Earthquake Art Journal Page

I survived another CA earthquake so that's what I'm adding to my art journal.

Craftster.Org

I just joined Craftster under the name Hypnotic. I have a feeling I used to be a member but never really used it, so I'm starting over. They have some amazing stuff over there so I can become even more obsessed that I already am (is that even possible).
Already today I've been beading a necklace, researching feather earring tutorials, adding my inchy Moleskine to another tutorial, and trying to finish a knifty knitter shrug so I can write a ending to my tutorial on how to use the long loom series. My head must be spinning like that girl in the Exorcist.

I have a feeling that's the wrong link to get you to my craftster profile but it's all I have for now until I figure out the site better.

Update: After I wrote this post I had an epiphany. Maybe I should go to my gmail account and search for craftster, and sure enough I found my old profile that I made 3 years ago. August 24, 2005 07:42:32 PM
And I hadn't made a single post! So now I'm on the horns of a delimma. Do I use the old account or the new one?

Beading

I was busy covering a gourd with beads when I got an idea for an autumn inspired necklace and started working on that instead. Nothing like changing horses in midstream. I'll do the photos tomorrow. It's already after midnight here in S. Calif. And I so need my beauty sleep.

This story makes me so mad.

Thieves clean out boutique's inventory: http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=7084608&version=1&locale=EN-US

If any of you see any of this inventory on Etsy please let them know it's stolen.

Earrings and Basket

This morning I went to a Powwow and fell in love with the beading booth. I got some seed beads for my collection and some little square beads to use in freeform peyote. Today I finished the copper wire basket and also make a pair of earrings with stars and pink beads. A lot of vendors had wonderful jewelry, but I don't buy jewelry, I buy parts. It means more to me to make all my own jewelry. That's why I chose to be an artist.

Featured Etsy Seller

Sometimes I just fall in love with an Etsy shop. I'd like to highlight the Etsy shop called Baloo. She offers amazing hand carved spoons and her descriptions are fun. She also sells fleece so if you are a spinner, you might find just the thing in her shop. She's in Canada.
Fairytale Spoon.

Copper Wire Basket

Last night I started weaving (twining) a little copper basket. The little ends keep poking me so I should have melted them first. I may still do that now that it is light out again. But we are off to a Powwow at Griffith Park so I won't have time to work on it this morning.

Sometimes Etsy Chat makes me want to pull my hair out

After last night in the Etsy chatrooms I made a decision. There are three people I just can't stand to be around, so if they are in a room, I'm not staying. They are chatroom regulars. They are all known for parking in more than one room at a time too, so that means I'll either sign out of chat or make my own room. But once one of them came in my room too, so I had to bite my tongue until she went away.

The culprits:

Person #1 has made many many sales. He mainly comes in to brag about his success and offers little else to the discussion.

Person #2 He is confrontational and has a potty mouth and tries to drag the room into gutter talk and or political sniping. He usually succeeds.

Person #3 is the self-appointed Queen of Etsy. She was in a room last night critiquing the shops of others. Someone asked her who gave her the critiquer's halo. She prides herself on being 'brutally honest' and thinks she's actually helping people. What boggles my mind is people actually volunteered to be tortured by her.
Day before yesterday she came in my chatroom trying to make banners for people. We all ignored her and she eventually went away.

Envelope Hat

Today I had cabin fever so I headed over to Wendy's with some knitting needles and some multicolored yarn that reminded me of a circus. I started knitting an envelope hat. I haven't made one of those for a while. Unfortunately I think its going to make me crazy trying to knit on #1 needles. Those things are as sharp as ice picks.

Witchy Wednesdays

I've decided to have a get together every Wed. at Wendy's in Buena Park by Target. So I'm declaring Wed.s at 1 PM Witchy Wednesdays for anyone that wants to come out and meet me. I'm inviting the 3 F's...family, friends, and fans. Bring your art journal, some knitting, or crocheting or whatever you can do at a table. So the first one will be July 30, 2008. Come write poetry, work on your novel or whatever. Buy some lunch or just a drink. No pressure, just fun.

Yes, I know not many can come in the middle of the day. But I don't want to be a hermit and I need a social life and weekends are just too darn busy.

All guests will get to choose a handmade item out of my treasure box.

How to Make An Etsy Banner

Tutorial here: http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/skill-share-making-a-banner/641/

Every shop needs one. You can buy one or make one.

Wire Cage Pendants

I redesigned my pagan shop http://www.hypnotic.etsy.com and added the wire cage pendants. I got really good feedback from the people I showed them to over the weekend. Men and women both like them and how often does that happen?

Off like a herd of platypusses.

I'm off to the post office to send the platypus to its new home. For some reason I had the hardest time finding a box for it to fit in. I'm chalking it up to not being a morning person. And I haven't eaten yet today. I was hoping to grab some breakfast after the post office, but it's taken me forever to get ready to go this morning. Moving like a turtle in molasses.

Finished the Platypus

I really like how it came out. You'd be amazed at how many people ask me what a Platypus is. Native to Australia if that helps.
Crochet amigurimi platypus is a custom order for Etsy. It's made without a pattern out of my own head.

Crocheted platypus

Tonight I finished the platypus. I'll take pics tomorrow after the glue on the eyes dries. Here's a photo of it when it was still a flat-a-pus.

And here's some photos of my friend Amiee doing tubular beading over a straw. I took my beading but there was so much else to see and do I never got around to it.

Platypus

Today I worked on the crocheted platypus. I got all the parts done while at the archery gathering. All I have left to do is sew the sections together and stuff them. I'm happy with the way it is turning out and I hope the customer will be too.

Wire Twining

I found this wonderful book on woven jewelry. In fact the second I saw the cover I had a feeling it was just what I was looking for. So today I set aside some time to learn some of the techniques in it. I'd done twining before with yucca fiber but never with wire so that was what I picked to learn. I made 3 wire twined pendants.

Platypus

I got a custom order for an amigurumi platypus last night. So I need to check my yarn stash for purple and yellow and orange. Oh this will be fun. My last platypus sold immediately and I always meant to make more. So yay.

Etsy crashed I think

I was in the Etsy chatroom tonight when KABOOM it crashed and burned. I restarted my computer to see if it was me. And I noticed other pages aren't loading either like Twitter, and Snappville. So I asked my bf and he said he's also having issues so maybe it's our ISP. Hard to say but it's midnight so maybe I'll just go to bed.

Inchies, knitting, Mixed Media

Yesterday I wrote an article on Mixed Media.

And I worked a bit on knitting my long-tailed hat. This time I'm weaving the ends in as I go so it won't be so daunting at the end.

And I have an Etsy request to crochet another platypus so if I hear back from her I'll start that today. I always meant to make another one since the first one sold so fast.

This morning I'm also in the mood to make 'inchies' little squares of collage. I haven't tried that yet but it looks like a lot of fun.

Stupid Heatwave

Today I wanted a project I could do while sitting at the computer so I started a little wool purse that I'm going to felt later. My fingers feel itchy and oily from the lanolin but it looks pretty.
And I added more squares to my patchwork quilt. I put some off-white into the mix.
It's just so hot in here, I feel like a slug. Can't wait until it gets dark. Our air conditioner only cools the dining room, and I'm never in the dining room, so I sit under fans.
I did update my psychic mediumship site at http://www.luckyharper.com because I'm trying to get my mind into a spot where I can write about metaphysics. I've got to stop saying I'm going to write a book and actually write a book. But if you go to the site and click on the menu bar it will take you to other articles I've written on the subject.
I thought I'd start another collage today but haven't managed to get around to it yet.
And on Sunday my friend Aimee wants to meet and do some loom beading, so I need to look for my loom beading stuff that is stashed in a bin somewhere.

Collage video

I just put a collage video on YouTube. It is still in the processing stage. I just hope the quality doesn't suck too much.

quilting and monoprints and white

http://flickr.com/photos/almostfamous/192757514/

I felt like my quilt was falling between the cracks so I just cut a bunch of white squares to add to the mix, which was decidedly lacking in white. I think I avoid white because white clothes show every stain and mark. But white in a quilt or in a painting are certainly ideas I'd like to explore. White on white. White on brown. Off-white on white. I like chalky looking elements in paintings and monoprints. I'll see if I can scare up one of my monoprints to show you what I mean.

Laguna Sawdust Festival 2008

Usually I really enjoy this event and take lots of photos of the art. But this year there were signs everywhere that said, "No photos without the artist's permission." I find two problems with this. First off, most of the booths had no one in them to ask. Second of all, I'm pretty shy, and if I'm not buying anything the last thing I want to do is take the artist away from paying customers to ask if I can take a photo. And many artists are so snippy about it, I don't want to get 'dressed down' when I do ask.

So if and when I have an art booth, I'm putting a big sign that says "Take all the photos and videos you want. Knock yourself out. Blog about me, Twitter, Pownce and Plurk about me. Copy my art because there is nothing new under the sun anyway. And the only way my legacy will carry on after I die is if my art is seen by the masses. And if you can take a photo of my booth and sell it for a million dollars, more power to you.

So my photos of the event are pretty bland. Sorry about that.

face painting and kitty watch

Busy Busy Saturday

I got out of bed early so we could go to a tool swapmeet. It was loads of fun and here are 2 photos of it.
We just got back from touring an artist's studio in Laguna Beach and then going to the Laguna Sawdust Festival. Very sleepy right now.
Tomorrow face painting from 12 to 4 at a new movie theater. I want to make a sign on a wooden pallette. Then off to bed.

I feel so very clever

I took the apron I silk screened on a while back and since I wanted pockets to put my juggling balls in, I grabbed some magic rabbit fabric and made some quickie pockets. I did take photos but it's too late so when I have time I'll add one or two.
I also started crocheting a pink hat, but I thought the hook size was too big so I ripped it all out. But here is a photo of the yarn.

I love Suzi Blu

I am in love with this artist Suzi Blu and I just want to shelter her and make sure nothing bad ever happens to her. She is like the little girl inside me.



And she inspired me to make this pastel princess.

Long tailed hat knitted

I was working on my knitting today. The long tailed hat is coming along. I'm almost done with the tail part. And I just found out I'm going to a Renaissance Faire on the 20th so if I finish it in time I can wear it. Yay!

Nalbinding Needles

I made 2 nalbinding needles out of walnut. I think they may still be too wide so I may have to sand them down some more.

cats on a gourd

I'm working on a canteen gourd with a cat theme right now. I've sketched all the cats and then I will go over the lines with a wood burning tool.