Cha-Cha-CHANGES

Oh yeah, baby.
I'm making some changes.

... to my blog.  Have you noticed?

In my quest to become more professional, I've been doing some things here behind the scenes.  "Like what?" you may ask.  Well, here's a list of things:

• Do a craft show (upcoming!)
• Find better, faster ways to make things (Done! ... and ongoing)
• Get an official logo - DONE!!!!!!!!!

  

Check THAT out! 

Isn't it awesome?!  You can also see it as my current Blogger profile pic.  I'm still working on other ways to incorporate it into the blog.  (Still learning the ins-and-outs of Blogger's layout and format.)

My new logo was brought to fruition by Kimberly (I can call her Kimmy) Brooks over at Kimberly Brooks Photography.   I had a temporary logo I had been using for a bit, but it needed to be better.  I sent her what I had and what I liked/disliked about it, she applied her magic and VOILA!  A new logo was created!

I knew I wanted something simple and graphic that would translate easily to labels, tags, stamps and such.  She knew I liked the combo of blocky letters with a scripted font.  And BAM!  A logo! 

Don't you love that wonky D?! 
And that sexy tail on the S?! 
Oh, that S just begs you to follow her little tail.
... minx.

Can I just say Kimmy and I must share a wavelength or something???  (I won't discuss the juvenile jokes that made us giggle like five-year olds -- for that would be juvenile!)  But SRSLY.  She totally "got me" and seemed to read my mind.  She rocks! 

Can you believe that the logo thing and web stuff isn't even her FAVORITE thing to do?!  She's a photographer at heart.  I've linked her website above - you should go check it out.  She's good, y'all.

Taking Shape

Things are changing around here.
Furniture moving.
Vignettes arranging.

For instance ...



Not perfect yet. And has since been tweaked.
BUT Shiva seems to need a jungle. I think she likes it there.

And poor Erebos. Too much excitement for him.



Couldn't even open his eyes for me.



And Marishi enjoyed the currently empty credenza top and an open window.



Laser eyes: engaged!

----

Apartment has been in a bit of chaos since my "roomie" moved in. As we have a bit of par-tay happening this weekend, it was a good kick in the pants to get more settled. It's all coming together ...

And soon, I shall share more pictures of home.

You know, when it's "perfect" ...
Yeah. Like THAT will ever happen! Maybe when it's presentable enough for my liking! Ha!

Happy Birthday, To Me!

Check it.

My sweetie bought me new dressmaker's shears and a yard of any fabric I wanted! I'd been eye-balling this Waverly at JoAnn's for a bit. (Shown at left.) And my bestie got me a new sewing box. Ain't it pretty?



Here's a better shot of the fabric. No idea what it will be yet. I'm leaning toward a tailored handbag of some sort ...



My bestie also got me a ham and some tailor's chalk. I got a gift card from my pops. I think Mom had to talk him into walking into a fabric store.



There were other bits-n-bobs, but these made up my "sewing stash" for today.
Oh. I did buy myself a spool holder. I forgot to take a pic of that. But it will make an appearance once I get it painted and hung on the wall. I'll do a whole shot of my sewing area then. When it's ready. :)

But for now ...

Happy birthday, to me! Happy birthday, to me! ...

The Mehs

... I has 'em.

Mostly because of a lovely infection/virus that is still lingering, I just haven't wanted to do NUTHIN'!

I take that back ... I DO want to do stuff. I just don't have the energy. The ginormous antibiotics are sucking that from me. Hopefully in a few more days, I can get back to sewing or crocheting or ANYTHING!

Oh. And it's been raining all day. That made me want to lounge around all day, watching things on the Roku. I *heart* instant streaming. It's been a Star Trek TNG day around here! :)

BUT with rains come pretty pictures like this:



This wasn't taken today. Too rainy. I took this a few weeks ago after some much needed rain. Look at that sky! Love all the pinks and purples and blues ... all the ripples.

So lovely.

Oh. I DID crochet a new Mobius Cowl. Wrote up my pattern finally. Having another crocheter test it now to see if it makes sense in written form. The technique is a little different. Might be leading a CAL at my LYS.

Translation for non-yarn folk: ...a crochet-a-long at my local yarn shop.

Now ... back to the Roku.

Krafty Karma Kontinues

A few months ago, I wrote this post about Krafty Karma. I got a few takers -- I am still looking for two more, hint, hint!! -- and this is the first gift I sent out!



I really enjoyed piecing and "quilting" the random lines on the appliqué and making the patches for the handle.





AND I made my very first gusset! Now the bag bottom opens nice and wide to hold bulkier items!



The recipient (Hi, Rozelle!) told me she really likes how deep it is so things don't fall out! And that Clarabelle, the cat, wanted to sleep on it IMMEDIATELY! I guess if it passes Clarabelle's test, then you know I've done something right! ;)

Enjoy!

PS -- if after reading the post referenced earlier you wish to participate, shoot me an email! I was looking for five co-crafty conspirators and only got three via Facebook! I'd be happy to get two more! :)

Getting to Know You ...

... getting to know all about you.

My new little Janome. I know we're going to be good friends.



BTW ... Is it wrong that I giggled when I heard the all the sales people calling it "juh-no-mee"?? I'm sure it's the correct way to say it, but it still makes me giggle.

And the Sewist 500 was purchased out of need.
No, I swear!
My mom's 30+ year old machine finally stopped cooperating.
Good price. Good machine. I even researched and everything ...

Can't wait to show you what I'm making.
There may even be a tutorial in it for you ...
Yeah, that's right. I'm such a tease!

In the mean time, you have to deal with my crappy camera phone picture of some tea towels I finally made for our kitchen. Oh and the wicked tasty cherries I was eating ...

See? I'm a total tease.

Cover Your Seat!

Okay. So I've seen covers for stools or "cozies".

And I have LOTS of stools. (What?! They come in handy as extra tables or seating. If you don't have any, you should!)

I've been pondering some sort of stool cover, maybe like a doily. More open and lacy. This is my first attempt. It's a modified round granny square I found somewhere. Can't remember now which book I found it in. I've changed it quite a bit so I guess it doesn't really matter now.

I like how it looks from the top. Wanted something removable, but was lacking in the elastic department at the time. Went with a tie on. The cover is too "open" so it stretched out quite a bit. But it was just a prototype. The next one will be better...

Krafty Karma

It's a long story ... but I'm feeling the need to send some happiness and joy and positivity out into the world today. Hence the Krafty Karma (and yes, I'm aware spelling it "Crafty Karma" still has the same auditory alliteration, I just preferred it to be visually ... alliteral. Whatever. You know what I mean.)

Last week, a crafty, viral post was going around Facebook, challenging folks to make handcrafted items sometime in 2011 for the first five people to comment on their post. In turn, THOSE five people have to do the same. Sort of a "Craft It Forward", if you will. It could be anything handmade ... pretty or functional or foodie. It didn't matter. Just a little something. Made by you.



It's about intent.
It's about caring.
It's about connecting.

That's why I'm taking it a step further.



I'm challenging YOU now. For the first five people to comment on this blog post or send me an email, you will receive something handmade from me, sometime this year. The only catch? You have to prove to me that you're going to do the same. Blog about it. Email it. From some of you, I'll even take a promise. Just show someone that you cared enough to be personal. That you took a few moments to think of them. That you want to share a part of yourself with them.

Bake some cookies.
Knit a washcloth.
Crochet a creature.
Write a poem.
Paint a postcard.

Just create. Share. Connect.



Think of the smile on those five faces when they receive that "little something."
Imagine this happening to THEIR five recipients.
And their recipients' recipients.

Wow. That's a lot of joy to go around.
Especially when we need it most...

Need. Want. Make?

Oh. My. God.



I just spotted this rug/installation on Apartment Therapy and WOW. Me thinks I need it! ... except I sure as sin don't have the almost $3K it would require to "purchase" said rug by Patricia Urquiola at Unica Home.

I do, however, have some mad crochet skills. Maybe something similar can be ... fashioned. I see a long-term project in my future ...

Black Hole of Despair

Okay, it's not really the Black Hole of Despair. It's just the shelf above my kitchen sink. Let me first say this: I actually really like my kitchen. Old school, cast iron farmhouse sink. Neat cabinets. However, they DO need painting. Properly. Landlord did crappy job ... every brush stroke shows. Repainting them is something I wouldn't mind tackling if I stay here more than a couple of years.

Anyway, back to the Black Hole of Despair. It's really depressing to look at while washing dishes. So what to do ... what to do. ..

I KNOW!!! I have a solution. (Phase one is already complete, but I'm going to wait until it's fully done before I post the DIY easy fix.) In the meantime, here is the actual Black Hole of Despair for you to fully appreciate:



Black, isn't it? Despair-inducing, no? Big, black, light-absorbing vortex of despair, right? That will soon change ...

Stay tuned!

Comme-Comme-Commentary

To make "commenting" on blog posts easier for my minions (and others!), you should no longer have to log-in to make a comment. HOWEVER, I will still be moderating them, so they won't post immediately - only after I "approve" them!

So comment away, folks!

But remember, if your comment doesn't excessively flatter, rave about my work, or lavish me with praise, it probably won't get published.



Just kidding.
Mostly.

Addiction

Sigh. Addiction is a terribly difficult thing to overcome.
Especially when one doesn't want to quit.

Nope, I'm not refering to alcohol. Or drugs.
Ravelry is my temptress.

What is Ravelry, you ask? It's like Facebook, but for knitters and crocheters. A "knit and crochet community" as it were.

I'm hopeless and willfully addicted...
Free patterns. For sale patterns.
Voyerism at it's best.
You can view other peoples' projects.
The good and the not-as-good.
You can join "groups" with other addicted folks such as yourself.
You can "friend" people. Email people.
Stalk people...oh. I didn't say that.

There are some wonderfully talented and supportive folk out there. People willing to share advice, answer questions, compliment you, enable you...It's a fantastic place to be!

If you're a knitter or crocheter (like me!), it's free to join!
Just do it! You'll be happy you did...


P.S. - If you do join, feel free to "friend" me: AECDesigns.
I need validation. ;)

When Inspiration Strikes

Sometimes we see or feel things - shapes, colors, moods - that fill us with a desire to create. How can I work that color combination into my work? How can I use that shape to create something new? How can I translate that feeling into something everyone can understand?

Good questions, no?

Take mood boards, for example. Interior Designers use them to pull themes together. Artists might collect bits and bobs - now trendily called "ephemera" - for texture or color reference. We constantly surround ourselves with things we are drawn to. Myself, I need to get better about taking pictures of things I see that inspire me. Like these Chihuly Onions for example:




Is it just the color? Is it the shape that appeals to me? Was it the beautiful, hot summer day that I want to relive? Is the fact that I WANT a piece of Chihuly but can't afford it? Only time will tell...

What's That Noise??

Listen...Can you hear it?

It's SPRING calling. It wants to come over.
But apparently not this weekend. Frost by Sunday!
...which is why I haven't set my plants out yet.
But I can't WAIT until my porch looks like this again:



...sigh...I'm so impatient.
Hurry up and leave already Winter.
I've had enough.

Impatience

Have I mentioned that I don't have a lot of tolerance for the cold weather? Like, none. Zip. Zilch. Nada. You get the idea. I WANT SPRING!!!!!!! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Even though, logically, I know we can't have a true Spring without a little Winter (some seeds need to lie dormant in order to bloom, etc.) I'm ready for Spring so I can sit out on my porch, basking in the warmth. My plants need fresh air and sunlight. More than they get inside all winter. Hell, I need fresh air and sunlight!

Until then, I guess I'll have to make due with my photo reminders of what Spring looks like and what is to come...

Hopin' and Wishin'

Wouldn't it be nice to own a Chihuly? Or several? Like these onions or whatever he calls them. Of course, I guess I would need a pond to float them in. Wouldn't exactly work in the bathtub. Although, I did once see a bathtub he did. Clear glass filled with smaller, brightly colored objects.

Or a ceiling. He does these fabulous ceilings. Clear glass, back-lit, supporting lots of his pieces so you can view them from below. Yeah. How much does THAT cost?!

I'll start saving my spare change now. Maybe I can pick one up in, say, 2099...er, better make that 2199...