Transformation Tuesday

Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good deal and a good DIY. A few years back I found this tea cart at an estate sale in Norfolk. I gave it a clean coat of white paint and used it for parties in our backyard and planting and displaying (real) flowers. Last week, I decided it was in need of another makeover for my Pop Up Flower Shop at Kitsch. As luck would have it, I had a can of gold spray paint under the sink (intended for some plastic animals...let's just call that project a #pinterestfail) so the tea cart transformed into the Flower Cart.

The cart (along with a few wooden crates) was the perfect display for Saturday. Simple and cute. It didn't allow for a lot of product, which I'm always guilty of bringing. I was able to incorporate a gold, metal record album holder (holding the brooches) that I had been hoarding in the basement, along with the cutest miniature Ball jars we got as a wedding present (holding the mini flowers on the bottom shelf).

The Pop Up Shop went really well! Lots of people came out and built bouquets, which was very exciting. And I got to meet some Fairview Place Fans, which is always inspiring! Plus, I was able to talk to the shop owner for a while and got several new leads on shops, blogs and podcasts to follow. I've decided to apply for the Crafted Indie Art and Craft Market, which is debuting a new Spring show in April. Wish me luck!

Mark Your Calendars!

We'll be having our first Pop Up Shop in more than a year on February 13, 2016.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, visit Kitsch where you can build your own bouquet for your Sweetie. We'll also have accessories, succulents and our newly painted flower cart. 

Noon to 3 p.m.

807 Shirley Ave., Norfolk, Virginia

Join the Facebook event and share it with your friends!

#9: Teach a Class

Tonight I taught my first class at Kitsch! For $35 students had the option to make a bouquet, a flower crown or a 3-foot garland. All the materials were included in the two-hour course and I think the girls walked away with some pretty fabulous creations.

I showed the girls the variety of flowers you can make from three simple patterns through bouquets I brought. We practiced the varieties and then got to work.

Look at all those felt flowers in progress! The color combinations were stunning and I didn't help one bit with that. Some of the girls incorporated buttons and came up with entirely new felt flowers, I may just have to borrow :). We ran over a little with time but everyone finished up their projects and three bouquets and two garlands left Kitsch heading to new homes. Thanks for a great first teaching experience and a fun evening crafting!

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to read all about it and here to a see a gallery of pictures of everyone participating.  

Self Portrait: April

As I've been diving more and more in the land of felt flowers, I've realized I might have found my calling. Now, let's be honest. The world is not in demand of a felt florist. By any means. And really, my calling is graphic design because I'm pretty good at it, and can actually make a living from it. But recently, I feel immense peace when I'm creating these little babies. Twice in the past week I've had conversations with people about how I should start meditating for various reasons (which I've tried, but honestly...me sitting still and being quiet?). But after another evening crafting away at these flowers, I think this may be the best form of reflection and relaxation for me. Or perhaps I just really enjoy playing with my growing collection of beautiful wool felt? Regardless of the reason, I'm pretty excited for my new-found hobby and hope it brings just as much joy to those receiving them as it does for me making them!

Thanks to Kristen at Kitsch for the pretty photo! It was taken during our Mother's Day Pop Up Shop in their Craft Studio.

Forever Bouquets for Mother's Day

Just in time for Mother's Day, some new size and style Forever Bouquets! I purchased a case of these glass soda bottles from Glass Gardens (who scored them at the monthly Olde Towne Portsmouth Flea Market last year) and I've them all to good use. These new bouquets feature three to five flowers, one large and the rest small, accent flowers or sprigs.

I've been playing with all my new wool felt (in 120 colors) and the bouquets are coming out so pretty! I'm loving mix and matching the random colors and have been incorporating leftover flowers from the Garden Show back in January. The dainty bouquets are $15, including the vase...pretty much an awesome deal for a present that lasts a lifetime (really working on selling these babies).

Could resist posting this mini bouquet in a glass syrup bottle! The whole arrangement measures 6 inches tall, but is gorgeous in the purple, red and magenta tones. If you're interested in purchasing any of these, send me a message, or check out our Mother's Day Pop Up next weekend at Kitsch.

Custom Felt Bouquets

For a Valentine's Day, I posted a special on felt bouquets: $30 for 12 stems, $20 for 8, and $15 for a mini 5-stem arrangement. I was delighted to see an order in my inbox the next morning! One 12-stem bouquet and three mini bouquets, in matching jewel tones. The stuff of a brand new business out of Williamsburg will receive these cuties come Friday.

If you're local to the Hampton Roads area, it's not too late to order yours! Just send me an email at ashley.fairviewpl@gmail.com, or check out the selection at Kitsch.

Halloween Goodies

It's that time of year again, when we welcome the freaky characters and everything black and orange. Fairview Place has brought back the scary movie greeting cards and added Halloween themed Paper Parcels. For a limited time you can get the 30+ vintage paper packs at Kitsch for $7.50 each...make your own greeting cards, collage some scary artwork or just admire the old ephemera!

Food Trucks and a Freebie

Last month, the Food Truck ordinance passed in Norfolk, allowing the city to finally (and legally) have the motorized food vendors around town. This was a gigantic leap for the city and small truck owners who have been pushing for years for this to happen. To celebrate the fun changes in Norfolk, the city held its first-ever Food Truck Rodeo next to the MacArthur Station Tide stop last week. Four Trucks were in attendance, including the always delicious Hubcap Grill.

To follow the rodeo, we hit up the annual Etsy Craft Party at Kitsch. Free stickers, snacks, decorate your own bamboo silverware - we live life on the edge.

#81: Food Trucks and #16: Freebie - Etsy Craft Party, are off the list!

Side note on the Food Trucks 
Norfolk Live had a great article about all the new Food Trucks, where to find them and where to follow them - check it out here.

I'm participating in my third 92 Days of Summer challenge. Read about the project here.

Just What's Going On

M Studio has a great setup. Clean, easy, display makes it look like they have a lot of product...which is exactly what I need.

I realized that I have mentioned the Norfolk Arts District and the Better Block here on the blog, but I haven't really described my role in the projects. The Better Block is a revitalization project aimed at improving an area of a city that has a lot of potential. This area happens to be one block of Granby street, from Olney to Addison. 

Have lots of vintage ribbon and lace to sell, could use this format.

DIY display using tin trays, hot glue and candle sticks. Painted your desired color.

The week leading up to the event is used to clean up, paint, add art, make pop-up businesses and plan a weekend that shows the community what the district could be with help from the area businesses, landlords, tenants and general public. At the Better Block meeting earlier this month I was asked to help Kitsch and Glass Gardens in their retail pop-up for the weekend of April 12th. Our pop-up will be a mix of handmade retail, re-purposed terrariums, workshops and demos, a craft lounge and a locally-owned craft supplies store - i.e. Fairview Place.

Glass Ball Jars and bakeware to hold pencils, crayons, glue and markers.

Lots of paint brushes in old clay jars.

You can imagine I was elated for this news, and also a little apprehensive about how this whole project would come together. I have a decent amount of vintage and gently used craft supplies I've been hoarding over the years, but enough for a pop-up to show the community!? With the help of Pinterest and the estate sales I've been mentioning, my display actually is coming together very well.

Wire baskets full of fabric scraps. May do this, on a smaller scale.

Ribbon board, might be better for a "gift-wrapping station."

Tiered muffin or cupcake plates to display balls of yarn.

I plan on having a small sampling of a variety of crafty items. Thread, fabric, zippers, needles, embroidery floss, papers, ribbon, lace, yarn, needles, scissors and much more! The Better Block is still three weeks away, but there's no doubt in my mind it will be here before we know it. I'm looking forward to meeting with my fellow pop-up tenants this week to discuss more details of our Craft Lounge and start mapping out our plan of attack. Wish me luck!

Kitschy Anniversary!

My how time flies! Can you believe it's already been one year since Kitsch opened? To celebrate the store is throwing an anniversary open house all weekend. There will be tons of giveaways, make and take crafts, food trucks and loads of other goodies. I'm hitting up the festivities on Sunday and am excited to see all my fellow consignors and Kitschettes for the celebration.

Thrifty Thursday: Valentines!

'365 Ways to Say "I Love You"' was a little treasure I found a few years back at Beacon Books. I thought it was a little overpriced at $5, but I couldn't haggle with Tommy, the owner of the dilapidated book shop. The little hardback book is filled of ways to profess your love to your husband in the most outlandish ways you could imagine, in a 1960s setting.

"Sharpen the pencils on his home desk."

"Buy yourself a sweatshirt and Magic Marker his name on the front and back."

"Be late on purpose and leave notes saying you're hurrying home to him."

"Find out the answers to those little bitty "trivia" questions he's been bugged about."

It's almost ironic I even own this book, but the illustrations are killer. And to think, women probably bought this book and achieved all 365 ways. Anyway, I've carried this book around with no particular reason in mind, until a two weeks ago.Valentine's Day cards! So, now you can find your very own vintage Valentines at Kitsch. There are only 6 packs of cards (4 cards per pack) and run $7. 

Happy Blog Anniversary!

It's been 1 year since my first blog post on Fairview Place. The last 12 months have been filled with their ups and downs, stressful, yet exciting, journeys and a place I've really become proud to call my own. I've made 328 posts this year. I've had more than 14,000 hits from 10 countries. I reached 106 sales on Etsy. And more than 130 sales at Kitsch! Now, these numbers don't mean a lot in the real blogosphere world, but they do to me!

I have taken some time to reflect on this blog and what it's done for me through the past year. Then what it could do for me in the future. I've tried all sorts of crafts and cooked up a storm, Music Monday-ed my way through the year and listed my heart out. Although that does sum up about 87% of my life, there are other daily happenings - small and big - that should be captured. With that in mind, I've created some new weekly and/or monthly features that will start popping up next month.

So, hold on tight, I hope 2013 can be just as exciting as (if not MORE than) 2012...Cheers!

Ask, and you shall receive!

I stopped in at Kitsch over the weekend and apparently someone specifically asked if Fairview Place would be making Christmas cards, like the Halloween cards. I couldn't bare the thought of a Christmas without Fairview Cards, so I made up several packs and dropped them off at Kitsch.

Last year I had found an old Frosty the Snowman book from the 50s that was in pretty bad shape. I took the usable pages and made into three sets of cards. Holiday sheet music made up several packs of the tag-shaped cards, but most of them sold last year at my craft show.

The newbies are from a Better Homes & Garden's Christmas Craft book. Gotta love those tacky 60s crafts and decor! You can buy a pack of 4 cards and envelopes at Kitsch for only $7, you won't find that kind of deal anywhere else...so go, while supplies last!

New Creations!

My holiday creations are coming a little later than I had hoped, but nevertheless, they are here! I'm excited to show off my handmade felt brooches with vintage buttons and ribbon (collected and bought at a local estate sale!). These make perfect gifts for those hard-to-buy for ladies in your life and dress up an outfit without looking like you're going to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party :)

I've started out with just five different pins to see how well they do at Kitsch. If they go over well, I may just have to continue them for other seasons! They'll be at the shop later today and are retailing for only $7 a piece. If you have a special request, feel free to contact me and we'll work out something perfect for your needs.

Autumn Garland Class at Kitsch

This weekend I'll be teaching an Autumn-inspired class...we'll be making this cute leaf garland, either 3' for decorating your home or your head (for you hippies out there ;).

The class will be held at Kitsch on November 4 at 1 p.m. and only costs you $10....which includes all your materials. It'll be a nice way to spend the Fall afternoon and you even get your daily crafty kick! Be sure to sign up at Kitsch or call in your reservation.

Kitsch Autumn Crap Swap

This weekend is the Quarterly Craft Swap at Kitsch. What does this mean? Well, all you crafters out there can bring your gently used supplies to the shop and swap out for new goodies. Even if you don't have anything you want to get rid of at the moment, donating is not necessary. It's a great way to gain some new materials without shelling out the cash.

Plus, for this Swap, Kitsch is also featuring a Handmade Halloween Costume contest - all ages are encouraged to participate (even our furry friends). The fun begins tomorrow at 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and again on Sunday. You definitely don't want to miss this event!

Thrifty Thursday Part 2

I bought these 1960s clown invites more than a year ago from a garage sale back home. I tried to sell them on Etsy, but no luck. I decided to upgrade them a little with some new vibrant cardstock and making them double sided invites, instead of the opening-card-type.

Now this is really a ONE of a kind invitation. Now you just have to persuade your son or daughter to have a clown-themed party... You can find these cuties at Kitsch, for just $10 for a set of 8.