kate, i design

Sproost Design Flavor

2009-03-09T15:55:00.003-05:00

So, I love taking quizzes (and filling out surveys and questionnaires, but one thing at a time, shall we?) Jessica Jones at How About Orange Blog always has great links to quizzes - and I really liked both my results and the process in which they got them for this one from Sproost

Wow, I suck

2009-03-09T15:29:00.003-05:00

So I wanted to be better at posting in 2009 - I am not off to a very good start. I have been very busy and productive but not in regards to blogging.

I'm sure i've lost whatever readers i had - and for that I'm sorry - but I will try to be better going forward.

Some things that have been happening:
- I'm selling some goods at a local Yoga studio
- I'm selling other goods at a local art gallery with retail space
- I've had several custom orders recently
... And I just applied to the next installment of Craft Saturday

A Bright New Year

2009-01-08T09:08:00.002-06:00

So 2009 is off to a kickin' start for Kate I Design.

I made some phenomenal contacts through my first Craft Saturday, and they are keeping very busy during this cold month. I am working on new products to help me move farther into the wholesale realm, which I'm thrilled about.

Some of the ideas I'm throwing around right now are here... what do you think?
Matching combos/sets of things
- Apron with matching oven mitt
- Jewelry roll with coordinating toiletry bag
- Eye mask with matching medium rice therapy bag
- Wallet with coordinating purse

New purse designs
- rounder hobo design
- bigger/more versatile clutch

New individual items
- knitting/crochet hook organizers

Any new ideas you guys have? We're going to Europe this fall for our honeymoon and anything i can make for that to make our lives easier i will... I was thinking about doing passport covers, various types of organizers. I was in Europe in 2005 and loved every second of it, but this trip is for our honeymoon and I doubt we will be shacking up in multi-person hostel rooms so any advice you can give me about what to bring/how to prepare will be much appreciated!

Craft Saturday!

2008-12-29T14:39:00.002-06:00

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.

2008-12-10T15:05:00.002-06:00

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!

2008-12-01T13:56:00.010-06:00

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 Bags Baby Blankets
Wristlets

Craft Saturday Graphic

2008-11-13T15:22:00.002-06:00

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

2008-11-07T10:06:00.003-06:00

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!

2008-11-06T15:26:00.002-06:00

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!!

2008-11-06T10:04:00.002-06:00

Do Your Part

2008-11-03T10:48:00.005-06:00

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

2008-10-31T10:39:00.003-05:00

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!

2008-10-28T12:51:00.002-05:00

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!

2008-10-20T15:38:00.002-05:00

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

2008-10-17T09:08:00.001-05:00

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

McPain in my Ass.

2008-10-16T11:03:00.002-05:00

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.

2008-10-09T10:06:00.004-05:00

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.

2008-10-03T08:52:00.003-05:00

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.

2008-09-22T18:12:00.004-05:00

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?

2008-09-17T14:53:00.002-05:00

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

2008-09-11T16:36:00.005-05:00

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

2008-08-25T14:25:00.002-05:00

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?

2008-08-07T17:30:00.002-05:00

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

2008-08-04T14:53:00.003-05:00

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

2008-07-25T07:39:00.004-05:00

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

2008-07-22T13:11:00.004-05:00

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

2008-07-22T13:04:00.003-05:00

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?

2008-07-16T09:10:00.002-05:00

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

2008-07-13T20:35:00.006-05:00

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

2008-07-07T16:27:00.003-05:00

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!

2008-07-05T19:53:00.002-05:00

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?

2008-06-30T16:48:00.002-05:00

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

2008-06-15T19:47:00.006-05:00

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

free... gan?

2008-06-15T19:08:00.005-05:00

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

2008-06-15T18:39:00.006-05:00

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 :)

advice?

2008-06-15T18:14:00.004-05:00

okay, so i know i'm not the first person to ever have a close group of friends in college and then graduate before, which is why i'm asking for help from anyone who knows what i'm talking about.

i'm finding it very hard to maintain my friendships from college now that i've been graduated for 3 years. while i have my own life, and they have theirs, how do you find a balance of how much time they want to spend with you and you with them? so for instance, i have friend A that works a lot and spends a lot of time with her boyfriend and family, but i also have a friend B who spends so much of her time working that she doesn't have a boyfriend and sees her family minimally, and i have friend C who is married and works 40 hours a week. the time A, B and C are willing to spend on friendships are variable and hard to gauge. i don't want to evolve into a person (mom if i ever bear kids) that spends all her time at home, with no social life outside of her household. while i love my husband and my dogs and my home, i value social interaction with people outside of that circle.

so when i email/text: i usually don't get a response back from A until she has time (weeks sometimes), B's schedule is all over the place that i feel bad asking her to hang out when she may be working, but if she can she'll email me back, and C is horrible with communication in general and the odds of a response are about 50%.

and here i am, feeling like the puppy chasing it's own tail... running after friends that don't respond to me or my attempts with any sort of enthusiasm or drive. the harder i try to spend time together the more frustrated i am that they don't want to hang out with me. frankly my feelings are hurt but i don't know if they should be hurt or not because i want them to have their own lives.

has this happened to any of you? how do you deal with it? is there an easy way to find balance with friends in your 20's?

Nappy for Jaxson

2008-06-12T11:44:00.004-05:00

i completed the nappy bag by Amy Butler for my expecting friend Carli. Carli is having a little boy this next Monday so it was a rush to get it done in time. Here are some pictures of it (more can be found on my flickr photo stream)

when i got it done, my husband (we don't have kids) looks at me and says "so is Carli going to put the baby in there? i don't think that's very safe". i love him.

this is a whopper of a bag measuring in at 24" wide and 29" long

pictured with the rolled up changing pad - i didn't have enough time to make the cover for i

close up of the topstitching

close up of the changing pad pattern

rainy sunday

2008-06-08T12:09:00.002-05:00

fun things to do when it's raining:

embroider
play a board game (i recommend settlers of catan)
read (i'm reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert right now, 2 thumbs up)
go to a movie (just saw Kung Fu Panda and LOVED it - great for all ages)
or my ever favorite - sew.

happy dryness everyone!

to: wrist... from: elsie

2008-06-03T15:35:00.006-05:00

Awhile ago (several months in fact) i made mention that I was asked to create wristlets for 7 bridesmaids. That wedding is coming up soon, and after several trials I have created the finished product. Here are 3 of them. I am very proud of myself and intend to make some to sell on etsy.

and break

2008-05-20T17:07:00.002-05:00

i know i'm not the best at posting every day, but with my in-between jobs section of time happening tomorrow through the 27th, i should be able to devote some heavy hitting time to my blog and to elsie...

on my plate:
- nappy bag by Amy Butler
- clutches for my friend's wedding party
- purse for lindsey
- jewelry roll for mom
- sofia carry all by Amy Butler
- new skirts for me for summer
- examples of all my stuff for my etsy page!

embroider

2008-05-16T09:54:00.003-05:00

my grandma used to do cross stitching when i was younger, i used to love to watch her do it, but instictively knew that i wouldn't ever have the patience to do it. i feel i have now found an alternative that could produce some beautiful from needle work with less of a time commitment... embroidery.

Jenny Hart at Sublime Stitching has inspired me. i ordered my first kit and can't wait to get started. there are so many awesome patterns that i can't wait to try and spruce up my sewings with. i started with this one, but know there are several more i want to purchase... like this one, and this one, and this one... oh this is going to be awesome :)

picture from Sublime Stitiching

hectic

2008-05-15T14:52:00.003-05:00

holy cow have i been busy! i've gotten a couple orders from my etsy shop (here is one) and i've gotten a ton of orders from people around town. what an awesome feeling... clearly if you buy a new machine, orders will come :)

i have so many ideas for new things but i don't have time with all the orders. Really not too bad of a situation to be in. i have even had some graphic design work come through - which is awesome because my photoshopping skills were getting dusty.

getting there...

2008-05-13T17:29:00.004-05:00

i found myself a new job - thank goodness. my last day in hell is officially the 21st... but until then people that i'm leaving are trying to suck my brain of all things related to my job. makes me feel like i was needed, but can't the last couple of weeks just be, well, ya know... easy?

the weather here does make me quite happy though, it has been in at least the 60's for almost a week now - that's a record for this spring. i'm even happy to mow the lawn because it's green and gives me a reason to be outside.

yay for spring!

fabric!

2008-05-08T15:45:00.002-05:00

first off i would like to point out that i love fabric. most of you sewers out there do as well. there was a new blog that launched devoted to fabric and only fabric. the blog is called true up.

she has a post dedicated to Eric Carle fabric - for those of you that grew up with Eric Carle you know what kind of deal this is, for those of you that didn't he wrote several great books for kids. some of my favorites are:

check out the fabric and support a great museum dedicated to a great artist.

upgrade

2008-05-08T15:30:00.002-05:00

i have been so focused on finding the right machine to replace the old one that i have forgotten to write this week. meet the newest member of the family. i have named her Elsie in honor of my grandma.

p-mate

2008-05-02T16:33:00.004-05:00

this is quite perfect for those of us that have had a long walk home from the bar with a full bladder or for us who prefer to 'hover' in public restrooms...
picture courtesy of p-standingup.com

tools

2008-05-01T11:21:00.003-05:00

i am in the market for a new sewing machine. i have found ones i like (in my price range) from bernina, brother, singer and janome. do any of you have a brand you are loyal to? one that you had a bad experience on?

any advice from an actual person would be very helpful.

i need it to do mostly accessories (bags, wallets, etc) and some clothing. no quilts yet :)

apologies

2008-05-01T11:16:00.002-05:00

i have not had the energy to create, sew, photograph or anything semi related to such activities since last weekend. I can't believe it's thursday already and I haven't done anything that i deem important for my right brain. i have done other things that have aided in my left brain development, but it's not the same feeling of accomplishment that i would like. and it's not from a lack of things to do, i have a ton of stuff i could do... but i just haven't made time. i will make time this weekend... i will i will.

ponder

2008-04-24T10:56:00.002-05:00

in your opinion which is the correct statement?

the peanut butter sticks to jelly
or
the jelly sticks to the peanut butter

these are the types of things i'm thinking about while at work today. if anyone has something else for me to do, i would greatly appreciate the distraction.

crane

2008-04-21T20:50:00.003-05:00

so i'm taking a photography class to learn about fstops, shutter speed, iso and light. so far its been a hoot. we had an assignment this week to learn and practice with depth of field (longest and shortest lens, f3.5 and f16 for each combo). he said be creative - so i did. i used my old fashioned origami skills to create cranes out of magazine ads. i thought it was clever. here are some of my best shots (in my opinion). granted i knwo i need a lot of work, but what do you think?

i was going for the reflection in the coffee table - so glad i dusted prior to taking this :)

CraftStylish

2008-04-17T15:08:00.002-05:00

this site has been added to my list of daily hits and for those of you that like to make purses/bags this is definitely the post for you. i'm not a knitter, but there seems to be a lot of information out there on it and many other topics. hope you enjoy!

feet

2008-04-15T13:01:00.002-05:00

so naturally, like most women i know, i love shoes. love, love, love them. i don't know what it is about them exactly, but they always seem to cheer me up. buying them, trying them on, changing seasons of my current stash... i found some shoes recently that i've been drooling over, and in reality i would love to buy them all, it's just not going to fly with the husband who does not have the same feelings towards shoes as i (who's heard 'don't you already have a pair that look exactly like that?', and it's usually followed by 'these are totally different than those!'). because shoes bring me so much happiness, i thought other people would like to see some new spring shoes as well. all of these are available at piperlime (my ultimate shoe source).

if anyone has these let me know what you think - i'm all about cute and comfy.

all pictures from www.piperlime.com

aaaaawwwwwwhhhhh

2008-04-10T22:23:00.003-05:00

i feel normal again - i have gotten some sewing done. i made a new purse for me to take to kansas city this weekend - i love the result. fun, funky fabrics that scream spring and i couldn't be happier to carry it around and have it cheer me up all weekend :)

slack

2008-04-10T16:09:00.002-05:00

i have been slacking on my blog this week - so sorry! really it's one of my favorite things to do, but when things i don't like to do have to be done, i have to then save what i like to do as a reward. well today, i have finished some long put off things at work...

what's new with kateidesign?
- i'm working a line of clutches and wallets that i will feature in my etsy store and will create my very first tutorial on - so excited!
- i found some amazing fabric on clearance at jcaroline creative (who by the way has a new look thanks to Jessica at How About Orange) that i'm going to be using for this endeavor
- i have a very short torso, and therefore it's hard for me to find things like gauchos and cropped pants that look normal on me. most capri's tend to look like flood pants, so with some very fun pink and white seersucker fabric i will be making my own

when will i have time to do this you ask? i have no idea... unless i do one of the following:
- give up sleeping all together
- stop reading People magazine
- quit my job
- learn to sew faster

wish me luck!

spring

2008-04-07T15:01:00.002-05:00

i know its been a pretty common topic on several of the blogs i read, but spring is here - with the exception of the random snow storm we got last week. i started cleaning this weekend, and taking the dogs on walks... gino even got his hair shaved off. i'm so happy that he's now snag and matt free. the yard is clean (less dead leaves all over the place) and we installed a toilet in the main bathroom.

i love accomplishments and productivity. smile.

t-shirt

2008-04-03T22:15:00.005-05:00

so one thing about me that will never change is my love for t-shirts. i love soft ones, sassy ones, funny ones, plain ones, all kinds really. so i found this sweet website that combines my new love of sewing and such with my everlasting affair with collecting t-shirts.
here are some of my favorites:

all photos courtesy of http://www.cafepress.com/craftygear

about

2008-04-02T18:57:00.002-05:00

i haven't done a survey yet on my blog, so i snagged this little guy from Tara on her Design on Post blog.

A - Attached or single? married to my ever patient husband.
B - Best friend? kathy, erin, emily, kristi
C - Cake or pie? cake, red velvet
D - Day of choice? thursday - the weeks almost over
E - Essential item? the internet.
F - Favorite color? brown
G - Gummy bears or worms? worms - the clear part is my favorite
H - Hometown? the world is my hometown
I - Favorite indulgence? shopping for expensive jeans
J - January or July? why can't i pick june?
K - Kids? only my fur kids
L - Life isn’t complete without? friends and coffee
M - Marriage date? 9-3-07
N - Number of brothers and sisters? 1 sister
O - Oranges or apples? both
P - Phobia and fears? getting stuck in a style rut
Q - Quote? 'nobody drink the beer! the beer has gone bad!" - can't hardly wait
R - Reason to smile? accomplishment
S - Season of choice? fall
T - Tag three people: i'm new at the whole blogging thing and i don't know exactly what this means...
U - Unknown fact about me? i hate wearing socks
V - Vegetable? all of them except for brussel sprouts
W - Worst habit? biting my nails
X - X-ray or ultrasound? xray
Y - Your favorite food? italian... and more italian
Z - Zodiac sign? capricorn - don't mess with the hooves.

hair

2008-04-01T13:23:00.013-05:00

because i tend to have some free time on my hands, i started playing with ideas for a new 'do. since some of my wonderful readers haven't seen me in person with all my different hairdos, your opinions are the ones i'm seeking most. here are some pictures (courtesy of instyle) please send me comments on which you like the best - oh and the first person to guess which celebrity the haircuts are copied from (must name all 6 and be correct, between 4/1 and 4/4) will get a free fat quarter from my stash :)
- Update: Congrats Andrea on winning the fat quarter! I have mixed results: 3 votes for A, 3 votes for C, 1 for D and 1 for E... hmmm... I'll keep you posted.

fridge

2008-03-31T12:28:00.002-05:00

found a new area of inspiration for my magnetic surface that holds food - tetris mangnets! Check out the tutorial here. considering that's the only game i ever played on a super nintendo, i was thoroughly impressed.

literature

2008-03-29T17:29:00.002-05:00

there was a great book and media sale going on in des moines today. my sister and i went to it, and there were so many great finds - but my office is already stuffed with great books that i would love to all read over again, i only let myself buy 2 things. a great original copy of Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions and a movie that i heart death to smoochy. i love all genre's of movies, and dark comedies are one of my weaknesses that i can't deny.

i also finished a jewelry roll and a toiletry bag that are posted on my etsy site. i'm quite fond of them, but i may be bias :)

people

2008-03-28T10:15:00.003-05:00

there are some great people in this world. fantastic ones in fact. i was having a crap week up until wednesday - then i went to dinner with my best friends in the whole world (minus my sister, she had to work) and they all cheered me up with our senseless banter and obnoxious laughing. nothing makes me happier then to be surrounded with the people i love most. as if i didn't have enough to do (again, i'm so happy my husband is independent and patient) me and my friends are going to be in a sand volleyball league in may (it better be done snowing by then!) and we have plans to hang out again next saturday. i refuse to let these ladies drift out of my life - they are my support and strength in every instance i need them.

there was also a great surprise when i was picked to make bridesmaids gifts for a girl's upcoming wedding. she was completely fantastic and i feel like we just clicked (double left) and we totally got each other for what i was imagining and what she was wanting. i love being a designer! vive la kateidesign!

work

2008-03-25T09:56:00.002-05:00

you know that feeling, when you walk into the office after some time off... the empty pit in your stomach swimming with the thought of a flooded inbox? that was me yesterday, trudging into work. now that i've gone through all the emails, talked to the people that i needed to get project updates from, i sit here, just chomping at the bit with all the stuff i need to do at home. there's so much that i actually want to do there and so much here that i don't need to do.

last week while i was gone there was a lot of unexpected 2 week notices given, throughout the company and within my department. i'm so jealous of them. i too want to leave, but what i want to do with my life (design, design, take pictures, sew, design, repeat) isn't lucrative enough to support me right now. oh to be inheritly wealthy... but money doesn't solve your problems, it just means you get to write bigger bills each month - hah.

if anyone needs me, i will be sulking in my cube until 5 pm cst.

hawt

2008-03-21T22:45:00.003-05:00

so today was the last 'official' day of vacation... sigh. i still have this weekend, but it's not as good as last week at this time - i had a whole week of no work to look forward to. i can't complain though, i had a great week. today the hubby and i went to kansas city to see some of my friends (i lived there from 2005-2007) and walked around some of my favorite places. even though it's only a measly 3 hour drive away - i can't describe to you how much going back there makes me miss my kcmo life. i have great friends down there, that will remain friends as long as they are willing to talk talk on the phone and email consistently. we walked around the plaza and i got some great deals on fabric from urban outfitters and because i wasn't prepared for the 15 degree temp increase, i also bought a new shirt to replace the one i sweat soaked. hot, right? to be taken literally and figuratively. not so much paris hilton, more robin williams on stage (check out the last couple of scenes in 'live on broadway' - you'll see what i'm talking about)... reason #1,445,568 why it's important to have a big purse - to carry deodorant.

happy weekend everyone - i hope someone out there has a vacation to look forward to.

comfy

2008-03-20T08:21:00.002-05:00

i have finally figured out what i want to do with my life - find a job where i can wear jeans, a t and a hoodie everyday. crazy as it may sound my wardrobe this week has been my favorite part of vacation. everyday is like the best worst clothing conundrum - do i wear the green hoodie with the purple 50/50 t, or do i wear the gray hoodie with my dark jeans and red 50/50... oh it's as if i'm brangelina and can't figure out which country i should get my next kid from, or as if i'm britney spears and i have 3 offers from mental wards promising me all great levels of privacy. all in all this week, as productive and relaxing as it's been, i attribute 96% of its greatness with my outfit choices.

now flip flops or worn in adidas...

streak

2008-03-18T11:56:00.005-05:00

today's the day folks - i'm going from a sassy brunette to a sassy highlighted brunette. in fact - my salon is so hip that i'm writing this blog while my hair is getting bleached under heat lamps. not really bleached, but definitely lightened.

things to make this week:
1 baby blanket for a little boy named nicholas
2 shoulder bags for easter presents
1 clutch for a crazy new yorker
1 wallet in honor of my new highlights
1 jewelry roll
1 toiletry bag

wish me luck.

update: done with all of it - yay!

break

2008-03-16T21:36:00.002-05:00

me and the hubby have taken this week off - and i couldn't be more ecstatic about it. a week of pajamas and my sewing machine... and the blog of course. chillaxin here i come. some people are going to warm places, nope, i'll be in my cold basement - but as long as i'm not in bus cas for a week - i'm perfectly content. hope everyone has a great spring break too - for those of you that observe this should-be-mandatory week.

savvy

2008-03-16T21:23:00.003-05:00

this is me practicing with my new camera at a wedding this weekend.

flare

2008-03-14T10:49:00.005-05:00

thank you to all who read the pattern review on sew, mama sew and left comments. i truly do appreciate all the honest feedback people left. i too was a little nervous about the cut of the dress, and feared the skirt wouldn't be flared enough. So in response to that, i decided to try my own version of a circle skirt, but added a wider band at the waist. this was also my first attempt at hemming a skirt - no easy task. props to all you out there that do alterations. i will be wearing this this weekend and post pictures afterwards. it might still be a tad long, but as always, its easier to take up than let out - in theory :)

YAY!

2008-03-13T09:34:00.001-05:00

My pattern review is up at Sew Mama Sew! Please go out and read it and let me know what you think of the dress!

quilts

2008-03-11T12:25:00.003-05:00

old red barn co. is giving away a quilt in honor of her 200th blog post. click on over and check it out.

creative

2008-03-09T21:34:00.004-05:00

while in the fabric store i had an epiphany about some new accessories i could make with this fabulous fabric that i found. i got 2 of the 6 items completed, you can see them on my etsy shop. (it's the link over there --> ). i also painted a 3 pc. acrylic canvas set for our living room. that task can finally be crossed off the list, it only took like 8 months - but it's done now and that's what's important. i love it, and will post pictures soon.

capture

2008-03-05T23:26:00.002-06:00

i got my new camera today - i am the proud owner of a nikon d80 digital SLR. So far i have taking some great pictures and can't wait to get outside and really start to play with it. i know it's probably not that interesting, but here's a picture of my shoes that i thought turned out quite nicely for the newbie that i am :)

accomplish

2008-03-05T23:23:00.002-06:00

i have finished it - i made my first amy butler dress and it turned out fabulous. that woman can design. i'm not 100% sure i like the colors, but it seems to be photographing well. the review will be published sometime after march 10th. thank you beth and kristin for letting me write the review for their website, sew mama sew. i hope you enjoy it!

ache

2008-03-02T20:40:00.002-06:00

so today makes it 14 days straight with a headache. i had a brief break in ache friday when i got adjusted, but it was back less than 8 hours later. perhaps i should hire a chiropractor to live with me and just constantly adjust my spine. i've hear acupuncture works too, but i don't know if i'm ready to try it. anyone out there ever had it? thoughts?
i'm also on hold for designing my clients web site. i need him to play with what i have done so he can yay or nay everything that's built. if anyone has ever built a website before, then you know that it's easy to build from a template, but once they are built it sucks to go back and change everything. come on dude... work with me here.
i made another custom wallet and i heart it immensely. its on my etsy shop if you want to take a look at it.

tough

2008-02-28T14:15:00.002-06:00

this was one of the toughest weeks of my life - and it's not even over yet (please let tomorrow be easy!) job changes: am i running from this job, or am i going to the new one? what is keeping me here? what am i giving up? what am i gaining? sigh. all questions i couldn't answer on my own, and that no one could help me answer either. in the long run i think i made the right decision, but boy am i exhausted.
my 5 year plan is still intact, but it would have been slightly helped by making a different decision, but the slightly wasn't enough to sway me. what i'm passionate about is design and technology. this would have been more technical, but still documenting up the bum... which is still not my forte.
settle on a decision and don't look back.

fun

2008-02-24T10:34:00.003-06:00

i had a great weekend thanks to my girlfriends coming to visit me, despite the cold weather and overall iciness around the state of iowa. we went shopping for 9 hours yesterday - we are in fact marathon shoppers. screw the chicago marathon, we know right where its at - des moines. hah. we did have lots of laughs and good times despite the frigid weather.

w(h)ine

2008-02-17T18:41:00.002-06:00

yeah i know i whine alot about winter, but seriously, EVERY WEEK there is more snow. i don't like it, and i don't appreciate it. if it ruins my week next week i will be irate.
on the plus side, we met with our tax advisor and she's helping me get my business off the ground so that the irs will be happy to have me as a small business owner.
last night the hubby and i celebrated valentines day, it was nice to have all the phones turned off and able to fall asleep on the couch at about 8:30. you would think i was at least 60 - i'm not.
and from my checklist a couple posts ago, i have finished all of it - whoop whoop. and now i have a newer, longer list. awesome.

favorite

2008-02-15T23:54:00.003-06:00

i just finished this wallet for my first official customer on etsy, and i think it is definitely one of the best ones i have made so far. I hope she likes it!

life

2008-02-09T16:44:00.000-06:00

my husband's grandpa is in the hospital... again. i hate to watch him suffer like he is, but no one is ready to see him go either. such is life i suppose. but it does make me wonder about marriage and the impact it can have on life. his grandparents will have been married almost 60 years soon. their lives would have been exponentially different had they not gotten married, or of they had gotten divorced... i can't even imagine. when the hubby and i were leaving the hospital i was very somber pondering this concept. i can't even fathom getting divorced, ever. but i know it happens more often than anyone would really like to think. how does a couple get there? how do people get sick and old by themselves?

right now is when i wish i had my own personal yoga instructor to help me de-stress my life. that or a buddha monk.

love

2008-02-07T22:12:00.000-06:00

progress

2008-02-07T16:36:00.000-06:00

i made the home page for my first website design project, now i have to decipher his other requirements to make sure it all flows together.

agenda for tonight and this weekend:
build 4-5 more pages
sew all the baby blankets i have orders for
sew the wallet for my friend
make kathi's birthday present

sigh... good thing my husband knows i love him regardless of how much attention i send his way.

reasons

2008-02-07T16:23:00.000-06:00

Reasons I'm sick of winter:
1. wet pant legs
2. dry skin
3. itchy scalp
4. wearing a winter coat
5. static
6. short days
7. the lack of green things outside
8. snow ruining my weekend plans - more than once.

me and mother nature are seriously going to have duke this out soon if she doesn't knock it off. 8" of snow yesterday is a bit much for anyone. it's not like i live in minnesota.

inspiration

2008-01-22T20:44:00.001-06:00

i'm so excited for Jessica at How About Orange. She has a line of fabric coming out and all i can i say is that i'm filled to the gills with inspiration. i would love eventually get to the level of design were i could blend graphic and textiles. i love technology and coding (yes i'm that nerdy) but i also love to make things out of fabric or paint or film. perhaps i should start blending all my loves into different combinations? oh the oceans of possibilities i am surrounded with - ahh - how refreshing.

(picture from How About Orange)

small steps

2008-01-21T20:46:00.000-06:00

i have finally gotten a good start on my webpage. i feel very accomplished and yet defeated at the same time because i'm still so far behind the industry standard. i was looking at some of the websites done by SMASH here in Des Moines and i am just floored with the possibility that one day i might be able to do something like that. i did get my first client lined up to make his website for him, now i just need to find the time away from my day job to get a move on it. i really should start taking my laptop to work and use the privacy of my cube walls to their fullest potential. i am very surprised though, that the more i get into this stuff the more i like it. normally i'm a surface scratcher runaway, but this might actually stick for me.

in other news, i am currently taking a yoga class, which i love, and reading a great book called Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield. For any of you reading this that grew up in the 90's and loved the music that made up the soundtrack to your teen years, you should definitely check it out.

a new beginning

2008-01-12T09:35:00.000-06:00

have you recently graduated college or high school and then realized you picked the wrong career a couple of years into it? welcome to the quarter life crisis. I'm 25 and have my whole life ahead of me, but if I can't find a general direction of where i would like to take it, then i'm shooting in the dark... and that's just not the best use of anyone's time. So this is my diary of how i am going from a cube rat to a freelance web and graphic designer. welcome, and enjoy the ride.