My goal is to create a waste-free environment by gardening, composting, & making products from organic and upcycled materials. All of my products are sewn with my most cherished heirloom, my grandmother's 1958 Singer. My prints are hand-painted from the plants in our garden. Iris is our desert tortoise we adopted from the Living Desert Reserve who lives under the mesquite tree in our garden.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Abbot Kinney Festival 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Abbot Kinney Festival
This weekend I will be at the Abbot Kinney Festival! If you are in town come visit me in Space #196.
Here's a little info on what makes this festival so unique and special...
Since its founding in 1984, the Abbot Kinney Festival has grown in size and popularity to become one of the largest community events of its kind in the country. Each year, it attracts 150,000+ eco-conscious urban singles, couples, and families to the sunny beachside community of Venice on the last Sunday in September.
In addition to giving back to the community, the festival is best known for its unique array of local artisan crafts, live music, good food, and commitment to the environment. Activities and areas are designed to complement the eclectic, cutting-edge mix of over 100 boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, bookstores, design firms, coffee shops, clubs, salons, and much more along the famed bohemian-chic shopping district of Abbot Kinney Blvd., which stretches one mile from Venice Blvd. to Main St.
The festival includes special gathering areas such as the following:
KidsQuad: Situated on the grounds of Westminster Elementary School, KidsQuad is where families can dance and sing along to lively music, create art, play games, and enjoy the day together. Activities include healthy snack-creating by Chef Gino, children's gardening by Little Saplings, jewelry and tutu making, pony rides and petting zoos, and a very special Tot Lot with specialized programming and activities for the little ones.
The Abbot Kinney Festival is organized and produced by the Abbot Kinney Festival Association (AKFA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984, whose goal is to raise funds through the festival to reinvest back into the community to support youth and families. The Abbot Kinney Festival also seeks to promote the vibrant creativity that makes the beachside community of Venice, California so unique.
For more information visit: Abbot Kinney Festival
Friday, August 23, 2013
summertime
visiting the neighbors and feeding them our food scraps
really nice visit with my aunt and uncle in Arroyo Grande
hiking in some of the oldest redwood forests with the girls
and they earned badges with the Junior Ranger program
always loved trains and now I get to enjoy them with my daughter
cousins sharing a moment while hiking
my favorite farm stand
we get to watch our personalized pumpkin grow...
creative housing for goats
love my aunt and uncle's succulent garden. looks like a miniature coral reef.
an abundance of kale calls for a
lemonade and kale stand!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Art of Kraft at Birba- June 15, 2013
Tomorrow in Palm Springs, CA I will be part of...
at...
For more info visit...
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Unique LA Spring Show
Last Mother's Day weekend was the Unique LA Spring Show held in the penthouse of the California Market Center in downtown LA. This show is so special in that it embraces the creativity and hard work of independent designers and there is so much comaraderie amongst the participants because we all are supporting eachother's passions. My friend Charlotte helped me for the weekend show which made such a huge difference and we have so much fun together which is always a necessity. Here's a few photos from the weekend...
My favorite shot of the weekend is this one with my niece Phoebe and her impeccable style and confidence...if I only had half her moves. She is wearing one of my dresses upcycled from a men's shirt and I'm wearing a dress upcycled from an organic cotton duvet cover and a Book of the Garden necklace.
Yes, Charlotte and I even have fun in elevators.
We had such a good dinner at Industriel after setting up the booth.
Friends from home came to the show...always a surprise and morale booster!
The talented women of Funky Gavroche
My friend and assistant Charlotte wearing my products so well.
I'm with Aisha, one of the Unique LA staff. They really know how to put together such an incredible show and play a huge role in supporting 'Made in America' products.
Jackie Sepulveda and Lauren Sepulveda of Voz Collective, who introduced me to Unique LA and also happen to be my cousins who are so much fun to be around.
My niece Maya trying on some of the fabulous bangles in the Voz Collective booth.
I really loved meeting this woman and sharing my story with her. She bought a Paper Moon dress for her friend's daughter and gave me great feedback on my products.
Devon's Drawer- beautiful organic designs for children.
My friendly and talented neighbors with their designs- Double Hearts and Wesley
My parents, always by my side in everything that I do.
A Mother's Day breakfast with my family before the second day of the show.
My niece Phoebe and daughter Elle showing me their 'serious, we mean business' faces
Hair bows and clips made from dictionary pages and upcycled remnants
Lots of mothers-to-be shopping on Mother's Day. This is my favorite shot that my sister Jen captured.
These two girls are going to rule the world!
...And make it a better place.
Standing next to my newest designs...the Urban Garden summer dress and the Vintage Book & Wine necklace
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Green Dream Pet Bed
One of my new upcycled products to debut at the Unique LA Spring Show on May 11-12 is the...
These pet beds are 95% upcycled, made from pallets with a water-based stain finish (the metal locking casters that make it easy to move are new). They will be available in Small, Medium, and Large. Pillows will also be available to fit each bed.
I held a contest on my Facebook page to come up with a name for the new bed and it was a lot of fun reading everyone's take on the bed. There are two winners! Jennifer McIntosh came up with "Green Dream" and Caitlin Saracco came up with "Reduce, Reuse, Relax". They will get a gift of choice from my online store. Thank you to everyone who brainstormed with me. It's much more fun than thinking of a name alone in my studio.
Here are some of the choices I had to pick from; it was a tough one...
https://www.facebook.com/lesliekellyshockley/posts/10201019549111513?comment_id=6203643¬if_t=like
and
The pet beds will be available online starting May 15.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Unique LA Spring Show
Please join my Facebook event to help spread the word...
Join Tea With Iris at the Unique LA Spring Show
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Composting 101
As the weather is getting warmer, our compost bins are working non-stop. Here is a great tutorial on what you can and can't compost...
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