Cheery Holiday Card

I saw this during my morning blog read over at Apartment Therapy. I literally laughed out loud at my computer. If I were the cardbuying type, this is the one I'd pick up to send out this year. Get them from Paper Source $16.95 for eight.

Bedroom Makeover

Over the Christmas holiday (mine is longer as a full time student) I will be swapping the craft room and master bedroom. When we first moved into our three bedroom house, it didn't occur to me that we should pick any room other than the largest for our master bedroom. After about six months, I'm realizing how much extra space there is around my bed and how squinched our combo craft room-guest bedroom has become. In our new master bedroom I'm going for a vintage-cozy-chic-farmhouse in the mountains-worn quilt sort of vibe. This gray and yellow pallet fits well. It also takes advantage of the gray coverlet we already have. I'll be making my own version of the West Elm duvet but in negative. I have some large white sheets that I'll be printing with an antiqued gold in a similar pattern then sewing up into a quick duvet cover (Hint: future post). Our old nightstands (from Wesley's parents) will get a fresh coat of paint on the bottom and a dark stained top similar in style to the table above from the Miss Mustard Seed blog. The walls need to be painted, but other than that, the room will mostly be things I already have just in a different room. I made sure to take a "before" picture and will be excited to post the before and after photos in a few weeks.

Chalkboard Paint in the Kitchen

My husband Wes recently built a cabinet that provides extra storage and counter top space for our kitchen. The side that faces our open-to-the-kitchen living room and dining room needed a little something. Since we entertain frequently, I decided to use chalkboard paint to make it fun yet utilitarian. I bought Folk Art chalkboard paint in Slate Gray from Amazon. An 8 ounce jar cost about $10. I had to use three coats instead of the two recommended to get a really good coating on my cabinet. Be sure and sand your surface well before painting. I use my chalkboard to keep an updated list of all of the soda we have in house. We literally buy 15 cases of soda when it's on sale, so we have a lot of variety to offer to all of our guests. This list makes it well known what we have to offer instead of having to ramble off ten different sodas each time someone asks what we have to drink. Write the evening menu, grocery list, or the daily chores on your kitchen chalkboard or use it as a drawing station for your kids or guests.

Paper Pom Poms

Pom poms seem to be a wedding staple these days. I can see why. They are inexpensive, you can make them yourself, and they easily fit into any color scheme. If you're not in the crafty mood, you can purchase ready-to-assemble pom poms from the Martha Stewart collection at both Michael's and Wal-Mart. Or, support someone else who loves to craft by purchasing them on Etsy. I know either way these pom poms take some time to be ready for an event, so fluff yours out ahead of time. For your own flare, use a few slightly varied shades or patterned paper. I could see mini poms topping cupcakes, a garland of poms twirled around a banister for any Holiday, or a scattering of bright poms hung from a tree for an outdoor party. Below is a link to MS for instructions and some additional inspiration.

• Instructions from the meticulous Martha Stewart
  
  
• Texas Brides know how to use their pom poms
  
  
• A Once Wed twist: fabric pom poms

2311 N. East Street in Springfield: Furniture, dishes, things from Germany...

2514 S. Joplin in Joplin: Furniture, jewelry, linens, lotsa misc...

A Big Decision Made! My Planner for 2011

If you're any kind of planner you will dearly appreciate this post. I love to plan. I love my planner. I write down all sorts of things in it. I love keeping lists, I like having it with me at all times, and I often doodle in the margins or the entire space of a day gone by. If you're like me and you are, "how do you say?"--beezy, then a planner is just the ticket to keep you from forgetting where you're supposed to be and when. Getting the upcoming year's planner is exciting to me. What will this next year hold? After a quick browse on Etsy, I've decided on this decidedly simple planner from redstarINK. Notice the description, "If you like making lists and check items off, this is the planner for you." It's like she read my mind! I feel that, as a girl with a lot going on, it's nice to have a planner just like this. Note this, redstarINK also has an academic calendar that I would have purchased if I did not already have a planner for this fall semester. I'll be opting for the red/black version.

Like CRC on Facebook

If you're a fan of becoming a fan of things you are already a fan of on facebook, become a fan of Carly Robinson Crafts right here.

Bathroom Shelf = Tidy Countertop

I think an easy trick to making your house look tidier is keeping things up and off counter tops. The bathroom vanity is no exception. I installed a simple shelf above my vanity to keep all of the items I use daily within reach without cluttering up my counter. I hot glued the hook from hook and eyes right to wall to store and display three of my favorite brooches. The hooks are just the right size to hold your jewelry without being too noticeable.You can also hot glue hooks inside your cabinet to hang necklaces. It keeps them from getting tangled, keeps them out of little boxes so you'll actually wear them, and is a nice bit of sparkle whenever you open your cupboard. If you find it difficult to get your chunkier jewelry on the hook, bend it out a bit before you glue it to your wall or cabinet.

Sage Dawson of Map Mint

I'm so delighted to be posting my FIRST artist interview with the incredibly talented, personal friend, Sage Dawson. Below is her interview and links to see her stuff.

Name: Sage Dawson

Site: MAP MINT

Where did you go to school?
I went to Missouri State University where I completed a BFA in Painting & Printmaking. Then I moved to New Mexico where I attened the University of New Mexico and completed an MFA in Printmaking with a minor in Museum Studies.

Current Occupation: Professional Artist & Part Time Faculty member at Missouri State University

What is your dream job?
I go back and forth between working full time in my studio or accepting a full time teaching position at a research institution that majorly supports faculty's creative research. I really like what Portland State University is doing & I'm a big fan of interdisciplinary programs.

How did you get started?
I had an interest in art early on and at some point decided I was interested enough to take a couple college level classes. From there, my interest and desire to learn grew and I decided to major in art. I was fortunate to work with a handful of faculty that were passionate and engaged in contemporary practices.

How would you describe your work?
Map-based works rooted in concepts related to the identity of spaces and how their production and destruction affects people. The work relies heavily on landscape, personal experience, and sense of place.

What sort of materials do you use?
Most of my work is created using mixed media and printmaking processes. Lately I've been working with handmade paper, gold leaf, collography (relief printmaking), silkscreen, vintage maps & embroidery.

Where do you find inspiration?
When in need of inspiration, first I'll head to the library to pick up new books. I also spend time online looking at artist websites and bookmarking them at my Pinterest Boards for future inspiration. There are a number of blogs I stop by every morning (cup of coffee in hand) which help make each morning bright.

I'm fortunate to feel a strong sense of community with artists and designers I've met online through my blog Map Mint and artists/art historians/curators I met in college and through exhibitions and lectures. I'm also indebted to my friends and mentors, many of which are incredibly gifted in their fields of study.

What is the hardest thing about being an artist?
I think there many misconceptions, like any other field. Successful art, in my opinion, is not just formalistically considerate, but considers content, involves considerable research and time, and is public and communal in nature. It's also hard to fund projects and to split my time between teaching and art making. I love academia though, it's just a challenge to transition from one to the other because the two are often very different.

How long does it normally take to finish a piece?
It varies depending on the scale and intricacy of the piece. This has ranged from a few hours to working steadily on a piece for a couple years.

What has been your proudest moment (in relation to your art, work)?
The day I finished "Itinerary Map West Through Space & Time" was one of my best moments. The piece is 24 feet x 8 feet roughly and it's a mixed media print. This piece was difficult to complete because the printing process was so indirect. As a result, much of the piece is hand-printed with a spoon. It was physically exhausting due to the scale and it took me a year and half (working 40-60 hrs each week) to finish the piece.

Also ranking up there with best moments, is every time I've sold a piece. I love it when my work finds a good home.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to go to art school or work in an art related field?
Surround yourself with people who are honest about your work, no matter how difficult it is to hear. Be self-motivated. Accept responsibility for your work and be honest with your public.

What do you like to do besides your main work?
I like evening walks in my neighborhood with my husband and our pup, thrifting, time with friends, embroidering and restoring my 1960s era motorcycle. I love sweets...so I'm often baking something or talking my husband into an Amy Cakes cinnamon roll.

Do you think someone can learn to be a better artist?
Yes, art making is a lot like learning anything else. Some people have a natural gift, but most artists had to start from scratch to learn the principles to create successful compositions. When I started making art for the first time I was unsuccessful, but what I had going for me was a commitment to practice until I learned skills that became second nature.

A Place to Buy Bottles

Thanks, Apartment Therapy, for recommending Specialty Bottle. If you're in need of bottles or containers you can purchase just a few or oodles of them from this site. There are so many options in plastic, glass, tin, and aluminum. You do have to pay shipping, and it seems as though it starts at $5 and goes up with weight. This site would be especially handy if you are in need of some containers for your home made lip balm, spice blends, or caramel popcorn.