Sparkles and Sticks

.coffee, movies, and music.

Some new pretties bounced into my etsy shop today...

I Love Actually You Coffee Sleeve

This sleeve is inspired by my one of my favorite movies: Love Actually!

I went to see Love Actually on an otherwise disastrous day in 2003.  There was major tension amongst my roommates.  As usual, it involved me somehow, but I had no idea what was going on.  But after the lights dimmed in the theatre and Love Actually started playing, I totally didn't care anymore.  I was sucked into all the juicy love stories on screen.  It was the one thing that all my roomates and I agreed on that year: Love Actualy was an awesome movie.

Half the World Away Coffee Sleeve

Inspired by the Oasis song that always makes my heart soar.

What songs/movies are you inspired by right now?

.it kicks like a pony.

Whenever I listen to this song...

I totally picture a little baby unicorn doing a little prance-like dance in a field.

Oh, and she has pink hair.

I think maybe I've eaten too much candy lately.

.too bad computers don't have a scratch and sniff feature.

I think the whole world should smell like this:

.the science of "I love..." scrapbook pages.

I love making "I love..." scrapbook pages for two main reasons: they are a great outlet to experiment with new styles and techniques, and they are very good at capturing what my life is really like RIGHT NOW. 

When I am making a page based on an event or sentiments, I feel like the photos and the words that I am using tell me what kind of paper, embellishments, and style they need to tell their story.  But when I am making an "I love..." page, I feel like I have a little bit more of a say in what gets glued on the page and how.  I've been working on this "I love..." page over the past few evenings, and I have had a few new stylistic experiences with it. 

I used a combination of words and visuals to express the things "I Love" on this page.  Sometimes I used both, but it was a very fun challenge for me to let some of the visual representations speak for themselves.  I made sure that they weren't too abstract and that they were prominently placed on the page, then I left them wordless so they could explain themselves.

Can you tell which items I am talking about?

I also loved playing with background texture techniques on this page.  I used an old doily as a mask, then glimmer misted over it to create a meaningful, unique, and subtle background texture.

I also feel like I got a little bit closer to mastering the collage style of scrapbooking that I adore in other people's albums.

I think "I Love..." pages are really cool to make because they can capture the details of my life RIGHT NOW.  These are things that I think I'll remember, but totally don't.  I love looking back at these pages a few years later- they really remind me of who I was at that point in time.

I think that the key to pulling of a really successful "I Love..." page is to brainstorm.  Look around your room and look through your purse.  Be honest about the books you're reading, the music you're listening to, and the movies/tv shows you're watching (even if you think its embarrassing!).  Look through your "favorites" in flickr, etsy, etc.  What do you spend your time thinking about?  What are you naturally drawn to in stores? 

I recommend keeping these types of pages focused on things that you like RIGHT NOW.  For example, I could include coffee, lions, the color pink, rain, and the UK on every single "I Love..." page.  They are lifelong loves of mine.  But instead, I only include the lifelong loves that I feel are particularly relevant at the time.  Otherwise, my "I Love..." pages would seem really repetitive, and they wouldn't reveal as much about my life RIGHT NOW.  (Besides, a page dedicated to lifelong loves would be a great page on its own, no?)

So, what do you love RIGHT NOW?  Are you planing on scrapping it?

.yay pants for granny squares.

I've been watching Roseanne on Nick at Night lately.  And besides admiring how cute David is and how funny Darlene is, I've been happily enjoying the eye candy of the granny square blanket hanging on the back of their couch in like EVERY SINGLE EPISODE.  Even in the post-lottery insanity.

I definitely need to learn how to crochet.

.if I had an extra $90 (plus shipping).

I would buy all of these things from Red Velvet Art and wear them.  Lovingly.

 

I think that this last Red Velvet Art update was the best ever!  Which new pretties are your favorite?

.meet my imaginary friends.

Hello, dear readers.  I'd like to take a minute to introduce you to my dearest imaginary friends:

Ditty- "The Musician"

Burkle- "The Secret Weapon."

Maximilian- "The Keeper of All Things Old."

Teeny- "The Rebel"

Grace- "The Comforter"

and Root- "The Beauty"

These dear pals have been in the works for so long, and I am so excited for them to make their official online debut.

Which one is your favorite?  It changes daily for me.  Today, I think I will go with Burkle, because she reminds me of my friend Rowena.

Expect more posts about them in the days and weeks to come. : )

.happy faire.

The craft faire yesterday was so much fun!

The people in the booths on either side of me were really friendly, and our booth was very well received by lots of customers wandering around.  

The monsters made their debut and enjoyed being cuddled and told how cute they are all day.

It was quite cold in our shady little corner, but we modeled some of the scarves I was selling to keep us warm.

All in all, it was a very successful first faire.

By the way, the monsters are coming to the Etsy shop this week, so keep your eyes out!

xoxo

.hello, pretty colors.

Some colors that have been very inspiring lately...

I think I finally see what everyone else loves about bright orange.  I bought my first ball of orange yarn ever!  Also, aren't these little purple flowers adorable?  They are in the front yard of my house.

 

I have loved reading Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle Trilogy, but have kind of hated all the covers and titles until this one.  This is the cover of the third and final book in the series and I feel that the image of the corset juxtaposed with bright, surreal colors finally communicates the tone of the book.  Plus, isn't the green and pink combo yummy?

What are your favorite colors right now?

.faire-ly fantastic.

Exactly one week from today, Sparkles and Sticks will be participating in our first ever craft fair.

Yippeee!

So while I frantically sew up monster seams, make prices signs, and test out my display over the next week, please feel free to tell everyone you know where all the cool people will be next week.

Sonoma Marketplace

201 West Napa Street, Sonoma

10-3 pm.

That's where you will be able to find all kinds of awesome sparkly and sticky stuff.  Stuff like journals,

...coffee sleeves...

...hats..

and so much more!  I will post another sneak peak of some of our new stuff before the week is up.

Also, a percentage of the proceeds we make that day go to Friends in Sonoma Helping.  And if you do happen to stop by, please introduce yourself and tell me that you read my blog.  I'll probably jump up ad hug you.  Unless you look like the type that doesn't like to be touched.  Then's I'll just squeal and do the dance of joy instead.

Other things to look forward to this week... some color inspiration and holiday plans.