Chima, chima bo bima...Banana, Fana, fo fima

Sorry I get "goofy" when I'm tired and I just finished a night shift but I wanted to post this before i go an "crash"...zzzzzzzzzzzzz

I really got the eyes right on this doll, "Chima". I practiced and after many flubs and rejecto alien evil eyes,.............these are great - if I say so myself :)

She's an elephant lover & protector and yes she snuck into her Mom's "purple" mascara

Quit Your Bitchin'

I solved the blurry photo problem and what's really weird is it only began with the last 4 items I listed. Once I began using my new "cheap" $120.00 camera, with the macro setting, I always just exported from Picasa, after tweaking details and "Viola" perfect-O!

Suddenly yesterday.......clarity GONE.

Etsy CHANGED something........I'm absolutely sure of it......I think.

I went to the etsy forum to get help and did a search for "blurry pictures" and there was great advice (quite old in fact ) on editing pics to 800 to 1000 pixels for the top clarity. So I edited my Harajuku doll and she's now Picture PERFECT! and clear as a bell just as in my last post here on the blog.

I checked my older listings - "Pincushion Doll - Celeste" is the perfect example - and the pic is VERY clear and yet it's a 400 pixel photo...?????

Who cares right....but..........yada yada yada.... the problem is solved,.....but....I need to quit my bitchin' and move on.... I got tons to do to catch up with my mentor Timothy A.

She's Here, She's Here!!! Handmade Harajuku!

My Handmade Harajuku Creation is up for the world to see! I posted her everywhere:

Blog

Twitter

Facebook personal page

Facebook fan page

etsy forum

and etsy shop of course.

I spent HOURS fussing over all the crafty details while designing her and, grrrrrrrr, my one picture ( above/ full view) no matter what I do, appears blurry on etsy????????

All uploaded exactly the same as the rest - repeatedly - and can't get it clear

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm gotta figure it out...

Harajuku is a fashion trend and district in Japan. Gwen Stefani wrote a song about the girls and there are tons of pics on Flickr that are just amazing! If you like wild fashion "google it" and feast your eyes!

A Hot Giveaway! Caliente Mommas!

There are numerous giveaways all over the web, ALL the time.

I am going to draw your attention to the REALLY HOT ONES!

These beautiful handmade glass beads are perfect for a summer necklace or earrings. They are 15mm, gorgeously colored on a green base and handmade by Sue (aka Glassymom) at Fragiacomoglassart

Here's the link to the FEST blog where you can enter a comment to win them..............I did :) Link

Anya Got A Feature

My cutie little Sewing Asisstant (Shhhh....pin cushion doll) "Anya" got featured on the Melt'm Design Studio blog. She's so excited and gloating a bit too much. My other girls are horribly jealous!

I overheard her say to them, "Good things happen to those of us who are the Best Looking!" Girls can be so catty. A few days of extra chores should reign in that sassy attitude! Tweens..........you love 'em and hate 'em!

A special thanks to Meltem! She's my etsysecrets buddy for entreprenuer encouragement. She makes gorgeous silver jewelry in Turkey. Here is my favorite item in her shop, Melt'm Design Studio, A Leather Rose Bracelet , it is part of her Rose Collection

Absolutely Lovely!

Michael Jackson

I am just so depressed that people who are born with amazing talent can't be allowed to live a healthy satisfying life. Michael Jackson was once a beautiful young man with a gift to share with the world.
I Loved Him. I love his music and dancing. Yes he was eccentic. Most oustanding artists are on the weird side.

Eventually rotten selfish greedy people surrounded him and ruined his life.
Famous people who lose their privacy need to surround themselves with people to protect them and care for them, not people who USE them.
Anna Nicole, Elvis, Marilyn, Princess Diana ..............it's a long list
I am heart broken for him, his family and his kids.

Artsy Fartsy Friday

My fellow etsy blogger, LazyTCrochet (link) makes some pretty and unique items...............



A wrist cuff featuring Bats.................cool

A shawl that won't fall off.....LOVE the COLORS!

Another style I adore and so loose and comfy

Apparently I'm more of a "pink" person than I thought!

Etsy SEO Glitch Help Here

Anybody need help understanding the SEO boo boo that happened on etsy recently?
Follow this link to have an explanation and answers to a million questions about how to tweak your shop for google and yahoo search engines.
It's a "town meeting" with Tim Adam who is a wiz on building a successful etsy shop. I am currently studying his methods and making changes by the dozens...............busy,busy,busy....

Sew,...... A New Handmade Blog Has Arrived

Well I love my new blog name. It exactly tells my purpose.
No expensive fabrics or patterns.
No lengthy or complicated projects.
Beginner sewists can learn the handmade hobby so many adore and create a multitude of adorable items to keep or use as gifts.
Sew a simple item and "Jazz It Up" to fit your own taste with a variety of embellishments or............NOT!

My future Ideas include:
hobo bag/purse
sewing machine cover
Halloween Decor
ipod cover
laptop cover
Christmas ornaments
Advent Calendar
aprons
animal plushies
hanger covers with sachets
and more and more

AND of course your suggestions!
The important thing is SIMPLE AND FUN items!

I'm Scared AND I Can Hardly See

The two problems are not related thank goodness!

New glasses are pending and these old ones suck on small print!

I'm scared because I'm going to change my blog name.
My focus has changed from teaching simple kid crafts to chatting and connecting with other artsy crafty adults who love the handmade movement as much as I do.( cough..etsy..cough,cough)
I especially love sewing and designing handmade decor.
My glue gun and I will never part but I'm changing my focus to handmade home decor projects.

What's SCARY is the name change and dealing with technology. I am not a computer geek, and don't know any to help me with this.
I hunted the blogger "help forum" and OMG it is loaded with bloggers who have had nightmare problems with switching names and domains. Blogger has no "real" people tech help.
So I'm going to let the go daddy techs help me as they have done many times before.
Say a prayer for me and cross your toes and fingers that I don't lose my blog in the switch.
OK my vision is all blury now I have exceeded the time that my eyes work with these awful "old" lenses.
This is also why I haven't been blogging much lately.