Crowd Funding - Bella Vita & Kiva Zip

 Some of you may know that I have confirmed and reserved a booth at the Dallas Market Center for the gift show in January 2014. This is a big step for Bella Vita and hopefully a good one. I want to grow the wholesale side of my business in 2014 and this is the first step in doing so. I chose the Dallas Market because it is close to home and the most affordable for a first timer. 
In conjunction with this big business adventure, I have been approved for a Kiva Zip loan. Learn more about Kiva Zip by following this link. Receiving the loan would allow for me to hire out photography and graphic design as well as help pay for new display items for a wholesale show and booth fees.
 I have actually already started planning my new displays and a few of the tables have already been constructed by Perrodin Supply Company in Springdale, Arkansas. I hope to be able to support other small businesses and artists for the rest of my display needs.

 I've never dived into the crowd funding waters before. Kiva Zip is different than most because I will pay the interest free loan back if it is 100% funded! That means any money you lend, you WILL get back.

You can find my loan page here on Kiva's website here: https://zip.kiva.org/loans/2074?utm_campaign=loan_fundraising&utm_source=zip&utm_medium=system
You can read all about me and my loan and my Trustee, the fabulous Ellie Roy from Argenta Bead Company!

Please email me with any questions! brandy.elizabeth@gmail.com
If you are a small business or artist or non profit interested in learning more I would be happy to chat with you about my experience thus far.
And, as always, if you lend, please know how grateful I am!

From one Designer to Another...

 This past week I got a an order from Little Rock's very own Korto Momolu. If you don't know Korto's story you can read all about her on her website... But, in a nut shell she is one amazing designer and was the runner up and fan favorite on the 5th Season of Project Runway. 

 Honored and excited to say the least! Korto wanted a pendant in the shape of Liberia, her home country. I immediately said yes, not even know if I could do it but I knew one way or the other I would make it happen.

I busted out my jewelers saw and went at it! I am very proud of the end result.   

 This commission made me so badly miss the metal working I used to do. I like to think my busy schedule will one day slow down and I can start working with sheets of metal again... #wishfulthinking

What country would you proudly sport around your neck??

Instagram shout out. :)

Summer Veggie Salad

 

Dressing Recipe:

1/2 c salad oil - I used extra virgin olive oil

6 tsp red wine vinegar - I threw in a little extra because I love vinegar

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp black pepper

2 tsp salt

2 tsp Accent - I skipped this b/c it contains MSG 

And, I added 1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic (this wasn't in the original recipe from Matt's gma but it sounded good so I added it).

For the salad I just chopped up a bunch of cucumbers, tomatos, peppers, and onion. My grandfather made a similar salad but added cauliflower and broccoli to it as well.  

Drizzle a decent amount of dressing on the veggies and let sit for a few hours to marinade.
I love to sop up the dressing with a fresh french bread! Viola! So fresh and yummy on a hot summer day!

Do you have a good salad recipe? Please share in the comments!

OMG is it REALLY Summer?!?!

  I am sitting in my yard watching the dog play, listening to Jason Isbell's new album (do yourself a favor and go buy it!) and enjoying this amazing summer morning. I am guessing that the temperature is below 80 degrees and I know the humidity is very low! Maybe it is going to rain... who knows, I'll take this cool weather everyday though!

  This blog post has been a long time coming... I just haven't had time to sit down and focus on all that is going on with Bella Vita.
The move went exceptionally well, considering we moved our 3 bedroom/garage/large yard home into a 450 sq ft house/cellar storage/storage unit/studio. Basically, our shit is everywhere! But it is done and we are happy and that is all that matters. 

  I am currently working out of an office space in the back of a liquor store close to downtown in Little Rock. It is the best situation I could have fallen into and will most likely be here until after the Holidays. My Studio is still very much under construction and I have decided that as long as I am not breaking any contracts I am not moving again until after Holiday sales are over. I can't be out of commission for more than a day or two and unpacking and setting up and then having to pack and unpack again is too much for me to wrap my head around for at lest a few more months... I just don't wanna do it again! Hopefully the landlord approves.
  The whole construction process and a few other things have gotten really frustrating but I know it will all work out in the end and I WILL have that amazing space!

  Life in Little Rock has been incredible so far. The only thing missing is my honey! He had to go back to Norman to fulfill a house sitting commitment that we made a long time ago. He will be back for 2 months next week and then will have to go back to Norman to teach for 2 months. After that he will be back for good... we think...

  Everything has been non stop since I got back. Lots of friends to hang out with, lots of new friends being made, and lots of opportunities popping up.
I worked for my self for about the first two weeks and decided that I work a lot better under pressure so I picked up a day at Argenta Bead Company (my old job) and I am also doing some very very part time work at UAMS.
  Matt and I have also started a "side business" (in all our free time!) selling antiques and vintage items at the local South Main Vintage Market at the Bernice Garden. We're planning to start an Etsy shop too - sometime down the road, when the markets are over. I actually did the first market by myself back in July and had the best time!
Bella Vita is keeping me very busy too. Lots of new stores and fun projects. I will be posting about all of that stuff soon. 
I hope all of you blog readers are having a fantastic summer!!!

Designing a necklace for the Fayetteville Roots Festival!!!

New Letter Stamps! In the font we used for my re-branding...

Lots of Hog jewelry is going out!

I turned 31!!!

Earring Happy Hour Party at Paper, Scissors, Little Rock! Such a successful event. Can't wait to collaborate again!

Bella Vita Vintage - at the South Main Vintage Market in July. Come see me in August! I still have this fabulous dress :)

Updated my website - finally! Beautiful pictures by Aura Stuemky and modeling by Chenoa Copeland.

Got featured on Luckymag.com! WOo! Still blushing. I think it might even be in the Sept. issue. We will have to keep our eyes peeled.

Introducing: Hump Day Really Happy Hour!

  Well, I haven't written in 6 weeks! I do apologize for that! We got all moved back to Little Rock and are settling in nicely. I promise to give a full update on that very soon!

  But today, I want to invite all you Central Arkansas friends to my first event in Little Rock.

  I am teaming up with Macy at the cutest, newest shop in downtown LR, Paper, Scissors, Little Rock.

  We are hosting an Earring Happy Hour Party on Wednesday, July 31st from 5:30 - 8:00. 

  If you call Macy and sign up before Wednesday she will give you $5 off!

Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered into a drawing for one free ticket!!! I will randomly draw one winner on Tuesday, July 30th.

Hi. I am Brandy... sometimes I write a blog...

Finally! An update...

  So much has been going on lately. I haven't really posted in over a month mainly because I have been traveling for shows and busy with orders...

  I had a big blog story all ready to write after we finished Renegade in Austin. But, a day after that show is when the tornado hit our neighboring town, Moore, OK.
My blog post about my trip to Austin seemed so irrelevant. I didn't feel like anyone cared about the amazing artists I met at Renegade, or the cute dress I bought while shopping on South Congress the day the storm actually hit.
  I know all I could think about were the lives that were lost, the people that were displaced, the animals, and all the missing and unaccounted for people. I was obsessed with listening to and watching the news. Matt finally had to turn it all of for a few days.

  As soon as we returned, the day after the storm, I designed this necklace with the intentions of donating all of the proceeds. Orders started pouring in! 1 here, 3 there, a man in CA ordered 6! Orders came in from all over the country. After I send off the orders I have ready to mail tomorrow, I think I will have made around 56 necklaces! I mailed the first donation check for $1310 off to the Moore Red Cross.
  I did a lot of research on who to donate to... I might have even obsessed about it for a few days... I called the churches, the animal shelters, and the Red Cross. I felt like the donation would be best used at the Red Cross so that was my final decision. I am still deciding where to mail the second round of donations so if you have a suggestion please let me know!
I have enough chain (which I got donated from one of my suppliers) to make 4 more necklaces where 100% of the proceeds will be donated. After those sell I will be donating 50% of price of the necklace.
  I'd also like to give a big shout out to my former assistant, Roshni Roberts. Roshni willingly donated her time to make the first 40 necklaces! I was traveling for shows and she stepped up and got them done while I was gone. Thanks Roshni!


  After our trip to Austin (which was fabulous by the way, I will try to blog about the artists I met soon!), I was home for a day and then left for Arkansas for shows and a weekend in Little Rock to tie up loose ends. I got to meet with my landlord to look at the space I will be renting for my studio on Main St. in Little Rock.
  This was very exciting! Except, the building is till very much under construction... he is still hopeful that I will move in at the end of August though. We shall see. In the mean time I am trying to figure out a temporary space somewhere in LR so I can keep working through this move. 

Outside of the "Arkansas" building, where my studio will be housed!

Very under construction... but this is the corner I will be in!

   So, I set a move date yesterday. We will be packing up the Uhaul on July 2nd, driving to Little Rock on the 3rd and unpacking.  My Grandparent's will be celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary on July 4th in my hometown and you know there is no way I'd miss that party! July 4th is Matt and I's wedding anniversary too. Except we are only two years in!  

  Things are kind of quiet in the studio at the moment. I am spending my time keeping up with wholesale orders and all my other free time I am working at my waitressing job to make extra money for our move!
  I hope to start packing up my studio and sorting through old materials and other goods. Watch my facebook page for flash sales. 

Hope you all are having a great summer so far!

Bead Soup Blog Party 7!

Its that time again! Time for another Bead Soup Reveal. I have been really faaar behind in blogging lately so I am going to show of the stash I sent my partner, Lara Lutrick, the stash she sent me, and my final design reveal. All at once! Can you handle it? :)

My reveal photos aren't the best. I had bad lighting on the day I photographed but when I get some more time I will try to photograph again.
This was my favorite Bead Soup swap. Lara is a lampwork glass artist and her lampwork beads were just stunning! 
My necklace design is approximately 30 inches long. It's hard to tell from the pic. b/c the necklace was hard to photograph. I am planning on wearing it to a wedding today! 

Thanks Lara for such a beautiful mix! I have plans for the rest of it when time allows.
And thanks Lori for organizing these blog hops!

Bead Soup I sent Lara:

Bead Soup she sent me:

 

And my Soup Designs: