Handmade Archives «

Desert Edition

June 6, 2018July 13, 2018
by Ashley Gossens

I’ve been inspired by desert tones lately- sage green, dusty pink, and sandy tan. Here are some handmade picks I found to celebrate them. 🙂

Ceramic Cactus Mug by Pottery Lodge

Holy cats, I love these mugs. I bought so much prickly pear tea in Arizona and I want to do is drink it all from one of these sweet sweet mugs. The maker, Casi, is from Texas and learned to make ceramics by watching her grandmother make pottery. She learned the basics and then taught herself more advanced techniques meanwhile growing her own art business. She’s got a spunky style that I appreciate and each piece is made by hand with love.

Prickly Pear Enamel Pin by The Swanky Cactus

If you are obsessed (like I am right now) with prickly pear cactus, this adorable enamel pin is the best way to display your love. The talent behind the Swanky Cactus comes from a fellow Ashley who is inspired by strange forest fungus and moss. A girl after my heart! I fell in love with the prickly pear on our recent trip to Arizona and this fun pin brings me back to the desert with its bright colors.

Desert Nights Dad Hat by KaeRaz

Based in Phoenix, AZ, KaeRaz specializes in vintage southwest clothing and accessories for women. I love that the “dad” hat is back in style. This one has a particularly adorable logo that encompasses some of my very favorite things: big rocks, cacti, and the moon. Not to mention that any trip to the desert seriously requires a hat because, ugh that sun!

Sundown Chenile Patch by Eradura

There is something special about a desert sunset. The colors are unlike anything I’ve seen. This sweet little patch captures the golden and pink hues of those wonderful and awe-inspiring sunsets. The creator, Erica, says, “Desert imagery isn’t so much my inspiration as it is what comes tumbling out of me naturally. It’s the language that I know.” She also says that this patch can be a great way to keep the desert close to your heart. Love.

Cactus Print by Good Vibes Motel

What better way to show your love of the desert than with a print in your home. I love the elegance and simplicity of this dreamy collage print. The great thing about this is that you purchase the image as a digital download that you can print at home or send to a print shop. This allows for lots of flexibility in size and aspect ratio to fit into any space in your home.

Desert Zipper Pouch by Mama Bleu Designs

The creator, Laura, from Mama Bleu Designs, celebrates her mom, a person who loved giving “just because” gifts in all of her creations including these great pouches. My favorite thing about these little zipper pouches is that they come in several different sizes. I love to use these for traveling and hiking to store my wallet, phone, and other important items. They are also great for carrying along your journal and writing utensils, sketching supplies, or other art supplies and can be personalized. They make great gifts for any fashionable traveling lady and their crew.

Geometric Planter by Annabelle Taylor Co

The geometry lover in me has to have these chic planters. They are perfect for a cactus or two, or of course, some sassy succulents. Annabelle’s goal with her creations is to bring color into people’s lives, and with it, joy. She hails from Portland, Oregon and is a fierce advocate for animal rights. She takes care to research all of her mediums to ensure they are vegan and cruelty-free.

Chevron Pillow by Leah Duncan

This pillow screams SUNSHINE to me. It is bright and colorful and has a nice balance that is not over-the-top. Leah hails from Austin, TX (a place with lots of sun) and has an extensive line of textiles, stationary, and home goods. It is worth checking out her website to see her fun and colorful Scandinavian style. I want this for my summer hyggekrog.

Cactus Earrings by Elisabeth Space

These earrings are inspired by the feeling Elisabeth got when seeing a saguaro cactus for the first time when she was three or four years old visiting family in Phoenix: “WHOA!” She describes them as otherworldly and huge and says they left her awestruck. This is exactly the same reaction I had when seeing the mighty saguaro for the first time on our recent road trip in Arizona. They are truly impressive. What is also impressive? Elisabeth saws out each of these sterling silver earrings by hand.

Handmade

Birch Edition

February 15, 2016August 7, 2018
by Ashley Gossens

Birch Grove Pillow Cover by Willow Lane Textiles
I am in love with all of Willow Lane’s designs, including this wintry birch pattern. Willow Lane owner, Amelia, is a mother of five who fell in love with fabrics when she was a teenager spending hours in the fabric store. She never settled for ordinary and set out to create her own designs. Be sure to check out all of her creations on her site.

Log Candle Holders by Cozy Lighty
These cozy candle holders make me want to curl up and read a book. The one of a kind pieces are made in Latvia and shipped all over the world with the goal to spread positive light to those who receive them. They come in all shapes and sizes and would be great for event lighting.

Aspen Forest Mugs by Mary Elizabeth Arts
Ok, so technically these are autumn aspens but I couldn’t resist added them to this list. Who doesn’t love a little flash of color in the winter? I especially love the customized initials carved into the trees. The set of two mugs makes a great gift for a wedding or anniversary.

Birch Forest Wall Stencil by StenCilit
Creative designer of StenCilit, Merili, believes that “every home needs to be the coziest place in the world.” I could not agree more. This stencil design is inspired by the simplicity of Nordic design and adds a lovely touch to a nursery or bedroom. The stencil comes with detailed instructions to apply.

Birch Tea Towel by Hearth and Harrow
Owner of Hearth and Harrow, Casey, is passionate about bringing nature into her work. She grew up on a farm in rural Maine and now spends her time raising her family and creating beautifully printed tea towels, cards and onesies. Be sure to check out her collection of prints ranging from plants and trees to seashells and bird nests.

Birch Bark Bracelet by Modern Flower Child
This wonderful bracelet is great for adding a touch flair to your unique natural style. It is hand made with real birch bark and resin. Modern Flower Child has an amazing eye for detail that is evident in her wide body of work. Be sure to check out the website for other nature inspired styles.

Birch Coasters by Woodland Crew
Add a bit of nature to your coffee table with these coasters made from slices of real birch logs. The coasters come in a variety of thicknesses and are covered in a protective coating to prevent chipping. This set of four makes a great housewarming gift.

Handmade

Weather Edition

August 6, 2015August 7, 2018
by Ashley Gossens

When I think of lookouts I think of weather. I think about being alone up there during a midnight thunderstorm, crouching on a stool with glass feet. I think of early morning fog filling up the valleys. I think of low clouds and far off rainstorms blurring the views. So in the spirit of the topic of the summer, lookouts, here are some great handmade products to celebrate stormy weather.

Cloud Dishes by JD Wolfe Pottery

These little cloud dishes have so many uses: tea bag holder, jewelry holder, spoon holder or sushi servers. The shop owner and artist Jennifer lives in Wisconsin and is influenced by the minimalist style of her Scandinavian roots. She also offers the clouds in several different sizes. These make a great gift for anyone who wants to bring more of the outdoors into the home.

Rain Cloud Coasters by Pygmy Cloud

These fun cloud coasters come from that other rain-loving corner of the world: London. They are made from wool and come in several different shapes: cloud, raindrop and sun. The weather-loving duo behind Pygmy Cloud, Diana and Dave, also create some great outdoorsy plush toys for kids. Check out their website for all their great products.

Rainstorm Sweatshirt by Two String Jane

I love this slouchy, comfy and stormy sweatshirt designed by the super creative and self-taught artist Alyssa Zukas from Portland, OR. This is totally the shirt that I could see myself in while snuggling in a lookout reading a book. Check out the website for many other great t-shirt and sweatshirt designs.

Lightning Patch by The Scout Project

Road trip loving Libby Zay has created a charming project to inspire other to create, make goals and earn badges. The badges range in activity from the bug lover badge to the helping hand service badge to this one, the cloudspotter weather badge. These are great for kids and those young at heart who enjoy a little something for accomplishing a goal. Be sure to check out the other badges on the site. These are just the best and for a limited time they are 3 for $10.

Cloud Pillow by That’s Sew Presh

I love this fluffy, peaceful cloud pillow that’s perfect for a newborn nursery. Shop owner Nicole started creating her products after she made decor for her own daughter’s nursery. She made gifts for her friends and family and finally started up her etsy store and I’m so glad she did! She also makes adorable plush owls, mobiles and name banners.

Stormy Weather Earrings by Red Truck Designs

Let your love for stormy weather shine with these great stud earrings. The artist and creator, Susan, moved to an island near Seattle from the desert of Arizona 14 years ago and has been celebrating the cloudy, rainy skies of the Pacific Northwest ever since. She works in a studio nestled in the cedar trees and has many other jewelry items with nature themes.

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Mountain Edition

March 5, 2015August 7, 2018
by Ashley Gossens

Like in the motivational posters you’ve seen around offices, the mountain can be a powerful symbol. It can represent endurance, strength, courage, overcoming challenges or obstacles in your life, or like my previous post on Mt St Helens, the importance of change. It’s nice to have this symbol around to remind you of your accomplishments or to excite you for challenges ahead.

Here are some beautiful mountain-shaped things I love. As always, the photos in this post are used by permission by the sellers. They are all very nice people and you should buy stuff from them.

K2 Mountain Print by Chris Hagan

Chris Hagan is a freelance illustrator based in Brighton, England. His beautiful work is often whimsical and inspired by folk tales, which I love (see his full Etsy store here). This print of an original collage illustration perfectly balances abstract and simplicity. He says that he strives to achieve a naive and childlike quality to his work that is simple and uncluttered. He often looks to his four-year-old daughter for inspiration.

2015 Mountain Calendar and Mountain Mural by Pam Lostracco

Pam Lostracco is a super talented artist, graphic designer and muralist. She is deeply inspired by nature and often creates her art from photographs she’s taken while traveling to remind her of favorite places. The artwork in this creative calendar is inspired by the endless mountainscapes she viewed from buses while traveling through Thailand and Laos. The months and days line the tops of the ridges like little hikers and climbers. I fell in love with Pam’s work when she was featured on Apartment Therapy showing how she transferred the lovely mountains from her calendar art onto her bedroom wall. The result is so wonderful and peaceful, perfect for a bedroom. You can inquire more about her mural services on her website.

‘The Sisters’ Mountain Pillow by Three Bad Seeds

Three Bad Seeds is a mother-father-daughter trio in Olympia, Washington. The Weiss family started making creations of their doodles and sketches while living in South Carolina. They used cast off wool from the thrift store dollar rack and sold their creations at the local markets. Their excellent work garnered more attention and the tiny family business has grown. They now have a studio in Olympia and source their wool from the Pendleton Woolen Mill (you know, where they make the famous blankets). The pillows come in different colors and there are many other great shapes including animals like the llama, fox, bear and owl.

Totally Awesome and Magnificent Thoughts Notebooks by Messy Bed Studio

These charming and colorful little notebooks make me smile. We all know we have awesome and magnificent thoughts when we are out in the mountains and we should be harnessing them! Here is the perfect vessel. The owner of Messy Bed Studio, Lisa Goodman, likes to collect old things and breath new life into them, much like she brightens up the mundane appearance of a moleskine. You can personalize the notebooks to feature your own witty catchphrase or check out her others like “bad ass ideas” and “genius lives here” in her Etsy store.

Mountains Jewelry Hanger by Schlomit Ofir

Schlomit Ofir is a creative young talent from Tel Aviv, Israel. In addition to this lovely hanger she creates her own line of jewelry, clothing and accessories. Like many of the artists I feature, she is inspired by nature and likes to incorporate geometric shapes into her work. This Scandinavian-style wooden jewelry hanger makes a beautiful addition to a stylish bedroom and makes a great gift for displaying favorite necklaces or on its own as decoration.

Mountain Earrings by Sleepy Mountain

Thais Marchese is the genius behind Sleepy Mountain, based in Portland, Maine (previously of Seattle). Her funky earrings are ingenious and fun. Besides the cute polka dot mountains, other designs include your favorite television and movie twosomes like Leslie and Ben from Parks & Rec and Sam and Suzy from Moonrise Kingdom and lots more. I highly suggest checking out her Etsy store to see all that she offers.

Mountain Top Necklace by Tinks by Justine

This necklace is a way to show the world that you are not only stylish but adventurous too. The jewelry that we wear makes a statement about ourselves, so don’t just wear something pretty, wear something that makes you feel good and reflects your personality. Justine is a grad student from California and creates pieces that her fun and independent friends would wear.

Graphic Mountain Ceramic Vessel by Paulova

Bring the beauty of the mountains into your home with this pleasing geometric peak design. As a lover and user of graph paper I am especially drawn to this creative and simple design. The bowl can be used as a planter (the shop owner, Paula, suggests that succulents would look great), as a fruit bowl, or just as decoration. Portland-based Paula’s beautiful pieces are a labor of love, hand thrown, etched and painted.

Wooden Candle Holder by Amokori

I love these wooden mountain candle holders, they add a touch of the outdoors and warmth to any room of your home. The snow-capped peaks give them a wintery and cozy feel. The tea light holders are comprised of an ash base and handcut wood veneers. Each product will be a little different based on the nature of the wood, giving each it’s own unique character. Amokori is based in Northern England and offers other great mountain-shaped products like keychains and magnets.

Handmade

Holiday Gift Guide: Part 2

November 25, 2014August 7, 2018
by Ashley Gossens

I’m not much of a gear person. I pack light and leave room for the really important stuff like books and candy and the occasional bottle of wine. I’ve also been wearing the same shirt on every hike since 2011 (I know this because it says ‘Mt St Helens Climb 2011’ right on the front). So yeah, I’m probably not the best person to ask about the latest and greatest super high tech gear. There are plenty of other great and informative blogs for that. I get more excited about surrounding myself with lovely everyday things that inspire me to get out into the mountains. So here are my suggestions for holiday gifts for the trail-loving friend or family member that would appreciate a nicely handcrafted reminder of the beauty of the outdoors.

A quick disclaimer before we get to the good stuff: the images you see below are not my own. The product creators graciously allowed me to use photos from their websites. They are all super nice people. You should buy stuff from them.

“The Mountains are Calling” Mug by Avenue Blue

I love the warm and cozy design of this mug. It’s a perfect gift for anyone who likes to snuggle up in blankets all winter with hot tea and a book and dream of summer hiking trips (ok, I’m really just describing myself here). Beth at Avenue Blue in Asheville, NC (an awesomely outdoorsy locale) started hand painting the mugs as Christmas gifts in addition to her regular day job assisting children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse. I think that’s pretty rad.

Crater Lake Handprinted T-Shirt by Blackbird Tees

This great design was inspired by one of Jody and Karl’s favorite National Park, Crater Lake, with it’s lovely trees mirrored in the crystal clear water. The Richmond, Virginia duo (with Seattle roots) screen print the tees themselves using eco-friendly and fair trade products. When they’re not creating awesome designs for clothing and tea towels, they enjoy taking road trips to find new inspiration.

Winter Stamp Set by Yellow Owl Workshop

Spoiler alert: if you are on my Christmas card recipient list you will soon be seeing these beautiful hand crafted designs in your mailbox in the form of a holiday greeting. The brains behind San Francisco’s Yellow Owl Workshop is Christine Schmidt who is described as being “fueled by black tea and radiolab” (I can totally relate since I am drinking tea and listening to a podcast as I write this). This stamp set is just one of the many great gift ideas on the website, including fun stamps for kids and DIY stamp carving kits.

Smoky Mountains Wall Art & Constellation Polar Bear Print by Native Vermont Studio

A long skinny version of the lovely Smoky Mountains print resides above my bed. It makes me feel very happy, tranquil and at peace. The mega-talented Ryan Fowler takes inspiration from his native Vermont (also my husband’s native land) and puts it into his fun and original work. He does really great New England style prints with dogs that are worth checking out too.

Tiny Pinecone Necklace by Nancy Nelson Jewelry

I like my jewelry to represent things I love, especially nature. Nancy does this perfectly with the tiny pine cone necklace. She is all about appreciating nature and her work is inspired by the textures, shapes and beauty of the countryside where she lives.

Wool Acorn Ornaments by House of Moss

Every year my family exchanges Christmas ornaments. Since we all live far away from each other it’s nice to have a small reminder of them, especially around the holidays. These little beauties are made by Alison of House of Moss in Portland who is inspired by the infinite natural awesomeness of the Pacific Northwest. They are made of pure wool with real acorn caps.

Squirrel Pillow by Artgoodies

A pillow in the shape of a squirrel might be the best present ever. Lisa Price of Artgoodies combines her love of all things vintage and a fascination with the outdoors to create these retro block-printed pieces. She also prints her graphics on tea towels, aprons and more.

Wild and Free Mountain Shirt by Nicola and the Newfoundlander

This is for the trendy hiker in your life. Nicola says it’s “wicked soft” and it’s perfect for looking adorable while hiking (something I could really work on, did I mention my hiking shirt?). Nicola has blue hair, works in a cube studio shop made by her pop in Connecticut and hangs out with her Newfoundlander named Otter. She is super cool and I want to hang out with her.