Etsy Finds Friday

This week's batch includes some L.A. love and and an awesomely crafted iPhone zip up bag - just look at that detail!

Quietdoing - Record (Teal) Pocketbook Slash Checkbook Walet

Latelierdeluluu - The ORIGINAL Apple 3G - iPhone Felt Purse Handbag - New Model - 18x14cm

MicheleMaule - Reproduction Fine art Print 8x10

Zuppaartista - Los Angeles Recycled Magnet Locket Set by Polarity

Mariforssell - iPod Touch Case Gray Herringbone Wool

Deyitta - Owl on the Flower

reVIVALism - Roy Lichtenstein Pop Art Domino Necklace

Mydaisydreams - Glass Tile Pendant or Charm Vintage Los Angeles

Gibberish2 - Read Ring Taupe Stripes

Prettywhimisical - Gift Set 4 Whimsical Nature Scrabble Tile

I put off the knitting a bit yesterday because I needed to come up with and craft some special presents for my sister's birthday this coming week. I did as much as I could, but have to wait to get a couple supplies this weekend before I can complete them. It was nice to take a break from the knitting because sometimes I get so caught up in KNIT! KNIT! KNIT! mode that I forget it's fun to glue and sew things, too. I've been meaning to bust out my sewing machine and come up with projects just to help me practice a bit, but with the deadline I've set for completing a good portion of my knit projects, I just haven't felt like I could afford the time. I know it's just me setting these expectations for myself, but when the cold weather finally kicks in, I don't wanna feel like I wasn't as prepared as I could've been.

I'm still working on making all the small size mittens and will start working on the different graphics for them next week. Then I have to start all my medium size mittens and that'll probably take a couple more weeks, at least. Then do the graphics for those. Then do the same for the men's mittens I'd like to carry. Then do the batch for men and women that will have a totally different look. And I haven't even started scarves yet. Can you estimate how many more weeks of just knitting that is? Do you see why I feel I can't waste anytime? AHHHHHH!

But, good news! I've been featured in another lovely treasury this week! I still get so excited about it. And so, back to the knitting needles I go.

Currently shuffling through my soundsystem: Julie London - Cry Me a River, Black Keys - Only One, Chet Baker - The Night We Called It A Day, Rx Bandits - Apparition, Tony, Toni, Tone - Let's Get Down

Ugh

An unexpected night out has rendered me useless today. So no knitting has been done at all and I'm just starting to feel back to normal. On a positive note, Inception is an AWESOME movie and following it up with mojito-drinking at a local bar is also awesome. And I'm going out again tonight! Who do I think I am - a twenty-something party animal again?! As if I ever really was.

So, since I have nothing new to report, how 'bout a pretty picture for your viewing pleasure?

This is my favorite piece by Richie Fahey, an incredible artist who does vintage noir/pin up inspired paintings. Totally up my alley.

Now THIS is how to do Jane Austen right

I post this for my bestest buddy and fellow crafter who seriously loves her some Jane Austen.

Hee.

Handmade Miami

Well, the rain was no worse than usual this weekend so I did manage to make it out for the Crafternoon with the ladies from the newly named Handmade Miami craft group.

For our project, we made headband fascinators (fascinator headbands?) and they brought all kinds of goodies as supplies: feathers, tulle, buttons, fabric, felt, beads, pom poms, flowers, leaves - even styrofoam birds! A glue gun station was set up and everyone got around to the very important business at hand - decorating our heads. They turned out really cute and creative - though, as usual, I aimed for the more simple designs:

I'm ashamed to admit I'd never used a glue gun before - I've always stuck to bottled adhesives - so I had a bitch of a time figuring out how to properly attach the fabric-covered cardstock onto the headband. Hot glue, as I learned, dries REALLY quickly. But success! - as you can see - and no burns acquired in the process! I even resurrected skills from my gift wrapping days and made a bow to place atop my noggin. (And, yes, I know it's big but it looks cute on me - so quiet, you.) These were really fun to make and I came home wishing I had a stock pile of headbands waiting to be adorned. Plus, it was awesome hanging out with people who enjoy crafting as much as I do. I know they want to keep having these gatherings and I'm looking forward to learning something new everytime.

As for my personal crafting venture, I've come up up with two more ideas/versions for the items I want to carry in the shop and am eagerly awaiting just-ordered supplies so I can accomplish them. I made a very rough prototype of one on Saturday, but it turned out better than I expected for my first try, though I don't think I'll have anything really prepared to show you until next week at the earliest. I guess you'll just have to wait 'til then!

Etsy Finds Friday

I keep discovering so many new great shops! New to me, anyway. Here's this week's selection of items I love:

From left - right:
kerrybeary - Moonlight Martini in Palm Springs
Artoncrafts - Baby Rabbit - genuine leather handbag
McYarnpants - Bottle Opener - Candy Striper - 2.25 Inch - new fabric
jDUCT - Scooter Duct Tape Wallet
Minimalista - El Luchador 007 tshirt
kukubee - I Love Books Zipper Pouch
CraftieRobot - Robotgeek in love robot sci-fi geek (khaki green) Messenger/Laptop Bag
KookyTeaParty - Big Red Apple Ring - Fits ALL SIZES
JooSweetie - Red Hair Doll Face Ring
Fluffington - Orange and Yellow Cute Tiny Birds 11mm Stud Earrings

I'm still knitting away like some sort of mitten-making fool and am happy to report that I was featured in two more Treasuries this week! You can see them here and here. Isn't that so nice? One day - ONE DAY- it will translate into sales, I just know it will.

I'll be interrupting my knitting marathon this weekend to attend a craft gathering with some fellow Etsyers who are trying to get a Miami craft group officially started. I'm really looking forward to it! I'm hoping the inclement weather will hold off (who needs tropical storms or hurricanes intruding on their weekend?) so it doesn't get canceled. But, hey! While I'm potentially battling that, Los Angeles will be having their 2nd Annual Renegade Craft Fair! It's free to attend, so if you're among the few not interested in/not attending the San Diego Comic Con and happen to be in the area, you should definitely check it out.

Finally, and most importantly (to me), MAD MEN SEASON 4 PREMIERES THIS SUNDAY. I can't wait!

Currently on the tube as I craft: Mildred Pierce. I LOVE this movie and can't even count the amount of times I've seen it. I'm really curious as to how the new HBO series will play out, but I'm a big fan of Kate Winslet so I'm hopeful about it.

Welcome to the new blog site!

If you're following over from Vox, thanks for joining me! Scrolling below you'll find all the old posts from Vox (not that there were very many) and this will be the blog that I continue to update. It's still a bit of mess, but hang in there and I'll try to make it pretty - stat!

Photo Play

Photography for the shop has been on my mind lately and I find myself continuously interrupting my knitting to wander over, grab my camera, and do a little instant photo shoot. I can't help that the quality of my pictures can't be improved (my little point-and-shoot camera being what it is) but thought maybe the content could. For example:










The photo on the left is the shot I'm currently using on Etsy. The shot to the right is the one I just took today. I've noticed that other Etsyers sometimes place complimentary backgrounds to their items, so this is my attempt at that. But does it look like I'm hocking the bag in the background or does it make my zip up bag pop? And then, if it does succeed in accenting my knitted item, that means I have to find something for every one of my different designs because I'd like all the shots in my shop to have a bit of uniformity. I really have to think about that - I mean, what am I gonna get to compliment my Tecnico y Rudo beanies? What do you think of the shots? Am I heading in a better direction or should I leave it as is? And should I not bother to worry about uniformity? Here's another example:










It should also be noted that the shots on the left were done using daylight bulbs. The shots on the right are using natural light. On the knitting front, I've managed to crank out a few more fingerless gloves and even started sizing one up for the fellas.



I haven't added graphics to any of them but will probably start doing so next week. I wanna have a variety of colors completed so I know what I'm playing with!


Currently shuffling through my soundsystem: What U Got - ABS, Wow - Kylie Minogue, American Boy - Estelle

Indie Bazaar

This weekend was the Indie Bazaar in Ft. Lauderdale. It's a craft fair held in a somewhat small space just to the side of of the Cinema Paradiso movie theater but the organizers make sure to cram it full of vendors. So many great items to see and so many shoppers shopping! There was a much bigger turnout than the last time I was there - in March? April? I don't rememember - with still a long line to get in even when we left. I did a lot of browsing and noting of how vendors set up their displays and promote their merchandise (always gotta be researching) and snagged a couple items:




I LOVE Superman and really liked this keychain made out of vintage comic book art. Plus, the artist was a teenage girl who was peddling her wares with her parents as her assistants. So awesome! They let her handle all questions and transactions just like a proper little business woman while they bagged her goodies and proudly discussed their daughter's craft with anyone who stopped at the table. How could I not support that kind of comraderie? The artwork is by a local artist named Kapone and I really liked the colors and boldness of his work. Also, a steal at 2 for $30.

While I was busy supporting my local crafts people, I was featured in another Treasury! I know, another one! I swear I don't know any of the kind folks who have selected my items but I'm so happy people like my goods. With all this motivation I've worked non-stop on my fingerless gloves all week and weekend long - but then the ol' carpal started to kick in and my wrist begged for a break. So I've spent all afternoon on the computer today, updating the shop, sending and replying to emails, and creating my very first Treasury. You can check that out here. I'd love to get better pictures up in the shop but that really requires a better camera so until I can make that happen, it'll have to wait.

For now, I can't wait to get back to the knitting needles tonight. Is it awful that I sometimes knit right through the wrist twinges? Can't let a little thing painful mobility stop me! Hee. (It's not so bad yet, but I really need to get a brace before I cause myself permanent damage.)

Currently shuffling through my soundsystem: Sixteen - The Heavy, Your Personal Wedding - Pop Unknown, So Much - The Impossibles, Polar Opposites - Modest Mouse

Yay Me!

I found out about a website called Craftopolis where you can track some of your Google Analytics stats in a bit user-friendlier format (at least to me) and see if you've ever been featured in any Treasuries in Etsy. I had noticed a couple weeks ago that one of my Light Bulb Beanies was getting a lot of views and hearts and wondered why now, all of a sudden. Turns out, it had been featured in a Treasury that made the front page of Etsy! Then, just today, I noticed my Female Silhouette Beanie is featured in another Treasury! How nice is that?! So flattering and encouraging to keep doing what I'm doing. Which is nice because when you're not making sales, knowing that people at least like what you're creating is very motivating.

All of this goes hand-in-happily-coincidental-hand with the fact that I planned to start featuring items I've come across throughout the week from fellow Etsy members that I like. So here's the first batch!


From top left - right:

BareTree - Black 5 piece drum kit belt

DarthDanner - Funky Fungi Necklace

ProletarianVintage - Vintage Nautical Anchor and Striped Button Ring

YummyPocket - Moustache iPhone Cozy

Mariforssell - Small Messenger with Extra Pockets - Black and White Houndstooth

designedbyDiana - Retro D Apron Bright Polka Dots

CrazyBoy - For You....Black Stripe Denim-Bag

Fongstudio - The Apple Tree's Wishes

DillonDesigns - Great Big Owl Ring

Oktak - Clutch Purse - Orange Mother Bird and Baby

Work in Progress

I've started working on the items I want to have ready in time for fall/winter. I have a few new items I want to add and the first on my list are fingerless mittens. I like gloves but hate the inconvenience of having to take them off everytime I need to use my iPhone or dig for change or a million other little things that you need your actual fingertips for. So, since that's what I prefer, that's what I'm gonna make for the shop!

Of course, coming up great ones that are just the right size is an exercise in patient knitting and reknitting.


Cute, right? However, a little too big for my small hands.


And this was the second "sample" I made! Supposedly customized for my chubby hands and stubby fingers! I really thought I'd nailed it, which is why I went ahead and made the pair. But, alas, just a mite too big still. No real loss, I'm sure they'll fit medium size hands and at least this tells me there really is no "one size fits all" for mits. At least not the ones I knit. I am now working on another pair and truthfully, despite the sizing frustrations, these are really fun to make! They knit up pretty quickly and I like the way they look and feel. I'll probably never get a chance to wear them myself while living in Miami, but I like the idea that they might bring a little fun and color to hands in colder climates.

Currently on the tube as I craft: All About Steve. I was prepared for this to be a bad movie, which is why I waited to watch it on cable, but it's really not that bad. Decent enough as a background distraction, anyway. I Hate Valentine's Day? - now THAT'S an awful movie.

Non-Shop Crafting

In the interlude of not crafting for the shop, I started playing around with various buttons and doodads to see what trinkets I could come up with. I don't know that I have any intention of selling these, but they're fun to make. And I love pretty colors!


The blue and yellow one is definitely for me since, in trying a new adhesive out, I managed to glue the star a bit off-center. I figured I'd have at least one second to adjust it but boy does that adhesive adhere! No sooner did I put the star down than -bam!- it was stuck. No budging. Makes it a great glue but I just have to be extra careful when I place things. I think I did a better job with the pink one. Big and simple, I know, but that's how I like my accessories.


These are the only two I've managed make, though I have at least six others waiting patiently to be glued. I have to live with things for awhile before I can fully commit to them - I'd feel like I'm wasting pretty resources if they turn out badly, even though I know it's just for fun.

Currently shuffling through my soundsystem: Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult; Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' - Journey; Over The Hills And Far Away - Led Zeppelin

Knitting...finally!

So, I think it's no secret that I haven't been super-inspired about knitting lately. However, I remembered that I've been meaning to whip up some preemie baby beanies to donate to different charities and hospitals and I figured now was a great time to do that. In the last couple of weeks I came up with these:


I'm really happy with the way these turned out and wish I had a baby doll or - novelty!- a real baby to model these on so you could see how teeny these are. They're just a bit larger than my palm and if you know me, you know I have small hands. They knit up so fast and totally served at least one purpose of motivating me to get back to crafting for the shop again. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to send these to one particular place or divide them up into smaller batches to hit more places at once. Actually, I think I'm gonna make these a monthly project - or at least an in-between-inspirations project - and pick a different place to send them to each time. Wanna know where to send your own charity knitting to? Click this and this for an array of links.

Currently on the tube while crafting: reruns of Clean House. I don't know why I can't get enough of this show.