Darn

Hey everyone! Jess from Lobster and Swan brought it to my attention that I don't have an Etsy widget on the side. Which one did all you guys use??

So it begins

The holiday season. The real holiday season, not that crazy September stuff. Christmas music is about the only stuff you'll hear for the next month. I do love it. I really love the bigger sense of community this time of year brings. I've already given tons of change to the bell-ringers; there's one right next to the door of my Starbucks. People have been asking about the Christmas Blend for almost a month now!

OK, obviously I'm not trying to advertise Sbux on my blog or anything (I need to advertise myself!) but, every "Holiday Trio" drink you buy (espresso truffle, gingersnap latte, and peppermint mocha twist), Sbux will donate 5 cents to (Product) Red. I think the parentheses are on the right word... Anyway, that's a really really huge thing. Huge. Think of how many Starbucks there are. This campaign will give so much money to the AIDS crisis in Africa. I'm not telling you to go there, but if you do, get one of those! They're all really good. The ET is really rich, so beware.


Enough of that. In honor of the biggest consumerist push of the year, I'll be offering 20% off in my Etsy shop today through Monday! Yay! I'll be listing lots of stuff tonight and tomorrow, so keep checking in. I'll be listing recycled Tazo gift tags, jewelry, seed packets and maybe a few felt bowls. We'll have to see how much I can get done and then get listed.

I'm getting my sewing machine today! I am so very excited. I'll be able to do my homework at home! Wooooo! I'll also be able to make more seed packets and eventually more exciting things! I'll be burning my new screen on Sunday, so in the next week, I'll hopefully have some seed packets with that image on them too!

Happy shopping and relaxing everyone!

Queen Anne's Lace

This is my new pattern for the gardening theme. Queen anne's lace! I'm going to change the stem and make it more dynamic, interesting, etc.

What do you think?

12th Week

That means I won't be around much for the next three weeks. I'll comment when I have a bit of time and I'll try to post my work as it is made. I do have a small announcement though...

I'm getting a new sewing machine for Christmas!!!!
And I'm getting this coming Saturday! Woooooo! I can't wait. I am so so excited. I'll be able to sew at home. Yes yes. So happy. And I'll be using this lovely fabric to sew some new seed packets!!

I'm Late

Ok. I know I said 8. It happened that we were at dinner at 8, so... sorry! But, I did just do the drawing and it was very exciting. Seriously. This is how it went:


I wrote down your names. This was done in all caps for maximum readability. I then cut these up and put them in a nice soft, furry felt bowl. I had Eric hold the bowl while I swished the names around (above my head, of course) and picked one!

Carrie Strine! I can't wait to send these little packets out to you!

For the rest of you, I'll put a few in this weekend, I think. I have a full weekend and a full next three weeks with the end of the semester. I'll try to get them in, though. It's now or never with the holidays, huh? Why my these holidays coincide with the end of the semester?

Two weeks til Noel Night. I try not to think about it. Which isn't the best strategy, I'm sure. I need to take some photos for Moo cards tomorrow and get new business cards maybe. I may change my shop name. I need something that includes everything. And I need to design all of my signs and make all of the stuff to sell and. and. and.

So many things to do for the end of the semester. Oh my goodness. I'll keep you guys and gals posted with my work and such. Like right now. Weaving! I'm weaving a lace pattern. My tension is totally screwed up from a mistake I made in the setting up of the loom. Oh well. I think it'll be ok once I wash it. Which means I have no idea and am just hoping.



To-do list for tomorrow:

- Go to work
- Go to back
- Go to school
- Clean studios a little
- Refill chemicals
- Organize dyes
- Strip screen and re-expose it
- Test print
- Print lining for garden totes
- Finish making mock-up of garden tote
- Decide which patterns I will make for silkscreen
- Make a pattern for my garden totes

I'm sure there's more, but I won't bore you more than I already have. Needless to say, I have a lot ahead of me.

New Babies!

Last week, my family back at home got two baby kitties. Brother and sister, too! And they like the doggy :) The girl is Willow and the boy is Oliver. Willow is on the right. Aren't they just the cutest! I can't wait to see them at Thanksgiving!

Hooray!!!

Another sale! That makes two this week. I know it's not much for a lot of you ladies out there, but man. I'm pretty darn happy. Thanks Carlene and Cheryl!

The Great Giveaway!

I know this took forever and I'm sorry, but here it is! In honor of my 100th blog post (nevermind that this is the 107th), I'm giving away two of my brand spanking new seed packets! One large gray on gray and a small lavender on white. Both are 100% linen. They have my Coneflower pattern, which I hand printed, and are handsewn by me. Hooray! Leaf not included. To enter, just leave a comment on this post telling what you will do with them if you win. This is a chance for the silent readers to tell me they exist :)



I'll draw names on Friday around 8pm.
Good luck and thanks for your support!

Brittany

Lovelies

Beautiful vintage ribbon from Pine & Hanker. Found in the attic of an old tailor's shop. Gorgeous.

I found Papa Stour today via Red Otter via Please Sir. So confusing, huh?
These beautiful paper clay pods are, well... beautiful. 'Nuff said.

This amazingly desirable clay mug is also from Papa Stour. I love the simplicity and the ceramic that shows on the bottom.

This refreshing photo is something I spotted on Poppytalk today. I love the simplicity of the red berries on the white background. And that little jar is so cute!

The day of celebration has come! Tomorrow will be my 100th post giveaway! Nevermind that it'll be on the 107th post. I'll have a couple of seed packets for the winner, along with some other surprises! Hooray! Hope to see you there :)

This post is about snow. It snowed today.

Thiox Discharge Tutorial!

So, I did this tutorial and took the photos a week ago, but my week got so busy and I just didn't have the time to put it online. These are the photos and a brief synopsis (great word), the detailed version with each photo is on my Flickr account.

Prepping! Get your silkscreen and squeegee out and tape your fabric down. Mix up the thiox paste (recipe on Flickr). Boil some water for the soda ash.

Put some of the paste onto your screen and silkscreen just like you usually would.

Getting ready to steam your fabric. Get butcher paper or thin, non-fusible interfacing and fold the fabric up in it so that the fabric never touches itself. Fabric on fabric is bad! Wrap it up in as small a package as possible. Get a pot big enough to hold a metal strainer and the bundle. Put the metal strainer upside-down in the pot. Pour about an inch or two of water into the pot and put it on the burner to boil.

Once the water is boiling, put the fabric bundle onto the strainer so that it is not touching anything but the strainer. Put a towel or scrap fabric on top and put the lid on. Let it boil in there for 12-15 minutes. VERY GOOD ventilation is necessary. Do it outside on a hotpan if you have to, this stuff is not good to inhale. After the time is up, take the bundle out WITH TONGS! Unwrap your little bundle after it has cooled for a minute or so and it is safe to touch.

Admire your beautiful fabric! Hooray! Rinse it really well with warm water (the red is a bowl) and then hang it to dry.

Hooray, you did it!

Heirloom

New necklace called Heirloom in my Etsy shop! Hooray! Hopefully another one tomorrow, or maybe some earrings. I also hope to list a seed packet or two. I think the linen ones will be $6. I'm excited! I've been testing other fabrics to see how they do. I think I'll have some silk dupioni ones... I found a really beautiful blue/gold.

Get Ready...

A little set-up I made on my table in Starbucks today.

Peppermint seed packet. No more prototypes!

Lavender seed packet. Wouldn't these earrings be so nice to give to someone in this little bag?

And, neutral, Selvedge-inspired grey packet. I really like it.

I'll have lots of seed packets in my Etsy shop this week!

Kind of a Big Deal

OK, I've not been posting because it's my 100th post. I've been agonizing over it. I will be hosting a giveaway, but it's kind of going to be like a birthday party that's not on your birthday. It'll be a 100th post giveaway that's not on the 100th post. Just to take some pressure off. And, I keep wanting to blog but haven't! I know this much: I'm giving someone super lucky a set of three seed packets of their choosing. Maybe a pair of earrings. First, I have to make more seed packets (I have the final pattern and everything and know how to sew now. So, something to look forward to this week. Yay!






Also, I've made some jewelry this weekend (only a couple, but it's a breakthrough). I feel like I have kind of a series of necklaces in my head. Brass is the main metal and their long chain with little clusters of things. Charms and beads and the like. I'm excited about my materials and my color palette. I listed this one on Etsy today!

Tomorrow, I may unveil my other breakthrough idea! I need to do a bit of research and other preparing... I think this is a pretty decent 100th post. Yes? Maybe? At least it shows a bit of progress.


Just to think, I didn't know most of you just a few months ago. Blogging and Flickr have opened up a whole community for me, and I'm grateful for all of you every day. Thanks!

Today

Was mostly pretty good. It was a nice day, chillier than it has been lately. I learned a really great weaving technique (pictures tomorrow) that I'm excited about. I also discovered that great exhibit in my other post.

Also, I had an idea. A brand idea for myself and my jewelry, mostly. Maybe my knitting (if I'm ever able to make any...). I don't want to say too much before I have it all developed and such, but... it involves shadow boxes and t-pins. That's all! No more.

Beauty at the Dia; Brainstorm

The beauty of these paintings is awesome. I love the combination of painting/ink and gold leafing. I want some in real life.

I also love the native american section. Their art never ceases to inspire me.