I just created a video to promote shopping in european shops for christmas gifts. Hope you like it!

To find european shops: European Shop Catalog
Or type in the search bar in Etsy 'europeanstreetteam'

Featured in this video (in order of appearance): annarubyking, mundogominola, bonzie, gilbea, iragrant, lunaticart, karlita, kreativlink, kupkup, lapomme, TheHouseofMouse, lookmamamadeit

Enjoy! =) And have a Merry European Christmas shopping spree!
Remember to shop in November for getting your presents in time for the Holidays.

Wow! So I finally finished the summer collection catalog! :)


It took me a looong time, but here it is at least!
http://www.gilbea.com/Files/GilBeaSummer2008.pdf


GilBea's summer collection for 2008:

• Silk skinny scarves
• Silk small bags
• Hobo bags with silk accents
• Tops with silk accents
• Silk Brooches and Necklaces

I hope you like it!!! :) Feedback is welcome!

I made the catalogue for my wholesale customers. Sadly I don't have that many. I would like my business to grow and start selling in other cities and countries, but so far it has been quite difficult.

Let's talk about painting!
I have been making silk paintings for a few years now, but I only sell them at exhibitions. For the last year I totally dropped that line of my work and focused on silk accessories. I plan now on painting again now that I finished the summer collection. For now, I listed yesterday in Etsy this beauty that I saved from last year's work:


Soon more to come!

Skinny silk scarves are part of my 2008 spring collection. I decided to add them because I love the look they give, so hip and modern =)
So I found out a couple articles about them and silk scarves in general that mark them as fashion trends for spring:
"Skinny belts and silk scarves are two must-have fashion accessories for spring and summer. No longer just wardrobe staples, these two are predicted to be massive in 2008."

And definetly there must be an uncountable number of ways to wear a skinny scarf!
I saw you some I use sometimes and others that found in an article:



1.- Around your neck 2.- Ponytail


3.- Headband 4.- Belt

5.- Around your wrist in a bracelet look (sorry, no pic for this one

I hope you enjoyed this ideas! But add yours too. How do you wear your scarves? Any new ways? I'm thinking on making a pdf or video on different ways to wear a scarf / skinny scarf. Share yours! =)

And if you would like to own a handpainted silk skinny scarf, look here!:
My etsy shop

More tips here: how to wear a long skinny scarf

You can find much more information about this trend here:
Scarves and belts for spring 2008
It's a Wrap: The Skinny Scarf Is Hot This

So I finnaly took photos of the finished tops. Take a look here and tell me what do you think, improvements that could be done, if you would ever wear something similar, etc
There are 3 types:

1. Short sleeves and not tight. White color. 2 silk tulips in the center
   
2. No sleeves, tight and black. 1 big silk flower in the center with 2 leaves.
   
3. X on the back (we call that swimmer back, but I don't know the appropiate name in english) and black. 3 big silk circles
   

Yesterday went to some shops in my town and they bought 12 of these!! I only have 30 (so 10 of each type). I'm afraid I will have to order more if I ever want to list them in etsy! =)

Which one you like better?

After working a lot this last weeks, finally I can show you some pictures of the silk bags I have been making.
First type of bag I have been working in is a small bag, sort of party style bag. So far I only have made 2, please tell me what do you think:


The idea is that each bag will be unique because the silk design used as fabric can't be reproduced twice.

The second type of bag is a hobo bag made of fake leather with silk sewn to it.


I hope you like this new addition!
Soon also new brooches and necklaces! :)

Well, I know it should be finished by now... but I'm a big procrastinator! (is that even a word?)

Anyways, apart from the regular t-shirts with a piece of silk sewn to it, I'm making silk tops! I'm new to sewing, so they are nothing conventional, I'd say quite quite different. Here are some pictures:




I am also making silk bags, for which I'm going to use some of this new designs:

Looks like my drawings are becoming more and more abstract... (thanks to Miro!)

Anyways, let me know what you think about this! :) Would you wear this kind of shirts? I plan on making them a little bit longer so they cover tummy down to the trouser and the sleeves a little shorter.