Dear Gmail

Dear Gmail,

I am trying to figure out why Gardner White and Bob Evans keep sending me emails. I mean, I never have shopped at Gardner White and I don't eat at Bob Evans. And for that fact, Gmail, why the hell can't you figure out that this is spam? You do so well at removing all Penis Growth emails. Even if I had wanted to grow a  penis, I can't because you are so successful at hiding those emails from me. And my ever faithful Nigerian Prince, offering me 1 million dollars, has been quiet lately due to your awesome spam removal. And yet, Gardner White and Bob Evans keep sneaking past you. No matter how many times I mark them spam, they keep showing up. Are you trying to tell me that I need to eat pancakes and get a new couch? I mean for reals people. My couch is just fine and my homemade pancakes taste much better anyways.

Let's get this fixed, m'kay?

*For shizzle Gmail, for shizzle.

Sincerely,
Nicole

*Please note that I have not a damn clue what the word shizzle means. It is however, really freaking fun to say.

Fairs - 2 down, one to go

I did a Mom2Mom sale this past weekend and it was brilliant. $25/ table, so my overhead was very little. I sold 7 dresses and 1 skirt. I am beyond thrilled. I was a little worried going in that some people were going to go ape shit over my prices, as they were there for resale items and some people did. It was almost comical looking at their faces, but once people realized that no, I actually made each item myself, then they were completely cool with the price. It was definitely a great experience and I will certainly jump at the chance to do another one. Now I need to regroup a little and figure out my attack plan for my December 2nd show, which will be huge. Sew, sew and more sewing! Enjoy a few out takes of my model. Oh, and new items listed on Etsy in case you wanted to take a peek.

One fair down, 2 to go

Last weekend was my first fair of the year. It wasn't a successful $$ wise as I had hoped, but I did at least cover my booth fee. It was however hugely successful with the amount of feedback I received, which is really what I was hoping for. Everyone loved my dresses, skirts and dolls and commented on the high quality of the items. I did hear a lot of "LOVE your stuff, but I have BOYS." And unfortunately I didn't have any boy clothing items. Thankfully, I listened to the crowd (and the hubby, whose been saying the same dang thing) and will have some boy items for this coming up weekend's Mom2Mom sale, which should kick serious ass. Because HEL-LO, people coming to buy children's clothing and items and I, uh, have just what they are looking for! Amazing! The only thing that could potentially bite me in my hind end would be that people come to these sales to buy gently used items and there is no way I can compete with the used clothing prices. I can just hope that the uniqueness of my items will win them and their pocketbooks over.

Heh, I said pocketbooks. I sound just like my late, dear grandma. Better watch out or next thing you know I will be calling pants slacks and adhere to that no wearing white after Labor Day rule.

Just thought I would share my first try at a boy item. I hand appliqued the shirt. It was certainly different not working with a pattern. I had to switch the gears in my brain to think as if I was drawing with fabric. If that made any sense. Which I usually don't, so good luck with that.

Reminds me of when my son (now 7! Aaaack, when did that happen) used to call guitars "dick-tar". Snort. I am also completely open to suggestions for shirt ideas, so please share if you have any.

Next up, how about a studio tour? And I won't even vacuum beforehand to show you how covered my floor is in fabric and thread. I'd be embarrassed if I didn't think it made the floor more colorful. That and the cat likes to play with all the pieces of thread. Win-win!

Kids......

I have children, which means I have no patience. Or free time. Or nice clothes that are not covered in bits of caked on cracker goo. If you are a parent in any way, you totally understand this and probably taking a deep sigh and nodding your head in agreement. Don't get me wrong, my children kick ass and I love them beyond words and couldn't imagine life without them. Life is just different then it was 9 years ago. This was all so apparent this morning when I was I was trying to put my 2 year old's coat on. She apparently didn't understand how to stand still. Her version of standing still included flinging her arms around while dancing. During her "stand still" dancing she managed to knock a big glass of water over, dousing my pant leg and shoe.  It had to be the morning that I had no time to change. Please note that my ever adorable daughter took great offense to me getting upset by her not listening. Obviously it was my fault that she drenched my leg. The me from 9 years ago would have never dreamed of leaving the house with sopping wet pants and a squishy shoe. The now me was all "Fuck it, it'll dry." On the bright side, I think the water washed off all the banana covered finger prints left by my tiny dancer. Silver lining?

Chucky's Bride

I have always been one of those kids that colored all the time or doodled on homework. My high school AP History teacher once commented that I had the prettiest notes he's ever seen. It was too bad that I didn't pay more attention to the note part though. Truthfully, it wasn't until a few years ago that I even considered making my "hobbies" a full time job. I'm still working on the full time part, as kids need to be fed and bills need to be paid, but eventually I have every faith in myself that I will get there. My first love has always been drawing, namely abstract. I didn't begin to sew until last year when I forced myself to take my sewing machine out of the box and use the damn thing already. Yes, I love being able to make clothes and other little creations, but my sewing fixation is more because I dearly love fabric and all the options. I am like a kid in a candy store at JoAnn's or browsing Fabric.com. I think the best job ever would be a fabric designer. How awesome would that be?!?!?! And I have to admit that I wanted to learn how to sew because girls' clothing scares the poop out of me and there is no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks that my daughter will ever wear clothing with things written across her tushy. EVER. I'm 31 and I won't even wear pants with "Juicy" on my ass. My beloved late mother would likely come back to haunt me if I do. I can hear her even now, "Nicole Renee, I raised you better than that."

After my last fair is over with, and the Christmas rush on Etsy, I'm hoping to have some down time to draw again. I have many projects running through my head. It will be exciting to sit down at my drafting table again and pick up my beloved colored pencils and markers. Oooooo, I may cackle with glee. Cackle, cackle, cackle. (clearly I need to step away from the caffeine.) I can then bore with you to tears with pictures of my drawings. As opposed to boring you with pictures of my sewing projects. Like this:

The mermaid scares me. Like I want to stuff her in the back of my closet scares me. Clearly she was meant to be Chucky's bride. I may have to advertise her as that. "Chucky's Mermaid Bride, ready to stab you at any time! Perfect gift for your favorite girl." Too much? 

(cackle, cackle)

Eeeekkkkk! My first fair!!! I'm really excited, yet nervous I won't have enough stuff made. I will be selling my  reversible dresses, skirts like the one pictured below and dolls/stuffed guys. If you are in the area, stop on by! Hope to see you there.

Love these skirts. They are so cute on little girls. My only complaint is they are VERY time consuming to create. Thankfully the skirt's cuteness far outweighs the time to make them. 

Any new projects on your plate? They don't have to be sewing or art related. Share!

Beyond surprised

Dude.

Color me shocked.

I got into two fall/winter fairs. And I only applied for three. The third fair, who sent me a lovely rejection letter can bite me. Yes, I get bitter very easily. That said, I don't believe my work was a good fit, so it probably is better in the long run. I will provide more details later for anyone who wants information about attending theses fairs. I will also be in a Mom2Mom sale as one of the 4 crafters allowed. In all three of my events, I will be selling my handmade dresses, skirts and felt dolls. Speaking of skirts, look at my first stab at making one:

I am also working on some Halloween themed items to go up for sale on Etsy. I know, I know. the excitement, can you handle it?!?!?!?

Smootches!