Creative Valerina

Happy St. Patricks Day, Jay McCarrol, and Shop Sale!

First things first. I did not meet Jay. I know. I'm disappointed too. I just couldn't make it there in time. However! My mom went to see him and look what she got me.

 

Awesome, right? Go mom. I must think of something to make with the fabric. I.love.it.

Although I didnt get to meet Jay, I had fun catching up with friends and family at the parade. I wore the same outfit I've been wearing for the past few years which consists of a green vintage dress, furry boots, and this year I added the scarf that I spun/knit. It's really turned into more of a costume than an outfit but whatever, I happen to love it. I will note, however, that I am not a fan of long sleeves under short sleeves but I had to because of the weather. There, its been noted. And yes, I'm hiding a beer behind my back.

And finally, we picked up the keys to the new apartment last night and started moving a few things in. In light of the crazy amount of stuff we have I have, I'm having a sale in the shop! The truth of the matter is, the items listed in the shop don't even account for a fraction of the items that I have stuffed in the closets. The more you buy, the less I move, please help :)

The Favorite Heart

I was going through my fiber stash the other day to find something suitable for spinning. When I came upon this red roving I knew instantaneously what I would do with it. My thought process went something like this "oooh! etsy hearts..., favorites...., needle felting...., magnets..., right now" And that was that!  Many months ago I had a brief obsession with needle felting these little hearts and the obsession is back again. They're so much fun to make and look so cute and fuzzy on my refrigerator...and my filing cabinet at work...ahem :)  

 

I'll be including one little heart magnet with each VintageValerina purchase and I've also listed a few in my shop.

I'm happy to finally have a start {a teeny tiny start} on being part of the handmade community at Etsy. That's been bugging me.

PS. I stayed up way to late working on my piece for the recycled art show. Sneak peek tomorrow.

What I've been up to!

 

Well…over the past few days I’ve been working on my shop. On Sunday I found some lovely things at an estate sale and managed to get them all photographed and listed yesterday. I’m very surprised with myself! With this latest batch of items I focused on trying to take better pictures. One thing I learned last week while making poster sketches/treasuries was that none of my photos were front page worthy. Browsing through all of the beautiful and not-so-beautiful photos on Etsy taught me very quickly what works, what’s eye catching, and what’s not. I think I’ve made a {small} improvement this time around.

Its also time for the recycled art show again. I’ve got a few things in mind and only a week or so to get them finished!

But my really big news? I’m moving! I guess I should say we’re moving. My sister, J and I have found a new place in the same charming neighborhood, {as I could not bear to leave it}, and we move in two weeks. I can not tell you how excited I am about this. I will soon have: a dishwasher, a garbage disposal, central air, a parking spot in front of my house and not 2 blocks away, a fenced yard in the back and front, a living room big enough for more than 3 people, and a bigger kitchen. What more could I ask for? Oh yeah, and an outdoor spigot for watering the garden. Perfect.

To twitter or not to twitter

But first, my colored pencils. Just like what I did with my markers.

 

I've been thinking about starting a twitter page. That might be more my style as far as a blogging goes.

Twitter -- a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

Quick, frequent posts and updates. I like the sound of that, I can do that. Well thought out, well written, cohesive blog posts? Not so much. While I enjoy sharing the projects Im working on, as well as other random thoughts and ideas, getting the words out is a whole different story. Every time I sit down to write a post my mind goes blank. Thoughts, words, sentences completely leave my brain. I don't know why its so hard for me to write here. Perhaps it was 4 years of math, science, and engineering in college that sort of wiped out any writing skills I once had. I'd like to give more updates on my shop, my craftivity, and just get those random thoughts out there, things that I think about blogging on but never do. I would use it in addition to this blog, and I think it might help me blog more in the "present", instead of always trying to catch up, or piece together all the randomness that goes on over here.

So I'm curious - do you twitter? do you follow other people's twitterings? do you like or dislike the twitter concept? I'm undecided.

In decided news, I am still loving my new markers and pencils. AND, I will be hitting this estate sale tomorrow. Look at that closet and all of those shoes! I will have to set a spending limit...

Record Breaking Sales

 Thats right. Two sales in one day {yesterday} in my shop! I'm pretty excited with how things are going  and find myself thinking about the shop all the time. I have so many items too list but with a full time job and limited sunshine in the winter, its been tricky getting items photographed properly and listed. I've been anxiously awaiting a sunny {and not totally freezing} Saturday when I can photograph some of the awesome vintage dresses I have. I hit an amazing estate sale a few weeks ago and literally cant wait to play dress up and photograph the items. With a little extra cash, I'm likely going to buy one one of the items in my favorites. So many things to choose from, but I think the 70's monogrammed utensils are going to win out.

{Edit} - Some one beat me to it :(