Spring – The Goods

Instagram Challenge: SPRING CLEANING

March 16, 2016

The next Instagram Challenge theme is Spring Cleaning. As you may have noticed, our blog just went through its own spring clean. All winter long, the blog team rolled up their sleeves and brainstormed ways to de-clutter, reorganize, and redesign The Goods. We’re still clearing some dusty corners, but we can all agree that the blog looks better than ever. We now have a clean slate to introduce you to more artists, help you discover uncommon facts, immerse yourself in creative design, and get to know the people who keep UncommonGoods going strong.

Whether it’s organizing your home for the new season, or clearing your closet for an updated wardrobe, we want to see how you’re tackling the annual clean-up!

The Uncommon Life

Instagram Challenge: SPRING DREAMING

April 30, 2015

The next Instagram Challenge theme is SPRING DREAMING! We can all agree that winter really overstayed its welcome this year. We’ve been fantasizing about the days of sun-kissed skin, fresh produce, and plant growth ever since the dirty slush of winter first appeared and the leaves disappeared. As you pull out those open-toed shoes and stuff those oversized coats far away into your closet, we want to see how you’re enjoying this new season! While sharing your spring-loving photos, be sure to use the hashtag #UGInstafun for a chance to win a $50 gift card. Visit here to see the entries we’ve received so far.

From all of us at UncommonGoods, we wish you a happy spring!

Congratulations to @malkomes1 for winning our Earth Day Instagram Challenge with this clever use for her old hiking shoes!

The Uncommon Life

Four Elements Mood Board: Fire

April 29, 2014

Astrology Locket / Convex Starburst Pencil Mirror / Mountains II by Meirav Gebler / Astral Wall Hangings / Gold Leaf Upcycled Beer Bottle Tumblers / Agate Coasters

For the last installment of this series of nature-inspired mood boards, we’re going out with a bang. Literally.

Fire is that fascinating element that can create as well as destroy. Ancient cultures have marveled in it for centuries–to the Greeks it was symbol of energy and passion, and the Hindu God Agni represented fire as well as lightning and the sun.

This collection was a little harder to put together as the choices were a lot less obvious than the other boards, so I did some research and got creative. I pulled items that celebrated the shapes and power of celestial orbs; materials made from volcanic activity; and a piece from an artist who incorporates gunpowder and fire in her watercolors.

Enjoy, and check out our other collections inspired by Earth, Air, and Water.

Gift Guides

Four Elements Mood Board: Water

April 22, 2014

Porcelain Barnacle Vase / Make Waves Yarn Bowl / Glasscape Bowl / Ceramic Fish Bones / Under the Sea Pillow / Jellies III by Karen Chan / Jellyfish Earrings / Shattered Glass Bib Necklace

I was most excited to put together this collection of jewelry and home decor that reminded me of water. Having grown up on a small island, three blocks from the ocean and one from the bay, water is the element with which I am most comfortable and most familiar. In putting this all together, it became very clear to me that so many of our artists share the same affection for the deep blue as me.

Inspired by the peaceful hues of the ocean and the unique colors and shapes of its many creatures, this is a collection of goods that will evoke the spirit of this element that is as placid as it is exciting.

Check out the gift guides for Earth and Air that we launched, and check back next week for our last installment of this series, Fire!

Design

Meet the Bloggers from our Spring Jewelry Lookbook

April 17, 2014

This spring we wanted to highlight four of our newest jewelry collections by makers inspired by nature in a digital lookbook. Instead of styling the pieces ourselves, we relied on the skills of two talented bloggers, Jessa and Holly, who brought these botanical designs to life in their own personal way.

Before you check out the lookbook, discover the inspiration behind the looks they created for us!

Jessa of Caked Vintage

What makes handmade jewelry special in your opinion?
Handmade jewelry tells a story, a journey from concept to creation, you can hold in your grasp. It is intricate, intimate, and inspirational.

How do you like to spend a warm spring day?
Spring picnics are perfection! A blanket lunch amidst a faint floral breeze, paired with a sun-kissed nap, has to be one of spring’s simplest pleasures.

What inspires your spring wardrobe?
I am inspired by color; spring is the perfect palette of hues and patterns for designing and pairing your wardrobe.

What was your favorite piece to style? What do you love about it?
I am in love with the Shattered Glass Bib Necklace. It’s the perfect example of how something once broken can become something beautiful.

Holly of Holly Dolly

What makes handmade jewelry special in your opinion?
I know how much time and effort and love and passion goes into each and every piece. When it means that much to the designer, it means just as much to me.

How do you like to spend a warm spring day?
There is nothing better than spending a warm spring day by the water, watching the boats and snacking on a cannoli.

What inspires your spring wardrobe?
Color! I tend to hide in a neutrals and darker colors during the winter. The fresh, renewed feeling of spring makes me want to break out every single bright color in my wardrobe.

What was your favorite piece to style? What do you love about it?
The Golden Sunflower Necklace reminds me of this huge field of sunflowers that my husband I stumbled upon last summer. Just bright yellow as far as the eye could see against a bright blue sky. It was breathtaking.

Gift Guides

Four Elements Mood Board: Air

April 15, 2014

Illusion Vase / Sterling Silver Dandelion Cuff / Glass Raindrop Mobile / Queen Anne Porcelain Dishware Collection / Spring Cloud by Betsy Walton / Floating Feathers Shower Curtain / Raw Gemstone Earrings

For this collection of items inspired by air, I wanted to find UncommonGoods designs that evoke the movement of wind and the tranquility of the sky. We aren’t always aware of the air around us but when we’re stroked by a gust of wind or blow on a ripe dandelion, we can see and feel the presence of this natural element.

These home and personal accessories are designs that remind me of our atmosphere and give us a bird’s-eye view of this beautiful element.

Check out another collection of jewelry and decor inspired by the Earth.

Gift Guides

Four Elements Mood Board: Earth

April 8, 2014

Terra Table Lamp / Teak Root Mirror / Nesting Stoneware Mixing Bowls / Enameled Silver Leaf Earrings / Gardener’s Compost Container / Birch Forest Shower Curtain / Apple Bark Planter / Recycled Glass Bali Round Vase

Whenever winter comes to a close and spring rears its head, we all begin to notice nature a lot more. Our walks become just a little longer so we can steal a glimpse of trees and flowers. All of a sudden, getting out and facing the elements transforms from a daunting experience to a pleasant one.

In celebration of the end of a rough winter, I’ve put together some gift guides inspired by nature and its four principle elements, and decided to start with the element we come in contact with every day, earth.

This collection of home accessories, pottery, and jewelry were all inspired by the nature found on a walk through the forest. Crusty tree bark, rugged live-edge wood, curled leaves, and woven straw come together to tell a story of designers touched by Gaia in their creative process.

Check out my picks inspired by Air on 4/15!

Design

What to do with all these flowers!

May 16, 2013

The trees, bushes, and bulbs are all in bloom and there are flowers everywhere! So many flowers! Kind of a great problem to have. Here are some of my favorite blog posts about how to take those blooms out of the garden and incorporate them in your home decor (and wardrobe!) in truly uncommon ways.

Flowers make a lovely centerpiece, but liven up each place setting with a fresh flower tied with each napkin. Use a collection of twine, jute, and other crafty scraps like Rebecca does in her tutorial on A Daily Something. It’s amazing how those peonies, pop against those neutral napkins and plates.

Speaking of found objects, I love the look of mismatched vintage bottles and jars as bud vases. I tend to collect a lot of old glass bottles and have never considered displaying them all together, tying the collection together with a matching bud in each bottle like Elsie has done on A Beautiful Mess.

The little girl inside of me wants to lay in a field making daisy chains all day and this DIY flower crown on Project Wedding can help me accomplish wearing flowers in a chicer way. A big flower crown is a beautiful replacement for a veil on a Bohemian bride, but I want one for Saturdays. I want to walk around my neighborhood like a chorus member in Hair and proclaim myself the flower princess.

I can’t stop thinking about this handmade banner by Kelly of Studio DIY. Something about the drab cardboard background, the bright white lettering, and the pops of bright, fresh color feels so inviting (peonies!). That banner can say just about anything – Surprise!, Beinvenue, Happy Birthday. This is a craft I plan on making very soon. Seriously though, what is it about peonies that is so beautiful?!*

Another craft I want to do soon is Elsie’s floral garland on A Beautiful Mess. I love buntings and garlands in all forms – pom-poms, penants, tinsel – and this is one of the most beautiful ones I have seen on the Internets. It reminds me a lot of the popcorn garlands we made for the Christmas tree as a kid and sounds just as easy (however, I don’t know how my mom will feel about me traveling around her garden with a needle and thread). What’s even better about this garland is it will only get better with age – when the flowers dry and start changing color it will take one a completely new look.

George Harrison wisely once said “All things must pass” (actually he says it a lot of times within the course of three minutes), and so too will fresh flowers so start thinking what can be done once they begin to wilt and fade. I love this pressed flower tutorial that Esther did on Pamplemousse but if you want to know everything there is to know about pressing flowers go straight to the source – Lady Martha!

What’s a better way to preserve dead flowers than potpourri!? Store it in mason jars like in this tutorial on the Free People blog. Something about the mason jars makes it look a lot less like my grandmother’s potpourri.

Happy crafting, flower children!