Halfway up the mountain!

With Twist behind me and all my Craftland goodies shipped, I'm rationing my remaining energy to sustain me through two more fairs. Bazaar Bizarre Boston is right around the corner and Mass Market (also in Boston) follows shortly after.

I have plenty of inventory and my display all set but I'm a little disappointed in myself for not introducing as many new products as I'd planned. There are a couple new card designs but I didn't set up my studio in our new place quickly enough to be truly efficient. With just three work days left before Bazaar Bizarre, I'm trying to decide which of my many new design concepts will be realized in time for the show. I've got a dusty chinchilla print, some pinback buttons, tea sipping camels and a cat in a paper bag to choose from.

I'm also trying very hard to not let the new home suck up too much of my attention this month. I'd like to be able to put everything on hold and take a week to hang art, sew pillowcovers, decorate for the holidays and go thrifting for furniture. I must remind myself that the home isn't going anywhere and it isn't a priority during the hectic holiday season. And yet... I have to show you these acts (above photos) of wintry window embellishing I committed last night while over-caffeinated from chai-nog.

Well, I must get going on tonight's print sleeve-ing process. I'm glad I can do that task on the couch in front of a movie because I'm really in the mood to watch Die Hard (at least one of them).

Home again.

I'm still in Connecticut visiting my family. Justin and I had a really nice Christmas that didn't leave us completely exhausted for once.

I'm spending the rest of my week here cleaning out my old bedroom and my parent's basement. So far, it feels more like an archeological dig than real cleaning. I found a huge box of photos I'd forgotten about and my mom found some old 8mm film and set up her projector for a show. The process is slow because we are reminiscing so much and quite challenging due to sentimentality. I am running up against my desire to save my special old stuffed animals and costume jewelry.

This trip also has me experiencing something I haven't felt in years. Boredom. I deliberately chose to not bring any art projects to work on while I was here so I could have a break, but my parents go to bed so early that I've taken up puttering softly around their house for entertainment.

I miss making stuff. I'll probably make an emergency run to the craft store tomorrow.

The fine little wood house above is made by Somethings Hiding in Here.

I'll be home for Christmas

I'm leaving this afternoon for Connecticut where I'll be staying until the first week of January. I don't get to go home too often and this is the longest I've stayed since I was in college. It'll be really nice but lots of work since I'm staying to help my parents clean their basement. I surely hope I have no spider interaction while I'm down there.

I am cleaning out their basement to make room for a big project of mine that is in the works. Plans are in the formative stages but I'm pretty sure I'll be setting up a remote screenprinting studio! I am really thrilled by this concept because it means I can work much bigger and I am also happy that I'll be going to Connecticut monthly for weekend print marathons. It will take a long time to finish this project but it's definitely something to look forward to.

Due to my parent's ancient computer, this may be the last post I make for a little while. I hope everyone has a pleasant holiday!

The above image is by Doodle and Hoob of whales on a trek. I thought it was pretty prefect.

New little tidbit

I am shamefully late-coming with this idea. But I figure, better late than never! I've introduced this sage colored scalloped ornament adorned with scarf bunny to the ol' shop. She says "my favorite things are handmade" and perhaps if this little hint is hung from your tree, you'll find bundles of lovingly handcrafted goodies in your present pile.

did it!

Thanks to some good advice from Sarah of CraftyFolk, I managed to make the holiday postcards that I was fussing so much over. She recommended that I basically chill out and " just make something that makes you smile when you look at it.". So, I tried to forget about what I thought everyone else would want in a card and simply designed the card that I wanted to send out this year. This version is obviously personalized for Justin and I but I made some without initials to sell.

These lovebears actually resemble us a bit (at least our accessories and hot drink habit) and I think it'll be a fun couple-y card to send off since it's our first Christmas since we got married.

Trade ya!

There is no use denying it; Christmas is coming and I'm pretty broke. I have been trying to figure out how I can manage to have presents for my family and I had a fine idea. I'd like to make a couple gifts myself but I really want to dazzle my relatives with surprises from other makers. I may have no money, but I do have things to trade!

So, I have a proposition for you crafty friends that could be mutually beneficial. I would be delighted to trade almost any item in my shop for a special little something from yours (preferably not art since I've got that part covered). My gift recipients are all adults (23-85) and they have a wide array of tastes. If you personally would like something from my shop or think it would make a nice gift for someone you love, just drop me a note and we'll see if we can make an exchange of roughly equal value! I'm particularly hoping for things like jewelry, journals, and home decor type things. Bath and body stuff would be pretty nice too.

I hope this works or else everyone is getting homemade peanut butter again!

I took the handmade pledge.

So, I took this pledge and it felt good. I even said it out loud with my hand over my heart.

I love presents like a bunny loves bananas but I have to admit that the Christmas exchanges usually suck the life out of me. Shopping is hard and even harder when you're political about it. My buying philosophy is pretty strict (which is good because my budget is too).

~ I don't like to buy things made by companies who hurt animals.
~ I don't like to buy things from companies who treat their workers badly.
~ I especially like to buy things made out of sustainable or recycled materials.
~ I don't like to buy things from companies who rip off artists to create their products.
~ I love love love to buy unique things made by creative people.

I don't have a ton of money so I like to get the most out of what I spend. When I buy handmade I'm getting a great item plus the good feeling I get from helping working artists. That is double good! What a deal!

Of course, I can't manage to avoid buying things that are counter to my beliefs all the time. Sometimes I NEED to get some crappy plastic cups with sunsets on them from the dollar store. But at least I'll be following my heart this holiday season by buying (or making) a bunch of excellent gifts for the excellent people in my life. I promise.

BuyHandmade.org