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Patchwork Shows 2012

I just had to sit down and write an update on my very first art show and share some things in store for the next! They are only a week apart, it's like a whirlwind and I've just realized that I'm actually here. The stress and chaos of the weeks leading up, have been so overwhelming that I forgot to be excited that I've made it here. I remember planning a year ago, which art shows I would  apply to, and now I'm in the middle of them all. So much is happening all at once. Not long after I moved to Hollywood, I dreamed of joining the ranks of some of the best comedic actors and following in the footsteps of some of SNL's finest. Recently, I came up with the money, auditioned, and now I'm already halfway through the first level and I just realized that I'm actually doing it. I'm studying with the Groundlings! Something I've only dreamed of for years. How did I miss when that happened? The only thing that exists is what lives in this very moment. How easy it is to overlook life as it happens.

Okay, now for the actually update. Patchwork LB was awesome. My spot was right on the water and the day was sunny and I had my wonderful mate to help me through it. I have learned SO much already from that one show. My booth set up was really fun and because my space was longer than expected, I was able to leak back a bit and make a sort of hallway. Unfortunately, I think this was a little confusing to shoppers and the back section was difficult to get to. For Santa Ana on Sunday my setup will be a bit tighter and more accessible. I also kept loosing things so I'm totally going with my initial instinct to bring drawers to help organize a bit more. I had a minute to peruse other vendors' booths which may have been one of the best things of all. An artist close to my booth hand painted teeny tiny pictures on canvas circles and made them into necklace pendants, and he had a big framed sign right in the middle that explained the process. Totally helpful. I'm not sure that all my shoppers knew that my creatures were all hand sculpted and one of a kind. Even though it's a handmade show, you never know what that means to some people, though I think the Patchwork gals are pretty thorough when jurying vendors. My larger items drew in the crowds like the hot air balloons, but they seemed to want to actually purchase the smaller items. So I've expanded the necklace and ring collections, and I'm working on a few other small pieces. Here's a sneak peak to some completed ones that will be at the Santa Ana show this Sunday!

little caterpillar necklace

golden long neck necklace

fox glass globe ring

little caterpillar moss ring

dinosaur scene glass globe ring

Crafty fox necklace

There is SO much more I'm just getting a little frustrated with this photo uploader but come out if you're in the area, this Sunday, May 27th in downtown Santa Ana at Sycamore and 2nd street! We'll be there from 11-5 and then that's it for me until July when I head to downtown LA for Renegade! So come, enjoy the food trucks and say hello! I've got 20% off coupons for my shop and first dibs on the newest creations! See you there!

-B

I Want Wednesday...Felt

When I was little, my grandparents had a mobile home near my papa's job where they'd spend their weeks and return on the weekends to their home in Heritage Ranch, CA where I grew up. I credit my Gram for a lot of my creative desires and abilities. She had a huge art room in her big house with clay, piles of fabric, at least two sewing machines and a closet full of yarn bigger than I'd ever aspire to own. So not surprisingly, she filled the few square feet of their little trailer home with with a sewing machine, and who knows how many spools of yarn, as she'd spend her days when my papa was at work, creating amazing things and listening to Rush Limbaugh (you must love people as they are...especially your gram.) One summer my cousin and I visited for a week and she took us to what I can only remember to be a Michael's or some equivalent, and had us pick out sheets of felt for a craft project. Probably because it's easy to work with and doesn't fray like other fabrics if you don't hem the edges. For that reason I used it to create the letters of my new craft show banner last night and while I'm quite proud of the result, this is about how far my expertise in felt goes. I don't remember what we created that summer but I'm sure it wasn't nearly to the level of talent needed to create some of these masterpieces! You can find them all on etsy.com and in my favorites! Enjoy:)

Stuffed Alphabet letter magnets by MiChiMaLAND on etsy

Mossy floral Mushrooms Pincushion by FoxtailCreekStudio on etsy

Sunday Breakfast by Milkfly on etsy

Patchwork!

A week away from Los Angeles, performing in the Bay and I've returned to a mess. Don't worry, It's my own, and it's quite lovely. I've got half-made hot air balloons, finger puppets, caterpillar bobby pins (wait till you see them, I've had em on my to-do list since January!) and a whole list of others waiting to be completed or even started before...are you ready for this? DA DA NA NA!!!!!! The Spring Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival! I applied to the Santa Ana and Long Beach shows and was graciously accepted into both, so mark your calendars! Sunday, May 20th and the following Sunday May 27th. 

Isn't the postcard just adorable??? I may have to frame this one because...this is my first big art/craft show all on my own! But my mother has certainly prepared me through the years, following her around her own craft shows, and I've dreamt up some pretty spectacular displays, packaging, etc.! I can't wait to share with all of you and I hope to see you there! This is not your mother's craft show! I'm thinking if you're a fan of the beard/mustache craze, love original screen tees, and animals with pants and glasses, you won't want to miss it! Did I mention food trucks?...

See you there!

B

And he's down for the count. (cleanse update)

I can't blame him really and to tell you the truth I feel a bit relieved. I don't mind making myself suffer through a cleanse but it's too hard watching someone that I love do it.

So as I started my day with another 16oz of green juice, Chase enjoyed one of the gigantic avocados that Keith (our thoughtful neighbor) brought over for my birthday. He did last through the whole day. I'm quite proud. In fact, he was in much better shape at the end of the night than I was. I was feeling nauseous with back aches and a headache that lasted from yesterday afternoon till I finally fell asleep. Today is not so bad,  I'm on my third green juice as I write this and I've been up and cleaning and getting things done! No headaches yet or other awful symptoms. Hopefully I'm all detoxed out from yesterday. So, day two. I'm still craving food, I'm really looking forward to some sesame noodles when I'm all through with this. And hard boiled eggs. Weird I know but the heart wants what it wants.

By the way, gideon just hopped out here, smelled my green juice and turned away. He's a rabbit. He eats hay and parsley and only produce and this isn't appealing to him??! Yeah...it's pretty hard to swallow (did you get that pun?) but it will be worth it in the end! I'm considering going for 3 days now but we'll see. Ahhhh I want food!

Did you watch that documentary from my last post?

-B

I've attained the impossible.

I've convinced chase to do a juice cleanse with me. And here I will share with you for the next couple of days our mood swings, and there will be many... (did I mention I'm starting this when my lady time is due?) and withdrawals from modern processed foods and animal products, as well as triumphs, and clear skin, and insides that feel like marshmallows and all of this will come after about three days of course but suddenly we will be happier people I promise!
I'm documenting this in part for a good laugh yes, especially because I've got Chase on board and we're going to do it together but mostly because i truly believe in it! This is not some radical fad diet or an unhealthy cayanne pepper lemonade cleanse, it's A LOT of vegetables and fruits (about 20 lbs per day in fact) squeezed into liquid to allow our digestive system a break and to cleanse and rebuild the body we have terrorized with horrible meats and cereals and candy...my poor body, I'm surprised I'm not diabetic yet with all the sweets I pack into it. We will loose a bit a weight although this is not what the cleanse is intended for, and hopefully once we've finished, we'll start a healthier way of eating. I'm not saying I'm going to give up anything I normally eat but a more plant based diet is my goal and I want to do a 3 day cleanse once a month after this to give my body the break it needs.
I've done this before once, for about 3 days and it's the best I've ever felt in my whole life. I can't explain it, it's just amazing. this time I'm going to do at the very least 5 days...hopefully more. Chase is trying for three. The program I'm following is similar to the blueprint cleanse which charges $65 per day for their fresh juices. I can do my own with my juicer and mostly organic produce for around $20.
Okay so here it goes. I've been up since 7:45 this morning and already have the first green juice down. There are two more in my day along with a pineapple apple mint one, a spicy lemonade, and the cashew milk reward at the end of the day which I can only describe as a horchata flavored, wonderful thing. You work through the day to get to the cashew milk!
Chase is already avoiding the green juice as he wakes up and insists he must take a shower first...Let the struggle begin!

If you want to inform yourself more on cleansing, google the blueprint cleanse, they have lots of useful information on their website and if I was rich, I'd just buy theirs because let me tell you, it's a lot of work getting all the juice out! AND i just watched the most fantastic documentary on two men who you would LEAST expect to do it and if they can you certainly can too! It's on hulu right now!!!

http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead

I Want Wednesday!

Sometimes I come across items from my fellow creators on etsy and I just squeel in my heart with admiration and inspiration. I have been meaning to devote a blog update once a week to that incredible talents and finds and I drool over for quite some time but I couldn't come up with a decent alliteration. I WANT all of this. So that's what is will be called. I Want Wednesdays. And you can come see what I want! JUST KIDDING! You will most likely adore many of these creations as well, so here I go, digging into my etsy favorites....

Maxi Skirt from Lana Stepul on etsy

Herbal Lip Balms from PhoenixBotanicals on etsy

 I don't think I simply want this skirt, I'm quite positive I need it. It's made from a soft jersey fabric and what's even better is this mother and daughter team will custom-make their pieces to fit you perfectly! A God-send for a 5'9" girl with nothing but legs! Check out their shop there are a lot of staples every closet needs!





I love anything Rose. And the Little Wing flavor sounds divine too! Eco friendly, Organic, Super Natural...This shop is brimming with treats for your body. I want.

                                     


 I have an obsession with Macarons lately. Of course they are like a little drop of happy in your mouth but they are just so pretty! I think all food should be pretty. Miniaturepatisserie is one of the cutest little corners of the internet. I work with clay too and my creatures are small but these are just teeny tiny!

Miniature French Macaron display by miniaturepatisserie on etsy