Sneak Peek: Renegade SF!

I know that it is going to take forever--and I mean that quite literally--for me to coherently sum up all of my excitement, sightings, and discoveries at Renegade this past weekend. To appease my readers in the meantime (hi Mom!), here is just a preview of the fabulousness. More pictures and descriptions to come soon!

coho + crafts

No Friday class = relaaaaax and craft.  Finishing up invites for our alumnae chapter for Chi-O Cookies, our annual winter philanthropy event.  I definitely won't stop hearing about the fact that I busted out a paper cutter and adhesive at our booth at the Coho, the on-campus coffeehouse.  Pics of the finished invites will be up soon!

diy! fabric flower accessories

It's JANUARY!! Thursday, January 20th, 2011, 2:01 to be exact, and we're watching When Harry Met Sally in my Sociology class.

Aaand now it is most definitely Sunday, January 23rd, 2011, 5:42pm.  So much for finishing what you start.  I was certain that in that hour and fifty minute class block I could bust out a post.  But...that movie is just so emotionally draining, I couldn't focus on anything else.  You know what I'm talking about? When Sally and Harry are dancing at his New Year's Eve party, and you know that they are feeling and thinking the same thing, but they both have too much pride to admit it, because they're just friends of course, and then it's about to strike midnight, and you're all JUST GOT FOR IT! but of course they don't because pshh that would be way too easy and neat and clean and WHY can't they just see that they would be PERFECT together?!?

Ahem. Hello. We're okay now. Mostly because these flower accessories are darling and make you feel super cute. Adapted from Heather Bailey's wonderful blog.

up where they stay all day in the sun

Davis didn't get the memo about how April showers are supposed to bring their good friend May Flowers to the party.  Because it's almost June.  Y'know, Summer??

I'm tired of wearing pants, so I boycotted the rain today by wearing a jean skirt.  And found out that it's not the most comfortable thing to bike in.  Who'd have thought?  But I sucked it up for the whole mile long bike ride home from campus. Totally hardcore like that.

Costume party last week = fabulous.  The theme was Disney, and I (of course) was...well, try to guess.

Some dude: Who are you supposed to be?
Me: Are you serious?
Some dude:
Me: PURPLE sparkly top...turquoise FISHnet tights...
Some dude:
Me: I have a fork in my hair!!
Some dude:
Me: It's a DINGLEHOPPER!!!!!
Some dude:
Me: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW THE LITTLE MERMAID???

Okay, so my Ariel costume wasn't the most obvious, but it was definitely the most creative if I do say so myself.  I whipped up my Dinglehopper-seaflower-hair-thingamabob with literally an hour to go before showtime (recognize it from here?).

This is my intense modeling face.  Being creative, don't mess.

this is why i love davis

This is just one of the MANY reasons, of course.  Whole Earth Festival came to Davis this weekend, and it was a blast. Vendors after vendors selling pottery, jewelry, eco-friendly handbags, tie-dye shirts, original paintings...interesting little chia-pet type creatures, fun times.  You go for the free-wheelin, earth-loving atmosphere, do a little shopping, stay for the food (falafel + froyo = delicious), and run into every single person you know.  Davis does it all so well!

This dude was just sitting on the sidewalk, typing out poems on an awesome vintage typewriter!

Super cute popsicle stand!

How cute are these vegan cupcakes??

Ending the day with a cup of froyo :)

Dear Mom,

A few things..

1. I will eventually pay you back for "investing" in my [latest] business whenever I go to Michaels.

2. You are going to run out of places to hide things, so when you do...use my closet.  You can't find anything in there anyway!

3. When Oprah discovers me in my makeshift purse-sewing/cupcake-baking/canvas-altering art corner of my apartment, and I become famous overnight, I'll be sure to thank you on the air! (see #1)

4. When I text you, it's usually because I'm in class.  So don't call me, I'll call you ;)

5. I'm sorry I worried you during my dark-emo-paint phase in pre-school. ..

6. I promise to make you a bike basket liner...soonish...in the future.  It will happen.

7. Con-see-airj.

8. You were right.  I wish I didn't quit piano.

9. Eggplant does NOT equal hashbrowns.

10. "You don't look upset." <-- best line ever.

Thank you for being my manager/editor/biggest advocate/friend and providing me with endless inspiration.  Love you!

xo, Elysa

P.S. Please vote for my mom in the Michaels Most Creative Mom Contest here: http://tiny.cc/creativemom Thanks!

destination: procrastination

I have a midterm tomorrow, so naturally I just spent the last two hours crafting and blinging out my blog (check out the new social media buttons on the right--LOVE!).  I work best under pressure anyway, right?

Day in the life of a college crafter...you got your mod podge, foam brushes, buttons, and...yes, those are plastic cupcake carriers from Safeway in the top left corner.  Oh hey, there's my ice cream carton from...ten years ago?? How time flies after you're on national television :) Hopefully I'll be back soon to finish my canvas project that you see is in progress here!

creative therapy on a sunday afternoon

My mom had one of her altered art classes today (check out her blog here) and although I was supposed to be her assistant, I managed to squeeze into an empty chair and work on a project of my own.  Usually I take forever to figure out what I want to make, and then another forever to pick out the perfect combination of paper.  I actually finished a project in one sitting this time--quite remarkable for the amount of time I take to actually start it.  I altered an acrylic picture frame and made it into a notepad for my desk.  It's super cute AND functional...that's why I like altered art because you can actually use what you make, whether it's a clipboard or jumbo sized clothespin (see photos below).  I love being organized (or at least attempting to be) and organizing your papers with pretty things makes it easy...in theory :)

The notepad says "Don't bother me...I'm in a creative mood!"

This is just one of my mom's newest creations.  Adorable altered clipboard and clothespin set (shown here holding a gift card).