Sleep or Craft?

I have always idolized Martha Stewart. If you've read her biography, you'll know that she once, on a whim, decided in the wee hours of night that she should paint her house. What did she do? She got out the paint and the ladder and went at it. So, whenever I get the crafting urge, no matter what time, I think W.W.M.D.?

I have never had a table at a craft fair, this October will be my first. My friend and I are splitting a table, and are crafting away to fill very inch of the 8 foot table we are purchasing. I am on a mission to create something for everyone. Between the both of us, I think it can happen. Not like I am any sort of expert, but I think offering items on all different price points has to be a win-win. But what do you offer for 50 cents? Matchstick notebooks, that's what! After looking up 1,001 tutorials online, I figured I'd wing it. There were lots of templates, lots of measuring, but really, how hard could it be? Cut the outer paper a smidge wider and a bit more than twice as long as the inner paper, fold like a matchbook, stick in paper, staple, voila. Using the most awesome Rockstar Paper Stack, I created all these:



It only took 4 of the 12 x 12 sheets and a small stack of copy paper to create 32 tiny notepads. Close-up of the cute designs:



Inside:



So simple to make, and I think they would really be cute inside your purse to jot down numbers, etc. I'll make some more using more "preppy" papers, i.e. argyle, houndstooth, etc. Remember, my goal is something for everyone!

It's About Time...

Ever since I finally organized my fabric stash, I haven't sewed a stitch. I do walk by the closet and look at it, and have added a few more yards here and there, but no projects. It's a floor to ceiling closet, half is linens and the other half is fabric heaven. My machine even has a cute polka dot cover I made:



And all the scraps are organized in bins, thread in drawers, so easy to find everything.



There are close to 100 mini bolts, Amy, Alexander, they are all there. Seeing as my first craft show is coming up, I decided to whip up a few of my Happy Housewife Half Aprons. The 2 on either end are made with delish Ikea fabric, the middle one is a vintage fabric that I just liked. Could be because it is hot pink and lime green, who knows? They tie with skinny grossgrain ribbon, and hang to about knee length.

Really Tom Keifer?

Sometimes when I am bored, I find myself on youtube, looking up random things. Inevitably I will end up searching for old 80's videos. I loved the original Headbangers Ball on MTV, you know the one with Rikki Rachtman. The original host Adam Curry had good hair and all, but he just wasn't cool enough. Rikki definitely brought some "street cred" to the festivities. If anyone is a fan of 80's hair metal, you will know that Tom Keifer is the lead singer of Cinderella. I have noticed an increasingly annoying problem on youtube lately: many videos are disabled by request. Who requests this? The artists? I mean really, if I want to link to the video for "Love and Affection" by Nelson I totally should be allowed to. I don't want to use Mr. Keifer as the scapegoat, but I want answers as to who is responsible for this travesty.

So...after searching for SOMETHING that was able to be linked, I found this:



Yep, Janie Lane, in all his glory, before Celebrity Fit Club, the divorce from Bobby Brown, the whole nine yards. Not a fan of live performances usually, but really not bad. Ahh, to be 1990 again...

I Hate Mondays...

A little early to worry about it, but I just found my new way to prepare for the upcoming week:



Sometimes I listen to "Master of Puppets" by Metallica to prepare for going into the office, but this fine number from Prodigy will be sure to get me pumped for a day full of fun-filled office politics.

The Mini Make-A-Friend Swap is officially closed and there are 14 swappers! I am pretty "geeked up" about it, that is the most participants of any swap I have hosted so far on craftster. Now, the hard part of matching people up. Lots of pressure, I want everyone to have an awesome swap.

Don't let the door hit you in the #@! on your way out!

I apologize for my abrasiveness in the title(ok not really, but patronize me)but THANK YOU! I just read an article that crocs are finally on their way out. I have certainly been sucked in to a few fads before: acid washed, french cuffed jeans, BIG spiral permed hair, maybe a pair of MC Hammer pants in the early 90's but crocs? NO thank you. Jelly shoes in the early 80's were all kinds of awesome, but these were nothing like their early predecessor. Once you could buy stupid crap to decorate them I knew they had stepped over the line. Men in crocs? All kinds of wrong. The only occassion they MIGHT be acceptable would be if you are a girl and you are gardening. Then I can appreciate the utilatarian purpose. I almost broke down and bought a pair for the only acceptable purpose, gardening, but looked again and said "I can't wear crocs!" and promptly put them down. Is it practical to wear wedges while gardening? Of course not. But a heck of a lot more stylish!

On the craftster.org swap front, sign-ups for round one of the Mini-Make-A-Friend Swap are almost coming to a close. So far there are 10 swappers to sign up, not a bad number at all. The most I have ever organized has been 11, so this will be definitely be manageable should it stay as is. Although it would be awesome to have more people sign up, the old adage "the more the merrier" definitely rings true for swapping.

I guess you could call me a treehugger...

What a great way to start a dreaded Monday. One of my favorite items in my shop, my leaf soapdish/spoonrest made an Etsy Treasury! A great treasury made by Endless Sunner,with her picks for the Christmas in July sale. This is my third treasury feature, but I am just as excited as if it were the first. Here it is:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=70554

It's no secret I love trees. Most of my pottery is inspired by this love of all things leafy. Ohio winters are quite hard, nary a leaf to be found! Currently I am working on leaf napkin holders, and over the weekend had a great idea on how to make matching leaf dessert size/appetizer plates. Come tomorrow I will see if my idea can come to fruition.

Last day before I pick the winner in my earlier giveaway for a bar of my freshly poured Honey Honey soap. Take a look at my etsy shop:

http://www.craftygurll.etsy.com

and leave a comment on what items you would like to see more of. Leave contact info as well to enter the contest.

Always the responsible one.....

I completely forgot how much I LOVE Social Distortion. They were in town today for the Warped Tour, which I sadly did not attend. I was at my "real" job, which is definitely "Somewhere Between Heaven & Hell!" What a great title for an album, I loved each and every song. I owned it on CASETTE TAPE, how antiquated is that? Early 90's, good times, but I digress...Mike Ness,



you are pretty darn awesome!

In my mission to "do something crafty every day", I began some handbuilt trays at the studio tonight. I am thinking the new black/dark midnight blue glaze will look really nice on them.

The real question, have you checked out the sales on etsy yet? Make sure you do, it is NEVER to early to start Christmas shopping. I am already creating gifts for everyone on my list, my dream is to one day handmake everything. But if people ask for electronics, that may be a little difficult.

Since embedding has been disabled on YouTube, here's the link for one of my favorites Social D songs, When She Begins:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hmd6-lFhgs

And since it is after midnight, Let me say Yay for Friday!!!

Sammy or Dave?

I have always loved hydrangeas, and finally bought one 2 years ago. Since I am thrifty(aka cheap)I always go for the clearance or sale plants because they will grow eventually. I barely ever buy anything in a pot bigger than a gallon, and this was no exception. I planted it by the pond, but no flowers the first year. But it was green so I knew it was going to make it. But this year, purple everywhere!

The chandalier is finished, hung and ready to go for the next round of nightime entertaining. Very easy, I will definitely be on the lookout for more to refinish. I started with this:



and ended up with this:



The chandalier was $2, I used less than a can of primer($3)and less than a can of paint($3 as well.) The candles were the biggest expense, they ended up being $8. The gratuitous action shot:



Cool outdoor decor for those hot summer nights for under $20. Which makes me think about that GREAT Van Halen song, Summer Nights. Enjoy:



Sammy or Dave? What a quandry.......

Don't forget to check out etsy, the big Christmas in July sale is from now until the 22nd. Lots of good deals out there, check out these:

http://www.craftygurll.etsy.com

To see everything, type "ChristmasinJuly" or "CIJ" in the search bar. Happy shopping!

Christmas in July Sale July 8-22nd!

Who doesn't love "How the Grinch Stole Christmas?" Even the live action movie with Jim Carey was pretty awesome. Dr. Seuss was a GENIUS. The stories, the illustrations, because of him I love to read. To pick a favorite would just be impossible. How about a top 10(in no particular order):

1. Go Dog Go
2. Hand Hand Fingers Thumb
3. In a People House
4. The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
5. The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins
7. Dr. Seuss' ABC
8. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
9. Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now!
10. Hop on Pop

Some were written by Dr. Seuss(Theodore Geisel) and some by Theo Lesieg, which is Geisel spelled backwards....very tricky Mr. Seuss!

But to the matter at hand, the big Etsy Sale! Here are my promotions:

1. Buy a soapdish/spoonrest AND bar of soap, the soap ships FREE!
2. All pendants ship FREE!
3. All handmade buttons ship FREE!
4. SURPRISE with every purchase!

I will be getting to work listing a few things in the morning.

And don't forget my last blog post, free soap giveaway!

See what $2 can buy you!

A few weeks ago I went "junking" at the city wide garage sale and picked up this gem: a lovely early 80's brass chandalier. Quite a disaster, but a total revamp is underway. After it rolling around my trunk for about 3 weeks, I finally took it out today. So far it's primed, and once dry it will be painted sage green. So far, a total upgrade but more to come.

I also bought an early 1900's Dictionary, but haven't figured out what to do with it. Yet.

After watching "Marley and Me" over the weekend, I am appreciating my girls even more. I wasn't expecting to like the movie as much as I did, or cry as much as I did in the end. But since Zoe always gets all the attention, a picture of sweet little Athena:



Quite possibly THE BEST DOG EVER. For real, I swear she has never done anything wrong. Other than being a little on the yappy side the girl is perfect. Zoe is trying, and she's doing pretty well.

Now, the giveaway:

Take a look at my shop:

www.craftygurll.etsy.com

and leave me a comment and let me know what you think. What should I offer more of? Less of? Give it to me! I will choose someone at random and send them a free bar of my Honey Honey soap, brand new item, not even listed yet! Make sure to leave craftster.org username, etsy shop/username, email, etc. so I can contact the winner.

Just Say No!

A few weeks ago I took a glass fusing class. It was SO much fun, definitely a worthwhile 3 hours. The instructor had the cutest little tabletop kiln, and now I am jonesing for one. This from the girl who bought a Cricut after watching the half hour infomercial. Keep in mind I do not even scrapbook and still felt it was a complete necessity. Plus the whole soaping adventure I have recently embarked on. Although tonight I poured some Honey and Shea facial bars, and they smell DELISH. The whole house smells like a huge honeycomb and I am loving it. But back to the crafting matter at hand: glass fusing. These were some of the pieces I created:



and a little dichroic action:



and these were just cut glass with little milefiori beads on top that melted really funky:



I bought the nicest ring blanks off etsy from ThePerfectBead:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5190360

and nice bails from ArtisticDetour, who is on etsy as well:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5234824

Now just to put them all together, ooh-la-la! But I will be strong, and NOT buy the kiln. Even though it is small, cute and runs on a regular electric current. I won't buy it for tonight at least.

On craftster.org I just opened sign-ups for the inaugural round of the mini "Make-A-Friend-Swap." The original is just way too big, my version is like the diet. The Cherry Coke Zero if you will. Still 3 packages over 3 months, but much smaller requirements. So far, there are some pretty awesome crafsters signed up, adn there is still a week and a half to go.

The "Deck Out Your Outdoor Space" is also almost finished. There was a swapper who was unable to complete the swap, so Wendellina and I combined our crafting forces for good and made what I would call a KICK ASS package, \../ , which should be delivered any day now. We received ours and it was great. Out of every package, I always have one item that I receive that makes it all worth while. This time, Iwould say it was a pink chrysanthemum ring that we both got as extras in the package. I have wanted to buy these:



for awhile now and put on one of said ring blanks I just bought. Now I don't have to!

I am the Firestarter...

I have totally been listening to WAY too much Prodigy lately. Remember that great late 90's techno band? I was out garage sale-ing a few weeks ago and found the CD. They were selling the gem for only $1! I had to snatch it up and it is currently residing in tray 3 of the CD player in my car. Pantera and Metallica are in slots 1 and 2, respectively.

At the studio tonight I hit the jackpot, many many of my pieces came out of the glaze fire. I did an alchemy request on etsy a few months back for a flower vase, and made another:



Made from white porcelaineous stoneware clay. A close-up of the flower:



I glazed in a shiny white, and thin maybe a tiny green plant would be a striking contrast to the plainess of the glaze. Maybe a mound of moss even, in a rich deep green.

My other favorite would be the birdhouse:



I etched a leaf pattern in the clay before handbuilding the cylinder. I used a floral cookie cutter to cut out the opening. I even smoothed the edges, in the off chance I actually put it outside for a bird to inhabit. While the base was drying, I rolled out a slab of clay, and cut many leaves out, smoothing the edges with plastic(great trick)and adding vein details. I inverted a bowl on the table, and started building my first layer of leaves, like a peak. Then I added layer upon ayer, around and around, until it was the size I wanted.



I also added a loop to the top and let dry for awhile, then slipped the whole thing together. After bisque firing, I glazed the roof with red to brown, and the bottom clear. All in all, please with the results.

And an example of the soapdishes my family will be getting for Christmas, along with handmade soap:



I've been glazing a lot with teal lately, it is just such a happy color.