Hello spring, I love you.
Our weather is unusually hot, the days are getting longer and these little boys are the happiest I’ve ever seen them just playing in the backyard.
Life is good.
Gideon organizing my studio
With two busy boys running around I find myself with many projects that are interrupted on their road to completion. I dive back in to them when I have time or when inspiration hits. Sometimes I’m not the most rested and can’t remember just where I left off, so I go with my gut. This means that there’s always quite a few things I’m working on at any given time.
Last week was a sewing heavy week. I had a few pairs of pants in the works, some sailboat fabric to turn into shorts for the boys (yep, matching shorts for my kids. I have officially crossed over to being that mom), I had a super fun project to tackle of making my nephew a Robin Hood hat for his birthday. We also had a little guy turn one on Saturday so of course I had to make a birthday banner (I keep giving mine away 
And we also tackled our first piñata. They were almost all happening simultaneously, along with some printmaking of course (a few new designs released soon!). Here’s some projects peeks from the week:
Matchin sailboat shorts. I scored this fabric at the Goodwill for a couple bucks. I was able to make 3 pairs of baby/kid shorts from it.
Piñata project for Gideon’s birthday. I was sweating this one, I did some research and it ended up a success. The hook I put in fell out while it was filled and hanging before we even got to the kids hitting at it, but my dad saved the day with a stick and a piece of rope. Thanks dad!
Above: Stage one using a punch balloon from the dollar store, newspaper, flour and water and a little tape.
Below: Drying in the sun after the faulty hook was put in.
Above: D stuffing the piñata with goodies. He was a big helper on this.
Below: Me about ready to lose my shit trying to decorate the thing with an almost-empty bottle of glue.
Woohoo! All finished! I intended to put streamers on the points but honestly I forgot about that part until right this second. Oh well, it was still great and the kids loved it!
Above: Materials for birthday banner (wool felt and polka dot fabric)
Below: Banner is up and the yard is almost all set up for guests.
Above: Robin Hood hat in progress (it’s hard to sew for kids who don’t live in your house)
Below: It fits!
Oliver came by for the birthday party so we were able to customize his hat just the way he had imagined it. I had the feather on the side but he thought it would be better up top. I have to say, I love how it turned out!
Above: More Goodwill fabric becomes pants for my little guy.
Below: I had a tough time with the hem. It’s so frustrating to be at the end of a project and hit road blocks.
Above: Pants all done with yellow lined pockets and all. The pocket liner is a vintage pillowcase and it looks great with the dark denim. These will be fall pants I think, I made them a tad big (oops).
Above: Like I said, there was some printmaking in there too. Reclaimed wood, red ink, Mixtape Love and Bicycle Love.
Below: It’s really quite important to have studio helpers.
To keep up with our half finished projects find elsagedesigns on Instagram or catch up with us on Flickr.
Committing to the 366 project designs by Gregarious Peach seemed a little daunting. All I had to do to talk myself into the whole thing was watch the videos {1 & 2} of Georgia’s kids and I was sold. I can’t tell you how much fun this has been.
I caught up with February and March a few weeks ago, I was scrolling through our Flickr site and realizing how special it is to have the photos that we have. I love that our boys will be able to look back at their lives via photos. Instagram has only made this photo collection better. I get to capture moments like this:
This is typical Gideon to be strapped in to something yet still find a way to turn around and pull at his brother’s hair. Never a dull moment around here.
If you look closely at my 366 folders you’ll realize that I’m missing a few days. {so don’t look close, ok?} I’ve decided not to sweat the small stuff. If I end up with a 289 instead of 366 it will still be a success. I also have a few more people to ask (mom? hubs?) who might have photos from the missing days on their phones (I left my dad off only because he has yet to join the iPhone world.
Without further ado here’s the highlights for February and March.
Decatur
Gideon
Oh my I love these boys!
There’s a little sale on in the shop. Get your hands on great hand printed goods at fun prices.
Long Sleeve Rompers, long sleeve onesies, and a few wood prints.
Happy shopping!
Just in time for Mama’s Day, a beautiful new print capturing the love of baby wearing. I’ve been transparent about my love for wearing the babes. If you missed it I gushed about it here.
I love this design. I’ve been working on it for awhile now. It was originally intended as a reduction print small edition but I fell in love with the second layer as a stand alone piece. It’s now available as an original reduction print (only one, it comes framed) or a limited edition print.
Pick up the perfect gift for the baby wearing mama in your life, Mother’s Day is May 13th.
Are you afraid of all things crafty?
Do you love easy, quick projects?
Do you have a knife of some sort, an eraser and a stamp pad?
If you answered yes to all of the above you qualify for this project. Get out your tools and join me in the quickest stamp making ever.
Gather your materials and draw your design. Straight lines will be easiest to cut. I made a few variations of an arrow design.
I made this next one with neon pink screen printing ink and a brayer. I think I might mat and frame it and hang it in our bedroom after we do a little revamp.
Easy, right? If you order something from me in the near future you might get one of these fancy little cards as a thank you. If you try this project out please leave a note in the comments, I would love to see!
I’m excited to have a Sustainable Saturday interview to share with you today. Heather, from Green Bug is here with us today sharing her take on sustainable design. hi Erica and thanks for being here with us today. Let’s jump right in…
Phoebe: How did greenbug come to be?
Heather: I was fortunate to grow up in an artistic household. I remember watching my parents create, transforming our house into a gallery of handmade cabinets, curtains, and crafts. My mom stayed home with my brother and I, and was always painting, sewing, or working on art projects. I loved it! I coveted every new box of crayons, made handmade cards for my parents, and drew doodles on everything. As I grew up, my interest in art grew to include photography, design, and sewing. My mom would tell me stories about her and her sister spending hours in their room, listening to Beatles 45′s and sewing all summer long. They would squeeze pattern pieces onto scraps of fabric, just enough to make one more skirt or bag. I soaked up these memories and became obsessed with all things vintage! I began to thrift, listen to records, and asked my mom to teach me to sew. However, every time she started to teach me, I could never get past the basics. I had no patience so I got frustrated and gave up.
It wasn’t until I was much older that I decided to give it another try. In summer of 2008, I found a vintage tablecloth at one of my favorite thrift stores and made a tote bag out of it. I was thrilled! Without even knowing it, greenbugbags was born. Later that year, I made more bags as gifts. Finally in 2010, I opened my first etsy shop. A year later, I opened my second shop “greenbugmarketplace.”
Ph: Where did the name greenbug come from?
H: One of my first loves was a green 67 VW beetle. When I was in high school, I saw an ad for the car in a local coffee shop and soon it became my green bug. For the next 15 years, it took me everywhere and became part of my identity. I was the girl with the green bug. As I was brainstorming for a name for my business, I thought about how the car symbolized my aesthetic: ‘green’ upcycling with a modern vintage style. My green bug has inevitably become a “less practical” car to drive. Although it might not take me everywhere anymore, I have decided to take it with me on this new journey.
Ph: Is greenbug your only job?
H: No. I also work as an afterschool teacher in a local public school. After college, I struggled to find an “art” job and eventually found a position teaching art and other enrichment after school. As an educator, I am always looking for recyclables and free materials to use for projects with my class. These projects were the inspiration for my second shop greenbugmarketplace. I began using cereal boxes I collected for crafts as gift boxes for my family and friends. Eventually, I came up with a pillow box design.
Ph: Do you have employees or are you a one woman show? What is your studio space like?
H: I’m a one-woman show and I don’t have a studio space. Right now, it’s just my apartment! Sometimes the table, sometimes the floor. I am thankful that I have a patient husband who understands how I need to spread out when I’m working. It can get chaotic but that’s just how it is right now.
Ph: Where do you get your materials? Why use sustainable materials?
H: I have a few favorite thrift stores where I buy fabric, tablecloths, napkins, and other linens as well as buttons and thread. I also collect cereal boxes from family, friends, and co-workers. In addition, I have this great restaurant by my house that serves cereal! They are nice enough to let me have their boxes!
As an artist, you don’t always have the money to buy materials. I think that’s when you are inspired by the things surrounding you- your life becomes your art. Cereal boxes, plastic bags, used fabric: they all become valuable to you. I love using materials that others would consider dispensable and creating useful art with it. It’s great to see the look on someone’s face when they realize what my products are made out of!
I can’t help but cringe when I think about all the waste that is generated around the holidays. All that wrapping paper…. all those bows…. all those boxes… being tossed in the trash. Why not wrap your gift with something that is ooak, upcycled, and reusable?
Ph: When is your favorite time to work?
H: I teach in the afternoons so I try to work on etsy in the morning, making treasuries, listing new items and editing pictures. I sew and make boxes at night and on the weekends. My favorite time to work is when I have a break from school and I can focus solely on creating.
Ph: What has been your #1 best decision business wise?
H: To be honest, I think I am yet to make the best decision for my business. I have been contemplating combining my etsy shops for awhile. It’s hard to think about letting greenbugbags go since it was my first shop. However, I find it very difficult to keep up with 2 shops especially while working another job. I expect this year to be full of many more important decisions- including the one to make greenbug my full time job.
Ph: What’s your favorite gift to give?
H: I always struggle between giving something unique and something practical. Obviously, handmade gifts are always the best! I’ve given away many bags as baby shower, bridal shower, and Christmas gifts. Gift cards are always a great option but they seem so impersonal. That’s why I love giving them in a handmade pillow box. My opinion is if you are going to give something that’s not handmade, spend time wrapping the gift. It makes a difference!
Ph: What are the top five handmade items you’re coveting right now?
H:
1. Quilts: My grandmother and great-grandmother both quilted. I have two quilts (one from each) on my bed right now!
One is a more traditional design while the other was made from fabric scraps. I love them both!
2. Dishes: My aunt is a ceramic artist. She’s on etsy too! I have tons (and I mean tons) of her work around my home. The gift I treasure the most is a dish set she gave me when I graduated from high school. I use them everyday!
3.Photographs: I studied art (mainly photography) in college. One of my classmates gave me one of his prints. It’s of a blank, white billboard illuminated at night. I’ve had it up in my various apartments since he gave it to me. It still inspires me.
4. Accessories: My sister-in-laws have made me crocheted mittens and handmade hairpins. I feel so loved when I wear them!
5. Artwork: I have already mentioned how inspiring my mom is to me. She has given me many gifts including mix-media collages, scarves, and ornaments. Her most recent gift was given to me only a couple days ago. It’s a small pouch with a yellow butterfly painted and sewn on the front. Describing it would not do it justice. It’s so beautiful. And yes- she’s on etsy as well!
Ph: Do you have favorite sustainable companies?
H: I wish I did! I need to look into that more! The only one that comes to mind is madebyjoel. He’s an artist who creates amazing children’s crafts with recyclable materials.
Ph: Do you read blogs? If so what are a few of your favorites?
H: I read a few blogs. I try to limit myself though because I don’t have that much etsy time as it is! Here’s a short list:
Ph: What’s your favorite greenbug product? Do you use your products?
H: Oh wow. Good question! Well, I really love my bags but I have to say that I am really enjoying making my pillow boxes right now. I just came up with a new design that uses recycled plastic bags. I am calling them “poppy pillow boxes.” I love thinking of a new ways to incorporate more eco-friendly items into my designs.
And yes, I carry one of my bags everyday!
Thanks Heather! I hope you all make your way over to Green Bug and check out Heather’s handmade loveliness!
See other Sustainable Saturday posts here.
I’m trying out a few new things in super small quantities, just to see how they print and sell. The first run of toddler (3T & 4T) came out great. Each one is hand printed in eco friendly ink on Alternative Apparel eco tee. These tees are soft and amazing. I think they fit a little roomy too. This is nice as most brands tend to fit snug and it drives this mama of tall boys nuts trying to find the right size. I have to say that Alternative Apparel has the most wonderful cotton I’ve experienced, so lovely to the touch and it holds up great.
If you’re interested in snagging one, act fast because these are super limited. You can buy from the shop here. I have more blue and some green that will be printed up soon. If you had one of my existing designs in mind and you catch me before printing time I’d be happy to accommodate special requests.
I am a sucker for cheap and free options for supplies. I love how you can give something new life and make something that is cast off into something fresh and new. I also love it when the original material comes through in the new design in some way.
I recently scored a cast off Pendleton corduroy shirt in a lovely dusty blue (thanks Mom!). I was hoping it would make pants for the tall one but alas, he was too tall. I considered some boy capris for him but instead went for a custom pair of pants for the wee one. I had to play with this pattern a bit but I think they turned out cute. My favorite part? The pocket on the front of the pants which is the original chest pocket on the shirt. I couldn’t get enough fabric without incorporating it and I love how it turned out.
I also had some old linen pants cast off from my mom, they were asking to be made into boy pants. Since I had promised the little guy’s friend I would make him some pants I thought this would be a great opportunity to use some free fabric (you know, in case they didn’t fit). I was able to use the green linen and line the pockets in a lime green print.
I’ve really been enjoying making the boys some clothing. I’m almost ready to brave some knit tops. I have a bunch of projects via Made and Made By Rae that are asking to be created. I think sometimes it’s nice to have a project go relatively quickly from start to finish. I like the satisfaction of seeing a finished product.
Do you make any of your kid’s clothing? Do you have favorite sources for patterns?
I almost forgot to tell you that I had a guest tutorial last week on Made By Joel. This is super exciting because he’s like famous and stuff (he was on Martha Stewart last fall). Joel’s also the nicest guy I’ve ever worked with via the internet. It’s always crazy fun to be hosted somewhere else in the blog world. I think it’s a pretty big deal for people to open up their internet space and host others for a day.
I am honored to be hosted at Made By Joel. You should check out the whole tutorial because it’s rad and even includes patterns for those of you who consider yourselves of the craft-challenged variety. My darling boys loved these crowns and were kind enough to be my models.
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