New Blog & Site

Hi Everyone!

I've decided to switch my blogging over to WordPress, because I can host my whole website on the same site as my blog.  The new address is: http://hitchcockcreative.wordpress.com/

I invite you to continue following me over there!

Sarah

tis the season

Last night we bought and put up our christmas tree.  

Nothing makes me feel like a giddy little kid like decorating the tree.  

(And thank you to the superly-awesome Hipstamatic app 

on iPhone for this vintage and bright photo)

  I also made a couple new ornaments this morning
whilst feeling in the spirit of things...

Now i just need to get those gift baskets together for my graphic design clients/vendors.  I'm making them with products from local farms and stores - plus a handmade ornament for each.

Naturally Spun Treasury

New Item :: Retro Folk Ornament

Getting back to the classics with this red folksy/retroish ornament.

Check out the Etsy listing here.

New Item :: Henna Tree cards

Slowly but surely I'm getting my new items up on Etsy.  :)  

Here are two new ones I've uploaded today, as part of 

my "Henna Tree" line that I'm working on:

I swear I've seen that somewhere before...

While browsing Etsy today I saw the following "original handmade" items.  Now I won't speculate on who originally designed this, because I have no idea.  It could be 7 shops all by the same person, but that's doubtful.  It's very odd to me that on a site which is all about handmade and vintage items, all these sellers can get away with selling the exact same product.  At least they're all taking their own pictures?

Let me know what you think.

by PrettyWhimsical

by UnScrabbled

by WickedlyModPendants 

by CreatingNature

by SugarLaneShoppe

by Ziggles

by BrunetteDoll

Snowflake Treasury

I'm really inspired by a Dark Red and Teal color combination for the holidays this year.  I think they're a great compliment to eachother.  Here is my latest Treasury of Snowflake items in my favorite color combo (CLICK HERE or on the photo to view the treasury):

Reopening Etsy Shop

After a 6 month hiatus (which included getting married, buying a house, renovating said house, working 2 full time jobs, not sleeping, etc.), I've decided that I can now devote an appropriate amount of time to my Etsy shop.  I am very happy to announce that it is back up and running.

I'm changing some things up -- less ornaments, more paper goods.  The holiday ornaments I made last year were fun, but the time+materials+etsy fees+paypal fees > what I could make in profit.  Less than a dollar return on something that takes 30 minutes to make is just not feasible with my life right now.

I am working with a printer to create more notecards for the holidays and other occasions.  I've also been talking to a partner about working together to create laser cut wood items for the home (trivets, coasters, ornaments, napkin rings, etc.).

So, take a peak at some of the new (and relisted) items in my shop:  http://hitchcockcreative.etsy.com.

Enjoy!

Flower Ornament w/ Instructions

These flower felt & fabric ornaments were very easy to make.  They'd be a great kids project (moms might want to do the needle/thread part though).  They only took about 10 minutes each to make.

Supplies

 - Felt

 - Fabric

 - 9" piece of ribbon

 - needle / thread

 - button

 - glue

 - scissors

Instructions

1.  Cut five 1.5" circles out of felt and five 1" circles out of fabric.

2.  Use fabric glue to glue the fabric circles onto the felt circles.  You may also sew the fabric circles onto the felt.  I use glue to make it easier and a bit more kid-friendly.

3.  Take the circles and pinch one edge of each circle together, like folding a pizza slice.

4.  Line all 5 folded circles up, like so:

5.  Using the needle and thread (I use a large needle and embroidery thread), guide the needle straight through the end of the pile, tying all of the pieces together.

6.  Pull the thread tight and tie off into a knot.  You will need to flat and reshape the flower petals as you go, but the result should look like this:

7.  Cut off the extra thread.  Take the 9" piece of ribbon (longer or shorter if you prefer) and glue on the backside, between two petals as so:

8.  Cut a small felt circle as a finishing touch to the backside.  Glue into place.

9.  On the front of the flower, glue a button to the center.

10.  Hang on a tree or doorknob or give to a loved one!

Henna Inspired Cards

comfort & joy

new Holiday Card

Apparently I'm in a red and white phase.  :)

For Serious

A new line of notecards I've been working on...

New Found Etsy Shop

I was purusing Etsy, like I do.  And I came across a new-to-me shop called Graphic Spaces (It's a Cute World After All), which makes seriously adorable wooden objects for kids.  I mean, how incredibly cute are these bookends?!

 

 

And this bookshelf...perfect for a kids room:

In addition to Etsy, you can also find more cute creatures at www.graphicspaces.com and on twitter at www.twitter.com/graphicspaces.  And as if the wooden items weren't enough, the multi-talented creators also have two other Etsy shops with art prints and wall decals:

new cards

While waiting for new edit requests on projects yesterday, I decided to use some of my scrap materials and make a few new notecards.  I have a goal this year to give only handmade gifts to people in an effort to save money and clean out my supply closet.  :)