Kitsch Café Studio Blog

collage

Here's one of the pieces I created at a collage workshop I took a few weeks ago:

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The workshop was taught by this crazy talented man. I learned a lot and was happy I took the class!

my first craft show!

I had a great time at my first craft show this past weekend. It was held outside in an amazing historical neighborhood in Cincinnati called Over-the-Rhine.

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Besides it being fairly hot, everything went well. I sold more than I thought I would and had a lot of interest. There were many "oohs and aahs" from customers, which made me feel as though I am heading in the right direction with my products.

I am going to plan on attending at least three other shows between now and October, including applying for Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago. It was good this show was only a few miles from my apartment since it was my first. I can't image how crazy it will be hauling everything 5 hours to Chicago if I make it in to Renegade.

The café theme that I tried to establish didn't really come off as I had hoped. So, I am planning on making some changes with my set-up which includes possibly buying some all white, super minimal furniture from IKEA.

A good first showing!

sneak peek: paper packs

Lots of sneak peeks lately! Today, I'm happy to announce another product for Kitsch Café Handmade... Paper Packs!

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Packages of vintage paper ephemera for craft, collage and scrapbooking will be making their way to the shop. I'm very excited about Paper Packs because I learning that I am hungry for vintage illustration. What a better way to satisfy my hunger than by collecting and assembling these packs of paper from vintage books, games and magazines.

Look for them in the shop the next few weeks.

sneak peek: customizable greeting cards

I've been working on a new product for Kitsch Café Handmade this week and I am excited to give you a sneak peek. Customizable greeting cards!

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I was thinking that it might be cool to be able to change your cards to match the occasion. And, people like being creative and giving handmade cards. Most people are busy, though, so helping them along by giving them easy to use stickers makes creating "handmade" cards easy.

I'm not done with the final design and I'd like to add a few more sets of stickers to the line. Looking forward to getting these in the shop in the next week or two!

sneak peek: hand knitted pillows

I am currently in Chicago, enjoying some time away. But, I wanted to share something with all of you before the weekend: I am thrilled to show you the next product for my NEW shop, Kitsch Café Handmade...

 
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Throw pillows! Hand knitted fabric combined with vintage fabric!

I have been working on these for several months, trying different sewing techniques, etc. I haven't really seen anything like this before, so I am excited to get these to the shop, STAT. The samples shown above are only two of the many variations that will be available. I will also be offering vintage fabric pillows with no knitting in a variety of sizes, at a lower price.

Check the shop in the next week or two, as I will be adding the pillows, as well as more vintage fabric covered note cards.

Have a great weekend everyone!

my new studio

My new studio is finally up and functioning (mostly)...

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I live in a pre-war apartment building in the most fantastic, walkable neighborhood. I have a formal dining room that I really never used- I've never been in to dinner parties or having guests. So, it's now my studio.

My dad built a crazy cool work table a few weeks ago. It's counter-height so that I can stand and work without leaning over. He also added shelving at the bottom so I can store my shipping supplies.

Since I now have everything pretty much set up, I need to figure out an organizing plan... where does my inventory go, how do I store fabric, where are my notions, etc. In the meantime, though, I'm sure I'll me making plenty of cool things in my new space!

clean desk!

I've been in a spring cleaning frenzy for the past two and a half weeks. My apartment was a wreck when I left my job. I knew that if my living space (and now studio) wasn't organized physically, neither would my mind.

After going through each room cleaning, trashing, organizing and reorganizing, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. The last space to clean and organize is my office/spare bedroom. I'm halfway through. I just finished cleaning off my desk- it's nice to not have to sit at the sofa to work on the computer. And look how good it looks:

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I found the red lamp while thrifting a few weeks ago. I was going to sell it in the shop, but I like it too much (not that I don't like the things I sell, but you know what I mean.) Next to the lamp is an old 45 record box that holds my receipts.

More to come of the freshly organized and (somewhat) redecorated apartment with before and after photos!

reflections

For the past year, I have been collecting mirrors during all of my thrift store adventures. I finally found the time to paint them orange and hang them:

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I love how it turned out! Grouping items always make a splash. And painting them all the same color allows you to see their shape/form. It also reflects the amazing view from my apartment.

And, thanks to SimplyGrove for featuring my mirror wall!

cards

I've been working late the past few nights in order to get my new Kitsch Café stationery line off the ground. Here is a sneak peek at notecards that will soon be in the shop:

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I'm so excited to get these into the shop... I'm bursting at the seams with excitement, but want to wait until I know everything is correct.

getting ready

Samples of packaging are arriving, machine-knitted fabric is blocking and boards are being cut...

I'm so excited that all of this is coming together and even more excited to show you what I have been up to the past few weeks! Stay tuned...