My friend, the stylist and some pretty Perfect Porches

A fantastic new book, Perfect Porches, by Savannah College of Art and Design President, {the prolific} Paula S. Wallace is now available! My dear friend and shopSCAD director, Amy Zurcher worked as a stylist for several of the shoots involved and we've been anxiously awaiting its debut! I'm so thrilled Amy was chosen to help with this project as she is an incredibly talented stylist and only a handful of friends, employers and customers have known this for years! Congratulations, Amy! I believe that All your creative contributions should be preserved in print! xo

Perfect Porches can be purchased at shopSCAD!

The ever talented Chia Chong and Adam Kuehl are 

responsible for the beautiful photography!

Image from Perfect Porches

Image from Perfect Porches

Savannah College of Art and Design President and Author, Paula S. Wallace.

Isn't she incredible!? This is one of my favorite unguarded press shots of her.
Learn more about her here!

The Handmade Marketplace

Very excited about this new book, The Handmade Marketplace written by Kari Chapin...and delightfully illustrated by the wonderful Emily Martin of The Black Apple!

found via Design*Sponge!

Crafting an MBA

Thanks to Design*Sponge for sharing this gem of a resource with its readers today! There is a discussion going on about "Etsy and the Culture of Cheap" that I found really interesting and especially timely-read or weigh in here. I'm constantly struggling with myself to charge enough for my artwork and services...and this is the year I've promised myself and my husband that I will pull myself out of the red! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of blog author, Megan Auman's posts! Check out Crafting an MBA!

Merry Christmas and Creative Thursday

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

The work of Marisa Haedike (Creative Thursday) is so sweet and special and reminds me of the good feelings of family and friends that go along with the holidays! Lots of love xoxo, Katie

Creative Thursday {Website} {Shop} {Blog}

Appliqué Your Way Blog Tour Interview with Kayte Terry!

A formal introduction probably isn't necessary for my special guest today! Most of you already know and love writer/stylist/crafty lady for hire, Kayte Terry! I am tickled pink to have her stop by today as part of her blog tour for her beautiful new book, Appliqué Your Way-35 Pretty Sewing Projects and Patterns!

I fell in love with Kayte's vintage-handmade-modern-crafty style the moment I came across her blog, This is Love Forever. That must have been about two years ago now! I immediately posted about her work on my blog and left her love notes of admiration in the comment section of her blog until eventually we became internet pals. She was a super sweetheart to invite me to contribute a project to her new book...which was beyond fun and exciting for me! Thank you, Kayte!

Kayte's sewing basket

Kayte kindly answered some questions I had for her about how she goes about gathering and processing inspiration and ideas for new projects...

Katie: Are you a sketchbook keeper? I hadn't heard you speak of it on your blog. I know I've never been able to keep one for very long. How do you go about collecting and formulating your ideas? Do you keep a sketchbook or some kind of catalog system? I know you juggle several design jobs at once and wonder how you keep it all organized!?

Kayte: I am like you, I can’t keep a sketchbook for long. I always have good intentions but it just doesn’t stick so I have millions of half finished books lying around. That’s one of the reasons I decided to start a blog: so I could keep a record of all the things I loved in one place.

Besides the blog I have lots of inspiration books & little portfolio books that have clear plastic sleeves to hold all of my magazine tears. I have them organized by things like “craft", “rooms and interiors” , “fashion”, etc. I am an incredible magazine hoarder and book buyer.

Kayte's Fabric Watermelon

Katie: Do you have any unusual times or means of working out your ideas?

Kayte: I am actually a morning person in disguise as a late-night person. I love staying up late and claim that I get a lot of work done then but really, my mind is clearest early in the morning. As I get older and have less desire to stay out late, this has become an easier task. I am a serious multi-tasker and it’s pretty hard to get me to sit down and do one thing. I’m trying really hard to get more focused. Since I seem to always have a million things going on, I like to break down my task list into tiny little things so I can cross a lot off and feel accomplished! I make lists constantly.

Doily Trivets-Appliqué Your Way-page 64

Katie: What's your studio/office like? What are the most important factors necessary for you to thrive in your workspace?

Kayte: I have a little alcove in the corner of our loft for all my crafty stuff. I keep everything either in bins on restaurant supply shelving or in this old metal cabinet I found at a flea market. I like things to be out in the open but also shelved and organized. My sewing machine is always out and ready to go and all my sewing supplies are neatly stored near-by. I love to play around with displays of little bits and bobs that inspire me, like vintage millinery supplies or jars of buttons. These things are functional but also beautiful.

Kayte's loft- and her perfect-for-craft-supply-storage medical cabinet!

Katie: What are the top five tools/supplies you keep within reach at your creative workspace?

Kayte: 1. My Bernina 2. Straight Pins 3. Lots of scissors- I’m always losing them! 4. Thread in tons of colors 5. Rotary cutter

Kayte's work area!

Katie: Where do you think you end up sourcing inspiration for most of your project ideas? I know you like to revive vintage crafts as well and wonder how you resolve the situation of making the project new and uniquely yours?

Kayte: That’s a really interesting question. I guess I try to think of ways to honor the technique and the craft but still to make it my own. I like to deconstruct quilts and patchwork, and make them geometric and modern. I do love nature too and I am always inspired by it but in a kind of remote abstract way. I live in a big city and what I make is often part of a yearning for nature and simplicity. I have a tendency to romanticize nature because I haven’t lived around it in many years so I am inspired by it. I guess I sort of take what I like from nature and try not to think about the rest!

How Does your Garden Grow Apron -Appliqué Your Way-page92

Katie: Are there specific places, things, music you like to visit, observe, or listen to when you're seeking inspiration or motivation for a new project?

Kayte: I love to travel and I always have a list a mile long of places I want to visit when I go to a new place. I just went to Art Basel in Miami and it was just incredible. The amount of art I saw was almost overwhelming but I was buzzing with excitement for days afterward.

When I get blocked creatively, I just go for a walk: I can walk fro miles and miles and daydream and clear my head. Walking is also great for people watching, anther big inspiration for me.

Photo from Kaytes visit to LA's California Millinery Supply Co.
via her blog, This is Love Forever.

Katie: Who are some of the artists/crafters/designers that you find yourself repeatedly looking to or admiring?

Kayte: I am inspired by so many crafters and designers that it’s hard to pick out just a few but as far as artists go, right now my favorites are: Jean Shin, Eva Hesse, Louise Nevelson, Cézanne, Louise Bourgeois, Andy Goldsworthy, Ghada Amer, Patrick Dougherty, Simone Pheulpin, Megan Whitmarsh, Holly Farrell, Tara Donovan, the list goes on and on.

Thank you for sharing, Kayte!

And lastly, I can't help but share my project-
The Garden Party Headband- page 36!

That's pretty Kayte herself modeling the headband!

I am so completely honored and proud to be a small part in Kayte's craft masterpiece! I am so in awe of the artful details in the book- from the clever projects (my holiday break plans include the Butterfly Swarm Sweater!), the pretty vintage graphics and typical sweet Kayte stylings, to the sweet pocket full of patterns in the back! If you don't have your own copy by now- please leave a comment on this post to enter your email address to win a free copy of Appliqué Your Way provided by Chronicle Books! I'll pick a random entry from those entered by midnight EST tonight and announce the winner tomorrow! oxo

Sublime Stitching's New Book!

Jenny Hart's new book has arrived! Get your copy here!

Applique Your Way by Kayte Terry

I'm getting ready to preorder a few copies of Kayte Terry's new book, Applique Your Way, being published by Chronicle Books this fall! I always love Kayte's projects and I can't wait to see the new ideas in this book! She was also super kind and asked a few artists to contribute to the book. I can't thank her enough for including me as one of them! I have several book proposals I've been working on and I pray this might help my chances of finding a publisher one day. Thank you, Kayte! I can't wait! xo

Elizabeth Gilbert

Thank you to Jena at Modish for sharing this TED lecture with Eat, Pray, Love's author, Elizabeth Gilbert. I relished that novel...and I am especially enamored with the author, even more so now after hearing her engaging talk about her idea that artists need to nurture their 'genius' and perhaps hand over some of the ownership of that genius to something greater than oneself...xo

Postmark L.A.

I'm excited about the launch of the artful new book Postmark L.A. -a collaboration between Charlotte Lyons, Pam Garrison, Teresa McFayden, Amy Hanna, Rebecca Sower, and Carolyn Peeler. You can see a preview of the book here! It appears to be packed with eye candy and new projects-all stemming from an inspiring trip the group of friends took to Los Angeles. Another artist's book I must have! Just purchased Artsy Mama's last week- finally! I've always wanted to put a book together but didn't know how to go about it! Now websites like Blurb.com and Lulu.com make it easy to self-publish!

Craft Biz Books

These three books are proving to be invaluable to me now. If you are concerned or confused at all about what steps to take to move your craft business forward-or even if you should continue- these books will answer all your questions and provide insight from folks who have been there and done it all! Click on the book to find out more.

Julie Arkell

Here's some eye candy from the incredible UK artist, Julie Arkell. She is represented at Twig and Earth Angels in the US- but isn't yet online herself. She did however create a beautiful book that shares her work and studio with us-some images seen below. Her book can be purchased here or on Amazon if they're out. I've been collecting these images from all over the internet-so I apologize if I have forgotten where I clipped the image-but just know all are copyrighted by Julie Arkell.

Image above from Embroidery Magazine Nov/Dec 2008

Dolly Badges available at Earth Angels

Watches available at Earth Angels

Pull Toys photo clipped from Treefall Design

Big Eared Animal- found at Twig

Homespun available at Twig

Photo of Julie with her work clipped from Earth Angels

The Artist's Book

Arkell's Studio as it appears in her book
above and below

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

I'm a little late finding this book- but I read it over the weekend and have really taken it to heart. If you haven't already, I hope you'll read it too. Visit their site here to read updates about the family and print the book's recipes.

A Must Read

I love Suze Orman. I love watching her show-especially the "Can I afford this?" segment. (Kathy Griffen loves her too!) I love reading her books, and her new book is by far the most important. "Women and Money" is a great read for every woman, not just for those in financial turmoil. If you've ever had any questions about your finances but didn't know who to ask or even what to ask-Suze has the answers in this book. I like this book in particular because in her no-nonsense way she exposes the different ways (from emotional spending and caretaking to investments and trust planning)that women approach money. And she has the years of experience to tell you about it. She doesn't accept any excuses, but she does take the stand that indeed there is a difference between men and women and how we've been taught to think, feel, and do about our money- and I appreciate that. Her website has a lot of great resources too- see here. You will feel so much more confident about yourself and your future if you arm yourself with the knowledge that Suze has to share. I have to say, I really do!