Bexcessories isn't totally gone!

Although I am not currently designing items to sell on my Bexcessories Etsy shop, (hats and hair accessories for the uninitiated) I still am making some items for friends and family. The Etsy shop just ended up being overly time consuming - especially with wedding planning in full swing now! If anyone wants a hat or hair accessory I would still be happy to create it for them - like this hat I made for my lovely Aunt Sandi! I really love the mix of feathers creating an interesting contrast of color and texture on this piece along with the visual interest of the vintage buttons. I also attached the decoration to the hat with velcro so it could be worn in multiple ways!
For any custom Bexcessories request either contact me through this blog or my business email: bexcessories@gmail.com

I'm a Fanila!

One of my most fab friends (and the person I am lucky enough to sit by every day at work!) is the gorgeous drag queen Manila Luzon! She is competing in this season of RuPaul's Drag Race, so of course I am a total "Fanila" (fan of Manila!). So to show my support I created some Fanila Art. I have never claimed to be an illustrator, but I think it turned out pretty cute for a quick illustration. This is showing Manila on the most recent episode with a patriotic theme - and whats more American than money!?

Become a Fanila yourself on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/manilaluzonfanpage
And watch episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race on LOGO, VH1 or online at: http://www.logotv.com/shows/rupauls_drag_race/season_3/series.jhtml

Complete Fiction

I just received a copy of the most recent book cover I designed that has been published - The Complete Fiction by H.P. Lovecraft. This book is a part of the Barnes & Noble leatherbound collection that I have designed many covers for. I really like the way this cover turned out because it is so different from the others in the collection - mainly in that it is very abstract and modern while the others look like old timey originals. Look for this title and the other leatherbounds at Barnes & Noble - and also look for my name in the front of the book!

Papel Picado Fiesta Flags

I'm a big believer in flags, bunting, and/or signage to really liven a space at a party. For my lovely friend Anja's Mexican inspired birthday brunch I made Papel Picado. The term Papel Picado translates to "punched paper" and Papel picado also describes the traditional folk art used in Mexico to decorate altars, tables, ceilings and plazas during festivals. Papel picado artists use hammer and chisel to punch designs out of stacks of up to forty layers of tissue at a time. 

For a much simpler version, I created the flag design in Illustrator on my computer and printed the flags out in different colors. I cut the border out with scissors - still quite meticulous! - and then folded the top of the paper over and secured it with tape to some twine to hang. I think the end result gives the look and feel, without all the hard work!

Here is a link to download the birthday Papel Picado flag (pictured above) I created to print out for your next fiesta!

https://www.yousendit.com/download/T2pIYURKMGt6RSt4dnc9PQ

Keep Calm and Marry On

Photos by Craig Van Blaricum

I love event planning and throwing parties - in fact I could see myself doing that as a job someday if this whole graphic design thing doesn't work out! The latest party I was a part of planning was the engagement party of my good friends Paul and Casey. I posted the invite to the party I created earlier on this blog - the London Underground themed invite. We held the party at a British pub to create as authentic of an environment that we could without having to buy plane tickets for all the guests (a little outside of the budget). To finish the London feel, I created bunting out of Union Jack flags, custom signs that said "Keep Calm and Marry On" (a play off the now infamous poster produced by the British government during World War II), British themed food tags, Queen mum masks, and a favor of Peppermint tea (has special meaning to the couples' love story).

We had plenty of tasty food - sliders, chips (fries) and stuffed mushrooms. Also a fabulous cake of vanilla with lemon and raspberry filling complete with sugar Union Jack flags on top. We had a Brit band playlist for music and a projected photo slideshow of Paul and Casey over the years. All in all I think the party was a great success and a lot of fun was had by all. Pip pip!

If anyone is looking for British or Keep Calm & Marry On themed items for a party or wedding, please contact me at bexcessories@gmail.com 
I would be delighted to work with you to design invites, save the dates, posters, food cards or anything else!

All that Glitters

The original necklace by Jenny Packham

The crystals I bought from Ralph

When I was trying on wedding gowns I fell in love with a beautiful necklace that my sister found for me to try on. Unfortunately this beautiful necklace by Jenny Packham is $1200! Slightly out of my budget to say the least. Well being the ambitious craftser I am, I decided to try recreating something inspired by this necklace myself.
I went right to my friend with the most sparkle - Karl (aka the fabulous drag queen Manila Luzon on this season of RuPaul's Drag Race)! He of course knew a guy who has the best rhinestones this side of the Mississippi. Enter Ralph - about the cutest little old guy you've ever seen - picture the wandmaker in Harry Potter. Ralph has this tiny room inside a high rise near Times Square where he sells his hand set rhinestones. I went there on Friday and he had all of my crystals set and ready by Monday - awesome!
I will be documenting my progress on my necklace as it goes - thankfully I've given myself plenty of time to experiment!

A Sexy Bedroom for Valentine's Day

A lot of my day job involves creating designs and product concepts for brands to license. Feeling very in the spirit of Valentine's Day, today part of my job was to create a branded bedroom set for Frederick's of Hollywood. Yes perhaps maybe not the classiest of assignments, but I still tried to keep the cheese in check while retaining the brand image - red, black, lace and leopard!
So to accomplish this I took a photograph of a standard bedroom and through Photoshop sexified it with all things Fredericks. Happy Valentine's Day!