Sorry about the absence in posting lately. I can't even really remember where I left off. I guess when class ended and the junk mail project.
Lately Craft Leftovers has really been consuming my life. I've also been working 6 days a week! yuck! Well it has been fun though. Nothing too bad happening at work, just normal, which is nice.
I cat sat for two different people this past weekend and Jason came into town too. It was so nice.
I also just loaded up the etsy shop with kits and a couple new items, like heatable lavender pillows!
I also redid the banner for Craft Leftovers.
I had a stressful situation today ordering yarn for Craft Leftover kits. The lady was a little, well, not so good with the social interaction.
I don't really have too much more to talk about. But hopefully neat-o stuff soon. I'll be back later this week with a couple of works in progress.
Oh so I'm going to have to frog the shawl because I don't have enough yarn. Blah.
Talk to you soon.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Schoooool OUT for the SUMMER!
Oh yes, I am totally singing the title right now. I'm so glad I'm not starting those two classes this Friday after all!
So final project for this class, well it's actually just a start, but that's what my prof wanted, something to keep us all going over the summer.
Junk Mail.... A Year of Junk Mail, to be exact.
Well, that's what it's going to be. I've been collecting it since March and will continue until next March, so a year total. All the while I will be transforming this annoying useless junk mail into decorative and utilitarian works. At the end of it all I'm planning on an instillation, maybe with related workshops.
What is shown is (top left working clockwise) origami mobile (the first attempt), handmade paper, quilling, close up of the quilling. I will also be using sculptural elements and anything else I can think of.
The crit went well I think and after the visiting artist said that I need studio assistance to help "refine" these materials under my guidance, I had a couple of volunteers, so that's cool. Help in the studio is always welcome. My prof said she thought this would be a great senior show/project and I like that idea too. A year of junk mail lands nicely 1 month before I would have that show, so that worked out after all.
In other news the new Craft Leftover project is up:
Nice little picnic napkins. They are double sided too. My friend Andrea gave me this idea. She's a pretty creative lady.
Also pertaining to Craft Leftovers: I've decided to start posting about other diy projects/artists/ideas that carry the Craft Leftovers aesthetic during the week. There is just so much out there, I can't possibly write all the patterns I want to, nor should I have to.
And even more exciting, for me anyway, I've decided to add another element to the Craft Leftovers Store, Reclaimed Leftovers! Okay, so this was kind of a break through for me, and I've thought about it long and hard and it's kind of like the posting about the other diy projects. There are so many materials out there, and in my apartment for that matter, that I feel like I should offer those up too. Kind of helping leftover materials find a good home. It will start out with things like buttons, zippers, trim, small stuff, but I'm hoping to move it into vintage fabrics and yarn as well. Things will be pretty cheap by nature and most of the time less than current prices. The first bits of reclaimed materials will go into the shop this week! I will also be adding kits and other items too. I'll post here to let you all know when it actually happens.
And with that I'm going to go. I'm getting tired and I still need to clean a bit. My out of town friend from Chicago is coming in on the train tomorrow morning and I don't want it to be immediately apparent that I live in filth most of the time!
Have a good week!
So final project for this class, well it's actually just a start, but that's what my prof wanted, something to keep us all going over the summer.
Junk Mail.... A Year of Junk Mail, to be exact.
Well, that's what it's going to be. I've been collecting it since March and will continue until next March, so a year total. All the while I will be transforming this annoying useless junk mail into decorative and utilitarian works. At the end of it all I'm planning on an instillation, maybe with related workshops.
What is shown is (top left working clockwise) origami mobile (the first attempt), handmade paper, quilling, close up of the quilling. I will also be using sculptural elements and anything else I can think of.
The crit went well I think and after the visiting artist said that I need studio assistance to help "refine" these materials under my guidance, I had a couple of volunteers, so that's cool. Help in the studio is always welcome. My prof said she thought this would be a great senior show/project and I like that idea too. A year of junk mail lands nicely 1 month before I would have that show, so that worked out after all.
In other news the new Craft Leftover project is up:
Nice little picnic napkins. They are double sided too. My friend Andrea gave me this idea. She's a pretty creative lady.Also pertaining to Craft Leftovers: I've decided to start posting about other diy projects/artists/ideas that carry the Craft Leftovers aesthetic during the week. There is just so much out there, I can't possibly write all the patterns I want to, nor should I have to.
And even more exciting, for me anyway, I've decided to add another element to the Craft Leftovers Store, Reclaimed Leftovers! Okay, so this was kind of a break through for me, and I've thought about it long and hard and it's kind of like the posting about the other diy projects. There are so many materials out there, and in my apartment for that matter, that I feel like I should offer those up too. Kind of helping leftover materials find a good home. It will start out with things like buttons, zippers, trim, small stuff, but I'm hoping to move it into vintage fabrics and yarn as well. Things will be pretty cheap by nature and most of the time less than current prices. The first bits of reclaimed materials will go into the shop this week! I will also be adding kits and other items too. I'll post here to let you all know when it actually happens.
And with that I'm going to go. I'm getting tired and I still need to clean a bit. My out of town friend from Chicago is coming in on the train tomorrow morning and I don't want it to be immediately apparent that I live in filth most of the time!
Have a good week!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
WIP Wednesday!
Wow, thanks for all the super nice comments to my last post, it totally helped to make me feel better last week. I think I'll be out of the woods when this class is over.
Okay, I think it was in the air, hormones or something.... I started, not just one new project, but two!
I did an exhaust dye with a new type of yarn I'm pretty excited about. It's from Hemp4Knitting and it's the HempWol. 50%wool and 50% hemp. It was cream and turned a really pretty tanish grey.... hemp color! Go figure! I do love it. It's kind of heathered too. Anyway, I'm trying out a pattern from the Knitted Vintage Socks book Jason picked me up for... oh was it Chirstmas? And I'm just now starting a pattern from it? Shame on me. Anyway, it's the lady's stockings pattern with the little color work up the side. I'm going to use the walnut dyed superwash merino (I have a little left over from the samples I made). I'm done with the cuff and about to the point where I work my first set of decreases! Oh so exciting, my first pair of knee highs!
The second project that has been eating up the time I would normally give to blogging and other things is a shawl. My very first shawl. I got the pattern here. And a friend of mine gave me her corrections and notes. Thank goodness too because that lady is as vague as I am when it comes to writing patterns. It's coming along fabulously. I'm already past the third set of increases. So it's all more of the same from here. I don't even have to carry the pattern with me. I'm making it with some yarn that I got at the Salvation Army about a year and a half ago. You really can't beat 50 cents a skein for "good quality afghan wool" I think it's Sears brand if that gives you an idea of how old it must be. It does seem of good quality though and I"m happy to not have to buy yarn from KnitPicks for it... and I am so tempted because they are having a huge sale right now until Friday!
This shawl is especially cool because of the shaping, it fits to your shoulders so it won't slide down. It just stays put. It's so neat! I can't wait to try it out in this fall!
I stopped by Micheal's today to pick up some clay for making little models to cast paper off of and found this:::::::::
Why all the sales! Don't they know I'm trying to save! I did only get three so I'm feeling okay. They were only $1 ea and there was 4 yds on each spool instead of 4 feet, which is the standard length for Micheal's dollar bin ribbon.
I'm also working on a junk mail project for my final project for this class I'm in. I did a ton of research last night and this morning and am finally ready to start making stuff. Tonight is my play night. Literally. I'm just going to play with cutting paper, doing some papier maché, sculpting with paper pulp, etc. Then tomorrow and the next I'm going to get down to making "art." Sometimes I hate that word. Sometimes I love it though. I think I'm just burnt out on having to think about what I'm making. I've had three pretty intense projects in a row and I need a break. I sure am glad I'm getting one.
I did a learn a lot of neat stuff doing research though. Like direct marketing pretty much didn't really exist until the movable type press was invented over in Europe and not in the us until the typewriter! And Sears and Montgomery Ward were the first to pioneer bulk mailing service through the postal service. I also learned about how many trees are ground up every year for unsolicited mail and how much of it goes straight into the landfill (about 34% of our landfills is just paper waste!) and how much money ea city wastes each year in hauling it to the landfill.
And speaking of all that I better hop to my play time, it's already 9:18!
Okay, I think it was in the air, hormones or something.... I started, not just one new project, but two!
I did an exhaust dye with a new type of yarn I'm pretty excited about. It's from Hemp4Knitting and it's the HempWol. 50%wool and 50% hemp. It was cream and turned a really pretty tanish grey.... hemp color! Go figure! I do love it. It's kind of heathered too. Anyway, I'm trying out a pattern from the Knitted Vintage Socks book Jason picked me up for... oh was it Chirstmas? And I'm just now starting a pattern from it? Shame on me. Anyway, it's the lady's stockings pattern with the little color work up the side. I'm going to use the walnut dyed superwash merino (I have a little left over from the samples I made). I'm done with the cuff and about to the point where I work my first set of decreases! Oh so exciting, my first pair of knee highs!
The second project that has been eating up the time I would normally give to blogging and other things is a shawl. My very first shawl. I got the pattern here. And a friend of mine gave me her corrections and notes. Thank goodness too because that lady is as vague as I am when it comes to writing patterns. It's coming along fabulously. I'm already past the third set of increases. So it's all more of the same from here. I don't even have to carry the pattern with me. I'm making it with some yarn that I got at the Salvation Army about a year and a half ago. You really can't beat 50 cents a skein for "good quality afghan wool" I think it's Sears brand if that gives you an idea of how old it must be. It does seem of good quality though and I"m happy to not have to buy yarn from KnitPicks for it... and I am so tempted because they are having a huge sale right now until Friday!
This shawl is especially cool because of the shaping, it fits to your shoulders so it won't slide down. It just stays put. It's so neat! I can't wait to try it out in this fall!
I stopped by Micheal's today to pick up some clay for making little models to cast paper off of and found this:::::::::
Why all the sales! Don't they know I'm trying to save! I did only get three so I'm feeling okay. They were only $1 ea and there was 4 yds on each spool instead of 4 feet, which is the standard length for Micheal's dollar bin ribbon.
I'm also working on a junk mail project for my final project for this class I'm in. I did a ton of research last night and this morning and am finally ready to start making stuff. Tonight is my play night. Literally. I'm just going to play with cutting paper, doing some papier maché, sculpting with paper pulp, etc. Then tomorrow and the next I'm going to get down to making "art." Sometimes I hate that word. Sometimes I love it though. I think I'm just burnt out on having to think about what I'm making. I've had three pretty intense projects in a row and I need a break. I sure am glad I'm getting one.
I did a learn a lot of neat stuff doing research though. Like direct marketing pretty much didn't really exist until the movable type press was invented over in Europe and not in the us until the typewriter! And Sears and Montgomery Ward were the first to pioneer bulk mailing service through the postal service. I also learned about how many trees are ground up every year for unsolicited mail and how much of it goes straight into the landfill (about 34% of our landfills is just paper waste!) and how much money ea city wastes each year in hauling it to the landfill.
And speaking of all that I better hop to my play time, it's already 9:18!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Horray and Rah, all at the same time.
Just to warn you... this is.a.realllly.long.post.
Things have been so up and down lately I'm going batty. I have good news, then bad, then good, then more bad, then a metal break down (literally). Now I'm better again, but still exhausted and kind of wound a little tight.
First issue of business. The yarn took super long to dry (I should have remember it takes like 3 days). It's dry tonight, but I can't take pictures until tomorrow morning when it's light out. Dang it. But doesn't it look beautiful? I sure think so.
The only issue is that the color is all off, not so great for selling, but it doesn't matter so much for blogging. The colors all have a reddish tint that isn't shown so well in the pictures with a flash.
So the good news that I received on Friday is:
:::::::: drum roll please :::::::::
BlogHer '07 I'm Speaking" title="BlogHer '07, July 27-29">
I've been invited to speak at the BlogHer Conference in Chicago! I'm going to be a panel member speaking on The Art of Craft. It will be a day two seminar. Exciting right! I get into the whole thing for free too! It would normally be way out of my price range. There are a whole bunch of really great seminars and such that I get to go to. Small business stuff, politics stuff, art stuff, craft stuff. Plus, there are cocktail parties just about every night with fancy little appetizers, sweet, i love fancy food.
Then I got the bad news. I can't get into the classes I need this summer, the class is closed and the prof won't allow any more students. And even worse, the only other time the class is offered is during all the hours I'm working (a schedule that has been locked in for over a month) and it would just be too much to try to work everyday and then go to class everyday too. I kind of flipped. You see, since I can't take these classes now, I have to take them later... like I have to take another semester of classes.... like I have to postpone being with my guy even longer. He's being great, totally supportive, taking it really well, giving me the whole "you know you need to graduate, it wouldn't be good to give up now, it's only one more semester, it will be fine, you will be okay." He's really wonderful like that. I'm starting to get a little bit more used to the idea of staying here longer and making a list of "Pros" instead of just seeing the "cons." Like I get to be close to Chicago for another year. And maybe I will rearrange my apartment because I will be here for another year after all. And you know what, he's right, I will be fine, and even better, I'm sure I'll be just great. Fabulous even.
Okay, so more good news. I went to this neat-o antique place today with my friend Susie and found: ta-dah! Buttons!
These are my favs (although I'm finding new ones that I didn't see before all the time):
I see some really great kits for pencil clutches in the near future.
And with all of my external stress gone, I've taken the time to clean, like realllllly clean my studio:
It's still cluttered, but I have a small place and that is unavoidable. Now everything does have a place and it's all thanks to my new shelving unit! I picked it up from lowes today. I got those two bins at the bottom too.
One has felted sweaters and sweaters to be recycled for the yarn in it and the other is clothing to be recycled for the buttons, zippers, and fabric. (I do still have some in my other closet, but this gives me hope that I will get it down to one bin... eventually). The shelves are adjustable too, so I put the bottom taller for the bins and the next a little lower for bolts of fabric. Above that is separate little bins: 
one for loose buttons, one for buttons on their cards, one for pastels and charcoal, one for silk screening supplies, one from block printing supplies, etc... the list really does go on and on. I also now have a safe spot for my surger so it doesn't get banged around. The paper display is now full of paper and sketchbooks towards the bottom and fabric sorted by color at the top. 
The yarn to dye and yarn that has been dyed is on the top shelf (so mr b won't get at it) and on the very top, that crazy looking contraption is actually a table top loom! Yea! 
and I have a place in my studio for all of my resource books (I have another shelf for pattern and art books). I also have a clean work space for the first time in I don't know how long because everything has a place. It is so great feeling 
I kind of like this little rack too:
The little notebook was actually my grandma's sewing and knitting notes. I'm still kind of emotional (I seriously think it must be that time of the month) and I started crying. To she her tally marks for counting off row and here instructions for a "v-neck" sweater made me reminisce severely. Then there was a list of materials for a doll she made. She was amazing. She made these porcelain dolls, fired them and everything. Painted them too, little rosy cheeks. Then made all of their clothing. Like traditional Victorian wardrobes outfitted down to the details, even little pantaloons. I always loved to watch her sew and crochet. She was a crocheter too. My grandma always said she didn't know how to knit, but seriously, why did she have over 15 sets of knitting needles (pictured here as well)? Maybe she got them from my great grandma. I think it was actually my great grandma that knit the little pin cushion in there. She made my sister and me little plastic canvas sewing kits with those pin cushions and all the other little sewing notions that little girls need.
Ah, i miss that woman. It's kind of cool to think that there are 4 generations of crocheters. Maybe more.
So things really are looking up, but I'm still needing some r&r. It will be good to have two months off of school. I have taken classes in the off season for 3 years straight and I am getting burnt out. Hopefully I will return in the fall with a renewed spirit.
Plus, it will be good to have those two month off to prepare for the Renegade Craft Fair! I submitted my app yesterday morning. I hope I get in! I have some volunteers to help me prepare too. In exchange for dinner and knitting/crochet lessons of course. I'm trying to get the shops stocked up so I can focus on making items and kits for that. I will know on July 7th. Keep your fingers crossed for me. This could totally get Craft Leftovers up and really running. I'm making up some super special kits for the BlogHer thing too. I figure, you can throw away a business card, but would you really throw away a kit? I don't think so. You would give it to a friend instead. I'm going to spread the word about Craft Leftovers like a virus! Mwah hahahah.
And on that note, I'm done. Have a great week everyone!
Things have been so up and down lately I'm going batty. I have good news, then bad, then good, then more bad, then a metal break down (literally). Now I'm better again, but still exhausted and kind of wound a little tight.
First issue of business. The yarn took super long to dry (I should have remember it takes like 3 days). It's dry tonight, but I can't take pictures until tomorrow morning when it's light out. Dang it. But doesn't it look beautiful? I sure think so.
The only issue is that the color is all off, not so great for selling, but it doesn't matter so much for blogging. The colors all have a reddish tint that isn't shown so well in the pictures with a flash.
So the good news that I received on Friday is:
:::::::: drum roll please :::::::::
BlogHer '07 I'm Speaking" title="BlogHer '07, July 27-29">I've been invited to speak at the BlogHer Conference in Chicago! I'm going to be a panel member speaking on The Art of Craft. It will be a day two seminar. Exciting right! I get into the whole thing for free too! It would normally be way out of my price range. There are a whole bunch of really great seminars and such that I get to go to. Small business stuff, politics stuff, art stuff, craft stuff. Plus, there are cocktail parties just about every night with fancy little appetizers, sweet, i love fancy food.
Then I got the bad news. I can't get into the classes I need this summer, the class is closed and the prof won't allow any more students. And even worse, the only other time the class is offered is during all the hours I'm working (a schedule that has been locked in for over a month) and it would just be too much to try to work everyday and then go to class everyday too. I kind of flipped. You see, since I can't take these classes now, I have to take them later... like I have to take another semester of classes.... like I have to postpone being with my guy even longer. He's being great, totally supportive, taking it really well, giving me the whole "you know you need to graduate, it wouldn't be good to give up now, it's only one more semester, it will be fine, you will be okay." He's really wonderful like that. I'm starting to get a little bit more used to the idea of staying here longer and making a list of "Pros" instead of just seeing the "cons." Like I get to be close to Chicago for another year. And maybe I will rearrange my apartment because I will be here for another year after all. And you know what, he's right, I will be fine, and even better, I'm sure I'll be just great. Fabulous even.
Okay, so more good news. I went to this neat-o antique place today with my friend Susie and found: ta-dah! Buttons!
These are my favs (although I'm finding new ones that I didn't see before all the time):
I see some really great kits for pencil clutches in the near future.
And with all of my external stress gone, I've taken the time to clean, like realllllly clean my studio:
It's still cluttered, but I have a small place and that is unavoidable. Now everything does have a place and it's all thanks to my new shelving unit! I picked it up from lowes today. I got those two bins at the bottom too.
One has felted sweaters and sweaters to be recycled for the yarn in it and the other is clothing to be recycled for the buttons, zippers, and fabric. (I do still have some in my other closet, but this gives me hope that I will get it down to one bin... eventually). The shelves are adjustable too, so I put the bottom taller for the bins and the next a little lower for bolts of fabric. Above that is separate little bins: 
one for loose buttons, one for buttons on their cards, one for pastels and charcoal, one for silk screening supplies, one from block printing supplies, etc... the list really does go on and on. I also now have a safe spot for my surger so it doesn't get banged around. The paper display is now full of paper and sketchbooks towards the bottom and fabric sorted by color at the top. 
The yarn to dye and yarn that has been dyed is on the top shelf (so mr b won't get at it) and on the very top, that crazy looking contraption is actually a table top loom! Yea! 
and I have a place in my studio for all of my resource books (I have another shelf for pattern and art books). I also have a clean work space for the first time in I don't know how long because everything has a place. It is so great feeling 
I kind of like this little rack too:
The little notebook was actually my grandma's sewing and knitting notes. I'm still kind of emotional (I seriously think it must be that time of the month) and I started crying. To she her tally marks for counting off row and here instructions for a "v-neck" sweater made me reminisce severely. Then there was a list of materials for a doll she made. She was amazing. She made these porcelain dolls, fired them and everything. Painted them too, little rosy cheeks. Then made all of their clothing. Like traditional Victorian wardrobes outfitted down to the details, even little pantaloons. I always loved to watch her sew and crochet. She was a crocheter too. My grandma always said she didn't know how to knit, but seriously, why did she have over 15 sets of knitting needles (pictured here as well)? Maybe she got them from my great grandma. I think it was actually my great grandma that knit the little pin cushion in there. She made my sister and me little plastic canvas sewing kits with those pin cushions and all the other little sewing notions that little girls need.Ah, i miss that woman. It's kind of cool to think that there are 4 generations of crocheters. Maybe more.
So things really are looking up, but I'm still needing some r&r. It will be good to have two months off of school. I have taken classes in the off season for 3 years straight and I am getting burnt out. Hopefully I will return in the fall with a renewed spirit.
Plus, it will be good to have those two month off to prepare for the Renegade Craft Fair! I submitted my app yesterday morning. I hope I get in! I have some volunteers to help me prepare too. In exchange for dinner and knitting/crochet lessons of course. I'm trying to get the shops stocked up so I can focus on making items and kits for that. I will know on July 7th. Keep your fingers crossed for me. This could totally get Craft Leftovers up and really running. I'm making up some super special kits for the BlogHer thing too. I figure, you can throw away a business card, but would you really throw away a kit? I don't think so. You would give it to a friend instead. I'm going to spread the word about Craft Leftovers like a virus! Mwah hahahah.
And on that note, I'm done. Have a great week everyone!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Get your dye on! Naturally!
I've spent most of the day dyeing and you know what that means? More yarn will be in the shop tomorrow night (if it's dry by then, which I think it will be). It will be up by midnight central time.
This is what the yarn looked like when I pitched it into the pot, neat-o.
I have been working on the endangered series again and I'm hoping to get another 1/3 done tonight (there are 33 panels all together in the one piece).
I almost have my quilt blocks finished for my partner, but I just realized that they are 12 x 12 instead of 12 1/2 by 12 1/2. That may not sound like much, but it is if you are piecing those blocks to other ones.
After I get that finished I think I'm going to make some more kits to put in the store, we will see how that actually goes though, it might not get done today.
Oh I have some really great news, but I want to wait until it is official and know all the details before I tell all.
Well, I need to get the late dinner into my belly and maybe go to the grocery store so I'll see all you cats later. Have a good week.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Stuff in the shop
Just thought I would post "hello" to let you know there is new travel tissue holder available, 2 made ($5 ea) and 2 kits ($2 ea). I also dropped the price of the kits and added shipping separately so if you order multiple things your cost will be less! Now why didn't I think of that before! Better yet, why didn't any of you holler at me about it!
I've also made a bunch of new catnip pillows and I'll add as many as I can tonight.
Have a good one!
I've also made a bunch of new catnip pillows and I'll add as many as I can tonight.
Have a good one!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Taggeryific!
Well, I've been tagged by Leathal Zine! I will list 7 random facts, but I'm not going to tag anyone because it seems like everyone I would has been! I love the way this is spreading like wildfire!
1. I have a ferret named Ferret Beuler, but I always call him Mr B or Mr Beuler, but never by he full name or just his last. He is the littlest little guy I have ever seen.
2. I write to-do lists everyday. They are always over ambitious, but the times that I do get everything done I feel really accomplished.
3. I love gardening, I love plants, I had a great huge garden that was abundant to say the least, but I have killed almost every house plant I have ever owned. So far, my cactus is the only one that has been able to put up with my lack of watering habits. I guess my green thumb needs a little help from the great outdoors.
4. My favorite snack, which is so bad, is tortias covered with chedder cheese, peppers, salsa, and sour cream.
5. I have a favorite chair, and it is the ugliest chair I have ever seen.
6. Even though most likely no one will see my sketch book, I get self conscious about what I write and draw in it. Something that I have been trying to overcome this year.
7. More so than finishing and wearing anything I make, I really enjoy the act of making.
If I were to tag people it would be:
Emily of Apron Wings
Amy of Angry Chicken
Sister D of The Crafty Pod
Wendy of Knit and Tonic
Keri of Knitty Gritty Thoughts
Lisa of Lisa Congdon Art+Craft
Franklin of The Panopticon
There are so many more, but really need to get back to it.
I don't know what it is about this week, but I am having a complete lack of motivation issue. If it were up to me I would sit around all day doing nothing, not even reading a book. I think, maybe, I'm just exhausted.
Oh well. I have more to do before the day is done.
I did tie off all of my hanks of sock yarn... so maybe, just maybe I will get the yarn dyed by Friday night and have it in the shop on monday.
Have a good night folks, I'll post again soon, thanks for all of the nice comments and emails too, it helped brighten up this lack of luster day!
1. I have a ferret named Ferret Beuler, but I always call him Mr B or Mr Beuler, but never by he full name or just his last. He is the littlest little guy I have ever seen.
2. I write to-do lists everyday. They are always over ambitious, but the times that I do get everything done I feel really accomplished.
3. I love gardening, I love plants, I had a great huge garden that was abundant to say the least, but I have killed almost every house plant I have ever owned. So far, my cactus is the only one that has been able to put up with my lack of watering habits. I guess my green thumb needs a little help from the great outdoors.
4. My favorite snack, which is so bad, is tortias covered with chedder cheese, peppers, salsa, and sour cream.
5. I have a favorite chair, and it is the ugliest chair I have ever seen.
6. Even though most likely no one will see my sketch book, I get self conscious about what I write and draw in it. Something that I have been trying to overcome this year.
7. More so than finishing and wearing anything I make, I really enjoy the act of making.
If I were to tag people it would be:
Emily of Apron Wings
Amy of Angry Chicken
Sister D of The Crafty Pod
Wendy of Knit and Tonic
Keri of Knitty Gritty Thoughts
Lisa of Lisa Congdon Art+Craft
Franklin of The Panopticon
There are so many more, but really need to get back to it.
I don't know what it is about this week, but I am having a complete lack of motivation issue. If it were up to me I would sit around all day doing nothing, not even reading a book. I think, maybe, I'm just exhausted.
Oh well. I have more to do before the day is done.
I did tie off all of my hanks of sock yarn... so maybe, just maybe I will get the yarn dyed by Friday night and have it in the shop on monday.
Have a good night folks, I'll post again soon, thanks for all of the nice comments and emails too, it helped brighten up this lack of luster day!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
New in the shop!
Okay, so while I was away, I spent a lot of time making stuff. And I am in the process of putting it all into the shop. So far I've added some more reusable tea bags, crocheted head wraps (one is a kiddo size, it fits me, but i have a pretty small head), and some Sun Tea Spot Coasters in sets of 4! I'm going to add some kits today for the sun tea spot coaster set too, maybe some other things as well, I'm not sure what the day will hold quite yet. Well, other than paying bills and that sort of thing. Oh! I am going to send out the package of samples to the sampler today! It has to be post marked by the 1st and I would rather not cut it any closer than I am. The last thing is finished and the tags just need to be tied on. I'm also going to prep yarn today for dyeing tomorrow, so if everything works out and I don't botch another batch, there will be more yarn in that shop next week! (lettuce dyeing didn't go so well the second time around)
I'm going to hop to it, so I'll see you cats later, I'll post more pictures and updates later this week.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Sampler Samples
Okay so they are all ready to go and I'm dropping the box off at the post tomorrow. How exciting right. This might lead to some good things, I'm not sure what exactly, but some free publicity can't hurt. Here is a picture of everything:
And I've also been working on some little painting collages, what do you think:
I found this nice little frame at Salvation Army the other day and then I bought some paints from the clearance bin at walmart. I was just having fun playing with it. Sometimes it's nice just to play with paints and not worry if it has some kind of higher meaning. That's kind of been the goal of my vacation, just relaxing, having fun, no worries, no stressful activities. It's been a good break. And I still have a couple days left of it.
I'm also going to work more on the second in the endangered species series tonight, this is the start I got on it last week, I'm hoping to have it finished by next friday, we will see how it goes:
There's about 30+ pieces so getting done in a week plus dyeing yarn is going to be a whole lot of work. But... good news, I think I might have help. Some classmates of mine said that in exchange for dinner and fiber arts lessons they will give me hard labor. So I might get some help preping the yarn at least. They are going to help me put together kits and pick out and cut fabric combos for the different items I'll be selling. So woot to that. Maybe once I graduate and move to Iowa I will be able to get a supply of interns from the art department at the local university. That would be pretty sweet. I didn't think that I might have something to offer workers other than money. But now that I think about it, I would totally work in someone's studio to learn how to say: throw pots, work with metals, book arts, etc.
Here is a little preview of this week's Craft Leftovers pattern:
Hopefully the pattern makes some kind of sense. I'm really worried that even with my best intentions I have a whole lot of errors. It's inevitable when you are just one person making, writing, and testing all of the patterns. I know that I assume things. So if you notice any, if you've made something from Craft Leftovers, send me an email or leave a comment. It's important to me. I really want to put quality patterns out there. I know how frustrating it is to be mislead by poor pattern writing. I don't want to be a poor pattern writer.
Well, that's all for now, I better get on that pattern I just previewed. I have it written up to the last step and just need to finish it and then type it up.
Have a good night!
And I've also been working on some little painting collages, what do you think:
I found this nice little frame at Salvation Army the other day and then I bought some paints from the clearance bin at walmart. I was just having fun playing with it. Sometimes it's nice just to play with paints and not worry if it has some kind of higher meaning. That's kind of been the goal of my vacation, just relaxing, having fun, no worries, no stressful activities. It's been a good break. And I still have a couple days left of it.I'm also going to work more on the second in the endangered species series tonight, this is the start I got on it last week, I'm hoping to have it finished by next friday, we will see how it goes:
There's about 30+ pieces so getting done in a week plus dyeing yarn is going to be a whole lot of work. But... good news, I think I might have help. Some classmates of mine said that in exchange for dinner and fiber arts lessons they will give me hard labor. So I might get some help preping the yarn at least. They are going to help me put together kits and pick out and cut fabric combos for the different items I'll be selling. So woot to that. Maybe once I graduate and move to Iowa I will be able to get a supply of interns from the art department at the local university. That would be pretty sweet. I didn't think that I might have something to offer workers other than money. But now that I think about it, I would totally work in someone's studio to learn how to say: throw pots, work with metals, book arts, etc.Here is a little preview of this week's Craft Leftovers pattern:
Hopefully the pattern makes some kind of sense. I'm really worried that even with my best intentions I have a whole lot of errors. It's inevitable when you are just one person making, writing, and testing all of the patterns. I know that I assume things. So if you notice any, if you've made something from Craft Leftovers, send me an email or leave a comment. It's important to me. I really want to put quality patterns out there. I know how frustrating it is to be mislead by poor pattern writing. I don't want to be a poor pattern writer.
Well, that's all for now, I better get on that pattern I just previewed. I have it written up to the last step and just need to finish it and then type it up.
Have a good night!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
New stuff
First off, I really want to say thanks to everyone who commented and sent emails. Another "wow" for all of the sweetness and encouragement. It was really great to hear.
I wanted to post a quick update. Mainly there are now more reusable tea bags in both sizes in the shop and I added this:
It's a variety pack! You get one of each size, for the tea pot or sun tea pitcher and the tea cup!
Also, things are well underway for getting the Sampler together. It's my first one, so i'm a little anxious that everything goes well. I'm sending in 20 kits and 30 items from the Craft Leftover front and 50 yarn samples for Green Prairie Fibers.
Which bring me to another new thing. Samples are now available for Green Prairie Fibers, just send me an etsy message or email me and i will send one to you.
Once I'm all finished (I just have the tissue holders to make and then kits for the pencil clutch and tissue holders to put together and I will be finished) I'll post some pictures.
I also just started planning for the Renegade Craft Fair... and holy moly! I have so much to make. I'm going to get started this week. Try to get as much as I can cut so that way I can work on sewing it up while at Jason's. The list is ridiculous. Really. Like 720+ items and kits. If I can pull it off, it would be really great. I'm going to make 4 times as much as I need to break even, so that way, with that much variety, I will have a better chance of breaking even.
I guess, for me, this is the make or break kind of thing. I really want to make the Craft Leftover project my full time job and how well this goes off at the Renegade will be a good indicator as to if I should continue to try to pursue it full or part time. So go buy some tea bags and such because all that money will go towards application fees and getting me an ez tent, which are the two largest outright costs (except the kits which are still for the first print of the book).
Oh and on the front of full time, I just received a repeat wholesale order for the catnip pillows!
Well that short update turned into a long rant, so I'll go now and post pictures of the finished Sampler before I send it off. Have a good day!
I wanted to post a quick update. Mainly there are now more reusable tea bags in both sizes in the shop and I added this:
It's a variety pack! You get one of each size, for the tea pot or sun tea pitcher and the tea cup!Also, things are well underway for getting the Sampler together. It's my first one, so i'm a little anxious that everything goes well. I'm sending in 20 kits and 30 items from the Craft Leftover front and 50 yarn samples for Green Prairie Fibers.
Which bring me to another new thing. Samples are now available for Green Prairie Fibers, just send me an etsy message or email me and i will send one to you.
Once I'm all finished (I just have the tissue holders to make and then kits for the pencil clutch and tissue holders to put together and I will be finished) I'll post some pictures.
I also just started planning for the Renegade Craft Fair... and holy moly! I have so much to make. I'm going to get started this week. Try to get as much as I can cut so that way I can work on sewing it up while at Jason's. The list is ridiculous. Really. Like 720+ items and kits. If I can pull it off, it would be really great. I'm going to make 4 times as much as I need to break even, so that way, with that much variety, I will have a better chance of breaking even.
I guess, for me, this is the make or break kind of thing. I really want to make the Craft Leftover project my full time job and how well this goes off at the Renegade will be a good indicator as to if I should continue to try to pursue it full or part time. So go buy some tea bags and such because all that money will go towards application fees and getting me an ez tent, which are the two largest outright costs (except the kits which are still for the first print of the book).
Oh and on the front of full time, I just received a repeat wholesale order for the catnip pillows!
Well that short update turned into a long rant, so I'll go now and post pictures of the finished Sampler before I send it off. Have a good day!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Wow....
Okay, so that's where to start today's post, seriously, just wow. I'm still pretty stunned after Friday and Saturday. First. Chicago... wow... um.. it was bizarre and abstract to say the least. Looptopia started out pretty good. You know, crowds of people mulling around, looking at things, enjoying themselves, ooooing and aaaahing and saying art is bizarre, but kind of enjoying the bizarreness at the same time. I planted myself in an overstuffed border's chair at borders on the second floor on Lake and Clark and did a good amount of people watching from afar, which was way more exciting than anything Chicago had to offer. Interesting.
Then I went uptown a bit to I think the Lincoln park area... i don't know, it was the wellington stop on the brown line if that tells you anything... to where Brett W. was having a solo show. That was great. I got a coat, with a ridiculously large collar (i might have to alter it a bit, but I haven't decided yet). It has great buttons and really deep pockets! Perfect! And to boot...wow.
... There was this great scarf as I was checking out. Everything was 50% off during the opening so it was $11 for both! Good thing too because I neglected to bring a coat and it was freezing!
I came back to the loop and saw some stuff up close and a lot of it just looked like over funded extravagance, but that's okay. it's all good.
Then to my shift at the third shift worker celebration. (excuse the blurry pics, i didn't have a tripod with me).
Everything was fine, groups of people milling by, asking polite questions like "what are you doing and why?" and were content to be pointed to the signage that explained things, then nods of approval and smile... then midnight hit. Unknown to us, Chicago had failed us. From 12am - 5am.... valid hours of looptopia... there were no events planned, little food available, and definitely no place warm to sit and relax and maybe fall asleep until the trains ran again at 6:30.... so there were a few others, but we were one of the few to have an ongoing active exhibit until 5:30.... and holy crap. wow... bad planning.
Like I said, starting at midnight... until about 2 or so... people started getting aggressive... not bad, more like the air was charged with annoyance. It was colder than people thought it would be, most everything was shut down, and they were wandering around til the last train came (about 1:30) or the cta started running again at 4:30ish I think. We were protested by an angry misguided youth who thought we were trying to bring awareness to sweat shop conditions.... which we weren't... it was interesting, he gathered a crowd with his yelling and protesting, all of which was spurred because we wouldn't let him come in... we wouldn't let anyone come in. wow.
It was interesting the reactions we got... a lot of negative "your stupid" and later in the night "holy sh**, their f***ing sewing at 4!" which was responded by her friend "oh, it's an art space, their artists".. "oh... art-ists" ... like that excuses anything... oh the dada's final cop out... "it's just art"...
Anyway, a lot of window tapping, window banging, pulling at the door, yelling, trying to get us to respond. we finally, around 1am, decided not to respond to potentially aggressive individuals, which helped them to move on faster because they thought we couldn't hear them, which was in itself interesting. We all felt like gerbils in an aquarium. Or as I put it, pandas in the zoo... like any movement we made that resembled acknowledgment of what was going on outside brought camera flashes and more flailing of limbs to get another reaction. wow.
The best was the two reallllly drunk guys around 4 or so. They were saying stupid things about I don't even know what, but I remember it being crude for some reason or another. We were doing our normal, ignore them and maybe they will go away routine, when one of the girls looks back at us and says... "haha, his fly is totally down" and the other girl goes "he's not wearing any underwear!" and so Carole looks at him and goes "your fly's down" and does a zipper motion.. and we all start laughing in a way only sleep deprived people can.. and he was like "what?" and so she repeats herself a few more times and then points to his crotch and then does the zipper motion... we were all laughing so hard... he was trying so hard to be smooth and really he was just exposing himself in a way only a drunk 20 year old can at 4 am in downtown chicago... wow... thank goodness that door was locked. But wait no, at around 2 or 3 it stopped working... that was a little worrisome to say the least. But things calmed down and we figured after being sleep deprived, surrounded by scissors, we could defend ourselves with a blind stupor. Thankfully it never came to that point. Although one sad woman did come in and we had to make her leave.
oh and we got tagged too. hehe, that was more in the spirit of random art making in the street than aggressive.
So 5:30 came and I went on my way to the train station.
Then class... that's right I had class and a 20 min intro speech to give at 9:30... I was planning on sleeping in the car from 8:00-9, but there were all these business people mulling around and I was honestly a little worried they would call the cops on the girl sleeping in the back of the only car that was older than 2007 in the parking lot, so I knit in the car and then went in around 8:45 and then went inside to knit in a chair in the lounge but couldn't help but slumping into sleep... for 15 mins... I made my way to the main lounge and my prof was there and then up to the class.
She wanted me to go first, I thought because I was so out of it and she knew i would only get worse. But then she told the class she wanted me to go first because I had a significant body of work and she wanted to give me the time I needed to talk about it all and that she wanted to show everyone an example of how an artist should be working... I'm glad I was so tired or I would have been a lot more self conscious. In my state though it was more like, blushing and meh and moving on.
I talked about the weaving piece first: (I've decided to show them all here pretty much how they were shown to the class)
I showed them a couple of details and then for the next 40 mins there was a q&a about it's meaning and about my own spirituality and then testimonials from them and reactions to and identifying with the piece... So at 40 mins I said that it was interesting how much discussion was being generated, but that there were other people to show work and I felt that it was time to move on to other people.
Then my prof said, normally that would be true, but I really want people to see your full body of work... and proceed to have me talk and answer questions about my other work for the next hour and 10 mins..... it was exhausting. I talked about the blog and the Craft Leftover project, and the "Freedom of Movement, Freedom of Thought" piece I did for the Pleasant street reception, and the color studies that came out of the smaller bits being created from Craft Leftovers which gets rid of the larger bits, and the endangered species pieces and how they are about the importance of diversity in the ecosystem.
We didn't even get to the newest collaboration with brett or the sewing rebellion, or the junk mail project. It was really great really, it made me feel really good about giving artist talks in the future, I'm excited about my work and it's hard not to talk about it because I love it so much... there is a but in there, but i'm not going to put it in such a public place.
And I somehow managed to get though it with only stepping out and falling asleep in the hall once. I got home and tried to stay up until 8... but fell asleep at 6 until 9, tried to stay up until10, fell asleep at 9:15, then woke back up around 10 and went to sleep in bed until 10 am! I think I needed it.
I'm still groggy after so much sleep, but am feeling no worse for the wear kind of deal.
I'm going to be working on the next in the weaving series and stuff for the Craft Leftovers shop and the sampler this week. I'll post some pictures in a couple of days.
If you have read all of that, to this point... another wow for you, precious reader. Thank you for your time.
Then I went uptown a bit to I think the Lincoln park area... i don't know, it was the wellington stop on the brown line if that tells you anything... to where Brett W. was having a solo show. That was great. I got a coat, with a ridiculously large collar (i might have to alter it a bit, but I haven't decided yet). It has great buttons and really deep pockets! Perfect! And to boot...wow.
... There was this great scarf as I was checking out. Everything was 50% off during the opening so it was $11 for both! Good thing too because I neglected to bring a coat and it was freezing!
I came back to the loop and saw some stuff up close and a lot of it just looked like over funded extravagance, but that's okay. it's all good.
Then to my shift at the third shift worker celebration. (excuse the blurry pics, i didn't have a tripod with me).
Everything was fine, groups of people milling by, asking polite questions like "what are you doing and why?" and were content to be pointed to the signage that explained things, then nods of approval and smile... then midnight hit. Unknown to us, Chicago had failed us. From 12am - 5am.... valid hours of looptopia... there were no events planned, little food available, and definitely no place warm to sit and relax and maybe fall asleep until the trains ran again at 6:30.... so there were a few others, but we were one of the few to have an ongoing active exhibit until 5:30.... and holy crap. wow... bad planning.
Like I said, starting at midnight... until about 2 or so... people started getting aggressive... not bad, more like the air was charged with annoyance. It was colder than people thought it would be, most everything was shut down, and they were wandering around til the last train came (about 1:30) or the cta started running again at 4:30ish I think. We were protested by an angry misguided youth who thought we were trying to bring awareness to sweat shop conditions.... which we weren't... it was interesting, he gathered a crowd with his yelling and protesting, all of which was spurred because we wouldn't let him come in... we wouldn't let anyone come in. wow.
It was interesting the reactions we got... a lot of negative "your stupid" and later in the night "holy sh**, their f***ing sewing at 4!" which was responded by her friend "oh, it's an art space, their artists".. "oh... art-ists" ... like that excuses anything... oh the dada's final cop out... "it's just art"...
Anyway, a lot of window tapping, window banging, pulling at the door, yelling, trying to get us to respond. we finally, around 1am, decided not to respond to potentially aggressive individuals, which helped them to move on faster because they thought we couldn't hear them, which was in itself interesting. We all felt like gerbils in an aquarium. Or as I put it, pandas in the zoo... like any movement we made that resembled acknowledgment of what was going on outside brought camera flashes and more flailing of limbs to get another reaction. wow.
The best was the two reallllly drunk guys around 4 or so. They were saying stupid things about I don't even know what, but I remember it being crude for some reason or another. We were doing our normal, ignore them and maybe they will go away routine, when one of the girls looks back at us and says... "haha, his fly is totally down" and the other girl goes "he's not wearing any underwear!" and so Carole looks at him and goes "your fly's down" and does a zipper motion.. and we all start laughing in a way only sleep deprived people can.. and he was like "what?" and so she repeats herself a few more times and then points to his crotch and then does the zipper motion... we were all laughing so hard... he was trying so hard to be smooth and really he was just exposing himself in a way only a drunk 20 year old can at 4 am in downtown chicago... wow... thank goodness that door was locked. But wait no, at around 2 or 3 it stopped working... that was a little worrisome to say the least. But things calmed down and we figured after being sleep deprived, surrounded by scissors, we could defend ourselves with a blind stupor. Thankfully it never came to that point. Although one sad woman did come in and we had to make her leave.
oh and we got tagged too. hehe, that was more in the spirit of random art making in the street than aggressive.
So 5:30 came and I went on my way to the train station.
Then class... that's right I had class and a 20 min intro speech to give at 9:30... I was planning on sleeping in the car from 8:00-9, but there were all these business people mulling around and I was honestly a little worried they would call the cops on the girl sleeping in the back of the only car that was older than 2007 in the parking lot, so I knit in the car and then went in around 8:45 and then went inside to knit in a chair in the lounge but couldn't help but slumping into sleep... for 15 mins... I made my way to the main lounge and my prof was there and then up to the class.
She wanted me to go first, I thought because I was so out of it and she knew i would only get worse. But then she told the class she wanted me to go first because I had a significant body of work and she wanted to give me the time I needed to talk about it all and that she wanted to show everyone an example of how an artist should be working... I'm glad I was so tired or I would have been a lot more self conscious. In my state though it was more like, blushing and meh and moving on.
I talked about the weaving piece first: (I've decided to show them all here pretty much how they were shown to the class)
I showed them a couple of details and then for the next 40 mins there was a q&a about it's meaning and about my own spirituality and then testimonials from them and reactions to and identifying with the piece... So at 40 mins I said that it was interesting how much discussion was being generated, but that there were other people to show work and I felt that it was time to move on to other people.
Then my prof said, normally that would be true, but I really want people to see your full body of work... and proceed to have me talk and answer questions about my other work for the next hour and 10 mins..... it was exhausting. I talked about the blog and the Craft Leftover project, and the "Freedom of Movement, Freedom of Thought" piece I did for the Pleasant street reception, and the color studies that came out of the smaller bits being created from Craft Leftovers which gets rid of the larger bits, and the endangered species pieces and how they are about the importance of diversity in the ecosystem.
We didn't even get to the newest collaboration with brett or the sewing rebellion, or the junk mail project. It was really great really, it made me feel really good about giving artist talks in the future, I'm excited about my work and it's hard not to talk about it because I love it so much... there is a but in there, but i'm not going to put it in such a public place.
And I somehow managed to get though it with only stepping out and falling asleep in the hall once. I got home and tried to stay up until 8... but fell asleep at 6 until 9, tried to stay up until10, fell asleep at 9:15, then woke back up around 10 and went to sleep in bed until 10 am! I think I needed it.
I'm still groggy after so much sleep, but am feeling no worse for the wear kind of deal.
I'm going to be working on the next in the weaving series and stuff for the Craft Leftovers shop and the sampler this week. I'll post some pictures in a couple of days.
If you have read all of that, to this point... another wow for you, precious reader. Thank you for your time.
Friday, May 11, 2007
The Day is Upon Me
Seriously time is just going too fast. It's May, soon it will be June, before I know it December!
I got really sick on Saturday, like bad.... like it wasn't good in anyway. But I'm better now, and I'm totally behind schedule. I had everything planned out. Like if I do such and such every day, than everything will get done on time. Well I didn't get such and such done on Saturday, so now i'm getting such and such done today and not this and that. So it goes.
Bad news is: No craft leftover project this week
+++I'm not going to be able to use the 16 harness loom over the summer because it is not assembled. It makes me sad, but is understandable.
Good news: there will be two next week
+++I still get to use the 4 harness and am going to do another wire/paper/fire piece. A reconstruction of my identity now that I have purged it so to speak.
+++I have a commission to finish for a friend... anniversary present kind of thing. I guess her husband is really into endangered spiecies of plants and things so she wants one of my panel pieces.
+++I am going to collaborate with the artist Brett W. (mentioned in the last post when I knew how to spell his name). I sent him a picture of the liner I was working on and he really loved it. So now we are going to start collaborating on those. He will do the outsides and I will do the liners. We are hoping to get into a show with them later on. He's going to drop off a few (I think he mentioned before like 12! eagads! where will I put those!) so I can start working on them.
+++I'm going to participate in a performance piece tonight for the looptopia event that's happening in Chicago. Here is the blurb:
"As part of Looptopia, the Open Studio Program presents Carole Frances
Lung's overnight performance commemorating Chicago's history of
garment production and recognizing the sleepless night shift worker.
In the Page Brothers storefront at 179 N. State Street, two laborers
will create uniforms while another supervises in two-hour shifts
beginning at 5 pm and working until dawn. They will perform all the
steps of creating a garment, from cutting out the pieces to
merchandising the garments modeled from real people in the store front
windows. The laborers are participants from the Synchronized Sewing
Squad, a volunteer community from Chicago of unskilled and skilled
textile workers who perform garment production in public space."
+++Oh and I start class tomorrow in Naperville which should be really good, if I don't fall asleep!
+++I'm about to finish my first sweater vest!
+++I contacted the Sampler about my two stores (Green Prairie Fibers and the Craft Leftover Shop (kristin roach originals currently)) and they gave me the thumbs up so I'm going to start cracking on that. It needs to be sent in by June 1st! Which is just around the corner! I want to get post cards printed up for Green Prairie Fibers because it will just be yarn swatches, so I was thinking about attaching them to the post card and having an image of the dyestuff (walnut leaves or something) faded as the background with text over that and then images of the yarn on the front.... so anyone know where I could get that done cheap and quick? like 50 - 100? under $50?
Well, I'm off to work, then Chicago, then Naperville, and maybe home. I need to pack sack lunches for like 2 days worth of meals!
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