Vintage Lace

Don't you just love the vintage look that is ever so popular right now? I know I do. I took some elements from the past, added some modern trends with the rolled fabric flowers and created these fantastic little cuff bracelets. I posted them on Facebook and they were an instant success, I plan on preparing more designs for sale during the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Booth Decor

In preparation for the upcoming festivals I have been working on some new decor. My most recent thing is a Mason Jar "Chandelier" that will serve double duty as it will illuminate the interior of my tent after dark at the festivals, then on 7-7-2012 it will be showcased at our wedding, which has a rustic, country theme. I am in love with this light, I even told Frankie that I would ALMOST tear down my current light fixture over my kitchen table and install the mason jar light. So here is a pic , we actually accomplished this in 2 evenings , I plan on hanging it, but that will have to wait until tomorrow night!

Here in the meantime are a few images, there are 13 total jars, 13 is our lucky number. Frankie and I met on a Friday the 13th.

The other thing I have been working on is a fabric flag bunting to hang on the outside of my tent, I had a laminated paper one but it got a little wet and started to mold. I found some very cute coordinating fabric at Hobby Lobby - made a large bunting and some small ones, I wanted more small ones so I returned to Hobby Lobby to find out the pattern I chose has been discontinued - GAH! Just my luck! Oh well - I was able to get a little more and will post pics of the smaller buntings soon. Until then - here is the Large "Artistic Icing" one!

It's almost Fall and that means one thing ... Festivals!

Fall is the beginning of a busy, busy time for Artistic Icing. I have been working my thumbprints off as I prepare for the upcoming season. I thought I would share a few links and dates of my upcoming events and shows.

First up is my sister's Brand New business, the Red Chair Salon's open house. Sept. 8th from 6pm-8pm. There will be other vendors and lots of fun. I am very proud of her and her accomplishments. She is a very awesome hairstylist who takes pride in her work and loves every minute of creating happy clients with kickin' current hairstyles. Visit her page on Facebook to find out more about - Red Chair Salon

Next is Sept. 16th-18th at the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion - Downtown Bristol, TN/VA celebrates it's rich music heritage with this kickin venue. Off the BRRR page it states "Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion isn’t just a music festival. It’s an infectious, three-day music experience, bursting with creative passion, electricity, and soul. Every third weekend in September, State Street in historic Downtown Bristol, TN/VA is amped to the beat of Appalachia’s past, present, and future. It digs down deep into the roots of traditional Appalachian sound and lifts its branches to new heights–and it all happens in the heart of The Birthplace of Country Music." I am very excited to be a vendor for this event - it is my 1st time and it sounds like it is going to be a blast! For more info about this festival check out their site here ----> BRRR Official Site

Next - in between two huge festivals I have been invited to take part in the annual Bugs & Butterflies Kids Consignment Event. This event takes place in Gray, TN on Sept. 21st-24th from 9am-7pm daily. I will possibly be there off and on at times, but I will have a table set up and you will be able to purchase things even if I am not physically present! You are invited to come out and shop for some AWESOME deals on kids clothes as well! Here is a link to the Bugs & Butterflies Kids Consignment Event's Facebook Page

Lastly I am honored to be a vendor again this year in my hometown favorite - 34th Annual Unicoi County Apple Festival. This festival is held every year, the 1st FULL weekend in October, the dates this year are Oct. 7th-8th from 8am-8pm. The Apple Festival is one of the top events in the South, bringing in more than 100,000 people - filling the streets of Downtown Erwin. The premier two-day event offers something for everyone -- handmade crafts, antiques, entertainment, a large children’s area, a Blue Ridge Pottery show and sale, contests and a smorgasbord of food! For more info visit the Offical 2011 Apple Festival Page ----> Here

I have a few other events for Nov. and Dec. that I am considering as well. I will keep you posted on where I will be!

What I have been working on ...

Some of you know that I am planning my wedding for July 7th, 2012. Frankie and I are planning a country, rustic themed wedding. Since I am a crafter - I plan on making alot of the decorations myself and trying to tie in some of my favorite things. I have become addicted to Pinterest and I find LOTS and LOTS of ideas on there. While pinning one night I came across a vintage button bouquet. I was instantly in LOVE and being that buttons are a part of my jewelry designs - I figured THIS IS ME - and I must make one. So over several weeks time I worked on button "flowers" gathered up all of the buttons that I could find from friends and family, even ordered some on ebay to complete things. I incorporated some burlap and a few wispy feathers. So here you have it - my final product - my very own Button Bouquet. I started at it for days and I am still in awe that I made something so beautiful.

Mother's Day Giveaway

Mother's Day is coming and I thought what a better way to show mom you love her than with one of my Vintage Word Necklaces from Artistic Icing that features the word "Mother" - it is a very popular necklace and I am sure that ANY mom would love it! The necklace is made of a base metal and measures 18" in length. The contest will run from today through May 1st. I will pick a winner and mail it out on May 2nd - for it to be recieved by May 8th (Mother's Day) ...

TO gain entries all you need to do is to TAG Artistic Icing in your Facebook Status, (to do this type what you want to say then type the @ symbol and start typing Artistic Icing - once it comes up you can click on the name, and it will add a link to my page in your status. This will appear on the Artistic Icing wall and gain you 1 entry. You can do this once per day for additional entries. Another way to gain entries is to REFER your friends to "Like" Artistic Icing's Facebook page, and have them post to the wall WHO (you) sent them! So REFER your friends!!!! Lastly - if you have made a Purchase and want to write a Review on my page - I will count ALL of April's reviews as 5 additional entries!

Good Luck and Have Fun! The Necklace is valued at $20 and are available for purchase either thru my Etsy Shop or email me at artisticicing@yahoo.com

"You never realize how much your mother loves you till you explore the attic - and find every letter you ever sent her, every finger painting, clay pot, bead necklace, Easter chicken, cardboard Santa Claus, paper lace Mother's Day card and school report since day one." -- Pam Brown

Daytime Tri-Cities

So - I got an email from Morgan King on Saturday saying that if I wanted to bring jewelry to Daytime Tri-Cities on Tuesday - Feb 1st, I could be featured in a segment ... I was overjoyed - I literally screamed when I read the email! So I called him and he advised me to be at the back door of WJHL on Tuesday morning at 9:30am, show goes live at 10am! I was sooooooo excited and I worked on things up until LATE Monday night into Tuesday morning. I arrived about 9:20am and Morgan met me at the back- and carried my tote inside. I had not been in WJHL's studio area since I was a kid - and there is soooooooo much to see - I am amazed at that small space and all of it's functions. My favorite weather man, Rob Williams was sitting at the Storm Team desk - studying the latest developments in the big storm - Or at least that sounds good - he could have been on Facebook - LOL! So I said Hi to him, we shared a little small talk. Then my good friend Erica arrived ... my support for the day - I was getting really nervous and just seeing her familiar face made me calmer. She started to help me unpack and set things up - then Amy Lynn came in (the other host) and intro'd herself - we chatted about my jewelry and she was really nice and made me feel at home and welcome there. It was really fun to sit out in the "audience" and watch all of this LIVE TV show come to life ... all of the crew were fantastic and nice! We took our spot when it was time - I was scared - Amy told me to just talk about my jewelry and not to be nervous - after the camera came on and she intro'd me - I though I was going to die ... but after the first sentence came out - I just had to pretend that I was talking to a friend and explaining my jewelry. I had about a 4 min segment and I was sooooooo relieved when it was over! Erica Love took some awesome pics for me and I will post those at the end of the blog. After the show wrapped we got to stick around and have Beef O'Brady's wings/sliders, etc ... it was soooooo good! I have to say that I had a great time and was so thankful to have the opportunity to showcase my work with local folks that tune in for Daytime Tri-Cities. Amy and Morgan are great! They just proved to me why I skip Regis and Kelly every morning and tune into Daytime @ 10am!

The following pics of my experience were taken by the talented Erica Love - of Love Story Photography

Me - just as they announced that I was going to be up next!


Amy and I right before the segment started...


The view of the screen while I was on ....


Amy and Morgen and ME after the show....


This last one is funny - I wanted a pic with Rob Williams - so I asked him - he came to stand where Amy, Morgan and I were ... I said "Oh no- we are going to the storm desk" so - here is your new 11 Connects Storm Team ... LOL


Here is the link to my segment - Artistic Icing on Daytime

the Starving Artist at VENUE

Well last night was the starving artist night at a new awesome place in town called "The Venue" - I had a really great time chatting with local people and business owners - and of course - selling Artistic Icing!
I had Gabe tag along to help me and I feared he would get bored out of his mind but he actually enjoyed it! We arrived around 5:30pm and started setting up - we had everything ready to go by 6:30pm - as people started to filter in a little before 7pm. Main Street Pizza was on hand with delicious Pizza by the slice as well as drinks, from Coke, to Wine to Beer on tap ... budget friendly prices to boot!
Around 7 a local band took front and center "stage" and played though the entire event. It was really really nice! Gabe and I mingled and chatted it up with other artists. It was a diverse group - everything from my jewelry, to photography, to blown glass, to paintings, to pottery and more.
The company there was fantastic. I sold some jewelry - made some new friends and connected with old friends. This is going to be a monthly thing for them - and I look forward to being there each 4th Tuesday of the month - Come see me!
Here is what my little space looked like! I was proud of how good it came out!