Life Is Beautiful

Las Vegas, October 24th - 26th Life Is Beautiful Festival Hippie Chic:

Trifecta:

Ink Cartridge:

Christmas Project

Asian Persuasian

A couple more ring projects...

Glitz Charming

After 6 hours in the making, only because it's my 3rd soldering project ever, turned out pretty juicy couture-ish. It was like picking flowers for a flower arrangement, but much harder. An upcycled multi-media of broken bits and pieces of old jewelry. Now it's a compilation of little treats on the finger!

My Prince Charming Ring is detailed with;
* a little ity bity frog (was an earring)
* heart with rhinestone (was a ring)
* a crown (was a pin)
* cubic zirconium stud (was an earring)
* flower with rhinestone (was a clasp)
* faux pearl (was an earring)
* faux sapphire & diamonds gold pendant (was a necklace)

Upcycling = Trash --> Treasure

New craft technique I'm practicing on; soldering. I finally am making use of all the broken earrings, necklaces and brooches I've collected over the years. 1st project was turning a brooch into a ring.

TRON GIRL

When the movie Tron: Legacy came out, I just about lost my head over the chicks dressed in White. Their called Sirens, programs who dress other programs for The Games. For a month before Halloween, I prepared my costume; unitard white body suit, silver fabric paint, reflective tape, electric light wiring and Tron disk.

For Halloween, me and the friends went to this awesome venue, Insert Coin(s) a Video/Arcade Bar. Flat screens wrap around the huge bar, where from your bar stool you grab a controller and play. DJ's playing, people dancing and VIP booths are available with bottle service in front of your private flat screens for video games.

In costume, people recognized the character instantly. With a lot of persuasion from my friends, I was asked to come on stage and show off my suit. And later was asked again to come up on stage for the sexiest costume contest. I made it to the top 3, up against a sexy Poison Ivy and a Kim Kardashian look-a-like.

Ironically, I was covered from head to toe, but I think with how unique my costume was and the fact that I was in a Video Arcade bar, I had a few fans. (And my friends were helpful in cheering).

I took 1st place in the sexiest costume contest, winning $1000 and a trophy at Insert Coin(s).

I made quite a profit on what I spent making the costume and even more rewarding, I got a taste for getting creative again. Something that's withered away the last year. Well, the sweat shop has been dusted and I'm back in there again. I missed it.

Creative Mojo

Finally, making product again. Spending many weeks organizing and arranging, I had a small fear that I wouldn't have the creative mojo after it was all done! But thank goodness I still really enjoyed my sewing today.
Here's some photo's of the super, zen, square into circle now octagon, origami, peacock, floor, chair, meditation, zafu cushions I made.

Dream Sewing Studio

It's been 2 months now living in Las Vegas. I know the strip will get old real quick, but it's still unbelievable to me that it's so close and accessible. I mean, it's like having Disney Land in your back yard almost. But I'm trying to manage my time there now, because I know I'll be there plenty this summer visiting friends who are in town.

Living with mom has its benefits; free rent, mom's creative input and free reign to change the whole garage into my new sewing studio! I've been working hard trying to put it all together. It's awesome to see my drawing plans become reality.

The walls are painted fuchsia and teal, Asian knick knacks and sewing books are on the shelving unit I installed. I turned mom's old dresser into a work table, drilled in Chinese drawer pulls for the storage closets and today I finished hanging various paper lanterns and umbrellas as my center piece lighting display. There are tall curtains to hide the water heater and laundry unit. And the couch, coffee table and TV in the room make it a real "woman's cave". I have yet to put up my inspiration board and I want to have a finished product area. I'm really excited about the new space and I could see myself spending hours in there!

Life is good!

Goodbye San Francisco

It was hard to say goodbye to the Bay area, but my soul was feeling the positivity of new lands... in Las Vegas.
Traveling around Europe for a month alone has me embracing this "I can do anything" feeling. I rented a 10' U-Haul with an auto transport (which is like a flat bed for my truck) and took on the challenge of loading up my own truck and driving the U-Haul myself. Tips for future U-Haul drivers: watch your speed and 18 wheeler trucks merging into your lane. The guys at the U-Haul didn't think I could unload my own truck and I was proud to say "Who do you think put it up there?!" I am woman, hear me ROAR!

I'm Home

Hello Family and Friends,
My 5 months of traveling around the world has come to a temporary end. Towards the end of my travels I started missing the small luxuries, like... a comfy bed with no bed bugs and a dependable shower, that I found myself moving quickly just to get back home.

I've traveled to 3 continents, 13 countries, 26 cities, flew on 14 planes and slept in 19 different beds. I took part in the biggest tug of war, ate the stinky Durian fruit, got bit by a crazy monkey, received a Diver's certification, saw the Pope and became a lone traveler.

This experience has helped me learn so much about myself and just as important, learn about other cultures. A journey I'll always cherish and a goal I can claim, attained.

I'm now back in Las Vegas with mom to game plan what the next chapter in my life will be. I've been floating on the wind but I write my own destiny.

My blog is updated up to when I was in Florence. I am uploading pictures still www.oribello.blogspot.com

Please keep in touch and I hope you are all doing wonderful,
Love,
Michelle

Brought my sewing machine to Vegas!

While in Las Vegas visiting my mom and best gal pal Raquel, I'm proud to have gotten some sewing done! Since they fortunately still have their jobs, I kept myself busy during the days doing 4 projects; a customers' order for 2 dog kimonos and a hakama, a queen size quilt, a shift dress and a new bag design.