Historic West End ArtFEST

It was not a sunny day nor was it a rainy day. Just one of those in-between, it could go either way days. But it was on... the West End ArtsFEST.

Truthfully I was glad not to postpone it to the next day even if the weather did seem a smidge more promising.

Most of my set up accessories were either borrowed or bought when I got to Winston at junk shops.

My tent was going to cost me $80 to rent and the table $8.00. I found a tent to purchase for $69.00, so my dad went in half with me and now he has a tent to use for his leisure. My in-laws let me borrow their table. I was thankful to save that money.

My dear friends Eddie and Stephan rose bright and early with me to set everything up. What a life saver they both were.

Stephan was a walking advertisement for me walking around the FEST with his Big Eyed Jesus necklace that drew a lot of attention and sent a lot of folks my way. Eddie was a whiz with calculating the sales tax and writing up receipts. With out them I would have been so lost.

I've been working for months on this collection. Ok, so not very many months. I found out I was going to be in the show back in July I think. That works out to be only about 2 months. Two of my beloved summer months. So I have been rather busy to say the least.

I started making jewelry I guess back in May and I must say it has been quite fun and I've already got ideas for the next round of goodies.

My next step is to get my ETSY store updated and start networking it out there in computer land to hopefully get some sales that way.

In case you missed the show or the pics I posted on Face Book... here are a few from the show.

I tried to keep everything in a nice tea stained lavender color Fashion Note: The dress came from the Pink Purse on ETSY

A Candy bowl filled with pins that I do for Art-O-Mat

Cotton Candy Ear Bobs

Junk store find for holding business cards. Free Pixi Stix!

Even the lavender "spread" was just $3.00 curtains from the Salvation Army store

I'd like to also start showing here in New York at maybe the Brooklyn Flea or the Designer's Showcase here in the city.

Thanks again to every one who helped me with this show and to all that stopped by my little booth of Freaks, Geeks and Beauties.

Prize Ribbon SURPRISE!

Well it happened just like I knew it would. I was pretty much under control for ArtFEST 2011 (next Saturday September 24th) all I had to do was finish some decorations. But then it hit me...

I need to make Prize Ribbons! After all I had several days left before boarding the plane to Winston.

I made one for myself out of an old photo that I picked up at an antique shop. Of course I had to black the eyes out to turn them into zombies and added some gold glitter. After all- zombies should be sparkly.

Sparkly vintage zombies!

At first I thought these would be rather simple to do. But since when is anything easy?

Here is just a quick run down of the steps involved...
1. cut image to size of pre-made wooden cicle.
2. adhere the image to the wooden circle.
3. varnish the image and paint the edges of the wood.
4. make rosettes or burst style ribbons by sewing the ribbon to a large felt circle.
5. i chose to distress my ribbon by crumpling and fraying.
5. glue the wooden circle side to the ribbon formation using industrial glue.
6. sew a pin to another felt circle and adhere it to the back.
7. VIOLA! prize ribbon.

These are beautiful to wear. That is what I will do with mine. But also would be lovely pined to some fabric inside of a frame to hang as art on the wall.

Close up of "Harriet Saves the Day"

"Not So White" print on my $15.00 dress from Syms

"An Axe to Grind" print on my NOT $15.00 Ana Sui dress

I only made a total of 7 of these. So come by early to the show Saturday if you'd like to be sure to get one. They are over sized, over the top and one of my favorite things that I have made for the show. Hope to see you there.

From Bettie Page to Betty Boop

Wow, where to begin?

We'll start with my new look. I've gone from Bettie Page to Betty Boop with just a few snips of the shears. I'm kinda diggin' it for a change. I'm going to experiment with some new looks as well. I plan to venture into the "1920s Carnival Gypsy Goth Look" I'll still play with all my 1950s looks as well but I figured it was about time play a "Bettie" from a different era.

Things have been so busy here at the "end of summer", I love it!

Friday morning I worked on my jewelry but then at noon it was play time. Tony Hawk was holding a skate demo over by the Hudson River. A friend of ours, Neil Hendricks who is a pro skater, had wrist bands for us. I couldn't turn that down.

Tony Hawk himself (he's tall!)

Last Saturday we went to the tug boat races on the Hudson River. Only one problem, the races weren't till Sunday. So we decided to hit up the Intrepid Museum instead. We have been wanting to check it out and since we were right there by it we figured no time like the present. I must say it was pretty awesome. I know my dad would love to go. Maybe one day he'll make it up this way to see me and I'll take him.

Shots from the deck of the Intrepid

Saturday night was also the night we had set aside to check out the Coney Island Rockabilly Festival. It is a strange crowd that turns out for this event. It was nice to go to none the less.

I'm not about to let a late night out make me miss the tug races. So up and at 'em bright and early on Sunday again. There was the tug race, tugs pushing each other, people throwing rope from the tug, tattoo contest, spinach eating contest and a mascot contest. Whew!

Here comes the tugs!

In amongst all these fun activites, Lee had a birthday and we celebrated our 11th year wedding anniversary. So we've been eating quite well too, maybe a little too good!

Somehow I have managed to be in pretty good shape for my art show coming up. 

I've finished 3 sets of my paper dolls. I have a tattooed burlesque dancer, a strong man and a fire eater. They are all friends.

All 3 come with a sheet of accessories

I also did a quick little set up of all the jewelry and art that I will have at the show. I'm really excited of how it has all turned out.

Some necklaces and pins

Pins, earrings, paper doll set and zombie cabinet cards!

The rest of the lot

My favorite pieces for this show are my necklaces. Each one is a hand painted oil on canvas with found objects, vintage ribbon, hand made beads all of which build a one of a kind story for each piece. Here are just a few of the necklaces that we shot today while out and about.

Night Owl set in a vintage owl cameo
{shot at Washington Square Park}

Sweet Pea {Shot in Cafe Cubana}

Coney Island Baby {Shot Outside Cafe Cubana}

Fashion note: The dress is a gown from Anthropologie around $58 the corset is from H&M at about $29 (one of my favorite finds)

Any of you that live around Winston-Salem please stop by and see me at the West End ArtsFEST. Saturday September 24th rain date of the 25th. It is held at Grace Court near down town from 10-5pm.

The only thing I have left to do is come up with some inexpensive portable display ideas. I also need to make a few things to decorate my area, find a table cloth. Then I need to ship some of it home so I don't have to take it all on the plane. Then in October I'm gonna rest and to some paintings.