Well, I know it is not Monday, but this week the giveaway starts on Saturday and ends on Friday... so be fast cause this is an amazing pendant!!!

This Week: Heart Pendant by TheSilverLakeStudio


This pendant is made of silver and handcrafted by TheSilverLakeStudio. It is an unique and original piece that screams LOVE! Perfect for Valentines Day, or any other romantic celebration ;)

Some details by the author:

It is about 1 3/4" wide and just under 2" tall. It is marked .925 The finish on it is what I call sparkle-brushed! I'll include a ribbon as well.
This is my own design and can't be copied.

Rules to enter:

1. Visit TheSilverLakeStudio'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 6th February 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)

Lately I don't go to the cinema as much as I used to. Not so much because of money, but because in the past months I have been to so many movies that weren't worth paying so much money to see, that I am a little dissapointed now and just rent DVDs.

I know I never talk about movies, and that this blog is about fashion and handmade stuff, but this movie.... well, it is one of the greatest movies I have seen in a while! It is not a Hollywood super production, but the story is so fantastic, sweet and weird that it just makes the movie fantastic!!

I am not the kind of girl who likes cheesy movies and this is not a cheesy movie. (Actually one of the only romantic movies that I loved was The Notebook, with the same actor!! LOL He is just brilliant in this one)
This movie is weird in a good way, encouraging, and will make you laugh when you shouldn't LOL I couldn't stop laughing! It has some really really bizarre moments.

It is about a really shy and weird guy who lives in a small town and lacks any social skills. So he gets a girlfriend online... ordering a female doll. LOL You'll have to see it to see all the villagers reaction, it is fantastic! The main actors do a great job too. Worth seeing, believe me.

And there is a fashion element in this movie too.. well... you have to see how all the people form that village dress. I have heard in some Minnesota and Canada lake towns people dress like that.. but being from a warm place like myself it is hard to believe.

Rent it, download it, borrow it, whatever you need to do to get it, watch it and tell me what you think!

Truly, an amazing movie.

This week: Pretty Pink Earrings by obtp


They are super cute!!! This reminds me I need new earrings =)

These sweet and dainty earrings are made of Berry Quartz, Crystal Quartz , Sterling Silver love knots and Sterling Silver ear wires. They dangle 1 inch from bottom of ear wire formed by me. These earrings are extremely light weight.

Rules to enter:

1. Visit obtp'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 1st February at midnight EST. Good luck!

****IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

Terri from Obtp is offering a 20% discount on their favourite item to everybody who participates in this giveaway. So, if you like her jewelry, and entered the giveaway, don't hesitate! Buy a piece of her unique jewelry!! (a 20% discount!! YAY!). Just contact her on her shop before purchasing so she can apply the discount to your favourite piece.




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)

Yes, you heard right. One of the trends for this winter is going back to peplum wasists shapes. Now, I didn't have a clue what this 'waist' shape was before I saw this trend. But I realize now this is not a new trend at all.. it sounds... familiar! lol I just didn't know they were called "Peplum waists"



So, what can we do to achieve this look and still wear handmade? I found a few iems that would work well in this category:

Sellers, left to right, top to bottom, are: NodtoModvintage, Kalivoda, thebeeskneesvintage, shopgoodgrace, iheartnorwegianwood, pinkpoodlevintage

So, what do you think? will you be wearing this trend? ;)

On a side note, I just finished my first silk obi belt! Made of my own hand painted silk, sewn by me! (lol I'm a total beginner at sewing so I am super happy with the outcome of this first attempt)
So, what do you think? I love the reddish/orangeish overall color, perfect to combine with a black/grey/brownish dress/shirt. I think it adds a super fashionable touch to the outfit hehe
It will be soon availabe inmy etsy shop for around $45. Do you think it is well priced?



Catwalk image from Fashion tribes

Yes, I know. It is a little too late to talk about calendars. But, if you, like I did, forgot to get one before the start of 2009, and still are calendarless... here I have a solution for you! =)
It is a super cute calendar that you can make at home!! Each page is a month and you can place all of them on the table to show the different seasons lol Or you can print a month at a time. =) I really like the colors and overall design.

Visit Canon's website to download the calendar. Now the only thing you have to do is print at home and cut!

Enjoy!

This week: Raspberry Rose Bud Hair Pins by FriendlyBanter



Such lovely hair pins!!! =) Now I want ones too!

Artist's description of the pins:

Two petite rose buds on hair pins. Lovely to add to your hair. For a girl of any age!

Bright raspberry pink felt is formed into little buds with sweet bright green leaves. It is then sewn onto the pin. They measure 1.5 inches (4cm) across.

Everthing is meticulously hand sewn. I would never use glue.

Rules to enter:

1. Visit FriendlyBanter'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 25th 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)

Ok. Uninteresting topic right here. So when I published the VivaLaModa magazine, I got an email form someone who, if I remember properly, knew about it from this blog. SomeHOW, SOMEONE (and I'm evil looking at my father now) got into one of my mail accounts and CLEANED my mails (WHY on earth would he do that?) and now that email is GONE. Vanished! Please, whoever wrote me, I remember your ideas were great for next issue, email me AGAIN!!! I know I didn't reply ASAP, but now that I have time to do it, it is GONE! WHYY?? Email, please? =) whales get lonely when lost at sea (pack of 5 postcards) by starseeker59
This card describes my frustration for not finding the email LOL

And now, because I know the rest of the readers probably won't like to see these in their mailboxes (sorry!), I want to bring the topic of CPSIA. I know most of you know about it, and the ones that don't, it is a new US law that says all toys, clothing, etc for children will have to be lead-free (of course), but have to be tested. As you can guess, small indie business can't test their products to reassure you that they are lead-free, so they will be out of business in February if this law passes.
Vote to change it!! Thanks =) Your children will thank you.

A while ago Bonzie and I got together (virtually lol) and decided to do a collaboration where I would paint some silk and she would make a dress with it =)

So by christmas I saw the dress finally made, and seriously, I had no words! It is named Fall of Night Handkerchief Halter Dress =) She made such a fantastic work with the silk, the dress is simply stunning. I was left totally o_O cause I love the dress so so much, I never even dreamt something so cool could be done with my silks lol

I wanted to tell you all guys about this collaboration a while ago, but life got in the middle and I have had barly no time to post in the blog (as you have noticed, of course). Who would have guessed being unemployed would be so time consuming LOL

Anyways, Bonzie did a photoshoot of the dress last week and send me the pictures and it just looks too amazing. I couldn't resist it and had to share the photos with you! My silk is in a photoshoot!!!!!

And here is the dress on a mannequin:



I feel so happy to see the outcome of this collaboration!

And, the dress is for sale at bonzie's shop! =)

So, what do you think? By the way, this has always been my dream, to paint silk for a designer who can make a great piece out of it. If any other designers are interested in collaborating, drop me a line!