The Shift Back Into the Flow

Well hello! It's been awhile! So much has changed and shifted. I started off 2018 with several exciting events. Things had been brewing for some time but stars aligned and I was able to find an affordable work space!  I recently held an open house at my new place in the Arts Colony Pomona, CA. For those that haven't made it by yet here are some pics. The building is over 100 years old and it's just amazing!

It is so great to have somewhere to be creative again! If anyone needs anything or would like to come see what I have on hand, or simply stop by for a cup of tea, just give me a call or text and make sure I am there 909-519-8572. I am trying to be there 10-4pm daily but I can be there any time if I know you are coming. Also I am growing my crystal and stone collection. If anyone wants anything particular please let me know.

So while I was moving in I had a right place right time moment. I found a darling little drop leaf table I was trying to load in the door with my friend Heather. A woman happened to be walking by and offered to help hold the door for us. We got to talking and she asked if I had any jewelry I could show her. I invited her up to my studio and she said "want to be in an art show?" Turns out she runs The dA Center for the Arts and their Simply Red show featuring local talent was about to open the next day! I pulled several pieces and brought them right over! The show is going really well! I've sold several pieces so far and the show continues through March 30, 2018. She also invited me to participate in their Art in Bloom fundraiser this last Friday, as well as the Art Walk the following day. It also went really well! I decided last minute to join in with the fun for Art in Bloom by creating a crystal grid using flowers to compliment the theme.

A crystal grid is a geometric mandala style layout that is place with intent to attract a certain outcome. This grid was for prosperity, positivity, optimism, and cooperation. I think it did it's job just fine! I met so many amazing people from the art community. I also got to witness what the dA does for the community first hand. While I was there, they held a beginning violin course to expose local children to something they ordinarily would not have the means to afford. The also offer art classes in a variety of mediums from paint to pottery and more! Some are free and other have a minimal fee. I am looking forward to working with them in the near future. We have already discussed the possibility of a mother child jewelry making tea party for Mother's Day. Stay tuned!

Here is the link to the dA Center for the Arts. Please support this organization! They have given me the warmest welcome into the community and give so much back to the youth in the area.

Another big event early this year was music related! For those that don't know besides the jewelry, I also sing with my band 90 Proof, play keys and write music. Jimmy Ganzer and I had written a few songs over the last few years with his band, The Fallen Electric. TFE recently released their album "Never Seen The World" on January 20, 2018! I was beyond proud and excited to be a part of the process.

Album Cover Designed by NuncioX

Photo by Heather Bejar

It's been an amazing 4 year journey filled with all kinds of detours and twists but in the end it was all worth the wait and things went exactly as they should have! My talented friends Heather Bejar took amazing photos of the band in our foothills and Alan Nuncio of NuncioX was responsible for all of the layout, graphic design and printing. I love that so many local Artist were able to collaborate on this album. Matt McCasland of New Sound Studios was responsible for recording and mastering the album.  Jimmy poured his heart and soul into this project. So many people were part of it's creation and I was honored to help and watch it all come to fruition. 

Please support these local Artists!

Click here for NuncioX

Click here for Heather Bejar

Click here for The Fallen Electric

All in all, so much has happened and yet remained the same.  Things have turned up for me quite a bit. After a long period of swimming upstream, it seems I am back in the flow! With all that has happened I am constantly reminded to never give up, just reroute! I am trusting my intuition more and relying on my instincts to help move me in the right direction and it seems to be paying off. My path has lead me back to everything that I'm passionate about... music, jewelry, intuitive arts, and creating. I am looking forward to what the future has in store!

I love you all and appreciate the support and encouragement more than you know! I've been trying to post new items in Etsy daily, so be sure to check out my online shop too! 

Vintage Fairy Finds on Etsy

Sparkle on!
Crystal

I'm back!

Gosh it's been a long time! I'm back! Life has been so crazy. Things are finally getting back to normal. I am healthy and happy, so you can't ask for much more than that! I am so excited to announce that I will be participating in Glitterfest on Sunday March 19, 2017 from 10am-3pm. If you have never been you must go! It is breathtaking and so inspiring. Each artist is handpicked, about 50 in all. Sheryl and Dianne of Whimzy do an incredible job pulling it all together. It's been a couple years now since I've been able to participate, but I am looking forward to sharing my new designs and creations. Some of you know I have been incorporating gemstones into my creations. I'm really into making jewelry and art with healing intent behind it. Every piece is one of a kind which I absolutely love!

  I have been busy pulling stones, pieces and parts to make a ton of new creations for this event.

I promise to keep you all updated as I start pulling more pieces together over the next few weeks! Can't wait to see you all! Some of my favorite artists will be there including Robin Dudley-Howes, Debbie Miller, Lisa Loria and Lori Gutierrez just to name a few! Please grab your girls and come down for an inspiring outing!

  Click here for more info about Glitterfest

See you soon! Until then, sparkle on!

Crystal Basica

Tuscon Time!

Hey remember me! I'm back! It's a new year 2015 and I hope it is treating you all well so far. Time for some big changes! I spent the end of 2014 really thinking about where I'm heading, what's truly important to me, and what exactly I'm doing. I've spent the last half of 2014 lost in a world of music. 

I have been writing with my friend Jimmy Ganzer and it has reopened up old creative doors for me that I find myself wanting to explore again. Please like the band page on Facebook. We are in the process of recording an album and we will be posting some music very shortly, so you all can hear what's going on.

www.facebook.com/FallenElectric

It has been a much needed break from the jewelry show circuit that I had been chasing non-stop the last 3 years. I was burning out on the jewelry thing and running on empty by the end of 2014. I made the decision to take a break from the Pasadena show this January because a good friend of mine is getting married and I couldn't stand the thought of missing another important event over work. I am however still heading to Tucson this year and I am very excited about it because I am not stressed out! I am in a new location at the Radisson on Speedway. It's the same show, the venue was just changed due to a remodel at the Windmill. The show starts on Monday Feb 2nd through Saturday Feb 7th I have been busy digging through all of my personal stash. 

I have decided it's time to part with some treasures I have been hoarding. I will of course have tons of sparkly treasures along with a ton of these one off pieces. You won't want to miss this one!  I can't wait to see everyone! I've met so many amazing people over the last few years in Tucson. It will be awesome to catch up with everyone!

I do want to let you all know I will not be at Glitterfest this Spring. I'm kinda bummed about missing this one, but I just don't have enough time between Tucson and Glitterfest's new date of Feb 28, 2015.  I may still have to go shop though! Don't worry! I plan to be back in the Fall and with a bunch of new work to show you. 

In the meantime you can always find me in my 

Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/vintagefairyfinds 

or email me if there is anything you need. 

I plan to do a few local trunk shows at bead stores over 1st part of the year as well. All you locals are always welcome to come shop me in my home as well or I can come to you.  Just contact me at (909) 519-8572 and we can set up a time. 

So I only made one resolution this new year and that is to create. I have been lucky enough to be blessed with many talents and I want to use this year to explore all of them and maybe find something new that I'm good at in the process! I hope to see you soon!

Sparkle on!
Crystal xoxo

Do what you love now

This year is just flying by! I know I say that a lot but the events that have started off this year have made me realize there is just not a moment to waste. I knew going into 2014 it would be nonstop. I would be heading into my usual crazy show line up-Pasadena Bead and Design, Tuscon Bead Show at the Windmill, Bead Boutique in Concord, CA and finally Glitterfest in March. Literally a show every two weeks. I knew it was going to be hard work but I was used to that, but life has a way of throwing a wrench in our plans. Sometimes I think it's just to see what we can handle or maybe to put things into perspective. So lets go back to January. Some of you know that besides all the jewelry stuff I sing in a band. It is my other love. One of our fans and good friend of mine, Jimmy, very suddenly and unexpectedly lost his Father just moments after the year had begun. It really hit home hard, much harder than I actually anticipated. I had come to know their family because they have supported and loved our music for years. Jimmy had his own band that he had recently started which I had managed to catch a show or two. There I had a few moments to speak to his Dad, but really in the grand scheme of things, he was just an acquaintance. I could count on both hands the number of conversations we had had, but this person had left such an impression he had made his way into my dreams several times. His passing had much more of an impact than I was prepared for and I wasn't sure why. He was not only the same age as a my Father, but was equally as enthusiastic about music as my Dad is. I guess in someway he reminds me of my Dad. He would talk to me about how proud he was of his son Jimmy. He looked at Jimmy the way my Dad looks at me when I am performing. My Dad and I spent a lot of time playing music with Jimmy the first few months of this year. It seemed like the only way we could get him to smile and forget about his loss even if only for a few moments. Music is magic like that. It's the most powerful mood changer I know of.
At the same time all this was unraveling my Dad's twin brother was slowly losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. We lost Uncle Dan on Feb 18th, a few days after I got home from Tucson, which was also a few days after their 61st Birthday. Oddly enough the same age as Jimmy's Dad. It didn't seem fair. Two good people gone way too soon. My Uncle was a huge inspiration to me. Not only was he just as cool of a guy as my Dad is, he recently followed his dream to be a business owner right around the same time I did. He opened and ran a successful high end Bass Specialty store which had been lacking in the music industry. I loved hearing all the news about who was coming to do a demo in his store and how much all of his customers loved the service he was providing. It encouraged me to keep going the same way all of my customers encourage me at these trade shows.  But all of a sudden, all of this loss shifted my perspective. It made my question what I was doing. I still had 2 more shows to get through and inspiration was completely eluding me. All I felt like doing was crawling under a blanket and giving up. I know everyone deals with loss differently and it is normal to feel all of these things, but I felt like what I was creating was all of a sudden completely unimportant in the grand scheme of things. I was burned out and at the same time I was tired of wasting precious time. I was stuck. I didn't know how to snap out of it. All I wanted to do was escape from all responsibilities. This panic set in of impending deadlines but it just made it even harder to be creative. I ended up turning to the one thing that lets me escape everything, music. I had been spending a lot of time with Jimmy and his band The Fallen Electric as well as my Dad and the rest of the boys from my band 90 Proof. We sang. We forgot about everything. All the sadness just disappeared. We escaped to this alternate universe that only musicians can really understand and there my muse was hiding. I decided to use that escape as inspiration. 

The piece used lyrics from Coldplay's Yellow "it's true look how they shine for you"

I set out to incorporate lyrics from my favorite songs to create art and jewelry for Glitterfest. I was so in love with every piece it was hard to see them go. 

"Hero" was a piece I made using an old war medal, laundry pin, skeleton key and steel cut buckle. The lyrics "There goes my hero" were decoupaged on the skeleton key. Our band had dedicated it to Jimmy's Dad shortly after his passing.

    So I pushed through this artistic block with the help of my encouraging friends and greatest escape- the music. It always seems to come back to music for me. It's like breathing. Jimmy had written an original song about that feeling music gives you and the escape it provides. The song is called "Take Me Away." It's one of my favorites and I couldn't have said it better myself. So much has changed for me in just a few short months. I am refocusing my energy on what matters the most to me and breathing new life into what I am creating. As for Jimmy he is back to writing and performing his music with his band The Fallen Electric and they are rockin' harder than ever!

So what is to be learned from all of this? Don't give up! Ever! Inspiration is hiding in the most unlikely of places sometimes. Life is short! Tomorrow is never promised. Tell the people you love how much they mean to you because you never know. Most importantly, follow your dreams so when your time is up you can go without regrets.

Please take a moment & follow Jimmy's band The Fallen Electric on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/FallenElectric

Drew, Jimmy and Jon - The Fallen Electric

and to see where I'll be playing next 

www.90proofrocks.com or like us on facebook too!

https://www.facebook.com/90ProofRocks

Be sure to catch my rings in the latest Spring issue of Jewelry Affaire and check out what is new in my Etsy Shop! www.etsy.com/shop/vintagefairyfinds

Sparkle on!

Crystal

RIP

Dan Basica Feb 10, 1953- Feb,18 2014

Jim Ganzer Oct 31, 1952- Jan 2, 2014

An Unexpected Spark

I think my absolute favorite part about what I do is getting to meet new people and hearing all of their amazing stories. It had been almost a year since I visited Bead Gallery in San Diego. Last Friday I met Belinda. We chatted for a little bit and I showed her a couple samples and pieces. She collected a few items and went on her way. It was a typical interaction in my eyes. When she returned on Sunday, my perspective on our encounter completely changed. She walked in with a huge smile and walked over to me to show me what she had created. Check it out!

by Belinda Butler

I looked at it and I loved it! She has used several different techniques which the big reason why I love mixed media jewelry so much. There are no rules! Anything goes! She had handmade several pieces using resin. She mixed them with several charms and components she had purchased from me and finished it off with a few extra special charms and beads that were very significant to her.  Belinda went on to tell me how she had lost her home in the wildfire catastrophe that surrounded Southern CA in a ring of fire a few years back. She lost everything as so many did, including one of the owners at Bead Gallery. Entire neighborhoods were leveled and have since been rebuilt. Belinda had managed to salvage only a few beads and a heart charm from the rubble that were slightly damaged from the fire. She included these pieces from her past in the new creation. All I kept thinking of was a phoenix rising from the ashes. Something from nothing, I could totally relate to everything she was saying.
I thanked her for sharing her story with me and asked if I could snap a few photos and share her story with you!

When I got home I received a lovely email from her. She went on to explain that besides the fire, the last few years have been filled with many personal challenges. She lost her creative spark...it seems more than actual "things" were lost in the fire. She was elated that she had found her creative outlet again and was so thankful for our chance meeting. It wasn't until I received her email that I fully grasped the impact we can have on someone. I was just treating her like I treat all of my customers. I didn't really think twice about what I said to her. I think sometimes regardless of our job we feel like we are just going through the motions at times. It amazes me how a few seemingly insignificant kind words can cause major change in another's life. It just reminded me that I am on the right path, some things are more important than any amount of monetary gain.
I came across a quote recently. It really spoke to me personally and is pertinent to this encounter.

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each one of us has cause to think deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

My own creative spark had grown dim a few months ago thankfully mine was re-lit by another angel in a completely unexpected manner. I was so glad to learn I unknowingly was able to pay it forward to Belinda in relighting her creative flame. So the lesson here kids is be nice to everyone you encounter! You don't know who you are going to meet and how they might change your life! We are all connected in an intricate web. The ripple effect is staggering. I can't wait for this weekend's show. Who knows what will happen next!

If you are in the area I will be at my hometown bead store Garden of Beaden in Upland, CA with my vintage and mixed media supplies, as well as several pieces from Melanie Doerman's Estate. They are truely a sight to see! I will be there Sept 13-15, 2013.

Friday 10-7pm

Saturday 10-7 and

Sunday 12-5pm

Come out to see what's new and feed your artistic flame! Hope to see you there! Glitterfest is also rapidly approaching... Save the date -Oct 12th in Anaheim!

Sparkle On!
Crystal

New friends and new perspective!

It has been crazy over here kids! Three big shows 3 weekends in a row! The Pasadena Bead and Design Show,  Scottsdale, AZ Art Unraveled and Concord, CA for the Bead and Boutique Show! 

 

I am finally home and settled. When I got back from Concord, CA, it was my Birthday!  I have spent the last week restocking, re-cooperating and celebrating! I have so much to share with you. I had the most amazing time. I made so many new friends and connections. I am always amazed by how lucky I am to meet so many incredible people along the way.  I guess we will start in Pasadena...

My good friends, Renee and Heather, were sweet enough to help me this time in Pasadena. I was revisited by so many familiar faces and so many new ones! Sometimes I get stuck at home in my Etsy bubble I forget how much I love getting out and exchanging ideas with all of you. I learn so much every time and I get so inspired. All I want to do is rush back to my studio and create. I have finally learned to write down these flashes of inspiration in my notebook so I can refer back to it when I finally do get back in the studio. One of the first faces I saw was Therese Magnani. She is an amazing seed bead artist who was also deeply taken with my dear friend Melanie Doerman's work. We were not fortunate enough to me until after Melanie had passed. It still blows my mind how many incredible people who's paths I have crossed because of Melanie. She sends angels my way all the time and Therese is no exception. She makes beautiful meticulous seed bead jewelry. She often incorporates cameos, which I hold a personal affinity for dating back to childhood digging through my Grandmother's jewelry box. She has also a Etsy shop DG Enterprises (Domestic Goddess) and is always creating something special! Please check it out...

www.etsy.com/shop/dgenterprises

I always have a ball with all the vendors! This time I had a moment to speak with PMC Artist, Christi Anderson. Anyone that knows me knows that she is speakin' my language! Ravens, Key holes, Doors, Cathedral windows...incredible work! I thought I was crazy about details- she is just taking it to a whole new level! I just had to grab a new pendant for myself! (which is a rare treat- I'm bad about buying things for me but I couldn't resist!) Please have a peak at her award winning line Elemental Adornments...

www.etsy.com/shop/cassioppea

This is the Door pendant I choose. Appropriately enough without knowing what I chose, it is her Greek door and I am Greek. The reverse is a Turkish Door. One of my best friends Danielle Hebert is living in Turkey for the next few months. We were just saying because of Facebook it feels like she is just next door! Meant to be or what?!!!

So I left Pasadena and a few short days later I was in Arizona! I love the desert- always have, so I didn't mind the drive. I decided last minute to vend at Art Unraveled's Shopping Extravaganza! It is here I finally caught up with one of my Artistic heros, Michael deMeng! He was too nice and recognized me from Facebook :) I admit I was a litle star struck! Check out his amazing work here...

http://michaeldemeng.blogspot.com

I adore reading his blog and watching how he makes the seemingly mundane into the extraordinary. I ran into so many people that shopped me in Tucson including Lisa Pavelka-who is just a doll! I also made friends with some of the coolest neighbors a girl could hope for! I love it when we all help each other and we all are successful. It was a whirlwind event! I will be back next year and hopefully will have time to take a class or two! This time, I had to hit the road. Concord was just a few days away and to be perfectly honest I was running out of stuff! I got home and made as much as I could before heading north. 

In Concord, I continued to have fun as I always do at shows! I was thrilled so many sweet people that shopped me last time made a special trip back in hopes I would be there. I made friends with some other vintage vendors and got some sound advice from a bead veteran or two! Carol of Benicia Beads is so my people lol! We were sending people back and forth between our booths and combining our treasures to make new creations. We had so much fun! If you are in Northern CA be sure to stop into her shop! She has scores of cool unusual bits and pieces!

On my way home I stopped to visit a dear friend. We relaxed,  ate amazing food, and talked for hours and hours. The conversation unexpectedly became life changing. It's incredible what kind of impact a slight shift in perspective can have on you. I feel so happy, grateful, and positive. I know I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be beyond a shadow of a doubt. Everyday I wake up expecting miracles and everyday my expectations are exceeded beyond my wildest dreams. I am a lucky girl to get to share my gifts and learn so much from others! Good big things are in the works! I will let you all know as soon as I have more details. In the meantime, I have a few local shows...

Bead Gallery in San Diego Sept 6th-8th 

AND

Garden of Beaden in Upland Sept 13th-15th 

I hope to see you all soon! Until we meet again... stay positive, stay inspired and keep making great art!

Sparkle on!

Crystal

An unexpected surprise!

  It's been about a year since I decided to go full time with my company Vintage Fairy Finds. I could not in my wildest dreams imagined how many amazing, kind, creative and talented people I would meet through my travels. When I opened for business, I knew what I wanted to provide as far as customer service. I felt like I could give more personal attention at a show, but I wanted that to carry over into my Etsy shop as well. I knew how I liked to be treated when I shopped online and I wanted to give my customers that same experience. I have 3 main commitments when it comes to my online shop...

                       1) Speed

                       2) Quality

                       3) Kindness- good old fashioned customer service :)

I love when I order something and it shows up really fast, so I make almost daily trips to the post office. Luckily I live around the corner from one, so it is convenient for me as well. Next, I only buy what I love. I personally use all of the components that I sell. I sometimes find myself having a mental tug of war over whether or not I can part with most of them. I make jewelry that lasts, so everything is tested for quality before it goes up for sale. I also love to get a surprise in my order. I always include something in my orders no matter how big or small. The main reason is I want you to smile when you open your package!  No matter how good or bad your day has been, I hope to bring just a little bit of happiness into it. Plus it's good Karma right? I love random acts of kindness!

  I have lots of customers who have written beautiful thank you notes and have shared personal stories of how jewelry making and art has saved them in some way. This is main reason why I absolutely love what I do. I have always firmly believed you get what you give. I feel so grateful and fortunate for all of the people I have crossed paths with over this last year. The support and camaraderie with the designers and creative souls has been priceless.  

  A few days ago I received and email from a customer I met a year ago my 1st time vending at the Pasadena Bead and Design Show. Julie had recently decided to take the plunge too. She had a bunch of great ideas and as we spoke I could feel her excitement as well as her hesitation. Let's face it -on some level all of us are a little insecure about what we create. It's like letting someone peek into your diary. I tried to reassure her that her ideas were amazing and our conversation got my wheels turning as well. I received a thank you note from her for our chat and she said she hoped to do something nice for me someday.  It made me smile and feel that I was on the right track. If I could make an impact on just one person at a show, then all the hard work was worth it. Few days ago I received another email from Julie, but I never expected this...

Julie got published in this Summer's Jewelry Affaire Magazine!

Isn't her work stunning?!

I was so happy and excited for her! I ran out to my local bead store, Garden of Beaden, and grabbed a copy! (You be sure to do the same! It's a great issue!) Her pieces are gorgeous! She also let me know as thank you she listed my shop in her materials list. I was so excited! It meant so much to me that she would even think to include my store in her materials list and how cool to get to see what she made with the rhinestones she purchased from me! 

There I am! Vintage Fairy Finds :)

It was so kind of her and unexpected.  I wish her much success and creative inspiration in the future! Her act of kindness just proves that what goes around comes around.  Good things do come back to you and sometimes when you least expect it. She made my day- (heck my week!) and reminded me it's almost time for Pasadena again! I can hardly wait! Who knows who I will meet this time?

Check out Julie's Etsy Shop Ribbon Tapestry...
www.etsy.com/shop/RibbonTapestry

be sure to stop by and see all the new treasure in my Shop too...

www.etsy.com/shop/vintagefairyfinds

I hope to see you at Pasadena in a few weeks! Until then, keep on creating!

Sparkle on!

 Crystal