Archive for January, 2010

2010 Yearly List

Published
by
robayre
on January 31, 2010
in Projects, goals, life and lists
. 2 Comments

It’s the last day of January and I think I’ve finally finished my 2010 to-do list. Of course, as soon as I hit publish I’m sure I’ll remember more things I wanted on the list. Here is last year’s list.

1. Buy a marble and start my glass marble collection  (received May 17, 2010)
2. Make 5 simple animated gifs to post on my blog one
3. Buy a vintage globe and a huge map for the bedroom Globe
4. Leave 100% tip at a restaurant
5. Leave change in coin machine 5 times
6. Send a care package to a soldier overseas
7. Build a storytelling shadowbox diorama
8. Upload a youtube video with my face and voice
9. Participate in wardrobe remix photography 4 times
10. Visit a drive in movie theater
11. Visit two photobooths
12. Old timey picture (kind of did this at MS&I)
13. Document a tree changing colors, start sept. 1st
14. Purchase wool and spin yarn and make vest
15. Buy tall boots
16. Eat falaful
17. Visit the museum in sycamore
18. Fit into a size __ or reach __ lbs.
19. Create a paper moon photo set up to take portraits in
20. Publish second zine
21. Go to teddywedgers for pasties Completed on March 27th
22. Go to the kane county flea market
23. Record “storycorp” style interviews with family/friends (interviewed my sister at MS&I)
24. Rearrange furniture twice (1st time in July)
25. Work in small scrapbook art/journal
26. Go to lothson’s chicken done 8.4.10
27. Pay off debt
28. Have a bonfire at the lagoon
29. Eat at two (new to me) truck stop diners
30. Organize a glue book week
31. Go camping this summer
32. Finish my mom’s challenge book

Leftovers from 2009 list

1. Found Art balloon idea
2. Visit one photobooth
3. Hot air balloon ride (already paid for)
4. Release art themed geocache
5. Complete C25K and run 5K
6. Decorate a mini journal (missed the opportunity from last year)
7. Go to a Wolves game
8. Redesign my website.

Thing-A-Day 2010

Published
by
robayre
on January 30, 2010
in General Update and Projects
. 1 Comment

February begins in just a few days and that means “Thing-A-Day 2010″. Check out the little blurb I wrote up over at Hello Craft and please join me in posting a new thing everyday on the Thing-A-Day blog.

I originally found out about TAD 4 years ago through artist Keri Smith. I’m excited to say that this February will be my third year participating. In previous years the TAD blog was a wordpress blog, but this year they are switching it up to Posterous. I’ve never used Posterous before so we will see how it goes. I’m going to cross post my Thing-A-Day posts there and here on my personal blog so I will have a personal archive of my “things.” Don’t hesitate to sign up, registration closes January 31st.


Facebook Fan Page

Published
by
robayre
on January 27, 2010
in General Update
. 0 Comments

Tonight I created a Facebook Fan Page for Robayre. There isn’t much going on over there right now, but I’d love it if you stopped by.

If you like my items, then please feel free to join the Cool Kids Club and fan the page :D

Holiday Bunting tutorial

Published
by
robayre
on January 24, 2010
in General Update and Projects
. 1 Comment

Here is a super quick and easy tutorial to make a very adorable festive decoration of flag bunting, sewing machine free.

The other day when I was taking product pictures for the Valentine’s Day yoyo set and I made a super mini flag garland to hang from the shadowbox frame and it got me thinking about these. I made a ton of these before I opened my Etsy shop, back in the day and I thought I had already shared them here on the Inspiration Junkie before, but it must have been on my old blog. They are easy enough to make so I thought I’d share it with you. I’ve seen flag garlands often enough on crafty blogs, but most often they are done with all fabric and require sewing. This method is just as quick, just as cute and only requires the few items shown below.

1. Fabric. I’ve chosen solid and striped red fabics for the purpose of this post, but you can use whichever fabric colors you want. I used to make these garlands using one piece of fabric from my entire stash for variety.

2. Cut out a cardboard template of a triangle. The height of the triangle was 3 inches. As you can see I nip off the top points of the triangles so that I can fold over the edges easily. The resulting final triangle will then be about 2.5 inches tall. You could make your triangles larger or smaller depending on your preference.

3. A pen, to trace the template onto the fabric. If you have a water soluble or disappearing ink fabric pen, wonderful, but as you can see here I opted for a sharpie just because it was close by.

4. Scissors.

5. Glue gun

6. String. I use this embroider (?) string just because it’s sturdier than thread, but not as expensive as embroider floss. But, use whatever you’d like.

Start by plugging in your glue gun. This project is a very quick one, and by the time you get to gluing, the gun should be warmed up.

Trace out your template onto the fabric. You can maximize your  use of fabric if the finished traced template triangle alternate pointing up and then pointing down.

Cut the the traced templates out of the fabric.  You can reduce the amount of cutting if you trace your templates right next to each other, so that you can cut 2 edges with one snip.

Next, I lightly score the edge of the fabric with my fingernail so that the fabric folds over easy. Bend where the corners have been nipped off. You use that line to decide where to fold the fabric, plus now the folded over edge can’t be seen from the front.

Using the glue gun, draw a thin line across the folded edge. The next few steps need to be done rapidly while the glue remains hot.

Leaving about 6-12 inches of string empty on the end, place the string right on the glue.

Fold over the fabric and crease the edge, glue and string together.

Alternating fabric and leaving as much string as you want between each flag. You may want to put the flags immediately touching each other or keep an inch of fabric between, as I have done. Glue the rest of the flags onto the string. Make sure that you keep the back and fronts of the fabric consistent so that once the garland is complete you don’t have some fabics showing the front while others show the back with the crease.

Keep alternating until desired length. Leave a bit of extra empty string on each end to use later for hanging. The edges of the fabric are left entirely raw and with my experience this is never a problem because it is used just for decoration so there is no reason the edges should fray or fraying will be minimal. You might elect to iron out any wrinkles in the fabric, but just make sure to keep iron away from the glued edge of each flag because you don’t want to melt the glue onto your iron.

Voila!  An adorable bunting for you to hang just about anywhere.

And just for fun, I’ve added this particular garland, which is 6.5 feet of mini flags, to my Etsy shop, if you’d be interested in purchasing it.

Cool stuff and thanks

Published
by
robayre
on January 22, 2010
in Artists, Cool Links, General Update, etsy and life
. 1 Comment

I’ve received so many things lately and I wanted to post a long overdue public thanks and share some of these wicked cool items.

I was sent a copy of The Happy Book by Meg Leder and Rachel Kempster. I’m all about Happy so I was glad to receive it. Imagine if the Listography Journal and Wreck this Journal had a teenage daughter. I think it might be The Happy Book. It’s one of those books that encourages you to carry it around and fill it up and the more you use it the less it will look like what it did when you brought it home. The Happy Book is filled with almost 200 pages of prompts for you to fill up, paste-in, list and draw all the happy and positive things in life. One of the rewarding things about this book, and others similar to it, is that you can pull it out later when you might be feeling down in the dumps and it will hopefully fill you with joy again. The manifesto of the book is “Thinking about what makes you happy, makes you happy. Writing about what makes you happy, makes you happy. Reading about what makes you happy, makes you happy.” I had an idea when I was first reading the introduction that I’d like to keep the book in a somewhat public place (car, coffee table or carry it with me in my bag) and encourage my friends, family and acquaintances to also fill out pages in my book. That way when I opened it up it wasn’t just my happy thoughts, images and experiences, but other’s as well, and I would be able to draw fresh inspiration by other’s happy things.

It has been years now and I am still so grateful that Rosa Murillo saw my website and sent me an email introducing herself. We have become friends and I treasure that. She calls me, I don’t answer (hehehe), but we’ve skyped a couple times and I am always thrilled to see a new blog post on her site. She is such a creative inspiration to me (although she’d probably cringe at my liberal and frequent use of that “i” word). She sent me a wonderful package before Christmas and it contained the ring above. I don’t see anymore in her shop right now, but she’s made a bunch here. I commented on one and low and behold she sent it to me. I love it! Of all jewelry I love rings the most. But not just any ring. Believe it or not, I’d put my nose up to a tiffany diamond ring, but I can’t say no to a piece of artwork adorned on my fingers. Thank you again for the lovely ring, Rosa! I’m compiling a package for you and hope to send it soon, but really, what is soon? You know me, and that might not be until summer, wah wah wah.

This ring came from my new penpal (through the penpal party) Angie of PangeaStore. I have a special place in my heart for lockets. It probably stems from watching the movie Annie too many times as a child. At any rate I admired the rings from Angie’s Etsy shop that have eensie teensie little lockets on them. When her next letter arrived it had one in it! oh my goodness. It’s a ring, it has a locket and it’s miniature! I know, I know, I almost fainted. I’ve been thinking about what I need to put inside of it. I was going to just print out tiny pictures, but then this week I saw this post on the Black Apple about lockets with tiny drawings in them.

And finally this week I stopped by the P.O. Box and was delighted to find this scarf from Trisha at Made During Sleepytime. I had entered her giveaway for this super cozy and stylish scarf and WON IT!  I wore it all today and love it so much that I think I will need to follow her tutorial and make myself a couple more. Honestly though, Trish, you should sell these. I’d probably save myself the aggravation of sewing it and just buy more from you :) Love it!

2009-2010 part I

Published
by
robayre
on January 16, 2010
in General Update, life and lists
. 3 Comments

2009 was a good year to me! I can honestly say I felt happier overall last year than I have in a long time. It was so wonderful in fact that I (in a very twisted manner) have entered 2010 with a bit of caution that all the things that made 2009 great will come crashing down on me. I’m a subscriber to the Law of Attraction and that I create what comes to me and I felt like last year I saw a glimmer of the possibilities in action. Conversely, I should know then that having any negative thoughts and fears of losing what I have is a sure way of starting off a bad year.

Last year I was so inspired to create a list of things I wanted to accomplish in 2009 and I think it made for a wonderful year. With the success of last year I have been working on 2010s list and will be share it as the next parts to this blog post. (I don’t think I posted last years list till February 1st, 2009)

I wasn’t able to complete all items off the 2009 list but I am perfectly fine with that. I think I got more accomplished than normal because of the list and plan on just adding the remaining items to 2010’s list. I’m so proud of all the things that I was able to cross off and had such a fun time doing it. This is going to be a long enough post as it is, so to save space you can revisit those items by clicking on this link.

Some highlights from last year (not on the list):

ETSY
Early on in the year I realized I had been selling items in my Etsy shop more steadily than before. I’ve been on Etsy since 2005. I didn’t list or sell any items until a year later. I read often in the Etsy forums where people are so frustrated that they aren’t experiencing immediate success and are frustrated that they haven’t had a sale in a whole month. Since being on Etsy I’ve taken more of the “slow and steady wins the race” route. I’d rather sell the things that are meaningful to me and stay true to my vision and style, rather than just making what sells (skulls, owls, twilight, etc.) I’d rather continue to build momentum to eventually become a lasting power, than strike hot and fizzle quickly. This year I was so thrilled to see results toward progress. In early Etsy years I stated that I’d like to grow slowly where I’d eventually sell an item a week, then a couple items a week, then an item a day, until I reach multiple sales a day. Without aiming for 2009 to be the year that I sell an item a week it happened. I was delighted to notice in the spring that my sales were averaged out to be slightly ahead of 1 sale a week. Ecstatically the ball kept rolling all year round. There were a few times where weeks and weeks would pass by without any sales and I’d think my luck had run out, but then things would turn around again and I’d make up for the lost time. My first year (2006) I had 6 sales, in 2007 I had 10 sales, in 2008 I had 42, and in 2009 I had 77 sales. I also went over 100 sales finally. I don’t know if anyone could know just how proud I am of this. Since I was little I have dreamed of being able to sell the little things I create and it wasn’t until Etsy came around that I finally had an outlet for that. I will be forever grateful to Etsy for being in my life. Forever grateful.

Weight Loss
Technically this item wasn’t on my list, but by adding sparkpeople and trying to get down to a certain dress size to the list, it was there in a round about way. New year’s resolutions of losing weight are stupid to me, so I just put it on my list hoping that I would be inspired when the time was right. That was in May. Since then I have been transformed and am thrilled with my progress. It is something I’ve struggled with probably since puberty.  I know I am much healthier and can feel it with every motion o f my body. But honestly more important, losing the weight has built up my self confidence and allowed me to feel comfortable being me. I feel like I can do more things that I want to do in life because I’m not feeling as bad about myself or saying I’ll do this or that once I’ve lost the weight. I also feel comfortable meeting new people and being around others in general. I still have a way to go, but I am just so happy with how far I went with this in 2009. I’ve been setting up rewards for mini goals along the way and hopefully this spring I will reach the goal where I will buy myself some nice tall boots. Can’t wait!

Car Accident
This is something I would never add to the list but it was a huge event this year. In June while riding my bike home from work, I was hit by an SUV that was pulling out of a parking lot and wasn’t paying attention for pedestrians. My bike was crushed and I only suffered a severe sprain after I was thrown out into the street. It put a damper on getting around this summer as I was limited physically and wasn’t able to cross off  running c25k because of it. It put me into an emotional state for a month or two, where I’d cry at a drop of a hat and become so overwhelmed with fear I’d start physically shaking. As bad as all of those things sound I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL and that it could have been so much worse. Even writing this, I’m beginning to cry again. The honest truth is my life could have ended that day. I have several very close friends who are going through some life threatening health issues. It could be a very dark time. But talking with my mom one day helped me to keep it in perspective. No one knows when it will be their time, so it is best to live our life to the fullest and make the most of every day. I can be so cliche and I’ve heard that saying probably dozens of times throughout my life, but last year it really left an impact.  Early 2009 a great mentor of mine died too young, but while he lived he made a great impact on me and many others. His life messages were to help others and TREASURE LIFE, in fact that was what his license plates said (TRSRLFE). I feel making a yearly list I’m on the right path. I still have lazy and unproductive days but in general I feel much better and hope that I can continue to live this way through 2010 and beyond.

A few other highlights of things that happened this year, but were not on the 2009 list.

I worked my full time job only 4 days a week and had Fridays off all year long. Matt got a new car and I got rid of my old beater and we’ve been a one car household. I sent off my second series of Art-o-mat paintings, and created this pretty sweet promo video. I published my very first zine. I was able to find a source and make these resin jewelry pieces like I’d been envisioning for years. Got a Polaroid Pogo and love it! Matt and I went to go see the This American Life live broadcast. Made an art doll (scary) and sold my first handspun yarns. Sadly I think I only did Found Art Tuesday twice all year. Bishop ate my enemy (styrofoam) and had to have emergency surgery. I made some altered art shoes and then they were featured on AOL. I finally had a garden again, since last I lived with my parents. It was a container garden but I had SO MUCH JOY from it. Went to a family reunion. Was published in Underground Art School magazine. Made homemade pizza. Attended my cousin’s Ah-Mazing wedding. My brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first child and I will be an Aunt this March for the first time. I wrote a few articles for the Hello Craft blog. I took a ceramics class and was so inspired. Held my fourth gingerbread house making party. Went sledding and laughed so hard I think I breathed in snow and froze my lungs. I lost my wallet and kept my cool about it, surprisingly. Made new penpals and pfeffernusse cookies. Our friends Tom and Nikki, and Matt and I went ice skating in Chicago. It was something I’d wanted to do probably since high school (and really should have been on my 2009 list) when I first learned about Skate on State. Since then the Millennium Park has been built and they erect an ice skating rink there in the winter so we went there. It started out a rainy miserable day, but when we finally got out on the ice it began snowing and became an amazing and magical day/evening.

As I put together that list it’s surprising how much I’d probably forget if it weren’t for this blog. This week I’ve been in a kind of funk, where I didn’t feel very energetic, inspired or driven. I hate that feeling. Lazy. But yesterday and today I’ve been composing this post and it alone has really inspired me. I am reinvigorated just looking back at all that I accomplished last year and I’m again so excited for the new year. I apologize for such a looooong post (without one picture, yikes). I’m sure no one even got this far in the post, but that’s okay because it’s really just for me anyway. I’ll be sharing my to-do list for 2010 shortly (in the coming week).

Spin and Knit

Published
by
robayre
on January 11, 2010
in Artists, Cool Links, General Update and fiber
. 5 Comments

Bri of TheCraftBegins recently posted and shared this scarf that she made from my handspun yarn she purchased.

I wish I had a picture of the original fiber, unspun, but on the left you can see I have a picture of the single ply, the double ply, on the knitty knoddy and in skein form. Here is her post!

I am just thrilled to see such a beautiful finished product, that in a way I had a hand in as well. She did such beautiful work, AND she created the pattern for it as well! She has several other beautiful and equally warm and cozy knits in her Etsy shop.

Miniature Scrapbook and kit

Published
by
robayre
on January 5, 2010
in Projects, etsy and shop update
. 11 Comments

Last month my sister was looking for Christmas presents to give to her scrapbooking friend, when I remembered awesome miniature ornament books she made with pictures of us from our trip to Ireland. I thought “How about one of those books put together in a scrapbooking style?” She and I spent one evening putting together books, hers for her friends, mine for my shop. Originally we were going to decorate the inside pages so all that had to be done was to print out mini pictures and glue them in, but then we came up with the idea of putting together a kit, so that someone who enjoys cropping, could do it all themselves. I had SO much fun putting these together. I want to make more and more and more.

There are two kits currently available in my shop here and here. Each “scrapbook” is mini less than 3 inches squared, hard covered and handbound with scrapbooking papers. They have ribbon closures, so you can tie them closed and hang them up somewhere. Each kit contains one book and over 30 little items to decorate the scrapbook pages, including all sorts of corresponding papers (solids, designed, edged, circles, hearts, embossed), sequins, brads, paper flowers, ribbon and tags.  All you need for this kit is to print out miniature pictures of your own and get to scrapbooking on a lilliputian scale!

Knowing me, is knowing I LOVE everything miniature and I’m pretty smitten with these books and kits.

I’m back

Published
by
robayre
on January 4, 2010
in General Update and life
. 2 Comments

What a wonderful vacation. A stay-cation. GROAN. I know you’d probably be happy to never have to hear the phrase stay-cation ever again. But honestly, how could you hate a thing that is as beautiful as not going to work, and getting to stay amongst all your favorite belongings, sleeping in and did I mention not having to go to work?

If I felt overwhelmed posting before the holidays, after a week away from the computer, where do I even begin? I thought I would go through internet withdrawal, but really, other than the annoyance of not being able to look up information and answer questions like “what will the temperature be like the rest of the week?” (below freezing) or “who is that actor in this episode of House?” (I’ll never know) … I managed.

A couple of the reasons I unplugged: being the internet junkie that I am, would I be able to do it? (Yes, I did it, and could have kept going if I wasn’t afraid my inbox would grow larger than fathomable) and Would I be more productive? Early on, I did come to the conclusion that, No, I can easily say that the internet actually keeps me more productive. I definitely use it as a motivational, and inspirational tool. If I feel lazy, I visit an online exercising community and I find the motivation to go work out. If I’m feeling bored I will visit flickr and admire a prolific artist and next thing I know my studio is calling my name and I can’t resist creating my own work. Without the internet I kind of just watched a lot of tv and lounged around. I didn’t even end up cracking the book I had planned on finishing.

So now I’m back, back to work, back to the computer, back to being plugged in.