RBK Creations

Website Up and Running!

2010-03-10T13:48:00.001-06:00

I have finally transferred all of my blog posts to the new website! I will no longer be posting on this blog since it is on a different platform on the website.

I may pop in every once in awhile and remind everyone to start reading on the Website though!

The website is still being built and tweaked here and there. I have been working on it since November and just decided to take the plunge. With the wedding season in full swing there has been a lot of time spent on orders. I am fitting in the website design in between work, orders and life :)

Make sure to add the site to your RSS feed, comment and share the posts.

Go...now...check out RBKCreations.com !!!

A new transition

2009-12-16T10:05:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone! I can't believe it is almost Christmas! Where has the time gone?!

Over Thanksgiving I started working on the RBK Creations website. It is definitely in it's infancy but it is transforming into something bigger and better every day. (backgrounds will change, how things are arranged will change, pretty much everything will be different..)

The website features the blog as well as information about my store, a photo gallery, contact information and much more. For now, I plan on keeping this blog here as well, updating both. There will be a point however where I will only be using the website.

I do invite you all to head on over to the website and RSS feed it into your reader of choice. I think it will be exciting to see all of the changes RBK Creations will be going through in the next month, and I want to share that with all of you! I've got plans :)

So, as things change and build on the website, let me know your thoughts! I want to create something that everyone finds interesting yet easy to navigate. (And fun, of course).

For now, I will leave you with some pictures of orders in the works. We have been busy, the past month especially.

Just two flowers out of 157 hand embroidered flowers.

A great order of blues and greens!

What fun colors! A wrist corsage, which is one of a few.

Some of the centerpiece stems for another order. I think there were 120 of these. So girly and fun!

I promise to update more pictures soon. 3 of the 4 orders above have been shipped and done for awhile now. There are a bunch of other pieces that are in the works that I have not had time to take pictures of.

Giveaway Winner!!!

2009-11-30T12:10:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone. I want to thank every one for their patience. I am so sorry that I have not posted the winner before now. This past month has been one thing after another. I am finally getting over being sick and things are falling back into their normal routine.

Anyway, I have picked a winner for the Brandi Thompson Photography Giveaway! The winning comment was lucky number 3!!!! TeddyStartedIt is the winner! I will be contacting you for your information and I will then get it to Brandi.

Thank you all so much. And if you didn't win...Go check out Brandi's site and keep her in mind for any upcoming photo needs, she is awesome at what she does!

New Background for Product Photos

2009-11-08T18:14:00.000-06:00

A couple weeks ago I finally had a chance to make a new background for taking photos. I have been wanting to make it for the past two months but never had a chance. It still needs a little bit of 'editing' but I think it is working well so far.

I found a big piece of wood in my garage and I used some of the left over turf from my craft show display. I think the 'cloud' background needs some more variation in color and some more depth..maybe making something 3D on it. This weekend went by way too fast otherwise I would have worked on it a bit more.

It looks fine from far away but in the actual product photos it whites it out too much.

YAY For Astro Turf. I like that I can just take it off the table and shake off anything that gets on it. I end up having to edit out a lot less fuzzballs that make their way into the picture.

Here is a bouquet I took of picture of this weekend with the new background.

What are your thoughts on my background? Do you think it helps me stand out at all?

Brandi Thompson Photography Giveaway

2009-11-06T18:11:00.001-06:00

I have a very special giveaway this week! I will be jealous of the winner! The only catch with this giveaway is that you must live in the Dallas area (25 miles within Plano, TX to be exact). Or willing to travel to Plano if you live a bit out of that range. I can tell you right now, it would be well worth it. Anyway, scroll down and read the great interview with Brandi and check out some of her work.

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Please Introduce yourself:

My name is Brandi Thompson, and I live with my husband Brian, and our four “kids” (three cats and a dog) in Plano, TX. I am a full time photographer, and a general lover of the arts!

Can you tell me a little bit about your business? When did you start? How you got started, etc.

I focus on wedding and lifestyle photography with a fun, organic ‘rockstar’ approach. I am a big believer in capturing moments as they happen, and customizing photos to each client, instead of fitting my clients into a specified mold.

I have loved photography for a long time. My father actually did photography in high school, and I just grew up with an appreciation for it. For years I would take pictures of my friends just for fun, and because I enjoyed making people feel good about themselves. I was previously in school, and ran into the situation that I needed a flexible income so that I could work and still go to school. I started my business in January of 2008, and it’s been growing steadily since then. As of May 2009, I am no longer attending school – having made the decision to focus solely on my business.

How would you describe your creative process? Ever get in a creative rut? How to you get past that rut?

I really let my clients’ personality dictate where I go with their session. I have a slew of places to shoot at, and I try to mix it up as often as possible. I discuss exactly the kind of feel my clients are going for, and then we just kind of go and have a lot of fun. I don’t approach anything with calculation. When I start to feel a little dry on the creativity side, I will often play around with still life objects or landscape photos. It’s generally easier to try new perspectives on an object instead of a person.

What is a typical day like for you?

Honestly, I don’t have a really set schedule. I try and make a list of things I need to get done on the specific day, and then tackle the list. Some days it’s hours of sitting in front of my computer editing photos, burning CDs, packaging prints, answering emails – things like that. I take breaks by taking the dog out to play or taking him for a walk. I also take computer breaks by working on various household chores. All in all, it’s not terribly exciting but, at least I get to wear pajamas.

Where can you be found online?

Lots of places!

Website – http://http://www.brandithompsonphotography.com/

Blog – http://www.rockstarphotographyblog.com/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/rockstarphotography

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/awesomebrandi

Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer?

No, not really. I have always known that I am an artist, and that whatever I did with my life – it would be based in art. I’ve been creating things in some fashion since I was a small child, and I will be that way until the day I die. I have had an active interest in photography since I was young, and I can definitely see myself doing this for the long term.

Are there any fun tidbits about you, your business or life in general you would like to share?

I am a very passionate person. I love what I do, and I am thankful everyday that I get to have one of the greatest jobs on the planet. I have wanted to run my own business since I was old enough to grasp the concept, and it’s amazing to realize a lifelong dream. Outside of photography and the arts, I also love music (hence my rockstar vibe!), dancing, animals, fashion – especially shoes, books and lots of geeky things. I am a long time vegetarian and I have a slew of stuffed animals on my desk that I refer to as my ‘employees’. I am unabashedly dorky, but it’s just part of being honest.

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Up for grabs?

I would like to offer the readers a free lifestyle photo session of their choice. It can be a couples session, senior, bridal/trash the dress, family, children…whatever they’d like.

We will discuss their vision and find the perfect location. Most sessions last between one and two hours.

Within a few weeks of the session, proofs will be available in a private gallery with a 10% off on anything purchased in the first ten days.

I live in Plano, so the winner will need to be in a 25 mile radius of Plano, or willing to come this way if they live a little further out.

To Enter: Make sure to look at Brandi's website and blog, she posts some great sessions on there! Come back and tell me how you would use your photo session if you won! Also, leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Earn Extra Entries: (Leave a comment for each extra entry)
1. Follow my blog. Or let me know if you are already a follower
2. Follow Brandi's Twitter
3. Blog about this giveaway (Leave the link)
4. Post a message on Twitter about the giveaway (Make sure to include @rbkcreations in your tweet)

The winner will be picked on November 24th, 12pm CST. The winner will be notified by email. It will also be posted on this blog. Please make sure your email address is accurate. If no email address is provided I will draw another name. The winner will have 48 hours to provide us with their contact information and location.

Katemajoie Giveaway Winner

2009-10-30T11:27:00.000-05:00

Thank you all so much for entering the latest giveaway! You all said such nice things and I hope you had a chance to see all the great products from Katrina's shop!

*Drum roll Please*

The winner is, number 24, Abigail!

(The giveaway ended with 100 entries. There were a few late entries that did not get included in the drawing)

There isn't a giveaway this week as it is Halloween, I am going to 2 concerts, custom orders in the process and lots of other planning!

Next week however, I have a special surprise for everyone who lives in the North Dallas Area. It will be a very special treat. So if you live in the area or know anyone who does make sure to take a look on Thursday for the new post!

Giveaway from Katemajoie - Letterpress notecards or sign

2009-10-22T15:29:00.002-05:00

Hi all. I am back to the giveaways on the blog now. I have officially started my job and enjoy it. Things are starting to get back to normal again. So much was all happening at the same time that the blog and the giveaways had to be put on hold. This week's giveaway is from the sweetest person ever! Check out a little more about Katrina and her shop katemajoie

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Introduce yourself:
I'm Katrina, designer/printer behind Ma Joie Press. Last year was a big one for me. I graduated college with a degree in Art, I married my high school sweetheart, Tyler, and I started MJP. It's been a crazy blur, but I'm having a great time.

Tell us a little bit about your shop:
I print for special occasions, so, the majority of my shop is wedding and baby designs. It's so wonderful to hear from people who are expecting a baby or preparing for their wedding. It's the happiest part of my job.

How did you get started on Etsy?
It was love at first sight for me and Etsy! I happened across the site while searching for a specific and unusual Christmas present a couple of years ago, and it literally changed my life. I set goals to start my business with hopes of having a shop someday. After I became what I considered 'skilled enough' in my craft to sell, I jumped in head first. It was the perfect next step - inexpensive to start up, and chock full of like-minded personalities. I can't even count the opportunities (big and small) that have come my way through Etsy.

Where on the internet can you be found?
You can find Ma Joie Press and me on the main website, the MJP blog, the Etsy shop and of course on Twitter

Favorite product in your shop?
It's hard to pick a favorite product because I put so much time into designing them all, picking colors and printing them. But, if I have to pick, I'd probably say the "Not all those who wander are lost" print. It is just a happy reminder that, though I'm not on the same path as everyone else, I'm on the right path for me.

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Up for Grabs:
10 pack of folded letterpress spider mum cards & envelopes or a "those who wanter" letterpress print. I have both on hand so it is the winner's choice!

Value: $20.00

How to Enter: Take a look around Katrina's Etsy shop, come back and let us know your favorite design/item. Also, leave your email address in the message so I can contact you, if you win!

Earn Extra Entries: (Leave a comment for each extra entry)
1. Follow my blog. Or let me know if you are already a follower
2. Follow Katrina's Twitter
3. Blog about this giveaway (Leave the link)
4. Post a message on Twitter about the giveaway (Can only be done once a day. Enter a new comment for each day that you tweet about this great giveaway)

The winner will be picked on October 29th, 12pm CST. The winner will be notified by email. It will also be posted on this blog. Please make sure your email address is accurate. If no email address is provided I will draw another name. The winner will have 48 hours to provide us with their choice of item and shipping information or another name will be picked.

Cupcakes - A personal mission!

2009-10-21T21:47:00.000-05:00

A year ago I found a cupcake recipe in a magazine that I just had to make. They had caramel in them, that is all I remember. They ended up being horrible. They were dense and tasted like flour. It just wasn't good at all. Even though the end result was bad I still had fun making them.

Sine that batch of dry, gross cupcakes it has been my personal mission (slight obsession) to make good cupcakes. I recently purchased a cupcake cookbook so I can play around with some different types and ingredients.

The first recipe was a Chocolate Chip Cupcake. They still weren't good. They were almost grainy. I wasn't too happy with that outcome. I felt very intimidated by the complexity of making good homemade cupcakes. I meant to take pictures of this batch but definitely forgot.

The second attempt (and the second in the book, I plan on going in order) was Carrot Cupcakes. I had to grate a pound of carrots which was a pain but they turned out soooooo good. I have a new motivation for making cupcakes. The 3rd batch (Yellow Buttermilk) are cooling right now waiting for frosting. Pictures of that batch will be up soon.

In the meantime, however, I will share some pictures of my Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting and a carrot on top, of course.

I got these super cute tulip cupcake liners on Etsy.

They were bakery quality (in my opinion). Very moist and perfect. They seemed to just disappear. A lot were consumed at the North Dallas Etsy Meeting. I will have to make them again, very soon!

I am back to having fun making them, ha, so I am sure I will be posting my successes and failures as I make them! Enjoy! (want the recipe, let me know and I can get it to you)

Remington Kissme Moore Bracelet Giveaway Winner!

2009-10-08T12:17:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for entering this giveaway! I was very happy with the response and so glad I could get some exposure to my mom's little shop!

The winner is number 124...Laura!

I will be contacting you shortly to get your shipping information.

I will be taking the next week off from giveaways in order to finish preparing for the bridal show this weekend and hopefully starting a new job on Monday. But make sure to check back next week for some more goodies!

My first Bridal Expo!

2009-10-06T17:46:00.000-05:00

I have been posting a few different things on twitter the past two days but I thought I would make an actual post with more information about my first ever bridal expo.

Yesterday, I was officially on the list to be an exhibitor at the 2009 Latino Bridal & Quince Expo in Arlington, TX. I paid my booth fee yesterday and the show is THIS Sunday! It is a large show but one that will be a good entry into the bridal industry. I have been told not knowing Spanish wouldn't be a barrier, so let's hope that is truly the case! Or I will be in major trouble!!

I didn't realize all that was needed to prepare for a bridal show and I know I will be missing things. I have been getting some great advice from a fellow North Dallas Etsy member (Thanks Sonja!).

To top off the stress of doing my first bridal show this weekend, my second every craft show the weekend after, I will be starting a full-time job this Thursday.

I like to be busy, so this is good! There is still so much to do for this weekend, I thought I would just share some the newest happenings for RBK Creations. AND, if you are in the DFW area this weekend come out and see us at the Expo!

Glitterati Holiday Boutique - October 18th, 2009

2009-10-04T15:51:00.000-05:00

This year I will be a venter at the 5th Annual Glitterati Holiday Boutique! The event is at the Tiferet Israel Synagogue in Dallas, TX.

This will be my second craft show ever. I am very excited to be a part of this event! I have a lot to get prepared for this show and hope to sell a lot! I will be introducing some new products at the show that will hopefully end up in the shop some day.

If you are in the Dallas area, make sure to come check out this great event!

This coming weekend I am working on getting into a bridal show, my first time being a vendor at a bridal show, ever! I will share more details soon on that. I can't believe that is only a week away. I may be crazy but we'll see how it goes!

Check out the event on Facebook!

Kiss Me Moore Bracelet Giveaway

2009-10-01T22:54:00.001-05:00

It is a new week and a new giveaway! For this week I am helping to promote my mom's new Etsy Shop. She helps out A LOT on RBK Creations. We used to sell her jewelry in the RBK Creations shop but decided to separate some things to avoid confusion. The new shop is named after her 11 month old Puppy whose registered name with the AKC is "Remington KissMe Moore"

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Introduce yourself

My name is Brenda. I work full-time in the dental industry. Nights and weekends I work with my daughter, Ariela, on RBK Creations (Button Bouquets). When I have some free time I like to create jewelry and anything else my mind comes up with. I have three dogs, Rascal, Roxanne and Remington. They are all miniature schnauzers. Remington is the youngest and has the craziest personality so I thought naming the shop after him was perfect.

Tell us a little bit about your shop

I just opened up shop this week! I decided to split the jewelry and other items away from the button bouquets. You will find a variety of items in this shop. I decided to start with the bracelets as I love to create them. I am sure there will be other items in here soon as I am always doing something crafty.

How did you get started on Etsy?

I started RBK Creations on Etsy in August of 2008. I had heard about Etsy from a few blogs I read but never bought or sold anything.

Where on the internet can you be found?
http://remingtonkissmemoore.etsy.com

http://reallybadkitty.etsy.com

Twitter

What is your favorite product in your shop? Or what is the best seller?
I really like the Fall Safari Bracelet right now. I don't have a best seller, yet! :)

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Up for Grabs: Your choice of bracelet from the shop, RemingtonKissMeMoore

How to Enter: Go to RemingtonKissMeMoore, take a look around, come back and let us know your favorite item from the shop! Also, leave your email address in the message so we can contact you if you win.

Earn Extra Entries. (Leave a comment for each extra entry)

1. Follow this blog.

2. 5 Extra Points for Purchasing something from the shop. Leave the transaction # in a message.

3. Blog about the giveaway

4. Tweeting about the giveaway

The winner will be picked on October 8th, 12pm CST. The winner will be notified by email. It will also be posted on this blog. Please make sure your email address is accurate. If no email address is provided I will draw another name. The winner will have 48 hours to provide us with their choice of item and shipping information or another name will be pulled

FragmentsbyEdith Card Winner!

2009-10-01T13:53:00.001-05:00

I am excited to announce the winner for the FragmentsbyEdith Card giveaway. The lucky number was 27. Entry number 27 was left by TopHat.

Thank you all so much for entering and showing some support!

Button Wine Charms

2009-09-28T16:44:00.000-05:00

Last week I posted some pictures of some Bobby Pins I have been working on. I have also been creating some other button items. A lot of the new items are not posted in the shop quite yet. I wanted to see the reaction at the Craft Show in October. However, to all you blog readers, I will be showing you first hand some of the new items.

So here are some wine charms I have been working on. Currently I have Autumn/Thanksgiving, Winter/Snowflake, Misc Colored, and Wedding Themed Charms.

Fall Leaves

Aqua and Brown Wedding

Autumn Harvest

Winter

Many more sets to come! I did list a few in the shop but if you are interested in purchasing any of these let me know! I will get the rest up in the shop after the October 18th show!

FragmentsbyEdith Card Giveaway!

2009-09-24T14:13:00.005-05:00

Hi everyone! I am back with a new giveaway. This week I will be featuring the sweet Edith from Bibs4sdrips and FragmentsbyEdith. Back in May I had Edith create some custom greeting cards for me that I gave as part of a wedding gift! I loved them so much! You can check them out here and here. Make sure to check out both of her shops!

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Interview with Edith:

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your Etsy Shops!

At the moment, I am a stay at home mom to two children, Lukas and Matilda. My passion is photography and making baby items that I sell in my other Etsy shop at Bibs4Drips. I have been taking photos since I was 16 years old. I love to look through the lens and focus on shapes, shades and details in a flower, a building or landscape. I post my favorite photos on my photo blog.

When did you start selling on Etsy? What made you decide to open up your own shop?

I started posting items on Etsy in summer 2008. I heard about Etsy from my sister in law and after browsing through the sites, I immediately thought that this is a good medium for my businesses. I got some sales in both of my shops and even though they are small, they all make me happy and encourage me to keep going.

Any fun tidbits about yourself?

I don't have anything funny to say about myself except that I am a happy and content person. I love being with my children and my husband, I love taking photos and sew whatever comes to my mind. I love to hang out with my friends and I love the Californian way of life and of course the weather. Nine years ago I came to the US with 2 suitcases from Germany and I have arrived at the happiest place I could wish for.

Where to find Edithonline:
FragmentsbyEdith Etsy Shop
Bibs4Drips Etsy Shop
Blog for FragmentsbyEdith
Twitter
Facebook Fan Page

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Up for Grabs: A set of 4 cards from FragmentsbyEdith. It will be a surprise at what cards you will get.

How to Enter: Take a look around both of Edith's Etsy Shops FragmentsbyEdith and Bibs4Drips, come back and let me know your favorite item! Also, leave your email address in the message so I can contact you, if you win.

Earn Extra Entries: (Leave a comment for each extra entry)

1. Follow my blog. Or let me know if you already do

2. Follow Edith's blogs

3. Blog about this giveaway

4. Post a message on Twitter about the giveaway (Can be done once a day, enter a new comment for each day/time you tweet about it)

5. Become a Fan on Facebook

The winner will be picked on September 30th, 10pm CST. The winner will be notified by email. It will also be posted on this blog. Please make sure your email address is accurate. If no email address is provided, I will draw another name. The winner will have 48 hours to provide me with their choice of item and shipping information or another name will be picked.

Hair Clips - New Item

2009-09-23T16:29:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting to reach more potential customers. And I found that people like accessories. So I figured I would combine an average bobby pin and a stack of pretty buttons.

Right now these will only be available at the October 18th Craft Show in Dallas, TX. They may make an appearance in the shop after the show. We'll see what the response is!

I have a box full of these and other types of hair clips, which I will be giving you a sneak peek later this week after I get them all finished!

What are your thoughts on these hair pins? Would you like to see them in my shop? What colors would you be drawn to?

Clay Cupcakes

2009-09-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

I took a lot of pictures of these little cupcakes so I thought I would upload them all. They are actual cupcake size. I have 10 more to make. What colors should I do? Any design ideas you would like to see on a cupcake? (I am going to try and stick to the floral/cutsie designs for these. )

Craft Show Prep

2009-09-21T16:26:00.000-05:00

In a little less than a month I will be participating in a local craft show. This will be the second show I have ever done. I am very excited but at the same time extremely nervous. I don't know how my product will relate to the average craft show attendee.

I have been working with a few people on table design since my last craft show was a disaster. The table was a cluster of everything and really messy. It was very last minute and the event got rained out anyway. So in the end it didn't matter too much on the looks.

The event I will be a vendor at is the Altrusa Glitterati Boutique (you can join the Facebook group for more information, and if you are in the area come check it out!)

I had a few challenges to tackle for this show. The first was that I had to find a table. Since I am not an avid craft show vendor I don't have tables available. Thanks to Sonja I have a table so I can mark that off my list! The second challenge was the whole table design. That is being worked out right now. It is coming together very well I think. Here is a teaser...astroturf! I will post pictures after the show and that will make more sense.

The next challenge deals with my cake and cupcake toppers. I really want to show potential customers that the stems can be used for this purpose. I have had a few custom orders but I think this idea can really take off. The event is at a synagogue and it is a kosher environment. We were told we couldn't bring in any food. I am a very visual person so I wanted some way to showcase the cupcake toppers, which you need a cupcake for that purpose. Since I can't bring any food in I decided to make a pretend cupcake. Check out the results!!

I think the cupcakes are super cute! (They are actual cupcake size) I will possibly be making 10 more, to fill a whole cupcake tree holder.

I have so much more to finish for the craft show. I will be posting more items soon that can be found at the event. I can't wait to see how it all comes together!

More Satin Bouquets

2009-09-19T12:02:00.000-05:00

I love making these! They are a lot of fun to make and the color combinations are practically endless! This design and concept has been in the works for months but I am glad I put a lot of thought and strategy into it before I posted the first one.

The Black and Red Bouquet in the last post can be found here.

Here is a Pink, Turquoise and Silver Bouquet I have up in the shop as well. It has some glitter tulle in it. Very sparkly! Would look super cute in a little girl's room.

Lastly, I was asked to create a custom piece for a wedding on December 31 in Vegas. I think this bouquet will fit the theme and location very well! The bride and groom have white and blue satin, with feathers while the maid of honor and best man have black and blue satin.

SOCKstar Giveaway Winner

2009-09-18T13:09:00.000-05:00

Thank you all so much for entering the SOCKstar giveaway. We had a great response.

The winner is....

Lizzie

Her comment was: "Her laced up elephant is super cute. I'd also love to see lamb or a ladybug."

I will be contacting you shortly.

Thanks again all. Make sure to come back next week for a new giveaway.

Just some new things I have been working on!

SOCKstar Giveaway

2009-09-10T13:44:00.001-05:00

I took a few weeks off for the giveaways but now I am back in full swing! This week I have a great giveaway from Pam at SOCKstar. I got a Sock Hippo awhile back and my puppy has become a fan! Make sure to read the interview and check out both of her shops! ___________________________________

Interview with Pam:

My name is Pam. I have been married to my husband for 4 years and he absolutely loves all of the house projects that I come up with (said with a hint of sarcasm). I am the proud mom of two dogs: Zero and EmJay, and two Pygmy Goats: Crimson and Clover, we also have some goldfish that happily eat mosquito larvae in our pond. I have a full time job and try to juggle said husband, 4 pets (plus fish), house, play, sleep, eat and SOCKstar! accordingly. Sewing is not my only interest in life; I also enjoy reading (just started my first book club in August!), painting, drawing, eating, sleeping, and photography.

I have 2 etsy shops right now: SOCKstar! and pLo0318. SOCKstar! features all of my sock critters whereas the latter has my bags and cozies in it. I decided to separate the two because I thought it was confusing advertising Sock Monkeys but having pouches show up instead. pLo0318 is my first username from when I joined etsy strictly as a BUYER, definitely not as a Seller.

I started SOCKstar in October 2008 because my friend, Angel, gave me a Sock Monkey for Christmas. Along with this fantastic gift, she gave me instructions on how to make them! 10 Sock Critters later... she kept hinting that I should try to sell them on etsy (she is fanatical about etsy)- and after much insistence and urging from family and friends, I decided to open up shop! So far I am happy with the outcome! I am very impressed by the love that people have for Sock Monkeys and giggle when they share their memories with me. My Sock Monkeys are definitely not like the ones they remember; and I appreciate them changing with the times!

I started making bags and laptop cozies because I just recieved a new computer for a gift- and I have the keen ability to drop laptops like it's the thing to do- that I decided to give it a buffer, should I decide to throw it across the room! One cozy turned into 7 cozies, which then turned into loading them into my etsy shop. I LOVE doing custom cozies! People have such great ideas that I enjoy the creative freedoms into making their thoughts turn into reality. The next natural step for me was to make bags! (why not?!) So I started playing around with bags that I own, seeing what I liked (and didn't like) and made my first one. I carry it around proudly (flaws in all) and love when someone asks me where I got it. Duh, I totally made it!

Random Tidbits:

*the Cure is my favorite band of all time.
*I don't have a middle name, I have a really long hyphenated first name that is always awesome to explain to people.
*I held out hope that in the remake of Romeo & Juliet (Clare & Leo), they were going to both live. even though I know how the story goes.
*in my dream world, I am a Photographer.
*I make really good soups & stews.
*text-speak drives me batty.
*Halloween is my favorite holiday, though I loathe Fall (it just means that Winter is around the corner).
*I really do love socks. knee socks are the best!
*I don't ever want to leave the Pacific Northwest.
*if Starburst were a food group I'd be a very happy girl.
*I've been to Antarctica. twice.

Where to find Pam online:
SOCKstar Etsy Shop
pLo0318 Etsy Shop
Blog
MySpace Page
SOCKstar on Twitter
Facebook Fan Page

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Up for Grabs: Your choice between the Socktopus OR the Sock Owl

How to Enter: Take a look around both of Pam's Etsy Shops, SOCKstar and pLo0318, come back and let me know what type of critter you would like to see made from a sock! Also, leave your email address in the message so I can contact you, if you win.

Earn Extra Entries: (Leave a comment for each extra entry)

1. Follow my blog. Or let me know if you already do

2. Blog about this giveaway

3. Post a message on Twitter about the giveaway

4. Become a Fan on Facebook of SOCKstar

The winner will be picked on September 16th, 10pm CST. The winner will be notified by email. It will also be posted on this blog. Please make sure your email address is accurate. If no email address is provided, I will draw another name. The winner will have 48 hours to provide me with their choice of item and shipping information or another name will be picked.

09/09/09 Weddings

2009-09-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

It happens once a year. It is easy to remember. So why not get married on a day like 9/9/09!

Yesterday was the wedding of Ann and Matt in Omaha, NE. We worked with Ann to create a bridal bouquet, 2 bridesmaid bouquets, 3 boutonnières, 30 Flower magnet favors and 3 grapevine wreaths. All of the pieces were in the Mardi Gras Theme!

Ann was great to work with, she was a lot of fun and had some great ideas for us! It is also a small world, she knows my older brother. It is crazy how things like that work!

Here are a few pictures of the pieces created for her big day.

Magnet Favors

The bouquets

Boutonnières

Congrats Ann & Matt! You two were great to work with and I wish you all the happiness!

Inspiration - Butterflies

2009-08-28T17:05:00.000-05:00

I am sure a lot of you have seen the butterfly bouquet that has been posted on Martha Stewart's wedding website. It was made by a bride and has received a lot of press. It is very beautiful (see picture below).

Picture from Martha Stewart Weddings (Laura Normandin wedding)

I love butterflies, and so does my mother, who helps out with RBK Creations. I found some butterflies on clearance a few weeks ago and bought them all. I have been wanting to make the butterfly bouquet since then but didn't have any time to do it. We finally got a break in the orders enough to make our very own version of a butterfly bouquet.

This one was made by my mother, but I also have plans of my own to make one. It involves gold and silver butterflies so make sure to check the shop soon!

Here is the bouquet that is currently available in the shop!

A few detail shots

RBK Creations Giveaway Winner

2009-08-27T11:46:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for entering the RBK Creations Giveaway! The winner of the giveaway is Danielle.

Here is what she had to say:

"It is so hard to choose. I really like the Tutti Frutti Polka Dot Button Bouquet, but I think the Pink and White Flower Button Ball is my favorite."

I will be contacting you so we can get your prize shipped your way!

Thank you all for following my blog and entering the giveaways. I will be back next week with another giveaway.

The Week so Far - In Pictures

2009-08-26T19:09:00.000-05:00

I have been able to finish a lot of orders this week and get them shipped out! Here is a look at some of the recent custom work.

Aspen Leaf Yellow, Red, Black and White. A 40 Stem, 25 Stem Flower Girl Bouquet and a Ring Bearer Boutonnière.

An additional Bridesmaid Bouquet and Groomsmen Boutonnière to add on to an order from a few months ago

The Full order of Pink, Yellow and Brown Bouquets for a wedding in Austin

A very pretty Pink and Ivory Bouquet

It has been a busy week! But definitely a good one. I am taking a break from the shop on Friday for an interview! But, before then make sure you enter my giveaway. It ends tonight!

Banana Split Bouquets

2009-08-24T23:46:00.001-05:00

I am really liking how these turned out! It is for a vintage themed wedding. The bride will be wearing a vintage PINK wedding dress. How much fun is that!!

Check them out!

Bride's Bouquet in Pink, Brown, Yellow and Cream. It reminds me of a banana split! I love it

The bride's bouquet next to one of the bridesmaid bouquets. They will be wearing brown so their bouquets have brown as more of an accent color.

This is for the Jr. Bridesmaid. They will be wearing yellow so they have more yellow in theirs.

You can see more pictures of these bouquets on Flickr.

Giveaway from RBK Creations

2009-08-20T13:57:00.009-05:00

Thank you to both Nicki and Sonja for the great giveaways! I thought I would show my appreciation to everyone by doing a giveaway of my very own! Take a minute and read the interview. Many chances to win so make sure to check it out!

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Introduce yourself
My name is Ariela and I run RBK Creations with my mother, Brenda. I have three dogs, Rascal, Roxanne and Remy. I am originally from South Dakota but moved down to Texas a little over a year ago after I graduated college. I have always been the crafty type and I have finally found a way to express my creativity on a consistent basis.

Tell us a little bit about your shop
I opened up shop on Etsy in the early part of August 2008. The store has gone through a lot of change but I am very happy with how it is today. I sell button bouquets and a few felt items here and there. A few different button creations (button trees) and supplies slip into the shop on occassion as well!

How did you get started on Etsy?
My mother actually introduced me to Etsy. She found a link on a blog she read. We decided to open up a shop just for fun. Who knew that it would ever turn into something more!

Where on the internet can you be found?
Main Shop: http://reallybadkitty.etsy.com
Supply Shop: http://aabdesigns.etsy.com
Blog (where you are now!): http://abonen.blogspot.com
Flickr (Online Photo Portfolio): http://www.flickr.com/photos/abonen/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rbkcreations
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/RBK-Creations/206196785286?ref=sgm

What is your favorite product in your shop? Or what is the best seller?
I love the bridal bouquets and the button trees. My favorite bouquet to create was a Periwinkle and Daisy bouquet: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abonen/3763519281/in/set-72157621743796573/

When you are not being crafty, what can you be found doing?
I spend a lot of time being crafty! It always seems I am working on something new or finishing up an order. I can be found spending time with the pups, catching up with friends and working on North Dallas Etsy! What a great group of ladies!

What are your short-term and long-term goals for your shop?
Short-Term: Launching a new website (the blog will be transferred over there as well), getting a few new items up in the shop and getting more organized! As far as Long-Term goals I would love to have an online store on the website and get my items in a few boutiques.

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Up for Grabs: $15.00 Store Credit to be used in my shop, RBK Creations

How to Enter: Go to RBK Creations, take a look around, come back and let me know what your favorite item is! Also, leave your email address in the message so I can contact you, if you win.

Earn Extra Entries: (Leave a comment for each extra entry)

1. Follow my blog. Or let me know if you already do

2. Blog about this giveaway

3. Post a message on Twitter about the giveaway

4. Become a Fan on Facebook

5. Buy something from my shop and get 3 additional entries!!!

The winner will be picked on August 26th, 10pm CST. The winner will be notified by email. It will also be posted on this blog. Please make sure your email address is accurate. If no email address is provided, I will draw another name. The winner will have 48 hours to provide me with their choice of item and shipping information or another name will be picked.

Justwrightboutique Giveaway WINNER!

2009-08-19T23:18:00.003-05:00

Thank you all for entering the JustWrightBoutique Giveaway! The winner of the giveaway is Kathleen W.

Here is what she had to say about Sonja's shop:

"This is gorgeous, and since my brother is getting married in December, I'd choose the Wedding Guest Book Box"

I will be contacting you Kathleen so we can get your prize shipped your way!

Thank you all for following my blog and entering the giveaways. I will be posting a new one tomorrow! So make sure you check back!

Justwrightboutique Giveaway

2009-08-13T10:44:00.004-05:00

It is a new week and a new giveaway! I have a great giveaway from another fellow North Dallas Etsy Team Member. She has some great wedding items in her shop but can be used for just about anything! The item up for grabs has so many uses, not just for a wedding! Take a minute and read her story and check out her shop.

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Introduce yourself

I, Sonja, own Just Wright Designs®, LLC with my amazing husband, Jeff. We have six animals, two yellow labs, one dachshund and three cats. I was raised in Florida but now live in Texas. I love beaches and all things tropical. I love to entertain, decorate and paint anything. I love weddings and parties and would get married over and over (to the same man of course) if I had the money.

Tell us a little bit about your shop

My Just Wright Boutique Etsy shop is a work in progress. I’ve been buying Etsy items for years but just opened my shop in 2008. Just Wright Boutique offers Personally Stylish Keepsakes for any occasion. Currently you will find mostly wedding items, but stay tuned, we have more to come.

How did you get started on Etsy?

Back in 2006 one of my employees started selling her artwork on Etsy. She encouraged me to open a shop but I hesitated because we had three websites already. I did however start purchasing cool things on Etsy right away. Finally I took the plunge and opened a shop in 2008.

Where on the internet can you be found?

http://justwrightboutique.etsy.com

www.justwrightboutique.com

http://justwrightdesigns.typepad.com/

www.celebrationplates.com

www.jwdpaperie.com

What is your favorite product in your shop? Or what is the best seller?

WOW, I have lots of favorites but right now I think this item is my favorite because I’ve really been liking this color combination lately:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29059248

When you are not being crafty, what can you be found doing?

Basically I’m a workaholic. If I’m not working I can be found cleaning the house, washing the dishes or doing the laundry. When I do take a break I enjoy bike riding, boating and pretty much anything outside. When I vacation I love the tropics and nice cool drink under sun as the waves hit the shore.

What are your short-term and long-term goals for your shop?

Short term I would like to get more products added and develop a process for listing items and keeping things consistent. Long term I would like to open two more Etsy shops for JWD Paperie and Celebration Plates.

Anything else you want to share

I’m so happy to be a part of the North Dallas Etsy Team and I’m excited as this Team starts a new journey. As a team I think we can all help one another and really promote our hand made goods. I love hand made products and encourage everyone to consider purchasing something made by a talented artist.

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Up for Grabs: Any $35.00 Wedding Guest Book (Or every day Address Book!) in her shop, Justwrightboutique

How to Enter: Go to Justwrightboutique, take a look around, come back and let us know your favorite item (and color of item) from her shop! Also, leave your email address in the message so we can contact you if you win.

Earn Extra Entries. (Leave a comment for each extra entry)

1. Follow this blog.

2. Follow Justwrightboutique's blog

3. Blog about the giveaway

4. Tweeting about the giveaway

That is 5 chances to win this great handmade box!!!

The winner will be picked on August 19th, 10pm CST. The winner will be notified by email. It will also be posted on this blog. Please make sure your email address is accurate. If no email address is provided I will draw another name. The winner will have 48 hours to provide us with their choice of item and shipping information or another name will be pulled

WhereWaterComesDown Giveaway Winner

2009-08-12T23:17:00.004-05:00

Thank you all for entering my first giveaway on my blog! There are many more in the works (including one that starts tomorrow) so make sure to check back often.

The winner of the soap giveaway (sponsored by WhereWaterComesDown) is Janetfaye! Congrats!!

Make sure to stop by Nicki's shop and get yourself some soap!!

RBK Creations to create a full line of Button Trees

2009-08-09T22:25:00.010-05:00

Last Christmas, I designed the first button tree for my shop. I loved how it turned out. I had two sizes, 7 inches and 12 inches. They went really well in the store. I think I sold nine last season. After the Christmas trees went so well I decided to do one for each holiday. I create Valentine's Day trees, Easter trees and now a Halloween Button Tree.

I know I missed some holidays in there but I have decided to do a full line of the trees as well as a few special editions.

Here is the list:

January - New Year's Tree
February - Valentine's Day Tree
March - St. Patrick's Day Tree
April - Easter Tree
May - May Day (A Spring Flower Theme) Tree
June - *
July - 4th of July Button Tree
August - *
September - *
October - Halloween Tree
November - Fall/Thanksgiving Day Tree
December - Christmas Trees (2 sizes, small and large)

* (a few of the months I am still working on a design. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them! Leave a comment and let me know what you think)

Special Editions:

Winter Wonderland/Snowflake Tree
Mardi Gras Tree
A set of mini Trees (Theme to be decided, I think I will do a set of 3 mini Christmas Trees and then maybe a set of 12 month mini trees as well).
Wedding Trees

Example of a Wedding Button and Flower Tree

The final Halloween Button Tree. Currently available in my shop!

Christmas Button Tree

Valentine's Button Tree

Entries on Martha Stewart Weddings

2009-08-09T10:51:00.006-05:00

Hello all!

Martha Stewart and Etsy are currently sponsoring a DIY Wedding craft contest! The winning craft will be featured on "The Martha Stewart Show".

I have entered a few different bouquets and boutonnieres as I have created numerous designs over the past year. I would really appreciate your votes, views and comments!

Here are my entries:

1. Periwinkle and Daisy Button Bouquet (this is my favorite piece I have created)

2. Ivory Bride Button Bouquet (A piece that coordinated with Ivory and Lilac Bridesmaid Bouquets)

3. Boutonnieres and Corsages (Pieces from a mixed silk and button order)

4. Tracy and Paul's Wedding (Photos by Otto Schultze)

This would be an amazing opportunity and I really appreciate your support!

**To vote, you need to complete a short registration. Then under my photos there are stars to give a rating! Comments would also be great. Thank you so much!

WhereWaterComesDown Soap Giveaway!

2009-08-06T11:19:00.005-05:00

You are all in luck! Nicki from WhereWaterComesDown has offered some of her amazing soap to giveaway to one lucky reader! I have the Orange Peel and Cranberry soap, and it is awesome! Continue reading to find out how she got her shop name! It is so cute!

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Interview with Nicki:

Hi, My name is Nicki. I have been a self proclaimed DIY-er since I can remember.

When I was a child my family built two different homes. Now that I am older I realize just how much that influenced my desire/need to create. I remember scavenging for the snipped wires the phone man let behind to make my own jewelry and was recently reminded by my father that "you were the one who wanted me to build you a wooden purse when you were little".

The moment he said that I knew without a doubt what that purse was intended to look like. I still don't have my wooden purse but I'm sure that will come with time.

As one of 8 children my parents raised us to be self sufficient and inventive. I don't remember learning to sew or cook, I think I was born with those natural instincts. I guess that makes sense why I studied Apparel Design & Production in college.

I love to create. My "real life" job is working for a major craft retailer developing product. I'm grateful for this job because it allows me the means to pursue my soap making. Being self sufficient I like taking a step back from where we are to see "how it's made". I don't just knit or crochet, I spin and dye my own yarn. I don't just use soap... I make it myself!

Back to being one of 8 kids. Yes, I loved it... I always have a best friend around. Being from such a large family it was common to have the little kids take their evening bath together. Mom would send us off and shortly after you would most likely hear "I get the end where the water comes down" ...our version of "shot gun" to claim the warm end of the tub.

Those fond memories are what Where Water Comes Down is based on. Memories of Mr. Bubble bubble bath, strawberry shampoo and Irish Spring soap....feel good memories.

Right now I would have to say that my favorite scent of soap is Eucalyptus Ginger because it is so refreshing and really wakes me up in the morning.

When I am not making soap I am most likely working on the North Dallas Etsy Team, dyeing wool, spinning fiber, serving in church, watching Disney Channel or doing other crafts. I hope to some day have my soaps in local boutiques and spas.

Where I can be found online:

soap shop-

www.WhereWaterComesDown.etsy.com

www.WhereWaterComesDown.blogspot.com

fiber shop-

www.nikobee.etsy.com

www.nikobee.blogspot.com

www.northdallasetsy.com

______________________________________

Up for Grabs: 2 bars of soap (your choice of scents listed in shop)

How to Enter: Go to WhereWaterComesDown take a look around, come back and let us know your favorite scent from her shop! Also leave your email address in the message so we can contact you if you win!

Earn Extra Entries:

1.Follow this blog (Enter another comment once you have done so)

2. Follow Nicki's blogs, Both Nikobee and WhereWaterComesDown (Another comment)

3. Blog about this giveaway (Another comment with a link to the blog write up)

4. Tweeting about the giveaway (Another comment)

That is 5 chances to win some great soap!

The winner will be picked on August 12th, 10pm CST. The winner will be notified by email. It will also be posted on this blog. Please make sure your email address is accurate. If no email address is provided I will draw another name. The winner will have 48 hours to provide us with their choice of item and shipping information or another name will be pulled.

Flower Girl Basket

2009-07-30T16:13:00.003-05:00

I was asked to do a flower girl basket about two weeks ago. I wasn't sure how to go about it or what to all put on it. I didn't want to do too much and make it look tacky and at the same time I wanted to do enough to make it worth it.

I sat with the ivory basket in front of me for 2 hours before I even started on it.

This is what I came up with, and the best part, the client loved it!

All of the buttons are hand sewn on. The stem and the leaf of the flower is a hand embroidered chain stitch.

There is a line of buttons sewn along the bottom of the basket. I thought it needed something else.

The best part...it matches the bouquet she also ordered! There is also a matching boutonniere to go with this order, but silly me forgot to take a picture of it before it got shipped off.

So, now I guess I can add Flower Girl Baskets to the list of items available. Once I got started it was a lot of fun to make. It was just the process of getting there that wasn't as enjoyable :)

A mix of Buttons and Flowers

2009-07-29T12:45:00.005-05:00

I received an email last week for a custom order. The bride liked the Secret Garden bouquet but wanted the purple to be periwinkle and to add daisies. I am never sure how mixing different mediums will end up in the end. I didn't know how this one would work.

My first challenge, before mixing the daisies, was to figure out what color periwinkle actually is. I had a small 12 stem bouquet order awhile back that consisted of orange flowers and periwinkle buttons. I ended up finding a few buttons that kind of worked. It wasn't the best match but I was able to mix in some other colors to cancel out my lack of periwinkle buttons.

This time around I thought I would dye my own, using a paint sample I found to match the color. I threw in one button and it turned out the right color. I was shocked! So I put in a bag full of assorted size buttons. I stir, stir, mix, mix and pull them out. They turned out PURPLE! Not sure how that happened when the first one was a periwinkle blue.

So, I tried again. This time I got pretty close. I ended up just going with it to avoid wasting buttons. I sent some pictures to the client and she really liked how they turned out.

I put the bouquet together, daisies and all and it went a lot smoother than expected. Check out the pictures.

I sent pictures for approval before I started working on the other pieces for the order...and...She LOVED it! It was a big relief to hear that she loves it and it is exactly what she wanted! It really made my day!

Beautiful Buttons = Flowers

2009-07-22T11:05:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite types of buttons to use are ones shaped like flowers. I think they look really cool and give it a flower feel amongst a whole bunch of round buttons. Here are a few of my favorites that I have used in bouquets before.

The bow is great as well in this bouquet but I love the two flowers used on the stem below it.

These boutonnieres and corsages have a ton of flower buttons on them!

Inspiration

2009-07-20T19:27:00.004-05:00

I love when I see something and it translates into a bouquet. I saw a group of paint samples the other day and just had to make a bouquet. The colors were called Paradise Valley, Seashore, Lilac Rose and Cottage Orchid. It turned out to be beautiful. Reminds me of a garden, so I named it The Secret Garden Bouquet.

The original paint chips I found.

Close up of the bouquet. I think I was able to match the buttons pretty well. Took awhile but it was worth it in the end.

Where do you get inspiration from?

Buttons - The Good, The Bad and The Down right Ugly

2009-07-19T13:31:00.004-05:00

So, as most of you know...I love buttons. I have so many and in all shapes, sizes and colors. In my studio, I have quite a few pounds (I don't even have a guess at how many pounds it is, lets just say too many!)

Over the past year I have come across some really pretty buttons as well as some that are very ugly. There have also been some "misfits" that must have struggled during creation.

I thought I would create a new blog series about my finds in the button world. Feel free to comment and tell me if you think these are good, bad or ugly. Beautiful or what were they thinking!

Have some buttons of your own that you think would fit into these categories? Send me an email and I can put up some pictures on my blog. rbkcreations@gmail.com

In a variety box of buttons I received I founds some HUGE buttons. They made me laugh so I created one stem of them. I like to call them buttons on steroids!

They ended up being some good colors to put together. It is a nice addition to the studio decor.

The stem on the left is the big buttons while the one on the right is the average size button stem to show the difference. It makes the other stems look so tiny.

And this is the big button stem next to a 30 stemmed bouquet. It is about 1/3 of the whole bouquet!

Adventures with Felt

2009-07-09T17:26:00.005-05:00

I don't usually make felt bouquets. In fact before July 1st, I didn't even know how to do the fancy embroidery stitches. I had a customer email me and ask if I could create these for her.

She contacted me on July 1st and her wedding is on July 24th...in the United Kingdom. So that meant I had to teach myself (fast) how to do the stitches and get going on this order. With caffeine in hand, I was able to do all the stitching and get them done! We tried to do a cascade on the bride's bouquet, after four attempts it just wasn't working.

We decided that it would be best to keep the bride's bouquet in the original round shape, like the bridesmaids. The professional pictures will turn out better and it will just look better in general.

The order consisted of one bride bouquet, four bridesmaid bouquets, one groom boutonniere (Button Hole), six additional boutonnieres and three pin on corsages. The color scheme is cream and a dark navy blue.

Enjoy the pictures! :)

One of the Button Holes

Close up of the Bridesmaid Bouquet

1 of 4 Bridesmaid Bouquets

Closeup of the Bride's Bouquet

The bride's bouquet, without the cascade.

Black and Champagne Custom Bridal Order Completed!

2009-06-18T12:23:00.004-05:00

This was a custom order for a bride who is having her wedding in a garden. She wanted something suble yet stunning. She figured she couldn't do real flowers since she was surrounded by such great flowers in the garden.

The Bride's side of the wedding party will have white, ivory and black arrangements while the groom's side will have some yellow splashed in (his favorite color).

Boutonnieres

Flower Girl Bouquet

Bridesmaid's Bouquets

The Bride's Bouquet

Remy and Roxanne at Dog Bowl!

2009-05-18T17:02:00.007-05:00

So this past weekend I took Roxanne and Remington to the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, TX for Dog Bowl. They turned the Cotton Bowl into a big outdoor dog park for the afternoon. There were plastic pools filled with water, dogs running freely everywhere, vendors for all sorts of services and free balls, frisbees and treats!

My dogs aren't as social as I would like (which is why I thought it would be good to take them). They barked a lot but overall I think it was still a success. They made a few new friends along the way as well.

It was a huge area, but Milo, another schnauzer, kept finding Remy and wanting to play. I bet Milo came up to us 10 times the hour we were there.

We sat in the grass for a water break and an American Bulldog just came up and sat on my lap. It was hilarious. She didn't care who it was she just needed a lap to sit on.
There was also a band playing, Remy's favorite part. Every time we walked by, Remy would stop and just stare up at them. The keyboard player laughed as he looked up admiring them..lol
Here are a few pictures of Roxanne and Remy as well as some other dogs we met along the way.

It was warm out there! Lots of tongues hanging out!

There were just dogs strolling everywhere. In and out of the pools, meeting everyone, playing ball, it was crazy.
My favorite picture of the day. I was trying to take a picture of Roxanne but Remy thought he had to be in it...so he creeped into the picture, priceless!More happy puppies! Roxanne is the grey one and Remy the brown.

Big Ole Great Dane. He came up to sniff Remy and Remy barked, scaring the poor dog away. Little Remy took on some BIG dogs!

Everyone was taking a picture of this guy! He was so warm, he claimed his own pool! :)

Bridal Bouquets

2009-05-12T13:53:00.004-05:00

I have loved custom bridal orders so much in the shop! I view them as a challenge (Which some have been a very big challenge). We recently decided to come up with a few pre-made bridal bouquets for the shop. The pictures below show some of the custom orders we have done and also some of these pre-made sets.

Craft Show Prep

2009-04-28T15:59:00.002-05:00

This coming weekend, May 2, 2009, RBK Creations is particpating in a craft show. This will be the first sale we have ever done. It is very exciting and a lot of work has gone into the preparation.

We loaded everything into the kitchen for a few reasons. 1. How many items do we have for sale? 2. Will it fill out the table we will have at the show? and 3. It will be easier to put price tags on them and pack them up.

I took a snap shot of all the items because I thought it looked cool. It is in no order what so ever and it isn't even all of the merchandise we will be bringing...no wonder my fingers hurt! That is a lot of wire twisting.

Fun with Cupcakes!

2009-04-28T14:56:00.002-05:00

Back in January, I had a customer contact me for a custom order. I was very excited to work on something different for a change. She wanted some paper button stems to decorate a cake for her daughter's birthday. The colors were bright pink and black, a punk rock theme.

I have decided to offer this as an option to everyone. I am working on a listing right now for my shop.

In preparation for this, I decided I needed some cool cupcake liners and some decorations. I searched Etsy for a couple hours and ended up picking two items from LayerCakeShop's store. I bought some tulip liners and some sugar buttons!

I made up a few different button stems, some with silk flowers and some with paper flowers. The cupcakes aren't anything special, it was just my attempt at decorating :)
Check them out! And make sure to check out the listing in my shop: http://reallybadkitty.etsy.com/

Coffee Cozy by WaysideViolet

2009-04-14T15:42:00.003-05:00

Last week I sent Waysideviolet some little felt flowers for a custom bridal order she was working on. This afternoon she sent me a few pictures and the final product looks great! The chocolate brown cozy and the little purple flower look great together. Check out the pictures below. Also, check out her shop for amazing coffee cozies!! A cozy just like this one will be posted in her shop soon! http://waysideviolet.etsy.com

Custom Bridesmaid Bouquet

2009-04-13T17:53:00.002-05:00

Recently, I created a bridesmaid bouquet for a bride in the UK. I have had a lot of UK customers and they are always super nice and fun to work with.

She is having all different bouquets for her bridesmaids which I think is unique but at the same time could be really awesome. I didn't really have a chance to have these pictures up on Etsy. She ordered the bouquet/paid for it in a matter of about 10 minutes. So, here are the pictures for you all to see.

It is a 15 stemmed bouquet with silk flowers. The colors used are white, yellow, red and green. The base is wrapped in a pale yellow ribbon.

Buckets of Flowers

2009-04-13T17:49:00.004-05:00

These buckets of flowers are super cute! I have made 8 of them now (sold 3). You can check them out even more on my Etsy shop: http://reallybadkitty.etsy.com/

Photo Shoot

2009-04-02T11:32:00.005-05:00

Amazing! I did a photo shoot on Tuesday evening (running until about 11pm) and I got the photos back Wednesday before 9pm. Havi you are amazing!

The overall setting for this photo shoot is somewhat 'dark'. The concept for the shoot was a party in a place you would least expect a party. We were playing on the thought that you wouldn't expect someone to have a button bouquet as their wedding flowers. I am also working on doing more of a traditional wedding shoot as well before the flowers get shipped to the UK.

I think it will be great to have a mix of some more traditional and some non-traditional shots! We did the shoot at a chop shop in downtown Dallas. The guys were great for letting us do this!

The photographer for the shoot was Havi Frost. She is truly amazing! What a trooper. She was sick and not feeling the best but look at these photos. Wow. It was so great to work with her. Check out her site! http://www.havi.us/

The makeup artist for the shoot was Dawn the Butcher. Another truly amazing lady. The girls were made up to look like dolls. Stunning! You can also check out her site. http://www.dawnthebutcherfx.com/

The three models were Alyssa, Kealey and Vianei. Great troopers as well. They were in these sleeveless dresses and freezing! Now for the photos. Let me know what you all think!

All of the "Button Holes"

2009-03-29T18:48:00.003-05:00

So the Sunflower Bouquet order is from someone in the UK. I just love some of the words they use differently. Button Holes are the same as boutonnières. I initially did four for their wedding. After seeing the finished product they wanted 10 more! I was so excited. The Sunflower Bridal order is officially finished! Now I am just waiting to do the photo shoot and the customer to pay the final payment. Then it is time to get them all packaged up and sent off!

2nd Custom Bridal Order! Pinks and Orange

2009-03-29T13:11:00.003-05:00

When I listed the first reserved bridal order on Etsy, I received a great response! Since then I have picked up two more bridal orders. I recently finished the second order and thought I would share some pictures. I love the colors on this bouquet and the creative freedom the bride gave me. She was very trusting in the choices I made from her initial ideas.

The bride is getting married in a museum and was told she couldn't have real flowers. I hope my bouquet will fit into the museum atmosphere!

Newest Employee

2009-03-22T17:35:00.002-05:00

When things get busy, it is always nice to have a helping hand...or in this case, paw! The newest employee of RBK Creations is Remington!

This was so cute; I couldn't help but to take a bunch of pictures. This is my puppy, Remy (A Chocolate Miniature Schnauzer). He fell asleep while I was in the craft room working on a bouquet.

He is such a pro at cutting out flowers on the sizzix, he can do it in his sleep!

The "Buttonholes"

2009-03-20T22:30:00.002-05:00

Alright! Here is the wedding order continued! These are the "buttonholes" (the order is going over to England! ha) Here I guess they would be called boutonnières.

Going from left to right: Groom, Best Man, Mother-of-the-bride, Father-of-the-bride. I felt the mother should get something a little special. I really like how that one turned out. And the best part...they LOVED them. (From the pictures anyway :)

Below is also a picture of the finished bouquets. She requested that the bride's bouquet be in gold ribbon also, so they all match. I am working on doing a photo shoot with some local artists. It will a great way to capture these flowers!!

New Additions

2009-03-20T22:22:00.002-05:00

So, there were a few things in the craft room that I felt were needed. I had this random space by my desk so I bought some vinyl wall stickers and placed them there. I am loving the little purple flowers! It just adds a little color to the boring white walls (since we decided not to paint at this time.)

The next addition is for all the ribbon I have! There is so much of it. I wrap all bouquets in a colored cello wrap and tie it off with coordinating ribbon. I always find myself rummaging through a big plastic bin trying to find the right color. It still looks a bit messy (trying to figure out how to keep all of the ribbon under control. We'll see what I come up with) The ribbon on the pole isn't even a fraction of what I have. I just decided to pick 1. The ones I use the most and 2. Pretty ones that will at least look good hanging on the wall! :)

Custom Flowers for a great Etsy friend!

2009-03-19T00:56:00.003-05:00

I made this bouquet recently for a fellow Etsy seller. She is redecorating her little girl's room and wanted some flowers! I can't wait to hear about her reaction to the flowers! She sells AMAZING dresses on Etsy, check it out here: http://deconstructress.etsy.com

Here are a few pictures of the bouquet!

Custom Wedding Bouquets

2009-03-16T14:24:00.003-05:00

So this order has come a long way from when I started on it in January. It went from being something very simple and somewhat boring to a stunning color combination and festive bouquet! I took some quick pictures (will be trying to get some professional ones taken soon) so I thought I would put one up here now.

The middle bouquet (with white ribbon) is the bride's bouquet. The one on the left is the flower girl's and the one on the right is the bridesmaid bouquet. There are some other pieces (for the groom, best man, mother of the bride and father of the bride that I am still working on).

More pictures will be posted soon!

Craft Room: Finished!

2009-03-08T21:30:00.002-05:00

Here is the end result. It is great. There is a nice area for me to work (my computer is up on my work space now too) and my mom also has her own desk. The wire storage bin is organized and there are many fabric bins with things tucked away so it looks a lot less messy! It is fun to see the difference between the two work spaces :) Check out the pictures! There are still a few things misplaced when these pictures were taken but it is pretty close to being done in the pictures.

Craft Room: In the works

2009-03-08T21:28:00.002-05:00

So...this really isn't the best representation of what it really looked like in here during the process. In reality, I was stuck in the room at one point (the worst point) and was unable to get my camera to take a picture.

Craft Room: BEFORE

2009-03-08T21:21:00.002-05:00

So this weekend we decided to redo the craft room. To make it a more efficient work space was the original goal. We ended up with a great work space and something that is quite nice! It was a lot of work, a lot of hauling very heavy furniture, many bruises and cuts. As a whole though, it was a lot of fun and it looks great!

Here is what the craft room used to look like. It was more of a storage room than anything else. The only thing that was used in here for crafting was the sewing machine. Everything else that I worked on was hauled to other rooms and hauled back in. It was a pain!

Another Front Page Day!

2009-03-02T23:30:00.002-06:00

My garland made it on the front page today! The treasury was made by the lovely waysideviolet! Check out her shop here: http://www.waysideviolet.etsy.com

I missed this one, I was either still sleeping or getting ready for the day. I had one sale from it and many hearts! What a day!

Custom Wedding Bouquets

2009-02-04T01:06:00.003-06:00

So my most recent custom order is for a whole set of wedding bouquets. It is huge; I am still in shock! I am still working out the details but here are a few pictures.
The theme is 'sunflower'. I added in a few brighter colors to use as contrast but it is loosely a sunflower theme :) I am making 3 bouquets and 4 bououtonnières. Check it out:

Custom Order Craziness

2009-01-26T15:08:00.002-06:00

In the past few days, I have had the best response from Etsy ever. I have received requests for custom orders almost every day. I shipped out 4 orders today, a total of 7 bouquets and a strand of garland. I am still waiting/working on two custom orders right now so I guess I will see where that takes me. I thought I would post a few pictures of the orders from this weekend. The counter was a mess with all of my supplies and the finished products.

Custom all around

2009-01-21T22:22:00.002-06:00

Flower Bouquets for Valentine's Day and Felt Flower Garland. It was a great project to work on once all of the details were figured out. These items are being shipped to NY tomorrow, hope she likes them!

Two days in a row!!!

2009-01-21T22:19:00.005-06:00

So, today is the second day that one of my items was featured on the front page of etsy. It is incredible how much response I got in that short amount of time. I don't know for sure when it started or when it ended. I just know that I would get a message, respond and already have another message. I potentially made 3 sales just from that. A lot more people added the shop and certain items as a favorite so that will help too!

I also finished the custom order today. I will post pictures on here shortly!

Front Page

2009-01-20T17:37:00.003-06:00

Wow! It is amazing what response you get from having an item on the front page of Etsy. A lot of people added the shop and misc. items to their favorites in about a 40 minute time frame. Excellent. Here is the treasury that my Vintage Button Bouquet was in that made front page!!

Felt Flowers - Custom Order

2009-01-20T16:31:00.009-06:00

I love custom orders. I hope they keep coming in! This order if for felt flowers to be used as garland. I have some listed in my store but this one is more for Easter. I put together a few different combinations in hopes that one will be what the customer wants.

Below are a few pictures of what I am working on. A few different color combinations. You can also checkout my flickr page for more photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29830166@N07/

Custom Flower Button Bouquet

2009-01-20T16:26:00.004-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I created some custom flowers to be used as a cake topper. It was for a little girl's 1st birthday, a punk rock princess theme. Here are a few pictures of the flowers I made. Hopefully I will be able to get a picture from them to see what it looked like on a cake. I think it is such a cute idea. I love the custom orders, it gives me a challenge.

Etsy-Fan!

2009-01-20T00:57:00.004-06:00

I have become an Etsy addict! What a great site. It is a site for artists all around the world to make handmade items and sell them. The site offers all the tools you need to start your own store. I have been on the site for about 5 months now and I have been doing alright with it. It is really just starting to grow now. I only see it going up from here.

Check out my store at: reallybadkitty.etsy.com You can also see some of my items for sale on the blog here. There is a gadget to the right that will link you directly to the store. Thanks for looking!

Also, check out the main page to see work from other artists (which I will try to feature on here very so often) http://www.etsy.com/