Summer crafts turned into a jewelry making obsession!

Arizona summers are HOT.  Being from the Pacific Northwest, we are used to milking every bit of a sunny day, from sun up to sun down.  But here in the desert, every day is sunny and when the temperatures reach the triple digits, we avoid the hot sun at all costs.  That means lots of time indoors.

We were looking for a fun craft to keep busy on hot summer days during summer vacation.  I have two girls who absolutely love dress up and go all out with makeup, costumes and accessories (I go a little bonkers with the costumery as well).  

My eldest daughter, now 11, is into anything steampunk (especially dress up), so she decided to try her hand at making steampunk-inspired charm necklaces after a visit to the craft store.  I put the word out on Facebook and her first seven pieces were sold within a few hours.  She was very excited and proud of herself and couldn't wait to make and sell some more.

In the past I'd made a few jewelry pieces for Deeds & Petunia, but never delved that deeply into jewelry making.  But in watching her work and helping her along, I discovered I too LOVED the creative process of jewelry designing.  Pretty soon my 9 year old was hooked as well, and before we knew it we had amassed a collection of jewelry that's designed around our love for imaginative play and favorite dress up - woodland/faerie, steampunk, or fable worthy.

We decided to try starting an Etsy shop called Odd Hazel.  The girls would keep making designs as it suited them and I would design alongside, run the shop and sell whatever we dreamed up.

I get to create alongside my daughters which never feels like work.  :)  Looking forward to see how Odd Hazel grows.

Wednesday Wonderful

Broken camera, day 30...or so.  Who knows exactly.   I haven't been blogging as much because I can't take pictures of what I'm working on* (boo!)  But I've been too busy working on some new goodies to keep up with the blog lately anyway (yay!)

So I think today I'll just show you some other folks' amazing work!  Here are my latest favorites:

I LOVE THIS.  I want to be a fairy and romp around in a meadow and drink dew drops from buttercups wearing this adorable shrug by TianaCHE.  It's 100% handmade and she donates a percentage of her sales to a charity for children with Leukemia.  Gorgeous!

Strawberry Fields Bolero Shrug, (Hand Felted & Beaded!) by TianaCHE, $199

 This dress makes me swoon.  I want to swoon in the dress.  I want to be wooed and swoon in this dress.  Vintage lace makes me all tingly...

Tea Dress in Vintage Lace by SohoMode, $280

 My nearly 100 year old house is very drafty.  I have lots of warm sweaters, but none of them are as pretty as this.  I think I need this.

Made to Order Handmade Aqua Cable Mohair Shrug by reflectionsbyds, $90

Letterpress Paper House Kit - Chandler Lane by 1Canoe2, $24

I'm kind of obsessed with letterpress.  This neighborhood needs to be on my mantel.  

My mantel needs to become Chandler Lane.

I love this tiny little print.  It reminds me of my little yellow haired daughter.  Tiny prints are perfect because they are interesting and beautiful and generally don't cost you an arm and a leg.  A great way to get a little piece of art that fits just about anywhere.

Doll/Tiny Canvas Print by TushTush, $20

Right now I'm working on the new Deeds & Petunia bridal hair accessory line, so I've been thinking about weddings constantly.  More so than I have thought about in oh, say 13 years or so.  (Man, that makes me feel old to type that out...)

 I came across this little number when making a treasury and just died over how cute it was.  If I were to get married again, this would be the dress.  I love the touch of blue.  So adorable.

Blue Bird Vintage Inspired Gown by YourFairytaleWedding, $699

Etsy is so full of amazing, creative, talented artists.  I think back to my pre-Etsy days and they seem so much less inspiring.  Etsy peeps are incredible!!!

*So when I get the camera situation sorted out I'll start posting pics of the new bridal line.  Lots of soft pastels, big soft flowers, feather pieces, birdcage veils, little bridal hats, and a vintage country bride kind of vibe.  The big photo shoot for the new line is the last weekend in January, and with the help of some amazing artist friends, I'm optimistic everything will come together just right!  If all goes well, you'll see the new items in my Etsy shop in early February.

Etsy Artist Feature: Green Pickle Shop

Let me introduce you to Aimee of Green Pickles!  

She is an adorable and talented gal who hails from North Yorkshire, England.  Aimee creates whimsical, versatile, vintage inspired hair accessories.  And she is newly married!  Congratulations!

Here are some of the very pretty things that she makes and sells in her Etsy shop:

Berry Beautiful Headband

Peaches & Cream Hair Comb

Blue Bird Hair Clip

(Perfect for holiday gift giving?  Just what I was thinking.)

Aimee was kind enough to answer a few questions to help us get to know her a little better.

Tell us a little about yourself and your Etsy shop
I started my blog at the end of last year as a place to post things that inspire or excite me, and beautiful images/ ideas as well as personal stuff that makes me tick. I've always enjoyed making things and found that I adored creating whimsical hair accessories from brass findings and vintage beads so I set up my little etsy shop. I'm still finding my way in the etsy world but I have 2 stockists of my items here in the UK and my fun hobby is slowly becoming a cute little business. In my spare time I enjoy sewing and crafting and playing the piano, as well as spending time with my new husband and our gorgeous neices!

Tell us 3 interesting things about you.
I can play the piano by ear (I don't read music).
I have an old VW Beetle painted emerald green.
I love God and try and share His love with as many people as I can.

Tell us 3 uninteresting things about you.
My favourite colour is Green.
I hate slugs - they are just so slimey and horrid.
I never dry my hair with a hairdryer, I just let it dry naturally.

What are your favorite materials?
Lace, brass findings, gorgeous fabrics, cute vintage buttons and beads.

What do you like to do when you're not crafting?
Jumping in puddles when it's raining, watching old movies with homemade popcorn, taking photos of flowers or bright lights, shopping for shiny shoes, trying to bake biscuits, playing the piano and playing fun make-believe kind of games at my nieces house with my family.

What inspires you?
My mum inspires me - she passed away when I was 19 and was always so positive and busy drawing or painting or sewing things. She believed in me and taught me most of what I know about crafting. My husband inspires me because he always encourages me to get the best from myself and supports me when I feel I can't do something! God inspires me - just look at His creation, that's the best thing ever made!

You can learn more about Aimee and her wonderful creations by visiting her
Blog: http://www.greenpicklesblog.co.uk
Etsy shop: http://www.greenpicklesshop.co.uk
Website: http://www.greenpickles.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-Pickles/170912046268725