I Made These Just for You!

At the very last craft sale of 2011, a lovely customer purchased EVERY single paper flower I  had.  The timing was great, and it was the perfect way to end the year.

With my supply depleted, I had to start from scratch and build up my inventory.

I spent all day yesterday and this morning making paper flowers.   I made 100 stems, all in valentine colors, and I'll be bringing them to the sales I'll be participating in this weekend.






 Here's my little studio mate, who supervised the whole process.

 

Please stop by if you can and pick up a bloom or two for your Valentine!  I'l be at Second Saturdayz Market in Seattle on Saturday,  and Sunday I'll be at Kings Books in Tacoma for the TIFL Artist Craft Fair.   For more information, please click HERE.

Two Sales, Tiny Hats and Valentines

We had four consecutive days of sunshine here in Tacoma.  If you live in the Northwest, you understand what a treat it is to have so many glorious days in a row during the month of  February.

The timing of this weather couldn't of been any better.  I've had to spend a lot of time preparing for two sales this coming weekend, and there's nothing I enjoy more than making things in my craft room on sunny days.  

I've got lots of new things in the works which I would like to share with you, and I'll start with what's exciting me most right now.  

In December, I did a rather large order for a lovely bride who was getting married on New Year's Eve.  The order was for 150 head pieces for her female guests - some tiny hats, some headbands, some flowers.   After the order was complete,  I was itching to make more hats.    Thankfully, another order for tiny hats came in from her event planner.     And after that order was complete, once again, I was itching to make more hats. 

So, that's what I've been doing.   Making tiny hats. 

They'e made mostly of paper, so they're very lightweight,  and easy to wear.  They were designed with brides and maids in mind, but they're also perfect for a fancy evening out.    

I'm enjoying the process so much soI think I'm just going to keep rolling with it for awhile and see what develops.    Here's a peek at the new pieces. 

 I've also been making TONS of these cute gingham flowers in springy colors. They have clips on the back, so you can wear them in your hair.

 

Besides the hats and hair flowers, there have been lots of valentines in the works.

 Like these tiny little guys... They measure just 1.5 inches by 2.75 inches.

 



 Also,  some valentine badges with squirrels in love, hearts and birds...

 





 These were a big hit last year, so I made another batch of chains around your heart...





I'll be bringing all of this new inventory to the Second Saturdayz Market, Saturday February 11th.

It's a wonderful show - vintage goods sprinkled with vintage-inspired crafts - and it's organized by my crafty friend Linda (of LULUZ) and her craftin/junkin' pal, Debra.

The show's in Hanger 30 at Magnuson Park on Sandpoint Way in Seattle, WA.

Hours are 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Come for early bird shopping (8:00 - 10:00 AM) and pay $10 to enter. Arrive after 10:00 AM and pay $5.00 for general admission.

Click HERE for complete directions and  more information on the show.

On Sunday, Feb 12th,  I'll be at Kings Books for the Tacoma is For Lovers Artist Craft Sale.    If you've attended before, you know what an awesome show it is.   There's always an incredible and eclectic selection of quality vendors from Tacoma and beyond.

Hours are 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission is free!

Kings Books
218 St Helens, Tacoma 98402

For more info, click HERE.

With Valentine's Day so approaching so soon, there won't be time to post any of these items on Etsy, but if you see anything that strikes your fancy,  please send me an EMAIL, and we can work something out.

If you're free and in the neighborhood, please swing by the sales this weekend!

A Holiday Wonderland on a Tabletop

When I retired from flowers a few years back,  I kept one client. We usually do just one event a year - a client appreciation luncheon.   This year, she asked me to work with her on the company Christmas party.    I was thrilled that she asked.  I love doing flowers for her, and I love Christmas, and I knew it would be a whole lot of fun.

It was.  In fact, it was probably the most fun I've ever had while working with flowers.  

The event was held in the Presidential Suite at the Westin Hotel in Seattle.  It's a beautiful space, and the view from the suite is outstanding.  The twinkling lights of downtown make the perfect backdrop for a holiday party.

My client has a lot of props to work with, so we met prior to the event to pull a few pieces for the 20 foot table we would be decorating.  We chose a few trees, candles, and baubles and had a great brain-storming session.     

I left our meeting feeling really inspired, and began charting out the plan.  I ordered all the flowers, selected containers, and began making the non-perishble  details for the party.   

Setting up the party was an all-day affair.  A lot of the pieces were made in advance, but the assembling of all the elements still took a great deal of time.

The table scape was lush, and packed with many little details.  I really wanted to create something special for the guests - something rich and layered and filled with surprises to be discovered while they dined.  

In the center of the table, we placed a large acrylic tree.  The branches were decorated with mercury glass icicles and moss nests occupied by sparkly little birds.   When illuminated by the candles beneath, the tree looked like it was made of ice.





We also placed several wire trees with little pearls on their branches down the center of the table.  The branches disappeared,  leaving the pearls to hang in the air.



Our friends at Choice Linens provided the linens for the event. They did an amazing job draping our gigantic table.



The flowers on the table were thick.   Black Magic roses, hydrangeas, cymbidium orchids, amaryllis,  greens and berries filled the mercury glass vases.













Low and tall candles in birch and mercury glass ran the length of the table and illuminated the display.



Tucked between the candles, trees and flowers were little vignettes built inside birch tubes.  The scenes inside were little woodland creatures exchanging miniature christmas gifts.   Little "fires" were made using twigs and faux votives.

   


















In addition to the floral displays on the 20 foot table, there were many other flowers placed around the suite.






And of course there were poinsettias.  You can't have a holiday without poinsettias.




I was there when the guests arrived, and everyone seemed to really enjoy this display.  It was fun to watch them circle the table,  discover the details, point them out to each other, and smile.


I took SO many pictures of the event  - too many to put in this post - so if you would like to see more, you can visit this Flickr set.

Itty-Bitty Gifts

If you know me at all,  you're probably aware of my fondness for tiny things.    For as long as I can remember, I've liked anything little.

This week I've had the pleasure of making these itty-bitty gifts for a party that a very special client of mine is hosting.  We're creating a long floral  tablescape on a table set for 20 guests.  These tiny gifts will be tucked into the display along with some small birds.

I can hardly wait to put it all together.  The goal is to create a display with lots of little surprises for the guests to discover during their dinner.

Below is  a little peek at the tiny gifts.    I'll be taking lots of pictures of the whole display, and share will them after the event.

I have to say, wrapping these tiny gifts was just about the most fun I've had all year.  

See You at Sandpoint for the Last Sale of the Holiday Season!!!

 Today (Saturday, December 10th) I'll be selling my wares at the Second Saturdayz Market. It's a wonderful show - vintage goods sprinkled with wonderful crafts - and it's organized by my crafty friend Linda (of LULUZ) and her craftin/junkin' pal.

I'll be selling wreaths, pins, paper flowers,  garlands, ornaments, and a few other treasures, too.  For those who follow my kitty blog, I'll be bringing kitten cards and Sparkle Balls along.

The show's in Hanger 30 at Magnuson Park on Sandpoint Way in Seattle WA.

Show hours are 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Come for early bird shopping (8:00 - 10:00 AM) and pay $10 to enter. Arrive after 10:00 AM and pay $5.00 for general admission.

Click HERE for complete directions and  more information on the show.

Hope to see you there! It's going to be a good one!!  The December show is always especially awesome!

It's my last sale of this holiday season, so if you need some Fa La La Laurie this Christmas, please do stop by!

 Thanks!

It's Sparkle Season!

Generally, I try to keep my glitter and bling to a minimum, but once the holiday season begins, those rules go out the window.

This time of year I do enjoy adding a little extra sparkle to everything, and I just got done trimming our dining room chandelier.

I am a total holiday nerd and if it was socially acceptable (and not a fire hazard) to keep a Christmas tree up year round, I would probably  do it.

Indie Banditas on Bainbridge!

I added one more show to the holiday roster...  The Indie Banditas Traveling Bazaar on Bainbridge Isalnd!   It looks like it's going to be a great one - the vendor list is outstanding.   Pop on by if you can!  It's this Sunday, November 27th.   Details on the poster below, or pay a visit to their website to learn more.     

Thanks for an Awesome Weekend, Tacoma!

 This was a full weekend!  I started off Saturday sitting on a panel moderated by Katy Evans (of Post Defiance) along with artist Chandler O'Leary and writer (and Metro Parks Commissioner) Erik Hanberg.  

The panel was part of the Tacoma Art Symposium and we discussed how artists can use social media tools to promote their work.  It was an interesting discussion and the audience had lots of great questions.

As soon as the panel wrapped up, I dashed over to Kings Books for day one of the Artist Craft Fair. It was an awesome day.   Traffic was steady, and I think it was a successful day for all of the participants.   Thank you Tacoma for being so supportive of your local artists!  




Day two wasn't quite as bustling as day one, but still a very good day.

There were lots of new folks at the sale this year,  like Libertine Tacoma, and Matthew Porter.  We saw many of our regulars too.   I love seeing all that's being made in and around Tacoma.   It's always inspiring.  I  enjoy the opportunity to talk with other artists and crafters at sales like this. When you work from home, you can feel a little cut-off from the world.   It's nice to spend a couple of days connecting with people and finding out about what everyone is up to.

I brought  lots of inventory along for the sale including ornaments,  pins, birdcages and wreaths.  This was my first craft sale with the wreaths and I always feel a tad nervous when I introduce new things. Thankfully, they were well received and I spent Saturday night making several new ones to replace the ones that sold that day.



There's lots more making ahead, holiday craft sale season is just getting started!

Next up is Glitter Haus this Friday!    I hope to see you there!! Please don't forget to RSVP.

    

See You This Weekend? I Hope So!

Just a little reminder..

The  Tacoma is for Lovers/ Kings Books Artist Craft Fair is happening this weekend!  The TIFL sales are always great, but the holiday one is always especially awesome.  For more info, please visit HERE!

There's a mighty-fine line up of artists on both days - lots of new people too!  I'm excited to see what everyone's been making a get a start on my holiday shopping, too.  

 I hope to see you there!   I'll be there with bells on.  Literally.

Sneak Peek at Some New Wreaths

This holiday season I'm introducing some new paper wreaths to my collection.  They range in size from six to twelve inches in diameter and they're made with glittered and patterned papers in shades of aqua, gold and green.  

 Custom orders in the colors and size of your choice are available, just send me an email to discuss the details.

If you would like to see them in person, please visit me at one of the sales this season.  Click HERE to see where I'll be next.