I have two little kiddos who love to make things. They draw and paint and color. Most of the time I’m working int he studio, they are there too working on their own projects. So, we have a LOT of kiddo creations around the house. I hate to file them away somewhere so I came [...]]]>

I have two little kiddos who love to make things. They draw and paint and color. Most of the time I’m working int he studio, they are there too working on their own projects. So, we have a LOT of kiddo creations around the house. I hate to file them away somewhere so I came up with this frame that is easy to change out the art so we can rotate the new drawings into the display. This one is black, but it can be any color you want it to be.

SUPPLIES

+ a wooden frame without glass  (The one I used  is from an old art project that I had in my closet. You should hunt for one at a thrift shop or garage sale – remember you can always paint it to be the color you want it)
+ 2 eye hooks
+ enough wire to string through the eye hooks
+ paper cut down to the size of your frame
+ double sided tape or hot glue

HOW TO MAKE THE FRAME

STEP 1: Decide if you want your frame portrait or landscape and choose the side that will be the top. Measure 1.5″ down from the top on each side of your frame. Twist in the eye hooks in those spots.

STEP 2: Attach the wire to each eye hook. Make it as tight as you can.

STEP 3: Tape or glue the back side of the frame and lay the paper on the back. SIDE NOTE: This was the trickiest part for me. It’s tough to keep the paper tight and stretched out completely – but you can do it!)

STEP 4: Add a clip or clothespin or paperclip and hang in some artwork.

A few notes:

+ I did this in my garage because it was raining. Not a good idea. My frame and paper got so dirty. Especially because the boys kept riding their bikes into the rain and them back through my project.

+ Now that I have it up on display, I wish the inside of the frame was black too. It think it’s a little distracting to have the unfinished wood in there.

+ I can’t wait to make more of these. I plan to make all different sizes and hang them together so we can have our own kiddo art gallery. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I know I’m a little late on this post, but I’m still going to share! For Valentine’s Day this year, I kept it simple. I drew a few cheesy valentines on smallish pieces of paper (I think they were about 2.5″ by 4″) with my trusty Sharpie. Then I left my almost-four-year-old with his markers [...]]]>

I know I’m a little late on this post, but I’m still going to share! For Valentine’s Day this year, I kept it simple. I drew a few cheesy valentines on smallish pieces of paper (I think they were about 2.5″ by 4″) with my trusty Sharpie. Then I left my almost-four-year-old with his markers at the kitchen table and this is what he came up with! Notice how some of the names he wrote have the letters scattered all over the paper? He wanted it to be a game so the person would have to hunt for their name. How cute is that?! Oh, I love this kid.

So, Happy Valentine’s Day.

(better late then never…)

I’m having a hard time believing it’s March. Where did February go? I totally missed it! Oh well. Things have been crazy busy around here – hence the lack of blogging on my part. Sorry! I promise there will be a tutorial this Tuesday (I’m such a slacker!).  I had my first sinus infection since [...]]]>

I’m having a hard time believing it’s March. Where did February go? I totally missed it! Oh well. Things have been crazy busy around here – hence the lack of blogging on my part. Sorry! I promise there will be a tutorial this Tuesday (I’m such a slacker!).  I had my first sinus infection since high school a couple weeks ago and it wiped me out. I really hope that doesn’t happen again. Ever. (I can hope, right?!)

Anyway, I’m back on my feet and back to my usual business.

A few nights ago, I was working on some new notebook designs in my studio. The boys were all in the back yard playing some baseball so I had my window open (to listen in on the fun). I heard a really interesting bird call so I turned to look out the window. Right then, I see a bird coming full speed toward me/the window. Yep. You guessed it. He hit the window and dropped to the ground (my studio is on the second story). He hit so hard he left feathers on the glass.

I ran downstairs and outside to find the bird. Sure enough he was in the grass – alive. He flew away a few minutes later. Chris took this awesome photo of the bird before he flew away. The bird had two bright red markings on each wing and bright yellow markings on his tail feathers. Really beautiful bird! I’m glad he’s ok.

Now, I just need to find out which kind of bird he is! Any ideas?

***********

ps – Thank you, Julie, for the Book Bound Bindery feature on your blog!

Just finished up this custom wedding book for Leah & Eliot way over in the UK. Leah had such a beautiful vision of what she wanted her guest book to be and I think I made it reality.

The covers are covered in a cotton fabric with a white lacy pattern printed on it. I used [...]]]>

Just finished up this custom wedding book for Leah & Eliot way over in the UK. Leah had such a beautiful vision of what she wanted her guest book to be and I think I made it reality.

The covers are covered in a cotton fabric with a white lacy pattern printed on it. I used my favorite paper for the inside – frankfurt white. It has the most beautiful texture and feel to it. Every other page has a photo of the bride and groom on it. Opposite those pages we included some of Leah’s favorite quotes about love and marriage. One of the great things about the link stitch binding that I use to sew my wedding guest books is this: it lays completely flat. The binding will never break or crack or fall apart. Plus, the braiding on the spine is beautiful.

Congratulations, Leah and Eliot! I wish you all the best!

Tomorrow there is a very special party at my great auntie’s house. She’s calling it, Pink Party. On the surface, it’s a celebration of the pink dresser that was a Christmas gift given to her and her sister (my grandma) when they were girls. The pink dresser is famous in our family – [...]]]>

Tomorrow there is a very special party at my great auntie’s house. She’s calling it, Pink Party. On the surface, it’s a celebration of the pink dresser that was a Christmas gift given to her and her sister (my grandma) when they were girls. The pink dresser is famous in our family – and the story that goes along with it. Aunt Ellie wrote it down and you can read it here or here (the pdf is very slow so give it a second to load). I wish I could be at the party! My mom will be there and I hope she takes a lot of photos.

Aunt Ellie asked me to make a book for the party. (umm, yes, I would love to!) It’s about 8″ square with a silk cover. It’s a beautiful silvery-green (Steph, that’s your wedding fabric!) with white pages. The first half is for guests to sign while they are at the party – there will be four generations of Ashton girls there. The back half is for photos of the party Aunt Ellie can add after the day is over. The pages in the back are thick to hold the photos. The back cover has a pocket to tuck other mementos she collects from the party (the invitation, etc). I designed the title page and drew a simple line drawing of the dresser. I’m in love with this book!

I’m happy to know that a piece of me will be at the party after all.

I love my family!

A few nights ago I had the honor of hosting a baby shower for my friend and her new baby boy. I love these types of celebrations!

Some party details:

Of course the only photo I took of the food table was before all the food was on it. (I would do something like that – maybe [...]]]>

A few nights ago I had the honor of hosting a baby shower for my friend and her new baby boy. I love these types of celebrations!

Some party details:

Of course the only photo I took of the food table was before all the food was on it. (I would do something like that – maybe because a half an hour before guests arrived I was in the shower haha). We had the most delicious cheesecake ever (thanks, Amy!!), lemon bars, and chocolate cupcakes filled with whipped cream. Plus, we had Vietnamese Salad Rolls (thanks, Tricia!!) which are so yummy, artichoke-spinach dip, fresh strawberries, fresh clementines, and fresh veggies. Lemon water and Izzes to drink.

(love my Kroger flowers?!)

I made the garland out of craft paper and string. A matching one hung on the mantle.

The food was all labeled with these cute signs. I’m working on making this into a free download for you – I’ll let you know when it’s ready.

I don’t believe any party guest should leave empty handed so everyone took a “glad you came” cookie for the road. (These labels will also be available soon for download)

And, of course, there were candy munchies a plenty (everyone needs buckets of m&ms!)

So that’s what I’ve been up to. I’ve also had a bunch of custom book orders lately – keep them coming! I love custom orders. I’ll post pics soon.

Here is my list of tutorials I want to give a try. You should try them too.

+ Paper Heart Garland at How About Orange + A valentine version of this fabric covered button found via Sew Mama Sew + Martha’s Blossoming Brooch + Really awesome brownie bags from Twig & Thistle + Pennant banner valentine style from the girls [...]]]>

Here is my list of tutorials I want to give a try. You should try them too.

+ Paper Heart Garland at How About Orange
+ A valentine version of this fabric covered button found via Sew Mama Sew
+ Martha’s Blossoming Brooch
+ Really awesome brownie bags from Twig & Thistle
+ Pennant banner valentine style from the girls over at Bloom
+ Valentines for the boys around here using these awesome old school images from Cathe Holden

As promised, the valentine gift card holders are in the shop and ready to ship to you! There are two designs for Valentine’s Day.

First up is the Valentine’s Day Stripe. I don’t know about you, but my family is a house full of boys and none of them get real exited about pink [...]]]>

As promised, the valentine gift card holders are in the shop and ready to ship to you! There are two designs for Valentine’s Day.

First up is the Valentine’s Day Stripe. I don’t know about you, but my family is a house full of boys and none of them get real exited about pink things. So I designed this one with the boys in mind. The inside is bright yellow. As usual, my sister, Jes, helped me write the inside of this one. Awesome, right? It’s bright, fun, happy and the perfect way to give a gift card or movie tickets or special coupon or a love note or something. I know you have a good idea.

Second is the Valentine’s Day Pink. The inside is putty brown card stock with a coordinating cross hatch pocket. I have limited quantities of each of these so snatch yours up before it’s too late.

My husband and I had our portraits taken at Justin’s studio last summer and the thing that I loved most was for the first 20 minutes of the session, Justin sat with [...]]]> Justin Hackworth is a photographer based out of Provo, Utah. Have you seen his documentary project with NieNie? Or his 30 Strangers project?

My husband and I had our portraits taken at Justin’s studio last summer and the thing that I loved most was for the first 20 minutes of the session, Justin sat with us and just chatted. Not only that, he took notes! I really felt like he wanted to get to know us. So now, the tables turn and we get to know a little about Justin.

Tell us about what you do.
I am a wedding and portrait photographer and I work in the the tradition of a documentary photographer. I don’t photograph landscapes or puppies in a fruit basket. I photograph people.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
When I started, there were a number of photographers that really resonated with me. Gary Winnogrand, Elliott Erwitt, Lee Friedlander, Robert Frank, Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus. I still love their work and go back to it again and again. It never gets old. I’m also inspired by music and really, anyone that is performing at the top of their game. I love to see work of any kind that is fresh and original and unlike anything else.

What motivates you to keep at it?
I honestly don’t know what it is inside me that compels me to make photographs. I’ve tried to analyze it, and come up with a reason why I do this rather than playing the guitar or write poems, because I’d like to do those things, too. But I don’t. I make pictures, and I love doing it. It never gets old for me and while I’ve thought about this a lot, I’ve never been able to come up with a reason why I do it. I moved by it. That’s all I know.

What is one thing you are looking forward to?
One thing that I always love, is to go into somebody’s house, and see my work hanging on the walls. It’s nice, because I feel like they are getting enjoyment and pleasure from something I created. So I’m looking forward to more of that as the years go by.

Are there other talents/skills/hobbies you hope to add to your repertoire?
One of these days, I will learn to play the piano. Mark my words.

You can find more of Justin Hackworth here:
website: justinhackworth.com
blog: justinhackworth.com/blog