Friday Feature!!

I would like to introduce a wonderful etsy seller and fellow Eclectic Artisans Team member, Michelle from her etsy shop, MichellesCharmWorld! 


She has many super cute items in her shop, such as this Lego Fun Bracelet!


and this adorable Sweet Roll and Coffee Necklace!




What led you to create your craft? Going to a private school (uniforms) my entire life, I was pretty limited in ways to express myself. I was tired of seeing the same old thing on all the jewelry shop shelves and desired for brighter, bolder items. Funt hings that would attract attention. I started working on things to wear on the weekends in High School when I would purchase items from the normal chain stores and take them apart to form 1 fabulous piece all while adding in upcycled items from around the house!    

What do you find the most rewarding and the most challenging about your craft? I find time to be the most challenging. I am up until 3am every day while it's silent just so that I can work. I don't like to sacrifice the time I have with my children and husband, so I work when everyone is asleep. I find the completed project most rewarding. To know I made something that makes people smile is a great feeling.  

Do you have any advice for other crafters? work hard and don't give up. IT's so easy to say that you want to throw in the towel when you have no sales, but try different things. Make something different, try different colors, photograph on a different backround. There are so many things to do!! Try it all before you give up.  
 
What do you like to do in your spare time? PLAY!!! I have 3 kids (ages 4,3,2) and I love to play with them, craft with them, build with them and all that! Anything that has us together is fabulous! I love going on dates with my husband and getting away from Mommy & Daddy world and when I'm alone, I love to read!!!

Randoms about you! Favorite color: PINK Favorite movie: Dirty Dancing Favorite music: Country Favorite vacation spot: Walt Disney World!!! (I was even married there!!) 


I hope you enjoyed this Friday Feature  :)

Vintage Funnies... these just made me laugh!

New cd... Cant wait!

Make fun of me all you will....but I am a child of the 80's. Which meant that I grew up idolizing bands like Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and Motely Crue... And I'm so glad that my Bon Jovi is still going strong. Seems like they are releasing a new cd (oops, almost said "album"!) almost every 1-2 years, and I love each one. I can't wait til this new cd is out and they come in town on tour! I never get sick of Jon :)

*sigh*

Bonzai Made the Etsy Front Page!

Woot! I'm thrilled to say my Autumn's Glow Beaded Wine Glasses made Etsy's front page! This is a first for Bonzai Beadwear, and I'm so excited! Just in time for the holidays, these glasses can be custom beaded in your favorite colors and look beautiful on a holiday table!  I don't know about you but I'm ready for a glass of wine! :)

Some photos of the Sunday Soiree

A great time was had by all! Here are some photos of my table at the Metropolis Theater Sunday Soiree!







Some of my helpers

The Metropolis Sunday Soiree

I would like to thank everyone who visited my booth at the Metropolis Sunday Soiree! It was a great night with 10% of sales going to Metropolis Performing Arts Theater!
I am busy loading up my shop with items from the show...if there was a piece that you liked, but you dont see it on my website yet, please feel free to email me at beadwear@bonzaicreative.com

And don't forget... A FREE pair of earrings from Bonzai Beadwear with any $50 purchase off my site! Just email me the word that was on your Bonzai coupon in the goody bag!
Have a great day!

Winter in Chicago...and my scary ATV experience :)

Its getting cold in Chicago already. Fall is my favorite season, and I prefer a nice sunny day, about hmmm 70 degrees. Not going from 80 one day, dropping to 50 the next. But thats this city for ya! It could snow tomorrow! eek... and while Fall is my favorite season, but it also means Winter is coming... and the windchill means its bone chillin' cold here.

So I started thinking about warm places, and our trip to Mexico last year...ah, wish I could be there now. Fresh guacamole, beautiful beaches, a trip to the tequila factory... good times. Which for some reason, led me to think of the one thing that was not so great on the trip. My ATV experience. I've seriously never been so terrified in my life. Now, anyone who knows me, knows I'm a terrible driver. There, I said it, I drive like an idiot, and scare myself sometimes. I'm getting better though :)  So, the thought of me driving one of these would frighten many. Many. Did I say many?

Anyhoo, we decided to go on an "ATV adventure" in Baja California, in our stop in Cabo San Lucas.
Let me tell you... I've been skydiving, and would rather be 15K feet off the ground then be 5 feet from the ground on an ATV again. I felt moments of sheer TERROR on this thing... it tossing me off down a hill and running me over, my neck breaking, blah blah. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't been the only one to never have rode one, and the instructor demanding everyone keep up and go over 45mph. And the terrain....omg, it was crazy. I would've been fine if it was flat, or even normal hills. Insanity!

I don't have a lot of pics, but this is just an example of a "little" hill. Imagine going down it at 40mph (with no seatbelt in this thing), and what the other BIG hills were like LOL! My first instinct was to break or slow down over big bumps and hills, but I was told to speed up so I could glide over them. I understand the concept, but it was going against my instincts. So I would slow down and almost tip over.



I finally gave up on my ATV, after seeing my life flash before my eyes, and rode the rest of the way on the instructors. I was able to relax at this point and really enjoyed it. I mean, just look at the scenery! It was AMAZING!!!