Lego Minecraft

My friend's son, Ethan, LOVES Minecraft! (what kid doesn't nowadays?)
The funny thing is that CJ and I are the only adults he knows that "get" Minecraft. We play it ourselves, so we actually know what he's talking about when he talks about Minecraft stuff. All the other adults at church don't get it. Maybe it's because we're the only ones who don't have kids and we actually have time to play it.

Anyway, because Ethan knows that I "get" Minecraft, he was excited to show me his new Minecraft Lego set!

So I took some pictures of his little Lego Minecraft scenes...

Artist Row 2014

Artist Row is an annual craft fair they have at the Rochester Public Market.  It's held on a Sunday, since the regular farmer's market is on Saturday.  This was my first time ever doing Artist Row.  My friend John from RNEST has been trying to get me to do it for years, but there was always some reason I couldn't do it.  But this year, I took the plunge...and was glad I did!

I've started saying "You know it's a good show when I don't have time to take a lot of pictures!" That means I had a lot of customers and sales and was kept pretty busy!  I made a little sign for this show to encourage people to take pictures and tag me on Instagram.

Technically, it's proper etiquette at a craft show to ask the artist if you can take pictures of their work. Some artists don't like people to take pictures of their booth or their work, because they're paranoid that people will steal their ideas/designs. I can understand this if they are a photographer or painter. I've heard stories of people taking a photo of someone's work at a show, and then printing it out at home to frame instead of buying a print from the artist.  I agree...that's pretty shady.  But there are other artists, like jewelers, who are afraid that the people will go home and try to make the item themselves... or worse, make it and start selling it.
 But I personally don't give in to that kind of paranoia.  I'm secure enough in my work that I know no one can make my stuff exactly like I do.  And if I can encourage people to make stuff, I'm glad to!  Sure... if someone started making and selling my Nubbin design, I probably wouldn't be too happy.  But I don't want to let that fear make me into one of those people who forbids picture taking.  And if someone wants to make something for their personal use... I don't care! Besides, sometimes when people try to make stuff themselves, they realize just how much hard work it is and that it's just easier to buy it!

And... I love seeing the pictures that people take of my stuff at shows!  Sometimes (like at Artist Row) I don't get a lot of time to take pictures myself.  Plus,  I consider it free promotion if they share them! I encourage people to share pictures on social media and tag me.  As long as I'm credited, I'm happy!

Cat Calendar?

I feel like I could do a calendar with all pictures of Terra. She's such a photogenic cat!

RNEST Etsy Craft Party Projects

Here are a couple examples of projects we'll be doing at the RNEST Etsy global Craft Party.
I used copies of an old photo of my grandmother (printed on cardstock).

Colorize photos with watercolors

Embroidered photos

Week-In-Pictures: January 19- 25

I was finally ready to get back in the swing of things this week, so I did a lot of sewing.  You'll probably see a few of these pictures in their larger forms in blog posts later in the week.

1. "Karate Belt Color" Ninja Nubbin set I listed in my Etsy shop
2. Black & White Ninja Nubbin Battle!
3. "Princess Girl" Ninja Nubbin set I listed in my Etsy shop (yes, I know boys can like pink and purple too, but the truth is that the majority of kids that like pink & purple are girls)
4. "Ethiopia" Nubbins I made at the request of a friend.  She and her husband adopted twin boys from Ethiopia a few years ago (I want to say 3 years ago).  The end of this month is the anniversary of bringing them home, so she wanted to give hem a special present.
5. Figuring out the design on the "Ethiopia" Nubbins.  Cutting out a tiny Africa and even tinier heart was a challenge!
6.  Every time someone finds out that I made "Where The Wild Things Are" inspired Nubbins and requests me to make a set, I have to figure out how to make the monster one all over again!  These Nubbins were something I only planned on making once for my own artistic satisfaction.  I never intended to recreate them, but people keep requesting them and I have a hard time saying no!
7.  Red and Pink "Eye Love You!" One-Eyed Nubbins that I am planning on putting into my Etsy shop soon for Valentine's Day.
8.  I had to order more black safety eyes from Dan's Crafts & Things.  I usually prefer to go buy the eyes in person at the store in Webster, NY instead of ordering online, but I needed to get more eyes before I was going to go into Rochester next, so I ordered online.  I love these guys!  The manager and a couple of the employees know who I am (they have their own, honorary Nubbin mascot I gave to them).  It made me smile when I saw this little drawing that was on my package that came in the mail.  You gotta love small business!
9. I learned how to crochet a "Granny Triangle"!

Blogging Resolution?

I know I've been a pretty bad blogger lately. Craft show season in November and December gets super busy and blogging falls through the cracks when I'm having to sew more to keep my inventory up.  Plus, I blame Instagram and Facebook...since I post most of my pictures there and it seems redundant to blog them, but I know not everyone uses Facebook or Instagram.  So my goal for myself is to at least post a "week-in-review" recap each week.  I'll try to add some captions for the pictures, but some times you just might get the pictures.

1. Luna getting used to the chair replacing the couch in her "looking trough the front window" spot after I rearranged the living room this week.
2. Luna relaxing on the couch before I rearranged
3. Luna at my in-laws' house in Cleveland, napping on my crochet blanket I'm working on.
4. Terra snuggled in my nest of colorful, thrifted "granny blankets"
5. A vintage Polaroid camera I got for 75 cents at the thrift store.  I don't have any film for it...I just got it because it looks cool.  It's just an objet d'art on my bookshelf.  Later my mom told me that if I wanted one, she has one just like it in her spare bedroom that she would have given me.  But the fact is that thrifter in me simply couldn't pass up the 75 cent deal.
6. A "selfie" I took after a shower to document how my hair curls naturally when it gets wet.  One of the few pictures I've posted of myself without any makeup on.   I have either finally grown out of having acne-prone skin, or it's my all-natural facial cleansing regimen.  I may do a blog post on that another time.
7. A picture of one side of the living room after I rearranged it.
8. My Minion peg doll from Sweet Whimsy Designs trying to blend in with the Nubbins.
9. Terra on the couch, getting used to the new living room furniture arrangement.

New Nubbin Photos!

Here are the "official" new Nubbin photos I'm using for my Etsy Listings!

I'm really enjoying how they are all looking together in the shop!  And I like that I get to include the whole bunting trend without resorting to the usual triangle pennant bunting.  And I get to use my spools! (yes, yes...my crazy wooden spool obsession)

I've had a couple people suggest I switch to a white background, but I am reluctant to go in that direction.  I am a bit attached to the wood background.  I like the look of it and it fits my style.  I like the warm, cozy, vintage feel of the wood.  Plus, SO many people on Etsy use white background... and I want to be different.

I took this screencap (above) of some results of an Etsy search I did for "recycled plush monsters" to see how my work compared to others.  And I feel like my item stands out. (I'm tempted to think that's just because I am biased, but I posted the above picture and asked my friends on Facebook if my item was eye-catching compared to the others, and everyone agreed it was.  Of course, it's possible my friends may be biased too!)
Whatever though...I must be doing something right.  Because I've actually been getting Etsy sales lately!  Uusually, my Etsy sales are a bit slow (I typically make more sales at craft shows), but my online sales have been picking up lately.  I'd like to think it's all the updating and improvements I've been doing.

A peek at my setup in the guestroom.  

The twine is just held up by push-pins on either side of the crates.  The right end of the string is just wound around the push-pin so it is easily removable.  This is I can switch out the spools to coordinate the thread colors to the colors of whatever item I am photographing.  My only issue is the end of the thread unraveling off the spool sometimes.  I'm thinking of just using a little glue to stick the ends down, since I won't be using the thread for anything else.  The vintage thread isn't really good for sewing with, since it is so old and can break easily.  But at least it looks pretty on the spools!

Sneak Peek: New Product Photo Staging

I experimented today with new staging for my product photos of the Nubbins for my Etsy shop listings.  While talking with a good friend who runs quite a successful Etsy shop with her sister, and discussing ways to improve my shop and exposure, she suggested I try to simplify my photos and have less varied colors in the background.  I still wanted to utilize my vintage thread spools though.  So instead of having them spilling out of a berry basket like I did in my previous photos, I decided to pick thread colors that coordinated with whatever Nubbin was being photographed.

I was inspired by the heart garlands in Etsy seller (and fellow plush-maker) EcoLEFTZ has in her recent product photos and decided to do my own spin on that idea with the thread spools.

Obviously, the "real" photos that will ultimately end up on the listings will be taken with my nice digital camera and will not have the Instagram filter like the above photo does, so the colors will be more accurate.  

 

Apparently, someone thinks she's "helping".

I have the garland set up so I can easily switch out the thread colors according to what color Nubbin I have.  I have a lovely assortment.  I could photograph vintage thread spools all day.

I will share the "real" product photos soon.

Instagram Sunday: More Fall Beauty

Have I mentioned lately how much I love fall?

Instagram Sunday: Visions of Fall

Visions of fall from a trip to our favorite local apple orchard with my parents yesterday...

Basket O' Gourds

 White mums.

Rows of Yellow Delicious.

Designing the RNEST Business Card

I am in charge of designing a business card for RNEST.   We wanted to have a card so we could give it to prospective members (ie: if you have an Etsy shop and live in/around Rochester, NY).  I know when I have tried to recruit people to join RNEST at a craft show, I am always at a loss for how to tell them how they can join, since I can never correctly remember the Ning's URL.  And I usually just end up telling people to Google "RNEST" or "Rochester NY Etsy Street Team" and they'll find us.

I wanted to do something eye-catching for the business card...not just slapping the logo onto a white background (booooring!).  If I did that, the card is doomed to be lost in the sea of business cards people pick up at a craft show. I was drawing an absolute blank on what to do, but then had a brilliant idea in the shower yesterday (all good ideas come in the shower!).  My idea was to use my scanner and arrange various crafty items onto it in order to make a background.  Soooo...I spent half my evening tonight meticulously arranging and rearranging (and rearranging, and rearranging!) spools of thread, scissors, balls of yarn, buttons, bottles of beads, and various other tools and items onto my scanner bed...until I finally came up with this...

I tried to get as many items as I could to reflect the diversity of the RNEST members' various crafts.  Some of us sew (like myself), some of us knit/crochet, some of us work with paper, some of us make jewelry, some of us paint, and some use/make rubber stamps.

After I got the image I wanted, I then turned it into this...

This will be the front of the card.  All the RNEST info, like links to the blog and the Ning, will be on the back side.  I'm getting positive feedback about the design via my Facebook page already.  We'll probably officially talk about the design and where to print the cards on Monday at the monthly RNEST meeting.

Vintage Thread Spools: Fall 2012

I took these after photographing the new Multicolored Barn Owls yesterday.  I like to use the spools as props for staging photos.  It's kind of ridiculous how much enjoyment I get out of taking photos of my vintage thread spools...

I think the colors are a bit reminiscent of the oncoming fall season.

I've made this one my new desktop wallpaper.

My Free Shutterfly Photo Book!

Have I mentioned that I love Shutterfly?

Anyone who has seen me in person at a craft show (or even randomly at the store) has seen the one I made last year.  

I carry it in my large purse so I can show people what I do.  Because people don't get the full impact of my work with my feeble attempt to describe it... "I make plush monsters out of recycled clothing".  When I only have that explanation to give them, I get the "Oh that's nice." kind of look.  But once I pull out the book and am able to SHOW them what I do, they get it and are more like "Wow!  This is so cool!"

But my book was starting to fall apart...probably from getting carted around in my purse all the time!  I've been diligently taping the pages back in, but I've been wanting to order a new book with updated pictures.  Wellllll.... Shutterfly just emailed me a promo code for a free 8x8 book this week! (I just had to pay for shipping).  And I just made a new KiraArts Portfolio with pictures of stuff I've made in 2012.  The offer originally expired tonight at midnight, but they extended it a day.  So...if you enter the promo code "SUMMERBOOK", you can get yourself your own free photobook as long as you get it ordered before midnight tomorrow!  Be warned though, I spent most of my day today designing mine!  And that was just with a project already there to edit!  My first book took me a week to get juuuuust right!  But, I AM a bit of a perfectionist.

In addition to getting myself a "free" book, I get a $10 gift certificate/discount promo code if I embed the photobook project on my blog...so here it is! (I hope it works)  Enjoy the sneak peek of my new book!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Click here to create your own Shutterfly photo book.

The Adventures of Hal the Sweater Monster (Episode 1: Crashing The August RNEST Meeting)

I want to start a new, fun photo series called "The Adventures of Hal the Sweater Monster".  I was inspired by the "Etsy Everywhere" project and the resulting photo I took last month of Hal in front of the Lyndonville sign (even though I wasn't able to submit it to the Etsy project because I missed the deadline).  I chose Hal because he is my current favorite.  I'm strongly considering keeping him for myself so I can use him consistently for this project (which means I should probably take his listing off my Etsy shop).

 Hal "stowing away" in my bag

 Arriving at Panera Bread in Henrietta (our traditional RNEST meeting place).  It's been a real pleasure having our monthly RNEST meeting there.  The staff at Panera is so friendly and seems to really like us.  A few months ago, during our meeting, the manager brought us over a plate of free cookies!

Hal with my friend Casey at the RNEST meeting last night.  (She wanted her picture taken with Hal...which was convenient, since I wanted an "at the RNEST meeting" picture of him).

Today, I experimented with the Android app "Comic Strip It!" to make this little comic strip of Hal's adventure yesterday... (If you have a hard time reading the text, click the picture to enlarge it)

Quick Instagram Update: 4th of July Highlights

I'll post more pictures from the 4th later...but here are some highlights, courtesy of Instagram!

(I know...I've become an Instagram addict!)

The biggest highlight of my day: I won first prize for the "best booth display" at the Lyndonville 4th of July Craft Show!  I got this cute ribbon to put on my booth and a $50 cash prize! (so, since the booth fee had been $25...they essentially covered the booth fee and then paid me $25 to do the show!) Thanks so much, Wanda and Joyce!  You really made my day! :D

My brother and his fiance were visiting from Staten Island this week.  They were hanging out with me and my mom at the craft show for a bit.  All of a sudden my brother looks across the way and says..."Anybody order a llama?". It made me laugh!  So I had to go take a picture of the random llama.

The Lyndonville fireworks seen from my house.

Church Architecture Photos

I liked the architecture of the church I had the craft show at this weekend...

Instagram Sunday: Spring Flowers

I find most of my Instagram photos are of flowers over the past few weeks...

Small pink rose from my rosebush.

 "Copper-Purple Sunscape Daisy Nuanza" (Osteospermum)  We got these yesterday to plant in the flower pots next to out front steps.

A white ranucculus I took a picture of at Wegmans a year ago...but only recently "Instagrammed"

Forget-Me-Nots from our walk in the Arboretum a few weeks ago

My rosebush.  This is the most roses I've seen on it in the 3 years I've lived here.  Not sure what I did this year, but I guess I did something right!

A photo of the first rose that bloomed on the rosebush.