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The Ryan Gosling "Hey Girl" Key Chain

I have finally started selling a new product that at this point, feels like my life's work!

I have been working on The Ryan Gosling "Hey Girl" Key Chain for so long that I felt like this idea would never come to fruition.

I first had the idea quite a few months ago but it took a while for me to get around to researching if I could have a leather stamp made that wasn't too expensive. I finally found a source and had my dear friend Lauren help me with the graphic design elements- didn't she do a fantastic job with that Hey Girl font? I think I squealed when I first saw it!

I received the stamp but it didn't work too well when I tried to use it with a leather stamp mallet- the design was too big for it to make an even impression. Back to the drawing board. I finally figured out that I could use a wooden vise to help me evenly stamp the design onto the leather. I found the leather fobs and gold hardware on Etsy and we were in business!

This key chain is available in my Etsy shop for $15. Buy it now to receive in time for Christmas!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Saturday November 9, 2013

Eastside Handmade Market

Hello everybody!

It's been a long time hasn't it? I decided to break my silence to tell you about how I am taking part in the above super awesome Eastside Handmade Market this weekend. Other handmade rockstars will be in attendance such as Cathy of California, Minor Thread, Scout Ties, and Cotton and Flax.

If you are in the Los Angeles area and not attending Grosschella this weekend, do come by and take a look, it's going to be super fun! Hope to see you there.

Eaton Canyon

Went on a crazy (for me) 3 mile hike at Eaton Canyon last weekend and it was actually pretty awesome. I need to go on more hikes around here, especially when the weather is being so great like it has been lately. I know most Californians like the tiny bit of cold "winter" we get here, but I crave the sunshine.

The House In My Head

Do you know the book- The House In My Head? I've written about it before, here.

There is something about the title that just appeals to me. Doesn't everyone have a dream house in their head? I know I do! Even though owning a home has never really been important to me, the idea of having your own space to decorate with an endless budget however you wish is intoxicating.

So I am starting a new feature on this blog- things I would have in my dream home-
The House In My Head. Today we are talking dishes. Everyday dinner plate patterns. I have two that I am obsessed with:

1. Mikasa Nature's Song
This pattern consists of several designs- the two I love are below- plates with a bright orange & brown circle and the speckled bowls. There are also gravy bowls, cups & saucers, S & P shakers, and sugar & cream sets. Available on Ebay here.

2. Heath Ceramics Spring Collection
I have long coveted anything from Heath Ceramics, and this classic set would fit into any decorating scheme and hold it's own. I have heard many an urban legend where someone finds an entire set of vintage Heath dishes at a thrift store but I have not been this lucky. Sigh... maybe someday.

Well, there you have it. Your first peek inside The House In My Head.

Color Inspo

Are you inspired by color?
Every time I see a colorful photo I reimagine it- as wallpaper or fabric- perhaps as inspiration for one of my necklaces.

Above are some photos that have inspired me lately:

1. Instagram from housewrenstudio

2. Instagram from ghostfaceknitta

3. Floss Gloss "Con Limon" nail polish $8

4. MAC's latest makeup collection- Apres Chic!

Wrap Up

{all pictures taken with instagram, follow me at crystalslonecker}

Wrap up of the holidays:

1. Awesome books I received for Christmas. I already finished the Grace Coddington memoir and it was fantastic. I have yet to cook anything from the books though. I am hoping that will change this weekend!

2. Westlake Theater sign on a stormy LA day.

3. My Christmas present to myself- geometric necklace from Voz Collective.

4. Acorn and fox ornaments from my shop.

Winter Wonderland

Look at how cute that tiny little fox head is. I just love it.

I was trying to create an ornament last year that incorporated a fox, and I just couldn't make it work so no one got any ornaments last year. Sad face. A few weeks ago I was messing around with some designs and it hit me- why not just stitch the head and put a cute wreath around it? So I did and here it is- this year's ornament!

It is available for sale in my Etsy shop and don't forget- everything (including my necklaces) is 10% off through Monday! Use the code STITCHY at checkout.

Internet Magic

Remember how things were before the Internet? Boring and factless and you had no idea if anyone out there liked the same things you did? I know people talk a lot of crap about how everyone should "unplug" and take time away from things but personally, I love being connected to others in such a creative way.

Recently, one of my instagram friends emailed me and asked if she could do a feature on the cross stitch necklaces I make and sell. Uh, yes! Could she ever! So go check it out Annika's blog, All The Live Long Day. She lives in London and offers a unique perspective on life there, as well as interesting travel destinations, crafts, chummy food, and music.

Thanks Annika!

NEW

Hey guys! I listed some new necklaces in the 'ol Etsy shop this weekend. I'm especially excited about the new glitter polka dot design- polka dots are so cute! Please take a look and spread the word!

Nailed It

Hey ya'll. You guys like nail polish? I know I do.

I seem to buy about 2 new polishes a week at this point, which may sound a lil crazy but it's my jam and I work hard (justify, justify, justify). My new go-to brand is the L'oreal polish, which has taken a turn for the better lately. It's usually $3.99, has a trendy and on-point color selection, and the quality is right up there with polish mainstays like O.P.I. and Essie. Two of my favs lately have been "Jet Set to Paris", a bright royal blue (above), and "Tea & Crumpets" (below), a perfect fall neutral which I sassed up by sticking some gold leaf on top. It was actually much easier than you probably think, I had some gold leaf that I bought at the craft store and just pulled off bits of it and stuck it here and there all over my nails. It doesn't have to be neat and orderly so anyone can do it. It's a great look for this fall! What are some of your favorite polishes?

Laurel Hardware

Lauren and I had made plans to hang out last night and when I called her to see where we should go, she suggested this new place- Laurel Hardware. She was all- "they have reclaimed hardwood floors from Coney Island" and I was all- "I'M IN". I love pretentious hipster things like reclaimed hardwood floors from Coney Island, or chocolate chip cookies that take 2 days to make, like the ones that I made last weekend. They were the best cookies ever, recipe here.

So we got there and were greeted by ridiculous beautiful people manning the front desk, asking for reservations. Uh, we don't have those. We are more "living in the moment" type people. So we sat at the bar, which was divine. Lauren got the yummy mojito type thing on the left, which is notable for the float of 12 year old rum on the top. I told her she should just drink that part and send back the rest but truthfully the whole drink was stellar. I got the yummy watermelon type thing on the right, which I loved. The drinks all had awesome hipster-y names like "The Mule's Apprentice" and "Buzz Buttons". Love that shit.

This is looking outside, where they have a nice outdoor seating area and after dark the lovely fairy lights in the trees look so inviting.

And this is looking at the bar.

We also got a yummy hatch chile, smoked goat cheese, and sardine pizza which I totally recommend but it was too dark by that time to take a decent pic. Then we had to run away home because this very nice and decent "East Coast" guy was trying to hit on Lauren but she already got a man.

All in all, it was a lovely evening and I am sure we will return to Laurel Hardware again.

Observations?

Shots lately on my Instagram

{follow me- my username is crystalslonecker}

1. Talenti gelato and "mini" rolos- don't fall for the hype, they are not mini at all.

2. Cleaning out my wallet- half my business cards are from restaurants in Portland, my old hometown.

3. Cute clutch at Target. Target sure has been hopping on the tribal geometric bandwagon, which is fine. I really wish they would hop on the affordable gold flatware bandwagon. I'd be all over that.

4. The sunsets in LA sure have been gorgeous lately. I hear rumors it's from something called "smog" but I don't believe rumors.

Polaroids, Lately

1. Me & the Strudes

2. Greenery

3. The obligatory Spring peonies shot

4. Rumchata, a delicious liqueur that sounds trashy but tastes heavenly. Rum+horchata = Rumchata!

What Is A Weekend?

Good weekend y'all, good weekend.

My friend Polly was in town to sell at the Patchwork Craft Fair (read her recap here) and we got to hang out and have tons of fun together. We ate yummy chilaquiles & cinnamon-tinged coffee, went shopping, got pedis, watched lots of trashy tv (Duck Dynasty anyone?) and topped it all off with a lot of really inspiring girl talk. Friends are the best aren't they?

Five Dolla Holla

Y'now when you get super bored at work and don't want to be there anymore?

That was the dilemma I found myself in this morning so I started thinking about my upcoming lunch break. Perhaps I would stop by the (almost too close to my work) Target store and buy something. But what? I've had a five dollar bill burning a hole in my pocket all week. Why don't I go to Target and see what I can get with that tiny amount of money and write a blog post about it, I thought. So I did! It was super fun running around the store to all my favorite sections (makeup, candy, stationery) and counting out my pennies. I ended up getting:

1. Cute gift tags with a coral design on them.

2. Junior Mints- don't you love the iconic box? I hope it never changes.

3. Neon purple nail polish.

4. Striped journal to keep my to-do lists in.

Salty/Sweet

If you know me at all, it is to know that I am obsessed with foods that are salty & sweet.

I had seen chocolate covered corn nuts on some blog recently and put them on my mental "to buy" list the next time I got paid. But then I couldn't remember where I saw them and when I googled, all I could find were ones that had a hard candy shell. That just didn't sound good to me so I decided to get on with life and make them myself. I melted some semi-sweet Ghiradelli chocolate chips, poured in the corn nuts and stirred until they were coated in chocolate, and them painstakingly separated them on a cookie sheet covered in foil. For the finishing touch, just 'cuz I'm cray like that, I liberally sprinkled some fancy times sea salt over the finished product before it dried.

OMG you guys, THE BEST.