Happy Fall!

A friend just posted about the "Super Harvest Moon" that's happening tonight.  It's a full moon that coincides with the first official day of Fall.  Keep your fingers crossed we actually get to see it!

I've been busy readying for the Fall and Winter seasons and the sales bonanza that's bound to occur in Deeds and Petunia land!  My little fingers are being worked to the bone, covered in little pokes and blobs of glue.  I'm cranking out fascinators at an unreal pace!  Here's some of what's being produced on the factory line:

Not much is up on the website currently, but will be SOON.  Right now I'm focusing on what needs to be produced for the craft fairs I've got coming up, so get on over to one if you want to see what's for sale! (details below!)

Last week I had a great time at the Tacoma Is For Lovers Artist Craft Fair at King's Books, and sold quite a few pieces.  It was great to get out there and show the World what I've got, and find out the World likes it!

This time around I had pretty much everything in my workroom out for sale.  I think I might be putting the left side of the table to rest for a while to focus on the fascinators exclusively for a while.

I learned a lot about making a display last week too.  Today's Country Store in Sumner is one of my favorite stores.  They do such a great job of creating interesting little vignettes and the store is so rich with ideas and beautiful things.  I could get lost in there for hours.  The ladies working there sold me some vintage display pieces (the green chair and the suitcase) and gave me tons of great advice on making things on my table eye catching and interesting.  I tried my best!  There's still much to improve upon, (make it taller, more colorful, more visually interesting) but overall it felt good and I feel like it represented me pretty well (a little old lady who loves doilies and ruffles trapped in a 30-something woman's body.)

I'm gearing up for this weekend, when I'll be at the Hops and Crops Festival in Auburn, WA with a little crafty craft booth!  The weather is looking great, there will be microbrews, some AMAZING music (Pablo Trucker, Kelli Schaefer, Grand Hallway...) food, a root beer garden, a corn maze and all kinds of other fun stuff!  It's family-friendly and a great way to kick off the Fall, so come check it out!  1-6 PM on Saturday the 25th at the Mary Olson farm.  I'll see you there!

Contest Time and Secret Sale Code!

It's contest time!!! I'm giving away a custom fall-themed fascinator clip or headband to the biggest Facebook fan! Refer your Facebook friends to my Facebook page, tell them become a fan and post YOUR name on the Wall.  He or She who gets their name posted the most wins! Contest ends Sunday night at 11:59 PM, so get to work!!!  ;)

Some of the delightful fascinators to choose from... of create a custom design!

In addition, I'm giving my Facebook fans an additional secret offer of $5 off orders of $25 or more at Deeds and Petunia.  Here's how to use the code:

1. First add an item(s) from my shop to your cart and start the check out process.
2. Enter the code FACEFAN in the 'notes to seller' and the email address where the revised invoice should be sent.
3. Complete the order but do NOT go to Paypal to pay.
4. You will receive a revised invoice, and a link to complete payment, via email reflecting the discount.

Then, you can complete your payment through Paypal and your lovely item will be on it's way!

Just so you know, the custom items take up to two weeks to ship, but most will be completed and shipped within a week to 10 days.  I'm busy making more fascinators and there will be more ready to ship items up in the shop this weekend, so remember to check back often!

September Gold Flower & Feather Fascinator Clip, $22
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56052721/september-gold-flower-and-feather 

Fascinators, Bircage Veils and Hair Decor now for sale on Etsy!

This is it people!  I'm very excited to share with you my latest endeavor into the world of "hair decor."  I've made a handful of fascinators, veils, headbands and hair accessories now up for sale on my Etsy site.

These pieces came together very organically.  I picked out the materials I liked, and laid them all out on the table.  Some went well together, and as my beautiful friend (and curly-haired Deeds and Petunia model) Grace so eloquently put it, "This is what happens when birds marry flowers."

All of the pieces are painstakingly handcrafted.  I was inspired by the upcoming changing of the seasons, (which changed VERY dramatically today!  It's definitely not summer anymore!!!) and the beautiful women who dare to wear something a little different to stand out.  I certainly had you all in mind while making these.  Some of the pieces are one of a kind and have vintage findings, like this one

For the bridal pieces, I wanted to offer something very feminine, vintage-inspired and non-traditional.  I especially love the fluffy white maribou feathers on a bride. 

It reminds me of the kind of lady who years ago might've worn a pink chiffon robe with fluffy feathery slippers around the house.  I think she would appreciate where I was coming from.  But really, any of the pieces could be worn by a bride!  All of the pieces are customizable, including the veils.

Because they are customizable, the fascinators and veils are mostly made to order, which means that they can take up to two weeks before they are ready to ship.  Why so long, you ask?  Two weeks is just enough time for me to gather the right materials, hand sew everything (I judiciously use glue when appropriate, but hands down prefer to sew), and make sure it's perfect before handing it off to my wonderful customers.  :)

I hope you love what you see, and would love to see you in one of my creations!  ;)

In other great news, Deeds and Petunia items can now be found in Fly! in downtown Tacoma at 904 Broadway!  The store offers some really amazing handmade goods from local artists and crafters and I am completely honored to have been asked to have my items included.  My upcycled, hand-painted mugs, handmade cards made with the stamps I hand carved, and upcycled ruffle aprons can be found there.  I highly recommend checking the store out - there's something there for everyone and for all budgets (and bring cash, since they are brand spanking new and don't have a credit card system up and running just yet!)

I'll also be at the next Tacoma Is For Lovers craft show on September 19th at King's Books in Tacoma, so come check that out!  I'm super stoked!

Whew!  This summer has been an amazing time of change and development as an artist and crafter.  I feel really lucky that the fruits of my labor are finally starting to show.  Can't wait to see what the fall will bring!

Fascinators!

I've created some fascinators that I've fallen in love with making.

Fascinators are hair adornments, usually a clip or a comb with fancy materials like feathers, ribbons, birdcage veiling and flowers attached.  Sometimes even jewels and pearls and sparkly things as well.  Hair can be worn up or down, the piece attached at the side, top, back, anywhere it suits your hairstyle.  There are some amazing fascinators out there!  Just search Etsy, and you'll see some incredible works of art people can wear on their heads!

I love how the pieces come together and how they look when someone puts one on.  The materials are gorgeous.  Organic and luxurious.  I get to put careful time and thought into the design.  Each piece is one of a kind (at least so far!) and almost completely handsewn (a few are totally handsewn.)  When someone puts it on they feel very special and beautiful.

My lovely wedding photographer friend suggested I try my hand at birdcage veils and fascinators.  She even put me in touch with a client who ordered a custom piece made with vintage chantilly style lace leaves in pale pink with lovely cream and violet accents.  It goes fantastic with a brown birdcage veil that brushes the cheekbone just below the eyes.  My first sale!  I'm very excited.

The next step is to get some amazing pictures taken (meaning I hire amazing photographer friend to take some photos, ask amazing hair stylist friend to help with hair and make up and ask lovely friend who just got married recently to put on her vintage wedding gown once again and be my beautiful model!) and get them up for sale on Etsy. 

So if you like what you see, let me know in the meantime.  I'm happy to send more pictures of what I'm working on (and will continue to post about it on this blog) or you can stop by my workroom to see these items in person!

Pictures from the Tacoma Etsy Craft Party

Whew!  What a crazy week.  Well here they are, folks!  Pictures from the Tacoma Etsy Craft Party!  A lot of fun and I think we all agree that the strawberry cupcakes at Hello, Cupcake are THE BEST EVER.

Jezbilinka brought some fantastic hairclips and handmade items, and The Jilted Coquette brought adorable hairpieces to display (and the cutest socks I've ever seen.)  We ALL made some pretty awesome party hats.  Everyone donated $4 to participate, and the funds were donated to wildlife rescue in the gulf.  Thanks to Hello, Cupcake for donating the space, and to all who participated for making the day so special.  I can't wait to do it again!