check it out!

I have been working on a lot of new necklaces. And as I promised, they are finally here. Take a look at my pics, let me know what you think! They will be arriving in my shop this week. 

Minneapolis Picks features STELLA + HODGE!!

Minneapolis Picks is a free, subscription driven weekly publication, sent out by email every Friday. Check out minneapolispicks.com. Their fun, sassy lists are hints, recommendations, and best-kept secrets of shops, restaurants, hangouts, products and services in the Twin Cities area.

I look forward to these weekly emails. They have great taste and fun style and I'm giddy to be included in this weeks chick picks list! Thanks to everyone at Minneapolis Picks, it made my day!

I should also mention that there are other locations too. Maybe there is one near where you live? They also have Chicago, Phoenix, Portland and Seattle.

diy necklace display

I've been trying to figure out the best way to display my necklaces. I want to give a better idea of how they actually look on - how they lay. But I don't want to show them on a model (nobody wants someone else wearing their necklace before they purchase it.) And I know there are nice displays you can purchase, but I wanted to lo-cost alternative. I searched the web looking for ideas and came across a website that tells you how to make your own necklace display. I found it on Home Jewelry Business Success Tips by Rena Klingenberg. So I added it to my to-do list. I'm all for saving money and being thrifty. Last night I made my display and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. And it was super easy to make. I didn't follow the instructions exactly. So here's how I made mine:

I started with a piece of cardboard that was 12.5 inches wide x 10 inches tall. I created this template in illustrator, which you can copy and enlarge to make it the correct size.

I cut out the shape. Instead of covering it in fabric, which also works, I covered mine with a sheet of decorative paper. 

The dotted lines indicate where you need to fold it. Then punch holes in each side at the bottom and tie a string through. This pulls the sides back and enables it to stand upright.

Turned out pretty nice! 

Here is the finished product displaying one of my necklaces. I'm so glad I made this because I think it really displays it beautifully and will work great for my necklaces in my etsy shop. Let me know if you have any other ideas or suggestions for displaying necklaces!

necklaces, necklaces, necklaces

I worked on a bunch of new necklaces this weekend for my shop. I'm photographing them today and I'll post them here soon. Can't wait to see what you think! Stay tuned...

vote now!

One of my very talented design friends Carisa of Little Riley, has submitted holiday card designs on minted.com. Winning designs will be on sale this holiday season. Go online and vote, I think her cards are super cute. I love the little birdies, which one is your favorite?

a collection I must have

I featured a planter from fruitflypie in my latest etsy treasury, but I couldn't just leave it at that. I am in LOVE with this shop. Lately I've had kind of an obsession with owls. I've been looking for a cute set, maybe salt and pepper shakers, book ends or a figurine. But this shop seriously has exactly what I've been envisioning and have not been able to find. I want them all. And what delicious colors available! Wendy who runs fruitflypie is a ceramics artist and graphic web designer in North Carolina. In her shop she has planters, figurines, banks, spoon rests and the most adorable cupcake cookie jars. Definitely a collection I need to start.

out comes the sun

This week has been very cloudy and rainy here in MN. My hope for a burst of sunshine inspired my latest etsy treasury. Don't let the gray color trick you here. These items are anything but cloudy and dull. Surely they would brighten anyone's day! 

The wonderful items include: textured sterling silver disc earrings from vickiorion, gorgeous felt pebbles by Kneek, a super cute recycled felt mug cosy from remadeshop, lovely flowered summer scarf from beautifulbridget, the bright and cheery peony hair fascinator from MeadowbelleMarket, ruffle-me-up pillow from missmosh, unique Neroli soap with charcoal and clay from BeautifulSoaps, totally fabulous linen skirt from EasternlyYours, the adorable little wool morning bunny from Marjji, the stylish placeholder tie from toybreaker that any designer would love, the lovely owl planter from fruitflypie that is a personal fave, and the engraved stones from sjengraving, which would make a wonderful family gift. 

color inspiration

So, I have no shame in admitting I am in love with my iphone. I am constantly being wowed by the cool new apps I find. My latest find is "Ben" by Benjamin Moore Paints. With this fun app you can take a picture of anything, select a color from your photo and tap the match key. It gives you a color strip with their closest paint color highlighted. Shake your phone and it gives you suggested coordinating colors based on your color choice. You can keep track of all the colors you choose and even write little notes. And the app is free! Who doesn't love free stuff.

I think this is such a great idea. As a creative person I can't tell you how many times I've seen the color of something, or a color combination and been so inspired by it. Even if you aren't looking to repaint your place. Its like your own little color inspiration journal, all on your iphone. I love technology.

NEW custom prints in my shop!

Custom prints make wonderful gifts and beautiful accents for your home. I've just added a bunch to my shop. Think of how cute they would be in a child's bedroom. Or a cute way to celebrate a special family pet. The initial prints can be a great housewarming or wedding gift. The possibilities are endless. Check them out at STELLAandHODGE.etsy.com.

keep it together

In my new treasury I selected items to help us stay organized. Organizing can actually be fun when you have these cute items to help keep it all together. I LOVE these items, they are all so pretty and functional, which makes them even better! Check out the treasury on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=63351. 

the quirkier the better

Claire Chamber is the artist behind the shop absolutelysmall.etsy.com. Her odd, yet adorable Chickenpants plush creatures are so quirky and fun. These little guys are so unique. I couldn't help but giggle when I came across them, with their little patterned pants and button belt buckles. How can you not love them! She even releases prints every month with Chickenpants on little adventures, like having a picnic or falling in love over a latte. Too cute!

around the world one caramel at a time

I heard today that a project of mine was featured in Turkishtime magazine. Route 29 is a candy company I've designed packaging for. They make wonderful caramels, chocolates, licorice and tons of other goodies. And I must say, their packaging is pretty darn cute! 

I worked on designing and illustrating their regular packaging as well as Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter lines. Looks like this magazine featured their Easter products. Crazy how projects can turn up half-way across the world. Truly amazing. Hmmm, now if only I could read what its says...

it pays to be a night owl

I was still up at 3am, so luckily I scored a spot in the etsy treasury. One of these times I would be thrilled if my treasury made it to the front page. But for now I'm just happy with coming up with a really nice selection of great items. You can check out the treasury on the etsy site here: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=61869. 

I selected choose your own cloth blocks from smidgebox, raspberry muffin handbag from ARobinsNest, The Pagoda's of Ciboure from SevenWoodStudio, Flared Serving Bowl with Willow Design from yogagoat, recycled tin and brass necklace from littleblackrabbit, personalized notecards from STELLA + HODGE, Small Blue and Green Diamond Book from windyweatherbindery, Blue Cherry Gold Filled Earrings from studiometalsmith, Quilted Coasters from meghanburch, Green Speckled Superhero Bug with Cape from murdockdesign, LAUGH Recycled Magnetic LOCKET SET from polarity and If the Atlantic was this blue pillow by frostline.