StarsandRobots

first prototype: skirt

2011-06-01T21:03:00.001-07:00

After a few tweaks and resizings, here it is: the finished beach skirt prototype. I designed this to be easy, but chic. As everyday as a t-shirt, but elevated. Yes, I know it is a cliche, but it is the ultimate in fashionable function.

The woman I design for needs this. Here I am at the park. I just finished a workout at the gym, and then threw this on over my tights so I could take the kids to the botanical garden next door and feed the ducks. You want to look cute, not sweaty. And no matter how fit you are, there are some looks which are only acceptable at the gym. Outside, I prefer a little modesty. (Not too much, obviously, because it is sheer!)

I threw it in my gym bag, partially unsure of how cute it REALLY was outside the comfort of my home, and gave myself no other options. A true test run. I was so happy and comfortable at the park. We hiked, danced, rolled around in grass. And I felt like I looked both fabulous and sporty. A renaissance Mom.

The next day, I threw it in the beach bag and wore it over a bathing suit. Super cute. When I got out of the water and was leaving, I didn't want to get my shirt wet so I pulled it up across my chest like a babydoll dress and it was pretty cute like that, too. (This was only for the walk from the lake back to my friends house the next block over, see previous post on the appropriate usage of see through clothing!)

I wish I took better pictures, but here are a few angles, I hope you catch the gist of the design. Please add any comments, for I have not yet started the "production line." There is still time for a few more tweaks. I have a few special orders to complete, and a good many more prototypes to build, logo t-shirts to order, tanks and tees to applique, and a photographer to find. Oh, then there's building the website. Hopefully, I will find a Dr. soon who will write me a prescription for ritalin or whatever it is the kids are taking these days to get their heads in gear.

Tune in here for more updates on my adventure to Craft SuperHeroism!

a thing for tutus

2011-05-24T17:15:00.001-07:00

I have a thing for tutus, and I don't care to limit them to only the young, but also the young old farts. It seems with my expansion of "Stars and Robots" into "Union Britt" I have been working predominantly on women's clothing and accesories.

But wait, I still make all these groovy stuffed pillows and things for kids! Hmmm... How to link the two?

So my new direction came to me late lastnight, and I've decided that my mission is:

Taking Mother/Daughter Wear to the Inspirational Edge.

Yes, that's it. So instead of making a smaller duplicate of the same item, I am going to take the fabrics and make something for Mom, something for babygirl, but not a twin set. For instance, I have this beautiful multicolor patterned vintage fabric, sheer as lace. For Mom, I am making a beach skirt which is stretch jersey in black on the top and the sheer fabric for the skirt. For baby, the sheer fabric will be the tutu ruffles on an acid wash denim base. Oh yes, that is what's happening.

Here are some fabrics:

I do still want to continue making clothing for adults, and a lot of the time, that's all I want to do. Not just for moms, but women, girls, men, dudes, chicas, whatever. But give up my Stars and my Robots, which started this whole love affair with etsy and craft fairs, blogging and tweeting, and opened the door to so much more? Naw. No, no way. The Polyfil in me runs deeeeep.

a note about see through skirts

2011-05-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

I finished the first prototype for a skirt I designed for my new line. It is a see through skirt, black waistband with a blue, green, pink and purple printed vintage fabric which is completely see through. (whooo!)

This skirt is what I envision the skater girl or rollerderby queen would wear to the beach. Appropriate under garments for this item should include a bathing suit (while at the beach or pool, not while shopping), dancewear (great for throwing on after class), or leggings or tights.

Union Britt will in no way endorse the wearing of this item, or any see through item over a thong, panty or egads, nothing at all.

Ladies, I am not one to stifle someone's creative expression through clothing, but there needs to be a line drawn between sexy (good, go for it, yay! be hot!) and skanky (a "Starlet or Streetwalker" sighting on Fashion Police should not be your goal for your 15 minutes of fame.)

Remember, in regards to revealing too much, dressing for attention will not make you precious. Don't you want someone to find you precious? So keep it classy out there ladies! It's okay to have a sexy sexy dress on with high heels, but lets keep it to one super revealing zone at a time. Nothing should have anyone asking you if you work at a strip club, even if you do.

How to be a Muse

2011-05-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

In fashion, you often hear about a designer using a collection to "tell a story." They should make this collection for a particular woman and her lifestyle. What does this woman do? Where is she going? Everyone should want to be her. I am of course basing this in depth knowledge of the fashion world on my extensive study of Project Runway, some podcasts and blogs, and The Fashion Police. I am obviously well schooled, so you should consider any information given here to be amazingly accurate.

Designers have also been known to find a muse. a particular woman, usually a model, who embodies the properties of this fantasy woman whom we would all like to be. And thus begins my tale of how I found my muse. (Facebook, of course)

I majored in Theatre Arts at ECU, then moved to Wilmington, NC to pursue acting using a stage name. I moved out to Hawaii for a bit then ended up in South Carolina. I now am a mother of two in Alabama. Living the dream. I never made it to LA or NY, but via Facebook, I found an old friend who did.

Christy and I did every musical together. She was the coolest girl I knew, and we were super BFFey. Of all the friends I lost touch with, she was the most sorely missed. (Kids, there used to not be email or social networking sites, it was a cold dark terrifying time)

Fast forward fill-in-the-blank years, and I found her on facebook. Yay! It was a beautiful reunion, phone call and all, and I vow never to lose touch again. So Christy moved to New York after graduation, where she held down such exotic jobs as hostess at Planet Hollywood and waitress/performer on a dinner cruise ship. She now lives in LA (actually, on Venice Beach or some beach) where she is an official failed actress (she went on real auditions for years sent out by a real agent and really got called back and almost got a bunch of parts) and has settled into her life as a professional dogwalker http://www.walkindoggies.com/. She works out at Gold's Gym, is covered in tatoos with her cute never ending array of awesome hairdos (yay! that never changed!) and is a Lindy-hopping, karaoke singing fool.

This my friends, is what I personally call "making it." If you don't want to be this girl, then my clothes are not for you. I immediately got a haircut (they only gave me half of what I wanted, I guess they wanted to babystep me from Soccer Mom to awesome fashion designer, grr.) made a meeting with a good friend to help me with a business plan, designed an awesome logo then paid a guy to make it purty, and bought some domain names and started designing my new collection to launch my line.

I have a houseful of fabric and am starting the first pieces. I am hoping to do a live launch party to coincide with a website launch. I am spending my life savings and have no idea what I am doing, but I am thrilled to finally be doing something that lives up to my last known whereabouts according to Christy and my other Theatre-alum long losties. Whenever asked "What ever happend to Brittany?" For all these years all they had to go on was "Last I heard, she changed her name to Winifred and moved to Hawaii." Awesome.

A morning treasure surprise

2011-05-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

You know what is considered a nice thing to wake up to, from a crafter's perspective?

Having one of your handmade items chosen to display in a treasury by a complete stranger who appreciated looking at your work.

click here to see said treasury

Treasuries are collections gathered from items found on etsy to convey a particular theme, color scheme, or mood. It is a real feather in your cap to be featured, as they are usually put together by someone you've never met and who isn't otherwise familiar with your shop. It also brings traffic to your shop since people who like to look at treasuries might see your item in a different way.

So here, featured in a beautiful collection of sea related beachy items in colors of blue and green, is my Barracuda Beach Towel. A Stars and Robots original, naturally. Ahh, its great to be famous. (Just quoting the towel, I'd never say that about myself, far too humble.) ;)

to the Limit!

2011-05-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

There comes a time when we should all test the boundaries of our comfort zone. Think about the amazing things humans have accomplished. Empires have been built.

Me? Pretty comfortable, not going to lie. That is a personal call to immediate action, there is nothing worse than boredom!

My theatre head in college used to tell us that if you want to be proud of something and do something great, you must try to do something really hard and then accomplish it.

So I hope you like these

and these

and I hope you are ready for this

Enough with the interesting stuff, I actually have to go put my creativity on a (prominent, easily viewed) shelf and get to work! Goodbye life savings, hello Scary Awesome World!

GO CARDS!

2011-02-17T12:25:00.000-08:00

Here is my finished project for my high school reunion auction. (20 years, EGADS!) I was always trying so hard to be one of those students who was too cool to have school pride. (No, I didn't make cheerleading) Yet, I didn't have the guts to actually hang out with the smoking section kids (I wasn't nearly that cool.) I floated somewhere in between.

Yet, when approached about making an item for our auction, I swelled with pride as I designed this cardinal, complete with our graduation year on a deck of cards (another image our yearbook staff used to have fun with.) With my perfect vision hindsight, I must admit: I am proud to be a Jacksonville Cardinal. Super Proud!

JACKSONVILLE! JACKSONVILLE! (crowd echo)

YOU KNOW THE DEAL! YOU KNOW THE DEAL!

Yeeeahhh!

You can buy this item or one of my yellow submarines at our auction page here. If they sell out, I will be making more to put on my etsy site, just add a message or convo me!

Cardinals and Submarines

2011-02-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

I am DEEEEEEEP in procrastination mode with a project I promised a month or so ago. my high school reunion is having our (20th) reunion this summer, and they are doing a fundraiser, for which I am donating a Yellow Submarine..(The absolute most time consuming item in my shop, made to order) and a red cardinal with the year 1991 on it, which I have yet to design, but must look awesome.

I went fabric shopping (oh, 2 weeks ago?) and came up nil, deciding I had what I needed at home. (Ok, I did pick up some on sale fabric and recover a bench seat, since that was much more prudent use of my time.) Today, I am finally gathering my supplies and cutting out submarine pieces. Right after a quick. blog. break...

My First Purse

2011-01-25T13:22:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick project if you need to sew a gift for a little girl. My friend has two little girls who have the same birthday, and turned 2 and 4. I had just made them some cute tutus for Christmas, and didn't really have time to hit the fabric store, so I used the materials I had on hand to make some super quick little purses. I love fleece and usually have a ton of it on hand in every color! It is a fantastic fabric for the beginning sewer or for an easy project. No hemming, bright colors, cozy, washable, etc... Go getcha some fleece.

Here are the purses, I just freehanded the shape and cut it double per purse, then made a long oval shape to be the band across the bottom and sides. I cut out a flower shape, then a circle for the center. I only sewed the circle down so that the flower would be floppy. Then I cut leaves and sewed them on down the center to make a vein. Sewed the pieces together, made a strap, and viola! instant little girl 'satisfashion!' I filled them with stickers, so the purses were pretty much instantly tossed aside as everyone in the house (including the dogs) was directly embellished in fairies, princesses, and hamsters holding hearts. Thank Heaven for Little Girls!

The last of the jacket, or "Last Jacket Standing"

2011-01-21T19:10:00.000-08:00

One more post, and I will stop it with the jacket already. The awesomeness that is my upcycled futon cover, denim Aztec and/or Navajo-printed, biker jacket of greatness made it's debut lastnight at the Stardome Comedy club.

I went out with another couple for a long overdue date night to see the Comediennes of Chelsea Lately: Loni Love and Natasha Legerro. (Yeaaaahhh!!!) First, when we arrived I told them that I already had reservations for a table, but they bumped us up to the very front row, right at the stage! Of course, it must have been due to them wanting only quite fashionable people in the front row, like at Fashion Week. See, my jacket has magical powers, already opening doors.

Then, after the MC opened the show, there was another comedian opening for the girls: one Roy Wood Jr., of the Birmingham Wood Jrs. Maybe you have seen him on the television, almost winning last Comic Standing. I was totally starstruck, I was a huge fan of him on the show, so just because I decided to wear my multicolored jacket of questionable fabric descent with it's magic making abilities, we get another A-List comic on the bill! (You're welcome, sold out house.)

As if that were not enough, when we leave the theatre after the absolute best comedy show I have ever seen, there stands Roy, looking dapper in his off the rack jacket. My friend Vicky and I, neither of us wallflowers, go right up and slime our super-fanness all over him, right in front of our husbands. I am sure we looked amazing. And what did he do? Offered us tickets to his show the next time he is in town! (GO JACKET GO! GO JACKET GO!) then we became friends on facebook, because obviously, we are now thick as thieves as he probably never gets fans coming up to him and talking his ear off after a show, going on and on about how fun it is to be out without the kids. Honestly, the excitement was almost unbearable, surely for all parties involved.

I have to give a shout out to the ladies as well, since they were so amazingly funny. Natasha was wearing a fabulous ensemble she described perfectly as "a homeless person that robbed a rich person." So obviously, her aesthetic is right on the money. She had a great bit about how her family said "You know Tasha, you used to talk like us too," to which she replied, "Don't you know who I think I am?" Love her. She was hysterical and my husband now has a new #1 celebrity crush, because he has great taste, naturally.

Loni Love. I have to pause and close my eyes for a second. Ok. She was perhaps the funniest woman I have ever heard on the face of this earth. Her impression of "George Washington: Gangster" had me needing a change of underpants. Not only was she ridiculously funny, but she had a real warm uplifing and inspirational tone. She told us all that anything was possible and to go out and do your dream, it can happen; in a way that only Loni Love could. I was already a huge fan, but I got all deep about it, knowing she was talking about me and my jacket and if I keep up the good work, I can be on Project Runway one day.

All in all, a fantastic night out, me and my jacket. I do have to concede to the rationality that as it is true that they seat the most FASHIONABLE people in the front row at a FASHION show, I was actually at a COMEDY show. That's okay with me. If my jacket wants to get me front row seats, it will take them how it can get them. Here is a horrible picture of me, my friend Vicky, and the magic jacket, framing a great looking picture of Roy Wood Jr. Please go out and support your local comics, bands, artists, and future designers!

Jacketo Completo!

2011-01-19T20:21:00.000-08:00

I finally finished my jacket, and I think it is pretty awesome. I am trying hard to be humble. I even gave myself a little pep-talk on humility before I wrote this post, but. It really is kind of cute.

I think I am just amazed that I finished, it was a big challenge, and it took a good amount of work. (There I go, I really am gloating.) I sewed on the sleeve cuffs by hand, that was through really thick layers, and they had to be sewn in several 'rounds.' (Ha Ha, get it? I sewed them around and around.) I am a little too deep in the head on this jacket, I've gone looney. I finished sewing on the sleeve cuffs over four hours of tv lastnight, all intent on blogging, but instead I watched "The Fashion Show" and then went to bed. I gotta admit, they didn't do a bad job on that show. It will NEVER replace Project Runway, but it sure beats 'the pants' off of that other PR wannabe show whose title I've already forgotten. Listen to me, I guess I am using a little Ross Matthews humor. (LOVE him! If you twitter, he's a good one: @helloross) You might know him from Chelsea lately, the red carpet, or from Leno as Ross the intern.

Anyways, I am delirious, here's my jacket. I am not a photographer, all my pictures are quickies from my iphone, and I could really have glammed it up a bit with some nicer clothes, a lil powder and some washed hair. The workout clothes are really setting off the look. Nevertheless, it is a denim biker navajo marvel with gold lining. Yes.

Fashion Geeks Only: Thread Tracing How-To

2011-01-12T19:35:00.000-08:00

I have accomplished much on the jacket today. All pieces that can be assembled before I press any seams are done, so my next step will be to have a press conference with my iron. Once you do all that pattern cutting, sewing on stabilizer, and tracing markings, you really start flying. Phew.

In my last post, someone asked about how I did thread tracing so I thought I would do a pictoral tutorial. I really despise all the tedious markings you have to transfer from your pattern pieces, and I never get the pieces sewn before the dissapearing ink evaporates or I brush away all the chalk. So I usually use a sharpie, I have a rainbow of options, yet there are still times when it can decimate the professional look of your work. I happened upon a class on iTunesU about how to do markings with thread while sewing a jacket and picked up this neato trick, which was just in time as I started my jacket the next day and it is a rainbow of colors. I chose to use a rubber duck yellow so I could see my thread!

Here is a daunting looking pattern peice, cut out in double, ready to be marked!

line the pieces up as perfectly as possible, and pin or weigh the stack down ( I use some heavy old shower hooks, they are the best pattern weights ever!)

Insert your needle through the pattern marking, through all layers. Use a contrasting thread so you can see your markings.

bring the needle back up through and down again, making a loop.

put your finger in the loop to keep the slack and bring the thread back up through one more time. If you are going through four layers, make sure to make the loop even bigger to give yourself more slack to work with.

trim the thread length longer than the loop length.

Pull the pattern pieces taut. (in this photo, there are two pattern markings showing. It is easiest to do all your markings on the piece at once, then cut them apart, for marking consistency with the pattern spacing.)
Snip the thread between layers, leaving enough slack on both sides of fabric that it won't pull through when you are moving your pattern pieces. No need to go crazy, you don't need a tail, just enough to see, a quarter inch aughta do it.)

See the final markings below. Note that the bottom layer will have just a stitch of thread showing, unless you want to pull more slack through to make it furry like the rest!

Oh Jacket, how deep have I gone?

2011-01-10T18:55:00.000-08:00

Here are some more progress shots of my jacket under construction. My Crafty Goddess is feeling small, so small. Not defeated, but rather, like a first year intern who probably gets yelled at a lot. She will pick herself up, stiff upper lip and all as she goes to her tiny abode and eats ramen noodles to a tv with bunny ears. (Can you even still use those?)

In real life, I have a husband feeding me at regular intervals and kids needing things at more regular intervals, so I can give that baby Goddess a pretty good pep talk from the real world I am living in. Obviously I am delirious, but here are some project pictures. The first shot is an extremely cleaned up look at my work station. The fabrics might seem insane, but the gold and leopard are only for the inner lining, a bit of a peekaboo when I take off the jacket. Ha.
A jacket is really the majors. I may not quite be ready for Project Runway auditions, but I am definitely in a good training camp!

So far, I have spent a week cutting out pieces, thread tracing pattern markings, and ironing on stabilizer. Now I get to pull out the sewing machine.

I now have 52 steps of sewing, and I have officially completed step one. So, 51 to go! I hope I finish before it gets warm, but it snowed today, so that's something. Here's to a jacket for this season!

a few words, a bunch of project shots

2011-01-05T21:26:00.000-08:00

It's me! In blue pin cushion form.

Jacket pattern

Wow, I'm looking really good. I must have been doubling up on the situps.

Fitting a pattern, so big league, right?

Just a few pictures of what I am up to. It's going to be a cute jacket, I swear. I spent most of the free part of my day adjusting my dummy to fit my size and then adding padding (aka socks: they stuff a bra, they square a shoulder, they're not just for breakfast anymore! )

A Fashion Education

2011-01-04T19:51:00.001-08:00

For my Birthday, my Brother called me to tell me he was giving me the gift of Education. His gift included a twenty minute informative schpiel on the amazing world he has discovered on iTunesU. College courses, for free! He is more of the finance and real estate type, unless there are classes on deep sea fishing or something, but I decided to delve into the offerings they might have in the world of fashion and dressmaking. See about putting that new dressmaking form to some good use.

I ended up watching an hour guest lecture at California College of the Arts by a woman who started out upcycling t shirts (um...that's me!) and turned it into a cottage industry selling to Barney's, Fred Segal... among other big dogs with items in the $100-$4000 range. (that is NOT me! ...yet, he he he:) She was amazing and informative, talking about her business, her philosophy and her life, and she was about the most charming thing ever. I was so inspired I was actually taking notes.

Lo and behold, she is actually based right here in Sweet Home Alabama. Their items are "grown and sewn in the USA." Watching her share her passion as if it was just the most ordinary thing gave me a real moment of understanding that if you really know who you are, anything is possible.

The woman's name is Natalie Chanin and her company is Alabama Chanin.
To see this amazing handiwork (100% of her items are done by hand, no machines) check out her website here: AlabamaChanin.com

Please share if there have been any pieces of inspiration crossing your path lately!

Pushing 40 with gusto!

2011-01-03T21:59:00.000-08:00

Being 38 is knowing I am 2 years from the big 40, and as I approach, I feel excited. I remember when Madonna (back when I still swooned at her awesomosity) turned 40 and it redefined how I thought about aging. If that was 40, that is where I wanted to be! Not at that moment, I was glad to take my alloted time to get there, but I saw and still see it as a point of arrival.

I'll probably be married (check)
have kids (check)
know what I want to do with my life (check)
and be a lot more confident (check!)

Now I feel as if I have two more years to fine tune myself for my arrival at 40, Look at me, I can do anything and I don't worry what you might think! I may be even closer to my ultimate goal of becoming a craft superhero. I think I'm doing pretty good so far. So here is a photo of me tonight, on my 38th Birthday, no touch ups, no makeup, not much sleep, and no apologies. What you see is what you get and I like what I see and where I am headed. Everyone have a great day and a Great 11!

Then and Now

2011-01-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

My most recent sewing has been done at the speed of light. I was so busy leading up to and during Christmas and Thanksgiving, that when my necesssary projects were complete, all those odd and end things that were piled up got ripped through because as I told a few of my friends, my sewing machine gets cold and lonely when it's not running! I will get to those projects in some future posts, but for now, here is my most absolutely recent project (completed yesterday during the kids nap.) Bella's bed.

Oh, yes of course, this is the old Bella's bed. As you can see, she has slept in this bed her entire eight year doggy life, and it had reached a level of disgustedness that I had to remove from toddler hands and public view. It has been in the garage since about the time this photo was taken (hilighting in full color that it needed immediate removal from the house.) Poor, poor, Bella. Almost a year and no where to call her own. Bad Mommy. So I went into Joanne fabric, and in the super discount pile in the back, they had a big bolt of outerwear fabric in my absolute favorite color; plaid! Fast Forward to as fast as a machine can sew (I used canvas for the underside) and viola, my (furry) baby girl finally has her spot to roost. Happy dog ears and all!

Peek A Boo

2011-01-01T20:59:00.000-08:00

My Oh My it has been about 13 months since my last post. Guess how old my baby girl is? Yep. exactly. I've posted mentally a million times, and all my fabulous pictures are on my iphone, I never could get the app to work. (If anyone has tips on that, I'd be grateful to hear them in comments!)

I will be posting things from the past year to warm up my blogging skills, I have made some really really cool stuff this year, from 2 foot stuffed yellow submarines to adult Christmas tutus. And everything in between. I even did my first celebrity custom order! HOW COOL IS THAT??? And guess what I got for Christmas? A dress form! My life is about to change!

Happy New Year :)

Blogging for Breakfast

2010-02-15T06:24:00.000-08:00

Spirit Helpers etsy shop

My idea was that I could blog while my son eats breakfast in his highchair after feeding the newborn. Instead, I got lost on etsy for awhile, and moved the laptop to the couch while son watches Spongebob and baby girl (hopefully!) continues to sleep until I am done!

Ooh the crafting has taken a backseat since the arrival of Miss Princess, and when I do dust off the machine, surprise surprise! I am doing something for her! I tried to blog from my iphone, but that was kindof a bust. I'll just have to recommit to blogging in my windows of opportunity, dishes be damned!

My latest project was making some curtains for baby girl's nursery. I got the deal of the century at Hancock fabric, I wasn't even looking for curtains, but I knew I wanted her nursery to be a woodland theme with sage, tan, and touches of pink. The heavenly rays of light shone upon a picnic plaid fabric symphony of those colors, in draperies, for $3 a yard. marked down from 12.99! I got enough for floor to ceiling curtains and some extra for less than the price of a yard! SCORE! Curtains are done, and quite lovely, and the leftover fabric will be used to recover my son's blue and brown crib bumper. (It had stars, of course!)

Then I decided that it was time for some clearance. I had some funds stashed in my Paypal account from Christmas sales, and by clearance I mean I used it to clear out the favorites I had marked for baby girl's nursery over the past couple months. Then I bought the most precious handmade looking rug from Target, (I am SORRY handmade pledge, but it was on sale and coordinated like a dream!) and a bluebird night light, (also on sale, handmade pledge, I am WEAK!)

OH my Gosh, I switched the TV to lastnight's iceskating pairs and my kid is trying to do the moves, hysterical! (He's almost two)

Allright, back to blogging.

I thought I would plug all those hard working etsyians who made the adorable items I bought, so here are some pictures and links to all of your woodland dreams and heart's desires! Enjoy! And bloggy buddies, oh how I have missed you!

awakes etsy shop

SavageArtworks etsy shop

LemonTreeStudio etsy shop

Attic Fanatic etsy shop

MapleShade Kids etsy shop

So famous

2010-01-22T06:14:00.000-08:00

I had to turn this into a blog post. Just had to. While I was facebooking my face off, which is something I do often because it's easy to do from my iphone while I am sitting and feeding my newborn, a friend of mine made an interesting post on my wall.

"Is that your robot on the etsy facebook page wall? It sure looks like yours!" She asked. I immediately investigated.

Yes! Right there on the wall for all 90,368 fans to see was a post FROM ETSY asking people to post their favorite searches. As an example, they had searched robot plush, and from there chose my little ole robot to use for the picture! And I wasn't even a "fan" of the etsy page yet! (I remedied this oversight immediately!) Check it out right HERE!

I had done nothing to "campaign" for this mention, the only thing I had done was last week renew about five or ten expired listings bringing my humble shop offerings up to 18! I didn't renew to get exposure even, I just hadn't sold those items and time ran out, I am trying to get all my current inventory up because I am about to start a whole new batch of goodies. After I make my daughter's curtains.

I know that many of you think that a mere facebook wall post mention is pretty small potatoes, and I guess well, in the GRAND scheme, it is. But for me, my dreams of becoming a Craft Superhero are coming to fruition! I feel like Steve Martin finding his name in the phonebook in the JERK, I am somebody! I'm famous! I have never been able to put a nifty "as seen on the front page of etsy" badge on my anything. I have never been in a treasury, (I don't think? How would I know?) The only other time a picture of my goods has been used was for my own posts here or on facebook or twitter pointing to my blog. OK, once I was on a website where they had a picture from every vendor for a craft fair I did, but yknow.

This time, I was PICKED by someone who works at ETSY to feature on the WALL of their facebook fan page! To me this small thing was a HUGE FREAKING DEAL! I blasted obnoxious all caps posts on my friends and my own wall bragging about my good fortune, I saw my "hearted item" go up ten people in a few hours! I might even make a sale from all this industry buzz!

Ok I am done hyperventilating, and thanks for reading. I added to the wall post that my favorite search lately has been "woodland creatures." Hey, but if any of you bloggers out there feel like it, feel free to search robot plush on etsy anytime!

Quick post!

2010-01-19T08:46:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been awhile! My daughter just turned two months old yesterday, and while she and her brother are being quite spoiled, my poor little blog (and the dog!) have been poorly neglected! And I have lots to say!

I sold all but one of my stars on etsy and my stock is pretty low! I have to get photos up of my remaining inventory, however sparse!

I took advantage of a huge sale at Hancock and came out with a years supply of fleece in many colors. I plan on adding some new friends to the line. Of course, I have to stop breastfeeding long enough to actually do something with the sewing machine, and I also bought some curtain fabric for baby girl's room, so guess what I'm making first?

I did get around to a crazy thorough reorganization of my craft supplies, as well as my vanity, closet, and bathroom. They now all have seperate jobs! My closet could be a Real Simple cover story! (because I like to clean things no one will see)

long story short, I have done all the procrastinating possible and am so ready to sew! Hopefully I'll be blogging more, I never have time to get out the laptop, so this is from my phone while I feed that hungry baby! I may have to get used to phone blogging.

Blog you later!!!

Poly-Fil Hearts Me!

2009-12-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

Oh the Christmas Spirit of giving has flitted down and surprised little ole me! For those of you who remember (or you can go back through my blog archives), when I first moved here, I had a heck of a time tracking down poly-fil. I have many posts about my trials and tribulations trying to aquire the stuff in bulk. For the "stuff" (<----ha ha, get it?) I make, I need Polyfil by the boatload. Stuffed Robots, Stuffed Stars, Stuffed Skunks, Giant Robot Pillows, these things take Poly-Fil and lots of it!!! And there really is no substitute, and No, I can't buy the little bags, I would need a bag per project, I usually make items in an assembly line of 20. So the giant box, that's for me!

So imagine my surprise when I recieved a blog comment on an old post, The Great PolyFil Inside Joke from a Poly Fil rep! They asked for my personal info, which I emailed without any fears or hangups of being put on some consumer email/snail mail listapalooza. And then I promptly forgot about it. (I have no idea what could have distracted me the last couple months? Hold on, the baby's crying...)

So guess what? I got a ten pound box of Poly Fil for Christmas! A Big, Giant, Snowy, Fluffy, Box of Good Karma delivered right to me!!! Do you know how much Poly-Fil you get for ten pounds? The stuff weighs air, so I am set for production of some Stuff! I need desperately to make more Stars, but I am pretty well stocked for now on Robots and Skunks. Any ideas? I have been "toying" (<-----ha! I kill me!) with a few options, like, Trucks, and maybe Unicorns, but that could get tricky, so maybe not Unicorns, maybe some Rainbows? Clouds? Lightening Bolts? None of these are sticking as things I want to make, (Well, the trucks sounds fun...) Lemme know what you think, I usually get good ideas from special order requests. (You do not have to order to play!)
Oh, now I really do have to go, the small one needs this and the big one needs that... Merry Merry Merry! :)

Made a baby and I'm back!

2009-12-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

My sweet sweet little Lorelei is 3 weeks old today. I have completely neglected my blog, as well as minor things like showering and sleeping. I steal this moment to pull out the laptop while she sleeps (briefly!) and Daddy gives Lincoln a tubby. So I probably have about ten minutes before the yelling for Mommy commences! Aaaaah! Break time!

I have done a few special projects since my absence from blogging, so I'll keep this short in words and throw in some pictures. Last I left off, I posted pics of the cute little red overalls I made for Lorelei's coming home outfit. She of course, looks adorable in it.

Since then I have done two projects, ambitious considering my new current lifestyle, Milk Mom and Toddler Chaser. (and Diaper Changer, oh the diapers!)

Here is a custom order for a large version of my loveable robot that someone ordered on etsy. They were throwing their sister in law a Robot Baby Shower! How awesome is that? Here he is, in the color scheme she wanted with a personalized message on the back. To get it shipped out in time, I made it the night before I went into the hospital! Nick of time, eh?

Next, I recieved an urgent message on my Mommy Club's message boards calling out to all crafters. "Help! Need a custom Tshirt for my kid's first Bday by Wednesday! The theme is monkeys, the colors are yellow and brown." I replied that I was on it! And here is what I made: (Lastnight, today is Wednesday!)

I guess what I am trying to say is that I like custom orders, I like them alot, and the shorter the deadline the better, I am going to do it at the last minute anyway! I am going to have to get on making a stocking for Lorelei, here is my set so far that I made the family last year. Now I get to make a Girl One!!!

So Happy Holidays Bloggers, Crafters and Friends!

New Project Completed!

2009-11-22T07:24:00.001-08:00

Look what I made!

Red Curduroy Coming Homeveralls

2009-11-15T18:12:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone!

Been laying low, actually, been laying upright, low is pretty uncomfortable with this bowling ball pinning me down. I have been resting up and not leaving the house much as I finish this elephant gestation out as best I can. Almost 42 weeks now.. (Men and never been mamas, that is 10 1/2 months)

So I have been crafting a little more since I have been housebound and my back is so much better rested. The sewing machine has been in action! This post is dedicated to my soon to be arrival. With my son, who is now 1 1/2, I made him a going home outfit from the hospital. I didn't find out the sex, so I made a cocoa brown onesie, and a friend brought me some really cute socks in the hospital that look just like little chuck taylors. They are made by trumpette, and are the best socks in all the world.

So he was a boy, and he wore his little red chuck socks with his brown onesie and a white hat and white mittens for his fingernails. Very Very cute.

Now this one is also a mystery baby, so I decided as I was watching "Olivia" with my little guy that red overalls would be so cute on a little girl, and also be unisex enough for a boy. I got a large wale corduroy in a bright red and I followed a Burda Pattern that is falling apart because I have made so many of these overalls and dresses and pants in every size. The pattern runs a little large and the smallest size is a 3 month, so I did the best I could shrinking it down. I made some swirly whirly designs on the kneepatches, and voila! A new coming home outfit for the new baby, appropriate for the colder weather.

I will either put the brown onesie or a

white kimono top I sewed a yellow star onto underneath, with of course a really cute pair of socks! Enjoy the pics, and PLEASE if anyone has any getting-a-baby-out mojo out there, send it my way!!!!!

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

2009-11-07T16:24:00.001-08:00

This post is unrelated to all things etsy-sales and craft-career oriented, but it is definitely related to getting the creative crafty juices going!

First of all, my one and a half year old has four meals a day, and his three o'clock meal is Peanut Butter Jelly Time. It even has a song, Yummity Yum! And he eats it with gusto!

Here's the recipe:
(all 365, Whole Foods' House brand)
Birdland's Best Bread, one slice
Organic Peanut Buter on half
Organic Conserve on the other (he likes the Mixed Berry)
Assemble, cut into squares and place over the design on his favorite plate.

Well, He didn't have a plate, he just ate it off the highchair tray. Until my Mommy group had a meetup at the local painting spot, Painted By U, one of those pottery places where you pick a piece and paint it, then they fire it for you.

Ok, I was apprehensive, even a little snobby, about going. I didn't think it was something a "real" crafter would do, it seemed like an instant fix for people who are NOT crafty to get their ya-yas out. What a jerky attitude! I had so much fun and have already booked another session. We sat and chatted about gossip and tv while painting away at our selected pieces. I highly recommend it to any of you out there. It brought my inner Craft Nerd right to the top.

It was a little bit pricey, but you get a permanent keepsake, so I think worth it. And well, I will let the plate speak for itself here...

If you think it's just ok, allright kindof cute, just imagine the first time I showed it to my little guy. He smiled so big and when I covered the face with the sandwich pieces, he never ate it so fast. As soon as he cleared it off, stuffed cheeks and all, he picked up the plate and started kissing the face.

Yeah that's right everybody, Awwwwww! He know's just how to melt his Mommy's heart!

Good Karma in Giveaways

2009-11-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

I wanted to mention some crafty friends this blog, so here goes.

Firstly, I have some really nice Mommy friends that I met in my Mommy group who run a fabulous blog, Birmingham Mommy.

They were so nice as to take a few of my items to raffle off and hand out my business cards at a local event which I was too pregnant to attend and get a table for. It was a big Mom run business event here in Birmingham that apparently went really well! So please visit their blog and tell them Stars and Robots says "Hi." The link will take you to the article about the event, so please feel free to cruise around and look at their other newer posts.

When I dropped off my bag o goodies for them to take, I left them on a porch with no note, and I had included a very pretty plate that I use to put my business cards on. I got it from another crafter in a trade at a Market I used to do in Charleston. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't accidentally raffled off with the other stuff, so I sent an email and included the link to a similar item made by

BlameJanetics. Great shop, isn't it? My plate is orange, this green one is a real show stopper too though isn't it? Melting recycled glass is pretty exciting to me, since I have no idea how it's done, the mysterious science of it all evokes images of Gargamel and his cat trying to turn Smurfs into gold.

So those are my plugs to my good crafty friends today, I hope you all enjoy looking at their neato stuffs. And it seems that donating two small items to raffle for shameless local plugs really paid off in Karma, I made a sale for 5 items immediately afterward! Gotta Love that!

Teaser for next blogs: be on the lookout for "Peanut Butter Jelly Time" and "new baby Overalls"
Oh! And a funny joke!!!! Are you ready? Today is my due date! Ha Ha Ha Ha! ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!

I never thought I'd be eager for Halloween to pass...

2009-11-02T05:28:00.000-08:00

Halloween, like for many crafters, has been my all time favorite Holiday. I have always taken great pride in creating my costume, and was always the one whose closets and trunks were raided to throw together anyone elses's costumes. I still have at least ten adult costumes I can throw together at a moment's notice, two baby/kid costumes, and about 7 dog costumes. I will continually throw one together from scratch regardless of my inventory, but I always hope someone out there will need to borrow something so I can air it out for the current year.

This year, as you may have seen in previous posts, I made a family of red superhero capes and gold lame belts. We dressed up four times! Sloss Furnaces Family Fun day, Boo at the Zoo, The Mom's League of Birmingham Halloween Party, and Trick or Treating at Whole Foods. Each event consisted of me in a cape chasing a one and a half year old, much energized by his cape. Chase, chase, lift. Chase chase lift. Each time followed by two days of couch to rest my pregnant, pregnant back. I am so pregnant, I needed a spare mini cape ready, just in case. So when trick or treating night, the ACTUAL Halloween came along, I looked at my kid, realized that not only does he not eat candy, but he has no idea it's Halloween and could care less if I threw him back into his pair of black tights and cape. So we picked up way too much candy at the drugstore and commenced staying in and avoiding the whole ordeal except for handing out candy to the six kids who showed up at our door. Yeah, I have a stomachache from all the candy.

My point is that even though I live for Halloween and dressing up, sometimes, you just have to recognize your limits and throw in the towel. I got the family in some pictures, the costumes were well worn in, and the memories are intact as far as the kid knows. So, success, right? Maybe next year I will not be pregnant. I doubt at 2 1/2, my kid will let me slide so easily!

It is November, and now I sleep. Oh, except for that having a baby part, I'm due in 2 days. So, sleep today, then never again I guess! I send a very special shout out to LaZBoy for my new chair. It was a really good sale and I am currently very happy in all regions relating to my back.
Happy November everyone!

Shop reopened!

2009-10-21T18:14:00.000-07:00

Ahhh! It feels so good to have a little gusto back. My back is not so sore, and I have been reinvigorated with energy for crafting, yay! (Ok, haven't officially "crafted" since making my beanbags the other night, but I have nonetheless been productive!)

Firstly, I don't have my stock back yet from Skunk Fest, but I had a few items on top of my cd rack that I had not yet listed, so all five went up on my etsy site today, and when I get the rest of my stock back, I will begin adding the remaining peices. I swear I will get all my stock on etsy, I have never accomplished this feat, but I am getting better at the shooting photos, loading, editing, and listing. It is so overwhelming at first, but I've got a rythm to it now. So that is my big etsy goal. Once every item is officially listed, I will actually start producing more items! How exciting is that?

I also "got my craft back on" on my favorite networking site, My Craft Corner. It is kind of like a facebook for etsians and other crafters. Great support network and growing so fast, so I started a thread seeing if everyone was into using MCC as a tag for their items, and it seems so far like a hit of an idea, and I have already tagged my items with it. That is a good thing. Ad look at me now! BLOGGING! Whooo! I also gave out a bunch of my brand spanking new business cards to a bunch of Mommies in my Mommy group. More on them later, they have a cool blog I'll talk about in another post soon.

Allrighty. I just got home from a trip to LaZBoy and purchased a new chair for nursing, a must, especially if I end up with another dreaded Csection. (My Dr appointment this morning showed absolutely no promise of an on time delivery!)

wowwee Zowee, I am pooped, but very excited about all the new stuff in the crisp cool Fall air! Enjoy the changes the season brings to you!

The SuperTaylors!

2009-10-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Costumes Completed and Worn by the Whole Taylor Clan!

I have been pretty laid up lately with what I will call "pregnancy back." A lot of couch time, a lot of hot baths, a lot of diaper changes and meals served on the floor instead of lifting the kid into the highchair. I do it to myself, I know I should be slowing down, but I am very active in my Mommy group. It has come down to one hour of fun equaling two days of being laid up on the couch.

Worth it? Look at this picture of us at Boo at the Zoo and you tell me! I had Daddy do all the heavy lifting, (he even lifted my purse into and out of the stroller) I just pushed (leaned on) the stroller and followed them around. So worth it. Lincoln had so much fun and it was easy to keep track of him!

This was the final result of my backbreaking measly few hours ( oh probably around 8-10)making our Super Taylor Costumes. We decided that we were "Super Baby", "Super Beard", and "Super Pregnant."

My time has been spent mostly relaxing, but I have my bursts: the Super Costumes, about 5 Mommy events a week, (yeah, that is coming to a swift halt!) and I just this weekend for the first time, closed my etsy shop and sent all my stuff to the Albino Skunk Bluegrass Festival to be sold at the merch booth. I did pretty ok, considering the sales were slow all around due to the freezing weather. It is an outside all weekend camping event. I was also relieved that sales were on the slow side since I really let down my promise of Skunks, I was hoping to make around 40, and I only put out ten. (See previous posts about the great Polyfil Search of 2009, Skunks for Skyla, as well as many posts outlining my late pregnancy laziness) As of my last cell convo with my salesbooth helper, I sold about five skunks, nine robots, three stars, and a few postcards. I can certainly live with that, and since I didn't provide that many skunks, I am going ahead and donating 30% across the top from all sales to my fencing friend Skyla.

So, crafting has been slow but steady. I made a sale on etsy this week right before I sent off my stuff for the weekend, and after finishing the costumes, I got around to making beanbags for our Mommy group Halloween party. Those turned out very cute, I just finished them right before this post.

Allright, enough of this upright position, I am going back to my couch! Have a very Happy Halloween!

I've been tagged by a blogger! yeah!

2009-10-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

I am slow to blog these days, I'll go ahead and fall back on the "I'm just so pregnant" auto response I have been so dependant upon these past few weeks.

MAB jewelry has tagged me for a blog post, and declared that I have an over the top blog! I've won a major award! The trick is that I have to answer the following questions with one word answers, and then tag others to spread the joy. So, here we go.

Wait a SEC! Did that say ONE word answers? This is going to be a challenge!

1 Where is your cell phone? toddler
2 Your hair? wonky
3 Your mother? Vegas
4 Your father? Hawaii
5 Your Favorite food? Pineapple
6 Your dream last night? Inappropriate
7 Your favorite drink? Peppermint
8 Your dream/goal? CraftHero
9 What room are you in? couch
10 Your hobby? robots
11 Your fear? epidural
12 Where do you want to be in six years? done breeding!
13 Where were you last night? Birthclass
14 Something that you aren't? quiet
15 Muffins? English
16 Wish list item? Dressform
17 Where did you grow up? Earth!
18 Last thing you did? cuddle
19 What are you wearing? maternity
20 Your TV? Yo Gabba Gabba
21 Your pets? Bella
22 Friends? Lots!
23 Your life? Full
24 Your mood? Pregnant
25 Missing someone? nope!
26 Vehicle? Mommobile!
27 Something you're not wearing? bikini
28 Your favorite store? WholeFoods
29 Your favorite color? Orange
30 When was the last time you laughed? Today
31 Last time you cried? Pregnant!
32 Your best friend? Awesome
33 One place that I go over and over? JoannFabric
34 One person who Emails you regularly? facebook
35 Favorite place to eat? Home!

Now to tag all of these wonderful and over the top blogs:
The Jaunty Gourmand
Mom Has Class
Oh, Kevi
Serendipity Handmade
The Forgotten Brush
Where Eagles Dare
Cameron Builds It

HalloCrafty!

2009-10-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

Lazy bones is back! I have let go of my daily blog habit. I now blissfully relapse! I have been crazy busy lately, running all over town, hosting playgroups, planning parties, and spending my online hours doing Mommy group stuffs, it's practically a FT job. Plus, my pregnancy has officially slowed my butt way down. 3 more weeks...

My crafting has suffered. Immensly. I have an all new list of projects, all with pressing deadlines, which is exactly when my super procrastination kicks in!

Speaking of Super... Finally with hubby home all day yesterday, I peeled that cover off my sewing machine and went to town! I spent at least 8 hrs yesterday and made all three of our Halloween costumes. Yes, I opened that well organized craft box of materials labeled "Project Superhero" and made Taylor history. Well, I think it went well anyway. All I did was make three Superhero capes and three Superhero belts. I had to, since today was wear your costumes day.

I plan on embellishing further, since we have two more dress up events. I'd like to make some arm cuffs and maybe add some lightening bolts on the front of the chest or back of the cape. All in the gold, of course. But I really cannot complain with the minimum I finished, I mean just take a look at this baby in tights!

Now with the sewing machine dusted off, I must finish making beanbags for the Mommy group Halloween Party by Tuesday, and another assembly line of skunks by next weekend for the Skunkfest. Whew! Nothing like serious procrastinating to get some fire under your butt! Feels just like college.

I'll be back tomorrow with another post, I was tagged and need to get that ball rolling. Thanks to MAB for bringing me back to my blog!

2009-10-03T17:53:00.001-07:00

Hello!

I was putting off blogging today since I could not think of how I have done anything to help my crafting out, and this is quickly turning into a Mommy/Pregnancy blog!

But I DID do something today! It only took a sec, though. I ordered new business cards for my etsy biz through VistaPrint. It was crazy, crazy cheap. I got 1500 cards, some address labels and a personalized post-its pad for $30 bucks. Here is the photo I used for the design

You will have to weed through many special offers, but you'll survive. It was very quick and easy. I chose the super slow shipping of 11 days. I have found that the slowest shipping is still faster than they say it will be most of the time, and if it takes 11 days, I will certainly survive. Plus, I just bought new ink cartridges, so if I need to print a few at home to hold me over, I can.

Also, I made an etsy purchase today. (Putting the etsy Karma out there never hurts!) I am a huge fan of mineral makeup, I started out with Bare Minerals, but this girl makes it herself and it ends up being around 8 bucks cheaper. For those of you who haven't tried it out yet, mineral makeup stays put and looks like you have been airbrushed but aren't wearing any makeup. It saved my sanity my first pregnancy and I still rely on it to make me feel pretty without a mask!

Speaking of feeling pretty, when did I get this huge? I went to the Botanical Gardens today with my in laws and the boy, and whoah! Is that me in that picture? I didn't look like that last week! It was one of those reality checks. I thought I was looking great, but the picture don't lie! It's right here... Oh wait, I must have done something during the download, I can't seem to find it.. Sorry! Guess I can't share afterall. Shucks, and I was so looking forward to you all seeing me in my fullest 9 month pregnant glory! :)

Lessons learned today?

Pregnancy clothes you bought a month ago will no longer fit in the final countdown.

Vistaprint has great deals on business cards

Shop at etsy.com

Nuff said, have a great night!

Skunks for Skyla!

2009-10-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

Allrighty, as much as I absolutely HATE to brag, I made yet another sale yesterday, this time for three items! The most exciting thing was that they bought my first Skunk, so I got to send a donation to my friend Skyla! So here we go with the official Skunks for Skyla post!

I was planning on attending the Albino Skunk Bluegrass Festival (ASBF) like I have every year for the past 8 years. So I started a line of Albino Skunk neck pillows. They are awfully cute, or so I think anyways! I was going to set up a booth at the Festival and sell them. Well, the founders of ASBF happen to be one of my very closest friend's inlaws (The first year we went was a "date" for her and her now husband!)It just so happens that said friend has this AMAZING 14 year old daughter, who I have known since she was three.

Introducing, Miss Skyla Powers, fencer extraordinaire! Skyla is a World Champion fencer out of Nellya Fencers in Atlanta. That's no exaggeration, she actually has a "World Champion" title. In order to keep her ranking, Skyla must travel the world to compete. She just got back from Poland and goes back later this month! So, this gets extrememly expensive, of course. She has alot of work and competing ahead of her to earn her way into the Olympics, but she is dedicated and easily has the talent. It is mostly about the ability to continue to compete all over the globe!

In comes my big brainy idea..."Skunks for Skyla!" I will be sending $5 from each Skunk sold to help with Skyla's dreams. I know, it isn't much, but If I sell a TON of skunks, at least they will be able to afford a hotel room here and there! Although, unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the ASBF this year (my due date is much too close to be in the middle of a weekend camping trip in rural Greer, SC) but thankfully, I have connections and they will be sold at the fest anyways!

They are available in my etsy shop
and if you don't want to buy a skunk but want to help our little Olympic hopeful, here is Skyla's blog which has a paypal link. (You can look at her blog without donating if you want to sneak a peek!)

And if you are dying to spend a weekend camping and getting your Bluegrass on, Here is info on ASBF, it is such a great time and has tons of stuff for kids as well as adults!

Ok, Ok, thanks for letting me brag about my friend and can I just say one more time? "Yay! I sold my first Skunk!!!" So Skyla, here's your first five dollars, you can get yourself a bottled water at the airport! XOXO

Zooby Dooby Doo!

2009-09-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

Allright, you got me. I am really stretching this whole relaxing thing to the fullest. I have a great excuse though. At my Dr. appt. this morning, the receptionist told me, "See you next week!" Next week? I am on the weekly plan now? Yes, it is finally closing in, I am one month from my due date. I have been pregnant for what seems like forever. Those of you who have kids close together know what I mean, I don't remember the non-pregnant time in between. I have been pregnant for two years!

I did mail off my etsy sale yesterday at the Post Office, and after 5 months of selling, I am finally beginning to get the hang of mail outs. I have been ripping myself off with shipping charges, and I still think they are high. I eat a little on shipping everytime. I am getting down to the nuts and bolts of keeping that cost as low as possible though. One thing is for sure, I will never complain about anyone's shipping cost!

Today I put my three sales worth of money to good use and bought myself some new ink cartridges: color, and B&W. I still can't wrap my head around why they are so expensive! It makes no sense. It was quite necessary, as my last two purchase letters looked like they were the last printed in a long line of ditto sheets. (Anyone else out there old enough to remember that smell?) I also bought myself a new book, "The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead" by Max Brooks. That's what my bookclub gets for letting me make this month's selection, he he he!

Back to the living, I took my favorite little man to the Zoo today, and of course, thought you all deserved to see pictures of Lincoln the great! Here he is

digging for Dino bones...

checking out the reptile room...

visiting the flamingos...

and then there is the Garrrrr!

Ok, I am sold on laziness for good!

2009-09-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what's happening, but I awoke to check my email and found yet another sale! That is three sales in three days. Yay! They are small, just one item each, but it is so exciting! After a two month dry spell, I couldn't be happier. I am driving to the Post Office every day. Go Robots, Go Robots!

Progress report: Checklist!

2009-09-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

Review of my unfinshed business lists...

Here is an excerpt from my post on My Craft Corner in response to the thread question: "How many unfinished projects do you have?" Since I wrote it about three weeks ago, I thought I'd check in on my progress. The updates are in green.

Oh gosh, I am definitely not counting the unfinished projects of yore, so only currently unfinished projects!!! That statement still holds

1. my assembly line of skunks, I need more polyfil to stuff the last four and sew them shut. That is the first batch of 11
Oh yeah, as you may have read, I got that darn polyfil this weekend, and today, finshed my 11 skunks at a labor rate of an hour and a half per skunk. Pew! I mean, phew!
2. Start my assembly line of the next 20 skunks
Maybe tomorrow...
3. Finish taking reshoot pictures of my current etsy stuff, then pic and post the rest of my stock that has been finished for awhile.
in progress, slowly but surely!
4. I am working on a maternity blouse, I was going to do each Project Runway challlenge, but I've never made a pattern for clothes, so my Red Carpet (fancy maternity blouse) project turned into my Maternity Challenge project (What are the odds?) let's just go ahead and admit that I won't be participating in the beachwear challenge! The blouse is about halfway done, maybe more.
That one is done and done, I've washed it twice already.
5. Start my "Skunks For Skyla" Campaign. Once I finish the first batch of skunks, and post and pic them, I need to post a shout out on my facebook fan page and do a mass email and post on here and etsy...
Oh dear, need to get on this one since the Skunkfest is mid Oct where they will be sold.
6. Isn't there always something else? Yes, I have since added and finished a curtain project, and have created a Halloween costume project for the whole family. I have materials, and have even gone the extra mile to organize them in a project box with all needed supplies, so ready to be worked on! (Family Costume event Oct 10th!)

Ahhhhh! That feels better. I am really big on lists and crossing things off of those lists. Now if I can just finish these, get out and buy new ink cartridges for the printer, and order some new business cards, I'll almost be ready to come out of October alive and prep for Christmas! And the leftover fabric from the curtains will be perfect to recover that chair...

Purple and Curtains (Not purple curtains)

2009-09-27T18:13:00.001-07:00

Oh, a day of relaxation AND accomplishment! It's a premium win win! I believe that staying offline for a big part of the day is quite positive for my creativity. I haven't even checked google analytics for at least a week. That's real progress.

I finally got to work and finished my little man's curtains, he helped, as you can see from the pictures. He wanted to make sure I had the measurements right. I am surprised that I am so immensly proud of these curtains. I mean, we all know they are just rectangles. I guess I feel that way since it really finishes the nursery, and I have never made curtains before. They are also really big, (not for curtains, but for a project) which for some reason makes them seem more worthy of accolade. I dunno, I spend alot of time making tiny robots and things for babies to wear, so something that actually took up the whole table to sew felt gratifying. I should make more curtains, as far as satisfaction goes, it's a lot of bang for your buck.

I logged online sometime in the later afternoon, after finishing curtains and putting baby down for a nap. Open email aaaand...Well looky there! Another sale! I didn't even post anything new since the robot I sold the other day. I mean, the ball is really rolling!

I have to say, I know I have mentioned Feng Shui having a positive effect in some previous posts, but I am really a believer. I didn't do any "fixes" per se. Well, not true, I bought two purple bars of soap and put up a Hawaiian sunset picture (that looks kinda purple) in the back bathroom, which is in the financial area of the bagua and represents financials ($$$). Purple is the color for that area. But mainly, I got myself really organized in my craft workspace (see yesterday's post), which is what alot of Feng Shui is really all about. Organization, streamlining, you know, the positive flow of chi through a space. Can't be blocking up your chi with a bunch of stacked up cardboard boxes and piles of material. Clean corners, clear visual and traffic pathways.

Allright, so that's my story. I relaxed, and I finished a project (monkey) I had in the wings (on my back) and I made a sale. Yay me! Please feel free to share if you have done anything lately to help streamline; success with Feng Shui, Organizing, basically anything that has you "Working Smarter Not Harder." I used to find that concept elusive, but it is starting to become more clear to me now!

Burlap is Better when you Organize It!

2009-09-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

Yay! The Gods of Stuffing have visited, and I got my polyfil! Woohoo! I finally showed up for the right sale at the right store at the right time AND they were in stock!

(***Men and/or non deal-of-the-century enthusiasts please skip ahead)

I had a 50% off one item coupon, got a huge 5lb box (the stuff weighs nothing) as well as 2 large and 2 medium Sterilite clear boxes, and 2 spools of thread for...$19 dollars! I was the envy of everyone in line, I had an overflowing cart, even the cashier said, "whoah! I thought you had like 70 dollars in there!" I know, my cart LOOKED huge, but it was mostly air with the containers and fluff. Still, nothing feels as good as a multiple-trips-to-unload-the-car stash for under $20 bucks, no matter what you have in there!

(***resume safe reading)

I read someone's blog about organization, (forgive me for not adding the link, I went on a blogtastic reading spree) and I went to town on some shelving and use of my new clear boxes to get my sewing station in gear, what an improvement! I have all my current projects neatly organized ino their own see thru box, all supplies contained. A Superhero costumes box, A skunk assembly line box, a halfway done curtains box, you get the picture.

My 4 year old nephew called me to thank him for the cape I sent him for his Birthday and informed me that he could fly, AND that it is BLUE! (See cape photos and links a few posts back) So that made my day.

I took a little mental break, slacked on posting and projects, made a sale, then today I really got in gear. I finished my burlap curtains, I need to hang them and do the botanical print ones that will go in front. I hope to finish that tomorrow and post pics. In the meantime, I have some pretty lame photos of the materials I'm using! If anyone knows if you can wash burlap, let me know. I didn't, for fear of it falling apart, but it has a strong turpentine smell. Perfect for a baby's room. I did hang it for 3 days first to let it stretch out.

Oh this blog post is boring even me, so I will leave you with the promise that tomorrow, not only will I blog, but I will be fascinating!

Happy Costuming and other HallowCrafting!

Ha! My laziness paid off!

2009-09-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

Yeah! Instead of crafting, I took a nap, and I awoke to see that a listing I posted this morning has sold! YES! The dry spell is over! Take that, overachievers!

Before and After and the Attack of the Lazies!

2009-09-23T07:28:00.001-07:00

For fun and for lack of recent pictures to add, I have included these photos of where we were, and where we are now. The beach picture is Christmas Day last year, about a month before I got pregnant. (Yep, Christmas in a tank top, that is Charleston, at the Isle of Palms!) We will call that the BEFORE picture. Immediately afterward, with a positive pregnancy test and a commitment by my husband to grow a baby beard (he stopped shaving the day the line turned double!) we all started to change. It is September now, and the "after" pictures pretty much spell it out!!! The husband will shave upon the arrival of the new bundle of joy, due in 6 weeks! And I certainly wish the shape of myself would change back so easily, but you may have to give me a couple more months!

So onto the topic of procrastination. Yes, I have been bitten by the "Lazy Bug" and horribly infected. Here are the ways in which I slack: (you can skip this list and keep reading, no one really cares what I'm putting off, right?)

not keeping up with my blogging "post a day" commitment
unfinished (unstarted) curtains for the babies' room, purchased material two weeks ago
many many skunks on the back burner needing to be made for the Albino Skunkfest that is in one month! I know I need polyfil, but that doesn't keep me from doing all the sewing up to the stuffing stage!
unfinished (unstarted) Halloween costumes for the family, bought material this past weekend
unposted pics, I need to add to etsy! Isn't it all about new listings? I have the pictures downloaded from the camera already!

So, you see, I am really letting it pile up. I have been blaming my laziness on a host of things. Firstly, that darn bug really bit me! I was sick and I slowed way down while we all got over a (minor) cold. Then there is this pregnancy, I am due very soon. I am busy with the kid, have new duties with my Mommy Club (I am now assistant organizer!), and um,,, I'm sure I have more reasons, if you just give me some more time to think about it! None of these excuses really hold any water, to tell you the truth.

As I told my friends on My Craft Corner this morning, the first step to getting over a bout of massive procrastination is to admit publicly that you have a problem. I may be big on laziness, but I am even bigger on accountability! So now that I have officially put it out there, I am publicly accountable for getting my butt in gear! Happy crafting, blogging, and reading everyone, and may you avoid all contact with the lazy virus this season!

Monkeys Riding Dogs

2009-09-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

I am so tired and listening to rolling thunder, as my husband defines it, (he has a knack for the weather) while said husband watches Robot Chicken. Watched the Emmys, looked at Emmy dresses online, ended up linking to a "who wore it best: Thigh Highs" photo diary of 18 or so celebrities wearing boots, hose, whatever. Answer? No one! When will they learn, you are already hot, you don't have to "sell it!" (Special exception for Debbie Harry, whose boot tops were hidden by classily lengthed camoflauge dress, and she really can do no wrong)

I did some Halloween research online today on how to make a cape, which really needed no explanation, but I like to be overly prepared. I also looked to see which would be easier, making spandex bodysuits or ordering them? Oh the trials and tribulations real superheroes must go through.

I also decided that dinner tonight was going to go down like a Top Chef Challenge. The challenge? What can you make without going grocery shopping? I ended up with Penne pasta topped with sauteed zuchinni, kalamata olives, garlic, and chicken. It was ok, but a little feta would have taken it along way. The kid was not impressed!

Ok, I wrote, I did my duty, I hope I haven't bored anyone to tears. I leave you with this quote from our Alabama State Fair Commercial... http://www.alabamastatefair.org/

"Monkeys Riding Dogs!" The official Taylor family quote of the week.

Costumes and Doulas

2009-09-19T19:33:00.001-07:00

Today was very productive on all fronts.

Priority #1:

As I am delivering my second child soon, (six or so weeks) I have been trying to find birth support. I joined a local ICAN chapter that has been wonderful. I am trying to go for a natural birth after having had a Csection with my first. (Known as a VBAC) I found a doula today, which brought me great relief since I had no idea where to find a good one having just moved here mid pregnancy. I am thrilled that my Dr. supports the decision to have a VBAC and will allow a doula to assist in the hospital. So Yip yip hooray! I am stoked!

Priority #2

Next up, Halloween costumes! I met with a Mommy friend of mine to hit the sale at Joanne's Fabric and get Halloween costume essentials. She is putting together an awesome Wild Things ensemble for her two boys, and I chose to be inspired by superflykidz (see a few posts back) to make some capes for the family. Found some felt backed satin in red and some gold lame which I hope to use for emblems and belts, maybe even wristbands and spats! The Super Taylors! I can't wait to get that going and show some pics! I can't think of a better way to showcase my hugeness than a spandex bodysuit!

Priority #3

Getting out of the house! I officially ended the lockdown today now that we are all feeling better and there are no more lingering sniffs and runny noses. After racking up at Joanne's we went to continue our Mommieness with the kids at the Hoover Public Library. It has a huge kidroom full of toys and puzzles and such and they had a blast! We stayed until they cut out the lights on us. I had no idea we were the last ones out!!! It was a well deserved break for my little buddy, and he was an angel and played his little heart out with no fussing!

So that was my big full day, I feel accomplished, and can't tell you how wonderful it was to get me and my little guy OUT of the HOUSE for the first time in almost 2 weeks! (Nevermind that it was raining all day, we were singing in it!)

Hope everyone had an equally satisfying day! PS the Polyfil was still not on sale, it has no interest coming home with me until I finish my curtains and Halloween costumes!

Photo Post, get to know your blogger friends!

2009-09-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

So, I was tagged by Laura at http://theforgottenbrush.blogspot.com/ who was tagged by Cindy at Hellcat Vintage to do a photo post. Here it goes!
The idea is to:
1. Open your first photo folder.
2. Scroll to the 10th photo.
3. Post the photo on your blog and tell the story behind it.
4. Tag people to do the same.

This photo is from classes at the LittleGym in Mt Pleasant, SC. Lincoln had just started, so he must be around four or five months old. We now live in Birmingham, AL, he is now 16 months, and I am due with number two in 6 and a half weeks, let's just say that we both look alot different!!!

What a time capsule looking back on my little man, how he has grown! I haven't looked at this picture in awhile so I advise everyone to try this blogsperiment!

Tagging:

kevi/raehttp://itspronouncedkevi.blogspot.com/

terry http://hatsnstuff.blogspot.com

mabjewelryhttp://mabjewelry.blogspot.com/

karlahttp://momhasclass.blogspot.com/

colleenhttp://glutenfreecolleen.blogspot.com/

katehttp://kate8085.blogspot.com/

French Toast and Fanmail

2009-09-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

Woopsie, fell asleep before I blogged lastnight! Up too late watching Project Runway of course. And might I add that the Office was fantastic. The whole beginning where the idiot patrol all thought they were city jumpers was classic, brought me to tears. I watch alot of TV, and it interferes with my crafting.

Well I am sitting with my kid at breakfast reminiscing over the craftiness of yesterday. (We are having Banana/Strawberry Bread French Toast, I will be happy to give up the recipe if anyone asks!!) The day of craftiness definitely had its highs for a low productivity day!

I got an etsy convo (that's special secret etsy language for an on site email) from Kathy Cano-Murillo! yes, that's right, the actual Crafty Chica! For those of you not in the crafting community, she is a total Craft Rock Star, super duper famous! I had recently sent her a "fanmail" convo with some pictures thanking her for my wedding cake topper from 6 yrs ago. She convo'd me back a personal thank you! It was like writing a letter to your favorite celebrity and getting a REAL letter back, not just a spewed out fanmail autographed glossy! So big deal, at least to me!

I also submitted some photos to Craftgawker http://www.craftgawker.com/ . I have been dying to do this and I finally got around to it. When you submit your craft photos, they accept or reject with explanation of what's wrong with your photo. I haven't gotten a yeah or nay yet, but I did check my email before blogging this morning just in case! Undoubtedly I'll be keeping you posted.

The rest of the day was pretty much spent cleaning and sanitizing my house as we are all finally finished being sick, and brainstorming about Halloween. I think I may make some capes for the family, since I am jealous of the bday gift I sent my nephew. (See previous post) The Super Taylors. Yah! That's how you know you gave a great gift, right?

The photo above is from Halloween last year, I made the little avocado costume "The Avocostume". We were going to do another fruit or veggie this year, but my farmer overalls no longer fit! (You know you're at the end of your pregnancy when you have outgrown your OVERALLS!!!) Hope you are all getting geared up for Halloween, I'll be reading tons of blogs to see what the rest of the crafters out there are up to!

Rested and awaiting a cape!

2009-09-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

Phew, We just had a sweep of family sickness, and I went ahead and totally unplugged from the internet! I was home alone (hubby gone for a week with work, also SICK) and SICK and super pregnant with a SICK and teething baby and a needing to go out five times a day doggie. Superfun! It was really just a minor cold, but lasted a whole week and my lil baby boy has never ever been sick! (He's 16 months, so it was a real bummer to break the streak!)

Anyhoo, we are feeling much better, Daddy's home and I spent all day facebooking my face off and not doing anything for my crafting biz.

Well, not to let down the craftiness of the blog ....my sweet nephew's birthday is next week, and I ordered him the most perfect gift off of etsy! He is turning four, so I looked at so many wonderful things until...Dat Dah Dahh!!! I found it! A magical cape for a Superhero!

http://www.superflykidz.etsy.com/

This shop is obviously a superseller, check it out, OVER 5,000 sales! They knew their market, and I am in it! I got a custom blue cape with a gold lightening bolt and his intital in red. So as a consumer, I feel completely satiated.

That's all for now, I will be back to my usual blogging routine tomorrow, and will come bringing tales of craftiness!

Oh, the great Polyfil Inside Joke!

2009-09-12T09:52:00.001-07:00

Allright, I am starting to feel a little punked. I have felt so lucky that right down the road there are both a Joanne's Fabric and a Hancock in the same parking lot. They are big, new, fancy and fully stocked. Unless you need polyfil. I make stuffed robots, stars and skunks. I need polyfil.

Today, I went to the Grand Opening of Joanne's, after missing out on getting Polyfil from the big sale at Hancock, they were out of stock. I was told a week earlier they would have some, but they didn't and you cannot raincheck an out of stock item for the sale. (So, what is a raincheck, then?) I had already been to Joanne's, but they weren't open yet. I picked up a membership card and sale flyers from the table they had set up to greet new customers and get them back for the opening. They opened yesterday!

I am finally going to get my Polyfil, they will surely be fully stocked for their Grand Opening! I grab a sales flyer, YES! 50% off any one item for the Grand Opening Sale-A-Bration! I put on my blinders, (so many aisles, so many fabrics!) and run to the back wall, looking like a crazy pregnant lady at 32 weeks running like a moron! I get to the very well stocked and organized AISLES of Polyfil, batting and pillowforms. Where is the big box? Where Where? They only carry a five pound box. That means I can only use one coupon and come back the next day to use another one. I look at the dates...

The FRIGGIN SALE IS NEXT WEEKEND!!!!!!!! So my "right down the street fortune of craft store placement" (It's 5 1/2 miles) has turned into four 11 mile round trips and counting to get my polyfil. I wonder if you can get a tank of gas refill coupon? I insist on bringing my husband next weekend so we can both get in line and buy a box each with two coupons. I am NOT making 2 more trips! back to the races! Now I will see how many skunks I can get to the stuffing stage before I have Polyfil!

The journey toward becoming the perfect crafter continues...

Quick Goodnight!

2009-09-10T21:36:00.000-07:00

I promised myself I'd blog everyday, so I forced myself to reopen the laptop for a nightcap with Blogger. I have been very busy watching tv, afterall, it is Project Runway night! Does everyone else design the dress/outfit they would make for each challenge in their head too? I also spent alot of time on the phone with hubby, who has been away all week for work. (Comes home tomorrow night, better get my blog written early!)

I'd like very much to thank Blogger for their autosave feature. I wrote such a long blog lastnight and had totally finished editing the text. When I went to add pictures, I closed the whole computer down. Le Panic. But blogger saved the day, so phew!

I was really tired today since my little man had a big teething episode lastnight and woke up for about an hour in the middle of the night. I was hoping that would mean he would sleep in. Nope. All I did today toward my crafty-ness was to edit some pics and post then to etsy, then I added a "My Craft Corner" badge on the blog here (see right column). It has taken over facebook as my new crack. Going to sleep now. Above we have a picture of sleep.

Yes, I name my crafts

2009-09-09T18:41:00.001-07:00

When I am creating a robot or a star or a skunk, even in an assembly line they have their own personality, their own life. The fabrics may seem random, but I feel each piece tells me which ones they want, like a child dressing themselves. I use a pattern I made from paper grocery bags, but the tracing and seam allowance takes on it's own path as well, its as if it were a loose interpretation of the pattern.

Once I get them dressed, it's all about the face. Sewing on the eyes particularly really adds that breath of life, and it is my favorite step. I always freehand the eyes and only cut them one set at a time. This is a slow step, it only takes a sec to sew them on, but this is where I take a moment to appreciate each one like a little newborn I'm going to send out to a loving family. I know, Cheeze Louise, but I'm extra sappy when I'm pregnant.

So the names, where do they come from?

With the Robots, I initially had 60 of them, so as I took pictures of them I stuck little dot tags on them A-Z, AA-whatever, and then named the photos accordingly. I have a book of Sci Fi Baby Names that I recieved from my sister in law when I was pregnant with my first, and I just picked them out alphabetically. They all came from movies or books or tv series, and had a description of the character. I tried to choose ones that fit. Some were boys, some were girls, some were ambiguous and recieved names accordingly. The ones that got into the double letters got double names, with a hyphen, and that gave me a little creative license to mix and match. My favorite was Olivia-Wan.

So then were the stars, and those I chose just by the way they looked, mostly their lips, or the way they held their "arms" or their eye shape. Their faces made it easy. They were like naming your stuffed animals as a kid.

The Skunks took a more interesting and personal twist. Yes, these are the Skunks for Skyla. They are all Albino Skunks in reference of the Albino Skunk Bluegrass Festival, http://www.skunkfest.com/ , and are made for the ASBF founders' grandaughter and Olympic hopeful Skyla Powers http://skylasjourney.blogspot.com/ (competing in Poland this week!) I donate a portion from each skunk directly to her.

The Skunks are all made from canvas, so I named them for their distinctive stripes. I used the same three giant storage boxes of scrap fabrics and goodwill clothes (ALL WASHED!!!) that I used for the pieces of the robots. But each piece of fabric has a unique history of its aquisition. There are the plaids from flannel shirts I used to make myself a modern grunge skirt for my bands cd release party last year. Those fabrics gave birth to Kurt and Eddie. Yeah. They do smell a little like Teen Spirit. (Which is great for a Skunk)

There are the fabrics I recieved from my mother in law, Some hers, Some quilting fabric from her mother. They birthed the two lovely skunks Judy and Blanche, respectively.

There is Wilmington, from a fabric I bought to make pillows when I first graduated college and moved to the beach, I thought it looked sandy. So you see the trend.

Well, above I included a few pics, see if you can guess the skunk with the fabric described. I tried to get some of the robots with their nametag visible for your enjoyment as well.

Thanks for indulging me with the read, naming my crafts really gives you that extra ingredient, listed in my shop item materials as "love." (Yeah yeah, Sap)

Feel free to click to the right on my etsy store to go spy on the items listed, and look at their names, (no purchase necessary, you can peek away, I'll never know it was you!) Feel free to post a comment here or convo me on etsy if you want to know the history behind any of the specific names. Now, if I can only choose a name for this baby that is going to come out of me in 8 weeks, I'll really have something to blog about!

It's a big world out there.

2009-09-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

Today is of reflection. I blog. I like it. I twitter. pretty fun. I facebook. crack. I have started doing more and more to create an online presence, getting lost in techy stuff like adding applications, social stuff like starting groups and posting in threads. I really cannot imagine that anyone could spend more time online without suffering from video-game-obsession style exhaustion.

Yet, the more I do, the more discussions I am involved in, and blogs I link to, the more I am beginning to see it very clearly. I am a tiny, tiny boat lost in a ginormous sea of expert bloggers and expert crafters, some of which "just started and don't know what they are doing" but have hundreds of followers, hundreds of sales and more apps than I even understand. Um. before I was a SAHM I was in IT, yet now I feel like the internet is set to make me feel like a third grader in college.

Don't get me wrong, I am not upset by any of this. I just wonder, what am I doing? I unplugged for many hours today, I cleaned the house, I spent a few hours at a playgroup with my kid, and we just frigging relaxed. I refuse to let myself stop having fun with all of this, but if I don't feel so "Rah Rah" I am totally allowed to take a break. A jaded crafter is not a crafter at all!

I actually took a few pics today in the windowsill, a technique I have wanted to try. I didn't get that far because I caught up with an old friend on the phone. I didn't download the camera, so no new pics. And you know what? I can't wait to do it tomorrow! My motto is to just plug away, but only if you want to do it. I'm not throwing in the towel, or saying I won't stick to any discipline or deadlines, but when I am spending more time "trying so hard" than I am just loving the whole idea of what I do, I think it is just as important to pull away for some perspective. And you know what? Huh, I got three new followers today.

I think it's a good time to work some Feng Shui magic on my environment to zone in on where I am in my head and achieve a little zen. That's a crafty thing to do.

And I am actually a little bit proud of myself for taming the OCD beast and letting myself enjoy the day a bit. So, off I ride into the sunset of sleep with the satisfaction that I still really, really love what I do and will keep on doing it.

It's Curtains for the Polyfil!

2009-09-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

Today I hit Hancock Fabric for their big sale, still needing that elusive giant box of polyfil that they told me two days ago was just coming off the truck. Nope. And I cannot get the sale price on out of stocks. That's ok, because Joanne's Fabric is opening in a few days across the parking lot with their Grand Opening Sale. (this magical place is five minutes down the road from my house!) Since I was already at the fabric store...why not take advantage of the sale?

I bought an off white home decorator fabric with a cool blues botanical print to make curtains for my son's room, I have been working on decorating it since our move. With the new baby on the way, I am trying to really pimp out the nursery because I never did with Lincoln's arrival. We didn't even have a crib until he was three months old!

Of course, I wanted to get some kind of liner to block the light, and even thought the print is cool blues and greens, It is sort of a floral, so I saw exactly what I was looking for at 99c a yard! Burlap! It is dark, and masculine, but perforated enough to let some light through. It seems like it will look good in my head, but we will see when I get it done. Of course, I've never made curtains and have no plan or pattern, I'm just going to wing it. How hard can it be?

I'll post pics once I get them done, but above is a photo of the room right now, after I put up a big tree decal I got on etsy at http://www.bubbaanddoodle.etsy.com/

Happy Labor Day everyone!!!! Anyone else pick up any new projects from the holiday sales or get any new inspirations?

Finished top! Please vote in comments! :)

2009-09-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

I just finished making my maternity top. It is the first article of clothing I have ever sewn from scratch without a pattern (other than altering something). I may have a few years of practice needed before I can audition for Project Runway, but it came out way better than I thought!

Please add to comments and vote: Can I wear this out in public?

Feeling pretty!

2009-09-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

This is my new outfit today (on a model from the website!) Hot stuff, eh?

Well, I am almost done with my fancy schmancy maternity top, it's looking pretty good, although a little pale in comparison with my new maternity shopping spree gooodies! I'm using two very difficult fabrics to put together, a stretch jersey and a slippery silky poly something. I have been feeling very zen with my sewing machine lately.

I couldn't get my book club book at the library yesterday (Time Traveler's Wife) so I went to barnes and Noble. Partly because I didn't want to wait on the list, and partly because I needed a reason to wear some of my new clothes! (guilty as charged!)

I have been pretty maxed out in the brain with everything I am doing to promore my shop, so I have lightnend up a bit. Haven't slowed down, just finding the fun in it, more convos and I seem to be getting a ton of new twitter followers all of a sudden.

Google analytics said I got a lot of hits from My Craft Corner, so I started a group on the site for kid's items. If you make kid's stuff, please come join! It's just another networking site for crafters, everyone mostly talks about etsy and they have contests and a bunch of nice people giving good advice.

Here's the linky dink...http://www.mycraftcorner.com/group/kidstuff

Anyhoo, Happy 10th Birthday Blogger!

No Polyfil in sight

2009-09-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

My awesome husband will be gone for a week, so today on his day off, he said he'd watch the kid all day while I ventured out and floated around the library and shopped at some craft stores. I have been out of polyfil and really need some to finish my skunks. I leisurely visited the library, awesome, then went to Joanne Fabric, they open Sep 11, so I went to Hancock, they are out of the big box of Polyfil, I'll have to check later in the week.

I looked at my pathetic self, wearing ill fitting workout gear that is at least comfortable in the heat, since all my materninty clothes are Fall/Winter. I was sweaty, and I felt dumpy frumpy. I went to the nearby TJmaxx, no maternity, Stein Mart, same. My car drove back to where I started, the library adjacent mall. Of course they had a motherhood maternity, yay!

I only needed a pair of shorts that were cute enough to wear outside of the house, and a few cute tops that covered my belly and backside. Maybe some pants that did the same. I left there with an entire wardrobe, down to the bra. I put back my debit card and pulled out the credit card.

Absolutely no remorse whatsover. I haven't felt this cute in months! :) (this picture is from back then, I have progressed quite a bit!) Lesson: even in today's economy, sometimes it is OK to splurge on necessities!

2009-09-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

Can I say I am too tired to even stay up for Project Runway? I think a bowl of ice cream might awaken me enough, it is on the DVR but still, that's just for replaying tomorrow, the runway in slow motion.

I posted a few things today on etsy and I received an etsy purchase in the mail! Yay! A super cute daisy necklace, I LOVE it! I got it from littleputbooks. It makes me feel pretty, a real pick me up piece of jewelry.

See her awesome stuff at http://www.littleputbooks.etsy.com

I am seeing some networking action from all my hard work, more followers on twitter, convos from my team, new freinds on my craft corner. I guess before I get any new sales, I will have to make myself a little famous first!

I know I said this blog would be about Skunks for Skyla, but I want to get them all up on the site and send out a message to my facebook fans first, so, it's coming!

Looky there, I'm not tired anymore and Project Runway starts in 15 minutes! Take me away Tim Gunn!

Skunks are getting some action!

2009-09-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

First, some real life storytime. I took my beloved 15 month old to the fire station today and he got a big red fireman's hat. It's pretty stinking cute, of course I didn't bring the camera. It has been busy charging up for my etsy life tasks!

I took action! Pictures galore! I did eight more product shoots today, mostly skunks. I spent much time on etsy community asking advice in the "critique my shop" forums. I took some advice on my new photos and rolled from there.

I also tried a new tactic, I sent out convos to all my team members on the Bama team, I just joined, and I have already gotten some friendly replies. It never hurts to network and support eachother!

Well, here are some photos, I am working on keeping it short, if you think I am wordy on a blog, you should hang out with me sometime! I usually get along with shy quiet people who don't like to talk much themselves. :)

Next up: Skunks for Skyla update

Photos Using Auto Afterall

2009-08-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I procrastinated even AFTER making my big declaration in my last post. Yesterday, I did not blog at all, but I did read alot of etsy emails and look at etsy stuff, and, woops, even bought a necklace. I also spent a good amount of time on my Project Runway maternity blouse. It's...well, it's happening, sortof!

TODAY, I got down to business! And I was still super tired, and heartburned, but I was determined. I read a bunch more in my photography books from the library, and I made a "To Do" list for how to snowball your etsy business that was in an email from a forum on, you guessed it, etsy.

First things first, I decided to get some photos done and post some pics! I took a whole camera full of photos and even posted my updates on facebook AND twitter! And look, I am blogging!

Here is an extrememly helpful link to those of you needing a little oomph in your etsy business, I am all over it!

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5436688&utm_source=etsy+success&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=etsy_success_082009

And here are my beautiful new pictures! I cannot believe after going through and writiting down every single function my camera had, with notes on which options, flash, no flash, overhead light on, off, etc. that I got the best pics by using Auto, no overhead light (the whole reason my "photo studio" is set up in the bathroom under the sunlamp) and red eye reduction flash. There are no eyes to worry about, well, at least they are only of the felt variety!

I am definitely still a beginner when it comes to photography, but my pictures are getting better! Now to keep my momentum and pic and post, pic and post!

More tomorrow!

Back in Action, Slacker Be Gone!

2009-08-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

I have come up with alot of excuses lately as to why I haven't been giving my crafting the attention it needs. The In Laws visitied. My Mommy Group has been really active and I have been appointed an office. I'm in two book clubs. Facebook. Lincoln has started a new Mommy and Me class. I am pregnant. (That last sentence just replaced a very long rant about the miracle of the third trimester) And obviously, Project Runway has started again!

Wow. that's alot of excuses.

I did however finish my first assembly line of skunks, and it did not end up taking as long as I thought. 2 hrs. per skunk, and that is for the first batch, so there was a lot of time spent in trial and error and ripping seams to resew inside-out-and-upside-down ears. Now that I have completed the first 11, (barring the last three which I need to buy Poly-fil for) the next assembly line should go more quickly per skunk. I was getting really fast on the last few.

Since I was so off track and haven't picked up my polyfil yet, I decided to do a sewing machine refresher and design myself a maternity top. It's taking shape, and I am making the pattern myself, so it is an adventure. More on that in future blogs.

My new and fresh get-started-again plan is to make myself some deadlines!

Buy polyfil
Finish taking and adding pictures of etsy inventory
Start skunk assembly line #2: 20 skunks!
Daily blog

I need to get these done before my impending due date, which will probably put me off the radar a little, but I will try to continue blogging, because this is what makes me stick to my plan!!!

Oh yeah, and bloggers needing motivation, go see Julie and Julia. She was blogtastic.

New respect for photographers!

2009-08-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

Whew! I spent today doing photo reshoot experiments for my etsy products. I have been on the etsy site doing research on the Storque, in the blogs, convoing with other etsians whose pics I admire, I even got some books at the library. I was ready!

I set up in my bathroom under a heat lamp, the kind they have in hotel rooms that gives a pretty sunlight look. I experimented with different backgrounds and camera settings, but my camera has very few options, it's a digital made for people like me, who don't know how to take pictures, so there really aren't any optional settings, just alot of different scene options, preset. (Y'know, landscape, close up, bright light, snow, beach, children in motion...)

I am not a photographer.

Here are some of my best attempts, I only tried two objects, a star and a robot, so I could get the right look before dragging my whole inventory into it!!!

I used fabric, a towel, and a shag rug under the heat lamp, some with flash, some not. Now if I only knew which settings I used for which pictures?

New Shirt on etsy for the super nerdy baby!

2009-08-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

first up, for those who have been following the Skunks for Skyla saga, here is a link to her new blog. GO SKYLA! It was also her bithday yesterday, so a very happy 14 to her!

http://skylasjourney.blogspot.com/

Now back to me! :) I FINALLY got my camera cord in the mail, so armed with the power of a fully charged camera, I set out to redo my etsy photos to make my storefront the mostest! That consisted of doing alot of research on the Storque articles (I did just get the Storque email about this very topic, it would be a waste not to read it!) and then I really wanted to get pics of a tshirt I made so I could post it as a new item. (See photo)

We went on a family walk to get some quality shots, and as soon as I got my star model in the beautiful sunny grassy area, he walked straight up to a giant mound of red ants that swarmed him in less than a second and we ripped off his clothes and shoes. My one year old was miraculously unscathed, but somehow me and Daddy were both bitten about five times each.

I got a few shots, and look forward to another day to work on my other merch, the stars and robots desperately need some TLC, and I have some new Skunks to pic and post as well . I am a really, really crappy photographer, but I take lots of shots, so I get something!

Well, Mommy is soooo sleepy, and I pray that my little man does not awake at 3am again this morning! Good night, and dream of Skunks and robots. I certainly will.

Back to my Skunks!

2009-08-10T09:58:00.001-07:00

I sat down to clock in some time with my skunks during Lincoln's forst nap, and lo and behold, the time card does not lie, I had taken 4 days off from sewing! Shock! I did go out of town for 24 hrs. and I was suffering lack of sleep for a few days, but Jeez Louise! Get back to work already!

I am now starting to make record time per skunk, I am an obsessive timer, so that is good, because I am making WAY under minimum wage. I am hoping once I move on to the next assembly line (20 next time) my speed will even out teh per hour manufacture.

More on Skunks for Skyla... My very good friend Skyla Powers is a world champion fencer, and she constantly needs to raise funds to keep going to competitions to keep her ranking. If she misses a meet, that could throw her off the team and dash her chances for the 2012 Olympics. He rtalent is there, this is all about money. She needs to go to Europe every month to compete, and guess what? The athletes also need to pay for their coach to go. She also needs her mother as an adult escort, since she is at the young age of thirteen going on fourteen.

OK OK, long story short, I will do anything I can to help this kid reach her goals. She loves it and is the best in her field. So my meager offering is of course, SKUNKS FOR SKYLA!

Sklya will have a booth at the Albino Skunk Bluegrass Festival (see photo) and I am sending all the Skunks I can make by the festival for her to sell. I am selling them for $15 and she will get $5 per skunk. I will also list them on etsy and donate $5 from each there for Skyla as well. I will surely be blogging more on this topic as the date approaches. Please feel free to comment with any succesful ideas you have all had with fundraising with your crafts or other outlets. I am making some fabric postcards for $1 that people can buy to donate as well. (Who doesn't have ONE dolla?)

That's it for today, I look forward to getting back to Skunk assemblage during nap two today!

Here is the website http://www.albinoskunk.com and a Poster for the Skunk Fest if anyone is interested in going, it is a blast you can camp all weekend, I've been going for 8 yrs. (Missing this year due to impending due date!!!) GO team Skyla! Yeah!

Pics need some TLC

2009-08-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhhh.

I just had the best shower ever when my little man went down for his nap, and I am running on my first 8hr sleep in weeks. Think I'll take this recoup a little further and not do the laundry or vaccumm. It's not that bad, I just vaccummed three days ago. (and we were gone one of those days!)

My new stance on improving sales on my etsy site is that I need to get some new pictures up for my items. I have yet to locate my camera cord, so I am going to go buy one today. (It will of course, turn up as soon as I open the packaging and toss my reciept!)

So I'll keep this brief and post a few pics of the items I need to recapture to make them oh so catchy. I also cannot wait to take a picture of the new tree wall decal I bought from BubbaandDoodle on etsy for my son's room. It is fantastic! I have a new obsession with Vinyl wall decals, they are all over etsy and I like BubbaandDoodle the best! You can spend days looking at decals, they are great for renters, wall art with no paint, easily removable when you leave!

Here's their etsy: http://www.bubbaanddoodle.etsy.com/

All play and no work!

2009-08-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't gotten anything done, because I went to Atlanta to visit a friend and to go to a VBAC talk with Henci Goer, author of the "Thinking Woman's Guide to Giving Birth"
(try said freind's blog if you are into celiac/gluten free diets or even just want to find some natural foods coupons. http://glutenfreecolleen.blogspot.com )

Well, I did do SOME work, but not the clocked in at the sewing machine kind. I dragged out all of my reciepts (some were found this week during my craft-station reorganization) and balanced my Stars and Robots books. I just had a sale this week, and with that, I am in the black!!! Even though I just bought supplies for my "Skunks for Skyla" line. So even though I am only about 26 dollars in the black, I have inventory out the wazoo, (which is almost like money, right?)
I'll blog more about Skunks for Skyla in the future, please look out for that!

I also left some feedback on etsy, and as you can see, put in a lil time on the blog! I used the drive time to reflect on how I can best divide my time to get the most work done that will translate to sales, meaning profits! I decided I really have to redo some photos on my etsy site, and continue to be active on the etsy boards, facebook, twitter, etc... so people can see me! I feel positive, things are going well. :) Happy babies everyone!

Blogger 101

2009-08-05T17:09:00.001-07:00

I just read about ten new blogs, and the one thing I've learned: More Pictures, Less words. Enjoy.

Down to Busy-ness! (Also, Don't Sew Tired!)

2009-08-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

Allrighty then, for some inspiration I posted a thread on the etsy forums asking for people to share there blogs and look at mine, so I could get some pointers and see how this Crafter/Blogger lifestyle goes. WOW! I got some overwhelming results! I now have an insanely full dashboard to say the least. I will try to refrain from LIVING online(it's so easy) so I will check in with just a few a day. Glad to know I have some peeps.

Yesterday I did get the ball rolling and go to town on some skunk assemblage, clocked in and all. I only got in a few hrs, but that really beats my usual 45 minute stints when baby gets up from naps. I hope my momentum doesn't go completely in the toilet when #2 comes along in November! I'll just try to get alot done before then. Well, I did great with sewing the stripes on the back, I use a really heavy zig zag stitch, and it sounds like a jackhammer! Luckily I have some really nice sound-blocking headphones on my ipod, and that made ALL the difference! Why didn't I think of that before? I really got cruising along listening to what I thought was the Avett Bros, but really different...What is this? Are they singing about my hometown? Yes! Turns out it was a Ryan Adams I had thought I lost, I had never listened to it, and it was mislabeled. He is from my hometown, we actually went to highschool together, but I didn't know him. It was uncanny how he brought to life the Jacksonville experience. (NC not Florida) had to grow up there to relate! So that was a really weird mind trip on the headphones, and I zipped through all 11 skunk stripes in no time. Here's where my lack of sleep kicked in...

I go to attach the ears and sew the body together. It wasn't making sense, I couldn't do the logic and I had done it easily on my proto-skunk. I knew I wasn't doing it the same way but thought I had outsmarted the system. And turn outside out, NOPE! the ears were sewn to the inside! (You have no idea how hard it is to rip out matching thread from canvas! BLINDING!) So I rip it out, reverse, resew, and "Viola!" they are outside now, but upside down! I decided that this would be Lincoln's skunk. (My one year old) And I quit immediately, vowing never to sew on no sleep again. It took longer to "fix" the ears than to sew on all the stripes!

The rest of my Craft time was online doing Storque article research on etsy. (Invaluable!) and making new blog friends. I am well rested now and I look forward to getting down to busy-ness during nap 2.

Side note, husband had a good idea, I think I will make some vampire/franken robots for Halloween. Maybe even some stars and skunks. Why not? I only have 40 more skunks to make after I finish this batch, then 100 postcards. I can do it...I can do it...

Less action, tired Mommy! Organizing is the Priority

2009-08-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday was the first day I didn't put my nose to the grindstone and "clock in" some hours on the skunk line. I am very tired, as my one year old got up from 1-4 am the other night, and I am catching up with that now. I did however, go to the post office to mail out my etsy sale, and go grocery shopping. I had to go to the post office twice, because my fool proof system failed me, I usually gather my goodies in a paper bag with a post it stuck and paper clipped to the outside with the address. This has worked great, but I sealed my Priority Mail box and had no Post it, just a clip in the bottom of my bag. Woopsie. I am tempted to grab a lot of PM boxes so I can do the packaging at home, but for some reason have not done that yet. Every order is a different size, and I am afraid of stockpiling.

Speaking of clutter, I think it's time to redo my craft situation. I gave myself the excuse to not work on skunks during nap 1 today because I could not get to them. My husband "helped" me move some stuff to vaccuum and boxed in my sewing corner behind heavy boxes. I could move them myself, but just oh so pregnant. The laptop was back there too, but I finally crawled under the dining room table to snatch it. I am going to clock in as soon as I am done with this blog. The whole point of starting this blog was to have a forum to hold myself accountable and really get some work done. I hope to also inspire anyone else to get to it, and hopefully learn a few things from my mistakes and triumphs!

So as far as work goes, I did actually get alot done on etsy yesterday, I posted an item and facebooked it, did some chatboarding, joined a local etsy group, mailed off my sale, and rearranged my craft supplies. Oh, I also decided to lower my skunk prices to 15 at the Skunk Fest to bring in more purchases after email discussing with all parties involved. Five will go to my friend Skyla. ( I need to make a sign, Skunks for Skyla! )They are still going to be 17 on etsy, I always have lower prices in person. I need to figure out the best way to tell people on etsy that 5 from each skunk will help support a world class athlete. I think I need to make some lists to clear my head, I feel a little muddled in thought and list making is my way to streamline my priorities. Blah Blah Blog, Blondie rocks in the background (Heart of Glass, from live concert)Ooooh oooh, Aaaahuh!

Allright then, me and my sleep deprived pregnant brain are going to check out and go clear some skunk making space while nap 2 is still underway....Wish me luck!

Feng Shui and a new sale

2009-08-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, so far I have spent about 6 hours on my assembly line of 11 skunks, and I am feeling like I may be half, or a little over halfway there. This will hopefully add up to about an hour a skunk, and after paying for supplies, I might actually make $10 an hour in labor! Of course, none of the hours I spend online networking and posting, none of the driving to the PO, fabric stores, etc...(the list is endless) will count in this "labor cost." (Yet!) Enough of the math portion of this blog.

I was talking to a friend of mine who does another blog, and we were talking about using Feng Shui to bring in money. We have both done it successfully in the past, working on that back left corner of the house from the front door, adding purple and fresh greenery (live plants) and stopping up all the drains in the house and shutting toilet lids and closing bathroom doors. The usual. So as I was about to hang up after our in depth conversation, up popped an email, "Whoah! I just made a sale!" So my faith in the ancient Chinese Art of Wind Water movement is renewed. I sold three stars to a perfect stranger, awesome.

I have found that the more I blog, and especially, get active commenting and posting on etsy articles and forums, my activity level goes up. It is just nice to see it actually PAYING off.

So if you need money, get some Feng Shui action going on, and if you have money, go buy some stuff on etsy! ( I actually bought a bracelet while I was on the site to check on my order, it's good Karma!)

Enjoy the picture of my little man amongst my Star inventory!

friend's blog: http://glutenfreecolleen.blogspot.com

my etsy: http://www.StarsandRobots.etsy.com

Identity: Craft Superhero in the making

2009-08-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I am deciding that the point of this blog is going to be following me on my adventures toward Craft Superheroism. I just started my assembly line of Skunk neck pillows yesterday, and with naps and interuptions, I have been getting in 45 minute bursts. I have devised a way to "clock in" and "clock out" so that I can try again to figure out how to pay myself for my time. I have a friend who is training for the Olympics in Summer 2012, and she is raising funds for going to Nationals. So, I am going to sell the skunks at the Albino Skunk Bluegrass Festival at her booth, where she will get $5 a skunk, I am selling them for $20. I am also going to make some fabric postcards and sell those for a dollar, all proceeds to Skyla (my little fencing champion). I'll throw in some Stars and Robots to the mix as well.

My main craft focus, other than continuing my skunk assemblage, is to find that daggone camera cord! My one year old thinks it is funny to hide things around the house, and he's done an excellent job this time! I'll probably be going off to buy a new one, and find ours as soon as I get home. (That's what happened to my cancelled credit cards after abandoning search)

Look forward to seeing more pictures and a much more pimped out page, I'm getting a little help from some blogging friends on that, but as for now, it is NOT nap time, and Lincoln has a pen heading towards a wall...

New Blog, Starting out

2009-07-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

Hi! I am Stars and Robots, I have a site on etsy where I sell strange and unusual stuffed pillows. They aren't really that strange, they are just things I like and my one year old likes. Lots of my grownup friends like them too. I am trying to get into online marketing, aka trying to hawk my stuff! I've never blogged, I hope no one has to read this boring first time practice blog, but if you do, go check out my Stars, Robots, Skunks, and baby clothes at www.StarsandRobots.etsy.com. I have been selling away, but with trial and error, I am trying to keep myself in the black. After earnings up and over $300, (EXCITING!) I added up my expenses and really only made $30. (deflation sound) Since then I have gone out and racked up another huge toll of supplies, mostly canvas for my skunk line. But not to despair! I have plenty of stock to sell, and ideas to roll out new items. I just need to get the word out and as soon as I find the USB cord/charger for my camera, get some better pictures going! We have just moved to a new city so I have to start over getting a local interest going and soon I will be trying to get some store placement. (Yikes!) Somewhere in all of this, I should probably start working on that small business license. I don't think it's illegal until you start making a real profit though, so no sweat. Off to find my camera cord!!!