Spring has Sprung!!!

Easter eggs, dyed using natural dyes.

 Dye made from Tumeric, Beets, Onion skins, and Blueberries!

Such lovely warm colors.

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week. It has been for many years, for many reasons.  However more recently I enjoy Wednesday because of the Phil Mechanic Studio potluck.  I love a chance to make something delicious and share it with our little community of crazy folks!

Spring is here! 

Flowers, New Life, New Growth, Change, Warmth, COLOR!  While googling Spring, I just learned about a holiday in India caled Holi where they run around and throw colored powder to celebrate the end of winter. 

What is your favorite thing about spring?

xoxoxC

2 years!!!-"skinny dipping in heaven"

weird title I know!

This was a phrase adopted to replace my constant response- "I'm going to the studio"

This month, March 2011, marks two years that I have been in my studio! 

The Phil Mechanic Building, a wonderful community of crazy people!

This month has also started a new chapter in my studio life, my long-time studio mate, "The Hairy Potter"-Chris McGee, moved out!

I got a new studio mate, Katie Hill!

This is what you would see if you opened my studio door right now!

But in the beginning there was nothing in this room except 3 potters with big dreams! Now I am the only one of the 3 left and I treasure this space above all else in my life!

The first thing the boys did was BUILD LOFTS! scavenged tree trunks from a friends yard, free wood from WWC wood pile, metal from the scrap yard. Slowly it all just accumulated! 

The view from the loft, looking down- then and now!

 Then and Now!

Then and Now!

Then and Now!

Those 2 crazy boys are not here to share this space with me anymore, but I think of them everyday! As I walk up the stairs we built together, as I sit on my loft and create hundreds of button flowers. I would not be here without them. I am grateful for the memories.

The Rest of the story- PART TWO

As I promised, the second half to my recap of the past 3 months of my life as The Button Florist.

DECEMBER

The month of December brought a new achievement for The Button Florist.  TWO craft shows in one day!

you are wondering..... how did that happen? did celia clone herself in order to be in Asheville and Boston at the same time? Yes and No! 

My best and oldest friend Holly wo-manned the Big Crafty booth for me in Asheville, while I was at the Bazaar Bizarre in Boston.  The show was at this cool place called the Cyclorama.  The roof is a giant round skylite. 
We both survived our shows and I was so thankful to have such a wonderful partner in my crazy business!

Next, I had the wonderful opportunity to go visit my dear friends Ryan and Mikey in Buffalo, NY. I enjoyed every minute of the four days I got to spend with them in their cozy cabin.  Making chicken soup, a constantly burning wood stove, baking chocolate chip cookies in a toaster oven.  I was so thankful to spend quality time with these old clay buddies.  Unfortunately, I had to leave and tackle the NYC beast! 

BUST CRAFTACULAR

JANUARY

A new year! 2011 
For Christmas, I received a wonderful gift. An Ipad! 
This little modern piece of technology is revolutionizing my business. 

Here is my first sale using my new Ipad and the square, a small device that allows me to accept credit cards.  Now I can swipe credit cards and process them directly, rather than writing down peoples information and processing when I get home.  I instantly fell in love with this! 

January is the start of the Wedding shows, so I went to Chicago to Indie Wed.

I enjoyed this wedding show, because I was actually allowed to sell work, so I felt like I actually made some of my expenses back, rather than just waiting for orders to come in. 

FEBRUARY

I welcomed another new addition to my business, ROOF RACKS!!!!!

People are often amazed that I travel to shows and pack everything necessary into my little VW beetle bug.  But, I finally had to get roof racks so that I could transport a piece of furniture!

I was so worried this shelf was going to fly off on the middle of the highway, but thankfully I made it to Raleigh and back successfully! I am now excited at my future options in strapping things to the roof! 

 I was so proud of my display at the Bridal Buzz. I pushed myself to create a new display and the simplicity of the white shelf and vases really helped to let my flowers stand out. 

So, now we are pretty much caught up! There is one more big thing that has happened in the last month, but I am dedicating my next post to that...... stay tuned! 

-xoxoxo C

A quick review/recap- PART ONE

I fell off the blog mobille!
I have jumped back on!
I can't believe that it has been 6 months since I wrote anything.
Life is always interesting.
The past 6 months have held some good times and some bad times.
Shows, Travelling, Amazing Friends, Supportive Family, Pain, Laughs, Good Food, Driving, Singing, Networking, Twisting, Learning, Changing, Crying, Smiling, Selling, Creating.........
I realized while collecting photos for this blog, too much happened to squeeze in one post!
So, here are some highlights from the first 3 months!

SEPTEMBER

The first demonstration I have ever participated in.  It was a peaceful procession for all the animals killed by the Gulf oil spill.

LAAFF!!!!!!!

Probably my favorite street festival that happens here in Asheville.
The Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival
The Hairy Potter and I shared a booth, the piggy banks and button flowers were pretty ridiculous together! all day the comments were, Oh, how cute!
Masks made from LaCroix boxes and so many local friendly faces = a great time!

A beautiful BLUE wedding order

And to top it all off, I decided to go to New York City at the end of the month!

The show was a horrible disappointment, but I did get to see the statue of Liberty, which was a lot of fun!

OCTOBER

Here, a little girl was trying on some fabulous Button Flower headbands at The Norcross Art Fest outside of Atlanta, GA. 

Carving pumpkins, corn mazes, and tractor hay rides! 

I got to spend a fun time with my two favorite red-headed (nephews).  They did not want to scoop out the nasty guts of the pumpkins, so they just used a marker to draw the faces.

Such a beautiful month with all the leaves changing, but it also brought some hard times.  My mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  Thanks to amazing medicine and a great deal of prayers she has now finished chemo and radiation therapy and is doing GREAT!

Alex took his first beach steps! 

He was having so much fun in the water, he did not want to stop to pose for a photo.

NOVEMBER

Shows! Shows! Shows! I did some serious travelling in the pre-HOLIDAY season. 
The First Chatty Crafty Show in Chattanooga, TN! 
I was so excited to get to visit my dear friend Catherine and her lovely little family.  

I met Susan, the owner of Good Dog, hotdog shop in Chattanooga. 

The best hotdog I have ever had! (curry ketchup)

We connected over Circles and if you are ever in this city check out her adorable shop.

For  the Studio Stroll I got to create my own little colorful world in the studio! my studiomate was gone, so it was fun to use the whole space.

Then I turned 27!

Then back on the road to Atlanta for ICE, Indie Craft Experience. 

To be continued........... (soon I promise!)

BLUE

Picasso's Blue period
The Blue Ridge Mountains
Blueberry Yum Yum!
probably my favorite fruit, whose yearly time to shine is NOW!
The color of my first car Bonnie that I just sold today!
300 dollars seems so insignificant for something full of such sentimental value.
A sadness, like when losing a friend.
instead of a black phase in high school, I had a blue one.
My mom's favorite kitchen color.

I found a few pictures of good memories from my Blue Bonnie!

Driving to a Farm vs NRC softball game, good old WWC days...
The dash was always so full of Treasures!

The time Chris left one of my cups on top of the car, we realized while going 70 down the highway on a trip to New Orleans. oh the grabber, boy hanging out the window. cup is still alive.

The epic birthday party shared with good friends. Bean, I am going to miss you. I wish you all the best in your new adventures. I will cherish all the good memories.

The recipe for the world famous Blueberry Yum Yum. Always a crowd pleaser.  

I use less water and cornstarch in the Blueberry part, keeps them a little runny and not so jelatinous! 

Funny, if you Google "Blueberry Yum Yum" you will learn that the rapper Ludacris has a song with the same name.....about things that people smoke. 

On the round-about current events, we got a nice brick sidewalk out front of the building. 

Funny the coincidences in my life, considering that I am working on a Blue wedding right now!

So, appreciate that blue sky and smile into those pretty blue eyes. 

xoxoxo

C