urban air market

Yesterday was the type of beautiful, sunny day that my friends on the East Coast think occurs daily in California, but that rarely actually happens in the Bay Area. Despite two evenings in a row celebrating my quarter century birthday, I woke early and spent the morning in my studio making jewelry. After breakfast and playing with Gracie in the park, Partner-in-Crime and I headed to the Urban Air Market, a biannual event featuring (mostly) local artisans.

Some favorites were (clockwise from bottom left:)

1. Embroidered leather goods by Rebecca Sako 

2. Slipcast ceramic "eggs"by jfish designs

3. Pottery with hand drawn designs by Catherine Reece

4. Urban Air Market, Patricia's Green, Hayes Valley

Urban Air was hosted in one of my favorite parts of the city, Hayes Valley, in an adorable park and along several side streets. After browsing, Partner-in-Crime and I wandered the area and made it over to the Lower Haight to watch the Giants game at Toronado over a beer. (I had the Bockor Jacobins Rouge, a delicious dark sour beer.) In my 24th year, I took a leap moving out to California, and this weekend has only affirmed it was worth the risk.

make it, gift it: DIY button ring

[Vintage button collection]

A few weeks ago I posted my excitement about participating in the Great Food Bloggers Cookie Swap and the Holiday Gift Swap, both organized by some awesome bloggers. The deadline for mailing out treats for both was recently and I wanted to share what I created. Today I have a diy instructional for my gift- button rings.

I knew I wanted to make jewelry and making rings from vintage jewelry and buttons is an easy diy that anyone can do. To start, you need one or more buttons (or other bauble such as a rough gemstone, cocktail earring piece, etc) and a ring blank. Ring blanks are available at craft and bead stores.  

[I decided to create a layered look with the large tortoise shell buttons and various small gold and colored buttons.]

[You'll have to remove the back of the button if it doesn't lay flat. Use pliers and just work it back and forth.]

[Use E-600 glue (from a hardware store) to secure the ring blank to the button. I added a strip of fabric, also glued down with E600 to add stability. If your ring blank has a large flat surface then this is not needed, but if your ring is only circular, like mine, then it is helpful. ]

[Your ring is ready! Here is what they looked like before being mailed.]

 

[I added fun bows to the packaging, just because I love gifts.]

Thank you so much Freshly Picked for putting together this awesome showcase of crafters! Over the past week, I've received adorable notecards, holiday coasters, and a necklace from a repurposed tie. I'm looking forward to the last few arrivals and to sharing my Great Cookie Swap recipe with you tomorrow.

craft night part II

More photography from the half-broken camera, posted well after it was shot. Craft night is a wonderful monthly event that introduced me to some of the finest women in Richmond. After our first event making terrariums, we significantly upped the ante by deciding to decorate shoes. We had a few inspiration images from DIY blogs- these and these but mostly these fun wedges. After initial fears, everyone dove in and create their own unique shoes. Our next craft night is already coming up this weekend so it's high time I shared these!

[My wedges in progress]

[Ribbon glued and sewn onto canvas shoes]

[Hand painting anchors]

[Following the neon trend]

[Also decorated: bags]

[... and nails.]

craft night

[erin's pièce de résistance]

Last night was the Finale for Fashion Week, but I had a previous commitment to a group of lovely ladies that I couldn't bring myself to skip. The lovely RVAFashionista will have info up on GayRVA.com and you should check out the rest of the coverage we have there. But instead of black tie and high fashion, I spent the night with a tumbler of wine playing in the dirt.

I've been luckily to have a good group of friends throughout my life. There are several lovely ladies and men that I have kept (sadly, loosely) in touch with from high school, many dear friends from college and a great support group in DC. Moving to Richmond, it took me a while to establish good friends but after about a year and a half, I have met some wonderful people that I know will be important to me always. Last night just helped cement that.

The goal was a craft night where we would make terrariums, the ever so-hip trend and the only plant that many of us could keep alive. Can you add glitter to terraiums? Not sure, but we did.

[inappropriate crafting]

I had plans to play hostess and do a day of baking and cooking, but really all you need for a girls' night is a few (um, six) bottles of wine and a nearby pizza place. We ordered from Belmont Pizza and then walked over to pick up our pizza. They were quite amused at watching 6 twenty/thirty-something women tearing into slices inside their pick up area, particularly when we rebuffed their offer of plates. We rounded out the night with a hours long marathon of Dance Central.

[My terrarium's home, over the kitchen sink]