Category Archives: handmade

Paule Trudel Bellemare.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on August 9, 2010 – 1:16 pm
Filed under art & design, four legs, handmade

Look! Fritz got his first modeling job!

When illustrator Paule Trudel Bellemare contacted me to ask if I’d be okay with her using some photos of Fritz for reference in a series of drawings she was working on called Girls+Dogs, I didn’t hesitate for a second. Paule’s work is gorgeous, and her drawings of dogs in particular are really very sweet. She captures the personalities of the breeds and relationship between the dogs and their humans so perfectly.

Take a look at Paule’s portfolio, her blog, and her shop on Etsy! You can buy Fritz’s portrait, as well as others from the Girls+Dogs series and a number of other beautiful illustrations.

People who made cool stuff out of other stuff.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on July 12, 2010 – 10:33 pm
Filed under handmade, inspiration, scavenged

So, I guess I’m pretty handy (at least when I have the energy to be handy, that is), but I’m super impressed and inspired by people who make super cool stuff out of found materials or repurposed wares.

Case in point? THIS DESK. Holy mackerel, right? Dan over at Manhattan Nest (which is a rad blog you should all be reading, by the way) made it out of a beat-up nightstand he found on the street, some knobs, a couple of sheets of MDF, legs from IKEA, some knobs, and a little paint:

Total cost? EIGHTY-THREE SMACKERS. He rented the tools and did this in an NYC apartment, too (let’s hear it for spray-painting on the fire escape!), so I don’t want to hear any crying about how you “don’t have space” to build stuff. Check out Dan’s blog for more details on the construction process.

Example #2 of making-cool-stuff-out-of-other-stuff is this amazing shelving unit from Daniel and Valeria at the always-inspiring Hindsvik blog (they have a great vintage Etsy store, too). Inspired by the Brick House (in turn inspired by the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs), they put this together using standard metal plumbing pipes and reclaimed barn wood:

There are more photos on the Hindsvik blog (yes, the cabinet opens!). Don’t you suddenly feel the need to build one of these units in your house? Somewhere? Anywhere? All I know is I’m keeping my eyes peeled for the perfect pile of discarded wood.

And all I did tonight was make popsicles (out of all-new materials, FYI).

Get your sloth on.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on May 21, 2010 – 3:20 pm
Filed under four legs, handmade

Happy Friday, everybody! Let’s make like these guys and do some serious lounging this weekend.

Baby two- and three-toed sloths at the Aviaros del Caribe sloth orphanage in Costa Rica. Seriously painful cuteness happening here. Siiiiiigh.

Sloth Magnet by Berkley Illustration, $5.00 // Prints available as well!

Draft python.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on February 9, 2010 – 12:06 am
Filed under apartment, handmade, sewing

Do you ever forget that you know how to make stuff? Like, with your hands?

My first impulse when I need something that’s sewn is to look on Etsy, so I suggested as much to Evan when we decided we need a draft snake for the front door to our apartment (we installed a door sweep already, but the dogs still obsess over the sliver of light that creeps in at night). He quickly located a cute one, made sure it was long enough, and placed an order.

Then the snake arrived, and we filled it with rice. All was grand until we put it down in front of the door and discovered that a rice-stuffed snake is shorter than a snake skin. It was also so skinny that it wouldn’t reach over the threshold to actually cover the gap under the door. Oops.

I was all set to hop back on Etsy and look for a replacement snake in a large enough size, when I remembered that Hey! I actually have a ton of fabric and a sewing machine! And I know how to sew! I’m no master seamstress by any means, but I can certainly sew a flat rectangle when the need arises.

And so, I got to work on the World’s Largest Draft Snake. It’s 38″ long, 16″ around, and filled to the fangs with 7 pounds of rice. It’s a DRAFT PYTHON.

I used a piece of my precious linen Grea fabric (previously seen acting as a curtain in the dressing room at my house), designed by Maria Vinka for IKEA’s 2007 PS line. This fabric makes me so happy. I don’t mind that it took me almost three years to find the right use for it!

No, I’m not going to post instructions. Okay, yes I will: (1) Measure fabric. Cut. (2) Fold in half, good side in. (3) Stitch on three sides. Invert. (4) Fill with dried rice or beans. (5) Stitch open end. DONE.

As I write this, the dogs are sleeping peacefully, draft python in place, hallway light sliver obscured. 60 miles north of here, the too-small-for-the-apartment draft garter snake is doing a great job blocking the gap under the door to the attic in the house. Everyone wins!

I pledge to buy handmade!

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Posted by Anna at D16 on November 27, 2009 – 5:53 pm
Filed under friends and family, greed, handmade

For the third year in a row, I pledge to buy handmade this holiday season! Please encourage your friends and family to buy (and create!) handmade gifts. Whether you do so online, in local shops, or in your own kitchen, the gift of a handmade item can’t be beat. Go here to learn more.

EDIT: Hand-makers! Feel free to link to your shops in the comments. (Anything not in the spirit of buying handmade will be deleted.)

Etsy wants.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on October 20, 2009 – 1:02 pm
Filed under greed, handmade

BrinandNohl / Swiss cross pillow cover ($24.99)

CarolineGaedechens / Mandragora doll ($48.00)

CarolineGaedechens / Small Hands II – print ($15.00)

mudpuppy / Teeth in a vial ($8.00)

This is both a horrifying and intriguing item for me. I am plagued by tooth nightmares, but I find myself drawn to this.

mudpuppy / Stonewear skulls ($60.00)

jeanpelle / White gold faceted candle holders ($80.00)

corduroy / Siempre print ($30.00)

mrskona / Three hankies and a pouch ($18.00)

paupervoile / Leonard Cohen-themed red cross scarf ($160.00)

DIY globe cluster lamps.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on March 6, 2009 – 11:06 am
Filed under handmade, inspiration

Clusters lamps are hugely common right now (even Pottery Barn has a version—and wouldn’t it look so much better without the stupid ceiling brackets?). My personal favorite is still Rody Graumans’ 85 Lamps, designed for Droog in 1993. I don’t have $3800 to buy it, though, so I’m kind of excited to see these recent DIY takes on the concept. They’re a bit like Marco Agnoli’s Sphere Lamps, only way less glitzy and even a bit rustic.

On the left is John Giacomazzi’s design for Area San Francisco, for which he provided instructions on Remodelista, including links to buy the suggested supplies.

The project on the right appeared in the most recent issue of ReadyMade and was created by Brooklyn designer Jean Pelle. The full instructions are available right here.

(By the way, Jean Pelle’s candle holders have been on my wishlist for a while now—I especially love the gold-leafed ‘Tod’ style.)

CB2 sells glass bubble balls in two sizes ($1.95/$3.95 ea.) and whirly candleholders ($3.95 ea.), any of which would be well-suited for either project.

p.s. There’s also a tutorial on Instructables, which, while decidedly less elegant than the other options, has some nice ideas worth checking out if you’re considering making your own version.

I pledge to buy handmade!

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Posted by Anna at D16 on December 3, 2008 – 9:25 am
Filed under friends and family, greed, handmade

I took this pledge for the first time last year, and I will do so again this holiday season! Please encourage your friends and family to buy (and create!) handmade gifts. Whether you do so online, in local shops, or in your own kitchen, the gift of a handmade item can’t be beat. Go here to learn more.

Cooler weather, fresher air.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on August 11, 2008 – 8:36 pm
Filed under friends and family, handmade, new york city

Veggie burgers and onion rings at SoHo Park, and an amazing painted door on Broadway.

Suddenly, it feels like Fall might be coming soon. (Remind me of this in a week when it’s roasting hot and humid again.)

Recent Etsy purchases.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on January 24, 2008 – 3:03 pm
Filed under handmade

Oh, it’s a busy busy week. (Is tomorrow Friday? Am I always asking that question? Endless loop.) I haven’t had much in the way of daylight hours in which to photograph all of the things we’ve been doing in the house, but I’ve been meaning to post some of my recent Etsy purchases, so why not now?

Hand Knit Felted Wool Slipper Socks from Pawfelts (These were actually a Christmas gift from my mother. Evan got a pair, too, and they are now the only thing that goes on our feet on our drafty, no-shoes-allowed household.)

Gluehmonster magnets from NuitBlanche

You and Me print from Yellena

Personal Pouch from Working Class Heroes (I also ordered an iPod pouch for Evan—both are beautifully made.)

I pledge to buy handmade.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on December 1, 2007 – 9:49 pm
Filed under friends and family, greed, handmade

Elisabeth Dunker poster.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on November 7, 2007 – 10:43 am
Filed under art & design, blogs, handmade, inspiration

Yay! My poster from Elisabeth Dunker of Fine Little Day arrived yesterday. It’s beautiful! I can’t wait to have it framed and find just the right spot for it in my house. The colors (which remind me very much of those on the Eames Hang-it-All) are so beautiful and cheery, and I love (what seems to be) her combination of computer and hand-drawn illustration.

Elisabeth’s posters sold out at her new Etsy shop almost immediately, but hopefully she’ll have more items for sale there in the future. In the mean time, have a look at her blog and this great interview at Design*Sponge. Her style is such an inspiration to me.

Prints by Yellena.

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Posted by Anna at D16 on July 16, 2007 – 9:45 am
Filed under art & design, handmade

I’m awaiting the arrival of two prints by Yellena, “Bloom” and “No Name Parade”. Visit her Etsy shop to see (and buy) more works.

So beautiful. I can’t wait to see them in person.