Folk Art Festival - Huntersville, NC

I work in a shopping center....very dangerous for a shopaholic like me...but getting to the point....

There is a Folk Art Festival, sponsored by Maddi's Gallery (who sells my jewelry), going on at Birkdale Village in Huntersville, NC. Since I work in that shopping center, I took a quick trip over to see what was going on. I met a bunch of very talented, and very nice, artists. Since I'm an artist myself, I thought I'd highlight some of my favorites, along with their contact information in case any of you shopaholics out there see something you want to buy...so here we go!

Kimberly Dawn
http://www.folkartweb.net/
Gorgeous and unique paintings with some mixed media

Check her out at the arts festival at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach, SC June 23-25th, 2006!

Kimberly Dawn's Booth


Painting by Kimberly Dawn


Painted Window by Kimberly Dawn


Inside of Kimberly's Booth


Close-up of My Favorite Kimberly Dawn Painting

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MDS Designs
http://mymdsdesigns.com/
Super-cute stationery


Fun Notebooks & Wall Art by MDS Designs


More Fun Wall Art & Cards


Close-up of My Favorite - Love that Quote!

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Fine Folk
http://www.pennydobson.com/
Lovely paintings & pottery


Penny Dobson Painting with Beads - Yes, beads! So Clever!


Inside Penny Dobson's Booth

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Driftwood Art by Philip Simmons
email: woodsong@mindspring.com
Nifty creations made from driftwood


Meet Philip Simmons's pet, Damian


Inside the Driftwood Art Booth


Close-up of Some of the Driftwood Art Creations

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Noel Mays
email: noelmays@comcast.net
Lovely, Bright, Colorful Glass Art


Gorgeous Noel Mays Design - the inner section is painted!


Awesome Mirror by Noel Mays - I want this! :)


Noel Mays's Booth is really quite refreshing!


Up-close with Noel Mays Designs

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St. Peter's Farm
http://www.stpetersfarmfolkart.com/
Artwork that makes you feel happy


Inside the St. Peter's Farm Booth


Outside shot of St. Peter's Farm's Booth


Close-up of my favorite painting by St. Peter's Farm


If you saw anything you like, be sure to check out the artists' web sites or email them! Many designs may sell during this show, but artists as talented as these will have new stuff for you to check out!

Patriotic Pretty

You've heard of pairing red with the classic black/white combo, but how bout red with a navy/white combo....my ruling - fantastic! This girl works in the same office building as me, and she looks fab every day! On this particular day, I noticed the less popular, often overlooked, but just as cute color combo of her outfit:



It looks like this girl likes layered necklaces. Since there's a lot going on with the outfit, I'd suggest something layered, but still simple. I recommend the Sasha Necklace, which is one of my favorites because of its versatility. The length of the necklace would fit well over the red top but still show in the V-space of the blazer. Click here or image for details.

Cute, Right?

Isn't this bag and shoe combo cute? Best part of this girl's outfit was that she had an awesome green eye shadow with turquoise eye liner....ok, sounds kinda funky, right? It IS, and she can pull off the look because she's a hair stylist...they practically have to be edgy!

Maybe Blogaholic is More Accurate?

Ok, so maybe Blogaholic is a better description of me....I've spent so much time doing the rename, and the makeover, and coming up with fun posts for you awesome readers, that I've neglected my jewelry design a bit (read A LOT). Ooops! Not good for someone running a jewelry company. So, I'm vowing now that I will either tonight or this weekend lock myself in a room and spend hours making jewelry! Ok, not literally.....sounds kinda scary, but it's actually very relaxing for me.....oh, and no worries, I will continue to post, but there will be some jewelry design tonight...oh yea, there will be! Best part is, you guys get to hear about it first! I'll post some fun images of my new work when I'm done!

Cheers!

Shopaholic Blogaholic D

PS - New Posting Time

PS - Hello Shopaholic Anonymous readers! Just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that I'm going to start transitioning my post time to the evening. I figure I'll have more time to think through things I type, maybe have more to post about, maybe take new pictures....who knows? So, if you show up and the post looks the same as yesterday's post, no worries...I'll be updating that night! :) Oh, but I did go ahead and just do another outfit post this morning for your viewing enjoyment!

Feeling Professional

Since I had a new pair of shoes after my budget shopping weekend (will blog about this later), and you have to wear your new shoes as soon as possible (right?), I decided to wear a pair of dress pants that would match the shoes perfectly! The pants have a light brown and tan plaid with thin, melon accents lines. The shoes are a nice light tan, pretty dressy, probably wouldn't cut it anywhere else, but the south, but my office is usually pretty casual anyways, so open-toes aren't a big deal.


Anywho, what really caught my eye about these shoes was the way the leather on the top of the foot was detailed. It looks kinda like little leaves...adorable! Even better than adorable? Affordable! These shoes were only $35 at TJ Maxx!


Since I like (read have to) layer my clothes because I'm always getting cold at work, I decided to go ahead and throw the matching blazer on too...it is a pretty nice suit after all (it's Banana Republic). I also paired the suit with my new necklace design, "Autumn Rise" which got me quite a few compliments! Click for details

SA Excuse - Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale

My co-worker (yea, same one as before...she's always got the scoop) told me that Nordstrom is having their big Half Yearly Sale for women and kids! I checked my email, and sure enough, I had a notification, as well! Shop online and in stores to save up to 40%.

Extra bonus: Use your Nordstrom Card and get double points June 7th - 11th!

Here are some of my picks:


What can I say? I'm a sucker for turquoise and layers!*


It's late in the season, but I can get good use out of them for awhile in the south!*


This just might transition well to the fall*

*NOTE: Pictures from Nordstrom's web site: http://www.nordstrom.com/.

Simple, but Fun & Funky Style!

This girl is just adorable! The first thing that caught my eye on this outfit was her skirt - I love the color, I love the cut, I just love it! She said she got the skirt from Arden B (in case anyone's curious). The shades are great, too, but what I really like about the outfit is how it's very simple but with a twist - simple but still kinda funky!




Since the outfit is pretty trendy-looking, I'd go with one of my new chain/pendant designs. I like "Pocket Change" for this outfit - the length is 21" so it would hang pretty low over her tank, which seems to be the new style of necklace (length). This necklace has gemstones and a vintage, gold-plated pendant. Click the image to the right or here for details.

Semi-Casual Preppy

On this particular day, I wanted to wear something sorta preppy, sorta casual, and still a tad-bit dressy....ok, that doesn't really make sense, but the kelly green top is a bit preppy, the jeans are a bit casual, and the shoes are a bit dressy...voila! I love how the green of the top looks so nice against the deep blue of the jeans. I even got a compliment on the top - always a good thing!



One of my newest designs, Laughing Leaves, would look great with this outfit. The green in the necklace pulls the green from the top, and the pendant style would work well with the V-shape of the neckline. Click here or image for details.

Serious Case of Savvy Style

I noticed this lady's lovely brown dress when we were waiting in line to pick up our lunch orders. The dress was so simple, but looked so great on her! I like how it's not too matchy-matchy with the shoes in bronze. Can you believe this is from Target? Now this lady's definitely suffering from a serious case of savvy style!




I'd like to see this outfit paired with my Limu Moui Necklace. I think the rich, deep green color of the necklace would look absolutely lovely with the brown of the dress, plus it would add some extra color to the outfit! Click here or the image to the left for an alternate view and more details!

Satisfy Your Accessory Cravings

I've added the first round of new designs for my latest collection for Summer 2006, Old-School Cool! Named because of the integration of vintage components, this collection features lightweight designs with super fun colors! More specifically, I've added vintage lucite and vintage gold-plated components to the designs. Ok, some of you are wondering, "What the heck is lucite?" According to the site where I purchased these materials, lucite was created by DuPont in 1937, is similar to bakelite, is from a warehouse overstock, but since it was never circulated, is still in perfect condition! I love the lucite because it is so lightweight and available in so many colors. Keep your eye out for new designs to be added to the web site over the next week, but in the meantime, check this sampling:





Click the images for alternate views and details

Ok, after taking a look at the posted photos, I realized that these colors may not be considered that bright to some, but have no fears...I have lots of fun beads, including pink beads, ready to be made pretty!

Check out my latest designs: http://www.dcelestine.com/d_latest.asp

SA Excuse - Exclusive Vintage Deal!

To all my SA faves, the lovely and generous owner of Parker Hawn is offering a special deal to my readers - She said:

"As a way of saying thanks to you and your readers for checking out parkerhawn.com, please mention discount code "shopaholic" when placing an order and recieve FREE domestic shipping through June 30th 2006"

As if you needed a reason other than the awesome deals they have, this sweetens things a bit. She also mentioned that she'll be adding more shoes later this week all under $40, so be sure to check Parker Hawn lots this week to be the first to get their latest listings!

Thanks Parker Hawn for this special deal! Check them out: http://www.parkerhawn.com

SA Excuse - Bath and Body Works Sale

In case any of you shopaholics out there need a good excuse to go shopping, my co-worker has just informed me that Bath and Body Works is having it's huge sale this week. According to their web site, you can save up to 75% off....how could you turn down a deal like that, right?

My craving: Wallflowers for a mere $5 - that's cheaper than plugin (almost) and certainly better! For those who've never tried the wallflower, you don't know what you're missing. It's a scent plugin that you just stick in any outlet, although I must warn you to keep it right-side-up - I have had the liquid inside spill out before. I must have tried about 6 different scents, and they all smell fabulous! My favorite scent is Cotton Blossom - it makes the entire room smell so fresh and clean!

Vintage Ferragamos!

I just recently received the vintage Ferragamos that I purchased from Parker Hawn, after seeing the great find made by The Daily Obsession. They're patent leather peep toes, and they're awesome! I love the detailing along the length of the shoe, and they're sooo comfy already! The heel is 3 inches, but they're not the least bit hard to walk in. Sure, they're used, but they're still in great condition, and for $35, I feel they're a worthy investment. Not to mention, they look great with the "shorts look" that is so hot right now!


For more great vintage finds, check out Parker Hawn today (http://www.parkerhawn.com)! Special thanks to The Daily Obsession for finding these awesome shoes!

Charleston Shopping

Ok, I know you're probably sick of reading about Charleston, but this is my last post on the subject, I promise. Actually, I saved the best for last - SHOPPING!

Charleston has it's fair share of your standard stores, but when in Rome.....

If you're making a trip to Charleston, you really have to check out The Market. It's open almost 24/7, but the best sales and the majority of vendors will be out during the daylight hours. The Market reminds me a bit of a flea market, but in addition to random vendors, there are many local artists selling handmade goods. The variety of items for sale is endless and the vendors are almost always different. Here's a sneak peak:

The Market

Though it's a bit crowded, you can often find a great deal here. Some vendors are willing to bargain with you, but not all of them. Just be sure to not insult any artists by offering too low when it's clear they've actually made the product they're selling. As I was trying to be good on this particular day, I managed to keep myself down to one purchase:

My New Clutch! A steal at $24!


Now, I know I said avoid the standard stores, but I love checking out unique boutiques. I happened to pass Jo Jo's while walking around the market and had to stop in. Their clothes were trendy, fun, and pretty affordable. I needed a dress for one of the night's (forgot to pack one...oops!) so I picked up this cute number (see right). The oh-so-soft material and cut make this dress uber-comfy AND chic!

Charleston Drinks

I wasn't going to do reviews on bars in Charleston, but since a reader mentioned they'd be interested in hearing about them, I decided to do a quick post.

If you're looking for somewhere to get your dance on, check out The Purple Tree Lounge right at the market. They have a good mix of music and a fairly timely bar staff.

For great frozen drinks, check out Wet Willies. I believe they're open during the day, so if you're looking for a day time way to chill out (with a kick) make a quick stop. At night, their drinks are still going strong, with an entire wall of frozen drinks to select from. My pick - "Call a Cab" - this drink is super-strong but mighty tasty. I recommend stopping by to pick up drinks. They have a dance floor, but the scene can sometimes get scandalous, as in, it reminds me of a dance club for 18 year-olds (it depends on the night though).


A whole wall to choose from at Wet Willies*

For a more laid-back, pub-style bar, check out Henry's right at the market. Not much to say - simple bar environment with a pretty darn quick bar staff. Usually not quite as crowded as some of the other bars if you're claustrophobic.

For something more sophisticated, check out one of the 2 rooftop bars. I can't remember the name of the one I've been to, but it's above an upscale hotel on the corner of the market and E. Bay St. They do have a dress code, so dress nicely if you want to get in. Further down the road is the rooftop bar at the Library. I haven't actually been here, but I've heard good things.

For the locals' pick, check out The Blind Tiger. It's several blocks down from the Market, so it's a bit harder to get to, but worth it. There's a small interior area, but a pretty sizeable, and nicely decorated patio in the back.

There are several other bars worth checking out, but you can only make so many stops in one trip, right?

*Picture from Wet Willies web site: http://www.wetwillies.com

Charleston Streets

I wanted to post a couple random pictures to give you an idea of what the streets of historic Charleston look like - for you touristy people.


Here's me and my SO in front of one of popular fountains in Charleston (great for kids). It's right near a pier that has swinging benches, that are pretty romantic, and also beside the battery, which is sorta like a mini-park. There are several historic markers with stories for the history buff.


I couldn't resist grabbing a shot of this cute restaurant. It's one of the nicer ones in town, right off E. Bay St. and across from High Cotton, which I mentioned in my previous post. Notice the sidewalks - yep, they're hard to walk on for ladies in heels, so bring appropriate shoes! Anywho, that's about it really....I mean, Charleston is kinda what you make of it. Check out the great restaurants and bars. For tours, I recommend the tour of Fort Sumter - you get a boat ride with it and a great view of the city! Maybe try one of the horse-driven carriage tours - those are fun too. There's also ghost tours for the non-faint-of-heart. The Market is really where most of the action happens, so just head that way, and you're sure to find something to do!

Charleston Eats

I realize that this post has nothing to do with fashion...but fashionable people want to eat well, right? Here are some restaurant tips if you're ever in Charleston:

For an informal meal, check out A.W. Shucks right at the market. They have an awesome outdoor patio, wonderful food, and a fun, laid-back environment. Try the entree with the crab cakes and bacon-wrapped shrimp - yummy!

For a fancy dinner, lunch, or even better, brunch, check out High Cotton. We first visited this place a couple years ago, upon a recommendation from a friend, and we were so glad we tried it! Though pricey for dinner, the brunch menu is quite affordable, with prices between $8 and $15ish dollars. The envionment is charming, the service is always excellent, and the food is to-die-for. My pick - the steak and eggs - so delicious! Extra bonus - live jazz music! Do call for reservations, as they get booked up pretty quickly.


High Cotton*
For a romantic and/or more hip meal, check out Blossom on East Bay St. They have a unique selection of entrees and chic environment. On our particular visit, our service AND food were perfect! We had a sampling of everything - spinach & artichoke dip, spinach salad, crab soup, grilled shrimp with steak, and chocolate mousse....ssooooooo good! If the weather is right, ask for the patio - it's so romantic!


Blossom
*Picture from High Cotton's web site
I took the Blossom photo above, but here's the web site in case you're curious - click here

Charleston Purse

Don't get me wrong, southern girls LOVE a good designer purse, but contrary to what all the fashion magazines say about monograms being out, they LOVE their preppy monogram purses. I saw them everywhere in Charleston! In addition to the monogram, southern girls truly love their Vera Bradley purses. It's hard to walk around Charleston, and not see a woman with either a monogram purse or Vera Bradley - both of which I still think are super cute!

Pink and Green monogram purses by The Pink Monogram are so fun and cute for day time outfits - remember the brightly colored dresses I mentioned in a previous post?



The black monogram purse, also by The Pink Monogram, can go day or night - usually worn with a slightly more dressy outfit, though for formal events, and fancier clutch is usually used instead.

Ah...the classic Vera Bradley purses. This pattern is my fave! I have this pattern in one of the larger bag sizes, which I use to tote goods around at my art/craft/trunk shows. Total prepiness guaranteed!