New Alternative Wedding Bouquet Pics :)

Meet Breanna...

Very recently married, & I got to create bouquets & bouts for her wedding :)

Such a cute pic!

The bridal bouquet was powder-coated to match her colors: I think this is the very first colored bouquet I shipped out: in the sunlight it sparkles with champagne metal flake: so pretty :)

We even did a matching bout. for the groom :)

I love Breanna's funky style; especially the fingerless gloves & tattoos.

Looks like is was a fun celebration; I'm glad I got to be a part of it in a small way.

Thanks for sharing the pics & congrats!

 

All photos by Sooz White.

Amber

Adventures in Event Planning

Right before the holidays, I got a call from an engineering firm asking if I would consider coordinating decor & entertainment at their annual party.  I said sure, sounds like fun :)

Well, after weeks of planning & booking & making new stuffs, the party was a great success :)

--sorry about the bad quality; phone pic--

There were nearly 400 guests, 40 tables, fire dancers, stilt walkers, photo-booth, fortune tellers, temp. tattoo artists & circus performers :)

The tree centerpieces looked amazing; I even gave one away as a door prize & have orders for a few purchases :) 

We also had quite a few huge vases filled with feathers, masks, & glittery trinkets spread around the room--so much fun :)  

We spent nearly the whole day setting up & decorating; it was a lot of fun, but exhausting: if I ever decide to do this again, will definitely hire some help for moving stuff in & tearing down.  I didn't take anything huge, but we did cart in a bunch of giant vases to go around the room, along with centerpieces for 40 tables & accessory decor too.  Whew; makes me tired just thinking about it, lol :)

If you are interested in owning one (or more) of these cute trees: let me know, I have 9 available & can offer special blog pricing of $100 (I'll even throw in 3 glass candle holders).

Email me at refinerii@yahoo.com to discuss details.

Cheers!

Amber

Cute metal trees :)

I just wanted to share the first pics of the new aluminum trees--so cute!

We just got them polished up tonight, & I couldn't wait to test out the glass candle holders: that hang off the branches perfectly!   This little grove of trees will make it's debut at the Boise Centre this weekend for a corporate event that I'm helping coordinate.  A lucky winner will get to go home with one :)

Each tree will be a table centerpiece & will have 3-4 of the hanging glass candle holders :)

I love the way the aluminum reflects the candle light: so pretty!  I think these would look amazing in the garden too--I'm hoping to build some larger versions soon to be available on my etsy shop.  

I'm also creating other centerpieces: for over 40 tables! OMG: my little shop & apartment is full of glitter, feathers, masks, & other party stuffs.  Event planning is not something I had ever thought I would get into, but when this company contacted me, I couldn't help but say yes : )  I got to build some pieces that have been on the back-burner for awhile now, & work with some of the amazing performers & artists from Carnevale 2012, along with some new faces.  It should be quite the party: looking forward to seeing everything come together.  More pics to come...

Amber

New Trophies-Show & Tell :)

Just finished up some new trophies; they will ship out tomorrow :)

They were commissioned by a web & software development company: these are their Innovation award: being presented to a team that just got a patent for something really high-tech (I'm not very high tech, so have no idea)     2 will be shipped to Seattle & the other 4 are going all the way to Bulgaria :)

 

I'm loving how they turned out; a bit different, but I think they look pretty cool!

Just wanted to share :)

Amber

Welding & Fabrication Pics

On Friday, the Framed Network crew came to my little shop for an interview & sneak peek into the fabrication process.  I will be making custom trophies for the first ever F-Awards: homering the very best of the best photographers from all over the world :)

 They are putting together a little video for promotion, so I got to be a movie star for the day...

These are a few snaps taken in my shop :)

Welding looks so cool in photos, yes? ; )

Thanks so much to (queen) Nena Earl for the pics & for getting me involved in the project.

More progress pic coming soon!

Hope everyone is having a nice relaxing weekend & staying warm :)

Amber

Chill'n with Gold Chicken...

This morning, while waiting for the film crew to arrive for my interview with the Framed Network... 

 The little Gold Chicken came in to visit: she thinks she owns the house; prances in every time the door is open ; ) But, she just likes to hang out; settles down next to me & takes a nap---it's so cold out right now, that I can't help but let her stay in for a bit to warm up...

Cute, eh??   She is a heritage bantam breed: lays little eggs about 1/2 the size of normal chicken egg.  

& she is less than 1/2 the size of a normal chicken; so cute!  At the moment, I have 2 bantams; the other is grey--not quite as social as Gold Chicken (ya--I'm not very good with chicken names...black chicken, grey chicken, red chicken, Mr. Rooster, etc..)

I'm hoping to add a few more bantams to the flock this spring---I love the little eggs & they are less destructive in the garden.  At the moment, I have 2 banties & 5 "normal" sized chickens including the rooster. Plus, 2 ducks & 3 cats :)  I love having the organic eggs--I keep the chicken eggs & sell the duck eggs: hoping to add a few lady ducks in the spring too. 

 The duck eggs are great for baking & some people really love the flavor plus those who are allergic to chicken eggs often can substitute duck eggs instead;  but I prefer the chicken eggs. At the moment, the duck eggs pay for feed for everyone, so it's a great trade-off;  & the ducks are a crack-up to watch roam the property looking for bugs & slugs & they are hardier than chickens; her laying has not slowed a bit during the cold weather :)  Hoping to add 3 Runner-hens this spring, plus at least 2 more bantam chickens: the duck eggs would continue to pay for feed for everyone & with a few more chickens, I would have enough to share with visitors, neighbors, etc :)

It's quite the little farm we have here, but I love it!

Looking forward to spring...

Amber

New Steel Trees

Today, I received a whole grove of pretty steel trees :)

These are actually garden stakes; each tree is 3 feet tall, made from 10 gauge reclaimed steel.

The design actually came from a public art proposal I did about 2 years ago; the project never went anywhere, but I loved the look of these curly, art-nouveau inspired trees.  So, I decided to turn them into garden stakes to start with; also working on some wall panels that will feature a whole grove of different trees in contrasting metals, & some centerpieces for an event--trees in polished aluminum.

Anyway, the garden stakes are available on my Etsy shop;

http://www.etsy.com/shop/REFINERII

Enter the coupon code: Tree23 to receive free shipping (US only)

Amber

My Sign-another Show & Tell

This is my sign :)

 

I realized that I never did give it a proper introduction here on the blog.  It was made just in time for it's big debut at Art in the Park, then was seen at Carnvele & now adorns the front of my little work-shop :)

It's about 5 feet wide, & not so easy to carry around, but I love it!

The shapes are taken from this year's collection of pieces & re-worked into a new design: love the contrast of aluminum & copper...  And I'm looking forward to the steel aging a bit this winter in the weather: I would love to see a bit more of a rusty patina :) 

 The whole thing is held together with nuts & bolts: I do have an obsession for hardware, lol  : )

I'm thinking about adding some tiny led lights to illuminate everything at night...but that's another 5 minute project for another day. 

For now, I love seeing it as I drive up to the shop & walking past it every morning--it inspires me to get in the shop & create more : )

This year is starting off good; busy already!  I am helping coordinate a huge company party & doing most of the decor for the event, & working on a few new trophy orders, plus lots of other stuff in the works.

Stay tuned for a sneak peek of the party centerpieces I'm making--polished aluminum trees, with hanging glass candle-holders----so much fun!

Happy Monday : )

Amber

Show & Tell---new trophy

 

The very first trophy of 2013--made for the Utah Valley Home Builders Association.  This is the 3rd (maybe even 4th) trophy I have made from them; they present one every year to the president of the association as a thank-you for a year of service to the organization.

This one is made up of a steel I-beam section, misc recyled hardware, & nails that are wired together for a nail-gun :)  The acrylic plaque adds the finishing touch; thanks to Ray at Rogue Design Syndicate.

Trophies have become a big part of my biz this last year & I'm thrilled: they are fun to make & I love being able to create something unique & special for keepsakes :)

In the works right now--a perpetual trophy for an ultimate Frisbee league, the Framed Awards, & designs for Fusion 2013.  Oh; & something grande for Carnevale, as well ; )

So far, 2013 is staring off busy & full of new opportunities; I'm hoping its a good sign of the year to come...

 Amber

New Address

New Address

Refinerii.net will now by my little corner of the internet. 

Why the change?  Well, a few months back I made a big ooops: I thought my domain hosting was set to auto-renew, but it wasn't...  I got some emails right before it happened & was busy & didn't bother to open them, thinking it was just promotional stuff, as usual.  Well: within an hour of my .com expiring, someone in Japan had scooped it up & had a site up already---it's blue with a bird photo & a bunch of Japanese characters.   Since then, I have been getting a ton of emails in Japanese--I assume these are offers to buy back my domain at an inflated price. 

And, I owned refinerii.org, .net, .biz, etc... A few of them, I let go, because I didn't want to continue to pay for them.  Funny thing; as soon as they started expiring, I got a bunch of offers to sell them back to me; from anywhere between $500-$2000.  AND: some were offers for the domains that I did renew; I got a couple emails stating that someone had bought out the .org & .net: which I had renewed already: & they tried to "sell" them back to me.

Lesson learned: stay on top of your domains & internet stuffs... Fortunately, I had not invested a bunch of money in SEOs, etc: so I can start over without too much harm.  But it is annoying that the traffic I did build up over the last few years at .com will go to some site in Japanese that probably isn't even real.

New year, new beginnings... :)

Lots of new changes coming in 2013; this is just the beginning.

Cheers!  To new adventures, new projects, & new beginnings!

Amber

 

Carnevale 2013

Mark your calendars!  June 15th this year--plans are already underway :)

All the magic, performances, fire, & more, along with gourmet treats & specialty drinks.

Be sure to like the Carnevale Facebook page for the latest updates on performers, menu, plans & more:

Carnevale on Facebook

Amber

2013 day 1

I'm looking forward to new adventures this year.  And a bit glad to close the book on 2012: there were lots of great things I got to be a part of & cool projects---RAW, an article in MaryJane's Farm Magazine,  Boise Fashion Week, a NASCAR trophy, being chosen for the Boise World Trade Center Memorial project, Carnevale 2012, the opening of Kleiner Park, and more.. But, there were a lot of mistakes & misses too: loosing refinerii.com, missed deadlines, costly miscommunications that lead to do-overs & wasted materials & time, wind turbine failures, last minute deliveries, & much more...

Last night, we celebrated the new year with a bonfire party at the Refinerii shop; we torched the Christmas trees, & enjoyed good company, food & drinks---it was a last minute throw-it-together thing, but I think it might just turn into a new tradition :)

It was the perfect end to the holiday madness & I must say: I had a much better time under the stars than fighting the crowds downtown. It was cold, but toasty warm next to the fire & nice & warm in the shop where we turned the work tables into the buffet/bar & everyone gathered around the shop stove :)

Already on the books for this year; planning/decor for a corporate event--not something I have ever even thought about, but the opportunity came up & I said yes :)  -- designing a trophy for an Ultimate Frisbee League -- fabrication & install of the WTC Memorial -- Carnevale 2013: June 15th this year: mark you calendars ; ) -- new designs, new ideas, etc

A few of my resolutions include:

 getting back into my routine of working out 

figure out how to get/stay organized

create something every day

get the chicken run fenced before the thundering horde can destroy all my plants this spring

check my phone messages more than once a week....

and a few others ; )

Hope your holidays were happy & best wishes for 2013!

Amber