Just a Peek!

Firefly — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:27:19 +0000

We just put up our new Spring windows, and here’s a little peek. After that long grey winter, we were inspired by the bright colors of Spring…cherry blossom pink, grass green, and bright sunny yellow. Come by and check it out!

Livie & Luca: New Spring Styles

Firefly — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:57:12 +0000

Here at Firefly, we just got our new Spring styles in from Livie & Luca. If you’re new to the brand, take my word for it, they make great shoes! Each pair is handmade, and in order to reduce their carbon footprint, Livie & Luca uses remains of high quality leather that would otherwise be discarded. Their shoes are obviously adorable, but beyond that, they’re just so comfy and sturdy. The super-flexible sole has great traction, and the leather is so soft. My daughter has been wearing them since she started walking, and our family has been very happy with them. She started out in the size fours, and is now up to the eights…(I’m a happy customer, obviously!)

Livie & Luca has traditionally just made shoes for toddlers, but this season, they have also added a line of shoes for babies. They’re made just as beautifully, but with a soft sole instead. Come by and check them out…they are so cute! We are currently stocking sizes 4 and 5 for toddlers, and 6-12 months in the baby styles.

Paper Grass Tutorial

Firefly — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 07:09:44 +0000

Last year, when we did our Spring windows, I had many requests for a paper flower class. It got me to thinking, and I decided to start documenting projects, just in case anyone felt like getting crafty! This project was for part of our most recent window. I was inspired by all of the windy and rainy weather that we’ve been having here in Paso Robles. There have been the most beautiful soft colors floating around. I envisioned a windy window, full of linens blowing in the wind, and long grasses waving in all shades. I began to make grass, and these little sculptures emerged.

First off, the ingredients:

a glue gun and plenty of glue sticks
some recycled cardboard
nice thick paper (I prefer cardstock) in your choice of color
scissors
a pencil
your fingers

Cut out a piece of cardboard in a freeform organic shape. This will be your base (the earth, so to speak!) Next, cut out a long rectangular piece of cardboard, and shape it in a half circle. Trace out the shape onto the base, in the position that you want it to be. Using hot glue, glue the half circle down to the base. Hold in place until the glue dries. This piece of cardboard will help to support the weight of the long strands of grass.

After the glue is dry, cut a piece of paper to fit the half circle. You want it to be wide enough to cover the cardboard, and long enough to look like grass. I wanted my grass to look a little more unkempt (not going for the buzz cut look here!), so I kept it long. When you have your paper sized, next you want to cut it into small strips. The smaller the strip, the more it looks “real”, so patience is a virtue here! I tore the top of my paper first for a more uneven look, but a perfectly straight line can be beautiful too.

Glue the fringed paper to the cardboard. Repeat process with a different size and different color. In fact, repeat again and again. The more layers you create, the more interesting it looks. Next up are the tufts of grass. Cut a smaller piece of paper and glue it into a tube. Fringe all the way around the tube, and using your fingers, separate and curl the edges to give the grass some movement. When the tuft of grass is ready, glue to the base. Keep adding small bunches and long pieces of grass until it looks finished to you. And voila! you have your own little paperscape…go crazy and you could make your very own field to frolic in!

Happy paper Spring, everyone!

More Pictures Below!

A Rainy Day

Firefly — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:28:23 +0000

I love the colors of rain…

Heidi Petersen and Paula Teplitz

Firefly — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:14:05 +0000

Two of our great local artists are Heidi Petersen and Paula Teplitz. Both women are potters, and friends. Each artist approaches clay in her own unique way, but they have similarities, as well. Each artist starts with a hand-built form, as opposed to the more traditional potter’s wheel. Heidi and Paula both have a love of color and texture, but they reach their goals in different ways. Heidi carves into, and then glazes each piece, creating a wonderful tactile experience. Paula’s work, on the other hand, is created by brush and with a delicate hand. She has a knack for catching an expressive figure with just a few simple lines, and each piece is a small work of art.

Paula’s and Heidi’s work can be seen in person here at Firefly. They will also can be found sharing a booth at the annual Templeton Day in the Shade. The show is on Saturday, May 7th, and is a fun way to find some wonderful local artists.

More information can be found here: http://www.templetonchamber.com/day-in-the-shade.html