You Say "Couture," I Say "Coture"

Let's NOT call the whole thing off! 

At least not until you've checked out the amazing work of Maryum over at yarncoture, the EtsyTwitter Team Shop of the Week. You will see the most wonderful variety of knitted and crocheted items. I think this Lariat is just gorgeous!

  Knit Lariat Bloom in Red

From her profile:

Yarncoture is run by a stay at home mom of 5. I have been knitting for over 3 years and crocheting since I was a young girl. I have always liked to fashion together the unusual and extraordinary, as past customers have told me, "you should open your own shop!" I love to work with colors and designs that awaken the senses, catch the eye and simply "wow" you! My motto is "never give up your dreams, even if only you see them come true", so I invite you to discover the 'yarncoture' in you!

SPECIAL OFFER THIS WEEK ONLY: yarncoture is offering Free Worldwide Shipping on SELECTED items, Free Shipping on EVERYTHING shipped within the U.S. and Canada, 20% off on all Basketweave Knit Scarves and 20% off on all Amazing Chunky Skinny Scarves
 

Read the original post http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com/2010/08/shop-of-week-yarncoture.html

Check out her latest Fall Collection video as well.

• On Etsy: http://www.yarncoture.etsy.com
• Follow @yarncoture on Twitter.
• Follow her blog http://www.yarncoture.blogspot.com
• 'Like' her on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HandKnitsbyYarncoture
• Follow @PunkyJane on Twitter.
• "Like" Punky Jane on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PunkyJaneJewelry
• Follow @EtsyTwitrTeam on Twitter

Just Breathe

I've been reminding myself to do that a lot lately. 

We're in one of those crazy phases in our lives right now with so much change it's hard to keep up. The light at the end is bright and we know we'll get there soon, but no routine and no consistency is tough on my "plan-everything-try-to-maintain-control" personality!

This ring is one of the first pieces I created when I started Punky Jane almost two years ago, and it's still one of my favs!

And I wear mine everyday...just in case I forget.

JUST BREATHE RING by Punky Jane

Taking Itty Bitty to a Whole New Level

When I look at the work of my buddy Vickie Porter of In My Head Studios, I always think to myself (after I take in the pure art and beauty), "I seriously could never do that!" The obvious patience and attention to detail she has astounds me. Just look at the detail in this piece....

Sophisticated Squares -
Altered Domino Jewelry Pendant - Upcycled Recycled

This gorgeous necklace is made from a colorful collage that "is a tiny print of a larger work of art that I made specifically for my domino pendant jewelry. The collage was done with a variety of papers, rubber stamps, acrylic paint, and ink. It is printed with high quality archival paper and ink."

Vickie says "I have a seriously good/bad relationship with perfectionism so my customers can rest assured they are getting top quality materials and artwork. It’s sometimes hard to tell in photos online, but the dominoes and microscope slide glass pendants have real tiny paper collages on them. I work with ridiculously small pieces of paper sometimes."

From her profile:

I HAVE to make art like I have to breathe! There were just never enough papers, markers, or bottles of glue in my house growing up… I used it all up so fast! Now I cannot stop! I am so grateful to be an artist and have a place to share my work.

SPECIAL OFFER THIS WEEK ONLY: FREE shipping to anywhere from August 16-22! Discount applied through prompt PayPal refund. No need for coupons or codes! 

Read the original post http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com/2010/08/shop-of-week-inmyheadstudios.html

• On Etsy: http://inmyheadstudios.etsy.com
• Follow @inmyheadstudios on Twitter.
• Follow her blog http://inmyheadstudios.blogspot.com
• 'Like' her on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/InMyHeadStudios
• Follow @PunkyJane on Twitter.
• "Like" Punky Jane on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PunkyJaneJewelry
• Follow @EtsyTwitrTeam on Twitter

It's all about the backpack

In our house, back to school always means a new backpack, lunch box, and cool supplies to fill them up. 

While shopping with two under-10 girls is no easy task, they've learned to make their selections from the displays with a big "SALE" sign above or those wonderful little orangey-red clearance stickers at Target. Good girls!

This year, Tinkerbell's sparkly fairy wings and Paul Frank's space monkeys won. The Tinkerbell pack even came with a little velcro band for the front so the wearer looks like she's wearing a skirt. Pretty cute.

School started extremely early for us this year. The hardest transition, of course, was bed time and then getting up earlier, but these two packs helped make the first day of school even more exciting.

Let's hope the excitement (and the packs!) hold up for awhile!

The Before [and a little bit during]

It's finally done! Well, almost. 

Anyone who's taken on a DIY project around the house knows that the word 'done' is an elusive little bugger.

I guess it's safe to say that I'll be able to move my Punky Jane studio into the new space soon. And to be a little more specific: very soon.

I thought I'd share a few pictures of the transformation. 

First, THE BEFORE:

[The old tool room]

After emptying out the room, I had to test paint colors right away. Stormy Sea or Frozen Pond? 

Frozen Pond wins! I love the way it looks with the white ceiling and the flooring that my sweet husband rescued from the dump. [note the whacky angle of the wall. The room started out with this odd shape...it's not just leaning!]

We have a running joke in our house that he comes home from the dump with more than he took. But when I look at this floor and the bike he built for our 8 year old from 'dump parts,' I can't help but be impressed.

More pictures to come as we move furniture and tools in over the next couple of weeks!