Bonnin Designs Holiday Gift Guide

As an editor for Rare Bird Finds, I scour the web daily to find my readers unique home and kitchen accessories. So here, on my personal blog I wanted to share with my readers businesses and the products that they sell and I just adore in a Holiday Gift Guide. Many of these businesses, I have purchased products from, love, and therefore want to share with you these original businesses, Others, I have written reviews on and covet. And lastly, I personally know all but one of the owners of these businesses and can attest that they are great people and care tons about their products and the customers that they sell to. That's who I want to give my money to! Don't you? I hope you enjoy what I've put together. Please visit these sites and see what else they have.

Sommer Designs - Violet vines Linen Apron on Sale, plus free gift. This would make a great hostess gift.

Fiberphile - MCN Worsted True Heart Yarn. Knit or crochet a great scarf for a friend, or get the yarn for someone you know that knits. About 2 skeins would make a great scarf, one skein for a hat.

 Found and Made Designs - Owl, vintage chandelier crystal necklace. This would be the perfect gift for  a stylish friend or family member.

 Hearts and Laserbeams - Sit Happens Dog Tee. You know a dog lover and this is the gift for them. They would really appreciate that you thought of their dog.

 JustJenn Designs - Sh*t List. I know everyone has one. Give this with a set of fun pens to a co-worker. Done.

 Mareike Auer - Dog Lover print. The clean simple lines of this art would be appreciated by any dog loving artsy friend.

Meringue Bake Shop - Cupcakes! They are available in so many flavors. These are available in Southern California and delivered fresh. What a perfect corporate gift, order some for a holiday party, or get some for yourself.

Michelle Caplan - Norah6 Mixed Media Collage Portrait. She also does amazing commissioned pieces. You know a dancer? Perfect gift!

 Mud Puppy - Modern White Baby Head Vase. Give a little humor to anyone! I have one of these and people love it!

 Nan Lawson - Love is a Book 8x10 print. A reader would love this hanging in their home.

LA Cupcake Challenge

 

This past Saturday I was privileged to be part of Meringue Bake Shop's Team at the LA Cupcake Challenge. My friend Kristin Ausk, who is Meringue Bake Shop asked me to help her for this event. I took part in helping with picking the flavors for the cupcakes (my favorite task). As did a few other friends. Also I helped with the table display, the huge raffle giveaway prize, and the display signs. Plus I donated a Cupcake Ring for the raffle that she had at the event. At the event we all helped at the table with giving the cupcakes away, describing and hyping the cupcakes and making sure Kristin was going to get known for all of the hard work that she put in slaving over these amazing cupcakes! 

What were the flavors? First was Pretty Woman: a Champagne cupcake with a strawberry topping and Pop Rocks on the top that burst in your mouth like the bubbles do when you sip a glass of champagne. Clever!

Next was Pigs on Tap: A Chocolate Stout cupcake with Bacon and a Bourbon Buttercream Topping. The Stout really makes the chocolate fudgy and yummy and the bacon gives it a little salt. Amazing! People were coming over to the table telling us they had to try it because people were telling them about it. (people were talking! Awesome).

 

Here is Kristin finally relaxing after getting all of her cupcakes iced. This is Clara of I Heart Cuppycakes with Kristin. She is our Twitter friend and Cupcake blogger. So glad to finally meet her IRL! We also saw more friends like Elise of Cupcake Activist and others  that are camera shy like Just Jenn and @foodlibrarian but that's ok. Read Jenn's Blog post about the Challenge. It will crack you up. She is hysterically funny.

So overall, it was a fantastic event for Kristin. She got a lot of exposure and a lot of positive feedback. I think this girl is going places!!!!

Edited to add: oh and how could I forget: when we got there and got off the service elevator  we were loudly told to move aside "crowd coming through" and whoosh, inches from me walked Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. With both arms, I was carrying this massive basket for our raffle. My camera in my purse which was hanging from my right shoulder. I knew this but I could do nothing. Johnny looked at the cupcakes expressed an "ooh", looked at the basket with interest (yes Jenn, he probably saw your "Bacon Love" cards and said hi to me. I said "hi". It's all I could do. He walked by so fast. I wanted to stop him. I needed to take a picture. But he was gone. As soon as I got around the corner all I could do was Twitter it. At least Kristin's husband Lyle was there. So I know it wasn't a dream.

And. Yes he was hot. Yes he looks as good as he looks on film. Yes he isn't super tall but not short either. No I didn't smell him. There was really no bad or good smell or I would let you know. He was wearing a beret type hat and small sunglasses. I'm still melting....

My Unique LA Experience

This was my first big show. I never had a booth. Typically only a table to contend with so walls were a whole new ball game. Jenn of justJenn Designs and I shared the booth and she made the poster in the back with my cupcake ring. I love it! Thanks again Jenn. So I took one side of the booth.
And Jenn took the other side of the booth. Her stationary items were a hit! Snarky is the way to go. They look so pink and demure from a distance, but up close, watch out.
This is how I displayed my mixed media jewelry photo art and feather-flower hair barrettes. Very colorful!
My couple earrings were a big hit. They got lots of laughs. See the pair on the top left, the wedding couple, this guy bought his fiance that was there with him these. It was so sweet. I melted. That's how it was supposed to be. Whatever's left will be listed in my etsy shop this week.
Here's my cupcake necklace and ring display. They got lots of giggles and oohs and aahs.
My flower rings are always popular. I added lots of new colors that also will be added to my shop this week.
The fun thing about shows is that I beg my friends to come and visit me and they do. Lisa came all the way from Santa Barbara with her husband, Rudy. Love them. She's wearing my red flower ring set. I unfortunately got overwhelmed and forgot to take pictures with all of my friends. Duh!
This is Ren. I finally got to meet her. She's a writer also for Rare Bird Finds. She finds "Cool Guy Things". The funny thing about Ren is that she's a good friend of Jenn and came to our booth to see Jenn and realized I was here too. Small world or what! I hope to see lots more of Ren, and Jenn. I think I need to change my name.
This is a sampling of the crowds at the show. Lots of people. Some overwhelmed. They seemed to forget how to walk or open their wallets.
I loved this lady's look. No offense but she had to be over 50 and she was rockin' this look. She was more indie than most other people there!

All in all I would have to say it was a fun weekend. Somehow food and baked goods kept popping out of nowhere to Jenn's side of the booth and so I never had to starve. Thanks again for that too Jenn! Normally I starve myself into a migraine. Also, I realized that the type of product that I have was at the right type of show because of the feedback that I got from customers. I will continue to do more shows. I would like to do more local shows however because I really want to establish a local following in Orange County as well. So that's a goal for 2010!

I'd Love To See You This Weekend at Unique LA

It's finally here; my first big independent artist show. This weekend, Dec. 5-6 from 11-6 at the California Market Center Penthouse, is the Unique Los Angeles Holiday Show and I'm a vendor. I'll be sharing a booth (719) with justJenn Designs who has the coolest stationary and paper products and we can't wait! If you click on the poster above it will bring you to the Unique site with more details like directions.

I've been preparing since September actually.

I've made new products, made new displays, got a new banner, and have lots of fun promotional deals just for the show, so you must come. I really need your support. I'm super nervous too, but don't tell anyone. I'm sure once I get set up and going I'll be ok. I just really want to do well. I think I have some cool stuff, I just hope other people think the same thing. Please stop by and at least say hi.

I would love to see you and know you're supporting independent artists. We really appreciate that!

Plus, if you stop by my booth and say you read this blog post, I'll give you a FREE gift. (small bribe) It's worth it. Don't feel shame.