I'm not Dead yet!

Nope still here. Just uber busy with Independents day! Also branding myself a little more and working on my website and figuring the logistics of hosting and what I need to pay.

I am the Craft Alley essentially for the upcoming Independents day Columbus which means managing 40 arts/craft vendors, Interactive make and take tent and Crafty Death Match on the Stage from 6-7pm.  What that also means is hauling around tents, tables, materials for all said things which also includes a 6x4' plinko board, 2x2.5' table vending machine, lights, 6 chairs, 2 tents, 4-6 tables and all of my booth materials to vend as well. Then there is all the intense PR work I am doing to make sure EVERY single one of my vendors is being represented in a promotion and the vendors giving us Donations for the prizes are getting as much promotion on facebook and twitter as I can crank out. It is a ton of work. Next year I will demand an intern. Even with all this hard work I love this Festival. To me it really embodies and spirit of supporting local and upcoming artists all around our community.

Do me a solid and please follow @CraftAlleyCbus and retweet all my vendor promotions or just your favorites.

Also in more Independents Day news I will have two pieces up for Raffle with the Ohio Art League tent. They are some of my early works from my new study on wounds and human emotions. These are small works 3x3" and 4x4". Perfect for a little desk or office space art to remind you whatever hurts you will heal eventually.

I am unfortunately ill prepared as I am overflowing with knitwear and the weather looks to be about 80 degrees that day. I'll need to get my butt moving on some new skirts to sew, flower hair pins and my new lace tatted necklaces I've been itching to debut.

I have a very busy weekend ahead of me with much sewing and crafting.
I hope you have a great weekend and see you next week!

In the Works

 Currently I am trying to add some new items to my etsy page that are jewelry. I always love to make jewelry but hardly sell it anywhere because I feel like it is a saturated market. Right now there isn't much I can do with the upheaval on the kitchen renovations encroaching on my studio so I am focusing on what small things I can create, naturally jewelry is one of those. I think that my jewelry can stand out on it's own. It still has my aesthetic in combining textures and fiber elements.

This Saturday I am super excited to be taking this crewel work class at Wholly Craft (I know it seems like I am there every week but it is a really awesome store!). From everything I have read the only big difference between this and embroidery is the materials. Instead of floss you use wool thread and instead of cotton you stitch on linen. I think the wool will add a new element in texture that I haven't had a chance to explore yet so this will give me a kick in the pants. I mean how many times are you going to hear me say,"I think this wool will really do something for my Scabs". Anyways more about the class. All materials are provided (linen, wool, embroidery hoop, needle, book) and it will be taught by the Author, Katherine Shaughnessy. How amazing is that? It might be one of the more pricey classes but I think you will get more then your money's worth with all the materials being included. If you'd like to sign up and take the class with me Register here!

Lastly I am obsessed the the above instagram that I think it was taken by @ericazurmehly of one of the juices she was downing for a cleansing diet. It just looks so rich in the red color and a bit medical because of he starkness of everything else. I'm thinking of something I can do to recreate the feeling I get when I look at this. Something dark? Something Medical? Something dastardly bloody? Or just some fruit? The possibilities are many.

Is there something on Instagram that caught your eye that you can't stop thinking about or taking a second gander at?
Cheers!

TiLT - Random Happiness

This Thursday's edition comes to you from my congested and sickly mind.  I needed to think about things that make me happy as I muddle through this cold.

 1. Finishing a complex lace tatting project. 
Nothing has been more satisfying lately then finishing some of these lace tatting patterns from Japan.  Things can be hard to see and easily confused with where to join pieces. The pattern I worked on after this took me at least six tries to get everything lined up and connected to their proper places.  Now that I've done it I feel much elated.

2. Animals that look like Muppets.
My friend Claire pointed out animals that look like muppets from petfinder and then I went to the Vet's and this little girl was there.  She claims the vet office as her home.  She just doesn't look real and she also reminds me of an Ewok.

3. Passed out kitties. 
 I love it when the cats are just passed out, not loafing but utterly passed out on their backs. They look so peaceful and innocent.  They don't even understand how good they have it with loving owners, food and water always on paw and comfy couches, blankets, coats and beds to sleep on.

4. Vintage Fabrics. 
I may not enjoy wearing or dealing with second hand clothes much, but fabric yardage is ok in my book. The pastel like colors in this are perfect for the spring trends and I like the geometric ambiguous shapes dancing across it. I'm determined to take this 2.75 yardage and make myself a a nice little circle skirt.

5. Taking pictures. 
I just love to do this as a true hobby.  I am by no means professional but I like to capture the moment and take pictures of things to inspire me in my fashion an art.  In this picture I have my Nikon D3100 with a Diana plastic lens attachment.

Brown Paper Packages

 About two weeks ago I got in multiple packages from Amazon!  I had used up the last of the Christmas money and my new Amazon Prime free trial from my Kindle Fire to get some much needed (coveted) items. To be practical I got a new USB drive to replace my originally lost one (which was found after I had already made this order), Screen protector with glare reduction for the Fire (which came with this free handy touch screen pen), tortoise shell tatting shuttles, the best Entrelac book I've ever read and my Fuiji Instax in piano black Mini camera.  My brother in law also gave me the last of my Christmas presents which was this Japanese tatting book (which I already reviewed).

This camera is LOVE.  I like how slick and small the body is compared to the older models and first generations.  I thought it would annoy me with how small the mini's were but it is actually more convenient.  I like the size because it can fit more easily in with cards, as a book mark and multiples in my wallet for little love reminders.

I also am in the like about how it has a little bit of adjustment to the shutter time.  You can set it for normal, lighter or darker exposure which makes for some great tinkering.  There is a timer function which I have yet to use but you can bet I will try it out.  The camera is surprisingly lighter then I thought it would be as well.

Yesterday I got a few new things in the mail as well.  Just some books to read but most excitingly were my Warby Parker Glasses from Milk Bar Boutique.  No I don't wear glasses or have a prescription, no I didn't get them to be trendy or as an accessory.  I got them because I have very sensitive o UV eyes and I wanted something to wear on these overcast days that didn't make them seem more dark and dreary then they already are.  I also wanted something to help keep the computer glare down while I am work.  Let me tell you they have been FANTASTIC, my eyes are less tired and irritated since I have been wearing them at the computer. 

 Super Quick Delivery

 Beautiful and simple packaging

I got the Sibley in a matte tortoise shell frame.  The gentlemen at Milk Bar were extraordinary per usual in helping me find frames and telling me the truth about what looked good and what just looked goofy.  It is hard to find glasses of any sort for my face since I have a super small nose arch, usually they all just sit on my cheeks.

The best part if you aren't aware Warby Parker does a promotion similar to Tom's but instead of giving a pair of shoes for every one sold they are giving a pair of prescription glasses.  It's a very hard deal to beat with the frames + presciptions costing $95 or $90 if you get them directly with Milk Bar.  Milk Bar also has the entire collection of Frames on site so you can try them on to your hearts content as your browse their garments. 

Tatting Lace Lesson Book - Book review

Sorry about the wonky photos.  I wanted to get something up today and realized I didn't have any photos previously taken so I used my phone which isn't such a bad job, just a wonky size.   This Lace Tatting book is really great, it was one of my Christmas presents.  It has beautiful and clear photos of the projects, unusual patterns that I haven't seen before in other tatting pattern books (but I must admit I haven't looked through a ton of books yet). 

I'm itching to try this one out next.  I think they will make really pretty appliques on clothing and on dish towels for presents.  maybe if I get my hand on some glass coasters I will make some small lace designs to go inside of them. 

I like how it showed photo lessons of how to do some of the projects and tatting but also having the below instructional guide for how to do things.  I think this book would be decent for any level of Tatting experience.  If you know the basic idea and how to start it then this book is a breeze to understand.

The charts are also clear and easy to understand telling you which direction you need to be working on with the arrows.  They also don't get overwhelming by marking up every stitch, it only shows what is necessary and the stitch count. 

Currently I am working on my second heart. I haven't decided if I'll make a chain of them or just keep them separate to put on V-day cards.  Overall I'm very satisfied with this book.

Bountiful Christmas

I know I keep apologizing for the lack of content on my posts lately.  I'm just very focused on this whole Grad School application business. I have been turning down parties and free time left and right to squeeze in some more "art time" for making new pieces for the portfolio and explore my own feelings about why and what I'll do with an MFA. It's like the Hobbit, where it was supposed to be a simple journey when started and then things expanded and changed around you (yes I am that big of a nerd to reference the Hobbit in comparison to my current life status).  I'm in the home stretch where all my letters of recommendation are in, I have started to load my portfolio and my Letter of intent is at a comfortable state to be edited and finished for submission.

One thing I did do was take the time off to enjoy the Christmas Holiday.  I put down all my projects and picked up something relaxing to work on while we were doing the holiday bustle between relatives.  Taught myself how to do this Scaled Crochet Pattern and stared some wristlets for myself. I had a good amount of downtime at various relatives houses and events.

Now for the Booty!

(and there was much rejoicing *yah*)

 The Classic Christmas Tree and the family dog enjoying her own little Christmas gift

 This was the combined load of the Hubby and I for Christmas.  Lot's of nuts, candy, coffee and then some luggage that was on our wedding registry that we never got, new light weight bike jacket for him, some his/her mugs.

Then there were the gifts from Andy and his Family just for me, mostly from Andy.

 Two Japanese Tatting books from the brother in law

Japanese pattern book Drape Drape 3 from mother in law

The rest is from my darling hubby who knows me all too well.

Angry birds, macro/wide angle lens for my camera, electronic/game devices.

 I can't wait to go through these books and give you all the reviews!

 My electronics included the super snazzy Kindle Fire! (which I also look forward to reviewing for you), Wii-mote charger station, ridiculous Wii-mote sword and shield adapter while I am playing Zelda's Skyward Sword.

That's right........... it glows blue!

In addition to these fantastic Gifts I got a month free of Amazon Prime to use with my Kindle Fire so I ordered my self about 5 new presser feet and some accessories for my Kindle in a 

"Treat yo self" fashion.  I'm eyeing a few more Japanese craft books to spend the last of the Christmas cash too.

Tatting

I know I made a promise of Tatting post that I missed my deadline for but this has been a crazy week.  I might of made some bad choices in how I spent my evenings adding to my already exhausting schedule.  This caused me to have delirious dreams like being married to Thor (the hot recent movie version Thor) but lost in a strange mad Carnival just like the series Carnivale.

Anyways.... The point is I was sick with exhaustion Wednesday and called in sick at work.  Then I had to muster the strength to be able to teach double classes in the afternoon and evening.
Enough excuses and eye candy we move onto my experience teaching myself tatting with a Book and some bad you tube tutorials.

This is the book I used.  I got it from my Library.  It had very high rating on Amazon so I thought it must be worth it.  I opened it up to see the drawings below and the words WTF immediately slipped through my lips.  I knew it would be a bit painful and certainly repetitive and cramped fingers with many curse words and hours.

I was able to decipher being able to do the first know and what I thought was the second knot.  Oh how I was wrong.  I attempted to watch some you tube videos showing it but I was left with more WTF's wondering who these people were and how unexciting they were, lot's of heavy breathing and strange background noises as well. 

This was my first bloody attempt and you can see the shuttle I am using.  Below is how twisted and mangled it was because I thought I was doing it right but really I wasn't.

It took me something like 3 hours to do this tiny piece.

This one below is when I had my AH HA moment and got it right.  Then of course I jumped right into a much bigger and more complicated pattern.

Ta Dah!  I got this in the bag!  My nearly finished larger flower tatting.  That only took me perhaps an hour to do the entire piece.  I am getting better and faster.

When done right it looks beautiful.  I can easily see how this could occupy a lot of your time back in the Victorian days before TV and lot's of parlor sitting.  How it shows a lady's grace is beyond me.  I am very happy to add this new talent to the things I can do however I am not sure I can use it as I had originally intended for pieces in my design work.  We shall see.

Tatting like a lot of fiber arts is a series of knots or loops arranged into a pattern.  I feel that bobbin lace and tatting are like cousins to each other where tatting is the more simple process.  These are words that should of probably been at the top of the blog instead of my eye candy Thor, but isn't eye candy Thor better?