check out: squint

i love this company, squint! out of england, they exhibit couture craftsmanship through their unique furniture, mirrors, and lighting. their designs incorporate a mix of contemporary and vintage fabrics and frames, vintage glass beads, hand carved mahogany, and hand stitched seams.

each design is priced individually depending on the final mix of materials used. (and let me tell you, they aren't cheap! but... at least they have fabulous website that we can admire from across seas)

is this weather pushing your BUTTONS? get crafty!

just arrived in the shop - the button factory! fashion meets craft in this oh-so-simple and super fun DIY delight! with a handy one-step button-covering device, colorful cotton fabric, metal pin backs and fronts, instructions, and nifty project ideas, crafty types can instantly create 25 personalized pins to embellish bags, clothes, and gifts. $18.95

find out from the creators themselves, what went into creating this kit here on chronicle book's very own blog. also, stop by the shop to see what other fun DIY books and kits we have in!

look out for: kelly rae roberts home collection

i absolutely love the work of kelly rae roberts! her colorful mixed media art work is not only visually stimulating, but the inspirational quotes she adds, really are uplifting and make you think a little.

in the next coming months she is adding a ton of new products (think magnet boards, organizers, new wall art formats, and so much more) to her existing line, and later this year, she is launching a new line of furniture, pillows, and many other creative home decor items. we also hear she is collaborating with our friends over at calypso cards to create a card line.

if her new home line is any reflection of her home, we want some! check out these pictures of her beautiful home. you can also see more here

our first interview and GIVEAWAY!

Well, it's here! Our first artist interview and giveaway to be featured on the site is with Nicki Martin, of Viridian Handcrafts. She designs and crafts those beautiful leather flower necklaces, brooches, rings, and headbands you have recently seen in the shop.

A: Thanks so much for being a part of this today Nicki!

NM: Thanks for having me here! It's a pleasure to chat with you, and I'd love to give your readers a little "peek behind the curtain" of what I do.

A: Tell us a little bit about yourself:

NM: I'm Nicki Martin, accessory & jewelry designer and the owner of Viridian Handcrafts. I've been "crafty" all my life and have dabbled in everything from knitting to sculpture, but when I decided to make Viridian a full-time occupation I was drawn towards creating unique accessories and jewelry. Leather is, of course, my favorite medium, and I love anything that sparkles so crystals and beads feature largely in my work.

A: Why did you decide to become an artist?

NM: Because I wasn't as happy doing anything else! I actually studied business in college, but realized pretty early on that I wouldn't make it far in the corporate world so I needed to find something more creative to do with myself. I also have a bit of a problem being told what to do, so even though Viridian keeps me quite busy it's work I don't mind doing. I'm so grateful that I get to do what I love for a living!

A: How has your jewelry changed/ developed over time?

NM: Well, my style has definitely become more intricate, and my leather flowers have gone through many incarnations since I started making them. There is so much you can do with leather, and I'm constantly learning new tricks and ways to manipulate it. I've also become more daring with color and more willing to experiment with different color combinations.

A: What inspires you?

NM: Inspiration can come from anywhere, but I most often find it right here in my studio! I love to look through my supplies and wait for a single bead or piece of fabric to catch my eye, then design an entire piece around that first glance. When all else fails, I go bead shopping- all those colorful strands never fail to spark ideas (it can get overwhelming, in fact!)

A: Do you have a quote you live by?

NM: "Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful" -William Morris
That must explain why I have no sentimental chotchkes around... sorry Mom!

A: 3 things you couldn’t live without...

NM: Coffee, a sharp pair of scissors, and lip gloss!

Here are a few pictures of Nicki's studio:

beads, beads, beads!

leather in fun spring colors!

showing us how the magic is done!

GIVEAWAY QUESTION: The days are getting longer, the temperature is slowly climbing... soon we'll see signs of spring everywhere! Do you have a piece of jewelry or accessory in your collection that makes you "think spring?" Tell us about it and you are entered to win this beautiful one-of-a kind Viridian necklace valued at $26.50

feel good friday + 20% off coupon

we have so many new arrivals in the shop! we just can't stop ordering new merchandise! papaya just released some amazing cosmetic bags in two sizes and over eight designs! we are also on candle overload at the shop - with arrivals from skeem and aquiesse, in fragrances like luxe linen and white tea & thyme. it's almost spring cleaning time, so what a perfect time to refresh the smell of your home with one of our 100% soy candles.

and since it is the last feel good friday, we want you to enjoy 20% off an item of your choice! just mention "feel good friday" at checkout today to save!

we also received some GREAT NEWS yesterday - our online shopping should be up and running in around 30 days! and don't forget to stay tuned for our first angelina blog giveaway next week!

we're giving away some fabulous merchandise!

starting the first week of april, we are going to be giving away at least one fabulous piece of merchandise a month! including jewelry, art, candles, handbags, and more!

i know what you are thinking... how do i get my hands on some of this? easy! we will be featuring interviews with our most beloved artists right here on our blog, and at the end of the interview, the artist will pose a question to you (our most beloved customers). all you have to do is answer the question and "post as a comment" on the blog, and done! you are on your way to becoming the proud owner of a marvelous piece of angelina.

so, be sure to become a follower of the blog, and tell your friends too (so they can envy you when you win!)

how cool! a store filled with papaya!

one of our favorite artist groups, papaya! is opening a flagship boutique in ashland, or. i have always wanted to go to oregon, and now i have more of a reason then ever! check the shop later this week for some fabulous new papaya arrivals!

green with envy - happy st. patty's day!

spring window displays

the flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size. ~Gertrude S. Wister

while we anxiously await the arrival of spring, we decided we would put up our spring window display early. yesterday we spent most of the day putting up the displays. here is one of the angelina girls, Jenna, hard at work.

here are some pictures of the displays

how fun and cheerful! want to learn how to make the paper flowers to brighten up your windows? read our earlier blog post here

feel good friday

what a beautiful day in barrington today! i figured these were appropriate.

celia birtwell watering can and tool set just arrived at the shop!

spring craft - paper flowers

although we know spring seems very far away still, it will be here before we know it! we started working on some of our props for our spring window displays last night. we are making paper flowers that are so easy (and inexpensive) to make. you can make some for yourself!

what you'll need:
-colored construction paper or poster board
-scissors
-double-sided tape
-stapler

1.cut the paper into about 1 inch wide strips. you can cut them at any width and length, depending on how big or small you want your flowers.

2.stack the strips (we recommend using 5-11 strips depending on how many petals you want, use your creativity!) and staple them once in the center, then fold the stack in half to form a little book.

3. put a little piece of double-sided tape at the tip of the first "page." then bend it inward toward the center and stick it down. repeat for every "page" until you have a circular flower shape.

and for the finished product...

we will post more pictures when we have the window displays done, but for now we are off to making more flowers! ❤

here are some links to some other really cool paper flowers you can try:

Paper Bag Flowers - Martha Stewart (we tried these ones too, and they were super easy and fun)
Tissue Paper Flowers - (these ones are a little more difficult)
How to Make Perfect Paper Daisies - CraftStylish

we decided to start sharing at least one thing every friday that makes us feel good! here is to our first "feel good friday"!

brand new to the shop, this bright, beautifully illustrated book reminds us that the little things that make life worth living are everywhere and all around us. start reading and you’ll want to start your own list of “What makes you smile?”

enjoy this free positive thoughts poster ❤