New Goodies in the Shop!

I just listed lots of new goodies on the site! Here are a few of my favorites! See ALL of the new goodies HERE!

I Can Finally BREATHE Again - Studio Make-over

Okay, so my studio was such a mess. Boxes of website inventory everywhere, boxes of junk, stuff I will never use, etc. etc. Something had to be done. I spent almost the entire weekend, cleaning and reorganizing, and it feel SO GOOD. I can't wait to create again.

Here is a BEFORE shot of the studio. Things were actually MUCH worse than this, but this was the latest that I had. When I started in this Sat. I didn't think I would finish, so I didn't take a photo. Seriously, there was zero floor space! But I got into a groove and three HUGE trash bags later (don't worry, nothing good) and a pile to donate, I was done!

(Before)

The first step started a few weeks back. My lovely BF let me take over the "family room", which was never used, and we lined the walls with LOTS of shelves for the Retro Cafe Art inventory. My goal was to get it ALL out of my studio so I could create again! Mission accomplished :). Now I have a "retail store" in one room in my house..lol.

(After)

I scored these sweet "candy jars" which I filled with site goodies!
And I SQUEALED with excitement when I spotted this "cookie jar" today, which I will fill with supplies. I'm SO IN LOVE with it! I just love cupcake themed goodies and the colors match my website!
And here is the studio, all clean (and another cupcake. I couldn't resist buying one for each art room)!
It's been YEARS since I've been able to close this closet door!

And the inside? Could still use some work, but not too bad.

I even organized my typewriter keys! I scored this container made entirely out of yard sticks a while back at an antique mall and it was perfect! Each letter/number has a little nook :).

Twilight Charm Swap Results!

Update: The movie was EXCELLENT! It's so much fun to see the characters on screen after reading all of the books. Now I can't wait for the next. All I have to say is "Team JACOB" all the way. He is looking HOT!

A BIG thanks to Cassandra for hosting a fabulous charm swap! Above is my completed bracelet just LOADED with gorgeous charms by Cassandra, Bianca, Rhonda, Bryanna, and moi! The bracelet is packed with Twilight loveliness, and I was also able to make several necklaces and a couple of key chains with a few of the larger charms!

Bryanna also sent me this fabulous necklace and glittery box! THANK YOU! Simply wonderful. I will be wearing my bracelet and necklace PROUDLY tomorrow night! I'm going with three girlfriends to see a special showing of Twilight at 9pm then NEW MOON at midnight! I'm hoping all the kiddos will be in bed since it's a school night!

Until tomorrow at midnight........

NEW Hello Dollie CHRISTMAS Doll Collage Sheets!

As if you didn't know this was coming, the NEW Hello Dollie Christmas Collage sheets are here! There a 3 different ones, I was just having to much fun creating them. Get them in paper or digital format HERE!

And here are some close-ups!

Roses and Craft Shows

Wooohoo, the lovely mini paper roses are back in stock HERE! So many uses for these, and yummy colors too! A recent customer told me she uses these to decorate gift boxes for her customers :).

Also, the last two weekends I've been busy doing craft shows. Here is a shot from last weekend.

This is me and my mom. It was her first time coming to one of my shows. She started to take a picture of me completing a transaction with a customer! It was like 5th grade all over again! lol! But we had a really nice time!

After the show, we went to dinner. I love me some shrimp.

This was today's set-up. Pretty similar, I know, but you learn how to make due with things when you were told you would have an 8ft table and you get a 6ft table. Or no table. Or like last weekend, I was supposed to have TWO 8ft tables, and I did, but they were only about 1ft wide little stick tables. So I pushed two together to make one normal sized table so my table cloth would fit. Luckily I brought an extra table in my car! Seriously, the life of a crafter is a stressful one at times :).

New Goodies!

I just listed several NEW goodies in the shop! Shallow welled ring blanks: ovals, circles, squares, and more in sterling silver and antique silver finishes. Rosary chain, Vintage German RUBBER baby dolls (so cute and strange at the same time), vintage santa pixie heads and more! See all the new goodies HERE!.

Win Free Collage Sheets!

Hi, I'm hosting the prize this week on a new Challenge site called Digi Kitty! The winner will receive three free digital collage sheets from my store! And it's a fun challenge, "Frames". Digi Kitty got the fun started by having DT members create with the Daguerreotypes 2 digital collage sheet. But you can use any type of frame in your art to play. Click on the button below to be whisked (or whiskered - yes, I know, corny) away!

Sherri's Art

I'm in dollie heaven right now! The talented Sherri Mitchell just created the sweetest ornaments using the Hello Dollie digital collage sheet from my store!

Not only is this a fantastic project, Sherri's photos are stunning (the one above and below are by Sherri Mitchell)!

And don't forget to grab your Hello Dollie digital collage sheet!

Irvington Halloween Festival and the Indieana Handicraft Exchange!

Yesterday on Halloween, I took part in the Irvington Halloween Festival!

But rather than having a tent in the street, I was in a HUGE tent as one of the Indieana Handicraft Exchange vendors. This was during set-up, so please excuse the mess! It was a cold day, but the tent had a nice "warm" feel and lots of live music!

Here I am in my booth. I wasn't exceptionally festive, but I did have on a pair of wings. It was so fun seeing all the costumes throughout the day. I would have taken more pictures, but I was busy with customers :).

Fall Colors

I just love the colors of fall, here in Indiana! This is the view from my house - we live on a small dead end street. You would barely know it was in the city (Indianapolis)!

And there is a lovely "fire bush" right outside my studio window!

Lollishop Design Team Dollie Samples!

I wanted to share some art with you! The Hello Dollie Bodies Collage Sheet was picked to be a part of the Lollishop Design Team's inspiration kits!

Go HERE to see more sweet samples!

How SWEET are these Dolli Pops by Lori from Faerie Window! I could just eat them up!


And check out these adorable samples created by Sadie Lou Who! Cuteness overload!



Sadly the giveaway is over, but you can go see the other lovely samples HERE!

New Goodies in the Shop!

I just listed several new goodies in the shop! See them all HERE!

Faux Fuse Kit

Fuse Kit Samples

Chipboard Paris Kit

Microscope Slide Cubby Shrine Kit

Vintage Skeleton Paper Piecing Collage Sheet (by Coffee Break Design)

Heather's Art

I wanted to share these sweet sweet art samples created by Design Team member Heather Robinson!

Heather used the Hello Dollie Nature Fairies and Hello Dollie Halloween collage sheets in making these. I just love these samples! Heather is an AMAZING artist and has been with Retro Cafe' Art Gallery since day one! Thank you my dear friend!

Published Bracelet

I wanted to share this bracelet with you. The bracelet was recently published in the book Jewelry Beyond Time by Cynthia Powell and Sherre Hulbert.

I had so much fun creating this piece, but since I don't like to wear bracelets (had bilateral wrist surgery a while back) I've decided to part with it so it may be enjoyed. You can find the bracelet offered HERE on my site if interested.

Charming!

Oh, I just love Halloween don't you? Blooming Dragon carries my soldered pendants, and I was only delighted when they asked me to make some for Halloween! These will be making their way down there tomorrow!

New Vintage Attic Treasures!

Check out all of these yummy "vintage attic treasures" from Melissa Frances just listed at Retro Cafe' Art!

Bottlebrush trees, tinsel, pink and white mica flakes, resin angel wings, and sweet shabby resin frames (VERY small and great for jewelry too)! Perfect for your cottage style Christmas :).

See all of the lovely new goodies HERE.

New Tim Holtz Products!

The BRAND NEW Tim Holtz products are at Retro Cafe' Art! The film strip ribbon is to die for, the type charms are so fun and nostalgic, the word sticks are so versatile, and I can't wait to make my own masks with the mask sheets!

You can get all the new products HERE! And pssst... I'll be posting a sale above in a few minutes!

Hoosier Artisan Holiday Boutique

UPDATE: Here is my booth space from the show today! The show was very nice and I made lots of new friends! I was also approached for a few more store opportunites as well. We shall see :).

I'll be a vendor at this wonderful event on Saturday! I hope you'll come visit! A great way to do some holdiay shopping - Christmas will be here before we know it.

Twilight Charm Bracelet Swap!

Cassandra is hosting an AWESOME Twilight charm swap and of course I'm playing! It's been A LONG time since I've done a swap, but this I couldn't pass up (busy or not).

The sign-up dealine has been EXTENDED to Friday Oct. 9th!!! So get over there and sign up now so you can have an awesome bracelet in time for the movie release! Sign-up HERE!

Indieana Handicraft Exchange this past Weekend!

I had so much fun this past weekend at the IHE! Below is Mike Altman, an awesome artist eating?? Hmmm.... well I'm actually not sure what he is eating. But his art is amazing and he's a super cool dude!

Here is Naptown Roller Girl Aubrey Thamann, aka "Dear Stabby" wearing one of my necklaces! To my delight, 15 of the 20 sold, so I hope to make the NRGs more to take to the bouts.

My booth neighbors and friends, Becca White and Michelle Warble! The coolest crafters around! I traded Michelle for one of her bags, it's cute and girly, but has skulls! I love it!

Here is my set-up!

And moi, with my "fake smile" as my BF calls it. I was already tired from setting up I think. This show was 2 days!