Skull-tastic!

My name is Amanda, and I have a skull addiction.

For as long as I can remember I've had a fassynation with skulls, anatomical, cutesy cartoony, sugar skulls, etc. It didn't matter, if it had a skull on it I wanted it. So I was checking out the new arrivals at New Look and came across all sorts of skull themed goodies. :) I've really been saving myself for Carmakoma's A/W collection, but I might have to cheat a little and pick up a few of these pieces.

Inspire Purple Skull T-Shirt

Inspire Navy Over sized Studded Skull Top

Inspire White Sequin Skull Print Vest

Black Skull Ankle Tie Wedge

Tan Leather Skull Ankle Boots

Black Skull Lace T-Shirt

Made by ME! :)

I am particularly in love with the ankle boot and purple top. :)

I love skulls so much that I even use them in my jewelry designs.

Do you have a pattern that you're always drawn too?

Anthro Love

Top: Anthropologie (L)
Necklace: H+M
Jeans: Torrid (14)

Over the weekend, the BF, and I took a little side trip to West Edmonton Mall. OK, it's not much of a side trip, it's about 10mins from our house, but still it's very rare we venture to it because it's so insanely busy on a weekend. I mainly wanted to go and check out the new Doc Martens store. More on that in a few weeks when I actually buy a pair of boots. :)

Another reason to hit up the chaotic WEM is to go to Anthropologie. This location is one of the best. (Better than Vancouver and Seattle) The store is aways well organised, clean, and very well stocked. If you're plus sized, don't put Anthro off thinking nothing will fit, every time I go I find at least 3-4 items that fit me nicely, and you'd be amazed how many times I've needed a size M. It's all about knowing your body, and understanding clothing cuts, you can really only learn this buy trying things on and experimenting.

Skirt: Penningtons (14)
Belt: Talbots (L)
Necklace: Coco from Stella and Dot

I tried on several tops, but this was my favorite. I love the pattern, and how it blurs on the side, the front actually folds over so the top layer is loose. I wore it on Saturday night when we went out to see Judah Friedlander. I just wore it with jeans and a cream blazer. I wore it again to work on Monday with my favorite bright blue bandage skirt from Penningtons. I belted it this time with a skinny suede belt I scored from Talbots on sale for 90% off. Talbots is another store not to be dismissed. Most of their items are a little conservative for my tastes, but once in a while they surprise me.

P.S. My tripod that I ordered should be here any day! Excited no more mirror shots!

Tout le Monde!

Good day lovelies!

I've been going thru all my jewelry, taking photos and getting pieces ready to go up on Etsy. I use to have an Etsy shop but I closed it down a couple of years ago because I just wasn't putting in the time/effort to keep it going. I am feeling I am ready to try it again though. It can be a tough racket, making jewelry, there are lots of artist out there. I figure it's worth a try, even just to show more pieces and give me more of a kick in the ass to get things made. :)

This bracelet here I made not too long ago. The beads are glass, which are handmade by me, with Swarovski and sterling silver accents. The glass I used is Moretti (from Italia), the color are light turquoise and dark ivory. I added a little silver to the mix, and they came out with this wild bit of green in them! They reminded me of Earth, like the view of a map, hence the name. Maybe it's a little cheesy, but I like to give all my creations silly little names since they are my bead babies.

These are a pair of custom earrings I made for a customer who bought a bracelet from me. I'm really happy with the way the design worked out so I'm going to make more with different colors.

If anyone has an questions about my jewelry creations please leave a comment or email me at glasscandydesigns@gmail.com. Cheers.

Summer Weekends go too Fast!

Well in reality ALL weekends go too fast when you're a Monday to Friday working kinda girl. I'm lucky that I enjoy my job so it's not too painful when Monday rolls around, but still I would be OK if Monday waited a little longer.

This weekend was a good one. Saturday I was working the Fireflies of Edmonton booth at the St. Albert Farmers' Market. Myself and the other vender's could not have asked for a better day. The sun was out, there was a little breeze, it was perfection.

My "business" name is Glass Candy Designs. The name comes from all the comments I was getting when I first started making glass beads. "They look like candy!" Well they kind of do, so the name stuck. :) Sales were pretty good this weekend, and I had lots of fun with the customers. With the weather so nice it was hard not to be in a good mood.

Dress: Forever21+ (1X) Sold out - similar here Dress 911
Belt: Target (XL) not current
Necklace: OOAK

When it comes to markets/sales I like to make sure I look professional but still approachable and stylish. This may be a "farmers' market", but it's still St. Albert (it's know to be a little "hoytee-toytee she-she fu-fu") so you have to come prepared. :) I opted to wear one of my favorite casual dressed from Forever21 Plus. It's such a nice coral color, and it's so light and comfy, almost like going naked. And since going naked is frowned upon at the market this dress worked well. I'm not really a fan of having the elastic showing on a dress so I wore it with a skinny patterned belt. The necklace is a piece from a local glass artist, I bought it years ago and it's still one of my favs. I didn't get a pic of the shoes, they we just some comfy flats from Target, got to have comfort when on your feet for 6 hours.

Beating the heat!

Another lovely day in the Edmonton area. Still lovin' the heat, but looking forward to later this week, we're suppose to be getting some thunder storms. :) I love the thunder and lightning.

Being a "career" woman and working in the office place I have to be ready for the heat of the day, and also be ready for the blast of air conditioning in the office. So when it's really hot, pants are in order because the AC will be cranked.

I love these coral skinnies from Forever21, they are a little short (since I need a 35" inseam), so I just roll them a bit to make them look like they are supposed to be short. This top is a staple, it's a little oversized and semi-sheer. I wear a nude colored tank top under it for work, but when I where it outside a professional setting I usually wear just a nice bra. My favorite Torrid shoes, I love a pointy toed pump and these have the perfect heel height for all day wear at 2.5". I have them in purple and green too. I hope we see more like this from Torrid come fall.

Top: Penningtons (X)

Bottom: F21+ (14)

Shoes: Torrid (9)

Necklace: Gulu African beads

Ring: Stella & Dot

On a crafty note, I've been busy making new jewelry pieces. These are all brand new, but about half of them are pieces I've made in the last couple months. I'm in the St. Albert Farmer's Market this weekend, so hopefully some of these will find loving new homes.

Bracelets of various styles; wire wrapped, viking knit, lampwork, semi-precious, mixed glass and stone, pearls, etc.

I love a heat wave!

What an awesome weekend! The weather was sunny and HOT! I love the heat, to me +28C and above is perfect. It's actually pretty rare that we get temps that high, so have to take advantage of it while we can. I normally work Monday, but I decided to take today off, to relax after a busy weekend. :) On such a nice day I am glad I did.

This past weekend my friend Jess's birthday! We had a limo bus, that took us to a bar for a drink then down to the Calgary Stampede. When we got down to the grounds we enjoyed a great live show by Awolnation, some funnel cakes (yum), people watching, and a great fireworks show.

Jello shots! Drink with caution.

I was in charge of the jello shots for the days festivities, and they turned out great! Back in the day (when I was like 17-18 years old) I was the queen of gelatinized booze. :) I hadn't made them in years, but I decided to kick it up a notch anyways.

I did the first layer with orange pineapple Jello and Stolichnaya Vanilla vodka (just replace the cold water with the vodka), poured it into 2oz plastic shot glasses so they are half full. Let set in fridge for about 2 hours. Once it's set add a Fuzzy Peach to the top. For the top layer I used peach Jello and Peach Schnapps, make jello same as you do for the bottom layer, but let it cool off to room temp before pouring it over the fire layer. You don't have to do this step but this way you'll get a more defined layer. Put it back in the fridge to set, and they are ready to be devoured. I did a raspberry/cherry version using cherry blasters.

As far a flavors go the sky is the limit. These are also really good with fruit added, but you have to cool the jello off to room temp before you add the fruit and they should be eaten soon after they are set so the fruit remains fresh.

I do have an OOTD to post, but that will come later tonight. :) Cheers!

Bring on the weekend! OOTD!

I am so excited it's almost the weekend! One more busy day of work, then I'm on a self-made long weekend! :) This weekend is going to be crazy....cray....zahhhhh. It's a good friends birthday, and my poor liver is already trembling in a corner. I'm heading south down to Calgary, we booked a limo bus that is going to take us around to some pubs in the evening for a drink at each place and THEN off to the Stampede! It's a great event, and an amazing party that lasts 10 days. It's the 100th anniversary of the stamepede so it will be extra special.

There are always tons of great bands that play, and on Saturday night it just happens that one of my favs, AWOLNATION, is playing. I saw them last year, and they blew me away. Actually before I saw them live I wasn't much of a fan, but now I can't get enough. I was like that with Weezer, I had liked a couple of their songs, then I saw them live and I had my mind blown. Anyone can sound good on an engineered recording, it's their live show that proves talent.

I'm still trying to decide what to wear. It's normally a jeans and boots (shit kickers) kind of event (you know because it's a rodeo!), but it's going to be 30C, so no boots for this chiquita!

I am feeling chatty, can you tell? :) Anyways onto my OOTD.

The photos were taken at 6am, hence the IPhone pics. It's just too damn early for anything else.
Top: Stephanie Bezaire, from a couple seasons ago, her stuff is great. (Canadian designer, check her out) {there is a blue version available} (1XL)
Capri: Penningtons, love these capris, it's nice that they just have a little stretch to be comfy but not enough that they change shape. {current} (14)
Shoes: From Beyond the Rack, brand is Coconuts. (10M)
Ring: H+M

Little bit of candy, Glass Candy

Just wanted to share a bit of what I've been working on for jewelry.

I've been a little obscessed with this bracelet design lately. I saw it orginially in Wirework magazine, and have tweeked it a little. I buy so many zines, with the intention of making something from the wonderful tutorials. In all the years I've been making jewelry (like 7 years) this is the FIRST! ha.



Hammereded copper cuff style bracelet, Japanese glass sead beads, and focal bead made by me!

I'm pretty happy with the way they have turned out, but I'm still doing a little experimenting. :) I'm working on stock for some up coming farmers market dates, so nothing for sale right now. Soon though once I have enough stock set up.


Hammered silver (plate) cuff style bracelet, Japanese glass seed beads, and focal made by me!

Hammered bronze cuff style bracelet, glass seed beads, and focal by moi!

Torch all ready to rock and roll, bead making time!

Summer is here!

Hey everyone! Sorry for the late post, it's been a busy few weeks (as always). Life has been pretty exciting though so I am NOT complaining. :) The sun is shining, and the days are long and warm. I really love this time of year.

One thing that has got me pretty excited is the launch of the Cult of California webstore. Honestly I can't even remember how I found out about this new brand, but I'm glad I did! The workout wear looks AMAZING. I've made my pre-order and now I wait, not so patiently for it to ship in August 20th. This is something I have been waiting for! I'm a fairly active person, and fashion forward workout wear that fits right is something I have been LUSTING over. I'm tired of v-neck tee, tank tops, and black yoga capris or leggings. I want style.

The size range is great too, it starts at an 8, (so smaller curvy girls can get in the action too), and goes up to a size 30.

Canadian girls take note, if you place an order, email them after and ask for it to be shipped USPS. That way you can avoid the crazy fees the UPS charges. Their website also has a great online chat feature, so if you need help with sizing, fit, etc you can get help right away.

When I get my order I will be putting these babies thru the paces; trails, gym, zumba, kettle bell class, etc. I will admit (and I'm sure you can tell), I have pretty high expectations, I have a good feeling so I'm going to go with it.

Here are a few of the items I have pre-ordered.

Bent Prisom Jog Pant

Neon Rib Hi-low Priestess Top

Occult Moto Jacket