Featured on Style Spy Girl!!

StyleSpyGirl just published a feature on the RAWartists Show in June; with some great shots of my jewelry, the battle-axes from the runway show & more :)  

Summer is Hot, but RAW is HOTTER!!!

With photos by Alysha Kautz

Have you heard about the latest arts & entertainment event to hit this town? If you haven’t been to a RAWartists show yet, you definitely have to check it out! If you HAVE been to one, then you know how unforgettably entertaining they are, and have already bought your tickets for the next one!
It’s only $10 per ticket, for an amazing night of art, music, fashion, and fun, and you get to specify which artist your dollars support!
What is RAW? According to their website, RAWartists’ mission is “to provide independent artists within the first 10 years of their career with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity.”

This is happening all over the country, with live, incredible shows every month! It’s a dream come true for new & emerging artists of all genres; it gives them the opportunity to showcase their talent in a fun, party atmosphere, surrounded by their friends, the artistic community, and hundreds of appreciative fans!
Oh, and did I mention how FUN it is??? A night of inspiration, artistic expression, and partying with tons of cool people, all for less than the cost of a movie ticket – AMAZING!!!  read the full article here

Great article; thanks so much for including me :)

Amber

New Hair Accessories: coming soon :)

I made these hair clips for the the Bourgeois Chic Fashion Show a couple weeks ago: love them!  I just wanted to share: I'll be working on more designs to list on the shop soon :)

Salvaged copper wire that was pounded into shape with a hammer (good for taking out your frustrations ;) and old key, & feather accents.  The key & copper are soldered to the large silver hair clip.

this is the back of one : )  Perfect for an up-do or just clipped into long hair...

Another; with big, long pheasant feathers; too much fun!

And, I couldn't resist adding some sparkling crystals to this one... :)

These will be seen on the runway at Boise Fashion Week--details coming soon.  Also to be seen: copper tiaras, more feathers, & some new big necklaces: will post pics soon!

Look for all these soon on my Etsy shop; and see the in person at upcoming events: check the events page for the list: it's going to be a busy summer!!

Amber

New Colored Metal Wedding Bouquets

Just back from the powder-coater: alternative bouquets in color!

This was a special request from a bride; she wanted blue & black with silver accents, so I took out 5 plain aluminum bouquets & told the powder-coat guys to experiment: they gave me 3 options for the blue/black & then got creative with the others :)  

Of course they would do a BSU themed color scheme, lol :)  

This is my fav of the silver/blue/black colors :)

I was so impressed: they even added an overlay of metal-flake (aka sparkles) for the finishing touch :)

To be honest; I was pretty hesitant to get into colors: as I prefer the look of the real metal, but I must admit; the color options are a lot of fun.  And I'm comfortable with the powder-coat finish as it's super durable: not going to flake off or fade like a spraypaint would: I know the colors will last for years & years :)

I'll definitely be offering the option from now on; would love to see a candy-apple red, or lime green/turquoise!!

Just wanted to share :)  These are available on my Etsy shop; click the shop page above to see :)

Amber

Carnevale--Artist Applications Open: join in the fun!

Carnevale is coming back to the garden this September; I'm sooo excited!  Last year was a huge success; over 500 people came to see the performances, nibble on gourmet treats, shop the artist booths & have a great time.

Artist applications just opened: we are on the hunt for the very best performers, visual artists, photographers, & other creatives to join in the fun.  Looking for face painters & fortune tellers/palm readers & fire dancers too; if you have something fun & creative to offer, please apply or contact me directly with questions, ideas, etc :)  Also, looking for local Wineries/Breweries to come out to the garden for the evening, along with food vendors, photographers, & more: this evening is really about celebrating creativity & diversity: so if you have an idea; let us know :)

Artist applications are up on the Boise City Dept of Arts & History Site:

http://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/opportunities/call-for-entries/

Facebook Event Page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/262229667210751/

This is going to be a fun event; we have some new ideas lined up for this year: so excited...  A few hints;

there will be a fashion show, there will be fantasy mini-makeovers for hair & makeup & then a mini-photo shoot in the garden, temporary tattoo booth, mask-making station, costume contest with custom awards created by yours truly ; ),  photo booth, valet parking, & performances throughout the evening....

More details to come :)

Artist applications close on the 27th of this month...

Please feel free to contact me with any questions :)

Amber

Trams

Great Charlton tram pictures this morning on the Charlton Champion blog Charlton Champion

Here's some more pictures to complement that:

and - the Charlton Champion site now includes a link to pictures of the Tramatorium http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/charlton-trams/b/20ff175e-8c90-4017-ba5b-a08600ad4833/

The yard at Feltram Way - The London County Council repair depot

Use of a special tram telephone box - a box like this stood near the Blackwall Tunnel entrance - suspect it has gone as part of an Olympics tidying up process - is it still there??

A tram arrives at its final destination at Penhall Road tramatorium

Woolwich tram turning circle

The paint shop at Feltram Way depot

Happy to add more pictures if there is popular demand!!

I AM FUSION Awards

OMG; just found out that somehow I got nominated for the IAF Awards: best local artist.   Not sure how this happened, as I didn't promote it much, besides telling my Facebook peeps that I am making the trophies...  Thanks so much to whoever put my name forward in the nominations: I am sooooo surprised & excited : )   Maybe I will get to keep one of the trophies I am making for this, lol : )

To vote for you fav local artist, bartender, model, business, etc; follow the link below & click on Start Voting: you will have to enter your name & email & then will be able to vote on all the different categories: most have 3 or 4 nominees....

http://fusion-mag.com/iamfusion/

The awards ceremony will be on July 21st at the Egyptian in downtown Boise: it's going to be a fun event, with performances, local talent, film & more.   There will even be a short video of the making of the Fusion Awards; featuring yours truly : )  Filming early next week: I'm kind-of nervous...

Tickets are available through the Fusion Awards site: hope to see you there : )

Thanks again to all who nominated me: I still can't quite believe it!

Also, a bunch of the Bourgeois Chic crew were nominated including Nena Earl (fashion designer), Aubrey Brower (photographer),  Tiffany Cook-female model, Jonathan Smith--fitness trainer, Aaron Minegar---male fitness model : )  (I hope I'm not forgetting anyone--if so, let me know)

Cutting trophy parts next week; to assemble soon: thanks so much to Trademark Signs for getting on board to help out with the finishing touches : )   Check back for progress pics...

Amber

Greenwich Then and Now - new book

Popular local historians Julian Watson and Barbara Ludlow have produced another local history picture book which we must all rush out and buy.

As ever, their comments on the pictures they have chosen is superb - and the work should be bought for that very good reason.

The Sea Witch on the East Greenwich riverside - this picture is in the book but the
reproduction above is my scan from the original

Since this is an industrial history blog we need to look at the pictures they have chosen of Greenwich industries - and since this is a general book, aimed, I guess, at the tourist trade, they are few and far between. Their picture of Billingsgate Dock - a subject which Barbara is particularly strong on - also reminds us of the Noakesoscope (a suitably obscure bit of Greenwich's past).

A nice picture shows us Lovibond's brewery - and buildings which are still with us, although rarely recognised for what they are.

"River Bank, East Greenwich' shows us Lovell's Wharf but does not name it - a pity, since many of the new residents there will not know this is a picture of the site of their homes. The riverside pictures run on down the road to Woolwich - with a view of the Siemens works from Cox' Mount and some views of the Dockyard gateway - but what a pity the Royal Arsenal is only represented by Beresford Gate - and that there is barely a mention of our ground breaking cable making and communications industries.

But never mind - this book is to attract newcomers and visitors and to give them a quick run through what Greenwich Borough was in the past and what it is now. And that it does very well.

The 'old' photographs come from the Martin collection - and it is a pity that, in what is presumably an attempt to make them look old, they are printed in a sort of bright ginger colour, which must have been intended as sepia. This includes a picture taken as recently as 1968! They are also somewhat blurred and again, it should have been remembered that older pictures are generally much clearer than modern ones.

But never mind - Julian and Barbara's input is well worth putting up with a few dodgy prints - and I am sure the book is available from all good bookshops in Greenwich, and elsewhere. Its published by the History Press, £12.99. Buy it, read it, and tell your friends about it.