You are currently browsing the daily archive for December 20th, 2007.
I try to read other people’s blog at least once a day and I’m finding that we live in a lonely, cynical world. It really is quite depressing and I almost feel a little spoiled for having such a great family. I wish there could be an awesomely cool Christmas party for the whole world with great food, great company, and maybe Guitar Hero (I love that game). The only rule: no mean people! Every one’s invited, but if you can’t seem to leave your problems alone for a minute and just enjoy the good things (although they may be very few) in life for just a few moments, then I just feel bad for you…
I think it’s one of those problems that I think about and feel helpless because no amount of money (as if I even have it) or warm food can really make this go away. But maybe it’s just up to us fortunate ones to be more greatful for the company we’re in and to try to spread the joy (but not force it on people, that can get annoying).
I’m already up to my 100th post! Tomorrow will mark the one monthiversary (since it’s not an anniversary) for My Wooden Robot’s Weblog. Yay! I feel like I’ve accomplished so much in the past month and I’m planning for bigger, better things in the future. I can’t wait!
I hope you all have a lovely holiday season and that your bellies are full of great food, or at least good food that’s made with lots of love! I’ll be picking up my sister from the airport today, so I think this will be the first year that my entire family is together for the holidays, all at the same time. I’m so excited to see everyone together again and I hope that all of you have a similar experience.
Now I just need to stop procrastinating and finish my homework already! Ok, I’m going to sign off now…..I can’t seem to. Ok, really, this is the only class I owe homework for, I just need to stop blogging, and do this.
You might have seen her super cute embroidered souffle pin cushions I posted earlier this week. But now, we all get a chance to get to know the person that puts the love in her stitches in 10 questions.
Cupcake Patch and Butterfly Souffle Pincushion
1. How long have you been involved in the crafting community?
Not very long. I’ve always been a little bit crafty but it didn’t really take off until early 2007 when I got a job in a craft store. I had a staff discount and that was bad news!! I went to a couple of craft fairs around then too and it woke my interest.
2. Have you always been in embroidery?
No, I only started in August this year. I have barely put the needle down since.
3. What other crafts do you like to do?
I like to try any crafts I can. The one other one I do all the time is sewing but I have tried paper making, soap making, freezer paper stencils, everything.
4. The Souffle pin cushions are adorable. Where did you get the inspiration for those?
I saw a page from a Japanese craft book with plain pincushion souffles and thought they were cute. Plus I was just starting embroidery and didn’t need much of an excuse to cover everything with my stitching!
5. Describe the creative process you take while embroidering.
I embroider whenever and wherever I can. I have a sewing tray for my threads and needles (I sell the trays too, they’re something you never knew you needed but you really do!) and I put it beside me on the couch or the bed or anywhere and just go for it. I like to relax into my stitching but I’ll also do a stitch or two on the way past if thats all I have time for.
6. Looking at your shop, you have a few different items (i.e. passport holder, bibs, and pin cushions), but somehow they all ‘gel’ together pretty well. How do you decide what the next thing you’re going to make is?
I make what I like to make – something different each time if I can help it. I think individuality is important if you’re going to buy handmade. I like to make things that are both useful and pretty. The passport holder came about after remembering my nightmare trip to the US, with nosebleeds and queues and a flimsy plastic travel wallet to hold my tickets and passport. The bibs came about because frankly so many bibs are hideous and there’s no need for that! If I can make peoples busy lives prettier or more fun in one tiny way, by making them stop and smile when they look at what they bought from me then I’ll consider myself content as a crafter.
7. I see on your blog that you attend craft fairs. How did you get into them?
A great craft fair Craft 2.0 started here (Wellington, New Zealand) in March and I was serving so many of the crafters at the craft store I got so inspired and went to it. I bought lots and got a LOT of ideas and the next one in August was packed wall to wall with people and great crafts so I decided that I had to sell my crafts at the one in December. I just did my first craft fair on the 16th. It’s a great day out for sellers and buyers!
8. Have any tips for those who want to enter them, but don’t know where to start?
Ask someone. Anyone. How do I get a table at the next one? Is it a good fair? Who’s the go-to person here? Get out and meet the crafters in your local area, they’re often very friendly and they all know others in the craft world. I met someone at the last one who offered me embroidery work for her crafts! You never know!
9. If 200 years from now, we think of Love Stitches, what do you want the public to remember about you most?
Everything I made really was stitched with love. I wouldn’t spend up to 3 days on one embroidery if I didn’t love it.
10. What do you see (and hope for) in the next 3-5 years for Love Stitches?
More craft fairs and selling through shops I hope! Just as long as I have fun somewhere in the process of creating I’ll keep doing it.
I had a short lived book binding phase a few years back, but I recently revisited it after a trip to Papyrus, a paper store in most malls. I was looking at all the journals they carry and I was really inspired by this really simple leather bound journal. Of course, leather is expensive, so I just put it in the back of my mind for later use until I realized that I could fuse together plastic bags and use those to cover the hardcover of the journals I like to make.
So for the past two days, I’ve been cutting, folding, sewing, and gluing paper together. I made about 4 journals. Two that are actually good enough to sell and I’ll be posting them in my etsy shop hopefully by today or tomorrow. Anyway, here’s a sneak peek at them. Let me know what you think!
Yasmeen, from YWrites, has given me the honor of doing weekly specials on her blog. I’ll be posting recipes, great shopping finds and everything else that’s food related. Check for it at ywrites.wordpress.com in the near future.
I made these cupcakes for my ex coworkers (I went to go visit them today to wish them a Merry Christmas). I think they came out better than last time because I added about 3 tablespoons more sour cream and about 1/4 cup more hot water to the batter than last time. They came out SUPER dense. You almost need milk to down these. Plus, instead of the ganache, I whiped up some pastry cream, added some chocolate to it, topped it with some sliced almonds and voila! A yummy treat for everyone! You really should try making these at home!
Get the recipe here: Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe
