It's official... I'm a college grad!

Today I am graduating college...

Southern Souvenirs: Day 7 - Cotton

Cotton is a huge crop for Southern farmers and an essential part of any Southerner's wardrobe. From seersucker to blue jeans, cotton is the the most widely used fiber for clothing in the US. It's inexpensive, breathable and oh-so-comfortable. The best thing about a plain white t-shirt is you can wear it to sleep in, wear it working around the house or even throw one on with your best blue jeans and some fun jewelry for a night out! I probably have more t-shirts that one person should legally be allowed to have, but what can I say, it's hot down here and they're the most versatile thing I own!

Southern Souvenirs: Day 6 - Mason Jars

Mason jars are widely used all over the South, most commonly for pickling or canning. However, the best use I've found for an old-fashioned mason jar is for sipping my favorite ice cold beverage, which happens to be seltzer water and crystal light strawberry drink mix - so delicious! Widemouthed jars have been Southern kitchen staples since the Ball Corporation began producing them in 1884, the company makes 585,000 mason jars each day.

History of the Mason Jar
1858 - John Mason invents the first canning jar with a screw top; his patent expires in 1879, opening the market for competition

1884 - Brothers Frank, Edmund, George, Lucius and William form Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing in New York State and start making mason jars. The company moves to Indiana three years later

1909 - The first Ball Blue Book, a primer on home canning, is published (an updated version can be purchased at freshpreserving.com)

1918 - The Ball brothers bequeath a small college in Muncie to the state of Indiana; the school is later renamed Ball State University

1933 - The Ball Company does not lay off a single employee during the Great Depression

1972 - After 88 years as a family-owned business, Ball goes public

2009 - The Ball mason jar celebrates its 125th anniversary. An exhibit Can It! 125 Years of the Ball Jar, can be viewed through August 23rd at the Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie, Indiana

information from Country Living, Vol. 32 No. 5

Southern Souvenirs: Day 5 - Pecan Pralines

As sugary as they are Southern, pecan pralines are a Southern tradition that began in New Orleans, LA in the 19th century. Early "pralines" were actually not made with pecans, instead, whole almonds were individually coated in caramelized sugar. It wasn't until French settlers brought this recipe to Louisiana, where both sugar cane and pecan trees are plentiful, that New Orleans chefs substituted pecans for almonds, added cream to thicken the confection, and transformed the praline to what is now thought of as a traditional pecan praline.
If you can't make it to New Orleans for the original, pralines are fairly easy in your very own kitchen:

Ingredients
2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup evaporated milk
2 cups pecan pieces and halves
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons chilled butter, cut in pieces

Preparation
Combine sugar, milk, and water in a 2-quart saucepan; heat to boiling stirring constantly. Cook until mixture reaches soft ball consistency (235°).Remove from heat; stir in pecans, vanilla, and butter. Immediately drop by tablespoons onto wax paper.

Or, if you don't think candy making is your cup of tea, you can have the sweet treats delivered right to your door from Aunt Sally's in New Orleans.

Southern Souvenirs: Day 4 - Sweet Tea

1. perfect glass of sweet tea - 2. the devil - 3. iced tea spoon - 4. Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka

Some will argue that you can't make sweet tea sweet enough, and as un-southernly as it may be, I prefer to add my own sugar to my tea! There. I said it. Sweet tea is a staple beverage in the South. My grandmother always has a fresh pitcher in the fridge made from Luzianne tea bags and sweetened just perfectly. We love sweet tea so much in the South, someone went ahead and turned it into a delicious elixir you pour with water and tastes just like the real thing only with a little tingle left in your mouth. I am a lover of all teas, green, black, hot, cold, fruity... the list goes on! The best place I know to get a fresh glass of sweet tea is my grandmother's, but if I can't get that - I love the tea at Chick-Fil-A in Atlanta. For those of you who are inexperienced in the tea department, I suggest the following:

- Go to the grocery and find a box of Luzianne (specially blended for iced tea - of course)

for the love of all things Southern - DO NOT use Crystal light instant tea mix - or anything instant for that matter!

- Brew the tea and pour into a pretty pitcher

- Add just enough sugar so there is a hint of sweetness to it

- Fill a tall glass or mason jar with ice and pour in the tea

- Add additional sugar and stir with a long iced tea spoon

- Sip and enjoy!

Southern Souvenirs: Day 3 - Seersucker

In 1907, a New Orleans clothier created a light-weight suit made from blue and white striped cotton which he named "seersucker", from the Persian words ‘milk and sugar’. The fabric was originally worn only by the poor in the U.S. until it was made popular by college students. Soon after, it quickly became mandatory summer attire for Southerners.

Seersucker even made it’s way to Washington as a result from the need to make hot Washington summers bearable for Southern senators. During the summer months in Washington, Southern senators would trade in their dark wool suits for lighter garments made of linen and cotton. With the introduction of air-conditioning the wearing of seersucker in Washington was forgotten until the late 1990s when Mississippi Senator Trent Lott decided to revive the tradition by selecting a "nice and warm" day in the beginning of June he named Seersucker Thursday. Seersucker Thursday is still honored by all Southern senators each June in Washington.

In the South, it is only appropriate to wear seersucker between Easter and Labor Day and widely considered a fashion faux-pas to wear it any other time. The most common color for seersucker is white and blue, although there are other colors available.

Southern Souvenirs: Day 2 - Bourbon

information from wikipedia.com

Bourbon is an American whiskey made from corn and named for Bourbon County, Kentucky where it was first produced. Most bourbon is still made in Kentucky today. Although bourbon has been made in Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia, it is estimated that 95% of the world's bourbon is distilled and aged in Kentucky. Bardstown, Kentucky, is called the Bourbon Capital of the World and is home to the annual Bourbon Festival in September.

Because there is not a very well-documented history of bourbon, there are many conflicting legends. Some credit the invention of bourbon to a pioneering Baptist minister and distiller named Elijah Craig. who is said to also be the first to age the distillation in charred oak casks, "a process that gives the bourbon its reddish color and unique taste." In Bourbon County, Kentucky, an early distiller, named Jacob Spears, is credited with being the first to label his product "Bourbon whiskey." Is is likely that there is no one true "inventor" of bourbon, but the stories are fun to share.

My favorite drink happens to be a mint julep, but when that isn't available, I love a good bourbon and diet Coke, preferrably Maker's Mark (made in Loretto, Kentucky) or Jack Daniels (made in Lynchburg, Tennessee).

Southern Souvenirs: Day 1 - Ginger Jars

Pieces found at 1stdibs.com

Blue-and-white porcelain, or Qinghua Ci, is a 700-year-old Chinese tradition of creating beautiful and graceful vessels that are shaped and glazed by hand and decorated with classic motifs. In the South, we have dubbed these pretty jars, "ginger jars" because some of them were originally designed to hold ginger. The most popular style of ginger jar in the South is blue and white, and most Southern decorators follow the rule of having at least 1 blue-and-white piece in every room of the house. Although blue-and-white is the most popular in the Southern United States, there are many other colors, and each with their own meaning:

Yellow jars - a traditional gift to China's Emperor, yellow was the Emperor's color and represents a wish for health and long life
Red jars - symbolizes a wish for happiness and prosperity to the recipient
Jade jars - a traditional color for ginger jars
Golden jars - known to be accompanied by elaborate floral motifs
Black jars - often feature chrysanthemum patterns
White jars - a traditional Chinese wedding gift, often bearing the Dragon (the groom) and the Phoenix (the bride) on either side, it offers wishes of happiness, prosperity and fertility to the new couple

It is not only the color that is significant in the different jars, but what is depicted on them as well:
Crane – Long Life
Peacock – Blooming, Bounty
Butterfly – Happiness
Warrior – Safety, Guarding and Protection
Elephant – Good Fortune

I began my ginger jar collection a few years ago and I love finding new and beautiful pieces to add to my collection!

Strut Your Stuff!

Last night, after a Murder She Wrote Marathon (just kidding), I was watching the Antiques Road Show, which happens to be somewhat nostalgic for me because I used to watch it with my dad when I was little and we would guess how much something would be worth... Anyway, this man had a small collection of about 12 posters, called Work Incentive posters, from the 1920s. I was really drawn in by these incredible, brilliantly-colored posters, featuring catchy slogans and amazing graphic images. So, I did a little research and discovered the cool history behind the pretty posters. I thought you may want a mini-edgeamacation of your own, so...

(my commentary is the tiny bold print at the end of a few paragraphs - I wish I could have somehow superimposed my handwritten scribbles on the info because of course, that would look much cooler, but oh well...)

"The Mather Work Incentive Posters, are striking and unique American posters printed in Chicago between 1923 and 1929. The posters were designed to improve worker productivity and curb turnover during a time of economic expansion and plentiful jobs. The traditional American virtues the posters promote are as relevant today as they were 80 years ago and represent a unique chapter in American advertising and economic history.

While the posters can be seen as workplace propaganda or camp Americana, they are perhaps most interestingly viewed as a visual expression of the idealism and optimism of the rising nation. President Calvin Coolidge pithily summed up in two sentences the ideology of the era in his 1925 speech to the Society of American Newspaper Editors: "The chief business of the American people is business...The chief ideal of the American people is idealism." How complicated the world has become...

This attitude sparked a movement known as Welfare Capitalism, in which employers voluntarily offered incentives such as reduced hours, higher wages, health insurance, and paid vacations in return for greater productivity and worker loyalty, while blunting the arguments of labor unions and socialists.

Charles Mather, a Chicago-based printer seeking to use up excess capacity, saw opportunity in the movement and started selling factory owners subscriptions to his poster series. The annual "campaigns" found ready acceptance in a workplace accustomed to Madison Avenue advertising techniques in government production posters recently seen during World War I. Mather's series however, was the first widespread employer sponsored program with the goal of corporate success and employee development.

Outstanding American artists such as Willard Frederick Elmes and Hal Depuy were commissioned to boldly employ familiar images such as racing trains, running football players, and mischievous clowns alongside simple and direct headlines. Many of Mather's artists were heavily influenced by the "Plakatstil," or Poster Style, made famous in Germany by Lucian Bernhard and Ludwig Hohlwein. The clean lines of the 1929 Mather posters in turn anticipated the streamlined and dynamic Art Deco designs that would dominate the next decade. That is incredible... he probably had no idea just HOW influential he would be.

Artist Frank Beatty's "The Perfect Finish" (1929) depicts a sailing crew hard at work during a boat race. The subtitle, a classic example from Mather's lexicon, warns, "No job's done till it's ALL done," succinctly communicating through word and image the need for teamwork to beat the competition.

Also featured is Hal Depuy's poster featuring bold imagery from America's favorite pastime, baseball. "Over the Plate!" (1929) depicts a pitcher in mid-throw and states, "Winners never have to say they're good - their work proves it. RESULTS TALK." The baseball metaphor plays directly to the American worker, who knew the difference between a pitcher who throws balls or strikes.

Employers changed the posters weekly based on current events, holidays or factory problems. A catalog organized the posters by theme, with cautionary categories ranging from laziness, responsibility, mistakes, and rumors to fire prevention and even practical joking. With their fresh graphics, surprising metaphors and over-the-top but thought-provoking platitudes, the posters demanded attention. How much do you love the "cautionary categories" - ha!

Mather created approximately 350 different images in seven annual campaigns before the series ended abruptly with the stock market crash in October of 1929. By January 1930, jobs were increasingly hard to find, and employers did not have the funds or the need to motivate workers as they had in the Twenties.

"Our exhibition of Mather's posters is timely as we reexamine our national values in this election year," comments gallery owner Jim Lapides. "Even today we are struck by their graphic beauty, old fashioned American imagery and homespun wisdom. Although they reflect on an era with different challenges, their message of idealism and working smart is both refreshing and inspiring."

These are just a few of the posters I thought were exceptionally pretty, it's funny how all of these slogans still apply today. I would LOVE to hang one of these beauties on my wall as a reminder to "strut my stuff" or that "hoping beats moping".

Images and information taken from InternationalPoster.com

Please forgive me!

I wish I was as relaxed and carefree as the beauty above... I have been completely overwhelmed with school and applying for jobs, etc. that I have COMPLETELY neglected Southern Souvenirs! I am so sorry! Since I haven't kept my promise for a feature a day, I'm moving the event to May! I'm sure I'll think of other fun things to post about this month... xoxo...

Spring Break Baby!

I'm off to enjoy my last Spring Break as a college student! Everyone wish me sun!

Southern Souvenirs

Southern Souvenirs: featuring different elements of the South and Southern culure... I hope you all will enjoy learning a little more about the South and why so many of us feel lucky and proud to call it home!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Thank you ALL so much who entered to win things (some of you everyday!) from all of the incredible artists that were featured during Feelin' Lucky! I will be flooding Southern Flair with winners tomorrow because I am WAY behind on announcing all of the luckies who won the AMAZING goodies from the Etsy artists (I am totally jealous of some of you... ok - ALL OF YOU!)!

A HUGE THANK YOU to all of the WONDERFUL and TALENTED Etsy sellers that made Feelin' Lucky possible!

I hope you all stick around with me and keep reading and KEEP COMMENTING, even though I won't be posting a question everyday, I would still LOVE to read what ya'll are thinking, feeling, whatever! Thanks again and I love you all!!

xoxo,

A

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 31 - sewgreen}

Sew Green - Nikki
Etsy shop: http://www.sewgreen.etsy.com

Item
Eco Friendly Coffee Sack Apron, good for gardening, cooking, painting, fashion, and a barista's fave attire!

Bio
Nikki works for a University, coordinating their recreational sports facility. When students find out she loves to craft, they often giggle. She works really hard on her own personal fitness, creative hunger and friendships. She usually crams in crafting and television watching at the same time. Her favorite way to craft is to "rescue perfectly good trash and turn it into a treasure."

Favorite Materials
fabric

To win this eco-friendly apron, leave a comment answering the following:

How many pounds of paper does an average American use in a year?

I know I probably use more than some but less than most... ha!

winner will be announced April 7th

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 30 - ilovepinkdots}

I love pink dots - Tiffany Paige

Etsy shop: http://www.ilovepinkdots.etsy.com/

Item

Set of 4 Pink Linen Napkins with Dark Gray Metallic Anchor.These napkins were rescued from the thrift store washed, ironed and hand screen printed lovingly from my house to yours.

Bio

I love pink dots is a Chicago-based design and screen print shop run by Tiffany Paige out of her live/work studio in Pilsen. Tiffany holds a BFA in Visual Communications and has held numerous graphic design and art director jobs over the years. Her true passion however is scouring thrift stores for linens and fabrics she can print and sew giving each hand made/reclaimed item new life. She participates in many crafty sales around Chicago including Department, the Pilsen Community Market and the Pilsen Artist Open House. When she's not busy thrifting and/or printing you can easily find her zipping all over town on her Stella scooter or Dutch bicycle.

Favorite Materials

found linens and fabrics, recycled and reused and repurposed, vintage, antique, anything screen print related, vintage clothing patterns, ink in every color

To win this nautical napkin set, leave a comment answering the following:

What's your favorite thing to do at the beach?

Mine is lay out for the entire day and then grab a bite to eat at a local seafood place and be lazy!

winner will be announced April 6th

BTW - sorry I had some technical difficulties getting this post up on the 30th! but it's up now!

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 29 - timberlineltd}

Timberlineltd - Ginny
Etsy shop: http://www.timberlineltd.etsy.com

Item
A set of organizer bags made from the highest quality wool in the world manufactured by Pendleton. All have zipper closures with zipper pulls made from leather cording and glass crow beads for added interest.

Bio
Ginny has loved sewing all her life. Nothing gets her more excited than a brand new piece of fabric. She especially loves the Pendleton wool fabrics and quality tapestry fabrics. She will always go the extra mile to be sure her customers are very happy. She also hopes they will bring repeat business to her!

To win these Pendleton-inspired bags, leave a comment answering the following:

Ginny lives in a log home in the woods in north central Wisconsin, where do you live?

I go to school at LSU in Baton Rouge, LA but I live just outside of Atlanta!

winner will be announced April 5th

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 28 - re4mado}

Re4mado - Rossana
Etsy shop: http://www.re4mado.etsy.com

Item
Handprinted coaster set

Bio
Rosanna is a self-taught photographer specializing in alternative photographic processes, specifically Polaroid SX-70 manipulations, emulsion transfers, and digital infrared photography. The Polaroid SX-70 manipulations were created by projecting a slide image onto Polaroid time zero film using a Daylab unit. As the film was developing, the image was manipulated using a sharp tool, thus giving it a "painterly effect." Polaroid discontinued time zero film in 2005, so each archival print is very unique and truly a collector's item. The emulsion transfer process involves placing Polaroid 669 film in very hot water to "lift" the emulsion layer from the photographic paper. The emulsion layer in then transferred onto tile or watercolor paper and manipulated to give it a wrinkled effect. Her digital infrared images were created using an infrared filter on her camera. The filter turns anything with chlorophyll white so the result is a summer scene which looks like a beautiful winter scene.

Favorite Materials
bamboo skewer, Polaroid time zero film, double sided tape, super white notecard stock, epson paper

To win these cool coasters, leave a comment answering the following:

Any upcoming vacation plans?

I am taking a family trip to San Diego at the end of May! Yay! Kind of a graduation present...

winner will be announced April 4th

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 27 - dryan327}

Purple Toes Jewelry - Donna
Etsy shop: http://www.dryan327.etsy.com

Item
Ruby Jeweled Watch Component Brass Floral Steampunk Ring
This is an awesome ring. It has all it's parts, gears, wheels and ruby jewels, with the gold stem. The ladies watch is from the 30's-60's but has all it's parts and they work and turn and move. If you are into Steampunk, you know how hard it is to get a watch apart without stripping out the gears, stems and wheels. I purposely only embellished this one with the brass oval floral adjustable ring. It makes such a great statement, it didn't need anything else.

Bio
Donna loves hand-crafted jewelry and watching her daughter paint her "toes purple"… hence, “Purple Toes Jewelry”! She creates jewelry of all kinds mostly from Vintage Glass Beads, Hearts, Roses, Pearls, Charms, Pendants and Vintage Filigree Wraps. She is currently featuring Steampunk pieces and is donating a Steampunk Ring to our little March Madness! If you don’t know about Steampunk (which… I didn’t), it one of the most rapidly growing popular arts on Etsy and is essentially the working with watch parts to create fabulous jewelry!

Favorite Materials
Heart, Animal, Vintage, Glass, Antiques, Lucite, Swarowski, Crystal, Beads, Gold, Silver, Brass, Filigree

To win your piece of Steampunk leave a comment answering the following:
What is the name of your favorite nail polish color?

mine is Bubble Bath from OPI

winner will be announced April 3rd

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 26 - shesells}

Shesells - Amy Agles
Etsy shop: http://www.shesells.com

Item
This garden flower locket necklace looks just like something that would have been discovered in your aunt's jewelry box. It is made of vintage findings; the brass locket and lucite daisy cabochon date from the 1960's. And these great finds are paired with a vintage-look brass link-and-bar chain necklace and a golden-brass butterfly. This necklace is arriving just in time for spring and its coming out party is here at Southern Flair. (Winner's choice of any of the five daisy colors.)

FUN FACT
Tradition says, the only person who can put a picture in a locket is the original owner of said locket... betcha didn't know that!

Bio
Amy is fairly new to the jewelry design world, but not to dabbling in art. She has painted (watercolors) and made mosaics for years. She started making jewelry as gifts for her oldest daughter and her friends last spring and the response to her Etsy shop has been so positive that she didn't have to look for a job. This IS her day job! She loves what she does - from discovering incredible vintage findings to putting together little wearable bits of whimsy. She has "ah-ha!" moments just about everyday when someone finds that just right something for themselves or their sweetheart... or for their mom or their daughter. She is also planning on adding some things for the fellas this spring!

Favorite Materials
vintage found objects, old beads and findings, charms with a story, antique lace, trims, buttons, and millnery supplies, silver, brass, semi precious gems, revived jewelry parts

To win this adorably-sweet daisy adorned locket, leave a comment answering the following:

Who's picture would you put in YOUR locket?

I would put my baby brother and my two little sisters because I love them more than life itself and I don't get to see them enough, so I would like to have a little reminder of them with me all the time!

winner will be announced April 2nd

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 25 - tweedylane}

Tweedy Lane - Bryn
Etsy shop: http://www.tweedylane.etsy.com/

Item
This is pretty pleated pouch is made from a light lime green canvas and is lined in brown. It is a beautiful shade of green--not too bright! Great for those small items that get lost in your big purse. I like to keep one for lipsticks, balms and gum. Also good for storing jewelry when you travel.

Bio
Bryn has been sewing and designing since she was a child. She has always enjoyed working with her hands. Beautiful fabrics and colors inspire her and she enjoys making useful, everyday things beautiful. She has a degree in Costume Design. She also has three little boys, so she works whenever she gets a chance... a few minutes here and there. Her husband will soon be a Chaplain in the Army, so they'll be back in military life. Bryn and her husband both grew up in the military and sort of miss the community. (Lots of people think they are pretty weird to be excited about getting back into the military!) They are looking forward to the unique opportunity to help soldiers and their families. Military Chaplains spend much of their time providing counceling for the soldiers and their dependents. Bryn is excited for what her furture holds and plans to continue her craft as long as she can!

Favorite Materials
fabric, paper, indian saris, pashmina shawls, chocolate, butter

To win this gorgeous buttery-color pleated pouch, leave a comment answering the following:

What's your degree in and where'd you get it?

BS in Textile & Apparel Merchandising from Louisiana State University

GEAUX TIGERS!

winner will be announced April 1st

(can anyone please explain to me HOW IT IS ALREADY ALMOST APRIL!?! - this year is FLYING BY)

Ad Space FOR SALE!

Image from flickr

I am still looking for some lovely sponsors for this little blog...

If you are interested in advertising your business, blog, etc. on Southern Flair, please send an e-mail to ads@classicsouthernflair.com

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 24 - oliviamoon}

Olivia Moon - Susan Pitts
Etsy shop: http://www.oliviamoon.etsy.com

Item
Wouldn't this pendant be perfect trinket for a for anyone who enjoys a good book, or just anyone!? Mirrored back for keeping lipgloss in check!

Bio
Susan Pitts is from South Carolina and has two teenagers, two dogs and a cat. Her son, Kevin, is a freshman at Auburn University and her daughter, Leslie, is a freshman in high school. Her house is pretty quiet these days and she is able to work full-time on her pendant making...which she loves! Susan loves thumbing through old papers of any type and has aquired an extensive collection of vintage postcards....many of which were given to her by her grandmother, Olivia Moon.

Favorite Materials
vintage papers from atlases, dictionaries and old letters. Vintage postcards, solder,glass,mirror and German glitter glass

To win this pretty pendant, leave a comment answering the following:

What is your favorite read?

Don't get me wrong, I love a good book, but I LOVE magazines: Lucky, the late Domino (still really sad about this...), Country Living, LIVING, Southern Accents and InStyle are my must-reads each month!

winner will be announced March 31st

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 23 - ernstandthistle}

Ernst & Thistle - Karen
Etsy shop: http://www.ernstandthistle.etsy.com/

Item
These luggage tags are hand-cut and assembled from a thick dark brown genuine leather. They are tool punched then whipstitched taut with a tan waxed cord. Durable metal grommets and a heavy-duty, antiqued brass beaded chain make up the loop to attach to your suitcase or bag.

Bio
Modern Functionality + Eco-Friendliness + Old World Charm = Ernst & Thistle
Ernst & Thistle is a Richmond-based design duo made up of local artists Lynalise Woodlief and Karen Wolfe. From their ateliers in the James River Basin, they design and hand-make vintage inspired home décor, accessories, and gifts with an eye for detail and old world craftsmanship. They developed a knack for authentically aging reproductions from their combined 20 years experience in the local film and media industries. With this and a mélange of varied art degrees, many of Ernst & Thistle's pieces are an ode to simpler times, truer ideals, and lost artisan craft. Eco-responsibility is an inherent component of their work; therefore, vintage, pre-used, salvaged and upcycled materials are used where possible (in the packaging, shipping materials and the products themselves.)

Favorite Materials
found, botanicals, fragments, linen, organic, recycled, salvaged, copper, typography, orinthology, vintage, antique, jute

To win these vintage-inspired luggage tags, leave a comment answering the following:
What color is your suitcase?

mine is ugly and black, but I am hoping to get a really nice set of luggage for graduation
this set is so gorgeous

winner will be announced March 30th

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 22 - insanejellyfish}

Insane Jellyfish - Erin
Etsy shop: http://insanejellyfish.etsy.com
Blog: http://www.makingitcreative.com

Item
I Heart Sushi ID bracelet

Bio
Erin lives in Albuquerque, NM with her husband and her cat. She loves finding new ways to use words in her jewelry. HER favorite sushi rolls are unagi and spider rolls.

Favorite Materials
solder, gemstones, glass

To win this Japanese inspired bracelet, leave a comment answering the following:

What is your favorite sushi roll?

mine is anything with spicy crawfish (not "real" sushi, but delicious!)

winner will be announced March 29th

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 21 - misnopalesart}

MisNopales Art - Jose Pulido
Etsy shop: http://www.misnopalesart.etsy.com/

Item
Totebag screenprinted with the Raccon & Umbrella design. Use this nifty little bag as a shopping bag alternative to plastic shopping bags. Raccoon with Umbrella is also available as a T-Shirt for both Men and Women, see other listings.

Bio
Jose is an illustrator from southern California who enjoys various forms on printmaking, especially screenprinting and linocuts. He has a degree in illustration from California State University Fullerton and has been drawing and creating things since he was a small child. He sketches out all of his ideas in his handy dandy sketchbook and doesn't know what he'd do without it. He particularly enjoy drawing animals and calaveras.

Favorite Materials
ink, watercolor, silkscreen, linocut, gocco, printmaking

To win this funky tote, leave a comment answering the following:

Jose is never without his sketchbook, what are YOU never without?

bobbypins

winner will be announced March 28th

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 20 - monkeybeetle}

Monkey Beetle - Sherry Knight
Etsy shop: http://monkeybeetle.etsy.com

Item
American Flag Embroidered Cloth Napkin - Set of 4

Bio
Sherry Knight had always had a passion for crafts. She's always loved embroidery. As a little kid she started with hand embroidery and now has progressed into machine embroidery. She loves to do embroidery on napkins; it’s a great way to personalize your tablescape for any occasion or everyday. She also love to crochet, loom knit, and make candles. She is new to Etsy as she only discovered it about three months ago, but loves the appreciation for handmade. Her shop “Monkeybeetle” is for the love of my two kids.

Favorite Materials
cloth, thread

To win these pretty & patriotic napkins, leave a comment answering the following:

What do the colors red, white and blue, mean to you?

To me, they represent the freedom and liberties we have a Americans and what a privledge it is to be an American

winner will be announced March 27th

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 19 - greenwichletterpress}

Greenwich Letterpress - Amy Salvini-Swanson & Beth Salvini
Etsy shop: http://www.greenwichletterpress.etsy.com

Item
Pretty letterpress card packs (Thank you & Happy Birthday)

Bio
Greenwich Letterpress is owned and run by sisters Amy Salvini-Swanson and Beth Salvini. Our shop specializes in custom letterpress printing as well as being a proper stationery store featuring unique and handmade paper goods and gifts. We also have our own line of greeting cards. Our shop is located in Manhattans West Village. Amy went to school for English, but happily found her way into the world of Graphic Design and is mostly self taught. Beth went to school for painting and has a fine art degree. We both grew up in a creative and artistic household and our parents had a big influence on us and aesthetically our shop and our mission come directly from that upbringing.

Favorite Materials
letterpress, soy based ink, fonts, paper, Gocco, felt, paint, illustrations and clip art

To win these sweet cards, leave a comment answering the following:

From what classic novel are there also sisters Amy and Beth?

winner will be announced March 26th

more winners coming soon...

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 18 - fionamink}

Fiona Mink - Wendy Doss
Etsy shop: http://www.fionamink.etsy.com/

Other Etsy shops

Studio Gems

Parisol

Item

"Lucky Star" earrings - tiny vintage 50s brass lockets with teeny pink rhinestones set into an embossed starburst detail and adorned with mesh bows.

Bio

Wendy Doss is the curator of Fiona Mink Jewels. As she was rummaging through a dusty canister of old buttons found in the attic of her Connecticut childhood home, her mother quipped “you really do love old things!" Wendy adores finding once beloved antique treasures to incorporate into her recycled & repurposed one-of-a-kind and limited edition antique artisan jewelry. A vintage piece of broken jewelry left sitting in a drawer getting dusty can be redesigned into something special. Collecting is a passion in her family that can be identified back to her great aunts, Judy and Carol, who loved attending auction houses in NYC in the 1940s and 50s. Wendy's one-of-a-kind and limited edition lovelies are adapted from vintage jewelry or buttons... Forgotten treasures are searched, revived, salvaged, reinvented, recycled and remembered. They are cleaned, repaired, reworked, and refinished. Wendy's hope is that her customers appreciate the imperfections that age brings; a good part of their appeal can be apparent in the patina and time worn character. Her pieces have a past life, a history, which only makes them more interesting. Each piece Wendy creates has a story to tell...

Favorite Materials
antiques, findings, patina, history

To win these sweet little beauties, leave a comment answering the following:

If you could live in another time period, when would it be?

I would want to live in 1940s Hollywood and be a famous All-American pin-up!

winner will be announced March 25th

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 17 - johnwgolden}

John W. Golden: Vintage techniques made modern – John Golden
Etsy shop: http://www. johnwgolden.etsy.com

Item
The Enlightened Fireflies print. A jar of fireflies lights the night in this whimsical image. This image is #1 in a series by digital artist John W. Golden. Image is reproduced on archival paper and is 8.5" x 11".

Bio
John has been involved in art since he was 11 or so, "way back in the 70s". In that time, he has created a large catalog of work in photography and illustration, and his commercial work in design and animation has been seen on Cartoon Network, Animal Planet, Nickelodeon, CBS, TNT, TBS, PBS, and TechTV! He creates all his work digitally, mostly starting with a blank screen and using the mouse or a pen and graphics tablet to create an image. He uses scans in his collage work, but everything else is painted or drawn within the computer. He’s not the only talent in the family! He also shares an Etsy shop with his wife featuring customizable art for kids called Mot and Dot. Check it out: http://www.motanddot.etsy.com

Favorite Materials
computer, resin

To win this cool print, leave a comment answering the following:

What's your perfect summer night?

mine is winding down with friends and family around an open fire, after a long day in the sun

winner will be announced March 24th

{Feelin' Lucky: Day 16 - washedupmermaid}

Washed Up Mermaid - Katie
Etsy shop: http://www.washedupmermaid.etsy.com

Item
Made EXCLUSIVELY for "Feelin' Lucky", this super comfortable black silk headband, named Peacock Queen, comes with a cluster of trimmed peacock feathers and is topped with a full peacock feather in the center.

Bio
Creator behind Washed Up Mermaid, Katie - age 24, lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, though she was born and raised in lovely wine valley of Napa, California. She has always been interested and involved with the arts. That being singing/music, dance, theater, art, and creating things of her own. She started making handmade headbands and hair accessories in the summer of last year. Ever since she was little she wanted to have hair accessories that a mermaid might wear. Sticking seaweed in her hair when she was around 7 years old seemed like the greatest idea. So she decided to create headbands with shells, starfish, and artificial plants that are normally used in aquariums. Then she expanded into making flower and feather headbands that everyone might enjoy! So when she found Etsy her whole world opened up. "It's like the world's craft fair online!" She was able to create and share her work like nowhere else. She really enjoys what she does and hopes to keep doing it!

Favorite Materials
shells, starfish, glass, artificial plants, feathers

To win this gorgeous peacock feather headband, leave a comment answering the following:

What is your favorite sound in nature? (animal sounds count too)

mine would have to be the ocean at night when it's calm and quiet - *sigh*

winner will be announced March 23rd

Washed Up Mermaid is offering a promotion to ALL Southern Flair readers for the month of March! If you include the promo code "Southern Flair" in their "message to buyer" on Etsy upon check-out, you get a FREE peacock+flower hairclip with your purchase!
(color/stlye of flower may vary)