What Happens Next

What Stella Wore ~ Waxed Flower May Day Crown

 

Oh, Happy May Day!

Stella is marking the occasion with a waxed flower crown, just right for celebrating on this gorgeous Spring day!

 

Small silk and velvet flowers have been dipped into a candle wax mixture and allowed to dry. They are then woven onto a wire stem and formed into a circular shape.

A full crown would be overwhelming on someone so small, so we left it as a coronet with long ribbon streamers.

 

We love the soft and vintage look that the wax gives the flowers, creating an heirloom headpiece, worthy of a place among the crown collection.

 

A pepperberry spray is always a favorite accessory.

 

Pinned into a simple, tousled hairstyle.

 

This is our May child, completely in her element on an early morning stroll, on her way to a celebration of flowers and the bounties of Spring.

Footwear optional.

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Organza Dress ~ Baby Gap

 

 

Spellbound ~ It's Time! It's Time!

 

We have had a whirlwind of a weekend!

Pre-registration for Spellbound 2 went out on Friday for alumni, and the response has been fantastic! Beyond anything we expected, so a sincere "Thank You" to those who have signed up to join all of us this November! We *heart* you!

The exciting news is that registration is now fully live! If you are considering an art event for the Fall season, Pasadena, California is gorgeous in November! The venue is exquisite and the classes being offered are absolutely amazing!

 

With this year's Dream Team of instructors, Spellbound 2013 is sure to be another weekend of inspiration and enchantment.

Won't you join us?

www.SpellboundEvent.com

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Kaari Meng

Kristen Robinson

JoAnna Pierotti

Terri Brush

Pamela Huntington

Cathe Holden

Debbie Murray & Shea Fragoso

 

What Stella Wore ~ Velvet Shamrock Headband

 

In the midst of an incredibly busy week... we are launching registration for Spellbound 2013 this coming Monday... we made time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! Since it falls on the weekend this year, the schools are enjoying their festivities today.

Green is not high on Stella's list of preferred colors to wear, but she was excited about the idea of a velvet shamrock headband paired with a pink smock!

 

Throw in a pair of skinny jeans and pink metallic leather flip-flops, and you have the perfect Friday "not-too-dressy" "not too casual" outfit!

 

The headband was so simple to make! I covered a plain metal band with green ribbon by wrapping it and gluing the ends.

 

Using two similar colors of velvet, I simply cut shamrock shapes in two different sizes, seven in all.

Taking a stitch in the center of each shape creates a ruffled, realistic look to the petals. Then I simply glued them close together onto the band and put a chaton rose rhinestone in the centers.

 

Viola! Our ode to St. Patrick's Day in less than an hour! Perhaps all the girls in our family will be wearing one of these on Sunday... :)

Have a festive, fantastic weekend!!

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Pink Smock/Dress ~ H & M

Skinny Jeans ~ H & M

Pink Sandals ~ Downtown Los Angeles Fashion District

 

 

Spellbound ~ Oh, The Anticipation!

 

Last year’s inaugural "Spellbound Event" was truly enchanting in every way. As if to embody the very definition of the word, Spellbound was a magical three days filled to the brim with laughter, friendship, inspiration and of course, the creation of beautiful art!

We are so excited to share with you some of the memories from our amazing weekend...

 

Providing the perfect setting for our Spellbound weekend was the lovely, historic Langham Huntington Hotel in spectacular Pasadena, California.

Once you step inside, into the fantastic lobby with it's view of the garden, you are transported to a world of grace and a level of service and comfort that is hard to find. Everything about this property is welcoming and effortless in it's luxury. The rooms are beautiful and the bath towels are enormous.

It always comes down to the little things, doesn't it? :)

 

We gathered together at the hotel on Thursday evening for the glamorous Welcome Dinner. Enveloped in the beauty of the Georgian Ballroom, it was an enchanting beginning to what was to come...

 

We told stories and laughed. We laughed a lot.

 

On Friday, when it was time to begin working on the gorgeous projects that our instructors offered, the fun truly began. In classroom after classroom around the hotel, there were ribbons and beads and vintage photographs. Crepe paper and velvet, rhinestones and buttons. And glitter. The spirit of creativity was palpable, and the smiles were some of the biggest we have ever seen!

 

We spent time with friends, both old and new, from down the road and from half-way around the world.

 

And we ate! We ate like queens. We laughed and we bonded and we created and we indulged in some of the best food we’ve ever had.

 

Friday evening was time for the unbelievable Dreamland Mercantile. With over 30 vendors displaying their wares, and a gorgeous buffet, it was definitely a delight for the senses!

 

We stayed up all night. After Saturday’s class schedule, a large and energetic group decided to keep the creative juices flowing. We snacked on good old fashioned comfort food (hello…a CUPCAKE bar!!) and spent time playing with materials from some of the leading manufacturers in the craft industry. Sadly, the bell tolled midnight way before any of us were ready to leave the ball!

As you can see, we had more fun than we could have ever imagined. Getting to make art is good for the soul. Making art while surrounded by over 100 of your best friends is breathtakingly wonderful.

The very best part is, this is not the end of the story. We are beyond thrilled to be able to do it all again this year! Plans are coming together as we speak, and this year promises to be even more amazing!

 

We really hope you are able to join us for Spellbound 2, November 7-10th, 2013. We all hope to see you in Pasadena!

Registration opens to everyone on Monday, March 18th at 6pm Pacific Time.

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All photos by the fantastic Martha Schuster of iseethemoonphotgraphy!

 

 

Spellbound 2 ~ The New Dream Team

 

This is a very happy day!

Planning is in full swing for the second edition of "Spellbound ~ create your dreams"! We are now gathering the projects at our studio for photography. They are spectacular, and we cannot wait to share them with you, but that will take a few more days to accomplish...

Today we are incredibly happy to announce the teaching staff for this event, and we are sure you will agree that this is an absolutely amazing lineup of talent joining us as instructors for 2013! We are seriously a bit giddy with all the excitement, and with the quality of the work they are bringing to share with all of us!!

 

Kaari Meng

Kristen Robinson

JoAnna Pierotti

Terri Brush

Pamela Huntington

Cathe Holden

Debbie Murray & Shea Fragoso

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My goodness! We are wondering how you will ever choose your favorite classes!!

Please be sure follow our website SpellboundEvent.com for all of the lastest updates and detailed information... and to register beginning March 15th! 

xoxo Debbie & Shea

 

Valentine Wishes

 

Things have finally begun to return to some sense of normalcy in our little world.

Everyone is healthy (finally), travel is at a standstill for the moment, and the weather is just glorious.

 

Stella would like to send a shout out, and wish everyone a truly happy Valentine's Day! After a round of pre-school festivities, she took her favorite heart pillow to the park to show the ducks.

It may seem silly, but we figure ducks need a little sparkle in their world. It can't all be sticks and rocks.

 

They were not all that impressed, but we think they may just be a little shy.

Next time, less bling, more bread. It's a duck's world at the park, after all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We will be back tomorrow with a new installment of What Stella Wore!! This dress is just begging for a coat...

For The Love of Buttons

 

I have a long-standing love affair with buttons.

My mother's button box was an endless source of fascination when I was young, and the feelings that are evoked by the sight of a jar filled with these smooth, luminous rounds are deep and meaningful to me.

 

I know I share this affection with many creative women, whether the medium is sewing, needlework, jewelry, or any type of mixed-media crafting. We covet the look and feel of authentic shell buttons, so beautiful and often so delicate.

 

We wanted to bring them out of the jars this holiday season, and use them to bring a bit of button nostalgia to our decorating plans.

Hung on trees and cabinet knobs, the look is so sweet. Both glamorous and humble, all at once.

 

Strung into button garlands, heavy and supple. Our new favorite thing.

 

 

There is really no telling where these decorations will find themselves during the holidays, but one thing is certain...

They will not be packed away when the festivities are over. They will find their places in the permanent studio rotation of embellishments. 

But we will certainly strive to also keep the jars filled. Yes, we are that smitten.

Have a lovely, creative week!

 

Super Cyber Monday Sale

 

We are celebrating Cyber Monday with a three-day sale in the shop!! Now is the perfect time to grab a few treats for yourself or a friend. We love the holidays!!

www.AGildedLife.com

xoxo Debbie & Shea

 

Thankful

Thankful for so many things today.

For family, friends, and faith.

For all of you, who help to make our creative dreams come true.

Happy Thanksgiving!! 

xoxo Debbie & Shea

 

Spellbound ~ An Evening at French General

 

Have we told you lately about French General? This retail treasure box of all things rare and beautiful is owned and operated by the amazing designer Kaari Meng.

We had the great pleasure of meeting Kaari several years ago, and since that time there have been many opportunities to work and teach together in various places. We even had the honor of teaching in France this past June at Kaari's beloved "Chateau Getaway".

When we began planning Spellbound at the beginning of 2012, Kaari was at the very top of the list of artists that we would love to have participate. Her input and her unwavering support were invaluable to us during the entire process.

 

So, when she offered to co-host a private soiree, along with Jo Packham of Where Women Create, for the attendees, instructors, speakers and sponsors of Spellbound on the evening before the retreat began, we were just thrilled.

Those who are lucky enough to have been to French General are always anxious to return, and those who have not always seem to have it on their must-see list.

 

It entices you with sensory overload of the very best kind.

Everything begs to be touched and examined.

It is almost too much to take in. Like stepping into a dream...

Even the refreshments seem curated and beautifully presented.

A feast for the senses.

Red velvet and chocolate. Perfection.

Lots of crafting and demos took place that night. It is always the common denominator, the ice-breaker, the bond.

The lovliest of women. That's who came to French General on a Wednesday night in November, on their way to a Spellbound weekend. 

One of the lovliest of them all. Inside and out. Truly.

One from New York, and one from France, meeting for the first time. No doubt they are fast friends by now...

As always, it was a magical evening, and the perfect way to begin our Spellbound adventure.

Thank you, Kaari. Your friendship means the world to us.

All photos by the ridiculously talented photographer Martha Schuster of  "i see the moon photography".

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xoxo Debbie & Shea