Texture Tuesday

Back to School Eco Wrap Up

1. Three Yellow Pencils - Honey Badger, TheCarbonCrusader

2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Eraser,
teensyturtle

3. Eco Friendly Soy Crayon,
EarthGrownCrayons

4. Color Block Green Vinyl Bracelet,
EyePopArt

5. Green Eco Earrings,
LaAlicia

6. Repurposed Coffee Bag,
ManilaExtract

7. Unisex Deodorant Balm,
AquarianBath

Good Things of a Peachy Summer

'Good Things of a Peachy Summer' by gustavoalonsostudio

Peach, Pistachio and Lemon U... LaAlicia $15.00	Bubble jewelry Crochet Neckl... violasboutique $16.00	Latidoll Yellow Accessories ... miniaturepatis... $30.30	Family Portrait of Bunnies w... IFeltFuzzy $40.00
Beach Photography - seagull ... CarolynCochran... $30.00	Neutral wooden beads in a br... sewasong $32.00	Lace and Trim Easter Eggs Ne... theginghamgirl $14.00	Kids Wall Art - Childrens Ar... pumpkinandbutt... $18.00
Peach Bird Boutonniere fruitsofthefor... $19.00	Peach Cream Glass Woven Copp... balanced $44.00	peach moonstone ring sterlin... littlebugjewel... $49.00	kindle fire sleeve or kindle... julieandco2 $35.00
Easter Egg Hair Clip. Cream... handmadetherap... $3.50	Rustic brown and peach flowe... KatieBelleDesi... $8.00	Coral and Driftwood Handwove... SameheartDesig... $138.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Word for Wednesday

So, I'm sure that by now, you know I am a word nerd. I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that I love the NPR program about the origin of words, it's called "A Way With Words." Somehow it seems like I always miss the live broadcast, so I am so excited there is a podcast of the program.

Are you a fan of this program? If you like words, I high recommend it! You can read all about it here and even hear past episodes!

Also, check here to see some of the new words added to the dictionary this year!

Enjoy!

Texture Tuesday

Eco Monday

Winter Whites Treasury

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is a phrase biblioclasm. I can't remember where I first heard this word. Biblioclasm is the practice of destroying books or other written materials and media.

I love books and think biblioclasm should be a crime!

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Texture Tuesday

Eco Monday: DIY Cork

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is a leptosome. This is a word I learned from a copywriter I work with regularly. Leptosome is an adjective that means a person who is slendar, thin or frail.

Have you noticed how many leptosome people we work with? (this was followed by big laughter) We don't work with any leptosome people.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Fun Things...

Have you ever heard of an image-only interview? I hadn't either until today! Check it out here on craftypod -- you wont' be dissapointed!!

Questions in words, answers in pictures!! Brilliant!

EcoMonday: Silverware

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is "acersecomic" and it means, one whose hair has never been cut. This is a word I learned from an office friend! "Acersecomic" is something a coworker said when we were talking about her little boy getting his first haircut.

I hope Logan doesn't freak out at the salon this weekend since he's acersecomic.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Eco Monday: DIY Bath Salts

EcoMonday: Stout

Eco Monday: Custom Wedding Clutch

Here's a sneak peek at a custom wedding clutch that I recently finished. The outside is made of woven Reader's Digest pages and the inside is lined with marbelized cotton fabric.

I love the way it turned out and so does the bride to be! :)

Last of the Mushrooms After the Rain

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is a phrase, "church it up". This is a word I learned from office mates! "Church it up" is something a coworker said when we were talking about tidying up the office prior to a client visit.

The clients will be here in an hour. C'mon you guys, helpm e church it up in here!

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Meet the Arist

...Rebirth Recycling

tell us a bit about yourself....

I am an eco designer who utilizes subtle transformations in life and in textiles.

apart from creating things what do you do?

I am a musician and mother. My degree is in music with an emphasis in classical voice. I have been performing for a long time. I prefer smaller, personal venues where I can use the space I am performing in as an instrument. I sing anything from early music to modern classical. I also am a self taught cellist who plays in an indie acoustic band with my husband and our mutual friend called The Enders.

what would be the title of your memoir?

"The Space In Between" To me there is a space in between all of existence and when we are still enough to perceive it then we can see true transformation. Through these small truths we can see a larger framework that leads us to a deeper understanding and communion with God.

where does you inspiration come from?

I think 'necessity is the mother of invention'. For me, I have always been resourceful and when life presents you circumstances that seem impossible there is always a way through them which transforms the person and what ever is present to be transformed. In terms of aesthetics I am deeply inspired by asian art and philosophy. Another inspiration for me when I go to design is playing with color and texture.

what does handmade mean to you?

Freedom. A reminder that we all have a fingerprint. That there is a deeper value in one's energy and life source than a mass produced 'perfected' item that comes at the cost of human dignity.

who has been the most influential in your craft?

Initially, it was me and then when I developed clientel it was/is they. Not that I am all inspiring, but each thing I have created came from a circumstance in my life. For example, when my father passed a few years ago...rather than send all of his clothes to Goodwill I saved a few shirts and made a skirt for myself. This was a very profound process for me that I have translated to my clients who come asking for the same transformation of their loved one's items today. Also, when I was 7 months pregnant with my youngest child I used some t shirts from my husband's closest and made my now infamous t shirt wrap skirts that I could wear throughout pregnancy and postpartum. These two actions where the impetus for my current business. Then my influences came from my custom work. My clients are so unique and special to me..when I begin to work on a peace I feel a special kind of reverence for their life. When I work with color and texture I feel an abstract of their essence and beauty. It inspires me to love them via the piece they have requested and create from a place higher than myself.

how would you describe your process?

open. There is no structure or 'plan' save for the clients initial request for a skirt, dress etc. But when I am creating for myself I can feel inspired to make a skirt and as I work through the process a dress may emerge. I feel that 'mistakes' or the unknown in life and design sometimes yield a delightful and unexpected outcome. I feel that my designs create themselves. They all have an expression that will be revealed if I surrender to that intuitive place inside where a universal truth reveals the inner nature of us all. I am able to listen to my instincts and surrender to the process which for me, is a wonderful metaphor or template of surrendering to God rather than my own contrivances.

if i could peek into an artist's studio etc... dead or alive, then who would that be?

Tomas Luis de Vittoria...a spanish Renaissance composer. I have been connected to his music since I was a toddler and his use of melodic line and texture have deeply inspired me in every artistic form I have expressed. For me, cross dicisplinary references yield innovative designs whether in sight or sound. I would love to spend a day watching him work and develop these melodic "lines" and would love to relate them to textile design, my music and daily life itself.

what handmade item do you most cherish?

I guess this little bear that my mom made for me when I was four. It was not conventional and looks more like a monkey than a teddy bear. She laughs at it and says she can't believe that I kept it. I can see the love in the stitching as she terms it 'awful' but to me there is no other form like it on earth. It is etched in a special time in my life and is very touching to me that she stepped outside of her comfort zone of making clothes and made a little keepsake doll for me. It now belongs to my young children and when they want a little extra love and support they sleep with it taking the love from my mother and I to heart.

how do you get out of your creative ruts?

I am pretty prolific as my process leads to no contrived force, but if my daily life is pressed with responsibility it is sometimes hard to 'flow' so I just listen within for what is given for me to do in that day.. Sometimes the daily tasks/responsibilities/obligations have a secret to share and then the next day I can work on a design a new form emerges.

where would I like to be in ten years?

enjoying my family and celebrating life through sight and sound. I would also like to be in a postition to give to my community in whatever capacity is needed at that time.

anything else we should know?

I am driven by the notion that we all have sollutions that are begging to arrive in our life rather than 'problems' if problems persist it is because we have not seen the 'space in between'.

Treasures at the Farmer's Market

Eco Monday: Star

Treasures from the Farmers Market

EcoMonday: Coffee Sacks

who IS my baker, really?

I purchased some empañadas to take to a gathering I was invited to. As I looked into the box on the way to the car, I giggled when I realized that it appeared that Dracula could be my baker! :)

Check 'em out -- two perfect fang holes! What's making you giggle this week?

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is butt-bling. This is a word I learned from office mates! Butt-Bling is the "beddazzled looking" twinkly pieces on the pockets of many jeans these days.

Did you see Regina's butt-bling today? It almost blinded me! :)

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Eco Monday: Coffee Bag

EcoMonday: Flatware

Eco Monday: Bowl

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is hangry. This is a word I learned from fellow Etsians and it made me giggle! Hungry +Angry=Hangry. It's that state of anger brought on by waiting to long to eat. Also known as low blood sugar.

It took so long to get to the restaurant, that I was hangry by the time we got there.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Eco Monday: Eco Straw

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is eco-chic. This is a word I learned from fellow Etsians and it's one of my new fave words!

Have you seen that cool eco-chic jewelry made from junk mail?

What fun new words have you learned this year?

EcoMonday: Heart

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is burrito baby. This is a word I learned from a man at the Dallas Zoo Party for the Planet.

Have you met my burrito baby? This is my daughter, she was one pound when she was born. I've eaten burritos that weigh more!What fun new words have you learned this year?

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is bullsh. This is a word I learned from coworkers recently. It's the abbreviated/office safe form of bullsh•t.

Did you see that deadline? That's complete and total bullsh.
What fun new words have you learned this year?

EcoMonday: Earrings

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is preesh. This word was brought to my attention by coworkers during a moment of appreciation. As you know, as time goes by words keep getting shorter and shorter and abbreviated. This is a shortened version of the phrase, "I appreciate it!"

A coworker shouted "preesh" over the cube wall as she ran by to a last minute meeting.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

EcoMonday: Buttons

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is sneakernet. This word was brought to my attention by coworkers during a hiccup on our server. We couldn't share files on the jacked server, so we shared them non-electronically by putting them on a jump drive and walking them (the sneaker part) to one another's desks. This is highly inefficient but desperate times call for desperate measures, right?!

Today the highly sophisticated servers were down, so to share files we went old school – that's right, we sneakernetted.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Eco Monday: Folk Art

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is crap ton. I learned this term from coworkers. This term refers to a huge excess of something.

I hope we're not here all night, the client just ask for a crap ton of stuff before the end of the day.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is bacne. This word was brought to my attention by a friend during a discussion about summer skin. This is a recent term that refers to the acne that some people get on their backs during the summer. back + acne = bacne

I dread the summer heat because of bacne. I don't feel comfortable wearing fun summer fashions for fear that someone will spot my bacne.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is zakka. This word was brought to my attention by sunflowersbydesign. This is a Japanese term that means little bits.

There are so many fun zakka listings on Etsy.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Eco Monday: Three Good Things

I can't remember when exactly this started, but at some point I decided to do three good things a day for the earth. Bonus points for extras over three a day. It's interesting over time how these new habits have stuck and I have adopted additional good things for the earth into my routine.

I was recently tweeting about all this with @smallftprints and she shared her three good things for the day. We've been having a good time sharing them on twitter

Exmaples:
• Take shorter showers to save water
• Use reusable shopping bags
• Carpool to work
• Turn the water heater down a few degrees to save energy
• Carry a reusable water bottle and stop buying water in plastic bottles
• Water your plants with grey water
• Get your shoes resoled instead of getting new ones
• Walk instead of drive
• Shop your local Farmer's Market
• Use kitchen towels instead of paper towels

So, what are your three good things today?

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is yarn bombing. I learned this term from knitters. This term refers to knitters who plan to knit on something in a public place as a surprise.

I was delighted to see the yarn bombing at the Lakewood Library - it was a nice surprise.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

Word for Wednesday

Today's word is skyjacked. I can't remember where I learned this. This term refers to being done wrong by an airline.

I'm sorry to be late for the meeting, I was skyjacked in Los Angeles.

What fun new words have you learned this year?

EcoMonday: Baby Rattle

Mark Your Calendar for the Spring Bash