Good News!

Today's beginning was a bit shaky but had started to look up. I did a little cleaning, a little working, and now a bit of cookin. Since my Blackberry acts as a device mostly for work I hardly look at it on the weekends but as I was waiting for the water for my pasta to come to a rolling boil I decided to take a look at it.

I've received glorious news!


Now the real work must begin. As if I am not consumed enough already... I am super excited!!!! Thats all for now, I've gotta go stir that pasta!




XOXO

Bag Lady

I've been very busy. After meeting my ATL Craft Mafia Familia last month I was super-charged to apply for I.C.E (Indie Craft Experience) SO I did and now I wait....... The Mafia was so nice and had a fit over my crocheted plastic bag bag. Not a totally new idea but I havent followed one pattern yet and feel pretty good about being able to be original. I've also taken to crocheting cut up sheets and bed linens. I'm almost on a first name basis with the folks at the Goodwill near my job. I have also discovered some cool ways to use all kinds of recycled stuff in my work..... I wanted to do a quick post just so you could see what Im up to. Im way to busy to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and sentence structure so forgive me. Here are some photos of my new work, hopefully comming soon to etsy. I present to you Plastique Fabrique my new line of pures and bags made from cast away stuff! They are one of a kind and made from original patterns.

I am a CRAFT GANGSTA !!!

Before I gush let me vent...

• I am SO over the squirrels in my ceiling. Whatever the hell they are doing it is hard work cause they never stop. I feel like I should be paying them.
• I am already kinda sick of American Idol...geesh!
• Can winter or whatever this is just go away.
• I am so terrified of getting the flu again. After being off work 1 full week, I'm afraid of what germs may still linger there.
• I am starting to despise unfinished projects...
• There just aren't enough hours in a day (in which to craft)

I'm just sayin........

Ok now, here are some funny, happy and (sometimes lame) things I have had on my mind lately.

• I love that I can plug my ipod into my car stereo now...cool.- Thanks E!
• My friend B and are are planning to take a hip hop dance class this weekend- I LOVE TO DANCE!....GO do it ! http://www.dance101.org/
• I love my new Chuck Taylor's
• I love podcasts
• Michael Jackson's Thriller is 25? That just can't be..am I that old?
• I'm so hooked on 80's music these days....I'm lovin me some Steve Perry and Jermaine Jackson...oooh and Billy Ocean! - LOL
• I watch way too much youtube with my family
• I would like to make and wear an apron all day long- like part of an outfit (Thanks to Jennifer from Craft Sanity http://www.craftsanity.com/)
• Finally, I got MADE...and I am now a member of the Atlanta Craft Mafia! so freakin cool....

Anywho, business is going pretty good. It's pretty consistent. I have been blessed and highly favored. These days my customers are mostly friends and co-workers. Etsy sales have been slow but I havent posted a bunch of newness. I have been trying to harness the spirit of a new innovative product. I haven't found it yet but Ive been toiling away on some cotton stuff for spring wear. I got a new
Get Your Crochet On book and got some cool ideas from there. I have been really dying to get my hands on some patterns from Jenny Hart over at Sublime Stitching. However, I can't bring myself to start a new hobby. Plus since I draw I kinda want to do my own embroidery patterns....that would be cool.

At the end of my week long bout with the flu I ran to HobLob to find something for Taylor to do. I was totally not trying to be bothered with yarn so you know I was sick.... But since she was out of school on Monday I needed a plan to keep her from whining about being bored....SO I got a soap kit..... She had a blast and I did too. I helped her melt the soap and pour it into molds. She added color and scent and was so proud of her creations.... I think if she maintains interest in it I will give her a department in my etsy shop....She seems pretty excited so we shall see...

Well back to the CRAFT MAFIA. You have got to visit the site at http://www.atlcraftmafia.com/ I am too excited to have been accepted. Modeled after the successful Austin Craft Mafia the Atlanta version has been re org'd and is back in full effect. The mission is this... "The Atlanta Craft Mafia seeks to provide support and resources for other members of the Atlanta crafting community through public events, networking opportunities and collaborative marketing". I love the idea of being connected with like minded crafty people serious about the handmade way of life. The women involved are incredible artisians doing some amazing work. Please visit the site mentioned above and support the cause! hummm maybe I am more of a craft nerd than a gansta.... either way I love it so much and I look forward to being a part of the familia!

Ok well it's late....I am still working on doing better in my blogging. I have a tendency to stay away from the PC too much these days, by the time I get home from work I'm so sick of the computer I can't bear the idea of being on it another second of my day. Even my dear ibook has been neglected and I love that thing......

If you do actually read my blog ever please feel free to email me or comment. I would love to feel like someone actually cares (at least until the paparazzi starts to stalk me)

Nothing but XOXO to you!

SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS?

Christmas was much fun! Being with my family is always the best part. I was working until the very end to get all my crocheting done. Instead of trying to make gifts for EVERYONE I enlisted some help from DesignHer Gals. I purchased a membership and made note cards for family and friends (females). The personalized element of the cards were a big hit. Each set included their name and their likeness.... Check out their site designhergals.com for more info. I didn't make any gifts for the kids this year it was all about the LADIES.

I made hats and scarves for my aunts, cousins, sibs My Mom however got the "wrap". I had been promising her a wrap or shawl of some kind for the past 2 or 3 years, really since I learned to crochet. So 3 days before the big day I started. I only had to frog one row. It was painful but I take pride in the fact that it was only one row, one time. She loved it! See..

Pattern from Crochet Today Magazine July/August 2007

Well that's all for now I'm going to cut it short because tomorrow is January 2nd and I have to go back to work. Back to reality. *sigh*

I have resolved to loose weight this year, and to blog more. Wish me luck... I'm gonna need it.

Much love, wealth, health and fun to you in the year ahead.

XOXO, Kimberly

Craft Fair Success!

Well I did it! I successfully showed at my first craft fair. Me, Mom, Taylor and Auntie Joyce traveled 4 hours to Savannah November 17th. One gas stop and one Waffle House meal later. We got off the freeway and only had to turn around once before we found the Mutation venue. I was only a little nervous but soon found my table and made myself at home.

A few weeks earlier I found out the baby I was carrying was not to be. I had a miscarriage. Feeling sad and discouraged I spent some time healing and giving myself some craft therapy. I finished my table banner during that time. I also worked on some felt ornaments when I wasn't sleeping. God granted me so much favor and grace during a time of sorrow I feel so blessed to have hands that can create so that I may have an outlet for such stress. It made be feel better to be busy.

Anywho I had a table next to another polymer clay artist and Brenden from Langoats Junkyard (landgoat.etsy.com) I hope he doesn't mind the mention. He was really nice and had the coolest painted t shirts. I love the PeeWee Herman one the best. He was giving out Star Wars Pez dispensers with purchase. They were stenciled graphics as opposed to screen printed. Check him out on Etsy he was a cool guy.

If I had been smarter I would have enlisted one of my entourage to take more pictures. I didn't, so I'm kicking myself now. In the end I met a lot of cool people and fellow Etsy sellers. I sold lots of stuff. With the cool weather I sold a good bit of hats and scarves, some Christmas earrings, ornaments and some felt flower brooches. I made way over what I thought and still profited after paying for gas, food, hotel and gifts for myself and Taylor.

Since my Auntie came we decided to stay overnight. Mom reserved the room, when she went to check in the room wasn't ready so we got an upgrade-sweet! Then we went to dinner at a popular "Italian" restaurant. They were super slow and the service wasn't great and my Mom's order was wrong. (She got the right meal for free) Our free "sorry for the trouble" dessert never came so we left. It was just a mess but didn't spoil our good time. I went to the bookstore that night and got a new crochet pattern book and spent that evening starting on a new scarf.

I will seriously consider doing this show again in the Spring if they have it. It was a good time. I better break out the cotton yarn and get to work huh?

xoxo

OK So I am going to Savannah in November...the 17th to be exact. To participate in the Mutation Craft Fair. Go me, go me! I don't know how much time I will have to blog between now and then. I am so freaking excited. I am preparing new items to sell there and I will do my best to track them here. I had a really good week I sold like 4 baby blankets and a set of greeting cards...I'm busy folks! Working my arse off!! As a matter of fact I need to go finish up on a scarf I'm working on. I will try to keep you posted. And if you are in Savannah November 17 . Come see me at my first craft show! yee haw!! More later... gator!

Business, Booties, Buttons !

A brief post about some new stuff. Business has picked up a little. I recently made 2 baby blankets which sparked orders for 3 more. I sold some stuff on ETSY. Namely my Corny Ears Earrings and little Frankie Stein. Glad they will have a good home but kind sad to see them go.

I got a nod from Kristen from Craft Leftovers. I entered a contest she was holding and got an honorable mention. I won a discount in her etsy shop and a button. I feel like I won! She's like a craft celebrity so its nice that she acknowledged my work. I took one of her patterns, some denim scraps ,and homemade bias tape, and made my new favorite crochet hook case. See.....

All else is well. I started a myspace page...www.myspace.com/artistikdiva...what was I thinking? I had to get over my doubts about the whole myspace craziness and go for it. I thought this was hard to maintain...whew I really have no idea what I am doing. I need to remember to cross reference the blog , etsy, myspace so all the work I put into getting out there is seen. Ive made friends out of all the crafty people I can find. It's all about who you know people!

I ordered some buttons from AmyLynn at kittycrossbones18.com. She has an etsy shop too. I love the buttons so much I cant wait to order some more. I may design a line to sell....the ones I bought are intended to promote my business... I also started on a new baby bootie project this weekend. I was so inspired by my best friends pretty new baby girl I had to make something. I intend to post them to etsy soon. They will be known as The Nia bootie after that sweet baby girl.


So anyway, I am going to publish a zine. It's really only for my friends and family. This will be a Christmas gift for some. I am sending out an email this weekend if not sooner giving you all the details. I am asking for help from friends so if you want to help drop me a line at artistikdiva@gmail.com. I will be posting the info here soon! In case you didnt know its all about DIY and other crafty-ness. I had something else to say.....but it totally sliped my mind just now. Dang! I hate when that happens. Well I guess thats it then. Until next time...remember

Creativity takes courage!