Hello Suzy

My spirits and energy is so high this week! Yay! It feels good to have so normalcy again. I’ve finally went to the antique mall down the road from work. OMG! It’s so big and filled with so much goodness! Me and a coworker vow to spend our lunches there like every week. So far I’ve only bought a vintage Valentine decoration, a ’70s dress pattern and a big pickle jar that came with an assortment of old buttons, needles, thread and pinking shear (something i’ve been dying to get). Not only is this store just awesome, it’s fun knowing that I have a someone to go with and that we can get out of the office and clear our heads together.

I’ve done so many projects this week! It seems every project I do is my new fav. Poms-poms, crocheted headbands, rubber stamps and as of today, button earrings^_^ I’ve also made a crocheted a headband for a coworker. The first of many gifts these projects will end up being.

Here are the projects I’ve done this week:

I’ve finally hung up my inspiration boards. I put up the little shelf in the middle to add interesting space and it a fun place to display some fav. stuff of mine.

Hand carved stamps!! I remember doing this in junior high and I have to say, cutting this stuff is SOOOOO much easier. It’s kind of satisfying cutting and carving into the rubber. My first stamp is my character Newton (who’s name changes all the time:P ) I draw him every where and now I can just stamp him instead. Next is my fav. dinosaur a parasaurolophus.

Mad Men inspired earrings. So cute and so fun and the possibilities are endless! Another accessory that I want to make and wear all the time!

Wooden people of me and Rob! I had hoped it would turn out better, but the acrylic paints I used were super old and things got real gloppy. But! They still turned out pretty rad and gave me and Rob a good laugh. I actually painted shirts that we wear on a regular basis. Mine’s from Threadless and Rob’s is from Kingdom of Loathing, an awesome silly web game. I painted the face on my person totally off centered, but it’s funny because now she look like she’s looking at Rob. Happy accidents!

Here’s my Valentine’s garland. It says, “Rabu Rabu” in Japanese. Rabu is the word love, but since Japanese don’t have L or V sounds they say rabu! I was going to do the actual phrase I love you in Japanese, but I learned that that phrase is a super serious thing to say, like some Japanese people won’t even say it. Of course, they don’t throw around the phrase “I love you” quite like we do. And rabu rabu is something the young kids say to each other and that seems a bit more fun. See, you learned something today!

Since things are starting to become normal again, I’ll totally be posting on more of a regular basis^_^ Heck, I might even finish my blog makeover!

Happy February!

Has this week already gone by? Well, this week I will finally see a slow down at work. Meaning more time for Style School! This past week I was pretty beat down and it wasn’t really until the weekend when got to work on most of my projects. And when I had plan on going to the craft stores on Saturday, we got hit with a record breaking snow storm! Although I did quite enjoy the excuse to stay inside with a blanket, Rob, the pets and tv^_~

Here are the projects I completed this week:

I have to say this turned out to be my favorite project! A crocheted headband with buttons. It was super easy to make! I’ve already made like 6 and have been wearing them everyday. I just like it cuz it adds a bit of cute to the blah of t-shirt and jeans, ’specially at my job.

Button collars for pets! I added buttons to a collar I already had for Faith. She hasn’t worn it for a long long time since it was kind of meh and too long, so I just cut it and added these buttons and now it just looks great!

These are my clipboards that will be hung up as an inspiration board. I still have a few things to add and of course I need to hang them up. The board with the black paint is actually a chalkboard! I can’t wait to use it.

Here’s my favorite quote pillow. I had originally thought of a different quote(which I’ll still make into a pillow), but with all the excitement with the revealed iPad, I got all geeky and made an Apple pillow! And what’s more inspirational than, “Think different”? I wish the white fabric I used was a little more sturdier since it’s a little floppy and wonky, it is left over curtain liner:/ Oh well! And I am learning to love the back stitch in embroidery! I was always a split stitch girl, but the back stitch is a bit cleaner.

And that’s all I have for week 3. I think I may post again in a few days since I already just finished another project! I also will try to put up my clip boards. And of course, I’ll try to get this blog fully rolling again.

Oi, this week I had even LESS time than before. Work should be slowing down hopefully this week and I can finally have both my evenings and weekends back.

Here’s the projects I completed this week:

Hanger Photo Holder:
I think this is too cute! Something that can be interchangeable. I went with the neutralness of the browns with just a pop of maroon to give it a little twist and I used matching colors for the frames. The embellishments was first use to hide an ugly part of the frame, but it looked so cute that I added it to the other one.

Studio Toolbelt Apron:
I thought it would be funny to use this fabric from an apron my mother-in-law gave with that has cheesy camping and fishing pictures on it and the colors also go well with the main fabric. I’m actually tempted to bring this to work so I won’t loose my pens or glasses all the time.

Fabric Pom-Pom Necklace:
I worked on this project mostly at work, even though I bet the boys thought I was weird. Whatev, heh. This project turned out all right. It’s kind of hard to make the pom-poms with fabric, but I still attempted it. I may not be crazy about all the projects, but I am a firm believer that you don’t know what you truly like until you’ve tried it! And who know that you might learn in the process? I learned that pom-poms are fun and awesome (when made with yarn)!

Cosmetic Bag:
This is my fav. project so far! I think mostly because I actually sat down and drew out ideas and thought how I really wanted it to look like. I went through lots of sketches. I learned that sketching out an idea rather than thinking about it and then jumping into it helps me out a lot. Also I was super excited to work with wool felt. It’s a neat thing working with actual fiber from an animal. I’m so using this as my travel case from now on: )

I have a few more projects to do before I catch up…but I kind of realized that I was forcing myself to keep up and spend my free time working on my projects and not really spending time with the dogs and Rob (even though Rob is busy doing some freelance) So I took a break this evening and let myself enjoy just sitting and watching a movie (with no crafts in my hands!!) and get caught up whenever it happens. I think I’ll learn most from it that way rather than obsessing about it. I need to slow down and read the posts and take it in. I will also look at my fellow students’ pictures more and comment on them, since people are doing such great things! This week will be SO much better!

This week was the first week of Style School, online craft classes that help you find your own style in crafts, wardrobe, home and life. I have been MORE than excited to start these classes! To learn new projects, meet new people and of course help define my style.

…This week was also the first week of the quarter, which means we are super busy at work and with me now being full time, I have to work 12+ hour days and even working weekends. Needless to say, I have been exhausted and haven’t had the time I’d like to dedicate to Style School, which really bums me out.

But!! I have found that taking the little free time I have doing my projects is a great stress reliever: ) By next week I should have a normal schedule and totally catch up on all I’ve missed. Already I’ve made and learned things I’ve never done! I even totally failed at making a pom-pom, ha ha.

So! Let me show what I have done this week!!

First off is my cover for my style binder and some interior pages. This is where I keep all my notes and inspiration cut outs that help me collect and visualize my style.

Next is my first project, a faux vintage brooch wreath. My original thought was to have this really look like a house and maybe put a bird sitting on it, but I kind of like how it is now. Can’t wait to hang it on our door! Fun project and I hope to make more not only for the house, but for friends and family.

This is a mock polaroid picture frame. Another thing I can’t wait to hang up! This includes the first documented picture of me and Rob. Rob hates how young he looks….but hey, it’s US!

I’m working on my third project right now, which I should have mostly finished tonight. I can’t wait to show it! So far, I’m enjoying myself so much! And it’s going to be so awesome when I have like a whole evening and even a weekend day to spend on these projects! Also, I’ve been looking at other student projects on the Flickr group, so great! It’s just cool how different everyone’s projects look even though they are the same project!

Another cool thing about Style School is you can sign up to have a buddy to help and inspire each other. At first I wasn’t going to sign up, but I did and I got such a great partner! Her name is AJ , she’s from Austin, TX (so jealous) and we have tons in common and it’s making Style School that much more enjoyable: )

See ya next time!

Hello to another year and a new decade! I have a feeling it’s going to be a great year. To know that we are in a city we love and in our very own home feels good and stable.

I have some resolutions for the year and I’ve also decided to restart my “12 Months of 29″ List. I got distracted with so many other things that the list got pushed aside…but I’m totally going to try again!!

2010 general goals:
-Take better care of my body
make more balanced meals
develop a well rounded exercise routine
-Be more eco-friendly (I was so passionate about it 3 years ago, such a shame I stopped)
-More arts and crafts
-More creativity and my true self into life, crafts and clothing (can’t let the boys suck me into the t-shirt and track pants look ahhhh!)

and…

10 Things Before 30 List: (formally known as 12 months of 29)*
1. Make a fancy dinner with appetizer, main course and dessert
2. Get a hair cut and donate it
3. Change all the light bulbs in the house to CFLs
4. Sign me and Ginny up for agility classes
5. Go camping
6. Start my garden
7. Sew pair of pants/shorts
8. Start my scrapbook
9. Go to a play/concert
10. 1 finished piece of art (digital, paper, paint) each month till June
*which be documented in the blog

See ya next time!

I’m so excited for 2009 to be over with! Not that it was bad, I just can’t wait to do all this stuff in 2010 like Japan, more crafts, garden, family visiting here, Style School, getting the house fixed up more and of course finally working full time at my job!

2009 was just super busy for us and it seemed we barely got to stop and catch our breath. I want to make it a point next year to slow down and enjoy life around us.

Here are some highlight of last year:

-Going to amusement park for Easter
-Moving into our first house
-Visiting family in Arizona
-Spending afternoons sitting out in our backyard
-Sewing some clothes for myself
-Adopting Ginny
-Getting my dinosaur tattoo (and Rob getting his dinosaur tattoo)
-Having our friends from New York and Maine come visit us for Rob’s birthday and beerfest
-Raking leaves for the first time
-Sitting by the fireplace
-Finally finally finally after me working there a year, getting full time at my job

Looks like my new blog layout won’t be ready this Friday. The holidays kept me very busy and I am still feeling uninspired on the look of it. I’m so going to try to have it finished in the month of January.

Well, I hope everyone has a great celebration of the new year! See ya in a few: )

Style School starts in just over a week! I cannot stop thinking about it and all the projects I get to do! I’m so excited that I’m inspired to craft more than ever!

Our early bird sign up project is a pocket pillow. I made this for our bedroom, with R+S for me and Rob. Of course I already put a little love note for Rob.

It’s funny because when I went back to Arizona in Oct., I raided my mom’s table linen box and grabbed a bunch of awesome, tacky table doilies, linens and such. When I saw the pillow project calling for a doily I got worried since I don’t own any, BUT! I remembered my mom’s stuff and BEHOLD! a doily!! It’s a little big, but I used it either way and made it work in my own wonky way: ) I wish I can go back to her house and see what else I can find for Style School!

Another tidbit…the orange fabric is from the Etsy.com grab bag box at the Renegade Festival ‘08 with a label from Victoria’s Secret.

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend filled with good food, friends and family.

Showing off the top and headband I made for Christmas: )

I didn’t realize until now that most of my pictures are HUGE!!! Heaven forbid if you view the blog through a reader. I so don’t like this WordPress image uploader:P It’s pretty late right now and I’ll try fixing it tomorrow.

I was hoping to have a new blog layout up before I posted again, but I’ve hit a few snags. First, Rob is coding it for me and I realized it’s quite involved and takes a lot of time and he’s about to start a big project where his time will be little. Second, I am SO extremely stuck on the look of the new layout. As an artist, I feel that I should really incorporate my art and design into my blog and not just use images and such that are not mine. Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course. My goal is to get the new blog up and rolling the start of the new year!

In the mean time, I have just so much to post about. I’ve been doing some crafty stuff that I want to share: )

Here are projects I’ve done!

A gingham top! (makes me look pregnant)
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Another pregnant looking top! …which I am so NOT. Built By Wendy Top #3964.
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Sweet top that’s so easy to make, that I plan to make lots of….also, doesn’t make look pregnant: P Built By Wendy Top #3835
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A wood bird that I’ve had for years and finally finished painting.
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Neutrinos are these tiny tiny bits of “radioactive decay” that mostly come from the sun and fly by us without hitting anything. But! they tend to cause quite trouble if they just happen to come in contact with other matter. They been the cause of many disasters in some of the books I’ve been reading and even in the movie 2012!
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A crocheted version of my sister-in-law’s brother’s dog for their soon-to-be baby: ) Pattern mixed and matched from Super Cute: 25 Amigurumi Animals
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I’ve got a few more that I have yet to take pictures of. It’s been lots of fun crafting lately, ’specially the painting, which is something I never really do even though I love to draw.
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Also!!! As an early Christmas present from Rob, I signed up for the super awesome Style School!! Elsie and Leigh-Anne are teaching a 6 week course of 30 projects that help you develop your own style in crafts from accessories, homes decoration, fashion and even pets! I couldn’t be more excited. This is exactly what I need right now. I’ve been so blah in my crafts and the way I’ve been dressing. I need a fresh start!

Anyways! Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! See ya soon;3