Goodbye 2010!

whew...what a year!  2010 has flown by, and I really feel like we were just in South Carolina, celebrating the years beginning...and once again, I'm digging in my closet, looking for something festive and sparkly to wear, that is worthy of drinking champagne, reminiscing about the year, and toasting the future...

this really was quite a year for me...my business really began to take shape, and I learned many new skills, and expanded my line...and even have my work featured in a few shops around the country!  my sales on Etsy have picked up, and my goals for 2011 are even higher!

I finished school, yet again...I don't spend every night doing homework, and I feel like I can work on my portfolio, figuring out my career path and making something of myself...I don't have a dead end job, but rather valuable experience that will push me towards that career that I so desire...

I started a big commitment to making a routine for myself at the gym...and while the end of the year was a bit hectic, and my schedule got a bit neglected, I lost 3 pant sizes, and am now in between the third and fourth...the fourth being my goal size! 

mainly, I feel like I know who I am now, what I want to accomplish, and I have made and reinforced some great friendships...I want 2011 to be a year I can be proud of, be successful in, and most of all, be happy.


so now I'm off to get ready for dinner with Bonnie and Andy, our faithful new years companions of the past 5 years..here's to 2010, and 2011!

I'm dreaming of a white (day after) christmas...

so we missed the white christmas by a day...but the mayhem it would have caused would not have been worth the beauty and magic of waking up on Christmas morning to a crisp white canvas...but we would have spent it alone...because 24 hours and almost two feet later...we were buried in snow on December 26th! 

meaning, we were shoveling snow on December 27th...at least there was four of us...so it only took about 3 hours...

merry christmas to all, and to all a good night :)

I love love love the holidays at home with my family...and this year was no exception...and to make things even better, Brett joined us for the first time in all our years of dating!  flights to Florida were a bit too expensive, so he opted not to go home, and come with me instead...

I got to see all my friends, watch our traditional movies, paint cookies, cook my Christmas Eve lasagna, and finally get some rest!

can't believe another holiday has come and gone!

home for the holidays

ready for a week of relaxing in New Jersey!!  home, here we come!!

Miracle on 34th Street

34th Street in Hampden is something I've always wanted to see all the years living in Baltimore...so this year, we finally made our way over there, and took some super cute photos to use for our Christmas card...and we got to go with some great friends :)

GOING TO NYC!!

ahhhhhhh!  going to NYC for Bust Magazine's Craftacular on the 12th of December!!

39th Annual Greenbelt Festival of the Lights December 4-5!!

This Saturday and Sunday don't forget to come out and see some of the talented ladies of BEST at the Greenbelt Community Center for the 39th Annual Greenbelt Festival of the Lights!!  This event draws a crowd and even the snow last year didn't stop it from going on!!

 















You can see:

Anapurna Fantasy Jewelry and Accessories

DandelionBlu

 

Green Star Studio

JerseyGirlDesign

 

Yummy & Company

 

Last year we had a blast- the shoppers are so wonderful at this event and the live entertainment kept us singing along all day!!

The live music and shopping runs from 10a-5p on Saturday and 11a-4p on Sunday and is located at the Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

another holiday season is in full swing!  we made the trip to New Jersey, as usual, and dinner with the family...and cousin photo shoots...ahh traditions :)

what we're working on

**As seen on the Baltimore Craft Blog**

About a year ago I had a vision of how I wanted my designs to grow. While finishing school took up most of my time I thought it would just be that, a dream, a goal, but with the motivation and genius of Jen of Yummy & Company, our 'ah-ha' moments have recently started to become reality.

In a Reese's Pieces moment - you got chocolate in my peanut butter!...well you got peanut butter in my chocolate! - our first collaborative effort was to take some of the Yummy Ruffle rings and coat them in resin and glitter. The result was oh so sparkly and lots of fun!

 We then took to the bench and tried our hand at soldering. The result was my original vision, to take my glitter collection to a new level, on a smaller scale, with earrings, pendants and eventually rings! The ideas are just flowing, and we're having trouble keeping track of them all! I couldn't be more excited to work on the next ideas we'll come up with, in between the fits of laughter and the trials and errors with our tumbler!

CRAFTERMATH...

This Thanksgiving weekend, instead of going out in the madness of the malls or chain stores, bring your holiday shopping lists to the first annual Craftermath event at West Potomac Academy in Alexandria, Virginia.  This event is organized by the students in the Design LAB at the school, who's mission is "to promote independent artists and designers and build a community of creative’s that assist and inspire. We look to build events and opportunities to promote our local creative community." 

From 10 am - 3 pm you can come out and shop the handmade event, featuring some of your favorite BEST members, including:

Adornments by Atelier-Beads 

Fuzzy Mug















JerseyGirlDesign 

Namoo 















Yummy & Company 




The event takes place at West Potomac High School, 6500 Quander Road, Alexandria, VA 22307.  For more information, visit their website.

Decor Galore Sale at the Junior League of Baltimore

This weekend, come out to support the Junior League of Baltimore at their Decore Galore sale, which kicks off with the Sip, Savor and Shop event on Friday night- a sneak peak from 6-10 pm at 1830 York Road, in Timonium. 

The following day, is the all-day shopping event, from 9am - 5pm where you can find gifts including jewelry, accessories, clothing and decor for your home!  Among the vendors, you can find me as well as a few of your favorite BEST members, including:

Design by Night

Glowgirl Fibers 

Namoo

Sweet Pepita

Yummy & Company

The Junior League helps at-risk families in the community, so you can not only get a jump start on your holiday shopping, but help a great cause as well!

final weekends at Fenton Street Market

the last two weekends of October marked the end of the season for the Fenton Street Market...and it felt only fitting that we attended the last weeks as we were there when it started...a new, and better location, a bigger crowd, and probably the nicest weather we've had all fall...looking forward to going back next season!

Love & Glitter

if I could think of the perfect name, for a shop to have my very first wholesale relationship with, this would be it...Love & Glitter!

I first met Leslie at the BMAC show back in August, and she had the same overwhelmed look on her face that I did!  the show was a first for both of us, but I knew instantly that I liked her style, and wanted to work with her...so after another chance meeting at Fells Point Festival, we made plans to meet up and pick items to live in their adorable shop on Main Street in Old Ellicott City.

the beginning of a beautiful partnership :)

Fells Point Festival

another weekend, and another local craft show...this time the Fells Point Festival...another weekend I wouldn't have made it through, without the good company of my BEST girls! 

the second day was cold and rainy, but we got to meet a real live gummy bear!

new designs! finally!!

it has been about a year in the making...but my new designs that I dreamed up last December have finally come to life...the 'refined' glitter collection! 

and thanks to the motivation of my super friend Jen, of Yummy & Company fame, I got my stuff together, and tried something new...we soldered, tumbled, polished, resined and came up with a line of products that I am really proud of. 

earrings in a variety of sizes, and delicate pendants are the first round of this collection...stackable sterling rings and free floating earrings and pendants come next!

cap and gown please!

after 5 long years...I did it!  the 7 days a week, 12 months a year, with only a few small breaks...countless hours of homework, and giving up nights out with friends, weekends away and a general sense of overall freedom...through working multiple jobs, starting and running my own business, and attending more weddings then I ever thought possible...

I FINISHED SCHOOL!!  

I am the proud, and accomplished owner of a second bachelor's degree, in Graphic Design. 


whew...I need to lay down :)  no more HW!!  it's a weird, but very wonderful feeling!

Federal Hill Festival

and if I wasn't tired, crazy or busy enough...the day after we got back from Vegas, was the Federal Hill Festival...at least it was local, so I didn't have to travel too far...and I had good company for the day!

let the season of craft shows, continue! 

let the 30th birthday celebrations, begin!

I still have a little over a year, but some of our friends begin to turn the big 3-0 this year...starting off the celebrations in Vegas, we went to have a little fun for Joey, Scott and Karla.

this was pretty much a whirlwind trip...but because of a flight I had to cancel last year, and Brett's Southwest credit card...we flew out for free...and thanks to another good friend letting us use his timeshare (in a FANTASTIC hotel) we stayed for free...now this is the way to start out in Vegas...everything free! 

so good food, a little gambling, and the Beatles LOVE show...not a bad little trip!

a 60th surprise

it's hard to surprise someone like my Mom...she's a planner *most definitely where I got that from!* and since my parents are now retired and live part time in NJ and part time in SC, we had a small window of opportunity to really be able to surprise her for her 60th birthday, quite a milestone!

so, since on her actual birthday, in October, they'd already be back in SC, we used Labor Day weekend, and the annual family picnic as a diversion for the party...the picnic was planned for Sunday, so on Saturday while they were out golfing, Kyle and I snuck home and got the party ready! 

 

needless to say, she was mighty surprised, and thanks to our 30 guests, a great time was had by all! 

tweet, tweet

new obsession...twitter...

I blame the three day long, 10 hour days at BMAC...

my first wholesale experience

well, what can I say about the BMAC show?  it was an experience...a great (long) learning experience...with a few great friends to help me through it.  on one hand, I really didn't know what to expect, so it's hard to be disappointed, but it made me realize so many things about my work...what it is and what I want it to be...how to make it better and how to approach wholesale in the future. 

I made my first line sheet...met some nice people, and am hoping I might hear from a shop or two in the future...

new jobs!!!!

the day I never thought would come is here...I can finally stop working at Panera!!   :p  now it's been a very flexible job to have while finishing up my last classes for my degree- which I am soooo close to being done with!! - but it's time to stop waking up at 4am to go to toast bagels and brew coffee...

 so what will I be doing instead you might ask?  since one of my ultimate goals is to teach art, having work experience with kids is something I need to work towards..so my mornings will be spent with some adorable twins, Dhani and Dez, and in the afternoon, I'll be teaching an after school kindergarten program at my friends school in Fells Point!  I am so excited for these new positions, and I can't believe that I'll finally have jobs that are pointing me in the right direction!  

of course I'll still be making jewelry too, so as always I'll have multiple jobs, as well as class work...but maybe that's okay :)

♥

a shower for baby Parker

Kait and I took a little road trip down to Richmond this weekend to visit Becka, Tripp, and celebrate the long awaited arrival of baby Parker!  Catherine threw the shower at her house....it was so cute and blue!

I'm so glad to still be so close with my room mates...we really had the best senior year! We missed you Kate!

Grampy turns 90!

we celebrated quite a milestone this weekend as Brett's grandfather turned 90!  the family gathered in Vermont at Don and Dinah's cabin for the festivities

we had games, scavenger hunts and lots of good food!  and I made us some snazzy t-shirts (printed by custom ink- they are awesome!!)

Mr & Mrs Russell :)

this weekend I attended the fabulous wedding of Adam & Krystal...many happy years for these two!!