Looking For That Special Baby Gift? Colorful Crowns Has You Covered!

Carol Ogg knits each Colorful Crown herself and her 16-year-old daughter, Lauren, donates a stitch of her time to each hat for good luck. The Colorful Crowns logo was designed by a friend of Ogg’s whose family lost a baby to a brain tumor. In their honor, Colorful Crowns makes an annual donation to William’s Walk, a fund-raiser for the Brain Tumor Foundation for Kids.

Each hat is knit with Egyptian cotton yarn to fit a newborn to 3-month-old. The hats come packaged in a beautiful, eco-friendly gift box. And because they’re knit with cotton yarn, these adorable toppers make a great year-round gift for babies. Colorful Crowns also will customize hats for special orders, such as sport team colors, whimsical patterns and wild colors.

In describing why she created Colorful Crowns, Ogg said, “I’ve been making hand-knit baby hats as my signature gift for years and, for the past 15 years, have probably knitted enough baby hats to cover a small village. In late 2009, Corporate America dealt me a hand I wasn’t prepared for and I found myself turning 50 and for the first time in my life was unemployed. Finding myself with a lot of extra time on my hands, a passion for wanting to start my own business, and knitting needles all over the house, I put my hands to good use and started knitting like a maniac. It was cheaper than therapy!”

Every baby leaves the hospital with a hat on his or her little head—so why not make it a Colorful Crown? Visit www.colorfulcrowns.com for samples and more information.

I’m always so happy to show off my talented friends. So when my super awesome friend, Kristen, told me about the wreaths that she had started to make for the holidays, I knew that it would be a perfect opportunity to blog (brag) about her.

Kristen & I became sidekicks almost as soon as we met. She’s one of my nearest and dearest girlfriends. She’s an Event Production Contractor, so we have a lot in common when it comes to our ‘professional lives’.  She’s also a lover of food, cocktailing, music, UGA football, and all things local to Atlanta. (which pretty much makes her a girl after my own heart)

Growing-up in a DIY household Kristen always had a creative knack and has spent the last year or so working on a variety of projects. After spending four years in New York City, she moved back to her hometown and currently resides in Atlanta.

She can make wreaths for holidays, baby showers, hostess gifts and even to show team support.

Check them out!

Custom orders are available by contacting her at kristen.desing@gmail.com.

For this ‘local artist spotlight’, I’m once again using the term ‘local’ quite loosely. Katie & I have been friends since college and although many state lines now separate us, she will always be one of my nearest and dearest friends.  

I’m thrilled to be able to promote her new business venture as an independant wine consultant as well as her new hobby – repurposing wine bottles into one-of-a-kind lamps!

Check out her website to order gifts, custimized bottles of wine, and join the wine club where you’ll receive remarkable wines at an incredible value delivered right to your door each month!

Katie Owrey
DivineVino
www.divinevino.com

Wine lamps can be purchased directly thru Katie by calling 404-661-1976 or emailing divinevino@gmail.com

I got into wine by being a major consumer for many years! I have tasted wine all across different appellations including Greece, Turkey, Spain, Italy, France, and the US (CA, TX, NY, TN, GA), etc. The art of winemaking and the ability for wine to transform and take shape on your palette is what makes wine consumption so much fun! It is often considered the only beverage in the world that can spark intelligent and intriguing conversation…not just from consumption (wink), but rather, where the wine is from, what foods should be paired with the wine, how was the wine made, etc.

I recycle wine bottles to handcraft the wine lamps and create a unique accessory for the home. By drilling into the wine bottle and then adding lights and colored marbles, the reflection of light creates an appealing sparkle all in the name of wine! “Lumiere de Vie” or Light of Life…that which wine provides! Great for yourself or for a gift!

It is an absolute joy to introduce everyone to Kathianne Sellers Williams. Kathianne is a sweet friend who I knew immediately was my crafty soul-mate. She’s one of the founding Crafty Chicks and is an infinite inspiration for art projects and crafty, girly fun. She is one of the most original artists I have ever met and I just can’t say enough nice things about her, both as an artist and as a friend.

She is self-taught and specializes in mixed media collage.  Her work is influenced by things that bring her joy and inspiration: flowers and birds, words and quotes, fruits and vegetables, vintage finds, handmade gifts, hand-written letters, bright colors, and all things that sparkle.

Kathianne’s pieces (journals, wall art, and mason jar lids) include recycled materials of all kinds.  This includes wrapping paper, stationery, magazine images, travel brochures, or pages from old books as well as new fine papers from all over the world. Vintage stationery, dating from the 1930’s to 1970’s and inherited from her grandmother, is often incorporated into the collages.  You may find buttons, rhinestones, shells, and more. “I use whatever I come across that inspires me and can be glued down,” she says.

The collages are time and labor intensive.  Because of the extreme level of detail, you may notice something different with each observation.

“Creating collages nourishes my spirit” says Kathianne.  “I feel at peace when I am cutting out images, gluing them together, and adding the finishing details.  The process of creating allows me to express myself but simultaneously connects me to something bigger than myself.”

Kathianne currently resides in Atlanta and also works as dietitian and wellness coach.  Her artwork will be displayed At The Collective in Inman Park through April.  She also has plans to open at Etsy store in the near future. 

You can learn more about her and her work at www.NourishCreateBloom.com

I obviously love bragging about my super talented friends…and with the creation of her new website (!!!)  okay, and because she named one of her designs after me (in UGA colors, no less) I thought I’d introduce everyone to my dear, sweet friend Krissy Sternberg….

Krissy & I have been friends for many years and she’s always been one of the most creative and industrious women in my life.  I’m thrilled to be able to promote her new venture, Sweet Sienna Designs. I hope you’ll check out her Etsy shop (as well as her new website!!)  and spread the word about her adorable handmade headbands!

Sweet Sienna Designs
Krissy Sternberg
Specialty: custom headbands, handmade appliqués

Hello e.Claire creations readers!  My name is Krissy Sternberg and I’m a new mom to a darling baby girl, Sienna.  I lived in Atlanta for eight years, until my Prince Charming (Charlie) whisked me away to Orlando, Florida.  I started making cute headband creations when it became pretty obvious that my baby would be “bald and beautiful” for quite some time.  Other mommies started asking where I’d found her headbands which sparked a business idea…and here I am today!  Sweet Sienna Designs are all handmade and each one is unique.  I enjoy the challenge of making a custom headband for different outfits – or even school colors (Go Gators!).  I like working with fleece and felt and adore vintage and funky buttons.  My Etsy site is up and running and I am scheduled to attend a couple of art shows this spring.  Fun! 
My etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetSiennaDesigns
My website: www.sweetsiennadesigns.com
I can be contacted at: sweetsiennadesigns@yahoo.com

I am fortunate to have very creative and artistic friends. They are incredibly talented and I want the world (ok, we’ll start with the city) to see their creations, so I’m starting a ’local artist spotlight’ feature on this little blog of mine. I hope you enjoy learning about these talented women…by supporting them; you’re investing in real art, handcrafted pieces made with love,  while contributing less to the forces of mass production. Join the handmade movement!

 www.buyhandmade.org/why-buy-handmade 

For my very first local artist spotlight, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Project K. Project K is comprised of a dynamic duo of sisters, Kathy Carlisle and Karen Graham. Both are extremely talented and really know how to work a sewing machine. As sisters and friends, they collaborate and draw inspiration from each other. However, since their talents are so varied, I feel they each deserve an individual spotlight.

Ladies and Gents, it’s my pleasure to introduce Karen Graham.  

Project K
Karen Graham
Specialty: embroidery, hand-stitching 

I have always been fond of using items for different purposes than which they were originally designed.  I would rip up a sweater to make a purse or merge two items of clothing into one unique piece.  The greatest appeal to me about making new things is that no one else will have anything exactly like it. 

Making pillows, I discovered, was a quick way for me to make an item to display my latest embroidery design.  Nearly every scrap of material that I use in making pillows had a previous use; I hardly ever go to a store just to buy new fabrics. 

I’m originally from Mississippi, so I named Project K’s embroidery niche, Missi.stitch.i as a tribute to my home state. Currently, you can find my creations at two boutiques in Atlanta; Green Pomegranate in the Virginia-Highlands and Star Provisions in West Midtown. I am currently showcasing my Valentine’s Day line and will have more pillows for upcoming holidays, including Easter and the spring season.

All of my pillows can be made to suit my clients’ individual tastes. I love making custom orders and will happily create gifts for birthdays, baby showers, housewarmings, weddings, holidays, etc.  If you’re interested in placing an order or just have questions in general, feel free to email me at missi.stitch.i.karen@gmail.com