Holy Crap, She's Back! (Also Dragon Con Prep)

Hello world. Trying to get back on the blogging track. I figured what better to do so with than reporting on my current projects! 

Dragon Con is swiftly approaching. Like, really swiftly. I leave next Thursday night. Do I have all my costumes done yet? Hell no, I do not. This year I will be keeping it simple, quick, light, and most importantly, affordable. I'm completely obsessed with the Disney show Gravity Falls. 

It's a occult filled supernatural cartoon with unexpectedly well written scripts and equally unexpected comic timing. And then there's the main characters, Dipper and Mabel. 12 year old mystery solving twins. Dipper is actually a well rounded, interesting character and I like him quite a bit. I would probably watch the show if he was an only child.  But then, there is Mabel. 

You guys, Mabel is my Patronus. I simultaneously grew up as her and want to grow up to be her. 

I'm trying really hard to make that dream a reality. Or, at least I want to cosplay her at every opportunity. Two years ago at my first Dragon Con, I donned a sweater in August in Atlanta.  My super awesome sister happens to also love the show, and quite likes Mabel's brother, Dipper. We are pictured above being completely adorable together. So cute.

Anyway.

So it's time again for the Wonder Twin powers to activate! Form of jar or Peanut Butter! Shape of Jar or Jelly! No really. This is happening. 

I have all of my materials together and I've come in at under $20 for the supplies. So yeah, I am hitting Dragon Con, one of the most prominent costume conventions in the country dressed as a 12 year old, dressed as a jar of jelly.  I'm hella excited.  

Stsy tuned for more exciting costuming news.

Luv, Vanessa*

Picture post

1) Real Daiquiri on my Birthday at Soul Gastrolounge
2) Left some of my painted dinosaurs with Tony at Hair Klaudt.
Go see him and get your hairs did. High Five him for me.
3) License plate that I haven't been able to stop laughing about for almost a month now.
4) Best. Mug. EVER.
5) Two amazing handmade journals that I fussed over for weeks. By RedBarn Studios available at Beadlush
6) Made my decision and started sketching out some new disigns
7) Some yummy new Beads we got in at WORK. They all sold out already, but we have more on the way.
8) I painted all over myself
9) and made these.
10) New Sherlock plush by Handmade Stuffs. I spent Sunday jamming fluff into various holes on Harry, Mal, Snape, Leia, 11th Doctor, and these Sherlocks. They are so sassy looking, and I love their hair.

What have you guys been up to lately?
Luv,
Vanessa*

New pieces

Shockingly, I have been working,pretty hard, at my table. I've been slowly tapping into my creativity to build new pieces. I'm still on a bit of a tribal kick, but I've been visiting some alternate influences as well. I'm digging SciFi posters and art (especially vintage stuff). The colors and textures are lovely and still use a lot of geometric shapes that I'm digging. So these are some of the first jewels rolling of the line.

My "Red Planet" necklace is available in my shop --> HERE
It fetures two of the summer's hottest colors, mint and coral, as well as robin's egg blue vintage glass, black carved bone, and brick red Agate.

Keep checking back, I have more pieces to put up soon!
Luv,
Vanessa*

Totally Charming

 

International Charm Day is right around the corner, and myself, Crown Town Handmade, and Beadlush are getting prepared for the exciting occasion. What's that you say? You haven't heard of such a thing? Well, allow me to enlighten you. Bead Artist Amber Dawn has been hosting, for several years now, an artistic swap of ideas and products. On April 28th each year she invites artists to exchange gifts of handcrafted artisan trinkets to adorn wrists and necks alike.Now if you are saying to yourself, "Vanessa, this sounds super cute and all, but I'm no jewelry artist! How could I participate if I don't even know how to wrap a headpin? Also, what is a headpin?"

 Well, fret not my inquisitive friend for you have two chances to learn and participate! (well, that is if you live in Charlotte, NC or the surrounding area. Otherwise, I recommend you find your local beadshop and head over pronto. I'm sure they are really nice, you'll see.)

My crafting crew, Crown Town Handmade, shares a free craft with the community every month. This month I have volunteered to team us up with my day job at Beadlush and teach some fun different charms. On Thursday April 26th you will be "Charmed I'm Sure" to Join us at Beadlush in Plaza Midwood. We are going to play with simple looped charms, Shrink Plastic, and 3-D Gloss Medium (or single step resin). You will have the opportunity to make one of each type.

Want to learn more about the proper technique to wrap these charms? "If you can't Bead 'Em, Charm 'Em"! Saturday April 28th at 11:00 AM I will be teach a beginner wrapped loop class focusing on Charms. The class fee will be included in the price of kits available for purchase (with everything you will need to "charm" everyone.)

"But Vanessa, what about the exchange?"

Don't worry, I didn't forget. All day Saturday April 28th Beadlush will be hosting a free Charm Exchange! (10am-5:30pm) Just drop off however many charms you would like to swap and pick up your new charms as early as Sunday (April 29th). These can be anything that is handcrafted and can hang from a charm bracelet or necklace (nothing more than 2 in long please) I'm really excited about this, and we want to make this an annual event, but we need people to participate! So charm us, really charm us!

Luv,

Vanessa*