Ta-Ta For Awhile

Due to some 'personal' restructuring things will be put on hold temporarily...
Be back soon!

If I don't see it. It's not there.

One of Those Weeks...

I've been falling behind in everything this week.
I have so much that needs to be done.
My goal list is hidden under a photo on my mirror until I can face it again.
So like the above ostrich I am hiding from what I don't want to see.
My nose has been firmly planted in the pages of books.

Such an artful way to pretend you are doing something...

B.S.T #3

Beautiful Simple Things #3

4 of 9 baby ducks...

Quotable

When we focus our energy towards constructing a passionate, meaningful life, we are tossing a
pebble into the world, creating a beautiful ripple effect of inspiration. When one person follows a dream, tries something new or takes a daring leap, everyone nearby feels that energy, and before too long they are making their own daring leaps and inspiring yet another circle.

- Christine Mason Miller

photo from Longmont

Procrastination Benefits

I'm sure there are actually a million reasons that procrastination can be good...missing the fateful voyage of the Titanic for example...But here is the one I'm blogging about...

I gave my boyfriend a bag full of magazines to drop off at the local woman's shelter.

He didn't.

Today I was cleaning out the trunk of his car (while he was changing the bearing on the back tire, in case you're interested) and I found said bag.

Full of Domino Magazines, including the premiere issue.

Thanks Andrew ;)...

Quotable

"One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art."

Oscar Wilde

or both...I say.

B.S.T #2

Beautiful Simple Things #2

A party on a tree.
Ruffled dress and party hats!

Sneek Peek of Three

Here are three of the necklaces I will be selling in my Etsy shop...
They are composed of everything!
Vintage glass, resin, lucite, bakelite, wood, urchin spines, copper flowers, brass, garnets, clay, seeds, shells, jade, new glass, bone, agate...etc.

These are the photos I have put on the back of my business cards but not the ones I will use in my shop because the colours are a little washed out.

B.S.T #1

Beautiful Simple Things #1


Steaming hot coffee to start the day.

On Creative Friends

I have a beautiful friend.
She sees as I do but through blue eyes, a lighter perspective perhaps.

Today I shared my photography dilemma with her and she made me feel excited again about doing this work.
An extra set of hands (and a make-up artist to boot), a dash of support and an inspired mind, has made all the difference.
We are planning our "Photo Shoot"...
Thanks T.
xo

Mid-May Review of May's Goals

Egh!

The month is getting away from me! I have to put in some serious effort if I am going to complete the checks on this list!

I have almost all the items ready to be posted in my CrowNology shop finished, washed, pressed, etc. But...The photos!!! I'm just not satisfied! I'm not getting the feel I want from them. I have a new respect for those shops, advertisers, models (a-hem) and especially those highly skilled fashion photographers, out there. It is so tedious! The Photographer and I love shooting nature. It's fun. The hiking, animals, exercise, fresh air, all make for a really enjoyable experience. But this...No, not so much.

I'm not really 100% sure about what to do. I need to focus and keep working on getting what I want. So here it goes...

Obsession Du Jour

I bought this today...

A classic, maybe vintage, Mikasa coffee carafe.

Which sparked a coveting frenzy on Ebay...

*sigh*

So many pots so little money (not to mention cupboard/shelf space!).

I am watching a couple of cute, inexpensive pots though.

Sometimes it's Best To Stay in Bed Asleep...

I'm not sure where this photo is from but it really speaks to me. ;)

Vintage Dressing for Larger Sizes

What did all the larger ladies wear in the past? I am getting inventory for the Vintage section of my CrowNology shop and I really want to include all shapes and sizes. However, it seems that there are no large sizes to be found (I have found some pieces with 'size 12' marked on the tag but...a 26" waist is not a size 12 today!). The large things I do find have as much style and shape as a flour sack, and not an attractive flour sack either!

Like this one by Stephanie Teague on Etsy. Her clothing line is called Pretty Bird and she creates beautiful one of a kind and limited edition clothing from old, sustainable and recycled fabrics.

I guess this is where my dressmaking skills come into play but that increases the price of those items...Which I did not want to do.


The sizing of Vintage items is another issue. We all hear that Marilyn Monroe wore a Size 12. What they fail to mention is that it was a vintage size 12. Her measurements were (according to her studio) 37-23-36 inches. This would be about a size 6 today.

So if you are buying vintage, no matter what size you are, check the measurements!

Tonight I will be turning some ho-hummer's into some wow-er's using vintage dresses and elbow grease. I'll be taking the before and after shots of the things I make to show you later.

The beautiful Marilyn shot was found on the Vancouver Sun website.

I Love Lichens!!!

I love the splashes of colour over the stones of Newfoundland.

I love the little frills all over the forest floor...


And of course, I love the lichens that are created by brilliant Etsians...


Gray Lichen Specimen by the Etsy artist Elin Art.

I love the terrariums made by Bead Style as well. Lichen Love would be perfect for me!


And my very Favourite...


By Ottoman, Lichen for your Wall.
Perfectly composed...Almost as good as the real thing, but less delicate.

Happy Mother's Day

To My Mother...

Happy Mother's Day
Mom


Thank you and I love you

Andrea xo

Technical Difficulties!

We are having some internet issues so things may be a little crazy for a while...

Screen Printing 101

I had an incredibly satisfying creative experience today. Tedious, but different from the usual creative pursuits, and so, fun.

I had a class at the Anna Templeton Centre. I went there a few years back and did some courses in the Textile Studies Program, which were brilliant. Today we did a basic screen printing class. Using paper cuts, screens, and water based inks. Fun! Also a pretty long process...I only got two different prints in a day long class.

A swirly branch type thing and a crow from my CrowNology logo.

Soon to made into dish towels and napkins...
I'm going to dye the napkins, I think, because the fabric is pretty stark but the crows are on a great unbleached cotton so they will stay as they are.

Feeling Arid

Completely zapped of juice, creativity.


So what do I do now? Look at things I love...Read things that motivate...Sleep.

A weekend of posts and lovely's starting tomorrow.

Promise.

Bees on Indie Fixx

Indie Fixx posts on 'our' need to Bee Aware.

Please Read This

Whenever you are feeling like you don't measure up physically to what society tells you is beautiful think of Stephanie Nielson, Nie, and this post from her blog Nie Nie Dialogues. After reading about Stephanie and the painful aftermath of a plane crash that burnt 80% of her body (and 30% of her husbads), I cried. I cried for her and her pain and what she'll always be reminded of from her own skin. And I cried for me, how stupid I am sometimes to let weight and looks determine what I do, where I go and how much I enjoy myself somewhere. A few strech marks across my stomach doesn't affect my beauty or anyone else's. Beauty is not skin deep, as we are told, true beauty has nothing to with your skin at all. So look deep into yourself and feel your beauty because it resides inside.

Embrace your exterior as a means to carry where you need to be in order to experience joy, laughter, love and pleasure, not as your measure of beauty.

The Domain Name Game

I just bought my domain name. Just in case I become hugely popular, do not own it, and someone else, who owns it, charges me millions to get it. That would suck.

or if i just want to set up a website...
someday.

Monthly Goal Meetup

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Jena, the editor of Modish Biz Tips created a Monthly Goal Meetup for artists, crafters and others who are interested in sharing their business goals. April proved to be a fruitful time for some "goal setters" and a time of frustration for others. The key, I think, may be to read your goal list every day and to create specific deadlines through the month for each goal. This is where the classic post-it-note may be of use.

As you can see posted to my mirror are my May Goals...

1. Stock CrowNology shop. (May 20)
2. Make banner for shop. (May 5)
3. Photograph all items. (May 18)
4. Finished started pieces. (May 15)
5. Make new pieces. (continuous)

Here are some links to other "goal setters" blogs.

Smidgebox
...and other such things
Lewidoo fancies
Plushroom Soup
Uncommon Envelope

There are so many more links, in the participants post, that have great ideas and worthy goals, it's worth taking a click to see them!

My Accomplished List (from a previous post)

It's Late

It's really late but I wanted to get one thing on my May Goal List checked off. So I did.
I made my Etsy shop Banner today/tonight...

Here it is.
What do you think?

Happiness from my Childhood

I found the first two photo's on Flickr in Cracklin Tulip's Photostream.

It seems I am regressing! I've been looking for the toys from childhood that gave me the most pleasure. Here is one of them, The Littles. The Photographer just bought me the kitchen set on Ebay!! Will I open the packages that have been sealed since 1980? YES! Of course. I can't wait to set them up and take photos of my jewelry with them.

Yay!!