Creative Juices

This is the first year since moving to Los Angeles that we are not traveling back east for Christmas. As great as it was to spend time in New York with friends in family, being away also caused me to miss out on most of the Christmas Sales, as my shop would close before the holiday shopping rush began. This year we are staying local by going up to Big Bear Lake, allowing me to stay open the entire time.

This presents a new challenge however. I've never actually needed to stock and prep work for the busy season. However I am so excited that my brain is constantly coming up with new and fun ideas to introduce to my customers. One of the items, is this Button Yarn Bowl. It's not just cute, it's adorable! And what crafter wouldn't love a bowl covered in buttons! My other idea in progress are pottery pieces covered in Henna designs. It's really time consuming and difficult at first, but the results are so worth the trouble. The idea came from when I planned a baby shower for my sister a few months ago and booked a henna girl to do henna designs for all the guests. Once I saw the process and how henna's color and texture resembled clay slip, I knew I had to try this on pottery.  While henna eventually dries and flakes away, leaving behind a brown design, the slip stays on the pot adding a great textural element. So far I've been throwing small dishes and plates and using these lotus like designs on a flat surface.  This week I will be moving to cups and vases.