting the business a little bit more as well. I am excited to read a couple of new books about starting a freelance/crafting business from scratch. I know I will learn something new, so we'll see how I do for year two of L&L!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-01-04T11:27:00.003-05:00

Welcome to 2011! I started this blog in July 2008. My main goal for keeping this log was to make sure that I stayed creative at home. I was still working an office job at the time, and was so drained that my personal life and personal goals fell by the wayside. I am happy to report that the blog worked!! I have continued to be creative at home with crafts, cooking, photography, beading, and sewing. I have had different day jobs since then, which require a lot of brain power and creativity, but still not tangible crafts & artwork.

For 2011, my goal is to continue this blog, and to continue to push myself with creative projects at home.
Here are a few things I intend to tackle this year:

*bread-baking (I am attempting a sourdough starter, which will be ready in approximately 12 days)
*painting the upstairs craft room
*making curtains for the big kitchen window
*focus on etsy, and keeping the shop looking good
*take Lowell & Louise to the next level
*make the guest room a guest room again
*PLAN A WEDDING
*have a yard sale

Do you have any creative goals for this new year?

photo holder

2010-12-27T15:38:00.008-05:00

I've been on the hunt for an instax photo album since I got my fun little camera last Christmas. I am surprised that I still cannot find one. SO, I purchased a cute binder, and some sleeves that hold baseball cards. And diggy-doo, my very own instax photo album:

snow day

2010-12-27T08:39:00.006-05:00

What a fabulous Christmas weekend! A TON of family fun, a lot of snow-day relaxing, some kitchen creations, and plenty of puppy playtime.

homemade holiday

2010-12-18T16:30:00.012-05:00

It is almost Christmas!! I spent a lot of time making some gifts this year...
I baked a couple of batches of blueberry oatmeal cookies. YUM. I am going to try cranberry almond next.

I made some aprons for a couple of gal friends too (and one for me). I used the same pattern as my last attempt, but did the half version. It was much easier. I am getting much more comfortable with the machine and gaining a broader understanding of sewing. Hooray!
Next sewing projects: yoga bag, and more jewelry pouches.

one

two

three!

Lowell and Louise have been on the road a lot this Fall, so our etsy shop is looking a little sad. We have new designs and new product though! We will be replenishing our stock and hopefully getting the shop looking good again after the new year.

hard at work:

thanks part 2

2010-11-21T19:17:00.004-05:00

Last weekend we went to Charleston to visit Sabrina and participate in the Lowcountry Artist Market. It was fabulous!! A job well done by Kristen and the Music Farm. We'd definitely like to be a part of that again. I sold out of bracelets, and only have 2 jewelry pouches left. We also handed out over 100 business cards. What a great event to get our name out there. Now I need to stock back up on supplies, and get busy creating! It is so interesting to me that the crowds can be so different. Davids product did slightly better in Durham, and my jewelry did miles better in Charleston. Thank you to all the folks in Charleston who came out to the event, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!

PS- an UNthanks to the police dept who gave us a parking ticket and tried to give a second ticket while we were unloading/loading our stuff... clearly in a loading zone (not a no parking zone), I was standing with the car, and the flashers were on. grrrrr.

thanks!

2010-11-07T10:28:00.004-05:00

Thank you to all the friends and family that came out to the craft fair yesterday!
We'll be doing it again next weekend in Charleston SC. Wish us luck! Then we'll be back at home cranking out the new designs to put on etsy.

surprise inside

2010-10-23T21:06:00.005-04:00

I have always been attracted to the purses and handbags that are plain/neutral on the outside, but have a fun patterned fabric on the inside. Its like a visual treat each time you open the bag.

Continuing with all the sewing I've been doing, I decided to make some zippy pouches. Neutral and kind of generic on the outside... then BAM! Pretty and colorful fabric on the inside! I used scraps from the apron project, and finds from the Scrap Exchange.

bear 2.0

2010-10-16T15:16:00.005-04:00

I made a bear suit! I had made one several years ago, and this go-round was much easier now that I have more experience using patterns. David has a Halloween costume now, and for many years to come. This thing is awesome.

jackpot

2010-10-13T10:28:00.007-04:00

David has a coworker named Sarah. She is great. She brought in and shared some of her Grandmother's old costume jewelry. It was SO FUN to look through 2 giant bins of fun & interesting necklaces.

I was allowed to keep a few things for myself...

Right after I acquired these pieces I saw THIS online. Interesting.

And now I am inspired to make new stuff!!

Come by and see Lowell and Louise! Live and in person!! Buy stuff from us!!
Craft Fairs!

We now accept credit cards in person too! Check out this nifty lil' square! We'll use it with the iphone or ipad. SOO cool.

big picture

2010-10-12T21:35:00.001-04:00

We have this big blank wall. It is along the stairs at the front of the house, above the door. There is one lonely sconce, but otherwise it is completely blank. We couldn't decide how to dress it.... a mural? a giant photograph or poster? a bight color painted all over? a long tapestry or banner?

While cleaning out the office, we discovered several blank canvases. I suggested a collaboration piece to cover several canvases. We decided on printing a giant photo, and affixing it to these arranged canvases.

Ta-da!!

And while we are on the topic of before & after... I recovered my desk chair with leftover fabric from Mary's apron:

busy bees

2010-10-12T10:12:00.006-04:00

Things have been quite busy in the L&L house...

We have been designing, preparing, stocking, organizing. New stuff coming soon!! Nothing for etsy yet, but if you want a sneak peek come visit us during craft fair season! Get your holiday shopping done early!

We will be in downtown Durham NC for Troika Music Festival!
Visit us on November 6 in the Trotter Building from 1pm to 5pm. Shop and rock out AT THE SAME TIME!

We will be in Charleston SC for the Lowcountry Artist Market at the Music Farm!
Visit us there on November 13 from 10am to 3pm. The bar will be open.

See you soon!!

chain gang

2010-09-16T13:51:00.006-04:00

I bought a really big obnoxious necklace recently. Then I thought... where and when am I going to wear this?? The answer was nowhere, not ever. So I took it all apart and made SEVERAL new pieces. It was fun experimenting with different materials. Here are a few of the new things... the rest will be up on etsy soon!!

domestic

2010-09-16T13:47:00.008-04:00

I decided that September should be sewing month and boy am I on a roll! I cranked out some jewelry pouches:

earring-sized... cute!

fun fabric from scrap exchange

The main project was an apron. I got a pattern and went to work. It has ties and pockets and pleats and everything!! This one is for Mary (surprise, Mary! Hope you like it!), and I have plans to make some more half aprons. With all of the kitchen experimenting I like to do, I think an apron will come in handy.

full apron and little helper

pretty & pleated

family dinner

2010-09-05T21:12:00.004-04:00

My Grandmother came to NC for Mary's wedding last weekend and is staying with my folks for an extended vacation. They all drove up to Durham for an evening at the Dwyer-Winton house.

The Menu:

breaded & baked eggplant slices with roasted tomato sauce (tomatoes from my garden!)

lemon pepper chicken on top of mixed greens with balsamic dressing

pea & parmesan risotto

baked brie with mixed berry preserves, served with baguette

coffee and chocolate biscotti

I was a little bit behind schedule with cooking times, but everything went well. I was so excited to entertain that I forgot to take pictures!! The eggplant dish was inspired by our recent cooking class at Revolution. The baked brie looked good, and tasted even better. I had fun planning the menu, getting out all my serving dishes, and trying new recipes. It was a lot of fun hanging out and having a relaxing dinner with family. Who wants to be my next dinner party guests?

Plus, Mom and Grandmom showed lots of love for L&L as they tried on jewelry and made some purchases. THANK YOU!! I made some new things this morning and they'll be up in the shop soon.

UPDATE: Mom snapped some pics that evening!

flowers

2010-09-03T20:26:00.010-04:00

I saw a post on Design*Sponge last month on how to make peony-looking flowers from coffee filters. How cute! They used yellow hues and made a bunch. I used the ink from the cartridge lamps to dye my filters blue. I only tried a few as a test... didn't want a ton of filters to go to waste.

Voilà:

dyed

dried

assembled

arranged

I think it went well! If I ever need some cheap and easy decor, for a guest room perhaps, I'll know what to do! I might try yellow or purple next go-round.

brace yourself

2010-08-19T08:14:00.009-04:00

...for all these bracelets!! ha. After selling 2 online (thanks, Melissa!) and a special request from Mary, I was inspired to make new bracelets. Check 'em out!

These, and MORE, will be up on etsy soon!

I will be getting some new supplies from Hannah to work with... recycling old and broken jewelry. Then the sewing shall begin! I have a lot of projects lined up.
I declare September as sewing month!!

OFFICIAL

2010-08-05T22:58:00.004-04:00

check out our stuff!!

business cards, a stamp, and magnets!!
I'm excited.

scrap exchange

2010-07-30T07:11:00.004-04:00

Ahhh, the scrap exchange. Such a good place for unexpected inspiration. New and different things are there every time I visit.
I took Jaime there and she got a ton of loot. I can't wait to see what she does with it!
I got fabric scraps, ribbons, papers, beakers, and more! I will be experimenting with my finds this weekend. I also have a "coffee and crafting" date with Laura next week.

L&L business cards are on the way, and made some good art contacts last week. Feeling good about creativity.

sweet petites

2010-07-20T14:30:00.006-04:00

I made a few new things using little pearl beads:

They'll be up on etsy soon!

Now I have to sew more pouches and work on our business cards...

jewelry display

2010-07-11T15:52:00.008-04:00

I enjoy making jewelry, and I enjoy having a good variety to wear. The problem was, I always wear the same studs, or the same simple necklace. Why? Well, all of my jewelry was stored, in a box, in a drawer. I couldn't easily think of what I had. Problem solved! I covered some cork that I already had with some fabric we had laying around. I have all necklaces out now and visible, and easy to throw on. Bonus that it serves as art for the bedroom wall!

I went to anthropologie and got a couple of cheap but super cute and colorful bowls (it was hard to decide... there were SO many colors). I have a blue egg holder in the fridge for... yep, eggs. I got another one in white to hold cocktail rings and earrings. Now I can see my stock at a quick glance and be ready to accessorize in a flash!

weekend to-do list

2010-07-10T08:45:00.007-04:00

*attempt to make fabric flower brooches
*jewelry organization (already started Friday night... will finish and post pictures this weekend)
*visit the Scrap Exchange with Laura
*make ginger-pear tea & try other kitchen experiments
*continue organizing my office/craft room

I tried making spanakopita this week and it was a huge success. Will make again very soon. I also tried making pea pesto, which went on crostini with fresh farmers market tomatoes.

Another huge success! I am very happy to keep expanding my recipe repertoire!

sew done

2010-07-03T22:35:00.006-04:00

I made a birthday present for David:

He attended the GSA for 2 years and does not have his diploma displayed anywhere. I thought this would be a nice reminder to hang on the wall of his work room at home. It took FOREVER. Why did I think stitching the coastline of Scotland was a good idea? Look at all those islands and nooks and crannies! I completed the school logo in time for his birthday, but the outline took some extra time (and a lot of thread). It was a fun craft and I had not cross-stitched in a very long time. It was nice to revisit something I really enjoy.

vintage part 2

2010-07-03T15:28:00.008-04:00

OK, so I thought I'd do one random post on thrift finds.... but no. I have to show you this too. A weekend date with David: Lily's pizza, NC Museum of Art, Father & Son vintage store. Check out what I got!

There were SO many other things there that we both wanted. So many well-kept pieces of furniture. We held back though and only got things that we would use right now. I really needed a bookshelf for the upstairs spare room. I have been doing a lot more work from home and needed a space, away from household distractions, to hold set office hours. This bookshelf will be perfect. i was so excited to get it in place that I did not take the time yet to remove a few stickers. The back says "millbrook elementary 1987, 2nd grade." Also, things like this sell for hundreds of dollars new. This one is old, but that is OK. I paid MUCH MUCH less! I will paint it if i get tired of the color.
I can always use kitchen things... I cook almost every day! I have all rectangular pans, so this square will be a nice addition to my collection.

cute as a button

2010-06-27T12:59:00.006-04:00

Button rings! I keep all of those spare buttons that come with sweaters and jackets and things. So I have a lot of buttons, but almost all different. Here is a cute way to use them!

I am happy with the color combos and these make a cute daytime/casual accessory. For sale on Etsy!

vintage

2010-06-26T19:56:00.011-04:00

I don't usually post about non-created things... but today I have to. I checked out Good Bones Vintage in Chapel Hill, NC. Very cool. A small space, but the stock changes almost daily. I got this fabulous casserole/serving dish with a lid:

I don't think I had ever seen anything from mid-century design in this color combo. And it is made in the USA! Estimated to be from around 1956. I am in the market for a bookshelf for the craft room so I will definitely be checking Good Bones again and often.

Other recent acquisitions... Beautiful floor lamp from David's aunt (which belonged to his great-aunt). Very well built and HEAVY. This thing was built to last.

Mixed-Material end table from Aunt June and Uncle David. The lamp goes with this perfectly! I love the metal edge details and the dark glass top.

I continue to look for cake stand supplies at thrift stores. Next I will keep my eye out for fun vintage fabrics to cover cork pieces for a bulletin board. I am getting the upstairs office/craft room organized and why not make it fun and cute?

drink & eat

2010-06-22T13:51:00.011-04:00

Aahhh... The weather is warmer and I need a drink. In an effort to stretch a buck AND be healthy, I've been buying a ton of seltzer water. It is on sale fairly often at one of the grocery stores nearby. It is fabulous with cran-raspberry juice and a splash of lime (and the cutest little ice cubes). Also, trick yourself into drinking less wine by making a spritzer. And feel extra fancy at breakfast with a virgin mimosa!

And it is getting to be that time of year when the produce is SO good and my plates look so delicious. Here are a few recent dishes:

hard-boiled egg and blanched asparagus on field greens with balsamic dressing

italian mashed potatoes (from scratch! my first time!)

assorted tomato salad with bocconcini and fresh basil

tomatillo & avocado salsa (recipe in Readymade)

mason jars

2010-06-02T09:34:00.012-04:00

I have used mason jars for a long time. Mostly we use them for their intended purpose... canning foods. I gave salsa away in little mason jars to my clients around the holidays. We made muscadine jelly last fall. If we make a big batch of pasta sauce we store some in the big jars. So apart from pickles, coffee blends, homemade cookie/brownie mix, and special drinks, what else can you use these sweet little jars for? I'll tell you!

At Sabrina's house she has Q-tips and cotton balls on her vanity in them. Simple and chic.

We marinated and stored bocconcini in them.

In Readymade this month, and at Sarah's baby/beer/bbq fest, they were used as tea lights. I made a centerpiece for our kitchen table with tea lights and cute little bud vases:

David uses them as ink wells for the last bit of ink from the cartridges he turns into lamps. Then he paints with that ink.

I store beads in them.

We also make our own salad dressing in the tiny ones. A single serving to get to work spill-free and then shake it up before it goes over those yummy greens.

What do you use mason jars for?

productive plans

2010-05-29T11:17:00.011-04:00

Ahhh, Memorial Day Weekend. Summer officially begins! And I officially stay off the road. This will be the second year in a row that I stay at home and be very productive.
In fact, by Friday afternoon I had already done the test run for a new project... jewelry pouches! Inspired by those freakin' cute little cloth holders that anthropologie uses for their gift cards.

The one from anthropologie is on the left. The others were made from leftover fabric scraps and swatches I had lying around, with the thread that was already in the machine. Next, I'll hunt for cute stuff at the Scrap Exchange and do a neater job.

These pouches have a draw-string closure. I think they could be used as a travel jewelry pouch or fill it with potpourri to make a little sachet.

Other projects for this weekend:
*cross-stitching
*experiments with all those leafy greens from the farmers market
*organize: pantry, first aid stuff, craft room

and all along the way I have the best little helper...

the real teal

2010-05-17T09:00:00.005-04:00

I think I have unknowingly picked teal as my color of the season. Here are 2 new pairs of earrings I made this weekend: A couple of new things added to etsy. Tell your friends!!

a garden

2010-05-17T08:55:00.006-04:00

We made a garden box! Placed in a rarely used section of the back yard that gets a good amount of sunshine. We'll see if the chicken wire keeps the puppy out... fingers crossed! We planted a few different varieties of tomato, jalapeno peppers, and sweet banana peppers. We got a little pot of sweet basil too. Can't wait to make pizza and fajitas with ingredients from our garden!

cake stand

2010-04-21T12:07:00.007-04:00

I went to the thrift store and found some more ingredients for another cake stand. I gave the first one to my sis, so I think I will keep this one for me. Under $2 to create!

sea-inspired

2010-04-19T15:33:00.011-04:00

I had a surge of productivity and creativity last weekend. I worked on several projects, including the "nook." This area of the house has been a puzzle. What do you put way up high, out of reach, in this little oddly-shaped recess in the wall? Our first answer was a pony. A Christmas penguin riding a cowboy pony to be more specific:

After a visit to homegoods, trying NOT to buy out the store, I came back with a few grown-up decoration things for the nook:

A nice pop of color, and a little sophistication brought to the... "area close to the ceiling." Whatever that's for.

Then being all springy and summery feeling, I made a couple of new jewels also inspired by the sand and surf:

Check 'em out on etsy!

refueling

2010-04-11T11:09:00.010-04:00

WHEW!! It has been a very busy year so far, with no signs of slowing. I did leave one of my two personal trainer jobs... I am excited about focusing and growing with the studio close to my home. I am also excited about getting some free time back in order to craft more!

I have not been able to create much except for food (I have to eat!) so I am thankful for the birthday gift from my mother... all new pots and pans! I took some pictures with my phone of some of our recent kitchen adventures:

grilled cheese with garden vegetable soup

grilled eggplant and onion, with tomatoes & peperoncini on crostini

grilled bbq chicken with asparagus fries

greek panzanella

chocolate covered: animal crackers, strawberries, pecans, sugar cookies, and thin mints.

tomato salad with crostini

I have a few sewing projects on my list, as well as experimenting with metal (thanks, Jaime!). I need to finish dressing the bedroom walls and continue to help Mary plan for her wedding. Next up, working on the etsy shop!

adventures in instax

2010-03-25T22:42:00.008-04:00

David gave me the cutest ever little Fuji Instax Mini camera for Christmas. Here are some of my favorite instant photos with that camera:

faux fries

2010-03-05T19:03:00.005-05:00

I saw a cooking show today where they made portobello mushroom fries... they looked pretty darn good, even though I do not care for mushrooms. I had asparagus in the fridge, so I used that up and baked the fries on a baking rack instead of deep frying. I used panko bread crumbs and italian seasonings with a little bit of grated parmesan cheese. They came out so delicious! Crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside... and with plenty of kick! I used a lot of black pepper. I was sure to season the flour, egg, and bread crumb mixtures. What a delicious and healthy option if you are craving "fries." I would have taken pictures, but David and I ate them all as soon as they came out of the oven!

Next up for this weekend... trying to copy the Chileanos Compleatos hot dog from Neal's deli in Carrboro. We found pretzel rolls at a local grocery store (our attempt at home to make these wasn't so successful) and our favorite taco joint now sells their salsas (yes all 7 of 'em!) by the pint. We are breaking out the Weber and charcoal again on this spring-like weekend!

let them eat cake...

2010-02-11T10:06:00.006-05:00

...or cookies or other snacks... from a cute cake stand!

I've seen several etsy shops and crafters with their own mixed-matchy cake stands. Seems easy enough. I went to the thrift store to find some materials... the possibilities are endless with all the candle stick holders and dinner plates!! I limited myself to one of each to see how it would turn out.

What do you think?

I'm going to keep my eyes open whenever I go to the thrift store for things that go better with my home decor. This was a very quick and easy project! And for around $1.50, why not?

new addition

2010-02-07T21:44:00.005-05:00

OK, so I didn't create her... but we are going to create a healthy and happy home for her!

Meet Pepper:

introducing....

2010-01-07T14:48:00.008-05:00

LOWELL & LOUISE
our new crafting and creative empire. watch out world, here we come!

Our website begins! It is very young, so check back for updates. But it is there, and it is ours.

www.lowellandlouise.com

The etsy shop is up and running! Tell your friends! We have jewelry and lighting for now, and will have artwork and other creations there soon.

www.lowellandlouise.etsy.com

More items to be listed this weekend. Thanks for looking!

say cheeeeese!

2010-01-07T14:27:00.014-05:00

My sister gave me a cheese-making kit for Christmas... it worked! We bought a gallon of milk, and made mozzarella cheese! We tried twisting & braiding some of it. You have to work quickly when it is hot. We also made some tiny cheese balls (bocconcini) and I marinated them in olive oil, garlic, and italian spices. YUM.

stirring the milk and checking the temperature

the curds and whey are separating!

you gotta stretch it. and it was HOT. next time we'll use gloves.

attempted braid, and a little taste test.

marinated bocconcini.

The kit came with enough ingredients to make THIRTY batches of cheese. Yes, three zero, 30. We will experiment with adding different spice combinations (instead of just salt) and maybe rolling it up with special things like ham or pesto. And in the summer, I will make my own pizza dough... and have tomatoes and basil from my garden, and make my own cheese and have a completely homemade pizza!

bathroom redo - stage 2

2010-01-01T15:26:00.007-05:00

the light is complete! David made this new light for the vanity area over the holidays. Made of maple and a metal right angle. The wood came from scraps from the bed my dad made... so everything flows very nicely in the master suite.

before:

and after!!

bathroom redo - stage 1

2009-12-28T17:01:00.007-05:00

The bedroom and vanity/bathroom upstairs got new life recently in the form of paint on the walls. They used to be blah and beige. Now they are a clean crisp light grey.

Before...

After...

Stage 2 is a new light for the vanity area, already in production. And stage 3 will be deciding how to decorate the vanity area wall... a decal? paint chips? artwork?

more jewelz

2009-12-12T12:11:00.014-05:00

After creating that gold beaded necklace a few weeks ago, I just can't get enough! Here are some new creations, and a couple oldies but goodies.

delicious dish

2009-12-05T18:55:00.005-05:00

I love spending time in the kitchen this time of year when it is too cold for me to play outside. My mother made a yummy salad for our Thanksgiving dinner this year:

2 sweet potatoes, cubed
1/2 red onion, sliced
baby spinach
lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt & pepper

Spread the sweet potatoes and onion on a pan and cover with olive oil, salt & pepper. Mix it around so everything gets coated. Roast at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes. The potatoes will be nice and tender and the onions will be slightly crispy. Place on top of a bed of baby spinach, add 1/2 teaspoon of lime juice and a pinch more salt. Delicious!

thank you

2009-11-29T10:16:00.020-05:00

Thank you everyone who went to Acme to view my first ever public art display!

These are just a few things that were displayed over the past two months. Thanks Acme, and thank you friends and family!

jewelry EXPLOSION!

2009-11-21T15:05:00.008-05:00

I forgot how much I enjoy making jewelry. I used to make tons of earrings. I was inspired by my friend Shelly recently... she had on a cute necklace that she made. I decided to copy it. Here is my gold version:

I especially love the vintage-looking clasp.

After making one necklace, and getting overwhelmed in the bead section of the craft store, I decided to make some more jewelry!

I ended up making 4 pairs of earrings and 3 necklaces in one day. I am excited now to dig up some old jewelry creations and add beading back into my crafting repertoire.

sweet sleep

2009-11-01T12:07:00.008-05:00

The last time I had a bed was.... well, I think that was in college in an apartment that was already furnished. So it has been a while. Since then I have had a box spring and mattress on the floor of the 3 or 4 places I have lived since then. Now that I own a house, it is time to get a real bed. I had an idea. So I told my Dad about it. I found some silver colored furniture legs at Ikea, and Dad made the rest! Made of Maple and Ash (headboard), and stained with a cherry color. The frame houses the box spring perfectly. I LOVE IT!!

Before (gross):

After (pretty!):

Next, I will paint the bedroom and the adjoining vanity and bathroom. Check back for before and afters of that project later next month.

kitchen creations

2009-10-24T17:36:00.014-04:00

As the daylight gets shorter, and the weather gets cooler, it is time to spend more time being creative in the kitchen. Here are two yummy things to make!

1. Chicken Shlop (kind of like chicken pot pie)

1 or 2 chicken breasts
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 Yukon gold potatoes, chopped
½ a white onion, chopped
¼ cup frozen peas, thawed
¼ cup frozen corn, thawed
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can of store-bought biscuits (the kind in the scary peel-n-pop can)

I baked the chicken breast ahead of time, and then cubed it. I sautéed the onion, carrots, and celery and added salt & pepper. I cooked the potatoes in water separately. I added all of this cooked stuff along with the peas and corn to a pot with the can of soup and warmed it up... here you have your pie filling! Then put a little bit of the filling on the bottom of a baking dish, add 6 biscuits (10 came in the can I bought, but I only used 6 of them and baked the other 4 for use in another meal later) then add the rest of the filling right on top of the biscuits. Bake at 350 for about 30-40 minutes until the biscuits puff up and start to peek out through the filling and get a nice golden crispy top. Very colorful and hearty and the leftovers are good too!

2. Tomato Sauce

I learned this one while staying with my friend Amanda (and Sabrina) in chilly Vermont.

Cherry tomatoes
Italian style breadcrumbs
Parmesan cheese, grated
2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Extra virgin olive oil

Throw all that stuff in a baking dish. Leave the tomatoes whole, unless they are super huge, then cut ‘em up into about 1-inch cubes. Use about ¼ cup of cheese and ¼ cup of breadcrumbs for each pint of cherry tomatoes you use. Drizzle the olive oil over everything and toss the tomatoes until they are coated. Also add salt, pepper, oregano or whatever Italian seasonings you like. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or so, stirring every 10 minutes. I like to smash it up a little. Then use as pizza sauce or serve over pasta! I like to add fresh basil at the end... enjoy!

check it:

2009-09-28T21:41:00.003-04:00

visit Acme in Carrboro, NC anytime from NOW through November 27 to check out my artwork on display!

canvas paintings/mixed media
bottle cap stuff
photos

all for sale!!

another nc

2009-08-26T17:53:00.002-04:00

another NC inspired piece. with a stripe of phone book pages.

tennessee

2009-08-22T17:09:00.005-04:00

More caps!!

These are part of a one Mr. John Winton's collection, I just made a home for them. They feature Memphis, TN and Germantown, TN where Mr. Winton resides. While making these, I had a neat idea for other map cap art... check back for updates on that!

a different light

2009-08-08T09:38:00.009-04:00

Check out these lamps made from used ink cartridges! David made them. The chandelier is hanging in our kitchen. It makes the prettiest pattern on the ceiling when it is on... and it lights the space better than our original dining area fixture. I think we will keep it up for a while.

The smaller lights make great desk lamps or night lights... great for a dorm room! If you know a college student, send them off to school this month with unique and roommate-friendly lighting! Available at: www.boxlightbox.etsy.com

north carolina

2009-08-02T22:51:00.008-04:00

Another new piece with bits of NC map! The tiny rust-colored stripe is made out of embroidery floss. What city or state should I do next?

golden state

2009-07-12T12:08:00.005-04:00

Here is my latest painting...

Acrylic on canvas featuring a map of San Francisco and the Bay area in California. Mary and I took a sister trip there last spring and I would definitely go back again to visit.

Later... more art with NC maps.

the tiniest little ship

2009-06-13T12:19:00.005-04:00

Sabrina gave me a "make your own ship in a bottle" kit one Christmas. I have been so afraid to put it together because the pieces are all so tiny and I didn't want to mess it up. I got the courage yesterday to give it a try...

I added the little pirate flag. This was not an easy project, but I am happy with the result... it's so cute!

action!

2009-06-04T19:13:00.004-04:00

Memorial Day Weekend project #3: Sarah's bag

here is the latest in the verb tote collection. a blue tote specially requested by a fabulous runner gal...

two sides! I hope she likes it.

circles

2009-05-30T18:27:00.004-04:00

Memorial Day Weekend project # 2: a new painting

Finally... new work on canvas. I used some scraps from the window project.

stools

2009-05-25T10:01:00.005-04:00

Memorial Day Weekend project #1: stools
I got these stools from Uncle Randy a few years ago. I also got some pretty blue fabric from Grandmom that I've been itching to use...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Memorial Day Weekend Crafting Extravaganza!

2009-05-23T09:12:00.002-04:00

In lieu of battling traffic during this long weekend, I've decided to knock out a few crafting projects that have been on my mind.

1. repainting and recovering some old stool seats
2. make a new painting
3. make a verb tote for Sarah

These should keep me busy. Stay tuned for pictures of the results!

may flowers

2009-05-03T21:47:00.006-04:00

we took a walk at Duke Gardens this morning...

the windows

2009-04-13T20:15:00.008-04:00

I have temporarily abandoned the wallpaper ideas due to the discontinuation of the pattern I wanted. I did make a trip to the new IKEA in Charlotte though recently and found some pretty window treatments. Mom came up and helped install the new look...

BEFORE:
heavy, dark, blah

AFTER:
light, fresh, open, bright, hip, lovely.

i'm a pepper

2009-03-24T21:04:00.003-04:00

I have recently discovered that I actually like peppers!

I cannot get enough red peppers, especially on a pita with goat cheese and toasted juust a little bit. Now I am trying all of the colors... they are so vibrant and beautiful! Who knew they could be so delicious? I certainly did not like veggies as a kid. Now I want peas in every casserole and tomatoes on everything. Here is a recipe that I have had already 3 times this week (and yes I realize it is only Tuesday):

1 spinach tortilla wrap
2 tbs red pepper hummus
spring mix or spinach greens
alfalfa sprouts
shredded carrots
slivers of all colors of peppers!
a couple of cucumber spears

spread the hummus on the wrap, pile all the veggies in, roll it up!
The creamy hummus and wrap paired with the freshy crunchiness of the peppers and carrots and cukes... so good. It is a perfect introduction to spring, and I cannot wait for more fresh veggies. More creative ideas from the kitchen soon!

redo

2009-03-22T15:22:00.010-04:00

Well, the wallpaper project is on temporary hold since the pattern I wanted is discontinued. Any suggestions on where to find modern and pretty wallpaper?

In the meantime, I redid my biggest bottle cap frame. It matched my room at my parents house (which has been repainted) so it was time for an update and coordination with MY house. I repainted it, and then took all of the caps out and organized them by color.

Before:

After:

gray and grey

2009-03-02T11:27:00.005-05:00

Finally! I finished another painting.

Acrylic on canvas, and a couple of layers from the phonebook.

I am liking the gray lately. The next project will be more work on the house. I want to wallpaper the vanity area of the bathroom... then paint the shower/toilet part one color and the bedroom another color so it all flows nicely. I have this in mind for the wallpaper:

Mostly neutral colors... but it has the gray that I am loving right now, and some pale yellows.
Stay tuned for the before and after of that project in April!

the blues

2009-01-19T10:29:00.007-05:00

Here are some shelves I made with my dad:

Three separate boxes that can be put on the wall in any arrangement... I used to have 2 in the bedroom and 1 above my desk at my last house. Now they are all in the living room as kind of a statement art piece, and for storage.

I like that the shelves can be re-arranged, and we can also change the items on the shelf if we want a change of color or theme. The backs of the boxes can be unscrewed and detached if I want to change the actual shelf color. In fact, they used to be teal (and a little dirty and worn from being in 4 different apartments) so I just updated them with a fresh coat of blue!

Here they are full of STUFF!

A NEW addition to the NEW house is a really cool print from Henri Silberman. My dad made a frame for it and matted it with the brightest blue! I love it.

My Grandmother sent me some beautiful blue silk fabric:

I am so excited to use it in the house... I think I am going to recover some chairs. We'll see!

the biggest project yet

2009-01-05T11:26:00.004-05:00

the new house!
I have put the artowork and crafts on hold temporarily because I bought a house!! It is going to take a while to get it just right. There are still boxes to unpack and artwork to hang and thing to be organized.
You can see some "before" pictures here. I will be sure to post more when it looks good.

More sewing projects and more tote bags on the way though. And a re-vamp project for my first bottle cap frame. Stay tuned!

the little things

2008-12-08T17:50:00.008-05:00

Here is a mini version of the totes I've been making. It keeps my art supplies neatly organized.

I also made a bag for a gal at work... we drew names for a secret santa gift exchange. She could use it to bring her lunch to work, or as a purse.

Shelly made some candles recently, so I thought I'd try to make one too. I found a really cute glass at the thrift store and turned it into a candle! Very simple project and a great gift-giving idea.

cap map

2008-11-23T17:02:00.007-05:00

More bottle cap art! Maps are the new black.
Featuring a map of NC... You can see Alamance County in the upper left, and Chapel Hill/Carrboro. Home sweet home.

Hannah and Kellen are now the owners of some map cap artwork. Theirs is slightly larger than this one and features Charlotte NC. They collected their own caps to put inside.

This last one is my new favorite shape for the cap artwork. I've also been playing with the color and arrangement of the caps... I used to just throw all the caps I had together. This one has a home already, but I've got more in the works!

far east

2008-11-11T15:25:00.004-05:00

in the spring of 2007 I got to visit some friends in Osaka, Japan. It was an AWESOME trip. I had maps from a guidebook on Japan, and I used some of the maps to make a painting as my own souvenir...

My plan is to make artwork showing all the places I've been. Maybe not all, but I like maps and I will continue to use them in my artwork. Stay tuned!

more light

2008-11-08T09:36:00.005-05:00

more experiments with light drawings... no photoshop or crazy edits here!

We used various exposure times... mostly 20 or 30 seconds. and the tripod! that helped a lot.

Also used a different location. I like the lights in the background.

Cursive was tough, especially since you have to draw backwards. We used my headlamp again, and the red light that goes on the back of my bike. We were out of breath by the end of it after running all around the field trying to make neat designs. This is fun project for this time of year when it gets dark so early. You should try it!

bag it

2008-10-28T17:48:00.004-04:00

here is the latest in the tote bag collection...

ta da! yellow and white on canvas color. no words on this one, but it is personalized with a friend's initials on the back. and sent all the way to Texas!

great for groceries, work out gear, sleep over supplies, or an everyday bag!
now taking orders for the sassy lady on your list... don't forget birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.
See previous posts for other samples. email me if you are interested!

cathy.dwyer@gmail.com