There is a small annual faculty craft fair at the

Dwight Englewood School: 315 east palisade avenue,englewood NJ 07631 on Sunday December from 2-5pm

that I participate in - if you're around swing by and get some one of a kind, hand-made gifts!

Some of my new Mai Sweetshop line products for Craft Fair '09New Mai Sweetshop Lipgloss!The return of the hot-cocoa ring!The Classic CupcakeThese rings were so popular last year they sold out in the first hour and half!

Tis year I also made some ZAKKA style cases, that I like to call the Bunny Pouch! Direct from one of my favorite craft books Zakka Sewing comes this bunny case pattern. I made 15 different fabric styles. Their tales are the closed sipper pull, they fit pencils and pens, sewing supplies, your glasses, etc.,

Zakka Style Bunny Pouches by m.diazOne of my faves...might keep this one...more Bunny Pouch styles

So if you're around Bergen County NJ -stop by! If not,

NO WORRIES you can always contact me via this site or check out my ETSY shop for pieces your interested in!!

- Amarettogirl

For my cousin Tai's Birthday this year I tested out a new prototype for my MAI Sweetshop Line - a giant faux cupcake container! It has one major compartment for a fairly large jewelry gift (big enough for a watch) and a secret small top container great for a pair of earrings or a ring.

Cupcake container by marisol diaz container open

It was the perfect gift box to house some of my latest Mai Sweetshop gifts, a strawberry-shortcake-on-a-silver-platter necklace and a cupcake ring!

Tai opening her B'day gift at Alice's Tea Cup - Another great Tea House!Aerial Cupcake view

Unfinished Cupcake Display Doll

The last time I had a craft fair for my Mai Sweet Shop, I really wanted to make a Marie Antoinette Display doll to house my cupcake carousel and never found the time. A while back when I was browsing through cyberspace, I saw a gorgeous old porcelain display doll and I never forgot it. I went to A.C. Moore and bought a generic plastic doll. I plucked her legs off (sorry legs). Using a Dremel I cut the pelvic area off and drilled holes along the bottom edge of the torso.

I drilled holes with a Dremel I used strong wire and pipe cleaners to make the cage There will only be cupcakes in the open cage...the bird is free Unfinished Doll This is the face the doll came with that I plan to alterpattern for satin skirt The fabric and color palette for her dress Buttons that show the dress color palette Stay tuned to see how she turns out. I think she would make an excellent table centerpiece too - maybe you can make your own! Let me know if you do!

The Mai Sweet Shop debut and craft fair was a great success!!!

Mai Sweet Shop Craft fair table

During the D-E craft fair I was able to compete with the 'real' food (which is generally where people tend to gravitate towards) because the sweet cakes look SO edible.

Mai Sweet Shop Cake Containers and Candles

At first, I was so dissappointed that I wasn't able to make my open-skirt Marie Antoinette Doll as a table center piece, or make more of this and more of that- due to lack of time- but in the end there couldn't have been more, since the table was jammed-pack-full! I worked on products up until two hours before the fair! When I saw the table all laid out with Mai Sweet Shop stuff I was so happy and satisfied!

My student Isabella Whitney & the Mai Cupcakes I had a student who I mentor assist me and she rocked the fair! She even sold some of her own wares, you can check out her stuff on Etsy too under IsabellaWhitney!! Go Izzy girl! So people are still hunting me down and finding what I have left so my supply is practically all gone! By tomorrow I should know exactly what hasn't been staked out and claimed. What ever is left will surely be available in my Esty shop.

MAI rings!MAI Barrettes!MAI Whipped Cream & Cherry Rings!MAI Bags!MAI Hot Cocoa and Mellows Ring

Sweet Delights, Introducing Mai Sweet Shop Cakes!

My latest crafting venture has taken me into an entirely new realm thanks to yet another fantastic Japanese craft book that I found on making replicas of cupcakes, icing and candy with soft clay. Though these are a great departure from my usual work, here are some 'sweet' containers I made this past Thanksgiving weekend. Everything you see- short of the tin containers are not edible- but fortunately non-toxic if you try! (hee-hee) I think they're fantastic little storage boxes for the truly treasured jewelry in your life! I was so inspired by my trip to Paris, Baroque and Rococo time periods and Marie Antoinette,that I call these Mai Sweet Shop cakes, M-A-I stands for Marie-Antoinette-Inspired & 'Sweet Shop' for what my studio currently looks like! Each cake has their own personal name, so today meet Sophie, Natasha, Sherry and Maybelline. Enjoy!

Mai Sweet Shop Cake, Sophie -double container by marisol diazMai Sweet Shop Container Sophie, opened once by marisol diaz Mai Sweet Shop Cake, Sophie, opened twice - by marisol diazMai Sweet Shop Cake, Natasha, rectangular container by marisol diaz Mai Sweet Shop Container, Natasha - opened by marisol diaz Mai Sweet Shop Container, Sherry, rectangular container by marisol diazMai Sweet Shop Cake, Maybelline, double container by marisol diaz

I have made Mai Sweet Shop barettes, bobbi pins, rings and charms! I'm loving it! I'll be a featured seller at the craft fair at the Dwight Englewood School, in Englewood NJ during their Winter Arts Festival SUNDAY DECEMBER 14TH, from 2-5pm with a whole table of no-calorie goodies. You should stop by! I will be posting any remainder items on sale at my etsy shop immediately after! So if you're looking for that extraordinary gift box and are interested contact me or stay tuned! Let me know what you think!