It has been a whirlwind of activity around here at Ye Olde Button Haus! The last month has been jampacked with so many wonderful events! First of all, there was our anniversary to celebrate! For those of you who don't know, my husband and I got married a year ago on Halloween, at Back to the Grind Cafe. In the last year it has certainly become a home away from home for us, what with all the crafting events we have been involved in there! They were so great during the wedding too! They let us take over the entire shop for most of the day, to transform it for the wedding, and I still get chills thinking about how wonderful it all turned out! Getting married on Halloween not only helps ensure that your husband will never forget your anniversary, (wink wink) but also, that there will almost always be something fun to do that day! As for our first year, we celebrated it by brunching at the Mission Inn, and getting thoroughly tipsy on mimosas in the courtyard. Later, after a recuperative nap, we ventured out to the Queen Mary's Dark Harbor to scare the bejeezus out of ourselves. Nothing says, "Honey, I'm so glad we tied the knot, even one year later!" like running through a maze of zombies on an old ship! T'was truly a fantastic time! As for anniversary gifts...I know for your first year you are supposed to either give paper, or clocks, but our cousin David, who is a fantabulous photographer, took the most beautiful photo at our wedding, and I just had to get it made into a painting by one of my favorite artists, Angie Ibarra. I have been a fan of Angie's work ever since my Aunt Griselda clued me into her about six years ago, when she was selling her artwork on eBay. Now, I know that canvas is technically not paper, but I just couldn't help myself, so I decided to forgo tradition and give my husband a painting for our anniversary and Angie did not disappoint! Her take on our wedding was just so incredible! She managed to incorporate so many aspects of the wedding into the painting, it is destined to become a family heirloom! 
I am pretty sure Mr. Husband liked it almost as much as I liked what he gave me. Mr. Husband was nontraditionally traditional and actually made me a clock out of a Mexican tin painting of a skeleton couple! So clever, that guy! No wonder I married him!
After the thrill of anniversaries was over, there was still much crafting to be attended to, since it was the week of Dia de los Muertos, ArtWalk and a craft show at the Elk's Lodge! Cosme of Division 9 Gallery orchestrated a phenomenal event Downtown for Dia de los Muertos! The entire section of Mission Inn Blvd between Orange and Lemon Streets in front of the Museum and Library was just jam packed full of people watching the dancers, or checking out the booths...hopefully next year, Button Button Who! will be among those booths, fingers crossed! As for this year, we had a tiny set up over at Back to the Grind, which was much less heavily trafficked, but there was a lovely mellow vibe that night! A small selection of Frida dolls, Skeleton dolls, and owls are still available at their retail space!
ArtWalk was fabulous, as always! It seemed as though all our friends stopped by to say hello and wish us well, at some point in the evening. It's so nice to have a craft roadie on ArtWalk night to help out setting up and breaking down after the night is done...Mr. Husband is becoming quite the awesome craft roadie! He was on hand with iced teas, and hot dogs from Relish when it seemed like I was about to perish from hunger. Right now he is working on something to help me display my Christmas merch and the best thing about him, is he works for free! At the Elks Lodge Craft Bazaar, later that week, he was on hand with breakfast from Jack in the Box for Miss Manda and I...you can get a full recap of our Elk's Lodge adventures over at her place! It was truly a peek into the future to see what may await me if I'm not careful! I too, could be fashioning birdbaths from terracotta pots, or Christmas wreaths from hay...must be ever vigilant to strive for the utmost creative output!
Well, I don't know about you, but it seems as though the holidays have snuck upon us with a stealthiness usually reserved by old Karate masters about to catch a fly with chopsticks! I have not gone to bed before 1:00 a.m. all week long, and I have been teaching all week...it has been such an exercise in time management! Be that as it may, I am super excited about the upcoming festivities, even if it means right now, I am busier than a long tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs.
On top of the full size stockings, I am also offering small, ornamental mittens and stockings, which are, oh, shall we say, giftcard sized...just perfect for slipping that last minute giftcard into and making a more presentable...present!
In addition to the stocking and mitten ornaments, I am making the entire Button, Button, Who! cast of characters, in miniature, perfect for decking out for your tree! So those of you who have been putting off getting your owl fix, can do so for the holidays! I, for one, am going to try and cram my artificial pink tree full of mini owls, just you wait and see!
Besides owls, we'll have chickadees, whales, cats, Christmas-themed Matryoshkas, and our new Scottie dogs!!! We will still have our old favorites too, for those of you who have been waiting till the holidays to get your Button on...this is the time to do it! We are going to be so busy with events, supplies will definitely not last!!!
Here's a rundown of the Button, Button, Who! Holiday schedule:
11/26/2010 - Thrifty Gifting at Division 9 Gallery (2:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.)
12/02/2010 - ArtWalk at Life Arts Building - Benefit for Doctors Without Borders (6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.)
12/03/2010 - UCR Market Day (8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.)
12/04/2010 - Promenade Elementary School Craft Fair & Pancake Breakfast (8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.)
12/05/2010 - Back to the Grind - Art Bazaar (2:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.)
12/12/2010 - Tio's Tacos with Division 9 Gallery Trifty Gifting! (3:00 P.M. - 8:oo P.M.)
12/18/2010 - Pomona ArtWalk at PB&J's (6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.)
Hopefully we will be able to meet up at one of those events and I can show you what I've been working so hard on! I can't wait!
Looks great honey!! If this craft thing doesn't work, (which we both know it will...these creations of your are too cute) you should pick up your pen and write full time ;)
ReplyDelete-Mr. Husband
<3!
ReplyDeleteMaggie ~ So much talent!!! You've always been so creative, this is for sure your calling. I am hoping to make it down to see you at the Tio's Tacos night. Much sucess to you. Wishing you and Mark a great Thanksgiving and hope to see all your goodies soon. I want a whale ;)
ReplyDeleteNicole
I will have to come and see you at an event and gobble up some of those crafty goodies... Btw, that painting of you and Mr. Husband is too too awesome. you're sparklin'***
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you and the Mr.