You can't find it when you need it leads to making your own.

During a family visit, I wanted to teach them a new game -- actually one of my favorite party games -- called Tripoley.  I searched all over my home looking for this game and realized that I didn't have it anymore.

Thus started my journey to find that game, I drove over to local stores and they didn't have any available. Okay, cool, I'll drive over to next town and see if the toy store has it... to no avail.  Okay, let me try the next town over and drive to the bookstore and see if they have it at their board game area -- yet again, to no avail.  I hit several stores searching for it and every time I struck out.

I returned home and searched again for anything remotely like this game. I finally found a plastic  version, that was close enough.

We managed to play the game.  The kids took awhile to learn it since they had never played Poker or Michigan Rummy, but soon after they were getting quite good at making poker faces.  We had much fun.

After their visit ended, I thought of ordering the game online. I searched for it and found them but it was mostly retro board games and the quality of the game was "there".  After talking with Ron, we felt that it was better to make our own version of this game.  We have the skills, tools, and materials to make it.   Ron took on the part of making the wood design and cutting while I focused on making the inlay design, painting, and assembling the final board.  Here's our first prototype:

We spent days talking about ways to improve it.  To make it more special, more unique, and then we had an "aha" moment -- why not give it a more casino look?

Yeap, that's me hard at work making this lovely Tripoley handmade card board game.  Of course, I do wear a mask when working with any type of adhesive.  We take pride in the work we do.  Here's the finished Tripoley card board game:

Do you see the kitty?   Upon closer look you'll see that I'm a kitty lover... couldn't help myself.

Of course, that meant more work, but the end result is impressive. We wanted this design to last and look amazing in person.  I posted two photos of it in Instagram.  Here's one of them:

And soon after I had people approaching me to make one for them.  Since then I've made a few more and have it available at my Etsy store:  Sybarite Studio / Handmade Tripoley Card Board Game

A special " THANK YOU " for my fans.  Your support makes a world of difference.

Come on down, Pfirst Pfriday in Pflugerville

Here's your chance to see in person my latest creations, the Elegant Butterfly Jewelry Collection.

Aside form my other handmade items:

It's a great way to start your weekend.  See Downtown Pflugerville and visit the stores that stay open later. 

Shops that are open later invite you stop in for snacks & sips! Vendors-Artisans, crafts people, vintage & independent Sales Reps set up, offering unique items, handcrafted goods and entertainment that can be enjoyed by all. 

This is a Pfamily Pfriendly Event! Come and hang out with Pfamily & Pfriends! 

Be sure to visit the local bars & restaurants for more entertainment later into the night!

 When: Friday, August 1st, 2014 
Where: Pfirst Pfriday Pflugerville 101 Pecan St W, Pflugerville, Texas 78660
   Time: 3:00pm - 8:00pm 

 On Facebook: Pfirst Pfriday in Pflugerville

Sparkling Butterfly Collection

A few months ago I gave a gift of gratitude to my friend for helping me spread the word about Sybarite Studio. Since then, whenever she wears the Bat Earrings, she receives lovely compliments.  One day a friend of hers asked if I did butterflies.  My friend informed her that she would pass on the inquires.  At the time I was quite involved with Pixzle.me but had not forgotten the request.

It's amazing how the creative process works. While some may think--"Oh, she's forgotten or doesn't care enough to pursue it" --- far from it; the seed was planted. But as it takes time for a seed to germinate so does creativity.  When you finally start to see the first signs of a plant growing before long it's a flower blooming...that's how art is made...it takes time for the idea to gestate and evolve in one's head before it starts to take on form.  After several rounds, that form starts to take shape and it's like a striking a match, all of the sudden there's the flame, it's there right in front of you, the vision.

Once that vision is in place it's a matter of making it happen, of giving it a physical shape, of defining it through textures and paint, and giving it meaning and love. Without the passion of creating; the dynamics of your work loses all meaning and interest.

I've always loved taking picture of creatures big and small... I started my journey by tracking down my photos of butterflies and turning them into something more.  I let these photos be my inspiration for creating my butterfly designs. I used these designs to cut out the shape of my desired butterfly and then hand paint and mounted the jewelry findings to create my prototypes. Experiment after experiment, I slowly worked out the vision.



After several rounds of cutting out and carefully hand painting the butterfly wings it dawned on me to add some sparkle and seal it. I showed these prototypes, but the one that stood out was the one that had the sparkles.  My goal was to make them into jewelry: both earrings and pendants.  I made a few attempts and kept improving the look and feel until I had the closest desired prototype.

Alas, this version of the earrings was too large and just won't work. Back to the drawing board. So I reworked the design and made this second version.

I shared this on Facebook and it was pleasantly welcomed.  Given the responses for my design I went ahead and ordered all the necessary items to make the #Purple #Butterfly #Jewelry #Collection available on Etsy.  Sadly, I got sick, but it was okay since I had to wait for my items to be delivered.  One night I was so tired of being sick and luckily for me my Kitties in Kittielandia were also up and about then I decided to have some fun with them. What do you think of my models?

Meanwhile, I kept tweaking the design and improving the look and feel.  Once I had gotten my parts, I started to make the real items I wanted to put on Etsy.  As I made each one, I took photos of them and place the finished item away.  Time to edit the abundance of photos I took and narrow it down to the ones I wanted on Etsy. 

I'm glad to announce that first of my Sparkling Butterfly Jewelry Collection is now live on Etsy.   Feel free to share with loved ones, or if you have a loved ones who enjoys butterflies this might be the special gift you've been looking for.