Shop At Moxie

Today is Lisa C's Birthday

So I thought to myself....what better time than today to feature her etsy shop.

As many of you know already Lisa is a wonderful member of our moxie team.  She is so sweet, extremely funny on the down low, shy on the outside but wild on the inside, a gifted painter and photographer.  Plus she's a mom and wife to some of the coolest cats I know.  Her four gorgeous kids and her wonderful husband are equally as creative and imaginative as she is.  

I love having her on my team and I am happy to brag just a little bit about her etsy shop.  It is filled with great stuff.  Everything from original art and handmade jewelry to vintage clothing and linens.

Here are some of my current faves from her shop Willow Nook.

This original painting was done on a vintage book cover.  At 32 dollars for an original work of art....well I am pretty sure this won't last too long.

Earrings in a lovely shade of green

These gift tags are made from copies of Lisa's original paintings.  You get three of them for $5.00......  Sweet!

Party dress anyone????

I love vintage purses.  I especially love this one because it's gray.  You don't see that nearly as much as black.  Can you believe Lisa has this awesome purse listed for only Sixteen dollars???  That's a steal!

I sent Lisa a couple of questions and she kindly took some time out of her day to answer them for all of us.  

Here goes.

Q --  At what age did you realize that you had an artistic inclination and how did it begin manifesting itself?                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

A --  I honestly think I've been drawing from the time I could hold a pencil. When I was a very young child, well before school age, I would make little books based on my favorite fairy tales and my mom would sew up the edge on her machine to make a binding. I still have some of those books. My family always complimented my work but your family is supposed to think what you do is great or at least tell you it is. When I got into school and my art teacher would comment or even hold up my work as an example ( I would have liked to disappear when she did that), then I knew it was not ordinary.                                                                                                                               

Q -- Why do you love vintage clothing so much and how long have you felt this way?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

A -- Vintage clothing is so special to me.  Things were made so beautifully. Such attention to detail. You can not find that in many newer clothes. That and they are sentimental to me. Someone long ago wore this and I wonder where she wore it, how it made her feel, did she dance in it, did he love when she wore it, that kind of thing. Some vintage is just fun and you feel good in it. In grade school I remember finding vintage cat eye glasses and a plaid jacket and loving them. I did not always have the confidence to express myself with my clothes. In junior high I started to buy a little vintage and then in college it was like a revelation. To play with vintage and experiment was great fun. Now as a grown woman I love it even more! Working at Moxie has helped awaken that love again and I feel more like myself.                                                                                                                                            

Q -- Could you share with us three things that inspire you creatively.                                                                                     

A --  I've always been inspired by beautiful things. Movies, books, magazines, music... 3 things that inspire me now are still probably movies, magazines and photographs that I take. There are more things of course but that is the top 3.                                                                                                                                                                                              

Q -- Name three favorite food or drink items you must have on hand while you are working.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

A -- I am a Coke and Sprite junkie. I don't think I could quit them if I tried and the thought of quitting makes me

 very cranky. I also love Hershey's milk chocolate. I then usually need some potato chips to satisfy the salt craving I sometimes get after eating alot of chocolate. I could live happily on pop and chocolate. I'm trying to eat better but that is not going too well.

Well I sure do hope all of you  hop on over to Lisa's shop Willow Nook.  Make sure you mark her as a favorite shop because it's her birthday today and what a nice birthday it is when you have lots of new friends.  

Getting Noticed...the good, the bad and the ugly terry cloth shorts set.

I have this image of myself as a child that I just can't shake.  When I was in the 3rd grade my mom decided that it was a good idea to dress me in a powder blue terry cloth 2pc shorts and top set and finish it off with the world's tallest white tube socks with blue stripes at the top.  Now since we had a humble budget to work with I didn't dare tell my mom how much I hated that clingy powder blue outfit.  

She had purchased it for my special "bell ringing occasion."  Yes I was one of the chosen few in my grade school to play the bells at a school program.  I'll never forget that day because I felt like my outfit was too small and it stuck to my root beer belly in an unforgiving way.  I felt awkward and I really was no good at ringing the bells.  I'm not musically gifted at all.  I love music but I can't make music.   That's for sure.  

Being an imaginative child, and now a very imaginative adult, has always been a blessing and a curse.  It leads me down the path of creative nirvana but also down the path of self doubt and ridicule.  

Flash forward to the middle of bell ringing performance.  It's me and a couple of other kids.  Can't you just picture us all standing in a row-- bell in hand-- trying desperately to keep count and remember just when to raise up your arm proudly and ring the bell.  Well, I really blew it.  I missed by big solo and threw off the other kids.  All eyes in the audience were on me.  I was humiliated and embarrassed.  Why did everyone have to be looking at me the day I wore the tight terry ensemble.  

I never told my mom how much I hated the outfit.  Back then you were grateful for what you got and if you weren't grateful you were smart enough to keep your mouth shut.  In defense of my mom...she always thought I looked good in blue.  She was probably sad the day I got my first paycheck and started wearing black every day.  One day when I was about 16 she burst into the bathroom on me and asked me in all seriousness if I was a "gothic."  No mom....if I was a GOTHIC I'd be wearing a lot more makeup.  I just like black.  

So wow, where was I going with this story??  It is my way of saying that I have always had a problem with standing out.  I am introverted and really do not like too much attention.  But when you work hard it is nice to be recognized by your peers, family and friends.  

The other day we got noticed for our vintage fabric selection on Etsy by the wonderful Becky over at Crafting a Green World.  Her site is filled with "do it yourself projects that incorporate reused, recycled, and natural materials that are eco-friendly."    She said we have a fantastical selection of vintage fabrics and that made me smile.  If you'd like please read the story she did on our little etsy shop here.

Thanks Becky....love your site!

George the Gnome Has a New Gig

Do you remember this guy from a recent post?

Well it appears that his name was George (he didn't tell me that) and he went and left us to go have fun with the super nice Michelle (from Kar-Fre Flowers in Sycamore) and her cute family.

What a blast George must have had participating in the Easter Bunny's scavenger hunt.  He sure looks happy and seems to have taken to his new family really well.  You can read all about George the Gnome's scavenger hunt over on Michelles fun blog.

I just got off the phone with George and he told me the names of his Gnome friends in the top photo are Theodore and Lincoln.  So now we know.

Introducing Nosam Nosila

What's Nosam Nosila?

It is the fabulous new etsy shop opened by our creative and talented moxie team member Alison Mason.  What do you see when you see Alison's name.  Do you see Nosam Nosila????

Because that is her name spelled backwards.  Clever.  I called my etsy shop shopatmoxie because Nosirrom Nagem was already taken!

Alison describes herself as creative, hardworking and silly.  I can vouch to all three of those....although I personally get to see more of the creative and hardworking side and less of the silly side.  Hmmmmm might have to hang with Alison after hours to see what happens when silly comes out to play.

Alison has been fascinated with clothing and garment construction since she was much younger.  She lets her imagination lead the way as she re-purposes vintage clothing into her own creations.  The "Carol" dress that Alison models above was once a size 22 boxy dress that she re-worked into the svelte sexy dress it is today.  

I am so proud of Alison and her talents.  She is such an asset to the moxie team.  Hardworking, energetic, loyal, trustworthy and filled with ideas and enthusiasm.  I'm really excited for her and her new etsy shop.  Please pay her shop a visit here.  And of course if you'd like to meet the superstar in person....you can always pay her a visit and a complement at moxie.

Good luck and much success Alison.  You deserve it!

P.S......love your stately cat in the background.  Name of Cat????

Field Trip to Bliss Beads

Yesterday my friend Lisa and I went downtown Dekalb to get some one on one training on bead stringing from Allison Johnson,  the super nice proprietor of Bliss Beads.

She opened up her wonderful new shop about 8 weeks ago. Recently,  I stopped in to welcome her to the neighborhood  and was intrigued by all of her beautiful beads.  

After chatting with her awhile I decided it would be fun to take one of her classes.  So I enlisted Lisa to go with me.

Here is Allison (in navy) helping Lisa with the pendant necklace she was working on.  Lisa was a power jewelry maker.  She left with a bracelet, necklace and earrings.  I, on the other hand, am a slow learner and only made a bracelet and earrings. 

Allison is a gracious and patient shop owner.  She took lots of time with us and made our time at Bliss Beads fun! 

Allison has a Masters of Fine Art from NIU and one of the art forms she works in is Flameworking.  She teaches flameworking classes right in her shop.  That is more advanced then I care to get involved in....but for some of you ambitious types....you might want to go for it.  

Lisa used some of Allison's flameworked beads to create a pendant and a set of earrings.

My photo didn't turn out very good...but in person these beads are gorgeous!  Which reminds me that I really want to take a photography class next.  

At Bliss Beads you can also find one of a kind artisan made beads like this bird on a nest bead.  

Bliss Beads is on the northwest corner of Rt 38 and 2nd street downtown.  It is located in the building that the DeKalb Gallery used to be in.  The next time you are visiting downtown Dekalb stop in and welcome her to the neighborhood.....and pick up some new beads while you're at it!

DeKalb High School Basketball Team On ESPN

Sweet husband Bob saw this video featuring our very own DeKalb High School Basketball Team this morning on ESPN. I found it on youtube to share with you....in case you missed it. I don't know how many times it has aired. It is a heart-breaking and heart-warming story all rolled up into one. My heart goes out to Johntell Franklin and his family.

Meet Photographer Katie Beverley

The other day Lindsey (friend and work buddy) told me that her best friend Adrien had some great lifestyle photos taken of her new little one Molly and big sis Anna.  We went online to photograher Katie Beverley's blog to check a few of the photos out. 

First of all....how cute are they, and second of all....what beautiful photos.  I was super impressed with her style.  Each photo was better than the next.  She has a great eye for color and composition for sure.  She seems to capture the perfect moment in each frame. 

After perusing her website for awhile it seems as if she does everything from weddings to lifestyle sessions in your own home.  I thought that all of you with cute families might like to know about her....seeing as you never know when you will want to have a moment in time recorded beautifully.  And ....just for the record this shining endorsement is completely unsolicited by Katie.  I have never met her and she most likely has no idea who I am.  I just love finding talented artists and sharing them with my friends and family. 

Thanks Adrien for letting me share the photos of your gorgeous girls!