Category — Handmade

Hello and happy Sunday!  I’d like you to meet Dana from Crafty Minx.  She’s a sweet and colorful lady with lots to share on her blog.  She has great tutorials and tips, so be sure to check out her blog after this.  I have to say that I’m very impressed and inspired by Dana’s studio.  The first thing that caught my eye, obviously, was the color of the walls paired with pops of color here and there.  I could get lost in her studio for days and still not lack in things to do.  I love the “kitschy” feel of her space and she has really made it her own.  On that note, let’s get to know her a bit better and peek into her studio space.

My Robblins Series is officially for sale in the shop!  Each 5 in. x 5 in. acrylic on canvas piece is hand-painted by me and they are all my original designs.  I started doodling these little fellas all over the place and then when a friend invited me to hang in one of his art shows earlier this year, I figured that was the perfect opportunity to showcase these.  Now, you can have them too!

I’m so excited for today’s {studio sunday} feature!!  I’d like you to meet Alexz from Bird Trouble.  Today we get to peek into her fabulous studio space and learn a bit more about her.  So, read on…

Where did Bird Trouble come from?
The word Bird Trouble came to me from one of my favorite songs in high school from a British band. The word bird is a British slang for girl but after doing a little more research, I learned that it meant ‘Sweetheart’ more than just an ordinary girl. Combining that with trouble just reminded me so much of myself, haha. I feel that my personality and my products give a little “trouble” but still remain sweet. Not that I’m trouble! Well…… that’s not true… haha!

1. Who are you and what do you create?
Hello friends and friends to be! I’m Alexz. I’m 24 years old and I live in a very full apartment in Chicago, Illinois. I’m obsessed with squirrels and I need to be creative 95% of my daily time. That being said, I am the lady behind Bird Trouble handmade shop and blog. I create [mostly one of kind] shoulder bags and accessories out of fabric and leather goods [new material and vintage materials] with my sturdy vintage Kenmore sewing machine. I also like to paint, play with clay, and sketch.

2. Where is your studio located? (in your home or somewhere else?)
Currently, I enjoy being creative in a cramped style. In my apartment. Well, in mine and my boyfriend’s room to be exact, so that my other roommates don’t have to deal with my craft mess all the time. I do leave my fabrics and any other notions around the apartment’s living, though.

3. How long have you had your current studio space?
I moved my desk to our bedroom [from the living room] before this past winter. I’ve been living in this current apartment since last August. Yikes, I’m such a wanderer that I’ve probably had over 7 different craft spaces in a few different homes in the past 2 and half years! I do love it though, for now.

4. What is your favorite part of your studio?
I can’t choose! I mean, I know it’s my bedroom and all… and I love everything in here. If I had to choose a few different things though: 1] my desk from Ikea. My boyfriend, James, drilled a hole in one of the drawers and put this sweet door knob that I purchased from Anthropologie a few years back. I’ve been wanting to use it ever since but wanted to save it for something special. It’s definitely meant for my desk and I think it’s awesome that my boyfriend put it on. 2] my vintage magicians suit case. YES! A magicians suit case! Not only does it look fricken’ awesome but it’s practical for me to stash all the fabric and leather scraps that I’m using constantly. 3] my inspiration cork board. My boyfriend also made this for me. Randomly came home one day and it was on the wall. It’s perfect for hanging my design sketches, inspirational color schemes, and some small drafting patterns.

5. Approximately how many hours per day do you spend in your studio?
HAHA, way too many. I honestly think I’ve sat in the living room 1 time in the past 2 months. I just really like my room and the privacy I have in it. It’s also right next to the kitchen… so that may be why. I don’t watch cable TV so there’s no point in being in the living room unless we have guests. I normally go to my day job, work long hours, and come straight into my room to creative and watch Netflix. When I get my own place, that will change.

6. Do you have any future plans for your studio space? (i.e. revamp, new location, etc.)
When our lease is up in August… myself, James, Ty [our dog], and Detective Bacon Cheeseburger [our cat] plan on finding a vintage space here in Chicago with 1 bedroom and hopefully an outdoor back deck area. We plan on sleeping in the living room with some sort of curtain room divider so that we can utilize the only bedroom for work space to share. It’s so funny how it’s all planned out in my head already.

7. Is there anything else that you’d like to share?
This was fun! I hope everyone enjoyed reading a tad bit about myself and reading about my work space. I want to encourage everyone to check out my blog and if anyone wants to network, please contact me because I’d love to chit chat!

That was fun!  Thank you Alexz for allowing us to peek into your creative space!  Check her out and spread the love.  As always, if you’d like to be featured and share your creative studio space (no matter how big or small) shoot me an email at robbielee {at} chickiedee {dot} com!

Oh geez, am I one lucky girl! As you already know, I joined The Crafty Peep Swap and received my craft today!!!  I was paired up with Kate from Scientific Culture, and I think it was a perfect match.  We chatted back and forth a bit before creating the perfect items, so that we could get to know each other better.  We found out that we have tons in common, and now I’ve gained a new pen-pal.  This is what I received from her… super cute, right!  If you love these as much as I do, check out her Etsy shop here.

I found this today and thought that it would be a perfect last minute way to decorate for Easter!  It would be a cute little gift for the hostess of your Easter celebration… perhaps you can hang it on the dessert table!  Find the complete how-to over at The Hostess With The Mostess®!

I’m in love with these precious handmade bird wings!  Oh my goodness are they cute!  I found the tutorial over at llevoelinvierno! and Eri gives you the full how-to here.  The best thing about this project, is that your little one will love running around in it all year around and you can make it out of the fabric scraps that you already have lying around.  Each set can by completely different!  I have to make a pair of these!

What a cute little idea for all of those extra little buttons lying around!  This would be a great Spring project or gift, wouldn’t it?  It is so easy to make, see for yourself over at Spearmint Baby!

Hey all!  Yesterday I joined Becky and Amber’s Crafty Peep Swap, you should join too!  The dead line to join is April 15th and your craft has to be finished by April 29th to be swapped on time!  Click here for all of the details!

Happy Friday everyone, and Happy April Fool’s Day!!!!!  I’m so lame, I never have any good tricks planned for April Fool’s.  I need to work on that.  What’s better than tricks you ask?  Well, that’s easy, introducing these two lovely ladies and their Blogs, of course.  Both of their blogs are super creative and spunky; just what I like!  So, without further ado, here are Victoria and Jody.

I love this image and how Victoria, of Garden of Eden Designs, describes herself.  She has a great online shop and her Blog is always a great read.  Definitely stop by and say “hi.”

Jody, from The Fabric Shoppe,  has a great online shop full of fabric that will melt you heart!  She also has some really great tutorials for everything you can imagine!  Stop by and give her a big “hello.”

This adorable little headband is super simple to make, which is great because St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner.  Find the complete tutorial here at Craft.