Here I Go Again!!

Well - this has been a busy couple of months! I was finally able to return to work 31 July, and then had three months worth of paperwork and such to catch up on. But - I'm so thankful that my employer held my job for me - esp. in this economy, so I don't want to complain that much.

So recently, I'm trying to budget my money, and make as many handmade gifts as possible. And - of course, if I can sell any custom orders - that's a great thing too!!

My good friend has many children, and some are teenagers. She has seen my make my fingerless mittens, and she asked if I could make a pair of mittens for her, and scarf to go along with it. She would like black with hot pink edging, as well as a black scarf with hot pink edging.

I'm also working on a holiday gift for one of my staff. I'm taking this pair of fingerless mittens/gloves:

I love the way the rainbow colours look against the black, and then I thought I would make a black scarf with the same rainbow edging around it. That way it will be bright, but not too over-the-top!

A Wonderful (featured) Etsy Shop!!

One of the things that I love about Etsy, is that there are so many people there that have different skills sets from me. Now personally - I couldn't draw or paint something if my life depended on it (although I think I can draw a mean stick figure!). Cara, on the other hand is a very talented artist who has her own shop on Etsy, and I think it's fantastic! Here is my interview with her..

1. I love your paintings - when did you start drawing?

I've always had a pen in my hand....some kids have a dummy....think i had a pencil :) It's a passion i've always had. A need that i've always had. I'm not the most vocal person in the world and painting/drawing and the like is my voice.

2. I see you do alot of portrait type paintings. Do you base these on real people?

No actually. I've never been good at capturing real people on canvas. I literally have pencil, roughly sketch and then let the paint create a face and personality.

3. Have you ever had anyone sit for a portrait?

Yes, but only for practice. I tend to sketch roughly and never create a painting of a real living person. Maybe one day i'd like to try....in my style of course.

4. You use watercolor and acrylic. Which do you like to use more, and why? (From someone who does not paint, and has no idea about these mediums).

I go through stages. At the moment Acrylic is back in favour. I love the freedom of colours, building up colour and textures. I love the hugeness of canvases and great big chunky rollers and paint brushes and slapping on paint :) Water colour is totally different, i paint more delicately (but quicker for some reason)and in a smaller scale

5. What inspires you?

Other people! Other peoples lives. I know that sounds bizarre....but no amount of books, paintings, poetry etc etc can influence me or inspire me as much as real, interesting people who have much to show and offer.

6. You have some pretty jewelery in your shop too. Is this also a passion for you?

Yes....i got into jewelery making a year or so ago. It was a therapeutic outlet for a crazy life at the time. I have many beads, findings, wires, clasps etc in my little room.....and flit backwards and forwards from time to time. Ironically....i'm not a dress/junk jewelery wearer...so why i make them i don't know.

Cara's Shop is named Caralara, and you can find here : http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6819598 , and I definitely recommend it!!

My First Featured Shop!!!

One of the things that I absolutely love about Etsy, is getting to know new people and see shops that I might not otherwise see. That's why I was so happy that Laura from caninedesign let me feature in my blog, so other people could get to know her and her shop as well!

1. When did you first start sewing?
I started sewing in college. My mom bought me a sewing machine for my birthday at the start of the summer. I agreed to do an internship in Virginia, 7 hours away from my family and friends. So I needed a hobby to pass the time.

2. How did you learn?
Self-taught through trial and error. I used books and how-to websites for references. Still do, actually.

3. What made you think of the idea of Dog scarves?
When I first started taking my dog hiking with me. You'd think a big red dog would be easy to see in the woods, but not so much. I needed something with color that would help me spot him, and make him visible to hunters as well. I bought a yard of fabric and realized I'd have enough left over for three more bandanas. So why not sell them for charity?

4. I love your model - how does he like the scarves/modeling?
Colby likes to pose for the camera. Most of the time he's staring at a treat, but he holds very still and lets me shoot 3 or 4 bandanas at a time. I have a bunch that are just for him, which he wears around the house. He doesn't run away when he sees one in my hand, and he never tries to take it off. I assume he likes them. It can't be all that bad because I give him treats whenever I tie one on.

5. I see that 10% of your sales go to a charity - tell me about it.
I am a member of Etsy for Animals. We are a team who use our shops to support animals in need. The charity I chose is my local animal shelter, Montgomery County Humane Society. They have foster programs and work with rescue groups to get homeless pets adopted. Last year, their rate was 91% adopted, out of the available pets. If you'd like to learn more about the Etsy for Animals team, here is the website http://efaartistshelpinganimals.org/.

Colby looks so proud to be wearing his Eagles scarf! (I think he'd look better in a Jets scarf, but that's just me!!) :P

If you own a dog, or know someone who does, checking out this store is a must, esp. for holiday gifts!! You can find her at www.caninedesign.Etsy.com.

Don't throw it away!

Yes, I have to admit - I am a tree hugger. I was one of those people who talked about recycling and living green before is was cool to do it. I would always try to find just one more use for an item before I threw it out (usually in a recycling bin of some sort).

So when my Mother started giving me her old magazines to read, I got an idea. The pages were a bit thin, but the covers weren't! Not too thick, not too thin - Perfect for envelopes!

I really liked how these came out (above). I call this set, 'The eyes have it'!!

And then I thought - if the magazine covers (and backs) came out so good, I have the perfect use for some of the old calendars that I've been saving! You know what I'm talking about. All those old calendars that you save because the pictures are so nice, but you have no idea what to do with them. Well - I made some upcycled envelopes out of them, and I think they came out great!
So now, when I go to visit my Mom, and she has a bag stuffed full of magazines and such, I don't roll my eyes and think, what in the world am I going to do with all of these...I make something!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5292210&section_id=5385899

It's been a rough three months....

Well - I think that I am finally reaching the end of some horrible months. You see - I have Endometriosis, and it was causing me a great deal of pain. Because I've had this for ~15 years, and have already had 3 surgeries for it, my doctor decided that having a hysterectomy would be the best thing for me. He said that I wouldn't have to have any more surgeries for the Endometrisis after this, and I would out of the hospital in 5 days, max.

Sounds like a decent plan, right? Yeah - it did to me too. Unfortunately... that's not what happened. I had my first surgery on 7 May. During that surgery, the doctor nicked my intestine, and I developed blood infections. I was quite sick. So I had another surgery 15 May. During that surgery the doctor had to take out 8-inches of my intestine and sew them back together again.

So - the only way that my intestines would heal, was for me not to eat or drink Anything!!! For two months (since 14 May), I couldn't eat anything, drink anything and had a semi-permanent IV inserted (a PIC line), so that I could receive liquid nutrition.

Then - if this wasn't bad enough, with the second operation, there was an infection that developed near the incisions, so I had my third (and hopefully final) same day surgery 10 July.

But today I had good news! I can start eating again! And - at the end of the month, I can return to work! I am sooo happy.