Tag: DIY

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Honeycomb Color Story

Updated November 2025.
Originally published November 2020.

Lately, I can’t seem to ignore this charming yellow hue that’s a bit more orangey than mustard and more opaque than just plain honey. I’m calling it “honeycomb.”

You can find this sweet shade on artisan goods, as well as things you can make, wear, or eat.

Nectar in honeycomb. / Tree canopy reflected in fresh nectar. / Photo by Max Westby (CCL).

DREAMWEAVER LIGHT - STARBURST / Lampshade made-to-order by hand by Pop + Scott. / Similar DIY: <a href="https://vintagerevivals.com/diy-rope-wrapped-swag-light">rope-wrapped hanging lamp.</a>

Sol Collection picnic blankets with carrying straps by Nipomo. Hand woven by artisans in Mexico.

Jardin Majorelle, Morocco taken by Kelly Graham, during her 48 hours in Marrakech in 2013.

Peanut Butter Creamed Honey by True Love Honey, Tucson, Arizona.

1. Honeycomb with fresh nectar reflecting the tree canopy. Photo by Max Westby, a beekeeper and honey producer in Burgundy, France. (CCL)

2. Dreamweaver lampshade made-to-order by Pop + Scott, $715. / Similar DIY project: rope-wrapped hanging lamp.

3. Caminito picnic blanket, rolled up and ready to go, with leather carrying straps, $92. (Shown unfolded in the top/featured image.) / More picnic supplies
Continue reading “Honeycomb Color Story”

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What it’s all about

Steamroller prints

Recently I revised the About Travelcraft Journal page. Here are some slightly rambley thoughts that expand on what I ended up putting there…

lace tatting in process

This is about exploring the world around you with an open heart. Continuing to be curious and taking the risk of trying new things. Finding the beauty and uniqueness – appreciating the particular quirks – of wherever you happen to be.

7 Magic Mountains outside of Las Vegas

It’s about uplifting independent shops and eateries, art, makers and micro-businesses.

jalapeño donuts

Even if the result is not to your taste, you can take notice of the time, effort, thought, and expertise someone puts in. You can admire the process, the craft of it. And tell a friend.

crowds at the Women's March in Phoenix, where one woman is holding up a handmade sign that says "solidarity" with a rainbow

Supporting what is individual, handmade, human, unusual, and often imperfect is to resist de-personalization. To push back against forces pressuring conformity and throwing away anyone who doesn’t fit the mold. The ones that stand to profit from treating people as commodities.

large mosaic that says "Be Kind"

Above all, it’s about striving to practice kindness to our neighbors worldwide, to nature, to ourselves.

It’s about practicing humanity.

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Modern Embroidery

embroidered ASL i love you

Since another World Embroidery Day is just around the corner, I updated this 2018 post and added more information about the embroidery artists and what they’ve been up to lately. Also, since it is World Embroidery Day, I listed what countries they are from and/or living in. 
—S

In honor of the upcoming World Embroidery Day (July 30), here are 18 modern embroidery art pieces and patterns!

travel embroidery by Le Kadre
Via My Modern Met.

1. Travel memories.

Charles Henry and Elin Petronella (a.k.a. “Le Kadre”) embroider scenes from places they travel.

Artists: Charles Henry and Elin Petronella

Countries: France and Sweden

Currently…

  • Still together, but no longer going by Le Kadre, the artistic couple’s new website is simply charlesandelin.com.
  • They’ve also created the Charles and Elin Academy, where they offer online courses in modern hand embroidery.

 

Little leaf embroidery
By Brannon Addison via Brown Paper Bag.

2. Intricate blooms.

Brannon Addison of Happy Cactus Designs does spontaneous freehand embroidery of tiny flowers, leaves, and ferns. Doesn’t this piece just look so joyful?!  (h/t Brown Paper Bag)
Continue reading “Modern Embroidery”

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Color Story: Gems + Jewel Tones (part 1)

watercolor paper gems

Beyond just decoration, color is elemental.

Think of mineral pigments. The way a body of water takes on shades of what it carries – a cloudy blue glacial stream, a teal bay concealing a forest of kelp, a river that turns mud-brown with sediment. The hue of flames shifting from fuel and temperature changes. Or the impact of heat and chemical makeup on the color of lava, of aurora, of stars.

telescope image of nebula and stars - Webb Telescope image of Pillars of Creation composite image produced by NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI).

The rich, saturated colors of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, and other gemstones are actually from trace elements within them. It’s those so-called imperfections that create the gorgeous palette we call jewel tones.

With Tucson’s gem show season beginning today, it seemed like the perfect time to explore jewel-toned things to make, places to visit, handmade items to shop, and nature to marvel at.

Continue reading “Color Story: Gems + Jewel Tones (part 1)”

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