GMH to get you over the Wednesday hump

Here's a quick little story that is right out of some Hallmark made-for-tv movie, or like the scene in "Elf" when Zoey Deschanel's character gets the crowd to sing. (Just saw that on tv, so it's fresh in my mind).
Sometimes, the simplest of acts might take a little moxie to do, but they are oh-so-worth the smile it can bring. Thanks to GivesMeHope on facebook for this little gem:
"A baby girl started crying on the bus this morning and someone asked her if she knew Jingle Bells. The little girl didn’t answer, so the person started to sing. After about a minute I had counted nine people, including parents and myself singing along. Spontaneous bus choirs GMH"

Better Late than Never

Although I don't like being late with this, I'm glad I found a post for it. For your perky start to the week, I thought this post from GivesMeHope was sweet, especially in light of the gift-giving season. It kinda of reminds me of having a Secret Santa. I hope  you enjoy the sentiment and that it makes your Monday better!

There’s a girl in my school who gives every person in school a birthday card and candy for their birthday. She tries to deliver them anonymously through friends and teachers. She does this for all 800 of us and doesn’t even want credit. Her generosity and ambition to make everyone feel special Gives Me Hope

Progress!!

So I finally was able to spend a day focused on my painting furniture, and getting things ready for my first craft fair. I'm sharing a booth with two friends: Laurie who also makes lovely jewelry, and Ann, who creates cozy pillows using organic fabrics and fill. and it feels so good to be able to work virtually uninterrupted. I got base coat paint on two pieces of furniture, painted two jewelry racks for the craft fair, and organized and planned display stuff. So fun to make headway! I'll be sure to post photos of the finished items--well, when the are officially and completely finished!

Since this is my first craft fair, does anyone have any good suggestions that a rookie should know? I'd greatly appreciate input! Thanks!!

Tardy Tuesday

Okay, so my "Gives Me Hope" Monday is a day late; hence the title of this post. but I think you're in for a little treat. Women love "engagement stories"--or "how he proposed". After the initial squeal of excitement upon hearing the news, a woman's next question is unfailingly, "How did he do it?" Well, the little video below is a fun one. The young lady in this video was led to believe she was part of a time-out activity at a Chicago bulls game. If you want a little more of the story, there is a caption shown off to the side.

Click here for video link to youtube(dot)com

Fun, right? I got all misty-eyed and giddy while watching it. In front of 22,000 people this guy is willing to be on bended knee, asking his true love to be his partner in life. That's exciting! And important. But what is special--beyond her saying "yes!" of course--is that you hear the crowd go crazy, cheering them on. I doubt all 22,000 people are personal friends of this sweet couple, yet they cheered and laughed and got a little choked up for this couple they don't even know. Why? My guess is that it gives them a feeling of hope and anticipation of the endless possibilities in their future. Here's to Emerson and Gabby! Congratulations!

Gives Me Hope Monday

While looking for a hopefully inspiring post from Gives Me Hope, I came across this photo of a soldier watching over this child who lost her family and had been seriously injured by insurgents. His dedication and compassion gives me hope. I hope it makes you smile (and tear up), too.

Happy Monday!

The Perfect Vessel

Anyone who knows me knows how I love coffee. I am unabashedly and joyfully dependent on my morning dose of java, and notoriously non-functional until the proper dose is administered. The only thing that can improve on my morning experience is to have the perfect-sized trough--er, a mug--in which to place the elixir. This mug, to me, would help achieve my morning nirvana--I love the colors of glaze (it has my 3 favorite colors all on one mug--red, orange and turquoise-y aqua--it's large, and it has that wonderful look of handmade artistry that makes it a one of a kind piece. Click here  for SimplyDaisy's etsy shop and browse through her other works of art and find the perfect vessel for you.

Fashion and Friday the 13!

One of the many things that make me smile is the "Lucky Cat" you often see in businesses (especially sushi restaurants). You've seen it: white kitty with a paw raised to greet good fortune. Well, if you want to take luck with you, make sure you take some of these little buddies with you: string a few and make yourself a bracelet or on a key chain. You may not believe its good luck, but you can bet it will make you smile. You can find these little guys here:

What do you consider a lucky charm?

Woo Hoo for our Veterans

Today is Veteran's Day in the U.S., and I would like to send a shout out to our vets and troops! Our country, for as "young" as it is, has a rich history.  Our country is founded on ideals of independence, freedom, self-reliance, faith, and resilience of the individual. We have had thousands of young men and women put themselves in harm's way to protect our country and it's values. It takes a special individual to put their country and others before themselves. I thank them for that. I am grateful for all who have served our great country, and appreciate the things they have to go thru in order for me to be able to sit and type here at my desk. Thank  you for your dedication, bravery, heart, and hard work. Thank you for risking your own independence, freedom, self-reliance, faith and resilience in order for me to develop and enjoy mine. I salute  you all, and Woo Hoo!

Monday Gives Me Hope

"What?" you say? Some people dread Mondays because of work and various other reasons, I like Mondays because they signal a "fresh" week is starting. I like to start my week with a little positive note, and this site helps. It's called "Gives Me Hope" and you can friend them on Facebook. Here a sample entry:

My friend's younger brother just came out of 5 weeks of coma. When asked him what had "woken him up" he replied "I heard mom crying and I had to comfort her". GMH

See? I bet you're thinking "awwwwww". So I plan to make Mondays a good thing for  you, kind of like a spiritual cup of coffee for your week. Speaking of coffee, I gotta go get  my mug--coffee GMH! : )

How do you like to start your Mondays?

Colorful Wares

I'm not afraid of color. I rather like it--a lot. As a matter of fact my husband and I registered for Fiestaware instead of china for our wedding. And we use it everyday, not just the holidays. And the gravy boat didn't cost $135.00, which is fine with me.

So imagine my surprise when I came across these fabulous bowls on Etsy.  Perfectly charming and pleasingly eye-catching combinations of color. Ceramic Joy! (microwave and dishwasher safe, I might add!) They will certainly perk up any table top, butcher block, coffee table, side table, windowsill, open-faced shelves--you get the idea. Enjoy more here:  Wobbly Bowls by atelierBB ....and hopefully I will be able to add this kind of ceramic project to my own crafty repertoire.

Fashion Friday

I think it's fair to say that most people love fashion, and I-- like many--covet good fashion. Not all of us can wear just anything (and sometimes it's better that way). I have yet to see someone who looks stunning in a mustardy-puce anything.

Scarves fall into the category of fashion items that The Few can pull off. A too-round face or short neck, and a bulky knit scarf magically morphs the wearer into having a frog-like appearance.  And there is a fine line between beauty and function in a scarf. A "shrug" is tricky, too: it can either play up broad shoulders, add some broadness to narrow shoulders, or simply look like the wearer is sporting a baby's "onesie" with the bottom half lopped off. I found a site, however, on etsy(dot)com called crochetbutterfly that blasts apart my pre-mentioned preconceptions about scarf/shrug fashion.  Ms. Crochet Butterfly has a beautiful array of crocheted lovelies in a wide range of shapes, colors, and styles, and I find myself coveting yet again. Browse through her lovely shop and see what I mean. Her items aren't just for cold weather--she has plenty of pieces that are simply delicate accessories that could even work in warmer climates. I like to picture myself in the shrug below, with a scoop-neck top, my favorite jeans, ankle-high almost stiletto boots, and a fabulous bag hooked over my shoulder. And a coffee in the other hand... with a funky chunky ring on my index finger--ya know, to make the coffee cup look good.

What type of crochet fashion items can you picture yourself in?

Two Birds

I may have mentioned before, and it may be obvious by the crafts I do, but I love bold patterns. Paisley is always  fun in my book and I came across this lovely tote on etsy(dot)com, from Z Originals. The PLUS of this tote is not only do you get a fun and unique item to adorn your shoulder, a percentage of the item sold gets automatically donated to the American Cancer Society! This organization is close to my heart, as is the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Since it IS the holiday season, shopping online is easy to buy for yourself or others, and in many cases contribute to some fabulous organizations. Two Birds: a gift with charm, and a gift to life!

Woo-Hoo Wednesday

Creative outlets are therapeutic in so many ways--everyone can use the positive effects that art and creativity can  provide. And to make sure we get a dose of Woo-Hoo (ya know--the feeling of Yay that makes us want to hop around) in our week, I thought that maybe I would start Woo Hoo Wednesday. So here goes....

Imagine having the hobby you love turn into a Big Deal. What's a Big Deal? Well, like a company noticing your humble talent and wanting to employ you. My friend Tina Michalik had that very thing happen. Getting back into sewing after a few years away from it, Tina started her own blog to share her projects and love of fabrics. Lo and behold, a small series of events and a fabric company has asked her to create quilts using their fabrics. SCORE! Take a gander at her blog where she shares her talents: Little Blue Cottage and WOOHOO for Tina!

What Woo Hoo thing has happened to you lately?

Progress

I am happy to say that I finally got one of my chairs (mostly) painted. The chair needs a new seat, so I still have to construct that. But my colors have been chosen (a soothing sage-y green, a calming earthy brown, and a third choice, which remains a surprise until I can get it the finished chair art posted here), and I'm getting a picture in my head of what graphic that I'll be painting onto it. A lot of the time I won't even map out the entire design--I leave a bit up to chance and spontaniety, to surprise even me! : ) Can't wait to get it done and share it with you readers!

Isis of Outgrown Boutique here in Los Angeles has this sweet and pretty boutique in which she sells gently used hi-end baby and kid's clothing. But she won't be limiting her wares to just that; she also has some beautiful handmade jewelry in her store that deserves attention, and soon I'll be adding a unique piece of chair art, too. Her boutique has only been open a few short weeks, and already she has received great reviews and fans. Congratulations, Isis, we here at VHC wish you the very best, and happy shopping to the rest of us!

It's ON!

The heat, that is, is ON. It's 99 degrees in this part of So Cal today, so since I don't have an indoor air-conditioned studio (Santa, do you hear this?) I can't do any painting today. The paint dries almost as soon as you put the brush to the chair. I'm excited, though, to finally have gotten started on the next two chairs, especially since a boutique owner has expressed interest in carrying a couple of my items. I still have to meet with her, but I'm hoping this unfolds well. It will be posted as to if & when that happens!  In the meantime, look at this pretty eye candy highlighted on design*sponge for new house textiles:

http://www.designspongeonline.com/

Now and "Zen"

So I'm finally getting around to starting the next couple chairs, and a bench. I intend to sell the chairs, and the bench is for my sister. I haven't completely decided colors or graphics; sometimes that kind of inspiration just happens, and other times I'm in a ridiculous amount of mental anguish trying to decide. But usually, it's better if I just take my time and let it "flow". Then it becomes a "zen" moment.

Ahhhh.....Pillows

I found these two pillows on Anthropologie's site. I love to browse their site for inspiration--they always have fabulous color palettes and are a good indicator of upcoming trends. My friend Ann & I are partnering to make beautiful home decor pillows: I'll design the fabric and she'll design the pillows and stitch them up. Wish us luck! Since we both have other priorities, it's been a slow process thus far, but I'll be posting them as soon as they, er, um.... materialize. (Sorry, couldn't resist : )  )  Here are the coveted pillows from Anthropologie....

Changeable Table

Here's a fun idea! I've seen chalkboard surfaces put on kids' toy boxes, refrigerators and closet doors, and Kid-sized tables, but not a dinner table. This was featured on design*sponge as a before/after project, and it sounds like the owners of the table are having a great time with it. (Never thought as your dining table as FUN before, have you?) Take a look and browse design* sponge's other areas--I LOVE their site!

My First Sale

I'm very excited: I sold my first piece of furniture--a chair. I'm so excited that I don't even care that I'm barely making a profit because the shipping cost so much. I'm still excited because it means there could be an interest in the style, so hopefully other designs will "catch on". This is the chair I sold (on Etsy).

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=18689211

Surprise

So I'm surprised at my self that I'm even writing this, considering I don't know what my topic is going to be. I'm winging it.
I have been particularly busy with a fun freelance job, but now that it's over, I (in theory) have gobs of stuff I can tackle now. Officially starting my business, paint more furniture, make more jewelry, decorate some new "finds" I've made, organize my office (yet again... or does it ever reeeeally get organized?), do the tedious side of business like setting up invoicing and business software, etc., etc., etc. Or add to my blog.I could chat about the very cool Renegade Craft Fair that I and some friends went to in downtown Los Angeles. Always fun to see the types of creations and art/crafts that people have. Or talk about the Bead Show in Pasadena that we went to to quench what seems to be an endless need for beads and beads... and beads. I always get so inspired when I go to such events, then I go home and get stuck: "What was my idea? Will it look nice? Will someone actually want to buy it?" I don't recommend trying to second guess your crafting audience, as it stomps out what ideas you do have.

The thing is that here I am, wanting to start a craft business. I want to design my own destiny creating artful things that I enjoy, and hopefully others do, too. I want to be my own boss so that I can be home with my daughter, and be a good example for her of working hard (and smart), dreaming big, and succeeding in whatever I set my mind to. But what if my mind doesn't like to settle? I have mentioned before that I tend to overwhelm my mind and time with multiple projects. So I have some decisions to make. Pare down and focus! Stay tuned and let's see what transpires.

Independence Day

Here we are in an age when freedom is appreciated, but not truly KNOWN--at least not it seems lately. The fundamental principles on which this great country is based are crumbling. The very definition of what freedom means is under attack via endless debate. One Side appears to believe that to be free means to be free of the responsibility of consequences; the Other Side believes freedom means to be able to take risks, be a hard worker or be lazy, but either way you will eventually pay a consequence. Luck may be involved in opportunity, but hard work opens the door to success.

There is so much that has been forgotten of the rich history of this country. Is it perfect? No, but the philosophies upon which we are based nearly are. This year, make a promise to yourself that you will learn more about the true history of this country: The Federalist papers; or maybe you would enjoy a foreigner's view of what this country means to independence (Democracy in America , Alexis de Tocqueville). If you feel that America is "broke" I would state that it's because we have gotten AWAY from our principles, not because OF them. Stay away from revisionist textbooks--they only muddy up the waters, and suck you under. Be sure to look as objectively as possible, and find texts that are original in context. Not someone's lame "interpretation."

I love this country; I love the roots on which it is based (although I am not happy over all the events that have taken place--slavery, for example-- in its history, I still think the foundation that was intended (a.k.a Bill of Rights) is great).

May you reflect with happiness those things which make America unique, and great. Some things do not need to be "changed" so much.

OMG

How does the time slip away so fast???? I just noticed it's been nearly a month since I posted last--and I have lots to share!
A few months back I bought 9 wooden yard sale chairs for about $28. Not bad. They all need different levels of TLC, but all are diamonds ready to be de-roughed. I had them in storage in a different state, but Dear Ol' Dad brought them with him during his latest visit. So I now have 9 new opportunities for the playful palettes I love so much! I hope it cools down enough for me to actually work on them. It gets too hot, paint just dries before you finish your first brush stroke. This time I'll remember to take the "before" shots and record my progress. Happy playing!

Wow--What a present!

Okay: a couple posts ago I mentioned something about using a lot of P-words in my daily vocabulary, mostly pertaining to Potty Training my 3-yr old. Well, the difficulty was not teaching her the proper methods, she was just having hesitancy for still-not-so-clear reasons. So here are more P-words: Perfect, Present, Pride! Yes, the day before my birthday, she finally jumped off her Plateau and did the deed. She actually USES the potty now! Woo Hoo! Pleased as Purple Pineapple Punch!

Someday...

Well, my birthday is coming up, and just like so may others, we are on a bit of a tight budget. But I will be grateful for whatever we do to celebrate. Family, dinner, and cake. YUM! But in the meantime I still like to daydream of coming home to a little studio shed that I could call my own and devote as my art studio. That day is quite away aways; besides, we don't have the yard space, unless we uproot all of our hard work to make part of out yard to look like a freeform randomly planned garden. This is what I mean--it looks like a wildly grown garden, but placement of everything was planned. Here's a peek:




But someday, i hope to include a studio space instead of our poor overloaded den. Like this:

Limbo

It's late. After midnight. And still struggling what to write about. One of the few times I don't have other pressing work to do (meaning I can focus on my fledgling home business venture instead), and I can't think of what to add to my blog. Or maybe it's more like thinking of too much to add. Craft spaces, cool indie art items, craft fairs, fabric, home business, home business in economically shaky times, fresh ideas (where are they??), start a second blog, but on clean eating and lifestyle (and maybe I should start doing it)... no wonder i needed the Advil. Or maybe I should be designing more fabric ideas. Or maybe I can get inspired if I just web surf awhile. Or maybe I just sit at the computer for an hour, typing in random thoughts until one hits home........Nope, I still got nothin'.......and still nothin'. I'll just leave you with a cool photo from design*sponge. My mom's birthday is May 31st (although she would insist it's may 32nd), and she always loved horses, so this seems fitting. Beautiful, colorful, spirited horses.

And speaking of...

Karen over at Venezie Bags will be holding a giveaway! She is highlighting craft spaces, and giving away items that will help you maximize, optimize and organize your craft corner in your home. I'll be including one of my decorative craft boxes to be one of the prizes. It's a sturdy mdf material, hand-painted by me with a bold floral graphic in shades of deep aqua and sagey green that came from my own teeny brain. Here's what it looks like:




I know she is including several other items into one big prize, so check it out on her blog. Click here to visit and read up a little more on how you can enter.

Hate the sin, Love the sinner

I covet. I covet a lot. Looking at fabulous, bright, bold, sunny, playful, gusto- and personality-filled fabrics makes me covet. I see them and I want to eat them like cheesecake--just bite into them and allow the goodness to saunter its way down to my happy place. The only thing I covet more than that is the ability to sew. Wish I had it. Want to learn it. It is one of the activities I have queued up my list of things in which to indulge some day. I'm almost--ALMOST-- as happy rolling around in pretty fabrics as I am getting pampered at a spa. Almost.

So imagine how much fun I have looking at this blog and etsy shop: Venezie Bags. Cute stuff, that really looks quality & made with loving stitches. Items that hit my "covet" switch on. Someday, I'll learn to sew; but until then, Venezie Bags is on my list of places to covet. http://veneziebags.blogspot.com/

Thinking Out Loud

Well, I guess I missed the chance to write a touching Mother's Day tribute on Mother's Day, huh? Hate to be so clichè, but "better late than never". Usually, anyway. But then to write a tribute ON Mom's Day would have been clichè as well. Hmm.....sorry, just thinking out loud.

So I have been a Mom for almost 4 years now. It has been the quickest four years of my life...other than college. College went by fast, too. But in college I wasn't responsible for another person, especially a tiny one. There is SO MUCH that I have forgotten about the first few months of motherhood. I get a little melancholy when i see tiny little onesies: Was my baby ever really that small? I barely remember what holding her felt like; now she's stands as high as my waist, and I have to grunt to lift her. And now I have to negotiate how many books to read before bedtime. And so much of my vocabulary starts with the letter P--Poo, Pee, Potty, Please all usually is crammed into the same sentence. And you never realize how many types of vegetables are green until you try to make your little one eat any of them. When she was a baby, any mush would do. Before I had a child I used to roll my eyes at toddlers on "leashes" until I had to travel alone several times with my toddler cross country and it was the only way I could guarantee she wouldn't get separated from me in the swarm of holiday travelers at the airport.

I miss how tiny and small she was, that she could fit in the crook of my arm: It went by so fast, that I almost long for it all over again. I'm pretty sure that's how God makes sure we continue to make more babies, is that we forget all the things that happen in the early months. There are so many things that go by in a blur. And I don't think I've taken enough photos and video. And my baby scrapbook still only has 3 newborn photos in it; maybe I should be catching up on my scrapbooking instead of painting chairs. Or blogging. : ) .... Just thinking out loud.

UNIQUE LA Craft Fair

Unique LA Craft Fair ROCKS. Here is a link to their blog to see what kind of things go on there: click here The extra perk is celebrity sightings (well, it IS L.A.!)
There is such a wide array of talent and quality items. I'm already jonesin' for the Holiday 2009 UNIQUE LA show.

Keep Craftin'!

Before and Afters

Design*Sponge always showcases some great before and after projects--the last few have been really eye-catching and fun.
Go browse and get inspired at: http://www.designspongeonline.com/category/before-and-after

Happy Weekend!

The Unmistakeable Clarity of Hindsight

After posting a couple projects and mentioning some great places to learn and create in the SoCal area, I decided to post something a bit more personal. One of the wise things to do in this life is, well, gain wisdom. Not the surety and cockiness that we all go through at some point as a teenager (and, no doubt, as older folks, too), but true soul deepening, connection reinforcing WISDOM. And let's be accurate here: knowledge or highly-esteemed education does not guarantee wisdom. Wisdom, I would say, is this: Gaining foresight through thorough recognition and study of hindsight. Blah, blah, blah, you say? Then try this old adage: I wish I knew then what I know now.

I have always been artistic; I inherited this from my mother who was an artist in her own right, and had such a joy in the simple beauties and fun of Life. When I was younger, I was constantly drawing or painting. But my Mom tried several times to get me interested in sewing. And although I always liked the idea of being able to make something from "scratch", I didn't have the patience to learn about cutting and placing patterns--i just wanted to be able to sit at the machine and sew. It's doesn't really work that way, Duh. (that's a stunning revelation, huh?) I could draw, why did I need to sew, too? (insert eye roll here).

Now that I've matured a bit (well, kind of) and have a daughter of my own (almost 4 yrs old), I wish I knew then what I know now: The simple joy of sharing with my daughter the time, energy, love and bonding that goes into the passing down of creativity, of sharing in a home art. Being creative has always brought me joy, and what a great thing to be able to pass onto your child. But, as mentioned before, I lacked that kind of foresight. Now that my own Mother has passed away, I (unfortunately much too late) finally "get it" of why, for a time, she tried so hard to get me to learn to sew (and cook, too). She not only wanted me to have a practical knowledge, but she wanted to share and relish the moments of Mother-Daughter time.

Now that my little girl has shown interest in fabric, color & crafts, my head is spinning with all the possibilities of things we can make together. But it's a bittersweet feeling whose downside is this: along with that recognition of possibilities come with the sadness of realizing what joys my Mom & I could have had, had I not been so shortsighted. It breaks my heart to know that I denied my Mom that experience. If I can pass anything along to my daughter, I hope, at the very least, it will be wisdom.

More Stuff!

I'm really excited for a new project: My sister is having me paint a cool, spindle backed bench (used on her front porch), and she's giving me free reign on what to paint on it. Maybe Skulls, or something like that (just kidding, Donna). I'll have to remember to take before and after pics for this one, too!

The Latest Chair Project

First of all, I have to apologize for forgetting to take the before photo of this before and after project. Hopefully you can imagine what it was like by my description--trust me, it needed some TLC.

I found this chair at a yard sale. Still sturdy, but a well-worn finish, and a faded and worn out red seat. It had a caned back, but part of it had popped out of its frame and couldn't be repaired. First of all, this gave me a big fat excuse to buy some of Anna Maria Horner's fabric from her "Drawing Room" line. I love her eclectic and vibrant fabrics, and I thought this would be the perfect project.

So I painted the frame of the chair a slightly blue slate-grey, which was an accent color in the fabric.



Then I put the new fabric on the seat (standard staple gun procedure).



I then took a piece of 1/4" thick plywood (I used plywood because of the thinness and because I knew I would be covering it), traced the outline of the back panel on it and cut with a skil saw. Then I covered one side with bamboo batting and more fabric, cutting carefully so that the certain parts of the design showed. The next step was to cover what would be the back of the panel--no batting, just the fabric. I used a regular crayon and "traced" the shape of the panel, cut, then staple gunned.







The result:

Urban Craft Center

This has got to be great! I can't wait to try this place out. The Urban Craft Center is located in Santa Monica, and is a big studio space where you can go to use your creative mojo. Classes are offered on sewing, felting, spinning your own yarn, soap making, scrapbooking and more. Prices look quite reasonable, and you can pay for a one-time visit, or a variety of monthly packages. Just looking at photos of the place makes me want to leave in the middle of typing this....





I'm back! Just kidding, I haven't really gone yet. But my plan is to visit The Urban Craft Center and have a go at one of its amazing classes and report on it in an upcoming post. They also have a retail space where you can buy supplies for creating a variety of crafts as well. Take a look at their website, and see why I'm salivating.

At Last

I'm finally getting around to posting again--it's been a busy couple weeks! I've started a hallway mural at my daughter's preschool which will be fun. I'll have to be careful taking photos afterwards: since it is a hallway, I think I'll need to use a wide angle lens in order to get larger segments in one snap. The scene is an animal parade, with the animals playing various musical and percussion instruments. It will be fun to see the kids' faces when it done, too.

Also, I apologize for not posting local craft fairs lately--I do have a bunch that I will be posting to the blog very soon (hopefully before they sneak up on me)! Check back either later this evening or at least within the next day or two.

Make a great Tuesday for yourself!

Lola Baby

At the Pink Parlour Craft Fair I found this fabulous Lola Baby little wrap around skirt for my 3 1/2 yr old, and she loves it! I was immediately drawn to the fun fabric print. The maker is in Glendora, CA, and you can get there from here

Nice fabric and patterns and reasonably priced, especially for unique, handmade designs (the photo is straight from their website).

Pink-a-Licious

As promised here's a brief report:
So my sister-in-law and partner in crime extraordinaire Laurie hopped on over the The Pink Parlor Craft Fair (see previous post) that was held at the Santa Anita Rack Track in Arcadia, CA (suburb of L.A.). Not too large and not too small, it was a well-organized event with a great variety of wares and wearables. I love these fairs; everyone is so happy to tell you about their stuff, yet aren't pushy, either. They just LOVE their stuff and what they do! 7 great girl-fronted bands played and provided great entertainment. And as if entertainment and passionate crafters weren't enough for you--the was even more incentive to hang out longer to try to win raffles and other prizes. I would have loved to win the guitar giveaway, but it's probably best it goes to someone who actually knows how to play. There were a lot of great jewelry items, hand bags and totes, one-of-a-kind rockin' wearable art, felted work, doggie clothes and baby clothes. And the guy at the soda kiosk was pretty cool, too.
A very good day, full of inspiration!

Oooo--Ooo--Oooo!! (aka Woo Hoo)

I'm pretty excited: I just discovered a craft fair that is very close to my home, and just a day away.
Here: the Pink Parlourr It sounds like fun. I'll give a report and add photos to review it next week!

Another Chair

Okay, so here is the next "after" chair. I had bought it at the same time with a matching chair. The first chair was painted an aqua base color, and a vibrant red Dahlia on it. You can view it here, in my archives, and also on design*sponge archives. This chair was in the same sturdy but worn-looking condition. I didn't worry about matching it to the first chair, as I didn't really intend to sell them as a set. Some of the design is a bit less detailed, and I decided to use a less bold color combination--partly to see the feedback I would get. Comments are welcomed, if you feel so inclined.

Happy Thursday!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

So today is the day of things all Irish and green, in honor of St. Patrick. According to legend, St. Patrick chased all the snakes out of Ireland, among many other good deeds. (Spiders would have been my preferred banished critter. Ick.)

So the fun of St. Patrick's Day is wearing of the green, shamrocks, leprechauns, and eating and drinking green things. I like to think of it as another chance to bring out your cheerful side. And what a beautemous spring day to do so (at least here in the Los Angeles area). Hope you enjoy your day safely, and in your search to find the "pot of gold" at the end of a rainbow--may you always find the right end.

Once again, fabulous info

Here is a link to a post on design*sponge that caught my eye and perked up my ears. As a woman who is relatively new to the craft-as-a-business world, this list a refreshing motivator to keep me active and pursuing my goals, even during a sluggish economy.

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/03/biz-ladies-2009-whole-saling-through-tough-times.html/comment-page-1#comment-69519

Renegade Handmade Indie Craft Fair

I went to this L.A. one last year and loved it. A fun variety of vendors with unique items. If you can go, I would suggest it. If for some reason I can't get to the Los Angeles one, I hope to make it to the San Francisco one. Besides, it would give me an excuse for a getaway weekend with some friends!
Here's the link: http://renegadehandmade.com/blog/?p=66

Maybe I'll see you there!

Just in Case

Just in case I run out of projects to swamp my brain, I've bought a beginning resin kit, and some silver metal Art Clay to experiment with. The results will be posted with a play-by-play on how it was to work with these materials. I'm really excited especially for the metal clay--I'm already brewing up designs in my head of what I'l try. Wish me luck!

so close....

I am this -------> <---------close to being done with one of the chairs! Naturally, I neglected to take a "before photo" and there's no turning back now--it's painted. It's re-upholstered (mostly). The chair had a hexagonal-ish cane back weave that was damaged, and to replace it would have been, well, just stupid expensive. So I bought a sheet of wood that I'll have to cut to fit; but then I'll upholster it nicely, and the chair will actually look better than if I would have been able to salvage the cane-back. Photos will come when I'm finished. So until next time, happy waiting!

New items coming

Okay, so I'm in progress on 3 more pieces of furniture: 2 chairs and a small table. The chairs will have some fabulous fabric added with a fresh coat of paint. The table is a favor to someone else and will get a cool graphic. If it's warm enough, I should be able to get them done soon. Lately it's been too damp or cool to paint, and I'm worried about how well the paint will dry. Cross your fingers--it could happen SOON!

Design*Sponge

One of the things I love about the design*sponge blog is the weekly before & after entries that people send in. Some changes are subtle and just right, others are major overhauls--both are always fabulous in their own ways. One artist, who has a shop called knack studio always has furniture I covet. For one, I always wish I had found a TLC-deprived piece of furniture (she always finds GREAT pieces), and two, I am almost always crazy about the results of her work.
Be sure to take a look. And if you haven't yet discovered design*sponge, you better get crackin' because it is full of great info on home design, shopping, and more.

Jewelry Show

I was scouring message boards for the LA area looking for some upcoming shows, and found this one.
I've never been before, but it sounds like it will have a lot of great stuff. It's in March, so you have plenty of time to plan! I'm inking it onto my calendar as I type!
Below is only a PARTIAL description that is included in the link below:

"select dealers will offer a wide variety of gem materials, beads and tools. PLS members will demonstrate lapidary crafts, silver work, wire-wrapping, gemstone carving, and beading. For the kids, the “sand scoop” game offers an opportunity to sift for gems and other prizes."

GEM, MINERAL, AND JEWELRY SHOW
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/eve/999833672.html

A Wee Gem

Here's a mini project I just finished up. A little paint and gold paint pen, a printer, and glaze was all I needed to spruce up this bare trinket box from a craft store. I thought that this would be a nice little compliment to some of my jewelry, especially if giving it as a gift; then it would be more like a complete package. The gold vine design was sketched out first with a very pale white pencil, then gone over with a gold paint pen. That was the only tricky thing about it. Aside from having to wait for the paint to dry, it only took me about a half hour.

Finally

Well, I am happy to say that I've had a productive week thus far! I'm finally getting around to painting two more pieces of furniture, one for me to sell, and the other for someone else. I also added to my jewelry a bit, which is good, although I definitely have more to do.I am so lucky to have a husband that supports my in my quirky quest to create, create, create!

Also, I've been added to a great site full of Moms, called MOM MADE THAT, which supports women who are trying their hand at working at home. Take a look at the site: Amy offers a slew of vendors and information that will interest you, I'm sure.

AND if you live in or are interested in goings-on in the Los Angeles area, take a virtual stroll thru Baby Friendly L.A.

That's it for now--I have more creating to do!

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Where have all the days gone? Zooming past me, apparently! A lot has happened since my last post: a new President sworn in, bailouts, nervous groundhogs, naughty baseball players--something for everybody. Some items will affect me more than others. But something that DEFINITELY affects me is that Domino magazine has closed its doors. The THIRD "shelter magazine" that has succumbed to the many pressures the media business faces. Relentless competition and constant upgrades and changes in how people get their news and ideas. (The other two aforementioned magazines were Martha Stewart's Blueprint and House & Garden). Woe is me. I always looked forward to seeing the fresh ideas and trends they brought. I even had dreams (aka, delusions) of someday submitting one of my home decor pieces, in hopes of getting it highlighted. Another thing I liked about these three magazines were the fact that they were perfect for winding down at the end of the day. It was often part of my evening ritual to cozy up in bed curled up and ready to flip through and savor every page. I loved the ease it would bring to mind. Ahhhhh....

(SMACK!!) Okay, that rattled my skull enough to shimmy my brain back into reality. So where is my inspiration gonna come from now? Well, I guess I'll have to rely on--wow--Nature and God and stuff. Fantastic botanical gardens; patterns in a cultural display in a museum; my daughter, picking flowers;nighttime and the moon; dusk; sunset; the ocean; the mountains where I live; a thrift shop or two Yeah...I think that's a good plan.

Yay for Beads!

My sister-in-law and I went to a fabulous Bead Show in Pasadena this past weekend. It has about 200 vendors with all kinds of goodies for jewelry-making and various other crafts. Beads are crack. I found some fabulous little lampwork beads to use in a necklace and some bracelets. Just when I get over the "buzz" I get from a dose of bead-buying, I crash and have to find some other trinket to add to my repertoire of ideas. Just when I think I'm going to be able to walk away, I spot a dazzling bunch of semiprecious crack--I mean, beads. The question isn't really if I should walk away, but how much should I walk away WITH?

Are these things related??

So the Elves didn't show up...something about a union contract. I got my projects done anyway (phewww!)

I'm already behind on blog posting because I was waiting to see if I could think of some cool, hip, humorous, and/or deep subject matter. I was hoping to avoid the ever-popular "resolutions list" that is ubiquitous this time of year. Not only are they OVER-abundant thy tend to be REdundant, too. Weight goals...budgeting goals...quit smoking...stop putting thumbtacks on Dave-the-coworker's chair.... Go on--you know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm sure you could easily add to this list. But naturally, I waited too long for the writing fairy to zap me, and now I'm struggling for a timely topic. Maybe I should write something to do with procrastination...no, I'll wait on that.