Why should you buy handmade?

This is a great article about the importance of buying handmade vs. commerically made items.

But lets face it, pictures speak louder than words.  Take a look below and decide for yourself.

http://poppytalks101reasonstobuyhandmade.blogspot.com/

                                            Handmade Belt Buckle with image of butterfly

Commercially made belt buckle with butterfly image

Hand crafted vase

Mass produced vase

O.k.. you get the picture, lets support all our wonderful artists out there, don't we already have enough Walmarts?!!

To view some of my hand crafted belt buckles and rings please visit my shop at

www.etsy.com/shop/tonyaboezi

Calling all artisans and crafters

Looking to enter a really fun, imaginative contest?  This could be a great way to get your name and works of art out in front of a large number of people!
Get in your creative zone and get to work. 
Follow this link for all details and instructions.
http://www.heartmadeblog.com/blog/it-s-a-creative-approach-to-biz-planning-contest

The Breathtaking Butterfly

The Breathtaking Butterfly Belt Buckle

For sale at www.etsy.com/shop/tonyaboezi

The Breathtaking Butterfly

The butterfly, so mystical and unique,

It grows inside its protective cocoon, waiting to reach its peak.

When one day it spreads it glorious wings wide,

At out comes the spectacular butterfly, full of pride.

It magically flutters and floats through the air,

Its wings beating up and down freely without a care,

It’s beauty is there for all to behold,

The  magic of its wonderful colors, more beautiful than gold.

So if you are lucky enough to ever witness such a sight,

Hold your breath, say a wish, and watch magic take flight.

Great Vintage Mixed Media Supplies

Thank you so much to Bumbershoot Designs & Supplies for featuring my belt buckles in your newsletter.  http://bumbershootdesigns.blogspot.com/

For those of you who are into any sort of mixed media art this is a great source for wonderful supplies. I personally buy all my vintage crystals through them and have been thrilled with the quality. These crystals are so gorgeous and really add a unique look to whatever you decide to use them in. They are different in size, color and shape than what is normally seen in todays modern crystals.

They also carry some really cool vintage buttons on their website as well. I just purchased a few different ones myself and can hardly wait to use them.

If you are looking for vintage findings I highly recommend heading over to this site. I would love to see any creations that you guys make using some of their pieces as I think they are so unique and one of a kind!

Happy Creating :)

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This is a treat for the eyes! Gorgeous jewels, vintage items, clothing, etc.

One of the most beautiful blogs I have ever laid eyes on is Glamarella Junk.  Don't let the name fool you, these items are hardly junk.
If you are looking for some really unique pieces to add to your wardrobe or home, you won't want to miss this site.
I have bought a slip dress and some vintage beads through them and love them both.
The photography on the site is spectacular and a pleasure to look at.
I hope you enjoy this site as much as I do.
Btw, she always has a great soundtrack going to add to the enjoyment!


http://glamarellajunk.blogspot.com/2010/12/glamarella-junk-jewels.html#links







Glamarella Junk: Glamarella Junk Jewels!#links#links

Fellow artisans family in need of help!

 Wonderful handmade items with proceeds going to a family during tragic time.

Cindy Boardman, known as designedbylucinda, long a member of the Etsy community, suffered a tragic loss
on Thursday, February 3rd. An accidental fire took her home, pets, and claimed the life of her 11 year old son, Kevin. Cindy is an active and valued member of our community and we share in her grief during this incredibly difficult time.

A shop has been set up on Big Cartel with the proceeds going to help Cindy and her family. The shop is at http://helpinghearts.bigcartel.com/
There are so many wonderful handcrafted items being donated on this site. If you are looking for a very unique item and would also like to know that your helping a family in need, please visit the above website.
Cindy and her family thank you for your support.

How to turn a boring slip into a FABulous slip dress

How to create your own gorgeous slip dress

For sale on Etsy.com

Seller is Glamarella Junk

Unique custom made belts for sale on

www.etsy.com/shop/tonyaboezi

How to dye a slip dress

With the right tools you can turn an ordinary slip into an incredibly fabulous slip dress. (For ideas on how to wear slip dresses see my other blogs).
The one thing you have to make certain when dyeing slips is that they are nylon, NOT polyester. Polyester will not accept dyes. Sometimes a slip will say 100% nylon, but the lace is polyester. Unfortunately you will sometimes not be able to know this as they are not required to list the minor fabric contents on a garment. What will happen in this case is that the slip part of the dress will accept the dye but the lace will not. Not a horrible thing if that is the look you are going for but just be aware that this can happen. My suggestion is only buy one slip at a time, that way if it is not 100% nylon you can continue on until you find one that is.
When dyeing materials such as nylon you have to use an acid dye, your regular grocery store dyes like RIT will not work. Don't be intimidated by this, acid dyes are not a big deal to use and are very easy. Darhma Trading Co. http://www.dharmatrading.com/ is a great source for all types of dyes, just remember, you are going to need acid dye for this project.
When purchasing your dye the directions will come with them but if you want to know what you are getting yourself into I have included them below. I have only used the stove top method as I have a new high efficiency washing machine and did not want to mess around using dye in it. Below are the directions on dyeing using the stove top method.
Just a word of advice. If dyeing only one slip adjust your amount of dye accordingly. The first one I did came out very dark as I used too much dye. Not a total waste but not the look I was going for.
Stove Top Immersion Dyeing with Jacquard Acid Dyes
Fill a stainless steel or enamel pot with just enough hot or warm water for the fabric to swim freely, turn on the heat.
Add the dye powder to the pot and stir. Normally, in this procedure you would add 2 to 4% of the dry weight of the fabric in dye powder. For example, if you are dyeing 1 pound of fabric, use 1/3 to 2/3 of an ounce of dye.
Add the fabric that has been thoroughly wetted to the dye pot.
Raise the temperature to 185 to 200 degrees, just below boiling. Stir frequently.
Add ¼ cup of vinegar per pound of fabric. Try not to pour directly onto the fabric. Or add 1 Tbs. of Citric Acid per lb of dry fabric if you don't like the smell of vinegar.
Maintain temperature and stir frequently for ½ hour. Wash in Synthrapol or Professional Textile Detergent and warm water.