Rock Collecting

Loving Cori Kindred's brand new *rock collections* mixed media art that just went on sale Monday in her shop: http://corikindred.etsy.com.   Cori played off of vintage rock collections by using specially chosen gemstones as well as vintage boxes, paper and typewriters, but instead of labeling them by their proper name she picked words inspired by the shape and color of the stone.

Pretty Framed Jewelry DIY Idea

Guest post by Cori Kindred

hello friends!  cori kindred here with an easy diy project to pretty up your jewelry display (unless this is your jewelry - if so, i obviously have nothing to teach you). 

here's what you'll need:
~ a pretty frame (without the glass) - if you have a lot of jewelry then bigger is better (mine is 12" x 16")
~ a piece of foam core (1/4" thick) cut to slightly smaller than the inside of the frame
~ a piece of fabric cut to 2" bigger than the inside of the frame (i used vintage blue velvet i had been saving for just the right project)
~ masking tape
~ straight pins

cover the foam core with the fabric and tape to the back of the foam core (if the corners are bulky, cut them off and folds the sides over tightly).  insert into the frame, then lay out your jewelry until it looks just right.  insert straight pins and hang.  voila!  no more tangles, and it's practically it's own piece of art!  now don't you wish all projects were this easy??

mushroom love

cori kindred back again! there's something about the happy little mini-umbrella shape of mushrooms that i just adore. it doesn't hurt that i live in the lush northwest, where mushrooms are popping up nearly year-round (and where a cute little umbrella would definitely come in handy today!).

here are some of my favorite mushrooms:

everything lyndie dourthe creates is pretty much magic. her fascinating use of textiles and paper immediately draw me in to her world, and these fabric mushrooms are no exception.

{ photo by lyndie dourthe }

speaking of magical, hello enchanting little mushroom house! i've yet to find one like this in the mossy forests of oregon, but i'll keep looking...

{ photo by caglarcity }

you can always make your own mushrooms out of recycled paper ~ sounds like the perfect rainy-day project!.

{ photo and tutorial from posh makes }

mushrooms and polaroids are one of my favorite pairings. my boyfriend and i found this one at the hoyt arboretum here in portland. isn't it lovely?

{ photo available for sale }

tiny mushrooms in thimble planters? how sweet is that!

{ photo by margaret oomen }

the most breath-taking architecture. you'd feel like alice in wonderland in this space!

{ via on display -

photo by phil rogers

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erase/3288037293/

these gorgeous little champignons were hiding in a vintage french dictionary i found at a book sale. everything is prettier in french!

{ photo by cori kindred }

salvaged leather mushrooms ~ so gorgeous! and i love any project that uses scraps that would otherwise be thrown out.

{ from nuno magazine via made of cloth }

i love mushrooms so much i even made some to sell! so until this grey rain turns into some spring sunshine, i'll hide out under my virtual collection of little mother nature-made (and home-made) umbrellas.

...........................................

cori kindred lives in gorgeous, green portland oregon. when she's not making a mess in her studio you'll find her at thrift stores, taking photos, eating yummy veggie food, watching movies, playing in photobooths and traveling. see her work here and her vintage shop here!

Guest Post by Cori Kindred: Buying Vintage

cori kindred here, back to talk about one of my favorite things: thrifting. after the holidays i get slightly overwhelmed by all of the obligatory materialism and tend to gravitate towards purchasing more second-hand things, due to two reasons: the huge difference in quality and the environmental aspects and wastefulness of our current disposable society. i cringe when i see a house full of ikea when there are amazing, unique vintage pieces to be found for a comparable price that will far outlast big box products. plus, it's such a rush when you find that one thing ~ something you've never seen before and just have to take home with you. and it can be so inexpensive! my favorite kind of treasure hunt.

i don't pretend to be any kind of expert, but i have discovered a few things in my many years of buying second hand:

~ don't get so overwhelmed by excitement that you forget to do a thorough quality check. i once brought home what i thought was the perfect bookshelf just to discover that it reeked of cigarette smoke. make sure to test the structure, look for stains and try out all the moving parts.

~ if it needs repairs be realistic - is it something you'll actually get fixed? even something dirt cheap is a waste of money, energy and space if it's just going to be buried in a closet until you eventually throw it out.

~ on the other hand, if it's something you can't see going home without (and it's not going to break the bank) then you should probably go for it. i put these things in my basket until i'm done shopping then see if i'm still as excited about it as i was when i first spotted it. if i'm going to be sad leaving it behind then i pretty much don't have a choice.

~ garage sales can be good, thrift stores are great, but estate sales are frequently the jackpot. they tend to run fridays through sundays and the last day is usually half off (great deals to be found!). bring cash and don't try to bargain on the first day of the sale - wait until the second day or come back when everything is half off.

~ the more useful the better. it's hard to have buyer's remorse when you actually use the item every day. a lovely blue mason jar collection can hold pastas and beans in your pantry. pretty flat sheets can be curtains when hung with cafe clips. they might need a few small repairs, but vintage cameras and typewriters can be more than just eye candy. plus your grandparents would be so proud!

~ only buy things you love. it took me a long time to learn this because it's hard to turn down a deal, but i'm so much happier with a house full of things i adore rather than just things i liked that were cheap.


happy new year, and happy thrifting!!

corikindred.com
my vintage shop: mushroom & moss

DIY: Holiday Mini-book from Cori Kindred

hi there! cori kindred here with a fun little diy that's perfect for the holidays! my 12 things i love about you books are simple to make and mean so much to the recipient. plus they're thoughtful, cute and (my favorite) handmade!

what you'll need:
- 7.5" x 2.5" piece of cover paper (i used wrapping paper for this one but i've also used wallpaper or a vintage map)
- 6.5" x 2.5" piece of card stock (i used white)
- at least 7 different papers measuring 6" x 2.25" for the inside of the book
- a stapler
- double-stick tape
- a label (i used a vintage one but you could also make your own)

step 1 ~ stack your card stock and inside papers (in the order you want them) and fold in half.

step 2 ~ staple twice along the inside fold of the book.

step 3 ~ cover the front and back cover (on the card stock) with double-stick tape. fold the cover paper in half, then adhere to the card stock. fold the extra cover paper over the card stock and double-stick tape down (on the inside of the front and back covers).

step 4 ~ attach the label! or don't, and write the title on the first page of the book. now find a quiet spot to sit and think about all the things you love about your special someone. once you start you won't be able to stop! when you're done writing in 12 things you love about them, stick their awesome present in their holiday card or stocking. voila!

thanks for reading! you can also visit me at my website corikindred.com. see you again soon!

Cori Kindred is a photographer, treasure maker and an avid thrift store hunter. You can find her on the internet here:

website: corikindred.com
blog: corikindred.com/journal
print/paper shop: hCoriKindred.etsy.com
vintage shop: mushroomandmoss.etsy.com
photos: flickr.com/photos/koreana
twitter: twitter.com/corikindred