Retail Inspiration

With Memorial Day approaching, I finally forced myself to get away from my drawing table today. It's a hard thing to do, but I did it.  

Cracker Barrel always has the neatest gifts, especially when it comes to our patriotic holidays. This is the first time I ever saw red, white, and blue DOTS.

Here's a sassy, patriotic jumper for the little ones. Where was this dress when I was a kid?

Hats off to bright orange and tropical blue. Did someone say beach? I'm thinking of Tybee Island or St. Augustine at the moment.

Speaking of the beach, I'm currently working on a new nautical-themed design collection with lots of seashells. You know summer is right around the corner when the retail stores start showing their beach-inspired home decor and tableware. I love those sea-foam greens and shabby-chic colors.

Blue Daisies

The May 2011 issue of Bead Trends arrived on my doorstep yesterday. My mind drew a blank as to which project was scheduled to appear in this particular issue. It wasn't until I flipped through the pages that I stumbled upon my Blue Daisies project on pages 78 and 79.

This necklace is the companion piece to my earrings that were featured in the Earrings, Earrings, Earrings book (below) by Barb Switzer. The photographer for Bead Trends did a wonderful job photographing my necklace.

I particularly like the story that Tatia Meyer, editor of Bead Trends, tells about a designer who was discouraged by a jewelry instructor. The instructor said that no magazine would want the student's work. Well, it turns out that this student's work is published in this issue of Bead Trends.

I can't believe there are people who would act in such a childish way, especially a teacher.  I had a similar experience when I was seeking to learn metalwork many, many years ago. I approached a metalsmith at a local arts festival, and I asked her where she learned how to design jewelry. In a very nasty tone, she replied, "From the school of hard knocks."

Little did this woman know that her answer drove me even more to find a metalsmith instructor, which I did. A year later I saw that same woman at my very first craft festival. It turns out she couldn't take the competition from a young girl who had the same skills, and she actually picked a fight with me at the festival. Back in the day, there weren't many metalsmiths, and I think she was intimidated. Yes, there are definitely nuts out there.

On Trend with Buttons

While shopping at JoAnn the other day, I was thrilled to see the latest in patriotic home decor.

Do you think this is a cherry tree or an apple tree? Regardless, the buttons work well as either.

The buttons on this painted slate add that extra touch to the primitive-colored background.

It looks like we have more buttons here. Am I seeing a trend in patriotic home decor this year?

Let freedom ring.

The center of this star reminds me of an old, tin ceiling.

It appears that buttons are big in patriotic decor this year. Although they've always been a constant in the country/prim market, it's nice to see more buttons used in patriotic decor for this summer.

Happy Mother's Day

 Happy Mother's Day, Mom! You're the BEST!!!

Five-Minute Card

Perhaps you need a  Mother's Day card or a card for that special person. With minimal supplies, you'll be able to crank this baby out within a few minutes. Here's what you'll need to create this card.

Materials

* A piece of white construction paper
* Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue®
* Faber-Castell PITT "S" artist pen
* Scraps of decorative paper

Tools

* Fiskars paper edgers (scallop)

* Fiskars scissors

Instructions

1) To create the card, fold your construction paper in half, and then fold it in half again. 

2) Using the scallop paper edgers, cut a stem, leaf, four petals, and a center from your decorative paper.

3) Glue the stem in place with Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue®.

4) Glue the leaf, the petals, and the center in place. Let dry completely.

5) Draw light outlines around the flower with the Faber-Castell PITT artist pen.