Fabulous Find

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Did you do anything crafty? Check out this fabulous birdie barrette I found, how cute would this little guy look nestled in your hair?!

Happy Friend by sweeteverythings

The Body Shop Tea Tree Giveaway Winner & Review

The Body Shop was awesome enough to send me their entire Tea Tree Line to try out and give my fabulous readers a review. I just noticed that I forgot to put the Tea Tree Concealer (one of my favorites) in the picture, probably because it was in my purse! I love that the Tea Tree Concealer not only hides away your blemishes but also helps to clear and prevent them.

Another one of my favorites would have to be the Tea Tree Face Mask. I must say that I became quite addicted to this mask- just ask Mr. Designs by Vanessa, who had to live with a green-faced wife this past month! The mask is definitely something that I would purchase in the future. Unlike some masks, this one didn't dry out my skin but instead left it feeling refreshed. I was also a huge fan of the Tea Tree Toner, which also didn't dry out my skin but left it feeling smooth.

My favorite thing about the Tea Tree Line is that these products aren't harsh on your skin- no parabens or other yucky stuff that we shouldn't be using on our bodies. A favorite thing of Mr. Designs by Vanessa (I got him on in the product testing as well!) is that these products just smelled fresh- not too girly but just right. He really loved the Tea Tree Body Wash, which also helps fight blemishes.

And because I'm not ashamed of my green face...


Now for what you've been waiting for, to find out if you're the winner of this fabulous giveaway. Thank you to everyone who entered The Body Shop Tea Tree Giveaway! The winner will receive the entire Tea Tree Line.

I randomly picked the winner via the random integer generator at random.org...

Here are your random numbers:

41 

Timestamp: 2009-08-31 01:36:01 UTC

Donna is our winner! Congratulations! I will be contacting you shortly for your contact info so The Body Shop can send you this awesome prize.

Fabulous Find

Happy Friday my crafty pals. How incredibly cute and unique is this necklace?! The bird is hand cut from felt, embroidered and attached to a pearl necklace. I'm off to etsy to add this to my favorites!

Green Bird Necklace by belokrinitski

Wishlist Wednesday

The Prettiest China from FoundVintageStyle

Gift Tags by Bluebirdlane

Vintage Style Hostess Apron by spicerackdesigns

How-To: Shirt Full of Posies

After taking some inspiration from Pretty in Pink (the parts where Andie, aka Molly Ringwald, refurbishes old/ordinary clothes into something new and fabulous), I decided to make my own ruffle/corsage shirt. So without further adieu, I give you my very first (but not my last) tutorial!

You'll need to get 2 shirts- same style/color. Buy the 1st shirt in your size and the 2nd shirt in the largest size available. You'll be cutting up the 2nd shirt and the larger the size, the more fabric you will have. I bought these 2 shirts at target on sale for $4 each, a grand total of $8 for this project!


For your posies, you will need 3 different sizes of circles. I used what I could find for my stencils- a spool of ribbon, a spool of jewelry wire and a container top. Just use whatever you can find or just eyeball it, the sizes are completely up to you.


I used a fabric pencil to trace my "stencils" onto my 2nd shirt. If you don't have a fabric pencil handy, you can always trace your circles onto paper, pin the paper to fabric and cut away.


Now start cutting out your circles. I found it easiest to layer my fabric and cut out 3 circles at a time.



Keep cutting until you have your desired amount of posies. 1 Small, 1 medium, 1 large circle makes up 1 flower. It is completely up to you how many you want to make and how "full" you want your shirt to look. I wanted a really full and ruffly look so I made around 18 posies. Don't worry about your circles being perfect.



Next, sew your posies to your shirt. You can either machine stitch (3 stitches front and 3 stitched back) or hand sew them on. Pinch the flower before sewing to get the bunchy look. I started out on my sewing machine but I quickly moved to hand sewing because I found that it was much easier to bunch and pinch the layers. This doesn't need to be perfect- the messier the bunching, the better.


Bunch the posies close together. I staggered mine a little, still bunched in tight, in a zigzag pattern. You can see that my circles are already looking like posies after only 3 have been sewn on. I could have stopped here for a different look.


Keep sewing until you have a shirt full of posies- super cute and very affordable!



If you try this tutorial, please add your photos to the Designs by Vanessa Tutorial Flickr Group so we can all see your shirt! Don't be afraid to try this, it was actually very simple to accomplish.

Back to School

Back to school time is here again. When I was younger I loved school supply shopping. I'm not exactly sure what got me excited to shop for pencils, maybe it was the feeling of starting fresh or knowing that I would be able to see all of my friends again. I might just go out and buy me a pack of number 2 pencils today for old times sake ;-)

What's on your school supply list?

Typewriter Necklace by CuteAbility

Blackboard Ring by Evrydiki


Staplers by TopsyDesign


Spectacles Ring by Isette

Brassiness

Fall is almost here (well not in sunny AZ but in most places) and I have a new line of cards and jewelry that I'm excited to show you. I'm loving the antiqued brass look at the moment, let me know what you think. I will be listing new items weekly so check back often.

Darling Swallow Necklace

Blue Jay Earrings

Pretty Birdie Cards

Wishlist Wednesday

Spray Rose Necklace by PersimmonTree

Essoyes Painter Dress by tortillagirl

Lavender Solid Sugar Scrubs by DancingMooney

Tutorial Tuesday: Ruffle Necklace

Check out this super frilly and incredibly adorable Ruffle Necklace Tutorial by Happy Together. This looks easy enough to do and would look cute with a summery dress, I might just have to attempt this!

Interview With An Etsian: Meet Toni

VernonAve has been one of my favorite Etsy shops for awhile now. I'm constantly hearting items in this shop! Toni of VernonAve is a talented designer from Kentucky who has a thing for handbags. Meet the fabulous Toni...
In a nutshell, tell us about yourself.
I am a designer that likes to sew, paint, cook, bake and create. My traveling and living all over the US from Sun Valley to Miami Beach has inspired me tremendously. Other inspirations come from family and everyday happenings. I have been sewing, crafting and designing since I was a child. Vernon Avenue is a creative venture after many dreams, aspirations and out of pure necessity.

I have been making bags for friends, family and small boutiques for about six years. I have been selling my one-of-a-kind handbags on Etsy and doing craft shows for about two years.

I specialize in handcrafted handbags made from new, vintage and recycled materials. I really adore the new vintage inspired and retro modern fabrics in cotton, as well. I love haunting thrift stores. I have been going thrifting since I was a child. I had the coolest aunt that collected vintage lingerie, clothing and handbags.

My adoration for handbags began with my grandmothers Julia Belle, Elizabeth and my mother Michelle from a very young age. It is in my blood. The beauty, craftsmanship and design of vintage handbags are amazing. And there began the collection and intrigue. I have many bags that were my Grandmothers that she carried to parties, the Kentucky Derby and such. I love that history. I really enjoy reading about the history of handbags. “The bag is one of the most universal and oldest objects invented by man. What began as a prosaic item of everyday use is now a luxury good that can confer status in an instant. Whether it’s a bag for kings or vagabonds, shamans or celebrities, nomads or professionals, griots or fashionable women, for workaday use or formal events, people around the world use them to carry their most important belongings: from seeds for the humble farmer, to money for the self-made mogul to personal items such as lipstick and a compact.” –excerpt from an amazing book, Carried Away by Hélène David-Weill and Jean-Louis Dumas, Vendome Press and Hermès. You can learn so much about a person by what someone carries in their bag. Whether it is a secret or a necessity, I hope to be a part of that for girls and women for years to come.



Apart from crafting and creating, what do you do?
Making and creating is everything I do. I love it. I am a professionally trained graphic designer and it has grown into art directing, marketing, pr etc. I feel so lucky I get to do what I love ALL the time. I love to paint and draw. I love to cook, bake and find vintage modern furniture for my home. I love being with family and spend most of my social life with family. Since I have lived all over, most of my close girlfriends are spread all over the country, which is great. I can have great places to travel and visit friends. I am engaged to a wonderful guy who is just as creative as I am, which makes for an awesome relationship.

What inspired you to open an Etsy shop?

I was inspired to open an Etsy shop because it is so community based and has given me an opportunity to be so involved with the handmade community. It gives you advice, and exposure that an individual website just does not give. The employees are always helpful, as well.

What is your favorite creation in your shop?
My favorite is my Mod Squad handbag. I just love the fabric by a great designer, Melissa Averinos, and the big button.


Where else can we find you?
I just started a blog and it is a lot fun to just put your thoughts, ideas and opinions out in the world. I use facebook, I do a little bit of promoting for my shop, but I mostly use that for personal. I also belong to the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team (lots of great Kentucky artists) and the Carried Away: Etsy Bag Makers Team.

Handmade Moonshine Blog

What is your favorite Etsy shop?
Cruel, very cruel question. There are so many! One of my favorites is rikrak. I love her colors and fabrics. I also love all the vintage shops as well.

List your favorite book, movie, song & website.
Another cruel question.

Book: Wacky Chicks by Simon Doonan, The Lover - Marguerite Duras, Any Ayn Rand and Anais Nin

Movies: Groundhog Day, The Lover, Momento, Napoleon Dynamite

Song: Absolutely cannot answer. So many and so little time.

Website: Etsy


Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Doing lots more of the same. I would love to be making bags full time, painting more and have a much larger studio.

What is your favorite birdie (as in species of bird)?
The Cardinal. I love the color red and it is the Kentucky state bird.

Fabulous Friday Finds - Creative Thursday

Happy Friday! I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. Check out these absolutely adorable prints by Creative Thursday. I'm loving her style!

threes a charm

home sweet home

love birds in orange hats