Casual Day Designs

Monday, May 16, 2011

My Creation Monday - May 16, 2011

Northfield, Minnesota was my destination location last Saturday for a day of relaxing and rejuvenating. I met a friend I hadn't seen in nearly a year, and we had power shopping on our agenda in addition to catching up and lunch. We were looking forward to enjoying the river walk and leisurely strolling through historic downtown, but the rainy, 44 degree weather kept us inside most of the time. That definitely was not a bad thing, however, as the art galleries and specialty shops along Division Street inspired and delighted our creative side. There's something about the diversity and target market displays in a college community that is fresh and exciting!

Among our favorite shops was a bead store called Glass Garden Beads. We had just missed out on a Kumihimo class, but could've spent hours browsing the amazing selection of beads and findings and still not seen it all!! (For an example of Kumihimo, check out the designs of this fellow ArtFire member's studio, "I'm Worth It" Jewelry Design.)

My friend and I decided we are definitely making this bead shop a regular stop, and you know I didn't walk out of their empty handed!! I picked up some gorgeous stones in pink, lavender, and iridescent that I can visualize using with my latest idea for a necklace incorporating the Tsunami Kanzashi fabric flower technique I've been learning from a great how-to craft tutorial.

Also on tap for My Creation Monday today is getting a key fob finished up and strung and adding the clasp to my latest necklace which includes some of the yellow denim beads I made last week.

Lots to do today, so I need to finish up this blog so I can get busy!! Check out my Casual Day Designs ArtFire Studio for all my creations, and tune in tomorrow for my Tuesday Shopping Showcase!

Copyright 2008-2011 Casual Day Designs. All Rights Reserved.
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Friday, May 13, 2011

If You Can’t Craft, Be Crafty…

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. That is something I’ve heard many times over the years. In fact, I lived in a town where there was an actual consignment store with the name: One Man’s Junk. But the term “destash” is new to me. Destashing, as I’m learning, refers to possessions that you no longer want or need and are eliminating from your collection. In other words, my personal “stash” of craft supplies includes some items I have determined I will never use or no longer want and in order to thin out my stash, I could de-stash! That’s brilliant!! It’s like calling a rummage sale a gourmet buffet! Does fancying up the name of getting rid of our trash make it somehow more glamourous??

I checked out the number of results that are returned for a search of “destash” on a few online marketplaces and found out the following about all the unused yarn, beads, and sewing notions we have laying around: ArtFire has 5,575 listings with the term or tag of destash, Etsy has 6,224 listings, and even eBay sellers are into destashing with 55 listings. Pricing for these items (shipping not included) ranges from a nickel to over $700!

Are you someone that purchases a destashed stash just to stash some and destash the rest??

Happy Free-For-All Friday the 13th!

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Tuesday Shopping Showcase for May 10, 2011

Welcome to another edition of Casual Day Designs Tuesday Shopping Showcase where I will motivate and tempt your shopping monster by featuring three ArtFire Studios.

"When you buy handmade you are supporting little people, instead of big manufacturers. You are showing appreciation for the work of individual artisans and the passion they have for their craft. It makes a huge statement about you and your values. Contributions like that help enrich our culture."

I love this quote by fellow ArtFire member, Angelique, aka "Drunkenmimes Ecclectic LadyLand," from Rosamond, CA. I have never before seen what she does by repurposing the plastic containers from store-bought bakery items!! Checking out her upcycled magic earrings is a must on your shopping trip today!!

Not only is browsing the shop windows in the wonderful world of ArtFire inspiring and supportive of handmade artistry, it is educational as well. The Polkadot Possum has original fiber art ACEO's! I have to admit, I did not know what an ACEO was before checking out this very talented artisan. So here is what I learned..."ACEO's or Art Cards, Editions and Originals are miniature works of art the size of a baseball or playing card. They can be framed or stored in an album. ACEO's can be created in any art medium. There are no rules limiting ACEOs except that the dimensions must be 2.5" x 3.5". ACEOs are a great way to collect original art at an affordable price." Check out these ACEO's for yourself as well as her other beautiful works of mixed media fiber art.

Just to make sure I'm still keeping you on your toes today, I must share one more item with my blog followers that is all the "Raige" before I get back to my own denim beading studio. Show of hands...errr, feet...how many know what a toekini is?? "They loop around the 'little piggy that stayed home,' and tie around your ankle above the heel bone." These soft barefoot sandals made by Rebecca out of North Carolina can be purchased through her Raige Creations Artfire Studio. I must have a pair for the summer...just trying to decide what color!!

I hope you have had as much fun reading my shopping showcase today as I had writing it!! Until we shop again...

Copyright 2008-2011 Casual Day Designs. All Rights Reserved.
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Monday, May 9, 2011

My Creation Monday - May 9, 2011

I am super relaxed from a delightful Mother's Day yesterday!! Hope everyone had a great day being treated like a queen or honoring a special mom!

It's My Creation Monday here for Casual Day Designs where I share what's going on in my own studio...I hope to be quite productive today as the sky is dark with the threat of approaching thunderstorms which means I can't be outside in the garden.

Hobby Lobby got some of my business this weekend in anticipation of my creative juices flowing!! Bezel pendants for key fobs, and Beadalon, shell beads, and metal beads were also on my supply list. I have some great inspiration and am anxious to get some key fobs added to the inventory in my Casual Day Designs ArtFire store.

On my beading tray is a multi-strand necklace incorporating some of my coated blue denim beads and some African Blue Lace Agate beads. I will be stringing that and getting it photographed for listing later in the week.

Also on my agenda today is finishing up my application for ArtFire's Certified Handmade Artifact stamp of approval. That should keep me plenty busy today!!

Happy creating everyone!! Tune in tomorrow for my exclusive Tuesday Shopping Showcase where I will feature three amazing artists's works from their ArtFire Stores!

Copyright 2008-2011 Casual Day Designs. All Rights Reserved.
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Friday, May 6, 2011

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!!

My Friday Free-For-All Blog post for May 6th is a tribute to my beautiful mom! As so many of my Facebook friends are posting today...my mom wiped my tears, hugged me tight, watched me succeed, saw me fall, cheered me on, and kept me going strong. Moms are a promise from God that you will have a friend forever!

Thank you mom for supporting me in all that I do! God has most definitely blessed me with a forever friend in you. Love you, Mom!

Copyright 2008-2011 Casual Day Designs. All Rights Reserved.
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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Tuesday Shopping Showcase for May 2, 2011

Welcome to another segment of Casual Day Designs ArtFire Featured Artists. For the shopping showcase today, I'm focusing on babies all the way up to the teachers that inspire and shape our children's lives. So grab your shopping list and a cup of coffee and get ready to shop!!

Babies...is there anything more precious than a sleeping newborn? YES! A sleeping newborn in a handmade creation by Nana G Creations!! There are two expectant mommies in my family--one is due in June and the other in July. The anticipation of meeting those miracles of God for the first time fills me with joy! Nana G is an ArtFire community member who specializes in personalized baby items. Check out her studio and shop for the newborns in your own family!

Babies grow up in the blink of an eye! Just when you think you have a routine in place, you must shift into toddler mode. Preschool and grade school are right on the heels of those baby proofing years and all of the sudden, you're the parent of a teen trying to show proof that you know more than they do!!

My soon-to-be tween is a music lover and nothing will be more perfect for her birthday than some Music is my Life Glassdrop magnets from ArtFire member's studio aichichuahua. This talented artist has so much more to offer that you must check out her studio...bottlecap necklaces, dog treats, bath salts, and laundry soap just to name a few. The music lover's magnets will be perfect for my daughter's locker next fall.

Even though the kids (preschool through high school) are counting down the days until the end of this school year, it always sneaks up on parents who neglect to buy that teacher appreciation gift until the last minute. But allow time for shipping on these personalized treasures from Woppie Doodlez and don't forget your child's Sunday School and piano teachers when shopping!! Woppie Doodlez has adorable custom pendants and more for all those great individuals who make a difference in our children's lives.

I hope you enjoyed today's shopping showcase and that it gave you some ideas for those on your gift giving list. Time for me to get back to the beading studio and create some more jewelry for your jeans.