Back to School Photography Special by an AMAZING Professional!!!

50% OFF Back to School Photography Special for

Elementary Age to Seniors!!!

Why spend all that money on school pictures that are terrible?  Take your kids to Nicole for great pictures you'll cherish forever and your children won't hate you for later!  For example:

Take advantage of this deal offered by Nicole Benitez Photography!

This fall is shaping up to be a busy one and with the kids headed back to school I thought it was a perfect time to offer a Back to School special before the holidays are upon us. I'll make sure we have hair and makeup artists {for the seniors and sweet sixteen's} and styling for every session. As much as I miss the lazy days of summer,it is going to be a fun fall!

Back to School details: Kids and Senior Stylized Sessions at a 50% discount!!
{Session fee, prints and digital images 50% off}

Email me if you would like the nitty gritty details and to book your session. nicole@nicolebenitez.com

www.nicolebenitez.com
www.nicolebenitezblog.com

Sessions must take place before Sept. 30th. 2010

Bring on the cold weather and bring out the Outerwear!

So I can't believe summer has come to an end.  I think I missed it because I have been hiding away in my garage sewing outerwear for Japan. I can tell you sewing faux fur and minky in 100 degree weather is not fun!  But the growing orders for my outerwear line is exhilerating!  Check out my spread on one of my Japan client's sites.

I have recently had the privilage to work with some amazing photographers to share my new fall and winter lines with you.  I will be highlighting them all very soon.  In the meantime enjoy a couple pictures from my new outerwear line complimens of Nicole Benitez http://www.nicolebenitezblog.com/ and Anne Pearson http://www.annepearsonphotography.com/.

10 Places Kids Eat Free!

This is too good not to share! Since they only eat 3 bites on their plate half the time anyway it would be nice not to pay right?

10 PLACES KIDS EAT FREE!

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/10-places-kids-eat-free-1793729/

Surfacing for air! Fashion Friday

I have been so behind in blogging!  and cleaning the house and getting a pedicure and....but no complaints here.  it's because I was enjoying vaca with the family and creating kangacoo outerwear 2010!

Here's one of my favorite pics from our vacation.  We went to the wild animal park in San Diego and this is my little girl in kangacoo of course.  She looks like a little aborigine with her barely there ponytail.  It makes me giggle.

And in honor of Fashion Friday here is a sneak peek at an outerwear 2010 design.  For more go to http://www.kangacoo.com/

Happy Friday Everyone!!

Can we thank WW1 for the mini skirt?

In honor of Memorial Day I am dedicating this post to how war changed fashion.  In times of war women's roles had to change requiring their clothing to adapt to their new roles.  Women took over work in the fields; enter stage left:  blue jeans.

With a shortage of money and fabric women were required to mend and make do.  Magazines featured articles on how to turn a pair of mans pants into a woman's skirt or how to make underwear from a wedding dress.  This is a trend we still hold on to.  Just google "reconstructed clothing tutorials".

Ever tie a scarf on your head?  This is another fashion trend that took off during war times when women had to work in the factories.  Long hair was a hazard around machinery.

So, can we thank WW1 for the mini skirt?  Well in many ways we can.  During World War I, thanks again to factory work, long skirts were a hazard.  So up came the hemline!  Well it wasn't that drastic, the skirts only came up to mid calve, but since then the skirt started it's gradual ascend up the leg.

So this weekend as you remember those that committed or commit their lives to keeping our country the land of the free and the home of the brave, pay a little tribute to the women.  It is the women that have and still hold down the fort while men are at war and by adapting to their new roles have paved the way for the fashion trends you appreciate today.

Handmade Humpday: Fabulous Finds!!!

There is a lot I love about having a handmade business but lately what I love most about it is my new online community of people that make things for children.  Etsykids!  http://www.etsykids.com/  The talent out there is amazing!  Be sure to go to their web page and check out the summer shopping guide!  But just in case you don't click the link above here are a few fabulous finds from the Etsykids crew.

Talk about amazing and I want one of each!  These chairs and stools are awesome!!!  (Awesome in a yo yo gabba way if you know what I am saying.)  http://www.etsy.com/shop/artompotamus 

Here are a few of my favorite stools.  Be sure to visit the link to see the chairs too!

These dolls are to die for!  Sure to be any little girl's favorite! http://www.etsy.com/shop/MissBakerStitches

About MissBakerStitches:

I am a full-time Art Director for a national magazine. So I sit behind a computer all day long. I love that I can come home and sew. It is just another creative outlet for me that is stress-free. Another reason I love it is that I started sewing for my 18-month-old daughter before she was born. I got so many compliments on her dolls and clothing. One child can only use so much stuff. So now I can enjoy sewing for other people’s children and make some spending money doing what I love.

I am crazy about zebra and if you are too check out this shop!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/ditsybitsy  Here are just a few of her wonders.  (She does a lot more than zebra so be sure to click her link.)

 

 

About DitsyBitsy:

My favorite thing about having a handmade business is that I am able to create unique items for my customers. Things that are not available in stores or anywhere else. It always makes me happy when they tell me that they love my work.

Fabric Part Deux: LA's fabric district

LA Fashion District:   glitz, glamour, the place to be!!! 

Well one out of three isn't bad. 

(disclaimer, these pics are from google.  I had an 18month in tow so I didn't bring my camera...stay tuned for pics of my finds later in this post.)

While the fabric district in LA is not the prettiest place to visit you can find great fabric at great prices!!  For example...designer cotton for $5-6/yd, minky for $7-8/yd, Tulle for 50cents/yd...you get the picture.  They have what you need at prices you crave!

A few tips when you go:
1a.  Wear comfy shoes, there is noone to impress here. 
1b.  Look like you know what you are doing or you will get the "tourist price"

2.  Stores specialize in certain things, and there are several that specialize in the same thing

3.  That said, do not buy at the first store you find.  Go to each one and barter.
4.  That said, No doesn't mean no.  Just start to walk away and see.  If you are being reasonable they will    give you the price you want.

5.  The more you buy the cheaper it is.

6.  They ship, and it still saves you a lot of money!
7.  Bringing your impatient toddler is not reccommended.  LOL

I have been going to the fabric district for 2 years now and it doesn't lose it's charm.  I love my vendors.  I love wading through fabric and hoping the rolls don't fall over and bury me.  I love how every vendor tries to sell you something you don't need because it's how you learn.  I love the hot dog carts that I never eat from.  And I love my finds!

This trip was for my minky and faux furs for winter outerwear 2010.  And for velvet for fall/winter clothing 2010.  Here is a sneak peek.

If you sew the fabric district should be on your to do list.  You will be glad you went.