Today's Feature - Dinner Time Chimes

Ok, I think I'm in love! If you haven't seen the shop Dinner Time Chimes, you have no clue what you're missing! Honestly, my brain doesn't work the right way, because I never would have thought to use silverware this creatively! Honestly, isn't this just plain gorgeous?

And before you start thinking that all they do is make chimes, check out this boot birdhouse! I know my little birdies would love this!!

So, as always, I sent off my questions. Read on to see what Dinner Time Chimes had to say!

Tell us a bit about you and your art

I'm Erin and with my dad's help I started making windchimes out of silverware over 10 years ago. During the summer of 2007, Dinner Time Chimes became an 'official' business and with my husband's help I'm making more windchimes than ever!

The silverplated silverware for our chimes is purchased at flea markets, thrift stores, & auctions. To keep our prices reasonable, we purchase the silverware that is so heavily tarnished that is almost unrecognizable as silverplate. We work hard to polish the silverware by hand to the high quality shine that you see. In addition to the windchimes, we've added a few other silverware creations (fork easels, bookmarks, keychains), eco-friendly bird houses and a few other random recycled projects.

What inspires you?

To out it simple, another man's trash. There's so much stuff that people toss out, which could easily be used by someone else for it's orginal intended use or by people like us who turn it into art. I love watching people'd faces at shows when they realize that it's real silverware making the music that they hear (http://dinnertimechimes.net/).

What is your favourite item in your shop and why?

My favorite item in our shop are the fork easels

They're so simple, yet make the perfect gift for just about anybody! I enjoy reading notes from customers about how they're using their fork easel.

If the world could only know one thing about you, what would you like that to be?

I love to be creative!

And a couple of fun questions:

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Winter weather is finally setting in here in eastern North Carolina, so I opted to pass on my normal bowl of frosted flakes cereal and fix a bowl of grits instead.

If you were a colour, what colour would you be?

I'd like to be the color of a summer time sky, it's a wonderful blue!

Be sure to stop by Dinner Time Charms to see what other wonderful items they have to offer!

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to pop back tomorrow to see who the next feature is. It just may be you!

Today's Feature - The Snuggle Herd

I have found the cutest shop today! I mean, seriously, how can these plushies not make even the most hard hearted person say Awwwww!!!

For instance, take a look at Elsa The Elephant

And Zandra The Zebra


and tell me they aren't just the sweetest, most adorable plushies you've ever seen! And they're all made of upcycled material!

I am in love!

When I found this shop, I just HAD to have them as a feature. So, I sent off the questions, and here are the answers:

Tell us a bit about you and your product.

The Snuggle Herd was founded by me, Beth Hempton, & my husband, Patrick, in the summer of 2008. I have worked as a graphic designer and as a high school art teacher and enjoyed many aspects of both positions. However, having my own creative business that allows me to draw on all of my skills and interests, and to follow my artistic whims, is the ultimate dream! I am lucky enough to be living this dream right now - shepherding The Snuggle Herd is my full-time job.

I love painting, drawing, collage-making, sewing, going to garden centers to get ideas for our future garden (we're in the process of buying a house), and exploring all the wonderful local boutiques & eateries in Austin. Patrick & I moved to Seattle on a whim, stayed for 11 years, & just returned to Austin this summer. We're loving every minute of it!

Snuggle Herd toys are made from upcycled, snuggly-soft cotton t-shirts. I gather them at thrift stores, looking for the ones that have a stain or an undesirable "Fun Run" type of slogan. I don't want to cut up the shirts that are still perfectly wearable, just the ones that are destined for scrap material or the landfill. The toys are stuffed with shredded wool fiber from unwanted sweaters, made by Washtucna Fiber Regeneration. So all-in-all, these toys are made from about 90% recycled materials! Only the thread, embroidery floss, lining adhered to the t-shirt material, & some printed fabrics used for small details are new. Not to worry though, the used materials are all carefully washed & odor-free! All Snuggle Herd products are handcrafted in my smoke-free, one-cat home studio in Austin, TX. Kitty cat is not allowed to frolic in the fabric. My toys are baby-safe (no small parts), made to last & machine-washable!

What inspires you?

In terms of the toys I make, I am inspired mostly by the fabric itself. When I see a knit shirt with decorative stitching on the sleeves, or little embroidered flowers near the hem, or a shirt that has a fabulous softness to it hanging on a thrift store rack, I immediately imagine an adorable animal made out of it. I also looooooove picking out printed fabrics & have to restrain myself when I'm in a fabric store! I also get inspired when looking at the scraps I create from cutting out the animals' bodies & think of ways to fold, twist, or piece them together to make new details like an animal's tail. I'm always trying to find uses for my scraps.

Seeing all of the other amazing artists & crafters out there is also hugely inspiring, & I browse blogs & other Etsy shops all the time online, as well as frequent stores that sell local & handmade goods. There is so much creativity here in Austin that I am inspired on a daily basis!>

What is your favourite item and why?

Not sure if you meant a favorite item made by me or by someone else, so I've included both!Favorite item of my own: Ginny the Giraffe:

This is my fave because of all of the little details I put into it: the sweet little eyes, the spots, and the tail, which always has some kind of decorative edge stitching.


Favorite item by someone else (so hard to pick just one!):

This Art Deco Millie print by matouenpeluche:


I love everything by this Australian artist because Art Deco is my favorite design era!

If the world could only know one thing about me, I would like it to be:

Wow, that's a tough one! I guess I would like everyone to know that I believe we are all in this together & therefore we should help each other out every chance we get! Life is too short to waste time being judgemental, pessimistic or rude! (sorry, I guess that was 2 things!)

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

A cup of Whole Foods' Blend coffee, and 2 pieces of whole wheat toast - one with butter & cinnamon sugar, one with butter & my mom's homemade orange marmelade. YUM!

If you were a colour, what colour would you be?a bright & happy shade of olive green - it's my favorite color & it looks healthy, happy & lively, just like I feel!

Make sure that you stop by The Snuggle Herd shop today. Everyone needs a bit of Snuggle in their lives!

Today's Feature - Appleberry Run

I have found another wonderful little shop on Etsy to feature. I am so in love with the things I've found here. And she uses upcycled material which makes everything oh so much more appealing!!

For instance, take a look at these Microwave Potato Bags. They're so cute and useful to boot!




And I have to admit, the Jesus loving, Bible thumping Christian in me loves these!

But, lets face it, you're not here to listen to me! Let's get on with the fun stuff!

Tell us a little about you and your product.

I am Jamie. A work at home mother of 5 wonderful children. The items I create vary. I mainly love crafting for the holidays. Making decorations, gifts etc.


What inspires you?

This is a toughy! There are so many things that inspire me. All the time there’s an internal wheel turning with creative juices flowing. I would have to say its the challenge of "wowing" or "topping" what Ive created in the past the next year.


What is your favourite item in your shop and why?


I really adore my pin cushions. I love recycling or giving old items a new purpose.



If the world could only know one thing about you, what would you like that to be?

I am addicted to fabric. I may need to attend meetings soon lol


And a couple of fun questions.


What did you have for breakfast?

Ah, the breakfast of champions - Pumpkin spice cappucchino!

If you were a colour, what colour would you be?

PINK!

Be sure to stop by Appleberry Run to see more! You won't be disappointed!

Today's Feature - Everlasting Primitives

I am so pleased to bring you this Etsy shop as my first feature. I adore the items here! I mean, just look at the detail in this candle! Isn't this the cutest candle you've ever seen?

The talent here is amazing to me, someone who couldn't draw a straight line with a ruler! LOL!

And honestly, where else could you buy a hand painted toilet seat? I adore this!!

So, for the feature, I asked Everlasting Primitives to answer a few questions for me. I hope you enjoy!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your product:

All our products are hand crafted and hand painted by myself and my better half Barry. We come back home to Massachusetts every fall to harvest our lovely bittersweet and rosehips and create all diffrent things. I also both down in Nc and here in Ma sew and paint on our fabric items. All our mixes used are natural products so they are eco freindly too.

What inspires you?

The sunrises and sunsets both here in Ma and in NC. The colors from both areas are so diffrent yet, so lovley. I also get alot of inspiration from the past. How simple life was and wish it could be that way again:o)

What is your favourite item, and why?

I would have to say my rosehips wreath. Its so pretty and when its getting shabby, I can feed the birds too.


If the world could only know one thing about you, what would you like that to be?

I love life and love the past. I try to make things that reflect that. I hope to pass these things along to my grand daughters too.

And now a couple of fun questions. ;)

What did you have for breakfast today?

Coffee first and formost! today was egg sandwich

If you were a colour, what colour would you be?

Bright blue, like the sky, free flowing and wanting to have fun

Be sure to stop by Everlasting Primitive's shop. You won't be disappointed! I know I wasn't!

Come back tomorrow for a new feature! Who knows, it may be you!