A Cocktail with Moxie

Groundhog day. It rates right up there with National Buttercrunch Day on the holiday yawn-fest barometer. Since February can be such a 'blah' month, even with this year being a leap, why not celebrate the dickens out of it? Give it some bling, a shot of Angostura bitters, a maraschino cherry tiara. Va-voom, Feb, you've got style! I'm a hipster flunkie, but I do have 'moxie' and what do folks who have moxie do when the days are sooty and short, and a Naked Lady Party is looming on the horizon? You guessed it, invent cocktails!

So, I figured, what better month to be experimenting with cocktails for the Naked Lady Party we are having with our Petaluma Craft Mafia famiglia. Winter's end requires all the extra glow you can muster. They just beg for cocktail experimentation, don't you agree? Make it a party, invite friends to help with that book, "DIY cocktails." Heck, pull out your game of "twister," all the hep-cats do it. I won't tell anybody.

Though, not in season, peaches and strawberries have been on my mind. It's deep winter, and I'm craving the taste of summer fruits. Usually a big, fat glass of zin is my favorite winter libation and my favorite cocktail stand-by is a cranberry vodka, with cointreau and twist of lime. My mother perfected the art of the cranberry cocktail, and I adore them. But, with Spring blooming, I'm ready to move on and give my cocktail a new party dress. And really, who could disagree that crafting and cocktails don't make a beautiful pairing? I'm sure our sultry vixen header would agree, and volunteer to play bartender.

Okay, right. Peaches. I keep coming back to peaches, and after taking a peek over at Jesse's blog, "bread baby," right here, and coming across this heavenly sounding peach, cardamom cobbler, I knew peaches could hold the answer for what to drink for our Naked Lady Party.
And if you are not a peach lover, you know what they say, "if'n you don't like the peaches, don't be shakin' that tree"... or something, like that. Try another fruit, mango, for example.

I'm still in experimentation mode, but insofar, this beta-test version is coming up a winner! I also think it might be nice to switch it up and replace strawberry puree for the cranberry juice. But were talking peaches here, and I'm calling it a "Naked Lady Blush." It pairs nicely with just about any appetizer from goat cheese on toast points to cheeze whiz on celery. But, I just know you gourmands can put the spread on, and do better then that.

A word of warning: This is a woman's drink, not a little girl's. It's got warmth of a cracklin' rosy fire, depth and body, and is refreshing at the same time, thus incredibly easy to drink...just saying. You might say this cocktail's got "moxie." It goes something like this:

Naked Lady Blush

1 oz of your favorite Vodka (I like Tito's Handmade Vodka)
1/2 oz presecco wine (optional)
1/2 oz Cointreau orange liquer
1 lime wedge
1 splash cranberry juice
1/2 ounce peach puree or juice (preferably white peach)


Pour vodka and cointreau into a shaker. Squeeze in the juice of one wedge of lime. Add peach puree, a splash of cranberry juice, (your Naked Lady, is going to blush now), and shake it, baby , shake it. Strain into a cocktail glass. Mmmmph. Ya'll, February doesn't scare me. Cheers!

Craftaluma 2010 "Craftyville, The Usual Suspects"

Yawwwn, s- t- r- e- t-c - h..... Late winter; time to shrug off the insulating attitudes, peel back the cocoon of winter layers, allow the imagination to roam along the dreamscape that meanders down the cool, blue path to tangerine sunsets. Butterflies, zebras, moonbeams, it's time to plant bulbs for spring fragrance and harvest summer crafty magic, like only the Petaluma Craft Mafia can. Get ready to make a journey to "Craftyville," join the usual and some unusual suspects for Craftaluma 2010!!

The talented creatives that make up the Petaluma Craft Mafia are busy planning our next show! We've got CRAFTALUMA 2010 penciled in on the PCM calendar for JUNE 19th, 2010!! Yaay!

Have you seen the usual suspects of Craftaluma's Craftyville? There's the Church of Craft, spreading the Crafty gospel, (and you know, as the Petaluma Craft Mafia, it's well infiltrated), then there is the river, well, that's where all of our crafty secrets go for a swim. More on that, later. Yes, in Craftyville, your Petaluma Craft Mafia is involved, fighting for craft and giving it a voice. Your crafty famiglia is here, committing craft, living and working in our community, and creating the best craft show in the world. Yes, Craftaluma 2010 is on it's way, and we've got the keys to the town.

Stay posted, stay tuned, and most of all, stay crafty.

Craftaluma's Running with Glitter!!

"Baby, It's cold outside," he said. "Why not warm things up with a little glitter?" she smiled mischieviously. A sprinkle here, a splash, there...
The rumors are true, the whispers are telling.... and finally it seems we've landed in a glitter wonderland. The Petaluma Craft Mafia is launching it's third production, after Craftaluma, Holiday Craftacular, and now we're officially, Craftaluma,"Running with Glitter!!"

We were going to take the year off, but our crafty friends and vendors kept pestering us, so, while we will still do our spring show on May 15th, 2010, we're going to get things warmed up
for the Holidays with a runway and craft show. Whew!

Running with Glitter is hosting some of the best talent locally, and in the north bay. Handmade goodness that will help you with your shopping list and support local artists.
Come on down to the Petaluma Vet's Hall, groove to the live tunes, grab a cupcake, and take-in the glittery fashion show with some of the leading, cutting edge DIY'er designers!
We're gonna have a glitterlicious 'ol time, and the admission to the show is one buck, proceeds benefit the Phoebe Washer Foundation for the Arts.

Psst. Get there early for faboo swag bags!!

Peace, love and glitter,

The Petaluma Craft Mafia

Rocket Orange Launch!!

I'm so very happy that my dear friend Hannah, has decided to take the leap and get creative with her business name. She asked if I would design her logo and identity for her new business, of which I was honored to do. I also knew she'd be a "fun client," and open to all kinds of concepts for her new focus, which is on crafting vintage and vintage inspired jewelry.

After sitting around, probably drinking too much coffee, and discussing how I had used orange in my own identity for Moxieville, she blurted out, "Rocket Orange!!" We both loved it. I'm a copywriter and name junkie, and feel confident I can sniff out a winner or a stinker in seconds. Rocket Orange is so Hannah, positive, energetic, bursting with good deed, thought and creativity outside of the box, that it felt so right to me. I was happy we had determined an independent name for her new vintage jewelry business, that is cheerful, unique and truly her.

Thus, Rocket Orange is launching, and I'm pleased to be working at a ground control center, helping to make that happen for her.

Hannah, plans to open her Etsy Shop and website in the New Year. Her focus has shifted to a more vintage focus with a fresh twist, and I can promise her baubbles and bijoux will be gorgeous!
Stay tuned for more news from Moxie regarding Rocket Orange's release! And be sure to check out her blog here, and tell her "hello."

Petaluma Craft Mafia in Modern Seamster!

Look for Ms. Moxie and the PCM in Issue #3, coming SOON!

Last summer, the Petaluma Craft Mafia were invited to sit down for an exclusive interview with the editorial staff of what is quickly becoming a favorite read for us, Modern Seamster.

It was love at first read; packed full of juicy moxie goodness about sewing, the arts and crafts scene, music, culture, fashion. And of course, we fell in love with the hardworking, hard playing staff (after all, we identified with their spirit, and can do attitude). You might say they had moxie in spades.

They took us to lunch, at a local restaurant here in P-Town, and got a gander at our hometown of Petaluma and were surprised it was so bustling! We enjoy it so much, and came away feeling incredibly inspired by the talent and vision of this new magazine. We are part of a series they are doing on our entire famiglia, the Craft Mafia.

If you haven't checked out Modern Seamster do so now, Issue #2 is just amazing! Amazing, and you will just have to be patient for Issue #3, "The sixties" issue!

Love and Moxie darlings, and a big shout out to Modern Seamster!

Petaluma's Crafty First Family in the press... again!!

"We love our hometown paper, with it's crafty hometown flavor."

-The Petaluma Craft Mafia


We crafty mafiaosa peeps, try to maintain a low-profile, but the darned media, why, they LOVE us! And guess what? We love them back!
We appreciate our hometown newspaper's support of their craft family, the Petaluma Craft Mafia, but the spreading the good cheer to the community of creatives and other crafty folk throughout. I can't tell you how many times articles such as Yovanna's have inspired me to try something new, or get involved in something.

A special shout-out to the Argus Courier's talented journalist, Yovanna Bieberich, editor, Chris Samson and photographer, Nina Zhito, the later of whom had to put with a gaggle of craftyness and a pile of frosted donuts as she climbed, manipulated, moved lights around my kitchen to get a shot of craft in action! Mafiosa mascot and crafty canine, Sweet Georgia adores her, and was so sorry to have missed her this photo shoot.

Support your local newspapers, folks. We need our local news and the people that work so hard to craft a paper for the community. Looky here for the article.

Peace, Love and Glitter!

Your Petaluma Craft Mafia

All in the Famiglia: An Interview with Rain's Embellishments

Family. There is nothing quite like family, that is unless it's crafty famiglia, and we are so lucky to have Lorrain Garcia , aka, "Rains Embellishments" as a fellow crafty sister in this big crafty famiglia called the "Craft Mafia."

I first met Lorrain when she joined us for the Petaluma Craft Mafia's first show, "Craftaluma."
Lorrain is part of our big extended crafty famiglia, and she is part of the extraordinarily talented Sacramento Craft Mafia.

We love our Capitol City Crafty gals! Here is what I know about Lorrain, not only is she a kick-ass talented jewelry and bauble maker, she also has a fine sense of humor, is an accomplished cupcake baker and one of the best dressers I know. She and I share a deep fondness for owls, (you've all seen my owl necklace she made). Lorrain has a generous heart and not a mean bone in her body. She's also an Aquarius. But oh, psst...she's also baaaack! We are thrilled because she and some her crafty Sacramento Craft Mafia sisters are joining us for "Mafia Made Holiday Craftacular." Nope, there is nothing like famiglia.

C: Okay Ms. Lorrain, please tell us how you came up with the name of your crafty enterprise.
L: Hey there! My name is Lorrain Garcia, my business is Rain's Embellishments. My business name just sort of came into being because it's my nickname Rain: I use to hang out all the time at my bf's house in grade school. She had a little brother who had a hard time saying Lorrain. Whenever he would talk to me he would call out "My Rain" it was so cute it stuck! And Embellishments because my jewelry is my embellishment!

C: Where are you located?
L: Sacramento, CA

C: Hometown?
L: Sactown!


C: Yay Sactown!! Home of Merlino's Orange Freeze and the Sacramento Craft Mafia!! Tell the folks what it is that you make.
L: Currently I've been working with enameled flower pieces, (sugar)skulls & owls!
My three favorite things of the moment. I take a variety of different beads an mold them into
necklace pendants, earrings and bracelets.


C: What is your favorite and least favorite thing about what you do?
L: I love making things with my hands! It really gives me a sense of accomplishment to take different random elements and make them into something to wear! Sometimes it's heart-breaking to sell a piece that I've fallen in love with. Other times I just think I'm making items to add to my ever-growing collection! I'll stay up many a night on a creative binge and then wake up in the morning with sore wrists & hands! I'd have to say that over-working my hands is a major draw-back. Over the summer I was actually having a real hard time with my wrists hurting, so I wasn't able to create that much. I've had to train myself to stretch before I work. Sometimes I forget, but my joints always remind me when I do!

C: Oh boy. Do I know that feeling. I used to ignore it - until one day it refused to be ignored! The pain and numbness started shooting up my shoulder and neck. Still, the pain is worth the creative binges. Speaking of which, what brings you creative inspiration?
L: Sometimes it's as easy as visiting a bead store or fabric store. Other times it's from walking through a gallery or museum...being influenced by other peoples art. Sometimes it's a minor suggestion that someone gives me. I've actually dreamt a piece of jewelry into being! I know it kinda sounds hokey, but I have definitely dreamt about placing certain colors together or various beads.

C: It's not "hokey." I'm a dreamer myself, and trust dreams and intuition. Anytime I've gone against my intuition is when things tend to go awry! Clearly, your dreams are working for you Rain. I sense an extra dimension at play when I look at your work. You have a richness and depth in your color palette as well as the design elements in your pieces. You are fearless, and I tend to admire courage and kindness in all aspects of life. What advice would you give to a designer who wanted to start a business such as yours?
L: For one thing, I have found that there are A LOT of jewelry designers out there! So I definitely recommend that you find your niche! Figure out what makes your pieces yours...figure out your "signature"!
Try something different that sets you apart! That's what your audience will notice!

C: Do you have any exciting news or future business plans you'd like to
share?
L: Shh... it's a secret!

C: Gotcha. We gotta keep it on the "down-low" in the Mafia. LOL! Do you have any favorite crafty haunts?
L: Geez! Where do I start? I love bead stores, fabric stores, scrapbook shops....I loved the bead store I use to work at with all my heart! Sadly, BeadWorks closed two years ago! I do love visiting The Bead Fetish & Piece of Mind, Beverly's Fabric & Crafts, Rumpelstiltskin, The Scrapbook Station, Fire & Rain, Art Gallery, The Crocker...funny enough, Empire Comics, craft night at a friends house - and for that matter, my mom's sewing room!

C: Curve ball question: Sean Connery or Roger Moore?
L: Man, are you kidding, Sean Connery! He's still sexy!

C; It's that Scottish brogue, you can't figure out what the devil he's saying! Tres sexy in it's confusion! What is your favorite midnight snack?
L: Cookies & ice cream!

C: Nummy! Hard question now, Favorite book and movie?
L: Lordy, ya know... there are just too many wonderful ones to name! Empire Records, Reality Bites, Sex and the City, Anam Cara, Love Story, Harry Potter 1-7, if there is ever a Buffy movie based off the TV show, that would most definitely be on top! High Fidelity, gosh, Frida, practically anything by Michele Gondry or Sophia Coppola, the early works of V.C. Andrews...dude, I know I'm missing some other great material! Most any art book
with Frida Khalo, Gustav Klimt or Alphonse Mucha!

C: Le sigh. All excellent choices. Love Story, even the theme song to the movie makes me get a big 'ol painful lump in my throat. I can't handle it. Harry P. rocks. I'm a huge John Cusack fan. I wanna marry him when I grow up and together we shall have fifteen crafty children and a purple-painted picket fence with an orange Karman Ghia parked in front. Someday, Rain, we are just going to have to have a big 'ol sister city movie and dinner craftalong in each of our fair towns. Let's make it happen! Okay, the dinner party question, your throwing a dinner party, who would you invite and why?
L: My Grandma Carmen because I miss her laughter! My mom, sis, niece, dad, bf Chris, and my other bffs Amanda & Erin all because they are all the people I depend on the most! And when I close my eyes, they are the people I see sitting around the table! I could probably name other "famous" people, but really, I think I would just be too nervous to eat and I'd rather be enjoying the delicious meal full of warmth and laughter!

C: Now that is a typical Rain response, and why we love you so much! Thank you darlin' and we can't wait to see you and your sisters next Saturday in Petaluma!

You can find more Rain Goodness here at her blog and more about our crafty cool sisters in Sacramento right over here.