Lights... Camera...

One of my goals for Etsy and the new year was to streamline the photographs in my shop. Well, it's not quite the new year, but I'm hoping I got an early start. I listed a couple of new items with a new photo style in my shop today. I think I like it better that my previous attempts. I miss the look of the satin as a background, but perhaps I can figure out a way to incorporate that, but for now, I think I'll stick to what worked out this afternoon.

These were taken in my window as it was a bit too chilly (and I was a bit too lazy) to go outside to take them. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Hand Spun

One of my Christmas presents from my mom was a drop spindle and some roving so I can learn to hand spin my own yarn. While I have not anywhere near mastered the art of hand spinning... yet... I have mastered the art of shopping for roving on Etsy. My first purchase was from a fellow member of AREtsy, The Twisted Purl. I've been eying a couple of items from her shop but didn't want to get ahead of myself and purchase the roving before I had a drop spindle. Rest assured, her roving was the first thing I purchased after Christmas.

I heard the mailman leave something at the front door today and almost tripped down the stairs to go see what it was. It was a package from Conway, AR! I was too excited to even be careful while opening it. Inside were the two things I ordered, some bonus hand painted roving, and some wonderful Etsy things. I'm telling myself that I must wait until I get better at spinning before making these into yarn, but it's going to be hard to wait.

If you are into knitting or hand spinning your own yarn, I recommend visiting Cyndi's shop - you won't be disappointed.

Something for myself

I managed to finish all handmade Christmas presents by mid-afternoon yesterday. I rewarded myself with these fingerless wrist warmers. The pattern was very simple and I'm pleased with them. Of course, with all first attempts at patterns, I've made note of things to do differently on the next pair.

I met a lady in town today to pick up a pound of skirted, unwashed fleece. It's beautiful and I can't wait to get it washed and usable. I'm hoping to receive a drop spindle under the tree tomorrow so I can spin it into something wonderful to knit with. I'll be updating everyone on my crafty gifts, so stay tuned.

I woke up yesterday morning with a bit of a cold (I can't have a holiday without a cold, it's inevitable). The cold medicines have made it a bit hard to want to finish baking and wrapping presents, but I must go on! Christmas is tomorrow and time is running out.

This evening I have allowed myself to take a break from the knitting and candy/cookie making marathon that today turned out to be. By marathon I mean that I spent all day doing those things and still didn't finish. Aren't marathons supposed to end with finished products? I know I'll finish the brother and nephew gifts before Christmas, but they still hang over me, mocking my every move, taunting me with their words "I'm sitting here... unfinished... you can't wrap me and put me under the tree unfinished...".

I'm still enjoying my break, even if the unfinished projects loom over me. One of my brothers made it into town from Minneapolis in time for dinner this evening, so my sweet boy and I went out to the catfish place to eat with my mom and brother. I had plans to come home and do some more Christmas prep in the kitchen, but I didn't. I curled up on the bed with my cat for a while, checked out the Etsy forums, took a LONG and very HOT bath, checked the Etsy forums again, and realized that I have a lot of Etsy work to do once the new year gets here.

My Etsy goals for the new year:
Streamline my pictures - make them look alike and get rid of the bad ones
Get new earrings in my shop (similar to the style at left)
Add a couple of wrist warmers and neck warmers to my shop
Post something new every three days (that won't be too hard to follow... will it?)

That is all I'm going to commit to at this point. No need to set goals that I'm not going to follow. The new year will also bring thoughts of my spring gardening, so I need to make sure and leave time for that.

I'll leave you all with something gorgeous. The UPS man came to my house today with a package from Kerrville, TX - home of James Avery Jewelry (started in 1954 by James Avery and while it's quite the operation now, I think it's still handmade stuff). These amazing earrings were a Christmas present from my best friend. I can't wait to wear them and I can't wait to make some ear wires similar to the ones on these.

Slightly off topic

I'm warning you, BeadedBombshell introduced me to embedding YouTube into blogs today...

Okay, I think I mentioned that this blog was dedicated to crafting and baking... or maybe just crafting (I can't remember) BUT I need to take a post to leave the norm and discuss something just as dear to my heart... if not a bit more. Music. The one thing about Christmas after the meaning and time with family and friends that really gets me going is Christmas music. I love it all, traditional, modern, slightly off kilter, it's all great to me. A few years ago my favorite band, Barenaked Ladies, released Barenaked for the Holidays. It's great, there are Christmas songs and Hanukkah songs (hence the "Holidays"). It's not too traditional...



Ah, Steven Page... if I were single (and he wasn't married with children), I'd go find him for myself.

And speaking of not too tradition, I also have a thing for Tran-Siberian Orchestra. I saw them in concert a few years ago and had the chance to see them again this year, but the weather Gods were against me this time. So a video to get me through until next year (not the best quality, but it shows the show pretty well)...



And just because they deserve one more clip...



Ignore that it isn't Christmasy and ignore the pleated shorts and man vests... it was the 90s, we all had a hard time back then. And to prove that this really does have something to do with artistry and crafting, I present to you a drawing by Kevin Hearn, their keyboardist/accordion player/mandolin... and whatever else he'll pick up to play:


Hopefully I'll be back to crafting and blogging about it tomorrow.

I'm weak

"Outstanding" from 12fifteen.etsy.com

Recently I found myself weak and at the mercy of good marketing techniques. I feel safe when I see something that says "only 100 prints made". 100 gives me plenty of time to wait it out, decided if I want to buy it, test the waters to see how fast they are going. However, when "only 100 prints made" changes to "only *some number less than 10* left" my safety goes out the window. Now it is only a matter of time before it sales out... what if 10 people who wanted this item very much all decide to buy one RIGHT now.

I'll tell you what happens, you buy something.

I bought the original inspiration behind Winter Trees the other day. It came in the mail on Saturday and it's wonderful. The print is even lovelier in person and the packaging was supreme. I even got a couple of holiday cards out of the deal, I'm a sucker for freebies.

I also found myself quite weak at the book store tonight. I bought a couple of knitting books. Not patterns or techniques, but actual read before bed kind of books. Both by Stephanie Pearl Mcfee. I got Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off and At Knits End (also by McPhee). I'm really looking forward to some reading as soon as I'm done with these Christmas gifts!

Merry Christmas to me.

I've been a good girl this year. Most Everything I've bought or made since two days after Thanksgiving (the day after was a moment of weakness and I bought too much for myself) has been for Christmas gifts to give away. However, I received some wonderful goodies in the mail yesterday and sat down at my workspace this evening and made these...
I bought some felted beads from Burtonwood Studios and some sterling wire and a very hand device to make earring hooks from Glitter Critter. I bought both with the intention to make earrings. After a quick trip to buy a few more sterling supplies at the local craft shop, I sat down to get to work. I have to say, I overestimated how easy it would be to make these. It's not easy to thread soft metal through these felted beads but I do believe the end result was worth it. I can't wait to wear these around. Too bad it looks like I'll be stuck inside knitting and baking tomorrow due to the impending winter weather... WAIT, that's not bad. Bring on the snow.

In the Mailbox

Despite the dreariness of the situation I found myself in tonight (walking down a wet driveway, crossing the cold wet street, getting my gloves wet from my SOAKING wet mailbox) I found a wonderful surprise in my mailbox. The package instantly cheered me up. It was soft and squishy and I knew JUST what it was.
I had purchased some hand spun yarn from SDSpin last week. I found it on the gift guides and the price was great. I snatched up two orders and think... no, I know I'll be going back for more.
98% of me wants to jump right in and knit something with it immediately, but 2% of me says "slow down, find a pattern that you love, don't rush this". You see, this is only my 2nd and 3rd skeins of hand spun yarn (first skein is waiting on a project too) and I'm just amazed by how beautiful it is. Sure, I'll still purchase the economical acrylic fashion yarns from the local craft store, but I think I've found a new addiction.

And then this goes to...

This handmade pendant - not yet in my Etsy shop - goes to Recycled Ideas. I found her blog, Field Notes from an Evolutionary Psychologist, through the PIF I took part in last week. I love her shop and hope she likes what I've designed just for her.

I like this so much that they just might show up in my shop soon.

I had big plans tonight to do a couple of bracelets (I still have time for that I suppose) and start another scarf, but here I am, 8:00 PM, blogging. *sigh*

My Etsy Artist of the Week: Pensive Rabbit

My sister recently introduced me to a store on Etsy that has since turned into one of my favorite shops. Pensive Rabbit is fairly new at needle felting, but her items are truly beautiful and all one of a kind. If you follow my blog, then you know needle felting is something that has really peaked my interest lately, and this seller has peaked it even more.

The needle felting in her Etsy shop currently consists of pendants, bracelets and pins, but she did have the lovliest Christmas ornament before it was shipped off to someone else. I'm hoping she has more of those for next Christmas!

She also has some amazing items made from vintage buttons that can be fashioned into a number of items to suit your fancy.

And from a recent interview she did:

"How did you get into your craft? I can't remember a time before I was drawing or making things. My Barbies always had really unique *cough* outfits! My mother wasn't artsy but she was fearless about tackling projects around the house like refinishing furniture and upholstering the powder room. That really made an impression. It just never occurred to me not to try things. I love to experiment and I love computers. Until this past summer, I hadn't done much for about ten years so I'm still scraping the rust off!

Where does your inspiration come from? Almost everywhere! Nature figures big. I love looking really closely at plants and animals. Just amazing! Other artists inspire and challenge me, especially the incredible talent on Etsy. Oh, and I just LOVE color. Sometimes I see a gorgeous, saturated color and wish I could swim in it."

In short, you won't be dissapointed with this artist- so everyone hurry over to her Etsy shop: PensiveRabbit.etsy.com or over to her blog to read her "Musings on Etsy, indie design and other goodies" - The Thicket

I hope you enjoy this artist as much as I do!

Still blushing

Earlier this week, Denise Felton, a fellow Etsian and member of AREtsy, contacted me. She wanted to feature me on her blog. I nearly fell out of my chair. I've seen numerous people featured on blogs and have read their writings and thought "wow... that would be cool". I was wrong, it is far better than being just "cool".

This morning, she has posted her feature about me on her blog (a great blog to follow because it's actually updated with stuff worth taking the time to read). You can read it here: http://denisefelton.blogspot.com/

And when you're done there - go check out her shop at DeniseFelton.etsy.com. She does wonderful collages and cards and you won't be disappointed.

One of my favorite collages of hers is this one

I honestly don't know how to thank her for this... I am truly and honored.

At last... I'm finished

I finished the first of a few Christmas gifts I planned on making this year. I've been busy the past couple of weeks so this one has not received the amount of attention each day that the rest will. I'm quiet pleased with it and I'm counting on the fact that the recipient does not read this blog.

I was supposed to travel to Kansas City, MO for a concert today, but the weather was less than accommodating. Instead, a friend and I went to lunch and a movie. We saw August Rush and I have to say that it was a wonderful, heartwarming, cry your eyes out kind of movie. I highly recommend taking a break from whatever crafting you are currently doing and driving to your local theater to see it.

Oh, and I had time to bake some cookies today. We might need them if we get the freezing rain that have forecast for us on Monday. Baked goods and queso with chips are always my preferred" stuck in the house because I don't want to drive on the ice" kind of food. It's a bit hard to eat chips and queso while knitting though...

And these go to...

These earrings, just made tonight, go to Dancing Mooney. I found the Pay if Forward idea on her blog and therefore she gets a handmade goody from Idyll Hands. I added the spiral on the end of the wire to these and I think I'll do that one some other earrings. I like it.

I still have one spot left... don't miss out one some hand made goodies.

Speaking of hand made goodies, I found a blog the other day from an Etsy seller and artist in Southern France. Lineanongrata has a very charming shop full of her illustrations and purses. I'm quite keen on the designs and her illustrations are completely charming. Aside from her shop, her blog makes me want to move to France (but I've always wanted to move there... perhaps just a bit more now). She is having an advent calendar giveaway this month and I was the recipient for day four. I cannot wait to receive my goody. The sneak peek from her website is this...

it's a bit of a surprise... isn't it?

Winter Scenes

Winter is my favorite time of the year. Sure, I love the summer when I can garden and grow delicious tomatoes, but in the winter you have a calm, peaceful, serenity that has settled over the wooded areas that dot Northwest Arkansas. The empty branches of the trees play well with the white/gray that the sky provides as a background. I've been wanting to try and capture this in one of my bracelets and while I've almost got there, I haven't quite captured it the way I want to. Thankfully, I can live through other Etsy artists while trying, over and over again, to capture it in knit wire and bead work.



These are a couple of my favorites from Etsy. The first one is from PalindromePress and the second one from 12Fifteen.

Perhaps I'll go home tonight and try a bit harder to recreate this look in one of my bracelets... or perhaps I'll quit trying to be so creative and start tying to finish my Christmas presents!

AREtsy

Christmas is just 20 days away but it's not too late to get some good, quality shopping finished. My favorite group of Etsy ladies makes up a street team lovingly called AREtsy (Arkansas Etsy for those who aren't in the know). It's an amazingly varied group of crafters/artists with all kinds of items in their Etsy shops. We're all open for Christmas so please, make a mug of tea, come in and browse... scratch that, shop for all of the Christmas gifts on your list:

http://www.BeadedBombshell.etsy.com Beaded Things - Necklaces, Rings, Earrings
http://www.Creativekiwi.etsy.com Crochet/Sewing- Babies/Toddlers
http://www.denisefelton.etsy.com collages and greeting cards
http://www.Diamondmeenuh.etsy.com 100 percent hand sewing--no machine
http://www.Divaschmiva.etsy.com all crafts!
http://www.EdieCastle.etsy.com bags, satin pillowcases, jewelry travel totes
http://www.EkioArt.etsy.com Abstract, mixed media art, jewelry, felting and photography
http://www.IdyllHands.etsy.com Knitting and wire wrapping
http://www.JulieRose.etsy.com wire jewelry
http://www.MartoonieMosaic.etsy.com mosaic art
http://www.SUGARFOOT.etsy.com clothing
http://www.SimplePleasuresbyMS.etsy.com Handmade Jewelry
http://www.SnappyBibs.etsy.com Sewing
http://www.TheTwistedPurl.etsy.com Fiber Arts
http://www.WhimsAli.etsy.com sewing, kids stuff
http://www.artandartifacts.etsy.com Assemblage, Mosaics
http://www.casserole.etsy.com papercrafts
http://www.dogwoodlane.etsy.com sewing-wallets and bags
http://www.dyzart.etsy.com glass,clay,metal
http://www.glassbead.etsy.com lampwork glass beads
http://www.jenniferz.etsy.com Sewing, Croches, Jewelry, Papercraft
http://www.judysnow.etsy.com Hand cut mosaic tiles from vintage and older pottery
http://www.nest.etsy.com a little bit of this and that
http://www.punkinhead.etsy.com Snowfolk and other sewn goodies
http://www.QueeniesRoom.etsy.com jewelry supplies, paper crafts, misc.
http://www.paperologie.etsy.com Cards, custom tags, scrap booking, labels, stationary and other chic things

Get shopping!!!

Pay it forward...

As seen at Dancing Mooney's Blog, a Pay if Forward promise...

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF (Pay it forward) exchange. I'm not sure what that gift will be. It will be a surprise! The only thing you have to do in return is to pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. (And you gotta follow through!)

It's easy - if you are one of the first three... scratch that...4 comments on this blog posting, I'll send you something handmade by me. Can't count the first one, that is where this came from! What it will be is a surprise, and surprises are fun!

If you want to play along, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work.

Enjoy.

What took me so long?

If you follow my blog, then you know that it's been over a month since I organized my crafting area to the point that I could sit down and work at my table. However, due to the unique angle that my floor is position at, I was unable to sit there without rolling backwards into my TV. I finally purchased a rug to sit my chair on yesterday and it's amazing how a bit of carpet changes everything. I can sit and work and not roll around.

Since purchasing that rug, I have churned out three bracelets. At this rate I'll have quite the full Etsy shop and Christmas presents done in no time. Since I made another sale (some earrings and a bracelet) last night, a full shop will be necessary. The bracelet I made tonight replaces the one that sold... in colors only. None of my bracelets are exact replacements.

My sweet boy took me shopping for my birthday tonight and aside from the frivolous purchases (CDs and a COMFY house robe) I purchased Knit and Purl edited by Erika Knight. It's a collection of 250 stitches to knit (no knowledge of cable needles needed). I'm ready to get Christmas gifts behind me so I can start on this book! Hopefully I'll have new stitch patterns successfully knitted to post here during the new year.

Well, off to finish one of those Christmas gifts I just mentioned.

On the topic of felted jewerly

I would like to take this time to feature another one of my favorite Etsy sellers. Pirilamporiscado was the first time I had ever seen felted jewelry of any kind. She is located in Portugal and her necklaces are tempting me to spend too much of my hard earned PayPal money.

Aside from making wonderful art to wear, she numbers her pieces as they are all one of a kind. Not only are you buying eye catching jewelry, but also numbered art work - and for an average of $55, I would say that is a pretty good deal.

I need to learn how to felt.

I Love Olive

I do... I really do. This is my 2nd, and probably my last, bracelet for the day. It's another one done in sterling silver wire but this time I chose chartreuse, olive, and brown for the colors. I'm very happy with it.

Another thing I'm very happy with - the satin background. FINALLY I have pictures I love. I bought cream and black satin tonight at the craft store and I am so very glad I did. The black worked best for this bracelet, but I'm sure the cream will come in handy eventually. If not, I'm only out $1.49.

This morning was the morning that I became obsessed with felt beads. I went to the Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center's Art Bazaar and bought some felted wool beaded earrings. I must get some beads of my own to play with. I could learn to felt but that really needs to wait until I get some other projects done. In the mean time, I've found plenty of them on Etsy for purchase. Now to just narrow them down to just a handful that I want.

Things that sparkle

Today I ventured into the world of sterling silver jewelry. I purchased some sterling wire quite a while ago and have yet to knit it into a bracelet. Today I ended my fear of just using that wire. I tend to buy pricey things to craft with and then fear doing something with it in case it doesn't come out right. I lucked out this time. I used blue Czech glass beads and it's lovely. I've put it up on Etsy and am hoping it becomes a favorite.


I'll be doing another bracelet before the day is over, but then I'm dong with sterling until I get back to the store and buy some more. Perhaps I'll do a black, white and silver one for those a bit frightened of color... or maybe not!