Costume Stuffs

http://www.berkeleyhat.com/top-hats-derbies.html

Just found some rocking hats from Berkeley, Ca. Figures, awesome stores from the awesome city I want to live in--hopefully soon!

I've been spending tons of time lately being social (which hasn't happened an awful lot in the past few months) going to the L.A. Zoo, kayaking, mini golf, having an old friend stay the weekend with us and it was great to be around people I really enjoy. 

I've also been spending entirely too much/not enough time working on my http://www.labyrinthmasquerade.com/ costume. Then tonite I found out that I might be going both nights----super excited!! The other side of that is that I need to make a second costume. I have some ideas that seem easier than the one I'm currently working on but that's still time and energy and money I need to allot for. Whew.

I've also spent some time working on a toddler sweater for some distant cousins--I keep thinking I'm making mistakes. Its the first time I've (successfully) worked with Lion Brand Homespun yarn. I don't know how people use it all the time, I can't see the stitches I'm working on clearly and it just drives my OCD crazy! (Noticing how often I just exclamation points while typing---don't worry, I use them a lot in real life too. I tend to feel my feelings and express them clearly.)  Its also a dark purple color which does not help with the whole seeing of the stitches thing--oh well, its a learning experience my cousins are excited for it to be done and in their procession. Gotta keep it going! <----There I go again. 

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Oh--and I think I want to be blonde! It all started with the bottom half of my hair being stripped so it could be dyed purple and the purple didn't take, twice. So now I'm thinking about going blonde for a few months then doing some more fun colors like purple sunrises or glittering rainbows. I've been letting my hair rest for a year now and taking vitamins to get it back to healthy so now its game on. >:)

Hooray!!! TAGS :)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=221753177935303&set=a.148951958548759.27096.141514705959151&type=3&theater

Here's a link to my new custom ordered company nametags (wait, company? crafts? art? whatever---nametags!)  I can't wait to start sewing them on all the items I have ready for sale. This stash is looking more and more legit, now I just need to sell it all so I can buy more supplies and sell more.

Yesterday I took a few hours to look up all the craft fairs in my area for the next few months. Now to get all the necessary paperwork done and items needed for such things.

Inspiration Everywhere

I like to find inspiration in my everyday life---today I found it with over 500 students (4th-12th grade) playing string instruments onstage together at work. It made me remember when I was in elementary school and learned how to play the flute. In junior high I was first chair and it came easily to me, I think music works well with my brand of OCD. Numbers and patterns and repetition. The same reasons why I like to crochet so much. When I don't let my OCD out to play in constructive ways it starts to eat away at my every thought process and preoccupies me to the point of aggravation. So I find tasks that I enjoy that put it to good use and the more I do the less it bothers me in other aspects of my life---a good trade-off. It works for me and I guess that's all I can hope for. I don't know how people without OCD function but I'm not jealous, sometimes I'm curious but I believe it helps me with work.

In other news, I auditioned for a play for the first time in over a year tonite---I forgot how freeing it feels! I'll find out within the next two days if I got it or not. I don't even know if it will work with my duel work schedules and other activities but I really like this play and the venue is super close to my house. Updates soon!

Finally!!

I finally got my business cards designed today!!! I've been kicking around ideas for months and months now and for the last week have been on various design websites trying to create the perfect image/layout and after a lot of headaches and several occurrences where I had to storm out of the room--away from the laptop--I figured it all out and in less than two weeks I'll have my beautiful business cards in my hands. I'll post them as soon as possible. 

I ordered them from VistaPrint (but completely custom designed them) and instead of paying $8 for shipping, I ordered a $7 canvas bag which brought my total high enough to get free shipping---same total cost but now I get a bag with my logo :)

Just one more step towards legit business instead of fun hobby. I'm not gonna stop either way but I'd love to make enough money from this to quit my day jobs (which I probably wouldn't do either but maybe I could quit one of them) or at least take a great vacation from my earnings.

Other websites

I just had a really great night out with friends (something that rarely happens because I work so much) and nice calm morning of checking my favorite websites. If you don't already check http://www.postsecret.com/ every single week you are missing out on one of the truly great places on the internet. Frank Warren posts about a dozen secrets that people from all over the world mail him (on artfully designed postcards) and it really shows how everyone is connected. Some are funny, some are sad, some are just beautiful and some are horrifying---but all very human. I love it. I can't say enough good things about it.

Made a quick stop

I made a quick stop at Joann's craft store today---Love Love Love when the yarn I need more of is on sale already. Then I still got to use my 50% coupon. If you don't already know you can download Joann's and Michael's craft store smart phone apps and use them at both stores. Sometimes you can even double dip and use a 50% off one item and 10% off total purchase together. Always good to coupon and craft.

UFOs

UFOs are everywhere..........at least at my house. In the crafter's world UFOs are Un-Finished Objects. I must have at least a dozen on-going projects in various states of completion. Some are waiting on more yarn or specific notion but most are just waiting...and waiting. 

I hate having so many unfinished things. Its like the island of misfit toys, each project waiting patiently in its own gallon ziploc bag. 

I was super proud of myself this past week (in honor of Earth Day) when I went through all-and I mean ALL--of my old yarn scraps and either used them to make cup/fruit cozies or wound them into two large balls so I can finally add to my second scrap blanket. The first one found a great home on the bed of a friend who has recently moved away to college. Hopefully this one (when finished soon!) will find a good home with my younger cousin when he decides to go to college....hopefully this fall, who knows. I just want him to do something that will make him happy and keep him busy. 

I digress, these UFOs are slowly making their way to the finished project bin, which in turn need to be photographed so they can make their way into my etsy shop : http://www.etsy.com/shop/13thhourdesigns and hopefully get sold and make it to their final destination, a loving home. 

......or at least a home that isn't mine, my bins are overflowing with finished projects!