Life......

Sorry It has been so long since posting. Life gets in the way of things sometimes. I bought a new computer awhile back and it is going in for the third time to the repair center, so I keep switching between my old one which was having problems and the new one which keeps having the same problem. Becuase of that among other things I haven't been on the computer much.

I did get my hair cut, but haven't been able to get pics posted. I will as soon as I can. Of course it isn't quite what I wanted. Why is it that even armed with pictures the stylist alaways manages to talk me into something different? It's similar but with some layers that I did not want and should have stuck to my guns about. Now I'm considering going even shorter otherwise I have to wait for the layers to grow out to get the bob I wanted to start with. Oh well!!!

My show I did on the 9th was ok. The show was very well organized and I had fun, but didn't sell much. For some reason I don't do well at shows, but I keep trying.

Well I'm off for now and will try to get back soon with some pics.

Fall is in the air

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted. It is cooling down here for a couple days anyway. It feels great!!

I listed a new pincushion. The colors aren't very fall like, but it is pretty just the same. It is a new design for me. I called it "Field of Flowers" I have been making lots of new pincushions getting ready for a show I have on Nov. 9th, but haven't been listing them until now. I find it hard to make stuff for Etsy and shows and have enough for both. Unfortunately one must suffer and this month it was my Etsy shop. I've only had one custom sale so I figured I'd better list something new. I go back and forth on whether to list stuff before a show or not. I like to have alot of selection at the show, but might not make a sale and could lose an Etsy sole or vice verse. Oh well, one day I'll figure it all out!!

Well tomorrow is a big day for me. I've been letting my hair grow for 3 years and it is just above my waist. I always wanted long hair, but could never let it grow. This time I did it, but I'm ready for a change. It will get chopped tomorrow. I'll have some pics even though I hate pics of myself. I'm going to donate my ponytail, so it will do some good. More on this tomorrow!!!!

Eye Candy giveaway

Hi! I just found this wonderful blog Retro Cafe Art. She is giving away a beautiful assortment of eyelets. Here's the link so go check it out http://krishubick.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-candy-giveaway-eyelet-candy.html.

I just got a bunch of vintage trim in today that I ordered and my mind is spinning. I've got lots of ideas for it. Some for collages and some for pincushions. Got to love pom-poms!!!!

New WIP

I haven't had any new finished works to share with you, so I decided to start taking pics of my works in progress. Please keep in mind that I just took these in my living room not under my lights I use to take my final pics so the colors will be much better on my final pics. I've been working more on my collages than my felt lately. These first pics are glimpes of my Sunflowers collage which is almost finished. I put so many layers in that it takes awhile to get one done due to drying time. I also have pics of the custom logo pincushion I am making for a fellow etsian. It is almost done and turning out quite well. I played with my new charcoal pencils tonight and I love the effect they give. They aren't in these pics but, you'll see it in my final pics. You'll have to check back.

Season finale of Project Runway was tonight. Of course they never pick my fave, but I thought Kato should have gotten it. Oh Well!!

Voting has begun

In my last post I told you about a challenge I entered, but I forgot to mention when the voting begins. Well it started on the 8th. Here's the link if you'd like to go and vote. There are alot of beautiful entries. http://www.mind-wideopen.blogspot.com/ Just leave your vote in the comment section.

I've been able to determine the colors for the custom logo pincushion I'm going to make so now I have to make the pattern and get started! This is a first. I have a few new collages in the works as well. Post some pics soon.

Taking a leap

I found a new blog called Mind Wide Open through my mixed media group on etsy. Every month they do a challenge with a picture they choose. You have a week to create something with the image. I decided to take the plunge this month and am pretty darn proud of how it came out. I'm a bit nervous to enter it as there are so many talented artists participating, but I've got to take the plunge.

On the felt front, I received another custom pincushion request. A fellow etsian wants me to create a pincushion from their logo. I think this will be quite interesting. I've made a few new things, but haven't listed because I have a show on Nov. 9th and have to save some inventory for that. I've got to get busy. It will be here before I know it.

Been busy

I've been a busy little beaver this week. I've had 2 custom orders plus two pincushion sales on top of my critter sales. YEAH!!! I think people are starting to Christmas shop!! I did a larger version of my fall tree in the colors my customer requested plus added three birds. My other custom is my fall tree on a coffee cozy. I'm working on that right now. I also sold my tree pincushion and my mod circles pincushion.
I just signed up for a show on Nov. 9th so I have to get some stock ready for that. Hopefully I do better than my last show or I made decide to give up on shows. I didn't even make my fee back on the last one. Oh well!! Off to do some work!!!

On the mends

Feeling somewhat better. Not at 100% yet, but hopefully well on my way!! I made a sale yesterday. Another one of my little chameleon pins. Glad to know I'm not the only one that thinks he's adorable!

So do any of you watch America's Got Talent? I'm rooting for Neil Boyd. They are all really good, but he just stood out for me from the first time he sang. I'm glad the judges told him to go back to opera because that is what he does best. We'll know tonight if he's in the top 5.

Woo-Hoo

I was on the front page of etsy last night at 7 pm. I missed it, but luckily a my fellow fester's let me know. Cool!! It was my fall tree pincushion. No sales, but tons of hearts and views. I have almost 900 views on it. Hopefully someone will come back to buy. I finalized all the colors on the custom tree and it's definitely going to be different from mine. Got to get to work on it today.

Beautiful blooms

I got another collage moved to the new shop. This one is called Beautiful Blooms. It's a little different from the others. I built the background for this one out of many layers of various papers rather than using matboard.

I got my second custom order in the first shop. She wants a different version of my fall tree pincushion. Larger with custom colors and some birds. I really like the idea of the birds and think I'll have to make one with birds. I'll post a pic when it's all done.

Slowly...

I'm slowly starting to come around and get things done. This cold/flu has really knocked me around. I think a bit of laziness has crept in as well. Got to get up and shake it off!!! The new tv season is starting and that hasn't helped either.

I found a new website that helps get traffic to your blog. It's called RSSHUGGER. You get your own page on the site free for 10 years if you review it on your blog or you can choose to purchase it for $20 if you don't want to do the review. I of course choose to do the review. Why not? You don't have anything to lose. This is a direct quote from their home page "rssHugger is a new website developed to help bloggers promote their blogs, and to help visitors discover new blogs that write about subjects that the readers are interested in." I just signed up, so I can't say a whole lot, but it looks good and for free it's worth taking a chance. I'm always looking for new ways to get more readers. Go check it out when you've got a minute.


Well I'm off for now. Be back soon with some new pics.

Another sale

Yeah!! I made another sale today. It was one of my copper and pistachio pincushions like I posted about a few posts back. I'm still feeling quite drained from my cold and not quite back into the swing of things yet. Sleeping way too much, so nothing new done yet. I've got to get to work on the pincushion I sold since I sold the one I had made already. I'm still trying to get the energy up to clean up my crafting table to play with my clay. Soon hopefully. That's all for now.

Moved another one

I haven't gotten anything new made yet. I'm almost finished with the pincushion I talked about awhile ago. I got another ACEO moved into the new shop this morning. This is one of my favorite ones. I love the black and white pic against the colored background.

I've got something new up my sleeve as soon as I make some space to work on it. Having to craft in several different places all over the house can get messy. I dream of the day I have one room to call my own studio. I can put everything in one place. Anyway back to reality I bought some polymer clay awhile back and I just picked up a convection oven at my local Salvation Army so I'm going to be playing with that soon. I love to work with my felt, but the items can be very time consuming. I'm looking to branch out into something I can get several items done at a time and offer lower prices to appeal to more customers. I can't really price my hand sewn items lower due to the time involved. I'll still be making my felt items as well. I like a little variety.

Well off for now. Hopefully I'll get my space cleared off today to play.

Doing Better

I'm finally starting to feel better. Thankfully!! I managed to finally get my first custom order done. It is a card pouch and she loves it!! I also moved a collage and ACEO to the new shop. I'm coming back slowly and trying to get some new things made as well.

I did get distracted tonight by the premiere of America's Next Top Model. Love that show and also Top Design and of course Project Runway. Wednesday is a very busy tv night lately.

Still fighting

I'm still fighting this nasty bug. It's winning so far. It's gone into my eyes so I haven't been doing much of anything but sleeping. I've never had this happen before. I've gotten some antibiotics so hopefully I'll be getting better soon.
On a happier note my Shells collage made it into a treasury. Hopefully it will make it to the front page.

Under the weather

Sorry I haven't posted. I haven't been feeling very well. I haven't been on the computer much all week. On the upside I got a sale and a custom item request. Maybe I should stay away more HA-HA. Not that that's possible! I sold this pincushion. I'll be back with more once I feel better.

Another one moved

I moved another collage to my new shop. This one is "Shells". It is another hanging 5x7 piece. I made another sale in my first shop. My fall tree pin. YEAH!!! Well short but sweet tonight. I've got to clean house for company. Bye!

A small break

I've been a little under the weather this week which is why I haven't posted. I'm almost finished with a new pincushion, so I'll have the pics soon. In the meantime I think I'll share a couple of my collages that I put in my new shop Createitcottageart
These are some of my 5x7 hanging ones. Two are done on matboard and the other is done on wood.
My studio area I had set up in the garage to work on my collage got buried during a big cleanup of the inside of the house. Two big pack rats=lots of junk! I'm slowly cleaning it out so I can make some new ones.
I'm going to see the Smashing Pumpkins tonight! YEAH!!! I'll let you all know how it was.

Finally done...

I finally finished the new project I told you about. It is a long wallet. I sewed it completely by hand and it took forever. I love the way it turned out though. I'm going to have to do some tweaking to the pattern and probably sew some on the machine to get the time down. I appliqued all the circles and rings and this is my first zipper for the coin pocket. It's in my shop.

I'm starting another pincushion next. It's a color combo I've had bouncing around in my head. Plus I'll be watching the Olympics. Got to see if Michael Phelps can get that eighth gold.

olympics

I have to say I've been guilty of not getting too much done to post pics of. I've gotten sucked into watching the Olympics. I love the gymnastics especially. It amazes me what they can do and make it look easy. Well just wanted to let you know what I've been up to. I'm still moving things to the new shop. I have to take new pics of some of my collages before I can list them.

So sorry...

Sorry for the break in posting. I've been working on a new item for the shop, creating it from scratch. That means I had to make a pattern and of course work out any kinks I come across. I should finish it today and hopefully have pics tomorrow. I'm still going to be doing some tweaking to it to try and cut down on the time it takes to make it. I'm probably going to have to break out the sewing machine and wrestle with it. UGH!

Well good news though. I made 3 sales today (two pincushions and my scotty dog pin). This is turning out to be my best month so far. I've been spending alot of time on the computer getting my name out there. which is good, but takes time away from my creating.

I've also decided to take the plunge and open a new shop for my collage work. I named it Createitcottageart. I wanted the name to be as close as possible so people can easily find either shop. There are only 3 items in it right now, but I'm slowly working on moving everything over. I put it off for a long time because I can't imagine promoting 2 shops, but I felt like my collage was getting lost amongst the felt and my shop was getting too full.

That's all for now!

Shroom gnome home

Ok here is the new item I mentioned earlier. It's a mushroom gnome home or that's what I named it. I took a pattern from one of my new japanese craft books and tweeked it a little to my style. I think it turned out cute! I've got plans for different color schemes as well. If I had enough hands to keep up with my ideas I'd be doing alot better. I made this one into a pin, but could easily make it into a hanging ornament or keychain. Might try a bigger version for a pincushion, just have to figure out how to make it stand up.

Well I haven't been very creative today. Had to finish tying up the branches cut and put out for trash and the Olympics has held my attention all evening. I'm a night owl though so I'll be getting started on something new soon.

That's about it for today. Gnight!

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!!!!

I am having such a great week! My smile is from ear to ear and won't go away! I made another sale today of one of my chameleons. He's turning out quite popular. My retro squares pincushion is in the etsy faves on another wonderful blog How About Orange. That's two blogs this week. YEAH!!! It may not seem like much to some, but I'm on top of the world!

I finished the pincushion I was talking about before and got it in my shop. It's my second square one and very colorful. I got another japanese craft book in the mail and it's soo cool, so my next projects will be from there. Ok I'll give a hint-shroom. That's all I'm saying for now.

Now for the rest of life stuff. Well Joshua won So You Think You Can Dance. He had my vote. I thought he was great! Don't know if any of you watch wrestling, but I can't wait for the Undertaker to come back. I think I'll break down and order SummerSlam. My etsy sales can pay for it.YEAH!!

Don't know how much creating I'll get done tomorrow. We have to cut down a tree at our rental property as the neighborhood kids have been climbing it, so for safety reasons down it goes. Since it's been like a thousand degrees outside lately I'll probably be exhausted afterwards.

Well, off to make my chameleon. See ya later!

Happy Dance x 3

I've done my happy dance 3 times since last night. As I said I sold my pincushion plus a set of felt beads I made and now my little chameleon pin I posted a few days back. It's the most sales I've had in one day plus I had my 50th sale. WOO-HOO!!!!! I know it doesn't seem like much, but I'm half way to 100. I'm getting all these together, so I haven't finished anything new, but will work on that later today.

Well the first half of the "so you think you can dance" finale was on tonight. It's going to be a tough choice. I really like Joshua and I put my votes in. We'll find out tomorrow.

Open circles

I have another pincushion for you. This one is done in copper and pistachio. I love this color combo!! I have appliqued an open circle design all around the sides and put the inside circles all over the top.

Well I did my happy dance tonight because I had a sale. Another of my mod circles pincushion. Yeah!!! Now I have to go and make it.

First I have to rinse my conditioning concoction out of my hair though and probably go get milk. Oh the boring details of real life. Be back tomorrow.

Swirls

Well I got a pic of my new pincushion and got it in my shop. This one had swirl ribbon on the sides and swirls on top. I've got another one finished, but have to take pics.

My retro squares pincushion was featured on another wonderful etsian's blog today. Her blog is onepartwhimsy. Cute! Check it out! Woo-Hoo!

Oh and just wanted to say I didn't do very well with my SNS sale, but might try again.

I'm having a Saturday night sale!!!!!

It's my first Saturday night special sale!!!!! If you are unfamiliar with etsy the site i sell on they have SNS sales and I'm having my first one tonight. It will be from 5pm to 6am EST. 20% off every purchase not including shipping. Come by and check it out!!!!!

On other things I don't have any new pics today. I did finish a new pincushion, but am spending today doing some much needed house cleaning and straightening. I will get pics tomorrow. Well back to the grindstone!!!

Here Lizard Lizard

I made another critter. I love this little guy. He is sooo cute. My own little chameleon. I made him into a pin, but am also thinking about attaching a hanger for a keychain or ornament. I offer that option on all my critters in my shop.

I finally got my sequins I ordered today from Turkey. They took awhile, but are worth it. I'll be using them to doll up my critters.

Any wrestling fans out there? I can't wait for the Underataker to come back. I might have to break down and order SummerSlam ppv just to see him kick the crap out of Edge!

checkin in

Well no new pic today. It was rainy and overcast all day. I do have a new little chameleon pin to post once I get a pic and I'm starting on a new pincushion. It was a lazy day today. I'll blame the rain not me. I think I'm becoming nocturnal as I seem to want to do everything at night and sleep all day. Too many vampire movies I guess. Well nothing really interesting today.
Oh Another so you think you can dance night. I can't believe they got rid of Chelsea and I even voted. I'm hoping Joshua wins it. I think he is great especially with no formal training. we'll know next week. Night for now.

New critters

I finally bought some of the japanese craft books I have been drooling over and am making little critters. They are so much fun. I love it! I have a dachshund,parakeet, and a scotty dog so far. I also made a swirly butterfly necklace. I know there's alot in this post, but I've been so busy I haven't had time to post. All my critters are available in my shop createitcottage.

It has been raining here all week. I guess being inside in the rain has gotten me crafting.

I watched Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay last night. Funny!!!!

a quickie!

Sorry I haven't posted. I've been busy. I will have some pics of some new creations later tonight. please check back.

WOO-HOO!!!

Well I made two sales today. I'm soo excited. I got to do a double happy dance. The buyer gave me some wonderful comments on my flickr and now made a purchase. If only this would happen more than every couple weeks, but I'm still thrilled when it does!!!!
I have a new pincushion to show today then I have to get to work on my order. I have all but one item made and I like to ship ASAP. Well that's it for tonight.

mod circles

Well here's the pincushion I mentioned in my previous post. It is a large one. The top is done to coordinate with the ribbons around the sides. It is in my shop. I can also make it in some other color schemes. The pic shows the other colors of ribbon I have. Nothing else very interesting to share today. Oh I'm going to see Smashing Pumpkins next month. COOL!!!