FLORIDA SCARF

First Shipment Out of Germany

2012-02-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Ms. Jane "First Order Shipping From Germany" Doe. (I didn't get the customer's permission to use her name) I'm really excited for my first sale since the big move across the pond. I kinda thought it would never happen. I don't normally do an individual post about a single sale, but this one is special.

Going to the Post Office tomorrow is going to be another first for me. I hope it goes well. I'm fearing an impatient clerk at the counter who is perterbed by my horrible German skills and ignorance to the working of the German postal system. Although, I am doing my self a disservice by fretting already. So I'll stop. Luckily I am having lunch with a group of Germans and Americans from Post. Hopefully one of them can give me a run-down on how it works. Then I will be able to enter that new environment (where their color is yellow instead of blue) armed with knoweledge! I can't wait for the whole thing to work itself out perfectly.

Afterwards I may celebrate my browsing a local furniture store. It's an odd celebration, I know. But it is very neccessary. My sewing table is currently substituting as a computer desk. And since they are both of equal importance I can't have one. I need two. Go, Go Gadget Amex!

First Snowboard Trip! Yay!

2012-02-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning Oberjach, Germany!

Phil took this photo as we were stepping off the bus. He thought it looked cool, like there was a rocket and an explosion behind the mountain. I agree.

We had a blast this Saturday. Our snowboard trip was a dream. As I said in the journal, the mountain wasn't very big, but that made it really managable. The runs were wide, and long enough, and the snow was great. A few times we were lucky enough to find ourselves off the trail. We made some fresh tracks of our own. This is something that would be a rare treat at home on the East Coast.

It was freezing. We were really glad to both have down jackets. I, of course, had handwarmers in my gloves and pants pockets. I think the temp was -15 Celcius, not for the faint of heart. Luckily, most of the mountain was covered in T-bars. So we got a workout on the way up and down the trails.

We got a respectable number of runs in before closing the day in typical fashion... at the bar. We needed to reward ourselves for such a successful day. We had a couple of beers and an apple streudel. The bartender was also nice enough to share a local favorite with us. It's a liquor called Enzian. It is made from some local plant with purple flowers. It reminded me of tequila. As much as I love tequila (in moderation) I don't think I'll be enjoying anymore Enzian in the future.

The bus ride home was great. I got to chatting with some folks that were on this same trip. They were giving me the low-down on some killer second-hand and antique shops in my area. I can't wait to check them out.

And on the snowboarding front, we are looking forward to (hopefully) joining another trip in two weeks to Switzerland. Stay tuned :)

To see more pictures of Germany visit our FB photo album.To read more about our weekend visit the journal.

ICED OUT!

2012-02-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Yea. I'm iced out now. But not like that. Like this...

I love this! It's a commercial/music video for my new watch.
Phil just surprised me with it. He says I've been a real trooper through this move. So he wanted to express his gratitude with something bright, and fun, and useful....like me :)
I needed a watch. I don't have a cell phone, and might not at all. I have found myself, quite often, not knowing what time it is. This is my watch:

The box it came in looks like a lego, and doubles as a piggy bank. This is also great because I'm pretty good at saving money :)

Cheese

2012-01-29T03:04:00.000-08:00

This Christmas I got my mom a cheese making kit on Etsy from Urban Cheesecraft. It was really awesome, and resonably priced. It came with everything you need to make cheese ten times, except the milk. Before I left for Germnay we had a mother-daughter day in the kitchen. It turned out to be a multi-day process. This was not because it actually takes that long to make ricotta cheese, but because we were absolute failures at making it the first time. The directions were simple and straight forward. I think we went wrong in being too uptight about the process. Does this make sense to you? It was like we tried too hard so it didn't work. We never stopped having fun though. So we thought it would be a fun idea to document some of the process.
In making cheese you heat the milk until the curds and whey seperate. This never happened for us. We weren't sure exactly what it was supposed to look like. This resulted in us moving along with the directions prematurely. Needless to say, it didn't turn out. What we were left with was something that resembled buttermilk. We didn't want to waste all the milk so we decided to bake with it.

Our decision was to use it to make rice pudding. Our famliy loves rice pudding and the recipe calls for a lot of milk. It was in baking the rice pudding that the curds finally seperated from the whey. Our rice pudding looked so weird.

We were practically on the floor with laughter. Again, we did not want to waste it so we ate it anyway. It was surprisingly good given its odd texture. Unfortunatley too, the look of it reminded me of fancy feast. Good thing it didn't smell like cat food. It smelled as good as it tasted.

In the future, when cooking starts to go wrong, I think I may just (remember this day) and cut my losses. And now that my mom has that episode under her belt I'm sure she's going to make perfect cheese next time.
I doubt I'll be making my own cheese here any time soon. I just couldn't imagine making my own when I am already surrounded by such gorgeous cheese already.

Graffiti

2012-01-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

This is not graffiti from Germany. It's actually from Mt. Laurel, NJ. I took these photos when I went on a nature walk with my mom and brother before I left the US. I forgot all about them until now. I'm glad I remembered to share them. I think they are awesome. And thanks to my iphone I was able to capture them.

The last one isn't the best shot, but it is my favorite subject. I think is clever to spraypaint the wish blowing in the wind. But it is on cement and it looks yucky. The contrast pleases my mind.

I find it quite amusing that a nature walk would involve cement and paint. But in New Jersey the woods are never far from suburbia.

Since I'm on the topic of graffiti I will add that there is a lot of graffiti around Germany. (see my FB profile pic) Most of it is really good. Some of it stinks, like when people just want to write their name or a curse word.

I'm not sure where I stand on graffiti. I hate that people deface someone else's property just because they feel cheated in some way. Maybe they are mad at society and it's made up rules. Maybe they hate their government. Maybe they are mad because it is hard to share your art when you are an artist. I get it. You want people to like your stuff. Me too. But I don't really think it is fair to force it on traincars or walls under overpasses until you're famous from it.

That being said, I love spraypaint. I love the hues it comes in. I love the immediacy and permanence of it. And I love how quickly you can cover a large area with it. I use it. I am a big fan of most of the graffiti art I have ever seen. So, over it, I refuse to lose sleep. So don't be surprised, or think me hypocritical, when I post more graffiti in the future. Next time, by Germans!

Getting Settled

2012-01-22T02:07:00.000-08:00

Phil and I seem to be settling into our new life here, in Germany, quite nicely. We've only been here a week and we've found a place to live. We'll be in a suburb of the city of Ansbach. It is only a two bedroom apartment, but it is 1300 square feet. So there are a couple of large closet rooms I could turn into an art and sewing studio. I'm really excited. It is more than I ever could have expected. I think our situation is pretty outstanding as far as a military move is concerned. The average wait time on a house is more like 45 days. Any girl I've spoken to befiore now has horror stories about trying to find a place to live, and dealing with thehousing office. I feel fortunate to admit I really don't have anything negative to say. Phil did a marvelous job picking it out. The landlord and his wife are incredibly nice. They don't speak English, so it's more motivation for me to keep plugging away at my German. Our apartment is one of three. We're in the middle, ground level. We've got three porches. I am so excited to move in, which won't actually happen for another two weeks. When I do, you can be sure I'll take some photos.

Our house is on a hill top. The view of the city is amazing. Our yard is amazing. There is a lot of landscaping. I think I will have an overabundance of inspiration and subject matter for art. I'll be happy to start making things again.

I'm also all set for the Spring Bazaar. It'll be nice to sell some scarves again, and get acquainted with my community.

I feel like I've been slacking on my Etsy Shop, and my internet presence in general. I never thought that my access to the internet would be so limited. I'm lucky to have been able to use it as much as I have been. In case you haven't noticed, I've journaling our days here under the Germany tab on this site. Check it out for more recent updates.

I hope you're having a great weekend!

We're Here!

2012-01-13T09:35:00.001-08:00

Hey All. Just a quick check in for anyone curious as to how my past two days have been:

It's our first day in Germany. Thanks to a good sleep on the plane, Thursday easily turned into Friday for me. Unfortunately, Phil did not have the same luck. He went through an entire cycle of the 24 hr. bug. (I'll leave it at that.) As soon as the plane landed we were swooped on a bus headed to Ansbach. Amazing, it was a charter bus and we were the only two aboard. If it had been part of a plot to kidnap us I wouldn't have been surprised. The 3 hr bus ride was perfect for catching up on more sleep. We're finally at the hotel and Phil is napping again. It's been a long and confusing day, but everyone has been terribly nice. We even had some friends from Ft. Rucker to greet us when we got here. We were excited, and relieved, to see them. It's microwave soup for dinner and a book for the evening activity. There are flurries outside. I hope it is white when I wake up tomorrow.

One more thanks to my grandmom for getting herself a new scarf. I hope she posts another picture on her FB page to show us how it looks.

Cheers!

It's a New Year

2012-01-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

I think there's a saying that goes something like, "How you ring in the new year sets the tone for your year to come." (eloquent I am not)If this is true, my 2012 is going to be awesome. Phil and I are still moving (a.k.a visiting family for the holidays before we go to Germany)We've been so fortunate to be able to spend tons of time with the ones we love. In a few days we will move to the other side of the globe, so it is a significant time to be solidifying these bonds.My favorite thing to do in Phillytown is the Mummer's Parade on J-1. It blows the pants off any New Year's Eve Party in my opinion. Here are a couple of shots I scored at the celebration.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Philadelphia Mummers this shot is an example of the Level 1 Mummer. It's a guy dressed as a girl, with old sneakers spray painted gold. He is more concerned with cans of beer and cigarettes than anything else. The beginnning of the parade is definitely not for sore eyes.

This is a shot of some Level 2 Mummers. They have better costumes and are accompanied by a band.

But the debauchery continues...

Yes, that is a puddle in the middle of the street from you-know-what. The best part is I am standing right next to a cop as I take this shot.

Oh Philadelphia...you are a lovable city.

Here's me, my cousin, and my brother with a pretty respectical Level 3 Mummer. He, at least was chewing gum.

And just so you don't get the wrong impression of the parade; this is an example of one of the nicer floats. I believe they call these guys "The Fancies". The Fancies and The String Bands are the pride of the parade.

After the parade is when the family gatehrs at the local watering hole. In the case of my family it is at St. Steven's Green, located on 17th and Green St. in Philly. It's got a great menu, for food and beer.

This is not the most awesome shot, but I think you get the idea.

Mummer Lovin'

Who is that sexy beast?

He goes by many names...The Miz...Mizzle...The Baby...Cherry

One thing is for sure. He was born to wear velvet.

Placemats and Scarves

2011-12-29T18:58:00.001-08:00

The holidays are still upon us. Mine are still as crazy as ever. (in a good way) I hope yours are too. It's been about a week since my last post. I'm glad to be checking in.
This is a shot of the last thing I have created.

Can you believe it? This was on 11/27, that's almost a month. I haven't painted, sewn, drawn, or anything. Cooking has been my only creative outlet, and I've only done that once or twice. Moving is hard work. I can't wait to be settled back in a place I can call my own.

Anyway, these are some placemats I made for my grandma. Each placemat is a different composition of the same fabrics. I just gave them to her yesterday. They look great around the table, and it's fun to choose who-gets-what.

Being back home is pretty fun. I've been checking out my old artwork that I left here. If you guys are lucky I'll post some archives in the near future. It makes me long to paint again, so much. It'll be a couple of months before that happens though. I'll have to start focusing on photography maybe.

Here's a few shots of some scarves I've been carrying with me. I never had enough time to get them on the Etsy Shop. There are about 30 pieces that happened with. Oh well. There is always the next Bazaar. It'll be in Germany!

Enjoy your New Year. I'll be in touch soon.

Pile It On

2011-12-23T05:44:00.000-08:00

The thing I love most about winter fashion is its invitation to layer. When it's cold you can wrap as many things around your body as can fit. It's almost Christmas, I'm finally back in the North, and it's not cold enough for me to be cold. So I can't layer. And I'm pretty bummed because I packed a lot of accessories. (that I never got to wear in Alabama) So, in lieu of dressing myself in layers, I have gathered a few images of fashion layering that I enjoy. It is my hope that it will inspire the weather to cooperate. And if not, there's always Germany...

I think this one may be my personal favorite. (due to its impracticality)

Or this one. Three scarves is pretty rock 'n roll.

It's Always Picture Time

2011-12-14T08:41:00.001-08:00

Whiskey Plaid Fleece Hood $40 on Etsy.

It seems as quickly as I can make my scarves, I'm quickly behind the camera again. It's exhausting. (And quite frankly, it's making me more self concious) Gone are the days when my sister, sisters-in-laws, and friends would let me take their pictures. As I'm sure you've all noticed I've been taking my own picture constantly as of late. Not for nothin', but Phil isn't even behind the camera. I'm doin' these bad boys with the self timer. (remind me to ask Santa for a remote)

In an attempt to break the monotony of the same old poses, I decided to try shooting my own mock dance party. I know, it sounds pretty dorky, but I think the pictures are actually entertaining. Whether, or not, they help sell the product will remain to be seen. In doing this yesterday I was reminded of a time long ago when there was another Flo Sca Photo Dance Party. Remember this Michelle?

Ahhhh...St Augustine, 2008. You were such a baby back then.

Etsy Team Madcap

2011-12-13T12:04:00.000-08:00

I think I've been forgetting to mention to you...that I am on a new Etsy Team. It's called, It's a Madcap Life. The team leader is dedicated to finding, and supporting, unique Etsy artisans. I'm stoked that she found me.
In case you need any last minute gifts for the holidays, this team has a lot to offer. There are over 5,000 members! Check them out here, or by searching team madcap in the Etsy search box. The team also has a blog, and you can find them on the FB.
Do you like shopping on Etsy but are not a seller? You can join the team too if you like.
Here are some of my new favorite items from team members.

HAPPY SHOPPING

One Last Weekend in Alabama

2011-12-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

Today marks the final countdown for Phil and I. We have four days until we leave Ft. Rucker Alabama, head home, then get to Germany. The past two days comprised our last weekend in the South. (for now) To mark this occassion we partook in some typical activities. For instance, Saturday night we drove to the local Christmas lights show. It is a privately run affair. Some four neighbors, or so, decorate their houses and lawns and let us townspeople drive through. The entire route is a winding quarter mile I'd say. The above photo notes my favorite part of the display. What would Christmas decorating be without a nod to you favorite SEC team?

"Happy Birthday Jesus"

"P.S. ROLL TIDE!"

In Philly it would look more like...

"MERRY XMAS"

"HEY BIRDS - YOU SUCK"

This was my first experience with people taking their holiday decorating to an extreme. Coincidentally we went home and watched those shows on TLC about all the people, around the world, obsessed with Christmas lights. Crazy.

I guess we all have our passions.

So then on Sunday we did something very Southern. If you know Phil and I you wouldn't even believe it. We went to church! And had a good time! (Absolutely nothing against organized religion. We just aren't in the habit.) I wish I could say it was a Baptist church, but it was Methodist. Phil's aunt sings with the choir. They had their cantata this weekend. It was wonderful. I'm really glad we went. I love that word "cantata." I find myself saying it to myself now and again. I don't know if it's typical of Southerners or Methodists, but everyone in the church was incredibly nice. It was great to meet them all, but kind of obnoxious to say, "Oh, thanks for welcoming us, but this is actually our last Sunday here."

After church we tried to go out to eat. because that's what people do. At least at home that's what people do. You go to brunch. Not here. 90% of the restaurants are closed, including the ethnic ones. We settled for Chinese food, not really a southern favorite but we don't love the BBQ in Enterprise.

I will say that Christmas songs followed by a little General Tso's isn't a bad way to spend a Sunday.

So now it's Monday and I'm packing up the rest of the house. I've still got a few items left to post on Etsy, of course. And there'll probably even be a few more once we get home.

Oh, I almost forgot. I baked this weekend too. I also feel like it's pretty Southern to eat sweets. Gingerbread cookies! Except I didn't have a rolling pin, or cookie cutter. So, for your information, I made them like peanut butter cookies (where you roll them in a ball and press them with a fork) and it worked great.

Messy Princess

2011-12-08T11:34:00.001-08:00

Source: flickr.com via A Whole Lotta on Pinterest

This photograph was too captivating for me to just repin on pinterest. I had to have it on my blog too. This composition says so many things about me. I want to recreate this photo shoot on, like, my 60th birthday. It'll remind me of how I am, have always been, and still will be.

Screw it. I should do the shoot way sooner, like with scarves :)

I Just Love Y'alls Lights

2011-12-06T04:56:00.001-08:00

I woke up way too early this morning. So I decided to go on my Christmas Lights Round Up. I enjoy a good holiday lights display, and love capturing it on film even more. The problem is you get crappy photos if you take them at night. Being there predawn is key. These are a couple of shots from an R.V. park just around the corner that I've been surveying for a while.

This is one of my favorite photography activities. The last time I did it though, it was 2007 and we lived in St. Augustine. It's been a while.

Continuing in the spirit of Christmas I wanted to share this with you.

Phil is fixing his aunt's nutcracker. Isn't it intense?

And sweet? He really took his time in securing it for drying.

I hope this inspires you to dust off your own holiday decorations. That is, if you haven't already.

Have a great day!

Oh, in case you were wondering, the last day to order a Florida Scarf on Etsy and still get it delivered by Christmas is 12/12.

Apple Cider Donuts

2011-11-30T06:14:00.001-08:00

As requested:

APPLE CIDER DONUTS

Ingredients

2 red apples, such as Cortland or McIntosh
2 1/2 cups apple cider
3 1/2 cups all-pourpose flour, plus more for dusting
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
Vegetable oil, for frying

Directions

Core and coarsely chop the apples (do not peel). Combine with 1 1/2 cups cider in a medium saucepan over medium heat; cover and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking until the apples are tender and the cider is almost completely reduced, about 5 minutes. Puree with an immersion blender or in a food processor until smooth. Measure the sauce; you should have 1 cup. (Boil to reduce further, if necessary.) Let cool slightly.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in a medium bowl.

Beat 2/3 cup granulated sugar and the shortening in another bowl with a mixer on medium speed until sandy. Beat in the egg and yolk, then gradually mix in the applesauce, scraping the bowl. Beat in half of the flour mixture, then the buttermilk and vanilla, and then the remaining flour mixture. Mix to make a sticky dough; do not overmix.

Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper and pat into a 7-by-11-inch rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Meanwhile, make the glaze: Simmer the remaining 1 cup cider in a small saucepan over medium heat until reduced to 1/4 cup. Whisk in the confectioners' sugar until smooth and glossy, then set aside. Mix the remaining 1 cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a shallow bowl; set aside for the topping.

Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Cut the chilled dough into 12 rounds, using a floured 2 1/2- or 3-inch biscuit cutter, then cut out the middles with a 1-inch cutter (or use a doughnut cutter). Slip 2 or 3 doughnuts at a time into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side, adjusting the heat as needed. Transfer to the paper towels to drain.

Dip one side of each doughnut in the cider glaze, letting the excess drip off; dip just the glazed side in the cinnamon-sugar or roll all over in cinnamon-sugar, if desired. Serve warm.

Photograph by Kate Mathis
Recipe by Food Network Magazine

As Promised...

2011-11-29T05:42:00.001-08:00

Whether you wanted me to follow up on this, or not, here are some more fabulous photos from my Thanksgiving, and the day after, and the day after that.

I apologize to those of you who were eagerly awaiting their posting, it's been a long few days of packing.

Here's Phil grilling the bird. It goes on like this; bloody mary's, grill smoke, and man banter for quite some time.

Isn't she a 'bute?

Despite dinner being ready at a resonable hour, we were all pretty hungry.

Thanks to Laura's remote control these shots were a breeze :)

The next day we were back to work in the kitchen. This time it was turkey broth... and Hand Pies!

Gimlet anyone?

No, not "giblet", "gimlet."

No recipe needed here. Just get (or make) some dough; pizza, pie, pastry, whatever. Fill it with your leftovers and heat it in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes.

Top it with gravy and BLAMO! A Thanksgiving Feast all over again!

Party on Wayne!

I didn't want to leave you hanging on the outcome of the broth. Here's Phil's turkey tortellini soup.

Well, I hope by now you're satisfied. That was turkey to the third power.

Have you had your fill of pre holiday shopping yet too?

No?

Fear not. I just found out that today is Green Tuesday. A holiday shopping event hosted by Nonprofit Green America. They are encouraging us to buy gifts with the environment and community in mind.

Interested?

How about jewelry made from recycled nuclear bomb equipment?

www.fromwartopeace.com

Not interested?

Nevermind then.

And to my friend GoHeyJudy... I'll get you that donut recipe in a minute :)

The Day In Review

2011-11-25T07:06:00.001-08:00

I am happy to report that this is how my Thanksgiving started, with homemade donuts and great friends. How awesome is that? No, I did not make this gem of a brunch dish, our friends the Jackson's did. I told Sarah I was going to post this picture this morning and she laughed. I was obviously serious. In a world when it is easier to go to the store and buy them, making your own donuts seems so archaic. Dare I even suggest impossible? But when you put a lot of time and effort into something, it tastes better. These donuts were full of love and sincerity. (Sarah and Max would probably want me to stop here, so I will) Let me just say that they were the best donuts I ever had.

These apple cider donuts set the bar for the rest of the day. The food from there out got progressively more delicious, as we proceeded to have increasing amounts of fun. Look at lunch.

It is no coincidence that this looks equally as gorgeous as breakfast. Lunch was Sarah's department as well.

Our friends came over at 10:30 for brunch and stayed until 10:00 pm. Let me do the math for you. That's almost 12 hours, a sure sign of a good holiday. When you can't be with your family for the holidays...love the ones you're with. Just kidding, we don't just love our friends by default. I am very thankful for them. I will miss them dearly when we part ways in a week. We had such a great time in fact, that they are all coming back over for leftovers. The party will continue tonight with Hand Pies! Yay! For those of you unfamiliar, the hand pie is the best idea (with the most awkward name) for leftovers. I can't wait.

Laura documented the entire day yesterday, as you can see by the above photo. There is a good chance she will be assuming the same position tonight. Stay tuned if you love to hate, but really love, photographs of other people's food.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T06:52:00.001-08:00

Have a great day everyone.

And if you are interested in these pumpkins, click on them.

And if you are interested in shopping Florida Scarf this weekend, you'll get free shipping. The coupon code is SHIPFREE.

FREE SHIPPING

2011-11-23T09:16:00.001-08:00

In honor of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, Florida Scarf will be offering FREE SHIPPING on all domestic orders through 11/28. The coupon code, SHIPFREE, is to be entered at checkout in the Etsy Shop.

www.floridascarf.etsy.com

I wish everyone a fabulous start to their holiday season.

I hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful; full of food, friends, and festivities.

Mine will definitely be. It's my husband's favorite holiday. He always grills our turkey, and it's amazing. This year he's got a new recipe, Malt-Beer Brined Turkey with Malt Glaze. Doesn't that sound awesome? He's already started to brine. That probably means I gotta get off this computer and start my own prep work :)

Anyway, I know most of us start our holiday shopping after tomorrow. And it is with much enthusiasm that I encourage you to shop small. Keep it special and simple. Stay balanced. Shop a little bit on Etsy, Online, and at your local shops and boutiques. Handmake a gift or two even :)

Please visit my etsy shop now through Monday to take advantage of my offering. While your there sign up for Etsy's Seasonal Gift Email. They have really done a great job at making their site more shoppable. Wanna see what I like on Etsy? Go here.

If you are in Philadelphia, Hello World is a great place to shop. And if you are in Reading I recommend Hello Bluebird. St. Augustine? How about Simple Gestures, Mullet Beach Gallery, or The Closet? If you would like to give any other small businesses a shout go to my FB page and put them on the wall. Make sure they are open on Saturday :)

Thanks for checking in with Florida Scarf, you make me one happy turkey.

Extreme Holiday Cravings

2011-11-18T10:20:00.001-08:00

Click the scarf to see it on Etsy.

Sorry if I got carried away with the pies.

Look Who's Packin'

2011-11-17T05:31:00.001-08:00

I'm packing.
I'm packing for the eighth time since Phil and I have been together. That sounds crazy. I'm getting pretty good at it. I can't move and not get rid of anything. I reach a limit where I just can't pack the same item more than twice if I don't use it a lot. I just have to get rid of it.
Germany is different. I'm quite indecisive on many of our belongings. I'm not going to over think it though, except on maybe a few levels. Like last night...
To begin the packing process I started at the most insignificant level. The Florida Scarf fabric.
I can use the smallest piece of fabric on a scarf. Normally, I refuse to throw anything away, but I promised Phil I would get rid of some of what he deems useless. For me throwing anything away is like admitting that it doesn't have a purpose. I can't turn my back on the potential to be found in a chunk of fabric. I think this sounds really crazy, but each piece (or scrap) of fabric is like a puzzle piece. The puzzle for which the piece is appropriate may be yet to be crafted. I want to make it and give that fabric a home. It could end up on the coolest scarf I ever made. It's destiny could be to end up in your wardrobe, around your neck.
So here I sit, late at night, debating over a swatch of 1" x 3" of fabric. It's tiny and wrinkly but it still has a great image of a flower on it. I want it. It's going to be great on something. That one makes the cut, but there are hundreds more that won't. Much to the satisfaction of Phil, I will fill two garbage bags by the end of the night. Florida scarf will lose 10 lbs. in less than 3 hours. I actually feel much better by the end. More free. I'm sure there are many fine fabrics in Europe to be had.
As I was sitting on the ground in my sewing room, going through the fabrics, it was very much like reminiscing over an old photo album; like when you need to get a baby picture of your little sister to embarrass her at her next birthday party. In looking for the best photo you go through your entire collection recounting your entire childhood. I did that with my fabric. It's hard to believe that I'm still making scarves after four years. No one seems to be sick of me yet. And in the corners of those boxes I actually found a decent amount of fabric from the early days. I think I may start a scrap book. (wouldn't that be funny?) You remember different parts of your life, places you've been, customers you've had. They're good feelings. I can only hope that in closing this chapter of my life I am leaving plenty of space to build a great new chapter on the other side of the world.
I think this move is going to be great for Flo Sca. I can only dream about the new supplies I'm going to find and people I'm going to meet.

Hot Fairy on Fairy

2011-11-14T05:03:00.001-08:00

It isn't every day you get to start out a blog post like that.

I know you're thinking, "what the heck?"

Without forcing you to read any further I'll tell you. It's shower art. If you click it, the link will send you to the Ugly Baby Etsy Shop, where you can peruse this fabulous shower art.

If you want to know why I'm posting it, read on.

This season, with Florida Scarf, I have begun to develope more of an internet presence. I have found that this is going to be neccessary since I will continue to be moving. constantly. I don't know if you're familiar, but when you spend a lot of time around here you begin to make friends. It's the strangest thing to me. I have a few people, that I know only through emails, convos, and reading their blog. These people all seem quite familiar to me however and I have no problem in reffering to them as "my friend" much as I would any of my real life friends. That being said I want to introduce you to my friend Rosalie...

She might be the oddest person I know. (without actually knowing)

I met Rosalie on the internet. She hosts a great website.

Unanimous Craft is a directory of resources for crafters, artists and indie business owners. Rosalie submits her favorite resources and encourages the rest of us to do the same. It's kind of like Yelp for the crafty community.
I encourage you to become a member. It's free!

Being a part of Unanimous Craft has been great for my small crafty business. It's been a lot of Bang-For-The-Buck. Even if you don't make stuff, there's plenty for you to get involved in on the site.

Why She Did It
Rosalie was inspired to build Unanimous Craft after seeing a huge list of links to different resources that The House of Mouse posted in the Etsy forums. She wanted to make a tool that our community could use to get organized and share information. The site launched in March, 2010 with about 100 resources that were featured in Handmade Nation by Faythe Levine and Courtney Heimerl. The rest of the resources have been created by our community.
this friend of mine is a waterproof Shower Art maker, stand-up comedian and blogger who is currently obsessed with German board games, Bikram yoga and embroidery.

Rosalie is also the brains behind bARTer Sauce, an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. I'm making it mandatory for you to hang around this site.

I hope you enjoyed meeting Rosalie. She's pretty neat, huh? I thought you two would have a bit in common. Check her out on the FB too, if you want, since, that's what friends do these days, especially internet friends.

Happy Birthday Heidelberg

2011-11-11T05:21:00.001-08:00

This is Heidelberg Street in Detroit. It is the home of the Heidelberg Project, which is celebrating its 25th birthday. It is a living art installation (I say living because it continues to grow) started and maintained by Tyree Guyton.

As the story goes, Mr. Guyton came home from the war to find the street he grew up on abandoned. He couldn't stand to see it go to waste and become filled with crime. He decided to fight this grim destiny with decoration. It hasn't been easy, and he faced defeat many times, but it has been an artistic institution ever since. This one site draws over 270,000 visitors annually. It has also been an inspiration to the community, learning tool for the children, and a source of pride for Detroit.

You can read the story of the anniversary here.

I love this project. I think it is another example of the importance of art. It's not about one person's need to express themself. It's about art as a multipurpose tool; art as lifesupport.

I think Mr. Guyton is amazing. I think he takes art and does exactly what you are supposed to do with it. I am so happy for all the people whose lives he has affected in a positive way.

You can also learn more by visiting www.heidelberg.org

Interact with Florida Scarf

2011-11-08T05:08:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn't want to interact with that face? I mean mine, not my brother's. Although, he is way cuter. Maybe he should be the new face of Florida Scarf.

Ladies?

Anyway, I've recently caught wind that there have been changes in the workings of the FB Fan Pages. If you are a Fan of Flo Sca on the FB, good for you. If not go here.

If you are a fan and you want the Flo Sca posts to come up in your news feed, then you must interact with me. It is no longer enough that you have just clicked the "LIKE" button. Not to mention, I want to hear from you, we all do. I want to see pictures of you wearing your scarf, or hood. I want to hear how your day was. I am not friends with all of the Flo Sca Likers on my personal page. If you chime in on the fan page I can chat with you too...BONUS!

Suggest Flo Sca to your friends if you haven't already. What a party that would be.

Not that social? No problem. All you have to do is "LIKE" a comment/post or two.

Thanks for checking in today. I give you the "thumbs up."

Stay Warm.

Holiday Shopping....Take 1

2011-11-06T05:40:00.000-08:00

The Fort Rucker Spouse's Club Hollyday Mart was yesterday and I had a blast. Holiday shoppers were out in full support of the independant vendors who participated. I was fortunate enough to set up next to my good buddy, Katy, from The Knackatorium.

It was an incredibly busy day. I saw many of friends and neighbors, a few return customers from last year, and (most importantly) made some new frineds too. This was my only holiday bazaar this season (unfortunately) and it couldn't have gone better.

I don't normally post on Sundays, but I am just pumped about what a great day yesterday was. So let me take this second to personally thank everyone who bought a scarf, or tried a scarf on, or walked by in admiration. I appreciate all of it. I pour myself into this work, and I really strive to craft a lot of different scarves, for a lot of differnet people. The amount of sales I had yesterday was a confirmation that I'm going in the right direction.

I made a couple of Army Aviation Florida Scarves...and they're gone...I guess that was a good idea.

I met a couple of other chica's going to Germany...Bonus.

The Fort Rucker Elementary School Band performed. They were adorable. I love when little kids are playing instruments bigger than they are.

I met the coolest older woman who was a theater performer...and clown! She actually teaches clowning....Double Bonus. I could have talked to her all day.

I think I am going to need a nap today.

If you missed the Hollyday Mart, have no fear. I'm in town until 12/12.

You can also purchase items online at www.floridascarf.etsy.com

How Your Scarf Gets Shipped

2011-11-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking of buying a Florida Scarf this season?
Are you thinking about sending one as a gift?
That's great!
Allow me to share a couple of photos with you that demonstrate how that scarf will be wrapped and shipped.

Each individual item is wrapped in two pieces of colorful tissue paper. I also hand write a personal thank-you on these cool postcards my friend Laura made for the company. I also include a couple of business cards (designed by Laura) in the likely event that you are going to love your scarf and want to share Flo Sca with others.

Then I put the merchandise in a large padded envelope and give it some flair.

I ship USPS, and it takes 2-4 days to arrive in the continental US.

I do ship internationally. It is priced on a per-case basis.

I will expedite shipping at the buyer's request, and at the buyer's expense.

Thanks for doing your Florida Scarf research.

I look forward to packaging your scarves today!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T05:21:00.000-07:00

Here it is. The result of Halloween. As I had suspected no one knew who I was, but they liked my sweatshirt :)

I convinced Phil to go as a S'more. That was obviously more of a crowd-pleaser.

Oh, and the other crowd pleaser...Halloween Candy For Adults!

Halloween Brittle.

Holy Cow! Was this stuff good!

Here's the gist: Melt a pound of semi-sweet (or bittersweet) chocolate and pour it in a cookie sheet with parchment. Then top it with crumbled pretzels, chopped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, crumbled Butterfinger, peanuts, and Reese's Piece's. Then drizzle more chocolate on top to secure everything. Leave it in the freezer (or fridge) until it hardens. Then take it out and break it up. Enjoy.

P.S. you are going to have crumbs. Place them in another container and save it to top ice cream later!

Happy Holiday!

Make the Music with Your Mouth Biz....

2011-10-28T06:17:00.000-07:00

So I didn't grow up under a rock, but I never saw this album cover until recently.

I think it is so clever, and so ridiculous that it has inspired my Halloween costume this year.

I'm going to a party, with a contest. I'm sure I won't win, but I made myself a costume in The Biz's honor anyway. If for nothing else, I find it terribly amusing.

It basically consists of me wearing a decorated sweatshirt in an effort to look larger than I am. I photographed my process for you. This was in case you want to do the same for yourself. My key ingredient (besides a flesh colored sweatshirt) was iron-on adhesive I bought on a roll from JoAnn Fabrics. It is a genius product.

Here I drew on paper, with pen, my designs.

My supplies.

Here's the iron-on paper adhered to black flannel. I have traced all my feather parts.

I'm tracing the arm band.

I am cutting the parts out.

I am ironing them on.

This is a close up of the arm band and head dress.

This is the almost finished product. I am going to make feathers to hang off the armband, and also to hang from the drawchord on the hood. Oh, this hood has no chord? What kind of a design is that? Good thing I am prepared with chord of my own.

Here are the feathers I made on their own.

The adhesive seems to work well, but I sewed these to provide reinforcement. I actually sewed the chest patch down too.

So here is the finished product, the sweatshirt anyway. It is complete with the extra feathers I made. I'm not sure I look exactly like Biz Markie, but I know I get an "A" for effort.

And I also have a cool new sweatshirt. Stay tuned for the rest of the costume in my post-Halloween post, maybe Monday. I'm making Phil a costume too. That one will be my secret.

Have a great weekend!

Just In Time For Halloween

2011-10-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

Since my last post was so visually stimulating, I thought it would be fun if this one was too.

And it's pretty perfect since Halloween is coming. See this guy my look normal, but really he's got his make-up on now. Eventually you will recognize him from that Lady Gaga video.

Art Imitates Life

2011-10-25T14:20:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I just have to ask myself, "What side of the looking glass are we on?"

This photo uses no digital enhancement. Alexa Meade paints directly on people and photographs them. It is too cool. She was on the front of YAHOO! yesterday. Here is the link:
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/alexa-meade-photos-imitate-paintings-1319236464-slideshow/#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Falexa-meade-photos-imitate-paintings-1319236464-slideshow%252F1-photo-1319231555.html

I never cease to be amazed by art and it's ability to constantly challenge reality.
Visual stimulation is a blessing.

Sharing More Inspiration...

2011-10-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

A Scarf and a Story...

This is a Story of Inspiration...

2011-10-19T05:18:00.000-07:00

A Scarf and It's Roots....

This is a Chocolate Castle!

Oh and I found this other scarf on Etsy that deserves some attention:

Have a beautiful day.

Ski Equipment Garbage Art

2011-10-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is the latest piece in my art collection of mosaics made by my mom. (and Frank)

I use the term "garbage art" because the centerpiece is an old ski binding that has been indemnified. Once a binding gets too old, you can't ski it anymore and it must be thrown away. Fortunately for this binding it was designed to be multipurpose, thus saving it from the dumpster. It is also a beer bottle opener. (Because a skier should always be prepared.) When I worked at the Ski Barn, in NJ, I snatched up this piece of history. Four years later my mom has finally made good on her promise to make it look cool.

I know what your thinking. And from this angle you can see how it would open a bottle.

And since I am my little brother's biggest fan, this is my favorite part.

My mom is so lucky to have given birth to such talent over and over again :)

If you would like to get your hands on some of my mom's work yourself visit her Etsy shop.

New Style

2011-10-14T05:34:00.001-07:00

This is the Florida Scarf we are all familiar with. It is how I've been making neck warmers since 2007. This year I have decided to branch out. I've created an additional style for the scarves. They are bigger, thicker, chunkier, and wider.

They aren't as compact as the traditional version, but they are practical in different ways. You can tuck your face in it, to protect from wind. It will also cover more of your chest and shoulders. And since there is more surface area to work with, I can add more buttons and accents.

Click the photos to check it out.

Have a nice weekend.

Stay Warm.

The leaves are starting to fall in Alabama. So I'm sure it's chilly where ever you are too.

I'm on Pinterest

2011-10-12T05:26:00.000-07:00

I've been on pinterest for a couple of months now, but I'm stepping up the game.

If you aren't familiar with pinterest let me explain. It's a place where you can (virtually) go and create your world (who you are and who you would be if money and time were limitless) with imagery.

You set up "pin" boards of things you love. If you're an artist, it's like a working studio. If you not, you might picture it a lot like your bedroom in high school or college.

The great part of pinterest is that it is also a social community. You can see what other people "pin" and comment or re-pin. If you like pretty pictures it'll be more addicting than facebook.

I encourage you to check it out. Follow me while your there. I'd love to share inspiration with you.

Click the photo to go to pinterest now.

Click this photo to check out me specifically on pinterest.

Have a great day!

Painting Award

2011-10-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

I am quite pleased to announce that this bad boy just own the 2011 Army Arts and Crafts Contest in the Category of Painting!

In addition to this certificate I was awarded $300.00.

Over 440 artists entered the contest with numerous entries. The works were judged in August by a professional panel. Entries included that of Garrison Soldiers, Family Members, Army Civilians, Retirees, Deployed Soldiers, National Gaurd and Reserve Service Members.

If you are interested in viewing more of my work:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/scgeraci?ref=ss_profile

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1715890291380.2093870.1061892509&l=f8f0ac58c1&type=1

To see the rest of the winners from the contest:

https://apps.imcom.army.mil/APPTRAC

Aviator for a Day

2011-10-05T05:16:00.000-07:00

There have been a few moments here at Ft Rucker that have been REALLY fun and exciting. I try to participate as much as I can in order to broaden my (military life) horizons. One opportunity that has been offered recently is participation in Aviation Spouse Day. It's like a "field day" for the spouses of soldiers going through flight school. You know I jumped right on this. When chosen to participate you get a chance to go through a "typical" day for your spouse. (sort-of) 59 other wives and I had a blast getting to know one another while attempting to put ourselves in our husband's shoes. We went to the flight simulator and shot M16's, M2's, and the SAW gun. We also went to an initiatives (team building) course where you solve practical problems outdoors. The flight simulators were also on the program that day. I got to fly a Blackhawk :) The last place we visited was a building called H.O.S.T. It is where they train the soldiers to survive a helicopter crash over water. CRAZY! I got to meet many great people, that put immense effort into my husband's education. And palling around with some new ladies was pretty awesome too. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day.

This is the briefing from the Commander, General Crutchfield. He is the most awesome CG I've ever known. (never mind the fact that he is the only one I know :)

Turkey hunting is way more fun than enemy hunting.

This is not the simulator I was in, but it's pretty close.

Mirror Mirror.....

2011-10-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

...on the wall, "Who was this Florida Scarf made for?"

This hood would look awsome if you were wearing it.

Go Gingham

2011-09-29T05:42:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought this was all gingham had to offer:

I went and made this:

Now you want these:

And that's OK. I know how you feel. I want these:

Click on the scarf. It's for sale!

Help Me Out

2011-09-28T04:42:00.000-07:00

Not like it was ever easy, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to run a small creative business. There are more options, opinions, advice, oppportunities, traps, costs, competition....
And don't get me wrong. As I continue to explore the possibilities of Florida Scarf (and painting) I find it all very exciting and promising.
Prior to this season you could shop Flo Sca at eight retailers, catch me at five to ten craft shows, and shop (quite minimally) online. As my life situation continues to change, the biggest impact it has is on the availability of my products. As things have turned out this year I will predominantly be found online. The retailers have been scaled down to two (for now) and I only have one craft fair scheduled. Essentially, I am putting all my "eggs" in the online retail "basket". Because of this I started offering my items in a few different spots. I'm having trouble deciding who gets what, how much of it they get, and if they're all neccessary. If you are a friend of Flo Sca I would love to get your personal opinion on the matter. Where would you prefer to shop Flo Sca?
       Etsy?
                UsTrendy?
                                 Facebook?
                                                 In person? (sorry I can not provide a link that would beam you to me)

I really appreciate the feedback. Please give me your comment in one of three places:
       Comment below.
                                  Facebook
                                                 email at scgeraci@yahoo.com

Thanks for checking in today.

Girl Looks Like Boy

2011-09-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

My mom has always hated it, but I have always felt the need to dress like a boy. I like to call it boy chic. And I'm sorry mom, I totally dig this guys threads. I just wish they were on me instead of him. In all actuality, these pieces look like they were intended for a woman and not a man. Is that wishful thinking on my part? The sneakers are awesome, and obviously so is the sweater. I love the jacket and its lining. The only part I'm having trouble with is the pants. But everyone needs to have pants on. Anyway, thank you Dolce & Gabbana for inspiring me this season.

And you know I'm also digging the excessive amounts of plaid, especially as a necktie. I want the yellow one.

-Sarah G.

Perfection

2011-09-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken at the Ann Rudd Art Center.

I am reading The German Genius. Last night I was inspired by an essay I found titled “What Knowledge is Conveyed by Art?” It is about the development of a society and its influences. To give you a time reference, arguments in the essay dated from 18th Century German theory. (the concept of the mind was relatively new) Being an artist, I loved its point of view on perfection; that it isn’t a static quality inherent in some things and not others. It was studied rather, that perfection is in the force of the spirit. I wanted to share some of the ideas with you.

This photo was taken at the Ann Rudd Art Center.

Scholars had determined that there was an inherent creative energy in the mind. The word “aesthetics” was developed to describe the relationship between experience and creation. The question was asked, “What type of knowledge is conveyed by art?” It was the perception of a few that reaching perfection in your senses it is possible, but not like in mathematics. A picture or a poem was described as a sensuous representation of an image of perfection. By this definition it is achieved in the act of creation. They decided an artist is someone who epitomizes his own time while attempting to change and improve them. As I was reading, this theory helped weave together a lot of my own opinions on art, and artists that I love. To give a few examples I’ll say musicians like Led Zeppelin, or an artist like Frida Kahlo, or Jeff Koons. I know these might strike you as kooky examples, but bear with me. If you’d prefer I could think of a world leader I’d put in the “artist category, like Nelson Mandela.

This is the Art Center too.

The essay goes on to say that each creation of genius results in an expansion of consciousness, opening the path to the creation of a better world, enabling us to transcend the present. I think this expansion of consciousness happens to both the creator as well as the audience. The trick is for the audience to be receptive to what is being shown. The question I ask is, “When these opportunities are presented are we always paying attention?”There is this other guy, Mendelssohn, who says that there is a special faculty in the soul, that functions solely in the regard to beauty, enabling man to respond to it, or “know” it, and recognize it in a way that analysis never could. This further supports the notion of “perfect” but not like “mathematics perfect.” It is the soul that predisposes man to a higher culture. These arguments hold so true today. I say this because it is my opinion that science and technology, while extremely important to our society, are tipping the scale of importance.

Art Center also.

Later perfection is defined as the achievement of harmony between inner life and outer life. I think this is something we all struggle with, whether or not we fancy ourselves creative. The essay describes a masterpiece as a harmony between spirit and (human) nature. It is where the individual comes together with the general. As an artist I try to work simultaneously with both. As a human in society, who wants to enjoy my life, I work with both. This work is never complete. We’ve heard this before, but the essay states, “the perfection is in the journey.” (It is evident that we’ve been trying to tell ourselves this since the beginning of time.) “And the perfection is in discovery.” I, myself, find immense joy in discovery.

The last point I would like to share is, “Art, like history, has an infinite realm of future possibility… The future can only happen through conscious acts… It doesn’t just happen; it needs to be fashioned, fostered, and crafted.” These ideals had a powerful impact on the German intellectual history during the 18th century and after. Last night it gave me a renewed sense of energy and excitement about what I do. I love art. And the history of the world and its people will always be educational and inspirational.

So Special

2011-09-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

This is a scarf I just recently made for a friend. I thought it was so lovely, and delicate, that I wanted to share it. It is an upcycled clothing neck warmer. She provided both of the pieces. One was an angora sweater that she couldn't wear anymore because the sleeves were disfigured. The embroidered fabric is from an old shirt of her dad's from the Philipines. Her dad had passed away a while ago and she always kept the shirt in her closet. She finally thought it could be put to better use somehow. So I combined the two and turned them into a scarflette with sentimental value. I really enjoy when I have the opportunity to do things like this for other people.

This project reminds me of how, a couple of years ago, I made four hoodie hats for my aunt-in-law and her grandchildren. She had me use all of her old sweaters.

These sort of projects are so fun.

If this inspires you to desire a Flo Sca Special Order, I'd be more than happy to complete the request.

You can contact me at scgeraci@yahoo.com

or through my Etsy Shop www.floridascarf.etsy.com

Florida Sock? Tutorial?

2011-09-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

There are a few things I can't resist. One of them is ridiculous shoes, and the other is a bargain. And when they come in the same package I can't say "no." Besides, I heard the ground is always wet and sloppy in Germany. So I thought I'd need these.

Coincidentaly, I found this tutorial for cute socks. It's great for anyone needing beginner DIY projects. I enjoy making things much more complicated for myself. So, I decided to make my own socks and embellish them. The following is the results in the form of an attempt at my own tutorial :)

I got an old, crusty pair of fleece socks out of my winter bin. I identified, and traced, the three shapes that were used in their creation. I cut the shapes out.

I used the paper cut-outs to serve as my pattern. I pinned them to fleece of my choice. (I made sure the stretch of the fleece was running width-wise) I also took time to laugh at this idea. Look at those shapes. I thought, "no way are these going to sew correctly into socks that fit." I cut them out anyway. (If you attempt this you will need two of each shape for a pair of socks.)

I thought it would be easiest to pin the sock around my foot first. I wanted to make sure things lined up alright. Nope. I barely had it pinned together and I had a gaping hole on either side of the sock. I almost stopped right here. I also thought I could put a patch over it. (I love patches) Then I thought, "what the heck? I should just sew it."

I took the sock off my foot and pinned it together. I pinched it where the three pieces came together and decided to use that as my starting point at the machine.

It was much easier than I thought it was going to be. I sewed four seams. The first was around the front of the foot. The second was around the heel. The third was up the left side. And the fourth was up the right side. (Using a lot of pins to keep it in place really helped. Fleece likes to stretch and move.) If you don't have a sewing machine, you could totally do this by hand, it would just take a lot longer. But the good news is it's football season, so I'm sure you've got some extra "down-time". (pun intended)

I had a lot of threads at the point of the tri-fecta so I tied all of the threads together to add security.

And then, the moment of truth.

Would you believe the freakin' thing fit? Awesome.

Who would have thought when the bottom piece looked this bad?

So I followed the same procedure on the other sock.

They both looked great, so I folded the tops over and sewed a hem around the tops.

These look good right? I was pleasantly surprised. They only took me 45 mintues, start-to-finish. That's good for a craft project. I should have left well-enough alone. But I didn't.

I was initially inspired by the socks in the tutorial. So I had to embellish mine along the edge too. I gathered up a few things I had lying around. They included some clay buttons made by my mom, some vintage buttons, and some vintage trim my friend Tara got me at B's Yardstick.

I hand sewed the trim around the tops of the socks. I used the buttons from my mom to make decorative flowers. I didn't directly sew the flowers on the socks. I sewed them to pin backs. I wanted to be able to remove that part when I washed them.

And here she is. I think it kinda looks like a sock with an evil eye....but cuter?

They're pretty fun with the big, red boots.

In all, I would say this project turned out way better than I anticipated.

Just Shoot Me

2011-09-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

This was another photoshoot starring Florida Scarf. I wasn't there, but the shoot was fabulous. My friend Tara, from The Style Diner, did the whole thing.

I think the colors are great and I LOVE the model's hair.

It makes me wish I had a van....and awesome bangs :)

Use the link to scoot over to Tara's blog where you can see more inspirational shots from her day with Hannah. I did. They're beautiful.

This photo (and others) have inspired me to create a new page on my own blog.

Great Photos

check it out.

Thanks again Tara!

The Art World is Juicin' This Week

2011-09-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

I get my art news from www.artinfo.com

(I hope they are a reliable source because they dished some awesome scoops recently that I am about to recirculate here)

http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/38538/eddie-murphy-strives-to-fill-james-francos-oscar-shoes-the-black-sheep-of-high-line-real-estate-and-more-must-read-art-news/?page=1

Click the link and read them for yourself, but I have a few things to say.

Bhutan should absolutely not be embarrassed about images of penises everywhere. Who cares what the West thinks?
Forget the MFA in Boston. The five mill should have gone to the MOBA. That is some entertainment!
Eddie Murphy is way cooler than James Franco. He'll crush the Oscars. Just as long as he doesn't dress like he did in Raw.
Yikes.
Why is Dunkin Donuts giving out art awards? I guess we'll take the money from wherever we can get it.
I've been doing a lot of fashion stuff recently, and here's one more. I think this video is so fun. I wish it was longer.

I hope you enjoyed the Art Info link. I suggest their weekly news email. It's usually entertaining.

Other events to look out for soon/now:
The premier of The Art of Flight in NYC. ( a super-rad snowboard video)
The most ridiculous surf competition in NY, with the biggest purse ever, $1,000,000, with the biggest waves ever, hosted by Quiksilver. (this may be a slight exaggeration on my part)

Sarah & Phil Had a Little Lamb

2011-09-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

My husband and I celebrated our six year wedding anniversary this weekend. This is the token picture we took to mark the occasion. In years past we have always done something fabulous on this date to commemorate the fabulous event that was our union. This year that just wasn't possible. So we decided to stay home and cook dinner together. This would be the most logical of options given our circumstance. Both my husband and I LOVE to cook, and we do a great job.

I wanted to try something different on the grill. So we went to our butcher and picked out some great looking lamb chops. We were excited for this new challenge. Phil is amazing on the grill and I'm creative in the kitchen. We wanted to keep it as simple as possible so we wouldn't screw it up.

We made a simple marinade of red wine vinegar, fresh oregano, olive oil, and lots of garlic.

We put half the marinade on the meat, and the other half on some cherry tomatoes. We grilled the tomatoes also and put them on top.

We grilled potatoes too. Who wants to do dishes on your anniversary dinner? We kept these simple too, just olive oil, fancy salt and pepper, and fresh thyme.

Oh, we sauteed some swiss chard because we can never have enough vegetables.

In addition to topping the lamb chops (which were like little lamb porterhouses) with the roasted tomatoes we added feta cheese and red onion slices. It looked so good.

(Taking pictures of our food has become standard practice. Our butcher enjoys putting them on his website and FB page.)

The weather has cooled off a bit so we took this dinner to our romantic back porch and opened a bottle of Cabernet. It was the perfect setting to enjoy this meal. And as we sampled our fine fair.....in the fine company of the one we love....with a delicious glass of wine....and a cool breeze....and candle light.... it became apparent... that we don't like lamb.

It cracked me up. I never saw it coming.

At least we still like each other!

We wrapped up dinner with an extra helping of dessert. We kept that pretty traditional, spicy dark chocolate brownies and french vanilla ice cream. We also had a dreamy conversation about all the fabulous places we will celebrate in, when we move to Europe :)

More Fall Fashion

2011-09-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

I spent the morning with a cup of tea and perused a bunch of art and fashion websites. It was fun. I haven't done it in a while. I wanted to share my finds with you. I LOVE these outfits.

I wish I could dress like this.

How about this Jeff Koons photoshoot for the September issue of Harper's Bazaar?

I love that man.

Shaving, Mexico, and Other Defining Moments

2011-09-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Recently (like every Wednesday for the past two months) I've been catching this online talk radio show. It's called NY Brand Lab Radio and its hosted by Mary van de Wiel. This week's episode was about tapping into your creative beast by recognizing your defining moments in life. Listening to this show was great. Not only was it inspirational, but it made sense. Recognizing the events in your life that helped shape you (for good or bad) will help you have a better understanding of who you are and what you're capable of. And in my case, can help me understand this small business (of sewing scarves and being creative) that I am trying to grow and maintain. I enjoyed it so much I decided to give myself the challenge. My results are summarized below. (I'm sorry, but I spent so much time working it out, that I had to put it somewhere for at least one other person to read.) I encourage you to have a listen to the show and try it yourself. You'll be surprised by what you come up with.

Once I actually sat down and put the pen to the paper the writing wouldn't quit. Memories just began pouring out of my pen. Places... events... people... I couldn't stop. Once I had over twenty I forced myself to stop because the tripping down memory lane was causing me to use decreasing amounts intelligence in my selection of moments. Life gets long when you start to recount it. As much as I was enjoying the process, the purpose was getting clouded. (Be wary of this if you attempt the project.)

So I discarded 75% of the list and here are the first five I thought of:

Yearly trips to Mexico with my mom and sister.

This began when I was eleven and continued until I was 17. These trips were in lieu of any Christmas presents. My sister and I always had the option, and we always chose Mexico. Who wouldn't? If I wrote out all the parts of my life influenced by these vacations we'd be here through next Friday. So If I can't say it all, I won't say anything. (except that I love Spanish music, beer, tequila, tile floors, sail boats, hammocks, swimming with fish....sorry I said I wasn't going to do that)

I learned how to celebrate life and appreciate culture.

Thrill seeking with Uncle Dan.

Most memories I have of time spent with my uncle are fun and ridiculous. It is with him that I rode my first roller coaster. He took me skiing for the first time, and all the times that followed. He taught me how to jump and clear the railing at my grandparent's house. Oh, and he always used to force me to watch Saturday morning wrestling. We would wrestle during the commercials until my grandpa got mad and yelled because we were shaking everything on the living room shelves.

I developed a love for sports and activity, but in a non competitive way.

I wasn't allowed to shave my legs until I was 16.

Growing up this was really devastating, as any female could imagine. Now that I am thirty I can appreciate why my mom did that. Incidentally, I also had to wait until I was 16 to die my hair.

The same time I was granted this ability to explore my femininity through soft, smooth legs, I was also given permission to chop all my hair off and dye it bleach blond. Doing both was a bit of a contradiction of actions. This is definitely a theme I carried my entire life. I can spend a long time doing my hair and make up to then let it go to waste by putting on baggy shorts and a t-shirt.

I love anything that is an opposite, contradiction, or contrast. Nothing too aggressive, of course.

My grandmother.

I'm sorry because this is a person and not an event. But so many things that I am, are because of her. We lived with my grandparents for the greater part of my childhood. I didn't play with any kids in the neighborhood. So a lot of my early childhood memories are just of kickin' it with Gram. Again, I could go on forever here. I consider myself quite fortunate for having the opportunity to build such a great relationship with her, and my grand pop. Such things are a rarity in modern America.

Be thrifty. Sacrifice yourself for those you love. Never leave the house without looking your best.

Getting Married.

This is the absolute last thing in the world I ever thought I was going to do. My mom's never been married. Why bother? I've never really liked (or trusted) anyone else that much. It was my husband's idea. For some reason, when he asked it struck me as a great idea. I'll never know why. He thought for sure I was going to say no. I said yes and we've both been incredibly happy ever since. Obviously marriage has ups and downs. (like life) But there isn't any other place I would have rather been these last six years than with Phil. He's the man.

P.S. our six year anniversary is this Saturday.

Through marriage I've learned to think about someone else other than myself. It has taught me consideration, confidence, and responsibility.

It would be such a perfect world if all the traits I've written here are expressed through my art. This year that Phil and I have spent in Alabama is the first year I haven't had a "real job" since I was 15. It is an uncomfortable, and exciting, thought. Our time here has afforded me the ability to learn about myself and what I want. I have also had time to work on my skills and get better at my crafts. The next chapter in our lives will soon be unfolding. It will definitely be a huge career jump for Phil. I hope it turns out the same for me.

Thanks for reading through this whole post. (Even if you only read the highlighted words. That's what they were there for.) It was my intent that it be informative, slightly entertaining, and motivating for you, to in turn, focus on yourself. Sometime soon :)

Just When You Think No One Cares

2011-08-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

So I've got a friend who takes great pictures. Her name is Jen Jones. I met Jen when I lived in St. Augustine. We hit it off, hung out twice, and then we both moved. Since we have a lot in common we've stayed in touch. This time last year Jen was going to Argentina with some friends. They were going to be there to ride snowboards, run a girls-only snowboard camp, encourage recycling, and build a green house. Despite this heavy itinerary Jen brought some Florida Scarves for her friends and they took some great pictures. Cool (for me) huh?

But the point is that I wanted to share with you what these girls are involved in. They use their talents and skills to live incredible lives, inspiring girls (and boys), and bring awareness to important causes through shredding. Basically I think they prove that it is cool to care, about yourslef, your community, and your environment. There is plenty of room in this world for us all to be exactly who we want to be, and do what we want to do, without it becoming a detriment to our neighbor. Here's the video from their project last summer. (Yea, there's a couple of hoodie hats in some shots :)

As you can see by this video, all of these people have dedicated their free time to caring about our world. There are many projects for good, started by people like this everyday. If this inspires you, do some research and join a project of your own. There were a couple of websites that go up at the end of this video. They are definitely noteworthy, so here they are again:
www.thisisonelife.com
www.keepabreast.org
www.protectourwinters.org (I'm nt sure if this one was listed, but it is mondo-important)

And now if you don't mind I'd like to share the rest of Jen's photos for Florida Scarf:

That's Jen.

On a personal note, going back through these pictures and video is getting me real pumped for this winter :) You didn't know I was a shredder, did you?

Regeneration Clayworks Studio

2011-08-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

A trip to New Jersey isn't complete for me without a trip to my mom's place. She is fortunate enough to live and work on creek front property. Many Flo Sca fans are familiar with my clay buttons, which come from collaborations between her and I in her studio.

I love creating art with her in this space. It is full of, not just work to be completed, but also works from our past.

Like this number, shown above. What the heck was I thinking? What the heck is my mom thinking, to still have it hanging? At least it matches the paper lantern :)

This is something my mom is working on for me currently. (By currently I mean for the past couple of years. I guess it isn't that pressing to finish.) It is a Geze ski binding. By now you could probably say it's an antique. A while back a friend mounted it to some MDF for me. The binding doubles as a beer bottle opener. Cool, huh? My mom thought it would be much cooler as the center piece in a mosaic. I agree. Some of the tiles she's using are awesome, like the black/red heart that Frankie made.

Anyway, on this trip home I decided to grab some extra shots of my mother's wonderland to introduce you to the source of much of her inspiration. Something to find joy in if you have a scarf with some of her buttons, or one of her tiles, or boxes, or mosaics.

If these shots inspire you to take a trip to my shop, please do.

If these shots inspire you to take a trip to my mom's shop, please do too.

Treasure Buttons

2011-08-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

Today is my first day in NJ visiting my mom. She found some new cool buttons for my scarves. I'm excited to get home and use them. The first bunch are these crazy, heavy, bronze casted masks from the other side of the world. She bought them at Earth Tones in Merchantville, NJ. The second set are handmade of clay. The woman that made them is Marcia Hovland, and you can find more from her at her etsy shop.

Thanks Mom!

Hello Bluebird

2011-08-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Unless you live in the Reading, Pennsylvania area, you may have thought the title of this post was suggestive of a great retro adventure I just had full of meriment, and song, and pretty dresses, and guys, and dolls......

And in a way this is correct. I just had a visit with my friend Alex at her boutique on Penn Avenue, in West Reading. For those unfamiliar it is a wonderful shop full of colorful treats and magnificent gifts. I am fortunate enough that Hello Bluebird adds Florida Scarf to its collection in the Fall and Winter.

I have found that when you are small business, that moves a lot, retailers for your work come and go. I am thankful that with all the changes, Florida Scarf has been able to maintain a wonderful business relationship with Hello Bluebird for three years. Also, there is a mutual admiration between Alex and I, for style, creativity, saavy, and ethics. The relationship that we have established is a rarity in this industry.

When you think of a bluebird, images that come to mind are that of a petite bird, of pleasing color, and cheerful song. These are the exact same images that greet you upon entering Alex's shop. If my scarves were birds they would definitely not all be bluebirds. Some are bluebirds, and some are also close relatives, but others can be cardinals, or as vastly different as, say, a parrot. Dare I even suggest some are crows. Because of this I enjoy setting up a meeting with Alex and letting her comb through a large majority of my collection to choose what's right for her business. Fortunately/unfortunately for Alex our meeting yesterday took three hours. Yikes, right? I say fortunately because it gave us a nice amount of time to catch up, as we haven't seen one another in over a year. It is also fortunate because she really put a lot of effort in choosing the Flo Sca collection that embodies her ideals. But "unfortunately" because it was probably exhausting, and like any shop owner she had, like, 8 million other things to do that day. To top it off I was snaping shots for this blog post. I do appreciate all her effort and appreciation for what I do. I use my relationship with her as a standard for how I function with all of my retail accounts. She doesn't make me feel like she is anymore important than me, and that is so important. If life outside of internet selling was always this wonderful I think I'd throw my computer out a window :)

Anyway. There is a wonderful Florida Scarf collection (with some new surprises) at Hello Bluebird for this season. In addition to the brick & mortar located at 609 Penn Ave, you can also find the shop at http://www.blluebird.net/

If you ever get there, tell Alex I said , "hello."

You Never Know What You're Gonna Get

2011-08-08T08:41:00.000-07:00

So this is a photograph of the bottom half of a dress that I picked up at a thrift shop. I absolutely loved the print. The bottom half was obviously pleated so I thought I could make a cute skirt out of it. I am showing it with the chunk of sweater because somehow I would like to turn that into the waste band. (I just have no idea how. Send me an email if you've got any ideas for me.) This dress also caught my eye because it had matching covered buttons. And Flo Sca always needs new and cool buttons.

The colors in this print are just perfect I think.

I got right home and got to work with this fabric. I have made a couple of scarves with them already.

Here's one.

I sewed this one in my new, bigger style. I really like it with the hanging flap. It'll be great to pull this up over your face when it's cold and windy. It also makes a nice neck line when worn down.

I used the covered buttons here too.

In sewing this piece, something from the dress's tag cuaght my eye. I don't know why, I never do this, but I decided to google the garment's brand.

LESLIE FAY

A clothing business founded by Fred Pomerantz. In 1942, Fred Pomerantz began making uniforms for the women in the US armed services. The government had done a study of statistic concerning the measurements of the typical female figure, and this information was provided to Pomerantz in order to help him make uniforms that properly fit.

After the war ended, Pomerantz decided to produce a line of women’s clothing using the same sizing as he had used during the war. In 1947 he founded Leslie Fay, which he named after his daughter. Leslie Fay became a major maker of affordable and attractive dresses and sportswear marketed toward the middle aged.......

I thought this was quite interesting on a few levels. It kinda-cracked me up that the history behind this brand was not ordinary. I have looked up the brand names of some of my other pieces since, and not all are this interesting. Oh well.

And stay tuned to see if I ever get around to sewing that skirt :)

La Femme au Chapeau

2011-08-05T03:57:00.000-07:00

Isn't this classic? When you create a self portrait while reading you will look more scholarly if your shirt matches the color of the book.

Seriously though, I am reading this book I found at the library. The title and author are of little consequence. More importantly I am reading it because I liked the way it looked. Is that shallow?

It is small, and red, the copyright date is 1933, and the word Paris is on the first page. Now do you think I'm shallow?

As luck would have it I'm enjoying the book. It's been a couple of weeks since I've picked up a book. I've been focused on other things. It happens. But it isn't until I (randomly) go back to doing something I enjoy, that I remember how much I enjoy doing it.

Here is my favorite quote so far:

"I like a view, but I like to sit with my back to it."

I think this quote can mean different things to different people. For me it means that we all have different ways of enjoying how we live (the same) life.

There is also a great story in the book. (if you are an artist)

I'll give you the short.

It's about Matisse and how he and his family were in such despair when Gertrude Stein, and her brother, purchased La Femme au Chapeau. It was during the first autumn salon in Paris. As Stein writes, "There were a number of attractive pictures there, but there was one that was not attractive. It infuriated the public. they tried to scratch the paint off."

For whatever reason, Gertrude Stein loved it, this painting of a woman with a hat, and wanted to buy it. She recalls it was five hundred francs. In making the deal the purchase secretary explained that you never gave the artist their asking price. The secretary advised her to offer four hundred francs. She did, and Matisse refused. Not knowing why she agreed to the five hundred francs. She loved the painting so much, despite the public's hatred toward it. After this situation the Steins and the Matisses became great friends. What Gertrude didn't know until later was how much that purchase meant to the Matisses.

So the Matisses were on hard times. He was supposed to be in Paris studying Pharmacy, but started painting instead. He had some small early successes. (beginner's luck :) What followed thereafter would be known as a "starving artist" scenario. Then came that first autumn salon. His La Femme au Chapeau was accepted, hung, derided and attacked, and sold. (this is an all too familiar roller coaster for most of us) Matisse was so distraught over the public opinion of the painting that he would have jumped on the offer of four hundred francs, but his wife said no. This was due to the fact that they needed the money for food, rent, and winter clothes for their children. The reason I enjoy the story is because Madame Matisse argued, "if the buyers like it enough to make an offer, then they like it enough to pay full price."

As an artist this is something you know, but need to be reminded of.

And Matisse goes on to have a successful enough career and become a but of a collector himself.

On another note. Here is a painting I found. I love it. It is the craziest painting of the beach I have ever seen. As a matter of fact, I think it is rather Fauve. Don't you?

For records sake, I did not paint this, and do not know who did.

Later!

11th Annual Juried Exhibition in Ozark

2011-08-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it's been over a year now that we've been living in Alabama. This art competition in Ozark is the first thing I participated in when we moved here last summer. Phil and I have come a long way. More significantly, my art has come a long way. Like last year, this year I have two entries. The first is a chair lift at a ski resort and the second is a girl. I didn't realize until recently, but I guess I like painting girls and resort vacation themes. (maybe I should start to combo the two)

I'm sure you've seen these works before, but here are my entries.

( I appologize for the picture being kinda-bunk. I took it with my phone.)

Those of you that have seen Eat Cake before will be delighted to see it framed and decorated.

The other painting is a portrait of a chair lift at The Canyons in Utah.

The chair lift exemplifies my love of winter sports, and also that of the use of spray paint in combination with oils. I handmade the canvas it is on. It's a bear of a canvas. (for my standards anyway)

Eat Cake is a celebration of the quirks of feminity. It's a page in a chapter of a book about the love/hate relationship that I (and all women) have with fashion and society. This piece is also a celebration of the art making technique of collage, and garbage art, and the marriage of found objects.

Both of these pieces, along with many others from great artists in my area will be on display at the Ann Rudd Art Center in downtown Ozark, AL until September 23, 2011. The opening reception is August 13th at 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

From the entries I have seen so far, it will be a wonderful show to come and see. I am excited for the reception. This show has wonderful prizes thanks to the Alabama State Arts Council.

Oh, before I forget...

I took some photos of my process of making a picture frame out of garbage.

If you're interested read on, it's a semi-tutorial.

First I get a huge cardboard box and measure out the three sides of the frame.

Then I cut the cardboard on my lines. From here I fold it to make sure my calculations were correct.

Then I cover the cardboard in the most ridiculous fabric scrap I can find. Mod Podge works perfect.

Once the glue dries on the fabric frame I glue the canvas down in the center. That's when the fun really starts. I dig through my boxes of tchotchky to see what else I can find to glue down around the painting. Here I have chosen a couple of big fake flowers, flowers I constructed from old lace trim, some vintage buttons, and also some painted wooden buttons.

And what, may I ask, would a piece of art from me be if it didn't have an anchor?

Allow a few mintues for everything to dry before testing on a wall.

YIKES! Fall 2011

2011-07-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

So I don't know about you, but my inbox is getting flooded with fall fashion previews. I can't believe it's that time already! As much as I adore cool weather clothing I'm slightly bugged-out becasue I haven't even taken my summer vacation yet. It happens to me every August. This year I've decided to take it in greater stride. I've compiled a slideshow of my favorites from the looks/trends I've seen thus far. Mind you, I'm no expert in this field (of fashion) as my degree lies in painting. But you may also enjoy what I have chosen.

I just have a few things to say here.
You may have picked up on some pink and some camo. These are trends I will always dig deep to find evidence in favor of.
Thanks to Dior for that amazing blue monster of a coat with pink sleeves.
Please note that crimson lips are the perfect compliment to an anorak jacket.
The color of your sunglasses must color coordinate with your entire outfit.
There is always a place in a woman's wardrobe for mens wear and power-dressing, especially when paired with a ridiculous hat.
Sonia Rykiel really fuleded Flo Sca's fire with that pink fur and plaid combo. Awesome.
I am thoroughly enjoying all the polka dots. How sweet.
That Gaultier chick with the matching luggage is a work of art.
Double snaps to the girl on the street who created a combo of polka dots and leopard print. Ambitious.
I would like to know if that yellow sweater from Jill Sanders has the hood attached to it. Maybe not. Further affirmation for Flo.
And lastly, how can you not adore the insanity that is those mixed prints with the retro inspiration?

Florida Scarf marches to the beat of more than one of these trends this season. (I think so anyway :)
Want to see? Visit the album on the FB and let me know what you think.

Have a great weekend.

Flo & B, Together Forever

2011-07-25T05:57:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Tara Fereirra, Florida Scarf now has a fabulous array of authentic vintage fabrics, buttons, and trim to work with this season.

Tara is the most successful treasure hunter I know. Recently she caught wind of a clearance at a St. Augustine landmark. B's Yardstick was a shop full of sewing essentials in its day. Unfortunately, those days were numbered. In the late Seventies, B's closed. The doors remained shut until they recently sold the building. Everything had to go. Tara went in there and scarffed up the best of what B's had to offer, over 25 years later. Can you believe it? How often do things like that happen?It must have made for exciting shopping. I wish I could have been there. Obviously I wasn't, as I live in Alabama. Luckily, Tara is thoughtful and she put together a nice package for me. Here is what I've made from her finds so far.

I'm pretty pumped about these new pieces. It's interesting to me how different they all can be despite their similarities.As you're familiar, in the past many of my buttons have been vintage finds. I've never had the fortune to work with fabric though. It was so motivating to turn those hip retro prints into modern fashion accessories.

Here's a couple of shots of fabric that I haven't used yet, but it's on my list. Does it get any more obscure than vintage sports prints?

If you're stoked on the style of these pieces you might want to visit Tara's Blog or Website.

Later.

BAD HAIR

2011-07-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

I've decided today to provide you with an anecdote. My hope is that it helps to get you through the last day of the week. I had a realization that I found amusing. I hope you do too.

I've had this book for a long time. A good friend of mine gave it to me one year for my birthday. It's called Bad Hair. Maybe you've seen it. Essentially it's a coffee table book with REALLY ridiculous pictures. Here is an example:

The other day I was getting something out of my closet and this book fell out. I hadn't looked at it in a while so I decided to thumb through it. What I realized is that a lot of these models show off their hair in the same way Flo Sca shows off its merchandise.

Is this a horrible coincidence or what? It made me rethink my product showcase for a minute. Then I started to take it to the next level. What if I used these old models to help display scarves?

Not bad for someone with minimal Photoshop skills, I think. Anyway, I'm sure these lovely ladies don't want me spoiling their headshots with these crazy scarves around their neck, distracting the viewer from the true beauty that is their hair, so I'll leave them be. Besides, ones like this girl have their own scarves :)

And ones like this guy don't even have a neck.

But this gentleman looked a bit chilly, so I gave him a hood.

"Grow a mustache Rook"

That's all for now.

Don't forget to stop by www.militaryhomefrontonetsy.blogspot.com and vote in our Christmas In July Contest.

Tune back in next week when I'll be reporting (finally) on the great vintage finds that my friend Tara (from www.stylediner.com) scored for me from the sale at B's. It's going to be insanely visually stimulating.

Have a great weekend.

New Photo Fun

2011-07-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Certain places in the world need their existence documented. The Rudd Art Center in Ozark is one of them. This building is my favorite in all of lower Alabama. The charm is unmatched by any other place I frequent. A lot of that has to do with the people there. But it is also due in part to the many treasures that are stored in all the rooms. The art center used to be a department store. Because of this there is still a bunch of merchandise in its upper level, as well as other depertment store paraphernalia. The lower level functions as our art gallery. In previous posts I haven given you a glimpse at the lower level, but this morning we will visit the upstairs. It is a vintage wonderland. About a month ago my photo friends and I went there and took some shots. Below is the result. The editing on these shots was 99% done by Laura. She does an amazing job.

The benefits for me, with a project like this, are two fold. I get to play with my friends and create some fun art while paying homage to landmark. But I also sneak in a few items for Flo Sca. Check out some of the product photography for my Etsy Shop.
www.floridascarf.etsy.com

Luckily for me Laura is great at editing and Chrissy is great at creating interesting poses. I am glas that this is a practice we have done multiple times. I learn so much from both of them.

Christmas In July

2011-07-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

It's sweltering here in Alabama. And by the looks on The Weather Channel it's not the only place with extreme heat right now. In a counter attack to this situation I have been pouring myself into preparation for Etsy's Christmas In July Festivities. Lots of Etsy shops are participating by offering great sales. The sales event runs from 7/14 to 7/24. You can take advantage of the sale by entering CIJ or christmasinjuly in the search box. It's a killer way to support an independent artist/crafter and save a few $$$. Below I have highlighted some of my favorite items up for grabs at a discount.

'Christmas In July Sale Treasury' by scgeraci

This is a collection of some of my favorite items that are on sale this holiday.

50s vtg red mexican pea... JojosRetroandV... $54.00	1980s TELEPHONE trophy ... ObjectRetro $12.00	Homefront's Christm... HHSIX $10.00
QUANTITY BEER, an origi... jctebeau $500.00	JULY SALE 10% HAPPY Go ... QuiltLover $166.50	Layer Cake: Custom Birt... PetalPetal $164.00
Feather Derby BoringSidney $135.00	Extended SALE 10% OFF C... AlteredEras $17.10	SALE - Peeking Mouse on... TheHouseOfMous... $2.00
Slate and Apple Handbag... dishhandbags $42.00	CIJ Sale 20% Off Chande... waterwaif $19.20	Maple Sugar - 2 oz. - m... CraigsMarket $5.45
Quilled Sculpture - Bac... DazzlingDeligh... $28.00	SALE Les miniature Punk... moonandlion $8.00	SALE - Christmas in Jul... ThongbaiTatong $21.00
Squash Blossom Silver a... worn2perfectio... $4500.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

I myself am participating in the event. You can get 25% OFF Florida Scarf at www.scgeraci.etsy.com
Just enter coupon code FLOSCA2010 at checkout.

Also in celebration of this blessed event The Etsy Homefront Team is having a contest. Our members have specially made items for Christmas In July. They will be posted to on our blog. Stop by, check them out, and cast a vote. The winner gets major bragging rights :)
www.militaryhomefrontonetsy.blogspot.com

Here's my entry:

Find this gem at www.floridascarf.etsy.com

(this item is not on sale. sorry)

Creepy picture, huh? I've been working really hard to hone my Photoshop skills.

Happy Shopping!

Want to celebrate Christmas In July on your own? Here is a great place to start:

http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas_in_july/

TAGUA NUT BUTTONS

2011-07-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Hello All. I trust everyone had a great holiday.
This post will wrap up my features of new button retailers.

I bought a batch of buttons from my friend Isabel. They are handmade (and dyed) in Ecuador.

Isabel's Company is called Latin Art Jewelry. She specializes in Jewelry and accessories made from the tagua nut. These buttons are a Florida Scarf Exclusive, Lucky Me!

These earrings are a great example of the haindpainted designs.

The tagua nut is actually a dried seed that comes from the tagua palm tree. You can see the process of the jewelry from tree to finished product on Isabel's site.

www.latinartjewelry.com

There are not two pieces of jewelry exactly alike, as they all have different designs and colors. Tagua nut jewelry is super resistant and the colors are just beautiful. All the jewelry comes directly from a little town located on the coast of Ecuador. The process of collecting the tagua nuts, designing, and selling the jewelry is the main economy for Isabel's hometown.

This is an example of how the jewelry can be purchase in gift sets.

I met Isabel here at Ft Rucker. We became great friends because I love her jewelry. I was super excited when she said her friends in Ecuador would make me buttons too. Isabel has since moved to Kennesaw, GA. Lucky you if you are in her area.

I have begun working with my tagua buttons already. In fact, I put one on the hoodie hat I made my mom for her birthday.

The butterfly in the center is tagua. cool, huh?

Homefront Team June Summary

2011-06-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July everyone! This greeting comes a bit early as I gear up to go camping! It's our Alabama tradition. I am opening this email with my Spirit of America Scarf. You didn't know Florida Scarf was so patriotic, did you?

The rest of this blog post will be for my fellow Homefront Team Members.

I'm going to say (in the nicest way possible) that I am glad we survived June and are entering July with full speed. I spent all of my effforts trying to learn as much as I could about our 300 members. (This is a tough job for many reasons) One of the primary ways I did that was through our survey. So far I have around 35 responses. Thank you all. That is more than I could have hoped for. I'm going to hold out a bit longer for more replies until I summarize that project though. I'm sure there are many more on our team interested in voicing their opinions.

Another way I tried to learn about my fellow team members was through the Monthly Check In Thread. This month's theme was, "What do you need to do to improve your shop, or what improvements have been successful in your shop?"

There were a lot of great answers. I hope many of you found them as helpful as I did. In the case that some people didn't have time to go through the whole thread, I did. Below I have highlighted some of my favorite answers. (these are great tips for any online shop owner)

One of the best things that I think I did for my shop (besides adding more listings) was to standardize the backgrounds.

Find a path of creativity and stay on it.

Relisting.

Items in a broad price range.

I have plenty of ideas in my head, just not enough time to create. I will strive to have better time management.
Another thing that I have always wanted to do was make something with a patriotic theme for my special homefront team - and I finally did!
Improving photography and using models has helped me see a definite increase in business!

Discount Coupons

Promoting Other Shops

Get to 100 items

Improve packaging

Focusing on picture backgrounds

Keep Up Motivation.

Refuse to work on the weekend.

In reading the threads I also noticed many people were on vacation. Good for them! A happy shop owner is a happy shop.

Some husbands came home! That was the best news in the thread!

Bethjt has a separate teeshirt shop. In doing this she complies with etsy’s rules while gaining more exposure. Great idea.

Spread awareness and market through teaching.

A lot of people are moving too. It's hard to keep a shop up through that. Being prepared with inventory is key.

FaceBook Fanpage, definitely.

Or join the Homefront Group on FaceBook!

Jarita's Creations said, "There are many things that can be done to really help a shop succeed, ranging from daily listings, renewing items, chatting on the threads, creating treasuries, correlating with fb, twitter, etc, and many more...but staying on top of everything can be very consuming and not allow time for creating and also dealing with life's other obligations. My goal is to find a balance point."

Recommended: NiceGirlNotes

Organize my materials better. Since it's all fabric, I'm unsure whether to organize by fabric type and THEN color, or color and then fabric type.

Items with themes. This would be successful for holidays, and for tagging, treasuries.

Better Banner

Say NO

More Camo.

Hopefully you picked up a nugget, or two, here.

Have a great holiday!

See you in July!

Clay Box Buttons

2011-06-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Aren't these buttons amazing? You'll be seeing a lot of these on new scarves this season.

They are made by Nathalie of Polymer Clay Box. I found her on Etsy.

Nathalie lives on the coast of Belgium. She has been working with polymer clay for over 20 years. It really shows in her quality. She offers a great variety of colors, styles, and sizes with her buttons. Placing my custom order with her was no trouble at all. The items arrived in a timely manner too. These buttons are even cooler in person than on a computer screen. (as you might imagine)

I can't wait to show you once I start using them. It should be soon.

The Polymer Clay box offers more than just buttons. Check it out on Etsy or at www.natsclay.com

This is her Rainforest Bead. I love the colors here too.

Later!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

2011-06-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday! This year she'll be practicing for next year. (I don't want to give it away, but it'll be a big one.) I wish her the most fun in NJ from AL.

I sen ther out a package that inslude a few goodies, two of which were handmade by me. Yay! Here's a couple of shots I took before I sent them out.

Mom loves live music, so I put it in the rock concert slide show. Awesome.
My mom is the kind of person that gets very excited about going into the fabric store. It makes her have to pee every time. She'd probably kill me for writing that, but it makes me pee too. (there, that should make her feel better about it.) On each trip she takes to Joann's she comes out with more fabric than planned. My mom is a potter, she barely sews anymore. So you know what she does? She sends me the fabric. I think she is kooky for doing this, but I love her anyway. I made her some Florida Scarves from the fabric she recently sent. In case it isn't obvious in the photos, she loves corduroy.

Wanna see what else I put in to box?

Eddie Vedder's new CD. It's pretty rockin' for a bunch of ukulele songs. (I opened of course to burn myself a copy first:)

No birthday is complete without some fine-ass chocolate. Vosges is our chocolate of choice.

I hope she doesn't read this before she opens her package.

Party On.... Wayne.