Studio South Seas

Today I'll be blogging on a bit of a different note than usual. My dear friend (and basically second daughter), the incredibly musically and artistically talented Regina Moomjean, has just started an Etsy store called "Studio South Seas." Her art is whimsical and joyful, and I hope you like it as much as I do! You can visit her Etsy store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/studiosouthseas

Regina lives in San Diego, and sings in the Benedetti Trio along with her sister, both being accompanied by their very accomplished musician dad, Fred. She also majored in Art in college, and has recently been following that passion, turning it into a small business. You'll love her designs. My favorite is Eleanor the Elephant. There's just something about her (and her crown) that I love.

When Regina got married in 2011 she designed and hand drew her own wedding invitations. I was able to help her and set them up and print them out for her. They turned out so darling. I was always so in love with the top border graphic, and ever since that time I have been wanting to make something for her using it. I just didn't know exactly what. When she started Studio South Seas, she drew her initial title word art, and it suddenly hit me. I had just started to try my hand at cutting vinyl, so I came up with a combination of the wedding invite image and the title word art. I cut them out of heat transfer vinyl. I made her a tank top using what I came up with, and the two images blended together perfectly. Here's the tank I made for her.

I ended up also making one for her sister and my daughter (pictured here).

 

And one more for her husband (black t-shirt with white). I'm so happy with the way they turned out. I still have some learning to do with htv, but I'll get there.

Thanks for letting me introduce you to Studio South Seas and Regina Benedetti Moomjean! Please take a look at her Etsy store or visit her Facebook page. And maybe purchase one of her beautiful works of art. They would be perfect for a child's room or really for any area of your home! It'll make you happy every time you look at it!

Sailing on the South Seas...Now that would be an Adventure!

Custom Wedding Favors

I volunteered to make the wedding favors for my very special niece's wedding. Much was discussed, but she pretty much said she would appreciate anything at all. Her wedding reception was very muted colors, white and beach sand and gold. After much thought, we came up with these little pyramid boxes.

The basic pyramid box came from SVG Cuts' Gift Boxes SVG Kit. I removed the small holes at the top that are used to tie it shut. I also made them small enough that I could cut two per 12x12 sheet of scrapbook card stock. The base ended up at about 2-1/2"x2-1/2". I cut out 120 of them on my Sizzix Eclips, and embossed each one with my Big Shot.
I then cut out the beige triangles for the front. I made a small hole at the top of the triangle in order to hang a silver star fish charm with some 1/16" wide gold ribbon. Each of the triangles was also embossed at the bottom edge.

I next designed these inserts with a message printed on top (p2c). Had to glue the four corners on 120 of them. They were then glued into the bottom inside of the pyramid.

These were made so that when I inserted the "message in a bottle," they would not fall over in the box. The bottles fit snugly, but not too tight.
I printed and cut out some little bottle shapes, and put a Bible verse that the bride and groom chose on either side of them. They were then put into the bottle, along with some sand and tiny shells.

 

There was another triangle that was glued onto the inside back of the pyramid that held a ribbon that was threaded into that back seam. Once the box was closed, the ribbon was tied around to the front to hold all of the sides up. And, all that needed to be done to open the box was to lift the bow over the top of the pyramid box, and the sides would open down.

 

 

 

These were a lot of work, but I found that after the initial cutting, the rest could be done leisurely while watching a movie with the family. I don't know how people do these types of things for a living. For one, they are extremely time consuming. Secondly, you'd never be able to charge a customer enough for each one to cover the materials and the time. These were definitely done as a labor of love, and I was thrilled to be able to do it for her.

Congrats to the Bride and Groom!

Wishing you both much happiness

What's the Story, Morning Glory?

I had been wanting to make this little telephone for quite some time now, but was just not sure who I'd make it for, and for what occasion. The right time came when I designed a poster for a children's theater company that will be performing Bye Bye Birdie. I made this telephone box as a fun gift for the director. The pattern came from SVG Cuts' Call Me Later SVG Kit.

 The telephone is a box that opens up, and I put some candies inside. I chose to glue the receiver down so there weren't so many loose pieces. The coiled telephone cord is from a little key chain.

 And, this is the show poster I designed (and photographed).

What's the Word, Hummingbird?