Melissa Loschy Designs

My first real "ART" show in several years....

2011-04-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I've abated my obsession with jewelry momentarily to put forth all my efforts into creating some new art pieces for this show! If you are free next saturday, you gotta come check it out at the raddest bar, Villain's Tavern. See the press release below:

PRETTY/TOUGH PRESENTS… ‘ALL ABOUT THE LADIES’ @ VILLIANS TAVERN
ON APRIL 30TH 2011, 1pm - 5pm;

Pretty/Tough, in collaboration with Villains Tavern, presents a day of super fine art, BBQ,
live music, and day drinking @ the launch of Villains Tavern's BBQ Saturdays.

What: Villains Tavern will be hosting a pop-up art show, ‘All About the Ladies’, for the
launch of their BBQ Saturdays, with a collection of artwork by female collective Pretty/Tough
(www.prettytoughcollective.com). ‘All About The Ladies’ features work by Erica Gibson, Erin
Fleiner, Kimi Lewis, and Melissa Loschy. DJ Mirandom will be spinning an eclectic mix of funk
and soul before a live music set from Alt-Country, Hillbilly Jazz troupe, ‘The Evangenitals’.

Villains Tavern will be debuting the ‘Sno-Cone Fix’, a choice of fresh fruit, fruit syrup and your
choice of liquor on a bed of shaves ice, perfect for cooling you down before the music heats you
up! Villains Tavern’s full menu of specialty cocktails will be available as well as ‘Beer in a Bag’,
with Tecate, Bud Light and Schlitz in a brown bag.

When: Saturday April 30th, 1pm -5pm

Where: VILLAINS TAVERN
1356 Palmetto St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213.857.6180
www.villainstavern.com

new name, new look

2011-04-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been mulling this over in my head for years now....
I started out as "Melissa Loschy Designs." The one thing I learned in one of my countless graphic design classes is that most of the time, less is more. If a piece can work without space lines, blocks and extra dividers, then it can in fact function better.

So, I've decided to officially chop to front first part of my business name off and become simply "Loschy Designs." My jewelry style will remain the same... with a season update here and there, but I'm fully backing my new name.

My etsy site will remain the same as well, www.melissaloschy.etsy.com. I just can't put a ton of work into a new site after all these years!

While my name and logo are simplistic.... I decided to frame the hell out of them with over the top and gaudy/rococo. My love of gold will never fade!

The new logo in action.....

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Another thing that will never fade....
my unwavering love for snarling angry animals,
like this wolf, available for custom order or at
SEED People's Market!

The Shows are Coming!!

2011-04-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

Now that everything is confirmed, I can happily announce that I will be vending in the following upcoming shows! May will be a busy month with an event almost every weekend. Come to one of these events to say hi and see what new pieces I have for spring and Summer!

SPRING CLEANING ART SHOW
at the Glasshouse Record Store in Pomona from 6-9 PM
I'll be vending with 2 other incredibly talented people,
Le Modern Trinket, and Sweetie Sweetie Bakery

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UNIQUE LA
May 7 & 8 @ the California Market Center in LA
11AM-6PM

This will be my 5th Unique Show!! This has to be my favorite
show to participate in. Seamlessly organized.

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PATCHWORK INDIE CRAFT SHOWS

Long Beach
May 15th, 11-5pm

Santa Ana
May 29th, 11-5pm

I love these shows because I have so much fun
catching up with vendor friends. The show just
keeps getting better and better!

Later in the summer, I'll hope to be be vending at the orange international street fair but it isn't a 100% done deal. Hope to see you at one of the confirmed shows this spring!

NY+DC

2011-03-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

Just got back from an epic trip with my HS friend Megan....

Flew into NY, stayed with Brit's fiance Mike in Park Slope. Walked the Brooklyn Bridge
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They say the Empire State Bldg is not all it's cracked up to be.
I dunno, I that it was pretty much ALL it's cracked up to be, incredible
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Free Ferry to Staten Island was a major Highlight
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Visited Wall Street, thought we were in an amusement park
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Explored where our Commander in Chief does his business.
(well, not that business)
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When in DC, eat like the Russians do. I want to move in to Russia House
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Hands down, the best way to see all the monuments and
a major highlight of the trip
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After a close call with the Shuttlebus to IAD, drinks weren't even a question.
The shots were a no-brainer at $3 each
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SPECIAL THANKS

Thank you to Mike Cadoux, for your hospitality, even minus your other half (Brit, who was busy being amazing and exploring the Chilean Coast) who gave us a comfy place to stay while taking over Manhattan. And also for your food recommendations. Everyone must eat at Rubirosa at least once in their life.
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Thank you to Mitchell who forced free drinks into our hands and made sure that Megan and I had at least 1 night of not sleeping in the city that never does either.
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To the iTrans NYC app on my iphone, which helped me to navigate the subways with ease and make me look like I actually know where to go
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To Jojo who is BAD to the ASS. Girl works for the Whitehouse, and is so good at what she does. I'm so proud of this gal, so freaking accomplished and only 26. I want to be like her some day.
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To Jojo, who only a week after shoveling some of her family members around town, happily took us to literally every single place she took all of them to. She is DC's best tour guide. And she's also one of those really great friends. She made us pancakes with strawberries and eggs. And Coffee, and guacamole. And she brought us to cool bars and restaurants. I could go on and on. THANK YOU JOJO, you "blow my mind."
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Finally, thank you to Megan. You were a pure delight to travel with. Couldn't have picked a more chill individual to site-see ourselves into exhaustion which will surely last for the rest of the week. You're a real woman now! haha

Who am I kidding

2011-03-10T15:14:00.000-08:00

So I think it's quite apparent that I'm a terrible blogger. I mean, I'm not a blogger, and I'm terrible at writing entries. I think the main reason is because my 9-5 job is slowly morphing into art director/web site and content developer/photographer/filmer/film editor and now PR chick. So I'm constantly having to come up with text and content for our various marketing ventures. When I get the mental energy to write stuff for my own projects, I try to soak it up by writing product details for etsy. And a lot of times I don't really have interesting things to say. However, I really need to embrace the scope of social media and give myself some sort of goal, which I think is going to be at least 1 entry a week. Even if no one ever even reads it. So here goes.

Forgive me Blogspot for I have sinned. It's been almost 5 months since I last blogged.

I cut my finger today. Really bad. Pictured you see my poorly bandaged
finger and behind that the scene of the crime.

Here are some of my pieces at SEED People's Market in Costa Mesa.
It's one of 3 locations (soon to be 2 more) that I consign my jewelry to!

I'm so tired of this

I have cool friends. Those girls are Bonnie and Lindsey. Linds took me on a tour of Little Tokyo last Saturday. We had the best sangria of both of our lives at Spitz. Drank beer and slammed down sausages at Wurstkuche. Drank every kind of beer at Far Bar, then took the metro home. It brought us back to our days in Europe.

That will do-er for now. I'm already working on another post for tomorrow! Oh golly gee. Highlight of this week so far, knowing that at this time next week I'll be in NEW YORK and then WASHINGTON DC!!!

Is it the holiday season yet?

2010-10-21T12:39:00.001-07:00

First of all...my friends are GORGEOUS!!! Just look at these photos taken by the talented photographer Denise Bovee (Here's here site). Denise contacted me through Facebook almost a year ago. She had found my jewelry on etsy and asked if I'd be interested in a trade... jewelry for a photoshoot. After looking at her incredible photography style, it was obvious that I desperately needed to take advantage of her talents. It took a long time, but we finally found a day that worked for both of us (and luckily my friends too) to schedule the shoot! We met at Denise's sister-in-law's dreamy vintage cottage in La Verne. I wanted not only every piece of furniture she owned, but all of the wall decor as well. The backyard was to-die-for, right out of a summer evening in the south. My absolutely stunning friends Gen, Sarah, and Emily dressed up in a mix of vintage dresses and furs and Denise and I styled my jewelry around her impressive vintage clothing collection. Here are my 3 favorite photos from the shoot....

Genny Penny wearing my massive Ram neckplate and filigree knuckle ring
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How hot is Sarah? She is my resident foxy lady (and muse).
I just listed this Foxy Fringe necklace in my etsy shop here
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Emily JUST got her hair trimmed before the shoot and this cut is so cute on her, it's ridiculous.
She likes so precious in this Fringy Cameo necklace.

And I guess this is as good a time as any to update on my holiday show schedule!!

1. Loschy Designs will be featured in the sales gallery at the CSUF Grand Central Art Center, a project dedicated to the investigation and promotion of contemporary art and visual culture: regionally, nationally, and internationally through unique collaborations between artists, students, and the community. www.grandcentralartcenter.com

From November 7 - January 7
I'm creating a completely new and exclusive Woodland animal collection.

2. Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival

You can find me vending at both the Santa Ana and Long Beach shows!

PATCHWORK LONG BEACH
NOVEMBER 21ST 11-5PM
MARINE STADIUM- BAYSHORE @ APPIAN WAY

PATCHWORK SANTA ANA
NOVEMBER 28TH 11-5PM
2202 NORTH MAIN STREET @ BUFFALO SANTA ANA, CA 92706

3. Holiday MART

December 4 +5
11- 5 Saturday and Sunday
Hosted at the gorgeous Jodi Fuchs Gallery
2000 Main St, Santa Monica 90405

4. UniqueLA!

This will be the first time I have my own 10x10 booth, hopefully filled to the max with new jewelry at affordable prices as well as a kick-ass display.

Rocktober

2010-10-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

Things have been busy at Loschy Studios! I had a great time vending at the LA Roller Derby on Saturday Night. My man and a bunch of his friends attended for the first time, and I think it's safe to say they are derby fans now. It's definitely my favorite sport to watch live. I was surprised to sell some of my larger, statement animal jewelry, overall it was a success!

On Sunday, my mom came along with me (and a very patient BF, THANKS KEVIN!) to the Aura Fashion Gallery's Grand Opening in Newport Beach. They had a dj set-up and free sofia champagne in a can. LOVE those! It was really exciting to see my jewelry as part of visual merchandising in the store. My mom took plenty of photos, of course. Typical mom thing, but I'd regret not having any photos later.

Perhaps the thing I'm MOST thrilled about is all of the vintage and broken jewelry lot's I purchased on Etsy. I never knew there were so many destash mixed piece lots in the supply section! I purchased 4 and had to stop myself from buying a bunch more. I'm aware that I won't be able to use nearly half of the pieces, but the lots are so inexpensive that it makes it worth while.

Loschy Designs on Consignment

2010-09-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I stopped by my new friend's shop in Newport, right by Alta Coffee. It is the cutest little store! She asked me to bring some jewelry to put on consignment there and I took a photo of what I left at the shop.

I came at the perfect time because this girl was in the shop looking at dresses for her birthday party that night and the moment she saw my upside-down st. basil necklace, she fell in love with it, and BOUGHT IT before Thyme and I could even figure out our consignment agreement! I'm hoping that bit of good luck will be a sign of more sales to come in the future!

Aura is having it's grand opening this Sunday starting at 12:00 pm. You can RSVP Here!

Lastly....I'll be vending at the LA Roller Derby bout this Saturday night in LA
Here's the info about tickets and what not

iLove my iPhone and freetime

2010-09-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

For a while, "Busy" wasn't even a term I felt I could use to describe the insanity of the schedule I had gotten myself into. The months of July and August were as jam packed as can be. My plate was more filled than one at the Las Vegas Flamingo's Grand Buffet, and it was my own fault. My day-job required me to work longer hours as well as travel to Orlando for a big conference and then to San Diego where we hosted our own conference. I'm officially dubbed the "Tech Chick" and I love it.

I participated in UniqueOC right after that in my own town, Costa Mesa. It was so fun, I met a ton of new jewelry clients, and even saw Billy Gibbons from ZZtop strolling around, peroozing fellow crafter's booths! (I saw the band play with my boyfriend and parents later that night at the Pacific Amphitheater. Seriously one of the best concerts I've seen in awhile.)

I went to the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs with a list of friends numbering over 30. I haven't had a chance to take a real vacation in almost 2 years (and the next one won't be for long time) so this 3 day, 2 night getaway was a welcome adventure. I have nothing but positive things to say about the Ace Hotel.

A few days after I got back from my company's conference in San Diego, I was locked in my studio for hours upon hours preparing for the Orange International Streetfair where I sold my jewelry to families, kids, tattooed bombshells, drunkards and the like from friday to Sunday (F: 5-10pm, Sat: 10-10 and sun 10-10, 25 hours in the circle, yikes!) It started off slow, but business really picked up for me towards the end of the weekend.

...THEN...to my dismay, on Labor Day, my covetted and hated Blackberry went kaput. The operating system on my 3rd blackberry in less than 2 years crashed. And speaking from experience, that means your phone is FINISHED. So...rather than giving a 4th blackberry a chance, I decided to bite the bullet and drop $400 on the new iPhone4. I think I had a slight 5 second panic attack when I signed the receipt, but 2 weeks later I'm singing its praises. I LOVE the iphone. What have I been doing these past few years without it?

So...since things have slowed down (I've had to politely, regrettably but willfully step down from some of my involvments and committments) I've been a LOT happier and even more creative. The first app I purchased on my phone was hipstamatic (yes I know...cliche I admit it) and I know why ALL of my friends have it too. It's pretty hard to take a bad picture with any of the lenses or films they let you choose from. But that leads me to the fact that I've had time to experiment with different craft projects and even some cooking!!!

Experimentation in creative nails: 1 coat red polish, wait until it's almost dry and press on some
gold leaf flecks (yes, I ALWAYS have gold leaf in my studio) then coat with clear polish.

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Experiments in cooking: Kevin and I nicknamed my kitchen the "Kontaminated Kitchen."
I don't really know why, but here you see what we made on Monday night:
Garlic Herb potatoes, asparagus and fillet of sole breaded in flour, corn meal
and cayenne topped with a homemade Dijon Basil May
Recipe I used

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Experiments with cool hip events with cool and hip friends: Last Saturday night I went to "Cinespia" at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary with my boyfriend Kevin, and best friends the Carlsons, Nikki who was in town from NY, and my Costa Mesa clan. They screened "Night of the Living Dead".... in a CEMETARY!!! Come on!!! It was so cool and we had a blast drinking wine and eating cheese + crackers. Nevermind that we had to wait in line for 2 hours for a mediocre spot, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Dammit, that was long. I had to make up for lost time. I suck at blogging, I spend too much time reading too many amazing blogs. In giving this little page a facelift, I hope to at least update on some of my creative projects. ::Sigh::

Pre-Fall Collection

2010-09-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

See all of the pieces here

Mad (men) about my new place!!

2010-06-16T16:21:00.000-07:00

The latest news in my life, I'm MOVING!!! I found the coolest place that's less than 1/2 mile from where i live now. It's a 1 bedroom apt with vaulted ceilings and an entirely retro feel. Since this is the first time I've lived alone, I have a LOT of work to do, furnishing the place. I've decided to embrace the already-existent design and will be decorating my living room and kitchen in a mid-century modern style. Here are some inspiration photos!

Brides, Weddings, Custom Orders OH MY!!!

2010-04-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

So I've stumbled upon an awesome situation all thanks to my best friends Lindsey & Bryce and their February wedding. Lindsey asked me to make knuckle rings for all of the bridesmaids and I HAPPILY did so (as well as made a special one for her). Then this radical girl Noa of Feather Love Photography was hired to shoot unbelievable photos of the entire wedding and she took this badass pic of all of us ladies wearing our rings.

This started a chain of events.....
The wedding and Noa's photographs were featured on 100 Layer Cake and I even got a shout-out! Noa featured it as well on her blog.

.....and NOW I've enjoyed helping other brides with their custom orders! (most of them found me through Noa's blog and 100 Layer Cake). So a massive thank you to Noa and Lindsey for insisting that my etsy shop get linked in both articles.

Here is a ring I just finished for a bride using a silhouette of her
that she had done at Disneyland when she was a little girl. Cute, right?

And lastly, I'm so fortunate that I got to meet Miss Emilia of Sweet Emilia Jane handcrafted designs. (She made the absolutely delicious cupcakes that were served at Bryce and Lindsey's Wedding). She is getting married in July and she has decided to custom order cuff bracelets for all of her bridesmaids from me!!! I can't wait to get started on her pieces.

If/When I get married, there's no competition for me....Noa from Featherlove is my photographer and Emilia is in charge of the sweets.

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Need custom jewelry or accessories for your bridal party? I give discounts for ordering 5 or more of an item and the Bride automatically gets something custom from me!!

Send me a convo through my etsy site.

I have Badass Friends

2010-03-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

Who like to have badass BBQs

And who own badass dogs.

Interview with LadyLux

2010-03-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Joanna of Ladylux.com.
Here is the interview. You can also read it on the actual website.

Melissa Loschy is making a mountain out of a molehill… in a good way. When fine jewelry shops are closing on every street corner, Melissa has carved a niche with her crafts-inspired, natural adornments that are made from tools as simple as a needle and thread. Paying more attention to her passion than runway presentations, every piece by Melissa is unique from the fox faced necklace to the Russian inspired rings, and she is definitely setting trends in her hip hometown of Costa Mesa, California. Melissa took a lunch break with LadyLUX to discuss her creative route from Girl Scout to jewelry designer.

LadyLUX: Have you always made jewelry?
Melissa Loschy: I haven’t always made jewelry. I’ve been crafty since I was a kid. I was a big product of Girls Scouts and I worked at Michaels for 3 years as a craft instructor and event coordinator… and then I studied graphic design at Chapman University. So I’ve always made things and I learned to sew at a young age. After I graduated I did a lot of soul searching—traveling and working various jobs. I married the craft elements and the design elements, and decided to make jewelry.

How did you choose jewelry?
ML: I made jewelry for myself because I couldn’t find anything I liked that matched an outfit. So I’d make something and other people were like “I like that, you should start selling it”. That’s how it started a couple years ago.

Your jewelry definitely has a nature and arts & crafts theme. Do you think Girl Scouts and Michaels added to your aesthetic?
ML: Yes, definitely. I’m always looking for creative solutions. I don’t have access to soldering equipment or precious metals. I’m always figuring out a way that I can do it myself with a needle or thread.

What do you like most about your line?
ML: People don’t understand this when they first look at it, but I’m using extremely unconventional materials. The images in all of my jewelry are printed on Epson luster paper. It’s actually paper jewelry that is wrapped in fabric. It’s fun to have someone to look at my jewelry, and tell them what it is made of, and they don’t believe me. That’s the joy of making it. I can pretty much make any image I want. I can just print it out from my computer. People get excited when they look at something like that. They say, “I would have had no idea if you hadn’t told me that”.

Are you surprised by the reaction you’re getting?
ML: I guess I am sort of surprised. I have different themes in the jewelry… I have a Russian theme. I’ve been doing a lot of animals this spring. I’ve also done more of a military-inspired line. I’m not necessarily pulling from trends. They are things that I’ve always liked. It’s just cool to find people that are obsessed with the same imagery and themes that I am.

Where do you see Melissa Loschy Designs going?
ML: I had a really long conversation with one of my friends about this last night. For the future, I see teaming up with someone that could represent me, in a business sense. I love to design just to design, but I also like a challenge. So let’s say a fashion designer was going to do a runway show and they were like “I need you to design 20 necklaces and here are the looks they are going to go with.” That’s what I love to do. I like being presented with something challenging that I have to figure out how to complete….. just using my hands and the materials that I have.

If you decide you’d like Melissa’s designs to make you a little foxier, check out her Etsy site or blog to stay in tune with this crafty artist.

1 year anniversary at the 9-5

2010-03-25T14:55:00.001-07:00

I don't think I've discussed my full-time career with many people in the blogsphere/craft & etsy world and I kind of feel ashamed! Not only am I fortunate to have a "real" job right now....but I'm lucky to have one that is actually really cool! I get to be creative all day long. I work in an office with amazing people. I'm a minority (2 are from Scotland, 2 from England). I work in the SALON AND BEAUTY industry, so there are perks up the yin yang!

The company I'm at offers business training programs for Cosmetology Schools and Salons. Being the In-House Graphic Designer at such a small company, I'm not only in charge of producing all the print material we produce (brochures, pamphlets, marketing materials, trade show booths, even BOOKS), but I get to travel and be a part of the support team at conferences! I really hit the jack-pot with this gig. And today is my 1 year anniversary! I love my working family and I am so excited for the next year!

Me and the Ladies I work with

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American Association of Cosmetology Schools Annual Convention in Pheonix, AZ

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Book and DVDs designed by, moi

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My first crack at tradeshow booth design!
(With the helpof my co-workers, obviously)

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Thanks to everyone I work with for brightening my day, EVERY DAY!!!

In with the NEW

2010-03-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Along with spring, a massive surge of creativity has entered
my crafty little world and I've created countless piece after piece!
I think I have to thank Starbucks, too because with warm weather
comes my craving for venti iced coffees. I had one last week at 5pm
and stayed in my studio plugging away until 2am! Thanks S-bucks!
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See the new statements necklaces and belts below. Not all will be listed in the shop as I have several shows coming up.
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1. Beaded Cameo neckplate with vintage xmas ornaments
2. Embroidered Elephant necklace with marble pearls
3. Detailed Peach Steer skull piece with suede chain details
4. Suede tie-back belt with giant fox patch and bronze chain
5. Royal Blue fringe bib with medieval charm bracelet
6. Bold Black velvet Fox belt
7. Feathered Cameo necklace, bronze chains
8. Royal Russian Blue bow necklace
9. Long 20s-esque fox pendant with gigantc white tassel
10. Triple gold Chain with new "Ulvyana" russian doll patches

New Knuckle Rings
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My latest knucks are all across the board. I've used my typical pyramid studs
for some, but added some with really interesting upcycled costume jewelry.

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These will all be listed one-by-one on the etsy site, unless
they sell at one of the following 3 events in march and April!!!

Hope you can come to 1 or all of these!!

It takes me a while...

2010-02-26T15:11:00.000-08:00

To muster up the drive to update the blog. I guess I really only post once in a while to show a few pictures about what I've been designing. I don't know why it takes me so long to post new stuff. Well, I'm here to break the silence and bring up 2 things....

#1
I'm totally obsessed with and inspired by wild animals for my latest line of jewelry. (Especially foxes. A friend once told me that out of all the animals in the world, I most resembled a fox..hmmm). Look out for these lovelies as they will be turned into bracelets, pendants, and statement necklaces soon!

#2
Handmade Brigade is BACK! Our first show in 2010 is Speakeasy II. The first Speakeasy was so much fun (and not to mention a huge success) so we've been asked by Detroit bar to host another one this spring (and possibly Speakeasy III in the late summer). Here's the info:

Sunday April 11th
SPEAKEASY II
Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa
5 pm - 10 pm
20 Vendors, Music, Photo Booth, Booze

Want to vend? Check out the full post about this event here.

2010, welcome

2010-01-03T22:42:00.000-08:00

I want this to be a year of great accomplishments

Working a double

2009-12-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

I just realized that I've worked double shifts every day this week! I've got the "real job" from 9-5, then I rush home and design from 6-2 or later. I'm starting to develop those blood-shot eyes, but it's all in the name of UniqueLA! Don't have much time to photograph the new stuff, but here are some shots I took with my blackberry (my new WHITE blackberry mind you since my last one had a cracked screen and I couldn't get it fixed. That dented the wallet).

Brand new banner, completely handmade!
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Satin bow necklaces with salvaged chain
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Mmmmm, I love this one. Found a container filled with
metal carousel horse sculptures at Rags to Riches.
I made a black version of this too without fringe.
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Ode to Russia. How many ways can inform you that I love Russia?
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Come to Unique LA this weekend, I'm at booth # 5016, near the photo booth area!

A look at what's to come

2009-11-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

As it always is, this time of year is nothing less than hectic. There have been some pretty tough days after the passing of my loving Papa, as well. I really owe a lot to my family, they are the most wonderful people in my life. My friends are amazing too. I feel closer than ever to all the people that I know and love.

....that being said, I've been completely inspired. What truly makes me happy is using my hands to make things for people, and that's just what I've been doing. With Patchwork Long Beach, UniqueLA, and the Hibbleton Sale (more info soon) coming up, my weekends from now until Christmas are all booked up with projects and shows.

So what's to come? The list goes on, but while my back has been out of commission for the past week, I've been on the couch almost every night with an ice pack and a bejeweled beginning of a knuckle ring. I think I started about 20 last night! I'm anticipating a lot of interest in them at UniqueLA since I can custom-size any ring at my booth, and they range in price from only $10-$25, much more affordable than the metal ones that other vendors will be selling.

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These Lovelies were made using some bric-a-brac
donated to me from the one and only Gen Lewis

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Jewel-toned jewels are my favorite! :)
I'll have plenty of them finished soon, too.

If you're planning on attending any of these holiday craft shows, but sure to let me know (send me an email at MelissaLoschy@gmail.com) so I can tell you which booth number I'll be at! I have a limited number of free-wrist bands as well for UniqueLA so if you contact me soon, I could get you one. Hope everyone has a "Fan-dabi-dozy" weekend. (You can thank my scottish co-workers for that slang).

Holday Preview

2009-10-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

You know those nights where you accidentally start drinking coffee at 9pm, and then you freeze your butt off in your studio until 2 am while watching Lara Croft Tomb Raider because you have this incredible burst of creative energy? No, you don't know what I'm talking about?

Well, I had one of those experiences last night. I'm paying for it today, I'm a little loopy. But I have to say, I'm pretty jazzed on my latest edition to my array of handmade treasures. I've tossed around the idea of using metal strips and wire for cuff bracelets before, but I finally made a series, and can I say, I LOVE it. What I've come up with are completely adjustable cuffs that are not for the "costume jewelry faint of heart." Each one is a bold statement piece. Here are just a couple that are almost finished, but expect to see a slew of them at my upcoming craft shows including Handmade Brigade (this sunday), Patchwork, and UniqueLA.

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Skoulture at it's finest. ohmygoodnessilovethisonesomuch!
I'm going to have a hard time ever parting with this one.

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Skoulture cuff: materials include a Sunburst brooch and layers of
vintage buttons and neon orange rhinestones with a diamond-esque cut.

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Skoulture cuff

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Alice couture cuff with a Tim Burton Flair

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Alice couture cuff materials include black lace and
checkered vintage buttons, layered with the collage patch.

and of course I didn't forget....

New Knuckle Rings
including several new "triple threat" 3 finger versions.

NOTE: None of these items are listed yet, so if there's something that strikes your fancy and you would like for me to place it on hold for you, I will be happy to! Otherwise, see them in person this Sunday from 11-5 at The Camp for the Handmade Brigade of OC Indie Craft show.

Happy Halloween, too.

S & 21 & M

2009-10-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

I don't know if my latest fascination with the things I bought from forever21.com is because of the whole October Halloween thing, or if I'm channeling a dominatrix....but it sure seems like the latter. Don't worry, it's not the S&M culture I'm interested, it's the the nod to black leather and spikes I'm more interested in! I've been obsessed with these YSL cage shoes ever since they appeared in Elle Magazine. Maybe if I didn't pay rent for 2 months, I could afford them. But Alas, Forever 21 came to the rescue.

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Alessia Cage Pump $26.80

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Also picked up this gem,
Pyramid Studded Belt for a whopping $6.80

Don't you think it will look nice with this?

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Black Pyramid Spike Triple Threat Knuckle Ring from my etsy shop

Hitchcock-esque

2009-10-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

When I got home from work yesterday, my streets were filled with crinkly orange leaves and the wind was beyond a doubt eerie... and it directly inspired me to clean up my studio and then work on some seasonally influenced pieces!

I would have to put Alfred in my top 5 favorite filmmakers of all time. Some of my favorites of his films include The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, and The Trouble With Harry. Fortunately, you can catch dozens of "Hitchcock Presents" shorts on Hulu. (I highly recommend!)

I've added 2 new Hitchcock-esque pieces to my etsy shop and I currently have them as my featured items, along with my favorite Tippie Hedron Necklace. I'm wearing the Brooch today!

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Hitchcock Bronze Brooch - $20

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Hitchcock SIlver Ray Necklace - $20

As if the leaves and the wind weren't reason enough to believe that it is October, while walking to my car this morning, there were Ravens visible from every angle. They're such fascinating creatures. These two were preening each other on the telephone wire directly above my duplex.
Happy October!

Bling Rings

2009-09-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

So Fall is here, officially. But in Southern California, we've been having some of our hottest days it seems. All I want to do is reinstate my leggings, boots and cardigans, but it seems like it's going to be a while before that can happen! Fortunately, jewelry doesn't know the difference between hot and cold, so big fall statement jewelry can tie me over until it's not too hot to put my Frye boots back on!

Introducing.....
Bling Rings!
They're all completely hand-sewn to adjustable bronze ring bands.
I'm in the process of loading them to etsy 1 by one. They're affordable too! $12 each
(Great stocking stuffers)

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Caged Magenta Bling Ring

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Royal Blue Lion Bling Ring

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SOLD Elk Lodge Bling Ring

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Horse and Buggy Bling Ring

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SOLD Square Gold Filigree Bling Ring

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Chained Floral Bling Ring

They all measure about 1.5" in diameter.
Holidays are fast approaching, I will be doing my best to flood my online store with plenty of beautiful new creations when I'm not vending at any of the Indie craft fairs.
To see where I'll be next, check out the top of the right hand column where I've listed my shows.

Etsy Picks of the day

2009-09-10T12:39:00.001-07:00

Feeling Blue.....
But only in color.
Royal Blue to be specific.

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Lynchburg Blue Cameo Rose Bracelet

I bought the chain for this lovely piece while I was on a trip to Lynchburg, Virginia. I bought it before witnessing the marriage of two people I hold very dear.

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Blue Gem Knuckle Ring

Wouldn't these 2 pieces look lovely together?
I'm already stocking up for Christmas.
I'm starting to think like a retail associate!
Flashback to my Michael's Arts and Crafts days.

I am lucky enough to meet with the people involved in 2 things I love...
Crafting, and playing music.
Dinner and planning meeting with the HBOC
(handmade brigade of Orange County)
and band practice with Good Avery

It's going to be a great day

A gloomy Day

2009-08-27T18:18:00.001-07:00

The friday before leaving for my business trip to New Orleans, I had a few extra hours to play around with red lipstick, as well as styling my jewelry. I can't wait to have a real photo shoot with a stylist and make-up artist!

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Ivory Elephant Fringe Necklace

Dress, Forever 21

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Victorian Draped Couture Necklace

Ann Taylor Blazer, hat by It's the Little Things

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Collage Cameo Bib Necklace

Dress by Zara Basic

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From Russia With Love Bib Necklace

Sequined shrug by Betsey Johnson (Thanks Jojo)

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Iced Matryoshka Doll Neckpiece

Skirt from Anthropologie (the same one that Sharin from the

Raveonettes wore when I saw her open for Depeche Mode)

The next Big thing I am preparing for is the Orange International Street Fair during Labor Day weekend (September 4-6)I'm so lucky to be sharing a booth with 2 lovely ladies....Elsie of Namaste, and Derya from Jewelera. I'm sure we will keep each other going for the duration of the 3 day show (the most days I've ever vended in a row). But, I'm sure the abbleskivers, sausage, and beer will help keep me going! I hope to see everyone there. Expect mostly items priced between $5 and $20 from me!

Generation: WorldWideWeb

2009-08-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

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Iced Matryoshka doll necklace
Isn't it lovely? It's the newest item in my shop

also......

I just had the privilege of answering a few questions for a piece a college friend is doing on online marketing and promotion of artwork and I thought a few of the questions were interesting, so here are my answers!

If you could, please give a brief history of your artistic endeavors. "Been painting for 10 years," what you studied in school, etc.

I'm pretty sure that my gene pool with the combination of my extensive past in Girl Scouts helped to shape my artistic endeavors. Arts and crafts have been such a huge part of my life ever since I can remember. Being an only child, I would have to entertain myself a lot!
It started with drawing pictures of mermaids and princesses. Then I wrote stories and illustrated them myself. (We're talking age 6-10 here). Once I started playing the violin when I was 9, my creativity shifted a little more to the music side, but the art still came. Towards the 12-teen range, I was sewing all the time. My Grandma and Aunt taught me how to use a sewing machine and how to read patterns (even though I didn't have much patience for them). I was a thrift-store junky...buying dresses and other clothes and then altering them with my machine. Once I got to college, I was mending people's clothes, fixing holes in jeans, creating halloween costumes for dorm-mates (a giant bunny costume and a snow-white dress). Then I started making tote bags and selling them. I'd say the "entrepreneurial" side of my crafting came when I was about 20. That's when I began making multiples of certain items and I started to research fashion and the indie craft movement. I joined etsy in 2006, but I didn't actually list anything until over a year later because it was still a fairly new site and I didn't exactly understand how it worked. In the past 2 years ever since graduating from College, I've become an avid indie-crafter, selling several items a week on my etsy site and vending at events and craft shows a couple of weekends every month. It's become a huge part of my life and I've met several new friends through my craft endeavors. I'm lucky that the thing I do on the side to make extra cash is something I would do for free, even pay to be a part of!
Now, what I actually studied in school was Graphic Design. That's currently my "day job" now. For the 1st year and a half after graduating, I didn't work a typical 9-5 job at all. I got to travel across the US while living in an RV as a promo "roadie" for a documentary show about roadtripping and following your passion in life, I worked for a professional artist as his studio manager off and on for over a year, I did sales in an art gallery, I worked for a clothing line, and I did freelance graphic design on the side. Not until 5 months ago did I actually have a job that I worked a specific schedule with a salary (not going to lie, it's really nice for the time being!). Fortunately, being a graphic designer has helped me with the topic with which you are asking about: using the internet to promote my work. I have all the skills to use the programs and internet applications that "make the world go around" online. Haha!

As mentioned, this article is gonna be about how young artists use the internet to promote their work. Sooooooo, how do you use the internet to promote your work? What exactly are you promoting and what goals do you have in this promotion?

I use the internet to get in people's faces! (hehe) When I list a new item for sale in my online Etsy shop, I promote the HECK out of it. The more people I get to view an item that I've listed, the more chances they'll send the link to a friend, or tell someone next to them at work...or at least I hope! My goals with the promotion of my work online is to keep my shop exciting and new!

What sites/techniques/approaches do you use?

I call this my web-empire: Etsy, Flickr, Blogger, Twitter, and Facebook. These sites are so great because their site-developers have created cross-promotion capabilities. Once I list an item on etsy, It's time to let people know about it! Without even leaving my etsy site, I can directly link a picture of the new item along with a description to the wall of my facebook page and also the "live feed" on the facebook homepage. All of my FB friends can see the item if they are on the homepage right after I list it, and they can simply click the picture that will take them to the listing. I'll post an update on twitter with something eye-catching like "I hope this doesn't sell because I love it so much (link)" and that status shows up on my FB profile because I've integrated it into my applications. Even with flickr, once I've uploaded a bunch of photos from my latest shoot, I can feed them to my facebook. I try to update my blog (it happens about once a week) with what's new in my shop and I "link the heck" out of that too! The truth is, many etsy sellers do the same thing! Think of how many people work an office job who drift around on the web during their lunch break, or in between projects, or a little bit all day long (I think this is most office workers, haha). If they're checking their Facebooks, blog feeds, and twitters, chances are that they will click something that I've posted. It's just a great way to gain more followers and hopefully customers.

And finally, from the perspective of a working artist, how would you describe the power of the internet in your life (positive or negative welcome) ?

The "power of the internet" is definitely a positive thing for me because I'm open to technological developments and since I use it as a promotional tool and I've seen results using it, I definitely feel it is an asset to me. However, in order to stay sane, I have to stay away from it too. When I come home from my day job, the last thing I want to do is sit at my computer because that's what I did for the previous 9 hours. Fortunately, that's where my production time comes in to play. Everything I sell is handmade, so I use that time after work to create! Then the cycle starts over again...Make make make, promote promote promote. It's the "circle of life" of being an etsy seller!

I love having pretty friends....

2009-08-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

...Pretty friends who don't get mad at me when I force them to model for me. Well, at least I did feed them! Keiki not only models my British Fringe Neck-piece, but one of the chicken shish kabobs, yummy! I've been making quite a few new pieces lately, ever since I semi-reorganized my studio. I'll have all of the new items in tow this sunday at the Dragonfly Marketplace in Orange from 11-4, but I along with a few other vendors will be there later into the evening. So come to the Orange circle on Sunday, have lunch, and say hi to me! I'll be towards the front.

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Keiki and British Fringe Neck-piece

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Sara and Rusty Elegance Fringe Neck-piece

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Gen and vintage Dior Tie Necklace

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Melissa and Skoulture Fringe Neckpiece

Old Timey

2009-07-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

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Blue Slushy Bow by Its The Little Things

Maybe it's the fact that I'm going to a supper club with the HBOC ladies tomorrow night, maybe it's the Cocktail hat I just bought, or maybe it's the fact that the Handmade Brigade is planning the Speakeasy craft show: Indie Shopping, Music and Booze (September 20, 5-10 PM, Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa)......

.....But I am undoubtedly feeling pin-up inspired.

Did I mention I like things that are Russian?

2009-07-24T13:25:00.001-07:00

So when people are asking those get-to-know-you questions that everyone fears, like "So what are you into?" I typically have a few go-to topics. I would start off with the typical, "well, I like art, design and music...blablabla" but honestly, I need to be more truthful. so let's try it again:

"hey Melissa, what are you in-to?"

I'm really into things that are Russian. Russian themed, Russian colors, Russian Ballet, Russian artists, and well, just Russians. Don't worry, I'm not a commi, nor would I ever want to rub elbows with Marxists and if I had the chance, I would have punched Stalin in the mouth. I just have this fascination with Eastern Europe and in particular, them Russians. What a history!

So, when I saw the Chanel Russian Purse in the most recent issue of Elle magazine, I flipped. Unfortunately, it's one of those "price available on request" items, bleh. (not that I could afford it even at 80% off). But I just appreciate it for what it is...Russian.

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ahhh, and this little one...little nesting doll purse makes my day.

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It's no wonder I tend to include Russian themed images in my pieces.
I have several in my newest collection of bracelets.
This one is the Matryoshka Y-chain Bracelet

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This one is the Matryoshka and Rhinestone Bracelet

I'm not even Russian, I don't think I have any Russian ancestory. I must have been Anastasia in a past life.

Good Thrifting

2009-07-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

I feel it's necessary to show my support and love for the few thrift stores I frequent that I feel are:

1. Not overpriced
2. Not picked-over by buyers who get special first-dibs
3. Include a craft/fabric/trim section
4. Don't simply resell surplus merchandise from Target and Ikea (yes Goodwill, I'm talking about you).

The shop that is top on my list for quite some time is the Lutheran High thrift shop in Orange
670 N Tustin St
Orange, CA 92867

Here are the finds I bought today, all for a grand total of $23!!!!

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new artwork for my re-decorated room. $1 for the framed vintage marriage certificate and $2 for the faux cross-stitched Scandinavian scene. I'm a sucker for those, I already have one similar to this but vertical.

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Trims, tassels and ribbons, all for $2. I love when the original price-tags are still on the merchandise in grab bags. If I had paid full price for everything in the bag, it would have been over $30.

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2 nylon woven belts for a total of $1, soon to be couture statement necklaces!

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Scarf: $.50, and 3 ties @$1 each. The blue one has little bicycle riders and the teal one has little red crayfish. These will all be couture statement necklaces too!

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GASP I love these shoes. Even though they are old school target "Honors" brand, they are exactly the type of shoe I've been looking for. $5

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These red pumps were my luxury purpose. I didn't need them, I do in fact have 2 other pairs of red heels, but those ones are too high to wear to work or anywhere that i have to walk a distance too. $5

Moral of blog entry, go to Lutheran High Thrift shop. Be sure to check out their vintage women's hats and fascinators behind the front desk that range from $10-$30. They are absolutely gorgeous.

Be on the lookout for new statement pieces to be posted to my etsy

Freshening up

2009-07-02T01:28:00.000-07:00

I could delay no longer, I finally sat myself down and updated my etsy/blog headers and avatar. It only took me a couple of months and a lot of thought about what my shop name is, exactly. I got great advice from Elsie and inspiration from my fellow Handmade Brigade girls and other crafters (like Steppie) to take the time and create some consistency in my branding. "Justice Not Revenge" will soon be its own etsy shop (www.justicenotrevenge.etsy.com). It will be the socially charged theme art and jewelry under "Melissa Loschy Designs."

Here's where hours of embroidering and scanner brought me

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The Header which will become my table banner

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The Avatar and soon-to-be business card

The Last Hoora

2009-06-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

Well, this Saturday (tomorrow) is the last event for the Handmade Brigade's Indie Craft Month. We're going out with a bang by hosting another Indie Craft Fair, this time in Laguna Niguel in the parking lot of Tall Mouse. There are over 30 absolutely lovely handmade vendors as well as food vendors!

I've added several new pieces to my repertoire including another couture tie piece (vintage Christian Dior), several new bib necklaces, and plenty of new knuckle rings. It will be a FUN day
Don't forget to get there early because if you're one of the first 50 people there, you can get a free giveaway bag. I contributed to them this time!

Hope I get to see some familiar faces!

Put your fist in the air

2009-06-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

So, lately I've been trying to do this thing where I make the things that people like and buy the most! (What a concept, I know.) People always ask me at shows "What's your #1 seller?" and while it's kind of hard for me to answer with one specific item, it's pretty consistently my knuckle rings. Since I use elastic, they are so much more comfortable to wear than metal or wood "knucks." I finally got around to taking some fun photos of my latest rings and have posted about half of them on etsy. Keep checking my site to see the rest of them listed as I go!

Summer 2009 Knuckle Ring Collection

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Golden Fan Knuckle Ring ahh, just sold

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Diamond Cut Neon Knuckle ring click for listing

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Couture Spring Flowers Knuckle Ring (Just sold last night)

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Golden Star Knuckle Ring click for listing

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Triple Heart Knuckle Ring click for listing

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Armadillo Spike Knuckle Ring click for listing

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Pink and Orange Spike Knuckle Ring

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Orange Leopard Spike Knuckle Ring

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Sequined Armadillo Knuckle Ring

2009-06-11T11:31:00.001-07:00

Since I've been slacking on the etsy selling side of thing, and haven't posted a blog in forever, I decided to share what I like right now. Here it is.

Sprouts on Sandwiches
I like my turkey sandwich to look like a secret garden inside

Blouses at Goodwill on 19th
Lately, Goodwill has been disappointing me with overpriced items that I could get for cheaper and in better condition at target....However, I was bored on Tuesday night and ventured in and dug through the "blusas de damas" section and found some amazing anthropologie brand shirts for $4.99 each. In this shot from a screentest at work, I'm wearing a black top with very beautiful details. Goodwill, I haven't given up on you.

Turbo Kickboxing
I'm back on the fitness wagon and I'm locking myself in this time, hopefully. The goal is 3 times a week. This week, a success.

String Cheese
I don't know why, maybe it's the act of pulling it a part, but I boy have I been eating it.

Bangs
I have them, thanks to the Sassoon academy. It's definitely a lifestyle (bahahaha). I have to groom them, I carry a comb with me now, and I need to find someone who can trim them next week because I'm getting to the awkward phase where they look weird with sunglasses.

Plastique
Probably my favorite Etsy seller. I just bought another necklace from her "Avante Garde." I will be buying at least 2 more as gifts for those who are Graphic Design Lingo inclined.

Clues, the band
First band that i have been obsessed with for a long time. Multi-dimensional music is my cup-of-tea coming from a symphony background. Their show started on saturday night at Detroit bar with an intro straight out of the Middle East. The guy who I'm assuming is their sound mixer sang with a beautiful "islamic" infused melody along with another dude who played some sort of flute. Then Alden from The Unicorns, a drummer from Arcade fire, and a few other lovely canadians flooded my brain with a full-blown percussion section, horns, strings, organs..you name it, they play it. My favorite song is Ledmonton.
Clues - Perfect Fit

Dorm Life on Hulu

A Hitching in Lynchburg, VA

2009-05-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

I definitely had some idea about what Lynchburg would be like, thanks to Crystal's Flickr (now Crystal Tillman's Flickr), but getting to visit for the first time and be a part of an incredible wedding makes the place seem even more magical. At first look, the historic downtown seems deserted, but when you enter in one of the countless antique and rummage shops, or order a coffee, or say hi back to a person passing you on a street, you find out that Lynchburg is filled with nothing but kind souls. And now Tucker and Crystal are officially the Tillmans and my traveling pal Nikki and I were lucky enough to experience the celebration. There are plenty more photos on my Flickr.

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Snapshot, Crystal and Tucker

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Crystal and her dad. I cried when they danced.

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Mr. Tillman, waiting for his bride

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Nikki and I with Casey Radical, who's getting hitched in August

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Being big kids with Sparklers

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A nap in the grass next to a home from long ago

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The greatest Antique store. Stay tuned for new vintage pieces from me!

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Somewhat out of order, but Nikki and I enjoyed
Yoo-Hoos as well as some other not-so-healthy
roadtrip foods on the way to Lynchburg.

On the day after the wedding, we dropped our friend Luke off at the airport, after he smoked out a tick that had lodged itself in his shoulder, and drove to Washington D.C. to visit our friend Jojo who I'm proud to say just graduated from Georgetown with her masters. Joj showed us around town and took us to the good places to eat.

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Great looking dorks in front of the Capitol Bldg

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We're so mature, aren't we?

Hecticus and Patchwork recap

2009-05-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

ahhhh.....so in about 7 hours I will be relaxing on a plane headed for Philadelphia..well, Denver then Philadelphia. I'll be arriving at the lovely hour of 6:00 AM where I'll meet up with my partner in crime, Nikki and we'll begin our 3 day adventure! We're renting a car and driving to Lynchburg Virginia to attend the lovely wedding of Tucker and Crystal. This is the first official "fun and exciting wedding" I am going to, the first of 3. I will have my Canon rebel with me and hopefully the new flash that I ordered last week that should be arriving today.

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Tucker Tillman and soon to be Crystal Tillman

Oh yeah, and last weekend was patchwork! Oh my gosh, best show ever. I had so much fun and the other vendors were nothing but the best. I got there at 8:30 AM and wasn't set up until after 11 because I just couldn't stop saying hi and talking to all of my crafty friends. What a fun day. Here are some photos of the booth:

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New to the line-up: FLASKS!

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Jewelry table

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Every guest was served a Tartlette!
Graciously supplied by my Aunt Cathy

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Make-shift Knuckle Ring Display
The one thing I forgot was my pre-assembled one

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Mr. Loschy, my dad, helped me create this
lovely display for scarves and large necklaces

Stay tuned for Handmade Brigade events in June!!!!

There will be flasks!

2009-05-12T13:55:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to announce that starting this sunday at Patchwork, I will be selling flasks! They're all plastic so you can take them anywhere (even through metal detectors). If I'm going to a bar and don't want to spend a lot of money on drinks, I keep one of these suckers in my purse. They hold 5 shots of liquor, or anything you wish. The sleeve is attached with velcro so you can remove it while filling. I will have a variety of artwork available, all original collage by ME! Come to patchwork!

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Women's Asset's
Flask, $15

Mother's Day at Angel's Stadium.

2009-05-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

It's wonderful to have mothers (like mine), and friends. It's wonderful to have friends (like Kristen) with mother's who are married to men like Greg Smith who can score executive suites at sporting events! My parent's and I joined the Smith family: Darlene, Greg, Kristen and Michael for the Angels vs. Kansas City game on Sunday. Angels won 4-3! Our suite was right behind the home plate.

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Mama Loschy checking out the field.

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Mother and Daughter. This was the only photo of us where I wasn't crossing my eyes and my mom wasn't staring at me bug-eyed.

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She's a classy mom with a classy Cadillac CTS.
Happy Mother's day thanks to my dad! hehe

This saturday is Patchwork! I'll be in booth #37 in the Harvey's lot. It's supposed to be an absolutely beautiful day, high 70s, low 80s. I'll be posting more photos of the things I'm selling. I'm creating a lot of $5-$20 price points.

Spanking new!

2009-05-05T13:47:00.001-07:00

Seems that spending an entire weekend doing craft shows is not enough for me, I continue to wake up early in the morning with a brain RACING with new ideas. It's wonderful, but exhausting! I got to spend the weekend with my pals Elsie of Namaste and Nina of Tacos and Eggrolls. We had a blast despite slow foot traffic at the Pretty Little Pageant. On Sunday, things looked up for me and I did very well at the Dragonfly.

I finished a custom bracelet for my friend Seiya to give to his mother who lives in Japan. He told me she loves anything inspired by 19th century European Jewelry. I had a field day! I researched all kinds of jewelry to get ideas and this is what I came up with:

I've always loved Cameos, but have never been able to afford the real ones, made out of coral. I'm starting to toy around with using images of cameos in my pieces. I'm going to make more of this bracelet! I'm really happy with how it turned out. I've posted all of the photos from the little shoot I did yesterday in my backyard as the sun went down on flickr. Here are a few of my favorites:

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Cameo Vintage Inspired Collage Pin
now available on etsy

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Strawberry Earrings
now available on etsy

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Lady of the Forest Bib Necklace
now available on etsy

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Isis Fringe Necklace

This saturday is the LA Derby Dolls bout, my first time vending in LA. I'm looking forward to it. I don't know how I'll do there, but it will be a unique experience!

A Lovely Weekend

2009-05-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

So I have blisters all over my hands as a result of working away on a TON of new pieces, especially jewelry, since this saturday is the "Pretty Little Pageant" at the Laguna Niguel Tall Mouse. My good friend Cambria introduced me to the most incredible jewelry line called "Marquis & Camus" and I spend hours pouring through the most unique pieces that combined vintage estate finds with contemporary supplies. I have never been more inspired by another designer. I have so many ideas but most of them will not be completed until the patchwork show on May 17, so look out! Here's a peak at a few of the pieces I've designed (to see the rest, visit my flickr site):

Please come and visit me saturday or sunday at one of the 2 shows below. I'm giving out free Mother's Day cards with every purchase and I will gift wrap any item purchased.
Also, I'm offering lower prices on many of my necklaces in order to make room for my more vintage inspired pieces, so take advantage!

Presenting...

2009-04-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

The flyer is finally done!

Fringe benefits

2009-04-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

I'd say a good hour of everyday is spent pouring through etsy and discovering new shops. I've been looking for beaded fringe earrings for a while. I almost bought a pair from target, but hesitated. If I'm trying to get people to buy handmade items from me, I had better buy handmade items from others! There's such a feeling of excitement when you purchase something directly from the person who made it. I did just that today. Heather from Fantasy Beader makes adorable beaded jewelry and when I came across her Yellow Red and Turquoise beaded chandelier earrings, I bought them immediately. The colors are just funky enough for me! I can't wait to receive them in the mail next week.

Don't forget that this saturday is the De Portola Boutique in Mission Viejo. I've been slaving away all week to bring new pieces to my collection. Hope to see you there! For more info, click here.

Come on Summer!

2009-04-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

I know it is only the beginning of Spring, but I have been feeling the brink of summer all over for the past couple of weeks. The spirit in Costa Mesa is different, there are more cars piled up at the end of the 55 freeway and everyone seems to be pulling their bikes out of storage. The OC Fair promotion has begun! I have decided to enter some photography this year! It's fun to be involved in the competition and you also get free tickets! There's prizes too, last year I won a red ribbon and $50.

I visited The Hive boutique last week and took some pictures of my scarves in action!

This is the front window of The Hive. To say I was excited to see something I made in the front window of a store on a mannequin would be some what of an understatement!

These are my latest creations: ribbon brooches. (With The Fair in mind.) If you can't enter anything into the fair, or if you don't win anything, wear one of these! They're way cooler. I'll start listing them on etsy soon.

These ones are my favorite. I used the plaid fabric from my "Thorns have Roses" collage scarf.

Take me to the Fair

2009-04-10T14:45:00.000-07:00

While I may not be participating in Renegade or Unique LA, (just haven't had the time or stamina to try and pull myself together to apply for these) I am filling my Spring and Summer weekends with little fairs in Orange County! Not to mention, the entire month of June will be filled with Indie Crafting events and shows every saturday. I will post the flyers for those once they are done (considering I will be the one designing them! :)

Rather than re-type all the info, I posted the flyers for each. I've been working away in my studio on some brand new projects that I will talk about soon!

De Portola Boutique is NEXT SATURDAY! I will be sharing a 10x15' booth with Deborah of Roxstar Jewelry. Sharing is always more fun.

Nina Brito of Tacos and Eggrolls just let me in on this show. Cutest flyer EVER! I may be a graphic designer by trade, but I couldn't have designed anything better than this. I will be at the Laguna Store.

Patchwork is perhaps the most widely publicizes show I'll be doing in May. I'm paring up with my friend Rosemary (Rosemary's collection) for this one. She sells beautiful reconstructed vintage jewelry and terrariums and other goodies from her garden.

Round 2

2009-04-08T23:38:00.000-07:00

Alright, I've been so thankful to have some feedback! Here is my second go at it.
My idea was to do something like LA's felt club, where the opening page to their website has a cool, more ornate intro image:

This can be find when going directly to FeltClub.com
Then, once inside the site, this is the logo

I want to use something like the Simple Handmade Brigade for pretty much all of our branding, but I want to use the same logo with some craft supplies behind it, similar to the one that I posted last week.
Feedback?

As I promised.....

2009-04-07T23:06:00.000-07:00

Loschy Studios!!!

Or, what I did with the Tough Shed I'm renting on the property that I live on. It took me a couple of days to move everything and partially organize all of my accumulated supplies (still SO much more to do). With the help of mostly my existing furniture and a few Target and Thrift Store finds, my art space is well on its way.

Red shelves are from IKEA which I had and the plastic sterilite shelves I got for cheap from Target. NOTE: Goodwill has hit an all time low for me. I tried to search for various shelving there and couldn't find anything for less than $20, and it was all junky. Goodwill, what has happened to you? I used to love you, and the suede jacket I bough from you for $7 in 2001. It's not me, it's you.

This Gem of a rug was found at "rags to riches" thrift shop in Costa Mesa, right where Newport Blvd meets the end of the thrift shop (best shop I have ever been to...seriously. THE BEST THRIFT STORE IN OC, the store pretty much changes everyday. The best mix of seriously collectable vintage and surplus goods from dept. retail stores).

Best part besides the 4 names, none of which are my own, is Jr. in the middle.

Living by the 99cent only store is a joy. The plastic basket/purses, and stacked frames are all from there.

This tool drawer organizer from Home Depot has changed my life. I've been using it since the fall and I have been able to keep it organized every since. I don't know what got into me with this.

LOVE this Ikea drafting table with a light board. The sawhorse legs enable the tabletop to tilt, but Then where would I but all the crap on top of it?

A table just for sewing and cutting fabric!!! (and for storing stuff I haven't organized yet).

Miscellaneous unfinished art pieces, BUTTONS

One of the many "inspiration" boards I plan to hang. I made this one by stapling fabric to a piece of foamboard. SUPER cheap and I just use straight pins to attach things. It's so much cheaper than corkboard and you can even use cardboard, which is FREE.

What I'm hoping this space will encourage me to do is achieve a new level of quality and creativity in my work, as well as keep work and sleep separate. Sleeping in a lofted bed above my worktable has caused me many insomnia-tic nights with projects looming underneath me. While my brain is always a whirlpool of ideas, I realized it was time to break down and separate the 2 spaces (especially now that I have a job and somewhat of a routine).

New projects to come.

Art or Die. Life is Art

Crafters Unite!

2009-04-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

This will be a short entry to which I will follow up on later tonight.
I have been bouncing off the walls lately, literally:
> Jazzercizing
> Back into TKB (Turbo Kick-boxing)
> Full-time graphic design, the ol' 9-5. Benefits kick-in in July! woot, no more paying for my own crappy health insurance.
> Drawing, sketching, scribbling on a film production/copy-writing portfolio project for another chapman grad.

and my favorites:
> Moving into my new studio! I will post photos tonight, after A. taco tuesday with my pal Gen and B. I finally finish organizing!!! and hanging some art.
> Probably the most exciting, working with the fabulous artistic ladies from the up and coming "Handmade Brigade" of Orange County! I started designing the logo, it is not finished yet but, I included it above. Any feedback?

I'll type more tonight, I promise.

Oh Heel no!

2009-04-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

It's no news that my weakness has always been shoes. At some point in my life, I will be comfortable and confident enough to wear heels on a weekly basis. Being 5'7", I'm not an exceptionally tall person, but when I wear heels, they put me in that "I'm taller than everyone around me" zone (excluding a few close friends). Shoe accessories/clips are something I'd like to eventually include in my repertoire of handmade items, but I think that before I do that, I had better start embracing the high heel. Here are a few that I am crazy about right now:

These shoes by Yves Saint Laurent were all over the March issue of Elle, and I want them. I think they only cost a couple $1000, nothing too extravagant (haha, yikes).

These sling back wedges from Anthropologie are somewhat more in my price-range, but not until the fall when they're in the clearance room. Still, I would try and live in these if they were mine.

Now these are definitely in Melissa Loschy style, just enough biker edge,

And here are some Shoe clips, my next experimentation.

This is a shoe from some royal lady

I don't have a time on when these will come to fruition, but in the coming months for sure

Change is good, change is great.

2009-03-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

Someone recently reminded me how good change can be. It was something I embraced for a brief moment after gradution, but until a month ago, I had subconsciously tried to avoid. I think whenever you get too comfortable, there’s a chance you’re not challenging yourself. Being a tried and true Aquarian, I’ve taken on some new challenges:

Full-time job as the in-house graphic designer for Nuts and Bolts training (education program in cosmetology schools),

Freelance designing an advertising and copyrighting portfolio for a Chapman grad student featuring 15 print ads and 15 commercial storyboards and tons of illustrations (yay!)

Working with Chapman Graphic Design Major alumni and my mentor/professor Claudine on an international statistic design research project called “DD4D” under the IIID or International Institute of Information Design. (The finished material will be used in the summer conference in Paris).

Working with fellow Orange County crafters lead by Nina Brito of Tall Mouse Arts and crafts (and tacos and eggrolls) to organize an “Indie crafting month” in June. Even more importantly, we are officially creating and OC crafter club similar to the LB craft mafia and LA’s felt club. We’re tossing around idea of calling ourselves the “Handmade Brigade” (the same title given the Tall Mouse indie craft fairs). I volunteered to create the website and come up with some flyer and logo ideas. Here’s a preliminary sketch of a little something.

Goals in the coming weeks:
• Do some much needed updating to my etsy site
• Talk to my landlord once more about renting the studio space in my backyard
• Research low or no-sew projects that can be created from old clothes for the Handmade Brigade’s June “Swap-o-rama rama”
• Make some new things for heaven’s sake!

A healthy survey

2009-03-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

What is your current obsession?

Trying to manage my finances.

Which item from your closet are you wearing most lately?

H&M jeans that are repeatedly mistaken for Joe's jeans, a Vintage J-crew sweater with pictures of hawaiian vacation spots illustrated on it, and red leather flats.

What's for dinner?

Other half of my Togo's sandwich from lunch

What was the last thing you bought?

Starbuck's Cafe Misto and fabric from the discount upholstery store for new collage flower scarves.

What are you listening to right now?

Beirut Pandora station

Favorite vacation spot?

San Diego and Portland, OR

What four words would you use to describe yourself?

Creative, independent, MacGuyver, open-minded

What is your current guilty pleasure?

Red wine, Toblerone, Netflix

What will be the first spring thing you do?

Well, I believe it is spring now, and the first thing I did was bake cookies. But the next spring-influenced thing I will do is go for a bike-ride in san diego with Ryan

Where are you planning to travel next?

Lynchburg, Virginia

Yes, I am in a craft club

2009-03-20T08:58:00.001-07:00

Probably one of the things I look forward to each month is my craft club meetup at the Craft Kitchen in Santa Ana (Run by the girl who co-organizes the Patchwork show, Nicole). It's just a bunch of young crafty ladies who get together and drink beer and wine, eat tons of baked goods and cheese and crackers, and work on projects while talking about how most of our friends aren't as obsessed with making things as we are. It is wonderful.

I baked cookies for everyone, including my short-lived bosses at Logan Ad Group who were amazing and I will miss them.

They are SO easy to make! just simple sugar cookies with colored buttercream frosting and the petals are very simple: buy the big marshmallows and use kitchen scissors to cut thin petals from one end to the other, like slicing a jelly roll. The petal shape is created by the blades. Everyone is impressed by these little cookies even though they are so easy to make!

Go ahead, just keep piling it on!

2009-03-16T18:54:00.000-07:00

Today has been nothing short of mind-blowing. I went to "The Hive" yesterday at The Lab as advised by my pal JoJo who told me to go and talk to the buyer (last saturday JoJo was wearing one of my flower collage scarves and some of the girls at the shop commented on it).

I dropped of a scarf and a mini-catalogue of my more recent scarves and today I got a call from the buyer who wants me to start selling them on consignment at the store! Yippee!

{The Hive}

I hope to have them in the store by next week!

(on another note, very exciting and perhaps life-changing, I just accepted a job today as the full-time graphic designer and web-developer for a company in the beauty/hair industry. YIKES!)

Bra for a Cause

2009-03-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

I met my pal Oatha while working at Michaels Arts and Crafts when I was in College. She was the floral designer and taught me everything I know about arranging flowers and plants. Since my days at Michaels, I've kept in contact with her, especially since we both love going out to dinner and ALWAYS get dessert.

Oatha is involved in possibly every charity organization in Orange County, one if which is the "Soroptimist" (I don't think I've ever pronounced it correctly). Next weekend they're hosting "Bras for a Cause" where they are auctioning off decorated bras to benefit disadvantaged women. Being that I am a crafter/artist, Oatha asked me to participate. With the theme being "Hollywood," I decided to literally and create the "hills" of hollywood. (to be the opposite of subtle, I was trying to refer to boobs as hills). I even made the radio tower out of wire, thread and beads!

Started off by spray-painting a $5 Kmart bras green, covered it with moss, then cut out the hollywood letters from white foamcore

Radio tower!

Finished product.

See more pictures on my flickr site

Phew!

2009-03-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

What a fun weekend! I did 2 shows, the Orange County Roller Derby head-to-head on Saturday night, and the Dragonfly Boutique on Sunday. While sales were slow for everyone, I still had a great time and met some wonderful people.

New Knuckle Ring Display using a thread spool holder

New "Tattoo Man" book purse, soon to be made into "Happy Freaking Birthday" card

New to the craft empire: framed original collage, greeting cards, and art print cards

This time around, I invited my pal Rosemary, of Rosemary's Collection, to sell with me at my booth. Her Terrariums were a huge success! We will be doing some more shows together in the Spring and Summer. Hopefully she will teach me how to make fabric dye with plants from her garden (I want to dye some vintage floral prints for making collage scarves and tote bags).

The greatest thing I'm looking forward to is the possibility of an actual studio space that IS NOT WHERE I SLEEP! After the buzz and insanity that was last weekend, I've realized that I need a place for work, and a place for sleep (that isn't 6 feet above ground). I spoke with my landlord yesterday about using the workshop space that is literally connected to my backyard. She is probably going to work something out with me! Yikes! I can't stop thinking about what I would do with a space of my own to design in. Keep your fingers crossed!

Bzz Bzz Bzz

2009-03-04T11:44:00.000-08:00

I've been such the little worker bee...but not in the conventional sense (being that I don't exactly have a full-time job). Every spare second that hasn't been spent interviewing for jobs or freelancing, I have been CREATING. I have 2 boutiques coming up this weekend.

Saturday: I'm a vendor at the OC roller derby girls match, I'm hoping to sell lot's of knuckle rings!

Sunday: I'll be at the dragonfly marketplace from 11:00-4:00 in the Orange Circle.

Since last week, I've created several new pieces, along with 24 magazine subscription collages.

Honeybee Knuckle Ring

2 and 3 finger vintage heart button knuckle rings

I'm still making more!

I've been working whole-heartedly on affordable art and art prints as well ($5-$30, how's that for cheap?)

I have completely revamped my display table as well. I built a shelf, and got some great thrift store finds to help me with that.

I'm going to take a ton of photos this weekend to showcase all of my new designs.

Hope to see some friends at the shows!

Lucky 13

2009-02-25T09:27:00.000-08:00

So guess who stayed up until 2am making 13 collages? Once I get the juice of creativity, I know that I can't do anything but go with it. Here are 2 from the series. I've used vintage images from either Lady's Home Journal, Life magazine, or an old children's book

Look out for $5 prints and $30 framed originals!

Can I just get a McFlurry?

2009-02-24T10:33:00.000-08:00

Last night it happened like it usually does...I got a craving for something sweet, but it was late and I didn't want to go to the liquor store for ice cream where all of the bums hang out..so i decided to get something from the safety of my car. After watching the episode of 30 Rock where Selma Hayek introduces Alec Baldwin to McFlurries, I've been craving the dessert myself. But to my shock and dismay, the McDonald's by my house was closed for renovations! SHOCK

I thought, "there's a Mickey D's every Square mile, I'll find another one." So, at 9:30 P.M., I found myself driving down 17th, then making a left on Irvine, and ended up driving all the way to the John Wayne Airport! The combination of driving a granny rental Chevy Impala and sugar withdrawals caused my delusional journey. I hopped on the 73, then 55 and remembered there was another McD's on Harbor and Wilson. But what do you know? apparently EVERY one is going through a remodel. Just when I was about to give up all hope, an America's Cup shined through my discouraged demeanor and I got my damn dessert.

PHEW. In other news, I've found my floral keffiyeh scarves to be the hot item right now, so I will spend the rest of the day completing more of those, as well as some inexpensive original arts and prints. I've got a roller derby show to prepare for!

I'll leave one last bit of beauty: while on the phone with Roark (the master artist), he introduced me to Ashes and Snow, whose artist captures unique moments of interaction between humans and wild animals. The music along with the presentation of the books in the store are just breathtaking.

Sleepy in Saturday

2009-02-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

Work at the day job has been slow this week, and consisting entirely of Web Design, an area of design I notoriously dislike. With the extra time, I've been...would you say..."uploading like it's hot." Or, I've been adding new items to my etsy site everyday. I took over 100 pictures on Thursday and have been editing them since. (especially the ones were I've reluctantly used myself as a model). Please take a gander.

Laughed a lot this week at the episode of The Office where Michael decides to file Chapter 11 by shouting "I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!!!!"

Ate Indian Food with my surrogate grandmother Oatha yesterday at Royal Kyber. Chicken Curry, Rice Pilaf, Ginger dressing salad and the doughiest most heavenly Nan around. For desert, chocolate drizzled plate, pistachio sorbet, minced pistachios sprinkled around, and SILVER LEAF. I ate silver with my desert. Shocking.

Please, don't forget to go to my performance this sunday with Good Avery at the continental room. I will be amplified this time! You will actually be able to hear me!

Entertainment

2009-02-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

The band I play with, Good Avery, is playing a free show this Sunday at the swanky Continental Room in Fullerton. It's got a red velvet curtain and everything! We will be playing around 10pm. Have a little fun before work on Monday morning. We won't be singing or talking about the economy.....it's an "economy talk free" zone.

Ideas Worth Spreading

2009-02-09T00:33:00.000-08:00

Tonight was made so enjoyable at my pal Rosie's house in Long Beach with a freshly prepared meal. She made none other than her "Rosemary" chicken, roasted veggies, and a salad using lettuce from her garden! It was a wonderful treat. Although, the CSI trucks, yellow tape, and numerous police cars parked around the neighborhood left an ominous feeling.

She showed me the garden plot where she and her sister, along with other community members, grow all sorts of vegetables, herbs, and plants. It reminded me of assembling bouquets from the flowers in my Papa's gardens as a little girl.

The craft boutique I was going to participate in today was cancelled due to rain. I will, however, be participating in the boutique on March 8, bringing we me all my latest pieces. I've uploaded some of them onto etsy and I added more photos to my flickr site too.

Don't leave without parking the boat

2009-01-26T13:10:00.000-08:00

This morning between 8:00 AM and 8:45 AM, I had "the weirdest dream." I was reminded of the days of boating with my family apparently because this was involved in the incident in my dream. For some reason, the area around the gallery I work for in Laguna was completely covered by water, therefore I had to take my dad's boat to work (It was the last boat we owned, a 30' Bayliner). Then, there's a foggier memory of going inside and realizing later that I forgot to park the boat! I went outside with some friends to find it, and low and behold the tide went out and the boat was on dry land, in a metered parking spot, standing completely upright. I was so upset with myself for leaving it out and since the tide was out. There was nothing I could do but hold the boat up while I waited for the tide to come back in. Luckily I woke up before the meter maid came.

What does it mean????

Photogenic Dogs

2009-01-17T17:11:00.001-08:00

Look at that handsome dog!

The light entering the front doors of my parent's house makes for beautiful photography!

Dice is one of 2 incredible family dogs.

I've uploaded new photos to my flckr site, including this one and a few other gems!

Christmas Spirit

2008-12-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

Beautiful days while working in the gallery inspire me to re-organize.

The fact that I just bought the new Blackberry Bold and am waiting for my Canon EOS Rebel XSI in the mail helps give anyone a new temporary outlook on life as well.

Because I put forth more effort than ever in the last year to work on my crafting (and I've been more successful this past year than ever before) I've decided that if I am going to give in to this new years resolution craze, I'm going to pick something and really stick with it. I am going to work 3 times as hard on my entrepreneurial skills in 2009. I'm reading a book, "Craft Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business." So, that means that in a few years, I hope to be able to make a living from making stuff.

Things to look out for:

I have an amazing printer (Epson 1400) that I haven't been using to its full advantage. Friends have asked about buying my art, but unfortunately I grow attached to pieces and the price I charge is out of even my price-range. (I do this so I can hoard it forever!) Fortunately, buying and making prints is an easy solution. I will be listing prints that range in price from $5-$30 on my etsy site very shortly. Some will be small and come as is, while others will be either mounted or framed in vintage frames. I will offer reproductions of my illustrations, as well as photographs of my 3D collages.

Iza want somezing from Elizaveta

2008-12-17T15:02:00.000-08:00

visit her site at www.elizaveta.etsy.com
So this cool as shit girl bought a couple of knuckle rings from me a couple of months ago, and I have been stalking her etsy site ever since then. She makes the most incredible jewelry and makes you re-think the term "costume" jewelry. I literally want everything she makes. This newest piece called "You can ring my bell" is a total show stopper.

Now I'm on the lookout

2008-10-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

Currently, I am having to look for other work. The slowing of the economy has affected the art industry. I do, however, look forward to new experiences and challenges.

I updated, or rather re-designed, my entire website today. Have a look!

www.melissaloschy.com

If you are interested in new business cards or a new resume, please contact me because they are 2 things I love to design and I am offering package deals on a freelance basis for business cards and resumes.

These Family Jewels

2008-09-24T14:48:00.001-07:00

Keep on the lookout, Family Jewels Co-ed accessories by Rosemary Williams and Melissa Loschy

Robert Wilson

2008-08-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

A very happy lady came into the gallery today, in love with Roark's works, as always. The best part, however was her introduction of the artist Robert Wilson, who films animals, celebrities and everyday people in what seem like stagnant poses, and displays them on enormous plasma screens. The poses seem stagnant, until you lay your eyes on the screen for longer than a minute and notice that there is movement.

More Robert Wilson

Color

2008-08-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

So, Joe Biden eh?

Rum and old friends mixed with new memories made for a healthy morning today.

How early does arthritis start?

TheSelby

frying under the fluorescence

2008-08-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

I have an addiction to Tic Tacs. The white ones only. They are intended to freshen your breath, but I can't make a pack last longer than a day.

I love Nicholas Gurewitch His comic strip genius is on the level of arrested development's.

The love affair between Ronald and Nancy Reagan makes me jealous. I've never seen more adoring affection between 2 individuals. Just read one of the countless love letters you wrote to Nancy. I highly recommend visiting the Reagan library in Simi Valley.

Fair entries

2008-08-05T23:23:00.000-07:00

I went to the fairgrounds today to retrieve my various entries from the fair. As always, I was greeted by the fairgrounds staff with absolutely no signs telling me where to go. It was so much fun trying to figure it out on my own with crazy carnies disassembling their rickety rides.

Alas, I found the buildings and now have everything again.

I've posted one of my necklaces on etsy, it is perhaps one of my most favorite ones. I hand drew and watercolor painted the rose and painstakingly embroidered the entire front. Someone please buy it so I won't be tempted to make another one as intricate!

Statement

2008-08-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

My pieces have a certain literal value: often revealed by the text or the funky and sometimes controversial imagery. However, the combination of said images with text, I arrange them in a way that affords the viewer his or her own consideration. I enjoy satire, sarcasm, cynicism, and ambiguity. I despise ignorance. I think any book published before the mid-80s is fair game for my art.

BBQ, BIKE, KAYAKS oh my

2008-08-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

First One