Fun Valentine's Day Gift Guide

(miniature movable Valentine dolls by Jordan Grace Owens)

With Valentine's Day just a couple of weeks away, I thought I'd share a fun gift guide with all the things men stereotypically give women on this occasion, only a bit more tongue-in-cheek. Here are some popular gift ideas, in no particular order:

(brass diamond studs by Rachel Pfeffer; and mini gem studs by gemagenta)

(pretty pink cake pops soap by Mad City Soap; giant ice cream cone lamp from perpetual kid; cotton candy twist sugar scrub by Mad City Soap; and conversation hearts iphone case from shannonblue)

(black lace headband by branchbound; gold-dipped lace bow necklace by made by maru; vintage-inspired black lace and butterflies postcards from archiviogotico; and vintage lace necklaces by That Old Blue House)

(floral birdhouse necklace by Peaches and Pebbles; and "Nightshade" by Janet Hill).

Are you a traditionalist when it comes to Valentine's Day or do you prefer slightly offbeat gifts? I'm sure you could guess that I prefer handmade over anything else, but I've never been one to turn down chocolates either. :)

DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards

I've never decorated for Thanksgiving before, perhaps because I've never hosted a traditional dinner before. But this year, my parents will be visiting, and that motivated me to start thinking about decorations I could easily make with materials I already had. I definitely won't be cooking an elaborate turkey dinner, but we can still be festive! So here's an option for easy DIY place cards. It's all well and good to print them off your computer, but I prefer a handmade touch. And I'm certainly no calligrapher, but I think handwriting makes them nicer too.

What you'll need:
- scraps of colored paper (any paper will do as long as it's not tissue-thin)
- drafting tape, washi tape, or some other removeable tape that won't tear paper
- pen and pencil
- glue stick
- cardstock (you can make several place cards from one sheet)
- not pictured here: scissors, ruler

Draw Thanksgiving or autumn-themed shapes to use as templates. I quickly drew a couple of leaf shapes and a pumpkin. If you'd like to use my shapes, you can view and print the pdf here. Also, cut your cardstock to desired place card size (I cut 4" x 4" squares, so when folded the place cards are 2"h x 4"w).

Cut out your templates, and cut your paper into strips. The size will depend on how many colors/stripes you want in your shape. In the example shown here, I ended up using strips that were about 1/4"h, give or take a little, to make four stripes in my pumpkin.

Stack your paper up and temporarily hold in place with drafting or washi tape. Place your template on top and carefully cut out your shape from all layers of paper stacked up.

You can add a bit more tape to hold the template in position while cutting if necessary, but I found the less tape used the better and preferred to just hold my shape in place.

This is what the back should look like (the tape is still securing the front). If you can't see all of your colors, trim as necessary on the back while the tape is still holding the front together. Use a glue stick on the back and position on your place card.

Once your shape is glued down, carefully peel off any tape on the front. Then you can draw a bit more to embellish or just leave the simple shape as is. Use a ruler to draw a line and write your guest's name.

I only managed to get a decent shot of one finished card (see first photo) as I'm still not used to these early sunsets. I frequently forget to take photos until the light is completely gone. But nevertheless, I was able to make several cards with different shapes in a fairly short amount of time.

If I failed to explain any steps clearly or if you have any questions, leave me a comment! I always respond via email. :)
xo, Mary

(Clockwise from top left: collage/painting by Karine Léger; textured pottery vase by White Earth Studio; paper necklace by Elsa Mora; string painting by Andrea Rogers; and "Plumed Bird of Paradise" by Aly Parrott.)

If you're the type of person who secretly wants to touch all of the art in the museum, this is the collection for you! (I mean, really, who hasn't wanted to run their fingers along a smooth marble statue, or grab hold of a wooley fiber art piece hanging on the wall?)

I love texture, and I get excited when I see artists mixing traditional "craft" with "high art." All of these pieces share a natural, organic feel...a rawness paired with precision. I feel compelled to note these are all women artists as well. In the 1970s, feminist artists went a long way to prove that craft was not "lesser" because it was so-called "women's work" or work made in the home...that craft need not be purely functional. This discussion is ongoing in the art world, though now I see more and more male artists exploring traditional craft media as well, and I hope it's losing some of the stigma.

When a piece of art affects you completely, when you leave an exhibit and keep thinking about it for days, it doesn't matter what media the artist used to get the message across. In my opinion, there's no high or low art, only successful or unsuccessful, in terms of whether the artist achieved what he or she was trying to do, and how it impacts viewers. And of course, objects or art pieces that are simply beautiful on their own need no classification.

DIY Tealight Houses

This simple diy from Fellow Fellow employs an old idea to create a romantic "candlelit" town. Isn't the top photo gorgeous? The best thing about this diy is that you can use virtually any photo. It's fun to experiment with different types of images to get different effects. Just make sure to use a battery-operated tealight candle (obviously, mixing open flames with paper is never a good idea).

Thanks to Harriet for the link!

Paper Cutting

I bought this book as a Christmas present to myself. I'd been searching for it high and low to no avail for some time when I finally found what seemed like the last copy on Earth. It was dented at the corners and looked as if it had had a tough go of it, but that didn't matter to me. It's beautiful pages harbor works by some of my favorite papercut artists like Elsa Mora (which I posted about here), Rob Ryan, and Su Blackwell, among many others. Here's a sneak peek inside:

I don't know exactly why I find papercuts irresistible, but I think in general I have a soft spot for works that are beautifully detailed, delicate in nature, and fragile. The ephemeral nature of things makes them all the more enchanting, don't you think?

Rob Ryan

I'm a huge fan of Rob Ryan's work and happy to see him featured in Etsy's latest Handmade Portrait. His papercuts are beautifully detailed and inscribed with messages of love, longing, and hope.


Handmade Portraits: Rob Ryan from Etsy on Vimeo.

Check out Rob's Etsy shop to see more of his fantastic work.

New prints from Elsa Mora

I'm excited to share my latest Etsy purchase with you: two prints from artist Elsa Mora. Elsita is quite prolific and works in many different forms of art such as drawing, painting, papercut, porcelain sculptures, handmade dolls, jewelry, and miniature books. A visit to any one of her blogs (she writes several) is a must; they are filled with inspiration and Elsita's unique wit, wisdom, and positive outlook on life.

This print (from an acrylic painting on canvas) is called "Flower Vision." Elsita writes that the inspiration behind this painting came from the Victorian era and a quote from Matisse, which states, "There are always flowers for those who want to see them." Having this lovely print on my wall will remind me to always be aware of the beauty that exists even on bleak days and that inspiration is all around us. Visually, I love the delicate, doll-like features of the girl's face, the painterly highlights on her dress, the detail and sheen of the birds' feathers, the texture of the background, and the painted gold frame, among other things.

This print (from an original papercut) is called "Secret Anatomy of a Young Girl" and is about the process of going from childhood to womanhood. I emailed Elsita to ask about the symbolism in the print, and she wrote that the girl is a teenager trying to figure out the world outside as well as the world inside herself. The images of the wolf and snake represent the challenges she faces, and the flower and bee represent her growth and beauty. Elsita's papercuts just blow my mind. I mean, look at the wolf's fur--so detailed and tiny! I also love the delicate, lace-like vines running throughout her body like blood vessels and the stylized bee's wings.

Now I have to decide how to frame them. The only frames I have at the moment are standard black and wood gallery frames, but I don't think those would do these beauties justice. I was thinking an antique-looking frame might be more appropriate, or maybe silver? What do you guys think? Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

Oh, and here's the link again to Elsita's main blog, and her Etsy shop.