Photographs and Artsy Things

iPad!

2011-05-31T21:05:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this entry in order to get more ballots in a contest!

"I’m posting this to enter a contest offered by MeridaHome at Design For Mankind I want to win the iPad 2! (and I love Erin’s shoes!)"

I really like Design for Mankind so I might as well try! :)

Porcelain Jewelry and Buttons

2011-04-04T11:11:00.001-07:00

I am very excited about my latest project, porcelain jewelry and buttons! When I moved out West to Vancouver, my new house mates had a kiln they weren't using. So I went out, got a bunch of porcelain and glazes, and started experimenting. After a couple months of prototyping, I am finally getting a finished product I just love. Here are the pieces I made recently before and after glazing. I'm in the process of wrangling them onto ear hooks, then I'll be listing them in my etsy shop. Just look how cheerful that sunshine yellow color is! I'm so pleased with them. :)

Big City Life

2010-10-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

I moved a few weeks ago from very small New Brunswick to the very large Vancouver area. It's pretty amazing out West, first of all, the mountains are AMAZING! They are so gorgeous. There is always something going on here. There is so much to see and do.

The picture is the view from my bedroom window. I can see that glorious mountain in the distance!

A quiet morning walk.

2009-08-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

Last night I stayed up all night working on various projects, some pendants, brooches, earrings, etc. When I finally went to bed around 5:30 I tossed and turned until the sun came up. So I decided to go outside for a quiet morning stroll to the park with my camera to see what I could find. I'm really happy I went! I enjoyed playing around with my macro filters and everything was covered in such a slight sparkly dew. And the light, my goodness the light! So soft and lovely. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day.

Andy Warhol style custom portraits!

2009-07-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited! I've opened up a new Etsy shop called Printique where I'm making custom people, pet & object Andy Warhol style pop art prints. I'm also making photo collages where I customize with the buyer's photos and text. The shop is off to a good start, let me know what you think!

http://printique.etsy.com

Pendants!

2009-06-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! I finally finished up a batch of glass pendants made from my photography and illustrations. I'm planning on debuting them tomorrow at the Farmer's Market. Also new for the market are my fancier crate displays, some silk scarves I painted and screenprinted, and the velvet scarves I dyed. I'm hoping for a successful day!

Monica Makes THINGS!

2009-06-19T13:15:00.001-07:00

I have had a FANTASTIC day today. I was so productive. I rented studio space at the craft college and just went to town on all the silk and velvet scarves and pillows and other lovely things. I prepped 30ish items to be dyed, and then tried a new type of dye bath I hadn't done before. It turned out beautifully and with better results than I had in the past with a longer, less impressive dye method. I dyed up some velvet scarves that I just cannot wait to dry so I can really see how they turned out. Here is a terrible, low quality snap of them, I was too excited to wait until they are dry to take nice photos:

Besides the velvet scarves I also dyed some silk ones that I am going to experiment with screen printing and painting on, as well as some silk pillows and hankerchiefs. I bought a large order of silks and velvets and several different kinds of dyes, and really want to experiment with new techniques, and with color all summer long. I'll be posting my makings much more often. I've also gotten a handy dandy new camera lens that will help that out. (The lens is not responsible for the bad photos haha)

Bonjour.

2009-05-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

I know, it's been a while, but I think I just might be back.

I bought myself a shiny new lens today with some macro filters so it will be much easier to take and share photos and random nonsense, etc.

I've been working busily at my business, recently selling at a Mother's Day craft show, and I've got all new displays for the farmer's market.

Here's a little photo of them, and me peeking out from behind them:

Much nicer than just laying stuff out on the table, like I used to. I hope I'll also be selling at the City Market in my hometown, so that is very exciting, I hope it goes well!

Stats!

2009-01-09T10:35:00.001-08:00

Etsy has finally given us sellers some stats! We can now use google analytics with our shops so we'll actually know where our traffic is coming from. This is just so helpful! I'm looking forward to playing around with project wonderful ads and the like to see what kind of traffic I can drive to my shop.

In other news, a bunch of pendant making supplies have arrived and I am just itching to try my hand at pendants. I think a lot of my photos would make for pretty ones and I really hope they turn out as wonderfully as they are in my head.

Treasury!

2009-01-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

I was featured in an Etsy treasury today, how exciting! I love love love that necklace that is featured beside my bracelet at the top there, it's so gorgeous. Thanks ClairesArtfulThings!

You can see the treasury here http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=31615 until it disappears on Friday. : )

hmm

2009-01-04T15:11:00.001-08:00

I really, really want a macro lens. I feel like I would blog a lot more because I would have fresh, lovely photos to share much more often. I guess I should start saving up then. I'm guessing they're around $3-400 my goodness.

2009-01-03T21:06:00.000-08:00

Hey there. New Year's always really jump starts and motivates me to improve myself. This year I want to focus on several areas. Most of all I really want to buckle down and build up my business. The past couple months have been good, I have been putting more effort into finding new venues to sell my items. I've done a couple craft shows, sold at the farmer's market several times, and got my mirrors into a local shop. Now is the time to really build up my etsy shop. I'm putting the prints into the jewelry shop, and I will be adding mirrors. I'm also excited to start making up some pendants and other small gifty items.

Tonight I've been a busy bee, made a new banner, and listed several new items. Once I get my shop in full gear I'll start getting organized and working on my promotional efforts. I really need to get an advertising budget too, haha, or else how will anyone ever find my little shop?

Building a brand

2008-10-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

As you may know, I run a small business called Paper Pattern Silk. I sell mostly at local craft fairs, the farmer's market and online on Etsy. I tend to operate on a part time basis, but really want to buckle down and focus on building a sustainable brand and client base. So I thought, I should start writing down my goals and thoughts in my blog so I can keep track of them as I work towards building up my business.

My main goal for now is to build up a recognizable brand. I need to develop a logo, which I am working on. It's silhouettes of lupins. I chose them because they are my favorite flower, they have an interesting shape, and here in the Maritimes it is commonplace to drive by hills and fields just full of these beautiful flowers. They bring up fond memories for me, and I love them.

Next I am trying to figure out what colors to use as my main business ones, on displays, on my business card, and on my website. I doodled a very lackluster lupin in photoshop to get an idea for some colors, and have made a small chart of them:

I have such a hard time narrowing it down to just a few colors. Color is pretty much the reason I create anything, it is my inspiration and excitement in the art world. There are just so many possibilities, and each one says something so completely different about your business. I really want to make a good choice that reflects me and my work.

Paper Pattern Silk sells pocket mirrors, illustration & photography prints, jewelry, handpainted silks, knitwear, pretty much everything. I'm not one to stick to one medium, I like to dabble in many. This makes it difficult to make branding decisions that will affect so many variables. The illustrations tend to be very delicate, with children and whimsical elements. The jewelry, however, takes on a more contemporary, modern design focus. I also need to leave room for my surface design career to come, which is a large deal of why I chose the name. After I graduate I intend to freelance design wallpaper, fabric, greeting cards, etc, while still making art, silks, and my other handmade items.

It's so difficult to find a happy medium between my various styles, I want to be taken seriously as design focused, but don't want to lose the whimsical fun side either.

My goodness it is going to take a lot of thought to decide on my colors..

2008-08-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

Hello. It's been a while. I'm overhauling everything, and will get to this dear sweet blog soon. :)

I hope you're all feeling lovely today. Oh the possibilities!

Loan approved!

2008-05-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

My SEED business loan was approved! I am so excited. My loan papers are in the mail and will hopefully arrive sometime this week. Then I will take them into the bank and start getting all the supplies ready to get my business off the ground.

I'm really happy about this, it took weeks and weeks of putting it together, usually spending several hours a day researching, rethinking, and working out the problems.

I've been making a lot of jewelry while I wait to get my mirror making machine, but now it's really pulled me back towards what I really love doing, which is the jewelry. So I'm doing even more rethinking, it is so hard to choose which direction I want to go in.

Next time I go home to visit my family I might bring some jewelry into the market and see if the jewelry shop there would be interested in carrying it. I went there once before, when I was probably 16ish, and brought in some jewelry. It was pretty junky at the time, cheap wire, lots of spirals, ugly beads. But I was proud of it. They didn't accept it at the time, but I did sell a ton of it at school.

So that's pretty much how I've been spending my summer break thus far, making and listing jewelry. Oh, and I've also set up a new design blog that I've been spending a lot of time finding interesting things to feature. It is HERE if you want to take a peek. I might change up the layout on this blog to something similar to that one, now that I think of it..

Have a great day!

Rain.

2008-05-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I stop and think to myself, you know, you haven't sold very much really, for the work you've put into your shop, promoting, etc.

And then on days like this, I just feel wonderful. I haven't sold anything, been added to favorites, or garnered much interest at all. But I did finish up a batch of jewelry, and as I was photographing them, I realized how very much I love the process of creating.

I go through bouts where I don't do very much at all creatively, and in those times, I don't really feel like something's missing. But then, when I get into a creativity spree, where the ideas are just flowing through my brain at 100 miles an hour, I can't imagine doing anything else with my life.

All my jewelry turned out way better than I had hoped. And when I photographed it, I couldn't help but be filled with pride that I had managed to make things that actually express who I am, and the feelings I have about life itself. I know that doesn't make much sense, it's just jewelry after all, not some high form of art, but to me it's such a freeing experience.

So I really don't care if no one ever buys a piece of my work; I have gotten all the satisfaction and fulfillment I need out of just making it.

Thank you for reading,

Monica

Now on Myspace!

2008-05-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

As you can see from the above screenshot, I have started up a myspace page. I'll be putting lots of photos there, some news in the Paper Pattern Silk business, and maybe even some special deals for myspace friends. I spent the better part of the day fiddling around with it trying to make it look pretty, and adding Etsy users who've posted in the MASSIVELY HUGE (we're talking like 119 pages here) thread in the Etsy forums with their links. It's going to take a while, I think I'm on page 37 or so now. I'd love it if you'd add me to your myspace, my page is http://myspace.com/paperpatternsilk

The rest of the day I spent making some jewelry. I'm oxidizing them right now as I type so I can photograph and list them tomorrow. I am so in love with oxidized silver. I love it's high contrast and organic feel. It's really hard to not just oxidize it all since I like the look so much, but I'm trying to appeal to different tastes in my shop, so I've got to restrain myself. At least a bit, I'm thinking there is going to be quite a bit of oxidization going on.

Oh well.

Silk overload

2008-05-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

Having steamed and rinsed out my silk, it is now ready to show itself off to the world.

I can't help but just look at at, figuring out where the best pocket mirrors would come from, admiring little areas where certain colour combinations have turned up. I've got splatters and speckles and lines, abstract flowers, dots and my personal favorite, tiny little leaves. There are only a select few of them though, so those mirrors will be extra special.

I've also finished up that scarf I was working on, it is now listed HERE. I'm pretty excited about how it turned out, the colours are so intriguing.

With that being said, it's time for an exorbitant and hugely excessive amount of photos to show off some of my favorite parts of my silks:

First up is the City Line scarf. I love the little windows I masked off, they're pretty neat.

Next we have a sampling of random spots where I played with colour mixing.

Color + Texture collide - Contemporary Gifts

2008-05-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

I think I've forgotten to mention it, but I have started up a new etsy shop here:

Paper Pattern Silk

I'm going to put my jewelry, accessories, pocket mirrors, etc on it. Right now there are a few pieces of jewelry, many more are in the process of being photographed and listed. So, it would be really nice if you could check it out, let me know what you think. The avatar and banner are works in progress, they will be changed to match my website when I can get my boyfriend to code it for me. It's all designed and the photoshop files are sitting sadly and somewhat impatiently on my computer waiting for him to work his graphic design student knowledge on. I hope he will be able to get it up and running soon, I am so excited to have it on there.

In other news, some Etsy orders are starting to wander into my mailbox. Today I recieved the first of three pocket mirrors I ordered. I got one each in 2.25, 3, and3.5 inches so that I can see first hand which size I want to go with. The 3.5 arrived today and is really nice, but feels a bit too awkward to hold. It's a bit big, but the 3.5 machine gives me the option to make coasters as well. I'm not sure if there is a big market for coasters though. As nice as they are, I don't know that I would drop $16 - 20 on a set of them for my place, so I'm uncertain my target market would either.

Tomorrow I am going to apply for a job at a local bakery. My plan is, if I can get a weekday job I will be able to afford a smart phone or pda, and can then work on my business while at work on my breaks. It would be nice to have some sort of certainty when it comes to my summer income, but I do really want to make my summer SEED business work too. So we'll see if I am able to manage both, but I think I will be. I get bored if I'm not doing anything anyways, so at least they will keep me on my toes.

Black backgrounds

2008-05-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

Today I experimented with using a textured somewhat shiny black background for my photos, and I actually quite like how they turned out. I like the charcoal with the light gradient going through it, and think I will stick to this for a while.

It's kind of annoyingly ironic that I like this, after spending so much time and effort trying to get more and more elaborate set ups. I've painted trees, scoured bookstores looking for white books, made a light tent, bought all kinds of different coloured paper and taken hundreds and hundreds of photos, spending hours in Photoshop trying to make them just right. And now I've found a black binder lying around, and took these with natural light. What a slap in the face.

But I still like the black.

Figuring things out.

2008-05-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

I am still in the process of deciding exactly how I want my website. Here is a potential logo, but I don't know. I think it falls a little flat. The placement is off and the font isn't quite right. I'm almost certain I'm going with the stemmies though. I just love them. Here they are for a different part of the website. I think they're versitile enough that I can adjust the length, colour, and quantity of them to suit the website, logo, business cards, ads, etc. I would love some feedback though, so feel free to let me know the good and the bad.

Field and Sea Paper

2008-05-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Field and Sea Paper on Etsy for a long time, and tonight I've gotten to order this custom set of absolutely scrumptious papers from her. They are going to make the nicest pocket mirrors, I just can't wait for them to get here.

Check out her shops http://fieldandsea.etsy.com and http://fieldandseapaper.etsy.com.

Her stuff is just so lovely, I wish I could buy it all. I'm thinking I'll pick up some of her paper beads sometime soon as well.

Silk sneak peek!

2008-05-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a little preview of some freshly painted silk. I still need to steam and iron the wax off it, but I just love the colours, The gorgeous limey yellow and deep fushia is a scarf and the multicoloured pool of random patterns is going to be some rather lovely pocket mirrors if I do say so myself.

Paper Pattern Silk

2008-05-15T00:19:00.001-07:00

Today has been a rather exciting day. I finally dropped off my SEED loan application, after a couple months of work. I really hope they approve my business idea and I can start getting things in motion. The SEED loan is a student entrepreneurship loan that lends money to students to start up their own summer (or longer term, as I am aiming for) business.

So, unable to patiently wait to hear back, I've begun designing my site. The image above is a draft of what the About page might look like. I am really loving that chartreuse colour, and the little stems that are based off a wallpaper I designed a little bit ago for class.

It's already 4:30 am, and I am still up brainstorming the website, which is a bit ridiculous considering I have to get up in the morning and spend the entire day at school finishing up my silk painting final projects.

With that, I wish you all a good night, (morning?)

-Monica

Negative me

2008-05-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

I put a sheet of large format negatives taken last year in my scanner, and I like how it turned out. Click on it to see it a bit larger, I like the way my eye turned out in the properly inverted one. Ghostly like vintage photographs.

On a side note, I sold a copy of my photo, Wind, and I am thrilled. That is one of my favorite photos I've ever taken and I am so glad someone else likes it too.

Have a good day everyone,

-Monica

Treasury list

2008-05-11T19:49:00.000-07:00

I made a treasury, and I quite like it. I think these items go together rather well. Here's hoping it makes it to Etsy's front page. I'm not even sure if treasury west's make it to the front page at all.

Click here to see my list. :)

EDIT: Well that was quite the stroke of good luck, my treasury made it to the front page! Cheers.

Sigh of Relief goes here.

2008-04-17T16:48:00.000-07:00

It has been a really rough winter. I have lived in atlantic Canada my entire life, so I am pretty accustomed to a lot of cold and snow, but this winter has just been ridiculous. Since October I have been surrounded and caged in by snowbanks from 5 - 10 feet tall. It has snowed consistently several times a week, and has been bitter cold since fall.

So you might imagine my surprise and delight upon stumbling across these little guys here:

A shout out to the fellow in the bottom who hasn't quite figured out that it's Spring yet. I'm sure he'll catch on soon.

So when I saw these I just had to go home and get my camera to document the first flowers of Spring. I had a nice little chat with a very friendly lady to stopped at the same time I did to admire them. She had a little camera in her pocket and took some photos and chatted about my camera. (I have a dSLR, so I'm frequently stopped while I'm out by people asking if I'm a professional photographer, etc. I just tell them about the photo courses I took at school and whatnot.)

On a side note, isn't this an adorable roof?

As far as rooftops are concerned, I'd consider that a pretty darn cute one.

All in all, things are going very well. I'm just finishing up an application for a student entrepreneurship loan to start up a legit, legal, tax paying business this summer. I'm going to set up shop at local markets. I LOVE not working for other people, I'm a diy kind of gal.

So yes, have a good Friday everyone.

Playing around with color.

2008-04-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

I've just been fiddling around with photoshop this evening, and came up with these. I'm exploring colors and textures, not sure if I'll make prints or not just yet.

Any thoughts?

I love random things like this.

2008-03-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hehe. :)

Shameless Self Promotion.

2008-03-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

Today, whilst walking to school I saw a hurt pidgeon crouching in the corner of a storefront. I worried about him all day not knowing what I could do to help, but then found out that the store owner was taking care of him and giving him bread. When I left school he was gone. Since I can't know otherwise, I am assuming the best, that he was able to fly off and join his fellow bread loving comrades. So pidgeon, should you be an avid blog reader, as I know many pidgeons are computer savvy, I wish you a full recovery.

So after that little bit of worry today, I spent the afternoon making and listing some pendants. Here are a couple of them. If you like them, be sure to check out my Etsy shop. If you hate them, then please let me know why, as I am very much interested in feedback.

A long day.

2008-03-18T19:48:00.001-07:00

Hi there. I am very sleepy but thought I would make a quick post. I've been having a bit of difficulty photographing my new pendants, I just couldn't seem to get them to "say" what I wanted to. So then I was suddenly struck with the idea to set up a whole little environment for them, and I think they are just a ton better. What do you think? They are a bit busy but I think they will at least stand out in the Etsy listings hopefully.

Oh, here's one of the original shots for comparison:

The new ones are way better right?

New Items!

2008-03-03T07:03:00.000-08:00

So, this is what I have been busy all weekend making. Each pendant is hand drawn in layers to give it a painterly effect, then heat treated to make the image permanent, and then coated in a glossy glassy finish. They are hanging from sterling jump rings (3, to be different) and on delicate sterling chain. Each leaf is one of a kind, I won't be able to duplicate the layering exactly. I love these little guys, I'm hoping you do too.

They will be listed in my sometime this week.

So what do you think? Any color suggestions for future leaves?

!

2008-03-02T19:26:00.000-08:00

I am so excited! Today I created a totally new product that I am so thrilled with, tomorrow when it's light out I will take photos of it and show you.

: )

Lily pad Beret.

2008-01-25T19:58:00.001-08:00

It is yet another long weekend. I finished all the mandatory items on my previous to do list, but unfortunately not all the artsy things I wanted to get done. I did make some jewelry though, and am liking them. Hopefully it will be bright enough out tomorrow to photograph them and list them on Etsy.

I've been working on this illustration for the past few hours:

I'm not sure if it's done, or if I even like it yet. I just can't tell. I think I need to sleep on it and then make last minute changes perhaps. Sigh, my sister thought that it was a picture of me when I was a kid and accidently cut the end of my nose off. Hmm...that can't be good. I just like those noses that are kind of angular on the end. Mine is really round, and I always wanted a different one.

So I guess we will see.

PS - my nose was reattached and looks completely normal now. I promise.

Okay, I am back now a few minutes later, and I whipped up this version:

It was actually meant just as a joke for my sister, it looks like her, whereas the other one looks a lot like me as a kid. I kind of like the colors in this, maybe I will offer it as both.

To do

2008-01-19T13:32:00.000-08:00

I just found out some very good/terrible news. A shop just opened right on my way to school that sells ooodles of vintage glass and lucite beads, as well as sterling jewelry supplies. Oh no. My poor little credit card is just a shakin'. * must control spending *

This weekend, which is a long one, as are all my weekends, (I LOVE having Mondays off) I really need to get some work done, so I thought I would make a list, and then as I finish things off it, I can post photos of them. Maybe this will get me off of my bum and keep me accountable, who knows.

Okay,

1. CLEAN! - The house needs it, desperately. DONE.
2. Find the following items while cleaning: cardstock package, chucks, headpins that went missing..
3. Paint at least 2 small paintings.
4. Make at least 3 cards.
5. Ship off print. Done.
6. Felt 3 sheets for homework. Done.
7. Finish abstract landscape homework. Done.
8. Watch bladerunner for history class.
9. Complete custom illustration work. Done.
10. Create at least 2 new illustrations, and plan out ideas for others.
11. Felt at least 3 beads.
12. Organize surface design tools and supplies in plastic case. DONE.

A cozy scarf.

2008-01-17T11:46:00.000-08:00

Wow I have had a very productive couple of days. Yesterday I started using illustration board and just love it. I drew a couple of illustrations on it and then did some details in watercolor, acrylic and gouache paint. I love the effect and think it will really add dimension and texture to my work. So far I've just got the one listed but I will hopefully have time to edit and list the other one today. I just love that chartreuse background, not sure if other people will though. My boyfriend thought it was a bit much, but I just went for it anyways, and followed my gut.

Today was one of those very few days each year where everything works out just perfect, and nature creates the most beautiful scene you could imagine. It happens so rarely, but it is just spectacular to see. When I came out of my house today, all the trees were just covered in a glassy sheet of ice, and the softest, fluffiest snowflakes were stuck to them. They almost look like these rock candy stick things I used to eat as a kid.

I was already running really late for school as I had slept in, but I just had to run back and grab my camera. Especially since a good friend of mine has never seen this before, and I had just mentioned it the night before. It's always so quick to fade too, I took these at 10 am, and by lunch it was gone.

It's just amazing in real life, photographs can't do it justice. It's like actually experiencing magic. The fluffy snowflakes were also catching in the wind and slowing flittering down to the ground all around me like glitter. The sun gleams through them like diamonds. It's just beautiful.

I hope you all get to experience this some day in your lives.

A big ball of string.

2008-01-15T10:33:00.000-08:00

I really love being done class at noon. It means I am up and about, which I wouldn't be if I didn't have any class, and so it leaves me with a whole afternoon to use as I see fit.

Today I wandered down to The Owl's Nest, a giant used book store, and found myself looking in the children's section for vintage storybooks. I always find these things so inspiring for my own illustrations, and they really motivate me to create. One little jewel I found was "A Big Ball Of String", a 1958 tale of a boy who just wants to unwind string, even if it is his mother's knitting. After I read through the book and check out the drawings, this will become my new journal for a surface design class I have.

My favorite find is definitely "Simon's Soup", just look at that gorgeous red patterned inside paper. I love it. The book is full of little sock monkey style illustrations in a poppy red and chartreuse color scheme. It would make for lovely notecards, but I don't think I could cut this book up, it's just too sweet.

I also dyed, and knit the hat that is peeking out from underneath it.

Also thought I'd throw that photo in of some silk I dyed this week in a pretty aqua shade, and the floorcloth I painted that accidently rather matches. I'm really loving the process of creating all these things lately, it's very relaxing and interesting to me.

Well, the afternoon holds many possibilities for me. Maybe I'll paint, or felt, or work on some illustrations I have been commissioned for. Or maybe I'll take a nap. Oh the surprise of it all! :P

A wee bit of chaos.

2008-01-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

I have been a busy little bee lately. I'm just starting up my surface design classes, which are going fantastic so far. I dyed some silk, did some gouache paint chips, and little things like that. I am also certain I am going to love my felting class. Yes that's right, an entire three hours each week solely devoted to my favorite fuzzy fibers. Fantastic.

I'm also working on some card designs, as well as offering my prints as notecards. Should get these things up and running very soon I hope. Today I also rephotographed some destash supplies, which I am going to list on memory.etsy.com, instead of morememory to keep things a bit more simple.

It's going to be good, I know it. :)

2007-12-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

Well hello there old friend, it's been a while, how have you been?

It has been absolutely crazy around here as of late and there are some huge changes in store for me: I am switching my major from photography to surface design! I am really excited about it, and it has been a long time coming. I'm really glad I decided this. I want to design fabric, and wall paper, and cards. The head of the studio seemed to really like my illustrations so I am just anxious to get started refining them. I think my Christmas break will involve a scanner and a pencil...

Anyways, so I have been getting into the holiday spirit, making cookies and very tiny toques for the Christmas tree. I'm going to write up a tutorial on how to make them, they're very cute and can be made with all recycled materials!

I've also decided that I am really going for the Buy Handmade Pledge and am going to have a fully handmade Christmas. I have busily been making up presents and will definitely show them off here after they have been given. (Wouldn't want to wreck any surprises of course.) I also plan on starting to post some of the items I've made here, I have sock monkies and painted silk scarves and jewelry and dyed yarn...all of which wait patiently in my room for a little attention. This blog will definitely start holding up it's MonicaMakesThings name in the near future.

Also, take a peek at this great blog, it's by Heather Bailey, a fabric designer whose style I really admire. Looking at her work has definitely helped me make my decision to switch, she is fantastic with colour.

Painting!

2007-11-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

My apartment is not (very) messy! We cleaned it up for a friend's visit last weekend and it is still somewhat remarkably tidy(ish). So that means I can stretch out on my bedroom floor and contentedly paint away. I really enjoyed making the above piece. I'm still not sure where I'm going with it. I'm going to photograph it tomorrow and then digitally edit it until it's just right. I'm really liking what I've done so far though, I like the whole sweater idea. It's the first of a series I have planned around every day comforts.

If I had a lot of extra money to spare I would go out and buy a ton of canvases and paint and lock myself up in my room for a few days. It would be quite nice.

Falling

2007-11-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

In a 3 am fit of inspiration I came up with several painting ideas I really love. Random? Yes. So I will be working on them over the next few days and hopefully they come out nearly as awesome as they are in my head.

Today is not my day.

2007-11-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

I have really been working hard lately on my business. I really want this to be a success, and I want to work towards a long term sustainable business that I will be able to run for a long time to come.

I have been keeping myself busy with making new illustrations, I have the tree one from my previous post now in a peach tone listed on my Etsy shop as well as a completely redone new Today is not my day, which is available in gold and teal as well.

I have also opened up a Dawanda shop here. It seems like a nice site so far, it's just taking a while to translate my listings into French (which I speak reasonably well) and German (which I couldn't tell you a single word of) Hey, scratch that, I know "kinder" as in kinder surprise or children or whatnot. Anyways, I do get a lot of buyers from the UK on Etsy, so it might be nice to have that shop there.

Well, it is much later than it should be and I have surface design class in the morning. (Yay!) I believe we are doing image transfers, so it should be quite interesting. I really love all the projects we've done so far, I really must photograph them and post about them here.

Goodnight, all.

This was my favorite tree.

2007-11-04T11:17:00.000-08:00

New illustration! I'm really happy with how this turned out, it took me two days to do and it's finally starting to be in the style I want. I find with each illustration I find out new ways of doing it to get it closer to the vision I have in my head for it.

This one will be up for sale in my Etsy shop soon, I want to sell it printed on canvas paper so it will be a bit pricier but will look absolutely fantastic.

Anyways, I really feel like I will be able to continue working on my ideas now and will hopefully be able to put out a few more illustrations in the near future.

Have a good day!

2007-10-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

Well hello there. I am having a nice relaxing evening making some jewelry. I just finished a piece with shiny and oxidized sterling, rainbow moonstone, and labradorite. I am absolutely thrilled with it, I will take some photos tomorrow, it is too dark to take a nice one tonight. My sequins earrings (above) are doing well, I have two orders for custom colored ones to work on this weekend, and a necklace of a heart cut from sterling sheet. I have the heart all cut out and just need to finish sanding the edges. I'm waiting on some sterling chain too before I can send it out to it's new home. I plan on starting to list my jewelry on Etsy in the very near future, so look out for that.

I am submitting some prints to a juried show and sale at my school's art gallery. I really hope I am accepted, it would be really nice to get my work out there locally. It's just about everywhere else in the world except here.

School is just absolutely crazy busy, I have so much to finish for midterm next week. I will be a very busy girl this weekend. So with that, I should probably get back to my jewelry, I've got a thousand ideas bobbing around in my head, wouldn't want to forget them.

Have a good one,

Monica

2007-10-04T17:47:00.001-07:00

I am still alive, I promise!

I have been crazy busy with schoolwork and trying to build a jewelry business. Plus I was out of town for a week due to a very sad event. : (

But onwards and upwards, this weekend is Thanksgiving and I am looking forward to a delicious and gigantic plate of mashed potatoes and all the fixings. (Potatoes have always been my favorites.)

I really need to stop buying on Etsy, I am spending much more than I am making. Speaking of which, check out my new destash store for some neato things. The plus side to buying destash beads is that there won't usually be nearly as many of them on Etsy as with the super popular beads, and you can buy them in small quantities at a cheaper price than what was paid for originally.

Hopefully the many jewelry supplies currently in the mail to me will arrive safe and sound soon so I can really get this thing going before the Christmas shopping ends. I am so excited! I've been designing and making up prototypes and spending hours just looking at beads on Etsy, which my boyfriend finds quite strange sadly. Yesterday I got some great props for photographing my pieces, as seen above. I'm really happy with them, I might put together a little ebook or pdf of photographing items to list on Etsy.

I also want to get back into blogging and start featuring some other Etsy sellers. So check back soon, I will be posting often once again.

Take care!

-Monica

Oh my gosh!

2007-09-14T18:31:00.001-07:00

Sorry for not posting for a while, I have been super busy at school.

Okay so huge news for me - I am making jewelry again!! I am so excited.
I went out and bought a ball peen hammer and anvil tonight and have been happily bending, hammering, and filing away at my living room table. I made an earring and a pendant so far.
And then I got even more excited and bought $33.00 in beads from BestBeads. That's kind of a lot but they are so beautiful and inspiring. I bought some amazonite in this fresh carribean blue and labradorite in this gorgeous grey with blue flashes. I think they will look fantastic together and cannot wait til they get here!

My mind is just rushing at a thousand miles an hour - jewelry really is my passion. When I sell some of these simple pieces I'm going to use the money to get a soldering set up - with a microtorch that won't make a loud noise so I won't be anxious.

So happy right now!

2007-08-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

Back to our regularly scheduled programming:

What a good day! I went to get some prints done and they came out beautifully so I got quite a bit printed so I'll have them available when they sell. That will take a lot of stress off of me trying to get them printed and shipped off within 3 days. There is a post office very close to my school so that there will be fantastic, I'll be able to ship on the way to school. Sigh, I love it when things are efficient. : D

I got the two new images I've just finished printed and I'm really liking how they turned out. I'll be listing them soon as well as prints I developed myself in the darkroom! How exciting. Even though I'm afraid of the dark, I still love doing my own printing. It's very satisfying to have a hand in every step of the finished print. And I can make them turn out just how I want and just love the feeling of control and accomplishment I get from it. I'll be back in the darkroom very soon I hope, school starts back up on the 3rd.

Swarovski Crystals on Baby products!

2007-08-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

I was just reading in the Etsy forums and was very bothered to find out about this. There has been a safety recall on pacifiers that Etsy sellers and other online sellers were gluing crystals too. These items have been removed, but other items with the same risks have not.

DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN WEAR ITEMS WITH SWAROVSKI CRSTALS ON THEM!

These crystals contain lead and can be seriously dangerous if ingested! They also pose a choke hazard.

Some sellers have listed other items such as shoes, pacifier clips, etc that have these crystals on them, but only warn to supervise the baby with them. I think that parents should know that this risk is worse than the usual choke hazard to really hit home the dangers so they can make a more informed choice.

What's worse is when the seller mentions they used non toxic glue, but doesn't mention except for in their profile that the non toxic glue is attaching toxic items to their baby products.

An Etsy forum thread with more information is available here.
The Pacifier recall is here.

2007-08-28T19:20:00.001-07:00

Been busy busy lately trying to keep up with all the Etsy related things I've got going on right now - promoting, listing, shipping, it all adds up. I've had some luck working with photoshop though and have come up with a few images I really like. Will probably be adding these to the shop very shortly.

I'm going home tomorrow to see Cirque Du Soleil! I'm so excited, but it's going to be so frustrating that I'm not allowed to bring a camera into the show.

The lab I get my prints printed at is having some serious color issues - everything came out a very murky gross green. My poor little "Keep you safe" girl looked like she was about to be sick. So I've had to send them to a different place that charges 3 times as much and I have to wait another day to send some orders out. I really hate not being able to send them out right away - but at the same time, I don't have the money up front to have prints already printed on hand. School is starting next week and I need all the money I have for school supplies. I love buying school supplies! It's so much better when all those supplies are paints and papers and all kinds of fun artsy things for me to play with.

I'm in my second year of university! Holy cow, how time flies.

Anyways. I'm off to bed. Goodnight everyone!

Blahs

2007-08-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been rather uneventful. I've been kind of slack on getting all the things I need to do done to be honest. It's been a blah day today as well. So I'm editing some photos and working on getting organized. I think I forgot to mention before that my apartment has been cleaned! If I get a chance I will take some photos to show it before and after.

The photo above is one I just finished working on. It's a collage of two different photos I took. I rather like how it turned out so I listed it on my Etsy.

Well I must be off. Take care everyone.

A photo bag!

2007-08-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

Okay so I'm pretty excited. I found this bag at the Dollar store. That's right, it cost me $1.14 including tax. I'm going to take out those stock photos, put in three of my own prints, and then the fourth one will be a print that has my shop url on it, Genius! What a fantastic means of shameless self promotion. Maybe I'll even stick business cards in behind the photos to hand out to people who look at my bag. Hehehe.

So I sold some more beads on Etsy, I was happy. I really need to get around to listing what I have done. I have tons of beads & supplies, as well as photographs I developed myself in the darkroom, and several paintings I did a little while ago. I have to get at it.

I'm going back home to visit my family tomorrow night though, so I won't be able to ship anything until Monday or Tuesday. But it's worth it, I haven't been home for a while. Speaking of shipping, I have some bad karma going or something, because it absolutely poured today, the day I needed to go to the post office to ship things. It doesn't rain unless I need to leave the house.. : (

I've also been up to making a Squidoo page. Click here to see it. I also signed up for this Hits4Pay thing. Which a friend said actually works, so I'm hoping it does. If you want to try it out, definitely sign up through my referal link please!

Anyways, I suppose that's enough spamming for one night, he he he. Have a good one.

Beads Beads Beads

2007-08-13T12:04:00.001-07:00

Beads! That's what I've spend the passed couple of days working on. I wet felted some and then sewed on beads and sequins, and there are some needle felted pins I've made. Last night I played with polymer clay, and am experimenting with different effects, I covered one in beads, and the others I made to look like little earth beads so I might make them into a cute pair of earrings. I'm also finally varnishing some rolled paper beads I made a bit ago. I love making beads, I wish I had access to some more sterling silver wire without having to order it online so I could make some jewelry with my beads. I'll definitely be making a lot of stuff once school starts up again and I have access to all sorts of supplies again.

I'm also working on setting up an IndiePublic account and a tutorial for taking good photos of items.

Anyways, I've got lots to do, so have a great day!

Rain Rain

2007-08-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

Biking through puddles makes the most pretty tinkling sound you can imagine. Just so you know. ;)

Yesterday I was absolutely drenched. But damn it, those items are going to get to my etsy buyers on time! Ha ha, I'm thinking maybe I should add an "I don't ship on days when it's pouring or snowing or 45 degrees celcius" clause to my shipping policy since I have to bike to the post office.

My wind print was on the Etsy front page today, I was so excited I called my mom even though it was midnight.

Anyways, have a great day.

Monica

Progess.

2007-08-06T16:27:00.001-07:00

So. I made little progress on the cleaning of my apartment. It's going to take years to get this baby cleaned. Sigh. In happier news, I sold a painting on Etsy! I was really excited, it was only listed for a day before selling. It is always so satisfying when someone likes what you enjoy making.

I tried to ship it today, but of course, since I live in my own little bubble, had no idea that it is a provincial holiday, so the post office was closed. I'm really glad I slacked off on putting out resumes today, I got mostly ready and then decided to go tomorrow. I would have been sooo disappointed to put in the work of looking good for nothing. :p

I listed beads like crazy today. I'm trying to support my bead habit by selling off ones I don't think I'll use. I hope they go to loving homes who make them into beautiful things.

I really want a nice piece of fresh fruit. Random, I know. But man, a nice piece of fruit can really make me feel so content and healthy. I think I will go hit up that nectarine I've been anxiously waiting to ripen...

Quiet Mornings make me happy

2007-08-05T11:06:00.001-07:00

Today is going to be quite a good day I do believe. I am in the process of very thoroughly cleaning my apartment. It is almost spectacular how messy it is. A lot of effort went into making it that way you know. Apartments don't just become tornado strewn, someone has to put in the manhours in order to get them just right.

So yes I will post before and after pictures when I am finished, which might take days actually now that I think of it. My boyfriend is currently working on a nice new journal layout for me, so I'm looking forward to a new fresh look.

I was inspired by some photos I saw on http://flickr.com of other artist's studios, and that is exactly what I want. A bright clean space for me to create and feel inspired. So I'm going to paint my room and make it into a studio like environment. I'm thinking off a crisp off white to go with the white trim, and then spiffy it up with some bright colored accessories. I've always felt that white walls were boring and blah, but I think it might fill the whole space with light, which would make it ideal for photographs.

Thanks to everyone who swapped links with me, that's really nice, I will definitely be checking out everyone's blogs when I get some time.

Have a good day everyone!

Sigh

2007-08-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

Man, I am actually a bit nervous right now. I just added a ton of people to my contacts on flickr, I wasn't sure how I was supposed to build up my list so I just added lots of people who posted on Etsy related forums. I hope they don't find that weird and random for me to add them...:(

I also asked a bunch of fellow Etsy bloggers to exchange links. Hopefully they won't think it's spam. I only asked ones with lists of other Etsy blogs so I hope it won't be a problem. If I did this to you and you hate it, just delete my post please, I didn't mean any offense!

This whole promotion thing is nerve racking. I just really want to be a success.

Busy Busy

2007-08-01T18:00:00.001-07:00

Oh my. It seems like I've been going nonstop the passed few days. I went on a great roadtrip where we explored several wonderful seaside towns with entire streets just filled with unique little gift shops. I got the business cards of several of them. I'd really like to work on getting my work into gift shops in the somewhat near future. I think I'm going to focus all of my energy on making new illustrations. The above one is something I've been working on for a few days now, I just can't figure out exactly how I'd like it.

I've also gotten a contract with HeyPrettyCupcake so that is exciting. My illustrations will be available on different products there. It's also motivated me to come up with plenty of new ideas, all of which I will be working on very soon.

I sold my first item on Etsy! I was so surprised and happy when I saw it. It's been shipped off and will hopefully arrive at it's new home soon. I've been having a great time chatting with other sellers in the forums, and have discovered some great new shops too. Hopefully I'll have several new prints to list in the next week or so.

Anyways, have a great day to anyone who may be reading this. I'm still looking for other links to fellow etsy bloggers. Bye!

Wind

2007-07-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

I have been really busy lately trying to promote my etsy shop: http://memory.etsy.com
So far I've joined flickr, groups on facebook, and used to chat rooms and forums on etsy. I really want to work hard to make my shop a success. :)

I really need to get listing more things. I have felt brooches and beads made up as well as some recycled paper beads that are just in need of a last coat of varnish to make them shine.

First Post!

2007-07-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my new blog! I plan on posting things I've been working on as well as showing off the work of fellow Etsyians I adore.

My shop is http://memory.etsy.com/ check it out, I have my photography and illustrations up there so far, and will hopefully have more of my stuff listed as soon as possible.

So I guess I should post a little about myself then. I am a student photographer, but I tend to get distracted and make things is all different mediums. I love painting, making felt things, collages, beading, sewing sock monkies, and plenty of other things.

These photos are of an illustration I did in ink, and then digitally colored. It's called "I will keep you safe." and it's one of my favorite pieces I've ever done.

So, I guess that about wraps it up for this post. Feel free to leave your etsy shop address here if you've got one and we can link to each other. : )

Have a good night!