Day 1 of the Dottie Angel Workshop

Entering the "Work Mansion", we're all greeted Dottie Angel style

Colorful Horses are there to Greet Us

Dottie's Work  Hangings on the Walls

Comfy Decorated Couches have been definitely Dottie-fied

The Old Piano is Covered With Loads of Vintage Fabrics and Notions

The Gals Come In and Get to Know Each Other

The Captain of the Mansion...Dottie-fied

Day 1 of my Dottie Angel Adventure...

After depositing all my luggage at the B&B, Louise (my London flatmate) and I head next door to check out the "Work Mansion". From the front door, we know we are at the right place. Everything is Dottie-fied. There are jars of flowers lining the doorway to greet us. When we enter, there are vintage fabric banners hanging from the posts. The dark kinda scary mansion has been given a good once over by Tif herself. It's like walking into a magazine shoot really. Everywhere you look, the dark wood has been gentrified with the Dottie touch. 

In the center of the living room, there are couches and chairs covered in colorful vintage sheets and fabrics of Tif's taste. She's even brought her own vintage covered pillows! Wow! Above the mantel, her embroidered and sewn hangings gaily greet us. What a thrill. I know I made the right decision. No doubt about it now. 

And, when Tif herself walks into the room to greet us, it's like a real life celebrity is in our midst. Really. Tif is just what you would imagine her to be...delightfully british like polite but with a down home loving touch, very energetic but not the type that sucks your energy from you...in fact, you feel her giving you energy, and when she talks, it's just like she's talking to you...each one of us, not leaving anyone out. If you were to bump into her at the local store, she would definitely be the type of person you could easily strike up a conversation with. That's Tif. 

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings as we start working on our projects...

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Looking for Christmas Gifts for loved ones? Please stop by my Etsy shops...Stacy's Designs 88, Blue Lovebirds, and Lilikoi Cottage.

My Dottie Angel Workshop Adventure in Seattle WA

I feel like I just got dropped off to go to College

The Shafer Baillie Mansion B&B on 14th Avenue East in Seattle

The Stone "Bouncers" guarding the Front

A wonderful path in the Garden

  

Happy Pansies

 

The Ground's Security Lion

Pink Hydrangeas down the path

 

 

 

 

 

 

In late September, I ventured off to Seattle Washington to attend an all vintage fabric workshop with Tif of the Dottie Angel world.  I luckily "found" this workshop while checking in on her blog.  The workshop was created by Angela of Angela Ritchie's Ace Camps.  This was the very first time I ever "went away" to attend a crafty workshop.   The perfect thing to get my creative juices going in a different direction for my Etsy shops.  

In the past year, I've inherited a lot of old doilies and hand embroidered lovelies created by people's grandmothers and aunts. When I came across Tif's workshop, I knew this was the very thing I needed to get me going on how to re-use these lovelies with a more modern and usable fashion. 

Here are some photos of my 1st day there. I got dropped off at the front door of the B&B Shafer Baillie Mansion where I stayed with my London roommate Louise for 3 nights. During the day, we were across the street in another Victorian mansion sewing and cutting away with 11 other creative women participants and Tif herself.

More photos to follow in the next days...

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Looking for Christmas Gifts for loved ones? Please stop by my Etsy shops...Stacy's Designs 88, Blue Lovebirds, and Lilikoi Cottage.

A Bird's Eye View of Oahu

Oahu Bound! Ugh...where's this?

      

I think they made us go the Long Way to the Airport.

I don't know where this is...do you?  The clouds look neat though.

 

Here's another shot...does the world look round?

One final shot...I think the clouds look so cool.

Flying back to Oahu from Seattle, Took some shots from our window seat before landing. The clouds looked so pretty. They remind me of cotton candy "splats".  And, I don't know exactly where our pilot flew off to before we landed but it seemed as if we were coming in from the Ewa Beach side of the island. Awful lot of buildings below..could be just Sand Island area. It wasn't the normal tip and dive onto the landing area. 

Our Sunrise Papaya Tree...Just Bragging

Our Very Own Tree Ripened Sunrise Papaya...Yummy!

Side View...Just to Show Off

Our Papaya Tree

Our Papayas are so Sweet and Juicy...with Greek Yogurt, Walnuts, and local Honey

This year, we finally decided to grow our own papaya trees.  We constantly eat papayas throughout the year. The seed are thrown into our backyard compost pile and these little papaya plants sprouted up.  So, we randomly planted the little seedlings and prayed for good papayas. I swear, I had to wait about a year for the seedlings to grow into tall trees. And, it seemed like MONTHS (5+) for the flowers to turn into these globes of orangey goodness. I pick them when they turn a bit of orange to avoid having to beat off the neighborhood birds. Then, they ripen to a yellow/orange in my kitchen near the window. Awwww....Delicious! Utter Heaven! Worth the wait.

Make Your Own Cardboard Chandeliers Like in West Elm...found in Portland OR's Pearl District

Cardboard Chandeliers at West Elm

Come Peek Inside a West Elm Bedroom

A West Elm Living Room...sigh

 

One Final Goodbye to the West Elm Lifestyle....

I've always looked thru their catalogs and envisioned my home being so clean, mod and chic...and then I wake up in a puddle of drool!  

So, it did seem a bit like walking thru Alice's Looking Glass when we came smack dab into West Elm in the Pearl District of Portland OR. I wasn't into the "buying" mood, more just amazed at their creative decor. Talk about "what can I do with cardboard boxes?"...wow! no more playing hide and seek kids! Chandeliers galore hanging from the ceilings....all just plain ole cardboard. 

Now, where's my exacto knife?....here's some "How Tos" on Making Your Very Own Cardboard Chandeliers...just click to get there...

1) Baby dog style  

2) HGTV 

3) Cut Out And Keep 

4) Katy Did & Kid

5) Craft Stylish

If I find the time, I might try my hand at it as I've Always wanted a vintage cute petite chandelier for our bedroom. hmmm...I think I better stock up on those Hello Kitty bandaids I saw at Target.

Portland Oregon's Pearl District's Anthropology...a sneak peek inside with me

 Wish my bookshelves could look as cool as these in Anthro

 What about this Cool Window Display...just painted cardboard..how neat!

 

 Could you really find it in you to wipe your dishes with these?

Their Kitchenwares

 Their Vintage-like Dish Towels

Retro is totally in!~

Their gorgeous selections of Aprons...more like pretty dresses

Just returned from a Biz trip to Portland Oregon. We visited the famous Pearl District filled with neat stores. Of course, I had to tour the inside of the Anthropology. It's always so inspiring! Vintage-Like items all over the store.  Here's just a sneak peek of some of the many things to see in their store.

We also checked out West Elm and Powell's Bookstore. There were a lot of neat shops in the many streets that make up the Pearl District. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to visit all of them..too little time and too much to see. Onward!

Stephanie and Her Ladies in Waiting...The Everything's Coming Up Daisies Necklace

Stephanie, the Lovely Bride

Her Bridal Earrings...I AM In Love Earrings

The Everything's Coming Up Daisies Necklace

Stephanie and her Ladies in Waiting
wearing their Daisy Necklace

A simply romantically Organic necklace
Keshi Pearls and Citrine gemstone

Steph asked me to decorate each jewelry box differently.
I had so much Fun doing this.
I LoVe decorating Jewelry boxes...the Icing on the Wedding Cake.

Stephanie, the adorable Bride, emailed me asking about my necklaces for her Lucky Bridesmaids and decided on the Everything's Coming Up Daisies necklace for each of them. I really LoVe this necklace which is made by me using Lovely Large Keshi White Pearls and a Citrine Gemstone center on Sterling Silver chain.

For herself, Steph chose my "I Am In Love" Bridal Earrings which I wirewrapped individual White Swarovski Crystal Pearls to a Sterling Silver Textured Oval Hoops with Gorgeous White (Clear) Topaz gemstone Dangles.

When I work with my Brides on their Custom Jewelry orders, I get to know them just from our "chats" together. I learn about their Wedding plans, I see photos of their Wedding Gowns, their Bridesmaids gowns, their Wedding Colors, etc. etc. I "see" their personality and can feel their excitement and enthusiasm for their approaching Wedding Day.

Being an internet shop owner, I really really enjoy conversing with my customers. My fingers tap tap tap so fast over the keyboards because I have so much to say, suggestions for their jewelry, words of encouragement, and well wishes for their wedding day. I sometimes wonder if they can "hear" me speak thru my words. I certainly imagine them talking to me as I read theirs.

When Stephanie received her Care Package full of her Bridal jewelry in Individually Wrapped Custom Decorated jewelry boxes by me, she sent me this note:

"Hi Stacy,
I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate all the love and effort that you put into the jewelry. Everything came out so incredibly beautiful!! I am so excited to wear it on my special day! The Bridesmaid jewelry also came out more beautiful than I could have imagined!! I will definitely be shopping your site in the future!
Thank you so much,
Stephanie"

After her Wedding Day on June 19, 2010, Stephanie sent me this note :

"Hey Stacy,
Thank you!! The wedding was absolutely amazing and the girls LOVED their necklaces! They looked so perfect with their dresses....thank you so much!! I would be glad to send you some pictures, I hope that you can see the jewelry :-) I will definitely be using your services and expertise again!! I have also sent people to your site, many people asked me where I got the necklaces....so I hope that it helps with business!!
Thanks again,
Stephanie"

Making my Brides and other Customers HaPPy is my Goal. When they're HaPPy, I'm HaPPy. That's what keeps me motivated, inspired, and wanting to continue to share my jewelry and expertise with all of my Customers.

You know, it doesn't get much better than this.

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Please stop by and visit my 3 Online Shops and don't be shy...drop me a line. I'll be so happy to help you with all your jewelry needs. If you need help deciding or want custom designs, I am the Gal to create it for you.

Here are my shops:
♥Stacy's Designs 88...specializing in Gemstone and Religious Jewelry
♥♥ Blue Lovebirds...specializing in Bridal and Special Occasion Jewelry
♥♥♥ Lilikoi Cottage...specializing in Jewelry and Accessories with a Vintage Eclectic Twist