Field Trip with Jane

Today was a totally fabulous and fantastic day. For the first time in a very long time, I dusted off my camera and met up with my pal Jane to take some pictures. Jane is an amazing photographer and it was really fun to see her work. She's not even a little bit afraid to get dirty. I heart her. Oh and note how comfortably she goes all bendy - that's years of yoga, people. It's impressive stuff.

We met in Soulard and headed over near the brewery to take some photos. One of my favorite things about being a shutter bug is that a camera provides a reason to connect with people I wouldn't otherwise. Within five minutes of popping off our lens caps, we had made a new friend. Meet Rockabilly Johnny. He drives this totally bitchin' vintage car, plays the stand up bass, and restores old cars for fun. He was kind enough to move his car to a more desirable location, model, and give us a tour of his shop. Viva la Johnny!

Johnny and his babies.

Baby got back.

After a quick tour of the shop, Jane and I meandered around the corner and met Larry, who was walking his three adorable pooches -- Dingo, Lulu, and their big beautiful black lab buddy. We made fast friends with this talented artist and he agreed to let us see his totally awesome studio. A short creepy elevator ride later (sorry Jane!) and we were 4 floors up. Larry has some kick ass stuff in his crib, including a mini circus tent!

Tiny Circus

Fantastic GIANT painting

Beautiful stairs that nearly caused a panic attack. SOOO STEEP!

What a fantastic photo adventure! We made two new friends and got some great shots.  Hanging with Jane is so much fun. I can't wait to go play with her again. :)

Twenty-Eleven

Like everybody else, the new year provides a time to reflect on the year past and a time to look forward to the year ahead. Instead of doing a list of resolutions, I decided that this year, I would take a business approach and do some strategic planning instead. I don't know why, but that sounds more palatable to me for some reason. Perhaps, the bad taste in my mouth for "resolutions" is the result of a lifetime of abandoned ones that make me leery. I like to plan. Planning, I can do.

First, a review. I've thought long and hard about the previous twelve months and I think the greatest area for improvement is in time management. I don't have much of it to spare, so I need to be sure I invest wisely. Work, school, and family take up a considerable chunk, but I must also make time to relax and recharge my batteries, too. I spent entirely too much time exhausted in 2010.

This year, I plan to take better care of myself -- mind, body, and spirit. A little bit of advance planning will go a long way in all these categories. I don't need any drastic revisions, but a few hours invested here and there in meal planning, exercise, and a little more sleep will make improve things significantly. It certainly can't hurt to try.

The past couple years have been an incredible learning experience with my little business. I have learned a ton. In the past couple months, I have been doing some research, product development, tests and trials and I have some exciting ideas that I will share as they develop over the coming year. Expect to see a lot more maps. :) I also plan to put more effort in to my Etsy shop this year. It's been sparsely stocked for months and it's high time I filled it up. Thank you so much to all of you who have supported me, I'm pretty sure I have the best customers, ever!

I hope your first day of the new year has been a exactly what you hoped for and more. Blessings and good wishes to you all in 2011!

Soulard Market Park Arts & Crafts Fair

I'm super duper excited about this new series of shows that will be held in the Soulard Market Park right next to the historic Soulard Farmer's Market. The show is sponsored by the Soulard Business Association, The St. Louis Craft Mafia and Paste. (If you're interested in participating, there's still time to apply, just visit the Paste website for the application information.) This is going to be a great show with tons of indie artists and crafters, live music and tasty treats.

I'll be there all three dates:

May 15

June 19

July 17

Stay tuned for more info...

November? Already!

Geez, time sure does fly. I can't believe we're already almost half way through November!!! That means the holidays are right around the corner and as usual I won't be getting much sleep. This weekend I'm doing a trunk show at Concordia Turners in south city from 9 - 3, then I'll be crafting 'round the clock until the first weekend in December when it's time for Big Ass Indie & Artropy (Dec 4 & 5). Somewhere in there I need to find some time to make gifts for my family. Anybody have an elf for hire?

Right now I'm feverishly working on finishing some felted coffee sweaters. Yes, sweaters for your coffee cup. They are made from upcycled wool sweaters and have needle felted designs. They're a great alternative to the disposable cardboard thingees - just toss it in your pocket or purse. Oh, bonus, they're way cuter and can also be used to keep your soda/water cup from sweating all over the place. Gotta love that! I've only stabbled myself with the felting needle 10 or 12 times so far. At lunch today, after I fed and trained my fake Facebook fishies, I did some work on these.



Oh! Oh! Oh! I got word today from my buddy Meg who works at St. Louis Children's Hospital that the babies are toasty warm with Needles for Newborn tiny hats! YAY!!!! Warm babies. Thanks again ladies!

Since Needles for Newborns was such a success, Paste and I are going to host another fun charity event for December, Crafting with Purpose. It will be the first in a (sort of) montly series of charity knit-along events. This time we're including scrapbookers and card makers too. The charity is The Haven of Grace, it's a shelter and rehabilitation center for homeless pregnant women and their children. It's a WONDERFUL organization. Join us Sunday, December 13, from 10 - 8 (Please RSVP to pastesoulard[at]gmail.com). We'll have some tasty snacks and lots of laughs. If you'd like to participate, but aren't particularly crafty, we'll always accept cash of course, but you can also donate supplies or bring a treat to keep the ladies energized - then hang out and play with us! Hope to see you there.

Later gators.

Go! Go! Go!

I feel like I'm always saying that things around here are busy, but lately, it's been insane. My day job has been keeping me late on the regular and my weekend/evening crafty gig seems to be a flutter with activity in the few gaps between. Don't mistake me, I'm not complaining, I'm grateful for all the new opportunities that the universe has offered up! I am truly blessed to work with so many interesting and wonderful people; it makes hard work a lot more fun!

Last weekend was Indie Underground with my Craft Mafia ladies at the Lumiere Hotel. Although sales weren't what I'd hoped, the people watching was FANTASTIC. I've never seen so many cougars and wacky shoes in one location in my life. The amount of posing and admiring of self that was going on was gut-bustingingly hilarious. About half way through me and one of my crafty girls in crime started keeping a list of famous nearly-look-alikes - there was Phyllis Diller with her cowgirl boots and giant pink feather boa, Posh Spice in her ass-bearing short shorts, Erkel in giant black rimmed glasses and hitched up pants and oh so many more. There were fabulously dressed and sophisticated too, but they weren't nearly as fun to gawk at.

This week has already started off with a bang. Last night I taught a class on polymer clay at Paste, which was super-duper fun. Tonight was my glass class at Third Degree Glass Factory and I got to play with fire! We made beads with polka dots, square ones, round ones and flat ones. I can’t wait to snap some pics to show y’all. Tomorrow is the Wine Tasting…Craft Making event at Paste where I’ll be teaching some lovely ladies how to paint and wire wrap wine glasses while they sample vino. This weekend is the big event I’ve been chattering about forever, Needles for Newborns …Crafting with Purpose. A bunch of knitty chics will be gathering to whip up some goodies for the preemie babies at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. On Sunday I plan to practice lying down horizontally on my couch. All day. Possibly changing channels once in a while.If I don’t bump in to you in my travels in the next few days, here’s to you and hoping you have a great week! Stay crafty!!