Happy 3rd Birthday Shae Shae!

What’s the point in owning a bunch of princess costumes if you can’t get dressed up in them with your sisters for your nieces 3^rd birthday?

Much love to my crazy family, and even more to my dear niece Shae Shae!

Our sweet little booger is 3 years old!!!

Xoxo

Beebop

Princess Sisters!

Table set-up

Enough presents?

Birthday girl insists on doing her own eye sparkles

Seeing double

Costume Box we put together for Shaela's present, hand painted by Bapa with love!

Daddy Dragon

Mumma Madame Butterfly

Love you Bethy Belle! xoxo Your daughter is as dear as you are <3

Squamish Live 2013

Around about June I received a phone call asking me if I would be interested in volunteering to face paint at the Squamish Live music festival for the We Heart Art booth.

The We Heart Art Project is a charity that brings fully funded art back into the school system, something I am very passionate about. As a school child I was lucky to have fully funded music and art programs in my schools, and it has benefited me immeasurably. There is no question that these programs should be fully funded by the government just like the more academic subjects are, to create a holistic, inclusive and creative society where all learning types are fostered and valued. But I digress…

I HAD THE BEST TIME! I am so glad that I said YES.

Many thanks to Nadi Fantastic (she’s so fantastic!), Michael Gunn, their beautiful girls and amazing friends for their generosity, hospitality and all around awesomeness!

The creative vibe was a buzz all around the booth, where kids and adults were encouraged to come and purchase a cape, make a wind ring to dance and run with, or get their faces/bodies painted (all proceeds going to the We Heart Art Project). The festival goers were so supportive, and left coloured head to toe.

I was so happy with my work for the two days I was there, and I celebrated each evening by dancing to some truly amazing bands. From the innovative and rocking sounds of Queens of the Stone Age (Homme, I love you) to the gypsy rock of Gogol Bordello; capping the festival off with the sounds and sights of Pretty Lights.

Totally mesmerizing. <3                

And so much more! But my memory has now turned into a maze of delights that even I cannot navigate. I promise to take more photos next year so that you will be able to SEE all the beauty, and not rely on my shady recollection. Needless to say I can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Xoxo

Beebop

Vancouver Folk Fest 2013

For years my sisters and I have been talking about having a festival booth. Something to sell goods fit for modern fairies, mermaids, goddesses, and pirates. Maybe modern trolls too.

My older sister Ali and I had tried once when I was 10 and she was 12 to sell our homemade hippy crafts at a flea market in Nanaimo, but our hand carved leather hair clips and miniature sacks of carefully collected stones were no competition for $3 VHS’.

After more than a decade, we were ready to try it again! This time selling Arabic treasures (brought over by my sister from Egypt), Isis wings, neon glass beaded bracelets, face painting and hair wraps. Our booth was beautiful and a total success. We made so many people happy, and, not to toot our own horns, but brought a unique edge to the Vancouver Folk Fest Bazaar.

A good friend of mine, Laura (also manager at Kaboodles toy store) also helped us out, and brought along some of her beautiful hand crocheted works, which you can check out on her Etsy site, www.etsy.com/walkthetwine.

We learned so much, and have a much better grasp on the whole thing than we did a year ago. Let’s do it again!

Xoxo

 Beebop

Ali sporting my new design

Evil Fairy Queen face paint

Pink Cheetah/Tiger sisters

Hair Wrap!

Our booth, day 1

Miss Laura! My favorite face paint guinea pig!

Canada Day 2013

Canada Day came and went almost two months ago now, but with the business of the summer I have had no time to post the lovely photos that were taken that day.

So, here they are, in all their Canada day glory!

I was so pleased that the amazingly talented artist Nicholas Frenette was able to join us all the way from the Comox Valley, were he has most recently moved to pursue his fine arts career. Funnily enough he was visiting at exactly the same time another body painter who works specifically with black light paints (my new obsession) was staying with me, Rachel Deboer. She regaled us with her tales of the world body painting championships in Austria- and since hearing her talk about them I have been desperate to go.

Perhaps Nicholas and I will start some sort of fundraiser to get us there this year, because I have no doubt as a team we would kick it out of the park!

Thanks again for making it over for the July 1^st festivities Nicholas, it wouldn’t have been the same without your beautiful work.

Enjoy the pics!

xoxo

Beebop

Butterfly by Nicholas

Canada Butterfly by Me

Cyborg by Nicholas

Whale a la Nicholas

Side Butterfly by Me

Fiesta Day in Point Grey 2013

Thanks to Kaboodles toy store for having me face paint during the Fiesta Day parade! The families on 10th are always so enthusiastic and lovely, I had a great time. The general consensus among the kids was that the best part of the parade is when those in the marching ensemble 'throw stuff' to the bystanders. I could not agree more, it breaks the fourth wall and makes those standing on the side walk feel as if they too are a part of the pizazz. 

I will admit though, it is hard to paint a kids face while all they want to do is turn around and look at the passing police cars, baton twirlers, and decorated vehicles. But, as often happens, the kids' love of face painting helped them maintain their resolve to stay still. Good job guys! 

Here are a few pictures from the day!

May Long Weekend 2013

There is no better way to end this lovely weekend than sitting in my apartment and blogging to you all while the evening sun filters in through my front window and I prepare myself for a Sunday BBQ in South East Van.

For the past two years I have been working for a client who throws the absolute best parties in town. This year it took place at Southlands Heritage Farm, a magical and earthy space home to community markets and outreach. But, most importantly, home to PONIES!

The kids at the party were treated to pink lemonade, pony rides, nature tours, a complete candy bar with rainbow butterfly lollipops, a chocolate fountain, rainbow birthday cake and face painting at this Rainbow Butterfly Fairy themed birthday party. As an addition to my face painting services, I also brought along hair ribbon to braid into kids hair (my new party trick, they loved it!). I wore my gold petticoat, rainbow bustle (purchased at Just Imagine), little blue fairy wings and did my hair up with ribbons and flowers. 

And, of course, wore my cowboy boots.

As an additional  treat, I ran into the kids that I nanny for while there (they were visiting the farmers market). That fact, mixed with all the smiling faces I saw and the gentle sounds of the banjo being played by one of the Southlands gentlemen as I packed up my paints at the end of the gig, may have contributed to making this the best kids party I have ever been to.

It really was a beautiful and impeccably planned event, exemplified  by the bouquet given to me at the end, one of which sat on every table at the party (pictured above).

A pleased Spiderman at the Kids Market today

Today I face painted at the Kids Market while hanging out with Rainbow the Dragon, JAck the Clown, and Rusty the Clown. Here are some photos from today too!

 

Fairy Princess tiara

 

Jack the Clown, balloon master!

Rainbow butterfly

Unicorn (original design by Nicholas Frenette)

Rusty and Jack!

 

I hope that all of your May Long weekends were as filled with joy as mine was, 

Until next time
Clown hugs and butterfly kisses,
Love,
Beebop the Clown

Waleed's TRaSH PaCK Birthday Party!

For those of you who are unaware, Trash Packs contain trashies: adorable rotting characters coming directly to you from the garbage can. Researching and planning for this party was a blast, because it was all news to me. Not to say that there weren't garbage themed toys in my childhood (Garbage Pail Kids anyone?) but the fact that refuse as toys never gets old is fantastic.  

Ooey gooey, stinky slimy- all things that are right up my alley!

The YUCK factor and kids go hand in hand.

My outfit

Trashies!

We started the party with making our own trash puppets (supplies purchased at Urban Source). The characters that they created were at times intricate, at times haphazard, and all creatively trash-tastic.

Jack the Clown entertained the non crafters with balloons, and there was a bouncy castle as well. Between all the stations, over 25 kids were endlessly entertained. The decor was amazing, Waleed's mom having had the BRILLIANT idea to hang all of the empty Trash Pack trash cans that belong to Waleed (he has TONS!) from ribbon, with colour coordinated helium balloons (orange, yellow and blue) and a 'Scrappy Birthday' trash themed banner.

 For games we did a slime race (they loved it, it was so messy!) and a trash bag race (think potato sack race).

SLIME! Cornstarch and Lime Koolaid (smells nice, and dyes your fingers less than food colouring)

The party ended with the Pinata, which I themed specially (Sore Berry is Waleed's favorite Trash Pack character).

Whew! What a great time! Thanks to the family for having us at their event, Jack the Clown and I had a wonderful time. Bring on the trashy parties, I am now Trash Pack prepared! 

Until Next time, 

Love, 

BeeBop

xoxo

Spring has Sprung!

 Spring has sprung! And aren't we all just a little more cheery for it!? The ground has finally thawed, and the chill is gone from the air. Flowers flower everywhere! <3

Print out this Easter themed colouring sheet, and count them eggs!

Love, Beebop

xoxo

Spring time Spidey (note the awesome green fingernails!)

Purple princess tiara

Puppy! (me thinks it is a Yorkie)

Spring time flowers

Ladybug Princess (as per request)

Glittery Hello Kitty (always a favorite!)