Spring Button Bracelet
So, I used some fun, flowery Blumenthal Lansing buttons to make a button bracelet. It was super quick and easy, using a technique that requires no tools. Go here to see video instructions to make one yourself.
Use your Vitamin C!
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/02/20/made-by-you-monday-88/
http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com/2012/02/riverton-houseswives-round-up-5.html
New Colors
If you don't know about lampworking, these glass rods are the glass that is used most of the time to form beads. It gets melted in a flame, and a bead is formed while the glass is molten. The rods are about the diameter of a pencil.
To the torch!
Umbrella Day
Today is Umbrella Day. Not kidding. Every February 10th. I like umbrellas. They are sort of mini cozy places. And, wouldn't you know? It is a good day for an umbrella here. We have snain (half snow, half rain).
I even have a pinterest board of umbrellas.
My gift to you today, probably the best use of an umbrella. Ever. Enjoy!........
Or, maybe you like this tribute version better (with fake tap dancing, hahahaha):
Either way, I wish you the simple joy of a walk in the rain!
Take your Vitamin C!
Trendy Seed Beads
As always, I see a handful of really obvious trends. On this trip, the trends included lots of pearls, tiny tiny chains, and sparkly crystals. But, for this post, I am focusing on seed beads.
Take a jewelry trending trip yourself and see what you find.
Take Your Vitamin C!
In Other CHA Randomness
I like the variety of displays and booths on the trade show floor. Some are really creative. This one, so simple, caught my eye. I like its simplicity and doodley-ness. Doodles are trendy and at the same time have a retro look that perfectly fits the product being sold in this booth.
We had dinner last night in a new restaurant called The Ranch. The walls in the entrance area were covered in hundreds of belts. It smelled so good. The hostess told us the belts came from all over the country and had to match certain size and visual standards to be included in the wall.
Then I caught the red eye home. 5 hours of sitting next to two people hyped up on a Hawaiian vacation..... They made it their mission to not allow me to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, they asked to be let in or out of the row, or they had some weird comment to whisper in my ear (Do you think they left the lights on in the Grand Canyon tonight?), or I got a beer spilled down my leg. Yes, I was so tired I was twitching when we landed. Going away is fun, but getting home is good too.
Take Your Vitamin C!
CHA 2012 Day 1
One of the best parts of my day at a show is meeting crafters. Although I have met some "way out there" folks, for the most part, crafters are a passionate lot. I try to get their stories about where crafts has led them. More and more, the industry is global and I get to meet people far from home like Koggy. Today, I taught 2 women from Japan, a couple from South America, and one from China.
I also meet people from all over the USA. I had four women from Oahu today... and a lot of locals. Crafts take people on paths I never would have imagined. At the table today, I had a darling girl who runs a non profit company that makes scrapbooks for "Make A Wish" kids. She takes the pics from their big wish trip and turns them into pages. And makes no money from it.
And while some stories are heartwarming, some just make me laugh. One of my ladies told me when she was young, she married a man from Italy, as she said, straight off the boat. He spoke not one word of English. They both went to college and she earned a degree for each of them. Because he spoke no English, she did all of his work. She said, for each assignment, she would write an A paper for herself and a C paper for him. In the middle of that, she had a baby! She got him his degree and one for herself before she collapsed of exhaustion. Literally. I asked her what in the world drew her to a man she could not speak to, who would not learn the language, and allowed her to do all of his college work for him. She said, He was tall, dark, and Italian, and a musician. I was young. Need I say more?" While she is no longer married to him, she said they had a daughter who has turned out to be the brilliant owner of a multi million dollar company. She is happy with that result.
So many stories. Good ones.
Take your Vitamin C!
Random Pre-CHA Stuff
I sort of snuck into a program this afternoon that was meant for retailers. It was 20 of the top new products in the industry. Each manufacturer was allowed 60 seconds to sell said new product. Wow, some did great. Some really need copywriters. I have been in this industry 23598 years and I have seen it all, so most of this was not really new.
But, I share with you three products that impressed me in some way. I will categorize them as What is the Point?, I am Not Sure, and I Would Buy That!.
This is a glue gun that you plug into the USB port of your computer. At first, I thought, cool! Then I wondered why. What reason could you have to plug your glue gun into your computer? Seems slightly dangerous. Kind of a novelty, maybe, but does not seem practical.
I am Not Sure
This is a shoe application by Kodak, called Shoe Attitude. You run the film through your computer, so you can have any design in the universe on your tennis shoes, even photos. Then you glue the film to the shoe. They used a glue stick. Yes, a glue stick you buy at the drug store. You and I both know that is not going to stay on there. They say it will last a couple weeks. I am doubtful. Their idea is that you will want to keep changing the design on your shoes. It did look cool, but I was not completely sold.
I Would Buy That!
This is an interchangeable upholstery tack. They come in stone and gems. You pound the tack into the furniture...headboard, sofa, chair, ottoman wall, etc. Then the head screws onto the tack. You can then unscrew the head, and change it to a different look if you want. They made quite a statement. Pretty cool.
And, even though this glass installation was a Chihuly knock-off, it was pretty and it was 2 feet away from me at dinner tonight.
Taking the toothpick that are propping my eyes open out, and going to sleep. CHA 2012, day 1 tomorrow.
Take Your Vitamin C!
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