Craft Saturday!

Sorry it's taken me so long to get these up... pictures of my booth from craft saturday - I had a blast and sold a lot of my left over inventory after the show :)!

Recovering... for about a minute.

The craft fair went really well and i do have pictures of my booth... just not with me right now. I will post some later this week.

I got distracted by all the great contacts and custom orders I got from the whole thing and forgot to bring my camera with me. Overall it was a great experience and am planning on applying to be in the next one too. Yay!

Hope everyone is doing a good job at staying warm... seems like it's going to be a nasty winter.

Preview for Craft Saturday!

so I have been busily working my bum off trying to get things made for this Saturday (if you haven't stopped by in a while, I am going to have a booth at my first ever craft fair on the 6th - check it out here)

So I the following stuff made to take with me - let me know what you think!

4 New Bag Designs!! The first 3 don't have names yet though... :)
Bag 1:


Bag 2:
Bag 3:
The Mary Carry:

Jewelry Rolls
Toiletry BagsBaby Blankets
Wristlets

Craft Saturday Graphic

I got the promos for the craft saturday I'm in - I think they are perfect! Now I just need to work my way around the city hanging the post cards. I hope we have a good turnout :)

Separation of Bitch and Stitch

Thank you to all of you that have read (and put up with) my political rantings over the last couple of months on this blog. The purpose of this blog was originally meant to showcase my design work, and not act as a medium for me to express my agitation at life. However, I have discovered that I really like writing about things like that. Hence the creation of my new blog Observation and Agitation. If you like my rantings better than my creative crafty stuff please add that blog to your list of reads, if you prefer my design updates better you no longer have to worry about me mixing other things into it.

I hope you enjoy both of them.

Handmade Holidays!

If you are even somewhat involved in sewing I'm sure you've been to Sew Mama Sew's store and blog. Last year they posted a series called "Handmade Holidays", where each day in Novemeber had ideas for gifts to make. I got SO many good ideas from it that I didn't need to actually buy anything.

They brought it back for a 2nd year with new tutorials! Already they are off to a great start. They added some new sections to each post (Make It, Buy It, Mix It (recipes))

If you have a minute I would recommend browsing through some of the days - today is my favorite so far -Gifts for Pet Lovers - it has my name written all over it!

Victory!!

Do Your Part

Vote for the candidate you believe in, vote for the issues that you are concerned with, and vote because you can.

Picture from http://fufusnax.wordpress.com/feed/

Etsy Favorite

I love Etsy. It's not only a great tool to post my own creations but a wonderful place to see other people's work. I have a few favorite sellers on Etsy, so I'm going to try to post some of their work on Fridays. Today is K. Garner Designs. I bought an initial pendant necklace from her and I love it, LOVE it. I wear it all the time and get amazing compliments on it. If you have someone that is hard to buy for this holiday season, please consider her as a source. She even offers gift certificates!

1 Week from Today!

I'm so excited for the election to be over! I wish they could start counting the absentee ballots earlier too... but that's just me being impatient.

Here are a couple of interesting articles to read if your are interested.
Charles Barkley talks about the Bradly Effect
my favorite part of this article is when he's talking about running for office (which I think he would do really well as the governor of Alabama)

Brown: So are you going to run for governor?

Barkley: I plan on it in 2014.

Brown: You are serious.

Barkley: I am, I can't screw up Alabama.

Brown: There is no place to go but up in your view?

Barkley: We are number 48 in everything and Arkansas and Mississippi aren't going anywhere.

McCain vs. Pennsylvania

Craft Saturday!

I was chosen to participate in a hip craft fair in Des Moines, Iowa! YAY! It's put on by a local couple 4 times a year. The one in Sept. had a good turn out, and I hope the same goes for the holiday one. Here is the website, but the details are below too.

I better get busy!

December 6, 2008
Noon - 7 p.m.
4th St. Theater, 216 4th St.
Next to Java Joes
Downtown Des Moines

Funny for a Friday

Oh this does make me laugh. What would we do without Photoshop?
The McCain family portrait.

McPain in my Ass.

I'm approximately 3/5 Italian and most of my personality can be linked to that strand of heritage in my blood; I'm somewhat hot headed and have a nasty temper (not to mention my love for pasta, wine and over dramatic reactions to most things that affect me). Due to my lack of self control for some of those characteristics (and complete lack of qualifications - Palin I'm looking at you!) I know I will never run for political office. McCain apparently hasn't gotten the memo that getting mad and snipping at people who are criticizing him isn't the best thing to do when running for public office - especially the Presidency.

I was completely turned off by how McCain handled the tough questions during the final debate last night. There's no reason to visibly lose your cool while on TV answering questions about policies you want to implement. I admire Obama for his ability to remain calm and collected while getting asked tough questions. I also admire him for answering the questions that were asked of him. (Honestly, I was expecting McCain to quote Palin "I may not answer your questions...")

It was so frustrating to watch because instead of allowing them to speak about their policies, Obama was forced to fact correct most of McCain's allegations he was jabbing at Obama. There's no reason for that pettiness... unless you realize how wrong you are and have nothing else to go on but trying to make the other guy look bad.

I'm so excited for Nov. 4th. More excited than I can ever remember being for a presidential election (even though this is only my 2nd since being able to vote)...

I will get back to the point.

So I do love sewing, and making things for clients, and designing the perfect handbag, but right now i can't get over the politic essence in the air, so forgive me through another post on politics.


I saw the funniest SNL clip of all time yesterday. I'm not an avid SNL watcher, but I do appreciate a good skit now and then, and this one beats "more cowbell". I know these are old news to some of you, but please refer to them as a "I need to laugh today" remedy. This one mocking the VP debate had me in stitches (see? i can throw in some sewing through politics ;).
"Can I call you Joe? Good, because I practiced some real zingers where I call you Joe" - Tina Fey
Brilliant.

And a silver lining through these political media rants is that Katie Couric has found her nich on the CBS Evening News. Some have said that her contract wasn't going to be resigned without some serious thought, but i really think she's been doing a great job covering the debates and all the other stuff they have been presenting. I digress, the other clip from SNL features a follow up with Gov. Palin (played by the fabulous Tina Fey) interviewed by Katie Couric (played by the ever talented Amy Poehler). This one was very funny, yet showcased how the real interviews have gone, but with an SNL Twist, which most people can appreciate.

As a follow up to the VP debate, an opinion was printed in the New York Times yesterday that I thought had a great insight to one of the comments that Palin said while talking about taxes (as opposed to energy) titled "Palin's Kind of Patriotism" by op-ed columnist Thomas L. Friedman. The comment by Gov. Palin referenced in the article was this:"“You said recently that higher taxes or asking for higher taxes or paying higher taxes is patriotic. In the middle class of America, which is where Todd and I have been all of our lives, that’s not patriotic.”

Here are some of my favorite sections:

"I only wish she had been asked: 'Governor Palin, if paying taxes is not considered patriotic in your neighborhood, who is going to pay for the body armor that will protect your son in Iraq? Who is going to pay for the bailout you endorsed? If it isn’t from tax revenues, there are only two ways to pay for those big projects — printing more money or borrowing more money. Do you think borrowing money from China is more patriotic than raising it in taxes from Americans?' That is not putting America first. That is selling America first."

"And please also don’t tell me she is an 'energy expert.' She is an energy expert exactly the same way the king of Saudi Arabia is an energy expert — by accident of residence. Palin happens to be governor of the Saudi Arabia of America — Alaska — and the only energy expertise she has is the same as the king of Saudi Arabia’s. It’s about how the windfall profits from the oil in their respective kingdoms should be divided between the oil companies and the people."

While I know the more public appearances McCain/Palin make, the better off the Obama supports are, but it's still infuriating that they would let someone as contrite and niave as Palin run for VP with an otherwise decent Presidental candidate.

photo from NBC.com

Pointless.

When Gov. Palin trips over herself and can't answer a question about what publications she reads to stay up to date with local and foreign affairs - but then blames "video editing" as the culprit is ridiculous. Gov. Palin cannot handle the truth of her own lack of speaking skills if she needs to blame video producers for making her look like an idiot.

While she didn't do as badly last night as i had hoped she would, i was nowhere near as impressed with her performance as I was with Sen. Biden's. She even came out and said "I may not answer your questions, but I want to talk about my track record" - yeah, if she's going to just talk about whatever in the hell she wants to when she wants to, then what's the point of even having a moderator? It should have been the Palin Debates with Herself Debate. Pfft. I doubt the 40 something % that thought Sen. Biden won the debate wouldn't side with her in that debate either. I can imagine it would go something like this:

Palin 1:"I'm a hockey mom, and the hockey mom's behind the penalty box think the economy is in bad shape"
Palin 2:"Yeah, but as a soccer mom, on the sidelines i think the economy is in horrible shape"
P1: "let's talk about what i did for energy."
P2: "I like your lipstick"
P1: "did you know that Alaska has abundant natural resources?"
P2: "I read every magazine that gets put on my desk"
P1: "Thanks, but no thanks"

and then i would run screaming from the room to commit myself.

Opinionated.

So, I've always been opinionated. I am not closed minded (or i try not to be) and i love to debate with intelligent people. Lately i've been encountering people that say things that sound to me like they want to fight, because they are saying such stupid things, they can't be serious. But when i attempt to find the basis of their opinion, i come up empty with them blowing me off with yet another stupid argument. Here's an example:

stupid person(SP): "I think I'm going to vote for Sarah Pahlin"
me: "why's that?"
SP: "because she's pretty"
me: "why would that make her a good VP? I have a lot of pretty friends, that aren't trying to be VP, and I wouldn't vote for them if they were - because they don't have the experience or qualifications to be in that position. Being a VP means more than just being attractive... and being attractive isn't usually one of them in the first place. Dick Cheney is not attractive, Al Gore is not attractive."
SP: "well, she's pretty, so i'm going to vote for her"
me: "but why? do you agree with her stance on important issues?"
SP: "i don't know her issues, but she's pretty"
me: "that doesn't make any sense. people like you shouldn't be allowed to vote"

(i said i wasn't close minded, i never said i wasn't snotty)

Creative?

At my new job, i work with a lot of very crafty women. A couple of them quilt, one works with fleece and another one also makes cards/stationary. The group of us have been trying to get together for an official Stitch and Bitch session. Crafty Planet has these at their shop in Minneapolis, and i loved the concept. I'm really hoping this session brings out a new wave of creativity for me. I have a TON of projects that i would love to get started on, but with work being so tiring lately, i've had trouble finding the motivation for it. I have a Sublime Stitching embroidery pattern calling my name in particular that i can't wait to get started on. We were supposed to meet tomorrow but due to one of the girls moving, we're postponing until maybe the first week in October. [sigh] I can't believe it's already going to be October soon... Seems like time flies when you're not having fun too...

Hope all is well with you!

Update

So for the last x amount of weeks i feel like i have been running around crazy, doing a little of this, a little of that.

My husband and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary, he sent these beautiful flowers (6 red roses and white orchids) to me at work:(pictures of Gino on the cube wall, and the creepying looking girl in the bottom corner is considered art work by the people who made my page a day calendar)

I have made a ton of baby blankets for showers that i've been attending and for people who attended ones i didn't. I made more jewelry roles for a bride:I'll be back with more pictures soon!

Pot meet Kettle... who is also black

So after I ask for people to read my blog I apparently vanish off the face of the blogosphere. My apologies. I have been traveling for work like a fiend (unfun) and getting a ton of orders (fun!) that i've been working like a bee to complete.

i made 2 libby bags for Etsy clients. here is one:
i was contacted by a bride who wanted jewelry rolls for her bridesmaids:And I sold the laptop cozy that was on my site too. I was also (finally) able to post some new (more of the jewelry rolls from the above order) stuff.

Besides the stuff i have sold on Etsy, i have made a total of 5 purses and 2 baby blankets
I have a lot of other stuff to do too. I can't wait to get started on it! I'll keep you posted :)

um, hello?

i know it's slow in blog land right now, but i feel like everyone has abandoned me and my blog. come back from your fun vacations people!...i miss your comments :(

Tree Hugger to Bag Lover

My friend Christine is getting married. Christine breaks everything. Christine loves trees. Present from me? A tree patterned bag that is unbreakable! it's hard to break fabric unless you shred it or cut it or burn it... so as long as she doesn't go off the deep end from planning a wedding, this bag should last her a long time.

She loves monkeys, so the pockets are bananas - since that's all i had :)

peníze, denaro, geld

A while ago, i posted this - so far I've made it almost a month without buying any clothes or shoes (this is a long time for me). I have since read some other articles on money and spending (something i never, ever do). One article in particular did a study about what people spend money on and what makes them happiest, longest. People who saved their money for vacations and doing things with friends and family felt more satisfied than those who went out and bought something they didn't need. Luckily for me, i love to travel and therefore decided to use the money i'm saving to fund a girls trip to Costa Rica in 2010, pictured above - who would rather go there than buy new pants? Um...me!
*disclaimer: my husband hates all things tropical so he doesn't want to go, i'm not not letting him come :)

An article was sent to me recently about how to use some freegan habits to save money and help the environment - even if you are jobless. I am not, but there are some interesting things mentioned that could help me, and hopefully someone else reach a goal.

Here are some of my favorites:
Homebrew: Make your own beer, wine, and other alcohol at home, and you won't have to spend loads of cash on it at the liquor store.

Read online: Don't buy magazines, newspapers, and other print media if it can be accessed for free online.

Buy second hand: When you have to buy goods, consider shopping at second hand stores first. It will save you money, and cut down on production pollution at the same time.

Make something from what you find: Make like an artist and use found media. You can then sell it online, at swap meets and other outlets.

Go to free events: Having a good time doesn't always mean you'll have to spend money. Seek out free, fun events in your community.

Stella's Overnight Bag

Stella is the daughter of a friend of mine, and she needed a weekender bag that her mom could use and still look fashionable, enter me. I whipped this bad (and BIG) boy up over the last couple of weeks, what do you think?

finished dimensions are approximately 24" wide, 5" deep, and 20" tall - it's big
close up of the front pocket
i should mention that this is my very first sipper on top closure, i'm shocked i was able to do it!
the inside, there are 6 deep pockets on the inside for Stella's bottles and diapers
the zipper is a separating one for easy loading and unloading. the strap also adjusts from 24" to 42"

Heather Bailey

As some of you have already figured out i heart Heather Bailey - everything she does just amazes me. Well, she has launched her new store - and i couldn't be more excited. I've been chomping at the bit waiting for Pop Garden and Bijoux to arrive in a fabric store, and now she's letting her fans pre order her stuff with a 10% discount. I love all of them, and want to do amazing things - I can't wait to get my fabric in! If I was a scrapbooker i would also be in love - her paper line is oozing with inspiration. This also allows me to get those trash ties i've always wanted to try too...

image from http://www.heatherbaileystore.com/

craft identity?

sometimes i really like taking quizzes - not the school kind - but the fun kind. Here's one that i thought was good enough to share with you guys.

Here are my results... think i could convince the boy to buy me a kiln?

Play With Clay
You're a down-to-earth, back-to-nature person who doesn't mind making (and cleaning up!) little messes if there's a big payoff. You love to dive into a project with gusto and finish it quickly. Your best bet? Pottery, ceramics or sculpture.

threadalicious

i went to the twin cities this weekend to visit my friend Jessica. we took an adventure on one of the hundreds of highways/interstates within the conglomerate to find a fabric gem. this was recommended to me by my friend Kali, and she is a great friend for directing me there. it's called S.R. Harris, and it is a warehouse, not much to look at from the outside, but nothing but theadalicious eye candy on the inside. zippers for 50 cents, wool for $5/yd, twill, tweed, leather, home dec as far as you could see. i was in heaven. and just like heaven you are so stunned for the first minute or two, you just stare. so we were the awkward girls blocking the doorway for 5 minutes. but that's okay, i got some great prints, solids, zippers (i might as well start collecting them for all the ones i buy) and it was still cheaper than i thought it was going to be!

and then, after Jessica saw how big my eyes could get with some fabric in front of them, she took me to her favorite place in northwest minneapolis - Crafty Planet - which has the best selection of hip prints that i've ever seen. (please keep in mind that i live in iowa. iowa is generally 3-5 years behind most industry trends.) i have never seen an entire line of amy butler lined up together until Crafty Planet - and they had 3! cherry lotus is usually sold out everywhere - i bought a lot just to ensure it was there when i needed it. she had joel dewberry, heather bailey (not Pop Garden yet), heather ross, a great alexander henry collection, and some great ones that i haven't seen before. i would love to open up something like this shop in central iowa - perhaps i will call the owner about a chain... :)
i was thoroughly impressed by the fabric resources in minnesota - and will be going back on a fairly regular basis.

i try to travel frequently, so please share what your favorite stores are in your area - i would love to add them to an itinerary!


Correction: top print is Echino and the bottom is Joel Dewberry - thanks Amanda :)

Click Click

I have finally finished the website for my first website design client! Here is a picture of the home page, and if you want to see the rest of the site visit Rogers Photography. I'm still working out some kinks but for a first shot at it i don't think i did too bad. In fact, i'm extremely proud of this accomplishment, especially because i just decided in January that this was something I wanted to pursue. YAY!

spark!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun forth of july - i know i did. i was able to have a couple of very relaxing days off of work and got to spend time with the hubby, friends and other family. this year was the best as far as weather is concerned that i have experienced in iowa for a very long time. it was very refreshing considering the crap storms and winter we just got through. thanks MN (mother nature) for cutting us a break. i didn't even get a mosquito bite.

in other news, we bought a Wii and that has been consuming most of my husbands time and i have been outside for every nice day we've had - sorry for being MIA :).

i have been asked to create an overnight bag for an infant and a smaller purse for going out. i have the designs layed out and so now i just need to do a muslin of each to see how it goes - but i'm excited to show you the results!

fork?

does anyone know a way to get more hours out of the day? props to anyone out there working more than one job or working full time with family or doing what you love on the side of working... basically i'm in awe of the amount of things people get done in their lifetimes, and i feel as though i'm not keeping up fast enough. I have more ideas than i have time and i have more ambition than i have patience.

it felt a little different when i was at a job where i had nothing to do all day to my current job where i can barely find time to leave my cube get get more caffeine. sigh. don't get me wrong, i love my new job and i love sewing, creating, etc, but when i read the stories of Heather Bailey and such I feel like i almost need to choose, like she did. but i don't know if i can yet...

P.S. I'm totally stoked for Heather Bailey's new fabric line - it's hitting stores in July!

k9 cuteness

fast shutter speed and adorable subjects... but not that i'm bias :)

free... gan?

because i have fallen off the oprah train since i began working 8-5, my friend in law school was catching me up on some of the more interesting episodes. one of them has stuck with me and i have been pondering it since may 17th (when he told me about it).
as stated by wikipedia:

Freeganism is an anti-consumerist lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on "limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed." The lifestyle involves salvaging discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters that have passed, or in some cases haven't even passed, their sell by date, but are still edible and nutritious. They salvage the food not because they are poor or homeless, but as a political statement.

this movement fascinates me. i come from a household that could be a poster child for the shift in generational attitudes. my grandma (elsie) could have walked from the great depression to 1990 without blinking an eye... she would wash out ziploc baggies and resuse them, she would eat the entire apple including the core and she had a ball of all ready been used aluminum foil the size of a small dog. my mom on the other hand embraces the 'disposable' feature of many things (namely the disposable food storage containers) and the idea of rinsing out a baggy doesn't even cross her mind. since earning a decent income as an, ahem, adult i have noticed myself following the path closer resembling my moms, as opposed to my grandmas. while both have pros and cons, this movement has really got me thinking about if i'm using everything i need before replacing or discarding it.

(oil painting of depression glass)

i have a friend who is exactly the person i wish i could be 100% of the time. she only buys what she needs, and uses all of it. she buys locally whenever possible, and if not locally, definitely organically. she has a tendency to break things, so every inedible thing she buys is thought about and decided upon in a logical manner. she doesn't wash the baggies, but she would definitely eat the whole apple.

starting july 1, i am going to try my own stab at a movement less intense than freeganism, but something that i think will help me be a smarter person both financially and ecologically. (my goal is to be able to do this for 1 year to see if i am changed) i am going to try to not buy any clothes unless the ones i have become 100% unwearable, same with shoes, and i'm not going to get my hair cut, i will eat all leftovers from meals, and i will make what i can from textiles and what not, and buy locally if possible. gifts will all be handmade, if not by me than by someone else (heart you etsy)... and whatever else i'm not thinking of at the moment... you get the idea.
cheers!

the Nadas

the nadas are a local band that started in iowa and have spread far. they have been in the music scene for a while now and i like to promote them as much as possible because i happen to think they put on a great show and produce awesome music. they played at a great venue on friday june 6. here's a clip from a great show in Ames, IA last summer and some pictures from the event i went to last friday - enjoy :)