Spring on the Color!



1. Vintage Green Empire Waist Dress by Miss Farfalla
2.  Coral Monochromatic Pleated Silk Clutch by Jes Switaj
3. Sterling Silver Post Flower Earrings by O Bliss Jewellery
4.  Sunflower Yellow Soft Leather Shoes by Ele Handmade


As we prepare to jump into April, I'm looking forward to warmer temperatures.  Although it's been known to snow in May here in the grand state of Maine, I'm looking forward to the snow melting and for the buds to start popping.  At the slightest hint of warmer weather, you'll see people busting out the shorts after being buried under wool all winter.  Bright colors return in the spring and I thought I'd put together a really eye popping outfit to welcome in April!

Are you ready for some bright colors this spring?









Rainy Day Finds


1.  coasters by pygmy cloud
2.  button set by sonstnochwas
3. it's raining oh deer! print by Louise Art Studio
4. dust after rain candle by Blushie
5. rain cloud stamp by Creatiate
6. walk in the rain print by the Paris Print Shop




April showers bring May flowers. We are only a week into a new season and yes it has rained a few days already here in Texas.  It's our rainy season and considering our hot +  dry summers we cherish our rainy spring days.  From colorful rain drops, to umbrellas, to rain inpsired scents there is something just fun about rain related items. Don't forget that rain brings rainbows! What's your favorite aspect of a rainy day?




Colorful Bedroom Decor!


1.  Batik Hexagon Patchwork Quilt by Ping Wynny
2.  Mended Vintage Pillow by Project Sarafan
3.  Preppy Pink Color Block Pillow by Jillian Rene Decor
4.  Hand Stamped Gray & Yellow Pillow by Giardino 


For those of you who know my Etsy shop Pig and Fish, you know that color is something Deb & I embrace.  We have a cottage here on the island named Verna Rose that we rent out weekly during the summer and she's maintained her original 1940's charm.  We've added our artistic, designer touches through such things as unique color combinations, stenciling, and refinished furniture.  As we prepare for the upcoming busy season, I began thinking about really plumping up the colors in the main bedroom.  That's what inspired this post!  I love the patchwork of various colors here in the quilt by Gillian of Ping Wynny and thought it would be great for using as a background with different pillows.  Then I just wanted to go crazy with different pillows that accent the cover, but don't match exactly.  I picked out 3 pillows from different Etsy shops - Irina's shop Project Sarafan, Jillian's shop Jillian Rene Decor, and Pat's shop Giardino. Each pillow has bold colors and patterns, but all of them compliment the cover and work together in a bright and expressive way.

What do you think?  It's pretty Pa-Zaam, isn't it?     



Going Local || Etsy Favorites from Spain


We love sharing with you new and fun finds on Etsy. We also love pinning our finds on Pinterest. We've asked our members from all over the globe to pin their favorite Etsy goodies from shops in their state, country or town.  We then take the best of their local finds and share them with you.  If you can't get enough check out our pinterest page and see if your area has already been pinned!


Pinner: Sarah of La Chica de los Anillos
Home Country: Spain
Area Pinned: Spain
Follow Sarah: @sarahrobinl
Follow Elite Sixteen: @elitesixteen

Going Local Finds in Spain---
1. necklace  ●  L'Accent Nou
2. geometric brooch ● viruset
3. tote bag  ● Ada Blackjack
4. notebooks ● Pintameldia
5. embroidered pillow  ● Bylina Studio
6. mushroom print  ● Bumblebee Art
7. round pillow   ● lacasadecoto
8. mini dress  ● made of Jacinta


Inside Etsy Studio Visits: Laura of Mama Bleu Designs




I’m Laura. An artist, wife, mom and grandmother. I'm the face behind Mama Bleu Designs and I have an unquenchable thirst for creating with my hands. Creativity has always been a part of my life so it was only natural for me to turn it into a business.

I grew up in Sierra Madre, a small town in Southern California at the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains. It’s a place that I love so I never left. The community encourages art and it’s not uncommon to see the work of local artists hanging in the coffee shops, restaurants and city hall.

Our home is just a 10 minute stroll from the center of town and when we walk out from under the large oak trees that surround our house, we have a beautiful view of the mountains. My studio is a room that we added onto our home during an extensive remodel just after we purchased it over 25 years ago. Being a cabinet maker and third generation carpenter my husband generously outfitted my room with plenty of windows, workspace and storage. The morning sun pours into my studio space and creates an inviting place for me to start my day.




I love to learn new things so after I was initially introduced to handcrafting techniques like sewing, knitting and needle crafts as a child it was only natural for me to read and take classes to learn more about other ways to create. My path to a college art degree exposed me to painting, illustration, ceramics and graphic design. After getting married at a young age and being fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom I found ways to use what I learned and bring it into my life.

Watching the example of my parents and grandparents as they entrepreneured their way into successful businesses, I considered launching my own creative business from time to time. Without the encouragement that the handmade community offers today and the launching pad that etsy provides, my past efforts never really moved past the hobby level. Things changed for me about two and a half years ago when I made a stronger connection with my passion to create handmade goods and share them with others. That is when I decided to open my etsy shop.

Some of my fondest memories growing up are connected with sewing. I learned to sew from my mom and she learned to sew from her mother. As a teenager I would spend my weekends browsing through fabric stores or in front of my hand-me-down sewing machine. A couple of decades later and nothing much has changed!




I think I inherited the love of vintage, well-loved things from my mom. Pieces of furniture that have been passed from one family to another and wear their patina-stained colors well. One of my favorite things is the feel and look of faded handmade quilts. When I make piles of fabric yo-yos for my personalized clutches I draw inspiration from a collection of quilts that my mom and grandmother have passed on to me.

Something that I wish I had more time to do but still draw inspiration from is gardening. I love the colors, shapes and sounds of nature. The idea of Mama Bleu was actually born from times when birds would visit me while working in my vegetable garden.

My week is divided between working in my studio and caring for my grandchildren. The two days a week that Kyla (2) and Micah (4) spend with me are opportunities for me to encourage creativity and art play. Part of our time together is spent in my studio. They will paint or color or play with my fabrics will I sit at the sewing machine. Kyla is fascinated with my machine and loves to sit in my lap and watch the needle go up and down. I think she is a sewer in training!




Other than the weekend, I only have 2 full days in my studio each week. Those are my marathon days and I try to squeeze in as much as I can from mid morning to late night. Lots of coffee or tea and music play a big role in keeping me going on those long days.

Right after the new year in 2012 I had a bride ask me if I would take one of my stitched illustrations and put it on a clutch for her. This one thing changed the course of my business. Ever since then I’ve worked with dozen of brides and love how I can add something special to their wedding celebration!

One of the most rewarding parts of my business is hearing back from my customers about the way my handmade items have brought joy into someone’s day!



Color Focus | Not so Mellow Yellow


It's now officially Spring and this Spring it's all about color. The brighter and bolder the better.  I thought the neon trend from last year was a one season thing, but everywhere I look neon is staring me in the face and I am kind of in love with it. If you want to dive right into Spring then go with a bold yellow.  It will put a smile on your face and little sunshine in your life. No mellow yellow allowed. It's all about going BOLD!


Color Focus Favorites:
1. Little Fox || Gingiber
2. Ranunculus || The Paris Print Shop
3. Arrow Necklace || A Quiet Curiosity
4. Vintage Bolero || Nemres
5. Striped Tote | Bayan Hippo


Our March Elite16 Etsy Style Guide Winner IS...


wall key holder TWEET: ...
$46

Large sculptural plante...
$95

Children's Gardenin...
$22

A tiny rustic ceramic ...
$14

Encyclopedia of Organic...
$13.5

Sprout Herb Markers - C...
$26

Cicada No.1 Limited Edi...
$25

Seed Bombs Perennial Pa...
$125

Antique Rustic and Worn...
$8.25

Grow Your Own - Gardene...
$10

Vintage Galvanized Meta...
$35

Chalkboard Terra Cotta ...
$9.95

nature photography moss...
$15

hunter boots / vintage ...
$72

One for the Crow Garden...
$10

Gardening Journal with ...
$8

Congratulations to Jana of Broken Ghost Clothing for her winning collection titled Planning my escape.  Can you dig it?  Both Amber & I enjoy gardening and look forward to getting our hands in the dirt each spring, so we can really relate to Jana's collection.  Not only did we love her clean styling with a very well balanced color palette, but we just adored her title!  Our Style Guide Challenge theme this month was Spring Escape and we asked our team of Etsy curators to put their own spin on it.  Jana's clever title weaves in the challenge theme, but then also hints to the gardening theme which she uses as the base of her collection.  Each item refers back to her central unifying theme and creates a lovely shopping guide for all gardeners - really beautiful, Jana!  I know Amber's already been in her gardens down in Texas, but here in Maine - we just got 10 inches of snow.  Guess I'll have to wait a little longer!

***

The creativity just came bursting forward in this month's challenge and it feels like everyone is literally itching for spring.  With close to 90 submissions, there were so many favorites to choose from.  My Etsy shop Pig and Fish had the honor of being chosen as the featured shop this month and I have to say - what a treat!  As leaders of the team, Amber & I never choose our own collections as one of the winners.  As a winner, your shop becomes the featured shop for the following month's Style Guide, so it just adds another fun layer to the challenge.  So what happened?  Well, Aki of Etsy shop oktak was our winner last month, but she generously gave up her spot so that my shop could be featured!  It was a super kind gesture - thank you so much, Aki!

If you're wondering about Aki's eye for style, just take a look at this collection here below!  This modern guide has a beautiful feel and flow about it, where Aki stays within a select color range to pull her collection together.  The styling invites you in, then you see how carefully she's selected her items to help people Freshen up your home!   I could just live in this style guide, Aki!

'Freshen up your home' by oktak


COASTAL: mail holder po...
$218

Aromatherapy Room Spray...
$9

Rustic Full Kitchen Apr...
$28.5

Vintage Ribbed Zinc Jar...
$29

Lavender Bath Salt / De...
$10

Antique White Ironstone...
$10

Pencil Case - Cosmetic ...
$17

Scandinavian Modern Ena...
$78

Ash and Porcelain desk ...
$65

Handmade Fireplace Broo...
$45

White Cube Planter
$75

Rare Zenith DSX Eames f...
$378

Lemon Ginger hand Sanit...
$5

Ironing Board Cover - A...
$24

Vintage Travel Iron, Vi...
$24.25

Vintage Style Camera Cl...
$84


We've had some new Etsy curators join our team and it was so fun to see their unique angle on the challenge theme.  One such member is Sarah of Etsy shop Created By Storm and this collection here made it into the final winning round!  Recall our challenge theme of Spring Escape and let's take a closer look at Sarah's collection.  Her title Logging Off is absolutely brilliant!  How many of you can relate?  I know I can!  I would surely consider just staying off the computer for a day a nice little vacation.  Sarah then takes us on a nature filled adventure with each of her selections - are you ready to go play in the woods for the day?  Yes!  Simply stunning, Sarah!
   

'Logging Off' by sstormster1


Woodland Dreaming
$58

tree art woodburning ne...
$22

NEW Woodland Deer Stamp...
$12

wall key holder TWEET: ...
$46

Vintage Strapless 1950 ...
$248

Ferns of the Northwest
$28

watercolor painting ori...
$40

Bridal headband, floral...
$40

Tablecloth white with t...
$25

Olive Rustic Leather To...
$150

Bike Shorts - Yellow Gr...
$39

Quiet Egg-Green
$6

Copper Collar Necklace ...
$85

The spring forest. Orig...
$75

SALE Spring glasses cas...
$22

SALE - Sage green ceram...
$25


When spring finally decides to stick around (here in Maine, that means no more snow!), then the air just beckons you to come outside and play.  Being out in nature during the early spring months is my absolute favorite and this collection Go Outside, GET FIT by Karo of Etsy shop karo Art sums it up perfectly!  There's so much to enjoy in nature and Karo's playful collection gives us many different ideas of how we can get out there and get back into shape!  A little bike riding or how about some tennis?  Better yet, let's do some yoga outside!  Oh, sign me up for that one.  Such a fun and lively collection, Karo!   


'Go Outside, GET FIT!' by karoart


wall decor FOG: key hol...
$45

Power Off - 8x10 print
$20

Vintage Tomboy Shorts P...
$30

wooden bike hook, minim...
$65

Yoga Mat Bag for Men or...
$35

Ultimate Rescue Kit / M...
$10

Vintage Bancroft Wood T...
$26

Get Fit Food & Exercise...
$23.4

White Dove Yoga Tights/...
$49

Two Tone Hiking Boots, ...
$39

bikini swimsuit set- tr...
$109

Vintage Megaphone
$26

Bike Booty
$20

Picnic Blanket for Spor...
$20

Vintage Nature Magazine...
$12

Silver Mens Cufflinks -...
$19.95

Amber and I normally don't highlight each others collections in the honorable mentions, but since my shop was the one that was featured - I'm going to give a shout out to this one here!  I thought this style guide Go Dutch - Escape to Amsterdam by Amber of Red Tile Studio was so colorful and read like a pocket guide to this wonderful European city.  I was immediately transported and oh-la-la, I would totally wear that dress with those vintage bangles!  Amber, thank you not only for the fun adventure, but for being such a great and super organized leader - I love working together with you!

'Go Dutch- Escape to Amsterdam' by redtilestudio


Amsterdam Bloemgracht -...
$70

wall decor FOG: key hol...
$45

Dress / digital print d...
$59.99

Vintage Bicycles in Ams...
$25

Vincent van Gogh on Lib...
$12

Set of 3, Vintage Pink ...
$21

House Boat art Print of...
$18

Trio of Wood Tulip Cand...
$48

Modern Blossom Rubber S...
$12

Slate Grey Floral Print...
$39

Hamper Hand block print...
$84

Spring Landscape photo,...
$35

Karen - messenger bag c...
$35

cityscape architectural...
$82

Washi Tape Yellow & Pur...
$6

Concrete Pendant Light:...
$169

While we're on the topic of traveling, Kiki of Etsy shop Monki Vintage had so many beautiful submissions that were each a spring escape to somewhere wonderful!  Amber and I both loved this one here below titled Spring Escape - Paris Apartment Weekend - something I think we'd all love to sign up for!  Wouldn't it be so fun?  You can feel the sophisticated energy of Paris come through each of Kiki's selections.  It's also beautifully curated with a neutral color palette that moves the eye from one item to the next.  I'm polishing up my French right now Kiki and ready to head down to Logan Airport for the next flight out!

'Spring Escape - Paris Apartment Weekend' by MonkiVintage


French Midcentury Trave...
$35

Vintage French Skeleton...
$45

Vintage Black Metal Two...
$84

PURE: wall mount flowe...
$85

Vintage White and Gold ...
$9

Ne Pas Plier - Do Not B...
$24

1 LOVELY vintage White ...
$33

RESERVED Vintage Frenc...
$18

Ceramic Stoneware Mushr...
$20

Paris Photography, Ferr...
$28

La France que j aime, V...
$28

Paris Photography - Ei...
$25

Outside the Louvre
$4.75

Cathedral of Flight, un...
$950

Patisserie Vintage Eco ...
$17.95

Arc de Triomphe fine ar...
$15

We're back to finishing our Style Guide Challenge posts with our resident stylist Jenn of Etsy shop Palimpsestic.  Jenn was our January Style Guide winner and you'll quickly come to appreciate why she has come to be our resident stylist!  With so many talented curators on the team, this is a title that could surely be shared with many others.  However, it's Jenn's whit and sense of humor that is coupled with her amazing eye for style that has quite organically promoted her to this position.  It was hard to choose which one of the 3 Jenn submitted to highlight here in the post - it was a toss between the one below and this other collection titled Escape.  Which, by the way had me giggling and smiling like someone was tickling me from behind!  But Amber and I decided to feature this one titled Where The Buffalo Roam for the serene and welcoming mood Jenn created.  It feels like instant transportation, doesn't it?  Absolutely beautiful, Jenn - thank you so much for always participating and making this challenge extra special!

Thank you to all who participated this month - wow, what a fun time!  Remember, we'll be back next month on the 16th and in the meantime, we'll be inviting Jana as our guest Pinterest stylist next month!  We'll see you then!


'Where The Buffalo Roam' by palimpsestic


Swinging Cafe Doors, Ha...
$619

The Mountains Are Calli...
$25

Antique 1800s Handmade ...
$345

wall decor CABIN: mail ...
$72

Kapow, Kapow - Vintage ...
$24.5

Sentinel Shaving Soap
$8

Horse Lover Stationery ...
$10

Rustic Mountain Photogr...
$25

Custom Saloon Sign
$30

Carlson Skirt -- Button...
$42

Oriental Rug Style Pill...
$42

Saloon Bloomers...Custo...
$32

bison - buffalo photogr...
$40

Charming Shabby 1920s L...
$425

Vintage Large Brass Sie...
$30

Purple Cornflower Gunne...
$62


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