West Elm's Customer Appreciation Night

Last night we had the opportunity to highlight a few ways to add some fun handmade touches to an outdoor Garden Party for West Elm's Customer Appreciation Night. Rolling Greens did a terrarium how-to downstairs and upstairs we showed off a banner/garland made from fabric scraps and yarn.  It is a fun and easy no-sew way to have a fabric garland over a table or gathering area at  your party.  We also had upcycled punched-can lanterns with flame-less candles since we were indoors. It was a little bright to see the full potential of the glowing lantern, but even as a faint dim it was awesome to have a bride come through the set up and declare that she is inspired and wants to try them at her wedding!

We will be showing off how to make both the banner and the tin can lanterns next week in our tutorials so stay tuned for all the fun details.  

Another great part of the evening was that we got to talk to all kinds of people about CRAFTED and other events coming up we are involved in.  Everyone was so excited to hear that once CRAFTED opens there will be an amazing permanent place to get handmade goods!   Pretty much everyone we spoke with were major fans of Unique LA and are very excited that the Spring Show is just 2 weeks away!!! 

So exciting! We look forward to seeing everyone there :)

Have a super weekend! XOXO, KC & Kevin

The Plankton Series by Maria Moyer at West Elm

It was so serendipitous that last night I got an exclusive invite to see the artist Maria Moyer. A ceramic artist living in Manhattan, who specializes in ocean motifs such as plankton in her pottery. The launch of the Plankton Series by artist Maria Moyer in collaboration with West Elm was exciting! The launch featured a presentation from the artist and there was a representative from Oceana with super helpful literature on their organization.  Oceana the nonprofit protecting the word's oceans will receive 5% of the purchase price from each one of Maria's pieces at 40+ stores! How super!!!

I really liked how she spoke about her being on a Plankton Pulpit. Plankton do an awful lot of work for us that goes unrecognized. Trees get a lot of the credit for the air we breath which actually is not the case. Did you know plankton create half of the oxygen we breath?!? That is an incredible amount of work from something that often goes unnoticed. If you want to look at it from another angle, plankton is responsible for half of the worlds food too. If you are one of the 3 Billion people eating seafood it is all thanks to plankton! It just tickled me to be able to see Maria's presentation with her I <3 Plankton screen to start with.

Inspired by the texture and pattern found within plankton she created one of a kind or small, high-end pottery studies all based on the shapes, patterns and textures of various plankton. She likes working with her own fingerprints, and the variations she can create in her pottery by just even using her fingerprints. This collaboration between Moyer and West Elm is extremely exciting because it gives her an avenue to create her art both affordable and available to a wide range of customers. Previously she has worked on more high-end boutique items and jewelry. 

These small vases were inspired by the bio-luminescent plankton. She spoke briefly about the first experience she had with bio-luminescent plankton during her presentation. At a young age she saw how electric looking all the masses can become together.  I really enjoyed listening to her describe how she takes what she is inspired by and then translates that into her process. The real plus is she is even nicer when you get a chance to chat. She is very personable and intriguing and I am very happy I had the opportunity to check out this wonderful event. 

Here is what I brought home to show for it:

clay pot inspired by plankton, by Maria Moyer

I am still not sure if it will house an air plant or a candle... Any thoughts?

XOXO, KC

How-To's Day: Fabulous Fabric BOWS

This past Saturday afternoon I had the pleasure of hosting our first annual Christmas Craft Party. Personally, I think it was a huge success! For the layout of my apartment it felt huge, but we had a small group of crafters over and amongst the evening's projects were these simple fabric bows that can be uses as embellishments to necklaces, hair clips, pins, and many more ideas.

I will illustrate the project, then include some pictures taken Saturday at the party.

Location has CHANGED for west elm tonight

PLEASE NOTE:

The Handmade Holiday Workshop & Mini-Market  from 6-9PM @ West Elm Tonight has CHANGED TO the location in Santa Monica: 1433 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Due to Weather related power outages.  Please be advised of this change.

We hope to still see you there!

Best,
KC & Kevin and the Team

What?!? 10% off too good to be true

Well it isn't! I just found out that there is an extra silver lining to tomorrow nights event @ west elm: They are offering a special 10% off your entire purchase for the evening!!!

Check out the list on west elm's blog for a full list of the local sellers here. At our location it is Kiddo & Pye, Andie's Specialties Sweets, iluxo, and bertie's closet.) Also, the coordinating charity is the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

 (image from Etsy)

Wanna get a sneak peek of the project? Etsy did their How-Tuesday: Paper Ornaments post all about the project we'll be making tomorrow evening. Check it out here.

Things have been crazy getting ready for the Handmade Holiday Workshop & Mini-Market tomorrow and UNIQUE LA this weekend.  If I keep at this pace I think we'll be at a perfect point to fully convey everything we in-visioned and set out to complete :) 

With that said, I am still on East Coast time I am afraid I must retire for the evening...

XOXO, KC

Coming Up this Week Nov. 28th- Dec. 4th

Happy Cyber Monday! Did you use our Cyber Monday Deal today in Our Etsy Shop? 

There is just a few hours left to get 30% off your entire purchase-

Use code CYBERMONDAY2011 at check out.

Tomorrow is a full day of travel back to the West Coast and I am anxious to get back to all the work we have this super busy week. Hope you had a wonderful weekend and packed your online cart full of Cyber Monday deals.

Thursday is the west elm + Etsy workshop & mini-market which members of SCAD+ Etsy = LOVE Team as well as the Team EcoEtsy members in the LA area will be demonstrating a demo on how to make a paper ornament. (free for all to attend and make a take away project) More details here.

Friday, we have set-up for UNIQUE LA at the California Market Center Downtown.

All day Saturday and Sunday we will be vending in booth #146  at UNIQUE LA's Holiday Show!!! The first 10 people to drop "Make Shop Live" at the door gets *FREE Admission to both days of the show.  Also, let us know that you are a fan of the blog for a free gift :)

Best of luck wrapping up November to y'all and Hopefully we'll be seeing you in December.

XOXO, KC & Kevin

Handmade Holiday Workshop & Mini-Market

west elm + Etsy invite you to the 1st ever Handmade Holiday Workshop & 

Mini-Market inside a brand new west elm on Beverly Blvd. next Thursday Dec. 1st!!! 

Come see me and tons of my fellow teammates as we demo a 

Super sweet ornament to make, take, then celebrate :)

6-9PM

@ West Elm

8366 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA. 90048

Hope to see you there!!!  

XOXO, KC & Kevin