My two new favorites

I know, I've totally fallen off the face of this blog over the weekend. School was closed for James Friday through Monday so I got nothing done and am working hard to catch up. But I wanted to pop in super quick to show off my two new favorite pieces. I love the simplicity! I have more to show, at some point. Hope you all had a fantastic Easter weekend.

Weekend Eye Candy

Weekend Eye Candy, originally uploaded by Chocolate And Steel (Christine).
1. Lazy, 2. Bokeh Melody, 3. Golden Bokeh (Part 2/3) HBW!!!!, 4. ...one moment, only once.., 5. hands full of bokeh, 6. I'm dreaming of a bokeh Christmas, 7. 081031 / Heart Bokeh, 8. Untitled
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

This edition of Weekend Eye Candy is all about Bokeh. According to Wikipedia "Bokeh (derived from Japanese, a noun boke 暈け, meaning "blurred or fuzzy") is a photographic term referring to the appearance of point of light sources in an out-of-focus area of an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field.[1] Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject."

Isn't the effect so pretty? I've been playing around with it on my camera but never knew there was a term for it. Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to visit other Weekend Eye Candy lists from LoraHart and Hammer Stitch Burn. Hope the Easter bunny brings you lots of chocolate:)

Road Trip!!!

Looks like I'm going to be doing some traveling! I got accepted into the Renegade Brooklyn craft fair. This is really my first time traveling for a show. I did Renegade in San Francisco last year, which technically counts as traveling, but we drove. This is actually on a plane traveling. Can't wait to meet a whole new group of creative folks on the east coast. My in-laws live in New York and said I could stay with them. But, honestly, I'd love to just kick it by myself. I NEVER get to get away anymore since my son was born (I'm not really complaining because he's terrific, but still!) So I'm hoping to turn this into a little weekend for myself. I've already had two people offer up their apartments in Brooklyn because they won't be there. It all seems like a dream.It's been a week of good news. I also was accepted into Unique Los Angeles. I did their first show in December and it was seriously AWESOME!!! Great group of buyers and sellers. I'm really excited to do this show again. If you live in LA you really need to "pen it in". It's a great show, have I mentioned this yet? And, just a little cattiness.... I ran into my old boss (un-named clothing company and I was the assistant designer) at the last show. It was sort of gratifying to see that we were both selling at the same show. It made me feel as though I had "made" it. I know I shouldn't care about such stuff as that, but sometimes I'm a little competitive. Not to mention, he was a mess to work for. Nice guy now though.Ok, and then I also am doing my first wholesale show. HOLY (*@!%), I'm so nervous. Wholesale shows are crazy expensive! But, I really need to take this to the next level if I want to continue making jewelry as my career. In this frugal economy retail is not going to support me. So, if anyone here has a boutique that they are looking to stock, I'll see you at the Calfornia Gift Show.

Here's some little experiment I've been working on with my camera. I just love the colors. I want to play with using photoshop on my pics and making them more interesting. I haven't had the time to play lately, but with all these shows coming up, can you blame me?
And I had to throw in this final picture of my little one. I asked him what his sad face was, and this was it. I love it:)
oh, I almost forgot. Here is a custom order I just finished up. I think I'm going to add something like this to my shop. Seems like people really enjoy jewelry that can be customize.

I call this "A beautiful mess". Such chaos:)

Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY!!!

This might be my longest post ever:) If you made it this far, thank you.

Undiscovered Uncovered 3

Undiscovered Uncovered, originally uploaded by Chocolate And Steel (Christine).

These are my favorite artists this week that are new to the scene (new Etsy shops). I usually bookmark things through out the week that I like and then feature them every Monday. Lately a few of those favorites end up making sales by the time this is posted. So congrats to them!! Hope you enjoy them.

Top row: Mary Poppins Print by Kat Takes Photos, Organic Circles and Pearl Pendant by Lisa Gent Jewelry , The Blizzard of Oz (woven copper) by Copper Cubes
Middle row: One for you, one for me (wishbone white) by Threefold, Podification Ring 1 by Reagan Hayhurst, Fred by Pacific Artworks
Bottom row: Flower Power by Slice Studio, Leather Birdie Wristlet by The Fig Leaf, Classic Modern Quilt by 3 Bees Design

Shopping List Saturday

My dad and my sister's birthday are both on April 19th. Also, my dog is going to be 11 on April 15th. So, I'm in birthday mode. Here are some things I spotted to get into the celebratory mood with a little something extra for Roxy, my dog:)

Carrot Cupcake by Enniob

Birthday Candle Holder by Nina Gibson

Cupcake Favors by Cakebox Cookies

Birthday Suit Birthday Card by Spawn Studio

Liv Gift Wrap Sheet by Erin Ruth

Aromatic Doggie Spritzer by Good Clean Dog

Visit other Shopping List Saturday posts:

• 3birdies
• blossom
• cathy cullis
• color
• dreambird designs
• edward and lilly
• fancy picnic
  
• felt at home
• fleurfatale
• florcita
• gretchenmist
• half an acre
• helicopter studios
• her library adventures
• highland fairy
• kayla coo
• la pomme
• liebling designs
• littleloveblue
• miss kitty boo boo
• miss-frugality
• prairie wild rose designs
• r a w f i s h
• rivulette
• shabby vintage mom
• shelbyhealey
• shoozles
• sidhe forest
• vadjutka
• verylittlebird
• vicki leigh studios
• winsome hollow

Weekend Eye Candy 1

Weekend Eye Candy 1, originally uploaded by Chocolate And Steel (Christine).

Is everyone already familiar with Lora Hart's blog "Such and Such"? She has a great post that she does every friday called "Weekend Eye Candy". She always features the most beautiful jewelry. Well, she has allowed me to join her along with a couple friends to post our "Weekend Eye Candy" as well.

As I'm sure I've mentioned at least 10 times this week, I got a new camera last weekend. I've been taking lots of pictures of flowers because they are everywhere and flowers are beautiful already. So, this week my list is all about ttvf (Through the View Finder) pics of flowers.

This should inspire us all to see the beauty in every day.

credits: chiecarroll, AliciaBock, SusannahTucker, Scarletbeautiful2, grafixmode, and SusannahTucker (again)

Please visit Friends of Weekend Eye Candy:

Such and Such

Hammer, Stitch, Burn

Best new store in Los Angeles

Venokado, originally uploaded by Chocolate And Steel (Christine).

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE wine, especially zinfandels and syrahs. If you didn't know this about me then you should definitely check out my other blog "The Brown Bag Sommelier", which my husband writes. Our goal is to find delicious wines under $12.99. It is not an easy task but I am up for the challenge. Anyways, I digress.

What I wanted to tell you about is the best "new" store in Los Angeles (new in quotes because they opened at the end of last year). Venokado is an adorable wine shop that also carries gift items. Can you see how adorable this mid-century dollhouse is? I want it for myself. More gifts I would love are the lomo camera, the lightbox frames, the sofa, the cardboard helicopter....
They are now carrying my collection there as well. Please pop over sometime if you are in Los Angeles. You will not be disappointed. The girls that run the store are awesome as well - Susan, Molli, and Traci (with a little help from Oscar).
If you have a special gift to buy you should look into their basket service. They put together the coolest baskets, ones that I would want.

Venokado
7714 Fountain Ave.
West Hollywood, CA 90046