B.Link

Vintage Clothing, Modern Dilemma

2011-08-26T14:57:00.004-05:00

I suppose you can say that my tastes right now are leaning towards the vintage end. I love the feminine lines, the attention to details, and not to mention all of the accessories... Aprons, pillbox hats, buttons, etc. However as a modern feminist of sorts, I am heavily conflicted with the message and connotations this style brings to mind.

For a moment, let's think about what was expected of women at this time, and not just women, but other minorities of the time. Discrimination was rampant of the day. Let's face it, women were heavily expected to stay at home and when they didn't, they were seen as a second class in the workforce. In fact, the subtitle to the first pattern below is, "... All-in-One Secretary Jumper to Cocktail Dress."

While I do appreciate the fact that many items back then were couture and made of high quality and undeniably chic, it's hard to forget the fact that for many women, there were were very few choices for them to make for themselves outside the realm of personal style and fashion. One of my favorite movies of the day is Funny Face (1957). I love how it bridges preconceived expectations of women in the 50's to modern ideals of smart, independant women. Plus it's a musical with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire... how can you NOT love that cast! Nevertheless, I digress... here's some inspirational photos for great style.

Ressurection

2011-08-03T13:25:00.003-05:00

I've been selling my items online via my own website and Etsy for the past 3 years now. There were a few items that I sold in my Etsy store (which I no longer have) that I had pretty much abandon... not on purpose, but rather because I simply forgot that I made these designs. I've decided to revisit these designs and bring them back to my current WEBSITE, in addition to my newer designs.

Other designs I'm going to be bringing back are my "dainty daisy" stacker ring, and my "lightning bolt" necklace. Stay tuned!

Craft Riot Holiday Show

2011-08-01T16:04:00.003-05:00

I just got word this afternoon that I will be vending at the Austin Craft Riot Holiday Show come this November.

In addition to the many accessories I already make, I plan on working on some new holiday items such as knit stockings and crochet slippers... stay tuned. Fall and winter are my two favorite holidays, mostly because it's not as hot in Texas, and also because it gives me an excuse to knit and crochet as much as I can! Hope to see you at the show!

Who are you wearing?

2011-07-28T13:53:00.003-05:00

Last week I attempted to go a week of only wearing my own clothes. I only got around to making 3 outfits, and here they are...

This first one is actually for sale on my website: HERE!

Not too bad for whipping these up in an evening. All are pretty comfy too!

Advertising

2011-07-21T15:45:00.004-05:00

A few weeks back I inquired about some ad space in BustMagazine in hopes of driving more sales to my website. I signed up for the next 3 issues which means that I will be in their holiday issue as well! The issue won't be for sale for another week or so, but I was sent this issue last week!

Another thing I was excited about this week were buttons! Lots and lots of buttons! One of the JoAnn's is closing down to make way for a bigger store come February and they had most of their stuff 75% off. I love working with buttons, especially with my knit items, but as some of you know, they can be pretty pricey. Here's a glimpse at the stash I now have. All of these are large and measure 1-3 inches in diameter.

As Seen...

2011-07-19T14:24:00.003-05:00

I often have customers come into the store, browse around, like what they see and then request a special order based on one of my existing pieces. Recently I've been commissioned to create specialty items for various establishments around town.

The first that lead this wave was Southtown Yoga Loft. Kristal, the studio's wonderful owner requested specialty jewelry items inspired by yoga and a line of yoga mat straps. Also in the works are a line of retro inspired aprons that will be for sale at Alamo Sweets and finally I am currently creating a line of tool cases for Alamo City Reeds. I played Oboe for about 10 years, so I'm kinda geeking out about flirting with the musician scene again.

Not gonna lie, these projects are definitely going to require some time management and dedication, but the cool thing is that they will allow me to expand my range on my items. Very excited!

Aprons!

2011-06-29T13:10:00.004-05:00

I've been meaning to make some for a while now, and finally, this past Friday I made my first apron. In the past 5 days, I've made a total of 4 aprons so far, and I've got a 5th about halfway done. I love making these! They're really cute, and there's so many ways to construct them. Here's a look at what I've been working on.

This one is for sale on my website HERE.

Here is what the reverse side looks like.

Below are some ruffles at the bottom of another one.

The halter one below is going to be sent to my sister.

Each one I've made so far is different, but all are still totally cute! What I like about these items is that I can get really zany and colorful with the fabric choices, unlike garment making, where my fabric choices tend to be MUCH more subtle.

International Yarn Bombing Day

2011-06-14T14:55:00.009-05:00

Here's a bit of what was done in San Antonio this past Saturday for international yarn bombing day. This first pic was done by the Yarn Dawgs... it looks straight out of Dr. Seuss! All projects shown below were installed at the Pearl Brewery.

The rest are what my projects looked like during daylight hours.

All of my yarn bombing was done the night before IYD, so this is what it looked like as I was installing the projects.

You can barely tell, but the next two pictures are of my knit Texas state flag hanging over the Riverwalk. You can get a better idea of what the flag looks like from the last photo.

New Website with BigCartel

2011-06-04T14:41:00.003-05:00

In my long search of trying to find an easy to use and attractive looking website, I think I have finally come to my end!!!

I decided to go with BigCartel and for now the site is BLinkDesing.bigcartel.com, but I'm hoping to switch the domain to the name I've already got, B-LinkDesign.com in the coming days.

I really like the customization features on this, and the fact that it's a site INTENDED on selling products, which means that I can start adding items for sale right from the get go! You can also sync up your blog and original domain name to the site. There are also ways to add Facebook "like" buttons. All in all, I really like the look and navigation so far. Pricing for their hosting is pretty competitive ranging from FREE to $30 per month... that's it!

Take a look at BLinkDesign.bigcartel.com to tell me what you think!

Ocean Treasures

2011-05-28T21:22:00.005-05:00

Today was my first full day back in San Antonio. I spent the past week on a belated honeymoon in the Virgin Islands. The trip was a blast! We visited Tortola and St. Thomas but spent most of our time in St. John, which by far, was the prettiest of all the islands. Matt and I tried out all kinds of water activities for the first time. While snorkeling, we of course found plenty of sea shells, but we were really surprised to find quite a bit of sea glass while in St. Thomas. Below are a few pictures of the treasures I found...

Here are some of the larger pieces we found.

I'll probably use the smaller pieces in fine silver settings.

Here are some of the cool shells I found in Lindberg Bay.

This shell is by far my favorite.

I'm going to try and create some new jewelry items with these treasures I found at the beach.

Men's Dresses...

2011-05-06T19:13:00.003-05:00

More like dresses made from Men's shirts. I took a stab at this form of upcycling last year as seen in this PREVIOUS POST however to be quite honest, I was never pleased with the outcome. I tried again a few weeks ago, and along with my serger, I think I've gotten much better at altering these dresses. The first one featured sold in the shop just today!!!

SOLD!

I decided to keep this one for myself.

I'm gonna keep this one too.

Never fret. I went thrifting the other day, and found about a dozen more cool men's shirts that are just begging to be dolled up. The new garments should be ready at B.Link sometime next week.

Yarn Bombing coming to SA

2011-05-03T17:33:00.004-05:00

In a little over a month from now, Krista and I plan on knitting the town red... and pink and lime and turquoise, orange and brown. She and I went to the craft store last week and picked out our bombing yarns.

We're still looking for some enthusiastic individuals to help us get the yarn out. You don't need to be an expert knitter to participate. All that are needed are various shaped swatches/patches of knit yarn to do some yarn bombing. Feel free to contact me if interested at brandy@b-linkdesign.com!

Speaking of yarn bombing, check out this little featurette documenting the whole yarn bombing movement made by fellow San Antonian and Longhorn, Sarah Gonzalez. She's currently accepting donations to get this documentary going. CLICK HERE to contribute.

Ojo de Dios

2011-05-03T16:11:00.004-05:00

Graduation season is upon us and good friend/loyal B.Link customer, Sarah will be waking the stage to get her masters in the coming days. To commemorate this event while giving a nod to her cultural heritage, Sarah asked a few weeks ago if I would make a serape style graduation stole for her. I loved the idea, but the only problem I saw was finding a suitable serape fabric. After looking around in several places, I came across this Ojo de Dios fabric over at Tres Rebeca's.

I showed Sarah the fabric, and she decided to go with it. Here she is below and posing with the finished result.

As you can see, the fabric is very vibrant. Sarah has shown others what she will be wearing as she crosses the stage, and as of today, I've made 5 custom graduation stoles! With any project, there are always bits and pieces and scraps left over, and being the conservative crafter that I am (resource wise, not politically), I decided to create these additional items out of those remaining bits of fabric.

Above is a cute fabric rosette headband. $18. Below is a headband that I decided to keep for myself. It got plenty of use out of it while I was at the beach a few days ago.

Such a Place Exists?!?

2011-04-29T15:18:00.004-05:00

So now we all know that the House of Alexander McQueen was behind Kate Middleton's awesome dress, however as I was reading about the rest of her wedding day style, I come to find out that her veil was made of silk tulle with hand embroidered flowers along the entire edge of the veil. The embroidery was done by the Royal School of Needlework. Until this afternoon, I had no idea of such a place, and to be quite honest, it is my new goal in life to study there. At the school, they teach the old art form of hand embroidery. HOW AMAZING IS THAT! The students and faculty there have created some pretty awesome pieces:

Catherine's one of a kind veil.

An embroidered portraiture on a chair.

An amazing embroidered couture clutch.

As I was on the school's website earlier, I was reminded of the book, Gathering Blue; the story about a girl who is suddenly revered because of her ability to embroider and create a visual of her village's history.

Testing...

2011-04-28T15:52:00.004-05:00

You can now find me on several other online communities aside from Etsy. I'm testing them out to get an idea of traffic, feedback, exposure, etc.

B.Link on...

BLink on...

B.Link at...

Inspired by Yoga

2011-04-23T15:16:00.004-05:00

A month from now, Matt and I will be going on our long awaited honeymoon to the Virgin Islands. After reading some reviews on the place we're staying at, I've heard that the hiking and terrain can be a bit much. In a slight effort to combat the physical strain I am sure to endure, I've taken up yoga again. The instructor at Southtown Yoga Loft asked if I could create some items that can compliment her already exquisite studio and boutique. Here's what I've come up with:

Chakra inspired necklaces

Yoga mat carriers.

Headbands in assorted patterns.

Still working on new items as we speak. I've got about 5 other designs lined up for the mat carriers. More pics will be posted on my Facebook page as they are completed.

Whatever happened to Angela Chase?

2011-04-22T20:22:00.006-05:00

I started to think about her as I was listening to my 90's mix while working on some new pieces at the shop. Especially when Buffalo Tom's, "Late at night" came on. This was the song that was playing when Jordan first held Angela's hand in public. Ahhhhhhhh.

As I hear that song, flashbacks of scenes from My So Called Life come to mind, and I begin to think of myself at that age during that time. When the show came out, Angela was just a few years older than me. I remember how my world used to revolve around music and a boy. I remembered thinking about how limited I felt in personal self expression, and how my only creative outlets for my personality could only be projected onto my clothes and hair.

I remember straddling the fashion line between "alternative" and preppy. I remember how I had to have everything "baby"... baby tees, babydoll dresses, cropped sweaters. Unfortunately, most of the things I longed for, I couldn't afford. During our adolescent years, my sister and I would swoon over the pricey items in Alloy and Contempo Casual catalogs. Cardigans and hoodies were essential. I once had this vintage Christian Dior grey cardigan, which my mom hated, that mysteriously vanished. To this day I think my mom had something to do with it.

All this was also around the same time when movies like Clueless and Reality Bites came out. I envied the style of these characters and, with my limited budget, tried to make their style into my own by spending hours on end with my sister, looking for the perfect vintage item, at thrift stores.

So all of these memories of past style came from a single song. I then started to think, if the show had gone on, what would have happened to Angela? If she grew up, what would she be like today? While it was just a show, to introverted shy girls growing up in the 90's, it was a bit more than that.

Old Things

2011-04-19T12:10:00.004-05:00

Lately, I've been fascinated with old vintage crafts and notions. Last week I went to a few antique stores and ended up buying some pretty cool items. I found this small how-to book on knitting sweaters. The book was copyrighted in 1945, at the very start of the baby-boomer era. It was very cool to observe the basic style of the time in this book.

Notice how the pages offer a built in tape measure!

I was pretty pleased to have come across some old sewing notions.

Can you believe that this entire jar of old LARGE buttons was only $1! When knitting season comes this year, these old buttons will be put to good use!

Say What?!?

2011-04-14T01:11:00.003-05:00

Today was a fairly busy day. I had do get my passport info finalized in order to go to the USVI next month, do some antique shopping for vintage sewing notions, and meet up with my friend Sarah to deliver her custom made graduation stole, and then finally go back to the shop to work on some more items. In the middle of all that I got an email from my friend, Tara, letting me know that I was named 2nd best local designer in San Antonio by the SA Current! Crazy!

Once I had a chance, I went over to the Filling Station to pick up an issue of this weeks Current, and sure enough, there I was, on page 50, listed underneath #1 SA designer, Angelina Mata, and just to the right of the #2. It simply said, Brandy Ann Garcia. I was really surprised by it. If you're in San Antonio, make sure you pick up an issue of the Current to check out all of the other best things in the city.

Check-In

2011-04-01T17:37:00.003-05:00

For the entire month of April, check-in at B.Link via Facebook Places to get 30% off any one item! For those of you out and about in Southtown for First Friday, then this deal is coming to you just in time!

Click HERE for details.

Yarn Bombing at the Blanton

2011-03-29T16:23:00.005-05:00

Back in an earlier January post, I mentioned how I would be involved in a yarn bombing project headed by Magda Sayeg of KnittaPlease over at the Blanton Museum on the UT campus. Well, that project has come and past, and this past Friday, all of the tree koozies were taken off. Here's a look at all the trees that were involved. Below is the section where my tree and it's koozie stood for nearly 3 weeks.

Many of the participants came to tear down their trees pretty early.

I was glad to see that I wasn't the only late straggler. In my defense, I did have to drive all the way from San Antonio to Austin to get there.

As I was taking down my koozie, I noticed little buggy eggs on it... kinda gross.

Me and My knit koozie. I wanted to make sure I claimed it back so that I can use it on International Yarn Bombing Day come this June. Don't worry, the item has been washed!

I was able to catch the trees all dolled up about a week prior to tear down, when I was in Austin for SXSW, however as you can see, it was late at night and pretty dark.

Even though the pics are dark, you can still get an idea of how awesome all of these trees looked.

Above is a shot of my tree by itself.

Here, you see me along side my tree... Finished and all!

This last pic gives you and idea how long the knitting project really was. Nearly 7ft! Many, many hours and sleepless nights went into doing this. The project called for sport weight yarn knit with a fairly tight stitch so that none of the bark showed through. I ended up going with size 12 needles, and in order to fit the width of the tree the swatch had to be at least 25in wide.

As mentioned earlier, I will be using this swatch again in June. Hopefully there is another tree in downtown SA that wears the same size as the Blanton tree!

The Itis

2011-03-25T12:58:00.002-05:00

Last night was the first night in a long while in which I did NOT create or design anything. I blame it on an awesome dinner. Matt grilled up some super tasty grass-fed lamb patties, which was served with a side of mashed sweet potatoes, and a side of cheesy macaroni shells. Once dinner was over (around 8:30) I went to lie down, and never got up. The Itis got hold of me.

I ended up sleeping for about 12 hours. I lazily woke up around 8 and started the day off with another great meal. Ham and cheese omelets, with sliced banana and a toasted cinnamon-raisin english muffin with blueberry preserves.

Textiles

2011-03-24T17:56:00.003-05:00

I've been working with various textiles over the past few nights. I decided to give embroidery a whirl, and finally make some dresses with the fabric I've had in stock. Here's what I've come up with since Tuesday:

My first embroidery project. I'm really pleased with the color combo I used. Pattern provided by Sublime Stitching.

I turned the fabric into a small purse. Available at B.Link for $20.

Here's one dress I made for myself.

Here is another...

And another. This is the same dress in the above photo with the purse. I wouldn't wear it with as flashy a belt as that, but it was the only belt I had in the shop. This dress does look good with a belt, by the way.

Craftacular at SXSW

2011-03-19T16:03:00.003-05:00

Lots of people, music and heat! Yesterday was a balmy day to be out vending during South By Southwest. I love doing these shows, but the part I hate most is the day after. With taking so many items, that means that there are almost just as many items to put away when all is said and done. So today I am here at the shop resetting up, however here are some pics below of my setup at my booth. Special thanks to Liz and Scott for spending the day with me.

Them vs. Me

2011-03-11T13:59:00.007-06:00

In no way am I trying to be a copycat designer, but I recently looked over a Spring 2011 James Avery catalog and noticed some big similarities between some of my designs and theirs. The only real difference is the price. Keep in mind both their designs and my designs are comprised of sterling silver. Take a look for yourself:

Theirs: $75. Not to mention that I've seen this ring and it is about 1/2 the size of mine featured below.

Mine: $55, and like I mentioned before, about twice the size of their flower.

Theirs: $99

Mine: $30.

I will admit that they've got quality stuff, but I'm just questioning whether they are just too overpriced, or am I undercutting myself?

The Adventures of Pepe the Chihuahua

2011-03-10T13:31:00.004-06:00

The weather in San Antonio has been absolutely awesome the past few days. Clear, dry and a high in the mid 70's. When the weather gets like this I just leave the door to the shop open since it's so comfortable. As 5 o'clock rolled around yesterday afternoon, I started to pack my things up and head home for the evening, while in walks a tiny little guy with no reservations what so ever! This little chihuahua just took a little lap around and sat next to me behind the counter.

Being the dog lover that I am, I gave him a little cup of water (which he drank quickly) and picked him up to check his tags. Luckily there was a 1-800 number listed indicating that he was micorchipped. As I attempted to call, my cell phone dies on me. So I walk over to Tres Rebeccas a few doors down and use their phone to call this doggie's owner. The number lead me to a third party which then tried to contact the owner, but with no luck. At that time I did find out the doggie's name, Pepe. I then decided that Pepe would just hang with me for the evening until his owners called.

As I came home, I was a little worried about the interaction between Pepe and my dog, Tiger who is a pit bull mutt. Tiger loves to play with other dogs, but he tends to invade other dog's space to where they get a bit pissy with him, however to my surprise, Pepe and Tiger got along really well. They took their time and sniffed each other a while before I let them both go outside and do their business.

By this time, 7pm had rolled around and still no call from the owners. I was getting a bit worried, and then at that minute, my aunt and uncle called me asking if I wanted to go to the Spurs game that evening at 7:30. They had tickets in one of the cooperate boxes, but didn't feel like going. Matt is a HUGE Spurs fan so I didn't want to pass up the opportunity, however in the back of my mind I was worried about Pepe. I decided that I'd go ahead and go to the game, so with Pepe in hand, he and I head over to my aunt and uncle's house to pick up the tickets, and I rush back home to get ready for the game.

By that time Matt had just gotten home, and has a look on his face of "Oh, Brandy..." as I walk in the door with a little chihuahua in my arms. He's always having to be the voice of reason every time I see a stray dog anywhere. Every time I see one, my response is, "Awww, he'd be friends with Tiger," and Matt quickly responds with a "NO!" I reassured Matt that the owners have been contacted and we won't be looking out for him for very long. Now the question was, what to do with little Pepe while we're away at the game?

Luckily, our hallway is isolated with doors all around, so we put little Pepe in there with a pee pad, a chew toy and a little bowl of water. Tiger still had free range of the rest of the house. Matt and I rushed out of the house as soon as we could, and we were able to make it to the ATT Center by the end of the 1st quarter. Just as I arrive there I get a call from Pepe's owner, Patricia. I tell her that I'm at the Spurs game (which they won) and as soon as I get home I would give her a call. I assure her though that he is quite comfy in his own little room indoors.

By the time Matt and I get home, it's already 11pm, so I quickly get hold of Pepe and call Patricia to meet me at B.Link. I give her directions to the shop, which is about a half mile from her and Pepe's home. The little guy and I arrive and a few moments later, Patricia shows up, and Pepe is SO excited to see her. Patricia then goes on to tell me that Pepe is a sneaky little guy that likes to sneak out and have little adventures. She told me how one time he ended up at one of the downtown hotels, which is several miles away from where they live, but since Pepe has a chip in him, he's always been returned home safely, as he was once again. So in then end, Pepe was in the care of the Garcia's for about 7 hours! Silly little guy.

On the Lighter Side

2011-03-03T15:35:00.002-06:00

Still trying to perfect my crocheting skills. I love making hats and other accessories, but as the weather gets warmer, my favorite chunky yarn is making itself less seasonable. As a result, I've been working much more with cotton yarn. It's light and comes in most of the colors I prefer. Expect to see many more items featuring these cotton yarns.

Spring Inspirations

2011-02-26T12:36:00.005-06:00

Some things I will be thinking about while I'm crafting over the next few weeks...

Wrapping everything in yarn.

small handmade decor elements.

Adding some vintage color to the table.

creating knit/crochet embellishments.

knitting/crocheting with vintage lines.

Appearing at SXSW!

2011-02-25T15:48:00.006-06:00

Next month during SXSW, I will be participating in Commodore Von Keepsie's Craftacular Music Carnivale! The event is on March 18th and will be an interactive event featuring music, crafts, independent designers and more! The event is free, but RSVP because space is limited.

The event is sponsored by Bust Magazine, Standard Recording Co., Sublime stitching and Yudu just to name a few. Hope to see you in Austin!

Ready for Summer

2011-02-25T14:43:00.003-06:00

First off, I'm much more comfortable with knitting, however there are just more options in terms of design when items are crocheted. Case in point... the string bikini. I have attempted several times to knit one, with very little luck. Since I've been familiarizing myself more and more on how to crochet, I attempted to try once again, and here is what I came up with.

please keep in mind that this is my very first attempt at crocheting a bikini. While overall, I am very happy with the general design, There is still much to be improved upon... stay tuned for more bikinis!

Girlie Things

2011-02-08T15:34:00.004-06:00

I was commissioned to make a tutu for my niece for her upcoming birthday. For my first one, I don't think I came out too bad. Her mom liked it enough to request another one in SA Spurs colors.

It was pretty fun to make and like I said, I was pretty pleased with how it came out. I got more materials yesterday to make several more of these, and in a bunch of different colors.

Snow Day

2011-02-04T16:11:00.004-06:00

For those of you not aware, Texans DO NOT know how to handle themselves in the snow. Last night we got about 1/2 inch of snow come down. Before that however, there was some sleet and freezing drizzle which meant that there was a thin layer of ice between the snow and ground. Luckily I was at home the entire evening and didn't have to be a part of the icy madness that was on the roads last night.

Since it was cold, I decided to be productive and keep it relevant to the conditions around me. Here is what I came up with. Two new pairs of mittens!

Flash

2011-01-29T14:05:00.003-06:00

So this has nothing to do with being creative, but last night around 2am, my husband and I saw several greenish/blue flashes across the sky. This is the 3rd time I've seen something like this in the past 5 years or so and it's always in the same area: the north-central area of San Antonio. SA is a very sprawled out city and pretty well lit, so It's pretty strange to see that kinda of light able to penetrate in the city sky.

I've thought about all the possible explanations; lightning, explosions, etc. but none seem to make sense considering it was a clear night with no clouds, there was no sound ( I know because my windows were down in my car) and from where I was on the highway, the light came from the ground, not actually the sky. The flash was just so bright that it illuminated the sky. A close friend of mine also saw the flash from about 5 miles away. We've been texting all afternoon about what it may have been or to see if anyone else other than him, my husband or myself saw it last night.

What's weird is that I have seen this before, and in the same area of town (which is fairly residential). A few years back, at around the same time of night, I was heading home and saw the flash from the horizon while I as on the highway. I'm sure once an explanation is given, it will all make sense, but till then the incident is going to continue to weird me out.

New Changes...

2011-01-25T23:00:00.002-06:00

New changes are coming to B.Link's website, b-linkdesign.com. Many more items will be added and a new PayPal feature will be added as well making it easier to purchase online! Still, to see the very latest, stop by the shop to see what I'm working on.

As always, custom orders are always welcome!

Etsy Birthday

2011-01-13T15:19:00.004-06:00

Today marks my 2 year birthday on Etsy. As a way to celebrate, I'm offering free shipping on all items for the remainder of the month! Visit www.BLinkDesign.Etsy.com to check out everything I've got available.

Israeli Artists

2011-01-12T00:38:00.003-06:00

I do seem to really dig the aesthetic that comes from Israeli artists. Here are my top 3 favorites...

Leninka

Alona Lahav

My Lola Fashion

Birthday

2011-01-11T19:21:00.003-06:00

I had a pretty awesome birthday yesterday. I spent the day with my mom, went to Ikea and got some fixtures for the shop, and did lots more shopping. When I got home, my husband surprised me with a brand new Singer Serger! I was SUPER excited! I've never had one before, so I can't wait to start working on it tonight. I've got lots of projects already floating in my head of what I'll soon be able to make.

The day just continued to get better. My husband and I met up with about 15 other friends and had a great time at a wine bar. Best birthday I've had in years :)

Yarn Bombing Coming to The Blanton

2011-01-10T00:16:00.004-06:00

Things about me... I graduated from UT Austin, I love art, and I love to knit. This past weekend I attended an informational meeting on how to combine all of those aspects of me.

Three days ago I found out from my friends at Yarn Harvest about a call for knitters to participate in an installation at the Blanton Museum of Art headed by textile artist Magda Sayeg. For two weeks in the month of March, about 100 trees on the UT campus will be YARN BOMBED! I can't wait! It's going to look sooooooo cool! About 170 knitters showed up for the meeting and like I mentioned, they only have 100 trees, so I was pretty worried that I wouldn't be able to sponsor a tree... especially since I drove all the way from San Antonio to find out more info. Luckily, I ended up being assigned tree #23. Here's a look at me and my tree:

The assignment of the bombing is to incorporate 4 specific yarn colors in horizontal stripes and cover the entire trunk of the tree from ground to branches. My tree measured at about 7ft high and 20in in circumference. The pattern and style of stripes is totally up to us. Many of the other knitters that showed up to the event either paired up or decided to tackle this in groups. I think I was the only non-Austinite that showed up, so this means that I'll be tackling this project on my own! Here's a shot of about half of the trees to be knit.

The project is due mid-February so I've got lots of work ahead of me... I'm so excited!

Bargain Bin

2011-01-09T04:02:00.004-06:00

I've decided that I'm going to crate a new category in my Etsy store... a Bargain Bin. Over the past 10 years I've acquired many many beads and notions. So many in fact that I don't really know what to do with them, so I figured I'll create simple and cute jewelry items (mostly earrings) starting at just $5 and not exceeding $10. Stay tuned! I hope to have this category full of listings by the end of this week.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-07T15:19:00.002-06:00

I'm pretty glad that January is finally here... December was a bit overwhelming. My online sales at BLinkDesign just blew up! Which is a good problem to have, I was just taken a bit of guard. For about 3 weeks straight, I was at the post office about every other day and shipped anywhere from 6-10 packages on each visit. I am pleased to say that all orders purchased before 12/20 were in fact delivered before Christmas.

Last year, while I was preoccupied with my wedding, I did see a spike in online sales (it was my first holiday season online) and I was super excited back then to be getting a single sale every day. So like I said, I was just taken off guard when I started getting 10 sales a day!

Well, the new year is here, and I'm starting to work on new designs in both silver and in knits. My supplies have been somewhat restocked, however the shop is looking a bit bare, so I'm going to have to get working pretty quick... especially since today is the first First Friday of the year down here in Southtown.

Sales so far in this first week are looking good too! While I can take a bit of a breather now that the holidays are over, it doesn't quite look like my work is done.

Same ol' Same ol'

2010-11-18T15:53:00.003-06:00

Have you ever been online looking at jewelry and saw something, then though to yourself, "I swear I've seen this before?" You're not crazy and more than likely, completely right... especially if you were on Etsy. There is one type of bracelet out there in Etsyland that seems to be the gold standard for copycatting. I will admit it's nice, but it's just that... nice. Nothing extraordinary, just nice. Here's what I'm talking about:

See what I mean; all the same, AND they are from different sellers. The kinda sad thing is that these bracelets sell really well. Not sad for the seller or buyer, but more like sad for artistic integrity. It really is a shame that so many talented artisans feel the need to replicate on a commercial level. Oh well... done ranting.

Animal.

2010-11-09T15:17:00.004-06:00

I recently acquired some leopard print fabric. I've never been too fond of animal prints, and I'm trying pretty hard to get my preconceived notions of vampy-rock-a-billy chick out of my head. I like the fabric, and it's perfect for the upcoming winter months, but still, trying to get rid of old stereotypes. Old safari style seems more appropriate.

New Stuff for Fall

2010-10-30T11:00:00.002-05:00

I've been up late the past few nights working on some new hat designs. I'm really digging the new animal hats with the cute ears. Bears and monkeys should be next, till then, here's an idea of what I got going on. Be on the lookout for some of these on my Etsy page. Let me know if you've got any special requests.

Silly Dreams

2010-10-27T16:03:00.003-05:00

I had a dream last night that I was doing some shopping at an outdoor market. Suddenly I see the boy that I used to be infatuated with when I was in the 7th grade. I hadn't seen him in nearly a decade. We jokingly say that we should really meet more often than once every 10 years. He invites me to meet for some coffee sometime tomorrow, and I delightfully accept. We say our goodbyes and go our separate ways.

About 10 paces on, I realize that we never set a time, coffee house, nor did I even catch his number. I turn around and see him turning the next corner, so I then start to chase after him. The next few blocks of the city then begin to turn into a multidimensional labyrinth. After only a few moments of searching, I decide to go back to my apartment where my husband and dog greet me just as I'm approaching the door.

A Different Kind of Autumn

2010-10-21T16:17:00.003-05:00

For as long as I can remember, I have longed for the season of Fall. Having been a Texan all my life, the notion of falling leaves, bundling up for 50 degree weather and experiencing seasons in general is a rather foreign notion. The typical Autumn here is far from what the rest of country knows. For the most part, things are still pretty green. Cold snaps don't hit us till late November, and even still, a snap to us is 55 degrees. The only time vegetation actually does die is when we're hit with weeks of dry heat in the middle of October.

I went around town the other day to give you an idea of what Autumn looks like in the Alamo City.

Race to Space

2010-10-18T16:03:00.003-05:00

I woke up today to an insane amount of views to my Etsy store today... nearly 300! All before noon too, and views are still climbing. The item behind this surge is my rocket necklace. I'm not too sure why, but I do suspect that it is because I entered it in Etsy's Space Craft Contest.

In just the past 12 hours, this little necklace has gotten over nearly 600 views alone. Either way, I'm still super stoked that lots of peeps are taking a look at my stuff.

Urban Street Bazaar 11

2010-10-08T12:17:00.006-05:00

Now that the dust has cleared on a fun filled weekend, I am finally able to post about it. My crafting partner in crime, Val, and I got into Dallas late Thursday night, which gave us all of Friday to roam around the city. That evening we decided to hit up the Texas State Fair. I love going to the fair... so much food everywhere! I decided to try the fried beer which looked like ravioli. I did not care for it at all!

There we are after hitting up the Texas wine tasting booths just in time to catch the parade.

Saturday came with a vengeance. It was also the same day as the Red River Shootout, and since I went to UT, I of course was rooting for the longhorns. The only bummer about me being in Dallas during TX/OU weekend is that I'm bad luck. In all the years I've gone up there since 1999, I have never seen UT win against OU. The only times they've won are when I stay home. Whomp, whomp.

You'd never know there was a huge game in town though, because there were so many people in the Bishop Arts District for the Bazaar! Things started rolling really quickly so I forgot to take pics of our booth on the first day. The pics below are from the second day of the Bazaar, Sunday.

As you can see, there wasn't much left... Our knit/crochet hats and scarves were selling like hotcakes! In addition to what we had there, we were still making while at the fair, and those were selling as soon as they were finished!

Yup, that frame is looking a bit sparse...

This was my nice little ring display set up at the front of the booth.

After a long (and successful) two days of selling, Val and I had a much deserved beer! Eno's Pizza on Bishop Street was AMAZING! I'm so going back the next time I'm in Dallas!

And this was our reward for our weekend!

We had such a blast, and its a shame that this was the last Urban Street Bazaar. While it's nice to see its reincarnate, Indie Genius continue on with the vibe of the Bazaar, I'm still bummed that I won't be going up there to participate in this awesome craft show anymore.

This Week in the Treasury

2010-09-14T23:51:00.003-05:00

A pleasant surprise of all the treasuries I've been featured in on Etsy this week. To check out the full twentysomething list of treasuries I've been featured in, click HERE and just search "blinkdesign."

Here comes the rain again...

Storm...

After the Autumn Wedding...

Skully...

Under the Clear Blue Sky...

Next Flight to London...

Boys Stuff

2010-09-09T16:46:00.003-05:00

I've slowly been trying to infuse men's accessories into my inventory. Below is the one of the first tie tacks I made. It can be personalized and can be purchased HERE.

This next one was created in response to my popular "Ode to Geekery - Lightning Bolt" necklace. This tie tack is available on my website too.

Now I didn't make any of the following, but It does indicate the direction in which I would like to expand my line to include more items boys would like... enjoy.

Cycling Cap by bicyclerandi

Awesome ties by toybreaker

Cute cuff links by TheCufflinkMaker

Another Day of DIY

2010-09-07T14:57:00.005-05:00

Ok, so you've made tons of cute knit hats ready for sale, but what do you tag them with? This was usually my dilemma when first venturing into selling my wares. Sure, many craft stores carry various styles of tags, but they all seem so sterile and boring.

Last night I figured a way to create 100% personalized DIY price tags that will set you apart from the others. This is what they look like...

Items you will need: Card stock, hole punch, tag paper punch, your computer and computer printer. If you don't have these items lying around, don't worry... luckily these items (sans the computer stuff) aren't too expensive. On a good sale week at the craft store, the supplies will run you about $25.

First, your logo. If you don't already have one, try to create an image that is simple, timeless and something that truly reflects you and your creative style. Avoid detailed images as the details will be lost if/when the images are forced into a small space such as these tags.

Create a type of wallpaper image using either Photoshop, Publisher, or even Word. I found that things work best if your logo is about 1 inch wide and sits at least 1 inch apart from the neighboring images. Using the 1x1x1 ratio made it pretty easy to fit at least 20 images on 1 sheet of card stock.

Now that this has been done, print this out on a test sheet of card stock as shown below. Get creative on your card stock too! You don't have to always use white.

Next, use a tag paper punch and simply punch out the tags with your logo at the center. Within minutes, you will have about 20 new tags. These paper punches can be found at any craft store within the scrapbook section. This particular paper punch is the exact one that I used and creates tags 1-1/4 in.X1-7/8in.

After you've created these tags, now you need to create a hole to attach these onto garments. Any hole punch will due, however I prefer to use the tiniest hole punch I can find, which is the 1/16 size hole punch.

See how small hole is!

I personally don't like using floss or string to attach the tags onto garments, but rather prefer to use safety pins.

I find that the smaller hole makes the tag look a bit more polished and less bulky and awkward. Now that you've got a mini arsenal of tags, start pricing and get your name out there!

More Like, "Knit and Crochet" YESTERDAY!

2010-08-19T18:31:00.003-05:00

I love PBS's Create channel! Every so often though you do get the show that seems to be a bit out of touch with the times and perpetuates the notion that only old retirees watch PBS (no offense to PBS or retirees). The other day, I was watching the PBS show, Knit and Crochet Today. Let me tell you, this show is pretty dreary. There is very little that seems modern about this show, even though it's currently filming. I would give it some slack if it were an old PBS show in reruns, but it's not.

Now I'm not saying that they need to go off the deep end and have a Lisa Loeb looking host with the closing credits rolling over the performance of some obscure indie band, but come on! I would like to see something more than a variation on granny squares or pillow covers.

I think it would be nice however to see the last segment of the show devoted to some knitting project outside the box. Sure, the blue-hairs may scoff, but seriously, if you're going to include the name "TODAY" in your show title, then at least feature things that are a little bit popular... TODAY! Here are some things that I think are pretty up to date among today's knitters.

Check out those needles... now that's what I'm talking about.

Geeks are pretty technical beings. Knitting is a pretty technical hobby. Geeks and knitting were bound to come together!

This tattoo is a little extreme for my taste, but 'A' for effort on the enthusiasm of knitting

what can I say, these slippers are just too cute!

I LOVE knit softies!

Now, I love knitting! And I consider myself to be a pretty contemporary knitter. Never once have I made a quilt, granny square, afghan, or pot holder. I'm not saying that all of the techniques are useless... the embroidery segments are pretty useful, what I am saying is that the show is just really out of touch. I know a lot of like minded knitters, such as myself, that would like to see a shift from the notion that knitters are over the age of 60 and only knit pot holders.

Knitters TODAY are actually much more creative and would like to push the boundaries in terms of gauge, color, texture, and subject matter. There are more and more publications that have called out to this market such as the short lived Vogue Knitting magazine, Knit 1. Just go to the craft section at the bookstore and you'll see an array of books on punk rock knitting, knits for your guy, etc. All I'm saying is, come on, K&CT... get with the times!

Bummer Summer

2010-08-06T18:31:00.005-05:00

Well July was a bit of a bummer. My sale came and went, and online sales were mehhh. And while I've heard that a slow July is statistically common, it was still pretty disappointing to go through. Now that August is here, I've cleaned up my shop, discontinued about 2/3 of the inventory and already begun to add a whole bunch of new items for Fall. So far the month of August is already off to a good start. Everything is up... views, hearts, favs, and even sales!

Fall marks the return of some of my most popular items such as my 100% Jersey Cotton Scarves, which sold like crazy last Autumn/Winter. The Sky and Dark Horizon were just added. I will be looking for more great colors in Jersey, so stay tuned.

Floral headbands have also made a return, but in a different form. Many of my popular Bandaeu de Bordeaux headbands will no longer be available at BLinkDesign, however you can still find them at BLinkWedding! Instead you will find more of these fabulous fabric rosette headbands from now on.

Fall is definitely my favorite time of the year. I love the rich tones and luxe fabrics. This Fall, most of my new items will focus on the color palate featured in the items above. Lots of cool blues and grays with splashes of complimentary colors here and there.

The Wonderful World of Color

2010-08-03T13:03:00.004-05:00

I made a few treasuries on Etsy the other day, but I think THIS ONE is my favorite. It takes a delightful stroll down the ROYGBIV line. Here's just a sample that's featured.

Table Runner by GREENATHEART

Earrings by WOOPS510

Earrings by WHOOP

Key lime Fudge by TWEETBOUTIQUE

Rabbits on Organic Fabric by FABHUB

Violet Spats by MERRYBE

Weekend Wedding

2010-07-30T12:43:00.006-05:00

I will be heading to Houston this weekend for a good friend's wedding. On that note, I leave you with these lovely images...

And don't forget that many bridal items can be found on my website! www.blinkwedding.etsy.com!

B.Link On Sale

2010-07-27T16:13:00.004-05:00

I'm currently working on some new items for the Fall, so I am clearing out several items on my website. Several of these items will be on sale for the following week or so, so if you see something you like, get it while you can because they will be gone soon!

I'm hoping to clear out many of these spring/summer items in order to make way for the new stuff that will be popping up on BLinkDesign during the first week of August. CLICK HERE to check out the full assortment of sale items, or just continue to scroll below to get a peek of what's available. Be sure to check back often, as more and more items will be put on sale every day.

"XO" ID Bracelet. Was $20, now $15!

Jade Bracelet. Was $25, now $20.

Violet Spectrum Bracelet. Was $35, now $25.

Upcycle Vintage Zipper Earrings. Was $12, now $8.

Lemon Drop Hair Pins. Was $6, now $4.

New Layout

2010-07-21T16:51:00.003-05:00

Following in the footsteps of Etsy, I too have decided to go with a wider page for my blog. Similar color scheme, but with the wider layout, I am able to have larger pictures shown on each post and the I'm able to add more sample pics from My Etsy Page along the right hand column.

I've also added buttons at the bottom of each post that make the blog easier to share to sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Enjoy!

Front Page!

2010-07-20T15:49:00.004-05:00

After a night drinking and meeting up with some old friends this past Saturday night, I was curious to see as to how I would feel the next morning. I'm not the younger version of myself that was able to stay out all hours drinking and then feel fine the next morning. I'm getting older!

I was surprised to wake up felling fine and refreshed, so I headed straight for the computer. Checking my online stats first thing in the morning has become somewhat of routine for me. In fact, I've become a bit addicted to checking my Etsy traffic, blog traffic, etc, ever chance I get. Sometimes it's a waste of time, sometimes it isn't... the morning after going out for instance.

Sunday morning I noticed a HUGE spike in views on my Etsy Page. Turns out, I was Feautred on the Front Page! This is my 5th front page appearance in the past year. The great collection was created by Etsy seller, Glistenbyerin, and my Ode to Geekery - Lightning Bolt Necklace is featured at the bottom.

Her collection was inspired by stormy skies, which is a wonderfully sublime natural phenomenon, so I figured I would continue with that theme today.

Treasuries...

2010-07-17T16:17:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, Etsy rolled out with a new way of presenting their member curated treasuries. There are definitely pros and cons to this new method, and I'm still on the fence about it, nevertheless, I'm featured in a large handful of them across etsyland. Take a look at these delightful treasuries!

This headband is actually featured in three different collections! Definitely a fan favorite out there. All feature a beautiful mixture of dark teals and turquoise. Check out Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night, Teal Summer Ocean, and Dusk is a Beautifully Mysterious Time.

My lightning bold necklace was actually featured in two different treasuries... Geeks are Hot and A Storm is brewing.

This treasury just loves everything :)

This treasury really goes Above and Beyond!

This Zip It treasury is super cute!

This treasury features plenty of fellow San Antonio Artists; a few of which are Alamo City Handmade members.

Getting Ready for Fall

2010-07-16T13:15:00.005-05:00

I've written about knitting here several times before, simply because I love to knit. It can be illogical at times given the fact that I live in San Antonio, and the seasons here can be described as hot, hotter, warm and cool. Sometimes I wonder if I belong in a place where seasons are distinct and snow is more than a few flurries gracing the sky once every 4 years. But, I digress...

I've been knitting for about the past 10 years, and I love everything about it. I love buying different yarns (especially chunky ones!), mixing up yarns, using outrageously large needles, and using bold colors. Just recently I finally learned how to crochet. Now that I can do both, I plan on doing much more than what I've shown in the past.

I've got several shows lined up this fall and winter and in large metros that see much colder weather, so in order for me to keep my sanity for the autumn months, I've started knitting and crocheting now. A few of my yarn items have started to creep up into my online store.

Here are a few themes that I'm going to be sticking to for the fall...

Vintage style and lines.

Feminine fit.

Rich Autumn Tones...

...mixed with ultra chunky neutrals.

Casual cardigans.

As Featured in the Storque

2010-07-13T01:46:00.002-05:00

In addition to keeping up with posting to this blog, I am also one of the contributors to the Alamo City Handmade Team's blog. Well, recently we've seen quite the influx of views over at the ACH blog, but I was baffled as to why? Well now I found out...

Etsy's blog, aka the Storque, featured about 20 different Craft Parties in this particular edition. The featured photo for us was a photo that I took (yeah, their blog featured a photo that I personally took!!!) of Tara (aka StellaSola) silkscreening directly onto Carrie's backside (aka Geminita).

How cool is that!!!

Productive Meeting

2010-07-12T01:24:00.003-05:00

Normally we hold our Alamo City Handmade meetings on the first Sunday of the month, however that particular day for July landed on the 4th. With all of the backyard BBQs and fireworks on the brain, we decided to delay the meeting for another week. We had our July meeting at the fabulous Sew Deluxe this afternoon and had a great time discussing upcoming events and plans for the ACH Team.

White wine sangria was enjoyed by all and after the meeting, we helped ourselves to some snacks and crafts.

Tara of StellaSola brought a wonderful collection of fabric swatches to swap.

Don of CBTsCloset brought over a bunch of his awesome laser cut destash. I horded quite a bit of his stuff.

And Amy of AmyJosCreations brought some of her knitting projects to trade.

As always, the Alamo City Handmade meetings and events are open to all in the San Antonio area who love to socialize and have a love for crafting. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, August 1st at Sew Deluxe. Hope to see you guys there!

Goodbye, Friend

2010-07-10T14:44:00.002-05:00

Loss is never easy, regardless of whether you see it coming or if it happens within a blink of an eye. A dear friend was lost today, and he will greatly be missed.

Working two jobs is tough, and as funny as it may sound, the thing that keeps me going are the wonderful people I have the privilege to work with. While I may not be rich or wealthy, I am extremely lucky to have so many amazing people in my life. It is very rare that the people you are paid to be around are seen more as family and less as co-workers. The people I've encountered over the past 6 years have become my second family.

Today, my second family is grieving the loss of a loved one.

I will always remember your smile, your jolly outlook on things, how you loved to have a good time, how you never judged, how you rolled with the punches, your strong work ethic, how you were well liked and loved, your diverse and awesome taste in music, and how you always made people laugh.

You were so well liked, and as a friend put it best, we all had a "Greg Moment." Remember the time we worked Jennifer's Body? When the lady in the theater made a loud "eyyyyeeeeee!" in a quiet theater because she thought something scary was going to happen, but nothing did. Oh, we couldn't stop laughing! For weeks, every time we saw each all we could say was "eyyyyyeeeeee!" Remember the stories we kept making up? "eyyyyeeeeee!"like an old lady walking barefoot on gravel, or "eyyyyyyeeeee!" like an old lady being pinched, or "eyyyyyeeeeee!" like your grandma getting splashed by cold water.

You had a good heart, Greg. All of us here will miss you so much. Rest in peace.

The Crafty Chica, Herself...

2010-07-09T15:33:00.008-05:00

Author Kathy Cano Murillo was at a book signing at locally owned studio/boutique Tres Rebeccas. The author was super sweet and kind enough to pose for a few pics with me!

Being a bit of a crafty chica myself, I was very excited to meet her, and naturally I already had my own copy of one of her books, Art de la Soul. I'm above holding my newly autographed copy while Kathy is holding up her new novel, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter. Her second novel is set for release later next year. Please excuse my shiny face, and frizzy hair... it was very humid.

Kathy is the author of about a dozen books relating to the Chicana-Crafting culture. My favorite of her books is the one I got signed and shown above. In, Art de la Soul, Murillo mixes colorful (and most importantly, GLITTERY) how-to's with humorous first hand accounts throughout the crafting world. Embedded between every tutorial is an excerpt from DIARY OF A CRAFTY CHICA in which she recalls crafty inspirations, revelations, and even nay sayers.

While Murillo's inspiration is clearly drawn from the Chicana Culture, I truly appreciate how she encourages crafters to think outside the crafting box. It's so easy to strictly mind the packaging and labeling of crafts, but you may be pleasantly surprised at what you can create by going to a hobby store you've never been to, or even the hardware store. This notion is wonderfully articulated in her DIARY entry, No Crafts!

While this book is a few years old, it's one I highly recommend to bring out your inner "crafty chica!"

Clothing from B.Link

2010-07-07T14:32:00.008-05:00

Over the past few weeks, I've been sewing quite a bit. I've mostly been working on dresses. One of my favorite styles comes from converting vintage men's shirt into strapless summer dresses. Below are two examples of what I've been working on.

The one featured above is an XS, while the blue one below is a M/L. Both are very comfy and feature an elastic gathering in the back.

I've also been making other dresses from scratch too, and not just relying on the lines of old. Below are two items I've made especially for me. the first is a simple grey sheath dress that looks great on me, especially when paired with a cardigan. I just made the dress last night, and didn't have a chance to iron it.

This last one I think is my favorite simply because it's the most versatile. I personally use this one as a cute nightie, however it can also be worn as a casual dress or as a cover all for summer attire. Better yet, it's one size fits most. The model shown below is a size small, but I have one just like it for myself, and I'm an XL.

So far all of these are mere prototypes and the patterns still need a bit of perfecting. As items are completed, I will be having them on display and for sale in store. As items are finally perfected, I will be adding them to my Etsy page.

Coming Soon!

2010-06-01T16:42:00.007-05:00

In addition to what I've got on my day to day plate, I've also been helping plan a few events.

The first is our monthly Alamo City Handmade meeting on Sunday, June 6th. We've decided to make this one a little different and more of a pot luck/craft swap social, and as always, the meetings are open to anyone who loves all things handmade!

The second event is coming up pretty quickly too. Its Etsy's Craft Party night on Friday, June 18th. For this I'm planning lots of simple crafts that cover various mediums. The cool thing about this one is that for the top 50 largest parties, Etsy will be sending special craft kits, and believe me, I am trying my hardest to make sure that we get into that top 50!

Make sure you RSVP to this event to make sure we stay within the top 50, HERE. Even if you are a "maybe," go ahead and RSVP so that we can get an idea on how many to accommodate for.

Both the San Antonio Etsy Craft Party and monthly team meeting will be held at Sew Deluxe.

And lastly is the Alamo City Handmade Team's, Dia De Los Craftos. Last year's event had a few unexpected hick-ups, however we are starting the planning on this much earlier and I 'm sure that it will go a lot smoother. Look for the event to be held on Saturday, October 30th. The location for this event is still up in the air, but we do hope to solidify a location by mid month.

Ride Andy Ride!

2010-05-28T15:52:00.003-05:00

My good friend Andy is currently cycling across the US. The photo below was taken yesterday of him and traveling mate, Andrea by the local paper while stopping in Parkersberg, WV. Read the full article HERE about their journey so far.

Forecasting

2010-04-01T14:34:00.003-05:00

I've been open for over a year now, so I figured it was time for me to start comparing numbers and creating ratios based on figures over the past year.

Again Google Analytics is a great (and free) tool that helps in all of this. Overall, the simple conclusion to all of this is views. The more views I get (especially when it comes to Etsy) the more hearts I get, the more hearts I get, the more sales I see.

As a result, I think I'm going to continue to purchase various showcases to instantly draw more people in, but in the next few months it should be interesting to see the comparisons in views by using Facebook and Twitter. So far, I have seen a significant increase when using these sites to promote individual new items. One new thing I am going to be throwing into the mix in the coming year is more networking. Again, I'm excited to see how that one will pay off.

Etsy Fort Worth

2010-03-27T14:56:00.004-05:00

Our friends up along I-35 with the Etsy Fort Worth team are going to be hosting a craft bazaar come this September. Click HERE for more info.

There are a lot of ways to take part! Applications are up for both vendors and sponsorship, and promo items are needed for goodie bags. These promo items make for a great way to promote yourself and your craft.

Almost Here

2010-03-23T13:21:00.003-05:00

Only 2 1/2 weeks till the Urban Street Bazaar in Dallas!

I will be there and so will about 50 other artists, designers, and crafters. Find out more about the bazaar HERE.

Karma

2010-03-19T13:35:00.006-05:00

It's really funny how Karma works! I featured this great purse by AlisonBerrett in my treasury a few days ago, and yesterday it was featured on the front page of Etsy.com

Here is what the rest of the front page looked like...

Here's where the karma kicks in... last week I created a treasury which featured Alona Lahav. She in turn featured me in her treasury which got picked up as the Front Page feature on Etsy. A few days later, some of my new treasury picks were picked up for the Front Page yesterday! Pay it forward people, pay it forward.

Front Page!

2010-03-16T13:22:00.003-05:00

My "Forever - Petite" ring was featured on the front page of Etsy.com in the wee hours of the morning today. Special thanks to Rafya for creating the great treasury!

Friday is here...

2010-03-05T17:34:00.006-06:00

... and work is on my mind. First Friday is tonight, and B.Link will be open till about 9 for any passer by's that would like to come in, look around, and buy some things.

Tomorrow is our monthly Alamo City Handmade meeting and supply swap at Sew Delux. All are welcome to attend.

Rings and Things

2010-03-03T14:25:00.003-06:00

When I first opened my store, I had very few rings in stock, however the ones I did have were a bit on the petite side. Most were of size 5-7. The average ring size is about a 7.5

After some feedback upon opening, I then started to make larger rings ranging from 7-10 to better suit some of my customers, but a funny thing happened this week... with all of my smaller rings phased out either by selling or being revamped, several customers have been asking for smaller sized rings. This is the first time that has ever happened.

This Friday is First Friday in lovely Southtown, San Antonio, and for all of the customers that are planing to make a return to B.Link this weekend, I've been working hard on creating a wider variety of sizes of rings. Maybe even a few brand new designs too.

Pastel Ruffles...

2010-02-25T13:10:00.004-06:00

... is the title of the Etsy Treasury that my "Zip-It Headband" was featured in.

Take a look at the treasury, click on the other lovely items, and leave a comment or two :)

Spring Palate 2010

2010-02-20T14:04:00.005-06:00

A short while back, I commented on the color Turquoise as the number 1 color to look out for this coming spring. Pantone, the leader in the color industry, also reported last fall on other influential colors that will popping up this season, and here is what the palate looks like.

What we see are bold colors mixed in soft neutrals and pastels. Read more about the color forecasts HERE, and in the meantime, take a look at these items that seem to resonate the Spring palate.

lavender fields hair pins

which way to go abstract painting

messenger bag

la mexicana earrings

turquoise link bracelet

More Mardi Gras!

2010-02-19T12:53:00.004-06:00

My headband was featured in another blog today... check out the other colorful goodies at Memories For Life Scrapbooks.

Thanks to everyone lending a hand in getting the word about my store out!!!

Resource Guide Vol. 1 - Jewelry/Beading

2010-02-17T15:29:00.009-06:00

Recently, the question was asked, "Where do you get your stuff?" As far as beading and jewelry making goes, here is a list of places in the San Antonio area that may be helpful. Now we all go the big craft chain superstores, like Michael's, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's, etc., but in order to give your creations and extra bit of umph, and edge, one does have to delve deeper and find that strand of beads that no one else is going to have. Here are a few places that may lend a hand in that:

Local Bead/Jewelry Suppliers:

Beads Plus - beads and findings

2109 San Pedro Avenue

San Antonio, TX 78212-3318
(210) 733-1772

Rainbow Jewelers Supply - findings, boxes, tags, hardware, supplies, lost wax, sterling/GF wire

2109 San Pedro Avenue

San Antonio, TX 78212-3300
(210) 735-3366

Both Beads Plus and Rainbow are located in the same building. Beads Plus is located on street side, while Rainbow is located on the floor below. Most supplies are pretty reasonable at Rainbow. They have got a wide variety of different gauge wires that sell by the foot and by the ounce.

Tres Rebecca's - Studio, beads, tools, notions, fabric, retail... overall interesting place.

711 S. St. Mary's

San Antonio, TX 78205
210-224-5733

Tres Rebecca's is one of those places that you go to in order to get some inspiration. There is a little bit of everything in there. Plus, they are just a few doors down from me!

Originals - beads, retail

555 W. Bitters Rd., Ste 108
San Antonio, TX 78216
210.490.ROCK (7625)

418 Villita St, Bldg 700
San Antonio, TX 78205
210.226.ROCK (7625)

Originals has got two San Antonio locations. One in historic La Villita in downtown, and the other in Artisans Alley in the north side of San Antonio.

Ann Pearce Jewelry - beads, retail

1826 Nacogdoches Road
San Antonio, TX 78209-2216
(210) 656-2745

I was first introduced to Ann Pearce Jewelry at a bead show. The selection of her beads were quite unique.

Bitter Creek Designs - beads, findings, supplies, and retail

17711 IH 10 West

Bldg 700 Suite 104
San Antonio, Texas 78257

While at Bitter Creek you will find an impressive selection of beads and findings, they are pretty pricey. Bitter creek is located in the Rim Shopping Center near La Cantera.

Mica Jewelry and Beads

Ste 111, 2838 N Loop 1604

San Antonio, TX 78232-1713
(210) 651-3050

Area/Online Suppliers:

Beadstuff.com

You are most likely to see Doug and Pam Larson at traveling bead shows in the surrounding areas. They have got a wide and impressive selection of glass, Czech, and crystals. They are located in NW Austin, and you can browse their collection online, or in person by appointment only. I first became acquainted with the Larson's while in college, when I would sneak off to their home between class to spend my work study money on some of their fabulous beads. Very helpful when I was new to the beading game.

Nomadic Notions

The one in SA has just closed, but the one in Austin is still kicking. I worked at the Ausitn location all throughout my later years in college, and it remains very dear to my heart. While pricey at times, they do carry a great selection of semi-precious stones and lots of sterling silver findings.

PMC123.com

Located in the NE side of San Antonio, you can call to set up an appointment to check out their stock. Sherry Fotopolis offers classes and the best quality of supplies when it comes the craft of precious metal clay. I make a trip over to her place about every other week or so.

AdrianasBeads.com

Chain Stores:

Beads 2 go
Hobby Lobby
JoAnn Fabrics
Michaels
Hancock Fabrics

Touring Gem and Jewelry Shows:

Now If you are serious about jewelry making, then these shows are where you really want to go. The prices are either near or at wholesale and the quantities are immense. Now, most of these shows (especially at the Live Oak Civic Center) are open to the pubic. The bigger ones will usually have restricted areas for wholesale only, which means that you will have to show a business card and tax ID certificate in order to enter. The Parker Trade show listed below is wholesale only and NOT open to the public. Here is a list of upcoming shows and their dates.

San Antonio Bead Market - thebeadmarket.net

February 27-28

Live Oak Civic Center

Parker Trade Show - parkertradeshow.com

March 19-21

San Antonio Event's Center

(near 410&Marbach Rd.)

International Gem and Jewelry show - intergem.com

March 19-21

Palmer Events Center

(downtown Austin)

Southwest Gem and Mineral Show - swgemandmineral.org

March 20-21

Live Oak Civic Center

San Antonio Bead and Orniment Society Bead Bazaar - sabostx.com

May 1-2

Live Oak Civic Center

More installments of our resource guide are coming, but if you feel I left anything out of the Bead/Jewelry guide, let me know, and leave a comment! Happy Beading!

-Brandy

blinkdesign.etsy.com

Texas Exposure

2010-02-17T14:40:00.003-06:00

As mentioned in my blog yesterday, myself and fellow San Antonian were featured in Etsy's very popular Storque blog. I am still literally amazed at the amount of exposure it actually produced! And by the way, I LOVE google analytics. Earlier this morning, I logged on to check all of my traffic stats for blinkdesign.etsy.com and this was one of the headlines I saw for yesterday due to the Storque's blog:

705 visits came from 53 countries/territories!!!

All in one day!!! This is still amazing for little ol' me. I am happy to say that this did result in a handful of online sales too.

As Featured in the Etsy Storque...

2010-02-16T14:01:00.004-06:00

While I am always happy to notice in influx of views to my online store, sometimes when I notice that there are "too" many views, there is a bit of "what's going on here" whispering in my head. Such was the case today... I was marked as a favorite by about 9 different folks within an hour or so! Turns out Etsy featured my "Mardi Gras Headband" in their blog about the upcoming events and style of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Read their blog HERE.

It is also really cool that another fellow Alamo City Handmade member was also featured in Etsy's blog yesterday too!!! Congrats to Jennifer over at Abby's Attic. Check out the blog featuring one of her cute dresses HERE.

Book Review: Crafty Superstar

2010-02-11T22:32:00.006-06:00

I am a bit of an addict when it comes to buying books and magazines, especially when it comes to crafting. I have never taken a class to learn any particular craft, but rather, I learned everything I know from reading. I love the idea of having a reference at my disposal at any time. This particular book I'm reviewing is different from most craft books or zines in that it talks about the ins and outs of crafting game like selling online, in craft stores, at craft shows and expos, and how to be an overall crafty sellout... but in good way.

Crafty Superstar by Grace Dobush was released last year in 2009, which means much of the information and resources given in the book are still extremely relevant and up to date. Now will it still be the case in a year or so; that remains to be seen. This book is an attempt to answer the question of "now what?" that many crafters ask themselves after they see a certain bit of popularity grow in their handmade goods. It gives different scenarios for the part time crafter to the more entrepreneurial full time crafter. One particularly handy section is in Chapter 3 where, Dobush talks about the different avenues of selling you goods, such as creating a personal website, Etsy.com, consignment stores, craft shows, etc. For each avenue she specifically talks about the pros and cons of each, how each one typically works, and a bit of extra advice for each one so that you can optimize exposure and ultimately sales.

There are checklists and great color photos galore throughout this book, but what seemed most useful is the information given in Appendix A-I. There, Dobush lists popular craft blogs, craft friendly publications, listings of small business resources (most of which are free), and even major indie craft shows throughout the North America. It is here she also includes a breakdown on the sketchy and sometimes controversial topic of pricing your handmade goodies.

One of the most compelling things I found about this book was Dobush's acknowledgement of what today's crafter goes through. She talks about how to deal with bad online customers, haters blasting you in cyberspace, rejection from juried craft shows, snubs from cheap buyers and copycats. While making these acknowledgements on a personal level, she still makes sure to recognize the legalities and necessary bookkeeping of a new and budding independent craft business.

While this is not the first "how to" book on selling that I've picked up, it is the first that I've thought to be both practical and relevant to my selling style. One very dated book I picked up several years back stated that one should take as many opportunities as possible to get out there and sell, so at the time I did. I signed up for several bazaars and church craft shows, and then figured out that they were a big waste of time, money and effort, mostly because I wasn't selling to my target market. One of the things I like about this book is that while it points out that you should love what you make, you should still not forget who you are making it for, how much is your target market is willing to spend, and especially WHERE to get a hold of your target market.

Now, grant it, the majority of this info is available for free if you look hard enough and spend hours and hours delving in for your self, but the beauty of this little book is that, Dobush has done all of the hard work for you and with the help of many other successful crafters which are quoted in the book. For the many crafters out there that are ready to take their handmade game to the next level, then this book is for you.

B.Link says: Get It!

Crafty Superstar by North Light Books

By Grace Dobush

SRP: $17.99

Changes at Etsy

2010-02-10T15:41:00.003-06:00

HERE is a new post on some subtle changes over at Etsy.com

While I think they are a great start, more still needs to be done about giving a more balanced way to promote sellers on Etsy. I've been lucky enough to have been featured on the Front Page a few times in the past year, yet it's a little disheartening to see the same seller on there every couple of weeks or so.

New Packaging!

2010-02-09T14:43:00.005-06:00

I've always believed that my products were made of the highest quality, yet they lacked extra UMMMPH! In hopes of adding some pizazz, I've come out with some new packaging for all of my products.

All of my items will now be wrapped like this whether buying in store or purchasing online. The whole thing was relatively easy and completely done at home with regular crafting tools, and a color printer. Also, this was all done on MS Publisher. Here is a list of items I used:

Colored Cardstock
Spray adhesive
1/8 hole punch
1/16 hole punch
Large edge trimmer
Scissors

While a bit time consuming, I couldn't be more pleased with how the items turned out. Luckily my sister give me a great jumping off point when it came to overall style and logo design. After that, there were so many options.

New Treasury on Etsy

2010-02-01T22:24:00.002-06:00

My burgundy headband is featured once again. Lots of soft pinks and burgundy... oooohhhh.

Check out the full treasury listing HERE.

Blog Love

2010-01-31T23:20:00.002-06:00

My headband was featured in Cassandra's blog today. Looks like turquoise will be hot this year.

J.D. Salinger...

2010-01-28T14:02:00.002-06:00

...died yesterday. I was given one of his books by my 7th grade History Teacher. He was the first adult I had ever met that didn't talk down to me like I was a child, and the first adult to give me anything outside of my family.

I asked him to be my "Spirit Teacher" during spirit week at school, and while other teachers gave their spirit students bags and baskets of sodas and snacks, I got a book. While totally unorthodox, I wasn't too surprised. He was always a bit quirky, but then again, so was I; especially at that age. He explained that spirit week at our school happened to land in the middle of "Banned Book Month" and that this particular book was on many banned book lists throughout the country since it came out in the 50's.

I read the book, and liked it a lot. It was a paperback copy of, The Catcher in the Rye. While all of that angst of not fully being understood, and questioning the validity of the personalities all around me hit very close, my 12 year old Latina brain couldn't help but think, "Wait a second... this kid is an upper class white boy that is able to travel freely. What the hell does he have to be bitter about."

A big part of me still thinks that about, Holden, but nevertheless, Salinger's words did have a big impact in my adolescent life. The words seemed to have met me at the crossroads between youth and young adulthood, naivete and the burden of knowledge, and conformity and self awareness. Thank you Mr. Alexander, and thank you Mr. Salinger.

Held Captive

2010-01-26T14:17:00.004-06:00

It is amazingly pleasant outside today! partly cloudy, clear blue skies, 67 degrees and nearly no humidity. The large windows of my shop keep reminding me of how awesome it is out there, however I am cooped up here... working, updating, posting, etc.

My hubby bought me a cool vintage cruiser yesterday, and I would love to take it out and have a picnic somewhere. sigh...

If tomorrow is as nice as today, I might have to take a "sick" day.

Hello, Goodbye.

2010-01-22T14:09:00.005-06:00

Hello to my 1st sale of the new year from my Etsy store. Here is a look at the new lucky item:

If you like this scarf too, then don't worry, I've still got more available. Click HERE to inquire about a purchase.

But just as I made the sale online, my sister was getting ready to leave my store. She will be leaving tomorrow afternoon to go back to San Fransisco, after a nearly month long stay of helping my family out during my grandma's passing. It will probably be a while before I see her again. I do like having her around though, because she is one of the few out there that thinks on the same creative level as I do.

Adventures in Stitching

2010-01-20T14:20:00.005-06:00

I do a lot of crafts, but needlepoint and embroidery stitching isn't something I am too familiar with. Last night, I decided to get a few supplies and books on the craft, and this is what I came up with.

All of these were done free hand and keep in mind that all of these are rough drafts of what is soon to come, but for my first stab at needlepoint, I don't think the designs came out half bad.

A cute little birdie silhouette.

My ode to Frida. That's her brow in the middle.

An old timey bicycle.

boys, boys, boys.

2010-01-19T16:32:00.004-06:00

Valentine's Day is about a month away, and while it usually marks the time of year when retailers looked like they've been vomited on by a bottle of pepto bismol, clearly appealing to the female market, I ask, what about the boys? Here are a few items your male valentine may appreciate.

This awesome belt is made from old bicycle tires from julienjaborska.

This great long sleeve tee is by elementalshop.

And this is one of my "Boyfriend" scarves.

Crafting on the Road

2010-01-18T02:15:00.006-06:00

Right now I am heavily thinking about taking my show on the road at some indie craft shows. There are a few I am heavily considering... one in Dallas, and another in San Francisco. I've got friends and family in both towns so I figure it may be pretty convenient. Now that my life has simmered a bit, hopefully I can get my act together and apply for these events on time.

Contest

2010-01-16T15:22:00.003-06:00

Here is some info about a contest up for grabs by a fellow Etsian. Her photos are quite beautiful. Click HERE for more details. A fantastic way to spruce up your domicile for the new year!

Here is one of my favorite photos by Sara Norris:

New Year.

2010-01-15T15:36:00.003-06:00

In the past month... I've gotten married, entered the last year of my twenties, and experienced the passing of the woman who helped raise me, my grandma. Yeah, a lot to take in, in less than 21 days, however it is time to start working again. I haven't made much of anything in nearly a month, let alone posted anything for sale, but all of that is soon to change.

This past year was a real eyeopener in terms of how to run my business, and giving me an idea on what direction I would like to see it go into. It has also given my a clear idea of what my style is, and more importantly, what parts of my style people are interested in buying.

This month also marks the one year anniversary of my Etsy store (www.blinkdesign.etsy.com), and as part of commemorating this event, I'm offering free shipping on all items until February 8. While I have done a clean sweep through my online store, many, many more items are to come in shortly, so stay tuned. Also, don't be surprised if you see me at random craft shows all over the country. Here's to the new year!

New Changes Coming Up

2009-12-09T19:56:00.002-06:00

Around the time of the new year, there will be several updates made to B.Link. All will be great! The changes will mostly involve new layouts to this blog, b-linkdesign.com, and blinkdesign.etsy.com

Stay tuned for the new updates!

Lazy... Never!

2009-12-04T05:14:00.003-06:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged in nearly a month. It has also been a while since I've added anything new to my Etsy page. Despite how it may seem, I haven't taken a break of any kind. I've still been creating, and I plan on finally adding all of my new items over the next few days, so be on the lookout for lots of great new finds. Here is an idea of what I've been working on...

As a little added bonus, I am offering $2 shipping on all orders worldwide on my Etsy page. Visit www.blinkdesign.etsy.com for more details! Holiday shipping will only be available till December 15, when my site will me on vacation mode.

Goodbye Flu, Hello Work

2009-11-08T01:39:00.002-06:00

So, I've been out of commission the past few days. I was pretty scared that I might have gotten H1N1. So not the case! Due to lots of rest, liquids, and Day/NyQuil, my temperature has stabilized, and I'm felling pretty good again. Now that I'm better, I've got quite a few orders to fill out.

With cooler weather...

2009-11-04T12:20:00.004-06:00

... comes warmer clothes. Knit items will be making a return to B.Link. While most of the country is feeling Autumn or even Winter like weather, It is sunny and 74 degrees outside my store window. Not exactly the right kind of motivation for making thick cozy knits. Nevertheless, you will be seeing more and more of them in store and especially on my Etsy store very soon.

Full Steam Ahead!

2009-11-03T13:19:00.004-06:00

Things are looking pretty rosy for B.Link. Online sales have increased dramatically, as well as online traffic. Sales continue to be steady in store in Southtown too! Not really sure how to explain this unexpected upturn given the current state of the economy. My only explanation is that given the financial states of many, I think they want more for their money, and are looking for more meaningful ways of spending it, especially if it is for non-essential items, such as mine.

Continue to look for new items daily, and more great holiday gift ideas here!

A new batch of business cards just came in, and I plan on doing a bit of gorilla marketing, so don't be surprised to if you see something from me randomly pop up.

My Inner Band Nerd

2009-11-03T03:20:00.004-06:00

State marching band competitions are held today here in San Antonio. Oh, how I remember those fun times!

This has really nothing to do with making anything other than marching band music :)

Happy Dia De Los Muertos!

2009-11-02T13:19:00.003-06:00

Today is the last of a very eventful weekend. A procession celebrating the dead will take place this evening downtown, and will make a stop at B.Link. Hope everyone had as much fun in the last 3 days as I did!

Treasuries Gallore!

2009-10-29T15:14:00.002-05:00

I'm currently featured in three Etsy treasuries right now. Two of them feature the Alamo City Etsy Team, and the other just likes my hair clip.

Find one list HERE.

Another list HERE.

And the last list HERE.