Be Happy

via Etsy

April Thoughts

Oh man, is it already mid-April?  It's been quiet around here, as you've likely noticed.  But I haven't been slacking.  I've been answering convos, writing for clients, and packing orders regularly--but haven't gotten the chance to sit down and make new work just yet.  I know, I know, April is the start of wedding season and spring has sprung.  I should already have a game plan.  Yet, I'm currently going with the flow and not pushing it with new ideas, which is an entirely new concept for me.  (Usually, I challenge myself to come up with a list of shop ideas each week.)  And it's been so windy around here these past few weeks.  Pollen dusts everything, even our dog's depth of fur in a fine sprinkling of gold that, when brushed away, makes one's eyes itch madly.

I'm hoping for a less windy day for some smooth sailing...and less spring allergy aggravation.

Welcome, Spring!

via Instagram

This post is a few days late, but sometimes, that's how things go when you're staring at the buds and blooms proliferating outside your window.  P.S. Just eight more days to contribute to my 2016 donation campaign for March--each month, I'll donate $1 from every sale to charity!  Visit my shop here.

Happy spring, all!

March Thoughts

This will be a productive month, as it is the start of wedding season and a new season, spring.  The weather has been springlike around here for a few weeks already, but has turned wonderfully rainy over the last few days.  Give me a week of each weather type, and I'll be grateful.  I love the changing of seasons (unpredictable weather, included).

Speaking of the time of year...if you're interested in purchasing wedding goods from my shop, please allow a production timeline of 2-3 weeks for larger-quantity orders of 50+ items.  If needed, I can rush your order for an additional fee.  This is because I make each piece by hand (cutting, gluing, stamping) and never take shortcuts in production.  I use quality materials, too: archival ink, sharp scissors, individual letter stamps, and acid-free and lignin-free cardstock--plus upcycled book pages.

As for shop news, I am a few sales away from my 900th sale.  So excited!

But nearing 900 sales doesn't mean that my goal of donating $175 to charity this year will be scrapped.  I've donated $22 so far from your purchases, and can't wait to donate more.

Lastly, I've added a sample California poppy wedding favor seed packet (with custom initials) to shop if you're looking for a sample before buying a larger quantity; link below:

Handmade CA poppy seed packets with stamped initials

Have a happy Sunday!

Inspiration: Spring Greenery

                                                                    via my Pinterest account


Winter isn't over yet, but I've been fawning over spring-green finds on Pinterest.  Images of florals and architecture and nature, especially.  An intoxicating splash of deep green always finds its way into my curated boards.  My most popular board is Romantic Wedding, followed by Write, Write, Write, and Gifts for the Writer (in that order).  It's my hope that my shop-specific boards will become favorites, as well.  Feel free to follow along for visual inspiration, DIY ideas, and new pins (added weekly).

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Have you heard?  This year, I'm donating $1 from every listing purchased to the nationwide food bank charity, Feeding America.  This means your purchase will have a doubly good purpose! #goodsforgood  My 2016 goal is to donate a total of $175.

A donation will be made at the end of each month--with your support, I donated $15 last month.
Read the full details here.

Thumbelina Leigh Lavender

Thumbelina Leigh Lavender
March 2015

Remember my dear Thumbelina Leigh Lavender purchased back in 2012?  It's still alive!  This variety supposedly lasts for five years only, so I am hoping it makes it well beyond that.  So far, it has been hanging on after a few rough patches.  Last year, half of the plant somehow died, while the other half continued to live on.  I did not post about my Thumbelina Leight at all last year mainly because I was embarrassed by its half-alive state.  Currently, I see it more as a miraculous natural occurrence.

With the onset of spring, my plant has developed some buds although it has not yet fully grown back.  I will try to post newer photos here to show its progress.

Read my first Thumbelina Leigh post here.

New in Shop

A little belated, but here are some new EC | TIW items...visit the shop for more.

Simple Garnet and Rose Quartz Sterling Silver Bracelet

Dark Onyx Orb Brass Necklace with Copper Accents

Floral Hand-Stamped Be My Bridesmaid Card

Elongated Raw Amethyst Point Pendant

Floral Hand-Stamped Pale Pink Merci Tags

May Giveaway + Nepal Aid

Hurray for May ««« Win a raw amethyst point pendant!

Point pendants have consistently been one of my most popular shop items, so I think this giveaway is fitting for the month of May.  Bright, cheery lilac-purple amethyst in a rugged shard shape to go with your lovely spring wardrobe.  Wire is argentium sterling silver; the sterling silver jump ring is soldered closed for durability.  

To enter: Each purchase made in my shop in the month of May will result in one entry.  For instance, if you purchase two items, then you will be entered twice.  

Additional entries can be made by leaving a comment on this blog post telling me about your favorite EC | TIW item; leave your email so I can contact you if you're the winner--two entries max per person for this option.  Comments will remain private.

The winner will be drawn on June 1st, and then posted here.  Good luck!

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To support recovery efforts in Nepal, I have added/updated a few donation items to my shop whose proceeds benefit GlobalGiving's Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund.

An amazing Nepal aid Treasury can be seen here.

Spring Shop Deal: Spider Plants

Looking for a new indoor plant for spring?  Help me rehome my spider plant pups...

4/18 UPDATE: Thanks for the spider plant love!  I have only a few left.

As you can see in the above image, this spring my spider plant has an overabundance of pups (aka baby plants), so if you are a US resident in the market for a new semi-easy-care houseplant, these recently discounted little pups could be an ideal fit for you.  A perennial, the parent spider plant from which these pups sprung is three+ years old.  Spider plants are a perfect springtime addition your home, as they naturally provide ample color and texture to your living space.  Gift them, too!  They are visually appealing and inexpensive when gifted in a small planter with soil.

See this listing to purchase.  For a free plant-related gift, mention that you are a blog reader at checkout (type this in the "Note to EmeraldCut")!

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Starting from seed more your thing?  

My organically grown shiso seeds can be purchased here.

Spring Greens

The End-of-Winter Process

Is wedding season really just right around the corner?  I'm still waiting for a decent dose of winter, but time doesn't wait for those who can't move forward along with it.  Recently, I have been writing quite a bit for clients, clearly putting their thoughts into writing.  Funny enough, I've nearly forgotten how an singular idea can get my creativity flowing, generate an excitement that courses through my veins.  This is what writing does for me.  Putting words into a coherent written work is half the deal--the other half is the process behind it all: the creativity, the enjoyment, the challenge and the frustration of taking someone's idea and working with that very idea, with the client's input, until it's right.  But oh, is it worth it.  Accompanying this has been a renewed interest (one that has eluded me for most of 2015 until now) in reading novels--actual physical books, as in paperbacks!

Literary inspiration is more prominent in my life lately, but I've also found inspiration in the natural world around me--in the colors and structural beauty of pre-spring flora and fauna.  These visual elements have captured my imagination, as I fervently scribble down ideas in my design notebook that will undoubtedly find their way into new EC | TIW designs in the near future.

That's all the news for now, so happy "almost spring," aka the start of traditional wedding season!

Lately: Fun Stuff

Been having lots of fun lately reading new things, seeing new things, putting interesting scraps together to make random-yet-neat things.  A bit of color there, strips of paper here...lots of stamping, letter by letter.

The above EmeraldCut tags were created using random book page scraps, gold dot washi tape, teal ink, and my trusty modern Art Deco font stamps.  They will go to new homes with sold book page goods from my shop.  (A variation of this design can seen here.)

Another exciting development...

My Thumbelina Leigh Lavender plant is blooming again, quite grandly.  Beautifully, even.  A bunch of buds will be listed for sale once they dry.  They're so intoxicatingly fragrant--keep your eyes peeled for their listing in a month or so.

Sorry for all the icky hand photos, but that's something else I'm working on: more dynamic photo layouts!  Can you tell in the second image?

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To close, the sentiment expressed in this witty blog just about sums up how I feel about things right now...to a tee.  I'm sure glad that I'm not the only one who is feeling this way!

Spring Inspiration: Purple Sweet Pea

via Pinterest

Sweet pea, apple of my eye
Don't know when and I don't know why
You're the only reason I keep on coming home

- Amos Lee, "Sweet Pea"

via Pinterest

I myself am not a huge flower person, but when I found images of the purple Sweet Pea on Pinterest, I swooned.  There's something about its accessible beauty, its robust structure and delicately curved eaves of petal in soft, ethereal lilac and vibrant plum hues that caught my attention--put a little pep in my step.  Its grace and simplicity, coupled with various shades of pretty purple, makes the Sweet Pea the perfect springtime flower for both indoor and outdoor decor, whether it be incorporated into an existing or brand new space.

Place in assorted vases and display together for textured eclecticism--or place a few stems in with cream or white-colored flowers and lush foliage for an electric pop of color.

via Pinterest

These versatile flowers will jazz up any occasion.  If simplicity is more your thing, Sweet Pea can also be regally displayed on its own, singly or in odd-number groups, for a classic-yet-dramatic contemporary look without the bulk and weight of larger flower arrangements.  

Wouldn't Sweet Pea make for delightful table centerpieces?

via Pinterest

Not to mention, Sweet Pea will look stunning in a bridal bouquet.

Love!

via Pinterest

April: Ode to / Week in Photos

April, oh April, so glad you came my way.  Sun reaching like faint heartbeats into my workspace is like honey dripping against the soul, warm and decadent, soothing my harried mind.

April, oh April, I need to once again relearn what time of (Spring) day is best for photography, so that my listing photo sessions can be done in one afternoon instead of three--

a yearly recurrence this particular learning is; one that keeps me on my toes as I delete photographs with too much saturation (orange and yellow tints), as well as ones with too little color (blue tint).  Wise note to self: Finding the right lighting will keep you from taking 50+ over saturated and under saturated photos of a single item to be listed.

Seriously, what is going on with the lighting here?

And lastly, April, oh April, I think I may the be only one who keeps chives as a houseplant--in a used pill bottle container.  It's amazing how the changing of seasons from Winter to Spring allowed this here chive plant to rebound.

Hope you all have a lovely upcoming week!

New Stamped Work

I hope this blog entry finds you well.  Lately, I've been pretty busy with wedding and writing ideas (you'll see what I mean when you read on!), of which I am excited to share with you.  Here are some new favorites of mine that I dreamt up this past month, and many prototypes later, have now listed for sale:

Tell your wedding guests about your upcoming nuptials
in bookish style with these one-of-a-kind handmade bookmarks;
stamped letter-by-letter and created from vintage book pages by me,
these Save the Date Bookmarks will surely catch their eye
(and not to mention, make cool page holders)!

For the writers, a contemplative reminder to write more...and often.  
Writing takes practice, so don't give up--especially if giving up
seems like the most feasible option.
You've got something interesting to say, so write on it.
Ornament available here.

Also new to the EmeraldCut shop are custom stamped bridal seed packets

that incorporate vintage dictionary pages 

with your choice of a short four-word-max phrase-- 

and non-GMO seeds from the list below (subject to availability): 

- California Poppy (orange or red)

- Cosmos

- Petite Marigold

- Nasturtium

- Sunflower

- Sweet Pea

- Zinnia

Yes, I know the following is not new stamped work, but with wedding season right around the corner, I thought I'd include this listing, too.  Father of the Bride, Maid of Honor, Best Man...the monumental task of writing that wedding speech is not going away (especially with the wedding date coming up soon)--so allow me to help relieve the stress by writing a custom speech for you with your input!  Even if we have to start from scratch, or go through endless scribbled notes and/or ideas, I will work with you until you have a final product--your wedding speech--that contains not only the congratulatory message you'd like to convey, but also eloquently brings forth your unique tone and wit.  In other words, a speech that you are proud to give.

Custom Wedding or Engagement Speech Writing Service

Lots more fun ideas coming this Spring...check back here soon for sneak peeks!  

Or stop on by the shop to see what's new.

P.S. Free US shipping on orders over $15 is going on strong--enter FREESHIPPING at checkout!

Spring flowers, spring flowers, will you be mine?

Dreaming of lulling warmth and brightness-- 

Sunlight upon eyelids...upon eyes.

Squint, I do

Until the tides rise.

Lately

How have you been lately?  Been outside pretty often since the spring bug hit us with 65-degree weather.  I'm not too hot on spring/summer-like weather, as I am constantly searching for rain, but I love growth, and boy did plants grow this past week.  From shriveled leaves and spindly offshoots shot forth curvaceous, thick foliage: the sun-seeking nooks and crannies especially made for quite a show.  Colors quickly brightened and expanded, reaching for a greater height and depth...

And look, my Thumbelina Leigh Lavender is beginning to bud!

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Sometimes I amaze myself at how frequently I derive pleasure from the natural world, including its stilling wordlessness.  As of late, mere thoughts have collected significance, leaving in its wake a profound impact that had spilled into days and weeks; and now months.  It is this sense of wide-eyed, thought-heavy wonder that I leave you until my next post...

Spring Inspiration: Dried Thyme Herb Bouquet

Loosely inspired by this post via Pinterest.

Spring has got me inspired...replanted my wildly overgrown outdoor thyme plant into a larger pot and everything.  In anticipation of the plant woes that accompany its acclimation into a new home, I decided to stem off and collect the most healthy bits of thyme.  Bit by bit, I cut.  Soon enough, there was a tiny handful of the deliciously fragrant herb--just enough for a mini bouquet.  I then took the plant cuttings indoors, where I gently rinsed them off to detach aphids and other bugs, tied the stems together with twine, and hung them upside down from a doorknob.  In a few weeks time, I'm considering sticking this dried herb bouquet into a small bud vase to commemorate the season.  Spring has never smelled so good, like freshly picked culinary herbs.

New Spring Work

As in jewelry, that is.

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We try our best to raise our children well, provide them what we can, hope they will do better than us in terms of serving humankind--and beyond.  Our legacy, our hopes and dreams, are instilled, imprinted.  In a fatal swoop, it is chaos.  Yet the legacy lives onward, goodness prevails.  For we must believe that goodness and kindness will indeed prevail.

In Budding Anticipation

I much prefer fall, weather-wise, but spring flowers are the cat's meow...

Nothing is really new here, besides that I uprooted my indoor planters, which had, as of last week, consisted of stump-like stems and no growth since a spider mite made a nesting ground of them last fall and I, out of fright, severely cut both down to mere nubs (as documented here).  My indoor planters are now prepped and set to grow Greek oregano (same as last year) and lemon balm (a newbie plant for me) from seed.  Growing plants from seed have been a curious lifelong, albeit non-constant, past-time of mine.  Although my love of plants has waxed and waned throughout the years, I continue to be awestruck with the transition from seed to seedling, from nub to bud.  If you haven't already, feel free to read about my love of growing plants from seed here.  Will talk provide some photos as soon as the seeds sprout (crosses fingers).

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Gearing up for a HUGE Easter SALE--35% off all items starting today through April 1st.  Stop by my shop for the coupon code!