Metamorphosis

Please join us for a very special Open House Fundraiser & Online Auction Kickoff benefiting Elizabeth Chalker.  We are raising money to help her get the life-saving medical treatment that she desperately needs!

Elizabeth is extremely ill after years of being misdiagnosed...now barely hanging on by a thread. She recently lost her dog & companion, Symon, whom she considered her son. It has been devastating to her, on top of the constant torment & pain that she is in 24/7. I could go on and on and on about her & how she has impacted me, but here is a website that has been put together for her and shares more of her story: 

http://helpelizabeth.net/

Time	Sunday, May 1 · 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Location	8252 Regency St. La Palma, CA 90623 AND Online for  1.) Auction

We are asking vendors of our Open House to donate a percentage of their sales to Elizabeth.  We are collecting donations to be auctioned off ...it kicks off at the Open House & continues online!

*wine tasting
*massage
*auction
*shopping
*buy her book
*more in the works!

Tickets are given to those who donate to the Victorious For Elizabeth event and can be used for wine, sweets, entries, massage, & other goodies!

Options

Option 10 $10.00 Option 25 $20.00 Option 50 $40.00 Option 75 $60.00 Option 100 $80.00 Option 125 $100.00

Your message to Elizabeth

Use this link to donate any amount not listed above.

Your message to Elizabeth

Hosted by Arbonne consultant, Shawnna Gwinn Gomez.  20% of all retail Arbonne orders will be donated to Elizabeth Chalker!  To place an online order, visit: www.Shawnna.MyArbonne.com

Victorious Vixen quilted wallets, bags & other sewn items will be donating 50% of all sales to Elizabeth Chalker & 100% of select items at the Open House.  www.VictoriousVixen.Etsy.com

Nicole Presti will be donating 20-50% of her sales to Elizabeth. www.celebratinghome.com/sites/nicolepresti

Kelly A. Godlewski from Stampin' Up!  Donating a portion of her sales to Elizabeth.  http://kellygodlewski.stampinup.net

Joy Toal of Joy’s Creations.  Donating 20% of her sales to Elizabeth.

Megan Self Hernandez – hair stylist.  Donating a portion of her sales to Elizabeth.

**********************************************************
Crafters/business owners...would you like to donate something for our auction &/or host a table at the open house?  Please contact Nani Lauriano Luculescu for more information: Nani@VictoriousVixen.com

Do you know someone who would like to participate in the open house or have a unique item for the auction?  We are looking for others who would like to join us!

Donations can be mailed to:

Victorious Vixen
P.O. Box 2404
Cypress, CA 90630

You can find the Facebook event invite here with all the details: 

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206606866024564

She has really inspired me...

I want to see her condition improve & her pain stripped away.  As I read her book, I see her in a lonely pit of darkness and deep in my soul I feel such compassion for her... 

I keep asking myself...what else can I do to help her???

I'm making several special creations to benefit Elizabeth Chalker's life-saving treatment...stop by the
Open House & come see me & what I've been working on!!!  =) 

Buy her book and be blessed by it!

Elizabeth's Book! 

Hanging On by the Scratch Marks My Nails Left Behind

                                                 (Raw Faith) 

Elizabeth has written a powerful, God inspired book that will encourage and help strengthen anyone who reads it.  If you are in the midst of suffering, or struggling through intense hardships, then this book will provide solice and hope to pull you out of the darkness and into the light!

Elizabeth is still courageously fighting for her life and to get the resources necessary to receive life-saving medical treatment.

Offer exclusive to this site:  

http://www.helpelizabeth.net/Bookpage.html
For those who make a contribution of $35.00 or more to help Elizabeth, you can request a personalized,
signed copy of her book (shipping included within the US, add $5 if international)!
To contribute online now and receive your copy of Elizabeth's God inspired book, click on the link below! 

http://www.helpelizabeth.net/Bookpage.html

Off to the Movies!

This package is officially on it's way to the "Under Our Skin" screening in Washington, hosted by the SW WA Lyme Network.  The purpose of the screening is to educate & empower our community of the dangers & reality of Lyme disease.  With each new person that sees this documentary lies the hope that this debilitating and misunderstood affliction will be prevented.  The information for the special showing is as follows:

FREE Screening of "Under Our Skin"

Battle Ground Cinema

Saturday, February 5th, 2011 @ 9:30 am

(limited to the first 165 people)

You are also invited after the show to learn more, and have your questions answered by local Lyme & Lyme Literate Doctors

at the former Battle Ground City Grill

from 11:15-12:30

For more infomation, contact the SW WA Lyme Network

swwalymenetwork@gmail.com

This event is not intended for children under 13

Inside the package is this...

 ...made especially for the Under Our Skin screening!

It's a Victorious Vixen wristlet that is pieced, quilted & has a velcro closure.  Of course I had to have the lime green in there, the official color of Lyme disease!  

There is my signature "V" - free motion embroidered on the front...nothing beats handmade, except handmade with LOVE!

 

Here's a close up of the velcro closure and turquoise piping...

and some Lyme Awareness rubber bracelets I tucked inside...

 a clear plastic pocket...

 

front...

back...

and hopefully "the end" of Lyme.  I do have more of this fabric combination & can make one for you upon request:  Nani@VictoriousVixen.com.  Please check out "Under Our Skin" and share it with your family & friends!

Until then, watch the extended trailer here:

Letting Go...For a Good Cause!

I just love creating art and sewing my heart out...I really do put the LOVE into my work and hope that when people receive my creations they enjoy them as much as I did when I made them.  It's hard for me to let them go sometimes, but I totally believe in the causes & people that I am able to contribute to from the sale of my goodies.

This year, I have really enjoyed a whole new world of crafting...mixed media!  I love it because ANYTHING goes...no rules!  =)  Inspired by Traci Bautista, mixed media guru and author of the best selling book, "Collage Unleashed," I ventured into the world of painting in a free and spontaneous manner.  Then comes the layers of texture, collage and free motion sewing...so much fun and totally addicting!  One of my favorite things about it is recycling & UPcycling paper & other things that would otherwise end up in a landfill as trash!

These 5 mini books are for a swap that I am participating in for the "Collage Unleashed" yahoo group.  Each of the participants are to create 5 mini books & send them off to the host...we get a return package of 5 assorted books from other artists!  What fun!

So here are the mini books I created...

hand painted papers...

I UPcycled an old dress that I got from my sewing class to create the red hearts!!!

UPcycled papers, various stencils and free motion sewing...

all tied together with string...have I told you how much I just love this stuff??!!

Here is my table with plenty of things going on!  Victorious for Elizabeth & Lymenaide mini books in the works...


...as well as the Victorious for Lyme Wrist Cuffs in the back...




...and some new things to help in the Gulf Rescue & Clean-Up efforts...

I have a show planned for Saturday, July 24th at the Cypress Community Festival & will be featuring several projects I'm working on for one charity or another.

I hope you'll stop by my booth, learn about Lyme disease & pick up some unique handmade creations, all made with love for a good cause. =)


If you are interested in contributing something on behalf of these or other charities, please let me know & I will make them available at my booth.  You can email me at: Nani@VictoriousVixen.com, or leave me a comment below.

Happy Creating!
--Nani

Water For Christmas

I'm so thrilled to be a part of this very special project this year...Project 320. Ordinary women (men too, I'm sure) are all pitching in an effort to make a difference, one well at a time.


(photo courtesy of Jody Landers)

We are going to build a well.

You are going to build a well.

Because we can.

Because you can.

How?

Right now sweet, generous, creative and caring women from all over the country are sewing, knitting, painting, shopping, blogging, praying.

Donating.

Over 100 items.

Handmade and heartfelt happiness.

Starting

December 14th

and ending

December 18th

Project 320

will be holding a virtual raffle.

10 prize bundles.

Each $10 donation to the well

earns one virtual ticket.

You get to choose how many "tickets" to buy

and which prize package you want to win.

On December 21st we will "draw" ten winners.

But most of all,

we will celebrate the victory.

The promise of clean water for a village.

Life.

Are you excited?

You should be!!!!

Because it is going to be awesome.

Grab a button.

Spread the word.

Holiday Bazaar

I had a great showing at the Cypress Holiday Bazaar this past weekend! Thanks to everyone who came out & stopped by my booth! I had 47 entries in my giveaway jar...awesome turnout! =)

Here is a picture of my set-up...a natural cotton for a tablecloth, a couple of bouginvilla plants to hang my handbags, strappy wallets & bags and an orchid & a cactus arrangement. My vision was actually to have a huge tree in the middle with my handbags & goodies hanging from the tree...this was what I came up with instead!

I toally loved this cactus arrangement...so cool & spiky!

The laptop was a last minute addition...my digital frame was supposed to showcase all my Victorious Vixen pictures, but when the time came, the pictures wouldn't load so I opted to put up my webpage with the slideshow looping instead. My big poster was awesome, but kinda got lost with all my things in the back...next time it needs to go UP! =)

My first "friendly" visitor, meaning, someone I invited or knew was Amanda & her family!

Here are some of the featured items displayed in front...

New cool Skulls & Zebra handbag...you know you want one!

Here is one of my items for the giveaway...congrats to Ramona Teran from Long Beach, who was the lucky winner of this Large Strappy Zippered Case, featuring designer prints from Heather Bailey. These make great makeup bags or mini purse...throw your cell phone, keys, sunglasses, ID/money & lipstick inside, zip it up & wear it on your wrist...you're off & ready for your errands! For a limited time, they will be offered at only $35 and are just as cool as all my other creations! Look out for more designs like the Skulls & Zebra, Asian Eyes, Hula Girls in this style Zippered Case...or place your custom order with me NOW, while I still have time to whip it up for you! Like always, items are gift wrapped & delivered with insurance.

More visitors...old friends from Lakewood High School. I haven't seen Isabel since we graduated in 1994! The Mendoza girls are long time softball teammates & we've grown up playing ball together...so fun to reunite & catch up...thanks so much for stoping by to see me - Jenni, time to get your free motion on! =)

The highlight of my day was when my 2 girls arrived with their auntie Adriana & grandma Nina! I was so thrilled to have them see me at my booth...afterall, it's what all the commotion was about the past few weeks! They stopped by, walked around, and shared some tasty goodies before leaving. =) Thank you Nina for watching my girls as I continue to expand my business & pursue my dreams. I appreciate ALL the things you do for me & my girls...YOU ARE AN AMAZING WOMAN!!!

Ava was tired & didn't like my idea of taking her picture, so here she is with auntie, fussy face & all!

Here's my hubby, Arthur, who has been enduring my endless hours & hours of non-stop sewing. Can you believe he even takes me to the fabric store?! lol. Thanks honey, YOU ROCK! =)

As many of you know, one of my goals while out there, is to promote Lyme awareness, namely PREVENTION. I made flyers from the CALDA (California Lyme Disease Association) website, thanks to my newly purchased membership, I have access to various flyers, handouts & other useful activist tools. I tried to keep things simple & hit on just a few talking points. I told them that children are the fastest growing demographic for Lyme disease. I also told them how most people are misdiagnosed with ALS, Fibromyalgia, MS, Parkinsons, Autism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus...most people know someone with one of these illnesses!

I would like to improve my activist efforts & hope to include a petition available for people to sign, as well as a contact card for those who want to stay connected or participate in Lyme activist efforts. If you have any activism ideas you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you!

Lastly, here is a flyer for my upcoming show with the ever talented Feanna of Kait Emerson Designs. Stop by & enter our drawing to win one of our creations...it could be your lucky day! =)

Play More & Dream Big!

--Nani

Project Improv

I joined Project Improv at the last minute...last week! I committed to making at least 1 wonky log cabin block for charity & the deadline is April 1st. I really busted my tail to get these done...and it was my first time to top it off! I ended up making 2 for charity & 1 for me. Here is what I learned while making these fun blocks...

1. I need to use THICKER strips as I work to the outside...they were getting sooooo small!
2. It really sucks to over trim...measure twice & cut once...correctly!!!!
3. Minky is not easy to quilt with!
4. I prefer to press the seams open vs. to one side...it just lays so much flatter & nicer!
5. If you sew over pins, you'll hit them eventually (or often if you're me)!
6. I REALLY liked using Mary Ellen's Best Press (clear startch alternative)...makes the fabric nice & crisp & easy to work with.
7. If you iron your raised dots brown minky fabric, you will no longer have raised dots!!!!
8. I get really attached to my work..
9. I really love sewing.
10. I can't wait to do more sewing for charity.

Next time, I think I'll use lots more variety in the thickness of the strips. The minky was harder to work with, but I just LOVE texture and it seemed to work well with my blocks. I think I'll use more courdoroy too...it was very cooperative for me & added that texture that I love.

Block #1

The white is minky, the brown strips on the outside are minky w/raised dots, the brown strips inside are corduroy. I had to add the Michael Miller Hawaiian girl print in each one since I am part Hawaiian! =)

Block #2

Block #3 - This is the one I kept...it's also the one I over trimmed!

P.S. I literally kissed the blocks before I sent them off in the mail...it was hard to let them go but I know they will be put to good use! Find out more about Project Improv here: http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/2009/01/project-improv-wont-you-join-me.html