Hello everybody!! Back from the dead (too much working and magazine editing can kill anyone hehe) with a great giveaway for you to enjoy:

This week: One of a kind Scarf by birribe


Wow! I love the colors of this scarf! I think it will look great with those black/grey/brown winter coats we all have ;)

First of all, VivaLaModa online magazine is getting superb critics and many blogs are talking about it! Yay!

If you like the magazine and would like to spread the word, I created banners you can post in your blog to link to the magzine! Thanks! =)

I revamped a little bit the magazine's website design to make it nicer aaaaand... Advertising is now open for next issue (issue #02) that will be published by the end of February!
For more information and rates go read this.


This week's Giveaway: "Where the Faeries Go" Scarf by KreatedbyKelly

This scarf is super original! When I think of a scarf I always think crochet, but a patchwork scarf is a fantastic idea and totally original. Thank you Kelly!

Random patchwork in a tie-dyed yellow print, some purple calico squares, some aqua calico squares and a beautiful floral encompassing all the aforementioned colors. The beautiful floral print that makes up the back of the scarf is the inspiration for the patchwork.

All seams are serged for a professional finish even though you cannot see them. The patchwork is all completely top-stitched because I love the look of it.Scarf measures about 48" (1.22 meters) long & 5" (12.7 cm) wide.

Rather than use a batting for this scarf, I chose to use a heavy-weight interfacing. This will provide warmth without all the bulk.

Rules to enter:

1. Visit KreatedbyKelly's shop and pick a favourite item.
2. Leave a comment in this post with your favourite item and a way to contact you (email or etsy link. Leave a contact or I won't be able to place you in the draft).
3. I will select the winner from the comments with a random number generator.
   

This giveaway ends 18th January at midnight EST. Good luck!




If you are a seller and want to offer an item for a giveaway, contact me (see contact details in last section of left column)

This week: Raperonzolo scarf by Claa

I love the size of this scarf (yes, it is kinda huge and looks super WARM!) and that it is braided... =)

And if you rather wear a cowl, she has plenty of them:

This week we have 3 giveaways!!!!

First giveaway: Rhodochrosite earrings by EarthsOpulence

Lovely earrings!!

Pink and gray swirls... 6mm Rhodochrosite beads sandwiched between sterling beadcaps. Black Diamond Swarovski AB crystals on each end, on a sterling ballpin. Earwires are sterling silver.

Rules to enter:

1. Visit EarthsOpulence's shop and pick a favourite item.
2. Leave a comment in this post with your favourite item and a way to contact you (email or etsy link. Leave a contact or I won't be able to place you in the draft).
3. I will select the winner from the comments with a random number generator.
   

This giveaway ends 9th November at midnight EST. Good luck!




Second giveaway: I am giving away one of my silk mini scarves! This giveaway is hosted at a fellow fashion blog: Fashion Fling

To participate in this giveaway, you have to go to Fashion Fling's blog, visit my shop (GilBea), pick a favourite item and post it in the entry form (not in the comments) in Fashion Fling's post.
Deadline is November 11th =) Enjoy!
Click here to enter the giveaway


Third giveaway: We are extending the deadline for LaurieRyan's print up to 9th November. Please keep participating! =)

One last thing. Please subscribe to our monthly newsletter that will be coming out this week! =)
Thanks to fellow etsians we have articles on: how to make soap, scarf pattern, recipes, fashion, hair styles, and much more!

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Thanks!
If you are a seller and want to offer an item for a giveaway, contact me (see contact details in last section of left column)

I know it's been 4 weeks since my last fashion friendly item of the week. My apologizes to the people that keep adding photos to the pool.
But today I am back on track and hope to be more consistent =)

This week: Victoriana Scarflette - Luxurious Knit Wool and Bamboo Collar by TickledPinkKnits

Now that the weather is changing and getting cold (at least that is what is happening here... where is the summer!!!) we will need some warm clothes, and this scarflette looks fabulous!

And if you rather have something bigger to cover you:


If you think your items or someone elses could fit in this section, please post your pictures in the photo pool. Remember: Handmade / Vintage items only!

I also wanted to announce that I have been adding items from my fall/winter collection to the etsy store, mostly jewelry.

Circles collection:














Silk cord necklace:




And also some square and foulard silk scarves:
















Next week: silk+wool scarves - perfect for the cold winter!

This week: Halter top with black and yellow vintage scarf by tangente


I love her scarf tops, either this kind using the scarf to tie the top, or the full scarf tops! =)


If you think your items or someone elses could fit in this section, please post your pictures in the photo pool. Remember: Handmade / Vintage items only!

Believe me, I always hate when summer gets closer and I realize I have no nice swimwear (aka: all my bikinis are old and falling apart) because for me it's so hard to find a bikini that fits right. And I always panic deciding 2 months before I need to loose weight! Which never happens, by the way. I end up eating more because of the stress of dieting! lol
Anyways, I swear this year this won't happen, after all I only go to the beach 5 or 6 days in the whole summer! haha So why worry :D

What does the fashion world say it's fashionable to wear in the beach this year?


Asymmetric designs, geometric and African prints, tankinis, small bikinis and cut-away swimsuits

More or less what we have seen in the regular spring trends but applied to swimwear. Get some animal print bikini or a white or neon cut-away swimsuit! =)

But definitely it's sooo difficult to buy a bikini, specially those that are just in one size, top and bottom can't be mixed!! In top parts I'd be an S or M, bottom an L. So that won't work for me. And I don't wear full swimsuits anymore because, well, I don't want a white tummy =)

If you have the same problem as me, why not get a custom made bikini/swimsuit at Etsy? These are my picks:

Sellers, from top to bottom, left to right, are (link to the item): missbrache, jMarieBoutique, ladramaqueen, kandiswim, missbrache, littlepinkdress, Harajaku, missbrache, missbrache, saleyla, FlingActive, ladramaqueen, Harajaku, trywesley, MySugarDoll, missbrache

You can tell I like missbrache ah? hehe I really think missbrache and Harajaku are the best swimwear shops I have found in Etsy. Do you have any other favourites? please please let me know! :)

Personally, I'm not a big fan of tankinis, and I kind of hate cut-away swimsuits (what's the point of having a white stripe in your tummy?). This last ones are very fashionable and chic, but I'm not going to any Puff Daddy party in the Hamptons this year so no thanks. :)

Well, I hope you liked this trend review! What kind of swimsuit do you wear? Will you change style this summer?

I did a little research again and found a couple videos about what kind of swimsuit to wear depending on your body type.
These ones looked really helpful: How to pick a suwimsuit for your body type

Yesterday I posted in the Etsy forums about the babydoll dresses. Most people said they like them and their favourite outfit is a babydoll dress with fitted jeans + sandals, or boots over the jeans, or with leggings. So there you go! Also, to show people that you have a waist, wear a belt or scarf around your waist. Good luck with the look, I'm gonna try it too! =)

Find the swimwear fashion article here

And on a totally self promotional note... sorry guys! Just finished this new scarf design:

Hope you like it!! And that you enjoyed the little fashion trend.

Next week:... I don't know yet! Ideas anyone?

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

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.

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