A Los Angeles Love Affair

I almost forgot! This weekend I spent a bit of time on the SkyScraperPage Forum. They have a wonderful thread called called "Noir-ish Los Angeles". Of course, no one thought to use the hyphen so it just looks like its meant to say "No Irish Los Angeles". They muse on this in the middle of thread, attributing the lack of visitors to the site to this mistake of puncuation. Anyway, there are some amazing photographs, maps, city plans and drawings, etc of Los Angeles and the area. Be prepared for a few murder/suicide photos because what "noirish los angeles" thread would be complete without them? What I find fascinating are the freeways, most of which look empty! And of course its amazing to see that in some areas, entire neighborhoods have disappeared without a trace to make way for skyscrapers, metro stations, and other modernisms. If you have a few hours to spare and love all things noir, do check this out!

Goals - I Have Arrived

Its wonderful when you realize that your "things to do" list reads like a "things I love" list:

• Organize thoughts for craft fair table: this includes making some of the items that, like a fine wine, get better over time. In this category are solid lotion, bath brew, body butter, etc.
• Make & print pamphlets, signs, and postcards.
• Finish homework - yes this is something I love! The feeling of completion is amazing!
• Music Mondays! This includes posting and offline organization
• Make headway on one of my forgotten craft projects
• Spend some time with Carlys, who is one of the most awesome people Ive ever met
• Clean up the studio
• Daily writing and meditation

Right now Im suffering one of my usual (though not so frequent anymore) migraines. Luckily I have Ben here to help out, and a lovely record to listen to. Saturday afternoon Ben and I went to Buffalo Records in Ventura, and I picked up two great records: Mussorgsky's "Pictures At An Exhibition" and an orchestral singalong record with all Mamas and the Papas music. Im just loving having classical music on LP and must procure more.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

The birth of greatness

As many of you may know, today is my birthday! And I just got the nicest surprise in the mail. My friend Sabrina made me 2 mix CDs and this lovely little book of friendship quotes. I dont often receive such heartfelt handmade gifts, so I was incredibly touched. My favorite quote was the one on the last page: "Good friends are like stars; you dont always see them, but you know theyre always there." Most of my friends live on the East Coast, so this spoke to me.

Thank you Sabrina for taking the time to brighten my day!

Be sure to pop over to Sabrina's blog (linked above) for a fun read.

Staff Picked at 1000 Markets

This afternoon I got an email from 1000 Markets letting me know that they selected my Rubber Ducky soap for their Staff Picks section. What a lovely surprise. Thank you 1000 Markets!

(click for a larger view)

For Ben

I Love xkcd from NoamR on Vimeo.

RIP Surebonder Glue Gun

My precious and wonderful Surebonder hot glue gun has gone to heaven. Sadly, the trigger mechanism no longer works properly and wont move the glue stick towards the front of the gun. This of course renders the gun useless.

As a die-hard crafter, Im very sentimental about my tools. This one in particular because it was a gift from my grandmother. It also came in a case with a switch and plug. Ive never seen a setup like this before, so I was very sad when the gun initially fritzed out. Luckily I was able to replace the gun itself, and the new one fits perfectly in the case.

The new one also has features! It has a narrower tip and can work cordlessly for five minutes. I cant tell you how many times the cord on the old gun screwed up a project. Ive already used the new gun to make my craft fair signs, and it works very well.

Lots and lots of fun things in store for tomorrow!

Of Things to Come

This afternoon I had lunch with the lovely Genie from Distinque. We ventured to Northridge for Chinese food, followed by a yummy cup of tea. Genie is big on the craft fair circuit here in LA and she shared some great info with me. We are both scheduled to do the Craft Riot show in West Hollywood this December. Im also considering joining her for a few others in the area.

She is a fellow musician and creates incredible jewelry pieces. Check out her website for truly unique treasures! And of course, be sure to come see us in December.

Caturday Halloween Edition: Vladurday!

Cats are busy preparing for the festivities, so Vladimir Putin steps in to help out. Scary.


Happy Halloween!

Tutorial - Wreath of Light

This blog has been sorely neglected lately. Ive been having some pretty bad days, and I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who has expressed concern. Digging through my Inpiration File today, I find myself in a better mood. Thats what the Inspiration File is there for, no doubt!

I came across this wonderful tutorial I cut out of Better Homes&Gardens back in 2007 I believe. You can click on the picture for a bigger view, but I will copy the instructions here. Its pretty simple, but the result really looks like it was hard work. My favorite projects are the ones like these, with minimal output of energy and high return.

1. Get yourself a floral foam ring, some floral wire, candle tapers and flowers. Ill probably use the fake stands available at craft stores.

2. Wrap the wire around the foam ring as shown and twist the ends together to make the hanging aparatus. You may want to add an O-ring or hook of some sort, but its not necessary.

3. Stick your candles in as far as they will go, then wrap and weave your flower strands around the foam in between the candles.

4. Also optional, you may want to buy those little plastic/glass wax guards that go on the bottom of your candle to prevent wax drip.

How simple is that?

Balance

This morning I spent a good long time thinking about my Chakra Mists. Coincidentally, I also got an email from a wholesale client telling me how much she enjoys these. She and I often find ourselves having the same thoughts at the same time. You know what they say about great minds. Anyway, I thought Id share some info from the website. These are a great way to augment your meditations!

A Chakra can be described as a vortex of energy that serve as a connection between the physical and spiritual. In each of us there is dormant energy, known as "Kundalini", in the root Chakra that must be brought up through each of the other six in order to activate them. Activated and balanced Chakras are essential to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Our collection of Chakra sprays can be used to aid the process of opening and balancing your Chakras. Each blend is infused with herbal and crystal energies that coincide with each Chakra. These specific scents and energies are thought to speak to the individual part of the body that needs help, and are said to put the brain in a state of readiness for the task of balancing. Choose a spray relating to a Chakra that needs work, or indulge in all seven scents to aid the balancing of your entire Chakra system.


Read more about the individual mists at our Chakra page.

Equinox

Today is the very first day of Autumn, though you wouldnt know it here in Los Angeles. Its still very hot and sunny of course. Cooler weather will start to creep in soon Im sure. Other parts of the country are already feeling it, because Cinnamon soaps are a part of every order Ive gotten in the last week. Along with this wonderful Cinnamon Oatmeal soap, Ive also got Cinnamon paired with a few other friends: Green Tea, Vanilla, and an unlikely Rose. Check them out on our Herbal Soaps page.

This is a busy day for me, as I have lots of homework to finish. Thats just about the only thing in my life that feels very autumn-ish. Before I get started on that, Im going to take some time out for yoga and a festive Mabon (equinox) meditation. Yellow candles, Cinnamon incense, apples and pumpkins... mmmm.....

How will you celebrate?

Caturday!

Its Caturday, but there are no cats.

Nope. None. Theyre tired.

While they get a much needed break, here's some Epic Win from Flickr's Keep Calm and Carry On Variation Pool. As you might have guessed, this one is the obvious favorite.

Some spooky things

I love Halloween to pieces! While Im too old for trick-or-treating, I still get festive. Sadly, I live in a place that does not allow the traditional door-to-door candy begging. Can you imagine? But I have my own fun, as you can see here. This fun little scene is actually soap! Ive got a few tricks up my sleeve on how to make a goolish gravestone, complete with molding-effect. And of course you need to have the coffin, which is made with shimmering brown mica for a fantastic look. These are so much fun to make, and each time I make them they get scarier and scarier!

Check out the Seasonal Page on the website for more wicked treats!

The Peppermint Pedicure Set

As promised, here it is! If you subscribe to our newsletter, you got a sneak preview of this. It is now on the website.

Our Peppermint Pedicure set is the perfect thing for at-home pedicures. A whole loofah slice is embedded in our usual gentle glycerin soap and works as an amazing exfoliant. The Peppermint Pedicure Cream is packed full of mild exfoliants, such as cornmeal and finely ground sea salt, as well as moisturizing Evening Primrose oil. And to complete the skin-healing trifecta, a bar of our Solid Lotion is included. All of this is packaged in a natural jute bag, ready for gift-giving!

Get yours here.

Its 9/11, leave my plants alone!

Now this may seem ridiculous to many of you, but probably not to those people who live in California. See, California is the world's capital for Ridiculousness and Shenanigans. Usually this is A-OK by me, because it tends to be fairly amusing. Today however, it is not.

Im sitting peacefully in my apartment, tending to my morning business. That business includes watering my plants, so I step outside on the patio. All is well. With those plants watered, I venture out front to water those next to the front door. There is a note taped to my door, in typical apartment complex style, so I read it. Apparently the plants I have out front are offensive and need to be removed immediately.

My only thought here was, "Seriously?" On today of all days they are worrying about piddling crap like my plants? Really? I know none of my neighbors complained, because they all have (had) a similar amount of plantlife adoring their walkways. This was no doubt noticed by the maintenance staff who came by this morning to change some lights inside the apartment. Im shocked that they would worry about this at all since my plants dont block anything, but today when they really should be thinking about other things.

So to those of you who are remembering this occasion and lending a hand to help your fellow man, I salute you. To those worrying about silly things, get a hobby!

From the Inspiration File

Today is a lazy for me, so I thought Id dig out my Picture Book and dream a little. Its hard for me to justify the expense of a magazine subscription unless Im going to keep the entire issue, or at least tear out pages for reference in the future. My pretty little Picture Book is where all these tearings end up, and Ive amassed quite a file. Somewhere buried in its magic pages was this article I tore out of last October's Better Homes&Gardens. No, that looks like a "2007" to me (you can click the picture to see it bigger). How the time escapes us!

I love the simplicity of this design. Halloween decorations tend to get busy (and messy), which is something I stear clear of. Im also not wild about the typical black/orange combination for decorating purposes. Glass containers are always in fashion in this house, however, so that had me from the start. According to the article, the "flashcards" are held up by "flower frogs". They look like old-timey nail brushes to me, which makes it even more creepy. The best part of this is how easily this can change from Halloween decor to Christmas decor to a Springtime altar, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Lets see YOUR off-beat Halloween paraphenalia!

Fall-esque

Fall Altar, originally uploaded by evermoreart.

Well, not really. So many of my blog-friends are getting excited about the coming Autumn, but thats because none of them live in Southern California. Here its still 90 degrees, though I suppose that is 20 degrees cooler than it has been. Can that be considering Autumn-like? Either way, Im enjoying the lack of intense heat, smoke, and the promise of a new season.

Last night I dug up this photo from last year. I had to laugh, because that little pumpkin is the one that grew all those pumpkin plants! Sadly most of them didnt make it, as Im fairly sure that they dont like this climate. I still have a few hanging on though, and Im hoping they produce even a little bit of fruit.

I havent been working much this last week. Migraines have gotten the best of me, but Im fighting back, not only with natural medicine but Western medicine as well. My brain and body are worn out from the cavalcade of drugs and doctors visits. With most of that behind me I think I can move forward with slightly less distress. Good thing too, because I have so many projects to work on!

And on a completely unrelated note, "esque" is my new favorite suffix. Whats yours?

Sunny Sunday and Grateful Gifting

This week has been a very long and tiring one. I have a migraine again so Ive been trying to stay away from the computer. How terribly boring!

Im up and about and wanting to do things, but my body wont let me work on anything serious for more than a few minutes. Short-term projects are great right now, especially when they are such that I can put them down anytime I need to. Why not use this energy to do something nice for a friend, lets say, one that is having a hard time themselves?

Of course I cant reveal it, since it wont even be mailed til Monday, but here is a sneak peak.

I also got a wonderful gift myself, from Ben's mother. Because shes adorable like that, she sent me one of those cards that has wildflower seeds embedded in it! If only it were 40 degrees cooler today, I would go outside and plant it right now!






Can you see the tiny seeds?



Locket charm on the silkiest ribbon. Behind the picture are Lavender buds.


I will surely be in the garden later, but now its time to fetch school supplies from the wide world. Its quite hot out there today, and wildfires are not far off. Living in California is always an adventure!

Time for Cute!

Today was a busy day, and Im honestly not still not sure how I feel about it. Instead of wanking, Ill just show you what Ive been working on. This weekend I finished the "pimp my clock" project, and Im quite pleased with the results. I wish I had a "before" picture, I really do. Imagine a clock youd see in an office; gold, cold, sterile, sleek, and all-around unimaginative. Its the only clock on my epic clock wall that didnt seem to fit in. Now with its transformation, its one of my favorites.

I put some fabric behind it to liven it up a bit, and since its the same fabric I used on my chair, things match nicely. Bonus! I painted the outside ring white to get rid of that horrible gold. The clock face was black and silver with numbers printed on. Instead of painting them on myself over the white, I thought Id add some charms. Sadly they were too big, so I used gold numbers I had from other clock projects. Certainly not as fun, and that gold is back, but Im still really happy with the outcome.

Right now Im working on a great new soap. Pictures tomorrow, if youre good!

Sunday evening coming down

This weekend was so busy! I had anticipated a calm, collected weekend full of relaxing things like beach trips and afternoon naps. Fate had other plans.

Ah, that sounds so dramatic. In reality, it wasnt so much drama but just lots and lots of things to get done. You see, I start school tomorrow. And speaking of drama, it will be my first day in a new school in a new major: theatre! Im terribly excited and nervous; I dont make friends easily, but everyday is a new opportunity. And while I wont be participating in any theatre productions this semester, Im still happy to be part of the props team. Performances, school, AND running a business during Christmas season is just too much. Hello, overload!

Ah, Christmas. Just the thought of it gives me chest pains. Oh did I say that? Of course not. You must be hallucinating. Tonight Ive been hard at work on my newest product, the Peppermint Pedicure Set. I bought a few of these great bags to try out. Inside will be a loofah scrub soap for exfoliation, a 4oz bottle of a cream thats taken me year to perfect, and a stick of solid lotion. I cant wait to roll this out!

Im also working on a newsletter, and Im toying with the idea of snail-mailing it as opposed to email. If youd like to get on either mailing lists, please leave your email in the comments.

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!