To celebrate this first day of 55 Days of Vintage Christmas, I can't think of a more perfect item to feature than these incredible vintage-inspired ornaments lovingly handmade by Karen Serrie, of Midwest Maude.
Karen commented on one of my blog posts many months ago, and I clicked over to her blog and saw these GORGEOUS ornaments. I was smitten! I was also smitten with Karen's style - she is seriously a girl after my own mod/vintage/color-loving heart. I contacted her and told her how MUCH I loved her products and she said that they would be available in her shop soon! I knew I wanted to feature her work here. She kindly agreed to do an interview with me and I'm happy to share that with you today.
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Karen, you shared with me that you took quite a bit of time to develop your line of ornaments. I have to say that I love that! So often I see people rushing to get a line out just to have it out. In our world today, everything is instant and in a hurry and unfortunately that extends to product development, even in the handmade industry. It makes me sad and usually you can tell if a line has been rushed. Please tell me about your process of developing your line and how it came to be.
I spent 2 and a half years developing this line of ornaments! It's really hard to believe, but I did have a lot going on during that time. I had a cross country move and a new baby and another pregnancy in the middle of designing the ornaments.
In the beginning, I spent a lot of time developing my personal design style. After working on established brands in the corporate world, it took me some time to separate my personal design work from what I did for others. I created a style guide that incorporated things I love. Inspirations from vintage crafts, vintage fashion, bohemian modern design and kitschy accessories. My plan was to develop three ideas and open an Etsy shop with Christmas ornaments, wall hangings, and shelf accessories. Early on, I had an aha moment with the ornaments, so I started there.
I wanted to design a line of ornaments for some time now, because I just love the Christmas holiday and I adore handmade vintage ornaments, which are incredibly hard to find! When I was little, our family Christmas tree was adorned with unique and handmade and gifted ornaments, and I remember making a set of wood cut out ornaments with my mom. It was a set of traditional shapes with a Santa, a tree and a rocking horse and a few pots of paint in red, green, yellow, and blue. I combined that basic idea with design inspiration from Enid Collins handbags, and vintage pendant necklaces and accessories from the late 60s, and the idea of making something lovely enough to be in an Anthropologie store.
It took me about 6 months to develop the designs for the wood shapes, and countless hours of experimenting with embellishments, paints and stains and glues, sourcing materials, designing the packaging, and the daunting task of photographing all of my ornaments. And, learning how to design a blog on top of all that!
Even though this whole process has been a lot of work, it is truly a labor of love. I really enjoy crafting with my hands, and designing things that I love, and hopefully others will find some enjoyment in them.
You have three children, how have you balanced home life with developing your products? What works for you?
I haven't quite figured this out yet! I think that keeping flexible deadlines helps, since designing always takes three times as long as I plan and kids are unpredictable in their needs. Consistency also seems to work for me. I do a little every day, and some days much more. My design work day starts after the kids are in bed, and some nights it's only an hour of work, but usually it's many more hours. I also try to keep going when I have momentum, which often means working way into the wee hours of the morning, and during nap times. And, I have to give a lot of credit to my husband, who helps out so much! On weekends, he will often take our two older kids to the park so I can sneak in an hour or two of work while our baby is napping.
You are a girl after my own heart with your fabulous color palette, retro patterns and nostalgic designs. What were your ultimate inspirations when designing this line?
Enid Collins is at the top of my list. When I first saw her handbags, I wanted to hang every single design on my tree, with all the embellishments and sparkle! And Mary Blair and Alexander Girard were also so inspiring with their brilliant use of color. And vintage fashion and home accessories from the late 60s really influenced my color palette and choice of design icons.
What are your favorite online sources of inspiration?
There are several bloggin' ladies like yourself that I follow, and who always inspire me with their style and craftiness. Your blog is addictive! I want to live in your beautifully photographed kitschy wonderland. And your vintage craft feature is exactly the craft I want to learn every time. Cathy of California's blog is like a library of mid century crafts and design, and a treasure trove of history. Elsie of A Beautiful Mess inspires me with her personal style and clever diy fashion and crafts. And Draw Pilgrim's as seen on Etsy feature always showcases vintage finds that I am searching for right now. I think she reads my mind! ModCloth is my favorite online shop, with wonderful vintage and vintage inspired products. Retro Renovation always has great inspiration for remodeling a mid century home, which is a dream of mine. And, Etsy and Flickr are still my go to sources for vintage design research.
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Now for this super exciting news... Karen is generously giving away this adorable mushroom ornament to one lucky winner! Just leave a comment below and be sure to type in your email address into the comment box so we can easily get in touch with you if you win. A winner will be announced this Friday! Double your chances of winning by tweeting a link to Karen's Etsy shop to your followers, and leave another comment here letting me know you tweeted by including a link to your Twitter.
These would make such *perfect* gifts for those vintage-loving friends and family in your life. Order and gift them early so they can hang one on their tree! Karen gifted me with several of her designs and I canNOT wait to hang them on my tree!
Thank-you Karen for sharing your gorgeous work with us.
oh wow! this is exactly the kind of blog I've been hoping to add to my reader.
I would love to have one of those pretties on my new (to me) tree this year. I went to an auction and bought a white, pre-lit for a whole $2.50. yeah, that's right, I said $2.50. ;)
thursday@mygirlthursday.com
Posted by: thursday | November 01, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Mushrooms! I love this ornament! Thanks for the giveaway!!!
Posted by: Becky | November 01, 2011 at 11:18 AM
I also shared the Etsy shop and giveaway on Twitter. www.twitter.com/erkarts
Posted by: Becky | November 01, 2011 at 11:22 AM
beautiful!! Love the colours! Plus, they would match my decor for this Christmas. :) Thanks for the giveaway!
Posted by: hollysarah. | November 01, 2011 at 11:25 AM
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/createloves
xo
Posted by: hollysarah. | November 01, 2011 at 11:28 AM
wow, i love love love these ornaments! every year i am so disappointed with xmas deco offerings but these are awesome- thanks for sharing! and please enter me in the drawing: votregrandesoeur AT gmail DOT com.
Posted by: allison burt-tilden | November 01, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Karen's home is so inspiring and her ornaments are gorgeous! I have my eye on a turquoise owl. :) Thanks for the giveaway!
julie@andhowblog.com
Posted by: Julie | November 01, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Kindred spirits. Thank you for the giveaway!xox
paperbuttercup (at) gmail . com
Posted by: Kathleen G. | November 01, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Wow, I LOVE her ornaments. Thanks for the giveaway :)
Posted by: Angie@Bric-a-Brac | November 01, 2011 at 01:32 PM
These ornaments are beautiful, thanks for the chance!
belongstotogsy@hotmail.com
Posted by: Rachel Mackin | November 01, 2011 at 01:50 PM
I adore these fabulous ornaments!
Posted by: jeannie | November 01, 2011 at 02:08 PM
stunning ornaments!
Posted by: Paula McGuire | November 01, 2011 at 02:36 PM
That sea horse is awesome!! And I totally dig that shelving unit!
Posted by: mandy | November 01, 2011 at 03:40 PM
Those are seriously the coolest ornaments ever! I really want some even though I am Jewish- I figure I can just hang them from cabinet knobs for a spark of color. And I made sure to tweet my darling followers: http://twitter.com/#!/RetroModernWife
Thanks doll,
The Glamorous Housewife
Posted by: The Glamorous Housewife | November 01, 2011 at 05:51 PM
How adorable! I was just thinking today that I want to do an all vintage tree this year. What a great addition this would make.
karilynn1@comcast.net
Posted by: Kari | November 01, 2011 at 06:39 PM
um YES! you were right these are AMAZING!!!! off to check out her shop!!!
Posted by: heather | November 01, 2011 at 07:08 PM
i went to her shop, and i want EVERY SINGLE OWL ORNAMENT. all of of them. christmas could be cancelled if this doesn't happen!
that being said, i'd settle for this perfect mushroom!
rdulaney82@comcast.net
Posted by: knitxcore | November 01, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Wonderful, beautiful and special in a lot of ways. I can't wait to find some for my tree...I collect ornaments and treasure something this special.
Thanks for sharing and offering a prize...it is gorgeous.
Not to mention unique and the work of a gifted artist.
Posted by: Edie Halls | November 01, 2011 at 09:43 PM
Thank you for introducing me to Karen & this shop! Love it!!
Posted by: Elizabeth | November 02, 2011 at 05:33 AM
I love her designs! I would love one of each for our tree!
Posted by: Laura | November 02, 2011 at 06:29 AM
I cannot wait everyday for this new series! I love these designs... don't you love it when you find someone who is creating things that are perfect expressions of you?!
ANDDDDD I tweeted it. BAM! http://twitter.com/#!/mstorywilliams
Posted by: Meredith Williams | November 02, 2011 at 07:51 AM
BEAUTIFUL!! My daughter is turning 1 and we are having a mushroom/gnome party. This ornament would be wonderful to commemorate her special day.
Posted by: Michelle McDonald | November 02, 2011 at 10:29 AM
this is just amazing!
Posted by: wiebke | November 02, 2011 at 01:26 PM
oh my. did i just bought a cute owl ornament? yes. your fault! :-P and a mushroom, but I will say yes to another!!
kawinec@hotmail.com
Posted by: karine courtemanche | November 02, 2011 at 03:16 PM
What a wonderful feature on Karen/Midwest Maude. Her ornaments are so sweet & whimsical! I enjoyed hearing about how she developed her line, and what things inspire her.
"55 Days of Vintage Christmas" is a lovely idea! Can't wait to see more :)
Posted by: Tiffany | November 02, 2011 at 11:47 PM
Totally beautiful Im hanging to have a mini tree with just babushka ornaments - this would be a gorgeous way to start it
Tamar
Posted by: Tamar | November 03, 2011 at 06:36 PM
Love her ornaments! Her vintage style is adorable! I am so excited for your 55 Days of Vintage Christmas! :) :)
Posted by: Jessica | November 03, 2011 at 07:42 PM
I love this ornament! Such pretty colors!
Posted by: Kylee K | November 04, 2011 at 03:07 PM
WOW! These are absolutely beautiful. I love that they are not the typical ornaments they add a kitsch to Christmas. Adore them!
Posted by: Niki Kraemer | November 05, 2011 at 07:18 AM
I love "Midwest Maude"....and NOT just because I happen to live in the Midwest (Lincoln, Nebraska), and have a seven year old daughter named....MAUDE!! There is a tradition in our family where we buy an ornament for each child every Christmas. I know where I will be buying this years ornaments....
Posted by: Lauren Kilmer-Thompson | November 05, 2011 at 07:58 AM
these are so gorgeous, I have a small pink tree that i only put vintage ornaments on, but i thing i could make an exception (:
-Zandra D.
zandra.kayella@gmail.com
Posted by: Zandra D. | November 07, 2011 at 07:39 PM
very cute great color combos!!!
klsarro@yahoo.com
Posted by: kristen | December 04, 2011 at 05:32 PM