Handmade Chicago

I wanted to let everyone know that I will be at the Handmade Chicago show this Saturday at The Empty Bottle on Western!! I've got some new pieces and a new setup that I'm trying out! I'm really excited and I hope to see some familiar faces there ;)

Jewelry Show!!

So this past weekend I was again a participant at the Handmade Chicago booth at the Randolph Street Antique Market. The weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! I couldn't have asked for better...sunny, not too much wind and definitely not too hot. My sister took some great photos of some of my pieces and I wanted to share them. I also tried a new set up for my table which I have to say worked out quite well. I've got a bunch of ideas rolling around in my head for new display ideas as well as new jewelry pieces for my next show in October. That show will again be with Handmade Chicago and will be held October 11Th at The Empty Bottle on Western. I'll post more info as soon as I get the details.

We had a better spot this time...toward the front of the tent!!

I made a new display for earrings which worked out fabulously! It was much easier to see all the earrings at a glance and I sold quite a few pairs!



Some close-ups of a few of my favorites!

The mussel shell bracelets (and earrings) were, again, a huge hit!

A few of my three-strand bracelets...

Everyone LOVED the colorful gift boxes...we sold quite a few!

Project 101

After seeing this post from Melissa over at Off the Wall, I was inspired to post this fabulous kitchen (my favorite, in fact) that we did for a client who lives in a Georgian Style home in the Gold Coast. I absolutely LOVE the skylight and the floor as well as the cabinetry. If I could, I would move in tomorrow!!!

4th Of July

Well...I hope you all had a wonderful 4th!! I've been lazy with my posts and have a feeling that I will be sporadic over the next couple of weeks as I'm leaving for the beach on Sunday!!!!! I can't wait!!

Meanwhile...here are some pictures from my 4th celebrations. I was on a couple of rooftops and highly recommend it if you get the chance to watch fireworks from up on high.

On the third, I went to a party on the North side...here's a picture of our view (forgive the quality...I took it with my phone).

On the fourth, I hung out with my very best friend at her place on the south side. At night, it was yet another rooftop where we watched a spectacular display of fireworks being set off in the neighborhood all around us. It was a little scary, but awesome at the same time.


This is the view from the rooftop on the south side.


And here is a photo of some of the display. Too bad you can't hear it...I think they were setting off sticks of dynamite...seriously!

Otom

I thought I'd share one of the projects I worked on recently in my day job. We finished a fabulous and chic restaurant last fall and I have to say, I love how it turned out!! My favorite feature is the striped walls and draperies which were custom made by our fabulous drapery workroom. The name of the restaurant is Otom and they serve American food which, I can say from experience, is absolutely delicious. The restaurant was just featured on the cover of Chicago Magazine as one of the Best New Restaurants in Chicago. Here are some photos from that publication as well as some of our own. What do you think?!?!

Friday Flickr Find

So I thought I'd stick with the Chicago theme and do this week's flickr find on my favorite city in the summer! Outdoor concerts, street festivals, fireworks, carnivals, baseball games, sidewalk cafes, farmers' markets, parks, the lake and so much more...these are just a few of my favorite Chicago summer festivities!

Hope you are enjoying the summer wherever you might be! Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments over the past few weeks...Have a great weekend everybody!!

kiddieland floyd, originally uploaded by EllenJo.

C.A.A.A.P. Rotunda, originally uploaded by Michael DaKidd.

Summer in Chicago, originally uploaded by Master Lui.

Festival near Sheffield Ave and Belden Ave, originally uploaded by YoChicago1.

Happy, originally uploaded by Christofer Cronsioe.

Backwards Taste, originally uploaded by AnaC.Ramirez.

Taste of Chicago 2006, originally uploaded by 24gotham.

lady in the water, originally uploaded by thebigdurian.

big_girl_1_m1_screen, originally uploaded by pntphoto.

Fiery Storm, originally uploaded by Michael DaKidd.

splash, originally uploaded by mynikin.

Mirror mosaic III (The Pink Building), originally uploaded by FissionMailed.

Sitting, originally uploaded by bheuer.

Street performers outside .. Summer Chicago 07, originally uploaded by gqemer.

Charlie's Ale House, originally uploaded by Cliff Dix Jr.

Twirly Bands, originally uploaded by AnaC.Ramirez.

The Summer of '07, originally uploaded by jahdakine - off to paradise.

Carnival., originally uploaded by robertvonwoodrich.

, originally uploaded by Marcus M.

Chicago skyline with fireworks, originally uploaded by jatherton.

Grant Park 8/17/2007, originally uploaded by GtrGeorge.

Lazy start, originally uploaded by Nate C.

Facing the city, originally uploaded by toastforbrekkie.

Crowd surfing, originally uploaded by 5500.

My View

It has been a gorgeous week (and weekend) and I've been especially enjoying my view from my office so I thought I'd share what I am privileged to look at every day! The pictures don't do it justice but here they are regardless!!


Just to the east of us is the fabulous Wrigley Building...there is a little sliver of Lake Michigan that is visible (really hard to see in this picture).


This is the view to the south-east.


The view straight south...the Trump building is on the right.



We have a nice view of the Chicago River and get to watch the tour boats and sailboats (on nice days!).
There is a beautiful little plaza where we can eat lunch along the river and there will be an even nicer park there once Trump Tower is finished (as you can see, right now it's a staging area for construction equipment).

And speaking of Trump Tower...it took away our view to the South West (including the Sears Tower) but I think it's a beautiful building and am liking it more every day! I was nervous there for a while but it's really taking shape (and getting super tall!).
You can see the front of the building and the parking garage entrance at the bottom.
We are a few stories above the restaurant and can peer in on people at night...there are huge swarovski chandeliers which are about three stories tall!!

We can hardly even see the top of the building anymore!

So that's my view...what's yours?