Image only interview with Diane of Crafty Pod

Hey all! I'm stopping by today to share a pretty cool interview I did with a blog friend of mine Diane Gilleland. Diane is the genius behind her blog Crafty Pod where she shares tutorials, resources & has some great online classes & pod-casts to help you grow your online businesses & she's even written a handful of e-books!  She does it all!

Diane recently started these fun image-only interviews with other fellow bloggers & crafters & I knew I had to get in on it! The lovely interviewees (if you will) come up with their own gorgeous photos to illustrate the interview & it makes for an interesting peek into someone else's world.
Want to see how you do an interview with no words? Come check it out here to find out!!! It won't disappoint!

(Hint: You mouse over the images to see the caption of the photo where I give my answers) 

Fun Friday: This & That

Hey everyone! I hope you're gearing up for a great weekend coming up! I have some household things that need tending too as well as decking out our house for fall finally! I'll be sure to snap some pics to share with you.

Speaking of pictures, its been a while since I shared some happenings with us lately. Its really not much, the hubs & I don't get any time together during the week so on the weekends we try & get out even if its just for a walk somewhere together. Sorry in advance for some of the grainy cell pics, I keep forgetting to get pics in the daylight!

2 weekends ago we went to a nearby park & walked some trails & stopped to enjoy a beautiful view of the lake...

It was so refreshing to literally just sit there holding hands, talking & enjoying the beautiful view. Sometimes I need help learning to just slow down & enjoy where I am & this particular morning was just what I needed! We enjoyed it so much, I know we'll be going back there soon.

A few nights ago I came home to this little chirper who was desperate for some attention so she followed me around the house all night, good thing she's cute.

The hubs & I were running some errands one Saturday morning & stopped for some coffee. We hardly ever treat ourselves but when we do, we go all out...*inhale* I'llhaveagrandesoysaltedcaramelmochaandturkeybaconbreakfastsanwhichplease! *phew, exhale*
Haha! Ok, so it wasn't exactly like that but I feel important when I get a specialty drink & snack at the local coffee shops around here. And to sweeten the treat I whipped out my crochet coffee cozie & slipped it on my cup to keep my drink warm, my fingers cool & added some instant flair to my "running errands" outfit. :-)

(Get a custom cozie here)

Earlier this week the hubs had these pink pretties in a vase in front of the coffee pot with a note for me before I headed off to work. I had been having a rough week & he thought they would brighten up my week & they sure have. Love him!

And earlier this week on my personal Facebook page I posted this picture of a custom order I'm working on & challenged my friends to guess what I was making & the winner would get a cookie. :-) It was so fun & hilarious to see some of the responses of what it was & gave me an idea of a new series I hope to start on one or all of my social media outlets soon!  

How about you? What do you think this is?

Happy week-ending to you all!

 

Glass displays

Happy Monday all! Is everyone loving the crisper & cooler days like I am lately? Makes me want to snuggle up with some yarn & a hook & make myself a blanket. :-)

I wanted to share a beautiful project I did recently for some up coming craft shows. I've been needing a few smaller scale but nice looking displays for my booth & decided to go with glass. I had some old small glass bowls & depression era dessert plates to use in conjunction with some dollar tree candle sticks (gotta love those!) & I just gorilla glued them together. I know, I know, don't kill me for "ruining" the plates, from what I hear they can be pretty valuable but I have a bunch of them & I used the ones that weren't in the "best" condition so I didn't feel so bad about gluing them. Here's the "loot" I started out with, I ended up using 3 of the candle sticks, 2 plates & one bowl. The ice cream Sunday looking cup I ended up using to put my business cards in & they looked perfect in there but I forgot to get a picture; I will soon though at the next show & I'll be sure to share it. 

 I wanted a 2 tier plate stand & one small bowl stand to put smaller things in like hair barrettes, brooch pins & other small shop accessories in so just followed the directions on the glue bottle; wipe, glue & clamp. Simple as that! Be sure not to use too much glue though because it expands as it dries (hence the clamping) so be sure to wipe any excess you might have as it dries. I checked on it a few times as it was drying & I just picked away at any extra glue that was trying to seep out.

Here is the finished product of the 2 tier stand. Its not huge since I used smaller plates but with the 2 candle sticks, it measures a little over 8 inches high. I was pretty happy with how it came out...

The detailing on the plates give just enough interest & depth, I really love it! It'll be perfect to display jewelry or headbands on...

And here is the bowl & single candle stick, it looked like a glorified wine glass to me when finished & I debated using another plate at the bottom but once its filled it actually looks pretty nice...


What do you think? Would it look better with a plate at the bottom or should I leave it as is? Have you taken some glue to make something pretty lately?

I'm baaaaaaack!!!

Hello all! Loooong time no hear from huh? I know, my sincere apologies for the lack of posts lately. I honestly can't believe that time has gone by so quickly & its already fall! My summer had me chained to a regimen that wouldn't allow much time for play so its been nice to get back to a regular creative & crafty routine for once. I'm doing my best to play catch up & have a bunch of new posts I can't wait to share with you! I'll start ya out slow though... :-)
I recently created my "about" page in my Etsy shop & am loving sharing a bit more about me, why I run my shop & why I love it. I hope you can stop by & leave me a comment to let me know what you think. I plan on adding a few more photos to it soon once I get them edited.
I've also been working on some new jewelry & crochet pieces that I'm using in some upcoming craft shows; if I'm ever able to build up enough inventory! But I promise you'll all be the first to see all the new goodies before I bring them to the shows. They'll all be available in the shop for purchase soon too! I'm just working out a few tweaks here & there with a few of the new jewelry pieces I'll be listing.

Here's a sneak peek! 

I hope you like it & I hope to see all you lovelies around as I play catch up these next few weeks!

How was your summer?

Whimsical Wednesday:: Product Packaging Inspiration

Hey Everyone! Its been a busy few weeks in the stitchy household, I'm doing my best to catch up with posting & its been getting the best of me but I shall prevail! (shaking fist in the air)

I'm so excited that I just registered for my first of a few craft shows that I plan on attending this season. Last year I shared about some shows where I was a vendor here & here last year & they were SO much fun! As I prepare & make inventory lists I've also been rethinking some of my packaging. The packing methods I use now are fine & well but I'm looking for more of a streamlined look & also a different look for orders from the shop & orders at shows. At my last few shows I just used plain white paper bags with a business card stapled to it & when I send orders out in the mail I've been sticking with using my custom tags from Anna & Blue Paperie & attaching them to my products with some jute string or pretty yarn.

I also make these little product pouches with clear cellophane & card stock with the same tag attached on top, there are pretty appealing at shows & ship well too.

I think for the most part I'll still use these methods but try to incorporate some newer methods too. So what did I do? I took to my Pinterest boards for some crafty, packaging inspiration. 

(Follow me here)

I'm in LOVE with these cheveron paper bags for shows.

Check out these lovely boxes with YARN wrapped around them! Dy-ing! They're so clean & simple with a business card or two tucked in the side but I think these would work better for mailing orders.

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I love these pillow boxes too for smaller items like jewelry & I could still use my tag on them or use a stamp with my business logo in place of the monogram.

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Check out this gorgeous burlap & lace! So pretty!

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I was pretty amazed at finding so many uses for brown paper packing (Tied up with string!!!!!! Ok, I just had to, that's my most favorite movie EVER!)

Check this one out with the baker's twine in it, so simple & sweet.

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Check these sweeties out with those round neon stickers you use for pricing at a yard sale & some jute wrapped around it.

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More pretty brown, pillow boxes embellished with washi tape & stickers that might not be too bad to use at a show.

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I love all these accessories you can use to personalized & embellish your products & give it a one of a kind, special touch. :-)

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What about you?
Do you have any good ideas for product packaging?