What I've been up to... Part II

Well, I'm back! 

In this next installment--I'll tell you all about my new etsy shop- rotifera! 

First of all- the name.  What kind of name is that?  It is a biological nod!

Rotifera- This is the phylum name for a type of microscopic animal that translates to "wheel-bearing". They are beautiful, whimsical, and unique. This represents how I think about hair accessories. We don't NEED them, but we love to invoke a little of our personality into what we wear.


I've made TONS of stuff:


Headbands-

Ponies:

Bobbies:

Snap Clips:

And BIG barrettes:

I'm love cool fabrics so much!!  And I just find that these little button goodies are a very cool way of displaying them!

*smooch* 

Go check out the shop!  Tell me, what do you think should be in there?  I'm curious-- my taste may not be your taste!

Okay, let's just start from the beginning.... What Have I been up to...

What I've been working on: Part I...

I have been so busy keeping up with orders this past two weeks, and that is the reason I've not posted!  But I'm going to MAKE time to show you what I've been working on....

I've been making blankets as part of the shop offering for my Sew Ecological shop on Etsy.  So far the feedback has been amazing, and two out of these three labors of love have sold right out the door....

1.  Neutrals- this one sold in under an hour.  Granted, I had a VERY good idea what *someone* on my Etsy team was wishing for, so I'm glad it did...

Feedback:  "This blanket is FANTASTIC! Rose has a great talent for matching up pieces of prior loved garments into a warm and cozy lap blanket! I LOVE this!"

2.  This one is still in the shop, in case you FALL in love with it!  It is in manly shades of gray, black, and cream, and I really adore it...

3.  And LAST, but certainly not least, this one is one of my favorites to date.  It too, sold right away.  It was also featured on Cuteable.  This one has been lovingly packaged and shipped to Canada, so I hope the owner leaves me some *swoon* feedback once she recieves it.  It was hard to let go of this one, because my AMAZING cousin (also a FABULOUS sewer) donated the red fair isle sweaters to make this one a reality.

Thank you for these sweaters, Dawn!!!!

So there you have it.  Day 1 in a long series of "What I've been up to."

I got lost....

I've been out for two weeks. 

It would be needless to say that I've been busy, but the least I could have done was come and drop note!

How rude!

:)

Please forgive me?  I'm really going to try to be more good about posting....

I've just been trying to keep up with all the sales at both my shops, the packaging, the mailing, the lesson plans from school, etc...

I will plan some excellent blog posts for this week, and hopefully gain your trust again.. lol

If you are reading, I love ya!

Wool Beads

What can you do with felt?  You can make beads out of it! 

I bought some beads to see how they should look- I plan on making some with my yarn soon...

And, as I sat staring at the bag I thought, "Yeah, they're cute- but what are you going to do with them?"

This is what I came up with:

In my sew ecological shop, I made two necklaces- called "Wool Love" and "Orange Julius" respectively...

Then- my real lightbulbs went off, and I stitched some balls onto bobbies for the rotifera shop:

So there you have it!  Things that can be done with felt balls!

Happy Friday!

-rose

That exhausted but amazing feeling!

I know, I know--  Two weeks in a row with little to post?


Here is the reason-  MY BRAND NEW ETSY STORE!!!!!  *pops champagne*

I've been so successful with my main shop- Sew Ecological, that I've spread out into a new area- hair accessories.  This was inspired by making freebies to go along with my Sew Eco orders, and I wanted to showcase them all on their own for a cohesive shop look....

Here are a few things I've gotten done to get the shop, Rotifera,  up and running, but there is so much more on the way!

Button Ponies

Great Big Bobbies

Great Big Bobbies

I pondered long and hard about the shop name- maybe it is too cerebral, but I fell in love with the name....

Rotifera- This is the phylum name for a type of microscopic animal that translates to "wheel-bearing". They are beautiful, whimsical, and unique. This represents how I think about hair accessories. We don't NEED them, but we love to invoke a little of our personality into what we wear.


I've got new items in my other shop too, but I'll leave it at this for today, and post again soon!  (No, really!)


*blushes* for not posting more this week...

The Sunday Six

Wow- this week ran away with me!  I had a pretty trying week M-Th, and had no energy to direct to the blog. 

It is hard being a mommy- my oldest seedling is having trouble at school, and all of my energy this week, both internally and externally, was directed at helping him succeed.  With my husband in California for work (we all miss you like the dickens!), I have to make sure I'm careful to keep my priorities at the forefront.  Being a mom is #1!!

So, for this week's Sunday Six, I'd like to focus on family.  Gifts to buy or gifts to make to honor your children or young people in your life.  *wipes tiny tear*

1.  Sima G- A wonderful jewelry designer who I've been following over on her blog- Simag Personalized Jewelry.  Her hand stamped pendants are simple, elegant, gorgeous, and meant to honor those who you love.  Whether you choose English or Hebrew, she will custom make your charm.  Run, don't walk, to her blog, then stop by her AWESOME shop.

2.  At Mousehouse, Megan makes lovely things for her children.  My absolute favorite is the Colour Book.  Go over there and get inspired to make something for your darlings- particularly if you have some of the little ones.  Her ideas are so great- look for the ice toy post- GREAT idea!

3.  Lavender and Limes- Christine is a wonderful mommy- her posts are filled with love and crafty inspiration for our little ones.  Check out her felt farm playmat- ADORABLE!

4.  I found the blog for one of my favorite plushy-makers- Penguin & Fish.  If you're dreaming of making or buying a plushy, run to the blog or the shop.  Your sprouts need these to snuggle with!

5.  A shop that I knew I had to feature- AuntyAnnDesigns, aka "the sock monkey lady".  If you're looking for sock monkeys, you need to run over there and snatch one of these darlings up for your little angel.

6.  And last, but not least- Just Another Day in Paradise.  I first got hooked on her blog when she featured a boy's cuff watch that was upcycled and I HAD to make one for Odin.  I stayed for the reading, tutorials, and wonderful mommy adventures.  Beautiful blog.  Her newest tutorial is a Valentine's themed owl.  I want one!

Love them.  Squeeze them.  Make stuff they will treasure.  Show the whole world how important they are to you. 

*cheers*

-rose.

Editing photos with Picnik

I recently discovered Picnik, a free photoediting software.  It really is amazing, simple, and free.  You don't have to download anything (i.e. no virus worries), and it has turned some of my *shrug* meh photos, into these:

I don't really understand all of the options, but I took most of my photos, which were too far away and included background images like the neighbor's house across the street.  Some were overexposed, underexposed, colors showed up poorly, etc.

So I went to Picnik, uploaded my photo, hit the autocorrect option on the exposure, and cropped the photos to just showcase what I had made.  I really like the outcomes- like these:

A few more recent offerings from my shop!

Go edit!  Make your pictures Gorgeous!

A few degrees warmer..

I was all alone until last night for 3 whole days!  My boys were gone at grandma's to visit their cousins, and the house was quiet.  Absolute peace.  I got a lot of work done for the shop.  I ate cereal for 2 out of 3 meals.  I didn't change out of my pajamas except for one time.  It was almost bliss.  But when I picked them up last night and brought them home (they were so exhausted, they fell right asleep), I realized that the house immediately felt warmer.  More like home.  I love being a mother.  For your viewing pleasure, and a good way to wake up; here is my youngest seedling Declan trying to cheer me up last summer when I was sick...



Kids are amazing.  And cute.

The Sunday Six

It's time for the Sunday Six!  This is the day I feature the blogs I've been lurking in all week, and show off their talent so that you too can see and read with your coffee in the morning!

 1.  One of the best loved blogs in the crafting world, Angry Chicken has a broad focus- foodiness, crafting with her kids, sewing.... the list goes on.  Amy Karol is a very talented woman, and her posts are always full of humor, injected with joy, and full of love.  Her Bend the Rules books are awesome.  She also does some awesome work with aprons, and runs a second site Tie One On.

Go on, go time waste.  Lots to read with Amy.

2.  Until Wednesday Calls.  Wednesday is her daughter, so she gets some crafting in when she can.  It really is a bright, crisp blog with tons of ideas and tutorials.  I found it early this week, and I've been lurking through the archives.  Check out the tutorials for little girl clothes, great barrettes, and finger puppets.  Almost makes me with I had a daughter to make little skirts and hair bows for.  Almost. 

3.  I know I've featured A Lemon Squeezy Home before, but you know that I can't resist a good Pride and Prejudice project.  And she made these awesome pillowcases for sleepovers this week that I have to make a couple of for my boys.  She has such amazing taste!  Not that I'm tasteless, but my taste is kind of blah.  Must be a holdover from the early 90's grunge music I listened to so much of...  I digress...

LOOK!  Christie teaches us how to use Picnik to make printables!  I soooooooo want this frame on my wall.

And! the awesome sleepover pillowcases I want to make-

4.  Another new blog to read!  If I keep this up, I'll have to get up at 4 am in order to read all the blogs I love so much.  I was attracted to Cubic Dreams because she makes lovely upcycled garments- something I want to begin doing soon.  But I stayed for the images, and lunch ideas, and well... the list goes on.  Go over and read and take a look at the beautiful photos.  Read, stay awhile.  Peruse the archives.  Leave a comment.   Just beautiful.

5.  Mushroom Villagers.  Another blog that I discovered this week.  Yes, she does grow mushrooms.  Which is cool enough on its own; but look at all the wonderful sewing she does!  So many ideas of things to make for my boys!  Backpacks, coloring wallets- just so awesome.  I wish I had that type of ingenuity.  And check out her new craft space!  soooooooooooooo jealous.

6.  Over at MADE this week, I found these book bags that I have to make some of.  I'm sick of searching under beds for lost library books.  Anyone seen Diary of a Wimpy kid?  I may have to pay for that one.

So, now you can blame me for losing time in blogland.  I have to run!  Happy Sunday all!

What is Etsy?

I know. I've been away- mostly because I've been sick as a dog, but also because I've been really busy with my Etsy store. I've still got plans for a couple of tutorials, the Sunday Six is tomorrow, and I've got lots to talk about-

First though, as I blather on and on about my business to people at work, I find that over half of them have no idea that Etsy even exists!

So, what is Etsy? Etsy is a giant store. Think Ebay, but without bidding wars or ugly crap that no one wants. They provide a storefront for sellers who create handmade items. They also have a large portion of their stores that offer vintage goods. And when I say vintage goods, I don't mean old broken vases and junk that you so often see on Ebay. It is a feast for the eyes.



You can even find homemade sweets and food!

 

You can find vintage dresses!

T-shirts you can find NOwhere else!

Apparantly, You are mustache... lol

A better one.  Only a Harry Potter fan will get it.

Jewelry, Furniture, Pottery, Art, clothing, accessories.... The list goes on and on.



The shop owners are nice, and they have all opened up shop at etsy.com because they want the best customers- customers who care about quality.

So, if you've never been- there is something for you over there!  Start here www.etsy.com .

You might be there all day.  Just warning you.

Arghhhhhhhhhhh....

I'm congested. And my throat hurts. I had a dream that I was trying to find honey in my cabinets for my throat.

ow.

No rest for the weary. It is midterms week, and I may not stay home...

feel sorry for me?

Book Lovers! Get out your checkbooks...

I made one for hunger games too, but I can't seem to get the widget to load..

Hunger Games

The Sunday Six

I was called a "talented designer" this week.  Me?  I guess I do design things, but do I deserve the moniker of "designer"?  I aspire to do so, but I still can't believe that someone else sees me as such.

Now these people?  I call them designers.  Talented designers even.  The photos speak for themselves.

1.  Sewing in no-man's land.  She recently put designed this beautiful baby outfit for Project Run and Play that I almost want a baby girl to put it on.  And her aprons?  To die for. Go over there and give her some bloggy love.  Wow.

OMG! Cuteness overload!  Now THAT is designing.

2.  This Mabey Heaven.  Hair accessories that require a sense of design that I cannot seem to fathom.  I love her materials and the unexpected materials and shapes.  Check out her upcycled sweaters and skirts too.  Talented Designer.

3.  Moda Bake Shop.  The Moda Fabrics ideas blog.  All their patterns are "recipes".  Tutorials galore.  Amazing eye for the awesome.  Sometimes I just go over there and stare at stuff for 30 minutes or so.  Talented Designers, all.

4.  Alma Stoller.  Just go.  A feast for the eyes.  Amazing Ideas.  Fabulous photos.  Fantastic-ness.  Enough superlative adjectives?  Mixed media art and jewelry.  Just go.  Talented Designer.

5.  Trey and Lucy.  Hair accessories.  Simple, yet innovative needs for the home.  Adorable pics of the kiddos.  Giant Fabric Flowers to go onto anything.  Original ideas.  Talented Designer.

6.  And last, but not least.  You want talented designers?  Go to the Paradise Blog.  This is the group of designers from Etsy shops that I got together with a few weeks ago to chat, shop, and commiserate over low sales weeks with.  All talented designers.  And people I owe thanks to for much of my shop traffic and sales. Thank you Paradise.

There you go.  Talented designers all.  Me?  I'm still not sure.