Amanda Hawkins

spell with flickr

I just fell in LOVE with ‘Spell with Flickr’ by Erik Kastner, I could spend all night spelling out word after word after word. Once you’ve played with that a while check out Leo Reynolds’ Flickr, A M A Z I N G.

Up next:

I *heart* Ann Wood

Meet Rebecca, handmade by Ann Wood. She was my Christmas present year before last from Sam!

Visit Ann’s website to see more birds, ships and owls – all gorgeous! If you want to purchase something though you should subscribe to her RSS, email list and twitter. And be prepared to drop everything and buy RIGHT AWAY when something new goes up. It’s gone fast, for good reason.

Two months ago she did a Vintage fabric give-away on her blog, out of over 100 people to enter I was one of 5 winners! I was shocked to find this huge box of fabric outside my door –

So nice. Still trying to decide what to make, I’ll keep ya posted. xo

Ann Wood’s website :: blog :: @annwoodhandmade

Paperboat Capt’n

I’ve been following paperboatcaptain (aka Maria, an apprentice boatbuilder and artist from Germany) for a while on flickr. Her drawings/collages are whimsical w/bright colors and gorgeous textures.

AND THEN!
She contacted me a few days ago to share photos of her new little handmade organizer using my DIY Planner Templates, I almost fell out of my chair it’s SO cool!

Check out more photos of it and her lovely artwork on flickr.
Thanks so much for sharing Maria!

The internet’s a crazy place… you send these little pieces of yourself into space and every once in a while they find a little home and grow into something unexpected and beautiful. xo

Julia Pott, shoes and other news.

I saw a post on Julia Pott on Doodlers Anonymous the other day and FELL IN LOVE! She was having a sale (should’ve posted this before it was over, it’s still super affordable tho!) – So, I bought myself two and one for a gift for my sister for her birthday (surprise!). The two I ordered are below, check her shop for LOADS more!

Aren’t they wonderful?!

I was apparently on a crazy shopping spree ’cause I bought these shoes after seeing them on a Design Sponge post by guest author, Rei Jin. LOVE.

In other news, I’ve decided to TRY and update my blog more often and lighter. Changed the layout of this area a little so it’s not connected with the featured posts on the main page. Before I felt like every post had to be oh-so-important, now I’m just going to write whatever I feel like and not worry about it!

It’s official, President Obama!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/
“… and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.” – President Obama, January 20, 2009

Notebook Covers

Below are some of my favorite handmade notebook covers I’ve found through flickr over the last year. Incredibly beautiful & all so unique!

( ** Softcover Fabric Book by Erinzam *** Linen Covered Notebook by Small Means ** )

( ** Polar Bear Journal/Notebook by misspaq *** Caravan Notebook by snapdragonjane ** )

( ** Needlecase #1 by hens teeth *** Embroidered Notebook Cover by edwardandlilly ** )

Wall Calendars

DIY Planning isn’t just for notebooks!

Free People used yarn, cut-out letters, old wallpaper, blank sheet music, and other found papers and stapled it to the wall to create this monster wall calendar!

Chalkboards calendars are so wonderful to look at AND functional. Check out the tutorials linked below and this video tutorial by Martha Stewart on making your own wall calendar. With the right undercoats you can put chalkboard paint on just about anything! (Chalkboard Refrigerator!)

(*** 1. Erinowe’s Chalkboard Window + Tutorial *** 2. Geninne’s Studio Update *** 3. Jen Thompson’s Screen Door + Tutorial ***)

When we own a house I’m going to paint my studio just like Roland Emmerich’s Chalkboard Office. On the walls & ceiling, brilliant! Pair that with my dream floors (white-washed oak) & I’d never leave.

In stitches

Hello! I went to Joann’s on Friday to pick up some fabric for a new (secret!) project. I ended up leaving with a crazy book, Crazy Quilting – The Complete Guide. It has about a hundred different stitch and knot examples. I’ve been wanting to try freestyle embroidery ever since I saw the work of Takashi Iwasaki.

Here’s a sample:

Amazing right?! He has lots more to look at on his website: Takashi Iwasaki

Anyways, here’s my first attempt (in progress!)

I still want to add a lot but embroidery is SO much slower than the drawing that I’m used it. AND I really need to get off the computer and start on my new secret project which I’m VERY excited about. Here’s a hint!

And as a reminder, the newest addition to my workspace. Yes we can!

France’s Garden

I won this gorgeous print in a giveaway by Oiseaux the other day, it’s fantastic! Check out her prints for sale and her flickr.

Sewing & Thank You Notes

I made a bag this weekend that turned out so nice! I was inspired by this beautiful bag, by Morelle and followed this tutorial, on ‘Cut Out + Keep.’ I started a ‘make this’ folder and have added in tons of projects and tutorials I found over the weekend online – My mom recently bought me a sewing machine and I’m really starting to love it. I’ll be posting more about it here in the future and maybe make my own tutorial! I’m thinking of creating a notebook/pocket book to go with my DIY Planner template pages.

In other news, we haven’t sent out our wedding thank you’s yet. 2 1/2 months later! I’m sure that’s the hugest wedding faux pas of all time, but I’m hoping since they’re all handmade/stamped and have several 4×6 photos inside it’ll make up for it?! We started this afternoon and finished all of the cards and envelopes & I’m about halfway through all the messages inside, phew!