A Little Imagination and a Pile of Junk

I spoke too soon

 

Tiny little setback here as we await the inevitable death of our beloved computer. Despite having 2 external drives, I am frantically trying to salvage the last few remains of my hard drive before it breathes its last. I can hear the awful death rattle already and I have to hold my breath, cross my fingers, speak a fevered prayer, and hop up and down on one foot each time I start it up. Thankfully, I've been able to rescue all the photos I uploaded in the last few weeks and I'm working now on the mind numbingly tedious task of transferring every album we've ever downloaded--about 1,001 from the looks of it--from my dying hard drive to a flash drive, then to the laptop, then to the external drive for safe keeping. I could seriously use a glass of wine. Hope your weekend looks better than mine! Hopefully, we'll be up and running next week. I have so much to show you. Because I don't have enough half finished projects, I thought I'd take up jewelry making to push myself right over the edge of sanity. What am I thinking? At least I'll look good going down, right?

on my desk

~Painted papers that need to be finished and ironed flat.

 

~Garlands for Maisey's bedroom that need to be assembled and hung.

 

 

~Jewelry for myself and friends waiting to be worn.

 

~Journal pages in progress.

 

 

 

~Markers and my new Moleskine doodling notebook.

 

 

And I haven't even mentioned my two new sewing books. If it's possible to have way too many projects going at once, I do.  

etsy shop update and sale!

I've just added several new paper packs of my hand-painted and stamped artist papers and envelopes to my Etsy Shop. I hope to be adding a few more packs in the next couple of weeks. I have also set up a sale section to my shop marking down purses and pillows and jewelry from $5-$10 off their original price. If you're ready to do some early Christmas shopping, now's a great time to get started and I'll take care of the wrapping for you!

 

Hand-painted Paper Pack - SOLD

 

SALE: Juicy Orange Tote Bag

 

SALE: Applique Quilted Patchwork Pillow

 

SALE: Patchwork Tote Bag With Shaker Pocket

   

SALE: Immaculate Heart - silver, antique gold, mother of pearl, and blue glass bead necklace - SOLD

more Etsy love

There are more goodies up in the Etsy shop today. New asymmetrical earrings, a patchwork tote, and patchwork pouches that I just can't get enough of.

I had so much fun with these larger sized pouches. So many possibilities. Next I want to make one for my art journal, some pens, and alphabet stamps. Then I can just grab it and stuff it in my big bag as I walk out the door for an artist date. Each pouch is, of course, one of a kind with a beaded zipper pull and twill loop for hanging onto or hanging up. Actually, I just thought they looked cuter with the loop, but it can be functional, too. And do you need some ideas for what to carry in your patchwork pouch? Look no further:

• cosmetics or jewelry for traveling
• anything that you want to keep from getting lost at the bottom of your purse
• a sewing kit
• sunglasses and sunscreen
• an emergency snack
• secret chocolate stash
• stamps and letters to friends (or bills, but that's not as much fun)
• diapers and wipes
• treasures picked up on your nature walk
• travel tissues and chewing gum (Don't you hate it when the gum falls out into the bottom of your purse and the paper opens just enough to embed ambiguous purse debris into the last piece of desperately needed gum?)
• feminine hygiene products (...heehee, snicker...)
• a new Sudoku book and several sharp pencils
• photos of the people you love

If  you are into unusual bags and purses, check out the newest issue of Haute Handbags, available April 1st. I got my copy in advance because one of my patchwork totes was included in the Gallery. I'll try to post a picture tomorrow. You definitely want to take a look at this one, though. So many amazing creations!

a witty title that will keep you chuckling all day

 

Well, all of my jewelry is now up at my Etsy Shop. It took me over three hours just to upload everything and type descriptions, but it's done and now I am working on some fabric pieces for another shop update next week-ish.

Maybe the three hours to upload jewelry wouldn't have seemed like such hard work if I hadn't been spending so much time on the computer lately. I mean, I always spend too much time on the computer but this week I've really felt it. Oh, but I have discovered some wonderful things, though!! The next best thing is just one more click away. Just one more link and then I'll feed the kids/finish sewing/load the dishwasher/eat lunch/buy groceries, etc., etc. Just in case you have some free time on your hands, here are a few things I've discovered recently:

• Fred Flare's Next Big Thing Contest. Open to all crafters, designers & artists to submit their creations as the next best thing that everyone will want to have once they see it. 27 winners. Big exposure & a chance at $1,000. The only thing that choked me a little was that they ask, whatever you submit, you need to be able to make 20-200 of them within about a 2 week turn around. I'm not quite ready for that yet, but I can't wait to see what else is submitted!
• I could spend waaaayyyy too much time over here. People are so funny. Let's just keep it at that.
• Bead For Life - supporting women of Uganda by selling their handmade jewelry and beads. I love that art can be such a connector, not just a source of money--which is greatly needed--but also giving joy through the act of creating and receiving handmade things. Brilliant idea.
• Sally Turlington's very cool mixed media 2007 calendar you can download and print for free! Get it here.
• Jody McGill's exquisite jewelry. I love the magic she works with the vintage filigree.
• And these (click on the ivory swatch) worn over the heels and with the red sandals...super cute!

Have a great weekend!

shop update in the works

I am working on getting some new jewelry up in my Etsy Shop by the end of the day. This is one of my favorite pieces and a little hard to let go of!  I will have several necklaces and 6 or so pair of earrings. If you are interested in a matching set but don't see one listed, let me know and I can put together something special for you. I am working on some bags and patchwork pouches to add to the shop maybe next week. And I have a huge list of cool websites and fun internet finds to share once I get the jewelry up. Do you ever feel like you've spent the entire day on the computer but can't remember what in the world you actually did??