Author Archives: HiOctane

>Neon Buddhas Chinatown Inspiration

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Neon Buddha
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

Yesterday, my family and I ventured up to Chinatown in Los Angeles. We had never been to Chinatown so this was a new journey. I had read a couple day trip article in Sunset Magazine that had inspired the trip.
We had a wonderful time. I really enjoyed all the buildings, the signage, the lanterns everywhere, and all the great shopping. There was a store that I came across called http://Realmhome.com which was wonderful. Realm carried wonderful Quan Yin statues and butterfly strands and great art books. And other wonderful shiney things. That I wanted to take home. I had forgotten that Asian stores had lots of miniature things. I grew up in Hawaii and so Asian style has always been in my blood. So the trip sort of felt like a vacation home. I was presently surprised with all the cool art galleries in the area. We saw quite a few in the Chung King Alley. Another store I really enjoyed was Fongs. They had all kinds of wonderful miniatures. Even a miniature Fong’s store inside the store. They also had some wonderful jewelry designers work there. My plan had been to photograph the neon at dusk and when I started to shoot at dusk my camera stopped shooting and gave the old low battery sign. I was bummed. But now it just means we have a reason to go back. I can’t wait.

>Rock,Scissor Paper Treasures from Patchwork

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We ventured up to the Pasadena Rose Bowl Swapmeet and The Patchwork Show in Santa Ana. I picked up these fun treasures from vendor Rock, Scissor Paper
We have a Boston Terrier, so of course I loved the cute tags. This Christmas box was just so retro cool, I couldn’t resist it…

>Effectuate

>Today, I learned a new word.
Effectuate – Cause to happen.

I love this word. I am going to help it be more known.
I think this is a word for the new era that we entering.
I am going to effectuate positive things in my life and my business.

>Will you be caught dead?

>You may already be planning to hit up Oceanside’s fifth annual street fair in celebration of Dia de los Muertos. While you are down there, take some shelter from the sun and head down Artist’s Alley, between Pierview and Mission Ave, where the Oceanside Craft Mafia will be hosting it’s first annual craft fair and trunk show in conjunction with the holiday. Plan on being wow’d by members’ handmade products. Find original items including jewelry, pottery, hand made cards, baby goods, and much, much more. And, though it may seem early, time does fly and this is a great way to kick off your holiday shopping and support your local economy.

The Oceanside Craft Mafia’s Trunk Show is Saturday, November 1st from 7 to 9:30 pm. The Trunk Show booth space is by reservation only and will feature drinks, appetizers, and of course fabulous hand made goods. For information contact info@oceansidecraftmafia.com. Not down for the late night shopping? Find the same great vendors on Sunday, Nov 2nd from 10 am to 2 pm. Follow the chalk art and live music or just map it. Artist’s Alley is located at 212 N. Coast Hwy, Unit D, enter through the alley, in Oceanside, CA.

The Oceanside Craft Mafia is a culmination of jewelers, paper crafters, potters and stitchers. The group embraces the morals and creative achievements of the members of the Austin Craft Mafia (www.craftmafia.com), who began the now national crafters organization.

In addition to offering moral support to one another, the OCM works together to creatively market their individual companies and products. By pooling resources they are able to help one another become more successful in an inundated indie craft market. It’s as much about being a family as it is building business. They rely on one another to inspire, assist and care for one another, and always adhering to strict personal and business ethics.

The real glue that brings this group together is the hope to personalize the consumer market. We literally have the world’s market to shop from thanks to the World Wide Web. But so many of our options are impersonal and mass produced. The OCM supports hand-made and artisan products and believes strongly that they are better made and life enriching.

For more information about the Oceanside Craft Mafia and it’s members please visit: www.oceansidecraftmafia.com

>Oceanside Craft Mafia | Trunk Show

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The Oceanside Craft Mafia is a group I started locally to help find other like minded artist|business owners. We are having our first group event November 1 & 2 in downtown Oceanside. First a trunk show, on Saturday November 1st from 7pm – 9:30 pm we will be serving wine, appetizers and hopefully have some acoustic tunes. On Sunday Mainstreet Oceanside put on the Dia de los Muertos Festival or Day of the Dead on Pier View Way in Oceanside this is a free event from 10 am – 4pm. We will have a studio space in the Artist’s Alley.
Come down and join us for the exciting events.