Things have been a bit busy lately. I'm glad I was able to get a few things finished and up in my shop before things got hectic with work. Now that our big conference is over, I'll be making things and posting more regularly.
I'm planning what I'll be working on for the remainder of the year. It seems a bit early to be thinking about the end of the year, but I know from experience that time sneaks up and whizzes by way faster than you think. I recently found out that there is going to be an Artomatic even held in Frederick, MD. It wasn't on the main Artomatic site, and instead has its own site. I've been wanting to do an Artomatic event for a while now, so I was considering participating in this one.
But I've decided not to this time. I've got a lot of projects on the "to do" list. I'm in a few craft swaps, and I've got a few craft fairs coming up. Not to mention holiday items and more plushies. I've sold my two ready-to-ship Sharkoplushies, and already have a customer who bought a made-to-order one. Plus there is another show I want to do coming up soon as well. So timing wise, its just not right. Hopefully, I'll be less busy and more prepared next time an Artomatic show comes around.
I also am considering sending some of my work, like my ornaments for Art Star to look at and decide if they might like to sell them in their shop and on their website.
Besides all the art and craft things I have planned, I'm looking at teaching myself more about designing websites in WordPress. I need to learn more about WordPress for work anyway, and I'd really like to learn how to design sites in WP. I've hand-coded sites, and do web editing for my job, so I'm already familiar with HTML and CSS. I'd like to get used to using XHTML coding, as well as learning a little PHP, at least enough so to be able to create customized websites and templates through WP's system. I look forward to making a Suzannah Ashley website, and my wedding website.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Monday, August 8, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Long time no post!
Its been a long time since I last posted. Life got busy and my little blog, and my crafts, got pushed to the side. My dad has been a sick for about a year with congestive heart failure. Luckily he was approved to be included in the trials for a new procedure to replace a heart valve (A calcified valve was the cause of his problem). He went through the surgery and did great! Even the doctors were really impressed with how quickly he recovered, and how quickly you saw the difference in him. Its amazing, like someone just turned on a switch and gave him his energy back. We're all so happy, and now that he's feeling like his old self again, I can worry less and focus more on crafts and planning for my upcoming wedding.
As for wedding stuff, I'm planning on making a separate blog for that, mainly as a way to teach myself wordpress. I'm a designer by day, and I'd really like to add that among my list of capabilities. Though I'm sure any wedding crafts I find and do will be cross-posted to this blog as well.
Like I said, because of all the real life business, I haven't had much time to create things, but I do have a few things to share once I take some photographs and wrap up a few loose ends. One of those things is a pattern I came up with to enter into Spoonflower's Weekly Fabric Contest. The theme this time was "Squid". Designing repeating patterns has been on my list of "want to do" forever, so I really was happy to get to play around and come up with something. I used a little doodle I had made a while back as the basis for my pattern and cleaned it up in Illustrator. Going back and forth between Illustrator for drawing and Photoshop for creating the offset repeat block, I came up with...
I really like how it turned out, and regardless of where it places in the contest I think I'll make it available for sale. I definitely want to order a few yards for myself to make some things, maybe some wallets or clutches. If you'd like to vote this, or other fabulous squid-themed fabrics, head over to the Spoonflower Squid Fabric Contest page.
Working on pattern design was something new to me and I must say it was a whole lot of fun. I'm excited to work on more pattern designs in the future. Currently I'm working on my entry for another upcoming fabric design contest, Project Selvage. The overall winner will get a licensing contract with Michael Miller fabrics. How neat is that?! Although I would be stoked just to make it into the semi-finalist round. The deadline is March 24, so I need to get crackin'!
As for wedding stuff, I'm planning on making a separate blog for that, mainly as a way to teach myself wordpress. I'm a designer by day, and I'd really like to add that among my list of capabilities. Though I'm sure any wedding crafts I find and do will be cross-posted to this blog as well.
Like I said, because of all the real life business, I haven't had much time to create things, but I do have a few things to share once I take some photographs and wrap up a few loose ends. One of those things is a pattern I came up with to enter into Spoonflower's Weekly Fabric Contest. The theme this time was "Squid". Designing repeating patterns has been on my list of "want to do" forever, so I really was happy to get to play around and come up with something. I used a little doodle I had made a while back as the basis for my pattern and cleaned it up in Illustrator. Going back and forth between Illustrator for drawing and Photoshop for creating the offset repeat block, I came up with...
I really like how it turned out, and regardless of where it places in the contest I think I'll make it available for sale. I definitely want to order a few yards for myself to make some things, maybe some wallets or clutches. If you'd like to vote this, or other fabulous squid-themed fabrics, head over to the Spoonflower Squid Fabric Contest page.
Working on pattern design was something new to me and I must say it was a whole lot of fun. I'm excited to work on more pattern designs in the future. Currently I'm working on my entry for another upcoming fabric design contest, Project Selvage. The overall winner will get a licensing contract with Michael Miller fabrics. How neat is that?! Although I would be stoked just to make it into the semi-finalist round. The deadline is March 24, so I need to get crackin'!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Commissions and Christmas
Yes, its already time to start thinking about Xmas. Especially when most of the gifts and goodies you've planned are handmade.
I'll be visiting my sister and her husband, and my nephews this weekend. We're going to have some Xmas Crafty Time, since I think its something that they really haven't gotten the chance to do much of in the past. I figured I'd whip up some patterns and we'd make some cute felt ornaments, as well as make them each an ornament with their name and birth year on it (sort of a tradition in our household).
Speaking of ornaments, I'm working on creating a line of ornaments to put out for sale both at the Soundry, and online in my Etsy shop. More on that later.
Besides ornaments, I'm diligently working on making and finishing crochet afghans for my parents. I just learned to crochet a few months back at the Maker Faire in Brooklyn New York. I started work on an afghan for myself soon after, and decided it would be a great present for my parents. They are both older so its hard to pick presents for them, as they do not use any kind of gadgets (they still have a rotary dial phone line) and aren't very materialistic. They also don't like it when we buy them stuff, because they feel we shouldn't have to. But, super cozy afghans that I made, that I'm sure they will like.
In addition to all the Xmas projects I have in my crafty queue, I also have a couple of commissions on the horizon. A friend asked me if I'd be able to make a custom plush based off a made for tv horror movie for him to give to his gf. I just finished up the sketches this weekend. Also, some of my coworkers saw the plush girls I was dropping off at the Soundry and asked about getting some custom ones made as presents for friends.
Looks like I'll need to stay organized and on task through the holidays!
I'll be visiting my sister and her husband, and my nephews this weekend. We're going to have some Xmas Crafty Time, since I think its something that they really haven't gotten the chance to do much of in the past. I figured I'd whip up some patterns and we'd make some cute felt ornaments, as well as make them each an ornament with their name and birth year on it (sort of a tradition in our household).
Speaking of ornaments, I'm working on creating a line of ornaments to put out for sale both at the Soundry, and online in my Etsy shop. More on that later.
Besides ornaments, I'm diligently working on making and finishing crochet afghans for my parents. I just learned to crochet a few months back at the Maker Faire in Brooklyn New York. I started work on an afghan for myself soon after, and decided it would be a great present for my parents. They are both older so its hard to pick presents for them, as they do not use any kind of gadgets (they still have a rotary dial phone line) and aren't very materialistic. They also don't like it when we buy them stuff, because they feel we shouldn't have to. But, super cozy afghans that I made, that I'm sure they will like.
In addition to all the Xmas projects I have in my crafty queue, I also have a couple of commissions on the horizon. A friend asked me if I'd be able to make a custom plush based off a made for tv horror movie for him to give to his gf. I just finished up the sketches this weekend. Also, some of my coworkers saw the plush girls I was dropping off at the Soundry and asked about getting some custom ones made as presents for friends.
Looks like I'll need to stay organized and on task through the holidays!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
An almost tragedy!
I'm still here, I've just been a bit busy.
I'm participating in a few craft swaps, which I'll show my work from once they are received by my partners. All are Halloween Swaps. One is through Craftster, and its pretty open-ended as far as what to craft, so I've tried to focus on new things to experiment with. The other 2 are through Swap-Bot. These are both Halloween Stuffie swaps. YAY!
Something that has caused a major interruption in my crafting has been a pretty upsetting accident. Because I have cats (4 cats), I try to be vigilant about not leaving lengths of threads around for them to eat since it is dangerous for them. I keep only a small bit of thread through needles, just so I can see them easily. While working on one of my swap items, I left the table for a moment to cut up some delicious fruits to munch on. I thought I put my needle with its 2 inches of neon green floss back into my pin cushion, though I can't be positive. I was keeping an eye on the table that I was working on, or so I thought.
I got back to the table, no more than 5 minutes after getting up, and went to grab my needle so I could thread it and continue working. But what's this, no needle. I instantly panic, thinking that if the needle fell on the floor, it could easily get stuck in a kitty paw. After 10 minutes of frantic searching, coming up empty handed I began to cry, and called for my boyfriend to come help. Two hours later, searching every single piece of anything I had out, and still no needle. Even after vacuuming the entire area, and using my boyfriend's super magnets to try and draw it out of its hiding place. At this point I was pretty convinced that one of the cats had eaten it. I called my vet's office, which has an on-call vet, and explained my situation. We decided that since I didn't actually SEE anyone eat the needle, and all the cats were behaving normally, to wait until morning and see if something should be done.
The next morning we get a call from the vet's office, and I'm really set on taking all the cats in to get xrays. I only have 2 carriers, so I could only take 2 at a time. I decide to take Wolfgang and Duff first since when I came back to the table they were underneath it. 2 of the 4 cats had their annual checkups scheduled for a few days later anyway, so we were going to knock those out too. They x-rayed Wolfie and Duff, no needle, but Wolfie did get a clean bill of health (though he is a little chubby) and his vaccine booster. I brought them back home, loaded up Spooky and Uma, and headed back.
As they are checking out Spooky for his annual check up, the tech comes back in. Spooky won't be needing x-rays, because Uma was the needle eater! For those who don't know, Uma is my youngest, and smallest cat. She's super petite, so the needle was as long as her face. Also, that very morning she was doing her typical somersaults, which is one of her specialties. Even though I had a pretty good idea that one of the cats had eaten it, I was still shocked. Especially seeing the x-ray. Also, I didn't even see her near the table. Though I should know better since she is the sneakiest and fastest of my kitties. She is a super ninja.
Next thing I know I'm signing surgery consent forms, and heading back home with one less kitty than I came in with. I was in a daze from the moment they told me, to later when I got a call that she made it through surgery. It had moved to her small intestine by the time they got in there, but she seemed to be doing ok, and if she made it through the next 4-5 days she should be fine.
Well its 4 days later, and Uma acts like nothing is wrong. Other than disliking to take her post op meds and the collar she has to wear, she is happy as a clam. In fact she thinks she should be allowed to do all the things she used to do, like jump, run etc, and doesn't know why I'm not letting her. I'm keeping a very careful eye on her, and she will have a check up to make sure everything looks good in a few more days, but I am so thankful and relieved. My precious baby. I don't know how I'd have lived with myself if this had turned out worse. I've been pretty unfocused on anything other than caring for her and keeping the others out of trouble. I think my nerves are finally settling, and I'll be able to get back to my crafting projects.
Next time I'm taking no chances. I'll be getting one of those wrist pin cushions, so all my sharp objects come with me wherever I go instead of tempting sneaky kittehs!
I'm participating in a few craft swaps, which I'll show my work from once they are received by my partners. All are Halloween Swaps. One is through Craftster, and its pretty open-ended as far as what to craft, so I've tried to focus on new things to experiment with. The other 2 are through Swap-Bot. These are both Halloween Stuffie swaps. YAY!
Something that has caused a major interruption in my crafting has been a pretty upsetting accident. Because I have cats (4 cats), I try to be vigilant about not leaving lengths of threads around for them to eat since it is dangerous for them. I keep only a small bit of thread through needles, just so I can see them easily. While working on one of my swap items, I left the table for a moment to cut up some delicious fruits to munch on. I thought I put my needle with its 2 inches of neon green floss back into my pin cushion, though I can't be positive. I was keeping an eye on the table that I was working on, or so I thought.
I got back to the table, no more than 5 minutes after getting up, and went to grab my needle so I could thread it and continue working. But what's this, no needle. I instantly panic, thinking that if the needle fell on the floor, it could easily get stuck in a kitty paw. After 10 minutes of frantic searching, coming up empty handed I began to cry, and called for my boyfriend to come help. Two hours later, searching every single piece of anything I had out, and still no needle. Even after vacuuming the entire area, and using my boyfriend's super magnets to try and draw it out of its hiding place. At this point I was pretty convinced that one of the cats had eaten it. I called my vet's office, which has an on-call vet, and explained my situation. We decided that since I didn't actually SEE anyone eat the needle, and all the cats were behaving normally, to wait until morning and see if something should be done.
The next morning we get a call from the vet's office, and I'm really set on taking all the cats in to get xrays. I only have 2 carriers, so I could only take 2 at a time. I decide to take Wolfgang and Duff first since when I came back to the table they were underneath it. 2 of the 4 cats had their annual checkups scheduled for a few days later anyway, so we were going to knock those out too. They x-rayed Wolfie and Duff, no needle, but Wolfie did get a clean bill of health (though he is a little chubby) and his vaccine booster. I brought them back home, loaded up Spooky and Uma, and headed back.
As they are checking out Spooky for his annual check up, the tech comes back in. Spooky won't be needing x-rays, because Uma was the needle eater! For those who don't know, Uma is my youngest, and smallest cat. She's super petite, so the needle was as long as her face. Also, that very morning she was doing her typical somersaults, which is one of her specialties. Even though I had a pretty good idea that one of the cats had eaten it, I was still shocked. Especially seeing the x-ray. Also, I didn't even see her near the table. Though I should know better since she is the sneakiest and fastest of my kitties. She is a super ninja.
Next thing I know I'm signing surgery consent forms, and heading back home with one less kitty than I came in with. I was in a daze from the moment they told me, to later when I got a call that she made it through surgery. It had moved to her small intestine by the time they got in there, but she seemed to be doing ok, and if she made it through the next 4-5 days she should be fine.
Well its 4 days later, and Uma acts like nothing is wrong. Other than disliking to take her post op meds and the collar she has to wear, she is happy as a clam. In fact she thinks she should be allowed to do all the things she used to do, like jump, run etc, and doesn't know why I'm not letting her. I'm keeping a very careful eye on her, and she will have a check up to make sure everything looks good in a few more days, but I am so thankful and relieved. My precious baby. I don't know how I'd have lived with myself if this had turned out worse. I've been pretty unfocused on anything other than caring for her and keeping the others out of trouble. I think my nerves are finally settling, and I'll be able to get back to my crafting projects.
Next time I'm taking no chances. I'll be getting one of those wrist pin cushions, so all my sharp objects come with me wherever I go instead of tempting sneaky kittehs!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Its been so long!
So long since my last post! Time got away from me as I was busy with preparing for our annual conference at my day job. I was out in San Francisco for only 12 hours before I got a call that there was a family emergency. After some calling back and forth between my sisters and I, I decided to head back to the east coast. My dad was in the hospital for a week, but is out now and feeling a lot better. Plus now he has a scar to show off where they put in his pacemaker.
I spent last weekend wrapping up one of my little girls so I could send her along with a monster friend to California to meet the editors of Stuffed Magazine. I only took one quick picture of her, but will try and get better pictures of her sisters as I finish them up. I hope the editors love her and her monster friend as much as I do. :D
I'm pretty proud of her, and can't wait to finish up her sisters.
The pieces that didn't sell at the Baby Canvases II show are back in my care. I'll be putting them up for sale in my shop soon. I'm hoping to open my Etsy shop by the end of August. I'm so excited! *wiggles* I'm going to be looking around for a good pigment ink printer so I can print out some art prints and other paper goods for the shop.
I'm also excited for other opportunities coming up soon. The Soundry is going to be starting up an Art Market at the end of the month. I would LOVE to participate if I can find the time to get some things finished up. I'm really excited because it might turn into a weekly event, which I would LOVE, because I could definitely particpate.
Also, the next Teeny Tiny Art Show is going to begin accepting submissions for their next show starting in October. Both of these opportunities have me excited, especially since Artomatic may not be happening until next year.
Look for more frequent updates from me as I dive more into my art and crafts!
I spent last weekend wrapping up one of my little girls so I could send her along with a monster friend to California to meet the editors of Stuffed Magazine. I only took one quick picture of her, but will try and get better pictures of her sisters as I finish them up. I hope the editors love her and her monster friend as much as I do. :D
I'm pretty proud of her, and can't wait to finish up her sisters.
The pieces that didn't sell at the Baby Canvases II show are back in my care. I'll be putting them up for sale in my shop soon. I'm hoping to open my Etsy shop by the end of August. I'm so excited! *wiggles* I'm going to be looking around for a good pigment ink printer so I can print out some art prints and other paper goods for the shop.
I'm also excited for other opportunities coming up soon. The Soundry is going to be starting up an Art Market at the end of the month. I would LOVE to participate if I can find the time to get some things finished up. I'm really excited because it might turn into a weekly event, which I would LOVE, because I could definitely particpate.
Also, the next Teeny Tiny Art Show is going to begin accepting submissions for their next show starting in October. Both of these opportunities have me excited, especially since Artomatic may not be happening until next year.
Look for more frequent updates from me as I dive more into my art and crafts!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Crafty Space
I finally am started to get my craft space organized and usable. I actually had a "craft room" at my last place too, but it was more of a craft supply storage area. Early on I discovered that a futon and coffee table aren't the best of working spaces, at least for me.
When I moved a few months ago, I once again had a room that was designated as my craft room. This space is a good deal larger, and already came with a small desk that I decided to make my sewing table (once I straightened things up). Up until a few weeks ago, this room was mostly serving as a storage area as well. That is until I got my new drafting table and chair.
I've had a drafting table in my office at work forever, going unused. As we started cleaning out some of the old furniture, I asked about perhaps buying the table off the company. My boss told me to take it... for free. WINS! So my boyfriend and I picked it up one weekend. Once we got it into the condo, I needed to clean up and rearrange the craft room so I'd have a place for it. So not only did a get a drafting table for free, but as a result my craft room got cleaned up and turned into an actual usable space! There is still a good deal more work to be done to set things up really nice (painting, decorating, organizing), but its definitely a more usable space now. I was so excited, I took these pictures at night when I finished. As the space develops, I'll take better photos.
When I moved a few months ago, I once again had a room that was designated as my craft room. This space is a good deal larger, and already came with a small desk that I decided to make my sewing table (once I straightened things up). Up until a few weeks ago, this room was mostly serving as a storage area as well. That is until I got my new drafting table and chair.
I've had a drafting table in my office at work forever, going unused. As we started cleaning out some of the old furniture, I asked about perhaps buying the table off the company. My boss told me to take it... for free. WINS! So my boyfriend and I picked it up one weekend. Once we got it into the condo, I needed to clean up and rearrange the craft room so I'd have a place for it. So not only did a get a drafting table for free, but as a result my craft room got cleaned up and turned into an actual usable space! There is still a good deal more work to be done to set things up really nice (painting, decorating, organizing), but its definitely a more usable space now. I was so excited, I took these pictures at night when I finished. As the space develops, I'll take better photos.
Here is my new drawing/painting area. This was were I spent the majority of the last two weeks finishing up work for the Baby Canvases II show.
And this is my sewing area. You can see one of my helpers investigating the new set up.
And this is the rest of the room/storage spaces. This is definitely the part that needs the most work. The closet space needs to be utilized better to make more room to put everything and get organized. Eventually everything will have its place. But mainly its nice to have a space to run away too and become completely absorbed in creating things.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Moving - Almost finished
I'm almost finished moving. There are only a few remaining odds and ends at the old place, and today I dropped off all the donation items/clothes. The new place is coming along. I'm about 40% unpacked. The kitchen is mostly set up. I still need to clear out some of the cabinets and reorganize them. There is a laundry backlog that needs to get worked on...oops.
The craft room is currently full of boxes and misplaced furniture. :( I really want to get that set up and get things started. Unfortunately I got sick recently, and have spent most of the past 5 days sleeping. Today is the first day I'm feeling well enough to get around.
I was really disappointed in myself. With all the packing, moving, unpacking, I didn't have time to work on my Olympic Plush Challenge entry. My sewing machine and fabrics are still hidden amongst the pile of chaos in my new craft room.
So I'm trying to get myself well (see above about sleeping for 5 days) and do what I can to get things rolling. I've got soooo many ideas in my head. Its like my brain knows I'm currently unable to make anything, so its being impish and being at its most creative right now. Oh brain!
I had some labels made up by the wonderful Priya Creations on Etsy, to sew onto my plushies. They should be arriving soon. I've only got a couple more things to get ready business wise, and then I should be ready to go forth with my Etsy shop. And hopefully I'll get the craft room set up in the next few days so I can begin making all the things swimming in my head. Maybe by the end of April I'll have several things listed in my shop. Only a month later than I was expecting. :P I can't wait!
The craft room is currently full of boxes and misplaced furniture. :( I really want to get that set up and get things started. Unfortunately I got sick recently, and have spent most of the past 5 days sleeping. Today is the first day I'm feeling well enough to get around.
I was really disappointed in myself. With all the packing, moving, unpacking, I didn't have time to work on my Olympic Plush Challenge entry. My sewing machine and fabrics are still hidden amongst the pile of chaos in my new craft room.
So I'm trying to get myself well (see above about sleeping for 5 days) and do what I can to get things rolling. I've got soooo many ideas in my head. Its like my brain knows I'm currently unable to make anything, so its being impish and being at its most creative right now. Oh brain!
I had some labels made up by the wonderful Priya Creations on Etsy, to sew onto my plushies. They should be arriving soon. I've only got a couple more things to get ready business wise, and then I should be ready to go forth with my Etsy shop. And hopefully I'll get the craft room set up in the next few days so I can begin making all the things swimming in my head. Maybe by the end of April I'll have several things listed in my shop. Only a month later than I was expecting. :P I can't wait!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Too busy to update! Oh no!
More snow this weekend makes me very happy. Did I mention I LOVE snow. :D
*does a snow dance*
I've gotten a bit busy with the day job so haven't gotten to work on my art and crafts as much as I would have liked. I did work on a painting, and got a good under painting on the canvas. I've also sketched up some other ideas for pieces that I really like and have a good solid plan for my Olympic Plush Challenge entry.
I've got a really cute idea (I think) for something else, but I'm not quite yet ready to share it. So far I've not seen anything exactly like it yet, so that makes me really pleased. I should have a prototype finished by this weekend, along with my Olympic challenge plush.
I may or may not get enough done in time to submit to Stuffed Magazine like I had hoped, but I can always submit at the next deadline which is August 15. It might be better, because by that time I should have a few more things completed, and hopefully I will have opened my Etsy shop by then.
I do want to have things finished up so I can submit an application for the LA PLUSH YOU show.
More later. I'm exhausted from Zumba class, and the kittehs want to play Laser Pointer Chase Extravaganza!
*does a snow dance*
I've gotten a bit busy with the day job so haven't gotten to work on my art and crafts as much as I would have liked. I did work on a painting, and got a good under painting on the canvas. I've also sketched up some other ideas for pieces that I really like and have a good solid plan for my Olympic Plush Challenge entry.
I've got a really cute idea (I think) for something else, but I'm not quite yet ready to share it. So far I've not seen anything exactly like it yet, so that makes me really pleased. I should have a prototype finished by this weekend, along with my Olympic challenge plush.
I may or may not get enough done in time to submit to Stuffed Magazine like I had hoped, but I can always submit at the next deadline which is August 15. It might be better, because by that time I should have a few more things completed, and hopefully I will have opened my Etsy shop by then.
I do want to have things finished up so I can submit an application for the LA PLUSH YOU show.
More later. I'm exhausted from Zumba class, and the kittehs want to play Laser Pointer Chase Extravaganza!
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