The featured artist for the end of May is Neighborhood Blonde.

Greetings! My name is Shelly Picard, and I'm the creator of Neighborhood Blonde. I started Neighborhood Blonde four years ago after realizing that creating had become more of a passion than the word "hobby" encompassed. I have always been a creator, as were my mom and both of my grandmothers. Although there were times during my childhood that "DIY" was more out of necessity than desire, I always marveled at how my mom could figure out how to recreate just about anything she encountered. And I loved trailing behind her at fabric stores, touching the bolts she touched, learning about the different kinds of textiles and dreaming of what they could become.

Today I create upcycled and recycled personal and household goods. I believe that just because an item is recycled, it doesn't have to look used. It's what I call eco-chic. Many of my creations are paper based, such as notebooks from product boxes and found paper, dishwasher magnets, wine bottle tags, and cards with vintage elements. I also use papers with soy-based inks and recycled content as much as possible. 

Other upcycled items include cards made from floppy disks and books, pillows from vintage chenille bedspreads & vintage fabric, and flowers made with vintage sewing patterns, knitting needles and buttons. In addition to creating environmentally friendly items, I also knit. I knit scarves, cowls, fingerless gloves, and wash cloths. Knitting provides a soothing calm at the end of a hectic day.    

If you want to see more or have any questions for me, please visit me at www.NeighborhoodBlonde.com or my Facebook page. Until then, thanks for taking a walk around my neighborhood!                 

   

Featured Artist: Dina Noon with Design by Noon

As you step into Boutique 208 and look to your right, you will find our featured member section.

 

Every 2 weeks this area changes to showcase a different member.

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For the next 2 weeks, May 1st - 14th, Dina Noon, of Design by Noon will be our featured artist.  Please enjoying reading a bit about her, in her own words:

Design by Noon began with inspiration of both ECO friendly resources along with an eye for salvaging used materials to make them ‘new again’.   Design By Noon makes hand poured soy candles utilizing ECO friendly processes and materials.  

Our candles are hand poured in recyclable glass jar containers. We also will refill custom containers or salvaged containers suitable for burning wax.  

Design by Noon also carries salvaged items that are repurposed into home or garden décor along with one of a kind dried floral arrangements and terrariums. 

Our terrariums are made from found glass containers and use many local materials found right here in Pennsylvania. Self harvested mosses and hand picked stones are just a few items which make each one unique.  

Featured Member - Nadine Luther of NEL Photography

 Our current featured member, through April 30th, is Nadine Luther of NEL Photography.

Nadine's photography primarily focuses on architectural details from buildings in, and around, the city of Pittsburgh.

 

Stop into Boutique 208, between now and April 30th, to see her work in person.

 

Featured Artist: Bonne Amy

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This week's featured artist is Amy Levier owner of  

Bonne Amy

She is a native born Pittsburgher. 
She photographs architecture and nature in the shapes of letters.
 She then uses those "letters" to make pre-designed words and custom name prints. 
They make fantastic, memorable gifts for weddings, anniversaries, graduations, holidays, birthdays, christenings...... well you get the idea!

She also designs what she calls Precious Pedestals. 

She uses new and re-purposed items to create beautiful, functional pedestals 

that can be used for desserts, jewelry, soaps and centerpieces. 

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Her alphabet photography has a large focus on Pittsburgh.

She does plan on traveling to expand her letter art library. 

The letters in this BEACH print come from Cape May Beach in New Jersey. 

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She is married to her best friend and has three beautiful children. 

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With wedding and graduation season on the horizon 

why not order your custom alphabet photo name art now?

Stop in to Boutique 208 anytime to view her designs. 

She is the featured artist in the boutique from March 3rd through March 17th. 

She will be working in the boutique March 8th, 13th and 27th from 11am - 2 pm. 

If you would like to order a custom design she will be able to help you personally on these dates.

Bonne Amy's Designs can be ordered at 

www.BonneAmy.com

Like her on Facebook

www.Facebook.com/BonneAmy

Follow her on Pinterest

www.Pinterest.com/amylevier

A Different Take on Japanese Kimono by Lynn Forman

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I became interested in reusing vintage kimono pieces several years ago when I discovered the work of Kumiko Sudo.  She is a Japanese fiber artist who incorporates asian influences and sensibilities into her quilts.  I began to work through two of her books, Fabled Flowers, and Flower Origami, learning how she uses fabric origami, sashiko embroidery, and hand-stitched applique. 

 

 

 

I began to wonder how kimono silk would fare with origami techniques as embellishment for clothing, so I ordered assorted vintage kimono pieces from a shop on etsy and got started.  I quickly realized that the beautiful prints were lost in the folding process and switched to using solid satin in the folded embellishments I use on some of my scarves and small purses.

 

 

I adapted her hand sewing techniques to machine sewing.  Here are some of my interpretations:

  

 

 

 

 

I then experimented with piecing prints together for my scarves allowing each individual print it’s moment(similar to when it was part of a kimono), but also having it becoming part of one beautiful patchwork combination, ( a totally new life).  

 

 

 

When I discovered wool and cotton kimono pieces, I wanted to try heavier scarves and fabric bowls.  I used solid wool to offset the beautiful colors and patterns in the wool kimono pieces.I also made which could be also used by men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the bowls..... Kimono fabric is approximately 14” wide, perfect for fabric bowls.  In order to showcase each beautiful design, I chose a very simple square or slight rectangle with minimal shaping.  The backing is either hopsack cotton, linen, or denim, all of which are heavier woven fabrics and complement the weave and design of the cotton kimono pieces.

 

 

 Stop by Boutique 208 to see these creations in person.

 

 

Introducing our Featured Member Area

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 Charmed by Jenn

As you step into Boutique 208 and look to your right, you will find our new

 "Featured Member Area."  

Every 2 weeks this area will change to showcase a different member.

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For the next 2 weeks, Jennifer Baldauf of Charmed by Jenn will be our featured artist.  She has been creating an array of art for longer than she can remember, but has put her focus on jewelry over the past 10 years.

Jennifer is showcasing her embossed designs in the featured area.  In order to make these intricate pieces, she starts with a blank piece of natural brass (all nickel-free and lead-free, so that's good news for those with metal allergies!), then she embosses her desired design into the metal, and goes through a sanding and buffing stage that raises the metal.  Once this process is complete, she then adds color with metal patinas, and finally seals the color in with a metal glaze which protects the design for decades to come.  Each design is meticulously hand-crafted and created with much attention to detail and love.  All designs made by Charmed by Jenn are one-of-a-kind originals!  Jennifer believes that you are all unique, and your jewelry should reflect that!

Jennifer Baldauf also creates many pieces of beaded jewelry.  You can find her bead work in a separate area of the shop.  For the next 2 weeks, all of her beaded earrings are priced at $10 with a buy 2/get 1 free special.  Her beaded bracelets have all been reduced to $15 (usually retailing for $25-$50), and her beaded necklaces have been priced $25 (regular retail of $30-$65). 

Please stop in and purchase one of her designs!

Spa Party on Friday, February 8th, 2013

On Friday, February 8, 2013, from 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm., stop by Boutique 208 for our spa party and  treat your senses: Taste: Complimentary Champagne spritzers and appetizers. Touch: A fabulous array of skin care products available to sample. Smell: Various scents of natural soy candles and skin care products to choose from. Hear: Fascinating information about handmade, natural products, including the benefits of using natural soy and skin care products. See: Creative locally handmade art, accessories, home goods and health and beauty products. Featuring products by:    Natrielle Body Care - All natural handmade cold process and hand-milled artisan soap, lotions, butters, & balms.   Design by Noon - 100% natural soy candles in a variety of colors and scents. DBN is an eco-friendly company. Please take a look at our event invite on Facebook and RSVP if you can attend.  We hope to see you there!