Heartful Handmade Blog

tortoise loves donkey miniature gardens

The creative energy behind Tortoise Loves Donkey, in Alameda, California, is a violinist/violist by trade.  But when she's not making music, she creates elegantly simple miniature terrariums using succulents and air plants.  I'm talking terrariums as small as 1" or 2" in diameter and 3" x 3" dish gardens.   These small plantings are great by themselves or as groupings in tight spaces like window sills or on bookshelves.  They're a convenient way to bring the outside in all over the house or office, and they're also great for gift giving.  

Browse the Tortoise Loves Donkey online garden shop.

personal hiding places in recycled books

The Book Box Company, on Vancouver Island in Canada, users recycled books to create storage boxes for personal items like jewelry, passports, or important documents.  They somehow harden the pages into a solid mass which they then hollow out through a machining process. The finished product uses the top cover as a box lid.  Book Boxes come in a range of sizes from small to XX-large and a wide variety of titles, from classics to contemporary novels.

I've long used books to store thin paper documents, but this is a cool way to extend bookshelf storage to things with a bit more heft.

Browse the Book Box Company site.

diy hand-painted teacup and saucer

It's been awhile since I've run a how-to article, but this one from Etsy Storque just begged to be posted. It seems pretty simple to do, doesn't cost a forture, and it looks like a lot of fun.  I think a hand painted cup or bowl or plate or something would make a great Mother's Day gift.  And you've got plenty of time get it done.

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Continue reading Hand-painted Teacup and Saucer with LouchLab.

recycled art company license plate and old barn art

The Recycled Art Company, in nicely named Niceville. Florida, creates eco-friendly art from salvaged materials.  Their use of discarded license plates gives their work a whimsical vintage Americana look.  And they'll do custom work (e.g., working a specific name into the artwork).  In addition to license plates, Recycled Art Company uses reclaimed wood from old barns, fences, porches and such.

Browse the Recycled Art Company website.

highly discounted handmade persian and oriental rugs

eCarpetGallery.com carries a large selection of handmade Persian and Oriental rugs, both new and used.  They categorize their rugs by style, size, shape, and country of origin, making it easy when you're trying to find something specific, and their prices are way below what you normally see for rugs of this quality.  The site posts discounts of 60-70%, shipping is free to the U.S. and Canada, and they have designers and experts on hand to help you by telephone. 

Check out the bargains at eCarpetGallery.com now.

artisan and gourmet chocolates galore

Chocolate.com is a collective of artisan and gourmet chocolate makers from all over the world. Their site provides an online marketplace where chocolate lovers can connect with small shop owners offering often unusual small batch chocolate products.  And Chocolate.com makes it easy to find important specialty chocolates, such as vegan, kosher, fair trade, and organic varieties.

Check out the Chocolate.com website.

zerkahloostrah handmade shoes and boots

Daphne at Zerkahloostrah creates custom and ready-made shoes, boots, bags and wallets for men and women from her studio in Holyoke, Massachusetts.  Along with bright red classically designed Mary Janes, she makes some very unusual period styles.  She also makes sock and tabi style slippers.    

Click here for more info. 

wool and silk scarves and wraps from felted pleasure

Marina at Felted Pleasure in Moscow (the one in the USSR) creates very beautiful and unusual wool and silk felted scarves, shawls, wraps, and mittens.  They are perfect combinations of practicality, warmth, and artistic flair.

Click here for more info. 

necklush creates stunning fiber necklaces

Necklush makes luscious fiber necklaces for men and women.  They come in a variety of colors, sizes, lengths, fullness, whatever.  They can be light and airy for summer or dense and warm for winter.  And all are made to order (in Brooklyn), so you get exactly the color, style, and size you want. 

Click here for more info. 

black and white kitty butter dish by alison palmer

I really like this Black and White Kitty butter dish.  It's functional, artistically engaging, and has just enough "cute" to bring a bit of whimsy to a too early breakfast before a too early meeting.

It's slip cast from a plaster mold made from a handmade model, by Alison Palmer.  $70.00.