Gearing Up, to Wind Down!

As it nears ever closer to Christmas, I can feel myself relax a little more by the moment! I am starting to really get into the Christmas spirit! I got all our gift shopping done, in one afternoon, at least for friends and family. Mr. Husband and I are are keeping it VERY simple this year, and not exchanging gifts until Dia de los Reyes...or as the song says, the twelfth day of Christmas! I have made plans to bake persimmon cookies this morning, and then wrap presents and sign cards with the Hubs! Things that were stressing me out just days ago, like the fact that we have done zero Christmas decorating here at the Button Haus, and I mean, literally... ZERO, have ceased to bother me, ever since I accepted the fact that due to our adoption of a cat with a penchant for mischief, not to mention red wine, it would just be begging for trouble to even think about setting up a proper Christmas tree.  I don't think I could withstand the heartbreak it would cause to get our lovely white, artificial tree (which was a $5.00 score at a yard sale 2 years ago!) set up in all it's 1950's resplendent glory, complete with my collection of vintage ornaments... only to have the kitten tear it to glittery shreds in a matter of moments. I mean, look at what this little guy does to a bottle of La Finca Malbec! Yes, he is a wino. My husband and I thought it was ever so cute when he started casually stealing sips from our glasses when we would have a glass of wine, until the other night when this happened...

He jumped up on the counter and knocked the bottle onto the floor, breaking two wine glasses in the process. Thank goodness no one was cut or hurt...but that was what effectively put the nail in the coffin for our dreams of a White Christmas tree this year...at least until he gets neutered and calms down a little bit! He's been so gosh darned rambunctious lately, I can only attribute it to his little raging hormones!


Another thing winding down is our stay at Division 9 Gallery!!! It has been so lovely to be centralized in a permanent location this month, and it's been tons of fun hanging out with Cosme Cordova and Micheal Elderman and all the interns at the Gallery... everyone has been extremely welcoming and supportive...and I got to meet so many new people! It really was a wonderful time.Our official last day in the Gallery is tomorrow, Thursday the 22nd and I will be there from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00, so if you are in the area and have been putting off coming down, that will be your last chance to catch Button, Button, Who! and get your one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts checked off your shopping list!

We still have some really cute dolls left! Not to mention, our assortment of mini and full sized stockings made from reclaimed felted cashmere! The mini stockings are going fast, thanks to a big order from a certain lovely Mother-in-Law who shall remain nameless! Each day she has added more to her stash! Hurry and get yours before they are gone and you will only have full sizes to choose from!

Not that that would be so bad either...every time I make the big guys, I find something to add to them, and this year, it was the scallop trim! I would be lying if I told you I was not pleased with the effect. Not to toot my own horn, but I wouldn't mind keeping these for myself and replacing the ones I made for Mr. Husband and myself years ago, when I was first beginning to fiddle around with felted wool!

I had seen the beautiful stockings that Alicia Paulson was making with felted wool and was inspired to make some for myself and Mr. Hubs, who back then, was still Mr. Boyfriend. I love her blog, Posie Gets Cozy and I find so much inspiration from her writing. I have been following her blog for years now, and tell anyone who will listen about it! She has the most wonderful photo essays, and her writing style is so clear. I hope you will hop over and take a look for yourselves!

So, if the end of the year keeps going in this relaxed a manner, I can say that, that is just all right with me. I am looking forward to holidays spent with my family and later on with friends, with a LOT of movie watching and snacking with Mr. Hubs sandwiched in between! I swear, I am the luckiest gal! Lucky in Love, Friends, and Family! What more can one person want!

Happy Holidays from the Button Haus! 

What's New, Pussycat?

A lot has been going on keeping us busy at the Button Haus! Manda Millar of Mammal Chupie fame hosted Art Bazaar at Back to the Grind and it was smokin'! Well, it was a super hot day, and all our gratitude to all who braved the sweltering heat to drop by and give your props!! I am looking forward to doing another one in November when the weather is a bit cooler!!!Stay tuned for a date. Jet Set with an Edge, September edition was fantastic. Victoria Lacey of House of Flames put on a great event and all the vendors were super supportive! Not to mention, the tacos weren’t bad either!

ArtWalk last Thursday was wonderful! Not only did we get to visit with lots of lovely folks, but since hubby Mark was helping watch the table, I was able to take a little break and mosey on down to Division 9 Gallery and check out my dear friend, Cynthia Huerta’s one woman art show Las Sequelas! If you missed the opening, don't fret! It goes on til October 28th! Such a fantastic show…I couldn’t resist picking up a little something for the Button Haus Gallery!

A word on the Button Haus Gallery…my wonderfully talented aunt Griselda (check out her paintings and her art dolls, they are beautiful!) has been requesting pics and a blog entry fully dedicated to our little townhouse that lives a double life as an art gallery. Soooooo, since I love my auntie so much, be sure to keep an eye out for a future entry all about our house/gallery/reason I will end up on an episode of ”Hoarders: Buried Alive” eventually!

Just a little update of where we will be in the upcoming weeks! Yes…the Etsy shop is still not open yet…because we have been SO busy around town lately! This Friday, October 15^th we will be at the RCC quad for .EDUfest from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.! LATE night! There will be music and tons of original artists and vendors, so come on down and say hi!

Sunday, October 24^th we will be participating in the October edition of Jet Set with an Edge…this time we will be in the banquet room of Zacatecas Cafe at 2472 University Ave. in Riverside! This one starts at 9:00 a.m. and goes until 2:00 in the afternoon, some come on down, have lunch or brunch or even breakfast if you are that early of a riser and check out all the cute stuff!

In November, we will be at ArtWalk on the first Thursday as per usual, this time with MORE Fridas in honor of Dia de los Muertos!!! Come on by and check it out!!!

Where does the time go?

Just a tiny update! ArtWalk was great! So many lovely people stopped by and said hi...so much fun to get out into the community and make new friends! Seeing all our old friends is great too!

The Autumnal owls were a hit and can also be found at the retail space at Back to the Grind!

I am working on some new things for the shop which will hopefully be ready for the next two upcoming events.

I apologize to those of you still awaiting our Etsy opening, but since we’ve been so busy with actual live/in-person events, there hasn’t been much time for setting up internets/virtual shop stuff! I will try to get on that soon!

But first we have an event this Sunday, September 19, 2010 at Back to the Grind. Sweet Miss Manda of Mammal Chupie is hosting her Art Bazaar once again, and has invited Button, Button, Who! to run a table. The event is from 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon, until early evening at Back to the Grind at 3575 University Ave Riverside, CA , 92501…hope to see you there!

A week after that, on September 25, 2010, Button, Button, Who! will be manning (or should I say, womanning?) a table at the House of Flames, Jet Set with an Edge event in Norco! This clothing, art, and accessory party is not your typical Tupperware or jean/purse parties. There will be live DJ-ed music and hors d'oeuvres. Event starts at 6:00 and goes til 9:00 at 1992 Paddock Lane, Norco, CA. Come on down!

As for new merchandise, I will be showcasing lots more magnets and new hair clips! Just in time for fall are our felted cashmere button clippies! You’re gonna love them!

Still have lots of cute new Autumn inspired owls and a couple Fridas and Eskeletes left from ArtWalk! Get yours before they’re all gone! Of course I do custom orders, so technically you can still get one…but then you have to wait a little bit and that’s never fun, is it?

Patience is a virtue, right?

Things are getting rolling!!! After much deliberation, procrastination, and just plain old bad time management, I am finally getting this here blog a’goin’! Soon, I will have emailed all my mail list peoples and shortly (hopefully) after that, we’ll kickstart the Etsy shop!!!

But before all that, there has been much to attend to! There was a two week-long substitute teaching assignment which, although needed very much financially, ate up a LOT of creative time that could have been spent "Button-ing"! I have decided that is the verb I have come up with to describe what I do. There is also a new roommate who we are trying to vacate an office full of stuff to make room for. It's amazing how much stuff you accumulate without even realizing and then have no where to put it! There was a birthday (mine) which had to be celebrated yesterday…and it was! Happy 34 years to me! The day was spent eating, and spa-ing, and eating some more…in between all that I received my business cards (yay!), new logo stamp (double yay!) and bought some ribbon to stamp with my new logo to make tags for the next batch of Button, Button, Who! creations which are just itching to be put together! Such a busy time!!! There is a whole new group of Button, Button, Who! friends who needed cutting out, stitching on and the whole Button, Button treatment, of which we are in the middle of!

I am very excited about this next batch of goodies, because since we are nearing autumn, even though you wouldn’t know it by our over 100 degrees weather lately, I have made quite a few autumnal inspired pieces…maybe if I am really with it, I will be able to put up a few sneak peaks! Until then, I will just have to say that if you are into jewel tones, then there’s something for you…and if you are into Dia de los Muertos, there is something for you…and if you just like plain old cuteness, well then, you are in for a treat! But you will have to be patient! Hopefully they will all be ready for next weeks ArtWalk on September 2. I am planning on setting up outside right next to Back to the Grind again on University so that if anybody is looking for us, you won’t have to look very far! Hope to see y’all then!