The Tin Tiara

Off the Cuff....

2012-02-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

I have long been fascinated with cuff bracelets and have had some ideas rolling around in my brain. It wasn't until some friends of mine were hosting a women's dinner with the theme "burlap and lace", that I finally threw my hat over the fence. I have been making jewelry for a long time, most of it with upcycled vintage pieces, but for some reason I just never got to the cuffs. The burlap and lace was just too much fun to resist and it sent my creative cells into hyper drive. I knew that I would have some quiet time over the weekend while visiting with E, so before I left on my weekly trek, I ran through my studio with a little bag and tossed in a little of this and a little of that. I have a hoarded stash of vintage lace, and I grabbed all those little snippets that I couldn't bear to throw away. I tossed in a few buttons, some ribbon scraps from my shop, and of course some burlap. It wasn't a Somerset worthy presentation, but still it was all I needed. I sat out all afternoon with E and just worked quietly. I was pretty happy with the results. When I showed them to the girlfriends, they loved them too! Now I am off to make make 20 more so all the ladies will have one to take home!

Long time, no post...

2012-02-06T18:48:00.001-08:00

It has been a long time without posting. That little curve ball life threw me, has kept me busy. I am determined to regain my creative life as well as my business one. It is what it is, and life keeps moving on.....

www.TheTinTiara.com is Live!

2010-08-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce that my website is finally live! I have been working on it for the last several months in my "spare" time :o) All of my inventory is not there yet, but I am working on getting it all transfered over. The biggest advantage to having my own website is that I can offer my inventory, list the yardage available and let people choose what they want, and how much of each without having to wait for me to create a custom listing for them. It is a much faster process for both of us! Shipping also is less expensive this way! I hope you all pop on over to www.TheTinTiara.com and check it out! I will be adding inventory every week, I got two new shipments in this week!

New Product In!!

2010-03-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

I am so excited that my new product has been arriving! I have gotten about 4 new shipments that I have not yet had a chance to list, but I took some time yesterday to get some of it photographed and I am going to start listing this week. A sneak peak at of of the new products I am so excited to start carrying, this fantastic new metallic velvet!!! Oooh la la it is sooooo luscious! I got it in several colors, this is the violet. I know this is going to go beautifully with the glass glitter, I get twitterpated just thinking about it! I also got in some new colors and sizes in velvets, a shipment from crafty secrets, a shipment from Prima, and some other assorted wonderful goodies. Being surrounded by all of the goodness has made me positively creative! I just made an adorable little gift bag from a paper lunch sack, and used some of the scalloped velvet from my shop and a new Prima flower. I will post a picture and instructions soon!

Again with that Swap-Bot!!!

2010-03-05T21:21:00.000-08:00

I am just loving that swap bot!!! It has challenged me to think, and to make small things beautiful. It has challenged me to be creative at a time when my concentration is shot. But it has brought me so much more. It has brought me friendship, compassion, joy, and of course mail! My girls look forward to checking the mail to see if any of "mommy's friends" have sent us anything today. It has given us all something to look forward to. The sending is as much fun as the receiving. I put this package together for a partner who is a chef in NY. She loved it! The girls and I had so much fun chosing things to put in the package, and how to display them. H is going to to be my designer. She already wants to decorate everything! When she was about 4, she was carefully placing treasures in the middle of the table and I asked what she was doing, and she said "Mommy. I am making my centerpiece!" Mmmmmm wonder where she gets that from?

Swap-Bot........Have you heard of it?

2010-02-14T00:05:00.000-08:00

About 8 months ago, I was noticing some odd requests from some of my customers. They would purchase something and I would get a request like " please enclose a note that says from your swap-bot partner xyz, or from your etsy favorites on swap-bot" I finally asked one of my customers what the heck this swap-bot thing was. She directed me to the site http://www.swap-bot.com/ and a new addiction was born. When I first joined I was amazed at all of the cool swaps you could join and I crazily jumped in with both feet. After getting a few swaps under my belt and figuring out what swaps really interested me, I started joining some groups. Groups are generally set up on a theme or common interest and group memebers can participate in swaps for that group. Two of my favorite groups are Cotton Candy and Glitter, which is a group of gals who love shabby chic, vintages style, and the other one is Somerset Style, and is a group who appreciate the style of the Somerset magazine family. I joined a swap in the Somerset Style group where we took one of the templates that Somerset posts, and make it for our partner. My partner liked vintage, crazy quilts and steam punk. I had some scraps from a fantastic old crazy quilt, and I decided to us the shoe template and make a pair of fabulous slippers that my partner would love. She did too! I made the shoes from cream cardstock, I stamped vintage script on the insoles and inked the edges. I covered the toes with vintage crazy quilt pieces, trimmed them with black baby pom pom trim, black seambinding ribbons and some "steam punk" embellishments. I wrapped some extra surprises with black tulle and tucked them into the toes so the edges poked out. This was a really fun challenge. I would have probably not attempted it on my own, but in the swap I got to try something new and have fun with it. In doing so I discovered something that I really like. I already have ideas of more "shoes" I want to make. I even joined a new shoe swap, this time with a Marie Antoinette them. I am having dreams of brocade, and lush velvet ribbons and fancy millinery flowers. I can't wait to get started!

CHA

2010-02-11T00:17:00.000-08:00

I attended CHA for the first time this year! I had so much fun! With everything that has gone on over the last 6 months, it has been my salvation to have this business. It keeps my mind and my fingers busy. I flew down to San Diego, and Mimi picked me up. We headed up to LA the next morning and spent 2 days from morning to night covering all the territory we could. We saw all kinds of new products, and did some really run make and takes. I got to see the fabulous Tim Holtz in person. That guy was all over the show! He was at Ranger, Sizzix, his own booth, he had to be exhausted! My favorite make and take was from his booth, we made some fantastic necklaces from some of his new parts and pieces. I will post a pic of it in the next few days. I came away with some new vendors, some new products and a whole lot of new inspiration! I also got to meet some of my current vendors, with who I have only corresponded thru e-mail. It was funny, when I first named my etsy shop, ChristopherPines, it was after our property. Our last name is Christopher and we live in the pines. You cannot change your name with etsy, so I have kept it. I had 3 vendors who I already order from tell me they thought I was a man named Christopher Pines! I never even thought they would assume that! It was a fun experience. I was glad to get to spend it with Mimi. We have been so busy with kids, and life, we haven't had any real girl time in a long time. I teasingly dubbed her my designer. She could actually be a great designer with her eye. She has alot of talent. I got my very first package from my CHA orders in the mail today and I am excited to start adding all the new goodies to the shop. I had better get a move on, because more is on it's way!! Keep checking the shop for the new arrivals!

Long time no posting.....

2010-01-31T16:50:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends. It has been a long time, too long. Life threw me a curve ball this year and I am just now figuring out to make my way. 6/22/09 my wonderful 38 year old husband suffered a heart attack, brought on by a misdiagnosed heart valve problem. At the time our girls were 2 and 5. The youngest has since graduated to 3 and the oldest will be 6 this month. My husband is still in the hospital, mostly unresponsive and it is unknown if he will ever be able to come home to us again. With the tremendous support of family and friends we have come this far and continue to both move forward and be stuck in a kind of limbo as we wait to see what will happen. I have found a path, not the one I started out on, but a path none the less. I have fought with doctors, bureaucracy, insurance, hospitals, workers comp and many of those battles continue. I have decided it is time to come back to myself and part of that is this blog. I will be posting regularly from now on. I will have projects, a big announcement, ideas from my customers and more. Thank you for your support. For those of you that are interested in this journey we have been on, you can read the full story at www.deputyericchristopher.blogspot.com . See you soon!

Pretty Posie

2009-06-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago I had a new customer in my shop who ordered an armload of ribbons and trims. Her name was Posie. Isn't that a great name? Her spirit and enthusiasum (even through the internet) was infectious, and I couldn't help but think "Now why doesn't this gal live next door?"! She was recently back, and like your very best girlfriends, left me with a smile. This time I asked more about her shop and what she did with these goodies she was aquiring, she told me about her lovely bags. I buzzed on over to her shop http://www.craftsbyposie.etsy.com/ and took at look at her wares. She does the most amazing collaberations of new and vintage items to make heirloom quality bags. I asked her to drop me a line when she used some of the new trims she bought from me so I could see them in her creations. She recently sent these photos to me, and I was just blown away! I saw no traces of the raw ribbons and trims she purchased from me in this glorious victorian inspired bag. After reading further in her description I was able to pick them out, but it surely proves that artistic vision has no limits. I have seen many beautiful things in my minds eye when looking at the same lovely trims but never have I seen them in this beautiful light. Thank you Posie for sharing your inspiration with me :o)

Felt Flower Fancies!

2009-06-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

I sell these amazing fluffy wool felt flowers, in a rainbow of colors, in my shop. I have used them on clothing, hair clippies, aprons, and many other pretty petal crafts. I recently had a customer of mine purchase them and excitedly exclaim "they will make beautiful jewelry!" I had visions of 70's style flower power chokers and brooches. Kelly over at http://www.pinkbuffalo.etsy.com/ came back over for a visit to my shop and mentioned she had some of the jewelry up in her shop. I had to jump on over a visit.........I was shocked! These were GORGEOUS chic necklaces, earrings and hair accessories! They are classy, elegant and very hip. she has an eye for color and the ability to mix the most unexpected elements to come up with the freshest designs! Three dimentional with lush colors these jewelry pieces are sure to stun! Head on over to check her out and be sure to tell her I sent ya!

The Queen and her Royal Kitty....

2009-05-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

I always love to hear from my customers, especially to see what they have made with the little treasures they have gotten from me. Sometimes they are my in stock ribbons and trims or sometimes they are little treasures that have been sitting in my studio waiting to find their voice. One of my customers recently sent me a link to this sweet little kitty cat that she created, using some of the trims she purchased from me. upon visiting her shop http://www.queenartist.etsy.com/ I was delighted to see all the other little friends she had created using so many recycled and vintage materials. It is always fun to step outside your studio and visit someone elses vision.

The Blossoming Belle.........Urban Chic!

2009-04-08T23:43:00.001-07:00

So one of my most excellent customers, just opened up her new shop! She is Laura of The Blossoming Belle http://www.larbelle.etsy.com/ . She told me she was close to opening, and I have to admit that I was fascinated, Laura is one of those gals that tosses out words like Swank and Shwing, and it just elicits a cool vibe. I could not wait to see her vision. I cruised on over to her store and WOW! She had some fun stuff alright, and these Chandelier tags just jumped right out at me. I admit I saw these really cool kinda aged looking Chandeliers first, and then noticed the other details. They are made on recycled cereal boxes that she layers together, how cool is that?! They have a destinct urban edge to them. Almost industrial looking elements softened with elegant chandeliers. She packaged them all up with pretty black ribbons and a very cool "Swank" tag. The tag is made from an opaque recycled plastic lid of some sort and she added her catch phrase and some black string and vintage buttons. Small details, but they sure have a big impact! She also included a special gift for me, this beautiful altered can! She covered it with a Paris themed paper in my favorite colors, and trimmed it out with her customary Swank", and filled it with a set of personalized magnets for me! My initials and some coordianting papers make up the 5 magnet set, which of course also has another recycled tag, this one made from corregated cardboard. I was just amazed at the little details she put into everything, and all of the recycled materials she was able to use, without it screaming "recycled" I mean they look Chic, Cool, and Urban. I have been sitting here in my studio this afternoon trying to decide on the perfect place for my new treasures, and trying to condense some of my piles down to a more managable level, as I am taking ribbon off of cardboard spools, getting ready to toss them out, I have found myself asking myself........hmmmm what would Laura do with this????
note: photo to follow..trouble uploading.

Good Enough to Eat!

2009-03-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

As most of my customers know, I save my ribbon and trim end cuts from my shop inventory, and when I mail out packages to my customers I often include these little ribbon samples. It is nice if someone can use the piece that I send, but I also want them to be able to see the beautiful quality and colors of the trims first hand. The other day I got a message from Kia over at http://www.aoisart.etsy.com/ or visit her own website at www.aoisart.com with a link to this beautiful little felt faux cake she created. She used the velvet ric rac sample I sent her as the icing on this delectable little cake! I have to say I think the sliced strawberry on top is my favorite, my mouth is watering right now! I have said it before and I will say it again, it always amazes me how I can look day after day at these fabulous trims, and still be surprized by the wonderful imaginations of others and how they see the same materials and how they can put them together in a new and totally different way! Visit Kia's shop now, I see from her announcement that she is going to be closed for a couple of months, and her creations are just heavenly! You won't want to miss them!!! I want to add that I used her photo here with her permission, beautiful details!

Lollishops, Lollishops oh lolly lolly......

2009-03-25T00:33:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about my very first ad coming out in Somerset Studio magazine! It will be for the summer edition in a lollishop cooperative ad! I have seen the proofs and it is so much fun! Here is a little sneek peek at my photo for the ad.........think summer days, sandy beaches, fun in the sun...........

My Heart is Heavy

2009-03-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

Tonight my heart is heavy. I know that I should not let things get to me, but sometimes something just hits you and you can't let it go. I have been selling on Etsy for 2 years now. I have seen my shop go through many tranformations, and as it has grown and evolved, I have gotten many wonderful compliments and met some fabulous people. Some people I was aware of before they ever found me. I have been thrilled to have a couple of celebritys shop with me. I have also been thrilled to count among my customers some of what I think of as "the big guns" in the mixed media/ paper crafting genre. One such person, I admired their store, their blog, and their "Style", when she came shopping, I told her how thrilled I was to have her a customer and how I was a fan of hers. She was nice and gracious, and I was so thrilled. Even more so when she came back! Imagine my surprise when I was checking in on some of my favorite shops (her's included) to find that she was now carrying the very products she bought from me! I know they are supplies, and I am buying them to sell, and that others have the same right. If she bought them from me, and then was selling them in another selling venue, now I get that, but to list them in direct competition with me in the same selling venue???? I was shocked, surprised and saddened. There are other people out there that have some of the same things that I have, some probably got the idea from me, but I cannot prove it. This person bought these exact products from me and is now selling them. I just have a hard time with that. It feels ugly. I have worked hard to find my products, to obtain a great variety, to keep looking for new things to bring to my customers. The other thing that bothers me, one of the products comes to me packaged in a certain way, differently than I sell them, I take apart the packaging and repackage them in a different configuration, and she is also doing the exact same thing. I mean direct copying. I just don't understand it. This is a person who is well known, and has her own following and customer base, I don't understand these things. I probably never will......

Third Time's a Charm!

2009-03-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

Or so the saying goes. Still after being on Etsy for over a year, it is incredible to me that 3 times now in the last 30 days I have been featured in a treasury! The newest one is a springtime medley of fruit salad musings put together by the fantastic seller http://www.theendpeace.etsy.com/ !

My fun and funky lemon petite pom pom trim is featured with a host of other mouth watering items. Check out that watermelon soap, I can TASTE it!!! Here is the link to view this fun treasury http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=46217.

Twice in one Month!!!

2009-03-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to be featured in a treasury a couple of weeks ago when I got the notification. Imagine my surprise when just two weeks later I got a message from Etsy seller www.fabricatedfamily.etsy.com that I was featured in her Treasury!!! Here it is http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=46480 amazing! Many people think that curating a treasury is an art form unto itself and I think that I will have to agree. First of all to have the patience to wait to get a spot, then to go through tons and tons of items to find the right things to compliment your vision, well THANK YOU!

Can you Say T R E A S U R Y??

2009-02-24T12:17:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to get an e-mail from a fellow etsy seller http://www.monkeythreads.etsy.com/ , informing me that I was featured in her Spring Fever Treasury !http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=41245 This is the first time that I am aware of that I have been in a treasury. The item that she featured is my spring green petite pom pom trim. I am amazed sometimes at how many people do see my little shops :o)

Tags, Tags Tags!!!

2009-02-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

I love my stash of goodies, and getting lost in the studio for hours and hours, then coming up for air and admiring my completed projects. Kicking back in my chair, laying them all out in front of me, and smiling at all the pretties. Of course then I go get the hubby, drag him into the studio and make him admire them too! Recently I have discovered something else that brings a big smile to my face. I have two online shops now packed full of goodies (http://www.christopherpines.etsy.com/ and www.lollishops.com/thetintiara ) and have met alot of wonderful people through both. I have great customers, many of them repeat, repeat,repeat customers! Recently one of my really fabulous customers told me that some of her projects (made with my supplies ) were up in her shop. I just had to pop over and take a look....... OH MY GOODNESS!!! They are so gorgeous!!! I looked at all of the same supplies, and they never came together in my mind in such a beautiful elegant way. I spent quite a time looking at all of her lovlies and admiring her work. You should pop on over and visit her http://www.anitarae822.etsy.com/ and tell her I sent you! These beautiful gray and cream tags are just one of her many fantastic creations.She has girly, girly, vintage inspired, valentines, and even some fun inspiration for your own projects!! Well worth the visit!!!

Lollishops, Lollishops, Oh Lolly, Lolly....

2009-02-05T00:30:00.000-08:00

I have that song running through my head every time I think about my new Lollishop! This is very exciting! I am still in the process of listing my inventory, and have big photographing plans for the weeked! Check me out www.lollishops.com/thetintiara it looks so very cute!

Check out these great Shops!

2008-11-20T00:14:00.000-08:00

Buy Handmade! Buy Handmade!
Check out these
www.shupg.etsy.com fun and funky jewelry for all ages...
www.littlepinkplum.etsy.com magnets, mirrors and jewelry with beautiful artwork
www.moodygurl.etsy.com pampering bath products and aromatherapy
www.greencard.etsy.com gorgeous handmade cards for all occassions
www.craftpudding.etsy.com Handmade rubber stamps from original artwork

Shop of the Day!

2008-11-17T12:40:00.000-08:00

As part of the The Great Marketing Exchange on Etsy, I am featuring a shop of the day here on the blog to promote other Etsy sellers. Today's shop is www.zeba.etsy.com they have lovely jewelry, modern and elegant, take a look you will probably stay awhile!

Pamper Yourself!

2008-11-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

You must check out www.uniquegarden.etsy.com because unique is greally what they are! Many people sell body and bath products but at Unique Garden the go a step further to offer special products for unique skin types, moisturizing masks, room sprays and so much more!

Christmas is Coming...

2008-11-15T21:27:00.000-08:00

and you had better start (or finish) your shopping! Visit www.MaryZoom.etsy.com and www.threadedgoodness.etsy.com for some wonderful gift ideas. At Mary Zoom's you will find some wonderful handfelted pieces and my personal favorites, upcycled artist smocks mad from thrifted linens. At Threaded goodness you will find hand crochet goodies with a modern twist, from handwarmers to soft baby blankets you will find it here!

Bada Bing.....Bling Bling!

2008-11-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

Love the Bling? Then you must check out http://www.purpledaisyjewelry.etsy.com/ for great vintage jewelry finds!

Hand Painted Clothing..

2008-11-15T11:07:00.000-08:00

For lovely and realistic handpainted clothing, jump on over to etsy and visit www.norakaren.etsy.com.

Got Charms???

2008-11-10T21:33:00.000-08:00

Well if you are looking for real sterling silver charms you have got to check out www.craftilycharms.etsy.com , our shop of the day! They have detailed 3 dimentional charms from baby carriages to christmas trees, check out these charms and get inspired!

Featured Shop of the Day!

2008-11-10T00:05:00.000-08:00

I am going to be featuring a new shop of the day to help promote other etsy sellers!
Our very first Shop of the Day is..... www.paintingsbyjude.etsy.com! Amazing works in acrylics, oils and watercolors. Check out the depth of color and they haunting eyes in many of the the wonderful paintings!

New Inventory!

2008-10-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

I have been adding new inventory to my shop as fast as my little fingers can fly, and as much as the little monkeys will let me! I still have so much more to add and more on the way!
What is new??? Well I will tell you....glass glitters, the most gorgeous and amazingly sparkly glass glitters. They are imported from germany, an old glass foundry still makes these wonderful quality glitters the old fashioned way. They are made from crushed "mercury glass" and contain real silver so they will tarnish to that fantastic aged antique patina that we all love so much. I have many colors available and will be adding more later, right now, two shades of pink, two shades of red, icy blue, silver, and green are all in and fully stocked. What else is new?? Flowers , flowers, and more flowers!!! I have the most wonderful millinery style flowers in glorious velvets. The pretty rhinestone center flowers are so delicate and vintage looking and come in 4 colors, and the velvet pleated flowers now come in 10 fantastic colors and I have them all listed in the shop!!! Not to mention the wool felt flowers, the paper flowers and the distressed foam flowers I have not had a chance to even add to the shop yet! Could you stand any more???? How about vintage french book pages? Oh yes I picked up a fair quanity of old french books and have made the most wonderful little packets out of those lovely old pages. I will be back soon to tell you about the new ribbons, laces, and trims, some will be regular store stock but some are great vintage finds and you will have to get them quick!

Stir Crazy...

2008-07-14T15:02:00.000-07:00

When there is nothing to do, the children will find something to keep them busy. Sometimes it is enough to drive you crazy, or some times it is just plain crazy........

Emerson, showing the remains of warm chocolate chip cookies, stolen from the counter, and some neon pink swim goggle she dug up somewhere...

Fire, Fire, Fire...

2008-07-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks with the wildfire situation here in Northern California! Hubby has been on Emergency call out (with the Sheriff's Dept.) for the last 29 days, which means no days of, no vacations and minimum of 12 hr shifts. They finally lifted the order last night! That means the fires are finally coming under control, the community has been amazingly supportive, but still so many people have lost their homes. It is just terrible to see the photos and video of the devastation. We are so lucky in our little mountain community, we were spared the fire being close, and the evacuations so many of our neighbors went thru. There is still soot and ash everywhere, and today I finally see a small patch of blue sky thru the smoke! The girls (ages 2&4) have been great, but it has been hard with daddy gone so much, either not seeing them at all or getting home just in time for a kiss goodnight. They miss the wrestling, and outdoor fun. The air quality has been in the high hazardous, so we have been spending our time indoors at home, and thank god for Kid's Park! I am sad to say that they did not want to leave there yesterday to come home with me, but I am trying not to take it too personally as it is the only place they have had to climb and run and play with other kids since the fires started.