Oh my goodness gracious...it has been a few weeks since I last posted! I think this semester of school is going to kill me. :( I recently joined the Creative Arts & Design Organization committee and it requires quite a bit of time. Great experience (looks great on a resume) but A LOT of work...and good time management skills which I often lack.

So to get away from the stress, I'm showcasing some lovely Etsy items inspired by my favorite colors: teal, aztec red & mustard yellow. Take the time to go through this lovely compilation and choose your favorites! View the Etsy Treasury Primary Reason.

*All products were provided gratuitously for the review. All product reviews are provided free of charge to the store. If you are interested in your own product review, please go to our advertising page.

I know the end of summer comes at different times for everyone, but the end of my summer is just around the corner. I start my last year of college August 27th and by May 2013 I will have graduated with a bachelors in art education. It seems like it has been a long time coming, but I think I'm ready!

So what have I been up to? I recently gave the website a new mod background I found as an open source graphic. I also revamped the links & fonts as they were getting hard to read-- my apologies!

I have also been fall shopping for myself (a rare occasion actually) and also picking out my fall/winter inventory. Expect more sweaters, coats and cold weather accessories.

With school, a full work schedule & preparing myself for a little thing called student teaching, I know I've been slacking in the listing department. I've actually considered hiring someone to take photos and/or take the time to list items while I'm busy or off gallivanting the thrift stores. Honestly, probably my favorite part of this job is just shopping for inventory. I have an inventory list of approximately 60 items to be listed (consisting of many vintage pieces I would like to keep for myself). BUT you can't have your cake and eat it too, so I have to work on my listing motivation in the next couple of weeks.

While neon colors might be taking over part of the fashion world, florals & frilly lace still dominate the chic & feminine world. Grab your cup of tea and check out the vintage alternative below. Also find matching vintage and handmade accessories from other sellers!

The Bonfire Vintage online store has officially been open for three months on the dot today! May 10, 2012 we created the shop on Etsy and purchased the domain name here. So far, there have been 23 sales, 38 admirers, 16 likes on facebook and 8 followers on Twitter. Not too bad for a Fresh Etsy shop I should say!

I'm in a very organized mood lately (probably because my apartment is so cluttered!), and since it's the DIY friday blog post, I've decided to incorporate the spirit of doing it yourself with an organizational need.

I love the simple and oh-so-cute look to this DIY jar shelf. The shelf above is shown to hold spices, but you could hold beads, buttons, feathers, charms, do-dads, fabric scraps and more...the perfect craft or studio room organization for all your teeny tiny treasures.

MATERIALS:

• One shelf with hanging hardware $10
• Screws $3
• Six mason jars with lids $6
• Awl $3
• Hammer $5
• Epoxy glue $4
• Pencil

TOTAL project cost=$31


DIRECTIONS:

1. You can easily build your own shelf with a simple handsaw, some scrap wood, a level and some paint. Screw the shelf together and don't forget to add hanging hardware! Otherwise you can always use a regular old shelf from around the house or find one at a local thrift store for cheap.
2. Turn the shelf upside down and set up your lids along the underside of the shelf. Mark with pencil or an awl where each center of the lid should be placed on the shelf.
3. Using an awl, punch a small hole in the center of each lid. Add a second screw or epoxy glue to the lid and secure to the underside of the shelf.
4. Once the glue is dry or the lids are secure, fill your jars with the supplies and screw the jar onto the lid!

TIPS:

• Instead of mason jars, you can save baby food jars or regular glass food jars. Make sure to clean them well and remove the labels. This is a fun idea if you want an eclectic mix of jars.
• If you use a lot of jars or put heavy items into them, make sure to use drywall screws to secure the shelf onto a stud. Nothing would be more horrible if your lovely creation & supplies crashed to the ground!

I was recently going through some of my old sketchbooks-- admiring and wincing at some of my earlier stuff. Then it hit me...I have barely done any drawings (and no paintings) this entire summer! What's wrong with me!? I am a soon-to-graduate art ed teacher who hasn't been artsy fartsy for the last two months?

I have decided I had become burnt out. You see, taking college art courses is fun, but challenging. You have to meet major deadlines (on occasion 6-8 hours a day) and really work your creativity muscles. By the time I finished last semester's senior show, I really needed a break. Really really. But I think it's time to jump back into the swing of things. And what better motivation than to spruce up the studio/workspace? I give you vintage and handmade sellers who can help do just that. This seller showcase is all about sparking inspiration, getting organized and reinvigorating creativity!

Summer is drawing ever nearer to a close-- I'm back to college classes August 27th. One more year left until I graduate with my Art Education degree! It seems like forever (like when I had braces...) My student teaching begins next semester. I am so excited, and yet quite nervous! The student teaching program is extremely rigorous (as it should be) and takes up a vast amount of time. They even tell you to not have a job during this time...though to avoid living in a box, I will be keeping mine and my Bonfire Vintage store open. :)

On happier notes, my best friend Kim and her husband Eric are having a baby in like...days! Can't wait to meet their new little Noah. I know I'm biased, but that baby is going to be the cutest baby in the world. Just sayin'.

My mom has asked me to help her with a garage sale she's planned for next Saturday. I remember when every summer in my early teens I hosted a garage sale (one time a craft sale!) and was so stoked to make $20 over the three days I sat in the boiling sun. We're looking to make enough money for my younger brothers' back-to-school clothes and supplies (maybe $200 or $300?). Money has been tight for all of us and it is one more step to make some extra spending money.

I feel like I need a vacation. I'm the kind of person that would just love to jump up one morning, toss the cat some food and scurry off to an uncharted destination. My boyfriend is not so spontaneous, but I am hoping we can make a weekend trip somewhere in the next couple of months. We need it!