How do handmade mugs, fine crystal, creature comforts like tea and gin, all while supporting handmade artisans selling on Etsy, sound for Mother’s Day?

How do handmade mugs, fine crystal, creature comforts like tea and gin, all while supporting handmade artisans selling on Etsy, sound for Mother’s Day?

Have you shopped for Mother’s Day? What do you usually do on that day?

As a mother of 17 year old twins, I pretty much just don’t want to have to lift a finger come Mother’s Day. I want to put my feet up, maybe take a bath.  No thoughts about meals, dishes.   We usually make an effort for the awesome Mom’s in our lives – a fancy brunch with crepes, a trip to a beautiful garden or the beach.  How about you?

I don’t need much, just a break from the daily burden of life.  As I write this I am home alone for the weekend, which is rare. And such a treat. I’ll be melancholy for them by tomorrow. Just me, the cats and the dog. My husband took the kids to the coast to visit his parents.  I wanted to buckle down and get some work done. I stocked up on food to make food prep easy. I watched 2 episodes of Dream Home Makeover with Studio McGee in bed with coffee until 10:30 AM.  Dreamy it was. I am coming to appreciate the subtleties and freshness of white, neutrals, earthy accents. It’s all new builds, with few antiques, and in Utah, a world away from Oregon so it is an escape.

Now, I’ve got Brandi Carlisle on, a little more writing to do, and then a movie of my own choice. No science fiction, Avengers, Star Wars or action packed movies for me.  Most likely an historical drama.

In fact, this song about being a Mother, ‘I am the mother of Evangeline’ by Brandi Carlisle brings me to tears every time. Check it out:

Mother’s Day. A day to treat one’s self as a mother, whether of children or furry ones. And/or a day to honor your Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, or any other divine being kind enough to treat you in a maternal way.  When I think about it, there have been many: neighbors, friends, colleagues, teachers, relatives.  It’s also a day to feel honored for the opportunity to be a Mother. Now that is a cause for celebration.

Need gift ideas? There are so many great artists/vendors on ETSY if you know what to search for.  We all need to support small businesses and makers more than ever.

So here are just a few that seem extra special, with a few other sources thrown into the mix, to get this party started.   What are some favorite shops for you?  If you have any, please comment and let me know.

Here is my round up in a nutshell…

tsy round up for mother's day

Here we go…

1.CALHOUN & CO. COCKTAIL PARTY TEA TOWEL

You need to check out this New York based boutique. The towels, throws and other graphic gifts are so whimsical and fun.

2. JULIUS ROBERTS THE FARM TABLE COOKBOOK

I discovered this British gent on Instagram and love the way he cooks. He started out in a posh London restaurant where he was soo burned out by the stress and long hours.  He ended up moving out to the country where he now has a farm, hunts and fishes, raises pigs and goats, and grows fresh herbs and vegetables.  The cook book is divided into the four seasons and it is beautiful.  I am once again inspired to cook as he keeps it simple with a gourmet touch.

3. SPECIAL LEATHER GIFT

How cute is this?  Send in your photos, pick your leather color and have a custom gift back to you in no time.

4. LINDA RENEE POTTERY

This potter makes beautiful pottery and also reinvents vintage mugs with her touch. So cool, don’t you think?

 

 

5. MOTHER HOPE

I love this concept of asking your Mom to recount family history and stories of her life in a beautifully cohesive way. If you are lucky enough to find a time to do this, these are the kind of questions one might want to ask.  And this can be personalized with color choice.

 

6. HENRICKS GIN

A personal favorite; always a nice treat. The different gins and the cocktail recipes that can be found on the website are super inspiring for Summer time gatherings.

 

 

Boodles is also a favorite.

How festive are these?

 

 

And if you want to add lovely crystal barware, Williams Sonoma is always a great place to look…

 

 

7. CELERIE KEMBLE, ISLAND WHIMSY

One of my favorite designer’s latest books. Pretty exquisite.

Paradise by the Sea is right.

 

 

8. FLORAL LINEN PILLOW, STUDIO TULLIA

Shameless plug for decorative pillows by STUDIO TULLIA.

And you know there are many more where these come from.

9. JOYE MADE CLAY

Love her aesthetic – modern and lovely.

STEVEN SMITH TEA MAKER TEAS

By the way, a few teas that I really love, by a company from Portland, are also available online.  These make great gifts with beautiful mugs.

10. CALHOUN & CO. PATCH WORK THROW

Again, the same NY company I mentioned before. Great colors and design.

That’s a wrap of some nice ETSY finds of late with a few other items thrown in.

Thanks for following along!

 

All the Best,

Suzanne

 

 

 

 

 

Some Fabrics Reach Iconic Status, like Mille Fleur

Some Fabrics Reach Iconic Status, like Mille Fleur

Hello my Lovelies,

I am such a fan of this fabric.

MILLE FLEUR by Lee Jofa in color way Denim.

One of Lee Jofa’s oldest patterns brought back as part of their 200th anniversary,  with a palette as 2024 as you can get. This pattern is both iconic and timeless.

“Drawn in the Arts and Crafts style of the late 19th century, this timeless novelty pattern offers a playful take on a traditional woodland hunting scene. The design features whimsical silhouettes of birds, hounds and deer, and botanical elements inspired by a tapestry-style mille fleur, which translates to “thousand flowers” in French.”

 

 

There are many directions you can go with this pattern.

You could add Clarke & Clarke’s Cosmic Mineral/Raspberry

Clarke & Clarke

Or Kelly Wearstler’s Graffito Rosa

or La Muse, in Rouge by Kravet

Here’s a recent MOOD BOARD I did, proposing curtains in this fabric, combined with a vintage rug from Chairish, along with mid century pieces.  Assignment: add warmth, layers and personality to a room, in a home in Bend, OR.

SOURCES:

 

Tufted Leather Chair by DESIGN MIX on Chairish

 

Pillows and Textiles from STUDIO TULLIA on ETSY

Jonathon Adler Sant Rosa Cashew Pillows:

Kelly Wearstler Pillows with Pendleton Pillows:

 

Plankton Taupe with Ticking Pillows and Kelly Wearstler Woven Pillows

 

 

RUGS from Keivan Wonn Arts

Sisal rugs, from POTTERY BARN

 

ART

36X36 inch, Studio McGee-designed print from TARGET

Or you could go more traditional and moody with  hand-painted work from TARYANIK on ETSY.

 

I even found some faux taxidermy from NearandDear on ETSY

Side Table by DESIGN MIX on Chairish

Oceano Chair from Article

Ottoman, KRAVET

If you would like the prices and links to any of the items above, please email info@awelllivedhouse.com and put “Sources” in the subject line.

 

Thank you as always for following along.

XOXO,

Suzanne

 

Takeaways from 2023 as we move into 2024

Takeaways from 2023 as we move into 2024

 

Goodbye, 2023.

 

 I’m ready to dust off ’23 and move on to ’24.  You?

Our strength was tested again in 2023, was it not? And I’m not talking about remodeling a kitchen. It’s all the other crazy stuff that just keeps happening. Humans are a resilient bunch, but there’s a lot.  We have all had more than our fair share of challenges these past few years. I don’t want to bore you with my own personal journey, but I will share some insights, lessons, and new outlooks for 2024.

But first, I want to share a few HIGHLIGHTS that have brought me joy this past year.

FAVORITE BOOK for CREATIVES

This book teaches you to honor the artist within as a sacred gift and teaches you the discipline and rewards of writing 3 pages each morning (for three + months).

FAVORITE ART EXHIBIT

Elefant Medium –  by PDX CONTEMPORARY ART A solo exhibition of new work by artist JEFFRY MITCHELL.
I am so happy that I can now walk to this gallery from work, and go to a beautiful well-lit space with amazing art!

PDX CONTEMPORARY ART

“Elephant (Medium) is one of a family of fonts and is a reworking of a traditional English extra bold serif style…The elephant has been a beloved subject matter for Jeffry Mitchell’s artwork for four decades.  The exhibition focused on the way that graphic design and interior spaces create space, fields that make us feel. As well as the way that subject matter and materials, like elephants and flowers, clay and wood, afford joy, generosity, and enthusiasm. Elefant Medium features furniture made from wood and ceramic, housewares, lamps, and drawings and prints displayed in wonderfully elaborate, handcrafted wooden and porcelain frames. The work and the transformative benevolence of craft create the field, the flow, the space, and the possibility of ecstasy.”  – Variable West

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK

Oprah interviewed author, Abraham Verghese about his work for 6 episodes on her podcast Oprah’s Super Soul. I just loved their exchange, discussion of characters, and the dedication required to write such a book.  I’m still not done with this epic book.  It is beautifully written, by a doctor who has witnessed a lot over the years, and he shares the rich cultural senses, exotic spices and storied traditions of India.

The Covenant of Water Audiobook By Abraham Verghese cover art

 

FAVORITE DESIGN PROJECT

If you want to re-connect with your teenager, do a deep dive into their interests and build a bedroom they love.  This one was way more than we could complete during an 8 WK ONE ROOM CHALLENGE, but it got the ball rolling and we are close to the finish line. I will have an update for you soon.  We had to gut a 1940’s kitchen and build a new bedroom. We are installing the wooden floor this weekend. Heating vent and lighting needs to be installed, some paint touch-ups, and we can move in!  Stay tuned.  We are getting close to completion!

FAVORITE DESIGN CRUSH

BEATA HEUMAN, from London

Design by Beata Heuman

 

Design by Beata Heuman

 

Design by Beata Heuman

 

Design by Beata Heuman

Design by Beata Heuman

This will be my next DESIGN BOOK purchase:

'Every Room Should Sing' Signed Book

FAVORITE LOVE STORY

My 60 year old brother and his wife were married, on December 29th.  Each bringing two grown children from previous marriages.  A true love story, of a dozen plus years’ courtship, with families formally united. Know that love can happen at any age, and at any time.  And a grand wedding it was, in one of my favorite cities in the world. SAN FRANCISCO. It was ambitious, beautiful, and loaded with tributes and meaning.  And a damn good party.  A perfect send off for the New Year!

HEALTH

 

As one ages, so do your parents; the challenges that present themselves can be heartbreaking and frustrating at times…as this Baby Boom generation ages and retires, living longer and not always with a great retirement plan, families must navigate crisis, financial hardship and challenges as they present themselves.  There are a lot of great doctors, nurses and amazing organizations like Meals on Wheels and The Council on Aging that are there to help.  And retirement homes are popping up like crazy.  And I’m not even going to mention COVID and how that keeps coming back in new variants.

WORK

JOBS are iffy these days.
After a rough couple years, a job outside the home was necessary for our finances and my marriage.  When a seasoned entrepreneur goes back to a full time job with a manager and a boss, its an adjustment. I almost walked out at least 3 times. You see things differently and are used to honoring your authenticity and own wishes. You have to accommodate to someone else’s brand, vision and desires. Oy.

I love stuff – textiles, furniture, art so that part has been fun. Working with designers and architects in a swanky trade-only showroom selling textiles and furniture did require me to polish up my wardrobe. And my style. I had kind of forgotten how to dress.  A lot has changed about the design profession with so much commerce now done online, but there are always new young talents coming along, and so many older designers who still work, while flirting with retirement.  The to-the-trade design world is mostly comprised of women clientele, who are eccentric by nature, with varied projects and new challenges that always keeps things interesting.

FAVORITE FABRIC

LEE JOFA’s TREE of LIFE, reintroduced from their archives.  In wallpaper and fabric. This 1840’s pattern was brought back with new color ways for their 200th anniversary.  The vertical pattern repeat is more than 36″. Hand blocked on heavy weight linen and so beautiful.

Although I am loving how these SCHUMACHER wallpapers and textiles are styled:

SCHUMACHER

FAVORITE MAGAZINE

FREDERIC MAGAZINE, by Schumacher

Frederic Magazine

 

OUR CUSTOMERS

THANK YOU!
I am forever grateful for your great sense of style and your business!
My business has managed to stay afloat this past year, with many exciting new things on the horizon.
I cant wait to share what’s coming in 2024.

 

A LITTLE ADVICE…

We are having a great sale right now on many ready-to-ship items.

UP TO 25% OFF

Decorative pillows by STUDIO TULLIA

 

So, let’s raise a glass to 2024!   Thanks for following along. Have a wonderful week.

 

XOXO,

SUZANNE

 

WK 8 – ONE ROOM CHALLENGE – 70’s INSPIRED TEEN BEDROOM

WK 8 – ONE ROOM CHALLENGE – 70’s INSPIRED TEEN BEDROOM

 

We are at WEEK 8 and whooped.

Finally got the walls dry-walled, sanded, and primed.

All the trim has been sanded and cleaned.

We are painting the walls and trim this week.

We did pick up this amazing chair for my daughter from KRAVET.

 

Vega Chair

I will post again when we are done painting. Hoping to wrap things up in the next week or two.

This was an ambitious project to do as a family. We have all worked hard and are proud of how far we have come.

We did not finish in 8 wks, but  I know this would have dragged on for months if we hadn’t joined this challenge.

Be sure to check out all the:

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE FINAL REVEALS

 

Thanks as always for following along. I hope everyone has a wonderful THANKSGIVING.

 

XOXO,

SUZANNE

 

 

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE – Teenage Daughter’s Room 70′ s Inspired Bedroom

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE – Teenage Daughter’s Room 70′ s Inspired Bedroom

 

Hello my fellow Design Enthusiasts!

Here we are at Week 3 of the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE,

We are still deep into repairing WALLS!  Lots and lots of mudding, sanding and building up of layers.

It is a laborious stage of the project and in the end, what will most transform this funky ol’ kitchen.

We are also trying to narrow down our paint color, and feeling pretty happy with

BENJAMIN MOORE – MEDITERRANEAN BREEZE

Here is Charlotte and her Dad working on the walls.

teen bedroom DIY

We’ve been envisioning fresh sky blue walls to keep us motivated.

 

FLOORING

We are also working on selection of laminate wood flooring, from HOME DEPOT.

We will replace the dated laminate floor with a wood look:

WET BAR

The nod to what was once a kitchen will now be a WETBAR and we know we want hexagonal tiles and floating shelves.

HEXAGONAL TILE PATTERNS

The question is what pattern?

 black and white hexagonal tile

Thanks for following along and be sure to check out the other ORC participants!

XOXO,

SUZANNE

FALL 2022 Collection at STUDIO TULLIA

FALL 2022 Collection at STUDIO TULLIA

GREETINGS EVERYONE!

Kids are settling back into school and I’m enjoying morning walks in the neighborhood. Busy squirrels and bold crows are harvesting nuts and berries as the leaves turn vivid yellows, oranges and reds. The days and nights are getting cooler and we turn our attention toward home, right?

fall 2022 home decor studio tullia

This latest collection was inpired by my backyard; a lively dahlia garden, an exuberant fig tree and lots of fallen pine cones.

dragon pillows studio tullia 2022

This new fabric above featuring dragons and tigers pairs so beautifully with vibrant colors. 

I had so much fun mixing and matching these pillow cominations…woolens, velvets, wovens, printed coordinates in stripe and Les Touches in several colorways work nicely together. I even threw in some vintage.

dragon fabric 2022 studio tullia
pillow collection fall 2022

I mixed some vintage wool (orange and brown woven) with modern solid wool along with fun prints from Schumacher, Pindler and Brunschwig and Fils.

pillow collection 2022

Another great Fall fabric is Citrus Garden in primary by Schumacher that lends itself to this palette as well.

citrus garden palette fall 2022

CITRUS GARDEN IN PRIMARY – Lots of fun sizes!

citrus garden primary studio tullia

A couple of fun, graphic fabrics by Schmacher are fun to add to this collcetion and keep things cheerful throughout the year.

ZIMBA

zimba

FERN SILHOUETTE

fern silhouette

And how fun is this NAVY CROSS?

desoto navy studio tullia

LES TOUCHES in so many fun colors….

I sell the blue colorway online in my store but you can get it in all of these colors. Forever classic. Just send me a direct message if you would like to order in another colorway. 

les touches studio tullia
fall sale 15%
schumacher citrus garden
custom orders
year of the dragon 2022

XOXO, 

SUZANNE

Studio Tullia’s Citrus Garden Collection, Amidst Indonesian Corpse Flowers and Covid evokes Bosch’s Garden of Delights

Studio Tullia’s Citrus Garden Collection, Amidst Indonesian Corpse Flowers and Covid evokes Bosch’s Garden of Delights

CITRUS GARDEN PRIMARY

citrus garden primary
Citrus Garden by Josef Frank in primary is a favorite of mine. Red was the only color in my garden last week that worked with this latest batch of pillows.  Almost looks patriotic with the blue and white chinoiserie thrown in, which was not really my intention, but pretty nonetheless.
With peony season behind us, which is always too short lived, we are moving into dahlia season, which is a personal favorite. It is always so unpredictable what will show up every year although with the deluge of rain this past Spring I am hopeful. At least dahlia season lasts clear into Fall.
cut flowers
I can never bear to waste any of the scraps from this fabric so we make all kinds of accent and lumbar pillows as well as gifts bags.
citrus garden primary
This timeless pattern is popular beyond words. Always on back order, I finally received the lime colorway yesterday that I ordered back in January.  The next batch is not due until September, with this batch already sold out.
My insanely talented neighbor puts us all to shame with the display of flowers in her front yard. And if you are lucky enough to  get an invite to her backyard you are in for a real treat.  She recently redid her backyard with amazing steel box planters  (over flowing with daffodils and tulips this spring), some cement-scaping that includes a sunken fire pit and a few grassy spots for outdoor dining.  The covered shelter will be great almost year round.  I particularly love the fence, stained in black, which adds such a great contrast. 
She chose some outdoor pillows from STUDIO TULLIA including Citrus Garden in Pool, another long standing favorite.

And Schumacher has come out with a couple more colorways this year…

CITRUS GARDEN IN GARDEN

Reminds me of a tiled mosaic walkway I came across on a recent walk in our neighborhood.

CITRUS GARDEN IN LEAF

citrus garden
Pretty refreshing, eh? Now I want a gin & tonic.

FERNARIUM by Schumacher

We’ve got lots of ferns in our garden in the Pacific NorthWest.   Something out of character for our region that we find every year is this odd phenomenon of a flower, called the CORPSE FLOWER. It smells like rotting flesh, believe it or not. Hence the name.
Never fails that every year I catch a whiff of what smells like a rotting animal, and now I know, it’s back.
For a couple years, I tried to extract it from the garden and it has just kept coming back every year with a vengence. We were amazed to discover that it is quite a novelty, with crowds waiting in long lines at the NY Botanical Musuem to observe this annual oddity. I was shocked to discover that some variations are far taller than the human species!
corpse flower
We brought this flower to my brother in law for his fortieth birthday. With all windows down for the entire ride, we proudly presented it to him. We had to enjoy it from a distance,  a good 20 feet from our gathering, LOL.
Not to be too morbid, but it does seem like a flower symbolic of our times, and having just gotten over Covid in the last couple weeks at our household.
All this morbidity and strangeness in the garden reminds me of my art history days and studying the famous painting by Spanish painter, BOSCH.

The Garden of Earthly Delights

“As little is known of Bosch’s life or intentions, interpretations of his intent range from an admonition of worldly fleshy indulgence, to a dire warning on the perils of life’s temptations, to an evocation of ultimate sexual joy. The intricacy of its symbolism, particularly that of the central panel, has led to a wide range of scholarly interpretations over the centuries. Twentieth-century art historians are divided as to whether the triptych’s central panel is a moral warning or a panorama of paradise lost.” – Wikipedia

ANYWAY, back to Josef Frank, so we end on a positive note…

This is the sofa of my dreams.
josef frank sofa
Josef Frank, Austrian-born architect/artist/designer, became a Swedish citizen in the latter half of his life. Together with Oskar Strnad, he created the Vienna School of Architecture, and its concept of Modern houses, housing and interiors.  If you want to explore his life and work further you can go HERE, where there is a comprehensive exhibit of his work. 
Or check out this book, which features interiors, furniture, design, and architecture of the mid century in Vienna:

Enjoy your Summer, the garden and the occasional cool drink out on the patio…until next time.

XOXO,

Suzanne

Cultural Icon Frida Kahlo re-ignites love for Mexican art and textiles + Studio Tullia revisits Guatemalan/Mexican Pillow Collection

Cultural Icon Frida Kahlo re-ignites love for Mexican art and textiles + Studio Tullia revisits Guatemalan/Mexican Pillow Collection

frida_Kahlo

 This was from an exhibit I saw not too long ago at the Portland Art Museum.

frida_and_diego_exhibit_portland_art_museum
frida_kahlo_
frida_Kahlo
diego_rivera
frida_kahlo
frida_kahlo
frida_kahlo
frida_kahlo_still_life
frida _and_diego
frida_kahlo
frida_kahlo
frida_kahlo
ffrida_kahlo
frida_kahlo
frida+kahlo
frida_kahlo_diary

And her clothes. So many rich, handmade indigenous textiles from Mexico. Lace, embroidery, bold colors. Such a feast for the eyes.

frida_kahlo_wardrobe
frida_kahlo_clothes
frida_kahlo_clothes
frida_Kahlo_exhibit
frida_kahlo

On my bucket list: Frida and Diego’s house in Mexico City that is now a musuem.  Has anyone been?   I’d love to know how it was.

casa_azul_mexico

The Global Textiles Collection by STUDIO TULLIA.

mexican_textiles_molas

There are some lovely handmade goods still available from this collection.

Originally it started from a unique collection of textiles from my (step)mother-in-law in Mexico and then my other (step) mother-in-law who had an amazing collection from Panama of Mola textiles.

This was a very popular collection and I have recently revisited my stash to create a revival of this collection. Stay tuned.

guatemalan_pillows_studio_tullia
vintage_guatemalan_textiles
virgin_de_guadalupe
handmade_crocheted_pillow
guatemalan_textiles
everyday saints
virgin de guadalupe
Pastel Pinks, Dewy Florals and Lush Greens inspire a Spring Collection by Studio Tullia

Pastel Pinks, Dewy Florals and Lush Greens inspire a Spring Collection by Studio Tullia

a well lived house

SPRING!

After a deluge of rain, we are reaping the rewards this Spring. Rhododendrons, cherry blossoms and dogwoods abound.  Lush greens and dewy florals.

cherry_blossoms_portland_or

LEAF GREEN VELVET

Bring those gorgeous colors into your home.

leaf_green_velvet

TULIP VELVET

tulip+velvet

THE SOFTEST PINK SUEDE PILLOWS

Act fast as these are a one-of-a-kind offering.  I only have two.

pink_leather_pillow_cover

APPLIQUE & EMBROIDERED VINTAGE FLOWER

This is an unusual embroidered and appliqued pillow found in an antique store not too long ago. I can never pass up hand-made work.

applique_dogwood

LT PINK VELVET KNOT PILLOW

What do you think of our new knot pillow in shimmery light pink? 

pink_knot_pillow

Monte Carlo

Our Sunset Floral has already sold out, with more on the way.

 

inisfree sunset pillow
inisfree_fabric

Our Meadow Floral

And Inlet Floral

inisfree_inlet

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

Multnomah Falls  & Lodge is a must see if you are ever in the Portland area. Have a small hike to the bridge followed by lunch at the historic lodge.

The Eagle Creek fire of a few years ago devastated the area, but the firemen managed to somehow save this historic landmark.

multnomah_falls_lo

MULTNOMAH FALLS

hi

Check out loads of lumbars and other pillows on SALE now.

Lots of Spring cleaning happening in the STUDIO…

lumbar pillows on sa

XO,

SUZANNE

Honoring Mothers and their Children Around the World…MOTHER’s Day is May 8th.  And a STUDIO TULLIA SALE!

Honoring Mothers and their Children Around the World…MOTHER’s Day is May 8th. And a STUDIO TULLIA SALE!

a well lived house
mothers day sale
ancient mothers day
anna jarvis

While Honoring mothers is nothing new,

ANNE JARVIS who had no children of her own, conceived of MOTHER’s DAY in the U.S. as an occasion for honoring the sacrifices individual mothers made for their children.

According to History.com:

In May 1908, she organized the first official Mother’s Day events at a church in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia, as well as at a Wanamaker’s department store in Philadelphia, where she lived at the time. Jarvis then began writing letters to newspapers and politicians pushing for the adoption of Mother’s Day as an official holiday.

By 1912, many other churches, towns and states were holding Mother’s Day celebrations, and Jarvis had established the Mother’s Day International Association. Her hard-fought campaign paid off in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

I’ve been obsessed with Madonna and child images, since my studies in art history in Italy.

 

The Madonnina by Ferruzzi. 

The Madonnina by Ferruzzi.

Love this vintage image of a woman and her children in East Harlem, found in Harlem World Magazine

east har

A turn of the century photograph of a Ukrainian mother and child.

ukrain

For more images like this and a Ukrainian lullaby …check out this ARTICLE:

ukrainian mothers day

1930’as Native American mother and child, “colorized”

1930's native american

And this vintage image of a Chinese mother and child form Oldarts.info

chinese mother and child

The other day my Mother stopped by and brought over a stack of handmade cards made by yours truly, she had collected over the years.  The appreciation and love expressed in those cards was pure adoration. All hand painted or drawn. Clearly she has treasured them.

Curious as a middle aged woman, to realize how much more easily I expressed my love for her as a kid.

mothers day cards

I know the items that I have most treasured over the years, are the handmade ones.

mom day

I did a quick Etsy Round-up of fun gifts below.

citrus garden bags

STUDIO TULLIA

Fabric Gift bags dress up otherwise ordinary items – you can throw in a candle, some chocolate and it makes for a unique, thoughtful gift!  And it can be reused later as a travel bag or whatever.

We have some citrus garden bags for sale right now on the Etsy Store

dear Mom blanket

I thought this personalized blanket was a very unique gift, if you want to wrap a loved one in your loving words.

This company, FRANKIE PRINT CO,  which I found on ETSY, can print your letter exactly as it looks or use script font that they have.

FRANKIE PRINT CO

bad ass mother figure

ABIT Stitches

If you’re feeling crafty there are all kinds of pdf downloads of needlpoint, cross stitch, embroidery these days that can be personalized to your liking…

handmade soaps

This company makes beautiful soaps, which are always lovely gifts.

LITTLE FLOWER SOAP CO

mothers day give away

I’m doing a last minute GIVEAWAY!

For you or your Mom…

All you have to do is follow me on instagram

@studiotullia

The more people you tag, the more entries…the winner will be notified May 2,2022.

mother
mothers day gift bag

I will include a scented candle from Trader Joe’s

scented candle

And I’ll throw in a handful of my new favorite treat…

bergamotes candy

This gift will go in the mail Wednesday, priority mail, if you or a Mom you know might enjoy this….

 

 

XOXO,

SUZANNE

The Ukraine Crisis and Why Paying Attention to Art on Etsy Matters

The Ukraine Crisis and Why Paying Attention to Art on Etsy Matters

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend with your friends and family.

Despite Spring and a recent flurry of social gatherings, the stacking of tragic events these past few years still weighs heavy on us all.  While I’ve been on a news diet lately, I’ve been feasting on the creativity flourishing on ETSY in support for UKRAINE!

Some and often all of the proceeds from art and crafts being sold by makers in the US, Ukraine and elsewhere around the world is truly a beautiful thing.

Just a small purchase of say a cross stitch pattern download or a digital print, by many, can add up to thousands of dollars in aid.

Never underestimate the POWER and IMPORTANCE of ART.

Here are a few items I found:

 

 

HOME DECOR

yellow linen placemats

This Lithuanian linen vendor was clever in her solidarity…

blue napkins placemat

VERVIDUS

Blue and yellow themed textiles can be found on sale by Ukrainain vendors on ETSY, in both contemporary and traditonal textiles.

VYSHYVANKA CARPATHIAN

ART on ETSY:

RUTZFAMILY

This ETSY vendor writes:

At 5 a.m. my two children, my wife and I woke up to rocket attacks on my city.
The Russian military began to destroy my country with heavy artillery, air strikes and other weapons of mass destruction. Whole city blocks have been flattened by Russian artillery and bombs, including a children’s hospital and a maternity hospital.
On that day, we lost our usual life, peace, stability, work, home. Our beloved Ukraine was invaded by the Russian army.  Three million Ukrainian refugees, mainly women, children and elderly, fled their country.

I ask for your help, for help to the people who need it more than ever, for help to our children, women and men.
Today you have the opportunity to save us from the vile occupiers of the Russian Federation.

I don’t ask for much, If you are able to donate even $1, your money will be spent on medicine and protective gear for our army.
We want to survive. I believe in my army and my country! I want my children, my parents, the people I love to survive. And live in a country where bombs won’t fall on their heads every minute. May the whole world live in peace and understanding.
If you have the opportunity, please share this information through your social media, facebook, twitter… We must stop this war

Thank you ❤️
God bless you 🙏
Yarik Rutz 🇺🇦

Here is a madonna and child image reflective of the times.

Magnetfoto on Etsy

STUDIO TULLIA has its own version in the works, based on an image posted on Twitter of a Ukrainain mother in a subway station turned bombshelter.

STUDIO TULLIA

STITCHwithSUSIE on ETSY

This maker writes:

All profits from the sale of this cross stitch pattern will go to the British Red Cross Appeal. Stitch the flag of Ukraine to show solidarity with Ukraine at this time of war. #StitchforUkraine #StitchingforUkraine

mauro oliveira painting on chairish

MAURO OLIVIERA

This “United Nations 4 Ukraine Against War” collage by Mauro Oliviera is selling on CHAIRISH for $1,200.

OLGA MUZICIAN

Ukraine Mom/artist/illustrator living in PA who made this poster and wonderful mural.

And then there are loads of stickers available on ETSY…

stand with ukraine

DeliciousAccessories on Etsy

This artist writes in her product description:

Part of the proceeds from this purchase will go to support UAnimals and USA for UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency. USA for UNHCR protects families being forced to flee from their homes. I can’t begin to imagine. Also, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are donation-matching up to 1 million dollars for UNHCR!

UAnimals supports animal shelters left with dwindling food and supplies due to the Russian invasion. Animal rescue holds a very special place in my heart. I am so impressed these volunteers continue to love and shelter these innocent, traumatized animals even though their own lives are in danger. Currently, they only have a Patreon page which I joined at the highest tier. I believe they are working on other methods of donations.

My heart is extremely heavy for the people of Ukraine. Sending an abundance of loving energy and financially wishing I could do so much more.

Politics always affects fashion.

The evolution of masks as an accessory remains a fascinating trend to watch.

DesignforSocialGood on Etsy

The supplier writes:

For every Ukraine flag mask sold, we will donate ALL PROCEEDS to United Help Ukraine. United Help Ukraine, Inc. is a charitable organization receiving and distributing donations, food and medical supplies to Ukrainian IDPs, people of Ukraine affected by Russia’s invasion into Eastern Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.

ukraine t shirt

This artist has sold countless UKRAINE t-shirts since first listed on ETSY.

AEROTEES on ETSY

SnugglesandPeanut on Etsy

This Etsy vendor writes:

We have already donated over $12,000 from these bracelets! Thank you!**

**100% of our profits from these bracelets will be donated to World Central Kitchen, who already have locations set up in Ukraine and in the surrounding areas to feed those who need a warm meal. They are feeding people in shelters and on the borders, as well as other needed areas.**

BirdyShopFinds on Etsy

This Ukrainian artist below sells vintage clothing but has started producing and selling digital downloads like this one, which are evergreen and can be sold regardless of where the vendor currently is.

This Ukrainian artist sells vintage clothing but has started producing and selling digital downloads like this one, which are evergreen and can be sold regardless of where the vendor currently is.

WindfromthePast on Etsy

Seek out and hopefully purchase art in support of UKRAINE.

Art is often a catalyst for change, a repository of society’s collective memory.  Every purchase helps.

 

BE WELL ALL.

XOXO,
SUZANNE

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