oh hi it's NICE-ETC - The blog for Nice.Etsy.com - Vintage & Handmade by Caitlin Holcomb

1 Year of Glitter!

2012-01-25T12:31:00.000-06:00

After the Holidays

2012-01-05T14:29:00.000-06:00

The holidays really flew by this year. The first week afterward is always so odd. It's sort of like swinging from a trapeze to another swinging trapeze? Because it's not like you ever really slowed down..

So far this year, winter at times has felt almost spring-like! I'm sure it can't last, though I've started a running joke at home with "The Winter That Never Came". It's 40 degrees and sunny today. No matter if it lasts or not, it's giving me a jump start and optimistic vibes towards wintertime. Which is my least favorite time. I've grown to appreciate the sort of down-time it allows, but the downtime only comes from just not going out as much and not going out as much really is a bummer. So how do you avoid the bummer all together in winter? Sun lamps? I've seriously considered. I'm trying to stay super focused on new projects and be prepared. Things haven't really slowed down, so I need to keep the momentum! Pretty things are in the works.

Cyber Monday (needs a better name)

2011-11-28T10:18:00.000-06:00

click to get shopping!

http://www.nice.etsy.com

Thank you so much for supporting handmade this season!

2011-11-08T08:36:00.000-06:00

Heads up!
I'm taking photos of the holiday banners today, and I'm going to debut them on the Facebook page!
They will be available for pre-order so I want to give Facebook fans the first opprotunity to order.

come on now

2011-11-02T10:03:00.004-05:00

You guys have been keeping me very busy with custom orders! Blogging has definitely been put on the back burner, so in the meantime, I want to really urge you all to join me on Facebook, where I am able to do quick updates to keep you informed during this chaotic time.
Is there anything you'd like to see happen on the Nice Facebook page? So far I use it for exclusive sales, updates, photos of my work and how you use your Nice pieces, and just general info. What am I missing?

Also, heads up- If you've been thinking of having a custom banner made, I will only be able to accept a small amount of special orders during the busy holiday season..which really has already begun. So please consider this and get in touch as soon as you can.

I between custom orders I have been working on a holiday inspired collection, which I am going to try to debut in the next couple weeks. These banners will be very fun to use during the holidays, but I think they'll be able to adorn your home any time of year- or at least all winter long!

Renegade Craft Fairs 2011

2011-09-20T15:24:00.002-05:00

Hey! I've finally uploaded photos of ALL of the summer Renegade Fairs! San Francisco and Los Angeles from July, and of course Chicago from just the other weekend. To view all of the photos, have a look at Flickr or at the Nice page, won't you?

This Weekend

2011-09-09T20:16:00.000-05:00

Chicago- see you this weekend at the Renegade Craft Fair!
Nice is booth #85. I'm located in the first group just east of the middle and food area, so on the north side, facing and near Smoke Daddy. I'm on a corner so hopefully you can't miss me! Be sure to stop by and say hi!

Nice to be Back

2011-09-03T16:25:00.004-05:00

Hello!
It's been so long! This feels like it has been the busiest and quickest summer ever! I have a lot to share with you, but I am still catching up...the shop has kept me on my toes more than usual these last few months and I am so happy about that..although it has been tricky! I am using a lot of exclamation points! I want to share some photos of our trip to the California Renegades, and just get back on track with blogging a bit, but first I have to prepare for the Chicago Renegade which is A WEEK FROM TODAY. So crazy. I am having a hard time believing it is already September.

In the meantime, I've been wanting to share with you a light shade that my Mom has made. She's worked so hard on this piece and I think it's so dreamy. It's just begging to be hung over white floors and a comfy sofa chair.

It's available now in her shop, Oh Merci.

I've added a few new Hooray banners to the shop! These banners will be unlisted when it's time to take them to the Renegade show, so it's first pickins' for you right now!

This may be old news to you if you follow the Facebook page for Nice. It's easy for me to get out information that way when time is tight, so I encourage you to meet up with me there. Please feel free to post photos of the items you've purchased or any photos you've taken of Nice at fairs, etc. I'd love to see!

Talk to you soon!

Last Call!

2011-06-25T16:19:00.002-05:00

After tomorrow, June 26, the shop will remain open but items will not ship until early August! So Anything purchased before Monday (besides fringe banners) will go out early this week! It's almost time to hit the road for California! :D

Also, one of my light shades was in a feature in the British publication Mollie Makes! Pretty neat, huh?

Summer Sale

2011-06-15T10:32:00.001-05:00

Huge sale! Includes new items just listed to the shop yesterday!
See the BARGAINS section of the shop.

Exciting News + Shop Update

2011-05-04T01:10:00.010-05:00

It’s a super special exciting trip! Please save the dates! I’m looking forward to meeting west coast pals!

We’re hitting the road From Chicago to San Francisco, down the coast to LA, and back home. If you

have any traveling tips or must see destinations along the way or through California (especially

mystery spots, restaurants, special shops...you get it) - please comment or email me!

I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Sparkle Shimmer Shine and Glitter

2011-03-30T11:22:00.000-05:00

The other day while packing up so many Love Always banners the sun was shining brightly in...

And a shot of the pretty things I use to pack orders.

Pretty Places

2011-03-27T16:10:00.003-05:00

photos by Anabela / Fieldguided

Today the Etsy blog is featuring Anabela + Geoff's home! Head over to the feature to be inspired and find lots of nice things to add to your own home. I have been trying to spring clean when I have a free moment, and so this post serves as some more motivation. Sigh. I have too many treasures. Too much stuff. And not enough time to keep it all organized properly. I digress.
I'm so excited to see my Shoegaze Light Shade, as well as a shot of my one of a kind Happy Cloud Light Shade which Anabela purchased from me a while back. I am flattered that she has chosen to hang it in her sewing room, a place where she creates lovely things.

My Eskell Window

2011-03-10T23:31:00.001-06:00

I wanted to pop in quickly to (finally) share with you some photos for the window display that I did for Eskell! I mentioned it was inspired by the opening for Picnic at Hanging Rock, so here is that..

The song always gives me chills! So yes.. Doing a window near Valentine's Day, how could I resist drawing inspiration from a favorite movie that is involved around Valentine's Day. Lace, candles surrounded by glittering rocks, roses floating in a basin, feathers, Victorian Valentine cards, vintage lockets..

The In God We Trust engraving event with Eskell was a lot of fun, especially since some great pals came out! We all got a lil something engraved..here is what I got:

It says 'girlfriend', cos James and I are silly in love and way back when we started addressing each other as such (as in, "Oh hey, Boyfriend!" or "Girlfriend, do you want to go get something to eat?") because we were/are so happy to be that special kinda friend. awww, I know.

So that's that! It was a lot of fun and I just may do a few more windows for them in the near future!

But in the nearer future I will be finishing up fringe banner orders (I've got to take the time to think of a better name for them)..hold tight! I swear they are comin soon to your mailbox! I've got a lot of Love Always to make...

Just 'Cos

2011-02-17T20:28:00.006-06:00

Hello! Just popping in to say hello!
Super busy over here keeping up with the fringe banner orders! I am so excited that they have had such a tremendous debut. It's been a lot to handle and I'm a little behind, though I'm really enjoying the process and can't wait for them to reach their owners.

I thought today I'd share with you something a little silly..perhaps you'll enjoy it. It's a mix that I made for myself and friends in the early spring of '09. It's meant for those nights when you swear warmer weather can't be too far off, though it's still quite chilly and the winter blues are tough. It also reminds me of weird proms..but I think that may be a description that only my mind can see..hear..
Anyway, high fives if you finish it all..it's pretty long, i guess. It's just how I do it. If you need to stop half way, the Ashra song is a good middle. Props if you make it to the Rich Boy loop near the end. yup.

for my friends. April 2009.
Track list image: www.last.fm/music/Dark+Moon+Mix
here are a bunch of songs that i wanted to hear together. the transitions are really, really horrible.. but the songs are good! i wasn't sure how to use the computer dj mixer program (did you know i use to for-real dj?), specifically how to use "two hands"..all i had was the mouse. and i didn't want to plug in my headphones for fear of my sound card getting loose again...
but i hope you like the songs. it's kind of a prom freakout maybe.. and your date's convertible stalled so you had to walk to the dance on that long winding road with all the trees and the moon was full at first but became darker and darker as you continued down the road..

Dark Moon Mix by nice-etc

You can listen to it here or download it by clicking the down arrow on the right of the bar. You can see the track listing on the last.fm page ;)

My Window for Eskell

2011-02-11T13:21:00.000-06:00

So the window that I did for Eskell is up! I was very excited to have been asked..nervous..but mostly excited. There was limited time so I kept it pretty simple, though installation took longer than I thought it would. My mom actually came down to the city to help me put it up! I knew she'd really like the store and it was really nice having her help. Anyway, it's up! And I hope people will enjoy it.

I don't have any photos yet, but I'll tell you that I was inspired by Picnic at Hanging Rock, specifically the opening sequence.

I hope you can all swing by Eskell today from 4pm - 8pm or so for the custom engraving event with In God We Trust! I'm really looking forward to it....although strangely I am having troubles thinking of sayings or words I'd like to have engraved on something...I've been so busy I haven't been able to give it much thought. Hopefully I'll come up with something good!

Hey it's a giveaway!

2011-02-07T22:42:00.001-06:00

I'm doing a giveaway with the Renegade blog!

Head on over to enter before Wednesday, and this lil banner could be yours!

Cool Happenings

2011-02-05T14:15:00.003-06:00

Nice was featured on Refinery29 and Nylon Daily! Pretty, pretty cool!

New!

2011-01-28T23:47:00.004-06:00

Hi pals!
I'm a little late posting about these new banners here on the blog (I'm usually good about posting shop updates here, but things get hectic sometimes..that's why it's good to join up on my Facebook page).....
but here they are! I am so excited about these and am really enjoying the process of making them. They are doing quite well in the shop, and right now Wild Heart is the last ready-made banner available! But don't worry, the rest are listed currently as made to order. If you are interested in a custom banner, please contact me via Etsy or email (see side bar) and include the date which you'll need your banner to arrive.

These banners have been on my mind for a while. I was actually able to make the time to finish one during the holidays. My first one was a Happy New Year banner and I was really hoping to make more, but things were just way too hectic. I was able to bring the first one to a craft show that my Mom and I did just before Christmas..

It's a bit blurry, but you can kind of see it on the left of the booth. We decided to enter this show at the very last minute, and because I was so excited that my Mom and I could do it together, I broke the golden rule of checking a craft show out before you decide to participate..A couple years back I'd been to a suburban craft show that I thought our things would do fairly well at, so I figured this one would be along the same line..But oh was I wrong, haha. It was not good, for us. All in all, it was a tough weekend, but we did have fun together and also met some nice vendors. I still have that Happy New Year banner, and I think I just may keep it for James and I! Also, speaking of my mom- she has just updated her shop with really pretty wreaths for Valentine's day and every day, as well as necklaces made with all vintage pieces!

2011-01-26T10:24:00.000-06:00

I'm going to write more later, but I just wanted to let you know I have a brand new style of banner to the shop, as well as many new Hooray banners and Mini I Love You banners!

Hope you are having a great day! I'll be back!

New Banners Coming Soon

2011-01-18T14:26:00.000-06:00

Hello friends!

How is everyone? I am participating in the current market on Poppytalk, Love Transforms- A Wedding and Valentine Market . I've got several new banners to share but it's just been way too dark to take proper photos. The weather has been super grey around here and I've got a bit of the winter blues. Winter is good for staying in and getting work done, however once that work is complete and you're ready to take photographs, the sunshine can be so hard to catch. It looks like the sun may come out a little tomorrow, so hopefully I'll be able to list them in the afternoon! If you'd like to be notified when they are updated, just join up on the Nice Facebook page..I always let you know when I add a new batch of product!

2011-01-14T10:01:00.001-06:00

http://warp.net/records/broadcast/a-statement

Christmas Time

2010-12-29T10:24:00.002-06:00

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season! These photos were taken out apartment on Christmas Eve. We had a very pretty snowfall that night. This is our first Christmas at this place and it was pretty nice. We have lots of trees in this neighborhood and it was very pretty to watch the snow collect on branches outside our window.

James and I had a very nice holiday this year. Christmas eve was spent with most of James' family and that was very nice and relaxing, as always. Christmas day was spent at my family's and in the evening we had a fun time with my parents going for a drive to see extravagant holiday lights and staying up very late playing games and laughing.

In shop news, another custom Hooray Banner has had the honor of being a part of a beautiful wedding! Click on over to the Style Me Pretty blog to see the rest of Colleen's wedding, photographed by Jonathan Hoffner.

Also, one of my Hooray banners made it into the Green Wedding Shoe's top 10 Favorite Wedding Fashion Moments of 2010!!

Lots of New Pieces in the Shop!

2010-12-08T21:57:00.001-06:00

I've been very busy working on the shop! I hope that you'll enjoy the new items. Please remember that the last suggested U.S. purchase date for Xmas delivery is Monday December 13th. I will be shipping throughout the holidays and so please contact me at any time if you need a package shipped express.

Thank you all for your continued support and love!

2010-11-28T20:23:00.003-06:00

SALE!
»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»

Hello! I have a lot to share with you, but first I must let you know that

every single vintage piece in my shop is currently on sale until 12am central time Tuesday!

So enjoy your Cyber Monday at the Nice shop! :)

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

oh man..

2010-11-19T21:32:00.002-06:00

My Mom Has Updated Her Shop

2010-11-09T17:04:00.000-06:00

Today I'm excited to share with you my mom's holiday collection for Oh Merci! Isn't her work so lovely?? I didn't get one of her wreaths last year, so I really hope I can this year! I'm having a hard time choosing a favorite though..once again! Have a look at all of the pretty pieces right here.

Spooky

2010-10-29T14:43:00.002-05:00

dracula

2010-10-27T22:41:00.002-05:00

Innocence

2010-10-19T22:02:00.000-05:00

Innocence directed by Lucile Hadzihalilovic, 2004
I've been meaning to upload and share these stills since early spring! No matter though because I think this is a nice film to see this time of year. James and I watched it together, but after seeing it, I'd say, and he'd probably agree, it's more of a girl film, haha. You know the type I mean..there should be a genre name for this..too creepy for dudes. Anyway, it's pretty. Have you seen it?

My pal, the ghost.

2010-10-12T16:33:00.001-05:00

Found this little guy at a party store. He came with two sort of cow bells around his neck, one orange, the other black, but they were just a little too country for me, so I took them off. I might make him a bit fluffier..and I think he needs to be hung by fishing wire and not twine..for now I just added a few scattered silver sequins. What a cute new-vintage (hate the word retro) lil ghost!

Afternoon at an Orchard

2010-10-11T19:49:00.000-05:00

Saturday James and I went apple picking, though between you and me, I was mostly interested in the orchard's donuts. I'm not a huge donut fan (nut?) unless it's a fairly simple donut, and fall seems to be the best season to find one. As it turned out, this orchard's donuts didn't prove to be anything super special, just a typical cinnamon sugar thing going on..Saturday was a great day though and we had tons of fun goofing around in the trees and riding the hayride around the grounds.

It's been years since I've been to the Franklin Cider Mill, close to where my family once lived in Michigan, but I still dream about their donuts (check out this old footage haha)! I can't seem to find anything to compare (though I did have a delicious donut in the spring at a coffee shop where my aunt helps out)...anyway, I can't help but wonder if the donuts of my childhood truly are the best, in other words, would they warrant a 6 or so hour drive to relive them?! Maybe next year.. I do love spontaneous road trips.

Shop Update!

2010-09-28T10:22:00.002-05:00

Ok! Took forever...all available Hooray and Happy Birthday party banners are currently in the shop! I've also added the newest version of my Mini Deer Plaques, including key hooks! All designed, cut, sanded, and etc. by me! I should mention that there's only a few left at the moment! I hope you'll like them. Head on over to the shop to check it all out.

2010-09-21T10:38:00.000-05:00

Ok I think I can promise that I'll have new things in the shop through out the day into the evening... There's a lot to list! New deer plaques, lots of banners..

Renegade Recap!

2010-09-15T17:20:00.009-05:00

Renegade was so much fun this year! I have to admit, I've never been as behind with prep work as I was this year....It was a busy summer. We moved, I added new product, and for me it's always hard balancing work with summer. So the past few weeks have been SUPER stressful and busy..I didn't get much sleep the week before Renegade and by the time the eve of the event came, I kinda wasn't sure how I was going to survive the weekend! haha I just wanted to take a long slumber and watch some TCM or something.... James and I did manage to set our alarm clock wrong and oversleep by and hour, but that wasn't enough! So the rainy, misty, gloomy set-up weather of Saturday was sort of a bummer to my system. I was not into setting up at all..I tried to convince my dad (shout out to my family who are enormous helpers during Renegade times) that we should throw the ugly blue rain tarp on top of the tent, I guess I kept having flash backs to the Rainegade of 2008, and I figured better safe than sorry..he kept assuring me that the weather said sun later on, and I had heard that forecast as well, but at this point it was just so hard to imagine the sun ever coming out haha. I probably should have put some whiskey in my coffee or something.

The sun did come out and both days ended up being beautiful. It took me a while to get in the groove Saturday I think..I wasn't feeling very well, again, think my body was just ready to power down after the stressful prep weeks..and by the end of the day I was feeling dizzy and sick. My awesome brother came down to help James and I pack up for the night so that was really nice. When we got back to our place we just took it easy and watched Maria Bamford on the internet hahaha. Laughter is the best medicine people. By Sunday morning I was feeling myself again, or maybe that's a tough call to make, because early in the day, right after the always stylish Danny from Renegade came to snap some photos of my booth, I did notice that my fly was down. Classy. Boyfriend or Brother, you didn't notice this?? Hoping it didn't show in the photos. I told you people, I should not be photographed by people outside of my close circle. Update: While I'm writing this post I'm obviously multitasking and noticed the Renegade gang linked to their Flickr on Twitter....thankfully they posted a photo where I'm hiding behind the counter, as if I was aware my fly is down. haha

Anyway, all in all the fair was fantastic! I had so much fun, I truly love Renegade and I look forward to it all year. I had a nice talk with Sue of Renegade who I was fortunate to have as a neighbor this year, and she's got me thinking of Brooklyn and San Francisco Renegades. If I can, I will do it. I want to very badly. I had a great time talking with friends through out the weekend..Casey and her boyfriend Josh are always so much fun and she showed me a lot of the great things she picked up at the fair (she should be a guide, she makes a list!).. met many new adorable craft friends and saw old adorable craft friends.. Lisa, Katie and Elsie, Kellee and Matt, Esther, Sarah, Susan, Amie, Kara and Meagan, Lynn...and many more.

On to photos! Here are some things that I took home with me...

Wood block prints from Mat Daly (top left). When I saw these I immediately thought of James...this was a gift for all of his loving support! He put them up right away in his music room.

I met a lovely girl named Mona who is traveling from Mexico to report back on the handmade movement. She was the sweetest and stopped by my booth both days..the second she brought me this necklace!! I am still smiling about meeting her..

I snagged this beauty from Cursive after chatting it up with Sarah. I'm so glad she's in my town and I hope to see her way more often- we totally ran into each other the day before Renegade at JoAnn Fabrics, haha! It was like 1pm and I hadn't eaten yet and still had to get to the suburbs to pick stuff up and I was sooooo frazzled..so it was really great to take a break and visit with her! ..Her booth looked great as always and she had the prettiest display work...

Really want to ask her if I can have a garland made haha

Love these new pieces!

Think I want to add that black and grey piece to my collection next!

Amie of Thief and Bandit had these tassels hanging up as display in her tent and I was able to buy a set off her! I love them! Then yesterday I got a fantastic package from Anabela and one of the things included was a beautiful golden tassel! It was the perfect addition!!

Later, while walking briskly and trying to focus on getting back to my booth, Esther of Essimar called out my name while relaxing on the side of the street!So happy she spotted me as I missed her pinata making booth with the Chicago Reader. I can't wait to see photos- I know it was amazing! She was beaming and had great stories to tell about her day teaching. It was great to talk with her and she gave me this garland that she had made during the day and this pin (below) right off her outfit! What a sweetie, right?? I absolutly LOVE little random bits that people make..reminds me of art classes and getting odds and ends that friends made on the side of a larger project. Things like that are just very special to me (also why I love the Sarah and Amie's tassels so much!).
Esther is actually having a giveaway right now on her blog! Ends today!

And here are shots of my booth this year..

This Bouquet doily light shade sold! I usually sell all of the shades online so it was really neat to see it go to someone in person. I am sad that I didn't get any good shots of it though!

New! Haven't named this one yet but it's made with lucite, vintage lace, handmade tulle flowers, and silver glitter leaves!

New! Crystal Garden light shade! These will be available in the shop soon..email me if you have any questions.

James and I at the end of Sunday. <3

There you have it! You can see more photos on my flickr. I'll be updating the shop with banners, new styles of Mini Deer Plaques, chalkboards, key hooks, light shades, etc. very soon! And seriously, if you were at the show, leave a comment at the Facebook page and you've got a pretty good chance of winning a necklace of your choice!

Hooray for Renegade!

2010-09-13T12:48:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much to everyone who made it out to the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend! It was amazing as always! I'll post a recap very soon and will be updating my shop through out the week. Please feel free to sign up for my mailing list, on the left side of the blog, subscribe to my Etsy shop feed, or check out my Facebook page for Nice - If you stopped by my booth over the weekend, just leave a comment saying so and you'll be entered to win a necklace of your choice!

Renegade This Weekend

2010-09-11T00:40:00.000-05:00

Hope to see you this weekend at THE RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR! Stop by and say hello, won't you?? Nice is located near/facing the Renegade Handmade storefront. The fair is in Wicker Park on Division street. Hope to see you!

More Work Tomorrow..

2010-09-07T08:40:00.001-05:00

Renegade will be here soooo soon! Will you be there?
I'm getting very excited, but truthfully, I still have a LOT of work to do... I've developed this awful problem where I 'reward' myself with time to work on new ideas once I finish up my current projects...the problem is current projects are never ending and so I haven't allowed myself the time for that reward. Not fun. I have a version of a dream catcher that I've been working on for FOURTEEN MONTHS. Yup, I had the parts layed out a year ago hoping to complete them for LAST YEAR's Renegade. I have a ton of light shade ideas, a few jewelry pieces that I'd like to work out, and other random stuff that would just be nice to make. SIGH.
I've been very busy this summer with custom orders and also moving to our new apartment threw a wrench in things.. SIGH. I have so many nice new ideas... Trying to finish up a few if I have the time this week. Not going to do this to myself again... We'll see what the rest of this weeks allows for..

Anyway, I wanted to share this photo of Hobbes watching over my banners in progress. Don't mess.

The Vintage Bazaar, #2

2010-08-23T23:20:00.003-05:00

Sunday was The Vintage Bazaar! Thanks to all who made it out, and an extra huge thanks to my booth partner of the day, my mom, Mary. I couldn't have done it without her and it was really nice to do this show with her. She loves vintage just as much as I do.

I'm still learning a lot, as this was my second time selling vintage in person.. next time I may have to suck it up and cut down on the amount of housewares that I bring...I am SUCH a sucker for vintage housewares, especially dishes, but they don't seem to sell quick enough for me to warrant the space and time it takes to pack them, etc.. We'll see.. It's really difficult for me to leave anything at home! My heart keeps suggesting, 'But what if today is the day for the gorgeous set of vintage glassware to meet the one??' Because things like that DO happen, haha! For example, I sold an absolutely beautiful vintage embroidered dress to a woman that was made to own that piece. It was a wonderful feeling..She tried it on over her clothing and even people who were walking by stopped to gawk at how lovely it was on her. One gentleman even came back a bit later to make sure that she had purchased it! She definitely was the one for that dress.

It was a great show and seriously, an amazing selection of vintage. It is kind of masochistic of me to vend at this event rather than shop... So many great vendors- check out the list, most of them also sell online!

I am still very tired from the weekend....and it's countdown time 'til Renegade on Sept. 11 and 12!!

See You This Sunday at THE VINTAGE BAZAAR!!

2010-08-19T15:29:00.002-05:00

Just a little sneak peek of what I'll have this Sunday at The Vintage Bazaar! Can't wait and it looks like my Mom, a fellow vintage lover, will be helping me out! Nice is booth #152, stop and say hello!
If you see something in the shop that you'd like, you may want to snatch it up before Sunday!

Comfy Constable Cat

2010-08-06T00:37:00.001-05:00

Our little Constable. This look is often on his face. He's always been a rascal, although since we've moved his personality has mellowed quite a bit. It's a bit odd, but I think he's just fine. For one thing, he's learned to really enjoy being pet (under his arms and belly especially) for extended periods...before you couldn't get sweet with him for more than a minute before he'd play bite. He's also afraid of thunderstorms for the first time, though they do seem to be louder in our new place. Still, he never use to even flinch at thunder or lightning! Now he cowers and won't come to bed. Have any of you ever seen a drastic change in your kitty's personality?

Summer Water is here!

2010-08-02T15:07:00.000-05:00

Hello friends!
I have a very special project to introduce today! A collaboration over a year in the making! My dear friend, Anabela and I have teamed up to bring you Summer Water.

Summer Water is a collaboration between Anabela Carneiro of fieldguided and
Caitlin Holcomb of nice-etc. Summer Water is influenced by vintage textiles,
the beach, road trips, good vibes, lakesides, campfires, pretty things, ghosts,
lace, pastel colours. The name comes from a beautiful song of the same name by
Colleen.
All textile designs are original by Caitlin Holcomb and custom printed.

I had been wanting to create custom fabric for a while, but sewing isn't my passion. I knew right away that I needed to get involved with Anabela's skills. Her bags are a perfect fit for my prints and I am thrilled to see the fabric come to life. This is my first time collaborating with a friend; I feel so fortunate and I hope to continue working with her.
We hope that you will enjoy our little shop. It truly is a labor of love.We've started a blog for updates and pretty posts, www.summerwatershop.blogspot.com
Visit the shop here, www.summerwater.bigcartel.com

love,
caitlin

Sing Swan Song

2010-08-02T12:48:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for your sweet comments, funny input, and for sharing your stories of similar situations. It really was a bummer of a time for me..I was just feeling generally camera shy even before the Time Out opprotunity came up, so the published photo didn't help my mood. But I'm over it! It really helped immensely to laugh with you all about it. Thank you so much, friends. :)

So on to new things! And on to, what? Another (crazy) photo of myself? Yup. What if I become camera obsessed now??

I stumbled upon this giant inflatable swan raft last week while shopping for a gift. I was with my mom and we seriously could not stop laughing about it- it's amazing. It's MASSIVE. You could fit at least 3 people on that thing! Yesterday James and I went out to the suburbs to celebrate my dad's birthday and we were able to stop back at the store to show it to them in person, haha. It was priceless seeing James' reaction, let me tell you. We were SO CLOSE to buying it..I still regret it. It's quite affordable (if you're in the market for inflatables), but I was trying to be realistic and imagine myself at a beach with just James, rather than a big group...I mean, sometimes you feel self-concious enough in a bathing suit, imagine adding a giant inflatable swan to that feeling. STILL, I am a firm believer in FUN TIMES and I'm pretty sure this thing would be worth it. Wonder how hard it is to stay on with the waves that come after a storm on Lake Michigan. Might have to go get this swan...

So yes, swans. Swan inflatables and swan boats..cute, hilarious, involve water, random, still in existence, pretty, fun..gotta love them. Anabela was able to ride swan paddle boats over the weekend (did you know that they got rid of ours in Chicago??) while she took beautiful shots for Summer Water. Have you seen? View her post here.
And take an early peek at our Summer Water collection- it launches in minutes actually! 1pm central time!

Awkward

2010-07-27T19:10:00.004-05:00

Hi, I'm James - Caitlin's boyfriend. I'm here to tell you a bit about what Caitlin's been up to lately.
So a few weeks back Caitlin learned that she would be featured in a local magazine along with some of the vintage items she sells
(by the seashore). We were both very excited but Caitlin was also terribly nervous about the whole ordeal. I received frantic
phone calls at work and, at our home, was privy to a Faulknerian string of fretting and cursing. Being featured in magazines
isn't the sort of thing that comes naturally, or regularly, to either one of us, and so I could at least empathize while also
encouraging my darling girlfriend that all would go well. When the magazine asked Caitlin to drop in to be photographed (along
with her vintage items), I believe just about every single anxious nerve in Caitlin's body must have melted. Again, I did my
best, reassuring Caitlin that she had nothing to worry about. We worked out a plan, of sorts: Caitlin would consult her
brother, Douglas, a photographer by trade, the day prior to the shoot, and I would accompany her to the shoot.

The day of the shoot was brilliant, better weather than we've had in weeks due to torrential rain and sweltering heat. We
packed the car with some vintage goods she would have on offer at the forthcoming Vintage Bazaar and headed down. I thought
Caitlin looked lovely, and I was happy to have the afternoon free to be with her. The shoot itself was over quickly and seemed
relatively painless for both photographer and subject, and we enjoyed a much-anticipated (and deservedly so) lunch at XOCO.

Flash forward a week, and the magazine's spotlight on local vintage sellers is published to the web (I don't think either of us
have seen it in print just yet). Caitlin had her eye out for the faintest mention in tweet or Facebook form, as her nerves about
the whole ordeal had never truly died down. Sure enough, when she did come across her published likeness, she was mortified, as
were her friends, family, and quite possibly even the cat, Constable, who as of this writing refuses to look in the direction
of the screen displaying the image. I chose not to look - bad idea. Caitlin was after me to do so, and she definitely wasn't
having any of my stoic optimism - perhaps not optimism, but apathy (in the best possible sense of the word), meaning that today's
nightmares are forgotten in a week's time, more often than not. When I did look, I, too, was shocked to find that the image was,
indeed, an exceptionally poor representation of my dear and darling girlfriend, Caitlin. My initial reaction was to say that it
appeared as if the magazine had chosen to publish the worst frame of the shoot.

And so there was much sobbing in our home, rhetorical questions asked through tears. It was a sad two, three days for Caitlin.
She wasn't happy, and she's still not, which is why I write here today, to tell you that I have a lovely, darling girlfriend.
She is beautiful by every measure and I am immeasurably proud to know her. She looks nothing at all like the woman in that awful
picture even on her worst days. That may sound like an overstatement but it's the honest truth.

To lift Caitlin's spirits I suggested she ask her brother shoot some photos. I think / hope she'll share one or two here, at the
bottom of this post, just for the sake of comparison (provided she's "over it" enough to also share the link to the magazine feature).
Should she choose to do so, know that this is the girl I've known, the woman I love.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

That is my boyfriend. xo haha. What a swell guy to vouch for me. So yes. This was my first time being featured in a magazine, and the first time that I have been
professionally photographed since senior photos (summer of 2000, people), so I was nervous. I was able to spend some time with my brother beforehand and he snapped some photos and gave me some tips (and lots of laughs). He even tried to create lighting similar to what a studio would do (we referenced their previous photos and anyway, he has experience). So by the end of that I was feeling ok and just ready to get the whole thing over with.
I gotta say, I'm certainly not trying to blame or bash the photographer, it's just a fact that I am a difficult person to photograph. I am not a person who is comfortable
in front of a camera, especially when behind the camera is a stranger. I do wish I had more direction though. Instead of direction on how to stand, I was asked questions about my business which at the time was like asking me the most difficult math problem known to man! It certainly did not help me relax when I'm standing with a camera 4 feet from my face in a small dark room while trying to remember all the tips my brother gave me. I assumed it was going to be a head shot (I've seen shots like that in their magazine) so I wasn't thinking about my hands at all. I also probably blinked in every other photo- maybe even every photo but the one they chose.
But enough! I consider myself a person who has a great sense of humor- and while I do still feel crummy about my first published photo, I for sure see how funny it is. I mean, let the photo age a decade and you'll see it on the Sexy People blog. Or maybe it's bad (good) enough that they'll make an exception. And Alison's post seriously could not have come at a more perfect time, as her exact thoughts are the same that have often crossed my mind.

I thought I'd of course show you the photo from the shoot, but also the ones my brother, Douglas, took. Some are nice, some are funny..they were all meant for practice (hence the tank top, just what I happened to be wearing that day)..all are better than what happened in Time Out...let's indulge in the many faces of Caitlin...

Above, Time Out Chicago Caitlin
Below, fun times with my brother..

Photo for my new age healing book

'You Can Do This' Photo for my new age self help healing book

'It's warm even' face

'It's hard for me to not smile but I want to try' face

such a caring expression, it's gotta be my campaign photo

Promo photo for my comedy tour

Candid cult photo

Photo for my realtor billboard or broadcast news anchor bio (I went from 0 to 60 for this and we laughed for a long while)

not having fun anymore

judge or high school guidance counselor

oh cool rock band photo

So there you have it. MY FACE. haha whatev. That is the most you'll see of me for a while, I think. Hope you had a lil' LOL.
I should also make clear that I am indeed grateful and flattered to have been asked to be part of this Time Out Chicago mini round up of just a few of the awesome vintage sellers Chicago has to offer. I am also honored to be part of the Vintage Bazaar which in my opinion is the best thing to happen to local vintage in a long time. Libby and Katherine are doing great things!

Also, in case my face gave you the urge to buy some vintage, here are the items they featured, which are all currently available in my shop!

Summer Water

2010-07-21T11:52:00.001-05:00

Hey pals!
It has been a while..summer really makes one busy! I've got a lot to share with you, so I hope you'll stay tuned while I try and get back in the swing of blogging.

Right now I have some great news! Perhaps you've already heard, as I'm sure many of you who read this blog also enjoy my great friend Anabela's blog........
We are working on a project together called Summer Water! It has been in the works since the spring of '09- I guess we are daydreamers and value the wonderful ideas that come when you take your time and let them evolve, haha. Anyway, it's here and it was worth the wait for us. I hope you'll enjoy it!

The name Summer Water was drawn from one of our most favorite artists, Colleen. Here is the song..

A love for Colleen was one of the first of many things that Anabela and I bonded over when we first began talking in 2007. It was very exciting for me to come across a girl who also enjoys Colleen! haha I am a dork like that- but really, she was the first! I think most girls (especially) can appreciate Colleen once they hear her music...it's so dreamy, peaceful, yet sometimes spooky. Just like all those movies we seem to like, right? Picnic at Hanging Rock..Valerie and Her Week of Wonders..you know!

I hope you'll bookmark the Summer Water blog where we plan to update often, and keep your eyes peeled on the Summer Water shop. We decided to give Big Cartel a try (I'm excited!), and will most likely expand to Etsy, perhaps after this first run of items.

You can read more about Summer Water and see another sneak peak at this post on Anabela's blog.

I'll be back soon with more things to share :)

Kitty Neighbor

2010-06-29T12:03:00.003-05:00

Hello! It's been a while. We are settling into our new place- we've hardly had any time to relax! My birthday was last week and it was very much in the back of my mind. Thank goodness for it though..that and Father's Day provided family time and a bit of relaxation. Moving in the summer isn't my favorite. Not because it's hot (we actually lucked out with some fairly mild temperatures), but because it takes a huge chunk way from summertime fun haha. I think spring is a better time to move, if you can.

Our new place is starting to feel like home. There is still a lot to be done..arranging things, etc, but I also have to get back to work!

I wanted to share one of our new neighbor friends..

This lil lady wandered into our front yard when we were returning from a Father's Day lunch. She was so friendly that I couldn't resist petting her. James and my dad left my mom and I to go move a heavy table into our apartment...we ended up hanging out with this kitty for a good 45 minutes! ...So there was plenty of time for the two of us to daydream about if we could keep her. She was so little it was hard to imagine that her owner would let her roam around, so maybe she was lost? We'd have to put up signs for a while before we could claim her. Would Constable approve?? My mom tried to get me to name her but I had to resist! haha Our neighbors came out and they said they'd seen it before but did not have a clue whose it was. So we played some more. She climbed the little tree in our yard and frolicked and tumbled.

Our downstairs neighbor came out a bit later and said that he thought he may belong to a gym around the corner..which was a hilarious thought to me. The gym around the corner is a tiny hole in the wall place..one of those places that you constantly pass and wonder what in the world goes on in there, if it's still in business. It seems it's where older, tan, muscley, tank top sporting tough guys go. It's right out of an 80s macho movie, it's really that ridiculous. Turns out, the neighbor left for a walk and met up with a guy down at the corner and pointed our direction. Here comes this Sylvester Stalone looking guy with curly dark hair pulled back in a low ponytail, black tank top, and camouflage pants. "There you are!" His voice did not match his appearance, haha. It was soft and calm. The kitty's name is Shadow and I guess he lets her out often, so hopefully we'll see her again! He said he had another cat but she never came back and he thinks someone took her (I couldn't help but feel like he said that in a back-off-my-kitty kinda way but he was probably just sayin', right?). How could anyone resist such a friendly little kitty?

So now you know a little more about the mysterious Rock Hard Gym.

Speaking of kitties, make sure you're a fan of Dreamcats and help to spread the word! When my mom and I were hanging out with the kitty, I noticed she called to it, "Dream kitty! Dream kitty!" And I'm pretty sure that little kitty liked it.

Nice things for you!

2010-06-23T11:56:00.001-05:00

Today is my birthday! I'd like to include 3 FREE POSTCARDS with purchases made today in the shop!
Just let me know which 3 you'd like in the message to seller box (look in the artwork section to view them all)! :)

intermission

2010-06-14T15:27:00.002-05:00

a lovely video for Colleen's Everything Lay Still.

it was a very quick decision- we are moving to a new apartment! things are very crazy over here at the moment..

Exclusive Facebook Deals

2010-05-27T12:03:00.002-05:00

I'm trying to spiff up my Facebook page! I added this image to a new tab, but it's appearing very small..I'm pretty sure I've seen other pages use a large image- how can I make mine larger/it's original size as it appears above?
Anyway, I wanted to suggest that you "Like" Nice on Facebook if you haven't already! It really means a great deal to me- It's a huge motivational boost to see the "fan" number go up, and just by simply "Liking" Nice it can be enough to help my business grow..who knows who may decide to also like Nice once they notice that you have. So yes, I appreciate it very much, and like the image above says, I'm going to use it to show that I Like you, too! ;) There will indeed be a special sale for Facebook Likers soon!!

Lots and lots..

2010-05-14T00:45:00.003-05:00

I feel like I have a lot of really random stuff to share but I'm not sure if I am remembering it all! It's been a crazy week..a crazy month, really. Lots of making and lots of deadlines..had the Detroit Craft Revival just a month ago but because things have been so nutty it feels like forever ago! There is a nice write up on it here and I'm included in it! So yes, after that show it was back to making..custom banners..and a custom light shade:

This past weekend was a ton of fun.. I was able to meet and hang out with Anabela and her fiance Geoff. They were in town for the weekend from Toronto and James and I had a ton of fun hanging out with them! I wanted to organize a picnic with a bunch of other bloggers/makers but it was too cold and wet. Ended up having a small meet up at Jerry's on Friday..so fun hanging out with Anabela's friend Alison, Mia of Bummer Town, Sarah of Cursive Design, Jennifer of Hound and her friend Julie. We did a lot of laughing and I hope to see them all soon again. ...The weekend was full of fun..went to so many shops, restaurants, and even more bars it seems. Met up with Casey and her boyfriend the day after at Eskell (sooo pretty), and ran into Meghan who does displays there. haha I haven't been out 3 days and nights in a row in a lonnng time. By Monday I was beat! I didn't take many photos, I guess I was nervous or mostly just caught up in the moment. Just took some photos of Fleur because the paper garlands and flowers were so lovely..also took a couple photos of our huge pitchers of long island iced tea, but they didn't turn out so well, and that's for the better, right? Anyway Anabela of course has a lovely post about her trip here. I hope they can come back soon!

James and I are headed with my family to Michigan tomorrow for TWO weddings on each side of the family! Should be a crazy (but fun) weekend! I'm looking forward to it, but also just looking forward to being back home and taking it a bit easier, haha.
Also, my banners were mentioned on Threadbanger recently which is pretty cool! She said that my banners are some of the cutest she's ever seen! That deserves a Hooray! har har ;)

Cotton Candy Dress

2010-05-05T20:07:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share some lovely photos that feature a customer, Paula, in one of my vintage garments. She was so sweet to email me links to a couple posts on her blog about the dress. She had it altered and I think it looks so lovely on her! I love the colors in this dress..so happy to see it being so well loved! Thank you, Paula!

it's may day!

2010-05-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Cat's Meow and Other Things

2010-04-28T12:37:00.000-05:00

Things have been pretty busy around here! The Detroit show went well and I'm glad we could make it out there..would be nice to do it again next year if we can get there during the holidays (it can be so hard to drive there in winter with lake effect snow!). It was nice to meet new people and put names to faces. As soon as I got home it was back to work on custom orders. I've got a lot going on with that which is exciting..and a lot of hard work.

I've been wanting to share these photos that I took a couple weeks back of Constable once he discovered that a bird has made a nest on the porch. I waited and waited for him to discover it on his own, haha. Have you heard a cat talk to other animals? In my experience they always sound very "meepy" and curious. As if they are having a quiet casual conversation with occasional hints of desperation? haha James was telling me last night that apparently cats meow because of humans..that the noise they make to meow is their idea of sounding like we do. Does it confuse him then when I meow back? Cos I do. All the time..

Headed to Detroit This Weekend

2010-04-15T11:28:00.000-05:00

This weekend I'll be traveling to Detroit for the Craft Revival show! It's on Saturday from 11am - 6pm at The Loving Touch (all ages) in Ferndale. I'm really excited to get back to that area (it was almost a year since James and I were last in Detroit), and this marks my second out of state craft show. Small steps it seems! Anyway, if you're in the area, please come out and say hi! :)

things i wore..

2010-04-12T11:23:00.003-05:00

Spring outfits.. I always struggle with dressing in the beginning and end of the colder months. Right now I still can't imagine going without tights (well ok wait, that may not be completely true..there was a really warm day last week were I went bare legged around the house in these same shorts, haha)..I guess I secretly wish I could wear them in the dead of summer..it always takes me a a while to get use to bare legs again. Maybe I can still wear tights on summer evenings?? Anyway, I found this outfit nice to throw on when it was sunny, but still a bit chilly. I thrifted my bag many years ago, at the end of high school and I've had this vintage sweater since 9th grade and I love how it's come in and out of my wardrobe over the years!

warm days

2010-04-03T01:42:00.002-05:00

Took Sultan's to the lakefront for dinner tonight..It was a little too windy for my liking but it was still a very nice early evening. So happy that it's warm again..inspired to do so much more lately.

floral bag

2010-03-30T10:23:00.003-05:00

I've had this purse since I was small. Last summer I started using it again and will this year as well! It was the first purse I bought on my own with birthday money that I saved..probably 3rd grade. It's small and easy to throw on which can be nice in the warmer months. It reminds me of a pair of floral jeans that I had when I was around the same age, maybe a bit younger. I loved them soooo much. I am pretty sure my mom saved them. I'll have to see.. Is it odd that I really want a pair now? A nice washed pastel floral, please.
Any items in your wardrobe that you've had for many years?

p.s. In the first photo you can see that I put up one of my Mod Cabin Crest Clocks..the wall color doesn't appear so bad in this light..it's definitely the best when the daylight comes in. I also changed the curtains to a pattern that has a base similar to the wall but is brightened by high contrast flower bouquets.

First Flea Market of the Season

2010-03-28T22:54:00.001-05:00

A couple weeks ago I spent a Saturday afternoon at a flea market with Casey and Sarah. It was a lot of fun getting together with them and it was my first flea of the season. I was pretty good..it's nice to casually look around and not be too tempted. I walked away with these linens, some jewelry bits, as well as some decals and a lovely print that Sarah surprised me with. I haven't put any of those up yet so I'll share a photo once I do! I'm excited to use the linens, the larger one will probably come in handy at craft shows.

Shop Update

2010-03-25T00:15:00.007-05:00

Added 25 new vintage items to the shop!

p.s. in the canister photo above you can kinda see an example of how I tagged my merchandise for the Vintage Bazaar last month (it says 'Beautiful!')..
I used a regular tag sale dot sticker and cut some pink tape to stick under it to make it look like a prize ribbon! I was really proud of this idea-
but sadly no one seemed to notice or be surprised by it at the event?! oh well haha

constantly curating

2010-03-21T10:00:00.008-05:00

Really enjoying this idea from Chen Karlsson.
I have so many little pieces that could be
nicely displayed in this lamp. Found via the
Frankie blog.

Hooray for Babies!

2010-03-16T09:37:00.002-05:00

Hooray for babies! Elisa of Elisa B. Photography used one of my banners for a recent maternity photo shoot!

Elisa is based in Charlottesville, Virginia- head to her website to see more of her work.

Don't forget to send me your images as well! I love to see how you use your banners!

Also- I just added new banners in the shop!

When the Sun Hits..

2010-03-07T19:05:00.000-06:00

Love the light that's cast by the garland..Feels like there's a pool nearby..

The Vintage Bazaar!

2010-03-03T17:05:00.002-06:00

It was a lot of fun! Just a 5 hour event, I still sort of feel as if it were a dream! What a whirl of a weekend! So much vintage goodness. With help from James, we were able to set up on Friday which was awesome. It was the easiest set-up I've had for a show..even got to stick around and calmly merchandise to the Cocteau Twins (which was pretty sweet since I more than often play them when I'm working at home, haha). Libby and Katherine are all around awesome ladies and did such a great job organizing this first-time event. I am very excited to see what they do next!

I don't really know how to recap other than just saying, if you love vintage and you weren't there, why weren't you there? Good finds and good people. I hardly got to shop at all..just standing in my booth, spying around, I could have found a handful of things I would want. I did end up scoring a lovely lace dress from my "across the street" booth neighbor, Karyn of Max and Chloe Vintage. Karyn and I actually use to work together and it was a great surprise to see each other! Neither of us knew that the other was busy selling vintage these days (though it certainly makes sense)! I'll have to get a photo of the dress..
Met new folks and saw other friends as well..Val (another old work pal) of The Nine Stories, I didn't get a photo of her booth, but she had a nice and simple set up and she made her own garment racks! Met a nice little lady called Tess of Tessaboo Vintage. Saw my craft show pal Lisa of Art Goodies / Vintage Goodies and she had such a cute booth. Also met her friend, Lisa of Lisa B's Retro Style, who had her booth behind mine which worked out so good for my set up!

It was a very busy day / weekend (did I mention that the line to get in was around the block??)- so thankful James was able to help me out. I really wanted to do the bazaar with my Mom, but she was very busy preparing for an event of her own that was Monday. It went well and was exciting for her, but she was missed and I know she would have enjoyed the bazaar- next time! And there will be a next time!

p.s. gotta give a shout out to Francesa of 1385 for the lovely turban that I wore!

This Saturday!

2010-02-25T13:32:00.001-06:00

Hope to see you there! Visit TheVintageBazaar.co m for more info!

-Caitlin

Get Out of the House Already

2010-02-15T23:14:00.000-06:00

What I threw on last week after (mostly) getting over my cold sickness. James and I made it out to get fish n' chips- which is probably my most favorite winter emergency list meal, along with a Belhaven Wee Heavy. mmmmm. Can have (should I say crave?) this just about any time. Also, ran into Mia which was exciting even though it was too crowded to chat much.

Send Out Some Love!

2010-02-09T00:57:00.001-06:00

Valentine's day is less than a week away! Why not pick out a couple postcards and have them sent out?
Perfect for surprising your special someone..especially perfect if you are an admirer who wants to be a secret (your secret's safe with me)!
Available in the shop right here.

Come see me at the Vintage Bazaar!

2010-02-06T17:12:00.000-06:00

Nice will be part of the first Vintage Bazaar on Feb. 27th! I'm really excited..an event like this is long overdue! It's going to be a real challenge for me to stay at my booth and not wander off treasure hunting. I'll have housewares, clothing, and other finds..perhaps some larger pieces that would be too tricky to sell on Etsy. I hope you can stop by!

I've been neglecting this blog a bit. I've been working on custom banners, organizing my supplies and such..and at the moment I have a cold that has really sucked the energy out of me! It really came out of nowhere.

Thanks for the painting encouragement from my last post! Maybe in a month or so we'll be able to tackle the job..still not sure. I've painted a lot of rooms in my life haha..never as big as this one though..I know you guys are right, that it's totally worth it..I'll have to keep remembering that..

wall color bummer

2010-01-30T01:31:00.001-06:00

This image is pretty accurate in displaying the paint color of the main room of our apartment. It's not my favorite. Not by a long shot. It's the color of makeup foundation. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if the floors were not so close in color..maybe. I know the landlord would most likely wouldn't mind if we chose to paint over it, but I'm not sure that I have the time. It would be a daunting task because it's a shotgun style apartment and so this color carries all the way into the kitchen (!) and that just seems so annoying to paint. SIGH. So. Do you have any suggestions of creative ways to get over it? I've thought about hanging fabric or paper literally just tacked to the wall in some places..I just don't want it to look like a huge mess. Am I just overly sensitive? Have you ever been stuck with wall colors that really just bum you out?

I should note that our friend gave us a 1950s dresser set that is in really great condition..a lot of it has ended up working in the living room- accept that it is a birch color and so it TOO is close to the wall color. So yeah..bleeeeeecccccch.

Poppies

2010-01-25T23:06:00.002-06:00

Hello! Nice has been nominated for a Poppie award on the PoppyTalk Blog! It's really sweet to be included, and it would be even sweeter to be a winner! If you'd like please feel free to take a second and vote for Nice! You have from now until January 29th at 11:59 pm. Thanks a bunch!

Jill Thomas Photography

2010-01-15T00:12:00.000-06:00

I received an email the other day from a very talented photographer, Jill Thomas, saying that she has used one of my Hooray banners in a recent wedding shoot! The photos are simply gorgeous and I am so incredibly flattered! I think it's such an honor to be chosen by a photographer and to be a part of someone's very special day! Please check out her blog to see the rest of the wedding and other events that she has shot..I know you'll enjoy it!

shop update

2010-01-09T18:19:00.004-06:00

I've just added a few
vintage items!

See more in the shop!

Tarts

2010-01-09T00:13:00.001-06:00

At Christmas James and I made goat cheese pear tarts. Sarah of Cursive was a guest on Design Sponge a year ago and I've been wanting to make these ever sense. I am not a big fan of cooking or baking at this point in my life..but this was simple and quite delicious! See more delicious pictures and the recepie here.

We also made some cherry tarts because some people in my family don't like goat cheese (which I still can't get over- I am addicted to it!)..but I am a huge fan of cherry pie of all kinds haha so this was good too..and very easy.

By the Light of the Silvery Moon..Happy New Year!!

2009-12-31T17:46:00.002-06:00

Wishing you all the best on the dawn of a new decade! Sounds so serious, doesn't it?

Thanks for hangin' around this lil' blog, Etsy, Twitter, Facebook, etc!
It was a pretty fine 2009, looking forward to 2010! Have a wonderful new year and enjoy the blue moon!

best coast

2009-12-31T14:06:00.002-06:00

feelin good today.

original link here.

Needed a Little Christmas..

2009-12-22T14:27:00.001-06:00

Finally was able to put out some decorations the other night.. I left my garland lights at my parents' for now since they looked so pretty over the doorway...gonna steal them back after the holidays, but in the meantime, James and I needed something of our own. It was a very random decorating session, hahah. Very haphazard, but it works. Feelin' cozy under the lights.

Ohp! There's Constable. haha, He followed me around the entire time, trying very hard to get in each shot.

The little house my Mom made for me 3 or 4 years ago now.

I found this little girl and boy last year and have since been teasing James that they are he and I.

Hooray! The Winner Has Been Drawn..

2009-12-21T22:33:00.002-06:00

The winner of Applique Your Way has been chosen by the infamous random.org - Kerri W.!
Thank you all so very much for entering! If you didn't win, be sure to keep following the blog tour for more chances and other fun things...or drop lots of hints and hope it's under your tree later this week! It's a perfect companion for long winter days when you're snowed indoors!

Last Day to Win!

2009-12-18T13:46:00.000-06:00

Remember that today is the last day to enter to win a copy of Applique Your Way. Just leave a comment with your email on my original post with Kayte Terry. : ) I'll post the winner at some point on Monday!

And be sure to keep following Kayte's blog tour for more inspiring posts and chances to win. The dates are listed on the blog for Chronicle Books.

Garland Lights Tutorial

2009-12-17T03:17:00.002-06:00

The other night my Mom and I made a bit of time to do some holiday projects together. We've both been really busy this year and we were so happy to relax and make some things for ourselves, haha.

I am a huge fan of Christmas lights. My current favorite are just from Ikea. They are LED so they don't get hot..and they seem to have a more simple and modern feel to them vs. the ones you find at the regular local store (right? or am I buying into Ikea's design aesthetic? haha). I also love them because they are not bright blueish-white, but a nice subtle whitish-yellow. We also used regular old Christmas lights, but please, please practice caution no matter what lights you use...and just to be safe, don't leave them on while you're not at home.

Needed: silver pipe cleaners, tulle (I used light pink) cut into small pieces, about 3x4 inches each, felt (I used grey), glitter glue (easy and no mess, I used silver), scissors

It's quite simple! Take a single pipe cleaner, wrap one creating a circle about an inch round, secure it in place by wrapping one end over the other once or twice so it won't come undone. Place 1 or two fingers into the circle and wrap the end around your fingers, creating smaller and smaller circles, like a cyclone shape.

Take two pieces of the tulle scraps (or as many as you'd like) and sort of scrunch them around a single light, secure them to the strand by inserting the light into the middle of the pipe cleaner "cyclone". Use the tail end to wrap around the tulle and the light strand, securing it in place.

I also cut out scalloped circles, or flowers, from grey felt, and embellished them with glitter on both sides. Cut an x in the middle of the flower to insert it onto the bulb. Due to the design of my light strand, I needed to keep the flower in place, so I wrapped a quarter of a single pipe cleaner around the "stem" of the bulb. I also did this to random lights just for subtle touch of sparkle.

For the second style you'll need: Gold pipe cleaners, felt (I used white), glitter glue (I used iridescent, silver, and pink), cupcake liners (I am addicted to Amanda's cupcake liners at Bake it Pretty!), scissors.

I placed everything randomly on this strand, I didn't want it to look theme-y, if that makes sense. I made more "cyclones" in gold pipe cleaners, but without tulle this time. I also cut out star-like shapes from the felt and used glitter on both sides, again cutting and x in the middle, sliding it on and securing it with a quarter of 1 gold pipe cleaner. I was very excited to use my cupcake liners, I just cut them like my felt designs and secured them as well.

Totally easy and so cute! My mom and I are really excited about the pipe cleaner "cyclones" (or bells as we were calling them at the time). I haven't seen this done before, but it seemed like such a natural thing, haha.

If you decide to make your own I'd LOVE to see! The possibilities are endless.. A couple years ago my mom wrapped our lights in tinsel- they are beautiful! I am anxious to get makin' even more styles..cos you know I keep these around all year, right? haha I really enjoy them- I hope you will as well!

do not open til dec. 25

2009-12-15T01:57:00.000-06:00

The suggested last date to ship was today, but if you have a last minute purchase, you can do it before 11am central time and I'll be able to ship it out tomorrow for Xmas!

I'll be back soon with a simple little tutorial that I'd like to share.. and remember to enter the giveaway!

Giveaway & Guest Post from Kayte Terry of Applique Your Way!

2009-12-11T11:36:00.017-06:00

Today on Nice-Etc.com I am thrilled to present a post with Kayte Terry the author of Applique Your Way (out now through Chronicle Books)! You may already know Kayte from her blog, This is Love Forever, her abundance of cute and unique project tutorials on Craft Stylish, or perhaps through her first book Complete Embellishing. Her newest book is filled to the brim with amazing projects (that make great holiday gifts!) and precise directions with easy to use patterns. Did you know that the wonderfully talented Jennifer Causey did the photos for the book? It's such a lovely book that I know you'll enjoy and reference often. I am so very excited to be included among many other talented artists and makers. In Applique Your Way you can learn how to make a Hooray banner of your own!

Kayte is here today to kick start her blog tour and share with us her favorite sources for craft supplies and other pretty things. aannnnd you can enter here today to win an copy of Applique Your Way! Just leave your name, last initial at least, and your email. Feel free to let us know your favorite supply sources as well! For now, here are Kayte's favorites! Get your link clicking finger ready..

Since I make things for a living, I have a tendency to do a lot of craft shopping and sourcing. I am definitely someone who buys what I love first and then figures out what to do with it. Of course, when I have a job to do, I just get what I need, but I think my natural inclination at craft stores is just to wander and get inspiration.

I buy a lot of things at flea markets and thrift stores so when I see it and I like it, I have to grab it. I buy tons of big craft lots on eBay and Etsy- they are some much fun to unpack because you never know what you are going to get!

But, I am also a huge fan of the independent specialized craft store and frequent them as much as my checkbook can afford me! Yes, they are a little bit pricier than the big box chains but the quality of their stuff is so much better and worth it in the long run. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

Metalliferous

A full-service jewelry supplier of metal, findings, and beads. Prepare to spend hours combing through the many bins of findings, vintage charms, and chains in every style imaginable.

Purl Patchwork

purlsoho.com

purlsoho.com/thepurlbee

One of my favorite fabric stores, Purl carries cottons from all the heavy-hitters like Denyse Schmidt and Amy Butler as well as some unusual Japanese imports and beautiful cotton solids in a million colors. They have a constantly changing inventory, so check in often and buy when you see something you really love.

VV Rouleaux

I had the chance to visit VV Rouleaux last year, and it is an embellishment paradise! Gorgeous ribbons, silk flowers, tassels, and feathers abound in this luxe boutique.

M & Trim

Buttons, ribbons, sew-on jewels, and trims fill shelves from floor to ceiling in this well organized shop. I think M & J is a little slice of heaven. Remember to ask for prices before they start cutting as trims have a sneaky habit of getting very expensive.

I also recommend starting at M & J and exploring everything else in the Garment District in New York. You never know what you will find.

Liberty of London

For many years, Liberty of London fabrics have been famous for their bright colors and gorgeous prints. This massive department store carries the entire Liberty fabric line as well as general sewing supplies, ribbon, and trims.

Tinsel Trading

Known for its elaborate millinery flowers and vintage trims, Tinsel Trading is a favorite amongst NYC’s many photo stylists. Chests of drawers hold colorful charms and cabachons and bins are filled with vintage sequins. Don’t forget to check out The Shop Across the Street, Tinsel Trading’s outpost of ribbons, papers, and paper craft.

Britex Fabric

If you’re into sewing and you live in or plan to visit San Francisco, you have to visit Britex Fabrics. Their selection is amazing and extensive, though not cheap. It reminds me a lot of Mood Fabrics in New York and LA (moodfabrics.com).

Fabric Row in Philadelphia

I just moved to Philly and was mourning the loss of my precious New York Garment District until I found out that I lived just a short walk from Fabric Row in Philly. Like everything compared to New York, it is quite a bit cheaper and less intimidating. You can find everything you need from notions and trim to fabric and sewing machine repair right here on 4^th Street just below South Street.

Knittn’ Kitten

This Portland, Oregon shop is a treasure trove of vintage and new craft supplies, all priced to sell (I am not kidding, go to this store and shop your heart out!!). A couple of my Portland friends introduced me to this store and it is on my must-visit list every time I go west.

Parcel

I just discovered this Montclair, NJ store a couple of months ago while on a work trip and I already can’t wait to get back there. The jewel-box of a shop is filled to the brim with everything from millinery flowers and leaves, vintage game pieces and rows and rows of ribbons. Everything is beautiful and precious- I felt like I died and went to my very own special heaven.

There you have it! Tons of fantastic sources to get you inspired and ready to create! Thank you so much, Kayte!
Keep on the look out at This Is Love Forever to find out where the next stop on the Applique Your Way blog tour will be..so many surprises in store!

And don't forget that 1 lucky reader will be drawn to win a copy!
Leave your name, last initial, and email.
Feel free to leave info on your favorite craft and inspiration sources, too!

You have until December 18th!

Be sure to tell your friends and feel free to post about this giveaway on your blog!

Tons to Share with You Today!

2009-12-05T06:06:00.003-06:00

I've also added new styles of the Crest Mod Cabin Clocks, and of course the Mini Deer Plaques are still in stock for the Holidays (such a popular gift item!)...

aaaaand there is a new postcard in the shop as well..

Phew! That was a lot of info! Thanks so much and have a fantastic weekend!

shop: www.nice.etsy.com

I'll be shoppin' with you at Renegade this weekend..

2009-12-04T19:43:00.001-06:00

Just a reminder that the Chicago Holiday Renegade is this weekend! I'm not participating this year..I opted just for Art vs. Craft this year, which was great fun, but oh is it so difficult to sit out a Renegade show! Though I'm sure I'll feel better once I'm there and free to roam around and shop as I please!
And after that I think we'll head down to the One of a Kind show at the Merch Mart. I've never gone, and this year Etsy has a section with artists that I'm interested in checkin' out. I know for sure that Kelly and Matt of Over Due Industries will be there..looking forward to seeing who else!

In other news, I'm working on a shop update!

simple gatherings

2009-11-30T20:35:00.003-06:00

This makes me want to have a holiday bingo party with drinks and fun little random prizes! Maybe I'll find a vintage one.. Or get a vintage cage and make the rest? It could be fun to search for prizes and have everyone bring a few of their own to give out as well.

Art vs. Craft next weekend!!

2009-11-21T16:27:00.004-06:00

A week from today, Saturday November 28 James and I will be heading up to Milwaukee for Art vs. Craft! We are really looking forward to seeing a new town (neither of us have really been to Milwaukee, just little visits that hardly count), and it's going to be so much fun to be a part of this really cool fair put together by the famous Faythe Levine & Kim Kisiolek (of Handmade Nation and The Paper Boat Boutique)! Also very excited to meet new vendors..this is my first craft show outside of Illinois!

We're heading up the day before, and hoping to do some exploring, so if you have any Milwaukee suggestions we'd love to hear them! And if you're in the area I'd love to meet you Saturday!

And Chicago peeps don't forget, it's not that far for a day trip! It's just under a 1.5 hour trip!
You could even take the train.
Here is a link to a google map.

2009-11-19T15:58:00.002-06:00

Hello friends!
If you are in Chicago come on out tonight to the Portage Theater! James and I have friends who have made a movie. It's called Frontwards.
It's a coming of age film about what exactly happens to the main character 20 some years after he reads Where The Wild Things Are.

JK, JK
Tonight at 8, door opens at 7.
Drinks at the Burlington afterward!
Check it out here.
Here is the facebook event page.
Hope to see you there

2009-11-06T16:47:00.004-06:00

Thanks for the well wishes in my last post! I think I'll be feeling better by tomorrow. I can't wait to be cough free! At the moment I am headache free and that feels pretty, pretty good. Still taking it easy tonight though.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you my mom's shop update! She's done it again and added many pretty pieces to her shop. My favorite wreath currently is the last one shown above. I love it! I can hardly ever resist glitter, especially during the holidays. I hope I can get my hands on one!

2009-11-04T16:23:00.003-06:00

How was your Halloween? What did you dress up as?
James and I made it to Lula Cafe..every year they dress up as a different restaurant, and this year it was Hot Doug's. mmmm it was well worth the wait and very delicious. Later we went to celebrate our friend's birthday which was nice..it was a very easy Halloween haha. To top it off, the following morning we met that same birthday friend and another for brunch at the Publican which was also very delicious. Food was the theme of the weekend it seems..James even cooked a yummy dinner Sunday night!
It was fun driving through the city seeing everyone out in costume..even the morning after, on our way to brunch I spotted someone still in their banana suit, and another still in bat wings. I think my favorite costume this year was a girl dressed as the boy from The Red Balloon. She had the right hair color and cut, a grey sweater and of course a huge red balloon. When I complimented her on her costume she was quick to point out to her friends that someone actually got her costume. ha.

So it was a nice time. Now, I'm actually sick! May have caught something my friends or dad had. On and off fever and horrible cough and sore throat. No fun. James has been taking care of me though and I'm hoping to be better by tomorrow!

2009-10-30T02:57:00.003-05:00

Halloween wouldn't be the same without it.

2009-10-28T01:28:00.006-05:00

Have you seen Anabela of Fieldguided's Halloween costume? It's inspired by these fantastic bunny ears. So cute. My favorite Halloween costume so far this year.

Tonight I was working on a project that allowed me to put on a Netflix instant watch, and I chose How to Steal a Million. I guess I hadn't seen that one since high school..perhaps longer! I'd forgotten little bits..including the fantastic lace mask Audrey wears to her mysterious engagement at the Ritz!

It begins at 1 minute into the trailer. I love her glittering eyelids underneath. Whoever had that idea was a genius. I can only assume the outfit was Givenchy.

ALSO I must strongly suggest you head to Anabela's post in which she's hosting a giveaway from All Modern. I've got my eye on that Tord Boontje light!

2009-10-23T14:15:00.004-05:00

Havin' a sale! Perhaps there's something you've had your eye on...

<3

2009-10-20T13:14:00.003-05:00

I should have mentioned that I added a few new vintage finds to the shop the other day..
Sometimes I add things here and there, in which case it's a very handy idea to subscribe to my shop's feed. This way, you can immediately see when I add items (you'll even be able to see things before I send out my mailing list for major shop updates..sneaky!). Here is the link to subscribe.

2009-10-19T21:05:00.002-05:00

Forgot to post this a while back.. Found at a favorite local antique shop. I assumed it was a girl, but the bow could suggest otherwise I suppose. Keeping it a bunny girl. Maybe I'll pin it on one day soon.

2009-10-14T15:11:00.005-05:00

Reminded today by twittering Teenangster that I need to catch up on fashion shows..
Loving this Viktor & Rolf dress! How fun would that be to wear?? I'm always such a sucker for pretty things complimented by harder elements...it sort of makes me think of the line and movement of Patrick Nagel's artwork, transformed into a gown for 2009. I want to touch those layers! And the color palette from this show is sooo right up my alley.

2009-10-12T15:03:00.003-05:00

This is hilarious, creepy, and well..how can a cat not ever be cute? I'd wear that outfit, too. Oh Joy posted it on her Twitter and I wanted to share!

2009-10-12T03:24:00.006-05:00

I just saw and was so surprised by this post on DesignSponge about decor inspiration from Terrence Malick's film Days of Heaven...I've been wanting to see this movie again and post an Etsy round up of pretty things (though certainly not heavily steampunk inspired- blech), but this will do, too! It's such a beautiful movie..lots of visual treats! Have you seen it?

2009-10-11T18:47:00.002-05:00

I've been working on a couple Daisy Chain Light Shade orders and I couldn't resist hanging this one up before I put the finishing touches on it! I really hope I get a chance to make one of these for myself!

Sorry I've been a bit absent lately...I've got a lot going on all at once....which hopefully means I'll have some nice things to share with you soon. : )

2009-10-01T21:15:00.002-05:00

The other day, in between working on some projects and a horrible lost day due to intense allergies, I took James for a surprise. I've been wanting to take him to Hoosier Mama Pie Company for a couple months, but was waiting for it to cool down a bit. Alexa posted about her visit (with way better photos) a while back and that sealed the deal! It's a very cute little place and they are very friendly.
I'm actually not a huge pie person, but I do love the idea of pie. James loves all sorts of pies, so it was a perfect treat for him. I can't wait to go when cherry pie (my favorite) is back in season..but I'm sure we'll be back in the colder months as well!

2009-09-25T17:10:00.003-05:00

I posted this in the Renegade Post last week, but I was just looking at it and thinking how I got over the fact that I'm in the photo, but that silly coffee travel mug is gettin' on my nerves. haha, I tried doing some cropping in various ways, but in the end more is better with this shot - and it's the only close-up shot we got of the banners. However! There was a woman who came around and took a Polaroid of them- it was pretty cool. I hope she remembers to scan me a copy!

Anyway, back to the mug. It's my Dad's, and it just kept appearing on top of the table and sending panic attacks down my spine, haha. We were in tight quarters after all, and I kept imagining a coffee stained vintage table cloth and ruined product. The funniest part about this perhaps is that he takes this travel mug EVERYWHERE. He actually forgot it later on that day, leaving it with us (lucky us), and was quite scared it had vanished forever. Nope, there it is, popping up in my photo like a traveling gnome.

2009-09-19T22:05:00.001-05:00

Sooo much in the shop right now! Sweet action!
Be sure to use the sections feature on the top right of my shop for easy navigation!

phew!

Chicago Renegade Craft Fair 2009

2009-09-17T23:28:00.001-05:00

OK
man. I'm slowly getting back to normal over here.. Renegade really did a number on me this year. I think I have been in bed before Midnight for 5 nights in a row! I am waaaay behind on the internet, but am extremely anxious to get caught up! Still, I have work to do before that happens :(

Renegade was a ton of fun, as usual. Thank you so much for coming out! This year was awesome and I was able to meet so many people in person..and revisit with so many people who had found me years before at the fair. This was my 4th year participating and I (re)met some folks who were at my very first fair! It's things like that that really put the icing on the cake.

The only downside about this year was that I didn't. even. get. out. of my booth to look around until about 45 min before end time on Sunday. I can't even tell you how many times I have cringed this week thinking about it with massive regret. ugh I'm doing it right now.. It sucked. There were so many people I wanted to see and probably even more I wasn't fully aware of. Never again will I let this happen. Also I should have gone to the after party on Saturday (but I was in bed before midnight, remember?). I really messed up good. ....I should mention that when I did get out, I had some great catch up talks with cool craft friends so that was fortunate. ..But yeah, I sense a bit of online Etsy shopping in order to make up for missing so much. Gonna have to head to the Renegade vendor list.

I've got some things to list in the Etsy shop very soon so keep your eyes peeled!

Here are some photos of my booth..

the spread

I love how all of the banners look together..I think if I had a huge open work area
I would devote a wall to my finished banners!

I usually bring Mums to the fair but this year they had Celosia and well,
they just crack me up!

hangin' loose

Me and James. I'm wearing the sequin sash that Anabela made me!
I showed it off plenty that day.

Me with my Mom! She doesn't know I'm posting this, but I have good judgment
and I think this is a nice photo of the two of us. She helps a lot when it comes time to prep for the fair. Actually, my Dad and brother have a helping hand as well! What would I do with out them? Drown in vintage trim and suffer from massive back and neck pains to say the least.