Featured Artist Series - Introducing Kendal Drew

I met my first featured artist about a year ago when I was visiting Little Rock. Kendal is a beadchick at The Argenta Bead Company in North Little Rock and that is where we met. I had seen a few of Kendal's earring designs when I first met her and really loved what I saw. I even encouraged her to teach a class on one of her designs. I wasn't surprised at all when I visited again this past October to find her designs have grown and are even more amazing than when I first met her. I hope you enjoy reading a little bit about Kendal but I hope you love her earrings as much as I do. I have a small collection of 6 of her original designs available in my online shop. 

Meet: Kendal Drew

  "I began making jewelry when I was about 10. I've always loved little things and working with my fingers so I'm pretty sure my aunts were just using me to finish projects that they're cornea's couldn't comprehend. Either way it was something that I became quickly interested in and was an excellent way for me to spend time with the fam. 

  I took a few jewelry classes in high school that pertained to materials that weren't readily available to me at home such as pewter, soldering and enamels. Since then, though, I haven't really dabbled in jewels until I got a job at Argenta Bead, where the creative wheels began turning...and quickly at that. Before I knew it I had all these great ideas. I bought a sketch book for the first time in years, which, unfortunately I don't use as often as I like because I'm too busy making stuff. I gain inspiration from all the other interests that I keep in my life. Interests that I thought would hold higher priority over making jewelry. My dream is to have a paid job in agriculture. Really it could be whatever, but if I had my choice I would own 80 acres and have a small farm with a home I built myself, a good size garden and enough live stock to make up a petting zoo. I mean I really wouldn't have a petting zoo, but you know goats, chickens, a cow or two, pigs and if I'm lucky some sheep. My other career of choice would be to rebuild old cars. Antique automobiles are glorious and full of character. Plus, engineering is just plain cool. My jewelry reflects these things. I gain inspiration from both nature and mechanics. I feel my pieces are a juxtaposition of natural colors and materials arranged in mechanical shapes and patterns. It's funny how I have subconsciously found a way to cross those paths without doing either one of them at all.     

   Well, I've had my rant. Besides jewelry making I work at a pizza joint, hang out with my friends and try to use the little time I have to concentrate on my others hobbies and interests. I hope you guys enjoy what I have to offer. I do" 

Meet Kendal's Designs!!

 

Thrifting with the Queen of Thrift

  Yesterday my Grandmother and I set out on a journey, our main destination was the Simply Scrumptious Tea Room in Eureka Springs. But, along the way we stopped at the many thrift stores and antique stores along the way.

It started off as a very interesting trip to say the least. Our first stop was a flea market on the Berryville Square. I was a little surprised to find the owner chain smoking the whole time we were in there... surprised in this day and age of non-smoking businesses... it was a little gross and unfortunate because they had some really cool furniture and quilts but I am sure it all smelled like cigarette smoke. 

Anyway, from there we stumbled into a thrift store and I immediately spotted these two Dooney and Bourke bags hanging on the wall. I picked them up because I thought they might be real but after conversing with the lady that worked at the store I learned that they weren't real. She actually schooled me! She pointed out that if it were a real D&B bag the zipper would be metal, the inner pockets wouldn't be lined in vinyl, and that the bag would be a lot heavier. After she pointed all that out it started making sense. To me they looked like bags from the early 1980's... they could have been. I ended up passing on them. They aren't really my style or taste I was hoping to make a few bucks on this one ;)

  After this thrift shop we continued on around the square and stumbled upon an antique store straight out of a nightmare. We stepped inside to find a barking dog and 4 cats staring us in the face and were overwhelmed by a horrid ammonia and cat pee smell and immediately had to leave. It was disgusting! The sad part is we really wanted to look around. Gram's and I just knew there were goodies in there. But, no sane person could spend more than 45 seconds in the place. I honestly don't know how/why the health department hasn't shut them down... perhaps they don't regulate antique stores???

  After that we were done with Berryville and headed out of town! 

We stopped at a couple more thrift shops but weren't having luck finding treasures so we headed to our lunch spot which was the Tea Room in Eureka.

Simply scrumptious is exactly what it was! We both chose the asparagus, bacon and cheddar quiche, salad and I got mushroom bisque and Gram's got the chilli. Everything was very fresh and delicious!

Lunch special. YUM!

We shared dessert which was a white cake with blackberry spread and butter cream frosting.

A beautiful pansy that came on our cake.

Me and my Grandmother.

  After lunch we shopped the antique store that was connected to the tea room. This was a fun stop, they had some beautiful primitive antiques... everything that was out my price range but really fun to look at. The man working the store was really  nice too. He pointed out a few other antique shops we might be interested in. So, after that we started the journey back home. We stopped at one last shop, it was one that my Grandparents used to stop at when they were still in the biz. It was in the back yard of a little country home between Eureka and Berryville. The woman that owned it was very interesting and helpful. She pulled out a bunch of junk jewelry for me and even had antique buttons for Grandma.
  Yesterday wasn't the most successful day of junking/thrifting but it was the most fun day because of the company I had!

Saturday Fun Day

Saturday Fun Day by bella-vita-jewelry featuring skinny fit jeans

Oversized top
$70 - modcloth.com

Hollister Co. skinny fit jeans
$50 - hollisterco.com

Oasis flat shoes
$65 - oasis-stores.com

Travel tote bag
$565 - net-a-porter.com

Custom Stamped Necklaces

  The possibilities are really endless with these hand stamped charms! From your favorite saying to your children or pets name. I can embellish the charms with your birthstone or your favorite color. These necklaces can be made with recycled brass charms or sterling silver. Brass necklaces start at $25 dollars and sterling starts at $50. The price goes up depending on the length of the word/saying and the stones/beads you want to embellish with.

 I'll be debuting my new line of these necklaces at The Little Craft Show in Fayetteville, Arkansas on December 3rd. You are always welcome to pre-order or custom order your own though ;)

Custom "Namaste" stamping on sterling silver, embellished with clients own sea glass and chrysoprase.

New collection to debut at The Little Craft Show. Find these and more on December 3rd!

Custom order for Christmas...  brass charms and semi precious stones.

Custom Mother's Necklace: daughters name, wedding anniversary, birthstones, and yoga inspired charms all on sterling silver.

School spirit! 3 different styles of "Woo Pig" necklaces are available. Can be customized for any school.

Grandmother's Necklace: grandchildren's names and birthstones all on sterling silver.

Mother's Necklace: 4 boys and their birthstones all on sterling silver.

Holiday Gift Guide

  I just wrapped up the Northwest Arkansas Boutique Show in Springdale this past weekend and what an amazing show it was! I did this show last year and just did OK, but this year, something was different and people were really into my jewels! 

  I had a woman come to the show specifically to find me. She had purchased a couple of rings from me last year and came back this year for more rings and to start a button collection for her daughter. Of course this tugged at my own heart! Anyone that starts a button collection because of me is a winner in my book. I also got to see some old friends, some very good customers and made a lot of new friends! All in all I was very pleased with the whole weekend. Except the part where it was over :/

  All of that brings me to the reason I am writing this post... and that is the fact that it is already time to start shopping for Christmas gifts. Last week I made a Bella Vita Holiday Gift Guide. I hope it helps you gain some ideas for everyone on your list. I am still taking custom orders for the holidays. If you have a special piece that you would like turned into a new piece of jewelry then we need to talk. Whether it is vintage or new I would love to help!  And a special discount code for 15% off your entire purchase: LUCKY. Discount good until December 20th.

Save the Date

  Just a quick little reminder for all you Northwest Arkansans to mark your calendars for December 16th and 17th. I'll be returning to Good Things Boutique for my annual Holiday Trunk Show.

  Jessy and I had so much fun last year we decided to add an extra few hours to the event by starting it on Friday evening. 

  More details to come. Keep up with the event on facebook.  The official invite will be sent out at the begining of December.
You wont want to miss this show. Bella Vita will be celebrating 3 years of business!!! There will be drawings and giveaways :)

 

A very Girlie weekend.

  This past weekend was The Girlie Show in Oklahoma City. I have applied twice to this show, accepted once as an alternate and nothing on the second go around...

  I won't lie, I was very sad this year when I didn't get in... I thought this was the year for Bella Vita at the Girlie Show. It wasn't and now, after attending the show on Friday night I am kind of glad! 

This show is soooo popular and wild and awesome. There were so many people there on Friday night, I was amazed. I had only been during the day on Saturday last year which doesn't compare to Friday at all.

I am glad that I got to see the craziness before actually participating as a vendor. It made me think about what items I would focus on for a crazy/busy show as well as my display and booth arrangement. I definitely learned a lot and feel like I will be prepared when I get accepted as a Girlie :)

The view from the top... from the balcony at The Girlie Show.

  Friday night I helped my friends, Luxy Cupcakes, hand out their deliciousness. I also had a chance to help my friend Nikki of Gleeful Peacock... her booth was COVERED UP all night long. I helped her restock and collect money for about an hour... 

  Then on Saturday I came back as a shopper and volunteered to work the door for a 3 hour shift. I got a chance to walk around to all the booths, pick out what I wanted, then make the buying round. I think it is good to do this when you are on a budget. I almost impulsively bought a pair of earrings for $19... probably not a big deal to most people but what am I doing buying earrings?! I need to be wearing my own designs for advertising not spending money on new ones. So, needless to say, I talked myself out of the jewelry and focused on one nice item. That item is a cute clutch made out of up-cycled coffee sacks by Wise Abe of Oklahoma City.

My cute new clutch... because we all know I needed another purse/clutch/handbag!!?!?!!