It’s funny. The things that happen to us in life. The events and people that are carefully planted there, that gently sway us in the direction we were meant to go.
Since I was a little girl, I had a passion for creating. It was a part of me. As much as picking at my cuticles or my apparent, innate stubbornness that was a bit of a challenge for my parents. I was constantly writing… painting… drawing… even rearranging my bedroom. It’s all about the little whispers. They gently tell us who we’re supposed to be. It’s who I am.
Fast forward to college. I couldn’t wait to decorate my first dorm room. I absolutely obsessed over it. And I knew I’d found true love when the tall dark and handsome grad student I was dating Sophomore year, stayed up all night to help me create a handmade motion-sensored Tiffany lamp for a sculpture class I was taking. It was cobalt blue, and made from a nightmarish, hybrid combination of a painted fishbowl and a rewired halogen lamp… but words simply can’t describe the pure elation we felt that night when it did not explode. It lit up our painted glass with simple brilliance. I scored an A.
It was the first time I saw a crazy, hair-brained idea come to life. The first time we made it happen, together. It was the beginning of something.
Fast forward a few more years: True love built on late night creations and the realization that those were actual electrical shocks and not zaps of fabulous chemistry… it lasted. Because we were getting married. I can honestly say that I was probably more excited about decorating our apartment, than I was our actual wedding. It’s a toss up, but I was thrilled about the idea of creating a haven just for us. I obsessed over sofa covers to go over our little plaid leftover college collection. We saved up every penny (and returned a lot of wedding china) just to purchase a small table and chair ensemble we’d been eyeing at the local furniture store. Later, I should have seen it as a sign when I spent most of my idle days at a desk job I hated, secretly browsing the latest and greatest shelter mags, and drooling over beautiful interiors. I was too busy planning out our dining room to care.
While we both grew into a passion for creating our home, we were frustrated with the lack of translation from the pages of pretty, glossy magazines and our own unrealistic expectations. Things just didn’t feel like ‘us’. We were frustrated with the limitations. From the big box stores with their small range of options, and the impossible to reach, to-the-trade conundrum which plagued us as home owners. We were tired. Big prices and mass produced quantities weren’t exactly our friends. We were searching for our design voice, to build a home for our growing family. We weren’t sure where to find it. We craved something simple. We craved something different.
As an artist, and as creatives to the core, we struggled with how to do that for our home. Frustration can be a good thing. It forced us to look for a solution. And from that struggle, we grew.
Our handmade home…all of it… started with the walls.
When an artist creates a piece of art…when he brings an idea to life… he can’t help but leave a piece of himself behind in that work. These works of art become little pieces…a reflection of who that artist is.
The same was true when we started making handmade creations for our home. We left a glimpse of ourselves on each project. And as each project progressed, we grew a little braver. We let go of our inhibitions. Each creation had a small piece of us in it. With those little steps, our home truly reflected us. And we fell in love with our own creations because they were a piece of us. A real transformation occurred.
It was the beginning of something else.
It’s truly a humbling, and exciting moment to share this with all of you today.
Jamin and I are thrilled at the fruition of a little dream we’ve shared for a while. The timing is finally right, and we’re pleased to introduce Handmade Walls : 22 Inspiring Ideas on Bringing Your Walls to Life.
We simply can’t wait to share it with all of you.
Creating an ebook is an amazing, humbling, and down right exciting process. One of which we’re in the full blown throes of, now. Ironically enough, this entire process has been a true ‘handmade’ route. And this has been intentional. As our own ‘publishers’, from the original ideas to implementing the writing and design, we’ve been hard at work for months, creating, photographing, writing and designing this creation of ours. Like the hull of a ship with us as the captains, it’s been really nice to be completely immersed in this project, all the way.
There’s just a few things we’d like for you to know about this little creation:
• We’re shooting for an early November release date. Which means we’re almost finito, but are hard at work with it all. Please stay tuned!
• All of it is dreamed up, created, written, styled, photographed and graphically designed…by us.
• Our book contains 22 projects, at over 250 pages chock-full of inspiration, creations and plans for making it happen in your own homes. It’s a realistic, user-friendly, fun approach on creating beautiful handmade pieces for your spaces. So whether you’re a DIY novice, weekend warrior, or just someone who appreciates a fun read, it is our deepest hope that you enjoy something we’ve created just for you.
• Handmade Walls will be available on our site and through our affiliate program, with the help of our incredible readers and blogger friends.
• It will be available for 9.95 in a PDF format with access for all. We wanted to keep this book super affordable, super simple, and most importantly, super user friendly.
So…now that we’ve spilled the beans… stay tuned for November!
Finally for y’all-all of our incredible readers : there are no words. You are why we do what we do. So to say thank you, would be an understatement. You inspire us daily. You’re amazing.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ;}
It’s exciting to start another little adventure. We’re honored that you guys are with us for the ride.
Here we go!
Have an inspired day, everyone!
April says
That book looks amazing! So is there going to be tutorials on how you all make stuff for the walls? I love books that give me the ideas and then show me how to do it because I am clueless.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Yes! Some projects you’ve maybe caught a glimpse of before in our home, but we’ve never explained, and most completely new just for the ebook…full of plans and detailed instructions. We can’t wait ;}
Janet S says
How great! I can’t wait to read your book!
Mary Martin says
I can’t wait! You are such an inspiration and have such amazing talent!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you so very much Mary! ;}
Shaunna says
Well, you know I’m thrilled for you. THRILLED.
xoxo,
shaunna
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thanks, girl! ;}
janet @ ordinary mom says
Oh! So exciting. Can’t wait for our early Christmas gift. 🙂
ashley @ the handmade home says
Yay! It’s an early Christmas gift to ourselves, as well ;}
JP says
I can’t think of a book I’d rather read. I love the story behind this, and I’ll be first in line to grab one up!
Kristi says
So awesome! Congratulations, guys! Can’t wait to check this out.
Jennifer says
SO excited!!! I think it’s awesome that y’all have done this together; what a cool thing to do it as a team. I can’t wait!
Megan @ Megan Brooke Handmade says
That’s so exciting!! Can’t wait until November!
Congratulations on all your hard work!
Button Bird Designs says
Ashley
I am so so so happy for you. You are an amazing, creative, beautiful on the inside and out, I wish we lived in the same town chic and I am so excited for you. Congraulations!!! I CAN NOT wait to get my copy!!! xoxoxoxox
Angela
lisaroy says
What an exciting project!
B Holland says
So proud for both of you. Pinned it! If you ever need a canvas to try out new ideas, I just repainted all my walls and you are welcome to try out ideas. 😉
Charron Ann says
I will gladly give up my naked walls for your inspiration moments as well! 🙂
ritajoy@harbour breeze home says
Oh, mercy sakes! I’m so excited I can hardly stand it! You’ve already been such an inspiration to me…and I can’t wait to open the pages of your new book. And, on another note, I just love the story you told before this big announcement… It melted the cockles of my heart. What a talented wordsmith you are. Blessings to you today.
ashley @ the handmade home says
You are too kind, Rita! Best wishes to you and your awesome growing website, as well! ;}
Dolores Falcon says
Awesome, can’t wait. So happy for you and your family. 🙂
Emelyn says
Congrats! What an exciting time for you guys. Can’t wait till it comes out.
Samantha says
This is so exciting! A good source to have when we finally get out of apartments! Of course, I’m sure you’ll have awesome ideas for even the apartment dwellers as you do on your blog. This is my favorite blog to read, even though I never comment. I’m your invisible #1 fan!
Janice says
So happy for you, so very exciting!
I found your blog a little over a year ago and it’s the first place I go to for inspiration! We’ve got a couple copy-cat ideas around our house from you…I always give you credit! Congratulations again!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you all so very much. You are too sweet to us! ;}
Rachel says
Woo hoo!!!!!
Kelsey says
Ffffffffffffffffffffffffuuuu
So excite right now.
Erin @ Two Story Cottage says
Love it already!! It will be crazy fab & you & yours rock!
🙂
Erin
Vera says
I can’t wait! We live in a rented house for a year, it is nice and new, but I can’t really decorate/change its walls… Next summer we are moving back home from England and I’m already thinking of big changes!
Destiny says
Happy dance over here! I find it so incredible that I’m able to love two people so much and I’ve never even been in the same room with them before:0) So happy for you two, your sweet family and this amazing book. I can’t wait to get my digital hands on it:0)
Brittany says
I’m so excited to see! I love your home and can’t wait to get the ebook full of your ideas : )
Jen @ RamblingRenovators says
How did I miss this news? Congratulations to you!! Writing a book is a HUGE undertaking and publishing it on your own even more so. I know it will be a best seller!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you so very much for your sweet words! You are too kind, friend! ;}
Katie g says
I can’t wait for the release!! This just made me one happy girl!
Christine says
I’m happy I only found out NOW about the book coming out, because I’ve only got a couple weeks to wait at this point! I’ve been reading your blogs for a couple months now, and I’ve tried re-making a few of your creations, and I’ve loved the results. Thank you so much for sharing your brilliance with us and never expecting anything in return. I’m happily going to buy this book, as soon as it comes out!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe thank you so much Christine! That means so much! You technically only have 4 days to wait…so that’s good, right??? ;} we’re super pumped!!!