I don't know what to say

Just to remember the mind behind the creations.

Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2010 runway collection and his version of Waterworld showcased shoes as alien-like creatures forced to adapt ,evolve and live in other environments. The fantasy heels on the runway looked like they were out of this world - or at least this land. They were super high, tribal-like and featured interestingly curved booties designed for the the animalistic and bold.Master of the extraordinary,the fantasy and the fascination. My respects for your talent.

Saturday morning fever!

I'm not sick. But on fire.

I want to start this year with the best.

I extended the blog giveaway until tomorrow night to give the chance for more entries. Just go ahead,add your comment of your favorite item at my shop and you could win a "Black and White statement necklace",great tow ear anytime and why not on Valentine's day? Or how about you give it to her?

Also a new promo to start looking gorgeous and unique for only $ 25 . All my jeans clearance section. If you want to add your promos to this post,you can do it too. Add your comment at the end.

Last but not least,The Valentine Shoes are ready to order right now.Don't miss your chance,she is going to fall for you!

FREE SHIPPING FOREVER

I decided to go ahead and have a promo out of control!
I'm offering FREE SHIPPING in all USA and in all items(Custom orders are not included).
Wanted to know about more shops offering discounts for the Holidays? Check out etsy.
Skip the mall madness this holiday season and shop the best of Black Friday through Cyber Monday from the comfort of your home. Each of the items below comes with exclusive holiday promotions for Black Friday, November 27, 2009 through Cyber Monday, November 30, 2009. Looking for all the deals? This is just the start; discover a host of weekend discounts by shopping the search term "EtsyHolidaySale" and find even more exclusive free shipping promotions when you shop the search term "Etsyfreeshipping." Simply check out the item description and shop announcement for sale details.
I encourage you to check the many wonderful shops listed under those tags and I give you right now some hints and ideas for the loved ones and yourself.
This shops are great and unique:

* Athena aka http://athenacreates.etsy.com
*Bridget aka http://littlepinksugarshop.etsy.com
* Cara aka http://carapace.etsy.com
* Celeste aka http://CricketsCreations.etsy.com
* Chrissy aka http://Bittersweeets.etsy.com
* Deborah aka http://opheliasapothecary.etsy.com
* Elle aka http://jennabelledesigns.etsy.com
* Fen aka http://BeadFloraJewels.etsy.com
* Funda aka http://DasheDesigns.etsy.com
* Gayathri aka http://jubilantwares.etsy.com
* Ginny aka http://ginpins.etsy.com
* Gwynie aka http://GardenGwyn.etsy.com
* Heather aka http://BeadifulBaublesSC.etsy.com
* Holly Anne aka http://PrettyBetty.etsy.com
* Jennifer aka http://iWunder.etsy.com
* Jeanne aka http://ThreeWishesStudio.etsy.com
* Joanne aka http://jjmckillip.etsy.com
* Kara aka http://CoryellDesign.etsy.com
* Karen aka http://yarrow1.etsy.com
* Kathie aka http://KTiques.etsy.com
* Kila aka http://go2girl.etsy.com
* Kim aka http://ChloeANDMaddie.etsy.com
* Kristin aka http://kmaylward.etsy.com
* Kylie aka http://EarlyBirdCreations.etsy.com
* Melissa aka http://RainyDayArt.etsy.com
* Nora Karina aka http://norakaren.etsy.com
* Lisa aka http://pandawithcookie.etsy.com
* Rachel aka http://themagpiesdaughter.etsy.com
* Ruthie aka http://roseworksjewelry.etsy
* Sarah aka http://AFineDistraction.etsy.com
* Sue aka http://maddyandme.etsy.com
*Wendy aka http://SweetwaterGifts.etsy.com

She blogged about my shoes

Astrid,that is her name,isn't it awesome? She blogged about many designers creations with peacock feathers and I loved it,of course. Please take a look at this wonderful blog. Enjoy! She is a wonderful painter,designer of cards and much more.
http://redredcompletelyred.blogspot.com/

Dawanda is hosting a competition.

It all started with : Hi there Nora,Fancy winning your favourite product on DaWanda?

I love when they write fancy,it is so british.I remember at the Bridget Jones Diary movie when her mom ask her if she fancies a gerkin,and I laughed. That is because I don't usually hear people talking like that all the time. There is nothing I love more than the real english accent,I can still catch it in some song from Freddy Mercury and Elton Jhon.
So caming back to my topic I have been invited to the first Blogger Competition!
And this is my chance to let all my fellow followers know more about Dawanda,a web site for the handmade lovers most popular in Europe. Visit DaWanda! and take a look at the wonderful designers and artist featured under one big web roof.
I found a very interesting handbag creator called AnnaBelleBags. She makes the most gorgeous holster bags.
My favourite is a pink metallic Bag with holster of high-class pleather and a snakeskin effect.
All range of colours and styles are to be found at her page. Please take a look at my fave and browse for the one you'd love. Here you are going to have all the info about this product http://en.dawanda.com/product/4209210-Revolverbag-Halftertasche-Tiara-Limited-Edition
Of course they have in their collection the always trendy black and other neutral option the rusty gold tone or as they call it ,lemon metallic. You can find some inspiration on their Trend Pages.

Welcome to Dawanda,enjoy!
Nora

Going against the rules

When all the fashion spectrums opens it gates for the spring cultural accepted tones,many famous brands and designers are taking an out of the box compromise with the traditional trend based on the glamour era and the classic match: Black Vs. White.Boudoir-inspired fashion is another Spring trend.So, if you are more into lace, corsetry and boning, kimono inspirations, and satin, you'll be delighted. Stick to subtle details rather then overt lingerie looks, as a little will go a long way. With this look, keep your make-up fresh and natural and your hair sleek. Some others got stuck in the 80's?? Well, it is back in a big way. Metallic and shine may be just right for you! How about a one-shoulder dress combined with big earrings and bangles. Keep everything else simple: strappy heels and a small clutch. The final detail for this romantic evening is a spritz of fragrance, of course, his favorite!
From the designers:
Alber Elbaz's vision for the house of Lanvin is hardly based on antique ideas. However, there is a certain nostalgia that runs through his collections. Old-world glamour is a continuing theme, as is his very modern take on costume jewelry that decorated his ensembles and ignited the industry
On the banks of the Seine under a massive tent, enormous flats resembling paintings with large brushstrokes formed an intimate space. In New York, Marc Jacobs opened the season with a modern take on the turn of the century. In Paris at Nina Ricci, this theme gets romantic with leg of mutton sleeves and Victorian details on a blush dress with a bustle. Sexy black chiffon with feathers wrapped around the body is pure black magic.
Barely there colors hit with a touch of blush opened the show in a short onesie, a sophisticated take on the "play suit." StellaMc Cartney has long been a proponent of onsies and jumpsuits and she has caused a sensation in the market as designers copy her trademark jumpsuits. I am crazy for her version, cut like a razor-sharp tuxedo in nude.
Under a metal structure that resembled the Cologne train station, tracer lights rotated and cast ominous shadows throughout the cavernous Grand Palais and onto the silver runway. Avoiding references to a particular idea or theme, Stefano Pilati set forth his vision for the house of Yves Saint Laurent.
Corsets made their mark throughout July, and in his Spring collection they reappeared as bustiers in python. Galliano especially liked them over sheer skirts that exposed boy shorts (an idea that Paris seems enthralled with). Python also wrapped up the foot in a high (what other level of shoe is there currently on the runway?) gladiator sandal.
Vasarely has been sighted as an inspiration in Milan, including the many prints that created the Marni collection. Op-Art is emerging as the next print sensation and leave it to Dries van Noten to initiate the movement. Blouses, jackets, dresses, and clutches are emblazoned with the geometric print.
Cotton jersey in Grecian-draped t-shirt dresses in black and white are utterly charming by Ann Demeulemeester . Asymmetry, a must-have on every runway this season, appears. I must give Ann her due, as she has been a long proponent of this idea. Others are just now catching up.
One idea after another marched down Karl Lagerfeld's "street of dreams." Precious pink florals in a sleeveless suit were paired with a bag to match. White paint created a random grid mimicking bouclé on a silver suit. Doses of metallic paint brought an artistic hand to dresses and suits in black.

Meet Kelly Colvin from www.womankind.etsy.com

Who are you?
I am married with 5 children from London and self taught designer of mostly beaded jewellery.

What do you create?
I like to create unusual pieces with beads that are handmade by other designers. Especially Lampwork and Kazuri beads.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I have been designing for about 9 months now. Although I did a short 5 week course, I have created all my pieces from home in my basement.

What do you like about creating?
I love the fact that you can start out with one bead and that bead can lead you to create a unusual piece of jewellery. I sometimes like the way I can begin a project with a certain piece in my mind, and then the colours of the beads change my direction and give me the design that differs with my original one.

What do you like about your business?
I like making handcrafted jewellery and have others pass comment on it. Its very self rewarding and theraputic. Having 5 children I love the way I can slot what I do into my family commitments and have no one telling me what to do. As yet!!!

How did you find out about Etsy?
I found it on a another handcrafted website. She mentioned that etsy was a good site to get your pieces seen, and that all the people who showcased their pieces, were handcrafters, which I thought was very good.

Do you sell your products anywhere other than Etsy?
I have sold some of my pieces to students and lecturers at my husbands college where he works and was really happy with the response that it got. I also intend to have parties and I also have a My Space website page. I as yet do not have my own website shop and am in the process of trying to sort this out.

What do you do when you’re not creating products for your shop?
I educate the children I have left at home. I used to homeschool all of my kids, but when I had my recent baby, I decided to put them in a Montessori school. So now I only have 3 of them at home, my time is took up with them. Aside from that I spend time with my sisters and friends and when weather permits as a family we go to parks and outings.

How long have you lived in London?
I have lived in London about 3 years now. Although I was born here, my family moved out to the outskirts, and I moved back here with my own family.

What is your favorite part of living in London?
I love the Multicultural feeling of London. Anything goes kind of thing. Although its busy I like to see people and enjoy its diversity in all its entirety.

What are some other sites to find out more about you and what you love to create? (Blog, Flikr, MySpace, etc.)
My Space. www.myspace.com/ColvinDesigns

Featured at THE EXPRESSIONIST magazine

Here I copy the interview.Thanks so much Jason for this opportunity.
http://www.theexpressionist.com/category/fashion_design/clothing_designers/

Nora Gonzalez - Customized Clothing
September 4, 2008
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Have you ever worked in the clothing design industry before setting out on your own?
Yes, I did work for a fashion designer from Dominican Republic. She had a brand new Fashion company in Boca Raton, Florida and I was in charge of sketching and designing her whole fall collection for the Montreal Runway, Canada in 2001.
What gave you the idea to make clothing like you do?While working for the above mentioned brand, I was hired to design a commemorative items for the events of September 11th. We discussed the possibility of translating those images to jeans, that is when I started hand painting on denim. After this event I fell in love with denim and the hand painting technique, and right away focused on clothing in this new area of expertise. How long have you been doing this art?
I have been a designer/painter/graphic designer since 1990 but I gave impulse to hand painting after 2001 Has it been a rewarding journey thus far? If so what’s one of your fondest memories on the journey?
It has been a very rewarding experience in terms of creation and new techniques; and also it was very exciting having the chance to meet artists and designers from all over the world. My fondest memory and more recent, has been a trip that I made with my pregnant sister to a show hosted in Tampa. We drove for four hours at night, crossing Florida from east to west, sharing all kinds of experiences, and enjoying the landscape, fauna, birds and wildlife so attractive and typical of our state. I had one of the best weekends ever full of fun, sun and new people, with a touch of support given by my sister that made it a perfect weekend. What kind of clothes do you do the art on? Is it just for women?In the beginning I worked only on women’s clothes, mostly youth and teen styles; jeans and jackets are my first chosen products. After a while I incorporated graphic tees for woman and men. I then turned to baby clothing, printed and painted onesies, toddlers shirts; today I’m featuring my new line of bigger and plus sizes. I also work on accesories such as purses, wrist-lets and canvas tote bags, I also paint denim earrings with paisley adornments. I have a small art gallery using the same technique on fabric for canvas. What is your take on art today, how has it impacted your life.Art is in my daily routine. Sometimes we categorize art as an expression of the artist translated on paper, canvas or clothes, but I believe art is in all we do and there are times when managing certain situations requires a lot of art. How do you keep up with the trends to keep your art fresh and stylish for those who love your work.I spend hours getting feedback and information of todays fashion trends from online websites, magazines, shows and conventions. I keep my eyes open on other designers who inspire me and I learn everyday a little bit more. Knowing where you are now, and how you got here, would you change anything or do anything different?I have more than I expected, I learned more than I expected, and I suffered more too; but I say it with a lot of enthusiasm and thankful for all that I received and done. I wish I had chosen to study fashion design first, before graphic design, because it took me longer to do what I love doing now. Honestly though, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do for sometime after graduating. What is the most satisfying thing for you when you finish a piece of clothing?When I look at my creations after finishing my pieces I feel proud; mostly I love what I see, and I dream of the person wearing it. Another feeling that blows my mind is knowing that the new owner of my piece could be in any other part of the globe. I felt that with the first t-shirt I sold to a customer in Greece and still gives me the chills! Another interesting story, when I designed a peacock dress for a girl who intended to wear it at her Bridal Shower. She bought a skirt too with the same motif because she loved the design; to me this was a wonderful feeling, knowing that my dress was going to be in that very important day of her life. What has been your biggest challenge to date?My biggest challenge has two sides: Budgeting and re-investing money in one side and the distribution of time in the other side. Advertising and marketing, how important are they to your line of work?Very important topic. Since January 2008 I spent many hours and resources getting my name out there and I mean through cyber-space. I advertise in at least 10 websites, forums, fashion pages, shows and events. What’s your view on the appreciation people have with art today, as opposed to when you were younger?



When I was younger I lived in South America, more specifically Argentina, where people love art. Besides the timing, location also makes a big difference. Globally speaking, art after the 70s legacy was very strong in our minds and cultures and now I see it more relaxed, like a light culture of art. On the good side, art now is everywhere, thanks to the Internet; but also due to new disciplines, like art painted or printed on clothing. One of my favorite designers, Roberto Cavalli, makes a piece of art in every outfit. That wasn’t seen in my youngest years, not that I can remember. Your clothing can be done 1 time, for 1 person, that’s it…. who would you choose to have it…. can be anyone?This is a good question. In our culture today we have many stereo-types, like you have to be a supermodel to wear this or that. Happily that doesn’t happen with my clothes, you can have any type of body or any measurement as long as you want to wear my pieces. Another good reason is that I work on custom orders too so you will have what you want, no impositions, just the way you like it. Who inspires you do to what you do?God is my inspiration. He is the first and best designer ever.
If you would like to see Nora’s work, please see any of the links listed below, and feel free to contact her with any idea you would like for a custom piece of clothing.
You can check more pictures of my collection atwww.norakaren.etsy.comwww.nora-handpainted.blogspot.comhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/24119923@N04/
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