A month or so ago, I was approached by a friend of mine at church. She wanted a couple aprons, custom made.
She is on the short side, and most aprons are too long for her, and hang too far down her chest. I took measurements, she brought me the fabric, and we now have two custom aprons. With the left over fabric we are going to make placemats, pictures of those soon to follow.
I've been a little busy lately, playing with my clay. My sewing has suffered, but I will fix that tonight.
I listed 4 magnets today, with many more unique polymer clay creations to come in the next few days.
Please click the photo to go to the listing.
I took the plunge and made a Facebook fan page. You can visit and become a fan here.
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter!
I have some exciting new things to post (and list on ArtFire) in the next few days.
Keep in mind:
I have found polymer clay to be such a wonderful and relaxing medium. While I won't give up my fabric for anything, I still love clay.
It is such a diverse substance, coming in different colors and consistencies, that I can't help of come up with a million ideas for things I want to make from clay.
I feel very lucky to be part of the Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild on Artfire. They are really a talented group and haven't hesitated to answer my questions and help me along in my own clay journey.
Here are some things that they have done:
(all pictures link to rapid cart so you can purchase)
Jewelry:
More Jewelry:
Polymer clay isn't just for jewelry! I have seen what could be classifed as "fine art" for sale on ArtFire, from some of my fellow guild members. Some of them do some really amazing sculputres, and one lady does the most astounding miniatures.
Thank you ladies for letting me make spotlights of your work! You have some really amazing things, I can't wait to see what else you do!
Among my many craft interests is polyclay. In recent weeks and months, my son has been encouraging me to not only sell some of my recently found older things, but to also create new ones.
I've found some fantastic new mentors in my ArtFire guild, Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild, and we have some new and exciting things coming up in the near future.
I thought I'd take a few minutes from my busy day to post a few of my clay things.
Kickinskreations has soome truly unreal candles. I don't know how she does it, but they look like REAL food. I leave her shop with a growling tummy, every time I visit.
Her ArtFire shop is usually my first stop.
That "cherry pie" is a candle. Looks like a real cherry pie to me! This makes me want pie, for breakfast.
She also makes soap. I would show you a picture of the soap I bought for my husband, but some might be offended. I will, however, show you her "Kiss my butt..." soap.
She has been crafting (although in my personal opinion this is more art) since January of 2008, and I once heard her say that her son is her biggest inspiration.
I have to wonder...did her son inspire her fantastic cola candle???
If he is anything like my kids, maybe it inspired her margarita candle!
Her favorite color is blue, and I love the vivid blue of the blueberry candle!
She has an impressive presence on the web, and these are all the places I've found her.
MyCraft.com
Facebook
Make sure to follow her on Twitter!
Indiepublic
ArtFire
Her candles would make a great conversation piece (and they smell really great!!) for your next gathering! Take a look!
Suzanne has this to say about her beads:
I make handmade, lampworked glass beads, and jewelry from my beads. I have been making glass beads for about 6 years. I love working with molten glass and a flame – it’s quite addictive. I love trying to master new techniques and skills and I change styles frequently, trying new things. I am also involved with medieval re-creation, and I research and recreate period beads.
Just last night I listed new coozies, perfect for Mother's Day!
All of the pictures are clickable, and will take you to the listing in a new window.
A light pink background with teal and pink swirls is perfect for the girly girl mom!
Is mom a wild child? Pink leopard spots is right up her alley!
Maybe pastel horizontal stripes is more her style! I only have 4 sewed at the current time, and all are listed at the same listing. They all came out differently because of the uniqueness of the fabric, giving each a completely different feel.
If mom is a musician or just a music aficionado, I have two music notes coozies! The white on black is stunning, and the staves are set vertically instead of horizontally for a "notable" twist.
These are affordable gifts for mom priced at rock bottom $5.00! If you want me to ship straight to mom with a little note inside, I am willing to help! I giftwrap and ship to secondary addresses at no additional charge unless mom lives outside the US. What I pay for shipping is what you pay for shiping.
Use the "contact seller" or "note to seller" features to give me your special instructions. The invoice will be sent to you, while mom gets the giftwrapped coozie with your note and instruction sheet.
Coozies make great gifts for any holiday, any season, any reason. 100% machine washable, 100% machine dryable, 100% microwavable! I highly reccomend putting the coozie on the cup before pouring coffee and putting in the microwave. Please do not bleach!!
WOW! This seller has a lot of neato things in her shop, just BEGGING you to buy them!
For starters, she has wristlets! Such a neat idea, and really cute fabrics.
Here is one:
I love all things glittery, and these pink, glittery pegs are crying to me. I can think of 1001 uses for them!
She is also an accomplished painter!
In her own words, here is a little bit about her:
1. Whacha make?
I handmade bags, purses, paint with acrylics, play with serviette art and write out my own sewing tutorials for busy beginner sewers.
2. How long have you been crafting?
Technically, I started cross-stitching when I was 8. Learnt to use the sewing machine when I was 13. Sewed my first piece of clothing for a real human being when I was 24. Been crafting with paper, scissors and paint since i was 3... Now that sounds like a very long time... Crafting is really a very old art and even my daughter is now crafting!! She loves the art and craft sessions, at home and in school too.
3. Favorite color to craft?
PINK!! Anytime.. Light pink, baby pink, bright pink dark pink.. Any pink!! Anytime!!
4. What inspires and motivates you?
Value Creating. Everytime I do something, I ask myself, "Is any value being created?" It can be monetary, social, networking, family, self or anything else.
If I can see the value, I will do it. If I cannot see the value of doing something, I try not to touch it. Like say, something mudane like washing the dishes. I would be creating and adding on to the value of a nice, clean and neat home for me, my family and everyone who visit. So, I will see that as a priority. For my crafting projects, if that particular project will turn out to be pretty and yet still practical, I would do it too. If the project creates beauty and functional value at the same time, then yeah, I would be totally inspired and motivated to finish it up.
5. Anything else you want to add?
Setting your priorities and goals in life is really important. I seek to set and achieve my daily goals. A tiny step a day brings you closer to your dreams each day. Remind yourself of your goals everyday and remain on track even if there are many distractions along the way. To be able to live is a blessing in itself already. Let us live each day fulfillingly and always be true. To yourself, to your loved ones, to others. It is the one and only way to live.
You can find djStoreRoom by clicking on the following links:
http://artfire.com/users/
http://djstoreroom.blogspot.
http://twitter.com/djstoreroom
http://djstoreroom.etsy.com
I decided to unveil my coffee coozies earlier than I was planning on, but they've already been a big hit! I sold two within 15 minutes of putting the listing up.
I have more fabrics yet to list, and have some duplicates of all the fabrics.
Stay tuned for more coozie listings!!
I recently traded the pink Harveyette dog for some other goods. The recipient got her Harveyette and sent me a little note.
We got the dog today. It's adorable. The funny thing is that my daughter is determined that it's a goat...lol. Keep in mind that she just turned 3. You know how once they get their minds set, that's how it it.
Thanks so much
I've been thinking about writing this post for a few weeks now. It is strictly my opinion, and if you don't agree, tough toenails.
I would rather buy from mom & pop shops, craft fairs, and any other venue of handmade sellers than from large chain stores. Even if I have to pay more to do so.
There. I said it. I'll pay more for handmade than if I bought it from a chain store.
I recently bought a 4 oz bar of soap for $4. In the past, I would pay $4 for 4 bars of Ivory. I also bought a $6 jar of lotion that was only 4 oz. In the past, I would try to get lotion as cheap as possible, including *waiting* for sales at Bath and Body Works.
So why did I spend more for handmade? Better quality. Someone is getting paid better for their hard work by me buying handmade than they would if they were working checkout at the store. They are enjoying their art and craft more than if they were stuck behind the counter pushing cheap crap that is going to break in the first year. They are supporting their family just a bit better.
I went on a search a couple weeks ago to find a model for my dog clothes. The first place I looked was a mom & pop toy store downtown. Yeah, the stuffed animal I brought home wasn't handmade, but the mom & pop is trying to compete against the likes of Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, etc. They also have personal stake in the store so the customer service is going to be better than if I were to go to someone at Target and say "I'm looking for a life-size dog because I make dog clothes and I don't want my dog to pee on the clothes.".
I went in looking for ONE thing. I left with more than $60 worth of toys, because we ALL left with something new. My son got a new science thingybobber, my daughter got a new toy car, I got my stuffed dog, and my husband found a new otter to add to his collection. I felt happy that I could purchase from the mom & pop, it gave me a sense of pride that my purchase is helping them live the lifestyle they want.
I was in the new Khols store the other day, looking for a few things. I didn't find exactly what I wanted, and my 12 year old son turned to me and said "You know mom, I don't think you are going to find what you are looking for here, besides, I'd rather have you make my new curtains than buy them from a store."
That made me proud.
We wandered all over the store, and somehow wound up in the jewelry section. We came across a rack of necklaces that had brightly colored plastic stones on them, for $22. Granted, Khols was having a sale that day, but still. Plastic. I showed it to my husband and said (loudly) "This is nice, but I can think of at least 3 sellers on ArtFire who could make me something similar with real stones, and no one else would have one just like it." Four other shoppers whipped their heads around to look at me and glare.
Yeah, I made a small scene. Deal with it. I don't want to look just like you because I'm not just like you, I'm me.
We were on our way out, and my husband stopped to look at sun dresses in the women's section. He pointed to one and said "I like that style, but hate that fabric. Can you find a pattern for a dress like that and I'll help you pick out the fabric?"
I love to make my own clothes. With the thousands of patterns at my local JoAnn's store, I can usually find something gorgeous to make. They also have thousands of different fabrics, so I'm pretty sure I can also find a fabric that I'll enjoy and want to wear...that fits my personal style. In the end, I'll have something that is unique.
I mean seriously folks, there were probably 15 dresses on the rack that all looked the same except for size, and who knows how many lurking in the back store room. That means that I would have the same exact dress as at least 15 other women.
Isn't it some kind of fashion sin to show up to a function wearing the same dress/outfit as another woman? The only way I can guarantee that I'll have a unique outfit is to make it myself.
I love the look on some people's faces when they see my latest dress, skirt, purse, shirt, whatever and say "OHMYGOSH that is SO beautiful! Where did you get it? I have to have one!!!" And I smile quietly and inform them that I made it.
This is a small town, and we don't have many luxury stores...if they could even be considered that. We have a Dillard's, JCPenny, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart, K-mart, and now a Khols. No Macys. No Bloomingdales. Heck, we don't even have an Olive Garden here in town.
What do you get with those stores?
Cookie cutter.
You buy there, someone else will probably have something similar, if not identical, to what you just bought.
I have dreses in my closet that are OOAK. I have a black crushed velvet dress with a shortish hem and longish sleeves, and a sweetheart neckline. I made it from two different patterns. I have a yellow dress with purple irises too. It has a tea length hem, sweetheart neckline, and tie straps.
My daughter has her cherished "Cars" nightgown she wanted from Santa. My mom went to both KC and Wichita looking for one, and couldn't find it. I made one for her in under an hour, and I'll be darned if that little girl hasn't taken it to show and tell at least a half dozen times since Christmas.
Her christmas dress was made from black crushed velvet and two patterns combined. She was the talk of the Christmas service because no one had seen that dress anywhere in town before.
Buy handmade. Talk to a struggling seamstress about making your next easter dress, or Mother's Dress for that upcoming wedding. You're guaranteed to have something unique!
