DIY Felt Sugar Skull Workshop

Join us on this evening, August 1st, from 6-8pm for our newest workshop– a fun, fuzzy take on traditional sugar skulls. We’ll be using colorful pieces of felt, sequins, and a few embroidery stitches to create our own felt sugar skulls! COST: $15 All Materials and Wine Included!

Don't live in San Diego?  No problem!  These Felt Sugar Skull DIY Kits are available online for only $7!  Not really the crafty type?  These felt cuties are available assembled too!

Giveaway: Hand-tooled Leather Clutch

We’re giving away one of our beautiful, hand-tooled leather clutches to one lucky winner who enters our little giveaway contest! This red clutch is handmade and hand-tooled with flowers, includes a long strap, and is a $175 value.

Here’s how to enter:

You can complete one of these or all five to win (the more you enter the greater your chances!):

1. Like us on Facebook. Already like us? You’re already entered!  Just leave us a comment letting us know below in the comment section below. 

2. Follow us on Pinterest and pin the picture of the clutch to one of your boards. Leave a link to the board you pinned in the comments section.

3. Follow us on Instagram and leave your username in the comment section. 

4. Vote for us on the San Diego A List for Best Gift Shop and leave your username in the comment section.
5.  Visit our website and let us know what product you would like to see in our next GIVEAWAY!

This contest ends next Wednesday (July 24^th) at 12:00am! Good luck!

Lucha LOVE

We're getting inspired and feeling the Lucha love here at Casa Artelexia with our new Super Lucha Libre and Mascara de Pelea fabric by Alexander Henry. We absolutely LOVE Lucha Libre and have several fun products in-store and online, from cards and posters, to figurines, stickers and more! 

images: Luchadores 1,2,3,4,

New Fabric In-Store and Online!

It's finally arrived!  Check out our new Alexander Henry fabric HERE.  Get 15% off your fabric order when you enter coupon code DIYBAG at checkout.

Paper Flowers Crowns

So happy to announce that our paper flower crowns are back in stock!  Adjustable to fit both children and adults.  Pictured below we have little Lucca Valentine wearing one - isn't she just the cutest?!  See more of Lucca here.  Get $2 off your crown when you enter LUCCA at checkout.

Thanks Tori for the picture!

DIY Decoupaged Clay Pot

Here at Casa Artelexia, we’ve come up with a little project to help you bring your garden indoors. We’ve taken some of our own fabric and decoupaged a clay pot using mod podge. So if you need a break from the pre-summer heat, or just want to try a fun, quick project, follow these steps to creating your own colorful fabric pot. 

You’ll need:

- a basic clay pot

-your favorite fabric

-scissors

-mod podge

-a paintbrush

What to do:

1.     Choose the fabric you want to use for your pot

2.     Flip your pot upside down and begin brushing mod-podge onto it: mod-podge the bottom and sides

3.     Begin placing your fabric onto the pot, smoothing it out so it sticks to the mod-podge

4.     Work your way down the sides, brushing on mod-podge completely over the fabric and adhering your fabric 

5.     Flip your pot right side up, mod-podge inside of the rim and adhere the fabric approx 1-2 inches into the inside of your pot an cut.  

6.     Wait for your pot to dry!

     Need fabric? Visit us online and get 15% all fabric when you enter coupon code DIYPLANTER.  Offer expires June 12th, 2013.

This DIY was inspired by Pinterest - Full tutorial here

Moving SALE

San Diego Museum of Art: Vochol

Going on now at the San Diego Museum of Art - This 1990 Beetle was covered in 2,277,000 beads applied by eight artisans from two Huichol families, who finished their work in late 2010.  While you are there make sure to check out the Mexican Modern Paintings from the Andres Blaistein Collection.

What is Huichol?  Descendents of the Aztec, the Huichol or Wixáritari are an indigenous ethnic group of western central Mexico, living in the Sierra Madre Occidental range in the Mexican states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas, and Durango.  They are best known to the larger world as the Huichol; however, they refer to themselves as Wixáritari ("the people") in their native Huichol language.  For the Huichol, yarn painting is not only an aesthetic or commercial art form.  The symbols in these paintings are sprung out of Huichol culture and its shamanistic traditions.  The yarn paintings were originally used as offerings at their religious sites.  From the small beaded eggs and jaguar heads to the modern detailed yarn paintings in psychedelic colors, each is related to a part of Huichol tradition and belief.   The beaded art is a relatively new innovation and is constructed using glass, plastic or metal beads pressed onto a wooden form covered in beeswax.  Common bead art forms include masks, bowls and figurines.  Like all Huichol art, the bead work depicts the prominent patterns and symbols featured in the Huichol religion.  Peyote is a focal point for their ceremonies, and their colorful beadwork and yarn work reflects a reverent and symbiotic relationship with nature.

Where can you view and purchase Huichol pieces? Casa Artelexia, of course! ;)

{Photo: Imelda Mediana}

Fabric Love

Hi there!  I'm so excited to share with you some new fabric swatches that I found last week.  They are all very Mexican inspired and will fit in perfectly with the new store.  Aren't they great?!  I'm thinking of  reupholstering some chairs, making pillows, napkins and tablecloths.  What would you make with this fabric?  Which one is your favorite? I'd love to hear!

 

Change of Address

We have been busy bees over here prepping for our NEW LOCATION!   Yes, lots of changes this coming year.  Casa Artelexia is proud to announce that we will be moving across the street to a much larger location.  In addition to what we have now, we will also carry furniture (both funky and traditional rustic), lighting, tons of textiles, books, offer custom design services, a gallery space, and lots more!! Our space is very empty and in need of lots of love, care and color!  Here are a few pictures of inspiration for the new space. What would you like to see more of?  We would LOVE to hear!

{Photos: Here}

Advent Calendar: Day 13 (And a Giveaway!)

Hello there!  We are excited to share with you that we will be giving away this adorable hand-made, hand-painted nativity scene to one lucky winner.  To enter our giveaway please LIKE our New Facebook Page (click here).  A winner will be chosen at random on December 16th and mailed out just in time for Christmas.  Want to purchase one, click here for pricing and info.  Good luck!

Easter + Folk Art = Unique Gift Ideas from Casa Artelexia!

Looking for a unique gift for family, friends and hosts this Easter Season? Stop by to browse our selection and save!  In celebration of this holy month, from today until April 30th, all the crosses in-store will be 30% off. These beautiful crosses make great decorations for the home during your Easter celebration.  Open from 10-5 Tues. - Sat. and 11-4 Sundays.  2419 Kettner Blvd., San Diego

Did you know that Wednesday is Facebook friend appreciation day?

Happy Wednesday!  Did you know that Wednesday is Facebook friend appreciation day here at Casa Artelexia?  Facebook friends can enjoy 15%  off their entire purchase in-store and 10% off online (discount code FB10)! Here are a few shots from around the store for you to enjoy!  I love this one above of the luchador and his son.  Such a sweet moment.  What's your favorite image? 

Vintage Senorita

Virgin of Guadalupe

 Yolanda Romero

 Paper Mache Doll

 Otomi Fabric

El Diablo

Become our friend on Facebook HERE!

Don't You Just LOVE Mexican Art?!?!

Hello!  I thought that I would brighten up your slightly chilly and overcast San Diego day with these colorful pictures from around the store.  Hope you like them! 

People always love this Day of the Dead version of Frida Kahlo because as you can see she is "blessed" in the bosom department.  Her teeth, not so much.

I love this handmade fabric doll of Frida Kahlo and think that it would be so cute in a children's room.  One day, if and when I have a child, I want his or her room to be eclectic and would probably have a lot of handmade pieces from around the world like this one.  

Milagros hearts are perfect for any occasion.  Truly one of my favorite pieces that we carry and the only thing that I have in my home from the store.

This little Day of the Dead figurine always make me think of Guns' n Roses.

I think that I am going to enlarge this picture as part of my security "system" and add the words "I'm Watching YOU.  Don't Steal!"  What do you think?  Too much??? :) 

I love this sweet little nicho with a "non-typical" image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.  It makes me think of  "The Shack" written by William P. Young, where God presents himself in a "non-typical" form to a man in need. 

Who doesn't love a coconut head!

This image makes me long for summer, a good vacation, some mariachi music and a margarita. 

I'm absolutely in LOVE with images of the Virgin of Guadalupe.  I find them to be so beautiful and calming.  I've even decided to create a line of handmade cards with her image which we will start carrying in the store.  

Hope you liked the pictures from Casa Artelexia.  Mi Casa Es Su Casa!

Hello from Mexico!

Hola!  Andres here, Elexia's father, business partner and buyer for Casa Artelexia.  Here are some pictures from my travels thus far.  I've been here 2 days and already have met with some really fascinating artisans.   Stay tuned for more pictures and stories from my buying trip when I return next week. - Andres