Daisy Janie

sharing | a few handmades from Maine.

We went a-travelin' last week to the great state of Maine, specifically Mt. Desert Island and even more specifically Bar Harbor. We went in '96, which was before J was born. Acadia National Park is what the island is really all about, and it's magical! More on that in another post. I sure hope 16 years won't pass again before we head back for a visit.

There are many more shops and restaurants in downtwon Bar Harbor than I recall from our '96 trip, and I'm glad the area is thriving. I poked around in a few shops with handmade wares while we strolled the downtown.

Spruce & Gussy was wonderful! I could have (and would have) spent an entire afternoon there, but my menfolk companions were hovering on the sidewalk. As a fan, supporter and part of the indie / handmade community, Spruce & Gussy hits all the marks. Jewelry, personal accessories, home accessories, art, paper goods, books, crafting materials, etc. Art from Jennifer Judd-McGee ~ who is from this area ~ was featured prominently, which was a double thumbs-up from me b/c I've been a long-time admirer of her work. With the essence of Acadia fresh in my mind's eye, it's easy to see now how the gorgeous landscape and flora of this place has inspired Jennifer's artwork.

I picked out a few handmades to bring home...

wool yarn | Nash Island Fog by Starcroft (Maine)

hair accessory | Caron Miller (California)

hammered silver earrings | handmade at Spruce & Gussy (Maine)

large porcelain buttons | Lacey Goodrich (Maine)
*purchased from Island Artisans

random things listed | cotton-linen blend scraps.

The following items are listed in Daisy Janie's retail shop in the Bits & Bobs Destash section.

These are the very, very last scrappy remnants of my Damsel collection from 2008.

Digitally printed on a luxe 6 oz. cotton-linen blend fabric.

From $2.25 - 28.25, depending upon size.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tune-in next Monday for another addition of Random Things Listed!

 

random things listed | hand-dyed organic muslin.

The following items are listed in Daisy Janie's retail shop in the Bits & Bobs Destash section.

Mid-weight organic muslin, hand-dyed with low-impact dyes. By Noonday Textiles.

From $8 - 19.50, depending upon size.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You can see more of these pieces in my Bright Lights, Big City quilt pattern below. Pattern also available in the retail shop!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tune-in next Monday for another addition of Random Things Listed!

 

pretty Tilly pillows (say that 10 times fast).

image (c) Kel's Cozy Corner

Because Daisy Janie's fabrics are sold wholesale to shops, it's not often that I see what the end consumer is making and creating with my fabrics. Today, I did a quick "daisy janie" search on etsy and found these pretty Tilly pillows in Kel's Cozy Corner shop. I was elated! Her pics are so nice, and I love that dreamy band of chocolate fabric between Flourish and Trellis Dusk.

Even tho I live & breathe my fabrics 24/7, I was awestruck by these fabrics on her pillows for some reason. Like, "Wow! That is nice fabric!" - as if I was seeing it for the first time. I haven't experienced that feeling so powerfully with anything in a long time! You know how you make something or write something, and you try to sneak up on it by walking out and back into a room; or you re-read your words pretending you're someone else? And you get all perturbed b/c it's impossible to make something really familiar seem novel so you can re-judge it? That kind of fresh perspective eludes me with my fabrics, which is all the more reason I was glad to experience that glistening-morning-dew moment this afternoon with these pillows! Aaaaah.

Feeling refreshed...

image (c) Kel's Cozy Corner

Okay. Did you try to say "pretty Tilly pillows" 10 times fast? I just tried it very loudly and very declaratively - in the jumble of words, another word for b**b came through! I laughed out loud b/c it was like hearing my evil twin yell profanity out at me!!

i've been doodled!

The effervescent Aimee at artsyville doodled me up in her new Tuesday feature, "In the Drawing Room." Go see!

For this feature, she took random snippets of info as if we were chatting in her drawing room like proper ladies, and she created a hand-drawn, hand-lettered patchwork of all the juicy nuggets. Things like: what I do when I'm mad (which I've done way too much in 2011), on what fare I judge the quality of a restaurant, where I'd like to live for a year, etc.

What Aimee couldnt' fit into her crazy doodle quilt is something I think I've hidden from you for far too long, and I think it's time I let the cat out of the bag. There's no easy way to tell you this: I was voted funniest girl of my 9th grade class. Yes, yes, it's true - they passed me over for most likely to succeed, smartest, most athletic, best musician - all the real ones. (I wonder where all those winners are now.) For this official award, I was granted the privilege of having my picture taken with the funniest boy for our school newsletter, wherein we gave each other rabbit ears for the illustrious image. Because that's what funny people do when they're on the spot. Remember that.

I must warn you, Aimee's doodles and lettering will draw you in (pun intended) in a big way! Her perspective and witty repartee add such a refreshing dimension to her work and to the creative blog-o-sphere in general. I have some of her artwork hanging around our house - the print below hangs in my studio above my sewing machine. Needs to be there. Visit Aimee's etsy shop to see all her vivid, clever doodles.

behold | quote print from pixel cloud.

This quote print from pixel cloud is so on the money! Cracked me up.

$20 in the pixel cloud shop

customized polarity pendants with a few of my designs.

Above, l to r:
annika metro, boxwood avalon, annika parkside, hip squares, arches
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'm not only a scarfoholic as I admitted last week - I've also got quite the 'oholic' to pendants and necklaces, too. Cat Ivins from Polarity makes these really unique magnetic necklaces, where she combines art with recycled steel auto parts to create 3-in-1 interchangeable lockets. As a sweet surprise, she sent a set to me a few years ago as a thank you for featuring her work on my old blog, Scoutie Girl. Such a cool concept for a pendant! It's in my cycle of about 5 necklaces that comprise my daily standbys.

Recently, I had Cat customize another set for me, using a couple of my surface designs (shown above): hip squares from my Geo Grand collection and arches from my Sketch collection (not fabric yet). They turned out great!!!

I asked her to choose the 3rd locket lid in my order b/c I wanted to be surprised. She sent along the antique sewing machine & the dress form - big smiles from me when I opened the package!!! Thanks Cat! Check out her shop, Polarity, to see what she has that might suit your style!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The locket cover below was in my suprise package the first time around, and it's like wearing a little amulet with secret powers! (Is it redundant to suggest an amulet has secret powers?!)

LEAP!

in my hand | mail from artsyville.

These much-needed, very motivating cards from Aimee of artsyville were a sweet surprise in my mailbox last Saturday. She and I have experienced our worlds colliding  in the oddest ways  on occasion, and this was right on par. Thank you, Aimee, for sending these words along just when I needed to hear / see them.

Do you know artsyville? Do you know Aimee's blog? If not, hop over! I've been lucky enough to be soaking up Aimee's doodles and insights for a few years now - she percolates some seriously witty, imaginative, inspirational and smart art via her doodles and creative explosions. You will not be disappointed! I've posted about Aimee's work a few times, and here's one from last, last year that made my day!

Go visit!
artsyville etsy shop | artsyville blog

today | heart-to-heart #44 on scoutie girl is forest green.

 

This is a preview of my 44th heart-to-heart post on Scoutie Girl. Click on over to see who these fabulous makers are and where you can find them. And by all means, take your time perusing all of Scoutie Girl - you will not be disappointed with Tara's posts about mindful spending and creative living as well as the bounty of art and topics covered by her guest posters!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"What's this 'heart-to-heart' post you speak of, Jan?" Well, I'll tell ya!

Each week, I hop from one etsy shop to another, following the hearted faves of each shop owner as I go. Wherever I leave off one week is where I start the next, which has created a progressive heart trail that is now 44 posts long.

I try to keep the look thematic - kinda seeing what develops as I click through the first 2-3 shops. It can be quite a challenge. Sometimes I get lucky at finding the perfect fit right away - other times, I am very bummed at hitting a dead-end when a shop owner makes their favorites private (esp when they had JUST the right item to feature!). I've learned to check each shop's favorites tab BEFORE getting too excited!

Here is a review of some recent h2h posts. These can all be viewed / read in full at Scoutie Girl. See the themes?

fabric sighting | restyled vintage chair (you can get one, too!)

above: cane barrel chair restyled with Daisy Janie's Maxie fabric in organic cotton hemp canvas.

Wendy from Gussy emailed the Maxie chair before & after back in March - I flipped my lid when I saw it and the many, many others she has redone.

With a talented knack for seeing the good bones and lines in vintage chairs, she refurbishes her finds one by one - giving each a completely unique and original new look. She has a gallery of "unGussy'd" chairs from which customers can select for a redo - and she'll work with you on fabrics, finishes, upholstery and woodwork. You can also buy an already restyled chair in her Gussy etsy shop.

I always, always look at piping details on furniture, and Wendy does this soooo well. A small detail that speaks volumes about the overall quality of the work! Please stop by Wendy's website and check out her chair portfolio.

Check these out...

Parfait.

Lark.

Nordic Summer.

Ripple.