HAPPY 100th POST!

This is my 100th post!  Hard to believe!   I love blogging because it's such a fast way to connect and share with so many people throughout the world!  Thank you for following!  :)  

http://rockbox.rutgers.edu/ksproul/N7164E/Happy100thSmall.jpg

Etsy Treasury

Lately I've been creating treasuries on etsy and I'm having such a fun time! It's a great way to learn about other items on etsy and other shops. Most importantly, when you create a treasury you really feel like a part of the etsy community.   It's fun thinking up themes and putting a bunch of products together for a cohesive look!

Making a treasury shows you the importance of good photography.

Tips for photographs of products sold online
- make sure they're clear, in focus
- high contrast
- fill the frame with the item
- add an interesting background that tells a story
- take photos of your item at different angles

Below are some of our treasuries!

Freckle Faced Strawberry
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c5081711faa8eef4b0e37fd/freckle-faced-strawberry?index=0

Weekend in the Country
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c5053b66bbd6d91dbb07efe/weekend-in-the-countryside?index=1

On Golden Pond
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c4f2e1011088eefa8bd7c20/on-golden-pond?index=2

Wild Blueberry Garden
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c4ef0ac2dfa8eef9cda458f/wild-blueberry-garden?index=3

I love Canadian Chocolate Bars!

There's something so special about Canadian Chocolate Bars!  Maybe the fact we're so used to seeing the same old chocolate bars here in the US, so when we see chocolate bars with bubbles and flakes it makes us giddy with excitement!  My favorites are Cadbury Flakes, Nestle Aero, and Cadbury Wunderbar.  They're made a little differently so it makes you feel like a kid again trying your first chocolate bar.


Image borrowed from http://www.thestevenetwork.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/cadburyWunderbar.jpg

Let There Be Light!

We're always cooking up something new in our studio.  Recently, we designed a new bib statement necklace with LIGHTS.

Our new bib statement necklace is made with fiber optic lights, hand dyed and hand burnt out velvet devore, and upcycled jewelry elements - copper wire, beads, rhinestones, etc.  Simply slide the switch and voila! instant party!

Wear to a special occasion or wear it just for fun!

www.ricerafferty.etsy.com
www.ricerafferty.com

MENSWEAR with a FEMININE twist

Nothing is sexier than menswear worn by women.  It's especially attractive on a strong, confident woman.  Think Annie Hall - Diane Keaton is always workin that look and she's FAB! 

Recently, we've been experimenting with new wearable art materials in our studio and we designed Samurai Warrior tie belts made from upcycled, recycled, eco friendly ties!  It's interesting to see how two completely different patterns can look so exciting together like they were made for each other. 

Wear tie belt with tank tops, t-shirts, or even a button down blouse!  The look has an asian twist, but also preppy like Ralph Lauren, so you can really take this accessory and style it in many ways.  The tie belt is a great office look to show men you mean business.  :)

Tie belt $22

Visit our shop:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/52047327/green-blue-samurai-warrior-upcycled-tie
http://www.etsy.com/listing/52045757/red-samurai-warrior-upcycled-tie-belt
www.ricerafferty.etsy.com
www.ricerafferty.com

NEW Lightweight Rice Rafferty Earrings

Who said earrings have to be heavy?  I've designed some new earrings that are lightweight and fashionable.  Wear them with casual clothes, work clothes, or on an evening out.  The earrings are made from repurposed, upcycled, recycled (whatever you prefer to call it) materials.  The earrings at the top are made from copper wire and painted paper mache.  The earrings below it are made from hand dyed ruffled silk charmeuse, lace, and pearls.  Both pairs of earrings are a great focal point and compliment to any outfit.

Visit www.ricerafferty.etsy.com
www.ricerafferty.com

BEST Movie Trailers

Movie trailers are the number one way to get you into a movie theater.  The best trailers give you a hint of what's to come, play an interesting song to go with the footage, and leave you hungry for more.  It doesn't matter if the movie was good or bad.  If the trailer got you into the theater, then it did its job.  If only reality lived up to our expectations sometimes...My favorite movie trailers from both good and bad movies:

Dedication
http://www.tribute.ca/trailers/Dedication/3517
Godzilla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIR47_zpySI
Garden State
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/garden_state/internet_exclusive/med.html
Closer
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/closer/medium.html

This year the Sex and the City 2 trailer actually gave me chills!  The movie doesn't always have the same impact as the trailer, but we still enjoy it!  :)

BARK IN THE PARK

Do YOU live in Buffalo, own a dog, or know someone that does?  This Saturday, July 24 is Bark in the Park in Clarence, NY 12-3. This Saturday is Bark in the Park in Clarence, NY! 12-3 There will be canine contests, childrens' activities, hot dogs, ice cream, an Ask the Vet corner as well as agility courses and demos.

This is always such a fun summer event.  I've been bringing my Pomeranian dog Chewbacca for the past 3 years and he loves it.  He won with flying colors at the agility course.  Not bad for a 13 year old dog!  Also, don't worry if it's hot; they have a kiddie pool with water.  They had a contest for the largest and smallest dog too!  It's a really good time!  :)
All are welcome!

Couture Today. Couture Tomorrow?

Ever wonder what exactly is couture fashion?  Couture, aka Haute Couture, is high fashion, custom made to be specially fitted for someone by a skilled dress/garment maker.  Couture is typically known to be a bit pricey, high quality, and elegant garment. The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957

When I think of Couture clothing I think of old movies from the 1940s and 1950s, Audrey Hepburn or Dorthy Day.  Breakfast at Tiffany's comes to mind.  Years ago women would spend a day shopping in their nearby downtown city at large department stores.  They would have tea, buy clothing that would be wrapped neatly in boxes, and send the boxes home (very different from the clothing tossed in a bag today, huh?).

Clothing today is mostly mass produced from China, so we lack the quality and care of clothing in the past.  According to my mother even the feel of the clothing has gone down hill.  Instead of clothing being an investment, clothing today has become as disposable as electronics.  People want to spend less and less on clothing by purchasing garments from Walmart instead of more expensive designers.  Maybe the electronics industry has changed this perception of fashion.  Many people wear clothing for one season and toss it aside the next.  I have to admit I still have a few dresses and some blouses from when I was in middle school in the middle 90s which is now...almost 13 years ago.

With my business Rice Rafferty I wanted to make something you could wear for more than one season, for years to come, to pass down to your grandchildren as a special keepsake.  These accessories are designed with love and meant to be cherished.

www.ricerafferty.com   about us
www.ricerafferty.etsy.com   to buy

Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream? - Edgar Allan Poe

I woke up this morning dreaming I was still in a hotel room in Quebec, Canada.  I was dreaming I forgot to hand in the key to my room.  It feels like the past few days have been a dream.

The warm weather during the summer puts me in the mood to travel.  Two weekends ago I went to Rochester, NY.  We went hiking around Chimney Bluffs, Sodus Bay, Dinosaur Bbq, and of course the mecca Wegmans.  It's amazing what adventures you can find so close to home.  Rochester is a super fun little city.

Last night I just got back from a trip to Montreal and Quebec City.  I was only gone 4 days, but it felt like 2 weeks!  The summer seemed like the best time to travel north.  I've never been to either city or that far north, so I was thrilled.  The tour began with a long drive across NY State, up to Alexandria Bay for lunch (gorgeous view of Boldt Castle), across the border and up to Quebec.  Quebec is known as the only European city you can drive to in North America.  Everyone speaks french, all the signs are in french, and all the menus are in french.  After a few days you really begin to start thinking in french.  The city has a smaller European city feel and it's the only city in North American with a wall around it.  The food was delicious!  Over the past few days I ate croissants, crepes with duck, liver and onions, gelatto, chicken with mushroom sauce, spaghetti and meatballs, and calamari.  Montreal was more high fashion, so I did lots of trend spotting, which I'll share with you soon!

I went on a tour and I really enjoyed meeting all the different people and hearing their stories.  You start to become a family with your traveling group.  It was also very interesting hearing stories from locals.  The more you travel the more you realize we're all the same.  We may speak different languages, eat different things, and live in different climates, but we're all people with basic human desires.  We all dream.

My favorite part of traveling is coming home and seeing and hearing everything in a new way.  My routine drive to work felt different today.  I noticed the beauty of the willow trees around me and the freedom of driving my car.  Traveling also has you thinking about your next trip.  I'll share more details of the trip soon!  Au revoir!