Muchas gracias

I would like to say thanks for the helpful comments regarding my decision to participate in my first festival. I just needed a swift kick to get out of my rut and jump back into my routine of just jumping in! I think the older I get, the more I contemplate things entirely too much before jumping in...

I'll post some small updates tomorrow but I have decided to participate, as long as I can get enough merchandise created. Plus the set-up for my own table. Thank goodness it's only two blocks from my house!

Ooh and you may be hearing about some baking experiments soon since I finally acquired some matcha powder and saffron in my month of travels. AND I will be attending my first ALA conference this summer, so any advice is appreciated!

Crossroads

I feel myself at an intersection of a crossroads. I know which way I want to go (ultimately), but I've been on the other path for so long. Do I really want to forge the other direction? No one else I know has gone down that path, it looks quite overgrown. Am I ready to travel it? I'm likely as prepared as I'll ever be, but the other path looks enjoyable in a different way. Instead of spending time clearing the path, I can just enjoy the view.

I have the opportunity to participate in my first artist and crafters' show. Irwin has numerous festivals throughout the summer months. A few are free for me to participate in, but the biggest one is only $25 for registration. I'm not sure if I'm ready but it feels like putting it off for another year would be too long. I know how I operate. I start projects, new ideas, entertain ideas. And then I move on to the next one (usually) before finishing the previous. I've been lax on spending time creating the handmade books, crafts, and art pieces and I can always find a reason why I can't do it. I certainly don't have a backup supply prepared for this show in June. I would have to spend a good bit of time in the next 6 or 7 weeks making lots of books and objects! I'm capable of it, I know that. When I focus on it, I can do them. And maybe I need that motivation to give me a kick in the butt. But what if I don't have enough product? I have no way to gauge what I'd need, not sure how to arrive at my price points. I need time to research what should be prepared. Should I just jump in with both feet and give it a go? I don't want to ruin my business' name if things don't go well, but at least I'm a small business and would have other opportunities?

At the heart of it, I'm also afraid of failure. So far, it's been a little side hobby that I've relegated it to. I chose a name, made business cards, had a few clients and donated my services. But those are all small. If I fail, I can look back and say, well, I was just messing around really. It's not like I tried to do it full-time or even part-time really. No biggie. But if I really try to get enough accomplished, get a table set up, and participate as a vendor, that's it. No more playing around. If I fail, it's for real. But what defines failure? Should I set my sights low? Make back the cost of registration and call it even? Hmm. Luckily, I don't have to register until the week before the festival. Any thoughts out there?

A little color is a good thing

My task list needs to get a bit shorter, considering that Hubby and I will be starting on all the outdoor spring projects. So when I'm not catching up on sleep at home, I've been finishing some things up. One is the church hymnal for my aunt. I'm finally nearly complete with the sewing, I just need to choose colors for the endbands (because really, who doesn't want endbands?). The sewing is a little sloppier than I'd like, but it's functional. Now I just need to remember if I round and back it first, or sew endbands first...

I'm also pleased with how my first attempt at guarding signatures turned out. The pages open quite nicely and lie very flat. Especially since it's a hymnal (although I don't think it will be used often), it's nice to see all the musical notes easily.

Finally, I've begun going through some of the photos from our travels (mostly the Philly trip) and I'd forgotten about some of the cool stuff we came across. This is also why I take photos of everything. :) I may share some pictures I took at Longwood Gardens later (I adore flowers so I have a great deal of photos) because the colors came out stunning. I was very worried during the trip because the display on my digital camera didn't seem to reflect the colors I was seeing. I had no idea if my camera was messing up or if it was the display. Luckily, it seemed to be the display because they look gorgeous on my laptop. I also came across a most unusual design for a fake skull. Now that I look at this creativity again, I wish I had bought it! It doesn't exactly fit with the decor of my house, but hey, maybe I could've used it as a prop for jewelry photos. I also wish we had been able to take photos at the Mutter Museum (I know, not preservation-friendly. I of all people should know better). But some of those books bounds in human skin were pretty neat, in an odd way. Especially the one bound with tattooed skin. It would have gone nicely with the Celtic skull!

The (Warm) Holiday Season

Hubby and I have been doing a lot of traveling lately. It seems that we are beginning our year (and nice weather) everywhere except home! Within a month's time, we will have been in Philly, Cleveland, Baltimore/Annapolis, and New York City. I'm going to want to stay home for quite a bit and get started on our spring projects!

Passover began last night at sundown and while at our family seder, I contemplated some of the holiday's messages. Passover commemorates the biblical event of the Hebrews' escape from enslavement in Egypt. Sacrifices are made (such as not eating leavened bread) to ultimately keep in mind the freedom that we now have. Similar to Easter, I think of the freedom we now have because of past suffering and of the rebirth that spring represents for us. Looking ahead through 2010, I'm excited for the changes we'll be making and things we will be sacrificing in order to do what's best for our family (particularly financially).

The exterior of our home will be getting a (partial) overhaul to represent our own taste and style. Since we can't replace the awful-looking brown siding just yet, I'm going to pick out a complimentary shade of blue for some of the trim and stucco pieces. Anything to brighten it up! We will also begin landscaping some of the yard, particularly the front. I already started adding flowers last fall!

A few bird feeders will go up (we only have one so far and I'm waiting for the cats to start fighting over the 2 windows that overlook it) as well as a fence around the back yard! I'm very VERY excited about the latter, considering the number of children constantly in our yard and their tendency to pick flowers. We also finally hung the porch swing we bought last fall at my aunt's church auction. A local craftsman made it and it's just beautiful. It was delivered when the cold weather started so we are finally getting a chance to use it. Three large adults can fit (maybe even 4 small ones!). I'm still debating if I should make a cushion for it. I might just make a couple cute pillows.

Especially after this snowy winter, I think everyone is very appreciative of spring this year and looking forward to a warm, colorful season. What are you looking forward to? Happy holidays everyone!

I'm coming out of hibernation! You'd think that with all the snow we had, I'd have written quite a bit about whatever artsy endeavors I undertook. But oddly, I slept...a lot. And played with the cats. Watched the Olympics. Etc. Nothing really involving any bookbinding or crafting. I did manage to sew the second window seat cushion. Yay!

But I have been in a baking mood and I want to share another blogger's creative idea that I decided to try. I find quite a number of creative ideas through Twitter and this one is no exception. Heather Baird of Sprinkle Bakes posted the lovely Mehndi-inspired gingerbread cookies she made for a friend. I loved this idea so much that I made a few for some friends that live far away from me, decorated them with some lotus flowers and mandalas, and sent them off! Mine turned out well, but check out Heather's on her blog. Amazing creativity! I don't always look at food that way --maybe I should turn my crafting eye to that media once in a while.

Another great baking idea that's been around for a while is cake in a jar. I haven't had a chance yet to try these out (I'm going to get some small Mason jars soon) but Cakespy.com showcases them in a post from last August. I absolutely LOVE cake so never fear, I will attempt these soon. I'll take pictures (of course!) and maybe you'll get one in the mail :) Suggestions for flavors?

Finally, one last blog post that I can't wait to try myself (look away librarians!) is the ruffly book wreath from Living with Lindsay. I'm going to get a beat-up book from Goodwill, one that I would never willingly read because it's not that good (I won't embarrass any authors out there by letting you know which one I choose). As a pseudo-preservation librarian, how can I willingly destroy a book you ask? Well, let me put it this way. I think everything should have a purpose. I don't really like to buy knicknacks and trinkets because I don't really need them. I also don't like the idea of having to put things in storage that I never use because in actuality I don't need them then, do I? For me, a book that has had a good life but is going to sit on a shelf in Goodwill until it either gets tossed or recycled will have a better life as a ruffly book wreath on my wall. By repurposing it, I've given it a new life.

I have to point out the merits of Twitter. If you know how to use it properly, you can discover a wealth of ideas out there that I don't have time to Google, or frankly wouldn't even think of to Google. If you want some ideas on crafters to follow, I'd gladly share. Or check out my Follow Friday (Twitter name is tempermiranda).

Lastly, in other news I will be creating a few more of the Recycled Bookbag that I loved so much (see my earlier post) before I list them on Etsy (a site that is getting a tad too crowded but it's the best site I've got). I should be sewing the hymnal and posting pics as well. Happy Monday!

Glass Half-Full Kind of Artist

Glass has always intrigued me. I may have mentioned it on here, but anyone who knows my artistic endeavors knows that I really want to work with glass as well as metalsmithing (Is this one word?). Sometime this year, I'll at least get the chance to work with glass for the first time! I recently discovered the Pittsburgh Glass Center and I'm quite astounded at all they have to offer. The photo to the right is from their Flickr stream, specifically from the Art on Fire Auction in 2009. When I found their website a few months ago, the beginner classes taunted me. So many! What to choose? I can't take all of them, it's just too cost prohibitive. And I suppose it would take me quite a few weekends on top of my already busy schedule... And then I saw the Sampler Series! I decided pretty quickly that I was going to start saving up for the Hot-to-Cold Sampler. It's a mix and match combo in which you take 4 of the 2-hour classes. Each class is a different type of glass-making: hot, warm, flame, and cold. I really like this sampler idea because it gives me the chance to figure out which type I prefer before heading into intermediate (or more beginner) classes. It will give me a direction; however, knowing myself, I'll probably like all 4 types!

As of a couple of weeks ago, I had about half of the amount I needed. And then a lucky deal! Offermint.com has some great deals in the Pittsburgh area, featuring local businesses putting up gift certificates for half the price they are worth. As long as enough people buy into the deal, it goes through. Check out your own city! Recently the Pittsburgh Glass Center was featured with $50 gift certificates going for $25. This helped me out tremendously and I'm now ready to book my classes. And no worries, I'll be posting pictures of all my novice attempts!

It's a BookBag! Recycled Tote Bag Project

Hooray! I have finished the recycled tote bag and although it didn't turn out exactly as planned (anyone who has made a cloth clamshell knows what I'm talking about), it still closes. It's still functional. Just not perfect. I'm actually looking forward to making a few more of these, but I'd probably use cloth for the bag instead of bookcloth scraps (they ARE really strong though). Maybe I'll even get around to posting them on Etsy. Ooh, I just bought new stamps too so I could put an owl emblem on them. :)

I call it the "Bookbag". This is a photo of the front of the book when the bag is folded up inside and it's tied shut. As mentioned, I used bookcloth scraps for the bag part and cotton tie scraps for the sides. When the bag is opened, the ties can be knotted straight along the bottom so they don't catch on anything or dangle. The base of the bag is a used hardback case of a book (intended for the trash since the book got a nice new hardback case). On the interior, I retained the original endsheets which have colorful maps. When you look inside the bag, you can still see them!

When opened up, the bag is fairly strong and can hold some larger items. I fit a few puzzles and small traveling games inside. I think it would be good for heavy fruits and vegetables as well. I've included a picture of the bag opened up, as well as another of the back side of the book when it's closed. I made sure not to decorate it with details that pop out too much. I wouldn't want them to catch on anything and rip off. This was a fun little project and I'm excited to look at the other ones and vote! If you'd like to vote, they'll be setting up the poll sometime tomorrow here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=439.0.