Take 10 Tuesday - the summer version ....

Now that summer has officially come to this part of the world and I am allowed to get officially lazy

(yes, it's like, in the Constitution or something)

as opposed to the unofficially lazy way I usually operate, Take 10 Tuesday will be reduced to Take (insert any number here) Tuesday for the next few weeks.

(why don't I just call it Take 8 Tuesday, etc you are probably asking ... well, I don't know ... it just doesn't seem to have the same kapow, you know what I mean)

Anyhoo, here's some stuff you might want to check out:

1. My own interview with Tara at Scoutie Girl about Creative Thinking!

2. A seriously good podcast over at Crafty Pod where Megan Auman nails it about Professional Crafters and Hobbyists on Etsy

3. Tips for Etsy Sellers - Product Descriptions that Work by the amazing tinahdee

4. 5 Reasons to Title Your Art at Art Biz Blog - why numbering your work is not a good idea

5. Very funny post Why Having a Toddler is Like Being at a Frat Party over at Suburban Snapshots.

6. 5 Quick Tips to Take Better Photographs by the amazing Jessica Torres.

Jessica also found some stunning new work for the Photographers of Etsy team blog which included an amazing photo by my buddy Ann Wilkinson, who is hopefully in North Carolina as I right this, having a wonderful summer and drinking alot of wine (she sends me her corks) - I'm not trying to wish a drinking problem on her or anything, but I do need those corks Ann ...

7. Chris Brogan's post Make the Ask - why is it so hard for us to ask for the sale?

8. Get WAY Better at What You Do NOW by Tara Gentile - what have we done lately to improve our maker skills?



rustic spinner ring by tinahdee
Peek fine art photo by Jessica Torres.

Giveaway - LEMONBALL - Handsome, Handmade BASEBALL by Paul Cunningham! CLOSED

And the winner is: SilverWork!

Chosen by random.org #46 out of 227

Paul Cunningham is the incredible designer/craftsman behind the amazing LEMON BALL™ baseballs!

They are handmade baseballs modeled after the original "base ball" from nearly 200 years ago.

Made from beautiful American tanned leather and high quality waxed linen thread, you will not find a finer ball anywhere.

Paul was born on the first day of spring training in Cooperstown, NY.

(born for baseball you could say)

He has served as a researcher for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and was the long time photo editor for Major League Baseball in Manhattan.

Paul was also a Sr. Baseball Glove Craftsman, making ball gloves for elite players!
The lemon peel style baseball represents an important link in baseball's early history. Few are aware that the modern "figure eight" style baseball evolved from the lemon peel style ball.

Paul's incredible work has been featured in Men's Fitness, the Fox business show Happy Hour and his LEATHER HEAD™ Handsome American Football is showcased in this month's Real Simple magazine!


We are so lucky to have one of his amazing creations for this week's giveaway!

WHAT YOU GET:

One lucky winner will receive a handsome, handmade LEMON BALL™ baseball!




HOW TO WIN:

Visit LemonBall's shop and and check out his amazing work- then come back here and leave a comment letting Paul know which of his incredible handsome handmade leathers is your favorite!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

Enter by midnight, Sunday June 27th! Good luck! CLOSED

Friday Finds - Summer is a Coming!

"A life without love is like a year without summer." ~ Swedish Proverb


1. savannah bee company tupelo honey
2. velorbis bicycle with wooden crate
3. alice supply company garden tools
4. cb2 oscar planters
5. seltzer studios picnic set
6. alice supply company hose
7. push me pull you the fox and the stork print
8. rosewebs lawn chair wallet
9. gudrun sjoden floral topper

Another amazing stack to get your weekend started right brought to us by the amazing wedding photog and stacker of all things stackable Kella MacPhee.

Upcycled DIY Tutorial - A Log Table & Chalkboard Sign or what to do when you need to cut down those trees

A couple weeks ago, we had to cut down 5 trees - it was a hard day for us me.

George was very certain these trees were going to crash down on our heads and we have had enough trees fall over the years, including one that hit our neighbor's garage, to take our tree problem seriously.

You can see from the holes in these poor trees that they had seen better days, but it was very hard for me to make the decision to cut them down.

This decision was not so hard for hubby who longs for any reason to use his mostly idle chainsaw.

(for a man who likes to makes things, he really likes to "unmake" them, too)



I have a few projects planned for some of this wood and the rest is being picked up by some friends with fireplaces. I saw these log stools in a magazine and knew I would be making one for us and a couple for other people.


You will need:

1. a log that has been cut to be level
2. your handy drill
3. 4 swivel casters

(if you are going to sit on this log you may want bigger casters than these and longer screws)

4. screws, screwdriver and marking pen


1. Lay out your swivel casters fairly close to the edge of your log
2. Mark your drill holes

(I actually skipped this step and just drilled through the caster holes, but this could be a good step if you are a litle less lazy than I am)

3. Drill your screw holes
4. Screw on your casters
5. Flip your table
6. Voila- and this is a heck of alot easier to move around than the heavy log is!

BONUS PROJECT - WELCOME SIGN
Using a round template paint a chalkboard onto a slice of wood- add a little welcome message!


And for some amazing Etsy creations you can buy now- check out:


1. Log #20 original water color painting by Gollybard
2. Personalized carved initials necklace by Lisa Hopkins
3. Tiny wee hoot owl by Buttercupbloom
4. Tagua nuts eco-friendly earrings from Decorate the Diva
5. Custom tree heart pillow by Cozyblue
6. Pileated woodpecker by StudioLyon