CreativeSundries

Carpe Smurf

2009-07-09T10:21:00.001-07:00

I'm returning The Smurfs Season 1: Volume 1 to Netflix today... I love the Smurfs! This is the first time I've watched them since waaaay back when they were on TV on Saturday mornings! (Remember SmurfBerry Crunch?)

I watched only three of the six episodes, or, actually, mini-sodes. I thought, should I watch them all? I want to, but on the other hand, if there are only six on this DVD and six on the next (and last) DVD of the season... I want to save some for later. On the other hand, if the world ends tomorrow, I want to have seen all the Smurf episodes I can. At the same time, if it really is the end of the world, hopefully I am going to heaven, and I believe in my heart that there are real Smurfs in heaven. You can play with them, and if you want, live with them in their little Smurf village.

So it was a classic instance of the epic struggle (well, not epic, but let's say epic, because it sounds cooler): Carpé Smurf vs. Carpe-how-many-DVDs-are-they-going-to-release-and-I-don't-want-to-use-them-up-all-at-once.

Netflix has Smurfs Season 1, a two-DVD season; The Smurfs: True Blue Friends, which is a collection of episodes from Season 2; and The Smurfs and the Magic Flute, which is, I'm just going to tell you right now, not that great of a movie. It's one of the ones where they bring in humans or human-type creatures, and that takes the focus away from the Smurfs. Who wants that? Nobody.

I do love Smurfs and am happy to trade items in my online shops (handmade as well as supplies/ephemera) for Smurf-related items. I am especially interested in foreign (to me, non.-U.S.) items, such as Pitufos (Spanish), Puffos, etc. If you have an offer, please just leave me a comment below or contact me through my CreativeSundries Etsy shopor CuriousSundries or (preferred) ArtFire.

For example, I can trade for some of these cool bottles in exchange for Smurf goods (I'm no longer selling them, but trades are fine).

Smurf you very much!

How...?

2009-07-07T20:22:00.001-07:00

I've been browsing Etsy for ephemera... and I've come across some shops with 400 items.. 900 items... and a shop with 4,000 ITEMS! Yiiiikes. How do you get 4,000 frelling items in your shop? Who does that? Etsy is loving those fees! Hahaha!

Ads in Your Inbox

2009-07-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed how, when you sign up for an email mailing list these days, the new norm seems to be sending you advertisements and reminders, like, 5 times a week? Sheesh! When did this become the new frequency?

I am going to unsubscribe from Hancock Fabrics and this one bead store's lists. I just don't need to hear from them every day! They're always having 75%-off sales off really low-quality stuff anyway.

Dunn. Bros. and Caribou Coffee tell me at least twice a week about their new coffee blends.

Even Move-on.org sends me stuff every day, but I probably won't unsubscribe to them because it is usually important info. I don't want to miss out on what Obama is doing!

Let's Get Something Straight...

2009-06-23T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone.

I have been exploring over at ArtFire, and working on my CreativeSundries shop there. So far I have my fawn necklace listed. I'll get more stuff up as time and motivation allow. I find the listing process there to be easy, even--enjoyable! Wow! It's all on one page, which is cool. It's really user-friendly.

Now I'd like to address an issue I've seen on ArtFire, as well as Etsy.

I would like to get something straight, and, I hope, find others of the same mind:

Finding vintage images, cutting them out, and reproducing them, digitally or otherwise, and selling the finished, unaltered image... IS NOT ART! It is simply not art. There's no soul in getting a library book, scanning vintage images, and selling the scanned image.

Why are people scanning and selling images that they didn't photograph or draw themselves, and that do not belong to them?

I believe that there are two reasons: 1) because they can, either because a) the image's copyright is technically expired, or the original copyright owner is either no longer around to enforce the copyright, or because the image is technically in the public domain, or 2) They somehow just don't know any better.

As for the first excuse, make sure you're reading the restrictions on "public domain" images. Images in the public domain are almost never designated for commercial--i.e., selling, no matter how much or how little. A perfect example is the illustrations in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The images are in the public domain. But they are not for commercial use--i.e., copying them and selling them as a digital collage sheet! Or, making rubber stamps out of them, and selling the stamps.

As for the second--if people are selling images--not things made with the images, but the images themselves, I would really hope they would do research into what they're selling.

It's different from collage. I don't use photocopies in my collages; I love the way the original images look.

What if the images are from 15th century China and there is no way to trace the artist? It's still not cool to scan them, print them on cardstock, and sell them, unaltered.

I'm just not sure why people are so intent on selling (unaltered) images they themselves did not create. And it is frustrating that online selling venues are allowing it to continue.

I encourage you to use your own creativity! Take your own photographs! Make your own images! Carve your own stamps! If you like certain images, say, vintage 50s and 60s (like I do), why not buy an antique book and cut out some of the images for your collages? Make an original card that incorporates the image in your own way. As Shel Silverstein says, "Put something in the world that ain't been there before."

Discussion and comments welcome!

Bewitching!

2009-06-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

Bewitched!

I had a bewitching dream last night... that I met Elizabeth Montgomery, star of Bewitched, one of the best shows of all time. In the dream, I was at some party and she was there, and I went up to her and was gushing like crazy (which is sooooo unlike me, hahaha!) and I was like, you are the best! I loved you in Bewitched!! And I asked if I could have her autograph.

She gave me not only an autograph, but wrote a two-page letter--it was about a magic spell and the effects it had on somebody she used it on. The cool thing was, the letter was written in shiny metallic purple ink that faded away, then immediately came back. I was freaking OUT! I couldn't believe I 1) Met Samantha Stevens, and 2) she wrote me this really cool letter with disappearing-reappearing metallic purple ink!!!!

My favorite Spanish word for the day is "ulular" -- to hoot!

Ordinary People and Money

2009-06-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

At the books-on-sale cart at the library, the book Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth caught my eye. I paid two dollars for it, and after reading it, I'm glad I didn't pay full-price.

Pretty much its basic message is to save money and when you invest in stocks, etc., not to move it around.

The contributors were overwhelmingly scientists and federal government workers from Maryland, Virginia, D.C., etc. Not exactly a representative sample! Federal Employee Retirement System, anyone?

The part that made me most curious was that one person said they canceled their garbage pick-up to save money. Now... how are you getting rid of your garbage?

I will be donating this book to the local thrift shop. (Now there is one way to get rid of your unwanted items... But canceling garbage pick-up....?)

Bird Listening

2009-06-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Photo: Birds in the Clouds, Ericka Bailie-Byrne, ELBfoto.

I got a CD from the library on bird sounds. I have only listened to it once, but today I heard some birds... and they all still sound to me like:

Bird 1: Cheep-cheep-cheep-cheep-cheep

Bird 2: Twitter, twiiiiiiitter

Bird 3: Da-da-da-da-da

I'm definitely not an auditory learner!! I'll give the CD another whirl; in the meantime, I'm not going to quit my day job. Although I heard that you can volunteer with the Department of Natural Resources to record data like frog noises around your home, and you give them the data, and that helps them in their work. Maybe I'll look into doing that.

Thanks to Ericka Bailie-Byrne for permission to use her photo!

On another nature-related note, be sure to stop by the San Diego Zoo's Panda Cam. They also have a link to the new, magnificent-looking Elephant Odyssey.

Altering Board Books

2009-05-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

I am working on making a few altered board books, "just" for myself--don't you like how we (well, at least I) say that something is "just" for you... like making something for yourself is somehow less than making something to sell, or making something for someone else? No! It's awesome to make stuff by and for your own sweet self!

So I bought a few board books (small books, usually for children, that can usually fit in your hand, whose pages are made with chipboard aka Bristol board, I think some call it, maybe in England, although I could be making that up) at a used book store. The price was right: just about a dollar each.

I had learned that in order to alter them, you needed to distress the surface. So I scrubbed each one with a dry brillo pad. It took away some of the shininess, but left it still smooth.

I love Lumiere paints, especially Halo Pink Gold (shown here). I covered a few page "spreads" one at a time with the paint. The surface of the board books was still really smooth, though, almost too smooth. The paint just glided on instead of really sinking in. When dry, the paint was adhered, but a lot of brush strokes showed, and the background of the actual book still showed. With another coat of Lumiere paint, this still happened.

I tore up a bit of the shiny surface of one page of the book--that is shown in the bottom corner of this photo:

This left a craggy cardboard surface that had a "tooth" to it--it seemed to grip the paint instead of letting it slide all over. But, that part of the page is thinner, now. Also it's pretty smooth, but not as sleek as I'd like it. Hmm. Will keep experimenting and post back! (Anyone have any suggestions for preparing a board book to "take" paint and other media? Comments welcome!)

My lunch is pretty!

2009-05-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

Isn't this lunch pretty? It is just simple peanut butter and jelly, and I plunked down the vegetables I had around, which were baby carrots, grape tomatoes and organic greens. It looked so bright and inviting, I had to take a picture. Look at me all Better-Homes-and-Gardens!! lol

Thumbs up, Thumbs Down

2009-05-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

Time for Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down!

Thumbs Down!

-My across-the-street neighbor whose idea of walking her dog is putting him on a leash and walking him down the driveway! It makes me really mad!

-Copying another crafter's work and/or photograph style. Not having the same idea at the same time--really copying someone's style (French dictionary circles, anyone?)... Not cool... Ultimately, it is sad for the copiers, who have no creativity!

-That the Bush administration/CIA would even think "waterboarding" (Google it; it's horrendous) is okay to use on anyone--suspected terrorist or not. Anyone who would devise such a technique is really sick. And to call torture techniques "enhanced interrogation." To me, the real terrorists in the world are those who abuse children.

Now the good part:

Thumbs Up!

-OBAMA! Need I say more?

-Poetry slam on Tuesday: I was chosen (randomly) to be a judge! I even gave a 10.0--Mike M's poem (I'll have to see if there is a link to these spoken word artists) about all the places he's lived.

-Lilacs coming out!

-May!

Wear Shakespeare in Your Hair

2009-04-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

Oh, these gave me an "I-wish-I'd-thought-of-that!" moment: flowers cut from vintage text, varnished, and made into barrettes!

They are made by Suanne of PaperAffection.
I've never seen anything like them, and with all the amazing crafting items out there, finding something truly unique is a rare surprise!

Suanne, you get an A for awesomeness!
Find them at PaperAffection on Etsy! Thanks, Suanne, for letting me use your pics!

Tools for Selling Internationally

2009-04-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

(I've also posted this article on the HandmadeMN blog!)

Part of the fun of selling your crafts online is being able to send your projects to all corners of the world! Here are some helpful tools available online that are useful when selling your work to an international audience.

XE.com is the "World's Favorite Currency Site." Its universal currency converter allows you to enter an amount in one currency, for example, the American dollar, and convert it to another currency, for example, the Euro.

Why might you want to know how to convert currency? A potential customer might want to know your prices in their country's currency. You can do the calculations yourself, or refer them to xe.com. Some online craft venues use the Euro instead of the American dollar. You might also want to list your items in different currencies on your own site.

Be sure to check often as currency values change frequently.

Another important element in international selling is measurement conversion. If you provide product measurements in both U.S. and metric measurements, everyone will be able to understand the size of your items!

One easy-to-use length and weight conversion site is

OnlineConversion.com.

Stay tuned to the HandmadeMN blog for more ideas, tips, and suggestions on crafting and selling internationally!

Lolcats on Vacation

2009-04-08T18:55:00.000-07:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I could do this!

2009-03-01T22:42:00.000-08:00

I could totally do this! Yes!

(That is what's crazy about Google's ads in gmail, that they pick based on the text you're writing.)

Now, would I have to get all Walter y Las Estrellas?

Alice in Wonderland... Online

2009-02-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

I love Project Gutenberg. They have hundreds of public-domain books free online.

Including... Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (which inspired this Drink Me necklace)!!!

You can download it, or read it online here. Happy falling-down-the-rabbit-hole!

Love this quotation!

2009-02-26T22:07:00.000-08:00

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those you mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

~ Dr. Seuss

P.S. I will look into changing my blog colors ASAP--I realize white on black can be hard on the eyes! Nothing else seems to look good, though... Hmmm.....

Cute Find: Mini Book by StoryBookProductions

2009-02-19T10:11:00.001-08:00

Awww! I love this cute mini book, handmade by StoryBookProductions.
Just as cute are Lisa's Top Ten uses for it:

Lisa's TOP TEN uses for a mini book:

10. Autograph book at Disney (skip the souvenir version)
9. Fill it with inspirational quotes
8. Swap school pictures (yeah, I mean the kids)7. Take notes at boring meetings in style
6. Geese a laying (oops wrong song)
5. Make fifteen mini collages
4. Keep your favorite drink recipes handy
3. Your own gen-yoo-wine Harriet the Spy notebook
2. Bitty Brag Book
1. Write a very short story

I have a thing for journals and paper goods, especially, of course, handmade ones.StoryBookProductions has many beautifully made journals and paper goods as well. Her eleven-year-old daughter Claire has her very own section of the shop, featuring sweet needlefelted animals like this snowy owl!

Thanks, Lisa and Claire, for letting me use your pictures. Your shop rocks!

Team SASsy: Etsy Sellers Assisting Sellers

2009-02-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

Are you on Etsy? Have you heard of Team SASsy? Sellers Assisting Sellers (hence, SASsy) is a team of Etsy sellers who offer support to other sellers.

I am part of the team in the language department: I offer help in Portuguese and Spanish to those who are more comfortable using those languages. So... Se você quer falar sobre a sua loja Etsy em portguês, me fala!... Si quieres charlar sobre tu tienda Etsy en castellano, ¡dime!

http://etsymentors.blogspot.com

List of Sellers Assisting Sellers

I love Obama!

2009-02-10T11:04:00.001-08:00

I love President Obama so much!

And I am loving the Senate right now, too (for real)!

Happy Groundhog Day!

2009-02-02T10:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Groundhog Day! Whether or not you celebrate privately (like Michael Scott), it is a special day for all, and someday I want to be in Punxsatawney, Pennsylvania, for their official celebration. I visited Punxsatawney on a road trip once--it's a lovely town; I got some groundhog-themed l

uggage tags that I still use! I'd like to go back.

This cute little guy (or girl) is not a groundhog, but a beaver--and sooo sweet! Thanks to SparkePaw for letting me feature her cute mirror!

I also have this lovely beaver necklace (or pin) available in my shop. *Sigh* I wish I could have a groundhog as a pet.

Happy Groundhog Day to all!

Why I love Escape to Witch Mountain...

2009-02-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

Reasons I'm loving Escape to Witch Mountain

(No spoilers allowed... I haven't even seen that much of it yet)

1. "We love living in this strange house with ice cream and gigantic stuffed animals and a real carousel horse and caged-in dogs and self-propelling puppets and no neighbors. How totally normal this all is.

2. The 1976 Freaky Friday-esque music in the opening credits

3. I love that I am now brave enough to watch this movie! As a kid, whenever it was advertised on the Disney channel, I would close my eyes and cover my ears until the commercial is over. And look at me now!

It appears that there is a remake in the works. I do not like remakes!!! I do not like remakes!!!

Shout-out to Sarah Sweet of i like you for reminding me about this movie!

Quote of the Day

2009-01-25T07:27:00.000-08:00

I love this quote by Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic.

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."

-Scott Adams

My crochet circle is growing!

2009-01-24T17:44:00.000-08:00

I've been working a bit more on my amigurumi project, and the little circle I am working on has gotten bigger! Exciting!

It's helpful that I can kind of understand now what a "stitch" looks like. So I'm continuing what Jen taught me last Sunday, and working on the circular crochet. I'll keep you posted! :-)

Supposed to be a Coptic Stitch Journal

2009-01-23T15:59:00.000-08:00

This is an experiment I was doing, making a coptic stitch journal. It was working out all right--except I sewed each "signature" (set of pages) to the next signature, step-like, instead of sewing them in a line to form the spine of the book. Ooooops! I'm still learning. Always! :-)

The title of this post reminds me of a Monk episode where he is investigating a murder that happened onstage during Sharona's sister's play performance. "It's funny about that phrase, 'supposed to be.' A man can't count on 'supposed to be' the way he used to." (Something like that.) That line just stuck in my head, for some reason. That was an awesome episode, and I had noooo idea how the murder took place. Of course, I won't reveal the punch line of the show, because who in their right mind would do that?

I love Monk. You can watch it at hulu.com. I'm not affiliated, but it sure would be convenient to be affiliated since I am promoting it here, heh.

Sharona vs. Natalie (Monk's assistants): I like them both, almost equally. I liked Sharona just a teeny bit more. But just a teeny bit. Both are smart, independent, compassionate, caring, and not afraid to call Adrian on things he pulls.

I am totally crocheting!

2009-01-19T20:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I took an amigurumi class with the lovely fuzfrenzy, aka my friend Jennifer, aka the Most Patient Person on the Planet!

I came in with minimal crochet experience. My mom crochets, and taught me some stuff a few days before I took the class. So I can totally rock the chain stitch now! If only there was something cool to make with a really long single stitch. Maybe, a really long 1 cm. wide scarf is the new cowl?
I think what is tricky about crochet is actually seeing what I'm doing. You're supposed to insert the needle in the "next stitch" or "next hole" (are those the same thing? lol) and I'm like, which is the next one? I'm looking at 80,000 stitches! How are you supposed to tell them apart?

Here is the beginning of the amigurumi owl I am making, using fuzfrenzy's pattern. I will post my progress here for all to see! :-)

Dig Deep and Help American Express

2009-01-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

Dig Deep and Help American Express

Nobody is feeling the squeeze of the economy like the gigantic corporations. Think of the big cats at these huge companies--how will they afford their third and fourth vacation home, if the federal government doesn't bail them out? Imagine, for a moment, being forced to live on only 15 million dollars per year. It almost brings a tear to the eye when you think about it. But thousands of CEOs and VPs in this country face this very situation, as we speak.

It is for this reason that I am asking you to reach down in your hearts, and your wallets, and donate to American Express. They are standing in the wings, waiting for a government bailout. If we rally together as a community, they won't need to ask for it--and your tax dollars can go, not to education or health care for everyone (yes, everyone)--but to help the next corporation willing to send jobs overseas and cut down on quality to help their bottom line.

No amount is too much. Just think of all the times American Express has reached out to Americans, month after month, for years. Remember the times you've held their touching "Thinking of you" letters, and cried as you realize how much they care. People, it is time to give back.

Companies like American Express helped make America what it is today. Think about it, people. They deserve only the best. Dig deep if you have to. It's time to give back.

The Best Massage (no) Money Can Buy

2009-01-17T14:13:00.000-08:00

Tennis ball porcelain earrings, designed, made, and kiln-fired by Linda Cain. (Thanks, Linda, for letting me use your photo.)

The best massage that (no) money can buy is this:

Take a tennis ball.
Put it on hard floor.
Lay self down on tennis ball.
Move ball to relieve pressure points.

Ahhhhhh.

This works so, so well and feels like a deep massage.

It works best on a hard floor.

Body work I want to try: rolfing. It sounds like a really, really deep massage, which I love.

Peanut, Peanut Butter (Jelly!)

2009-01-16T15:52:00.000-08:00

Aren't these cute peanut butter and jelly earrings? They are made by Lollywood and can be found in her Etsy shop! (Thanks, Casey, for letting me borrow your image!)

They remind me of one of my favorite camp songs:
The "Jelly!" is kind of chanted/whispered fast. I know, it's hard to relate the tune in a blog posting!
There are hand motions that go with the actions in the song. It's like, "Da daaaa, da da da da, DAH! DAH!" (Yeah, that's really helpful, isn't it?!)

Do any of you know this song?

Peanut, Peanut Butter (Jelly!)

Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)
Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)

First, you take the peanuts and you squish 'em, you squish em,
First, you take the peanuts and you squish 'em, you squish em,
for your...

Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)
Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)

Then, you take the grapes and you smoosh em, you smoosh em,
Then, you take the grapes and you smoosh em, you smoosh em,
for your...

Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)
Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)

Then you take the bread and you spread it, you spread it,
Then you take the bread and you spread it, you spread it,
for your...

Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)
Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)

Then you take the sandwich, and you eat it! You eat it!
Then you take the sandwich, and you eat it! You eat it!
For your...

Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)
Peanut, peanut butter (jelly!)

Simplicity in Accounts

2009-01-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail.” -- Henry David Thoreau

See? You really do not need to use Excel! I just found that quote by Henry David Thoreau on ThinkExist.com. I don't use spread sheets. Never have; (hopefully) never will. :-)

This image comes from BurningWell.org, a collection of public domain images. I love when artists share!
The photographer is Ala Beara, and the work is titled "Kilcullen Manna Organic Shop." The shop is in Ireland. I'll have to search BurningWell for a way to contact the photographer (no link or contact info appears to be listed) and thank him or her!

This is not okay!

2009-01-14T12:20:00.001-08:00

It is not acceptable to expect or ask someone to work as a combination Spanish-English interpreter and classroom teaching assistant whose job description includes, and this is a direct quote, "stop[ing] physical and argumentative fights" and--this is the best yet--the candidate must be willing to travel between different school sites... for a grand total of $11.06 per hour!!

I came across a job posting today that was requesting exactly that, and it astounded and infuriated me.

St. Paul Public Schools should be ashamed!!!!! They talk the talk, especially in the bilingual schools, about how being bilingual is soooo valuable (it is). Then look at the wages they pay their (gasp) non-college-graduate bilingual employees.

Girl Scouts Rule!

2009-01-13T22:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday a local Brownies group was having a meeting at the community center where I go to Jazzercise. They were doing crafts, one of which was sewing a notebook together! Yay for Girl Scouts, for parents who donate their time, for helping girls be smart, safe, and strong.

I wonder, what kind of girls' organizations are there in other countries? Actually, Girl Scouts is international, isn't it? I'll have to look into that. It looks like this site, anyway, is for Girl Scouts of the United States. And awesome, they even have the site in Spanish! :-)

Thrift shopping

2009-01-12T20:19:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or are thrift shops' selections becoming smaller and their prices going up?

Thrift shops are a great place for wool sweaters, which I like to use for repurposing and felting projects. And I have to say that Savers' used wool sweaters for $8... what is the dealio? They are used sweaters! I could see $5, tops. You can find nice wool sweaters at most thrift stores them for $2-$3. So no way I'm buying them at Savers.

Thrift shops are awesome for books. As a teacher, I find/found so many books at a great discount, and I recommend this! Also jewelry, but it's pretty hard to find vintage jewelry at a thrift store. Most of the jewelry is depressing 90s stuff. You can sometimes get lucky with games, though. I love vintage games!

If you keep up like this...

2009-01-10T21:27:00.000-08:00

Quote of the day:

"Mother, if you keep this up, you'll have a nervous breakdown before you go to Europe."

--Jean Harlow, in Platinum Blonde.

Overheard in Minneapolis (remind me to add this to the Overheard in Minneapolis facebook group!):

"Post-modernism is just a smokescreen for finance capitalists."

But, it isn't. Postmodernism and capitalism... wait, I'm not turning this blog into a discussion of postmodernism.

Out and about: Got together at the Local, in downtown Minneapolis, with people I hadn't seen in forever.

Jack Knife and the Sharps playing at Mystic Lake tonight.

Thanks, e, for the moral support. :-)

City Friends...

2009-01-09T14:29:00.000-08:00

------------------------

This is a card I made for someone special to me, who loves trains.

I made it using a page from the children's reader City Friends, published in 1938. I used the original book page as I (usually) don't like reproductions!

Quirky train fact: Taking the Amtrack from Austin, Texas to Minneapolis, Minnesota would take 36 hours--it goes through Chicago!! (I know, I looked this up and thought, 36 hours? no, thanks; I'll drive!)

I would like to take a train trip. We just don't have train service like they do in Europe! When I studied in Spain we took the train everywhere--Zamora, Barcelona, even to Portugal!

Fun train-themed movies: Murder on the Orient Express*; Brief Encounter; Silver Streak.

*Please note: must be 1974 version with Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery...

Odds and Ends!

2009-01-08T21:48:00.000-08:00

Reading: Harry Potter y la cámara secreta... Yep, brushin' up for translator certification... The original book title, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, should really be translated as Harry Potter y la cámara de secretos... It's more than just a secret chamber (as the Spanish-language title suggests)--it's a secret chamber that holds secrets. So I'm nit-picky! I like to think of it as having a high standard for accuracy.

Watching: Monk, Season 5; The Office on Hulu.com (how often do they change those episodes?), and Mr. Rogers: What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?, and The End of the Affair. That reminds me--The Out of Towners is on TCM tonight--have to tape it!

Moving: Jazzercise last night, but I'm more sore and stiff than energized, which I usually feel the day after class.

Stalking: AeroMexico, to make them give me back the price of the ticket to Guadalajara they never sent me and then charged me for. I know, it sounds made-up, right? It's not. Word to the wise: don't buy from them!

Making:

Trying to teach myself to make a purse/clutch using the wet-felting method. Also making pins from some vintage cake toppers!

Wanting: This Tiny (I mean really tiny) nose ring from Nataliaraya, who is really sweet and is from/lives in Costa Rica, and who accepts custom orders for her cool jewelry, so check it out! (The pic is at the top of this post--Blogger doesn't seem to like me to move photos around to the middle of a post.)

Did you notice today's date, 1/8/9 works out to 1 + 8 = 9? ;-)

What are YOU up to?

Etsy share--Go Flo Jo (The Remix) Converse + Crochet, by BrklynMoMos

2009-01-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn in the house! (Have always wanted to say that!)

I love these!

BklynMoMos--Ramona is the Brooklyn-based designer of these cool shoes--Pink Converse, customized by BklynMoMos with blue and pink crochet!

Ramona explains that they are "my homage to Florence 'Flo Jo' Griffith-Joyner. I remember she used to wear these rock star like outfits when she ran. Couldn't you see her wearing these? That is if you could actually run in Chucks!"

I also definitely have my eye on this skirt.

Be sure to check out BklynMoMos' online shop!

Thanks to Ramona for letting me use her pics! :-)

Aiii!

2009-01-05T07:35:00.000-08:00

I adore this site! And I'm not even a cat person!

I thank Chelsey for introducifying me to icanhascheezburger!

One Word...

2009-01-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

One word.

FRANKEN!!!!!!!!!

Happy new year~

2009-01-01T17:10:00.000-08:00

Happy new year from CreativeSundries!

Su Lin, we love you!

2008-12-29T22:09:00.000-08:00

I love that even at 10 p.m. California time, Su Lin is still eating her bamboo: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/index.html.

Fabric and Friends

2008-12-26T20:52:00.001-08:00

I went to Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul with Jenna today. Fun! Treadle's fabrics are awesome. They could have more roving, but all's well, since I get mine from Cedar Wool Farms anyway. :-) I have my eye on some wool that would make a cute skirt!

Sewing projects I would like to do, as a still-beginner at sewing:

1. Make purses!

2. Make my own clothes!

I especially want to learn how to make clothes using my existing clothes as patterns. They have a class on how to do this, but, shockingly, I'd like to figure this out on my own or *cough* *ahem* have a friend help me learn to do this!

These goals are above crochet and above Frustration-Knitting, but I definitely want to learn to crochet this winter.

Jenna and I had delicious salads and pizza at Green Mill. Yum!

Wish you...

2008-12-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas !!!

Independent Toy Makers and the New Law

2008-12-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Public Radio featured an excellent article on the so-called Consumer Product Improvement Safety Act here. This law will require all toy makers, from Hasbro to the one-person wood shop worker, to conduct expensive testing on toys they sell. Why does this fall to the independent crafter? It's gigantic companies who were importing inexpensive, lead-ridden garbage in the first place, and the law needs to focus on them. I love what PeaPods Natural Toys store owner Dan Marshal said about the law: "And the way this enforcement was put together, it makes sense for large companies, which were the ones making this problem in the first place. It doesn't make sense for small-batch companies."

My comment on the article: "As a crafter and maker of handmade goods myself, I completely agree with Marshal that the bill makes sense for the irresponsible huge companies who caused the problem in the first place, not for small companies or, especially, individual toymakers. This should not be a one-size-fits-all solution."

Help hedgies in need

2008-12-22T23:04:00.001-08:00

At Christmastime, many of us like to give donations to worthwhile organizations that help improve lives. Today I would like to remind you about the Hedgehog Welfare Society, a wonderful non-profit organization dedicated to helping hedgehogs in need. There are no paid positions in the Hedgehog Welfare Society--all donations go directly to caring for hedgies who need to be re-homed and rescued. Donations go toward care packages for hedgehogs who are on their way to their forever homes. Please feel free to contact me, or the HWS directly, with any questions. <<<<>>>

Bailout, Smailout

2008-12-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

What the frell?

American big business interests have always insisted on minimal government interference. The political camps and good old boys' clubs that support them say government should stay out. Social welfare, sorry, you just need to work harder. Right.

How the tables have turned! It's revolting how they're all lining up to receive ridiculous bail-outs from the federal government--that's you and me, friends.

How does this make sense? It doesn't.

Apples for the Squirrels!

2008-12-16T19:25:00.000-08:00

We put apples outside for the squirrels (it is very cold and snow here in Minnesota, U.S.) and on Sat. I saw a squirrel carrying one in its mouth while it scurried along! The apple is almost as big as he is!!! (After taking this shot, we sliced up the rest of the apples.)

What day is it, anyway?

2008-12-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

This is a clementine, used to explain time zones and the mind-boggling concept that It's Already Tomorrow in Australia. Or, put less American-centric, it's *yesterday* in the United States. So, relatively speaking, is today really today, or tomorrow? Wacky!!!

Rummage Sale Scores

2008-11-21T14:38:00.000-08:00

At the rummage sale at the Theatre de la Jeune Lune in Minneapolis... I purchased this awesome gigantic book prop! it's made of foam and board, and looks like a real book.

The photo above shows how big it is--it's leaning against a lamppost and you can see a car in the background. It's humungous!

When I go back to elementary teaching, which I definitely will at some point, I know the kids will love it.

I also scored a gorgeous trunk (we had to bring a flashlight to see in all the nooks and crannies where the props were held!

It's sad to see a local theatre closing.

Rodney Loves Us!

2008-11-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

Rodney is our friend from Cedar Wool Farms. He was sweet enough to feature us on his blog!

Awww!

Thanks, buddy! We'll be in touch when we use up all of our roving from you again!!! :-)

Images/Motifs I do not understand!

2008-11-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

There are some imagery/motifs in the art and crafting world I really do not understand.

1. Dunce caps. What is with all of the altered art, collage, ACEOs, where the people are wearing dunce caps? I do not understand.

2. Doll-head-with-nails-in-it. You see this all over the place in altered art! I do not understand.

Anyone care to shed some light on this for me?

I'm not being facetious or sarcastic. Whether or not I like these types of imagery is not the issue--I'd really like to understand it.

¡Gracias! Sarah :-)

Etsy share--NeedleFelted Alice in Wonderland by LuckyD!

2008-11-11T21:11:00.001-08:00

Oh, I am just freaking out over this Alice and her Friends Felties set, handmade by LuckyD of the Feltiverse!

I love Alice in Wonderland so much. Do you believe how cute and intricate these needle-felted treasures are?

The set includes Alice herself, as well as the White Rabbit, the Queen--holding a flamingo/putter!, the Mad Hatter, cheshire cat, and the "grumpy hooka-smoking caterpillar"--lol! Her caterpillar makes me crazy!

As a needlefelter myself, I know this set must have taken hours and hours and hours and hours to create. I am in awe! While you're in her shop, be sure to check out LuckyD's other very cute needlefelted works! Hamilton the Hamster practically has me in tears, weeping from the cuteness.

Thanks, Joanna, for lending me your pics!

YES, WE DID!

2008-11-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take a moment here to say:

President Obama! President Obama! President Obama!

That's right!

Yes, we can...

Yes, we did!!!!!!!!

I love America again!!!!!

Vote! Vote! Vote!

2008-10-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

ONE WEEK 'TIL ELECTION DAY! (Yes, I'm shouting, because I'M EXCITED!)

I will be making calls for Obama this week, to hopefully motivate people to get out and vote.

My question is: how do you convince people it's important in light of the electoral college (er, dare I say 2000)? In the electoral college system, as we know from the embarrassing 2000 election, the electoral vote (by the privileged few, and how are these people chosen, anyway?) and popular vote (i.e., the votes of individual Americans) don't have to line up. It's an insane system, and as much as people talk about changing education, reforming health care--why don't we hear about re-evaluating this archaic voting tradition? So, it seems that an individual's vote doesn't count--but it really does, right?

One response to this rationale that I love, and have to remember when I get discouraged about the actual importance of voting, is that given by Michael Moore in the commentary on the Roger and Me DVD. Moore makes the case that, basically, you can say that voting doesn't count--but do you really want to go down that road? What follows, in that frame of mind? We shouldn't vote?? And what then....?

Comments on voter motivation welcome!!

Dilbert!

2008-09-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy News for Cozy Corset Cuff!

2008-09-19T15:48:00.001-07:00

Very good news for the Cozy Corset Cuff girls, Jenna and Chelsey: Cozy corset cuffs are now available in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area at LocalDish! They've also been accepted into LolliShops! These are two very imaginative and crafty gals and I know their success will only grow from here! Congratulations!

More cool news: I will be sharing a booth with the lovely Jess of Milton and Margies, at the Handmaiden Mpls./i like you's Rocktober craft show, October 12, at the Uptown VFW! Yay!

Also, I got my wool roving from CedarWool, yay! I got the bird's nest pack, which has a bunch of different colors of roving that Leslie suggests putting out in bits in your yard to see which ones get incorporated into a bird's nest (I'll mainly be using it for needlefelting, but I might do that as well!), and red and orange. I now have all the rainbow colors, minus light green.

I am finding it sooo tricky to make an animal's body shape--a barrel-type shape. I tend to do the felting pretty intensely, and I end up flattening everything! But I think the shape that usually results when I try to make a hedgehog actually looks a lot like a turtle, so I will probably end up making some little turtles!

Baby Panda in Atlanta!!!!

2008-09-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

Look at the stick-of-butter-sized baby panda born to Lun Lun at Zoo Atlanta! She makes Zhen Zhen look giant! I love you, little tiny baby!

Love this button!

2008-09-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

I love this button!!!! Thanks to Amy of ButtonEmpire for letting me use the image of her awesome button!

This is from the item description... "My Mom used to say "Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying...In that spirit we present this cheery and witty 1 inch pinback button.
Why not treat yourself to gas or groceries with your stimulus money?
And maybe, with careful budgeting, you'll have a couple of bucks left for this 1 inch handmade pinback button."

I love it! Makes me laugh... and cry... but then I laugh again.

We're on DaWanda!

2008-09-05T16:39:00.000-07:00

Hooray! I finally posted something on DaWanda! I wish it was easier to upload photos to this blog and I'd show you how cute our little shop looks over there! I ship internationally often, so it's a good fit! Please visit us at http://en.dawanda.com/shop/CreativeSundries!

20 q

2008-09-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

I am loving this site: http://www.20q.net. It's 20 Questions that you play on the computer.

Now, I can't get into most online games. Same with video games; not really my thing unless it's real, and I mean old-school, Ms. Pac Man, Frogger, or, in a pinch, Donkey Kong.

But I do love this site, http://www.20q.net. It works on some kind of computer-logic-artificial-intelligence cool thing, and narrows down possibilities based on the answers you provide.

And it's freaky!!

I like playing in Spanish and Portuguese just for fun. So far it guessed canela/cinnamon; boton/button (after only 13 questions!); chocolate; café/coffee; and venado/deer.

How does it do that???

RNC is out of control

2008-09-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

The Republican National Convention is out of control. Half of downtown St. Paul is cordoned off; we went down there yesterday to get a bite to eat at Cossetta's--big mistake and got caught in traffic forever. Here (above; I am still unable to intersperse text and photos in blogger) are some of the many safety measures that are being enforced. The shields and sticks scare me. Yes, some protesters get out of hand--but most of them are simply exercising their constitutional right to free expression.

One of the things that bothers me most is that the Republican National Convention expected local schools, including Wellstone Elementary, to accommodate them. This means not only bus re-routing (in the works for months, because Kellogg Ave. is closed), but no outdoor recess because there might be snipers. Yeah.

I really am liking Obama more, though.

Baby Bunny

2008-08-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's Bigfoot-esque, but this photograph shows the little baby bunny who has been visiting me!

He's so cute!

Speaking of Bigfoot reminds me of how much I love Bigfoot lore, and how much I love these now-legendary Bigfoot and Abominable Snowman magnets from PearsonMaron.

They are hand-painted and kiln-fired. I love how they are in the classic Bigfoot on-the-move pose. I totally heart them!!

Thanks, Adam and Quincy, for letting me use your photos! :-)

Love this Etsy shop!

2008-08-22T15:37:00.001-07:00

Hello, friends!

I'd like to introduce you to my new Etsy friend, Angela, aka RetroGirl66, and a fantastic life-project-goal she and her husband are working for.

They are going to adopt! (Cheers and applause--congratulations!!!)

Angela and her husband are planning to adopt a baby girl from China.

Do you know that to wait for the Chinese government for the referral of a child in need of adoption takes 2 to 2.5 years? That's a long wait, but I hope it will be sooner for this family. She says, "We're dying to become parents and begin our family." Isn't that sweet??

Support the (ahem, costly) adoption process by stopping by her shop, Creative Joose, aka RetoGirl66.

Find Retrogirl at:

http://retro-girl66.blogspot.com/ - my main blog

http://creativepandalerium.blogspot.com/ -- my art/crafts blog

http://www.flickr.com/photos/retro-girl66/ -- my photography

Barack This Site

2008-08-21T15:09:00.001-07:00

I don't love Obama. I loved/still do love Hilary. But I do love this site:

Barack Obama Is Your New Bicycle.

Check it out! It's so sweet and cute it made me (truly) lol.

Love,

Sarah

I can has cheezburger...

2008-08-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

Featured Artist: Regal Beads

2008-08-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

I have a soft spot for all things Canadian. My latest Canadian "discovery" is a wonderful Etsy shop I want to tell you about: RegalBeads. Kim hails from Thunder Bay, not far from Minnesota's Grand Marais and a very lovely place.

Kim has immense patience: Look at the gorgeous bracelets she weaves from thousands of tiny little seed beads! (Those pesky beads roll everywhere, as you might well know!) She also uses fire-polished crystals.

Kim says, "I have loved doing crafts for most of my life (in fact, my dad loves to tell an embarrassing childhood story on me about this passion ;))

Both of my parents are quite creative, and passed this down to me! I started beading over five years ago and took to it like a fish to water. I love the feel of the beads in my hands, the challenge of a new pattern, and the joy of a completed piece!"

Kim is a member of Etsy Beadweaver Street Team and I love her generous spirit and readiness to promote her teammates' shops: She says, "If you are wanting a style that I might not make, but know you have seen made with seed beads-CONVO ME [via her Etsy shop] !! I know MANY seed bead artists, the street team I am in is quite diverse, and I can probably help you find what you are looking for!!"

Be sure to visit her Etsy shop and take a look around!

Custom? Yes!

Blog? Yes! Visit http://www.Regalbeads.blogspot.com

Watching and reading...

2008-08-12T15:20:00.001-07:00

Currently watching:

Smilla's Sense of Snow--I highly recommend this movie. It's serious, thought-provoking, sad, unique.

Grand Hotel

Gilmore Girls

Brothers and Sisters, Season 1

Yes, it's an eclectic selection, my Netflix queue.

Reading:

Man's Search for Meaning--I've been meaning to read this forever.

I'm making some prints of my collages to list in my Etsy shop soon. Yay!

Leaf-Blower Ban, Please!

2008-07-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

Can somebody please make leaf-blowers illegal in Minnesota?

They are hideous, noisy, and they use tons of energy. And it's everybody's energy, people!

I think they are already illegal in L.A.... or maybe I am thinking about how it is illegal to hose down your driveway (also drives me nuts!) there.

Please, pick up a rake, my friends!

Thanks in advance!

Love,

Sarah

Getting Crafty This Summer!

2008-07-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Please check out my article on Getting Crafty This Summer on the Etsy Minnesota Street Team--aka TeamMN's blog, on our TeamMN blog.

Thanks to Jenna for help with graphic design for that post!

Love Whale, Whale Love

2008-06-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Oh... Cuuuuuuute shop name, GypsyRabbit, and cuuuuute whale necklace! It's copper enameled. It's totally cute! Remember, the blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived. Wow.

Sarah, aka GypsyRabbit, explains, "Enameling is an ancient art that involves firing powdered glass and metals at high temperatures to fuse them together."

I have a total soft spot for anatomical hearts and where you can see the heart inside the animal. So sweet!

Cupcake Saturday Becomes a Reality

2008-06-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

Today I took Ericka up on her invitation to Cupcake Saturday at Letterbox in Uptown Mpls. Sheela makes amazing cupcakes! I had the Mexican Hot Chocolate (above), of elbfoto fame. It was sooo scrumptious! (I admit that I probably couldn't be a food writer because main adjectives are soooo good, soooo delicious, and sooo scrumptious. I don't deny it.)

The frosting was all piled up and it was sooo scrumptious and the cupcake was moist (I really detest that word but it's the only one that fits) and chocolatey and spicy and deliiiicious. Sometime I am going to get 6 and eat 5 in quick succession and savor one. I also have try the Raspberry Lemonade, and Creamsicle, for that matter.

Happy Cupcake Saturday 1 year anniversary!

Please, San Diego Zoo!

2008-06-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

I received this in a newsletter from the San Diego Zoo, of which we are members (yes, all the way from Minnesota): Summer Fun and Savings

You're invited join Joan Embery for a members-only special preview of Nighttime Zoo presented by Frazee Paint, on Friday, June 27. Everyone receives a 20% discount on food and beverages throughout the evening, and the first 1,500 members at the premiere of Talamasca, a lively cirque-style show, will receive a free, reusable Zoo shopping bag with valuable coupons. And don't forget to enjoy an evening at the Wild Animal Park this summer—Park at Dark begins June 21.

I'm sorry, but I don't want food or beverages or a circus show or a reusable shopping bag! I just want to hold that baby panda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What to do w/shredded money?

2008-05-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

Do you have bags of shredded money just sitting around?

Me, neither. But if you do come across a torn or otherwise damaged bill, here is some incredibly random information from the U.S. Treasury:

"The Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, redeems partially destroyed or badly damaged currency as a free public service. The Office of Currency Standards... uses experts to examine mutilated currency and will approve the insurance of a Treasury check for the value of the currency determined to be redeemable."

How is that for a job title? Mutilated Currency Expert.

On a related page, there is something called Currency Residue Requirements:

You may acquire currency residue from the Federal Reserve System based upon Treasury Department approval.

Wait, why would somebody want to obtain residue from dollar bills? I do not understand.

And this all came about when I was searching for information on RME! Revolution Money Exchange promises to exchange money like PayPal, but without fees... They will even pay you a sign-on bonus! It sounds great, but how are they doing this? Are they going to charge fees eventually?

2008-05-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

I want to share with you one of my new favorite Etsy shops: EnnaDesignShop.etsy.com.

Aysel (such a pretty name!) lives in Turkey, and makes absolutely adorable items that are out-of-this-world cute!

She works mostly with felt, and her shop offers a delightful variety of items, ranging from sweet barrettes to this fantastic play scene, "Pinky is a Book-Nerd!" (third photo from the top--I'd like to move it right here but Blogger's not letting me... Suggestions, anyone?)

I love that her play scenes and accessories are as cute as--no, cuter than--the Groovy Girls accessories--and it is handmade! Her little deer are to-cry-for!!

Aysel says, "I love all colorful, cute, shiny and kawaii crafts to brighten my life. My items are combination of felt, beads, sequins, buttons and all hand-sewn, hand-embrodiered, made with heart, great care, lots of details on. I hope what comes out of my heart will reach your hearts too." Isn't she sweet?

She ships to all over the world, and welcomes custom orders! Visit her land of cuteness on Etsy at EnnaDesignShop.etsy.com.

Lilacs and Hailstorms

2008-05-26T19:09:00.001-07:00

It has been a beautiful Memorial Day weekend, for the most part, here in Minnesota. The lilacs--my very favorite--are in full bloom and gorgeous. And yesterday we had a hailstorm, and a tornado touched down not far away (in the northern suburbs), wreaking a lot of damage, unfortunately. The photos and videos I've seen of this event are breathtaking (and not in a good way).

TeamMN happenings: The event at Blick last weekend was a lot of fun! We got to hang out with friends Jenna of ArtisticEdition, Ericka of ELBfoto, Jess from MiltonandMargie's (that's her cool candle in a repurposed mug, above!), and meet some new friends, also. It was great of Blick to host us. We'll get some good mileage out of the discount cards! I've been poring over the catalog and thinking about the possibility of making my own resin molds.

I also found out that if you go to Blick.com, you'll get Stanley Security Solutions' site. Random! So for Blick, you have to go to dickblick.com.

I did some soldering this weekend, and I really need to get a new iron. It's very hot but the heat isn't transferring. It makes for frustrating work!

Reading:

Nancy Drew: Mystery of Crocodile Island

Saturday EtsyMN Event

2008-05-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

Come visit us at the Blick Art Materials in Minnetonka, Saturday, May 17, from 12:00-4:00 p.m.! We will be at the Meet and Greet and we will be demonstrating some craft techniques!

(Thanks to Courtney/JustAnotherDay for the cool flyer design!)

Spring Fling is coming!

2008-04-29T19:12:00.001-07:00

Get out your formal wear... it's time for Handmaiden Minneapolis/I Like You's Spring Fling!

Come visit us this Sunday at the Indie Craft Formal, at the Uptown VFW!

We will be right next to our good friends from Silver Pear Designs/The Cozy Corset Cuff, and it promises to be smaaashing, dahling!

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

2008-04-17T15:30:00.001-07:00

Hello, friends.

Today's theme is a thumbs-up, thumbs-down feature.

Let's get the negative stuff out first:

Thumbs down:

*Gas prices... $3.45/gallon here in Minnesota. We know the oil isn't legitimately costing the oil companies more money... you can't fool us! (Although you can, and will, raise gas prices all you want, because you have a monopoly.) Hopefully, what goes around, comes around; karma, and all that.

*Overcast April: Come on! We're loyal Minnesotans. We've weathered the winter. Give us some sun! Please, please!

*Building crack/near-collapse? in White Bear Lake, MN. What happened? I hope everyone stays safe.

Now for the good stuff!

Thumbs up:

*Robins in the yard today! Also some chickadees. And a super-brilliant-red cardinal. I was never into bird-watching before, but I'm not sure why. I'm still not hard-core, like with a binoculars or something. But that's certainly a good idea. You can see all their cute little features so much better.

*Cozy Corset Cuff and Silver Pear Designs at Craftstravaganza, in St. Paul at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds, Saturday, April 26, 9-6. I can't wait!

*Yours truly, CreativeSundries and CuriousSundries, and CozyCorsetCuff/SilverPear Designs, and the Handmaidens of Minneapolis' Spring Fling, May 4 at the Uptown VFW. More info to come!

Go see this play!

2008-04-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of seeing Stitch, Bitch n' Die! in Minneapolis with Artistic Edition, Danger Kitty, and Corbie. Fun!!! It was an amazingly original idea--a knitting murder-mystery-- and a fantastic performance! Written by Joseph Scrimshaw and directed by Craig Johnson, this play had us laughing non-stop! My favorite part was its "craft-literate" writing (like the agony of "frogging" your knitting project), which was right on!!!

The show starred Kevin McLaughlin, Valerie Rigsbee, Laura Salveson, Jen Scott and Joseph Scrimshaw (in a double role). Ingenious writing and a wonderful cast with great energy. It's showing for two more weeks at the The Bryant-Lake Bowl Cabaret Theater in Minneapolis.

The advertisement said it was "B.Y.O.K."--"Bring Your Own Knitting"--so I did bring some needlefelting to work on, but it was pretty dark in the theatre. No problem, though: concentrating on a project would have detracted from my enjoyment of the performance--and possibly dangerous (think sharp, barbed needles) besides! I'd recommend bringing actual knitting that you can do without looking at it too much. Now I just have to learn how to really knit!

Now I want to see Scrimshaw's Adventures in Mating!

Winter Storm Warning... and Buds on the Trees?

2008-04-10T20:02:00.001-07:00

Yes, you've got to love Minnesota (and I do!)!

Tonight we have seen:

snow...with thunder roaring in the distance! ... and fat little red buds on the maple tree!

It's crazy!

And it's home.

Random Facts

2008-04-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends. I've been having fun with the free labelmaker the kind folks at Acme Labelmaker have created. The mini-banner above is Dot Matrix with an orange background.

Today's post is all about random facts! In random order, too!

1. I saw someone riding a unicycle today. Fun! How do they get on and off those things, anyway?

2. Jenna, Chelsey, and I, along with three other friends, are working on a very fun project--more details to come! That's all I can say at this time! Ooooh, mysterious!

3. In my always-random Netflix queue:

Gnomemobile (vintage Disneyana, yes!)

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

The Fugitive

Notorious (although, I just can't seem to get into that movie!)

Bewitched, Season 4, Disc 2...

and many more! Have a great day! Netflix recommendations welcome, as always.

My mouse door arrived!

2008-04-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

Awww! So cute! The mouse door I ordered from Cedarwool arrived today! Isn't it so sweet? It's an original design by Cedarwool.etsy.com, and I absolutely love it. I always used to love how in cartoons, mice had their own little door leading to their little mouse abode. Now I have one!

I also ordered some wool roving from Cedarwool. They have their very own farm in Maryland and so the wool I received came right from the sheep! Isn't that cool? In her Etsy profile, Leslie explains, "Our farm is located in northern Maryland. We raise mostly Romney and Border Leicester, some crosses with Australian Bond and a Merino (he's blue !)." Lesli sent me an extremely generous amount of wool for the price I paid! They are gorgeous colors, too: pink, brown, and white--Neopolitan! I'm definitely inspired to do some needlefelting. Be sure to check out Cedarwool's Etsy shop--she offers knitting needles, gorgeous knit felt hats, and homespun yarn in addition to the so-sweet mouse doors. Thanks, Leslie!

Etsy in the Minneapolis Star Tribune!

2008-03-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

Etsy was featured in an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today!

The article, Old Meets New at Etsy, gives much-deserved press to our beloved

"place for all things handmade." Hooray!

Now, why didn't they feature any local Etsy shops?

Etsy Minnesota has many talented crafters!

Thanks to Jenna of Artistic Edition for the heads-up!

Above, Volcano Special Effects Swarovski Hair Snaps by Artistic Edition

UnblinkingEye Featured in Etsy Storque!

2008-03-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

Great news! The creative glasswork of my friend and fellow Minnesotan, Unblinking Eye, was featured in the Etsy Storque article about stripes!

Unblinking Eye's Pinstriped Fused Dish (above) is classy and modern with its grey, black, and white stripes.

More specifically, it is "Clear glass is layered over an opaque gray base topped with

alternating sets of black and white stripes." She fires these in her very own kiln!

Congratulations, Karen! And thanks to DangerKitty for letting me know about the feature!

Below, Hippie Lime Reversible Headband by DangerKittyDesigns!

Happy Spring!

2008-03-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

Happy spring, everyone!

I always think the first day of spring (in our hemisphere, that is) is March 21. But it's March 20. That's today! So, happy spring!

Celebrating spring in full amigurumi style is this little honey-bun, Lupe, by Minnesota's own FuzFrenzy. Awww, so cute! She reminds me of a Minnesotan at the beginning of spring: bundled up, but optimistic!

Loving and Despising: A List

2008-03-17T21:30:00.001-07:00

Happy St Patrick's Day! I hope you all find four-leaf clovers, or better yet, a leprechaun!

Loving:

Making soldered pendants--so fun! My first one, above!

Spring coming to Minnesota

News about Zhen Zhen!

Dragnet 1967: "Here, $100,000 houses are common."

Gilmore Girls Season 2: I wish I could visit Stars Hollow!

Getting some more help with learning to knit

Lotería

Antique keys

Podcasts in Spanish

Despising:

The U.S. "health care" system. It's an embarrassment. Yeah, just watched Sicko. It's an important movie.

Love,

Sarah

I heart this!

2008-03-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

Ooh, I just love anatomical hearts.

And I recently came across these cool patches at saucerville.etsy.com .

I ordered the silver and black one. Isn't it cool?

Hopefully she will have the red one back in stock soon! In the meantime, the other colors--and a neat robot pin--are available in Anna's shop, saucerville.etsy.com.

(Thanks, Anna, for letting me use the photo!)

Featured Artist: SockMonkey Cards!

2008-03-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love the cards at SockMonkeyCards.etsy.com! They are sooo cute and clever!

Laurie of Sock Monkey Cards kindly took time to answer my questions about her awesome sock monkey photography!

CreativeSundries: How did you get started making sock monkey cards?

Laurie: I've been involved in photography for the past 15 years. About seven years ago I took a B&W photo of my sister's three sock monkeys. This photo became very popular, and I decided (since we live 3000 miles apart) that I must have my own sock monkeys. I gradually adopted several, and started photographing them in different scenes. My business has been building, and I have a blast coming up with new ideas for cards. My husband and I are currently working on a book that we hope will be available in the not too distant future.

CreativeSundries: Who makes the sock monkeys?
Laurie: I have adopted all my sock monkeys from various sources- some directly from the person who made them, others from auctions. They all have names and personalities. Some come to stay for a short time, while others have been here from the beginning.... my husband doesn't want them taking over the house... most of the time we have around 10, plus 3 little ones. They all get along really well for the most part!

CreativeSundries: How do you get ideas for new scenes for your cards?
Laurie: Ideas for new scenes come from so many places... things I enjoy or have enjoyed at various times of my life.. playing the piano, going to the beach, building a snowman... riding a tricycle....going on a picnic. My snow angel idea came to me when my husband and I were cross-country skiing after a beautiful snow- it just hit me and I said we had to set up the tall ladder when we got home. So we did and the sock monkeys had a blast making snow angels. Now and then I'll get an idea from a customer- and it's fun to try to create scenes they have in mind. I still am working on some of those- a few are a bit challenging, but hopefully I'll be able to pull them off!

CreativeSundries: How do you like being on Etsy?
Laurie: WOW!!! What a wonderful incredible site! I saw an interview the other day on Martha Stewart with the founder of Etsy, Rob Kalin. What an outstanding person Rob is, and what he has given to so many creative people all over the world is such an amazing gift! The interview was really interesting, as I didn't really know Etsy's background. What an upbeat and genuine guy- Rob truly has changed the lives of many many people. I love reading the stories of Etsy's members, and seeing the unique and awesome things these people create. I actually stumbled on to the site last April by accident- and I feel so fortunate to be a part of it all. I can't say enough about both the sellers and the buyers!!!

CreativeSundries: Anything else you'd like to add?
Laurie: I want to let people know that I also have some limited edition photographic prints, size 16 x 20. I am only having 25 printed of each image. They are numbered and signed on the white border of the print. Currently the ones I am offering are "Socks on the Beach", "Snow Angels", "Six on a Sled", and "Picnic at the Beach". If these are successful I will be adding more. They have been shown in two galleries, and were well received.

* * *

Congratulations on your continued success, Laurie! Visit SockMonkeyCards.etsy.com to see more of Laurie's cute designs and share in the sock monkey love!

Find us in three places!

2008-03-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

We are proud to announce the opening of MoonlightTreasures, a companion jewelry shop to CreativeSundries. There you can find our new opalite earrings on 14K gold-filled wires, a lovely assortment of vintage jewelry, and soon-to-come antique key jewelry.

CuriousSundries is the new home to our unusual and hard-to-find supplies and collage items.

CreativeSundries offers our deer necklaces, bubble pendants, and needlefelted tiny purses.

We hope to see you soon!

Curioussundries is here!

2008-02-29T20:52:00.000-08:00

Hooray!

We are happy to announce the grand opening of our companion shop,

CuriousSundries.

There you'll find unique and "curious" items and supplies. We're having so much fun putting our new shop together and filling it with sundries!

Please visit soon; we'd love to have you!

Sarah and Carol :-)

Featured Artist: ContasBrasil and ContasCoeln

2008-02-27T14:28:00.000-08:00

Bebê de Soares and Suzy Wortberg are the talented artists of ContasBrasil and ContasCoeln.

Their work is very unique, charming, and beautiful. Both artists are from Brazil--artists after my own heart. ;-)

The design and spiritof this piece remind me of where I lived in Salvador, Brazil.

Here is more of her fabulous handbag collection:

In addition to purses, ContasBrasil's jewelry designs truly stand out for their originality.

I love this necklace, from her current Etsy collection :

It combines pearls with Swarovski crystals and is just gorgeous.

See more of their portfolio at http://www.contasbrasil.de/productPage_2008.html.

They welcome you to visit their Etsy shops, ContasBrasil and ContasCoeln. Stop by and say "Oi"--hello!

Blog: http://contaskoeln.blogspot.com/

Be sure to visit the pandas...

2008-02-24T08:37:00.000-08:00

.... at the San Diego Zoo!

We love the Panda Cam--it shows the pandas throughout the day, doing what they do best (eating bamboo all day to survive, and napping, of course):

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/ex_panda_station.html

We love you, Bai Yun, Gao Gao, Su Lin, and baby Zhen Zhen!

Soon (I promise) we will post our photos from our recent trip to San Diego.

Featured Artist: Aoisart Foodcraft!

2008-02-20T06:25:00.000-08:00

Aoisart is one of my favorite, favorite Etsy shops of all time.

Kia's miniatures are so sweet and scrumptious, they look good enough to eat! I love how she shows the side of the cake slices. In miniatures, it is absolutely the details that make the art--and the creator of Aoisart doesn't cut any corners!

And all of her original foodcraft designs are made from scratch. Isn't that awesome? Not surprisingly, she's even made it to the front page of Etsy! (Congrats, Kia!)

Meet Orangina (pictured below), a sweet and unique orange charm that I purchased from Aoisart. She came on a cute matching orange ball-chain and is even cuter in person than in this photograph! Don't you love the realistic dimpled peel texture?

Kia generously took time out from creating to answer some of my questions about her work.

CreativeSundries: Yours are the original cake earrings! You've said that the idea came to you when you were making a miniature cake for a dollhouse. Can you tell us more about that?

Aoisart: What you see in my Etsy shop is the result of my passion for craft and food so this is the reason why I love to create food miniatures and anything food related :) I started creating dollhouse miniatures and the food I loved to create most were cakes, with chocolate, whipped cream, fruits, you name it! I wanted to use them for something more than just dollhouse display so I initially started putting a magnet on their back.

The idea of the charms and earrings came after cutting a slice from a whole mini cake, I realized that I would have loved to show that cute mini slice wearing it! Since it seemed that nobody was seling cake slice earrings I started my own line and started selling them from internet. I feel honored that so many people are wearing my creations now and that other artists started creating their own versions :)

CreativeSundries: Your work is so intricate and detailed! I really admire your patience. Do you find your work challenging?

Aoisart: Thank you very much. There is indeed a lot of patience involved in my miniatures but creating them it's something that really relaxes me, something that I look forward to work on when I am stressed out or I need to have a break. It became almost a zen practice for me! Nothing is challenging at least not from a negative point of view...I have got challenging custom orders in the past and I always loved to sit and try to create what the customers were expecting from me...till now it seems I met their expectations :)

CreativeSundries: What, if any, are your favorite item(s) to make?

Aoisart: Well, I always make what I love but if I might pick something I love to make above all my creations...the cake slice earrings! I can start for a bare and simple undecorated cake and let my fantasy work and create many different versions of it, using different colors or decorative elements.

CreativeSundries: How have your work and shop evolved since you've started on Etsy?

AoisArt: I initially was selling my polymer creations only but as I perfectioned my clay skills I felt the need to use also different materials like...felt! Sewing by hand is another "zen practice" for me :) I try to keep my shop focused on the food subject but sometimes I create non-food related items as well and use other materials than polymer.

CreativeSundries: How have you liked being on Etsy?

AoisArt: Etsy gave me a great opportunity to share my food and craft passion with other people, customers and fellow artists. I like to say that in Etsy are showcased the results of all my "crafty zen practices"! and I am honored that something which makes me feel good makes feel other people happy as well!

Be sure to stop by AoisArt on Etsy and http://aoisart.com/sweetportfolio.html to see more of AoisArt Foodcraft!

Featured Artist: Railyuh

2008-02-18T12:03:00.000-08:00

Photo: Rocky Coast by Railyuh

Railyuh.etsy.com features gorgeous photography with excellent black-and-white contrast--with an equally sumptuous range of tones in her color work-- highlighting ingtriguing choices of subject matter.

Annie says, "I find that black and white photography helps me see the world from a different point of view and brings out the beauty in every day objects. I like to see things from a different angle and bring out the lines or details of something that is otherwise ordinary."

She lives in North Bend, Oregon, a place I really want to visit. This photograph, Redwood Forest, makes me miss the redwood forests of California!

Curious about where the name Railyuh came from? So was I! In her profile, Annie explains, "My first name is Aurelia (pronounced uh-rail-yuh), but I grew up going by my middle name because Aurelia was hard to spell and pronounce. By the time I was in high school a shortened version, "railyuh," became my nickname with a few close friends. It soon became my online screen name, hence my shop with items "made by Railyuh!"

Above: Crater Lake National Park by Railyuh

Railyuh.etsy.com offers photographic prints, postcards, photo cards, and note cards.

Annie is involved with several Etsy street teams, including Etsymom, EtsyBloggers, Etsywearers, MDCetsy, and POE.

Custom? Yes!

Blog: http://railyuh.blogspot.com/

International: Yes--Annie is in the process of adding international shipping to her shop!

Cute Butterfly Clips by Robin Lynne

2008-02-18T11:52:00.000-08:00

I love these butterfly hair clips--aren't they cute?

You can find them at ByRobinLynne.Etsy.com--and while you're there, check out her other cute items, including strawberry earrings and gorgeous button necklaces!

Featured Artist: CigarBoxBeads

2008-02-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

Cigar Box Beads is a lovely Etsy shop featuring beautiful beaded goods.

The shop owner, Marilyn, says, "I became a non-stop beadweaver when I purchased 3 vintage cigarboxes full of beads at a flea market---about 20 years ago. I'm still using those beads, plus a 'few' more I can not help but purchase!"

Her work is intricate and detailed. This bracelet is called Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a netted bracelet made with seed beads.

It must take a lot of patience to do such intricate work! I'm impressed. :-)

She also has fun supplies (like these cute pink buttons!) and other cool items in her supply shop, http://suchandsort.etsy.com/

Great work, Marilyn!

Be sure to visit her shops at http://cigarboxbeads.esty.com/ and http://suchandsort.etsy.com/.

Blog: http://cigarboxbeads.blogspot.com

Please don't interrupt the Beatles

2008-02-14T14:22:00.001-08:00

Today, I was listening to the 60s station on XM, and the Beatles' "The End" was on. At the end of the song, the Beatles sing the same verse twice, and it's really beautiful: "And in the end, the love you take... is equal to the love you make." I love that.

Well, today after they sang the verse once, the radio guy gets on and says, over the Beatles' singing, "Yes, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Don't do that. That's not okay. That's not what we do. Don't ruin the end of the song. Thanks.

Handmaidens' Make Out Goods Show a Success!

2008-02-14T14:18:00.001-08:00

The Handmaidens of Minneapolis' Make Out Goods show on Sunday was a success!

We had so much fun!

The Handmaidens sure know how to put on a show!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, and a special hello to our new friends!

Featured Artist: Cheryl of On A Thousand Hills

2008-02-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

OnAThousandHills is a delightful Etsy shop featuring delightful beaded wonders. The necklace pictured above is called Break Forth. Cheryl, the artist behind OnAThousandHills, explains that for this piece, she started out with a porcelain cabochon featuring a beautiful butterfly, and stitched a bezel around it in peyote stitch. She made the necklace using a "tubular Ndbele herringbone stitch." Wow!

Cheryl is a member of Etsy Beadweavers, and invites you to vote for the Etsy Bead Weavers challenge. See her shop for more info!

This suncatcher (above) is an item she made as a gift--how lucky that recipient is!

Cheryl's work is so intricate. She stitched the gorgeous Sleeping Gypsy wall hanging (below) one bead at a time! She explains, "This wall hanging took me over 100 hours for the tapestry portion alone." The piece incorporates 28,968 Delica seed beads in 50 colors, plus about 3,000 more beads in the fringe!

A few more facts about this talented bead artist:

1. Cheryl loves backpacking and would love to hike the Appalachian Trail!

2. She is mom to two teenagers and wife to a trucker.

3. She took 4 years of Clothing Shop at a vocational high school.

4. She discovered beading "in a serious way" about five years ago.

I hope you make it to the Appalachian Trail soon, Cheryl--and don't forget your beads!

Shop: http://OnAThousandHills.etsy.com

Blog: http://OnAThousandHills.blogspot.com

Amazon's One-Click Ordering Has Got to Go!

2008-02-07T09:25:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com's One-Click Ordering is a feature that, like its name indicates, allows a customer to order an item with a single touch.

Smart shoppers will know, of course, to avoid the temptation to click that button on a whim.

But what if a smart shopper clicks "Add Item to Cart" in order to think about it... and clicks "One Click" order by mistake?

There is no way to reverse it. There is no confirmation click (hence the name, of course.) That item is on its way to you.

Here is the scary part: what if this smart shopper was not logged in to his Amazon account at the time? What if our smart shopper did this from his public (workplace) computer--clicked on an expensive camera lens, and selected One Click instead of "Add to Shopping Cart?"

Would the item be ordered? Yes.

Would the person's credit card be charged? Yes.

Was the person logged in to their Amazon account? No!

This is a true story. The item is on its way. The person I know who did this contacted Amazon and was told that the only way to "reverse" this situation is to refuse the shipment. And Amazon will only credit the account [which was never logged into in the first place] when the item arrives back at their warehouse!

How does this happen? (Again, the most frightening part about this incident is that the customer was not logged in to their Amazon account at the time!)

Amazon uses cookies to offer 1-Click ordering. Somehow this is enabled the first time you sign in to Amazon (and yes, you can turn 1-Click ordering off--but that's not the point here!), which must be how this can happen without being logged in to your account. Amazon gets your info off your computer through the cookie, perhaps.

It also goes without saying that this purchase (and the thousands like it that undoubtably occur accidentally every day) is added to Amazon's profits until the refund is issued.

Book- and music-lovers, beware. Amazon One-Click purchases can be made--and are only very inconveniently reversed--at your computer without your being signed in.

(I think I'll write to Lou Dobbs.)