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dream house : the studio
i suppose my current work situation isn’t as bad as it could be — but it’s not good. i do the majority of my DIYs on the dining table, coffee table, and a makeshift desk from a large cardboard box i use in my bedroom to watch TV while i work. so the thing i’m focusing on the most with the houses we’re looking for is having either a large extra bedroom or a converted garage to use as studio space. we’ve actually seen some tiny houses with huge studio spaces, which is great for me and not so great for the rest of the gang.
but i’m dreaming about having large windows with natural light and white concrete floors and organized craft supplies — and ditching the small busted up pieces of foam core i use on my coffee table to shoot all my projects on.
white floors. i don’t care how much cleaning it’ll require. (i say this now…) [image]
along with a high vaulted ceiling and a cozy place for me to space out. [image]
and plants. lot of plants so i never run out of things to instagram. [via]
and of course, a place for me to collect inspiration. [image]
also, i really wouldn’t at all mind having a seamless. [image]
and i’m going to be really conscious of making sure all of the furniture is neutral and simple and classic. [image one, two, three]
[image]
so obviously i’m not sure this is realistic. but it’s good to be optimistic right?!
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diy wood grain flask
last year for fathers day i made DIY cufflinks. this year how about a flask? lets face it — most men aren’t super easy to DIY gifts for. but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t attempt it anyway right? who cares if they’ll use it! it’s the thought that counts dammit!
materials
01. cut out a piece of your contact paper to fit around the flask. try to use a smooth piece that hasn’t been damaged like mine.
02. if you want to personalize your flask with your dads name (or whoever’s name, no judgement), do that now. but practice a lot first if you need to. my method for “calligraphy” is to write the name in cursive, and then go over all of the lines that are going down again to thicken those up.
03. peel off the backside and gently place your contact paper down, don’t worry about a little overlap on the top or bottom if you have it, just make sure you like the placement of the name.
04. slowly press down on the contact paper, like one inch at a time, making sure you rub out the air bubbles as you go. you can also use a credit card or a squeegee. continue along the back and you can choose to either overlap the paper or cut (depending on how your grain matches up)
05. using your xacto, slowly run your knife at the exact angle of your flask edges, this will remove all the excess paper, and it worked surprisingly well. the edges are way cleaner than i expected!
you can even go the extra mile and fill it up with his favorite booze, as well as the leftover bottle. or keep the bottle for yourself. because that’s what you were just thinking you’d rather do.
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maker spotlight : convivial production
today i’m introducing you to chentell, the potter behind convival productions. read about her process and swoon over her gorgeous ceramics — guarantee you’re gonna want one or five.
TELL US ABOUT YOU + YOUR SHOP!
so convivial production, inc was started just over a year ago. we are a production and design company that hand makes home decor and dinnerware products for various brick + mortar stores throughout the us. all of the work grew from my love for hospitality. service. dining. social vitality. the notion of conviviality coincided perfectly with functional ceramic wares – the joining of people to eat, to drink and to be well with one another. we make the dinnerware that allows for festivity as well as the decor that sets the scene for intimate gatherings. our goal is to encourage others to host well as they use the items they have collected.WHEN DID YOU FIRST START CREATING?
i started creating ten years ago. this fact always baffles me – that at age 24 I have already been developing a skill for ten years now. but it’s true! i took my first class in ceramics my freshman year of high school and have been committed ever since. it was therapeutic for me at the time, if i may speak bluntly. i was surrounded my instability and creating brought a sense of stillness and relief. i loved the process and have stuck with it through the years.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO START YOUR SHOP AND START SELLING YOUR GOODS?
i started selling items in college during the holidays. i’m honestly not sure how that all came about. seemed like a pretty natural progression of close friends taking interest in my work and in turn i began publishing that i had items available for sale. it all grew from there – family + friends first. i remember the first time someone i didn’t know purchased my work – it was a true milestone to be celebrated. from there i simply built my process of production around demand. the more people wanted to buy, the more i would make. it’s still this way today.WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN SHOP?
the hardest part of running my shop is to know how to grow ahead of the demand. its a rare occasion when i receive an order and actually have it in stock – meaning that i am constantly focused on what is in front of me. accommodating. fulfilling. i have a hesitation to build before it comes. building and getting ahead of the game is my goal this summer.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST OR TV SHOW TO WORK TO?
npr baby! i often listen to classical music as i begin the day. this naturally progresses to some sort of indie folk, and occasionally the blues radio. however, often i feel like i need to sharpen my mind while i work. i don’t want to loose touch with whats going on in the world. npr has been my solution for this and i’m always filtering through ted talks for a good topic.WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY HUSBAND?
yikes! my fiance will laugh at me for this but i gotta say tim riggins. friday night lights anyone? i know he is a character – not actually a real celebrity but he is my answer. season one through five my eyes and heart were sealed to the screen, mostly for tim. now thats a bit extreme and if i thought about it more i’d probably end up switching my response to jonny depp or that gentleman from the notebook, but i’ll land on riggins for now. it’s the high school girl in me coming out.HOW DO YOU GET INSPIRED WHEN YOU’RE IN A TOTAL RUT?
its not often i find myself in an inspirational rut and i think there is a lesson to be learned here. i make it a priority to work hard and to do so continuously. in doing so i find that i am naturally inspired. when i see one idea come to life it often sparks a handful of variations. always stay working. always stay sharp. read. again I say, read! connect the dots. find the meaning. think. process. create!WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS TRYING TO GO PRO?
i have two pieces of advice up my sleeve. one. create and publish your work with a heightened attention to detail. two. don’t look at other designers work within your specific medium. pull inspiration from other sources. pursue your own ideas and don’t chase trends.
STUDIO PHOTOS BY RYAN JAMES CARR
sooo pretty right?! and she’s offering 20% OFF all items in her shop for the week!
USE CODE AMPLOVE AT CHECKOUT!
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happy weekend
yay. friday. i’m gearing up for a fun shoot tomorrow, which you’ll see soon. and i’m celebrating a cousins birthday on sunday. if you follow me on instagram, you may have seen i chopped most of my hair off. i’m still getting used to how short it is, but so far i’m like how low-maint it is. i just made that slang up. we like it right? have a good one!
⋅ this is just like, perfect
⋅ how delish does this sound?
⋅ i really really want this for the cats
⋅ and i’ll take one of these for me
⋅ i desperately need these tips
⋅ a super easy DIY to avoid having to buy pots
⋅ i have always liked nudes so i like this
⋅ ok so people make fun of me, but this is one of my favorite movies of all time
(also.. that joanna cassidy quote? my mom can take credit for about 80% of that (they went to the same starbucks)) -
dream house : the backyard
[image]even though we’re having some challenges when it comes to loans, i’m still looking like crazy at houses. and all i can do is fantasize about what it’ll be like to have our own home and all the things i’ll do to it and all the apartment neighbors we won’t have to listen to. so i decided to start a new little column while we house hunt to slightly nourish said fantasies.
the thing i’m most excited about is having an outdoor space. right now we have a tiny balcony that’s so tiny we don’t even bother going out there anymore, so i’ve been day dreaming about sitting outside drinking lemonade cocktails and foraging fresh herbs to garnish them with and hosting BBQs and sunbathing and even just sitting outside to talk on the phone. so here are some of the spaces that i’m finding suuuuper inspiring.
a fireplace and a cozy deck for eating is like, everything i want. [image]
and cozy lounging. [image]
basically if you’re living in a botanical garden, you know you’ve made it in life. [image]
more cozy lounging, more cozy dining. [image / image]
oh and i want string lights everywhere and a ping pong table for when i feel super active and athletic. [image]
no words. [image]
do you have a backyard? and if so, do you even use it? haha, i feel like these are probably pipe dreams and i’d end up spending way less time out there than i plan to.
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diy last minute greeting cards
if i had an unlimited budget, i would have a closet full of beautiful birthday and get well and thank you cards (along with gifts) to give to people last minute when i forget. i always try to stock up when i’m at a cute store, but more times than not – i have to run out to get a last minute card on my way to a birthday party. so i decided to just make my own, because duh.
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father’s day gift guide
if you’re having trouble coming up with something thoughtful and affordable for dad this year, i rounded up some gifts for all types of dads. and all under $50!
01. for the dad with feet, a shoe horn is a forever gift he’ll forever love.
02. for the cooking dad, inspire him to try DIYing charcuterie (and reap the benefits)
03. for the grill dad, a personalized bbq set, i mean duh.
04. for the fancy dad, a fancy (looking) brass money clip.
05. for the dad who still has his hair, a fancy (looking) brass comb.
06. for the hairy dad, the slickest looking shave set.
07. for the gardening dad, a pretty pair of scissors.
08. for the traveler or athletic dad, a handsome duffel.
09. for the dapper dad, a dad themed pocket square.
10. for the beer drinking dad, this makes beer foamy like from the tap.
11. for the game player, a fancy set of playing cards. -
happy weekend
it’s been soooo cloudy here for the past two weeks, so i’m looking forward to a sunny weekend! we’ve been trying to figure out our situation, and we’ve started looking at houses and gathering loan options. since we both have odd job situations, it’s looking like it’s not going to be super easy – so we’re a little bummed but hoping we can make something work. i really want a house real bad. this adulthood stuff is hard. but i have some personal good news … we’re going to paris at the end of june! ok ok enough about me. i hope you guys have a good one!
⋅ therefore, should i be buying this?
⋅ also, now that i’m approaching 30, this is on my mind a lot.
⋅ but i won’t be using any of these.
⋅ this isn’t helping my house wanting cravings.
⋅ but how cute would this be for my future kids closet?
⋅ the easiest dress to wear to every summer wedding.
⋅ i neeeever use them all up. ever.
⋅ and HOW SMART IS THIS?! -
diy faux ceramic napkin rings
we weirdly don’t own one set of napkin rings, nor did we register for any — maybe because napkin rings are kinda out of style? are they? who knows. anyway, i decided to make some! as you guys know, i am still loving the faux ceramic look you can do with polymer clay + glaze, so i went along with it.
materials
- polymer clay
- clay roller
(or you can use a glass bottle) - toilet paper roll
- acrylic paint
- gloss glaze
01. condition your clay and make large clay balls (!), however many napkin rings you want to make.
02. roll out one at a time to a wider shape, as you see in the photo above (#2). then roll it out flat (#3) and wrap around your toilet paper roll to make sure it fits across. trim off the edges and roll back on.
03. gently press the overlapping edge onto the underlapping. then slowly and carefully remove from the tp roll. you can finesse the shape back to how it was once it’s off the roll.
04. bake according to your package directions. once baked and cooled, mix up some paint colors. you can see my napkin rings are multi-toned, this is because i was feeling very indecisive when i was painting, and kept removing and trying new colors on top of each other. i actually ended up liking the pinkish tones under the blue, so if you want that look, that’s how you get it.
05. water down your paint using actual water, and paint onto the rings. let dry.
06. using a tiny brush and black paint, carefully add the speckle pattern (or you can do it legit and actually thwap your brush at them. i’m too afraid of a mess to try that).
07. once dry, apply the gloss glaze. to avoid it sticking to the surface it’s drying on, you can continuously pick up and move them around.
oh and hey did you see on instagram i started a hashtag for reader projects? so if you try anything out on your own, hashtag it #almostmadeperfect!
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f21 faves
so like, spring is here. yeah yeah i suppose it’s been here, but it seems like the time we should stock up on summer stuff, right? ok. good. i’m glad we’re all in agreement on this. and most importantly… how cute is the swimsuit? it might look horrible on my larger chest but i am buying it anyway because yolo.
I WANT ALL THESE
swimsuit / blouse / sandals / hat / crop top / tote / cuff set / shift dress
