Jessica Flores Design

Collecting Eye Candy

I've always had a bulletin board in my room as a girl, in my dorm room in college, and now in my studio at home.  Once they were filled with clothing tags and amusement park tickets, then art postcards and snippets of love letters.  Now mine has been painted red and filled with magazine clippings of bags I'd like to make and selvage strips, but a bit of my "I 'heart' Bethel" sticker still peeks out from a corner. I am a collector!  

Earlier this week I had the great honor of seeing one of my Etsy items make it to the front page of the site in a fine "Earth Day" inspired treasury.  It seems like a little thing--a tiny blip on the screen, but I just about hit the ceiling on my lunch hour when I stopped in to check my account.

Treasuries are "curated lists" which Etsy members pull together from the vast expanse of well-photographed handmade and vintage items available on the site.  It's a clever way for fans of the site to showcase a cross-section of listings--from the quirky to the practical--that have a common thread.  I still haven't figured out how one of these makes it to the front page, but it is a fun past time, if you're an addicted Etsy browser. Head on over to the site and try it out yourself! I've only ever made one treasury myself, because I'm not much of a web surfer.

I'm getting there though, with the help of a nifty little tool called Pinterest.  Still in Beta, this site is like your own virtual bulletin board for gems you've found online.  For each account you can have a bunch of boards with different topics. I've had the most fun building my "style" board with spring dresses (this one's from Boden),
 a fantastic pair of red heels and accessories from Ruche (which are not formatted to post here), and pretty accessories.  I still prefer clipping from magazines, but admit that being able to store ideas and pictures on an online board is so much easier to access, and it really helps you create a vision for your personal style, a specific project or space in your home.  

I'd love to go do some pinning right now, but it's back to the drawing board for me while Nora's at school.  Today's project:  a new bark cloth wristlet to match a coordinating bag: 

Shopping Tip:  I have so many new items to list on Etsy, but I won't be putting them up until after my Junk Evolution visit.  Mark your calendars for May 12--my next Housewares showcase on Etsy.  I'll be thinking up a deal to help sweeten the pot, so watch my Facebook Page for details.  

 

Birthday Bags

Remember that post weeks ago when I mentioned the birthday surprise I was making for a special little sister?  One trip to California (my sister, not me), a Southern tornado, and a month later, I'm ready to share the project.  

 

This lunch bag is from the new book "Lunch Bags" (go figure) by Stash books.  I found it at the Library and chose the last design in the book by Yoko Drain.  I was a little concerned about the handle getting in the way when stashing it with goodies, so I added a big ol' button and put a button hole in the strap instead of attaching it permanently to both sides.  Next time I will put the hole in horizontally, though.  Duh!  It slips up and down on the button shaft otherwise.  The pretty stripe is a Heather Bailey pattern laminated with vinyl for easy cleanup, and the outside is my favorite 100% natural linen. It even includes a special insulated batting to keep contents cool (or hot).

A week after I shipped it out, Regan still hadn't received it, and I was getting worried and peeved. But, she called one evening and left a message saying that her neighbor had found the package blown up against the house while cleaning the yard after a storm. What a close call!  She used it at work today-- the envy of all of her brown-bagging co-workers. 

Another special little birthday girl got her own lunch bag of sorts last weekend when Nora took this pretend Market Bag full of felt goodies to her friend Sylvia's Birthday Party.

Sylvia's make believe role of choice is cook or tea party hostess, so I knew she'd have as much fun with these as Nora did when I made her own set a few months ago.

If I'd had the time, I would have ordered some really deluxe ones from Amy Olson's Etsy shop for the birthday gift, but I had about 3 days notice, so I decided to do the cheater version, which I found in a recent issue of our beloved Family Fun Magazine.

In related cookery-oriented crafts, I finished this apron earlier this week.  

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and I wanted to make sure I have plenty of items just right for gift giving in my display at Junk Evolution on the first weekend in May. I hope you'll join me for the fun during the shop's First Friday extravaganza and Art Walk the next day.  Keep an eye on their blog for details.  You're sure to find something perfect for yourself or your Momma!

Girl Power and Ruby Sandals

I had a brilliant idea for how this show re-cap post was going to go--a play-by-play breakdown of how one 5'1" girl loads down a gypsy cart (Honda Element) and sets off on her own to peddle her wares for a day.  I imagined shots of the "cart" stuffed to the ceiling with props and panels, my steaming travel mug of coffee, my booth before and after it was stuffed with goods, and the real zinger, my stubby little toes slipped into red sandals after the last rosette was arranged on the rack.  I'd go on to share poses with some of my favorite customers and new friends and wrap up with a picture of the booth bare bones after my inventory was picked clean.  

But, hello!  Prepping, packing, setting up and taking down for a show is exhausting!  How in the world did I expect to stop between trips to and from the car to frame and snap all those shots?  Who wants to be my personal photographer for next time?  It doesn't pay well, but you might get yourself an Etsy coupon.  

I guess you'll just have to use your imagination through most of this post.  Hang with me. . . 

The preparations began on Friday as Nora helped me stamp, cut, scrawl and pin price tags to everything.  Saturday afternoon I raided the house for props: a hall tree, a piano bench, a side table, a folding chair, an area rug, table cloths, a clementine box . . . then off to the Loft for more . . . art panels, a banquet table, a pair of old shutters, and the rest of my art.  I loaded it all up with sheer girl power and crashed for the night.

Next morning, I was up at 6 am, thanking my lucky stars that my hair was cooperating and that there was enough coffee ground.  I ended up at the Elk's Lodge about 7:15 and was greeted by some of the nicest ladies ever to coordinate an event, a beautiful spread of pastries and fruit, and a spot marked out just for me on the floor.  After about 10 trips to the gypsy cart, I was ready to make some magic.  Now here's your reward for making it this far.  

Once everything was in its place, I returned to the car to slip into the ruby sandals, and alas, I'd forgotten to do my toenails.  Ugh!  Now thank your lucky stars I didn't take pictures of that!

Nora made it over with Daddy a little later in the morning modeling her made-by-mommy headband and her own handmade bracelet.  She posed beside her display of greeting cards and beaded bracelets, cleverly labeled "Nora's Nook."  

The crowd was incredible, and the buzz was thrilling!  Thank you to everyone who made it through the throngs to my space in the middle of the room and found something that tickled your fancy.

I didn't quite get picked clean, but while I was packing up my abundant leftovers, I was presented with a gift card from the fabulous Katie Femia for being chosen as the vendor with the most pleasing display.  Now if you were there, you would have realized that my friend Glenda actually had the most drop-dead gorgeous outfit in the place --hands-down-- brimming with chippy shabby chic antiques, but I didn't argue. Forgive me for boasting, but I could have sold $5 worth and been happy going home with such an honor.  Who would have guessed? 

If you didn't make it to the show, take heart.  That charming clutch from last post somehow went unsold, and will be available at Junk Evolution for the First Friday event in May!  I'll be back to share more on what I'm working on for the party and art walk soon!