not a bad reminder.

You can get this print from Suspect Shoppe on Etsy. Suspect Shoppe features the work of San Francisco artist Mati Rose Mcdonough.

Beading and inspiration

I was inspired to load up my Etsy shop today after I had a ton of traffic and some sales last week. It took me a while to figure out why I had so much traffic to my shop and after asking some people who had bought things I discovered a pair of my bird earrings had been featured on the main page. It's been interesting seeing what works on Etsy and what doesn't. I did a few showcase spots, and while it resulted in new people favoriting my shop it didn't result in sales. What it did do was get the attention of someone who then picked my yellow birds as one of their favorites that ended up on the main page. I think getting featured on that main page can't be controlled, but if I hadn't bought a showcase spot I wouldn't have ended up there- so I guess it was worth it!


Also inspiring me is Susan Beal's fabulous new beading book, Bead Simple. Bead Simple offers up not only great project ideas but has basic techniques for anyone just starting out. And I just love the range of projects Susan features from some of my favorite designers and crafters. Susan's probably one of the busiest crafty ladies I know, on top of doing all her amazing crafty things she just had a baby girl who I'm certain will be just as crafty and smart as her Mama.

I'm turning into my Mother and I'm thrilled

I wasn't going to do a mother's day post but when I finished reading Post Secret this morning I was just so moved by all the sweet and sad mom related secrets on there. Here's one that rang true for me:


I know I posted this picture of my mom last year on mother's day, but I just love it. Isn't she so pretty? I'll be in NY with my mom next week and I can't wait to see her. I'm sure your mom is great and all, but my mom is the best. Happy day to all you moms out there.

Hair Candy

I really don't do this often, because i think it's kind of weird to post pictures of myself on here. Why? I don't know after all blogs are sort of self-centered things aren't they? I'm just so excited about my new haircut, and I have a girl crush on my bad ass hair stylist, Dionne. I just have such a good time getting my hair cut by her, I can talk to her about 80's metal, she's funny, and most importantly she somehow gets me enough (just after two visits very spaced apart) to give me one of the greatest haircuts I think I've ever gotten. It sort of feels like I'm wearing a wig. But I love it. If you need a good cut go to Hair Candy and ask for Dionne. She's awesome. Look at what she did to me!


Also a note about Hair Candy, it's just the cutest little flat converted into a hair salon. Lots of great colors and decor, it feels like an old fashioned parlor all updated-like.



Thanks for letting me indulge!

*Also I'm linking to Yelp only because Hair Candy doesn't have a website- Yelp reviwers are a little harsh and long winded if you ask me*

playing

i wouldn't call this crafting as much as playing, since really it's just sticking stuff on glass. but the end result looks pretty and i think these would make some quick and easy gifts. i bought these great rub-ons and papers at the Hambley Screen Prints booth at Maker Faire this weekend. i went a little crazy with the amount of stuff I got, but they had such neat graphics and i figure they're good to have around the craft room. i found these bright colored candles at my local drug store for 99 cents each, so i bought three and whipped these up. i had a problem applying some of the finer lines - none of the letters i got worked on these candles, maybe because of the curve of the glass?

new little friends

I fell in love with those little wooden spool people at the Maker Faire. One of the many many purchases I made this weekend. I'll post more along with a link to who made those lovelies soon.


And this is what my day will look like tomorrow! I'm taking the day of work for all the hours I put in working over the weekend and I can't wait to get through the stack of magazines that's been piling, catch up on blogs and enjoy the day outside.

so much to see!

my feet ache. i was at Maker Faire all day and will be back again bright and early tomorrow. when ever i do shows like this for work i'm always so grateful i have a booth to retreat to after wandering around in the crowds. so many people. so much fire, and robots, and crafts. overwhleming. but we have bean bags in our booth so if you come tomorrow be sure to visit me in the Chronicle Books booth, we'll be crafting and reading and hanging. oh and i'll be sure to take lots of pictures tomorrow to post here next week.

i want it !

i saw this amazing needlepoint pillow in a magazine spread and told my co-worker how much i loved it. today she sent me the link to buy it and if i could justify spending $165 on a pillow i would get it in a heartbeat. i'm sure my cat would use it as a scratching post and you know my place just isn't all that fancy. but isn't it just lovely? that jonathan adler, he's so good.

lists

I've always wanted to do a post where I just list stuff I'm doing and into but it feels so self-indulgent. I guess that's sort of what blogging is all about though. And I love it when blogs I read post these sorts of things, lists are good. So says this guy and I agree.

what i'm watching
On the very painful and slow day after my birthday celebration I mustered enough energy to walk to the couch and sit in front of the TV. I was grateful for my roommate’s good taste in movies and addiction to netflixing tv series because it was thanks to her that I discovered Shameless. Shameless is a BBC series full of that dark, sick humor I just love the Brits for. I had to watch the first couple of shows with sub-titles since the cockney accents are so hard to decipher at first. I hadn't felt so good about not being able to leave the couch in a long while.

what i'm listening to
Admitting I just started listening to Pandora sort of feels the same as saying I just discovered what friendster was, but I don't care. I'm obsessed with tuning into my own Pandora stations while I work. Except I need some new suggestions- all my stations end up having similar songs. I'm tempted to put in some 80's metal but I'm afraid of what songs it will get stuck in my head.

what i'm reading
Just started two books The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Letham, which is just the big meaty long novel I've been looking to sink my paws into and a the much lighter, quick read The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. Just finished At A Crossroads: Between a Rock and my Parents Place by Kate T. Williamson which made me want to pick up A Year in Japan.

what i'm inspired by right now
Warm Weather and people who can make cakes that look like this:



amazing cake and photos by Heidi Kenny, water color by Kate T. Williamson.