new pin sets for spring

I found some beautiful vintage ribbon at an antique shop while I was on vacation in Texas a couple of weeks ago. I started making pin sets. Instead of packaging these as usual in plastic I tried attaching them to ribbon and then to a card. I'm planning to make a small line of fabric pins for spring and I thought it would be nice to be able to touch the fabrics before buying. This will be nice for shows and brick & mortar shops. Unfortunately you can't touch before you buy in my etsy shop. But just being outside the plastic helps, I think.

I should add that the specific set pictured here is mylar covered which completely contradicts everything I just wrote. The ribbon was not quite wide enough to cover the pin entirely so I ended up covering with mylar. I do have several other fabrics that will not be mylar covered - they'll have the fabric exposed. I'll be adding more to my etsy shop soon!

attention to detail

spaceoddiTITS
Originally uploaded by space oddities

I use a vintage stamp kit for my Space Oddities stamp and for a lot of my packaging and hand stamped pins. I often remove letters from one stamp to use on another. Apparently I screwed up the other day when I stamped about 100 packaging items with SpaceoddiTITS instead of SpaceoddiTIES. I was finishing up the packaging for a batch of pins that I'm dropping off at a brick & mortar shop tomorrow and realized the error just in time.

Thank. God.

I fixed the stamp and started over. Blah!

I hope you've had your laugh for the day. I know Chad and I have!

Easter and Bust.

BUST etsy cooperative ad
Originally uploaded by space oddities

The latest issue of BUST is out! I'm excited to show off the cooperative Etsy ad that is in the issue because I was lucky enough to snag a spot in it. I'm happy with how the ad looks and with the fact that etsy was very clear about how to search for shops. Yay!

Our weekend was crazy and mellow. Saturday we had a going away party for my brother and sister-in-law who are moving to New Orleans next month. By Saturday night I was exhausted and had decided that I didn't want to do ANYTHING on Sunday. So we had a relaxed Easter. The kids searched for their Easter baskets in the morning and then we planted some little flower pots, watched cartoons and went out to lunch. It was a lovely weekend. Now if only the snow would melt.

hello spring.

hello spring.
Originally uploaded by space oddities

Hello spring! I woke up to an inch of snow and a winter storm warning in Wisconsin. Sheesh! And to think yesterday was in the 40s and my kids went to the zoo. Ah, Wisconsin.

I've added new card sets to my etsy shop! I made these cards about a month ago but didn't take pictures or do anything with them until now. This little design is my own, not Chad's, which is rare. I get a little nervous about unveiling designs that are mine! I was pretty happy with how these turned out. It just took me a few weeks to decide that.

johnny depp, new shop, spring.

Johnny Depp fever is on in full force in southern Wisconsin. Universal studios is filming the new John Dillinger movie in a small town outside of Madison and I've been hearing about it for weeks. A co-worker sent me candid shots from one of the filiming sessions earlier this week and I have to admit that it made me a little jealous. Not just jealous of the depp-up-closeness part but of the seeing-a-film-being-shot part. The scene they were filiming was a bank robbery/car chase and it just looked like it would have been super fun to watch that being filmed. And…yeah…JOHNNY DEPP!

Starting next week you will be able to find some of my work at MoCo Market in Madison. MoCo is a "modern day twist on the general store" and aims to cater toward those who commute to work on their bike, their feet or mass transit. MoCo is celebrating their 1 year anniversary next month and have recently added a local artist section that is completely sourced from etsy.com crafters and artists in states within 100 miles of their store. What an awesome concept and a great way to support our local economy. I'm excited to have the opportunity to sell my items there. And I'm also excited to have a place where I can go for a little dose of brick & mortar etsy any day of the week. If you're in the area, please check it out at 804 Williamson Street!









Happy first day of spring! It's going to be a beautiful day!

I know I'm not the only one who has a neverending to-do list, but some days I feel like mine has to be the longest.

my favorite monster.

Look, I made a monster treasury last night! it's very GREEN.


















You can get a closer look HERE

come on, spring!

Thanks to Emily Kircher for posting a link to this article about Anthology, the new paper & craft store that opened in Madison this past weekend. It's a great write up!

I got the gocco out this weekend and printed some owl bibs. Lars helped me out by putting each bib on the pad before I pressed the ink. He got bored though and wanted to do the pressing the ink part himself. I let him do this a few times but only on paper. I can't wait until he has some of his own designs! He is becoming quite the little scribble artist.

I also worked on cleaning my house this weekend. We are having a going away party at our place on Saturday for my brother and sister-in-law who are moving to New Orleans next month. I'm totally sad that they're leaving but of course I'm excited for them. We're going to eat tacos and cake and celebrate the big move. I have no idea if we're doing anything for Easter. I can’t think that far ahead yet. And yes, I know it's on Sunday.

If only spring would arrive! I am waiting patiently. I made some springy cards yesterday between loads of laundry. The images are from a vintage children's book. I don't know what I'm going to do when I've used the images in that book all up! It's was such a perfect find.

It's supposed to snow this week in Madison. Seriously.

Anthology

There is a new paper & craft store opening in Madison this weekend!

Anthology
218 State Street
Madison, WI
Located between Goodman's Jewelers & Orpheum Theater.

Opening weekend: Fri & Sat March 14 & 15 from 11am-7pm

Anthology will feature beautiful and unique paper goods along with art and craft items from local and national artists (including me!) I got an early glimpse of the store and it looks fantastic. I am super excited to show some of my work there. I didn't have a lot to bring to begin with but for now you can find some of my cards, magnets and pins there and hopefully lots more soon. Please stop to check it out if you're in the area!

Our vacation was fantastic and exhausting. Now we need about a week of vacation from the kids. The flights were surprisingly good. Lars mostly slept and played with toys. Jette didn't do quite as well but we made it. I like san antonio. It's beautiful and the weather was perfect. I got to see the alamo, eat good food and watch crustpunks play banjos and washboards.

The time change is killing me.

I want to get the gocco out this weekend but I also really need to clean my house. Hopefully I can pull off both.

magically delicious

Chocolate and coconut are the ultimate dessert combination. Perfect. I can't think of anything better. So when my sister-in-law made these amazing bars last week that included both of my favorite ingredients I knew before trying them that they would be awesome. Turns out that not only are they delightful and tasty...they are also insanely easy to make. Oh, and severely calorie and fat packed...but that is not really the point.

If you want a delicious easy treat or need something simple to bring to a party, try these!

ingredients:
1 stick butter
crushed graham (enough to make a crust - about 1/3 of a box
1 bag (12 oz.) chocolate chips
1 bag (8-12 oz depending on how much you like) coconut
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Place 1 stick of butter in a 9x11 pan
Place pan in oven and set to 350 degrees, let the butter melt while the oven pre-heats. Pay attention- don't let it burn!
Once the butter melts, mix together with graham to make a crust in the pan. Pour the bag of chips on top, follow with the coconut, and then pour the condensed milk over the top. Bake for 30 minutes.

DELISH.

Enjoy.

We will be in Texas for a week after today. My whole family is sick so I am hoping that our travel tomorrow will not be to painful...maybe everyone will wake up healthy.

It's supposed to be in the eighties. Yay!

xo
andrea

More new pins!

I just listed these Land of the Lost pinback buttons in my shop. The book I took the images from was so damaged I couldn't bear to keep it in our collection any longer. Lars and Jette tore an already damaged book to shreds and I had to save what was left of it!



















I have only recently (in the past year or so) become a land of the lost fan. And I am talking about the 70s version...I guess there was also a 90s version but I am clueless about that. Chad always talked about the show but since I missed it the first time around I didn't have the same appreciation as him. I started paying attention when Lars started to watch old episodes with Chad maybe a year ago...and I love it! It's ridiculous and awesome. Yay for Sid & Marty Krofft!

Etsy on Martha Stewart!

Rob Kalin, founder of Etsy.com was on Martha Stewart last Friday. Thanks to Mothtoflame for posting the video clip! I was going crazy waiting to see this. If you want to check it out click HERE.

hello spring.

umbrella card
Originally uploaded by space oddities

Yes, I have spring fever like everyone else in Wisconsin. It's all I can think about. Not only am I over winter, I think I am just completely over Wisconsin after this long winter. Ugh.

My brother and his wife are moving to New Orleans next month. I'm so excited for them but so sad that they're leaving. Thrilled to have a reason to vacation down there, though!

I dropped off some cards, pins and magnets at a new Paper Craft shop opening on State Street in Madison in a couple of weeks. I'm excited to have the opportunity to show my work there! The shop, Anthology, looks amazing so far. It's going to be a perfect mix of local and national artists with a focus on pretty paper goods and fun accessories/gifts. Paper happens to be my passion and have been thinking since I moved to Madison that this city needs a good paper store! I can't wait to see what else they have in store. They will be opening their doors on March 14. If you're in the area, check it out! 218 State Street between the Orpheum & Goodmans Jewelers.

Oh! I have new umbrella cards in my etsy shop! I am looking forward to spring showers instead of winter ones.

It's three in the morning. I don't know how that's possible.
Goodnight.

xo
andrea