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learning, just because.

I have a fairly long list of skills I’d like to learn ‘one day’, and this weekend I finally made progress on one of them by taking a (free!) knitting class at the library.

My project at the end of class. Wobbly, but better than I would have done figuring it out on my own!

The sad part is that I really can’t remember how long it’s been (if ever) that I learned something in a group setting just for fun. Here, my only motivation is to learn something — not to earn a grade or be the best at it — but because I want to learn. Plus, after years of following online tutorials and trying to figure things out by myself, the experience of learning alongside others is just really fun.

a collaborative effort.

Something I’m learning to appreciate more and more is good collaboration. I think some of the best products out there are a result of people with different strengths and passions coming together to create an end product that each party couldn’t have accomplished alone.

Since Andrew and I are both designers, we always want to design and produce our own Christmas cards. But for the first time in six years, we decided to look outside of our own capabilities and resources to produce something truly amazing.

We came up with our concept, inspired by our love for letterpress and these business cards. Our goal was to create something simple that highlighted the message but would also make people think about how it was created. We contacted Concrete Lace, an Atlanta-based letterpress printer who we met at Indie Craft Parade this year. Katie was great to work with, and was kind enough to send a few photos of the process over so I can share. Our card has a blind embossed (letterpressed) message on a beautiful heavyweight cotton stock. We then dip-dyed each card to add color and interest.

Below are a few photos of the process — from letterpress to dyeing.

Concrete Lace Studio, photo courtesy of Katie Daniels

Letterpressed! photo courtesy of Katie Daniels

Testing the dipping process/mixing colors

Dipped cards drying

The final product

Although I love print design, I’m fascinated by the thought this card doesn’t use ink at all!

o christmas tree.

The prospect of not having an actual Christmas tree for a second year running was a gloomy one, so after looking at several different tree options, we finally settled on a small live tree. I’m so glad we did! It was fun unpacking all the ornaments that we never pulled out last year and remembering the ones we’ve purchased or been given. Here are a few of my favorite additions this year:

Crochet snowflakes purchased on Etsy last year.

Delicate tin icicles from Tinworks.

Porcelain pears from Crave Studio.

Now to finish choosing what will go under the tree!

winning.

If you’re a business owner or an artist, don’t miss this opportunity! Indie Craft Parade is giving away two ad spaces on the blog for the month of December. It’s very easy to enter and winners will be chosen next Friday the 25th!

Find out more info here.

two-day sale.

Over the past few months, I’ve been talking with Belle Chic — a deal site for handmade goods — about Two Over Zero, the line of paper goods Andrew and I started a few years back. This is really exciting because that front has been quiet for a while, due to Indie Craft Parade planning, etc.

Beginning this morning at 11 am (our time) you’ll be able to purchase some of our Two Over Zero products at a discounted price through their site. The Belle Chic offer includes all our Christmas cards and gift tags as well as my favorite flat thank you cards. Visit and shop the sale here.

I am so excited about working with this company. There are a few other deal sites for handmade goods out there, but none quite so well varied and curated as Belle Chic. (Check out the sale coming up after ours…bakers confections!)

While I realize that for handcrafted goods, deep discounts like this aren’t always the best option, for us and our Two Over Zero goods, it’s a perfect fit!

So if you’re like me and love a good deal, and Christmas is on your mind, check out the sale, going on for two days only!

a taste of New York.

One of my favorite parts about visiting New York is the wonderful shops and restaurants on every block. We had great success with food on this trip, probably because most of the places we went were recommended to us by friends who live there.

The first morning we hit up 5 Leaves, where we devoured our food before I ever thought of taking a photo of it. So we took one of ourselves instead, happy to have just eaten such amazing food and already loving our vacation.

Some of the other meals we had (some pictured, some not): gouda mac & cheese, meatballs from The Meatball Shop, cannoli and gelato at Fortunato Brothers, a burger and amazing macaroni & cheese at Brinkley’s, The Best Chocolate Cake in the World (quite possibly true), and Grimaldi’s Pizza.

We also made our way out to Brook Farm General Store, a beautifully curated collection of goods that we discovered online last year. It was a must-see on our list, and well worth the walk!

One of my favorite stops was By Brooklyn, just a few blocks from our hotel. This shop was handmade heaven. Everything in it — from chocolates and food to jewelry and skin care — was made by Brooklyn-ers.  I absolutely love the concept of this uber-local store, complete with regular classes and tastings. If you’re ever in Brooklyn, and want a taste of what’s local, make sure you find your way to this shop!

a parade of goodness.

Here’s a glimpse of the wonderful things we brought home from Indie Craft Parade last weekend. I had much more time to shop this year and it was wonderful! Along with these goodies for us, we bought several gifts I’m really excited about (but can’t share of course). Here’s what I can show you:

Clockwise from top: port wine caramel sauce from Sweeteeth / fingerless gloves and a cozy cowl by erin elizabeth (I’m so much more excited about these than I look!) / stitched cards from Common Thread / handmade collar for Riley from Tree Parlor / owl ornament from Once Again Sam*

Not pictured (but things I can still share): leather clutch from Sew Few / bag with leather handles from lightnest / grey braided leather bracelet from Happylooks / What if Greenville poster from Shed Labs

*I know this photo is blurry, but I could barely get a clear picture of the owl since Riley thought it was a toy for her and kept trying to eat it in one gulp. I love they way they’re looking at each other here!

hello, goodbye.

I can hardly believe the Parade has come and gone. This year went even smoother than last, and I enjoyed it more than I ever expected I could. Stress levels were way lower — maybe since we knew a little more what to expect — but I suspect it had more to do with the number of amazing volunteers we had. Somewhere between taking shopping breaks, I realized that all the work I put into Indie Craft Parade is probably for myself!

I love this event through and through. It’s a combination of all the things I love — art, craft, design, Greenville, new friends, good food. I feel so privileged to work on this with Erin for months and months, and then watch all the pieces come together in a single short weekend.

The booth where I spent most of my money, by erin elizabeth

I have lots more to say and purchases to share, but for now — if you missed Indie Craft Parade this year, you can see photos of the artists and their work in our growing Flickr pool. I hope these images can communicate even a little bit of the inspiration that was Indie Craft Parade!

Indie Craft Parade Treasury

My excitement for this year’s Indie Craft Parade is growing and growing, and this treasury of our 2011 Indie Craft Parade artists should provide a teeny glimpse into what I’m so excited about! We have 74 participating artists (view the complete list here), and about half of these are new this year!

Erin and I hung posters downtown this past Friday, and billboards start going up around Greenville tomorrow. Everything is starting to come together, and I can’t wait to see all these great artists and their work in September!