The Roseville Spring Antique Market

The Roseville Spring Antique Market is THIS SUNDAY!!! April 18, 2010 from 8am - 4pm. It's Free Admission & Free Parking in Downtown Roseville on Oak Street between Taylor & South Grant.

Mona from Gatherings will be there selling her fantastic goodies...including a few pieces of my jewelry! Please stop by and say Hi to Mona! Who knows, you might find something you like! Maybe some earrings? Maybe some fun housewares? Maybe a great antique piece to finish off a project you've been working on!

By the way, Mona is carrying some of my jewelry in the Gatherings shop!

(650 Fulton Avenue Sacramento, CA)

Also, please vote for Gatherings on the KCRA "A-list"!

A Day With(out) Shoes

April 8th was A Day Without Shoes. It was a day to spread awareness about underprivileged people who have to go everyday without shoes. Because of this they can develop terrible debilitating disorders with their feet!

Facts from A Day Without Shoes website:

One Day Without Shoes is the day we spread awareness about the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. On April 8th, we ask people to go the day, part of the day or even just a few minutes, barefoot, to experience a life without shoes first-hand, and inspire others at the same time.

It’s Hard Without Shoes

Through everyday encounters with domestic poverty, we are reminded to appreciate having food and shelter, but most of us all but forget about our feet. Food, shelter, AND shoes facilitate life’s fundamentals. Imagine a life without shoes; constantly aware of the ground in front of you, suffering regular cuts and scrapes, tending to infection after each walk, and enduring not only terrain, but heat and cold.

The problem is large, but the solution is simple. Wearing shoes and practicing basic hygiene can prevent both infection and disease due to unsafe roads and contaminated soil. By imagining a life barefoot, we can all contribute to the awareness of these conditions. On April 8th, communities, campuses, organizations, and individuals are banding together to walk barefoot for One Day Without Shoes.

Facts:

• In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.
• Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
• Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
• In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
• Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.

I wanted to participate all day...Unfortunately, I couldn't go barefoot at work! So this is as barefoot I got:

That is until lunch when I went for a walk around the plaza!

I'm grateful that I can afford to wear shoes daily! For this I pledge to purchase a pair of TOMS shoes. For every pair of TOMS shoes sold, they donate a pair to someone in need! I encourage you to do the same! :D

2nd Saturday @ Zocalo with Art-ifex Jewelry!

My best friend, Erin of Art-ifex, will be vending her wares this 2nd Saturday @ Zocalo! She has some awesome talent! Heck, she's the person that taught me how to wire work! Here's a sample of one of her beautiful pieces:

Please stop by & say hi to Erin!

Zocalo (18th & Capitol, Midtown Sacramento) 4pm-9pm!

Handmade Card Swap

The ever-talented Missy of Crafty Carnival is hosting a hand-made card swap! I couldn't resist joining in on the fun! I'll keep you posted on what I make for the swap...as well as what I eventually receive from all my swap partners!

Missy has also created a kickstarter project so that she can produce rubber stamps from her drawings!

Death Eater Terror Continues!!!

Cast of Characters

Let's start off with Alice, otherwise known as Marianna:

{Costume made by Kathy Garcia, Jewelry by Rain's Embellishments}

Next up we have a couple of Cheshire Cats:

{Costume & Jewelry made by Rain's Embellishments}

Rain (Me)

&

Marissa

Followed up by some Royalty:

{Costume by Kathy Garcia, Jewelry & Crown by Rain's Embellishments}

The Duchess (Rachel)

& a not so royal Dormouse (Xavier)

{Costume by Kathy Garcia & Rain's Embellishments}

The Red Queen/Queen of Hearts

(Angel)

{Costume by Torrid & Kathy Garcia, Jewelry by Rain's Embellishments}

The White Queen

(Kathy/Mom/Grandma)

{Costume by Old Navy & Target, Jewelry & Crown by Rain's Embellishments}

Then a grouping of Mad Hatters:

(Vanessa)

(Grace)

And a frolicking group of White Rabbits:

{Costume by Torrid & Kathy Garcia, Jewelry by Rain's Embellishments}

(Isabella)

(Small Sarah)

(Big Sarah)

And a fresh crop of Talking Flowers:

(Claudia)

(Hannah)

{Costume by Kathy Garcia}

& (Mara)

We're All Mad Here!!!

Planning a birthday party is a piece of work! We couldn't have pulled off a successful party without some help (internet & local people/businesses)!

First off, I would like to thank The Long Thread for your Alice in Wonderland Blog! It's awesome! Thank you for your FREE downloadable (Alice themed) PDFs (garlands, party hats & stickers)! They helped set the scene of the party!

(Other "poker suit" garlands from Party City,

Black & White striped ribbon from The Paper Garden)

Next, the look would not have been completed without the help of

Valerie Claussen!

Angel contacted her to get the Mad Tea Party Decorations (mushrooms, flowers, large tea pots & signs). I have to say, they were incredible!

The other tea settings (both miniature & normal cups & saucers) are from my mom's personal collection. Chairs supplied by our cousin Lacey at Celebrations.

I can't forget to thank a good friend, Jacqueline, for creating this wonderful & yummy Cheshire Cat cake! It was breath-taking (even though her daughter Mara decided to jostle it around like it was a toy)! Thank you for all your time & effort!!!

(candles found at The Party Concierge)

It certainly put a smile on Mari's face!

I also found some help and inspiration from Disney Family.com - Everything Alice

(cupcakes, shrink charms & party favors including other FREE downloadable PDFs).

Including these scrumptious tea cup cupcakes:

Thank you also to Mona at Gatherings! You went out of your way to get this top hat out of storage for me! If you look really closely at the first picture of this blog you might see a fantastic Alice clock I found in her shop! I gave it to Mari as a birthday present.

A BIG Thank You to all who helped make Marianna's 12th birthday tea party a success! Hopefully I didn't leave anyone out! Please forgive me if I did!

....Stay tuned for costumes! >^..^<

Free Class @ The Folsom Bead Shoppe

FREE CLASS: March 17^th, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Make this beautiful button lariat necklace with Lorrain free of fees. Must purchase supplies at our store. Call to reserve your seat. A $20. class fee will apply if you bring your own materials. Arrive at least 30 minutes early to shop for your supplies. Photo below

THIS LIST OF CLASSES ARE ALL AT FOLSOM. VIEW SAMPLES AT THE FOLSOM STORE.

Introduction to Wire Work:

Learn to construct great looking necklaces, bracelets, pendants and earrings using your favorite beads and wire. You will learn to make strong links with coil-wrapped loops. This basic technique is essential to modern jewelry making.

Fee $20. (Supplies Extra.)

Saturday, March 20th 10:30-12:30

Thursday, April 8th 6:00-8:00

Wire Findings:

Learn how to wire wrap briolette for pendants and earrings, as well as the construction of headpins, ear wires and hook & eye clasps. The use of a hammer and bench block will also be available to enhance your findings. Fee $20. (Supplies Extra.)

Thursday, April 1st 6:00-8:00

Wire Pendants:

Simple caging and pronging techniques will be shown to help enhance stones for necklace pendants. Fee $20. (Supplies Extra.)

Monday, April 5th 6:00-8:00

Wire Ring:

Add a little sparkle to your hand! Learn this special wire-wrap technique while implementing the use of a ring mandrel and a pin vise. Previous wire wrapping experience required!

Fee $20. (Supplies Extra)

Thursday, March 25th 6:00-8:00pm

Royal Tiered Pendant:

This pendant is sure to receive royal attention! In this class you will learn the wire construction in creating this exquisite pendant!

Prerequisite: Introduction to Wire Work.

Fee $20. (Supplies Extra)

Monday, April 19th 6:00-8:00

Spiny Pearl Bracelet:

Learn how to wire wrap stick pearls in this charming pattern...dangle some crystals for a little sparkle!

Fee $20. ( Supplies Extra)

Sunday, April 11th 1:00-3:00pm

Rosary:

Learn how to create a rosary using the traditional technique. Great for gifts!

Fee $20. (Supplies Extra)

Wednesday, March 24th 6:00-8:00

Vine Necklace:

Learn how to create this necklace using crystals and headpins. Once you learn how, you'll want to make more!

Fee $20. (Supplies Extra)

Sunday, March 28th 1:00-3:00

Bead Knotting:

Learn to use silk cording to knot between each bead or pearl and to use bead tip ends to finish. Complete a pretty “floating bead” necklace or you may string a conventional strand of pearls.

Fee: $20. (Supplies Extra.)

Wednesday, March 31st 6:00-8:00

Thursday, April 29th 6:00-8:00

Introduction to Bead Weaving, Peyote Wave Bracelet:

Learn how to use various seed beads, a needle and thread to weave intricate beadwork. We will start a peyote stitch “wave” bracelet which may not be completed in class.

Saturday, April 17th 10:30-12:30

Satin Pearl Bracelet:

Learn how to assemble this amazing bracelet using Right Angle Weave with crystals and seed beads.

Fee $20. (Supplies Extra.)

Sunday, March 14th 1:00-3:00pm

See class details for the Roseville location at:thebeadshop.net (click on “classes” near the top of the page).

A detailed listing of the Folsom classes can be found at:thebeadshoppe.blogspot.com/. Scroll down to the Folsom listing of classes.