D.I.Y Snazzy Sunnies

Embellished shades are a must have accessory for every fashion savvy gal! The awesome thing about this project is you can salvage an old pair of sunglasses and upgrade them with random knickknacks for the cost of practically nothing! This is a super easy and fun project, and within thirty minutes you'll have that crazy, eccentric style that you have been thriving for with your customized bad boys. Lets get started!!

What you'll need:
- An old pair of sunglasses
-An assortment of decorative pieces: skulls, bullet cases, rhinestones, faux pearls, and whatever else your heart desires!
-Hot glue gun
-Tweezers

Keep in mind when doing this project that no surface of your glasses is off limits! Feel free to let your creativity run wild! Now to start off your project collect all the small trinkets you want to put on your glasses, I gathered most of my goods over time from local businesses around Denver including Buffalo Exchange, Flossy McGrew's, Oors Trading Post, and random antique stores. I'm certain though that you can find the perfect accessories at your local craft store.

So the process begins! Grab your hot glue gun and squirt a small dot onto the frame of your glasses, take your tweezers and apply your trinket, hold it there for a few seconds until it feels secure. Repeat this process until you have fully embellished sunnies!

Kablam! Now that you have a super rad pair of sunglasses, hit the streets and flaunt your style!

**Editors Note** If you have the extra cash it is recommended that you buy jewelry adhesive instead of hot glue for a maximum lifespan on your newly bedazzled sunglasses.

Artist of the Month- Jonny Broken

Come one come all to Buffalo Exchange @ the Annex to see one of Denver's finest up and coming artist Jonny Broken! His art will be featured on our walls everyday of August!! It's defiantly a sight to see!!!

                                   

                                   

*How would you describe your style of art?
-I feel my style is highly influenced by Nouveau and Cubist compositions. A technical background and interests in sacred geometry influence my aesthetic. Representational elements with an after thought of illusion.

*Can you tell me a bit about your art-making process?
-The sketchbook starts it all. The active autobiography of an artists career. Thumbnail sketches evolve into refined works. Little notes from the past remind me of new ideas. A skill is honed on an old drawing. A memory relived. The sketchbook becomes self inspiring. Integral to developing style.

*What motivates you to create?
- A great euphoric experience envelopes me when I engage in creativity. Honestly I get depressed if I am not practicing or exploring new ideas. Great emotions can be uncovered when one creates. To hold in my hands what was once in my mind is intoxicating. All at once hit with feelings of wonder, pride, joy, relief, satisfaction, and success. Achieved on a daily basis.

*Do you have a strong purpose or goal with your art?
- I want my art to invoke thought in an individual. Not at first glance, but through a multitude of depths. In a world of media bombardment, quick and simple is just entertainment.

*If you had advice for other aspiring artists what would it be?
- Experience as much as you can. What is inspiration without reflection? There are no rules in art. Make them up and dare to live by them.

*Any other words??
-The arts nourish the soul equal to how food and water supply the body. Music, poetry, illustrations, painting, cooking, gardening, printing... work on anything that arises a curiosity to be satisfied. Its one thing to have great tools, its another to use them in concert.

*Buffalo Exchange would like to give a huge thanks to Jonny for allowing his art to spunk up our walls!

Customer Profile- Rene & Tessa

Keep your eyes peeled for these Denver babes, Rene(left) and Tessa(right), as they strut their eccentric style around Denver!

What inspires your style??

-Rene: Music has a huge influence on my style! When listening to a great beat that uplifts my mood, I try and express those emotions into my daily style. Also, I imitate styles I notice on the streets of Denver.

-Tessa: 90's culture has a big impact on the style I portray. I also find my inspiration from a lot of movies that Harmony Korine directed.

Why shop at Buffalo Exchange?

-Rene: I enjoy the fact that I get to trade my old clothes for some new stuff! It's an awesome feeling sending your stuff into the universe and getting some dope shit back!!

-Tessa: I love that Buffalo Exchange has such a varied inventory that compliments the styles of so many different people. Plus I am crazy about the deals I see around here!

What has been your favorite buy here?

Rene: Some bleached, high-waist , Levi shorts! I wear them all the time!
Tessa: Camo docs! They are defiantly a staple accessory in my closet.  


Buffalo Exchange at the Annex wants to give a big thanks to Rene & Tessa for keeping Denver trendy!

Artist of the Month- Bergerbot

Hey all you Denverites!! Are you looking for something fun to do on these long Summer days?? Come cool down at the Buffalo Exchange Annex and check out the sickeningly cute art of Bergerbot!! His art show will be up until the end of July!!!!

*How would you describe your style of art?
-Fun and flavorful. All the cool colors of the late 1980's mixed with all the best flavors from the early 1990's. It's both innocent and suggestive. 

*Can you tell me a bit about your art-making process?
-I live in a magical place that is full of vinyl toys, nostalgia and art. I genuinely paint things that I would want myself. I'll usually buy glitter, start listening to rad music on Spotify, and then just begin spraying paint, bubblegum, and slime everywhere. 

 *What motivates you to create?
-Besides the fact that painting for me is primarily a self therapy, I'd say that I am motivated by the reactions my past works have caused. I enjoy making people smile, laugh and hearing people say, "That's gross".  

*Do you have a strong purpose or goal with your art?
-My primary goal is to remind others of their inner-child. Don't ever forget about him or her. 

 *If you had advice for other aspiring artists what would it be? 
- Never stop creating, and listen to your friends. 

*Any other words??
-Most days you can find me on Instagram taking pictures of my cat's shenanigans, cheeseburgers, or posting ratchet photos of my trap rap group - Trapper Keeper. Let's be friends! @Bergerbot

**Buffalo Exchange would like to thank Jared Berger for allowing us to display his rad art!!**

DIY Flower Crown

A floral crown is an essential accessory that adds instant cuteness to your summer wardrobe. Flower crowns are a classic that have seen a resurgence in popularity recently. You can find them for sale all over, but they cost $20-$80!! It's so fun to make, and is a relatively cheap project. All the supplies for 3 crowns were under $20, and it only took an hour or so to complete.

                                                                                 Supplies Include:

• An assortment of flowers
• Grapevine Wire
• Floral Stem Wrapping Tape
• A variety of different critters, such as bees or dragonflies, or anything else you would like to accessorize with. (found at a local craft store)
• Pliers and wire cutters

Step One: 

• Measure the grapevine wire to fit your head. (I suggest making it a tad bit bigger for a comfortable fit with all your flowers on it.)
• Take your wire cutters and cut the excess wire off.

Step Two:

• Take a single flower and hold it in place with the crown you just made out of grapevine wire. 
• Grab your floral stem wrapping tape and wrap together the flower and the crown till your flower is securely attached to the crown. (Floral tape isn't sticky until you stretch it a little. Hold the tape and flower in place on the crown. Then stretch the tape as you wind it around, being sure to keep the tape taught as you wind.)
• Repeat this step till crown is full.

 Step Three:

• To finalize it grab all your bugs, or other accessories, and attach them to your crown. (My bugs were made out of styrofoam so I stabbed them with a piece of wire and wrapped it around the crown till the bug was in place.)

 Bam!!! Wear this flower crown with anything and instantly look and feel like the goddess you are!

GAY-ER PRIDE 2013

Come down to Buffalo Exchange at the Annex to accessorize your fabulous self for Pride Fest 2013! Once you are looking glamorous, get yo bad self down to the Buffalo Exchange located at 51 Broadway!On Friday June 14th at 7PM , mingle with all the hottest divas in Denver as they compete for prizes in a crosswalk walk-off! After party and fashion show is at the Compound located at 145 N Broadway. Starts at 10PM! Kick off your Pride weekend in style!!!

Artist of the Month- Miche Marcisz

Here's a little interview I did with local artist Miche Marcisz. If you like what you see then come down to Buffalo Exchange at the Annex and get the full 3D show!

How would you describe your style of art?

-My style of art is 3D photography.  It's been around for decades, but not many people have seen examples of it.  It's very rare these days especially because it's harder than ever to get this particular film developed.

*Can you tell me a bit about your art-making process?

-I've always had an eye for photography & it runs in my family.  Since I've had the 3D camera, I started looking at subjects in a whole new way.  I find myself saying:  "That would look really good in 3D!" 

*What motivates you to create? 

-When you see a great subject to capture, it's like an immediate creative moment.  The feeling is happening now & their won't be another chance; the mood will escape.

*Do you have a strong purpose or goal with your art?

-I like to have people respond to my photos & maybe look at photography in a new way.

*If you had advice for other aspiring artists what would it be?

-My advice would be to surprise yourself & do something out of the norm.  Everyone is an artist.  It doesn't always require a lot of money or education.  It's all about individual pride.

If you have a personal interest in being our artist of the month e-mail us with sample art work and a way to contact you at www.buffaloexchangeannex@yahoo.com