Promo tidbits

Promoting my shop and website is a never ending struggle. It probably doesn't help that, one, I spend so much time online, and two, I obsessively check my stats. All the time I spend online would be the reason I found this online at Venus:

Check out the great article on Crafters for Critters, but note my scarf in the photo! I'm not mentioned in the article, but I still think it's cool to see my scarf there. Also shown are some necklaces from Blissen, a T-shirt from Rabbit's Revenge, and a sewing kit from Flying Fish. (I think I identified everything correctly.)
I'm also participating in a sample give-away at Wickedly Chic. I put together all my flower pins on some cute packaging.

These are going to be up in the shop soon. There's also an alternate card design of a Christmas tree. The pins look like ornaments and the tree topper. Thanks again to my in house artist, George, for the card designs. They make cute stocking stuffers or quickie gifts to have on hand for co-workers, etc, don't you think?

Thanksgiving revisited--I got pictures

I now have my digicam back so I can post pictures from thanksgiving. And believe it or not they are actually baking related. I made honey rolls, which are so yummy. My mom has made them forever. The cookbook with the recipe naturally falls open to the page on which they appear. I also made pumpkin biscuits--which got a little messy. The counter got a little crowded and while I was trying to cut in the butter I knocked the entire bowl and its contents on the floor. No five second rule there. I had to start afresh. George missed the spill itself, but captured the flour mix all over my pants.


I love how I'm so Martha Stewart in the first photo and the second one completely blows my cover.

Aftermath

I've finally come out of my food induced coma. After eating Thanksgiving "dinner" at 2pm, I honestly don't think I was hungry again until Saturday night. That doesn't mean I didn't eat. I nibbled on leftovers before leaving my parents house. And I've finished off all the leftovers I brought back with me.
I've actually been very busy sewing. Yesterday, I made a trip to the fabric store and waited in line forever. But I really needed some fabric for lining bags. Plus, I found some great pink velour in the remnant bargain bin. I think I'll use it to drape my table and maybe a rise on it for the Bust Holiday Craftacular. My mom and I did some shopping for different display items on black Friday. I already found some good things, but I still need something to hang all my tote bags on.
Back to sewing soon. I need to get in the zone and just go. I did have my Jolie Holland CD on and then some Radiohead, but I found there's a Project Runway marathon on. This is perhaps the best reality show ever. I hope they show the finally episode at fashion week. Tim Gunn visiting Jay in PA is just gold. I'm just going to keep it on in the background.


I'm excited about the new season coming up. Although I'm distressed that it's now on at 10pm and the first episode is two hours. I love Project Runway, but I love sleep too.

Thanks for the grub

I'm getting into the Thanksgiving spirit. Last night I tried a new recipe, Pumpkin Pasta, and it was delicious. And tonight I made my apple cranberry relish to take to my parent's house. I could eat the whole container before we go it is so yummy.
Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays around. I mean, it's about food. You sit around and eat really good food--at least in my family you do. Everything is home made. We have a big chicken and two ducks. One for each of my brothers, we joke. My dad's new traditional stuffing is a susuage stuffing with golden raisins. The first year we had it, my brother even ate some raisins without even knowing it--not a big fruit and veggie eater. I've taken over making my mom's honey rolls and I've started my own tradition of bringing pumpkin biscuits and apple cranberry relish. My mom told me she's already made the pumpkin bread, whish is really more a pumpkin cake. It's better after it's sat around a bit. Of course there are the staples, like mashed potatoes, corn pudding, butternut squash, and some other veggie and pumpkin pie if we have any room left.
Mmmm.
Then there are leftovers.
The picture below is from two Thanksgivings ago. The table is still filling up with dishes. We use the windowsill to hold even more. It was the last time my grandma came to our house for Thanksgiving. So there won't be as many chairs around the table this year.
Eat up everyone!

This mucus looks familiar

I swear I have the same cold I had about three weeks ago. It's very distinct. It starts out with a wicked sore throat. Then it progresses to a stuffed up nose and head. After that your nose clears up but everything just drains down your throat and a cough comes and goes. That's the MO.
The sore throat is back. Where the hell are my antibodies? Maybe I got the slightly mutated version of the cold and have to go through it again. I must be stressed out and susceptible to all the germs milling around.
The weekend yielded up some almost completed sewing projects. I tend to work in an assembly line process. So I have four almost completed wrist clutches and lots more parts cut out and interfaced and ready to go.
*Sniff* Me and my mucus are gonna go now.

Thrift finds

Yesterday, after my meeting at 2 Hot Art Chicks, I succumbed to the thrifting bug. And I made some stellar finds, in my opinion. I found some vintage fabric, which I'll be using to make some bags to put in my shop. Under a chair, where I missed it during my first pass through the store, I also found a sewing basket. I have my grandmother's old basket, whish is practically disintegrating. This one is newer and roomy. Although it's packed with old sewing spools. I probably won't be able to use most of it as the thread becomes weak. But some of the spools themselves are cool wooden spools. I'll have to think about what I can use them for.
This afternoon I went on a quick trip to a tiny little church thrift store up the street from me. It is very small and doesn't get a lot of new things. I have found some great things there, for very cheap.

Just because, there's a photo of my first kitty, Moco. I didn't want to cause any jealousy between my cats. Oh Moco, he's a big hunka love.

Holiday--Celebrate!

I went to meet with one of the owners of 2 Hot Art Chicks gallery/shop yesterday afternoon. I had lots of samples of pins to show her and just two of my bags, the Big and Little O. She took everything! She cleaned out my pins section! It's a really good thing I put together a line sheet for everything I took. I just gave that to her and I have a copy for myself as well. All my items will be in their holiday shop which is opening up on the 25th of November. It's a consignment gig. Which is fine with me. Hopefully it will really help to get me name out in the local area. And it may lead to a good relationship with the shop. It was a little overwhelming really. I had no idea she would just ake everything. I had to get to work making some new pins to beef up that section of my shop. So I just posted up five new ones.



I also extended the FREE SHIPPING offer at my site to 12 days. So go get your shop on. The offer will end on November 27th. Stay out of the malls on "Black Friday," shop online!

Photo shoot

Last night we had to shoot the new scarves inside. There was almost no light left by the time I got home. Oh well, and it was raining anyway. So we had to improvise a little set up. Mr. Pink wanted to get in on the action. He looks a little peeved doesn't he. Poor guy. I just harass him, I mean love him, all the time. He's like a big marshmallow--with nipples, as George pointed out.

The new scarves are up in the shop. I really like the blueberry one--but I have a thing for blueberries. I've got an update on the gallery/shop that was interested in some of my items for their holiday shop. Hopefully I'm meeting with one of the owners on Friday and bringing her bunch of my stuff to look at. I have never done this before, so I need to do some research. I don't know if I need a line sheet or order forms. Since most of my things are one-of-a-kind, sometimes I feel like making those things is hard.

We didn't win megamillions

George and I didn't win the $315 million Mega Millions jackpot. Oh well. I'll have to keep my day job. George just got one ticket. And then we didn't even know how to find out what numbers were drawn.
We're off to an art opening in a few minutes, but after that I'll have some shop updates. Four cute new scarves, which are very different from my current scarves, will be up for grabs. I'm also contemplating extending my FREE SHIPPING for a total of 12 days--why not just go all Christmas-y.

Accomplished

It feels good to mark some thing off of my to do list. The scarves I donated to Crafters for Critters are up. I attached 100 little buttons to cards (to the detriment of my thumbnail), packed them all and sent them off to the Sampler. It took me two nights to do it all. I have new fund respect for all those teeny tiny samples people bust out for the Sampler--especially those in large numbers. And I sent out a swap today. (Hey they swap partner!) I can't wait until my part of the swap arrives. I'll post a picture of it. I'll give you a hint--it's something I can wear. Swapping is interesting because it's really the barter system at work. It warms my cold cynical heart when it works out too. Not everyone wants to rip me off.
In other news--I hate the season of diminishing sunlight. I get home and I feel like it's already 10 pm and time for bed. Plus it makes it hard to shoot photos in natural light--the best-- for my shop. So that's why my new scarves won't be up tonight. But that just means they'll be a bigger update tomorrow. If the sunlight cooperates.
Ta

America Recycles Day

So it's America Recycles Day today. Happy recycling. I like when recycling and reusing gets extreme. I do a little with my business. All of my scarves are made from salvaged sweaters. I felt them and then make them into scarves or use the felt for other sewing projects. I just finished two new scarves last night. They're a new design. Hopefully they'll be up in the shop tonight or tomorrow.
I also use salvaged fabrics. I've used vintage curtains, tablecloths, maternity dresses, pillowshams, and toasters covers. It's so much fun to take something that's starting to look tired in one form and turn it into something new and useful. At least when they work out right!


Tiffany Tomato Designs is a pretty cool design site that recycles tons of things. There are some free projects too. Very creative. I don't think I could ever save enough film canisters to make a room divider!

YAY! Good News!

I got an email this afternoon from Bust. And I'm going to New York for their Holiday Craftacular Show! I'm excited and trying to enjoy it. Soon, I know, I'll feel overwhelmed with the details. There's the NYC vendor form and taxes to figure out, supplies and displays to buy, and much sewing to do. Oh my. At least I should have a place to stay (Beth, don't bail on me now!). I know a few friendly faces in NYC.


I'll have more information on the Craftacular later. And I'm sure I'll be whining here when it gets closer to the December 17th date. It's time to start working on my endurance now. I must stay up past midnight!
Oh and where are the comments? Huh? Leave me note if you want to. I'd love to find more blogs.

Six Days of Free Shipping

I wanted to do a little something for the holidays at my shop. With all the different days to celebrate, the 12 days of Christmas, the 7 days of Hanukkah, and then there's Kwanza too, I thought I go with my own 6 days of free shipping. Starting today all purchases made in the US will receive FREE SHIPPING. And all week new items will be added to the shop.
So, if you're like my Dad, go get your holiday shopping done before Thanksgiving!

The buttons are here!

My buttons from Button Arcade came today! The mail came really late, after 4:30 today, so I just thought I wasn't getting any mail. This package from Button Arcade was really like opening a present. I got lots of extra goodies. My buttons are below. I'm donating 100 to The Sampler. I'm also going to be selling the set of five as a bouquet of buttons in my shop.

Tommorrow is going to be busy. I need to make up little cards for the buttons. And I also need to finish stringing the holiday lights up in my shop. Literally--you'll see.
Today I got some good news from a local gallery/shop. A while ago I had contacted them in response to an ad looking for small gifty items for the holidays. I had given up on hearing anything. But today one of the owners contacted me and she wants some of my products in the shop this coming week! So much to do. Hopefully this gallery/shop thing will really work out. The publicity would be well worth it I think.

Stuffing Things

Over at Craftster I entered my first contest. I created a pillow out of old jeans. The pillow isn't exactly my style, but it was a creative exercise. I'm hoping the cats will like it, but so far they haven't showed much interest.



I'm thinking of adding some pillows, of a very different design, to the stock in my shop. My In the Home section needs some more variety anyway. I'm also thinking about some cute magnets for that section as well. But they will ave to wait until after the holiday season.

Another project I worked on awhile that isn't going to show up in my shop anytime soon are my photo dolls. I submitted this as a project to Venus Magazine's Craft Off but never heard anything. They really are a goofy, inexpensive, personalized gift. Here are some of mine.


I even have directions!
Supplies:
• Thin fabric (can be white or light colored)-under $3.50 a yard
• Freezer paper-under $4.00
• Interfacing (optional)-under $4.00 a yard
• Stuffing-a big bag can cost about $2.00
• Needle and thread-under $3.00 for needle and thread
* Note: all these supplies will make more than one doll, a yard of fabric will yield 4-6 dolls easily, depending on their size. So the total for each doll is far below $25!

Hopefully you have around or can use a friend’s for FREE:
• Computer
• Scanner OR digital camera
• Printer (color or black ink)
• Iron
• Sewing machine (optional)
• Scissors
• Pins

Instructions:
First you’ll need to take a picture. Take a picture of whatever you want to make into a doll, your friend, a pet, etc. Get the photo on your computer by either scanning it or using a digital camera. Arrange the image the way you want it. You may need to resize it. Make sure it is small enough to fit on a 8 ½ x 11 piece of paper.
Before printing you need to prep your fabric. Take a piece of fabric a little bigger than a normal 8 ½ x 11-inch piece of paper. Warm up your iron. Make sure it’s nice and flat and smooth. Take an equal size of freezer paper. Iron the shinny side of the freezer paper to the fabric. This gives it some heft to help get it through the printer. Now carefully cut the fabric and freezer paper down to an 8 ½ x 11-inch size so it can easily feed through your printer.
It’s printing time. Put your fabric in the printer and choose to print in color or black ink.
Once you have printed the fabric. Carefully peel away the freezer paper. Cut out the shape of the doll on the fabric, leaving an inch around for the seam allowance. Cut out another piece of plain fabric for the backing of the doll. Place the plain fabric over and covering the doll image so it is inside out. Pin it together. If you have a sewing machine sew it together leaving about a two-inch space for stuffing. Otherwise you’ll have to hand sew, leaving the same space open. Flip your doll right side out and stuff. Fold the seams under and hand stitch or machine sew the opening closed. You can embellish the doll if you want with clothes, sequins, buttons, yarn, etc.

The possibilities are endless with these dolls… make a mini-me for a friend, trade with your boyfriend or girlfriend, make a voodoo doll, or pet toy.

Up and Down

It always seems like when I'm having a down day and doubting if managing an online shop is worth it--I get an order. That always makes me feel somewhat better.
I have some plans in the works for promoting the shop. As soon as I get my one-inch button order in I'll be working like mad to get 100 samples off to The Sampler for December. There's also a holiday gift guide I need to get around to sending to my mailing list. I really scoured the online shops for some greats things, including guy stuff, which can be difficult to find. There's even a gift I'm going to get for George.
The shop itself is in need of an update, but I got nothing. I was sick with a cold for a week and I didn't have any interfacing so I didn't get any sewing done for a week or so. Usually I can get a lot done over the weekend, but this past weekend was taken up with an out of town wedding. That's us down below. I'm wearing one of my own fabric flower pins.


But now I'm over the cold and I bought a whole bolt of interfacing just for myself. It's the first time I've ever done that. Thirty yards of interfacing! But it's worth it now that I don't have to run to the fabric store every time I need it. Or have a mini-breakdown whenever all the fabric stores in the area are out of it and don't know when they're going to order it again! The bolt came in massive box, probably about 4 and a half feet long. Mr. Pink (cat #2) loves it. We've added it to the paper bag and box playground on the kitchen floor.

I may need all that interfacing though, if I get into the Bust Holiday Craftacular show in Brooklyn. I applied yesterday. Luckily, I only have to wait until next Monday to hear if I'm in or not. Since it's the first show I've ever applied to, I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't get in. It would be a crazy show for my first. It runs from 12am-12pm and let's just say that's past my bedtime.

There has to be a first post

And this is it!