The OC Handmade Brigade Craft Show

I love to shop and I love talking about other peoples stuff. On Saturday I went to the OC Handmade Brigade Craft Fair. That in itself is truly exciting for to have Indie Craft shows in our county is new and exciting; and oh what a showing it was. And I did a little shopping.

I currently have this project going on in my toilet room. You see, it’s empty. When you sit there and forget a magazine you look at nothing. So after 6 years I started to think of how to spruce it up and make it something to look at if the magazine is forgotten. Here’s where my indie art friends come in. So yesterday, Steph Calvert of Hearts and Laserbeams sold us a very funny and suitable bathroom print that my husband chose. I believe this will be the only one of a “going to the bathroom” theme in the bathroom but we love it and we love Steph! Oh I also got a keychain that says “Suck It”! Hee Hee.

As for the rest of the bathroom that will come in another blog post. I will complete this post with the remainder of my fun finds at the Handmade Brigade show

I’ve been sewing lately and I really wanted to have a nice wrist pin cushion by the very talented Polly Danger (love her name). This one is especially cool because the pin cushion part is a pin and comes off and you can pin it to your self if you don’t want it on your wrist for instance. Love the colors.

Knitting is another distraction for me and frustration ensues when following a pattern and thinking I’m somewhere when I’m actually somewhere else on the page. So to save me, I finally purchased some pattern magnets but these are the coolest designed ribbon ones by Slipped Stitch Studios and come in 3 sizes in a pack for only $8. They can also be used for marking recipe books and as bookmarks. I know I will keep them in use constantly!

Aren’t roses lovely? Pretty Paris has an abundance of them in the form of earrings, rings, hair pins, necklaces, you name it. I purchased a pair of earrings for a possible gift. I have to figure out first though if the recipient has pierced ears. Darn. I may have to keep them for myself.

So next is Renegade Craft LA July 11-12. I need to save up my pennies and get more prints….and whatever else.

Creativity Runs In the Family

Last week was a big week for our family. My son graduated 8th grade. Now we'll have 2 kids in high school. It's really hard to believe. Just yesterday I was taking them to elementary school it seems.

During the graduation ceremony my son received a surprise. He won the gold medal award for Wood Shop. He's an honors student and gets good grades in all of his classes but has really taken to woodworking. In fact, it goes along with his hobby, which I'll explain in a second. This honor meant a lot to him because he really felt he earned it. He even has invested in a power sander for home so that he can pursue his hobby even further and is even starting a business.
This is his hobby. It is fingerboarding. This is a fingerboard, minus the wheels and trucks. It's a small skateboard that you use with your fingers. He's now making the fingerboards out of different veneers and they are each one-of-a-kind. Here is a video of him in action to give you an idea of what a fingerboard can do:

Pow of Color for Summer

This idea came to me from the bridesmaids' rings I did recently. I sell my flower rings individually but thought it would be great to sell them as a set of 3 as well, so that the full effect of this ring can be had by wearers or you could wear 1-2 and tone down the pow of color and spikes. I also added new colors such as clear yellow, opaque yellow, a combination of pink and yellow, and now a silver and an olive green. Don't you love them? These are one size fits all and only $20 for a set of 3 only at Bonnin Designs .

The Colorful Bridal Biz

One of my best friends is getting married in June and I had the privilege of making hers and her Maid of Honor's hair pieces. They are simple silk flower barrettes with feathers and a rhinestone in the center. Pictured above is the Maid of Honor's. I'm holding the Bride's as a secret. Don't want to spoil it. I love how they turned out. I've never done these before and the simplicity and elegance of it just fits perfectly with my friend's style. Can't wait to see them in action.
These are the Boutonnieres for the same wedding. Using sterling silver beads and pearls, they are understated and elegant. I love how they won't die and can be kept. The girlfriend or wife will most definitely snag these babies after the wedding.
This is a set of 3 custom flower rings that are still in the sample stages for a different wedding. These are what the bridesmaids are going to be wearing- all 8. So there will be 24 rings. The wedding is periwinkle and yellow themed. That would be a fun wedding to go to. Can't wait to hear about it! Flower rings are available in my shop at $7 each.
And these are Red roses that I shipped 4 of to Montreal this week for a wedding the first week of June. The bride and her 3 bridesmaids will be wearing them. These are $10 each available in many colors in my shop.

So you can see that weddings can be fun and creative. They don't have to be white, they don't have to use pearls. And they certainly don't have to be expensive. I do custom work, so just ask.

Adhere Your Man, Or Anyone Else

Here's a little Tutorial for a little fun. I was walking by the TV yesterday and in a glimpse they mentioned that Beyonce wears her man on her fingernail. I thought "and why can't I?" I was on the way to the computer anyways. So I found an image and shrunk it down. You have to play around with image size but you'll find around 30-50 px depending on the nail. and print it out. Cut it out to shape to the nail. Use clear polish under the nail and add a thick coat and apply the image right away as the polish acts like a glue. Hold it down until it sticks. Then apply 1-2 layers of clear polish on top.

I put my man on my nail so I can see him as he works long hours. I thought this would be cute with dogs, or kids too. Play around. Have fun.

Red

I don't know why it took me so long to get red flower rings on my website, but they are now there and plentiful so go get 'um. They are a beautiful red and are the perfect summer accessory. 2 together as shown are they best way to wear them~