Inspiration Board: Anthology e-mag & a mug of dark hot chocolate

Are you in the mood for a big dose of inspiration? Well, I have the right e-mag for you. I just finished flipping through Anthology’s Holiday 2011 special issue, and I found two things I was looking for, two tutorials for stenciling on fabric/felt. Before you go ahead and click on the link below, a hot cup of dark chocolate is most recommended with this “cuddly” mag!

By Karboojeh Handmade Jewelry
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If you feel the urge to flip through the pages of this amazing e-zine, then click here for a triple dose of truly inspiring ideas – for anything from handmade crafts, to jewelry-making (Bits & Baubles, P36). It is truly a place for “Living with substance and style” –  especially that the magazine has a strong stance towards everything “handmade.”

As mentioned on their blog, “The Anthology Winter Gift Guide is packed with DIY projects, holiday decorating ideas, gift recommendations from guest contributors, a few of our regular columns from the print edition, and so much more.” You can read the full preview about the Holiday Issue on Anthology’s blog over here.

The tutorials I spoke about in the beginning of this post are so superb. I learned a “few tips on how to make homemade gifts from artists and designers like Lotta Jansdotter and Eunice and Sabrina Moyle of Hello! Lucky.” And I am telling you, both tutorials are the best I have read so far about stenciling and painting on fabric.

Lotta’s free-downloadable stencil-template tutorial (Case Study, P62) was so much easy for me to understand, and I felt that all my stenciling fears are a thing of the past now… seriously.

Surprise, surprise!

Oh, my! I just found out a peek-link into a previous Anthology issue, here. For a more elaborate preview, go to Anthology’s blog here.

Enjoy!

Karboojeh

Inspiration Board: How ‘House of Fifty’ e-zine can motivate us to believe!

It’s delicious, inspiring, and most of all, motivational. Yes, motivational is the word. House of Fifty is a brand-new e-magazine, that promises to rock your world every time.

I love, love, love, the welcoming editorial by founding editor and interior designer Janell Beals. She answers the question that popped up in my mind when I first read the magazine’s title.

House of Fifty? Hmmm. What an interesting name. Is it for 50-somethings?

It is actually founded by a woman who turned 50, a very talented, and chic woman, whose passion fills the pages of the magazine, and inspires us all to be optimistic and beautiful inside-out more than anything.

In her blog, dubbed Isabella & Max Rooms, Beals shares with us a host of great DIY ideas, and, they are AWESOME.

House of Fifty’s Fall issue is also as exciting as the premier issue. Beals opening editorial is as genuine, motivating, and inspiring as the first one. This is the first time – probably in my life – that a magazine strikes a deeper chord than just its layout and content.

This is a magazine with a soul!

I used to think my society was the harshest with women, but I am shocked that Beals, coming from a Western society, is actually sharing the fact that turning 50 meant less opportunities “out there.” House of Fifty is actually her way of opening new doors for herself and others.

I am still one and a half decades away from reaching my 50’s. I pray that by then I will at least have half the zeal, courage, and leadership quality that Beals enjoy.

Beals is an influencer, a teacher, and she is an example of good leadership. Her influence can reach far beyond decor, style and DIY tips. She can touch the lives of others on a much deeper level, because she enjoys honesty, mixed with a dash of love, ingenuity, and bravery.

And faith.

Beals is a believer, she doesn’t let doubt or uncertainty beat her. She walks on with great faith in her heart. I’ve read thousands of editorials, but non were ever as honest, real, and expressive, as the two editorials (so far) by Beals.

May Allah protect and reward you Beals, and thanks a million for the inspiration!

My heart is filled with happiness, and it comes from discovering there are wonderful people out there, who are not shallow, and fashion-savvy in a pretentious way, but who are rather change-makers, and beauty-beholders. They look into life with an eye that transcends skin-deep aesthetics.

~ Deeeeeep breath ~

Inspiration Board: Rue on-line Magazine

I’m starting a new posts series called “Inspiration Board.” This is where I confess the blogs, magazines, websites, shops, artists, books, movies, etc, that inspire me to make jewelry, crafts and DIYs.

In this post, I am confessing one of my No. 1 inspirations:

Rue Magazine.

Issue 6 is out, please have a peek. I love the way Rue groups colors, ideas, motifs, and give you one huge dose of design ideas all in one go.

Just by flipping through Rue Magazine’s pages, your creative energy will be renewed, and your horizons will reach new terrains… simply because all the things Rue writes about or advertises has links to the websites they got them from… which means, double the inspiration :-)

Ciao