I've been Fixxed!

One of the shops that I work with is a cool place called Funky Utopia. Some of the OOAK bags that I sent to them were featured on Indie Fixx!

Squeeee!!! Blog love! Thanks Indie Fixx!

Etsy Picks du Jour

Wool felting is on my ever growing list of new crafts to try, and these colors of wool roving by SakinaNeedles would be my first choice for a new project.

AWESOME set of heroes magnets by kezzaroo. Superman. Batman. Mr. T. David Hasselhoff. 'nuf said.

This pendant by missficklemedia would make jeans and a t-shirt way more interesting. Add in the leather cord, and it's still less than $10!

In my studio...

My favorite fabric changes at least once a week, and maybe more depending upon how often I see the UPS man, but this one is just adorable. Outlines of red birds - in varying prints, almost like appliques - on a blue and white modern floral background. I think that this print is the perfect size for a makeup bag.


After this, the next logical step for this fabric would be a bistro apron pocket.

The skinny headbands that I made to go with the makeup bags are now getting their own fan mail, and I'm getting ready to offer these in my etsy shop as well. The plan is to list them in sets of coordinated colors and prints.

I've also been working on a new bag design. It's almost ready for prime time, just a few tweaks more...

Etsy Picks ju Jour

A beautiful and interesting vase from kimwestad.

A silver ring that looks like birch bark from esdesigns.

Little Bunny Foo Foo! Lots of his friends, too, from tiddlywinks.

Cupcake Cuteness

OK, so it's not on Etsy, and it's not handmade, but you can store your handmade cupcakes in Cup-a-Cakes...


I LOVE this! My daughter takes her lunch to school every day, and this would be perfect. No more squooshed icing!

Yeah, it doesn't take much to make me happy.
__________

Edited to add: To fill your new Cup-a-Cakes, try Ina's Coconut Cupcakes. I'm not a big fan of coconut, but these are delish!

Also, what is up with the levitating cupcake in the top container?

Etsy Picks du Jour

A beautiful little painting of two herons.

A cool new dog collar for my little Westie - there is even a leash to match!

A fun and funky bracelet, to help me be the hip mom that I feel is lurking beneath my calm exterior.

Dear Ashley Judd's Husband...

I know that you have a real name. However, since winning the Indy 500, the press will only refer to you as "Ashley Judd's Husband." I'm sorry. If I had just won a prestigious sporting event, I would want to be called by my name. I would want to see my name in lights 100 feet high.

Congrats Ashley-Judd's-Husband! If you win another one, maybe they will use your real name.

Etsy Picks du Jour

I love the watercolor print of birds eggs on this card.

I'm constantly collecting quotes, and this necklace would be the perfect way to use one.

A great ceramic bowl in a funky orange color.

Etsy Picks du Jour

The absolute cutest fine art print for a baby's room! Mushrooms!

A set of 8 gift tags with pink designs.

A plum colored t-shirt with organic floral design.

Incredibly adorable skulls! (see for yourself - didn't I tell you?)

They had me at "Spirograph"... I loved my spirograph, and these earrings make me happy.

Business & Crafty Inspiration

I stumbled upon this site by way of Anna Maria Horner's blog, and I just had to share. It's called Another Girl at Play, and it's full of interviews with creative chicks who are workin' it.

Etsy Picks du Jour

Pink grapefruit scrubby soap - my favorite scent.

A cool set of screenprinted dishcloths.

I love some optimism in an earring.

And finally, for those who like their sockmonkeys to be a little bad ass.

Day Trippin'

Today I left my sewing machine for a few hours and went with my mother to her hometown to decorate the family graves at the cemetary in honor of Memorial Day. We do this every year. We stopped in Eureka Springs on the way home for lunch and shopping, and luckily I had my camera with me. I couldn't resist geekin' out and acting like a tourist.

Here's where we had lunch. I can highly recommend the Grilled Chicken Florentine Sandwich.



This was my chair at the cafe! Decoupage cuteness!

Various shots around town.

This morning from my back door...

Etsy Picks du Jour

A delicate silver lotus petal necklace - perfect for summer.

A beautiful fine art photograph.

Your newest BFF - a sock cat! (If you're not a cat person, she has dogs, too!)

An elegant blank card in blue and chocolate brown.

Cookies for Thought...

My Fortune Cookie told me: Become a fisher of tin cans to find strange rewards from mermaids. Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Congrats Lorenzstudio!

Today, I posted in the Etsy forums a link to my Etsy Picks du Jour that I've made since starting this blog, and promised a headband to the first person who saw their own link on my blog. Lorenzstudio was quick on the draw, and her headband will be on its way to her studio in sunny southern California tomorrow.

Check out some of the cool items in her shop...

This awesome pillow cover made with a vintage fabric that looks totally modern.

This vintage fabric wallhanging that would make my kitchen so very happy.

Can you believe that this completely cute vintage apron is only $12?

I hope she enjoys her headband!

Etsy Picks du Jour

A pillow cover in a vintage fabric that looks totally modern.

Delicate dangly pearl earrings.

Adorable cards for kids - they have googly eyes!

Etsy Picks du Jour

Check out the cool wrap skirt.

An abstract ACEO.

A ring... well, you just have to see it. It's gorgeous!

Behold! The Moobot 1200!

A cool card in my favorite-ist color in the 'verse.

Etsy Picks du Jour

Pinky Swear for your hair! How cute is that?

A fab teapot (yes, I know it's reserved and all, but if you are really sweet to the seller, she might make one for you, too!)

Earrings that remind me of the sea.

A beautiful wine bottle stopper (you know, if you happen to leave wine in the bottle, not that I don't...).

A simple yet stunning necklace.

A Tweet Little Apron

(Sorry.)

Oh my heavens, I LOVE this yellow birdy fabric! I'm making myself an apron just like this one, for I cannot survive without these little birdies in my life and my kitchen.

Look! Look at the vintage-y birdy goodness!

How NOT to make a Promo Item

This is my promo item. I have made about 60 or so. Aren't they cute widdle magnets?

I actually put a lot of thought into this. What would people like? What would they not throw away? A magnet! Yes! I have tons of magnets, I can't bear to throw any of them away. What if I need one to hold up a school permission slip or a scribbled phone number? That magnet from the pizza place from three moves ago would come in handy! Yes, I'm a thinker, all right.

So I got the glass pieces and I printed my business name on paper (not too big, not too little, juuuuuust right!) and I cut out 60 quarter-shaped pieces of paper and carefully glued them to the underside of the glass.

And, so they would have lots of time to dry, I decided to glue the magnets on later. Much later. Much more later than I should be allowed to stay up.

Over half of the magnets are glued on backwards.

BACKWARDS!

I went to put them on the side of the fridge to hang out until they were needed, and over HALF of them won't stick!

I. AM. AWESOME!

Tweaking

These makeup bags have been a favorite of mine for a while, but recently I decided to add ribbon tabs to the top for easier opening AND a skinny headband, to hold your hair back while you wash your face, put on makeup, or just wear! I'm very pleased with the result.

Etsy Picks du Jour

A ceramic berry collander in the greatest color.

An inspirational charm bracelet.

A set of 6 cool notecards at an awesome price.

A photograph that I could stare at for hours.

A handpainted silk scarf - I think I would tie it like a headband.

Etsy Picks du Jour

Elegant earrings with black onyx.

Really cool screenprinted pillow.

For the kid in your life (regardless of age), goldfish-in-a-bag soap!

Etsy Picks du Jour

The Caffeinated Edition.

Adorable stamped silver earrings.

The cutest napkins.

Body scrub... you can almost smell the coffee goodness.

The Emergency Box

When I was young, my grandmother had what she called The Emergency Box. Now, as ominous as that sounds, it wasn't for fire, flood, or ice storm, but rather for little girls who needed something to do.

It was a large gray shoebox, but the treasures inside made it glow and sparkle from its spot in the guest bedroom closet. Construction paper, the Sunday comics, Burpee seed catalogs, maybe a Sears wishbook left over from Christmas, odd pieces of cardboard from shirts, glue, and scissors. Sometimes there might be other things, like scraps of yarn or rubber bands.

I made paperdolls out of the models in the Sears catalogs, fancy placecards for holiday dinners, and countless useless things for my Barbies. And, of course, the artwork flowed like wine. It was a box of possibilities.

I don't know how it got its name. I don't know if my grandmother had an Emergency Box for my mother and her sister when they were growing up. I need to find these things out.

For some reason this morning, I began thinking about The Emergency Box. I hadn't thought about it in years. Maybe I should make my own Emergency Box, for when my own creativity is feeling low. What would go in it?

Etsy Picks du Jour

A simple necklace with a stunning pendant.

The cutest mousepad ever.

Beautiful plates for that summer party.

Etsy Picks du Jour

Beautiful fine art photograph.

Juicy pear lotion... it's even vegan! (whatever that means when it comes to lotion)

Magnets! DIY magnets, at that!

Etsy Picks du Jour

Completely cute onesies - great gift for a boy or a girl.

Yet another stunning necklace - this time in chunky turquoise and coral.

Fun little pink pocket mirror.

SO.MUCH.TO.DO.

In the little bit of sleep that I got last night, I was dreaming about cutting and sewing. Getting ready for this craft fair is kicking my butt.

My husband doesn't know it yet, but I'm sending him to buy some fabric at Hobby Lobby today. He will be sooooo happy.

I'll be handing out these cards at the fair to interested parties. To the uninterested parties, I intend to fling these at them like ninja stars.
Back to the sewing... and the coffee.

Etsy Picks du Jour

An extremely cool t-shirt.

The most delicate silver leaf earrings.

Completely fun moopockets.

Craft Fair Panic!

Well, thanks to some generous etsians, I will be participating in an arts and craft fair this weekend atThe Tulsa Blue Dome Arts Fair. I'm excited, but also a little anxious that I will have everything that I want and need to take ready by Saturday morning. I spent today buying supplies and bags and some cute green baskets to put my smaller items in. Now, if I just don't hyperventilate before I actually get there, I'll be doing well.

Also, I'm hoping that my cutesy craftsy stuff won't be out of place in an ARTS Fair.

Wish me luck!

Etsy Picks du Jour

Cute soy candle in a custom scent... I would go for the Lemon Sugar.

Gaw-jus chunky beaded necklace.

Destressing stone ring.

Fingers crossed...

It looks like I might get a chance to participate in a craft fair this weekend. This would be such a great learning opportunity. As soon as it's for sure, I'll post the details! In the meantime, busy, busy, busy...

Etsy Picks du Jour

Gorgeous silver ginkgo necklace.

Delicate pearl earrings.

The cutest dishtowels ever.

A body scrub that looks good enough to eat.

An art print for my studio.

Mother's Day - feelin' the love

My daughter made me this card for Mother's Day...
She said that they had a project at school to do an abstract poem. I guess that she is noticing good things about my business, too.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!

(My own mom will be getting some goodies purchased on etsy from kellarama. Check her out!)

Creme Brulee? Of course, just let me get my blowtorch...

I used to work at being a good cook. Now, I just dress like one.



This is my newest offering in my etsy shop - bistro aprons.