bexcaliber: branding

Lately I have been thinking about gradually rebranding my company. As much as I still love the red chair on aqua design, I don't think it is really relative anymore to what I am doing. So I am going to start trying out new graphics using the geo modern fabric line as inspiration. I have also wanted to start incorporating this branding in my packaging. I am always impressed when I order something and it arrives in thoughtful packaging. Sure it is easy and cheap to just throw your product in a bubble mailer but I feel like I can do better. You know what I mean? It is those little things that keep customers happy and coming back for more.

So I created a couple of stamps. I selected this star pattern which I loved but never made into a fabric design (that will be amended immediately) and the word "thanks." I have to say, I loved scraping out these designs on this soft rubber. So fulfilling. Luckily months ago I thought it would be a good idea to dabble in block printing and I already had all the materials on hand.

This was such an easy project and I can already envision myself surrounded by an army of hand carved rubber goodness. Too bad I only bought two blank stamps. Just a hint: when doing words make sure you write it out backwards so it prints correctly. I wrote the "thanks" backwards with a super thick Magnum sharpie.

 

So I have been stamping my mailers and tissue paper for wrapping and I love it. Each stack of outgoing pillows is wrapped in tissue paper and closed with a sticker. I think it was totally worth all efforts. Well, I outsourced some of the stamping to my friend so I could finish up Christmas. Thanks Andrea! Mailers have fewer stars, this was just a demo but Steve and I both agreed too many looked sloppy.

 

And a new business card too. Getting ready for craft show season and the holidays.

I just feel like this design is way more the direction I am going. So now I need to revamp my shop banners and avatars but that is a project for another day.

Happy Halloween!

 After last year's success at Halloween I was dubious if we could top it. I am a huge fan of family costumes. I think it is so fun and makes you be that much more creative. Plus, who am I kidding, I love dressing up. So this year we opted for Super Henry, Evil Steve and the Damsel in Distress. Mostly I chose this since Henry loves super heroes, Steve could wear all black clothes plus a cape and I could be pretty but not foolish.

 Henry loved his costume. I was worried because he didn't want to wear his mask or the cape at our ward Trunk or Treat but once I pinned the cape to his sweatshirt so it didn't tug on his neck, we were in business. I made his costume and embellished the sweatshirt. He chose the color scheme. I gave him a couple of options in the fabric store and he chose silver and blue. I made the H by free handing a cool letter on white cotton and then heat n bonded it to his cape. I sewed way too many sequins and shiny ribbons on for embellishment and he sure did sparkle.

 For the sweatshirt I used stretchy sequins on his cuffs and waistband so they would stretch and still be comfortable.

 His mask was an adult one I trimmed down to fit his face. Overall I think I spent $10 since we already had the sweats.

 He loved Trick or Treating and got the hang of it really quickly. He was really good at holding our hands and walking on the sidewalk. He would go up to each house, knock and then either say "trick or treat" "please" "Happy Halloween" or "thank you" before he got any candy. If they offered the bowl for him to choose from, he only took one piece. So polite. After each house, he quickly said "We're going to the next house now."

 Steve's costume was just black clothes, a felt mask I made from scraps and a $5 twin sheet cut into a cape. You can't see the back but there is a huge sequined S, its subtle.

 For me, I was going for a girl who was out on the town or maybe at the opera who gets kidnapped by Evil Steve. So I got all pretty and then mussed it up. I lost an earring, cried through my mascara, smeared my lipstick, etc etc. Henry came to my rescue and saved me! I made the tulle tutu for $5 and then wore a white skirt and my wedding dress slip to give it that huge flouncy look.

 We went trick or treating with some friends. A tiny dinosaur and a bumblebee.

Here is a good shot of the back of his cape. Super Henry to the rescue! Overall it was a perfect Halloween. Henry did so well, he didn't even get upset when it was time to go home. And was happy to just have one candy.

And for me, I am happy Halloween is over. After an entire month leading up to it, with lots of crafts, decorations and prep, I'm done. But I love how much Henry enjoyed it this year. He would tell anyone who asked that he was going to be "Super Henry" for Halloween and that daddy was going to be a "billin" (villain) and mommy was going to be an "ansel in dress" (damsel in distress).

bexcaliber: dashing through the snow

Christmas pillow covers are now available in the shop. I have to say, I exclaim this with a huge sigh of relief. I have been working on this christmas collection since July and I am happy to finally have it out there. I have everything this year from original printed fabrics, appliques, quilts and everything to make your christmas merry and bright. 114 pillow covers, my goal was 100 so I totally rocked it.

My favorites are the "dashing through the snow" print with the snowflake appliques. I wanted to design a fabric using a song lyric. I listened to hours of music trying to find something obscure enough to be original (its hard to compete with all those free printables out there) yet still recognizable. The beginning of Jingle Bells was perfect and then I could sew on two wool felt snowflakes to add texture and charm.

I also loved creating the holly print and holly wreath fabrics. I started by sketching out a variety of holly shapes and then hand painted them with watercolors. Once done, I scanned them and then cut and paste the holly into a wreath shape. I love the painterly quality of each leaf. It is also available in an allover print (not shown).

So there you have it, the work of months. Now I get to sit back and relax a bit.

Find christmas here!

Pumpkin Patch FHE

 For FHE this week we went to a local pumpkin patch and found our pumpkins. Henry loves pumpkins and had been anticipating this event all week. He kept saying "going to a pumpkin patch for eh-eh-eee!" We just went to a local church that had a patch ala pallets, easier than a muddy field and Henry doesn't know the difference.

 Super huge pumpkin.

 Lil' spookies

 One year ago...     such a big boy now...      

I love fall and pumpkins! Next up, carving them next week for FHE.

Recent Favs: Instagram style

 "Mommy, look at me..."

 Someone fell asleep during quiet time, passed out in his cardboard tunnel.

 Big sticks make park day WAY better.

 A couple of weeks ago, Steve had Friday off. He suggested going to the mall of Georgia and getting lunch. What an excellent husband I have. Henry thought the mall was magical with all the escalators, carousels, play areas and mickey stores. I thought the mall was magical too with Sephora and H&M visits.

 Another interesting snooze position...

 Spider infestation. He was proud to help put up the spiders in the bottom web.

 Thanks Pinterest. Nutella filled crescents dipped in cinnamon and sugar. Yum.

 Christmas scraps, sliced, sewn and ready to be whipped into pillow covers. 91/2 yds of Christmas cheer.

 Oconee book sale. Lots of new reading for the whole family

 Its fall! Time to bust out the sweats, Henry sure looks different in pants after months of shorts.

Elephant fun at story time. I continue to be impressed by our story time lady and her creativity.

Potato Print Pumkin Garland

 Since Henry has been loving Halloween, we have been doing little halloween projects this month. First up, potato prints. At first I wanted to use an apple half to print the pumpkins but I couldn't get the cut straight so only half of it would even pick up the paint.  And then the apple was too hard for Henry to hold. Any tips on cutting an apple in half and having it be flat? So I chopped a potato in half and it was much easier and better. Henry loved it and I pretty much let him go to town on 8 sheets of black and white paper. I just used basic acrylic paint I had on hand.

 After they dried, I cut them out and then drew silly and spooky faces on them. Henry helped dictate shapes for eyes, mouths and noses. I love the way the partial print ones turned out. I love how they have a patchy orange circle shape, very artistic.

With the jack o lanterns ready, I whipped them through my sewing machine just stitching along the tops and there you have it, an easy-kid-friendly-one-of-a-kind banner.

I'm thinking for christmas we're going to do lots of white potato prints on blue and make a long snowman by hanging them vertically. But we'll see if it actually happens.

Free Shipping and Lace Chevrons

I love chevrons. I love lace. I really love them together. One fun and colorful, One lovely neutral. Two new designs from bexcaliber now available in the shop. More color combos coming soon. I also am having free shipping this weekend Thurs-Sun. Use coupon code: freeshipbex.