Blend Creations

I've posted about Blend Creations before, but now they're having a cool blog contest. So, what the hey, it's true, I wouldn't mind getting some cool stuff from them. This Canadian couple makes some gorgeous pendants, lots are from mah jong tiles--which always make me think of my first year in college when I played it all the time with a friend. I even have my own mah jong set now--but no one to play it with.
But back to Blend Creations. While the mah jong pendants are fun, I really like the mother of pearl pendants. I'd wear it with this chain. But besides the jewelry, Blend Creations has some might cute card sets, like the Playground series. So much talent!

The long goodbye

We are slowly dissembling our apartment. The futon we got in Madison, WI is gone. Our deck furniture is gone. We threw out lots of stuff including the kitty "shelf" we made but the cats never seemed to enjoy that much, and took even more to the Goodwill. Boxes are filling up. Mr. Pink loves it. He rolls around in all the paper piles and jumps in all the boxes. Moco is a little more wary. But he's happy as long as we're around.

We get the keys to the new apartment on Friday. It's the first time I've had done an overlapped move. Usually I have to get out and drive across a few states and then move in. It's such a luxury to take it slow. But at the same time--I just want to get it over with already!

New Toy and Art Star Revisited

I got a new little toy for myself over the weekend--a button cover kit. It's so simple and fun. I immediately made a set of ant fabric covered buttons from my leftover buggy fabric. Aren't they cute? I'm planning on making stawberry fabric buttons soon. This tool/toy will certainly be fun when working on new bags.

I put them up for sale in my Etsy shop. I also found another vintage camera case while thrifting this weekend-it's up at Etsy as well. I know, I'm supposed to be clearing stuff out in preparation for my move and yet I can't resist going to the little thrift store down the street!

Now, I can't believe I forgot to tell this Art Star story. This woman and her young daughter, maybe 2 and a half years old, came by my booth. My Mustachio tote was right out front and the woman spotted it. I heard her say to the little girl, "Look, it's a mustache, is that like your mustache?" She explained to me that the little girl has an invisible mustache because her dad has one. Turns out her dad's is more like my Biker Mustachio Tote so I showed that to the little girl and she was just tickled. I thought it was very cool that she had an invisible mustache.

doubledutch boutique

For any of you in Baltimore, there is a spectacular new store in Hampden called doubledutch boutique. It carries amazing handmade and indie goods. I told George to shop there for my birthday. And I'm very pleased to say it now carries some of my bags and pins! The shop is just pitch perfect, the logo, coloring, deco--and of course what they carry. I have a feeling it will work out better than some of my first consignment experiences.
There are some photos on flickr here.

****************Update*****************
George and I just got back from the grocery store and on the way back we drive right past doubledutch. I let out quite the squeal and clapped while we drove by because I spotted my Aloha Tulip bag Aloha Tulip bag in the window display with a lovely summer dress. I made the window!

$10 off almost every tote bag in the shop!

For a limited time I've got a Tote Bag Sale going in the shop. Just about every tote bag is $10 off, so many are just $20!
Tote bags really are the essential summer bag. Take them to the park, the beach, the pool or on a picnic. You can stuff everything you need in a tote.

Art Star Review and Trades!

Finally, the long overdue Art Star update. I can partially blame blogger--it was giving me a heap 'o trouble this week. Let's begin.

The weather was fairly uncooperative on Saturday. Ugh. I don't have any walls for my tent/booth so we had to improvise and tape up some plastic sheeting to protect things. It was also windy so everyone was running around trying to find things to weigh their tents down. Luckily my dad was kind enough to get some cinder blocks for me which worked well. But we had to weigh down my coat rack because it blew over twice.

That being said, people still showed up on Saturday and I had a great response to my new bangle bags.

I had some lovely neighbors, and some time to run around and say hi to others. George is the one who really walks around. He's such the little social butterfly. I talk to people and they're like 'Oh yeah, I met your boyfriend." Ha! This is the first show where I actually did some trades. Take a look at my loot! It makes me very happy.


Curious Bird traded with me and I got this rad pillow and the sweetest little coin purse. She has some fab vintage fabrics.


From my neighbor Kate of Flederhaus I got this little tin with men petting a giant bunny. Too funny. And I got a map pouch to give to George.

One the first day Lusterbunny and I traded and I got a gorgeous pendant that I wore the next day--and some magnets.

We also spent some money at Mogo and met Ann and Dabney. And George got himself a "man bag" from reiter8.


We didn't know there were so many others from Baltimore. We met another couple who run Imogene. Plus I got to see Jennifer's Cotton Monsters up close.
I wish I could mention everyone. You'll just have to go to the Art Star to see everyone who was there. Plus, some people may be there on the 24th for the raindate! Not me, I'm moving the day after.