Craft Show Display Idea

I bought this shoe rack the other day at The Container Store . I thought it would make a great display rack for the craft shows I plan to do (crosses fingers, and reminds self to look for craft show opportunities ). It was on sale too!
I also spotted the same one in a chrome finish at Bed Bath and Beyond for 10$ more.
They remind me of old wine bottle drying racks. I figured I would probably never find a vintage bottle drying rack in time so I went ahead with this one.
I am always on the lookout for ways to display things at my shows. I have tried baskets, simply laying things out, making my own pegboard panels, garment racks, clothes drying racks, the list goes on and on.
It seems like I could easily attach a little 'andrea creates' sign at the top on the handle too, maybe with magnets?
And the little 'tiers' revolve ! What more could you ask?


It's looking a little empty right now so I must go and get to work on that!
Do you have a favorite display idea?

Polka dots and pixels

I like polka dots. They appear in a lot of my projects. They're also in the backgrounds of many of my photos in the shop and here in the blog.
Did you know why they call them 'polka dots'? According to Wikipedia:

Polka dot is a pattern consisting of a series of dots that are equally spaced and sized. Polka dots are most commonly seen on children's clothing, toys, and furniture, but they appear in a wide array of contexts. The pattern rarely appears in formal contexts, however, and is generally confined to more playful attire such as bathing suits. Occasionally white on black regularly spaced polka dots appear on more formal clothing.

While polka dots are ancient, they first became common on clothing in the late nineteenth century in Britain. At the same time polka music was extremely popular and the name was also applied to the pattern, despite no real connection between them.

I like unusual color combinations in my polka dots. Not just the usual black and white. I can hardly pass them up in the scrapbook section or fabric department. They're even on my clothes.
I spent a few hours yesterday trying to make a new banner for the shop. I am definitely not a pro when it comes to computer things. I started again this morning and got something I can live with for now. At least the picture isn't (too?) pixelated and it fits. So I decided to go ahead and make a matching banner for the blog too. What do you think?
Have a happy Sunday : )

Blogging for Bliss

Here's the book I won from Artsy Mama's Book release party. I read it through in one sitting!! If you know me, you know I have a hard time getting through fiction but an arts and crafts and anything related book, I can't put down. I learned a lot of new things that I should try and do little by little ~such as photography tips, and banner sizing -and a few techie things I am never good at. I really enjoyed it. I think if you have a blog, there are always things to learn and try and if you don't there is a lot you might. Tara Frey's book features a lot of blogs I must now go and read. Great inspiration.

I finished the pink and chocolate tote I mentioned the other day:


I've used it so much I haven't gotten a picture of it. The pattern is by Penny Sturges and I really enjoyed making it. It has a ton of pockets on the inside which is really nice. They go all the way around so you can actually find things without digging, like I usually do.
I added a magnetic snap.Some things I might change next time tho' are longer handles and maybe a zipper pocket inside somewhere.

Here's a side view. I like the ties too : )

This one I made up myself. My daughter insisted on a bag to put her wooden cat button she just got .


This is my next project. Right after I completely ruined a hat using my favorite Malabrigo yarn :( I decided to jump right into a new one. I have never knit anything besides socks in such fine yarn so we'll see how it goes.


I cast on the stitches last night and then could not remember how to 'knit without joining' on circular needles. I just sat and stared at it. I checked around online this morning and realized I was about to do it right after all. You just have to forget that cable is attached to the needles and remember to switch hands.

What's wrong with this picture?

Look carefully...

Do you see anything out of place? O.k, besides the piles of boxes and crafty mess?

Sorry, the picture's a little blurry, but look who's taken over my box of WIP's ! Someone has made their selves at home. Tossed the projects right out of the box and gotten comfortable! Don't mind me. I just work here.

Oh sorry, did I wake you?

I suppose she's just being a studio mascot ;)

See the project she tossed out?Those were pajamas I was working on for my daughter last Christmas-think I'm a little behind? Maybe Coco's giving me a hint!?

New stash and Coco (or 100 posts!!)

Hmm, that photo is a little wonky looking !@_@ Time to put on my glasses...
Anyway- I wasn't sure what to write about today but I had some pictures I wanted to share of my new stash and little Coco. Lately I'm liking pinks and chocolates together. Anything with the word chocolate in it sounds good to me, how about you?
I want to make a tote with some of them that I bought a pattern for the other day. I might've been able to make a similar pattern up by myself but I love an excuse to buy new supplies, support independent designers, and you never know when you might learn a new way of doing something...I'll show you all when the totes done : )

See the fabric 3rd from the top?...here it is close up :

For some reason I can't resist buying children's fabrics once in awhile.They're always some of my favorite prints and I have to resist the urge to buy all of the ones I really want...Its such a cute little retro style print. I don't make anything for kids in the shop but I think I can throw it into some project somewhere.

Here's Coco, the studio mascot. I used to call her that for fun, but she really is...she sneaks into the 'studio' for a nap every day. Please don't mind the mess- I haven't gotten everything put away yet as I don't think this will be my permanent location....

Time for a nap

And the winner is....

Congratulations Laughing Fridge Art Magnets!
I will convo you on etsy as well...here again is your prize, hope you like it:


Meanwhile I have decided if I am to wait for the studio to be perfect, no crafting will ever get done. I have so many ideas that are waiting. I actually warmed up the sewing machine for the first time in 2 months last night and took the plunge! My project wasn't successful, but who cares? At least I tried it out and got the project idea out of my head....Do you do that too? Have ideas that are just waiting to get made? I'm thinking I can just put things away correctly as I use them...hopefully.

As I undid the boxes I noticed some things just looked good together so I took some pictures. I wish I had taken the cellophane off of the little ephemera-er, should I say ephemeron?(I looked up the plural form-who knew?)but they still look nice right?

I love these colors together !

I won :)

Hey there- I'm so excited, I won the Blogging for Bliss book by Tara Frey on Artsy Mama's book release party/giveaway yesterday. That made my day.
I will be scrolling through and reading all of the blogs mentioned in her sidebar-I'm always on the lookout for new crafty blogs to read.

Be sure to enter my giveaway here-it's so fun to win a little something : )

Blogging for Bliss

Kari from Artsy Mama is hosting a book release party Tara Frey's book Blogging for Bliss.
I just celebrated my 1 year blogiversary a few weeks ago and have a giveaway currently underway.

Blogging is blissful to me because it reminds me to keep going with my work. I can take a moment of my day to record what I've been doing. It makes me stop and notice the beauty in day to day things that would normally go unnoticed, stop and take a photograph of them or just 'smell the roses'.
When I started, I knew I wanted a sort of journal to help me connect to other crafters with like minds and interests : ) and since I am not very good at keeping paper journals or diaries having a place out in the open world where people were going to stop by and look, forces me to record the things I'm doing in my creative life in some way.

Have a Happy Creative Day!

Animals in the yard part 2

You might remember this post about the wild animals in our backyard.

Here are a few more photos I took yesterday with my recently re-found zoom lens...Obviously I need to practice more.

Bunnies calmly eating grass- til the kids couldn't resist getting too close. The whole bunny family. Mom, dad and baby.
I think.



My Mom says the birds are Robins. I thought robins were smaller and redder? I found this link. I guess I was thinking of/remembering the European version.
We've also seen a raccoon. And 2 snakes :0
I was glad I found the zoom lens in the mess so I could take/practice taking pictures again.

Then we have this wild animal who frequents the backyard-lol:

She will be choosing the winner (again) Friday, because Johnny says he's still too camera shy. So, if you haven't entered the giveaway yet...please follow this link :)
Have a happy creative day!

Elite Blog Artist Award

Thank you so much to Jillian , from Jillian Mackowiak.blogspot.com.
She has awarded me with the Elite Blog Artist award....Thanks again Jillian , i really appreciate it:)
You can check out her blog via the link up there, and her etsy shop here:
Le beau papillon-which means beautiful butterfly- and her jewelry certainly is beautiful!

Metamora

Metamora is a 'canal town' in Indiana from 1838. It's (almost) like going back in time.We went a few weeks ago. Here are some pictures I took while there. You can click on the collages to make them larger. Enjoy : )

While traveling across America, my sister and I joked about all of the restaurants we saw named 'EAT'-lol

Check out the 'hairdo' on the duck!

theater seats

a cute little shop sign

Don't forget to enter my blog giveaway in the last post ~Just a few days left for a chance to win!