make time to make.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Iron Cupcake Madison!

Iron cupcake Madison is coming up SOON!

In case you are not hip to this lovely event, let me fill you in. Here are the basics: 8 bakers create 1 unique cupcake featuring 1 common ingredient or theme. YOU come out and pay six bucks (which is donated to a charity - proceeds from the last event were donated to Porchlight Foundation) and get to taste 8 delicious mini cupcakes and vote for your favorite. It's a seriously delightful experience. I highly recommend it.

Iron Cupcake is a newish event for Madison but the events have been popular in Milwaukee for awhile. The first Madison event took place in October 2010 in Madison at the Washington Hotel Coffee Room. I found out that there was immediately more of a buzz about the event than I expected. I showed up about 2 hours into the event and completely missed out on tasting. All of the cupcakes were gone! By the time the next event rolled around in December I planned ahead and came early so I could be sure to get in on the cupcake tasting/judging fun. The December theme was "filling" and the bakers did an amazing job coming up with some super yummy cupcakes.

The upcoming Iron Cupcake event will be held at the High Noon Saloon and will feature a citrus theme. I am excited to tell you that I have signed up to bake for this one! I am not sure what I will be whipping up just yet but I will be busy testing some recipes over the next few weeks. My sister-in-law and my friend Katie are also baking for this one so it will be triple the cupcake fun! I love love love citrus and can't wait to see what all of the bakers come up with.

The next event is on January 23rd, 1-3 p.m. (this is the correct time! it is no longer starting at 3pm!) at the High Noon Saloon, 701 East Washington in Madison. You can find more information about the event HERE or check out the main Iron Cupcake Madison facebook page. Hope to see you there!

And of course I will leave you with some fabulous cupcake goodies from some of my favorite etsy shops. Enjoy!

 Photo Postcard Mystery Pack by SharynShoots
 Pink Frosting Upcycled Cupcake Trivet by EKRA
Kawaii Cupcake Cocktail Ring by TheApple

Monday, December 6, 2010

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Our last craft show of the season is THIS weekend, Saturday December 11th. Hope you can make it! The Craftacular is always such a fun show. Admission is free and the first 50 shoppers will get a goody bag stuffed with samples, coupons and more from vendors and sponsors!

We will have pocket mirrors, magnets, art prints, clothing for kids and adults and more! Plus tons of goodies from over 40 other awesome vendors. You can see the full list of vendors HERE.
Hope to see you on Saturday!

Thanks for supporting local and independent artists and crafters this holiday season! 

xo
Andrea

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Make Your Own Stocking Stuffers! Saturday December 4!


If you're looking for a fun little gift that you can customize, this Saturday, December 4, is your chance! Stop by The Glitter Workshop, 6138 Mineral Point Rd. in Madison anytime between 12-3 to make your own pocket mirrors, magnets or pins while sipping cocoa and snacking on a holiday treat!


We will have pocket mirrors, small and large magnets and buttons available to create with prices ranging from just $1-7! Feel welcome to bring something special to customize your item - a photo (printed on copy paper weight paper,) a fun paper or gift wrap, old magazine or book pages, etc. OR use pre-cut images and papers we'll have available to create something unique on the spot. We'll have everything from vintage comics and classic books to sparkly papers with holiday themes for you to choose from! This is a project that would be suitable for younger kids, as well. You could have the kids customize a gift for a teacher or grandma and grandpa (maybe a magnet from their own drawing?) or make buttons for holiday party favors!

I had such a fun time at the Holiday Craft Lounge last weekend and wanted to offer one more opportunity before the holidays for locals to craft up something special. Hope to see you there!

If you have specific questions about this drop-in workshop, please feel free to comment here or contact me at space.odditiesmail@gmail.com. 

          
                                                     


Monday, November 22, 2010

Next up: Holiday Craft Lounge!

I am back from a lovely Chicago weekend spent with my fantastic sister-in-law! We had a great time at the DIY Trunk Show, visited the awesome Bleeding Heart Bakery, ate some yummy Thai food and other assorted goodies and had lots of time to chat and chill in the big city and the 'burbs. Such a nice weekend! Serious thank-yous are in order to my sister-in-law for helping me with the show and to the trunk show organizers and volunteers for thinking of every detail and making the show so smooth!

My next show is coming up on Saturday, November 27, right here in Madison! The Holiday Craft Lounge is the perfect spot to find or create the perfect handmade gift! I will have a craft table where you can make your own custom pocket mirrors and/or small (1") or large (3") magnets or buttons. Feel welcome to bring something special to customize your item - a photo (printed on copy paper weight paper,) a fun paper or gift wrap, old magazine or newspaper clipping, etc. Or use pre-cut images and papers we'll have available to create something unique at the event. This is a project that would be suitable for younger kids, as well. You could have the kids customize a gift for grandma and grandpa (maybe a magnet from their own drawing?) or make buttons for holiday party favors!

There will be lots of other crafting options - paper star ornaments, crochet scarves from t-shirts, and crayon pendants to name JUST a few! You'll also be able to shop handmade from lots of local crafters. Find more details on Anthology's website. Come out and make something with us!


Holiday Craft Lounge
Saturday, November 27, 10 AM - 3 PM

Downtown Madison Holiday Open House
Overture Center, 201 State St.



Admission is a can of food or a $1 donation for the Second Harvest Foodbank.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

It's all happening! I feel like I don't even know which way is up lately but I am mostly good busy so I can't complain. This week I am in frantic pre-craft-show panic trying to get things made and ready to go before we leave for Chicago on Friday. 

These pendants are one of the projects I've been working on this week.  Now I just have to decide on a display so I can actually take these with me!  

I've also been working on new cards and magnet sets for this weekend and will be adding new items to my etsy shop often as well.  If you're in the Chicago area this weekend, stop by and visit us the DIY Trunk Show!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

vinyl wallets: take one!

I wanted to try making some vinyl wallets using old comics and book covers. I prepped a few of them up to the point where I needed to stitch and because I am not very sewing machine savvy, I decided to hand stitch the first one. The sheer pain that came along with stitching through 2 layers of vinyl, cardstock and paper quickly made me realize that the sewing machine is really the way to go.

So yes, this is a very rough first wallet/card holder. It was made in a flurry of excitement and determination and although it's not perfect and sort of looks like my 4 year old made it, it makes me happy! I am having sewing machine issues but as soon as I figure it out, I plan to attempt to finish the rest of the wallets I started. Looking forward to sharing the next (hopefully much more awesome looking) wallet project with you!
Chad doesn't seem to mind that this thing is as rough as it is. He's already making good use of it. I had to steal it out of his pocket to sneak these photos!

Sometimes just making something new, regardless of how fantastic or ridiculous it turns out, is so rewarding and inspiring. 

What new projects are you working on? Is there something you've been wanting to try for a long time that you've been putting off? 

xo
andrea

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Holiday Craft Shows!



Apparently the time for making time to make is RIGHT NOW, because holiday shows are coming up FAST! We are participating in several events in November and December and while I was (and still am) tempted to apply for a couple more shows, I just know that it would be too much. I am already trying to figure out how on earth I am going to be able to be ready for one show or get a batch of inventory ready for one shop. It will all come together, though. It always does, right?

So here are the shows you can find Space Oddities at for the rest of 2010! 

November 20 we will be heading to Chicago for the DIY Trunk Show! The event is at Pulaski Park Auditorium from 10AM to 5PM and will feature close to 100 artists and crafters from the Chicago area and beyond. We participated in this event in 2008 and absolutely loved it. We met so many fantastic people and had a great show. I'm really looking forward to this one and I'm sure it'll be a great first show of the season! 

On the same weekend, November 19 & 20, while we'll physically be in Chicago, we'll also have some items for sale at Lapacek's Orchard in Poynette where Kim from Kim's Crafty Apple will be hosting her annual Handcrafted Hoedown for the Holidays event. There will be items for sale from several local artisans as well as a mini quilt shop, freshly baked goodies from Lapacek's Orchard and fun tarot card readings from Sass Mama Arts on Friday November 19th. Another great chance to shop handmade for the holidays! 

The following weekend we will be back in Madison at the Holiday Craft Lounge hosted by Anthology. This super fun event will be held downtown Madison at the Overture center on Saturday, November 27 from 10AM - 4PM. You can stop in and find make & take craft activities, demonstrations and handmade items for sale from local crafters. We are planning to have a make & take button/magnet/mirror table (personalize a gift or make something special for yourself!) and will also be selling our wares. Actually, this one will be all me. Chad is sitting this show out and I am dragging a friend along. Total girly craft day!  
 And finally, on December 11 we will be at the Sixth Annual Holiday Craftacular! This show is very special to me because my first real show was a Valentine Craftacular in 2007. The energy of this local show is one of the things that got me so excited about crafting when I was first starting and that is still true today. This event will be held at the East Side Club, which is a new location from the past couple of holiday shows. 

We have been working with the fantastic Naomi of Glitter Workshop to design this year's Craftacular posters/postcards/etc. I hope you like the design! 
 
Okay, seriously: Time to focus, Andrea! I truly do not know where to begin. My lack of time combined with my distraction with all things crafty is making it difficult for me to build inventory. I plan to do some supply ordering this week so that I will have what I need to get as much ready as I can in the coming weeks. Wish me luck! 

And as always: Make time to make! I will, too. I really will.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Hello handmade Christmas!

I know it's way early to be saying "Christmas" out loud, but as a person who is always late (anyone who knows me can confirm it!) I am going to take a chance and try to start early for a change!

I strive to buy handmade or local when I can, but when our family budget gets tight it feels like it becomes more and more difficult to do so. I have been thinking about the upcoming holidays and how to stretch our budget while still giving nice, meaningful gifts instead of compromising with last minute impulse purchases from big box stores.

Hello handmade Christmas.

This year I am going to try to be organized and proactive with my Christmas list. I always have good intentions but rarely start actually shopping until the very last minute. That makes it hard to come up with the thoughtful gifts I'd like to give and just leaves me desperate and trying to find something that will work. I love Christmas shopping, crafting, baking, wrapping...so this year I want to really enjoy it instead of giving in to the last minute rush.

I'm hoping that writing this all down will make it easier for me to stick to it. It's a nice theory, right? Here are the things I want to do:

1. MAKE some sort of gift for everyone on my list. Whether it ends up being baked goods, tree ornaments, a card or a t-shirt.

2. Fill our Christmas tree with handmade ornaments. My kids love making ornaments. I love making ornaments! I remember making strings of popcorn garland with my family when I was a kid. I love this tradition and it's about time to start it with my kids!

2. Spend extra time wrapping gifts. I love love love to wrap gifts and for the last several years, I always end up wrapping super fast around the holidays, using whatever I have and making it work. I love using recycled materials, leftover ribbon, fun stickers, etc. to make every package unique. If possible, I would love to just put aside one special night just dedicated to wrapping.

3. If I can't come up with a thoughtful, fun handmade gift that I can make myself, I want to make an effort to buy something handmade from someone else. I will be attending several craft shows, live in a city with tons of shops that sell beautiful handmade items at affordable prices, and have access to etsy and other handmade marketplaces online. Now I just need to make the TIME to find the right thing.

4. I would like to stick to a reasonable budget. This is the part that always takes a lot of creativity. I know that gift giving is not the reason or even an important part of Christmas, but I really enjoy exchanging gifts with family and friends and just like to make it special. I know that it's possible without spending a lot of money, but again, it involves TIME (something that I am constantly short of) and planning (something I am famously not great at.) I believe it can be done, though.

5. I'm not going to beat myself up about it if I totally fail.

That's all I've got for now.

Are you planning YOUR handmade Christmas? I would love to hear what projects or ideas you have in the works to make your holidays special!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

sweater weather

I think October is my favorite month of the year. I love the sweater weather and leaves crunching under my feet. It's been a beautiful weekend and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season! We have decided to wrap it up at the farmers' market for the year and plan to enjoy some family Saturdays this fall before the busy holiday show season starts.

Last weekend my little man turned six. I can't believe my kiddos are 4 and 6 already. We had an outdoor movie party for him complete with box cars, popcorn, and blankets and warm drinks to keep us cozy on a brisk September night. It was a really nice time. I made these "popcorn" cupcakes for the occasion.

Speaking of cupcakes, the first Iron Cupcake Madison event was on Friday night. I was super excited for this event but ended up coming a little too late to taste/vote. Boo! Next time I will know to show up early. It looks like such a fun event and I'm sure it'll only be more awesome next time!

I'm off to start some black bean soup in the slow cooker and make some corn bread muffins with the little ones. Enjoy your week!


Thursday, September 16, 2010

HEY SEXY!


HEY SEXY pocket mirror
Originally uploaded by space oddities

My dad likes thrift store shopping and checking out garage sales as much as me. He brought me a few random old books and magazines awhile back and I just starting digging into them. One particular magazine, a very frail looking movie magazine from the 1940s, is absolutely full of amazing images. So I made lots of new mirrors this week full of sexy ladies circa 1940 something! You can see more of them in my shop and at the Dane county farmers' market this wekeend.

Happy crafting!

xo
andrea

Saturday, September 11, 2010

little dear

Our latest! Your little one would look so dear in this shirt!

xo
andrea

Monday, September 6, 2010

school days + craftacular

After a super crazy week last week, I have managed to have the most mellow weekend of the entire summer. We have been having some quality family time and catching up on things around our house. I could use a few more days, but man, it has been nice.

Last week my little man started kindergarten. I'm so excited to see what this year brings. He's an amazing kid and watching him grow and learn is the best. And my daughter starts preschool and ballet class this week. It's all happening!
Aside from all of the school craziness, we have been busy this week working on a new design for the Sixth Annual Holiday Craftacular. It seems early to be thinking about a holiday event, but if you're a local crafter, the time to apply has already arrived!
I have also been working on getting some new inventory ready for the farmers' market. It's been very slow going. The only thing I really want to make lately is pendants. We also have a sweet new kids' t-shirt design coming soon. Before this weekend's market, that is (I hope!)
Have a fantastic week! 

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Cheepie

My kids have been so creative lately. Jette illustrated an entire book and bound it with tape last week all on her own. Lars is constantly building new inventions out of anything and everything he finds around the house. And they both love to draw and paint every day. Here is one of my favorite drawings of the day from Lars. He calls this sweet bird "Cheepie."



xoxo

Life is Sweet

What a crazy weekend! Saturday we celebrated Jette's 4th birthday and got to spend time with family and friends who we hadn't seen in a long time. It ended up being a super crazy day so I am really glad that we skipped the farmers' market in the morning. It was the best call we could have possibly made. I am pretty sure that we would have both been a wreck if we had tried to pull off everything we had planned to!



Saturday night we had some time to focus on last minute Craftacular details (and catch up on True Blood) while our little ones were off with grandma and grandpa. Chad finished up some original paintings and I worked on signage and finishing up some pendants. We stayed up insanely late but felt very ready for the show on Sunday, yay!
Sunday we got up bright and early and planned to be at the Craftacular setting up by 8:00. As usual, we ended up running a little late and then got stopped by a lovely small town cop for not making a complete stop at a stop sign...what? So yeah, we were our typical unfashionably late selves as usual. It all worked out fine, though. Here is a partial shot of our booth at the show.
We had such an excellent day! The venue was perfect and there were so many fabulous vendors at the show. I came home with some great craft show loot including an amazing apron for my daughter from rustbelt fiberwerks, fun hair accessories from Confectionique and The Glitter Workshop, and THIS super rad monster print from Jimbot. Oh! I was also lucky enough to go home with a super nice tote bag commemorating the whole event stuffed with some goodies from the vendors. And last but definitely not least, Chad and I both scored caramel apples from Kim's Crafty Apple! Serious YUM!!!

We met so many great people and chatted with old friends. We sold lots of our wares and heard some really great feedback from return customers and kind words from new customers. We even had some friends that we hadn't seen in years that were visiting town stop in to say hi. It was really just the perfect day. To top it off, Chad and I were also celebrating our 12 year anniversary. It was so nice to be able to spend the day together! 

I am feeling so grateful for my life lately. Yes, it is insanely chaotic and most days I forget which way is up. I spend a lot of time just trying to figure out what do do next and struggle with priorities. But these things are so trivial. I have a loving family and amazing friends. I have a job that pays the bills and leaves my nights and weekends free for time with my loved ones and my crafty ventures. Kids who make me laugh every day. Friends who are always there for me, no matter what. A husband who is my soul mate and can finish my thoughts. All of these things make the lack of cable tv and home repair skills, kiddos bordering on sassy and perpetual mountain of laundry seem like a dream.

Life is sweet.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Pendant Display

I needed a way to display pendants at shows. I actually have NOT been bringing these to the farmers' market because I just hadn't found a good way to show them. I searched for a simple DIY tutorial and found THIS one which I ended up using as a guide.

I actually made mine even more simple than the tutorial suggested by just using the backing of a picture frame for my base (the easel back part.) I wrapped it in pretty paper, cut small slits where the ribbon would slide through on the sides and then secured the ribbon on the board. The one thing about the tutorial I found that didn't make sense is how you would remove individual pendants when one sold. I decided to tie each one on a small ribbon that can easily be tied or untied from the main ribbon. I am happy with how it turned out!

Yes, it's a little loud with the dots and the floral, but i kind of love it.  Loud is sort of my thing. I plan to make one or two more so I have space to show off lots of goodies.

Yay! I'm excited to debut lots of new pendants at the Craftacular next weekend!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

How much art can you take?

Another summer weekend jam packed with crafty goodness!

Have you been to Confectionique market in Middleton yet? This weekend is your chance! Jessica and Anastasia will be showcasing beautiful handmade goodies made by themselves and several other local artists Saturday AND Sunday, August 7 & 8. Get ready for a treat! These ladies are always crafting up something new and reinvent their beautiful store space for each market.

Also on Saturday AND Sunday (August 7 & 8) is Art Fest at Greenway Station in Madison. Here you'll find lots and lots of local arts and crafts vendors - jewelry, glass, photography, sculpture, painting, wood and more will be represented. Plus live music and free activities for the little ones!


And don't forget, you can find Space Oddities and lots of other vendors peddling delightful handmade wares Saturday at the Dane county farmers' market . Craft vendors are at the top of State street extending onto Mifflin street and our tent is usually somewhere close to Taste of India.

If you're looking for a special gift this weekend, you know where to go! Support local businesses and find something handcrafted and unique. We are so lucky to live in a city where the big box stores are not our only options!

xoxo
andrea

new pretties!

I stayed up late making these fun collage pendants last night.
I love making these little mini collages. It's great therapy! What have you been making lately?

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Summer, Sewing, Swag...

Hope you are enjoying your summer! It is moving so quickly. Somehow my oldest will be starting kindergarten in a month. I don't know how this is possible...it feels like he was just born! 

It was another busy week, starting with a fantastic t-ball game (Lars is doing better every week!)  I also got to spend some time with the lovely Jenny of The Painted Daisy who is helping me learn some sewing basics. I managed to finish this bag with a lot of help. I really love the vintage ribbon accents. See, without Jenny's direction, i seriously would have just used the ribbon FOR the handles. I'm excited to start learning to sew and hope to make the time to take a consistent class in the fall. I really want to be able to feel comfortable sewing so that I can do my own thing! 



Saturday Chad vended solo at the market while the kids and I visited Naomi of Glitter Workshop and her sweet family to celebrate a special 2 year old's birthday. We had such a nice time and my kids didn't have any major freak outs, so that is good. It was also fun to see Naomi's current sewing projects (she's learning, too...and is tackling a way more advanced project which is inspiring!) and crafty work space. I also (finally!) managed to get hair cuts for both of my kiddos this weekend. They are looking pretty sharp for the time being so I had better get some photos before they get shaggy again.

The farmers' market has been a little slow lately but we are still enjoying it. I have to admit that Chad and I are both looking forward to autumn and the last few farmers' markets so that we can have a few more Saturdays free. Our schedules are already jam packed so vending at the market is a big commitment for us. We're not completely sure if it's something we'll do again next year or not. Only time will tell! As for this season, we plan to vend Saturdays right up until October 23, weather permitting. We are calling it quits a couple of weeks early (the market runs up through the first weekend of November!) as we have a fun mini-vacation planned at House on the Rock for Halloween weekend. We're going to the Neil Gaiman American Gods event! I'm super excited!

Oh! also finally finished a little something for the Craftacular goody bags this weekend! I'm looking forward to this event but can't believe it's already just 2 weeks away! I was definitely hoping to have more new things made before now. As usual, I will probably wait until 2 days before the show and then I'll begin to freak out and make last minute arrangements. It's kind of my thing. And it usually works out okay so I guess I will just roll with it. The Craftaculars are always such great events so no mater what I have or don't have to sell, at least I know it'll be totally fun! If you're near Madison, stop by to check it out on August 15. The first 50 shoppers will get free goody bags stuffed with awesome swag from the vendors!

And because I keep forgetting, I want to mention now that I have a couple talented friends who have recently opened etsy shops! You can now find beautiful photography prints by the very talented Sharyn Morrow at Sharyn Shoots. And if you're looking for super fun gift soaps (pac-man, owl, retro/mod designs to name a few) you should check out Little Sparrow Soap

Okay I am off to check out this splash park that my kids keep talking about. Have a fantastic week! 





Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Our etsy shop has been updated with some brand new mirrors and magnets. And more will be coming soon!

Chad has been working on some bold, colorful paintings that will be perfect for childrens' room decor. I can't wait to debut this new artwork at the farmers' market!

The kiddos are with their grandparents for a few days. Which means I have a lot more free time than I'm used to. Where do I begin? Every little thing I accomplish feels so epic. In just a few hours tonight I finished a mixtape and an art journal I've been putting off forever. I also managed to take pictures and post items in the etsy shop and meet Chad for dinner. AMAZING. A little focused time can go a long way!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

craft therapy: make time to make.

The feel of textured papers between my fingers.
Ripping those papers into pieces and assembling them with my own hands into something beautiful and then getting my fingers sticky with glue when I attach the pieces one by one onto a card or a collage
Ink on my fingers
Film in my Holga.
Taking a stab at sewing and gardening
Cutting and pasting
Photoshopping
Attempting to make a lemon meringue pie
Writing a book
Sketching even if it's terrible
Writing a letter with a fancy pen
Doing all of things SLOWLY so I can soak up every experience.

My blog is called Craft Therapy. I have never really talked much this title or why I chose it but I think about it often. After writing this blog for a few years now, I thought it was about time to dedicate a post to this subject.

The tag line "make time to make" is a piece of advice I take very seriously. Okay, not so seriously that I would decoupage a picture frame instead of taking my son to t-ball. But maybe so seriously that I would come home from a long day at work, make a quick dinner so we can make it to t-ball, and then get the kids to bed and skip the laundry and dishes so I can spend some quality time with my gocco.

Some days, making time to make can be a really tough thing to pull off. Some I you won't pull it off. But if it's what makes you whole, you will find the time. Whether it means getting a babysitter so that you can take that class you've been putting off forever; Becoming just a little sleep deprived so that you can make the time to follow your passion (I am a firm believer that the best ideas are thought of only after a little sleep deprivation;) Knitting on your lunch break; Crafting with your kiddos; The list goes on. Like anything else, if it means a lot to you, you will make the time to make.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was so excited to be home with him after he was born. I imagined days full of mother and baby bonding, books, baby massage, play dates. Once he was born, and after a few difficult months, I realized that while some days would be very full and satisfying with just being a mom, I needed something ELSE. I thought that starting back at my day job would change things. It definitely changed things, but it didn't change that feeling that I had that something else was missing. Shortly before my son was born, I had started to get really into making collages. It was such a slow, soothing process for me. After a few months of full time mom and a few more months of full time job + full time mom, a funny thing happened: I suddenly felt like I really wanted to make more time for my collages. I felt like I NEEDED to. And then I realized that this is what was missing. I needed to make time to make.

I have always enjoyed creating things but it wasn't until I became a mother that I understood how much it meant to me. Funny how that works.

About half of the people who visit this blog find it by searching the keywords "craft therapy," "craft as therapy," or "what is craft therapy."

Well, now you know what craft therapy means to me.

What does it mean to you?




Wednesday, June 16, 2010

old, new, revamped.

I visited my dad last weekend and picked up this beautiful sewing machine while I was at his place. Isn't it dreamy? It used to be my grandmother's and I am so thrilled that it has been passed on to me. I have been wanting to learn to sew for a long time and have tried my hand at some small projects without much success throughout the years. This time I will be armed with a new (old) machine that inspires me just looking at it. I can't help but imagine the hours and hours that my grandmother spent at this machine. She loved to reupholster furniture and made so many gorgeous things with this lovely piece of equipment over the years. I hope that I can create something nearly as awesome! Thankfully I have a sweet, talented friend who is willing to show me the basics and get started the right way. Thanks Jenny! You rule! I cannot wait for sewing 101.

On to the new! We have been making lots of new goodies to try out at the farmers market lately. These "My Favorite Robot" prints debuted at the market a few weeks ago and have finally been added to our etsy shop. We have used bright, bold colors and fun printed papers to screen print this fun robot print on. I love the results! These framed prints would be so fun in a kid's room!





































I also printed some new shirts this week. Well, the design is an oldie but a goodie. I've just changed up the color scheme a little bit. I love our cupcake shirts but was ready for something other than the "cherry vanilla" pink and white on brown. The new, revamped version of this shirt is called "berry vanilla" and features a new mixup of colors. These shirts are available in our etsy shop now!

Have a great week! If you're in the Madison area, don't forget to visit us at the Dane County Farmers' Market on Saturday! We still have RAD DAD buttons and t-shirts along with lots of other unique gift ideas for father's day (think star wars magnets, lord of the rings inspired prints and robot t-shirts!) that you can pick up while you're downtown!

xo
andrea

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

busy June.



It's been a busy week! We had a fantastic Saturday at the farmer's market. The weather was gorgeous and there were lots of people at the market. We sold out of our raining hearts t-shirt design and our RAD DAD shirts were also popular with father's day coming up soon. Now I must find some time to print...and it's time for some new designs. I'm trying to decide if I will do another run of the raining hearts shirts or not. I really love the design but I feel like it's time for something new. Chad and I have something in mind for a new womens' shirt design so hopefully we can get that together and printed SOON! It's going to be lovely, I can't wait!

Here are the new Rad Dad shirts. This run is a little different and is printed on blue and grey t-shirts. I really like how they turned out. We will have these available at the farmers' market and etsy shop. We also sent a small batch to i like you in Minneapolis!

Aside from the printing, I have also been working on some graphic design for the upcoming Summer Craftacular this week. Chad created the artwork and I have been working to put it all together to make into promotional items for the show. The craftacular is an indie art/craft fair in Madison, Wisconsin. This is the sixth annual summer event and it looks like it's going to be a great one! Handmade items from over 70 vendors! It's sure to be an excellent and super fun show. If you're a crafter, you still have time to apply for the show. The deadline is June 13, so don't wait! You can apply right HERE.

Today was a special day. We finally took the training wheels off of my son's bike. I have been kind of paranoid about this but it turns out he was totally ready. Without any fear or instruction, Lars hopped on that bike and rode off into the wind. I am so proud! It's such a cool moment! I can't believe how fast he is growing up. He'll be in kindergarten before I know it!

And then there is my sweet girl. She was cheering Lars on with the bicycling shenanigans today and was also hunting gnomes. What a goofy lady. Okay I am determined to get LOTS done tonight after I get these sweet kiddos to bed. It's all happening! Have a fantastic week!