It was just two years ago that I discovered malt. How could this delicious flavor additive have eluded me my whole life?! In ode to the scrumptious sweetness of the powder that made Ovaltine a hit with children for decades – I wanted to share the following recipe which will have you salivating with delight. Bake and enjoy! I did!!!
Tag: diy
DIY: Lampshade Facelift
Sometimes I get that itch to update things in my place – but I don’t want to be wasteful with my money or resources – so I’m always concocting new ways to make do with what I have.
Most recently I grew tired of the lampshade in our bedroom. It was a sweet embroidered lil’ thing, but the color was fading and the interior was cracking, giving it a not-so-cute shabbiness when turned on. So I rested on the idea of changing it up, allowing my mind to invent some potential ideas. What transpired turned out to be a subtle yet stunning piece that was given new life with a few pages of a vintage dictionary. Here’s how I did it:
1) Using the pages of an old crumbling dictionary (it was the same one I used for the Bibliophile Wreaths for Christmas) I tore out a good handful of pages and cut them into long 1″ slips.
2) Using a glue gun, I affixed each strip to the lampshade, overlapping each slightly. Also, I started on the bottom layer and then worked my way around to the top.
3) The final step is to cut any overly long and crooked strips so they align (not perfectly, but close enough) to all of the others. This will give the effect a more polished look.
And there you go – a quick, inexpensive, easy and eco-friendly way to give a lampshade a new look. You can experiment using other kinds of papers as well, or may even try fray-less fabrics. Once you create one you’ll be tempted to try your hand at more!
Do you have a suggestion on how to update a dull lampshade in your home? Share it in the comments!
An Indie Biz: Planning 2012
As I sat musing about personal resolutions for 2012 this past weekend I couldn’t help but melt in Pierogi Picnic’s as well. Naturally, during this season of reflection, all of us our contemplating our dreams for the next year. But how do we keep these goals sorted while still retaining a passion for our creations?
Last year I compiled a set of questions for indie business owners to answer following the end of a fiscal year to help center their goals for the next twelve months. Keeping the 4 Ps in mind, product, presentation, passion, and plan, the queries below help to structure ideas and ambitions into bite-sized pieces. To help keep my own business resolutions focused, I’m going back to these questions to help me frame my thoughts for Pierogi Picnic in 2012.
1. Before anyone can take on the arduous task of planning 365 days of their future, one has to look back to see what worked and what didn’t in the recent past. What were your greatest successes of 2011?
One of my hopes for 2011 was to really streamline the creation of items for the Pierogi Picnic Etsy shop. I was tired of making items in multiples, be it colors or sizes, only to find that the online audience was not receptive to that particular design. What I started to do instead was make ‘samples’ of new items, take photos in multiples, and then list the items as custom orders. A shift within the Etsy listing structure helped to enable this further by providing a ‘made to order’ field in which to categorize a listing. The result was fantastic! I was able to come up with basic designs like the “Green Girl” bathing suit, and then let the customers choose their hue via a color wheel. One of the biggest surprises was that many Pierogi Picnic shoppers chose a color I least expected – green! I wouldn’t have had the insight to make the swimwear in advance in this shade – so having the custom listings available proved beneficial to me and fans alike! Continue reading
DIY: New Years Eve Party Crackers
I absolutely adore this tutorial from Kate Petty, care of Design Sponge, which shows you how to make your own party crackers. Create these using upcycled paper, sparkly confetti, and sweet treats for a rustic eco-friendly way to ring in the New Year!
Holidays: Printable Presents
It’s the eve of the eve – and if you’re still grappling for gifts than look no further. We collected some of the cutest and chicest printable presents off Etsy. Simply purchase the item and you’ll receive a downloadable file to print from home. Everything from coloring pages and toys to art and prints – this collection will save you from the stress of finishing up your holiday shopping.
DIY: Bibliophile Wreath
Tis the season for cozying up your place for the holidays – and what better way to do it then with a little elbow grease and upcycled materials?!
One of my recent favorite DIY projects is making ultra modern wreaths using the pages of tattered books. These easy to make decor items add some cheer to your pad but are super easy to make! You can experiment with different colors and textures of book paper as well as shapes and designs for the wreath pattern. To see how I made my set of three take a peek at the Eco Etsy tutorial I created here.
Once you’ve tried your hand at them snap a pic and send me the link! I’d love to see how yours turn out.
Press: Ecouterre & Eco Chic DIY Gifts
Just found out that my DIY Earring Tutorial was featured on Ecouterre!!! So if you see flocks of women wearing handmade button earrings there may be a chance they followed my directions and are rockin’ some style sustainably.
Thanks to Jeanne from Vintage Renewal for letting me know about the feature!
Shiny Happy*People 