Etsy Favorites

Holly Lynn of Mix Tape :: http://www.hollylynn.etsy.com/

Holly makes amazing antique looking jewelry with old coins, fresh water pearls and beads! Above is the necklace that she made for me!! It is beautiful and fun, I asked for it to be extra long and I LOVE Tahitian pearls so I was very excited! I get a compliment on this necklace whenever I wear it!

Makepienotwar by Alana :: http://www.makepienotwar.etsy.com/
Makepienotwar is a super fun jewelry line (they have a t-shirt line starting as well) that uses metal, semi precious stones and creative charms to fashion unique and ironic pieces! The necklace shown above is really long and ultra delicate! The other piece that I am DYING to have from them is an awesomely huge amethyst and gold wire ring! Have fun looking at this line it's intoxicating and Alana, a creator of the line is super sweet...i sent her an email regarding something other than her line and she got back to me so quick! You will have a blast with her!

Hi Tree by Tina Rodas :: http://www.hitree.etsy.com/

Tina makes these little creations as well as adorable canvas totes (a good replacement to your plastic shopping bags). She says she is really into felt right now and re makes her little treats until they are perfect! I found her works on the front page one day and absolutely love them....i think I need this key chain. The colors she uses along with the perfect whimsical shapes are tres adorable!!! check out Hi Tree blog @ http://www.hitree.blogspot.com/

:: peace and love ::

Hello Prints :: Susan Logcher

I just wanted to give Susan Logcher a "thank you" so very much for taking the time to answer some of my questions! Susan is a freelance graphic designer and has a wonderfully fun blog @ http://helloprints.blogspot.com/ which I stumbled across on my crusade to understand graphic design! Check it out for fun posts on beautiful crafts and to see Susan's work go to her website @ http://www.helloprints.com/! Enjoy!

and THANK YOU again Susan!

:: peace and love ::

Crystal Kluge :: Tart Workshop

I am really interested in starting a paper goods website where I can design custom paper goods to sell to people for weddings, birthdays or special occasions! I found Crystal's website online and was blown away by how talented and devine her crafts are! She does paper goods as well with a specialization in customized maps that she either draws or does in water color! They are amzing and so fun to look at!

She has custom fonts that she has designed as well as greeting cards etc. She also designs logos for businesses and has a list of the ones she has done so far!!! She is absolutly amazing, I have looked through her whole site and LOVE LOVE LOVE her work!

check out her official site @ http://www.crystalkluge.com/

:: peace and love ::

Myra Callan :: Amazing(ness)

Hello!! I have not been on in quite a while! I have been very busy with school and work and was feeling to0 un-inspired to post anything. I'm back and have so many fun things to share that I am absolutly OBsessed with right now!

Myra Callan is an artist who makes custom hairpieces and headbands (as well as corsages and boutineers) for weddings as well as everyday! She is so creative and inspiring to me. Her obvious passion for her craft is infectious and she definitly makes me want to explore my love of crafts more!
She sells her lovely and whimsicle designs under the name of Pebbles and Paisley on Etsy (her site is listed in my favorite sites on the right). She sells works she has made as well as making custom designs! Also, check out her blog http://twigsandhoney.blogspot.com/ where she blogs about her line and life!
Thanks to Myra for being a wonderful inspiration to all us crafty girls!!!

:: peace and love ::

Bobbi Brown Online--Free Shipping!

Bobbi Brown online is giving us free standard shipping with no product code or minimum purchase required!!!

Offer is valid 4/4 through 4/10/2008 ending that night at 12:00 am.

Go to their website at http://www.bobbibrown.com/

To go directly to the page that shows this beautiful kit in the picture (Bobbi's flawless bridal kit) go to http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY2796&REFERRER_CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY21222&PRODUCT_ID=PROD12650

Happy Shopping!

P.S. The hydrating eye cream is award winning as is her liner in a pot (shown with the bridal kit)

Make Your Own Lipstick Palette

I was flipping through last months issue of Domino only to find this lovely article about making your own lipstick palette! If you are a total beauty junkie (you know who you are!) you are going to love love love this! seriously! I am going to include the link of the video showing exactly how to do this yourself, but it is so easy I can't believe I haven't don't this sooner!
First off, you will need a palette to put all your pretty pucker in! Go to http://www.naimies.com/ click on shop beauty supply online at the top and when it gives you the list of options to shop on the left you will see the option to click palettes! There you go! The version that they show is the 28 basin double sided which retails for $60. A little pricey you say? If you think about it not really, they say that by putting all your color in one place (and by taking it out of its original container) you are getting 1/3 more product with your buck! Imagine all that good stuff that's always left at the end of your lipstick container that you have been throwing away till now! Next you will need a microwave (if you are a neat freak--like me) and a small ceramic bowl with a pour spout!
Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTf2JhRiirs to enjoy the video of Domino Magazine's own beauty editor in her Manhattan apartment whipping up a pretty lipstick palette!

Absolutly Necessary~Benefit Benetint

When asked what beauty product I would cry over if it was discontinued, my answer is Dior Show Mascara in Blackout and Benefit Benetint lip and cheek stain! This is maybe the most amazing thing EVER! I have fair skin and a rosy color already to my skin and for the longest time I thought that I couldn't wear anything too intense on my lips because it would just bring out the pink color in my skin--in a bad way--like "woah my trainer kicked my ass into a tomato red heap". I was proven wrong when I broke down (after hearing all the hype of benetint for years) and bought the 'Pocket Pal' version. The Pocket Pal is very handy since it is the original Benetint but packaged in a dual ended pen with a clear gloss on the other side or spicing things up a bit! I will say one thing, that I wouldn't wear it alone on the lips...it definitely does need a gloss and clear is the best. Plain and simple if you are fair skinned (or anything else really) but this works well on me...you will like Benetint! It is the perfect rose color and as the picture shows does wonders to liven up a dull complexion!

I find that the picture (from Benefit's website) is true to color.

You can purchase same as the prior post about the High Brow Pencil at Sephora or at the Benefit Cosmetic site!

Benefit~Not Just A High Brow!

I'm sorry, but I LOVE BENEFIT. I will admit that I love their packaging (I think it's adorable) and that may 'partially' contribute to why I love them and want basically everything in their line! However...I bought this pencil maybe a year ago--initially because I was watching one of those make over shows where a makeup artist was telling the woman that she should use a light pink pencil under her eyes to minimize any darkness and brighten the eye area. Benefit does have a pencil specifically for the eye area (and to be honest I don't see the difference between this one and that one) but at the time of my purchase I did not see the one for the eyes so I bought this. Thinking--hey...there's a light pink pencil--perfect!! It is perfect, I do use it under my brow but specifically I use it under the eye. I have a weird little phobia of tugging the delicate skin under my eye so instead of drawing it directly under my eye, I scrape a bit of the pencil off the top, warm the cream between my ring fingers and lightly tap the creamy pencil under the eye. Paying more attention to the inside corners on the side of the nose and down the nose, feathering out toward the outside corners of the eye. Don't blend entirely! You want to leave a bit of the pink color lingering to keep the are bright!

To purchase go to

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P107405&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5333

or to the Benefit site

http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B000FBK5K4/sr=1-6/qid=1207205162/ref=sr_1_6/105-7515471-6428400?ie=UTF8&n=164991011&bcBrand=core

Enjoy!

I Heart Albolene

The other day my girlfriends and I were chatting about what kind of products we use and what kind of makeup (you know...the reg) and we were all in agreement that none of us uses "cheap" beauty products on our skin...in my case this means Osea Skin Care, Bare Minerals Foundation, Benefit, Dior, Stila etc...basically from Sephora. Later that night I was doing my whole "getting ready for bed" routine and as I was swiping my cotton ball of Albolene across my face I realized...I do use @ least one drug store beauty product!!! Albolene is marketed as a "no soap and water" cleanser. However since I was about 15 I have been using it as a makeup remover before cleansing. In its container it looks like a petroleum jelly (or vaseline) but on contact with the skin in becomes smoother and more 'liquidy' expertly removing foundation and even the most difficult of mascara (because of it's petroleum texture). I use this every night and am almost out at the moment. If you have sensitive skin you will love this--it is like Cetephil in the sense that it is extremely mild, has no fragrance and no irritants (origeonal version). If you have oily skin or are prone to break outs, don't be detered because it is oily looking or feeling. This is very light (not exactly like a 'cloud') but none the less light and gentle. I do have (especially at the moment) slightly problem skin and this has never clogged my pores or irritated my skin. Give the drug store a try, it's good for more than just lotion and nail polish!

Off to Rite Aid...

Benefit-Girl From Ipanema

I just went on the Benefit Cosmetic site to check out what new and deliciously exciting things they have and 'voila' I stumbled across this gorgeous look they created called the "girl from ipanema'. It is a brozed look with a pale glossy lip and copper eyes. To get the step by step directions and product usage go to their website @ http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/node/n/491115011

I have to admit this is a slightly dangerous undertaking because now (only 5 minutes later) I want every single product they used....and thank goodness we have a local Sephora because I'm pretty sure I cannot live with out the California Kissin' lip gloss they use and the 'Birthday Suit' eye shadow! It is almost my birthday...can I use that as an excuse to go overboard shopping for cosmetics? Lets just say yes.....

Here is the 'California Kissin' lip gloss $16. It is supposedly minty and the slight blue tinge that it comes with is said to make your teath look more white! I have a feeling this will be my new favorite everyday gloss (I love blue gloss...ever since Dior and Clinique dis-continued theirs I have been hoping someone else would do this) Happy Shopping!