325/366: Schnazzy

I'm blinging it up over here. It still amazes me how a simple bead or set of beads can take a dull, lackluster purse and make it bright and fresh.

I have ten purses complete, plus four more at a local gift shop. I hope to finish these up this weekend and move on to the blanquilts. I know I'm pushing it with the blanquilts versus the time I have remaining. My problem arises when the boys are out playing, or have friends over. I don't like being in the basement at the sewing machine, unless the boys are in the basement with me.

Today, the procrastination ends. I have to get working on the blanquilts. They are going to be beautiful. They've been on my mind for weeks now!

Tonight, tonight I'll start.

Or maybe tomorrow.

317/366: Sunny

If these past two weeks are any indication of how procrastination works with me, I'll be in good shape for the Open Studios Show in less than three weeks.

This bag marks number 15 in the purse category. I still have three more bag foundation parts made from the knitting machine.

Tomorrow, it's sewing time. All those vintage fabrics I've picked up in the last two years are finally going to see the sewing machine. In the evenings, I'll still have time to put the finishing touches on the purses.

Until next time...happy yarning!

Meander through Past Projects

I have been absent, but I've been busy. Working on some custom bags, some not even shown here (still figuring out the new camera and which file folder photos are going to).

Right now, concentrating on a couple handmade projects for Christmas. I can't let a Christmas go by without at least one homemade gift. I wish I could make more, but times a ticking.

(If you know me, that last sentence doesn't mean a thing...there is always time!)

Please stop by the shop for last minute gifts or something to spend your Christmas money on!

New Purses, Kind Of

One new, one redux.

I kept thinking Rugby for the striped purse, and my girlfriend's sister just had a baby boy named Rigby. Love it? Available here.

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And Circle Tweed, let's try this one again. It used to have a chain strap and a pink gemstone button. I think it is groovy, you?

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My current items on the hook:

Winter white purse with a slithery handle

Green monster purse for a cool chick

Two fabric bags for some silly ladies

and plans, plans, and more plans.

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Hope you all have an extraordinary weekend!

Where Have I Been?

In true Chelsea Handler fashion..."What...a whirlwind!"

Have I beaten you over the head enough about the Buffalo Indie Market? Well, here is the recap of the events that surround that show.

Last you found me and my gals naming purses, making up soap and towel sets, stamping bags and 'sleeving' this little cuties:

Gift certificates available in my shop...click to the right on the etsy link

By Friday, I had succumbed to the notion that I wasn't going to get everything done. I still had blank purses and purses with no zippers and made the decision to stop thinking that I could still get it done. I packed a very small bag of projects that could be done between Friday night and Sunday morning, or even at the show if I was unfortunate enough to have the time. Then Friday and Saturday morning was cleaning and prepping for our Annual Thanksmas Party. Yes, totally crazy. In fact, so crazy that I cook for everyone and do not allow guests to bring food, mostly to ensure that I can eat every gluten free item safely and a little bit as a challenge. Women used to cook full meals all the time. I'm not a fan of the 'bring a dish to pass'. You are a guest in my house and I have invited you to dinner. Come, enjoy, let me sweat.

This was an unprecedented event. I was ready. The dishes were all cleaned, dishwasher empty, dips were in the oven, ice was ready, and the biggest amazement - I showered.

That sounds all well and good, but I did have a couple 'episodes' of complete desperation earlier in the day. I couldn't do it all, I still had all this other stuff to do for the show tomorrow and here I am picking up papers and toys cars and cutting potatoes. Crying, a bit of hyperventilating, then I shook myself out of it with "I don't have time to think" and was back to my warp speed of working.

It was a lovely evening, our 9th annual.

After folks left, I had a pile of wash towels to tie off and knot and hide the ends. Then I brought up most of my boxes and wrote a list. I don't remember what time I went to bed, but I do recall seeing a 2.

Early morning shower, a little food (chip dip, I think, oh, and cake) and my mom was here with the van. We loaded the van and were shocked to see that it was only 9:10 am. The venue didn't open until 10:00 am so we sat. And thought how bizarre it was that me, Carrie, was again ready. Just waiting. Unprecedented.

To the show: Our table was in a great location with a giant window behind us, loom to the right with my back to the customers so they could watch with a good view. Some folks watched at a distance since the loom bites. Some tried it out, little girls, big girls - no men. The men watched in awe though, I think they secretly wanted to try. After all it is a simple complex machine with gears and levers and wood and metal...guy stuff. Well, until you add the pretty yarn. One girl firmly thought she would break it. Then told me that she was six years old when I bought my loom. Cool, thanks.

It was a great event. I sold many purses and felt like an artist. I had some wash towels, some purses, some weavings and scarves. For the most part, the other artists were welcoming and kind and all a little bit silly crazy.

(are you still reading...this is long)

There was one vendor that sold some similar items and had visited my table prior to the show opening. She said I had nice things and walked away. I then thought I should check out my 'pseudo' competition. Her items were okay, I wasn't wow'd. But what did wow me was her blatant slamming of me.
'I can do everything, but I only brought my purses so as not to confuse the customers'
and
'Knitting is so much better than crochet, crochet is too loose and doesn't look good'
and that is the competition part of shows that I hate and tried to get away from. Luckily, I had other artists around that were community, not competition.

This is 'Blagojevich' and the price...$28 plus on Senate Seat....still available in the shop

Getting out, was a whole other story. One elevator, over 50 vendors and a couple musicians. We were third in line for the elevator with the loom. It was insane. After about 10 minutes with one person ahead, we decided to take the loom down the stairs. The loom collapses, so it is narrow, but still bulky and heavy. People followed our lead and instead of waiting for the elevator to carry down one plastic storage bin, they used the stairs. By the time we got the loom back in the van and made our way back to the stairs, there was a major traffic jam. Stairs were backed up, crazy. My arms were jello by the end of the packing up and moving out. Cherry jello.

This former name of Googly Eyed, now became Two Horned, One Eyed and Gorgeous...available in the shop

I made real on my dream of being an artist again. And to think, it all started with this little blog, about a year ago!

Many many thanks to those that came to support me, those that sent emails and convos and twitters and wrote on my Facebook Wall.

***Special thanks to Lisa G, Tom, Gretchen (next purse will don your name), Mom and Dad, Judy and Liz***

Das Polka Series

Is it possible to have too many polka dots?

I am loving this unintended outcome of the long leaf green purse in the background. I was hoping to have a flat circle of color embedded into the purse. Fortunately, I didn't think it through all the way and this is what I found at the bottom of my washing machine.

Doing the happy dance in my basement, while holding a wet purse. Mama said there'd be days like this!

So now...I might keep going on the dots, bumps, balls, you can call them whatever you want, but I call them fun!

My pal over at hooRAy gave me a blog award. My first award in almost a year, which I'll do when I get the yarn out of my brain. You can read about it on her blog, which is very honest and real. She is doing the 30 posts in 30 days this month, so keep her honest and check in daily.

Working on:
~Two scarves for loom, wound the warp, now need to thread the reed and the harnesses (all to be on and woven no later than December 9th).
~Two little custom orders for trades that I am doing...I LOVE trades.
~Winter white purse to be dotted and felted and enough wool to make at least 4 more purses.
~Winding a warp for the coasters that will be part of my weaving workshop at the Buffalo Indie Market
~My interview and pics for the Featured Artist Profile on the Buffalo Indie Market Web page.

Okay, off to hyperventilate.

Do you think it is rude to take my crochet to a candle party at a neighbors tomorrow??? I'm going to do it. Bad? pa-char

A special welcome to Magnus Victor Carlson, a little viking in NYC with some totally awesome parents and aunts and uncles! Welcome to the Spinning World, Magnus.

Let's Call Him Joey

I moved out of my parents' house somewhere between 1995 and 1996 (I have a feeling someone will correct me on that, my memory isn't so tight lately).

I stopped playing with dolls somewhere before that, lets just say 1984.

My mom just opened a box for my boys of my old stuffed animals, and this little guy, Joey. I have no idea what or if he had a name. What I do know is that I made him. I am going to guess that I was in middle school. We don't really recall.

This little fella is all hand sewn. What you can't see is the hat is alternating fabric of the stripe and solid red. The brim was made with a piece of corrugated box. The body and hands are made from pantyhose, suntan color, I presume.

What impressed me was the hand stitching, although not the cleanest, it has lasted and was fairly even. I also believe I made this without a pattern (you'll see as you scroll down). I was talking with my mom about it and thought for an instant that I could have seen a pattern on the web...no. At this time I was excited to make a formula on the computer to repeat my boyfriend's name on the first Apple computer ever made.

This is where the lack of pattern was confirmed. The cavity for the head/neck...toilet paper roll. Did I tell you this was a puppet?

This was about the time we started laughing, the knotted neck, the toilet paper. But what really got us giggling like we were crying...the body.


Although I don't think I will keep Joey, he sure was fun for a laugh and to see that I had been inspired long ago and that urge to create and not follow patterns is still strong.



Coming up...new purses. The Polka Series.