Custom Order Deadline for TAKE TIME Jewelry

There's still time to order your Custom TAKE TIME piece! Deadline is December 15!

Custom orders are taken on a first come, first serve basis. How do you submit your custom order?
1. Email us at taketime@briannesbasics.com
2. Follow our instructions to submit your deposit (min $5, orders paid full receive priority).
3. Once your deposit/payment is received, you'll receive an email confirmation as to when your expected ship date will be.
4. LAST DAY to submit a custom order for domestic delivery is December 15 for mailed and local orders (within a 30 mile radius).
5. Last day for international orders is December 5.

There are still a few slots left, so get your custom order in today!

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Rock N Roll Holiday Boutique Part 2

Join us for another awesome ROCK N ROLL HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE!

DATE: Saturday, December 15, 2012
TIME: 12-5pm
LOCATION: DiPiazza's Restaurant & Lounge; 5205 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90804; (562) 498-2461

Brianne's Basics will once again be selling our TAKE TIME Jewelry, which was a HUGE hit at the first boutique!

* Santa will be on hand to have your picture taken, all proceeds will go to charity
* Photo booth fun will also be available for you and your friends to capture this experience!
Art, Christmas Decor, Jewelry, Handmade Crafts, Vintage Clothing & More!

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Meet Me At The Depot!

Come meet me at the Long Beach Depot For Creative Reuse and do some creative shopping!

I will be at the LB Depot on three separate dates this December! Come by and purchase your Take Time Jewelry or a copy of my charity memoir, My Work Of Heart, browse around, and find some unique and fun gifts!

LOCATION: 320 Elm Avenue, Long Beach CA 90803

DATE: Saturday, December 1
TIME: 12 - 4 p.m.

DATE: Saturday, December 8
TIME: 4 - 8 p.m. (during Second Saturday ArtWalk)

DATE: Friday, December 21
TIME: 10am - 4pm

Come join us, avoid the mall, & find UNIQUE & fun gifts!

The Depot is currently collecting new socks for the Socks For Souls Drive, benefitting the folks at the MHA Village. If you bring in 3 pairs of brand new socks, you get a sweet discount from us!

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HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE 11/29

Join us for a unique Holiday Boutique combining Rock n' Roll & Shopping! Can't get much better than that!

DATE: Thursday, November 29
TIME: 5 - 8 p.m.
LOCATION: diPiazza Restaurant and Lounge; 5205 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach CA 90804

Brianne's Basics will be there with our Take Time Jewelry!

Plus you'll find Art, Christmas Decor, Jewelry, Handmade Crafts, Vintage Clothing, & MORE! Guests receive a FREE glass of champagne.

Come join us, avoid the mall, & find UNIQUE & fun gifts!

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Models Needed!

We're in search of a couple of models willing to model our TAKE TIME Jewelry.

No model experience is necessary! We just need a couple of ladies who are interested in modeling our jewelry. You need to be local to Long Beach/Belmont Shore area. It will only take about 15-30 minutes to take the photos.

We just need a couple of ladies who are interested in helping out our Charity Craft Business. Models will be receive a small compensation for their time, which should only take about 15-30 minutes. We are not paying a large amount, just a small amount to thank you for helping us out.

If you're interested, please email us at heather@briannesbasics.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

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BLACK FRIDAY GRATITUDE SALE

We all have something to be thankful for! Show your gratitude with OOAK Take Time jewelry with our BLACK FRIDAY SALE Nov 22-25!

* All jewelry on sale: Necklaces $10-15 (reg. $15-20, bracelets $10 (reg. $15), keychains $7 (reg. $10)
* Buy ANY 2 necklaces, get a FREE keychain!
* Buy (2) necklaces regularly priced $20, get a FREE Carved Wooden Jewelry Box!
* Spend $50 or more & receive a FREE signed copy of my charity memoir, My Work Of Heart

PLUS, all orders get a FREE muslin gift bag, handstamped with an inspirational message!

NOW OPEN: Take Time Jewelry on Etsy --> www.etsy.com/shop/taketimejewelry

We'll be at a HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE on November 29, so be sure to get your orders in now!

The Fine Print: To qualify for the discounts/free gifts, purchases must be ordered & paid for between 11/22 12:01am PST & 11/25 11:59pm PST. Discounts may be combined at the owner's discretion. International shipping is an additional fee. Not valid on previously ordered items. For additional information & questions, please email us at info@briannesbasics.com

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"Take Time"... A new way to reflect

INTRODUCING... "Take Time", my new jewelry line to promote an attitude of gratitude!

So often we're too consumed with our daily lives and responsibilities, and we forget to TAKE TIME to breathe, to reflect, to be grateful. Each necklace features a 4 second sand timer hourglass as the centerpiece, which is all you need to give thanks and breathe.

Every single necklace is different. No two are alike. Each necklace is as unique as your life. The majority of our beads and accents are purchased at a thrift store that gives back to local organizations, and then creatively reused and repurposed into these one of a kind necklaces.

These necklaces make the perfect commemorative or holiday gift, or even a treat for yourself!

Each necklace will be posted individually on our website & sold at on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/BriannesBasics with pricing and ordering information. Once the necklace is sold, it's sold! Remember, every one is different!

It only takes a moment to reflect.

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Tess' Hilarious Videos, Starring My Dolls!

Tess & Josh posted a hilarious video this morning, starring my dolls! Check out the silliness that happens when you realize you're a toy!

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Dolls For Josh & Tess

I recently got the privilege of making custom amigurumi dolls for Josh Sussman (Glee, Wizards of Waverly Place, Fish Hooks, and much more) and his equally talented (and hilarious!) girlfriend Tess Hunt.

This was definitely more challenging than past dolls I've done because of one reason: the hair. Josh has very unique and quirky hair, and when you're making a doll in the customer's likeness, you want to capture those little details. I even got Tess' adorable pink streak in her hair!

They both absolutely loved the dolls! They're picking them up from the MTV Movie Awards Gifting Suite (where my MIB amigurumi is being displayed) and Tess said she'll be sending pictures. I can't wait to see what hilarity they get into with dolls! In the meantime, enjoy these pictures I took!

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MTV Movie Awards Gift Suite

Tomorrow, May 31, my handmade OOAK Men In Black amigurumi doll will be on display at the MTV Movie Awards Gifting Suite! It's very exciting, since my husband Ryan will be displaying his book and my charity memoir, My Work Of Heart, will also be on display!

We can't wait to share pictures with you!

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END OF MAY SALE!

It's nearing the end of May so I think it's time for a SALE!

From May 26-29, purchase any personalized doll for $20! You choose the hair color, style, dress color, etc.!

In addition, all amigurumi posted on our Facebook Fanpage are now only $5!!! $10 amis, $7 amis, order any of them for only $5 + actual shipping costs!

To order, email me at orders@briannesbasics.com & we'll respond within just a few hours!

THANK YOU for your support!

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Purchase Your Very Own GLOOM & DOOM!

As seen at the 2012 Oscars Gifting Suite! I'm now offering Gloom & Doom, from the wildly popular graphics by Shannon Justice at LollipopLabs.com, for a limited time only!

These adorable dolls were my display piece for the Oscars Gifting Suite, hosted by WOW Creations, at The IndiExhibit Booth. My dolls were scooped up by George Lazenby who portrayed James Bond in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".

Now you have a chance to own your very own set of Gloom & Doom dolls!

I will be making only 10 sets of these. The set of two dolls will be $30 (free shipping). I will be offering them until March 23, or until supplies run out.

So if you're interested, please email me at heather@briannesbasics.com

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Oscars 2012 Gifting Suite

On Thursday, February 25, we got to participate in the Oscars Gifting Suite, hosted by WOW Creations! Even better, Heather was one of the reps for The IndiExhibit! We met so many great celebrities and press. Not to mention, we met some great vendors and got some amazing goodies.

Here are some of the event photos we took, along with the Official Celebrity Photos, taken by Brianne's Basics founder Heather Nelson.

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Spa Goodies Galore!

We just got a GREAT donation for our online store! Lots of spa goodies!

Bamboo foot file or nail brush, green tea & bamboo bath fizzies, bath confetti fizzies, & Hard Candy lip gloss rings! Look for them on our online store tomorrow! http://shop.briannesbasics.com

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Australia, Here We Come!

In 2012, a fantastic new gallery will be opening is Melbourne, the Karen White Gallery. And our amigurumi will be sold in the gallery when it opens!

The Gallery is being opened by Karen White of Kewzoo Designs. Karen is a fellow member of The IndiExhibit, a big supporter of the arts, & an extraordinary artist herself. I received one of her cards in the American Music Awards swag bag from The Owls Of Kewzoo graphics line. It combines nature & whimsical art in a perfect blend!

Be sure to like her gallery's page for all the latest updates, including her opening date: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-White-Gallery/178541452178856 Ler her know Brianne's Basics sent you!

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NEW PAGES ADDED

Just added a few new pages to our website! Check them out :-)

* Amigurumi: Added information/links on ordering & a slideshow
* Dolls: Added information/links on ordering & a slideshow
* Jewelry: Added information/links on ordering & a slideshow

We also added new pages to our Online Store, including the Jewelry Ordering page and the Add-Ons page.

Also, be sure to check out our Flickr & Tumblr pages for brand new photos, with more being added today!

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Our brand new online store!

We took the plunge & created a brand new online store: http://shop.briannesbasics.com

Why did we create a separate online store? Well, it all comes down to money (seems like most things do!) By having a store on "other" websites, we were being charged ridiculous fees. We are a charity store, and those fees were cutting into the amount we were able to donate. So we figured, why not try to cut out the middle man, that way we have less fees & more to donate!

Go to the site & take a look around! The site is easy to navigate & use. To the left you'll see the pages for each amigurumi price level. To order, you simply choose which amigurumi you want & then click "Add To Cart". You can also leave a "note to seller" letting us know your color preferences.

We hope you enjoy the site, and as always, thank you for your continued support!

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We're Now On Tumblr!

We now have a Tumblr: http://briannesbasics.tumblr.com We'll be updating our tumblr with pictures of works in progress, pictures of our products, events, quotes, anything that we love! So follow us & spread the word :-)

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Miss California Pageant, Here We Come!

The IndiExhibit has been given the opportunity to do the swag bags for the Miss California pageant in January! We're honored to providing gift certificates for the Miss California and Miss California Teen contestants! Good luck to the contestants!

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American Music Awards Gifting Suite!

On November 19, I had the honor of once again representing The IndiExhibit, this time at the American Music Awards Gifting Suite. As always, it was a blast! I got to meet lots of celebs, including Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Chaka Khan, Zach Woodlee (lead choreographer on Glee), & many more. To see all my pictures from the event, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/briannesbasics/

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And The Winner Is...

And the winners of our Amigurumi Opportunity Drawing is...
SHELLEY MAGNUS!
Congrats! She wins a OOAK Rachel doll amigurumi, as seen at the American Music Awards Gifting Suite!

2nd place: Lynne R. (AMAs Gift Pack)
3rd place: Joanna L. (mini AMAs Gift Pack)

All who entered will receive a coupon for our online store!

Thank you all for supporting the Ronald McDonald House!

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Sponsor Spotlight: Carol Creech Studios

I was first introduced to Carol Creech Studio at the 2011 Primetime Emmys Gifting Suite. We had been fellow members of The IndiExhibit for some time, but it was the first time I got to see her artwork in person.

I instantly fell in love.

Carol's artwork perfectly blends reality with whimsy. Her drawing are true to life, as close to a photograph as you can get. Yet the strokes and shading are so blended and soft that you feel as though you're looking at your dream house, not a drawing of your actual house.

About Carol: "I am an artist based in Ann Arbor, MI, and I love to draw! Although a librarian by profession, I have been an artist all of my life. Whether in pencil or pen, I enjoy rendering subjects from the natural world as well as the built environment and have a very detailed style.

In addition to drawing commissioned home and pet portraits for nearly 15 years, I discovered the fascinating world of botanical and natural science illustration and have had the opportunity to take courses through the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Brookside Gardens in Maryland. Pen and ink, graphite pencil, and colored pencil are my favorite media with my most recent botanical works being a combination of ink and colored pencil. I feel that the crisp, delicate lines of fine ink work really help to define a plant or blossom without overpowering it.

Memberships: American Society of Botanical Artists, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators."

Not only does Carol create amazing portraits and nature drawings, she also sells her designs on Zazzle and sells fabrics on Spoonflower. With such a wide variety of merchandise and designs, there truly is something for everyone. Choose an item for the doglover in your life, the crafter, the botanical enthusiast, or even the historian in your family. Commission a home portrait for your grandparents of their childhood home.

Carol's artwork is beyond amazing, and truly appeals to everyone of all ages.

Be sure to visit Carol Creech Studio on Facebook and Twitter, and let her know Brianne's Basics sent you!

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A Call For Sponsors!

Brianne's Basics is now taking sponsors for our blog! We have 3 very affordable options for advertising.

The IndiExhibit shows have been crucial in the success of our business, and in turn crucial to our charity work. We are hoping to generate enough funds to continue doing these amazing shows. Not only are we building our business, but we're helping others build theirs as well.

We have participated in the 2011 Sundance, Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys, and American Music Awards Gifting Suites. In addition, the founder Heather Nelson has repped at the MTV Movie Awards, Primetime Emmys, and American Music Awards Gifting Suites. Our website traffic has spiked more and more every time we participate in these events. As The IndiExhibit gets more well known, so has Brianne's Basics.

So we're putting out a call to our friends, customers, fellow business owners, and charity organizations. Our very affordable sponsorship prices start at $10, and runs for two months. All packages include a blog post highlighting and thanking sponsors immediately following each celebrity gifting suite.

Our business would be NOTHING without the support of YOU. Now we're asking for just a bit more. Thank you for your continued support!

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Win A OOAK Rachel Berry Amigurumi From The 2011 AMAs Gifting Suite!

I am giving away a RACHEL BERRY AMIGURUMI, as seen at The IndiExhibit table at the American Music Awards!

Tickets are $2 each, or 3 for $5.

1st prize: Rachel Berry handmade crochet amigurumi 2nd prize: A gift bag of items from The IndiExhibit members, as given to celebrities at the American Music Awards Gifting Suite Every participant also gets a coupon for my online store.

100% of the proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House. I have a friend who has frequently stayed there while her daughter was in the hospital, and I love what they do.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS, send via Paypal to briannesbasics {at} ymail {dot} com. OR if you live locally, you can purchase tickets by messaging me.

This Rachel Berry doll is one of a kind, and was on display at the American Music Awards. As seen on The Insider, soon to be in ET & US Weekly.

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS at http://www.facebook.com/events/205400822870113/

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An Extra Special Doll For An Extra Special Person

I just spoke with the doll recipient, and she said I can blog it.

The extra special doll is for... LORETTA DEVINE! One of my favorite actresses!

We met at the Primetime Emmys, and she fell in love with my Sue Sylvester doll. She said she crochets, but can never get her stitches perfect like mine LOL A few weeks later, she called about ordering a doll. Out of respect, I never mentioned who the "extra special doll" was for. But I spoke with her tonight about delivery, & she said I can absolutely blog about it.

Ms. Devine is someone I admire, respect, and I'm a fan of. Not only that, she crochets. So creating this doll was an exciting and nerve wracking experience.

So here it is. I wasn't given any details or guidelines, she just told me she wanted a mini doll of her & she knew whatever I came up with would be "wonderful". What an amazing compliment!

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