New product alert!

Recently a momma inquired about matching felt floral crowns for and her soon-to-be three-year-old. I couldn't resist this adorable opportunity. Via email we chatted about colors and styles of my already completed bouquets and brooches to come up with the color palette perfect for her idea.

I think the matching set came out so sweet, and can't wait to see momma and daughter adorned in felt flowers!

See details, or order yours here.

#40: Vintage Supplies

After all the years of collecting/hoarding these beautiful pieces of vintage paper, office accessories and books, it's time to put them on the Fairview Place shop. For a while you were able to find these goodies at Kitsch, but for now they'll only be available online. My most beloved pieces are the Paper Parcels (above). Each pack comes with 30 carefully selected papers, which include flash cards, labels, envelopes, sheet music, maps, stickers, button cards, doilies, graphing paper, tickets, book pages, memo cards, postcards and more. They are great for making cards, Smash Books, scrapbooking, adorning gifts or just for collecting.

Other items include paper doilies, air mail envelopes, bridge tally cards, invitations, library cards, clothespins, books (with goodies inside that tell quite a story) and more to come soon. Most of the fun for me is finding the ephemera at estate sales and thrift stores and then making the perfect packaging for it.

Please take a look at what's at the shop and pass along! I'm always happy to do custom, or bulk orders (like if you want 100 pages of sheet music, I can make that happen) or keep my eyes out for something very specific!

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to read all about it and here to a see a gallery of pictures of everyone participating. 

#19: Felt Succulents

It has taken a lot of convincing from John of Glass Gardens to get me to make these...but I have to admit they are pretty adorable. I spent a drive up to Richmond on Saturday cutting out hundreds of these little leaves (and getting felt scraps all over the car). Sunday night when we got home, I assembled them all, only to realize a much easier way to create them. Sorry, that trick is a secret. But these little cuties can be yours, head over to the Etsy shop to see what is available. They will also be making their way to Kitsch sometime this month.

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to read all about it and here to a see a gallery of pictures of everyone participating. 

#64: Update Etsy Site

It's been a very long time coming, but I'm happy to say the Fairview Place shop is updated! While I am constantly working on new ways to take product shots, and creating new products in general, I think this is a good start. I have yet to add flower crowns and the garland, but hopefully that'll be live by the end of the month. To celebrate all the hard work, if you enter 92DAYS at checkout, you'll receive 20% off your order until the end of Summer. Good on custom orders too!

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to read all about it and here to a see a gallery of pictures of everyone participating. 

Felt Salad

With all the junk felt food I make, I decided it was time to make something a little heathier...a salad! I really love this set because while it's fun for any play kitchen, you can also use it to teach colors and counting. The set includes 12 lettuce leaves (in four different colors), 3 croutons, 3 mushrooms, 2 egg slices, 2 cucumber slices, 3 radishes and 4 carrots.

It was just added to my Etsy shop, so be sure to take a look and favorite the item for future shopping :)

Food Trucks and a Freebie

Last month, the Food Truck ordinance passed in Norfolk, allowing the city to finally (and legally) have the motorized food vendors around town. This was a gigantic leap for the city and small truck owners who have been pushing for years for this to happen. To celebrate the fun changes in Norfolk, the city held its first-ever Food Truck Rodeo next to the MacArthur Station Tide stop last week. Four Trucks were in attendance, including the always delicious Hubcap Grill.

To follow the rodeo, we hit up the annual Etsy Craft Party at Kitsch. Free stickers, snacks, decorate your own bamboo silverware - we live life on the edge.

#81: Food Trucks and #16: Freebie - Etsy Craft Party, are off the list!

Side note on the Food Trucks 
Norfolk Live had a great article about all the new Food Trucks, where to find them and where to follow them - check it out here.

I'm participating in my third 92 Days of Summer challenge. Read about the project here.

Momentarily Obsessed With...

1) frank's red hot.  I feel like a pregnant woman because of the cravings I've been having for Frank's. I have never gone through so much hot sauce in my life! I seriously determine what I'm going to make for dinner based on if I can pour a little (or a lot) of Frank's on it. Honestly, I'm not ashamed. And, this might not be a momentary kind of thing...

2) hop notch IPA.  I've also been craving some tasty beers this month. I ran down to the Shady Grove just before sitting down to write this entry and picked up a six-pack of this IPA. It certainly packs a punch at 7.3% alcohol! The beverage is also pretty yummy. I'll try to keep to just one during this post :)

3) downton abbey. Thanks to my boss and a very convincing NPR article I started watching Downton Abbey last month. The first season started a tad slow, but by episode 3 I was hooked. The second season I was able to borrow from a friend (first season courtesy of Netflix), but I finally caved and bought the third season. I can't wait to find out how the wedding goes....! Eeek!

4) house key holder.  Probably be needing one of these very soon.... I've always had a thing for antique keys, and of course, nothing is better than that teal color!

5) leather wrap.  What a trendy way to carry all your electronic cords when traveling! Mine all end up in a zipper pouch and get into a tangled mess. I'm not sure when my next trip will be, but this will be on a must-have list.

New on Fairview Place

Throwback 70s Plaid Vest, $17

I remember when I first started Fairview Place it was all vintage and thrifted items. I had always planned to introduce clothing into the mix, but never wanted to commit all the time to searching, mending and measuring the items. However, the last week I've been preparing the clothes for their big debut on FP and cannot wait to show you these lovelies! Be sure to check the shop this week and support your local businesses!

 1960s Grey and Red Ruffled Dress, $23

 Gradient Pink Mesh Dress with Black Polkda Dots, $27

1980s Roffe White Ski Jacket, $45

Vintage Handmade Angora Womens Sweater, $22

Tan Showoffs Kitten Heels, $14 and Gold Seychelles Peep Toe Pumps, $25

1950s Blue Plaid Pancho, $26 and Red Wool Winter Coat by Jill Jr., which already sold!

Happy Halloween!

 Just had to share a couple photos a recent customer sent to me. She bought Fairview Place felt peanuts to complete her son's elephant costume for Halloween. Aren't these just adorable? She is entering him in an Animal-themed Costume Contest...so best of luck to her and little elephant!

BSqaured Creations

A little while ago I received a package from my bestie with a pair of these amazing earrings inside (along with a super fun handmade card/booklet). Do you see what they are? That's right! Gift cards! They are an original design from Brittany Barkdull of BSqaured Creations. You wouldn't believe how many compliments I get every time I wear them and I should, because they are so darn unique!

Brittany just recently launched her very own Etsy store where you'll find an assortment of these love-at-first-site earrings and her (also very original) photo slide lamp shades, although these cuties will only be available for local pick-up.Those will be coming soon - I have to give you something to look forward to!

New Packaging

I was out to find new packaging for my felt sushi and stumbled upon Plastic Container City. For those of you in the business of buying packaging for food (real or fake), you have to check it out. What's great about this web site for me, is I can buy as small or big of quantity as I want. I bought 20 sushi boxes, then found these and bought just two (for prototyping purposes, not the real thing).

This site turned out to be a magical place for me (yes, I really do get that excited about food containers). I found doughnut boxes, french fry cartons, takeout containers, chopsticks, bakery twine and more! Now you also have an idea of the new products we'll be making later this month. My shipment arrived in just a few days and I'm so excited to start the new sushi line - with my first order going out today!

Halloween-inspired Goods

I'm actually ahead of the game this October... My costume is 60% done (post to come on that next week). Plans for camping, Winefest, W&M Homecoming and our Halloween party are in order. AND I have my Halloween items already at Kitsch!

I sent five packs of greeting cards made from an old 1960s Zombie book. The book was actually taken by my sister's high school boyfriend in 90s and never returned. It's traveled around with me for ages and when I looked through it last month I realized half of the pages had been torn or ripped out. So, why not continue the process and make some sweet Halloween greeting cards.

I found the stamps at Michaels and AC Moore for $1 each. Now I need to keep my eyes out for Christmas and Chanukah versions.

From my stash of Halloween material I made some orange and green memory games. I dropped two sets off at Kitsch and have one online... Get them while you can, these are the only ones for this year!

The memory game pieces are approximately 2.5" squares, there 11 pairs and come with a little drawstring bag for easy storage.

Day 29: What I've finished this week

I'll have to say, it's been an extremely productive week for me! And I still have tomorrow! However, football and some brews sounds pretty tempting :)

1. Halloween Cards

2. Felt Memory Games, including some Halloween themed ones!

3. Felt peanuts and sushi set

4. Chalkboard table runner

5. Grocery shopping

6. Shipment for a Holiday Guide featuring Fairview Place

7. Ordering new supplies

8. Ordering kitchen cabinets

I am participating in 30 Days of Lists. There's still time to join, click here for details. And click here to see all the awesome listers participating.

Kristin Michelle Photography

About a month ago, I had an order for a set of felt chocolate chip cookies. When I went to address the package I realized it was going to my hometown in Ohio! What a weird coincidence, right? I sent along a note to say thanks and let the buyer know I was an Alliance native as well. In return she posted the adorable photo she took of this precious little baby with a cookie monster hat and my cookies!

Turns out, she's a family photographer and does amazing work! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share her great work and spotlight a fellow Alliance talent. Make sure to check out her Facebook page and Website for more sweet photos and details on how to get your face in her camera :)

#62: New Books

These books are way overdue, but with the high demand of felt sushi and cheeseburger sets the books took the back seat for a little while. I'm proud to finally show off my newest felt book "Jungle Gang" with 10 adorable felt creatures (I've been dying to make a flamingo)! I have two copies of this book, both of which are on green and white pin-stripped flannel.

 I also created a totally different type of book from my ridiculous amount of fabric scraps. I saw the book somewhere online and it was immediately on my craft list. I added the ribbons in attempt to use up my stash from the these blankets I made a few months back. I battled with the name for a little while, but finally came up with "Bunch 'O' Colors" and just finished it today. I can't wait to get them up on Etsy and hopefully into some local stores!

 

You can see my whole collection of books here, and if there's something you don't see let me know...I do custom orders! 

I'm tackling the second annual 92 Days of Summer list.
See the full post and list here and comment
if you want to help me cross a off a few!

Start Shopping!

I've been tossing around the idea of making Fairview Place an all handmade shop, since my felt food and books have been doing pretty well online and in the local market. In reality, I know I will still peruse my beloved thrift stores for those one-of-a-kind finds. I also know I won't pass them up, therefore, Fairview Place vintage will always remain.

With that said, I want to free up some space in my Fairview Place closet for new goodies (and the excess felt food), so I'm having a big Summer Sale. Some items are up to 50% off! Jewelry, bags, house goods...I want it all to go!