Posts tagged ‘design’

I just finished making bridesmaids jewelry for a friend’s wedding.  This is the second wedding I’ve designed for, and I’d thought I’d share the process in case you’re considering doing custom work.

1.  I talked to the bride about her vision for the jewelry.  We discussed colors, materials, necklace shape, earrings, budget, etc.   She gave me a fabric swatch & photo of the dress.

I also asked her to bring anything else specific to give me the most accurate idea of what she wanted and didn’t want.  I suggested bringing: a few bead strands (to understand size, shape, colors, materials) and sketches, photos or actual jewelry (to understand shape, size, and perhaps pattern desired).  This meeting took about an hour.

The bridesmaids dress, but in a different color. Image from Eden Bridals.

2.  A few weeks later I showed her pictures of necklace ideas, shapes, and patterns I liked & my ideas for beads.  For this dress, I worked to make sure the beautiful dress embroidery was the main focus.  I wanted the necklace to compliment it but not take spotlight.  And for the earrings, I thought there was enough going on with the embroidery & necklace, so I suggested something very simple looking. Read more »

Vintage is in and has been for a long time now and my guess is that it is here to stay. Whether it’s clothing, jewelry, dishes or furniture, there is something truly lovely about beautiful vintage goods. The whiff of memory and nostalgia, the authenticity and uniqueness, the refreshing quality of something old made new again through use in a different age. Sustainability is also a factor – there are so many talented artists and designers recycling vintage into gorgeous new things and rescuing heaps of fabric, metal, woods and plastics from overflowing landfills in the process.

My personal style is quite simple and minimalist but within that I have a collection of elegant vintage jewelry, china and silverware, much of it gifts from my dear grandmothers. Jewelry is a popular topic here on Clever Nesting so I thought I would share a couple of ideas about how to wear vintage brooches.

The easiest way, of course, is to just pin them on. I love the look of a sparkly brooch on a coat or jacket and they are lovely on sweaters, especially as a substitute for buttons or clasps. Lately I’ve also been wearing several of my brooches as necklaces. This is such an easy thing to do: string a chain or ribbon through the closed clasp of the brooch, swing it over your neck and voila, a unique and creative accessory that will leave you smiling all day long.

If you already have a few prized hand-me-down brooches try looping them around your neck the next time you’re thinking of it. And if there’s nothing sitting in your jewelry box yet, ask around at the next family gathering to see what the generations before you may have stuffed away in their dresser drawers or start scouting antique shops, garage sales, consignment stores and other treasure troves. I highly recommend the latter as a fun, indulgent and inexpensive way to spend a day and spark your creativity and the former is a great way to share in stories from the past.

Read more about guest blogger Erica of Nest and Sparkle.

Like my new shirt? I have been planning this out in my head for a few weeks. I was just waiting until I had a free morning to get out some fabric paint.

I am using the profab sample pack of fabric paints which I picked up at Craft Akron. The print is made with a rubber floor tile from Zero Landfill (this is the project I alluded to on Monday) which from the get-go reminded me of argyle. I like the first run pretty well, but I have to research a little more to see about getting better coverage, etc. As I get better results I will be sure to post pictures.

I always love the vignettes in Anthropology.  They’re so unique & often use recycled items.  Sometimes I think the displays would be great artwork in my home; other times I’d use them for party decorations.  Here are some pics I took during my last visit.

Bike wheels surrounded by colorful pop bottle flowers

Pretty paper flowers cascading from the ceiling

Empty glass bottle display

TED-Technology, Entertainment, and Design-is a yearly conference where the world’s leading thinkers & doers speak on ideas that are shaping our future.  I’ve seen many of the talks online (most are absolutely insightful & amazing!), and just learned about the independently run TED event in Cleveland.  I already ordered my ticket.  But if you’re not in the Ohio area, here’s a list of TEDx events around the world.

Here are the TEDxCLE details:

Who:
Creators, catalysts, entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, designers, scientists, thinkers and doers.

What:
At TEDxCLE, TEDTalks video and live speakers spanning topics such as health care, urban revitalization, art, and product development will combine to spark deep discussion and connection amongst speakers and attendees alike.

Where:
The Capitol Theatre
1390 West 65th Street
Cleveland, OH 44102

When:
Friday, February 26, 2010 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Why:
Share Cleveland innovation, development and positive change with the world.

How:
Tickets for TEDxCLE can be purchased for $20 at The Capitol Theatre ticket booth or online.

If you care about good design in what you create and what you purchase, you must see the film Objectified.  It’s part of the design trilogy that began with Helvetica, and is specifically about manufactured items and the processes of making good design decisions.  It teaches us to think about the objects we use each day.  Why do we use them?  Do they add value to our lives?  What were the designers thinking when they created them?  Do they care only about money or will they think long & hard about the users’ needs?  And, are they thinking sustainably?

No only does this film push me think critically about the design, value, and sustainability of what I buy, but also about the items I create.  I don’t want my life cluttered with wasteful junk and short-lived objects destined for the landfills.  I think it’s great to spend our time, money, and resources on things that are of greatest value.

Here’s the jewelry display I put together for the Craft Akron Open House this past Saturday.  I used this metal tree candle holder and put business cards in the candle spots.  Then I made the earring tags from cereal boxes and cut a hole in the top of each so it slides over the metal leaves.

I bought these earrings almost a year ago and have never worn them.  I like looking at them, but I think the bulkiness of the bottom circle clashes with my face shape or hair length.  Anyways, I’ve finally altered them and love the new look.  Plus, I have 4 extra metal circles for another project!  Perhaps a coordinating necklace?

Fall 2009 Edition of Lonny Magazine

I never subscribed to Domino Magazine (sorry if I’m one of the reasons it failed) but I still check back issues out from the library when I need some inspiration. I just love looking at the inside of other people’s homes and the furniture they select.

Well, some of the staff from Domino Magazine have started a new endeavor call Lonny Magazine. The first issue is available online by following the link. I’ve been scanning the pages and I’m enjoying the layout, the design tips and the features on upcycling your own furniture in order to achieve the sense of style you are looking for.

Another fun thing about reading the magazine online is the live links you can follow by mousing over the pages. I saw the book The Self Sufficient-ish Bible on page 26, and clicked on it’s cover which brought me here in case I wanted to make it my own. Very cool!

I bought a black strapless dress with red ribbon & thread trim from Goodwill last week.  When I first get new clothing, I explore all the ways I can wear it.  I mix and match different shoes, jewelry, scarves, and other accessories and think about items to make or purchase to complete the look.  This way, I feel prepared when the occasion comes to wear the clothing; there’s no scrambling to find matching jewelry or last minute shopping trips for shoes.

For this dress I want to be bold with my jewelry & subtle with shoes & the purse (I’ll wear black shoes and carry a black purse.)  For the necklace I visualize something mostly red with some black accents, and maybe I can use a black ribbon and black findings as well.  If the weather’s nippy, I’d also like a scarf or shawl in black with a thin, loose knit (and maybe it has a yarn rose pin on it!)

So, I explored my bead and yarn stash.  The only things I came up with are black satin ribbon and some red beads.  I’d love to use these beads because they’re a broken strand I inherited from my grandma, and I’m a little sentimental.

The next thing I need to do is go shopping and look for more beads, findings, and yarn to begin these projects.  I’ll keep you updated!