Mother's Day Gift Guide 2019

April 18, 2019 Machelle Kolbo

Mother’s Day is right around the corner - Sunday, May 12th! I love that we have a day to honor mother’s and be reminded and thankful for our role as moms.

There are lots of ways to help the mom in your life feel honored and loved. All moms cherish intentional time together, a shared meal, or maybe even a little time to herself. Tangible gifts are also a way to show your mom some love, but sometimes finding the right gift can leave you stumped. I have been guilty of google searching gifts for various occasions... “Best birthday presents for mom”, “Birthday gift ideas for husband”, or “toys for one year old boy.” You get the picture. Anybody else?

So, in case you are on the lookout for some Mother’s Day gifts I pulled together a few ideas from some of my favorite local and internet friends for you! I’ve also included a link to some old blog posts with free Mother’s Day printables. There are ideas to fit any budget, to help the mom in your life feel honored and loved.

How a Mug for Mamas is helping Mamas across the World

April 10, 2019 Machelle Kolbo

Motherhood is a beautiful thing. It is joy-filled, exciting, refining and exhausting. The title of mama, no matter how it comes to you - whether through birth or adoption, is something that is held dear. Becoming a mama myself this past year has been one of the greatest joys in my life. I absolutely love the title.

So, I dreamed up a beautiful mug for all the mamas out there. One that will proudly show off your name while holding your coffee or tea to nourish your sleep-deprived self. A mug that you can gift to the mama in your life who means so much to you so she can proudly be reminded of the name so many call her. Mama’s are known for giving of themselves to others and this is exactly the thought behind this mug as well.

My Market Display Set-Up

June 14, 2016 Machelle Kolbo

I frequently talk about products in my shop and what has inspired me to make them. Many of you know I sell paper goods online through Etsy, but I also sell them in person at market events throughout the year such as Bench Made and Love, The Locals. Creating a display that is attractive, showcases my product well, and allows customers to view products is very important to me. So, today let's chat about my current set-up and why I did things the way I did.

Coming up with a display set-up has been ever evolving for me. As I add more products I need to rethink how items are display, what is using my space wisely, and how my set-up communicates to customers. This year I re-worked a couple things that were not utilizing space effectively, and ended up using an L-shaped display pictured below.

Stackable Wooden Hexagon Display // Machelle Kolbo Design Studio

One of my FAVORITE new things is this stackable hexagon wall. I had to twist my husbands arm quite a bit to make it, but it turned out great! Part of my logo is comprised of a hexagon, so it was only fitting to extend this shape to a part of my display. The hexagons allow the display to expand vertically and showcase prints and products. I also wanted to create a statement, and hope this wall of hexagons does the trick.

Machelle Kolbo Design Studio Stackable Hexagon Wall Display

Another one of my favorite pieces is this pegboard display board (below). I wanted something that could house cards, prints, journals or whatever paper products my heart desires. We used these wooden spice racks from IKEA, and stained them darker. To make them functional we mounted them on to pegboard, but can adjust their placement when we need. I love how I can adjust this display should the need arise, and clearly display various products.

Machelle Kolbo Design Studio Pegboard Card Display

Machelle Kolbo Design Studio Wooden Shelf Display

Last, but not least I have this handy little shelf. This shelf is also adaptable to display what I need. It easily holds cards and journals and adds warmth and character to my display. This shelf has been with me since the start of doing market events and it holds a special place in my heart.

I certainly hope this can inspire other makers in their pursuit of creating a market display. Enjoy!

The Story Behind The 'Beloved' Print

May 17, 2016 Machelle Kolbo

Words have a way of working their way into our hearts + minds - for better or worse. I know frequently it is the negative words, the comparison, and the doubts that are the loudest. So, as I was intentionally creating new designs for this year I sought to find words that could combat that negativity.

The word that spoke the loudest was 'beloved'. The word beloved shows up frequently in scripture, and means 'dearly loved' or a 'much loved person'. I knew that this word needed a place in hearts and homes.

For me personally I want this word to be a daily reminder that I am loved. I'm a worrier and so frequently my worries are talking the loudest. So when I need to be reminded that I am so much more than what I do, this word and its powerful meaning come to mind.

The Beloved Print // Find it here mkolbodesignstudio.etsy.com

Friend, I made this print for you. To remind you that you are dearly loved, precious, adored, treasured and admired. So, when you don't feel like enough, or feel defeated by comparison, when worry is weighing you down, or are having a plain crummy day - remember you are beloved.

This is such a beautiful reminder for the walls of your home. I hope this design can love and encourage you today. Make it a great one friends!

3 Easy Grad Gift Ideas

May 10, 2016 Machelle Kolbo

3 Easy Grad Gifts // Machelle Kolbo Design Studio

The month of May brings forth lots of events and opportunities to purchase gifts. Mother's Day has just passed and now grad party and wedding season is upon us! The easiest gift for grads is a gift card (seriously you can't go wrong with these), but if you are looking for something a little more personal I've got some easy solutions for you!

1. 8x10 Print + Frame

Prints and frames are a fun, personal gift that the grad will love!

A lot of grads are headed off to college, where decorating options are limited. College dorms need a little touch of personality to help them feel homey. Find a cute 8x10 print (like this one available in the Machelle Kolbo Design Studio Etsy Shop) and purchase a frame. This gift is a great way to give grads something personal that they can use to decorate their dorm. Let's be honest, a monogrammed towel does not have to be the only personal gift grads get.

Print: Machelle Kolbo Design Studio Frame: Hobby Lobby

2. Cards + Postage

We live in a digital world where everyone is just a call, text, snap, tweet or post away. While snail mail may be becoming a thing of the past I would like to suggest that it isn't. There is still something special about snail mail, especially when you are away from home at college. Gift your grad a set of cards, fun pencils (the ones pictured are from Rifle Paper), and a set of postage stamps. Adding the set of stamps makes it that much easier, and therefore more likely that they will put that set of stationery to good use.

Stationery, stamps and cute writing supplies is a fun gift to encourage snail mail!

Cards: Machelle Kolbo Design Studio Stamps: USPS Pencils: Rifle Paper Co.

3. Journal + Devotional Book

A journal + devotional book is an easy gift for graduates.

For grads that you want to encourage in their faith, gift a journal and a devotional book. One of my all time favorite devotional books, that I still use to this day, was gifted to me at my high school graduation. These are practical things that can help encourage graduates as they start this next chapter after high school graduation.

Our Dwell Deeply Journals pair perfectly with devotional books to help you get the most out of your quiet times. They are also perfect for encouraging someone in their faith.

Dwell Deeply Journals: Machelle Kolbo Design Studio
A Few Suggested Devotionals: Savor by Shauna Niequist or My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Enjoy these easy suggestions for grad gifts! I hope this helps you find quick, personal gifts for those you need to celebrate. Remember, if all else fails grab a gift card. :)