The rest of the story

And finally I present to you my new carding station. The empty drafting table from the previous post has finally been inhabited with fiber, tools, buttons, jars, ribbon, a scale, and my drum carder. The world is happy again and you all can go on about your business.

I haven't used it for carding yet, just for labeling my new yarn for the Farmer's Market. I'm waiting on a few goodies to get here in the mail and then I'm carding up 7 sets of Woolyhands Batt Club batts for April. I love my theme idea and hope it plays out in real life like I see it in my head. If not, I'll do something else - that's the joy of creating.

In case you lurk in social media world and have noticed I'd been MIA lately, it's because of this - ARTOSPHERE. I've been working on scheduling the Chamber Music Series and the film series. It's been a beast of a project but I think we're almost done with the hard part and then I can sit back and enjoy my hard work. While I didn't select or book the artists for this series, this was the furthest into programming I've worked so far in my career. I scoped out spaces, chose the schedule, arranged the concert times, will help design how the concerts look to the patrons, arranged the description/artist bio sheet that our Marketing team will use to promote this project and other small things that all add up to a BEAST of a project. I'm very, very proud of it.

I should be, it's a big deal for me! Hopefully it will be a big deal for Walton Arts Center, too.

Holiday Ideas

I've got so many different Holiday ideas for my fiber shop swimming around in my head and no time to do them and it's killing me! Okay, I'm making that up, I have plenty of time to do them, just not before my next show which is... uhh... two days from now! I had HUGE plans of sticking just to jewelry for Saturday's show but we all know how HUGE plans go. Yeah, they go right out the window.

Oh well, I'll stick to the jewelry, bring some of my fall/holiday yarns and leave it at that. I still have the two Farmer's Market Holiday Markets (too many markets?) to prepare for and I can unroll some of my ideas there. AND there is always next year. Let's not forget that.

I'm quite excited about the show on Saturday. I've been churning out so much jewelry for the past few weeks and some of my new items sold at least weeks show so I just know this weekend will be great. I've been using a lot of pearl and jewel tones in my new pieces (perfect for the Holidays) and even gold which is not something I've done before. I'm please with how they look for this time of year and am itching to get pictures of the items so I can get them up on Etsy in time for some Holiday shopping.

I don't know where this sudden burst of jewelry making energy has come from lately, but I'm not going to complain. I really didn't want to make jewelry the entire summer and was worried going into the fall still not wanting to. Funny how that changes in anticipation of Christmas.

Now, back to my fibery ideas I started this post out with. I want to do more art yarns than I am. Just small bits of yarn perfect to just enjoy in a glass bowl or to add to a project for some pizazz. The couple of Ugly Yarns that I did for Halloween (art yarns gone bad) garnered so much interest and I even sold some. It would be crazy not to do more but not call the Ugly Yarns. Ugly Yarns don't sound too Christmassy... I'd come up with something else. Perhaps, "Someone Spiked the Punch" yarns or another cheeky phrase. I'm sure it will come to me at some point.

I also want to put together some fiber ornament kits. Basically it would be a way for someone who likes to craft, but doesn't knit or crochet, to use my yarn for other "non-tradition" projects. And no, don't ask what I have in mind because I haven't figured it out, but I will... oh, I will!

I have some other ideas too, but I'm having trouble explaining them in writing. If I get to them this year, I'll be sure to post the ideas and pictures to share with all of you.

So, what have you got planned for the Holiday crafting season? Making gifts? Any seasonal items going up in your online shops if you have them? I'd love to hear from you. Sharing ideas and projects really helps get all of our creative juices flowing.

Validation

I used to be the kind of person who needed the approval of others to validate what I do. If I made food, I didn't really know if it was good unless someone told me it was. If I hung up some pictures in a way I liked, it didn't look good until someone told me it did. This went for most things.

As I've grown up, I've moved away from the need for that validation. If I make a necklace I like, I'm going to wear it all over the place whether people like it or not. Same goes for food, decor, and projects at work. I do it my way if that way is the way I like.

However, every now and then, validation comes along when you lease expect it. I have an account on Twitter which allows me to keep up with shops I love on Etsy, friends that were left behind in Texas when I moved north, blog writers I follow and just crafting in general. Today the Twitter account that Etsy manages Twittered (what you call a post on Twitter) about my Desert Breeze necklace. YES - they noticed my sweet, little necklace. And now, hopefully, so will their followers.

No, I did not need the validation that my little necklace is nice from Etsy admin, but it sure does feel warm and fuzzy that I got it anyways. Proof of the post is seen below - you can't click on the link, but I assure you, it linked to my necklace.

Okay - enough excitement.

I sat down at my crafting table last night to make some new earrings for the Walton Arts Center Holiday Bazaar. I started out just remaking some of the more popular earrings but freshening up the look with some new beads. I also made some new designs that I hope do well. All are out of antiqued brass findings since that seems to be my favorite look right now, but that also seems to be my customers favorite look right now.

Sitting at my table has me looking forward to the many days off I'll have around Christmas. I have some new ideas in my head for jewelry designs and I'm dying to have enough time to sit and do them. I want to beef my bracelets up, use more silver, more gemstones, and more vintage beads. I think there is a market for pricier bracelets and I want to test it out. Don't worry, I'll still be making the ones I have now, but new items are good... right? WAIT, that is asking for validation.

I don't do that.

Happy Thursday fellow bloggers.

Knock Knock

Hello? Anyone out there?

Sales have been a bit slow for me on Etsy this week - but then again, I've been a bit MIA from my regular life. I did keep up with things the best I could from Little Rock, but there was no time for crafting there. Perhaps when I'm back to being creative here the good karma will reward me on Etsy.

I did list some new things in my shop today. Oh, and I finished a scarf and started a new one. I'm madly getting ready for a sale on Saturday, November 8. It's a few local artists/crafters and I cannot wait. I'll post more information soon.

I took some time away from everything last night to sit with the Sweet Boy on the couch and watch a scary movie. We watched The Strangers. I'm not sure how much I liked it. It did startle me a few times and it wasn't a bad movie, but I want to know about the killers. I've always been interested in what makes the mean people be, well, mean. I'm not creepy with interest, just normal with interest. The movie ended allowing room for more movies, but still, I just want to know what the bad people were bad. Ah well.

Besides scary movie watching, we decorated the porch and had a big bowl full of candy ready to pass out. However, we got ZERO trick-or-treaters. I don't blame them - with kids getting shot and kidnapped last night, I would not let my kids out of the house either - that is, if I had kids. Is it really that bad out there?

I suppose I should call it a night and head up to bed to snuggle in with a good book.

Update Successful

What? I listed a new item in my Etsy shop tonight? Get out!

It has taken me just about FOREVER to get some pictures I liked of some of my new items. By forever I mean at least 3 weeks. They are not exactly my favorite pics, but they will do. Once the sun comes out while I'm at home, I'll get some really great pictures, but for now, I feel like I can list items again. Oh, and even better picture new, Canon is going to fix my broken camera so I'll really be back to normal soon.

I also sat down and fixed a couple of necklaces that didn't survive when my craft show display took a nosedive off of the window sill the other day. They are as good as new. While that didn't lead to any new items, I did sit down and so something at my desk. I finally unpacked the last 2 boxes of crafting goodies I had this past Sunday when I added a shelf to my set up. Now it's a mess.

I said I unpacked them, I didn't say anything about organizing them.

I still have grandiose visions of really putting a dent in getting the crafting area cleaned up and the guest room organized before Friday night. Barbara, a roomie from my days in Austin, is coming up for a visit and to watch The Longhorns trample the Razorbacks on TV (didn't get tickets to the game in Austin, so coming up to Fayetteville is the next best thing I though, and so did Barbara). It's not that I need to impress Barbara with my mad organizational skills, it's just that I want it to look put together for my sake. I want to be a good hostess with a relaxing guest room and amazing guest bath.

Ah well, perhaps it will be done in time for my next visitor.

I already know what a certain one of you will say - something along the lines of "it's okay to take it easy". I know it is... I'm guilty of being just like my mom. Always going going going.

Coffee = fuel

Since returning home from New Orleans, I've been nothing but sleepy. I haven't wanted to get out of bed in the morning, I've been taking naps just after work, I even contemplated a 20 minute nap during lunch today, but instead chose to go grocery shopping. I just spent 30 minutes on the couch snoozing and I'm still exhausted. I'm hoping one of the things I brought home from The Big Easy (seen above) will perk me up a bit later. I plan on sipping some coffee with hot milk (the closest thing I have to a cafe au lait) out on the front porch.

I'll probably be able to sit on my new front porch by next weekend. We get the keys to the place on Monday which will allow the Sweet Boy and I to start moving stuff over during the evenings. We'll move the big stuff over next weekend. I'm most excited about getting back to a normal routine. I'm tired of walking around boxes, stubbing toes on stacks of boxes, banging needs on piles of boxes. I'm ready to be moved in and box free (although I'm not going to lie, dumpster diving for boxes at work today was mildly entertaining).

I find myself peeking at my beads, longing to make some necklaces to list on Etsy. Perhaps that is a sign to get my bootie over to the table and start creating.

And with that, goodnight.

Packy McPackertons

I packed up much of my crafty area stuff tonight. I almost packed my beads and yarn - but I couldn't. Those will stay out until just before we start moving (which is only in a week). One advantage to moving your crafting area is you really get rid of a bunch of junk. I had a ton of scraps of paper, baggies, etc that I was planning on reusing. I needed to be honest with myself. I was not ever, NEVER going to use that stuff again. So into the trash it went.

I've been listing quite a bit of stuff on Craigslist. Yarn that won't get used, scrapbooking stuff that won't get used, sporting goods stuff that has never been used, and some computer junk. It's amazing what people will buy from you. That is money in the moving fund as far as I'm concerned.

Since I'm blogging again, I guess it's pretty obvious that I'm back from New Orleans. I've never been great about writing about my trips. It was fun, the French Quarter is beautiful, the food is amazing, and the cafe au lait and beignets are tasty. Perhaps I'll post some pictures soon.

To Do List

parsley found in my garden last week - it blooms!

I sat down tonight to package up some bracelets to ship out and started to work on some earrings. That's when it happened, I sat there for about 3 minutes just starting at my crafting table. I didn't want to make anything tonight - not a single thing. I decided to walk away and come browse the internet for the next great thing. I'm sure I'll regret that decision this weekend when I find myself face to face with the following "to do" list (you'd think that's all I do on the weekends, finish lists):

1. Print necklace cards
2. Print earring cards (perhaps design and then print, but I have high hopes of designing them tomorrow)
3. Make a few more bracelets in silver tones - I have a plethora of copper ones ready to go
4. Make a few more necklaces
5. Put hinges on the shutters for my jewelry display at the shop
6. Cook in my mom's newly remodeled kitchen
7. Sleep in
8. Go look at knobs for my mom's newly remodeled kitchen
9. Read the rest of Craft Inc.
10. Oh, make some earrings.

It might sound like a lot but I think I can do a lot of that on Friday night and have the rest of the weekend for some free time (like the cooking and sleeping bit).

Tomorrow I'm heading to an American Red Cross luncheon because I seem to think I have a lot of free time that needs to be filled with volunteering. Huh, I wonder where I got that idea?

Inspiration Needed - apply within

An Austin, TX sunset complete with matching car - taken February 2005

I think I need some new inspiration. I've just about exhausted the views of the Boston mountains (part of the Ozarks) from my window. I've exhausted spring in NW Arkansas, winter in NW Arkansas, fall in NW Arkansas, and anything else, in NW Arkansas.

Perhaps a trip to my beloved Austin, TX is in order? Surely I could find some new inspiration there. There's plenty of burnt orange (a favorite color of mine not because it belongs to my beloved alma mater, but because I look darned good in it), plenty of rolling hills, great food (a bracelet inspired by summer tomato salsa anyone?), naked hippies, and amazing sunsets as seen from the patio at Oasis.

Yes, a trip down south is just what I need. Now to hit up the old roomie for a bed to crash on.

*note about Hippie Hollow - go to www.hippiehollow.com if you are interested in reading more, but I warn you, you might run into some nudity.

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.

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.

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*

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!!!