From Start to Finish

I am working a double today, but had a few hours between shifts so I came home to hang out with our pups and try to be somewhat productive. You wouldn't believe how excited I was when the ups guy showed up on our doorstep with a big box full of suede scraps that I ordered last week. They are in the prettiest colors that remind me of a rusted cars, changing leaves and woven blankets. I was SO excited that I dumped the scraps on the ground, pulled out my sketch book and started drawing up some ideas. Here is a little photo progression from start to finish.

I start with an idea, a sketch, use paints to figure out the colors I like.

I then pick out the swatches I want to use.

After I find the right sized scraps, I start cutting. I cut everything by hand.

Cut, glue, punch, cut, glue and done.

A very patient model.

And the final product.

And a fun book to display with it.

I hope you liked this little project. I had fun keeping my hands busy and experimenting. I am not 100% happy with it, but it's a good start. Tell me what you think!

I hope everyone has a great day. I have to get ready for work now.

What projects are you working on? Share photos and links! I'd love to see them.

xo,

Beca Lew

Video Blog Vol 2. and Hamantaschen Recipe

My second video blog about a project I have been working on, some sweets and a cute pup.

And in case you were wondering, there really is such a thing as too much Hamantaschen. This is what my station at work looked like for the better part of the afternoon today.

Purim is next week, and we just got an order for 500 more. Looks like my tomorrow will look the same, as I'm working a double, first in the bakery and then the night in the deli. I hope it goes by fast, I want to go to National City for the swap meet on Saturday. I am really looking forward to it, 1) because we're going to shoot a new video, and 2) because it's been raining the past 2 weekends and we haven't been to the swap meet at all.

Also, if you feel like making your own Hamantaschen, here is a super good recipe.

This yeilds 24 small cookies.

-3 eggs

1 cup of granualted sugar

3/4 cup of veg, oil

1/2 cup orange juice

2.5 tsp vanilla extract (clear, if you have it)

5.5 cups of all-purpose flour

1 tbsp baking powder

Combine eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla and juice. Add dry ingredients and mix until stiff.

Chill dough over night. This is very important, if you don't so this, your dough will bake weird.

roll out your dough until it is a little under 1/4 of an inch thick.

Cut out rounds using a jar lip or cookie cutter.

Scoop 1 spoonful of your favorite preservative into the center. We sell a lot of poppy seed and prune, but I wouldn't touch the stuff. I like cherry, apricot and I bet peach or blueberry would be good.

Brush on egg wash to outer round. Pinch the edges to create a triangle. Make sure you pinch them tight or the preserves will seep out and it will make a mess.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Enjoy!

xo,

Beca

Bows and Arrows. A Tumbleweeds Original Collection.

We have been working on this collection of jewelery for the shop for a while now, and have been biting my tongue every time I got too excited about it, because I often start projects that I don't finish, i.e. my tee-shirt rug that took up too much space so I ditched it, and oh, I don't know, a hundred other projects. But this one, I actually followed through with, and have much more to come. I love working with Doug to create these beautiful designs, he really did teach me everything that I now know about working with leather and making jewelery.

This is part one of our collection and will be adding more to the shop and sharing more pieces on the blog in the upcoming weeks. I also have some really, really exciting news that I will be able to share later this week!!! SO, here goes, I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Let us know what you think! We're very excited about this and can't wait to get even more in theshop! And be sure to check out the little video I made below announcing the winner of our giveaway!

xo,

Beca

Give Away Winner

Congratulations!

Allison, please email me at tumbleweeds{dot}shop{at}gmail{dot}com.

Please come back in an hour or so, and check out the newest additions to our jewelery collection, Bows and Arrows.

xo,

Beca

Happy Half Birthday, Tumbleweeds

Party time! Ha! Not really, I have to work my "day-job" today at 10. I have tomorrow off and will be posting the winner to the giveaway sometime in the morning.

I will also be opening up a new section in the shop called Bows and Arrows for a spring collection of repurposed leather jewelery. Be sure to look for that post later in the day. I have been working on it for a while now, and didn't know if I was going to have enough supplies, but Doug saved the day, as always, and we're ready to debut tomorrow. How appropriate. I love that we can start the second half of our first year with a new jewelery collection.

That's all for now. You still have time to enter. You can click on the button on the sidebar or go HERE. Have a great rest of your weekend!

xo,

Beca

Spring Jewelery Collection - Sneak Peek

That's all I can say or show for right now.

Stay tuned!

xo,

Beca

Tumbleweeds Half Birthday Giveaway

Hi ya'll! I just want to say happy half birthday to our little shop. We have come a long way with this little dream of ours and still have a long way to go. To celebrate our baby turning 6 months, we are going to host a weekends worth of celebrating from tonight until Monday Morning, the 27th. I will be debuting some awesome features, a really neat Curiosities Closet (vol 6!) that I have been saving in my queue and I will give out some special coupon codes for blog followers, facebook fans and MORE!

So on to the giveaway. For one lucky blog reader. You can win this incredible handcrafted and upcycled leather ring. It is adorned with a pretty vintage button and will will stretch to fit any size finger. This ring comes in our pretty new packaging! This giveaway is open to international friends too!

You have three way to enter the giveaway!

1. Follow our blog and leave a comment as a new or continuing friend.

2. Visit our shop and leave us a comment telling us your favorite item!

3. Like us on facebook and leave a comment.

You have until February 27th at midnight west coast time, and the winner will be announced the morning of Tuesday February 28th. I will draw the winners name live on video! I am so excited for this! Let the celebrations begin!!

xo,

Beca

Shop Update

Doug and I pulled out the tool box last night and made some gems for the shop. I am going to spend the day working on some more new designs. The purple suede rings we made from upcycled leather sold so quickly, that I will be making some more of those too.

I love the rustic feel of this last one. It has so much character and the leather is SO soft! And isn't that coffin neat! It's backed with royal purple suede, so pretty.

I am also happy to announce that we will be working with Sleepy Pony Designs to create the tags and business cards for our shop. I will definitely share with you all when everything is done. We are working together from over 2000 miles apart, so this will be a long term project. I am really excited about it. They also make really lovely jewelery, you should give them a peek.

I have also been working on packaging our jewelery. Here are some little bags I made last night for a special order.

What do you think?

I feel like we've been pretty productive over the past few days. Trying to get through this cold and trying to not be too super bummed about having to go to work tonight. In three days, it will be our shops 6 month anniversary, which means in 6 months, my goal of quitting my day job for this business will need to be a reality. Count down begins. I signed up for the Indie Business Course through The Freckled Nest and, not to be a constant worrier about money, but I hope it's worth the $90. Prove this skeptic wrong! I'm actually REALLY excited about it. I feel like I'm going to school again!

Be on the lookout for a crazy great internet party for our shops 6th month anniversary on the 27th. Insane deals. Special offers, and a GIVEAWAY! My first (real) giveaway! Hooray! Have a great Thursday!

xo,

Beca

Rustic Leather and Turquoise Rings

Our newest project.

Available in the shop.

Sorry, I've been a bit behind on updates. I have a review of True Grit and a New Years post, and a how-to guide for responsible shipping for your small business. Probably not all today, but before Wednesday, since I picked up a few extra shifts this week at work. Yay! Hope everyone had an excellent holiday.

xo,

Bec