First Friday Pop Up Market

I'm so excited for this Friday! Arlington is putting on it's very first Pop-Up market. Art, music, and food, it's going to be awesome. I've been watching the weather and it looks like it will be a nice evening. I've been really looking forward to this event. My displays are almost complete. I have a few pieces left to sew. I hope all goes well and this turns into a monthly event.

Show Season is Starting

I haven't been around to post much lately. I've been working as a full time tutor since February. It hasn't left much time to hang out in the studio. The past few weeks I've really been in the creative swing. I have a few outdoor shows coming up, which require lighting and tents, so I decided to get on it and decorate my tent. Whenever I'm at a craft show/ art fair I'm always drawn to the tents and booths that feel more like a small boutique rather than just a tent with tables. I've always wanted that feel for my own set up. I've just never known how to get there. I've been spending what time I can searching for ideas. Collecting pieces display pieces and having my husband build what he can. My display is not quite ready but as of this weekend I have a few of my big pieces put together and ready for my next outdoor show.

Here's what I have so far:

An awesome marquee sign made by my awesomely handy hubby...

 

I can't wait to hang this from my tent, pointing into my tent telling all passer bys "Come on in here, Awesomeness this Way!!!"

Then there is my new banner. Since I've reworked my branding I felt it was time to invest in a full color banner to represent my brand. And last but not least, every outdoor show needs lighting. I needed something that would stand out from everyone else. I have some light strands that look great with my new marquee but I really wanted something that stood out. Something that would draw people in. Once again I searched for ideas and finally found these paper lanterns. I decided one was not enough of a statement. I needed a chandelier made of lanterns. I love the way it came out. I'm hoping they are high up enough that no one bumps their heads. (Not a problem for this short chick.)

 

Day time view of chandelier and banner hanging in the tent.

 A view from under the lanterns.

  

Dusk view. I wanted to wait til it got dark but I was too tired.

I still have a few pieces waiting for me in the garage. My hubby has been hard at work building for me. Only two weeks until my next outdoor show. I can't wait to show off my new set up. 

If you have any questions about display ideas please leave them in the comments. I will also be working on a post with links to other displays that work for other artist. 

 

I Declare Today is Decoden Day

I few months ago I came upon something called Decoden. There are lots of crafters playing with this style. The Crafty Chica has a nice tutorial, and so does her daughter Maya in the Moment. I loved it, all the cute little charms, the pretty icing look, it combines my favorite things, crafting, cupcakes, and cute girly chachkies. What is Decoden? It is a Japanese influenced craft which translates to decorated phone. However decoden has moved way past phone covers. You can find trinket boxes, jewelry, jars, and picture frames. I had wanted to try it for a while, but I didn't know where to start.
Last week my friend Tisha came over for a crafty play date. We worked on some ideas for our Etsy team's Valentine's craft night. I tried my hand at my very first decoden piece, a small heart shaped trinket box. I love the way it came out I had to make another.

They while clean my studio I found a bunch of picture frames. They've sat on my craft table for days just calling out "decorate me". I stocked up on supplies, everything from button packs, to cute erasers, to mini toy figurines. I bought the suggested silicone (the icing), and I pulled out some old bottles of puff paint that had been sitting in the back of my supply closet.

I spent the entire day today working on decorating my blank frames. I tried out different "icings", added glitter to a few, and even different types of puff paint.
The silicon came out really cute, it looks just like icing, however it really killed my hands and it looks like there is only enough silicon in a tube for 2 frames.
Next was the puff paint, Tulip brand puffy paint in white. I love the glossy look of this paint. I also added glitter to this paint. I think it looks like sugar.
Finally, I tried Tulip Metallics dimensional paints. This is by far my favorite. I love the opalescent sheen. It's so girly.

 

I still have 11 frames to decorate, but I'm finished for tonight, I don't think my hands can handle squeezing any more paint bottles.

Etsy 817 Team Craft Night

I'm excited to be putting together the first Etsy817 team craft night. Our first craft night will be right before Valentine's Day, so we will be making Valentine's crafts. My friend Tisha of LittleBlu worked up some samples. I love the way they turned out. Not only will be be making some candy box shrines, we will also be making mini decoden trinket boxes. I love the trinket boxes, they so cute. I can't wait to get together with the rest of the group and see what everyone makes.

Story Telling - Building a Brand

Earlier this week I started taking an online class by the Crafty Chica. I was working on the first assignment when I found myself sidetracked. What was suppose to be research on blogging turned into brand research. I started finding brands that were similar to mine. Much larger, but similar. I found myself asking what is my brand, what is Studio Longoria. I decided a few months ago that what I really wanted to do with Studio Longoria was focus on the characters that I love to create. That meant more drawing, more painting and more plushie making. As I started researching these other brands I saw something that my brand was really missing. Something I knew I was missing, but just never sat down to take care of. I was missing back stories for my characters. Who are these creatures, where did they come from? I've set out to answer these by putting together a little book. I've even created an alter ego, a character that explores other worlds and finds these creatures which I create. I'm pushing myself to create daily, to write, draw and tell the story of these creatures. So far so good. I'm four stories in, and I even designed the cover for my little creature book. I still have lots of stories to tell, but I'm taking my time. It was hard to write at first, but now the stories are coming to me much faster. I thought I'd share a few shots of the book so far.

     

Looking Forward to 2013

Happy New Year! We've made it through 2012 and come into 2013 ready to create. 
I have a lot of projects lined up for the year, new characters, comics, prints and more painting. While I look forward to working on all of those projects the one I'm most excited about is helping my husband launch his own line of handmade custom home decor. He worked really hard throughout 2012 and now he is ready to start selling his products. We are currently working on names for his line/ company. Until he's ready to share the rest of the details I thought I'd share a few pictures of his latest creations, all of which were given as Christmas gifts this year.

Coloring Contest!

When I was around 3 years old I entered a Cookie Monster coloring contest. I colored several pages of the Cookie Monster picture. I colored him a rainbow of colors not solid blue. My parents tried to talk me into coloring him "right" but I refused. My mom mailed in my entry and a few weeks later it was announce that I had won a set of tickets to Sesame Street Live. My mom spoke to one of the judges and was told that I won because of how creative my coloring was. It was very exciting. The framed picture was in my bedroom for years. I wish I remembered where it was now. I'd love to put it up in my office.

Now my youngest son loves to color. I created a zombie cookie coloring sheet for him, and this is the beauty he had me hang on the fridge:

I created a reindeer coloring page to share with everyone reading. Then the idea hit me. I'm holding a coloring contest for kids 0- 10 years old.

Here's how to enter:
Print and color the reindeer coloring page.
Scan or photograph the finished picture.
Email it to me : stephlongoria@xyfactory.com
Subject: Coloring Contest
Please include the following:
Child's name (First only is fine.)
Age
Parents email address
Permission to share your child's creation on the blog as well as on facebook.


I will announce the winner of the coloring contest Monday, December 17th. Winner will receive a special plush doll just in time for Christmas.

I can't wait to see what you create!