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*

Seychells and Nordstrom Contest!

Seychells and Nordstrom Contest! by skwrrl featuring Seychelles Time will Tell Shoes!




I love how versatile these sandals are! For a quick run about town, I love them paired with a colorful pair of skinny jeans and a flowy striped cardigan. Don't forget to pile on the bracelets! For day to day office wear they pair beautifully with a pleated polka dot skirt and a pretty coral blouse. Add a statement necklace to take this outfit to happy hour perfection. Party time calls for a speckled chambray dress,  a bright coral fringed bag, and fun jewels. You will get almost as much attention as the Time Will Tell shoes!


I wish I had found out about this earlier so I could have shared, but this is my entry to win these shoes! Wish me luck!
luv,
Vanessa*

Run My Fingers Through My Hair

 If the phrase "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." has any truth to it, my intentions are paving the Autobon to Hell. 'Cause I'm going there fast, or I'm paving it fast. Or something...

Anyway. 

I've been meaning to (for a LONG time now) talk up my fabulous hair magician, Tony. He (and the other wizards at Hair Klaudt in Charlotte NC) are the only reason I don't look like I did 6 plus years ago. If I can find some rad photos of my early 20's hair, I'll post them. Let's put it this way, I only had one hair cut at a "salon" in 5 years and it was at a beauty school. Tony has taught me how to properly blow dry, flat iron, and style my unruly quaff. it took him a lot of patience, and hitting me with hair brushes (just kidding) but I now can leave the house with a properly manicured mane. I love the cuts he does on me, and he has an uncanny ability to give you exactly what you wanted translated into how it would look best on you. You can bring him a celebrity hair do that would really be a hair don't and style it to you so you look fabulous. He is a MAGICIAN. Oh, and he's a blast to chit-chat with while he's doin' his thing. 

So John snapped these photos just a few hours after leaving Hair Klaudt, and I though I would post the m to show off some of Tony's handiwork.

 Outfit Details:
Cardigan: Madewell
Dress: thrifted
Tights: Target (at least 3 years ago)
Socks:gift
Shoes:Thrifted
Necklace: Corvidae

So if you live in the surrounding area you have GOT to make an appointment with one of the best kept secrets in Charlotte! Ask for an appointment with Tony or Karl and tell them Vanessa sent you!

Luv,

Vanessa*

Coral, Lapis, and Turquoise

coral, sand, turquoise, and lapis. by skwrrl featuring facets jewelry

I'm completely obsessed with this color palate. Coral, Lapis, and Turquoise have got me in a tizzy. It's the majority of my color palate (along with black :) for my new collection. I think when I get my Corvidae Spring/ Summer line launched (as in photographed, posted, in stores, and being advertised) I will reward myself with at least one of the pairs of Seychelles shoes that are in this collage. I had a fit over those lapis blue ones but found the booties SO easy to style.We shall see, both what I can afford and what is still available.

Which outfit would you wear?

Luv,

Vanessa*

Ewwww.

Today marks five years with John. Five years of happiness, silliness, smiles, tears, kisses, snuggling, love, and those blue eyes. He puts up with all my quirks (in fact he seems to like most of them), and is a constant source of encouragement in all of my endeavours. I can't thank him enough, and I couldn't be happier with the person I've picked.

I think he likes me ok too. 

Happy Fifth,

Here's to a bajillion more.

Luv,

Vanessa*

Betsey Johnson Fall Winter 2010

This is one of my very favorite Betsy Johnson shows. I love the texture, colors, and the running wild west theme. This is a major inspiration to my Corvidae Spring/ Summer line.