Friday Features - Something Old, Something New

Today I have the Blogging Business Artisans challenge theme for June on my mind. I haven't been able to participate in the challenge the last two months and I'm bummed out about that. That's why I'm thinking ahead this time. I already have a couple cool ideas in my mind and can't wait to try them out.

I thought I'd find a little inspiration from Etsy for today finds :)

Hanging Christmas Fire Flies Made in Iowa

by Junkfx

Wine Bottle Bracelets, GLASS BANGLES, Recycled Glass Bracelets, Upcycled Jewelry, Wine Bottle Rings, BROWN Bracelets

 by DessinCreations

Recycled CORN COB HOLDERS -- 4 Person Set -- Handcrafted From Antique Sterling Silver Plated Forks

by doctorgus

Wine Rack, Reclaimed Pallet Wood, Pallet Wine Rack, Unique Wine Rack, Rustic Decor, Repurposed Pallet, Pallet Wood Furniture, Upcycled Shelf

 by JNMRusticDesigns

Bridal Shower Ideas

I recently introduced my Recipe for a Happy Marriage Recipe Boxes. I'm so happy with how well they are doing! They make such great bridal shower gifts and wedding gifts.

Just last night I also listed another great shower gift idea...Recipes for the Bride Recipe Book! Isn't the bride just beautiful!

Both the recipe boxes and books are a perfect gift for the bride from everyone attending the shower or wedding. Just send the attendees a card along with their invitation, have them fill it out and bring it back. The bride leaves with so many great new recipes to start her marriage. And how great is it to have everyone's handwriting on those cards...how personal!

Wordless Wednesday - Shadow

Memorial Tree and Sign

 

Last Thursday we got our memorial tree planted. It was a gift from Jesse's family and I think it's the best gift I've ever received! I also think it might be the most thoughtful gift I've ever received. We planted it in the front yard so I see it every time I look out the kitchen window. And it's right at the front of the driveway so we see it the minute we get to the house.

We also got some perennials to go with it. I got to pick these out myself, so of course I went with a pink. I chose two pink roses that are a hearty shrub variety that will be easy to take care of. (Since I don't have a green thumb!)

I also chose three black violas. I've never seen a black flower before and I think they complement the pink well. I just love how everything turned out!

I also designed some memorial signs. I used the same software I use for my laser and emailed the file to a company in a neighboring town for them to cut out. Boy how I wish my laser could cut metal! What I love most is that the bird in the middle matches my tattoo :)

Every time I look outside or go to the mailbox, I'll think of my brother :)

Friday Features - Memorial Day

This last month has been pretty difficult with the loss of my brother. But with Memorial Day just around the corner, I am taking this opportunity to remember the good things about my brother and sharing a few of those here with you today :)

My brother was a big outdoors man. He loved hunting and fishing any time he could. He was also a welder and loved working with metal. So this sign reminded me of him right away :)

Deer Hunting Buck Sawblade Hunting Scene Wildlife Wall Art 20" Gift for Hunters

by PoplinFabrication 

And I remember the first time I ever caught a bass. I always caught crappie and blue gill, but never bass. I was so excited and my brother thought it was hilarious because it was the smallest bass ever. I made him take my picture and I'm pretty sure it turned out blurry because he was laughing so hard :)

Gone Fishing License Plate Wood Fence Pane Sign Lakehouse Sign

 by dables

My brother also enjoyed camping and building huge fires. He loved to see how big and how hot he could get them :)

Decorative Portable Metal Fire Pit - Flame

 by CopperTreeDesign 

My brother had recently gotten into gardening. He could grow the biggest tomatoes I've ever seen! He didn't want gardening season to end last year, so he started growing them in his basement during the winter. He had a lot of naysayers, but he made them grow and he had fresh tomatoes all winter long :)

We've recently found out what a hoarder he was! He believed every piece of "junk" could be made into something new. The minute I found this speaker planter it reminded me of my brother :)

 12" Recycled Speaker Hanging Planter

by  PlantItLOUD 

I can't wait to show you the tree we just had planted in my brother's memory and the cool metal signs I designed! Hopefully I'll have those all for you Monday!

My First Bridal Fair

I showcased my items at my first bridal fair last weekend. Wedding items are some of my biggest sellers, so I've known for quite some time that I wanted to participate in one. I checked out a couple locations last year, but the prices are so high for these events that I hadn't taken the plunge to attend one yet. The fee for this fair was high compared to my normal craft shows, but much cheaper than the other bridal fairs I had seen advertised, so I gave it a chance.

For this being my first show and it being the first time this venue had hosted the event, I think it went pretty well. The location is in the country at a glass chapel. My wood items fit the theme really well as do my  mason jars and wine bottle candles/table numbers. We had fairly good attendance considering the weather didn't want to cooperate at all. I handed out several cards to interested couples and now the waiting game begins.

Unlike craft shows where you generally know how well you did at the end of the day, with the bridal fair you don't actually sell anything, just hand out cards. So I just have to wait and see if anyone contacts me about my items. I put a coupon code on the back if people reference the show, so I'll know if they found me through the event.

The best part of the day was that my mom came to help me. She drove 6.5 hours home just to help me with my first bridal fair :) She knows all about my products and that I can customize anything, so she was able to talk to people and explain everything if I was helping someone else. She was even nice enough to bring all my stuff inside for me...in the rain and through the mud...so I wasn't a mess before the show. She really is the best!

There were a few things I'd like to see done differently next year like the lighting. We were set up in the reception hall and the lighting is set more for night time dancing than a day-time event. One vendor mentioned having us face outward instead of inward so we would get good use of the windows for lighting. Another thing I wasn't impressed with were the owners. They weren't there to greet us and show us our tables and they didn't come around at any point and ask us what we thought of the event and how the day was going. I hope they send an email asking for suggestions and how to improve for next year.

All in all the show went well and time will tell whether I will attend next year. But I'm glad I got my first bridal fair under my belt and know what to do differently on my end for next time.

Wordless Wednesday

Prom Mason Jars

Last week I introduced my new mason jar designs. I also recently had the opportunity to work with a local school to create their prom mementos. The theme was "Kickin' it in the Sticks", so the mason jars were a perfect fit!

I had to do a little work to the original design before I could get started. A local artist drew the original design that they used for signs and t-shirts. The only problem was, it was too busy for the mason jars. I have about 2.5" in width to work with, so the design was overwhelming on the glass. I scanned the design into my software and from there was able to remove many of the images and leave the piece I wanted to work with. I moved around the wording a little as well to make it fit the format of the glass.

The end design includes the original wording to match as well as the fire from the original drawing. I received word after the prom that the kids loved the mason jars!

(I apologize for the terrible photo...I forgot all I had was a cell phone shot!)

I know when I went to prom we received champagne flutes. Sure they were neat, but I've never done anything with them and I'm sure they'll eventually get thrown away or recycled. But the mason jars are so great. Not only are they perfect for drinking out of (obviously), but they can also hold pens/pencils when the kids go to college. They also make cute little rustic vases too :)

Friday Features - Congrats to the Grads

It's that time of year again, the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming and the seniors are entering the next phase of their lives! I still remember how excited I was to be moving on to "the real world". Growing up, I was always 13 going on 30. So graduation was a really big step for me to finally become an adult and take on the world. This journey hasn't been bump-free, but I'll take adulthood of high school any day...lol!

I had fun browsing Etsy for graduation gifts I would have loved to receive and would make awesome gifts for any grad in your life.

Compass Necklace, 14k gold filled - Graduation Gift, Graduate Gift, Class of 2013, Graduation necklace

by SusiDjewelry 

Polymer Clay Graduate with Physics, Science Degree

 by trinasclaycreations

 Promotion / Graduation Gift - She believed she could, so she did Custom Hand Stamped Aluminum Cuff Bracelet

by KorenaLoves 

Graduation Sign-In Book Party Customizable Guest Book 2013 Senior Graduation Party

 by  SlippinSouthern

May Day Swap

Dawn of Candidly Clyde recently hosted a May Day Swap. It was for bloggers to get to  know one another and send each other a fun little gift.

Antonella was the swap partner I received my gift from. She sent a fun assortment of items including a notebook, postcards and adorable sticky notes. They were all so pretty and full of Spring cheer!

Jessica of Little Indiana was the swap partner I sent my gift to. The minute I saw the Little Indiana logo, I knew I had to create with it. I created both small and large magnets as well as a custom photo album for Jessica to store photos of her Indiana journeys in.

 It was fun getting to know both of these ladies and interacting with them. Dawn will be hosting an ornament swap this winter and I can't wait to participate!

Wordless Wednesday - Summer Do

 

 (Okay, this is a few weeks old. But I couldn't miss sharing Harley's summer do.)

New Glassware

I'm always looking for new ways to expand on my existing lines. I feel that you don't have the recreate the wheel when adding new items to your shop. Looking at your existing lines can be just as beneficial. I recently added 3 new glassware items to my Wedding Section.

These Vegas Shot Glasses were a special request and I just love how they turned out! What a fun way to make your Vegas wedding, vacation or other celebration even more special!

These Personalized Mason Jars were also a special request. The bride had ordered wine glasses for the bridal party and wanted something special (and appropriate) for the flower girls and ring bearers. The mason jars are perfect!

 

My Personalized Beer Mugs have done really well for groomsman gifts. I recently had a groom with a special request for a more formal design. This fun design and monogram came together nicely and the groom couldn't have been happier.

I still have a couple new designs for flutes and more shot glasses that I hope to have listed soon as well. Keep your eyes open for more new designs!

My First Tattoo

Well, I survived the tattoo!!! I'm not gonna lie, it did hurt. But it was worth any ounce of pain. And within an hour after getting it, I was totally pain free. I was so excited they let us take pictures in the shop.

Here I am getting ready. Right now he's just putting on the transfer and getting things prepped...so I'm still all smiles.

This is pretty much the face I made through the whole thing...lol! I shut my eyes, bit my lip and squeezed my leg. But no tears :)

The outline was the worst part, but the shading wasn't quite as bad. I managed a half smile here while he's doing the shading.

And I'm all smiles at the end :)

 For those that didn't catch my Friday post, this is a memorial tattoo for my brother. He loved tattoos and Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd was always his song. He sure would have loved my tattoo!

Friday Features - Freebird

Tomorrow I'll be getting my first ever tattoo!!! I'm excited and scared all at the same time. I'm not gonna lie...I'm kind of a wuss when it comes to needles. But the tattoo is very special to me and will totally be worth it in the end. I'm getting a memorial tattoo in honor of my brother. Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd was always his song and I'm getting a bird silhouette on my wrist to always have him near.

I promise pics to come soon of my new tattoo! But until then, enjoy these great bird silhouette finds from Etsy!

Sterling silver tiny swallow ring

by AhoyBirdy 

Free Bird

by FrenchTheLlamas 

 Swallow Bird Silhouette OOAK Papercut Original Art ACEO

by onetruetree 

Set Of Three Wall Mounted Wooden Swallows

 by DarcyWoodCraft

Artsy Anthropology Scrappy Bag

Before I had to be gone from my blog for a couple weeks, I was the winner of a giveaway hosted at A Catlike Curiosity! I got the choice of any Scrappy Bag from Artsy Anthropology!

I was so excited when I received my bag. It came all wrapped up like a little present complete with a handwritten card :)

I chose this awesome red and teal bird bag. I love the color combo and the size is perfect for taking everywhere. It's gotten a lot of use since arriving in my possession.

Thank you to Sarah for hosting this giveaway and to Paige for the awesome bag!

 (P.S. Sarah is hosting another giveaway today!)

Wordless Wednesday

The Past Two Weeks

I can't believe it's been over two weeks since I blogged last. It was the longest two weeks of my life, but at the same time, it flew by. Two weeks ago my brother passed away and my entire world turned upside down! He was only 34 years old and my only sibling. Losing him has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through. Luckily I had my parents, Jesse and my entire family for support.

Thank you to everyone who has sent their thoughts and prayers to me and my family. It has definitely been a rough couple of weeks, but we will make it through. Photos like the one above and great memories will keep him alive in our hearts!

I hope to be back to blogging regularly this week.