UICA CoOp shop and handmade gifts.

the holiday artist's market was: wonderful. exciting. busy. lovely. stimulating. great.

thank you to all that came and stopped by my booth. it was great to see you all!

I loved meeting some of the different artists as well.

if you didn't get a chance to come down to the UICA, stop by the UICA CoOp shop. located at:

41 Sheldon Boulevard SE

Grand Rapids Michigan 49503

lots of great work and delightful christmas gifts as well.

speaking of christmas gifts, what are your ideas this year?

I love making handmade gifts (which I will show you post Christmas for many who will receive these gifts also read this blog. :))

In Selvedge's recent issue they spoke about gifts being an experience, for both the giver and receiver. curious. interesting. and true, I think.

Here's a small snippet from that article:

"It's the thought that counts. At this time of year buying gifts is almost inevitable and most of us put plenty of thoughts into what we give to others. We realize that a gift represents us, and reveals

what we think of the recipient but a gift has further layers of meaning. An object is also an experience. It carries the experience of the maker: if you made the gift yourself then you are giving your own time and affection, as well as the present - that's what makes a homemade gift so special."

Selvedge Magazine Issue 37 pg. 23

so hats off to those of you making your whimsical gifts this year.

UICA Artists' Market this Friday and Saturday.

Just a reminder to come down to the UICA Friday or Saturday to check out the new lief products and the the many other talented artists that will be there! Here is the UICA website for more information.

Here is a little inspiration for your weekend from PurlSoho. Enjoy!

Glass Jars

a quick picture of the studio slowly coming together.

I love having my tools out where I can see them.

[please overlook these granulated pictures, I'm hoping Sinterklaas puts a camera in my shoe this year. although I will greatly miss the delightful drop.]

Holiday Artist Market is coming soon! The studio is filled with bags, zippers, fabric and paper, oh, and of course, coffee! :)Pictures to come...

Holiday Artists' Market

December 3, 5-9 PM

December 4, 10 AM-5 PM

also, Lief Products will be in the UICA's Co-Op shop which is open to the public December 7-23. Shop hours are Tuesday-Saturday Noon to 10 PM and Sunday Noon to 7 PM.

check out the UICA website here for more details.

NYC, UICA Markets, FABRIC!

I just fell in love...with a store.

purl soho to be exact.

I was in New York for the weekend and spent 90% of my time in one store, one store.

[and I was thoroughly content.]

who knew fabric could make me this happy...

picture is not that great, but here are some of the fabrics I bought.

really love the Kokka fabrics and linen (surprise, surprise).

oh the linen was so beautiful...

I could go on and on about this store.

it was a complete delight.

also, I am officially in the UICA holiday artist market!

super excited about that.

Come and check it out on December 3 and 4.

I'll keep you posted with information as it comes.

The studio is a'movin'!

what a crazy week it has been! it is so much work to move, but I sure do love creating and organizing new spaces. (especially design ones!) I think this new space will be a great new home for lief design. pictures will come soon!

but for now...a recent lief design. sewn fabric folder. :)

•

inspiration = selvedge magazine, of course!

[lovely products found in the dry goods section of selvedge online.]

oh to dream of real linen sheets!

buy these Fog Linen Work Bed Linens here.

sweet wool felt,

in slipper form.

buy these Huopaliike Lahtinen Felt Slippers here.

aren't these felt animals just so cute?

buy them here.

all I need is felt and linen.

holiday photo shoot.

holiday product photo shoot. really, it's here already? oye.

this fall has been a blink, literally.

although my mind is still gnawing on the fact that I have been busy with holiday treats, I am pretty excited about this years product.

here are some {not all!} of the products that will be around this holiday season.

let me know what you think!

{felted circle cards}

{hair pins}

or attach to a shirt for a super fast, super cute accessory

{striped everyday bag}

perfect for makeup, pencils, jewelry...

{apron!}

thanks studio @ the hoxie building for a great space to shoot.

yes, please.

soup tasting challenge was a hit. I can honestly say that I have never eaten that much soup before in my life. there were so many delicious soups to enjoy. I loved urbanpharm's coconut-curry-cashew soup, it was quite delicious. (teresa and I just so happened to be right next to them, yum!)

what a cute little soup table. equipped with quinoa, doula services and handcrafted design work. what more could you possibly need?

it was fun to be part of an event where businesses came together to support and encourage each other -- we met some really inspiring people.

Laura from Thrive Worldwide has a business working to educate people on our buying practices and the effects that poor buying choices can have on our individual and global lives.

Amy from Williams Photography started her own photography business. She was a delight to meet.

thanks to all who came out to support!

I recently finished some work for a new snowplow and lawn care business in town. Jeff was great to work with and I wish him all the best with his new business! Check him out.

Precision Snowplow + Lawn Care

jonker87@gmail.com

and now, as only a good announcer can say, for some inspiration!

my dear friend suzy from suzannewilliamsdesign recently introduced me to Papermash. delightful.

isn't this wine tag of theirs so cute?

and check out that beautiful simple wine opener.

yes, please!

soup tasting challenge -- tonight!

come out and support GR local businesses (specifically Birthroot and lief design) at the soup tasting challenge tonight (10/7) from 5-8 pm at the Atomic Object on Wealthy Street. (Near the corner of Wealthy and Diamond). Various local businesses have come together to compete with soup making -- a brilliant idea! Teresa Cramer, from Birthroot, and I have entered a delicious vegan roasted tomato squash soup with quinoa. We are up against some pretty high competition though, such as the Electric Cheetah and Art of the Table -- they usually have some tasty soups! It will be a fun night!

My friend Teresa has started a business called Birthroot where she offers doula services to families that are expecting. What is a doula you might ask? (I say that because I definitely had to ask when she first told me about it). A doula is a woman who is trained to provide informational, emotional and comfort support before, during and after childbirth. Teresa is phenomenal at what she does -- so if you, or anyone that you know, is in need of a doula service, she is an excellent person to contact. (and she has super cute hand stamped business cards!)

teresa cramer.

birth doula

616-334-2326

birthrootservices@gmail.com

I hope to see you tonight!

sunrises and selvedge

mornings embody inspiration for me.

recently I decided to wake up to see the sunrise. combining my love for quiet early mornings and beckoning waves of the pacific, I thought it a good idea to peel myself out of a warm bed before 6 am. initially when I received my wake up call I wasn't too impressed, but once I was finally out in the salted air I was very happy I

chose to do so. what incredible beauty.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

also, holiday product is upon us already! woah. I can't believe I'm designing for Christmas already. does make me pretty excited. :)

thinking of holiday gifts, look at these sweet handmade soaps and little monster men. absolutely adore.

{monsters}

{soap}

idea and image coming from my favorite/obsession (really not exaggerating here...): selvedge magazine. oh how I love this magazine. this will certainly not be the last time I blog about them....

look here for their how-to instructions to make these soaps, monsters and other wonderful crafts!

artPrize and pick-me-up pies

artprize is making Grand Rapids feel alive.

it's stimulating watching the artists set up their pieces. on my run yesterday I saw so many different people working hard to put the last touches on their pieces...looking forward to checking them all out!

here are some fun projects I have been working on as of late...

{pick-me-up pies business cards}

this image is of some business cards that I made for a really cool company called Pick-Me-Up Pies. Ruth Lingbeek has recently started a pie company and I was delighted to help her out! If you ever need some delicious pies made, she is definitely the one to go to -- her pies are incredible!!

{personalized notecards}

this image is of custom notecards that I made for a wonderful client.

calligraphy

I love calligraphy.

the dipping of the ink.

the pressure of the nib.

the glide across the paper.

the flow of the wrist.

the slowing of pace.

it feels like painting.

this photo is of the 2010 Lief Design calendars that I calligraphed.

sliced radishes

it's time to start a blog.

my hope behind this blog is to inspire.

I want to post ideas and images that I stumble upon that have made me stop, or at least slow down, and recognize the deeply beautiful. A visual journal of sorts.

so to start...sliced radishes.

I went to the market on Friday and somehow came home with radishes. I do love the spice that they bring, but aside from putting them in my salad I was a bit stumped with what to do with this lovely vegetable. so, when in doubt, bake! although they didn't turn out quite as I had hoped, I loved the way they decorated my parchment paper. I'm amazed by the vibrant colors that we can find naturally around us.