That Time I Went to Matilda Jane Art Fair

 So, last June, I went to Matilda Jane Art Fair.  And I thought I would put together a little travel fyi for anyone out there who might be planning to go this year.  This was a once in a lifetime experience for me.  I got to meet several good friends who I've previously only chatted with online.  I also got to hang out with some old friends who I've known now for awhile.

It was soooo fun, and a much needed mommy's weekend without kids!

What is Matilda Jane Art fair, you ask?

Well, Matilda Jane is a small children's clothing company based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  They sell through in-home shows.  And once a year, they do a huge sale of one-of-a-kind items in their old warehouse.  It's super fun!

Where to stay

We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott downtown.  It was within walking distance to the MJC property.  We had to drive to a local part for the preparty though.  Matilda Jane reserves a block of rooms for Art Fair attendees.  They sell out fast, in January.  So you have to be quick to reserve your room, once they announce the info on the company blog.

If you're in the block of rooms, you get a special treat when you check in.  This year it was a rainbow of yummy candies.

Where to eat

There's a restaurant in the hotel, which came in handy.  And there are several downtown restaurants within walking distance.  We chose to drive to the Casa Grille, a locally owned Italian restaurant.  The service and food were awesome!

Link here for Ft. Wayne locations and hours.

Special Events:  Chicks for Children luncheon

I attended the Chicks for Children fundraiser luncheon.  Chicks for Children is a non-profit based in Conway Arkansas.  Their goal is to help the people of Kitale, Kenya.  

"Our overarching mission is to reduce or eliminate the devastating consequences of poverty characterized by a lack of food, clean water, homelessness, illiteracy, sickness, despair, hopelessness, voicelessness, fear, abuse, and social isolation."

I was so blessed to hear about the work Matilda Jane Clothing Company is doing alongside Dr. Mark Cooper, founder of Chicks for Children.

Please visit the link HERE to learn more about this awesome organization, and consider donating to their cause. 

We all got to sit through an awesome presentation by Dr. Mark Cooper,  we ate a delicious lunch, and then we got to shop the warehouse sale a day early, for one hour.   Honestly, I was so blessed by the experience that I didn't even need the perk of shopping.  It was truly a touching experience.

 

Pre-party

The preparty was held at Headwaters Park in Ft. Wayne.   The location was beautiful and there was plenty of room to move around.  You have to buy a $10 admission ticket in advance, but it includes an awesome dinner buffet.

Be sure to buy raffle tickets!  Because they give away pretty awesome things, like the entire fall collection and first to shop the event.

What about camping out?

The line to get into the Saturday morning shopping event started Friday evening, and was quite long.  But the clothing racks empty really quickly on Saturday morning, and camping in line bettered your chances of getting any specific items that you really want.

Be forewarned - it gets really cold at night!   I was regretting wearing flip flops and dreaming of my UGGs by 3am.   We had a lot of fun talking, meeting new people, and playing games while we waited.  We also slept a teensy bit too :)

One thing we did do, was write our position in line on our hands.  This came in handy when people tried to break in line at 6am the next morning.  We simply called over the security guard and he checked the line breakers' numbers, sending them alll the way to the back.  So don't break in line!  It's not worth in and everyone will know who you are and remember.

 

 

 

Shopping

It's good to have an idea of what you are looking for when you go in.  I got a lot of good items just wandering around.  A lot of people will grab big armfuls and then sort them and discard what they don't want.  I found a ton of cute things by waiting for the discards to be reshelved.  And I shopped for both my girls, and got them quite a few matching sets.

 

 

 

The best part?  The people!

I met so many great people, and grew friendships I already had.  It was so fun and I would love to do it again!

SO.... There you have it.  An awsome experience.  A fun weekend.  And a presentation that changed how I look at Kitale, Africa.

Kids Chunky Necklace DIY - Part Three

Today, we are going to talk about using stretch string, to make those chunky bubblegum kids' necklaces.

This is part three of a post that I started two weeks ago.  you can read the part one here, and part two here.

Just like the last couple times, let's pretend that you already have your necklace supplies ready.

• You have all your pretty beads laid out in order.  Always remember to add Color, Texture, Pattern, and Shine... it works for jewelry too, not just on What Not to Wear.
• Spacer beads. Note:  spacers aren't necessary.  I like the look of a necklace that doesn't have spacers.  BUT - spacer beads offer flexibility to a necklace.  Without spacers, there will be more stress at the connection points.  Meaning, there is a higher likelihood that the necklace will come apart at the clasp.
• Stretch string... you can buy it in the craft section of Walmart, where they sell Pony Beads.  Or, any craft store like Hobby Lobby sells it.
• Super glue

The Process, using stretch string:

Add your beads to the stretch string

There's no need for a clasp!  Just tightly knot the two ends of the necklace together, using several square knots.

 Put a little dot of super glue on the knots, so they don't come undone when you trim the extra.

Trim the extra string away after the glue dries, and you're done!

 

Super easy, huh?   And super cute too!!!

 

 

Favorite Things

Hint, hint honey... I wouldn't mind seeing one or two of these items on Christmas morning!

With the Holiday season upon us, I thought it might be nice to share some of the things I'm loving and/or longing for lately.   So, in no particular order, here are a few of my favorite things:

LUSH Rosy Christmas (shop here)

This little gift box comes with rose shower gel and rose-argan body conditioner.  It makes you smell AND feel heavenly.  I love all LUSH products because they contain no harmful chemicals, use organic ingredients, and are not tested on animals.

A nice piece of costume jewelry (shop here)

Did you know that naturally occurring emeralds are more expensive per carat than diamonds??? I didn't, until I started shopping for an emerald ring.  Sooo.... I decided to opt for a nicely made piece of costume jewelry.  This one from Zales has a lab-created emerald surrounded by white topaz, and is set in sterling silver.   Since I wanted a fun birthstone ring to wear occasionally, this one is perfect!

 

Some Cozy Slippers (shop here)

Ugg shoes are SO cozy.  And I get cold feet constantly in the winter time... even though I live in a very warm climate.  Oftentimes, I wear my UGG boots with my pajamas, and only take them off at the last minute before climbing in bed for the night.   I hate cold feet.   When I saw these slippers, I knew I had to have them... they are even pink with a bit of bling.  PLUS, a portion of the proceeds from these special edition slippers is donated to Susan G. Komen breast cancer research.  Win-Win!

 

I'm loving these nail foils (shop here)

I'm actually wearing some right now, that are sparkly leopard print.  They've been on for three weeks and still look great.  Out of all the brands I've tried, these stay looking nice the longest!   I really want to try this limited edition nude geometric print.

 

I need a plug-in for the guest bathroom (shop here)

I have a scentsy warmer in the main living area of our home.  BUT, I really would love a small plug-in warmer for the guest bathroom.  I like this one:

 

And I've been dying to try this scentsy scent (shop here)

I keep our large scentsy warmer filled with yummy fruity scents, like Blueberry Cheesecake.  BUT, someone described this scent as a spa-like smell.  I think the blend of eucalyptus, lemon, and mint would be perfect for the bathroom plug-in!

What happens when you combine crocs with a cute, girly ballet flat?  (shop here)

You get SWYT.  These are cute flats for toddlers, children, and adults.   They come in a rainbow of colors, textures, and patterns.  I MAJORLY regret not buying my first pair last time I saw them on Zulily.  So now, I have my account set to remind me next time there is a SWYT event.  These are the ones I love: crushed velvet with a big sparkly bow on top... perfect for all of the holiday parties I'm set to attend this December. 

 

PLUS, this is a company with a heart.  They have taken a stand against bullying, and are donating a percentage of fundraiser sales towards anti-bullying awareness programs such as Pacer.org and The Trevor Project.

And finally, you can never go wrong with a Stitch Fix gift card! (shop here)

My first FIX is scheduled for January 9, and I am so excited to see what my stylist sends me!  (If you don't know what stitch fix is, see my earlier post here explaining how it works!)

So... there you have it.  

Some of my favorite things, and some things I really want.  (And honey, if you're reading... these range in price from $5 to $120.  So there's plenty for you to choose from.)

Happy Holidays everyone!   What do you want Santa to leave under your tree?


Edited to add:  The companies mentioned in this post did not reimburse me for reviews, nor do they even know I love their products so much.  The Scentsy links are through my consultant, but you can use the search feature here to find a local consultant.  The Stitch Fix link is a referral link, and I will get a small credit if you use it to sign up (Which I would greatly appreciate!).

 

Kids Chunky Necklace DIY - Part Two

Today, we are going to talk about using 1/16" nylon ribbon knotted and heat sealed, to make those chunky bubblegum kids' necklaces.

Here's part two of a post that I started last week.  You can read the part one here.

Just like last time, let's pretend that you already have your necklace supplies ready.

• You have all your pretty beads laid out in order.  Always remember to add Color, Texture, Pattern, and Shine... it works for jewelry too, not just on What Not to Wear.
• Spacer beads. Note:  spacers aren't necessary.  I like the look of a necklace that doesn't have spacers.  BUT - spacer beads offer flexibility to a necklace.  Without spacers, there will be more stress at the connection points.  Meaning, there is a higher likelihood that the necklace will come apart at the clasp.
• 1/16" Nylon ribbon and a long sewing needle.
• A lighter... I used the one my husband lights the grill with.

The Process, using ribbon:

Thread your ribbon through a needle and put on all your beads.

At the end of the necklace, knot the ribbon tightly onto the clasp.

Trim the ribbon, leaving only a short little 'tail.' 

 Using a lighter, melt the little tail of remaining ribbon.  Don't let it catch on fire!

 Wait a couple of seconds after removing the ribbon from the flame.  Then, use your fingers to press the melted ribbon firmly onto the knot.

Repeat for the other end of the necklace.

This method makes it IMPOSSIBLE for the knot to come undone, since it's melted and heat sealed.

Do you make chunky bubblegum necklaces?  What's your favorite type of pendants?  I am loving converting small PVC toys into pendants!

(Almost) Epic Fail

I had a great idea...

To have our Christmas Card Photos taken in the cotton....

Unfortunately, fate was not with us.

You see... the sun was in our eyes....

And our kids were not cooperative.



Fortunately, our photographer is an AWESOME friend from Church!

And out of 100 photos, we got exactly ONE that will do for our Christmas card.

Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll.  Enjoy your families.... even if they don't want to look at the camera at the same time.

Stitch Fix



Has anyone tried Stitch Fix?   I found out about it awhile ago, and it's been in the back of my mind for awhile to try it out.  Stitch Fix takes the hassle out of shopping and gives me the added benefit of having a trained stylist pick out perfect pieces just for me.

 Using Stitch Fix means:

• no more circling the parking lot to find a spot
• no more pushy sales people
• no more dirty, poorly lit fitting rooms
• no more annoying trips back to the store to return items that I change my mind about

Plus, Stitch Fix saves me gas money and hours of time, and I don't lose my mind taking my children to the mall!

If YOU want to try it out, check out my referral link!  https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3242453

 

What is Stitch Fix, you ask?

Stitch Fix is a personal styling service. You tell them all about your style, size, and budget preferences, and they send you a package of stylish goodies to try on at home. Each Fix is unique and hand-picked just for you.

 

How does it work?

1. Sign Up and Complete Your Style Profile

   After signing up you can start immediately on your Style Profile. We need to know your size, shape, style, budget, and lifestyle to get your Fix right. The Style Profile took about 10 minutes for me to complete.

2. Schedule a Stitch Fix

   Pick a shipment date, and they’ll send you a box of 5 clothing and accessory items they’ve hand-picked just for you. You can even opt to schedule a monthly delivery if you'd like.
   You pay a $20 styling fee when your stylist selects the items in your Stitch Fix. This $20 fee will be applied as a credit toward anything you keep from your shipment.

3. Try On All Of Your Items

   Try on everything they send you—you never know what you’ll like until you see it on. Pair each piece with items already in your closet to try different outfit options. Each item includes style cards with ideas and inspiration on how to wear it.

4. Decide

   Take 3 days to decide what you’ll keep. Return the items you don't want in the provided pre-paid mailing bag at any USPS mailbox.

5. Check Out

   Login to your account and pay for those items you kept. If you buy all 5 items you save 25% off the entire shipment price.
   You get to give feedback on your Stitch Fix shipment—the stylists gets better over time if they know what did and didn’t work for you.              

Let me know if you have tried Stitch Fix!  I scheduled my first box to arrive on the first available date - January 9, 2014.  I'll post reviews when it gets here.  I can't wait!

Kids Chunky Necklace DIY - Part One!

Okay guys.  I've made a LOT of these chunky necklaces over the past year, and I also sell bead kits for DIY projects.  So, I painted my nails and thought I would try to write some instructions.  Kids chunky bead necklaces are so darn cute!  Making them takes some finesse, and an eye for color and texture.  BUT - it's not hard!  There are several ways you can put them together... and the way you do it affects the strength and durability of the necklace.  That's super important when you know your kids will be rough on them!

Let's pretend that you already have your necklace supplies ready.

• You have all your pretty beads laid out in order.  Always remember to add Color, Texture, Pattern, and Shine... it works for jewelry too, not just on What Not to Wear.
• Spacer beads. Note:  spacers aren't necessary.  I like the look of a necklace that doesn't have spacers.  BUT - spacer beads offer flexibility to a necklace.  Without spacers, there will be more stress at the connection points.  Meaning, there is a higher likelihood that the necklace will come apart at the clasp.
• Crimps - the heavier duty the better.
• Crimp pliers
• Bead wire, or nylon ribbon/needle, or stretch string.

Today, we're going to talk about using bead wire and crimps to make necklaces.

Add your beads to the wire

At the end of the necklace, add a crimp bead, and then the clasp. 

Then pass the wire back through the crimp bead.  DON'T pull the wire tight around the clasp... Leave a little loop so the clasp swings freely inside the loop of wire.  If you pull it tight, there will be a lot of friction and the wire will fray.

SQUEEZE the crimp with the inside portion of the crimp pliers.  It turns the crimp into a 'V' shaper.



 Then, use the outer portion of the crimp pliers to kind of fold the crimp in half, folding at the point of the 'V' and bringing the two sides together.

Don't trim it close to the crimp.  IF the wire slips a little inside the crimp, you don't want the necklace to fall off.

Feed the tail of wire down inside a couple of beads, and trim the extra. 

Repeat for the other end of the necklace

 

The finished product is really cute, and my daughter and her friends at school love these.  Stop back by next week to learn how to do these using 1/16" nylon ribbon... and no crimp beads or pliers are required!

And because no post is complete without a picture of my girls...

 

Please note:  Necklaces can be a choking hazard to small children.  Always supervise your kids while they wear them, and remove all jewelry before naptime.