Falkor's Girlfriend

H O W L

I recently completed working on a short film collaboration with Laboratoire Noir: a collection of soy candles inspired by alchemy and astronomy.  The creator of Laboratoire Noir also happens to be my best friend, so the collaboration felt like old times when we used to create things just for fun on lazy afternoons in the suburbs of New Jersey.

http://laboratoirenoir.com/

Here is the finished product:  http://laboratoirenoir.com/howl-duet-story/

Craft Tutorial:  She Wolf Nails

You Need:

Sally Hansen Clear Tips (we used the tips as the whole nail) the set comes with nail glue

Sally Hansen Clear Top Coat

NYC Red Carpet Nail Polish

Nail Clippers & An Emery Board

DIY Nostalgia

The term nostalgia describes a sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations

I visited my favorite place in the WORLD while I was in New York City - The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

They no longer give you a cute pin, instead you get a sticker when you enter the museum.  I am not sure if all New York Museums are doing this; however, it sure made me feel nostalgic about my little pins.  So, I found my small collection of the ones I saved and created a really fun & quick DIY so that I can see them every day. 

I think it's really great to take items that you love and incorporate them into your space in a functional way.

You Need-

Vintage Museum pins

Magnets

These Pins are already magnetic!  Just place the magnet on the back of the pin and put them directly onto your refrigerator or any magnetic surface.

Magic!

peace, love & crafting!

Fleur

Make your own flower sunglasses.

Today was the first time that I wore my floral sunglasses.  This craft is so much fun and such an easy way to personalize your sunnies.  Try it and you will be singing Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles all day long.

You need:

Tacky Glue (I used Aleene's Tacky Glue from Michael's Arts & Crafts  http://www.michaels.com)

Sunglasses (I found mine at Forever 21  http://www.forever21.com)

The Renegade Craft Fair - Next Weekend in Los Angeles!

Event: RCF Los Angeles Summer Market - July 20 & 21

Dream Dress Collage

"threatened by shadows at night and exposed in the light" - Pink Floyd

According to Legend, dream catchers protect dreamers from nightmares by only letting the good dreams pass through.  The good dreams go through the dream catcher, down the feathers & ornaments and into the mind of the person sleeping.  All the bad dreams are caught in the web and vanish when the first rays of the morning sun hit the dream catcher.

      Modified Dream Catcher by:  Ashley Hulse!

My friend Ashley made *this beautiful Dream Catcher.  I really love her hand-made approach.  She personalized her dream catcher by incorporating unique objects that she collected over time.  This dream catcher reminds me of Ashley, so much so,  that it's almost like a self portrait.  I think it's something about how the whimsical tiny yellow feather balances out the daisy flower. 

Let's find out what inspired her!

Falkor's Girlfriend:  What materials did you use to make your Dream Catcher?

Ashley:  I wrapped the hoop with twine and attached the doily with embroidery floss. The tail is made of ribbon, string, beads, shells, fake flowers, etc., stuff I've collected over the years, which I either tied on or attached with a hot glue gun.

FG:  Everything is so beautifully assembled and well balanced.  What's your favorite part?

A:  The star fish and the little glass vile filled with sand from the Jersey shore!

FG:  Where are you going to display it?

A:  Gonna bring it out with me to Cali as a little reminder of home! :) 

FG:  There's no place like home!  Now all you need is a pair of Ruby Red Slippers.

DIY Earrings by Alexia of Laboratoire Noir

My bestie made these really cute earrings.  

Falkor's Girlfriend:  What inspired you to make these?

Alexia:  They are Ancient Alien Inspired because apparently, Da Vinci was abducted by the Ancients.  That's why he's soo smart.

FG:  Where did you find your beads?

A:  I was in a bead store here in NYC.  I found the Triangle Motif Pieces and then I searched and searched and finally found Da Vinci.

FG: So Cool!  Where was the first place that you wore them?

A:  I haven't...yet.

FG:  You should wear them with an updo so that they stand out!

A:  totes!  I also bought the same beads in a silver tone.

FG:  I love them so much!  They are very ancient looking.  I love the circle shape and the triangle shape together. 

A:  Da Vinci's legs make a triangle too.

Turn your Thrift Store Boots into Booties!

I am once again featuring the lovely and amazing Studs & Spikes craft store in this post.

I used Studs and Spikes back in December to turn my red boots into rock-in-roll red boots!

You need:

Old cowboy boots.  I found mine at Goodwill.

Studs and Spikes, I prefer the cone spikes with the screw on backs because they are so easy to use and they stay on strong. 

Phillips screw driver

First decide how short you want your boots to be and then cut them.

Then finish off the edges with your cone spikes by making a hole with your phillips screw driver and then inserting the spike.  It's so easy!

I kept my edges unfinished because I really love the way it looks.

xoxo

DIY Zen Cactus Garden

I collected three cute cactus plants a few weeks ago at the fairfax flea market. These little guys were everywhere and people planted them into everything from pots to tea cups!

You need:

-A few cacti

-Soil

-pots

Recycle Maps into Envelopes

This is my new favorite way to send mail!  I learned this idea at the craft table at Unique LA.  I made one envelope there to send to my bestie in NYC to congratulate her on her new apartment and now I'm totally hooked!  I don't think I'll ever buy another envelope.

You need:

Paper: get creative.  go to your local goodwill or thrift shop and find a book of old road maps!

Envelope template:  find an envelope the same size and shape to fit your card or letter and trace it onto cardboard or heavy weight paper to make a stencil.

Washi Tape:  Instead of dealing with glue and waiting for it to dry, assemble your envelope with washi decorative tape!  I love this green striped tape because it goes really well with the map pattern.

Sketching from Life

A recurring theme in this blog and a favorite past time of mine.