Field Trip: Winter CHA 2014 Part 1

16 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Cardmaking, Collage, DIY & Crafting, Field Trip, Glitter, Jewelry, Mini Album, Mixed Media, Papercrafting, Rubber Stamp, Rubber Stamp, Scrapbooking, Tags

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Artist Trading Blocks, arts and crafts, authentique, brenda walton, card making, card making trends, Carolyn Peeler, cha, CHA 2014, cha 2014 booth, cha winter, CHA winter 2014, craft, craft and hobby association, crafting, eileen hull, Everyday is a Holiday, Jenny and Aaron, Jenny Holiday, jo packham, Julie Weller, melissa frances, mixed-media, Mixed-Media Masterpieces with Jenny & Aaron, Petaloo, scrapbookimng, scrapbooking, scrapbooking trends, sizzix, Susan Shintaku, The sweet life, tim holtz, Where Women Cook

Living the creative life is an extraordinary experience but sometimes you have to work for it. Luckily for me, I only had to work a little bit (and had a lot of fun), in order to attend the Craft and Hobby Association Winter convention (CHA) this year. CHA is the big show where scrapbook store owners, designers and instructors get to see all of the new craft products from the manufacturers.

Thanks to one of my friends, I was able to work for a while in the Melissa Frances booth and the Petaloo booth. And, I also had time to walk the show floor and take pictures of the new products and say hello to friends.

Melissa Frances

I started my day in the Melissa Frances booth. I LOVE Melissa Frances products. Her product line includes gorgeous, vintage-inspired papers, trims, sparkling embellishments, miniature cloches and now chalkboard canvases. The time went by so quickly and I wish I’d been able to spend some time getting to know Carolyn Peeler. Luckily for me, Jenny and Aaron of Everyday is a Holiday were in the booth and we got to talk a little bit in between chatting with customers.

I’ve known Jenny and Aaron of “Everyday is a Holiday” since I met them at a creative event in 2011 and they’ve become two of my favorite people. Not only are they super talented, but they’re down to earth and have really big hearts. I’m so happy for them that despite having a tough year they’ve persevered and have created some awesome opportunities for themselves.

Recently, they released an amazing book, “Mixed-Media Masterpieces with Jenny & Aaron” which I ran out to buy as soon as it hit the shelves.

They also designed a line of hand-painted (vs created on a computer) product for Melissa Frances called The Sweet Life. I can’t wait until their scrapbook papers, journaling cards and other coordinating embellishments are in my local scrapbook store!

Are you ready for some Authentique Papers?

After my quick shift in the Melissa Frances booth I had a couple hours to walk around and see the new products from my favorite crafting companies. My first stop was at the Authentique Paper booth and they had some gorgeous papers and projects on display.

Next, I hit up the Sizzix booth.

Designer Eileen Hull has some wonderful new dies to create Artist Trading Blocks (like Artist Trading Cards, but with more dimension!).

And I always love to see what designer Tim Holtz has been working on. (And I figured out why I can’t find vintage trophy cups in vintage shops anymore! They’re all in Tim’s displays!)

Designer Brenda Walton has added 8 enchanting new dies to her collection, including flowers, leaves, a butterfly gift card, cupcake stands, a heart pendant, and also some textured impression embossing folders. I met Brenda for the first time at the French General Soiree on Sunday evening and she is a lovely, talented artist!

The latest news in the Sizzix booth is the line of incredible dies from Jo Packham, the editor of “Where Women Create” magazine and an amazing, modern renaissance woman. I had a chance to chat with her about her new line for Sizzix, “Where Women Cook”, on Sunday night at the French General Soiree. I’m excited to see how crafters will use her new dies to create gifts, favors, party supplies, and packaging for their home made baked goods.

Petaloo

Next, I had the opportunity to help CHA attendees create some beautiful Make and Takes in the Petaloo booth. If you haven’t checked out their beautiful blooms in your local scrapbooking store, you must! They have every size, shape and color you could ever want to embellish your projects! We started off making beautiful bracelets featuring gorgeous Petaloo silk rose petals and blooms and ended the day creating some gorgeous vintage-inspired mini valentines.

My friend, Julie Weller, worked the shift before me and our friend, Susan Shintaku, happened to visit the booth while we were both there.

Thank you so much for joining me for this field trip. I’ll have more pics to share soon!

xo,

Christine Barker

Field Trip: The Art of Craft at French General

14 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, DIY & Crafting, Field Trip, Mixed Media, Papercrafting

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antique trims, art and craft, art of craft, beads, brenda walton, brocante, cha, charms, craft and hobby association, ephemera, fabric, france, french, french general, jo packham, julie baxley, Julie Weller, kaari meng, los angeles, milinery, millinery, molly meng, pam keravuori, vintage ribbons

Each year Kaari Meng hosts artisans from near and far at her delightful and inspiring shop, French General, hidden within the ordinary humdrum of Los Angeles. The Art of Craft event featured talented instructors, amazing projects and a bevy of beautiful and creative souls ready to learn.

From the outside, French General is a lovely peach building with a simple sign and striped awning, but once you step inside you enter the world of a French Brocante, resplendent with miniature religious icons, bolts of beautiful fabric, vintage ribbons, millinery, beads and charms, and antique trims and ephemera brought back from the countryside of France.

Surrounded by this extraordinary collection of goods, you start to feel the inspiration to create and what better setting than at a table filled with good friends and a class taught by the very talented Molly Meng? After a morning filled with pancakes and catching up, my friend, Julie Weller, and I, joined our friends to create a shrine, made from vintage books and ephemera, waxed flowers, vintage photos, gorgeous beads and magical, miniature gold rings.

Later that evening we were joined by a creative society of guests for the Soiree, including some of the students from earlier in the day and Kaari’s friends who were in town for the Craft and Hobby Association convention that was happening the same weekend.

Enjoy some of the moments from this wonderful day!

Julie and her new gnome friend

French General

Vintage ribbons in pinks and reds

Vintage ribbons and trims

Jewelry Kits

Religious icons

Kaari’s line of Fabric

Inspiration Boards

Hand stitched and beaded pillow made by Pam Garrison

Inspiration

Shrine Kit

My completed shrine

Julie, Kaari and me

Julie, Molly and me (or I, however you like to say it)

Jo Packam and me

Me and Julie Baxley

Sweets for the Soiree

Julie, Pam Keravouri and me

Me with Brenda Walton

Brenda Walton’s latest creations made using her new dies with Sizzix

xo,

Christine Barker

Happy New Year: My Wish for You!

31 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Blog Hop, Cardmaking, Collage, DIY & Crafting, Field Trip, Lovebug Creations, Mixed Media, Papercrafting, Scrapbooking, Swap, Textiles, Vintage

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2014, altered book, apron, book art, cha winter 2013, dry erase board, happy birthday card, Happy New Year, home decor, LOveBug Creations, paper rosettes, prairie chic, pretty dry erase board, rosette tutorial, rubberstamping, Rumple Ribbon, scrapbook layout, shabby chic apron, spring, spring banner, spring garland, valentine, valentine heart, valentine swap, Vintage marketplace, vintage music, wedding, wedding cake topper

As we wind up 2013 and look forward to a brand new year, I’d like to wish you a wonderfully creative, successful and whimsical 2014.

Need some inspiration for the New Year? Here’s the top 10 posts of 2013 for Scarlet Calliope:

1. Home Decor: Pretty Dry-Erase Board

2. Card Making: Happy Birthday, Stephanie!

3. Crafting: Glamour in Pink Layout featuring Lovebug Creations Rumple Ribbon

4. Wedding Blog Hop with Lovebug Creations and Jaded Blossom

5. Swap: Valentine Swap Revealed!

6. Crafting: Spring Banner featuring Lovebug Creations Rumple Ribbon

7. Sewing: Prairie Chic Apron Featuring Lovebug Creations Rumple Ribbon

8. Paper Crafting Tutorial: Vintage Music Rosettes

9a. Field Trip: CHA Winter 2013, Part One

9b. Field Trip: CHA Winter 2013, Part Two

10. Field Trip: The Vintage Marketplace in Rainbow, CA

Thank you so much for joining me for the last Scarlet Calliope Blog Post for 2013. Have a safe and wonderful New Year’s Eve!

xo,

Christine Barker

If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good. Hot is no good either. White hot and passionate is the only thing to be.”

-Roald Dahl

Craft Fair: Psssst, I’m a craft fair virgin!

01 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Christmas and Holidays, DIY & Crafting, Field Trip, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Papercrafting, Sewing, Soldering

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arts and crafts, autism, benefit, Charity Wings Art Center, craft fair, crafting, crafting event, door prizes, entertainment, fundraiser, holiday craft fair, holidays, Mountain Shadows Outreach Services, music, san marcos, scrapbook royalty, silent auction, soldered jewelry, spa services, special event, stocking stuffers, union flag apron, vintage

Holiday Craft & Vendor Fair

Yes, it’s true. I’ve never, ever sold my handmade wares at a craft fair and it’s finally time for me to be brave and get myself out there. I’ll be setting up on November 16 for the Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair at the Charity Wings Art Center in San Marcos, CA to benefit Mountain Shadows Outreach Services and the Active Learning Center for Autism.

I’ll be bringing my soldered jewelry pieces, some Christmas stocking stuffers, some of my Union Flag aprons and some vintage surprises.

There will be 3 beautiful arts and craft projects to create that are perfect for all ages and levels. Each project will be a perfect handmade gift to give for the holiday season.

Plus, there will be a silent auction, door prizes, amazing vendors, food, entertainment, and spa services. Come on out for a great time and get creative while supporting a worthy cause!!!

For more details visit the Charity Wings Art Center.

When: Saturday, November 16^th from 11-4

Where: Charity Wings Art Center, 287 Industrial Street, San Marcos, CA 92078

Presale Tickets are just $7, that’s a $3 savings off the day of event tickets.

~CRAFTING ~ FOOD ~ HOLIDAY SHOPPING ~ MUSIC ~ MAGIC AND MORE ~

Virtual Field Trip: Steampunk

08 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Field Trip

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Tags

Alexandria LaNier, burlesque, city of lost children, coachella 2008, corsets, craft, creative, fantasy, gears, goggles, imagination, industrial design, Jean Paul Gaultier, Kiki's Delivery Service, La cité des enfants perdus, petticoats, steampunk, Steampunk aesthetic, steampunk culture, Steampunk Mad Hatter, steampunk treehouse, The Golden Compass, The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, victorian

Hello Creative Friends!

Today I’m providing a muse to feed your creative inspiration as you work on your projects this week!

Mad Hatter by my friend and

photographer Alexandria LaNier

I first discovered Steampunk culture in 2009 while researching corsets and burlesque costumes and started dreaming of creating my own designs. It was exciting to realize that there was a name for this aesthetic that has been whispering to my heart for most of my life.

Among my favorite Steampunk movies are La cité des enfants perdus, or The City of Lost Children, with costumes designed by Jean Paul Gaultier. Other favorites are The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and The Golden Compass. Years later and I’m still smitten with the dark, rich colors, the odes to days long past and the sense of excitement that recreating everyday objects into art brings. I love the Victorian look, dirigibles, industrial design, corsets and petticoats, gears, goggles, and almost everything that steampunk represents.

Graphic 45 project By Sherry Cheever

Back when I first started researching Steampunk, there were only three websites/mentions of the genre on Google. Now I find it wherever I look. I was ecstatic to see so many Steampunk costumes at my first experience with ComicCon in 2010 in San Diego. My husband was probably tired of hearing me say, “OMG, Steampunk!”

By Curious Printery

What I love most about Steampunk are the images of creative, inspiring and modded objects and styles that evoke the historical fantasy and imagination of this movement.

I love this Steampunk Treehouse that was installed at Coachella 2008. I can imagine climbing into it, reading a book and being transported to imaginary worlds far from the stress and hustle of our world.

Thank you for joining me and I hope that you’ll find some details in the Steampunk aesthetic to add to your creative projects!

XO,

Christine Barker

Field Trip: Renegade Craft Fair LA 2013

22 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, DIY & Crafting, Field Trip, Jewelry, Mixed Media

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becky morgan, biddy bopp shop, birdhouses, blarney yarn, ceramic jackalope, ceramics, christopher curtis, craft, craft fair, crafter, crochet, cupcake candle, decaf chai tea, flea market, food trucks, handmade diy, heirloom, ilee papergoods, indie makers, jackalope, knit, koko candles, la restaurant week, laser cut jewelry, le trango, letterpress, letterpress printing, lizbeth navarro, los angeles, maker, me like clay, moonshine lamp co, padua farms bath and body, pinterest, pottery, reclaimed wood, renegade craft fair, renegade craft fair los angeles, rob lewbel, screen print, succulent garden, succulents, t-we tea, terrarium, tom colicchio, topiary jewelry, urban anonymous, whimsical animal masks, wool roving

Hello Creative Friends!

I was a busy girl this weekend and I left Orange County and headed up to Los Angeles two days in a row! On Saturday night my husband and I had date night at Tom Colicchio’s restaurant, Craft, for LA Restaurant Week. We had mixed reviews about our experience which I’ll detail in a Yelp review at some point.

On Sunday I went with some friends on a fun shopping adventure to the Renegade Craft Fair which featured over 250 indie crafters, make-n-takes and workshops, food trucks, popsicle stands, a dj, a beer garden, and amazing people watching. The Hot Trends right now are succulents, laser cut jewelry and stationery, repurposed and recycled items, more succulents, screen printed wearables and posters, all things knit and crochet, including crocheted cactus and succulents, ceramics and pottery, letterpress, and of course, more succulents!

Terrarium Shop by Urban Anonymous

If you spend time on Pinterest then you know that Terrarium’s are HOT right now! There were several booths with Terrariums but this one with the different colored sands was my favorite.

I adore the pastel colors and organic shapes of this pottery from Me Like Clay.

Whimsical animal masks from Biddy Bopp Shop

Upcycled bottles made into lamps from Moonshine Lamp Co

This unique piece of art from Moonshine Lamp Co stopped me in my tracks!

I bought some delicious smelling soap from Padua Farms Bath & Body. It smells heavenly! Becky Morgan told me about her shop in Claremont, CA called Heirloom that is filled with her sweet smelling body products and wonderful handmade treasures. I think another field trip is in my future!

I have a little obsession with bunnies and deer and Lizbeth Navarro makes the most adorable ceramic deer and she has Jackalopes!!!

I was on cuteness overload yesterday. LOVE these adorable greeting cards from Le Trango.

There was lots of jewelry to be seen at Renegade but these delicate lace pieces from Topiary really caught my eye. So fun and so unique!

Cupcakes are still hot! These adorable, yummy looking candles are from Koko Candles.

I’ve tried needle felting and loved it so it took all of my willpower not to buy up some of this beautiful hand painted wool roving from Blarney Yarn.

I bought some Chai Tea from these handsome gents of T-We Tea.

There were several booths with gorgeous cards and prints from letterpress printers. Being amongst all of the beautiful stationery inspired me and makes me want to return to my print studio and start printing something, anything! These cards from iLee Papergoods were particularly colorful and whimsical with sailing ships surrounded by swans, gnomes dancing around mushrooms and owls and foxes and mermaids, oh my!

And more succulents! I loved these birdhouses and home decor frames crafted by Christopher Curtis from reclaimed wood.

For lunch there was a plethora of food trucks serving up burgers, organic vegan food, gelato, indian food and more!

What a great day of shopping and being inspired by all of these talented makers! If you live up in the Bay Area, the next Renegade Craft Fair will be held July 27 & 28.

Thanks for joining me, Friends!

xo,

Christine Barker

Field Trip: Find a Flea Market Near You!

13 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, DIY & Crafting, Field Trip, Vintage

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alameda, alameda flea market, antique fair, antique shop, antique shop directory, antique specialty show, antique vendor, antiques, architectural salvage center, bargain hunter, brimfield, brooklyn flea, canton flea market, daytona flea, flea market, flea market directory, flea market style, flea markets and antiques shows, flea quest, GreenFlea, handcrafted, hidden gem, junkin, junking, ki nassauer, merchandise, online vintage guide, outdoor market, road trip event, Rose Bowl Flea Market, round top, Springfield Antique Show, treasure hunter, vintage, vintage clothing shop, vintage clothing show, vintage fair, vintage occasional sales, vintage sale, vintage specialty show, vintage treasures, vintage vendor

Have you ever struggled to find a great place to shop for antiques and vintage treasures and you feel like you’ve visited all of your beloved shops and hidden gems in your area? Or maybe you’re traveling to a new city and want to find some inspiration and indulge your vintage hunting habit. I’m so excited to share a new website with you that will help you find flea markets, antique shops, vintage sales and more!

FleaQuest is a brand new nationwide online vintage guide and community for treasure hunters just like you!

Brought to you by Ki Nassauer, the Editor-in-Chief of Flea Market Style, this online resource is free and will give you the insider track to antique destinations and vintage dealers. You can use the directory to find shops and resources you may not know about. You can also share your favorite places by submitting listings, adding reviews or save “Must Explore” shops and events to your profile!

One of the nice features of the site is the ability to filter results. So, if you’re looking for something unique, like a vintage clothing show, you can check that box so that you only see results that are exactly what you’re looking for. You can even type in a city and then set the radius to show you all of the results within a certain area.

If you’re a business owner, you can promote your vintage/antiques based business on FleaQuest as well. With photos, videos, contact info and more, you’ll be seeing more people in your shop in no time.

I have a feeling I’ll be spending quite a bit of time using this amazing resource!

Happy Hunting!

xo,

Christine Barker

Field Trip: The Vintage Marketplace in Rainbow, CA

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, DIY & Crafting, Field Trip

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antique show, antiques, antiquing, Broken Jewels, CA, Chateau de Fleurs, Christie Repasy, Cottage Chic, dragonfly dreams, dreamy, Fallbrook, fallbrook vintage market, flea market, grace abounding, handmade, My Little French Venue, One of a Find Shop, Rainbow, rainbow vintage market, Rita Reade, Rose Vignettes, shopping, southern california shopping, swoon, Ta Da!, Temecula, The Oaks, the vintage market place, The Vintage Marketplace, the vintage rabbit, treasures, vintage, Vintage Beach House, vintage flea market, vintage market, vintage market place, Vintage marketplace, vintage marketplace fallbrook, vintage show, whimsical

Last weekend I took a trip down to Rainbow, CA to see all of the whimsical pretties and baubles at The Vintage Marketplace, presented by Rita Reade and Christie Repasy. This fabulous shopping experience takes place in “The Oaks”, a beautiful country park located between Fallbrook and Temecula. It’s so much fun to browse the vendor booths, enjoying the great selection of vintage and handmade goods, and visiting with friends.

Take a look at the pictures to get an idea of how amazing this shopping venue is! There will be wonderful vendors setting up booths full of swoon-worthy and dreamy treasures.

The Vintage Marketplace at “The Oaks”
4805 5th Street
Rainbow/Fallbrook, CA 92028