My Handmade Life

Craft or Die!

2009-11-01T10:19:00.001-05:00

As previously mentioned, I'm slightly addicted to Bust Magazine. While browsing the ads, I came across two awesome pattern shops. I just purchased the pattern for these little guys from Dangercrafts. I absolutely love destash projects! Destash projects are those small projects that take just those little scraps of fabric or random skeins of yarn you have lying around your workspace. They are de-stashing your overwhelming supplies!

So I hope to get started on this project as soon as Rebecca Danger sends me the PDF pattern! They are just too cute for words and I think my mom would love them for X-mas. (two birds with one stone, people! Two birds with one stone!)

Speaking of two birds, I also checked out UrbanThreads Now this is the smartest embroidery website I think I've ever seen. They sell PDF's of simple line drawings to transfer as embroidery patterns. They don't suggest the stitches, the colors, nothing. Just simple black line drawings. They are only a buck each, and I completely fell for it and bought this one! I think it would be fun to embroider and frame over one of my sewing tables. I need crafting projects I can work on during my commute to work. My commute's only 30 mins/each way, but I used to get SO MUCH knitting done in that time!

Well, I'm off to water my plants and get sewing! Later gators!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Handmade Is Better...

2009-10-31T12:36:00.000-04:00

I just bought half yards of each of these fabrics from FabricWorm, so expect items in new prints soon:

While reading the latest issue of Bust Magazine, I came across an ad for Craftster's shop and fell in love with this t-shirt:

I rarely wear t-shirts with things printed on them, but this is super cute and I'd totally wear it to the farmer's market or on other weekend errands. I may buy it for myself for x-mas.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Inspiration in little packages.

2009-10-30T11:51:00.000-04:00

Late October and I've written and saved so many drafts of blog posts but haven't actually posted any of them. Whoops!

This is just going to be a short one to get the momentum going again:

About 6 weeks ago I posted about Scarlett and the bday dress I made her. Well, I found a photo of her from her birthday party and thought I'd post it:

There's Scarlett, face covered in blue cupcake frosting, wearing the dress I made especially for her! How can you not smile after looking at this photo?

I wish people would send me more customer appreciation photos, they really make my year! I love seeing babies and toddlers in the clothing I create for them!

In other crafty news? I 'hearted' this item a while ago but found the shipping to be quite ridiculously expensive (it turns out the shipper uses Fed Ex) so I never bought it. I was going to go to the lumber yard and try to create my own.

My mother signed onto Etsy.com to look at my items and unknowingly came across the items in my favorites. She thought she was just browsing items on Etsy, not solely items I'd liked enough to 'heart'. She found the item I'd been fawning over and purchased it for me as a gift! Without even knowing that she was shopping things I'd chosen as things I like!

So I put it up and realized I need to purchase more thread. But look at how organized it is currently! I used to keep all my thread in two large jars from Ikea and inevitably always needed the color all the way at the bottom. This is SO MUCH EASIER!

Okay, time to get some sewing done!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Life's a Peach (Preserves) - A DIY tutorial

2009-09-08T22:12:00.001-04:00

This is my first attempt at a DIY tutorial, so be nice!

If you live in the NorthEastern US (I'm in NYC), you may know that peaches are in season, both yellow and white!

Last year I began canning things because of ReadyMade Magazine. There was an article called "Put Up or Shut Up" and I immediately ordered a number of books on the subject.

Since then, I've made TONS of apple butter, and despite asking that the giftees merely return my half-pint ball jars when done, many have not done so. Needless to say, if you don't return a canner's ball jars, they will NOT be gifting you with the latest fruit of their canning labor.

I've been meaning to make strawberry preserves for ages and have 2 quarts of locally grown strawberries in my freezer but have yet to make them.

Today? I am attempting to make peach preserves!

They are hott-packed, so no PH testing is required. Below is what you need to get started:

The Usual Suspects:
6 half pint or 3 pint mason jars and lids w/ complete seals. (I use Ball jars)
1 very deep large lobster pot (for hot pack)
1 pair tongs
1 canning funnel
1 ladle
1 large pasta pot
1 large wooden spoon.
4 cups diced peaches (peeled)
1/8 cup lemon juice
1 pack pectin
5.5 cups sugar

1. Sterilize The Jars:

Handwash or dish wash your jars first.
You can either sterilize using bleach or by boiling the jars.

I try to be as non-toxic and green as possible in my home, so I don't own bleach, I boil my jars. Place the jars, lids, seals and funnel in the large lobster pot and making sure each jar is covered by a couple inches of water, boil on high for at least 10 minutes, then bring the flame to a low.

For bleach sterilization, fill your sink basin with warm water and add 2 tbsp bleach for every gallon of water used. Place the jars in and make sure they are completely submerged in the water. Wait 10 minutes and carefully remove.

2. Prepare the peaches

I use a regular fruit peeler, I've found that if you run the peaches under cold water before peeling, the peels come off much more easily. Make sure you peel the entire peach, see that little skin I left on in the photo? That's a no no. I removed it after taking the pic. Cut and dice the peaches. Toss the pits, better yet? Plant them! =)

3. Prepare and place peaches, lemon juice and pectin in the pasta pot.

4. Bring to a strong boil over high heat.

5. Add 2 3/4 cups (half of the 5.5) of sugar and return to the beginning of a boil, stir frequently.

6. Add remaining 2 3/4 cups of sugar and bring to a rolling boil.

7. Begin a 3 minute timing before canning; at 2 mins, check for signs of jelling.
I use a metal tablespoon, put a small dollup of the preserves on the spoon, blow lightly to cool it, and turn the spoon on it's side, towards you. If it doesn't move once cool, the preserves are ready to be canned.

8. Hot pack according to safe canning practices:

Pack the jars one at a time. Place a clean plate on the counter. Using tongs, carefully pull a jar out of the hot very hot pot, place on the plate (for easy clean-up). Carefully remove the funnel from the hot water, grasp with oven mit, and set inside jar's mouth. Using a ladle, spoon the preserves into the funnel until full. That would be 1/4" below the jar mouth's opening.

Wipe any spillage off of the jar with a clean towel. Carefully (it's hot!) remove the seal and lid and place them on the jar, first the seal, then the lid. With two hot pads or oven mits, tighten the jar as tight as possible, paying attention to the jar and lid threads matching up. Turn the jar upside down, (on it's lid) and place on a flat surface. Set a timer for two minutes.

Once the timer is done, turn the jar right side up and let cool.

9. Repeat as needed.

The recipe is for 6 half-pints or 3 pints (only 4 are pictured). If you find you cannot adequately fill the last jar, make sure you refridgerate it right away and use that jar first. Jars not filled to the top cannot be hot-packed and stored at room temperature.

10. Make pretty labels.

I actually bought my labels as part of a kit called Pretty Pantry Gifts, but have been dying to design my own. Make sure the label includes what the preserves are, what the ingredients are, and to refridgerate after opening.

When canned correctly, these peach preserves should last you through the winter and well into the Spring as long as the seal has not been broken.

11. Enjoy! Share! Have a brunch party!

Ideas for these preserves? I like them on vanilla ice cream, pancakes, waffles, toast, peanut butter sandwiches...the sky is the limit!

If you make these preserves, please let me know how they turned out!

<3 Always,
--Taina

My favorite 2 year old girl.

2009-09-07T11:15:00.000-04:00

My family is full of toddler boys but no girls. I am trying to make more boy-friendly items for my shop, but in the meantime, I've completely fallen head over heels for my coworker James' daughter, Scarlett.

(Scarlett and James fooling around)

Scarlett is two years old and SO full of light, SO friendly, SO full of personality. I've only met her a handful of times but she left a really great impression on me and I instantly fell in love. She let me take her into my arms and carry her around and I can't help but smile a big doofy grin whenever I see her.

(The Front)

Scarlett turned two a couple weeks ago and I was invited to the party but had an evening class to attend. I whipped up a 2T retro-cut dress in a fabric I absolutely adore as a present for a friend to bring in lieu of my attendance. There are absolutely no choking hazards on this dress, it's easy on/off using a narrow v-cut in the back center neckline. I'm thrilled with it and plan on making a bunch more in different prints and sizes for my shop.

(The Back)

My friend called me to say that Scarlett immediately wanted to change into it at her party and did! And proceeded to get cupcake all over it! That means she had a great bday, I smiled when he told me. I hope to get James to take some photos of her in it sometime soon.

(Back neckline)
I am currently making a dress from the same style for another coworker's daughter, in a 3-6 month size and in this fabric:

<3 Always,
--Taina

I've returned!!

2009-09-06T16:52:00.001-04:00

Happy September, folks!

I took my shop out of Vacation mode and almost immediately began selling items again! August was a decent month, especially because I'd been on hiatus for a few weeks and August is usually quite slow for most sellers on Etsy.

I also submitted a handful of photos to CraftGawker and three of the 6 were chosen for the site! So exciting! It is making me want to take better photos of my work.

My cherry tomato plants on one of my bedroom windows are ridiculous! I planted them in a window box and a couple months ago and they've practically taken over the window.

The plants have tons of flowers, but the fruit are slow-growing. I was hoping to be able to can cherry tomato salsa for winter, so as soon as any of the fruit is ripe, I pick them and freeze them. I've got two green cherry tomatoes growing to quite the decent size on one of my plants and a bunch of tiny little babies (1mm or so) throughout both plants.

I went to see "Julie & Julia" at the AMC @ Lincoln Center last night and realized I really need to keep up with my blog and following the blogs I love. I think it'd be fun to do a DIY tutorial every two weeks. I've been meaning to etch some glassware as gifts, so that will be the first one. Coming soon...

<3 Always,
--Taina

Temporarily Closed....

2009-07-18T15:56:00.000-04:00

So things have been so nuts with me recently, I made the decision to close up shop until mid August. I've been on Etsy since Sept. 11th, 2005 and have NEVER put my shop in 'Vacation Mode'. This was a huge decision I spent a month thinking about.

I claimed "personal matters" in my shop announcement, but I will explain that a bit...

I'm currently fighting with my landlord on some serious apartment repairs that they are pretty much refusing to do, getting ready for a Labor Management meeting at work and filling in for my Union Chair this month as he's on vacation and it was decided very last minute that I'd take over his job for the next 3 weeks...

My roommate is also moving out in Sept, she was just accepted to Cambridge University for a 1 year Developmental Studies program. My mom has also been pretty ill recently, so every minute that I'm not dealing with housing issues, union issues or work issues, I'm trying to figure out family stuff. Needless to say, it's nuts! As much as I absolutely love making things and selling on Etsy, it's been difficult to even find the time to hit up the Post Office. So I decided to close up and focus on other things for a month and then come back full force for the holidays.

I'm also working on a decent-sized custom order for my boss. She wanted 8 blue cupcake makeup bags for her bridal party.

What's amazing is I've never wanted to make items as much as I have since temporarily closing up my shop! All I think about is making more baby shoes, pouches, finally working on those retro aprons I've been talking about all year... So look out! Come August 10th, I will have a ton of new stuff posted!

I just bought this pin from Lolabot.

It's a John Maeda quote. We sell his book "Laws of Simplicity" @ MoMA, it's fascinating.

Okay, I'm off to Target and then to see a friend's show tonight...

<3 Always,
--Taina

ahhh handmade!

2009-07-06T14:38:00.001-04:00

I was really hoping to have a week of vacation to make things for my shop in June, but my worker's comp trumped that. It's amazing how this works...I was stuck at home and depressed, not even being able to sit for any decent length of time because of the swelling of my left foot and I was too down to make things. Which is really quite dumb because the thing that makes me feel best and really myself is when I am being productive and creating...What a terrible downward spiral those 2.5 weeks were!

Towards the end of the last week, just before returning to work, I made these two pairs of baby shoes:(Click photos for more info!)

Pink woodgrain! One of my fave fabric patterns.

But I'm back! And I have no plans other than a few work and education-related after-work activities and some serious yoga classes to attend in the next two weeks. I have a decent-sized custom order, 8 cupcake makeup bags for my boss's bridal party gift totes. I want to get them done even though she won't need them until early September. I ordered the fabric, so hopefully I will have them finished in a week's time or so. That will be nice, one more thing out of the way. My retro aprons are never going to be finished!

I have a week's vacation set up for the first week of August, going to a family reunion of my dad's side of the family. It should be a BLAST, I'm trying to decide if there's enough room in the car for my sewing machine. It would be nice to get some stuff done. I will have to close up shop for that week, which is a little scary, as August tends to do pretty well. I may just announce delayed shipments instead.

In other handmade news?

I made a pair of pretty sweet (if I do say so myself!) coasters for a friend who has become quite dear to me quite quickly as a thank you for keeping me sane through mid-contract negotiations. I used out-of-print Loteria fabric on ceramic tiles, modgepodged the fabric cut to fit, then polyurethaned them so they are completely waterproof. I'd never tried polyurethane-ing fabric before, and it seemed to work pretty well. I paired that with a bottle of Maker's Mark and now when I come over, my friend shows me he has them every time, which makes me smile to no end.

I made a 0-3 month dress and a 3-6month dress for the new babies in my dear friends' lives. My buddy Greg who works in Security at MoMA just had a beautiful baby girl named Paayton Grace. I can't wait until her tiny chubby body fits the 0-3 dress, give it a week or two and I should have photos! For Tamsin, a co-shop steward, I made a 3-6 month dress because she's got maternity leave for 4 months and I thought she'd be able to get some use out of a larger size. Tamsin gave birth to a very healthy Flora Zoe on June 22nd. I know she will send me photos when the dress fits, but that will be in quite some time.

Well, time to go back the fulltime job that pays the bills...lunchtime is over! Photos to come soon!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Birdies!

2009-06-09T15:18:00.002-04:00

I finally got my worker's comp. claim #, but nobody's been assigned to my case yet. I'm feeling a little better just knowing it's being worked on. I was feeling pretty darned hopeless this morning.

I ordered 5 new yards of fabric from FabricWorm, so be on the lookout for new things soon! I bought this New Michael Miller below and can't wait to make pillows and baby shoes with it:

My landlord is supposed to be painting my apartment, I've lived in the same place for 3.5 years, so apparently it is time. I still have not heard back on when, and I'm living in a state of not wanting to put anything up until the painting gets done.

Because I've been lying in bed a lot resting my injured foot, I decided to finally put up the vinyl birdie decals I bought from Elephannie a few months ago. I know I will have to take them down once the Super paints, but I will just buy more. In the meantime? I get to wake up and see these little guys above my closet and they make me happy. I need more happiness. It's so easy to wallow and find myself depressed over something stupid that leaves me fairly immobile for (so far) 4 days.

On top of that, the front runner in the boy dept. is causing my mind to question my attraction to those who are unavailable, and the union stuff never stops, the grievances just keep coming!

My poor little toe! The little guy was never able to fend for itself. =P

I was able to make a new pair of baby shoes last night and listed them this morning. They are super sweet and I hope somebody snatches them up quickly, as the print is definitely one of my new favorites!

(click photo for more info)

That's been the extent of my creativity unless you count planting more herb seedlings on my window.

If I had more money, I would go on an Etsy shopping spree, but I just paid rent and bills and am feeling less than comfortable spending more money on myself. So I've just been 'heart'ing everything in site. My poor attempt at a play on words. ;)

Well I'm going to try to drag my sewing machine to my desk and make at least one more pair of shoes. Productivity makes me happiest.

What I wouldn't give to have a hot glue gun handy! I'd at least make recycled magazine page coasters. I wish my hardware store delivered. I don't know why I have no hot glue gun but approx. 100 hot glue sticks, a mystery for the ages...?

<3 Always,
--Taina

longest blogging delay ever!

2009-06-08T09:19:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone!

It's been a crazy month and a half. Thanks to my Etsy penpal Nadine for reminding me I should blog. It seems I may have a little time on my hands as I had an injury at work that resulted in what seems to be a possible hairline fracture at worst and a pretty bad contusion/hematoma at best. It's my little toe. Who knew I needed my little toe? I mean, sure, 5 toes means decent balance, but...my little toe is just...well, it's always been a sad chubby little piggie, and now it's swollen and purple and brown and won't fit into my most comfy flats.

This past week has been interesting. I try not to discuss politics on this blog, but it's sometimes unavoidable, as politics and DIY culture tend to mix.

Dr. George Tiller was murdered in Kansas last week. No matter how you feel about abortion, I am not asking to be flamed. I believe it's a very personal decision.

I have been eyeing Kate Black's feminist stuff for ages. I'm a huge fan of her work, she's a totally awesome woman I've met numerous times. I have purchased plenty of her "Well behaved women rarely make history" mirrors/bottle openers and own a "Don't F*ck With Me Fellas, This Ain't My First Time At The Rodeo" bottle-opener keychain.

Along with sending money to Planned Parenthood in mourning the loss of Dr. Tiller, I also purchased this bottle-opener keychain I've been eyeing for ages:

I can't wait for it to come in the mail!

As far as new items for my shop? I'm working on it, it's tough for me to sit for any length of time at my machine because of my toe accident. I did just purchase some really great fabric from FabricWorm, but that will be the next post. =)

<3 Always,
--Taina

Spring has Sprung!

2009-04-18T13:19:00.001-04:00

Happy mid-April, everyone!

It's been a bumpy ride these last few weeks, and when things get bumpy, I tend not to blog here. Things are beginning to slow down and I hope to be back to making new items for my shop very soon.

In the meantime? Birdsnest cupcakes!

There are five family traditions in my immediate family (parents and brother):

Everyone gets together for each other's birthdays and when the birthday girl/boy cuts the cake, everyone attending the birthday has to scream at the top of their lungs the moment the knife hits the bottom of the first cut. It's for good luck.

Then there is "Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit", which is what we say first thing on the first day of each month. That was taught to me by Ms. Kitty Graves (yes, that was hear real name). Ms. Graves was my 3rd grade teacher and ever since I was 8 years old, we've continued this tradition. If I wake up early, I will call my mom and yell "RABBIT RABBIT RABBIT!" before she has time to say "hello?" so she remembers to say it. I'm sure she really appreciates that wake-up. My dad merely texts it to me.

Now on to the handmade traditions:

Thanksgiving is a traditional American meal: potatoes, yams, turnips, greenbeans, turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce. Traditionally, I make the cornbread and pumpkin pies. In the last two years, I've also added pumpkin Arroz con Leche and ginger pumpkin bread to the menu. My mom began the tradition of handing each dinner attendee 5 kernels of unpopped popping corn, we each go around the table and name 5 things we are thankful for. It's pretty sweet, my brother pretends to hate it.

Christmas is our traditional Puerto Rican meal: Pernil, yuca malanga, avocado salad...I make flan and coconut pudding.

Now, last Sunday was Easter. Normally, we have Easter dinner. My brother was unable to make it for the first year ever. He's knee-deep in a 20-page paper and is also beginning his thesis. I ended up meeting my parents for brunch at Le Monde, and as much as I enjoyed it, I hope our tradition continues to be a) one that includes the entire family and b) a home-cooked meal. I wanted to keep up my end of the bargain, so after meeting my family, I came home to my roommate and made Irish Soda Bread and birdsnest cupcakes.

The only reason I make Irish Soda Bread on Easter is because I couldn't find a recipe for hot-cross buns that I liked, but my Irish Soda Bread has a big cross on the top of it (to help it rise and bake). Birdsnest cupcakes? Well, 5 or 6 years ago they started out as cookies that were way too fancy. My family doesn't care if things are fancy, and these cookies too HOURS! Complete w/ chocolate ganache and everything. So I decided on making cupcakes, toasting coconut for the "nest" and adding chocolate eggs (Cadbury Mini Eggs work well) on top.

So last Easter Sunday night, Adeline helped me make 24 birds-nest cupcakes, and watched as I taught her how to make Irish Soda Bread. It was fun. And although I miss my brother to pieces, it was nice to be able to come home to my own apartment and my little apartment family of Adeline and Psyche D. Cat.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Curiousity or Interest?

2009-04-13T14:48:00.002-04:00

I just received SUCH a cool necklace from UntamedMenagerie.

It's a quote from "Alice In Wonderland":

"’Curiouser and curiouser!’ Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English). ’Now I’m opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-bye, feet!’ (for when she looked down at her feet they seemed to be almost out of sight, they were getting so far off)." (Ch. 2)

Recently, I found myself interested in a guy who I know very little about. He's good-looking, has really good taste in both music and books, he's an artist of sorts. I would just like to get to know him better. No jumping the gun here, no sir! He complimented my work on Etsy once upon a time, which is not really something guys do with any frequency, as my work is pretty female-centric.

I think the last time I wrote about a guy was probably my "Ode to an Ex-Lover" post last September...I don't really talk about these things in this blog, unless they somehow relate to My Handmade Life.

A few weeks ago, Tom P., a friend of mine who knows my inner-workings from years of reading an incredibly honest and open blog I had between the ages of 18-24, asked me "Is he a curiousity or an interest?" in a text message.

I thought about it for a few minutes and responded "a curiousity..."

So we'll see, we might hang out this week, but have no definite plans.

<3 Always,
--Taina

March Madness!

2009-03-31T11:38:00.000-04:00

...but not in the basketball sense...in my handmade life!

I've sold 9 items in the last week, 7 in 24 hrs, and 2 last night. I'm THRILLED that sales have picked up, and can only hope to keep the momentum going.

A coworker in another dept. in the Museum saw my shop on my Facebook profile and bought a couple items from me for his sister's 25th birthday. He's from Texas and mentioned that they both have a thing for sugar skulls. After selling him the two things he was interested in, I went home and checked out how much fabric I had left in the two sugar skull colorways I use and made more things for my shop. It felt like the minute I listed them, they sold! Such a great feeling! So I made more and listed them!

(click photos for more info!)

A few years ago, I started the tradition of making a birthday gift by hand for my Aunt Gailey. She's my knitting and sewing aunt, and we have a really great relationship. Her birthday was 03/08, and I knew what I wanted to make her.

My grandmother Esther (father's mother) passed away from Emphysema many many years ago. I was a wee child, the age of 7 when she died. Esther was a depression-era lady. She took buttons off of shirts that were too worn to wear so she could put them on other things. She canned, she sewed, she darned socks. She was a crafty lady, in all sense of the word.

When my grandfather Steve died in 2000, all of the grandparents' items were divided up over the 5 children and their grandchildren. I asked for this poster that used to be in Grandma Esther's little room that said "Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits." I absolutely love it because it's so odd but so great!

Well, I thought how perfect it would be to cross-stitch my own version of this poster for my Aunt Gailey's birthday this year. So I did! I hadn't embroidered anything in soooo long. It took me weeks, but this was the final product, framed:

Well, in the time it took to write this post, I sold my 300th item!!! Yayyy! I did a happy dance to Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" and now it's time to get back to work!

<3 Always,
--Taina

How good it feels...

2009-03-23T21:30:00.002-04:00

...to be making things again!

After almost a month hiatus from making anything new for my shop, I finally sat down and created these adorable baby shoes:

(Click photo for more info)

I also cut out the fabric for another pair I hope to finish tomorrow morning before work.

Wow, I'd almost forgotten how great it feels to make things for Etsy!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Happy Spring!

2009-03-20T19:57:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I went to the New York Botanical Gardens w/ my aunt and dad and saw the Orchid Show. I'm not a huge fan of orchids, although I understand how precious and delicate they are. The show was still incredible. Lots of photos taken with my Diana F+, so hopefully in a week I will have prints to scan and share!

I have been super lame and haven't updated my shop w/ anything new in a few weeks. For this, I apologize. Life's been super hectic with Grad School applications, bookkeeping, taxes, work, and union things.

However, the GOOD NEWS? Tomorrow I have all day to make things! Yay!!!

Also, starting today (03-20) through Sunday (03-22) I am having a "Hooray it's Spring" Sale!

20% off everything in my shop. Just purchase, enter "Blog20" upon checkout and I will refund 20% to you via paypal. OR...you can checkout but not pay and I will adjust a paypal invoice for you, reflecting the 20% off.

And for those of you worried that UNICEF won't receive the full 15% of the original price, fear not! I will still be donating 15% of the original price to UNICEF of each item sold this weekend!

Happy buying!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Too busy!

2009-03-13T16:04:00.002-04:00

I've been super busy with work and haven't actually had time to finish my first apron. I was hoping to finish it before I left to meet with some friends, but it isn't happening. So hopefully tonight and I will list it tomorrow.

In other news, I've sold 5 items so far this month. This means sales are picking up! I'm super excited about this! I just need to keep the momentum going.

I need to pre-wash all the fabric I received recently from FabricWorm so I can get cracking on some super adorable and very girly things.

I also was asked to custom make a dress for my boss's niece's 2 year birthday in May. We picked out the fabric (see above) and I sketched out a design I think would be super cute and my boss agreed.

I want to make it with a cute empire waist sash. I think it will be adorable and cant' wait for the fabric to get to me!

Okay, gotta get ready to head out. Later, bloggers!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Retro-style aprons!

2009-03-09T20:24:00.000-04:00

I have started making aprons for my shop and can't wait to photograph these domestic little numbers!

The first one I am finishing tonight is made from this Alexander Henry apple and pear fabric:

I can't wait to photograph and list it! It will most likely be posted on Wednesday, since I work super early tomorrow and can't take good photos until the sun comes up.

Be on the lookout! This is just the beginning!

<3 Always,
--Taina

A Good Etsy Day

2009-03-06T09:03:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was great!

I listed my "Night Owls" throw pillow:

I got some great feedback from my facebook friends when I uploaded it there. I updated my flickr account and added my latest two pillows to the groups I'm a member of.

I sold one of my favorite makeup pouches:

and got home from work to find the gorilla portrait I bought from BerkleyIllustration waiting for me in my mailbox along with a freebie print of a gorilla and a bird!

A handmade day that made me smile from beginning to end!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Hi, my name is Taina and...

2009-03-05T11:47:00.000-05:00

I'm addicted to VieModerne's flowers!

(admitting is the first step!)

I wore a different one every day at the United Auto Workers Health & Safety Conference and it was a great way for the guys to come up and ask me about them and start a conversation. I accidentally squished my pink hair clip to the point of no return, so I just bought a replacement.

There's nothing like combined shipping discounts to make someone want to buy more than one of something, so I purchased a gold satin one also! I am so excited!

I also went to Borders Books after work and looked through books of little girl dresses and have been sketching out ideas, so be on the look out! My coworker Greg and his wife Candy are having a baby girl in June, so I get to try out all my patterns on them. =)

When I got home, I listed my latest pillow, a print I absolutely love. It's called "VW Sole", in the pink colorway.

(As always, you can click the photos for more details)

I photographed my latest pillow this morning but didn't have time to list it, so it will have to happen once I get home from work this evening.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Spring things!

2009-03-04T17:32:00.000-05:00

Even though I'm a Winter baby, I have found myself tired of slush and the terrible drops in temperature this year. I decided to buy some new fabrics for items for Spring and chose these from FabricWorm:

I am especially excited by the 2nd, 3rd and 5th prints in that stack.

And I also bought these:

I think the woodgrain is super cute. I can't wait to make lots of makeup bags and coin purses and things out of these fabrics!

Be on the lookout! Lots of new things coming in the next week or two! I also made two new pillows, one I am listing in my shop tonight, the other I am photographing tomorrow and listing before work if possible.

Oh, as for things I have purchased? I'm an Etsy addict recently! I bought two vintage things from JollyPollyPickins.

The first is a vintage owl coffee container and matching mug for my old roommates Dorian & Becky who just got engaged, so it's their engagement/housewarming gift.

The second was an impulse buy. It's a vintage Circus container that spins! I thought it would make a cute spot for candy or something on my coffee table in my livingroom. It reminds me of this circus train toy set I had when I was a child.

I can't wait until they come! I thought I'd buy some nice coffee to put into the coffee container for D&B.

<3 Always,
--Taina

I'm baaack!

2009-03-01T11:30:00.001-05:00

Black Lake (Onaway), MI was incredible. So much snow! The UAW is an incredible brother(and sister)hood. As I'd told the president of my Local, there is nowhere I'd rather celebrate my birthday. They are like a second family to me.

So now I'm back home in NYC, I got back on Friday night, slept all day yesterday and am still tired today. My roommate hasn't put her bed together yet and is still sleeping on the couch a couple weeks later. This makes it difficult for me to make things early mornings. I REALLY want to sew!

I got home, paid my Etsy bill and donated 15% of my sales for February to World Wildlife Fund. It came to $8.40, so I rounded it up to $10.

I picked UNICEF as the world-wide organization to donate 15% of my sales to for the month of March. They do so much work for children, and as I am gearing my shop more towards children's items as of recent, I think it is perfect for March.

I had some money left over after paying the bill and donating, so I bought myself a couple things I'd been eyeing from my "Favorites".

I finally bought the little birdies decal from Elephannie that I'd mentioned a few posts earlier, as well as this awesome gorilla print from Berkley Illustration:

and a few stamps and stamp pads from NoraJane to personalize the boxes and envelopes I ship my items in. I bought a heart and a spool of thread. I also bought a little frog for my mom:

Once my roommate wakes up, I can go into my fabric pantry and pick the fabrics I want to make things out of today.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Getting ready for cold, cold Michigan!

2009-02-17T00:09:00.003-05:00

I will be leaving Saturday for the United Auto Workers Health & Safety Conference in Onaway, Michigan. It is going to be COLD! I will be there for my bday, so I bought myself a few birthday presents on Etsy last week.

Currently, I am wearing my letter "T" typewriter ring from Keysandmemories.etsy.com and LOVE IT! I've been wearing it every day since I purchased it!

I also bought this fabulous vegan raspberry creme lip balm from RightAsRainCreations.etsy.com:

It's exfoliating, tastes and smells great, and really moisturizes! I will definitely be back for more!

I also went back to Berkeley Illustration and purchased two more 5x7" prints, including the Billy Goat, which I think is awesome! He's eating his own tie!

I also just found out a coworker's wife is pregnant with a baby girl, and he wants me to make the outfit they bring her home in. That's so much pressure! I bought this fabric:

I was thinking a sundress, bloomers and baby shoes. We'll see. I expect to be making quite a few things for them. I can't wait until the fabric gets here!

Okay, off to work at the day job, lunch is almost over!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Lazy Saturday...

2009-02-07T17:03:00.001-05:00

I had all of these things I planned on doing today and got nearly none of them done! I did spend some time on my computer and got some stuff done there.

I finally updated my Flickr account to where I want it to be! I created an account years ago and all the photos were terrible and it just wasn't fun, so I revamped it, deleted all the really old photos, created sets of self-portraits and things I've made for Etsy...added myself to some groups, found a few contacts...Yay! I'd been putting off fixing it up for a while.

I also sat at my sewing machine and made a pair of baby shoes for My shop:

(Click photo for more info)

And now I'm going to clean my apartment, order a veggie burger and make some more stuff.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Febrrrruary!

2009-02-06T22:55:00.001-05:00

The good thing about it being incredibly cold this month is that it is only the 6th and I've already made a few things for my shop. It's too cold to stay out, my apartment is nice and warm, which makes it quite a nice environment for creating things.

I made a few pairs of baby shoes and a throw pillow. I listed the throw-pillow yesterday and it already sold! I love when that happens!

Birds and Blossoms pillow.

And I made my first pair of organic baby shoes:

The outer fabric is 60% organic cotton and 40% organic bamboo, and SO SOFT! =) I love it! I plan on making other things with the fabric.

The same day, I made these sea turtle baby shoes which I think are totally sweet:

And today I made these cute baby shoes as I am trying to create more gender-neutral baby items:

Tomorrow I plan on listing at least one new makeup bag and coin purse, and possibly a throw pillow, so stay tuned!

<3 Always,
--Taina

More hobbit birthday purchases!

2009-01-30T11:42:00.000-05:00

I have been looking for something special for my mom to give to her on my birthday. She gave birth to me, I thought I could give her something relaxing. I'm trying to purchase all of my Hobbit birthday presents to distribute on my birthday on Etsy.

Today I went to the front page of Etsy and stumbled upon the featured seller: SweetPetula. She makes bath and body items from scratch! Perfect! My mother loves to take baths and hardly ever does. I want her to pamper herself more, as she owes it to herself. I purchased bath fizzies in three different scents:

I purchased "Mediterranean Mint", "Provence" and "Sweet P." I think it's the perfect gift for my mom!

Okay, I have to sew the remaining of my January 10 items and list them by tomorrow. Time to get cracking!

♥ ♥ ♥
I am having a Twitter/Blog sale this weekend! Free shipping on all purchases, enter "twitter" or "blog" in the notes to seller box at check out, and I will send a revised invoice! Click here to check out my shop!

<3 always,
--Taina

February's Coming!

2009-01-28T22:10:00.000-05:00

Do you know what that means? Valentine's Day! My Birthday! My trip to the United Auto Workers Health & Safety Conference!

So many things to be excited about! I didn't used to be a Valentine's Day kind of gal, but now that I have two penpals and a number of single friends, I thought it would be fun to purchase/make cards.

I bought a couple from CreativeApples, but can only show one of them because my Etsy penpal reads my blog:

Also, I really love the idea of a Hobbit Birthday. Hobbits give gifts to others on their birthday, and I think that's an awesome idea. So I've been buying little things on Etsy to give my friends. I bought a few things from VieModerne, including one hairclip for myself:

I think I need to check her shop again for something perfect for my birthday. Although, I also wonder how the reaction would be if I wore something super girly in my hair at a United Auto Workers conference! lol.

<3 Always,
--Taina

P.S. There's a sale going on in my shop right now! All pillows are on sale, $18 marked down from $22!

I <3 sewing!

2009-01-24T17:40:00.000-05:00

I always wonder what other people's work areas look like. I'm still revamping mine, so I will be posting a photo or two every once in a while.

This is the sewing machine I most frequently use, it was my mother's. My dad actually got it for my mom as a present in the 70's. The brand is "New Home". It's super basic; zig-zag, straight, reverse, buttonholes...I got it fixed up after my mom let me borrow it. It weighs at least 30lbs and is mostly metal, and thankfully has a great carrying case, because I dragged it all the way downtown by subway to a mom&pop shop to get it fixed and cleaned. It now works like a dream! Let's hope my mom never finds a reason to want it back! =) There's something to be said about older sewing machines.

Speaking of...my other sewing machine is a 1947 Singer that comes in a table. I inherited it from my grandmother once my grandfather passed away. It's actually what the "New Home" is resting on. I use the small table when I make small things, like baby shoes and coin purses. Anything larger? I move the New Home to a full desk an old roommate gave me. I will take pics of everything soon.

Here are my newest baby shoes, item 5/10 for January:

I'm off to sew up 6 and maybe 7/10 for the month of January.

<3 Always,
--Taina

January 3/10 and 4/10

2009-01-24T13:15:00.002-05:00

I've been cutting tons of fabric recently and finally sat down at my sewing machine late last night to stitch fabric pieces together. I told myself I could watch "Baby Mama" only if I sewed the entire time I watched it. I have had "Baby Mama" from Netflix for more than two months and still hadn't seen it!

So while watching it, I made two pairs of baby shoes:

The pair above is definitely one of my favorites I've made so far. I think they are just darling!

(As always click the photos for more info!)

And right now? I have FIFTY items in my shop! I don't know if I've ever had 50 items in my shop before. I have another showcase date coming up in a couple weeks, so hopefully I will sell some of these items!

So today I hope to sew a couple more pieces. First? I have to go to the Post Office. I now have two penpals and I feel like I'm slacking! I already missed the drop-off time for my corner blue mailbox and I should probably drop off my netflix dvds. eeps!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Birthday Ideas

2009-01-22T00:43:00.001-05:00

My ::gasp!:: 28th birthday is coming up in a little over a month and my father keeps asking me what I want for it. My answer is always "I don't need anything." Which, I really don't.

For Christmas? I wanted a rollingpin and another cookie sheet. Those were perfect gifts, as I can now make gingerbread cookies and all cookies I bake take 1/2 the time, as I don't have to wait for my only cookie sheet to cool repeatedly.

I truly don't know what I need/want for my birthday. First? I won't even be here to celebrate. I am due to be in Michigan for a United Auto Workers Health & Safety Conference the week of my birthday. Note to self: buy snowpants!

So I have been wandering around Etsy.com all morning and finally remembered that a couple years ago, I asked my dad for a few things on my "Favorites" list, and it was AWESOME!

So that is what I'm going to do, compile a list of items that he can pick one or two off of to purchase for me.

So far? I like these: (Click photos for more info!)

I think these birdies would be really awesome above my window in my bedroom. Especially in either nut brown or light brown.

(My first name is "Taina", afterall!)

I love the thimble photo and want it! I already have her photo of thread spools.

I also have always been a fan of HeavenHelpUs's shop. I think it's hysterical. Being that my Etsy shop consists of many sewn things, I think St. Ann, the patroness of seamstresses would be the way to go.

I've always loved Lollibomb's products! She's also a total sweetheart. Now, to choose a scent? That would be difficult. I was thinking either Almond Biscotti or Green Tea/Cucumber.

And last but not least? I REALLY want one of these:

Erin/CocoBoudoir is an amazing hair accessory creator and this one called to me. However, it was a custom order for someone else, so I don't know if she will be making any more. I just contacted her to ask.

So that's my Birthday wishlist! yay. I will have to send the link to this blog entry to my dad and see what he thinks. I definitely don't want all of the items but one or two would rock my socks!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Terrariums - Step By Step!

2009-01-21T19:30:00.009-05:00

So you want to make a terrarium?

Here is what you need:

1 small bag of small stones
1 small bag of charcoal
1 small bag of soil
a few tropical plants of your choosing
1 clear glass or plastic jar with wide opening (so you can get your hand in!)

Instructions:

1. Wash your terrarium container with antibacterial soap, rinse well, dry.

2. Layer about 1" of stones at the bottom of your jar.

3. Layer about .5" of charcoal on top of the stones.

4. Place approx. 2-3" of potting soil on top of charcoal.

5. Decide where plants should go in soil.

6. Carefully remove each plant from containers and remove all excess soil off of roots.

7. Plant each plant carefully in terrarium container.

8. Water terrarium, if there is a lid, close it.

Care Instructions:
Water again every 2-3 weeks.
If condensation occurs on a regular basis, keep container open for a few hours to allow for evaporation.

Voila! You've got an awesome terrarium!

Oh...so...DIY!

2009-01-19T14:35:00.000-05:00

About a month ago, one of my friends made two of our co-workers terrariums as "thank you" gifts and a week later, Etsy.com featured a seller who makes and sells moss terrariums in really great small jars.

Now those of you who know me know that I am terrible at keeping plants alive. I've successfully kept two hearty cherry tomato plants, three bamboo plants and one aloe plant from dying. Everything else? Has had a terribly short life.

I love greenery, I volunteer at my local community garden, enjoy nature and live by the only primordial forest in all of Manhattan. I would love to be able to have some well-kept plants in my apartment, things that do not need to be tended to frequently.

I looked up books on terrariums on Amazon and found one that comes out on my birthday! I thought it was a sign.

I was originally supposed to go to a "Bon Voyage Bush!" party tonight but my kidneys are acting up again, giving me some pain in my lower back, so I decided to go to The Plant Shed and pick up some soil, gravel, charcoal and small plants. I already have a few empty jars at home.

So I'm off to start my afternoon project! I will take photos and give detailed instructions in the next blog entry!

<3 Always,
--Taina

January 2/10 complete!

2009-01-09T14:36:00.002-05:00

Hello Blog! I felt like giving you a little love today.

A couple posts ago, I posted two fabrics I'd ordered from CatyLouQuilts. Well, I made two new makeup bags from the fabrics a couple days ago and finally had a chance to photograph and list them in my shop! Here are the photos:

(As always, click photos for more info!)

I really love the "Quilt Pirates" fabric, it's so fun! The button eyes, stitched nose and mouth and scissor "crossbones"! The aqua color is pretty, too.

I'm off to try to make 3/10 now.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-08T23:11:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

So I have no idea if anyone is interested in my New Year's Resolutions, but they go a little something like this:

1. Make at least 10 new items per month for Etsy.
2. Exercise at LEAST 15 mins every day until my birthday (Feb. 24th)
3. No candy for the entire month of January.
4. Buy more things that are handmade and less sweatshop items.
5. Re-apply to grad school.

I think that's pretty much it. I am not good at keeping resolutions for very long, so I figured a month or two and if I want to go longer, great, if not, Jan or Feb is not a daunting completion date. =)

So far the candy thing has worked out really well...except I forgot and ate a cadbury cream egg. eeps! So I will go through Feb. 1st to make up for it. lol.

As for 10 new items each month? I've made two so far and will list them tomorrow but hope to make at least one more tonight.

And the buying more things that are handmade? That isn't hard. Etsy is full of amazing, gorgeous, fun things. I just bought two more hair accessories from VieModerne

Want to see? I am SO excited!

I had been eyeing the one above for a while now, but VieModerne went on vacation, so the minute I got the alert saying she was back from vacation mode, I knew I had to snag it!

And of course, combined shipping is a GREAT reason to buy than one item from a shop, so I bought this one as well:

It takes VieModerne about a week to make items, as they are all made to order, so I hope to get them in two weeks. I am thrilled!

My handmade penpal Nadine sent me this awesome headband a la CoCoBoudoir that I continuously get compliments on:

(Click the above photo for a better photo of the headband)

People at work constantly ask me who made it and where they can get one. Last Friday, MoMA had 22,000 visitors to the Museum. Talk about great advertising! I wish sellers would send me business cards!

There are two guys at work who make fun of me for the "Waldorf orchid" pictured above, One is bald and the other has a very close shave. I told them they are jealous, they've nicknamed me "flower girl". =) Not so bad!

I'm off to sew more!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Le sigh...

2008-12-27T21:11:00.000-05:00

I have not blogged in a few weeks! eeps! I have a blog coming up about Operation Santa, I sponsored 6 letters, 8 kids in total. I still have to scan in a couple of the letters for the entry, so it will have to wait.

I bought a few things on Etsy this week. First, two half yards of fabric from CatyLouQuilts:

Turquoise Quilt Pirates

Sky Blue Cupcakes

I think they will make super cute make-up bags/pencil cases and maybe even a pair of shoes.

I also have had my eye on this ring for quite some time and finally bought it:

I can't wait until it arrives!

Christmas was gooood. I made my mother a drawing of her as a little girl letting a dove fly free. My dad got a refurbed GPS from me and I gave my brother clothes. I'd wanted it to be more of a handmade x-mas but my shop's sales picked up a bit, work picked up a ton between union work and my job, and I just had no real time to sit down and make things for my family. The handknit striped tie on size 1 knitting needles for my dad may NEVER get finished! Maybe I will give it to him for my birthday.

My dad got really into "Hobbit Birthday"'s. When a hobbit has a birthday, he celebrates by giving gifts to others. I like the idea of that, and it gives me two more months to finish his tie!

I missed the Bust Craftacular here in NYC, which I was very disappointed by. I was super sick and depressed because of being sick so I skipped it. The good news? My roommates went and bought me blue fabric with turtles on it that will make some super cute baby shoes. I hope to make a pair tonight!

Also, I'm really into this whole burlesque idea. I've been pondering it for quite some time, years, really. I think it would be fun to do the silly performances, not the really serious ones. I also think it would be great for boosting confidence levels.

I haven't been feeling so great about myself recently. I stopped working out, I'm eating tons of junk...and because of it, I'm feeling sluggish. So starting tomorrow? No candy for a month! and starting tonight? exercising every day for at least 15 mins until my birthday, on Feb. 24th. Yesh. That's the plan. And maybe burlesque classes... =) How awesome would it be if all of my burlesque type stuff was handmade? I think it would be pretty sweeeet.

Time to go cut some fabric and sew! Later Gators!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Sales still thrill me...

2008-12-09T11:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I made a pair of baby shoes out of this really great green fabric with a leaf print on it:

I sold 3 pairs of shoes in the last 24 hours! You would think after selling more than 200 items, I wouldn't be happy but not thrilled. I am THRILLED by each and every sale. It's such a great feeling to make an item by hand and actually have someone be so interested in it that they are willing to pay for it.

I'm hunting for some gender neutral and "boy" fabric, as I'm continuously being asked for shoes for baby boys. So stay tuned!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Too many beautiful and fun things...

2008-12-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

...on Etsy!

I am eyeing VieModerne's flower hairclips with serious lust! I really really really like this one:

If I can get my order in within the next two days, I can have it by x-mas!

I think something weird is going on inside me. I was never really a "tom boy", but I've never been super feminine either. Over the last 12 months I've bought sundresses and headbands and necklaces and retro party dresses...it's really quite odd and out of character for me. But I LOVE it. The girlier, the better! =) In the last month, I even bought lots of different eyeshadows and eyeliners. Sooooo girly.

I want to always have a flower in my hair, cute flats on my feet and a smile on my face. I secretly want every single hair item that VieModerne sells. =)

<3 Always,
--Taina

New baby shoes!

2008-12-07T23:01:00.000-05:00

Hooray! I sold a pair of dragonfly baby shoes and made another pair. I also just listed these really fun and colorful yellow shoes:

(Click photo for more info)

I cut the fabric for 3 more pairs of shoes and another pillow last night. I plan on sewing another pair of shoes tonight and the pillow tomorrow morning. I have a Showcase date on Etsy starting at midnight EST tonight. I hope it generates some good views and maybe even a few sales!

<3 Always,
--Taina

One behind...

2008-12-02T20:04:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm one behind as for listing one item each day. I neglected to list something yesterday. eeps! That means I have to make two items tonight for my shop.

(Click photo for more info)

I made a pillow on Sunday night and just listed it today. It's made with a new print I purchased about a month ago. I think it's a really great print, both colorful and subtle, the contrast of the flowers on a white background reminds me of Winter. I may make a couple of these for my couch.

I love making envelope-backed pillows because the covers are so easy to remove and wash.

Okay, off to sew!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Doctors Without Borders

2008-12-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

I try to pick a different organization each month to donate 15% of my Etsy Shop's gross sales to.

This past Friday I met a Sudanese refugee named Wassie. He is incredible, soft-spoken, strong, a survivor. Upon meeting him and listening to his story, I decided that December (in connection with World AIDS Day) should be donated to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres.

I have donated a couple months to DWB/MSF in the last 12 months but really felt it was necessary to end the year on this note. The Fistula Foundation was a close second, so perhaps in January. I worry that something so blatant might be off-putting to potential buyers.

In case you are wondering what Doctors Without Borders has done in Sudan, here's the link: MSF in Sudan.

I wear an AIDS Awareness ribbon every Dec. 1st. I have lost quite a few family friends due to HIV/AIDS and would love a cure but would settle for economical treatments worldwide. DWB/MSF has done quite a bit of work in countries where many have been suffering from AIDS with no cost-effective treatment. To read more about it click here:

So December in Taina.etsy.com will be dedicated to Doctors Without Borders. Tell everyone you know! =)

<3 Always,
--Taina

Heart To Heart

2008-11-30T23:55:00.001-05:00

I just threw down ::gasp!:: $110 for a portable GPS system for my dad for Christmas. It's all he wants, he expected to buy himself one and I had to tell him to trust me and not buy one for himself, which sucks because I really really wanted it to be a surprise. I'm hoping he forgets over the next month or at least feigns shock.

If you know my dad, please please don't say anything to him! Pretty please? I bought him the Magellan 3250, refurbished from TigerDirect.com. It was $89.99 plus a $17.99 extended warranty and $1.99 shipping. Egads! I always question myself repeatedly when I spend that kind of money on something. Looks like I will be eating whatever is in my cupboards until I get paid on Thursday.

I bet you are wondering what this post has to do with "My Handmade Life". I am getting there... =)

I just listed my new item for today, not a minute too soon, as there's only 5 mins left of "today".

(Click photo for more info!)

The fabric I used is called "Heart To Heart" which I thought was a great name and fun colorful pattern for baby shoes. My hope is that I can post at least an item a day through December, hopefully generate more sales and be able to sponsor more underpriviledged children through "Operation Santa" this year. Last year I sponsored 8 letters from children and parents, 11 children in total and it felt AMAZING. I really hope to sponsor 12 children's letters this year.

So many of these kids write just asking for a winter coat or new shoes because their single parent has no money for them. It's heartbreaking but heartwarming to know I can help. Last year I had a letter from a single unemployed father who couldn't afford warm clothes for his 3 young daughters. It was fun buying coats, gloves, scarves and toys for them and knowing I was making a difference.

So here's to hoping I sell more items! Tomorrow before work I hope to finish a pillow out of new fabric, photograph it and list it.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Finally catching up...

2008-11-29T20:29:00.000-05:00

I've been SUCH a slacker with making new items for my Etsy shop. I finally listed a new pair of shoes today:

(Click photo for more info)

My hope is to make something new every day to list. I'm going to make a pair of heart shoes next.

I find I'm much more productive in the mornings than the evenings. I think it may be because of the instant gratification of being able to photograph and list the item immediately instead of making an item at night and waiting until morning to list it.

In other news? I just bought a notecard and postcard from Charliemotel.etsy.com and fell in love w/ one of her illustrations:

If I sell at least one item this week, I will buy it. Here's to hoping!

<3 Always,
--Taina

The problem w/ money in my paypal account...

2008-11-22T23:51:00.001-05:00

I sold a handful of items in the last 8 days and am feeling quite good. The problem? I am in the middle of switching banks, so I don't want to transfer my money in my paypal acct. to my bank account before closing and opening a new savings account.

So I've got a little bit of money in Paypal and I keep seeing things on Etsy that I want to purchase. Not things I need, just...well...VERY impulsive items.

Dorian (one of my roommates) and I have talked about taking a burlesque class for months now. I have never thought of myself as sexy. I think maybe I had one instance where I felt powerful and female and ::gasp!:: almost sexy. I think a burlesque class might do wonders for my self-esteem. Dorian and I talked about it again today while she read my current issue of "Bust" magazine (it's a feminist mag, not porn!)

Well, I'm browsing Etsy and came across these:

If you click the image, you will see the first photo of the model, and she looks H-O-T. I am not posting that photo so that my blog continues to be work-safe.

If I were a burlesque dancer, I'd definitely want a pair of handmade sequined heart pasties that are "easy for twirling". Seeing as though I have money in Paypal, I almost bought them. What would I do with sequin heart pasties without a Burlesque class? I'm not even currently seeing anyone! lol.

So I think this is the plan: Continue to exercise and do 30 mins of Pilates daily, find a Burlesque class once the holidays are over, and support the handmade revolution by purchasing sequined heart pasties from Etsy.

I already know the song I'd want to do a Burlesque skit to: Blondie's "Rip Her To Shreds"

<3 Always,
--Taina

Hooray for sales!

2008-11-14T11:55:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm listing something new everyday, sales are picking up a bit! I sold 3 items this week, not too shabby for the economy being as awful as it is currently. I sold two pairs of baby shoes (one custom order). and couldn't be more thrilled!

Here's my latest pair of baby shoes, I <3 the dragonflies!

(as always, click the photo for more details!)

I'm currently making origami boxes for them out of thick square baby-themed scrapbooking paper, to make them as adorable as possible when I ship them this afternoon. I just think they'd be perfect with shoe boxes to match.

On the list of things to do today?
1. photograph latest baby shoes.
2. make one more pair of baby shoes and photograph them.
3. make origami shoe boxes.
4. package up items to be shipped.
5. Go to the Post Office.
6. Take an hour nap?
7. exercise with new Pilates ball & dvd.
8. Meet up w/ Bette this evening

<3 Always,
--Taina

New Shoes!

2008-11-11T11:51:00.000-05:00

I'm on a roll with the new shoe pattern!

My migraine is completely gone and I couldn't be happier!

I've got a kids showcase date on Etsy for the 13th and want to load up my shop w/ lots of stuff. I'm SO GLAD I get out of work @ 5pm. I'll be home by 6pm, make apple butter and sew more booties. w00t!

Here's the lastest pair:

(Click photo for more info)

I can't wait to make more! I just ordered some organic cotton/bamboo fabric from CatyLouQuilts and hope to get my hands on some polartec fleece (it's recycled) to make organic baby shoes.

I can't think about my fulltime job because my mind is clouded with visions of handmade things dancing in my head.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Baby Shoes - my first pair!

2008-11-10T14:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the worst migraine, I'm not going to go into details but it was NOT pretty. Once the migraine started to subside late afternoon, I found myself very down that I hadn't been productive, so I cut lots of fabric and made a few pairs of baby shoes. I photographed 3 pairs this morning but only had time to list 1 of the pairs. They are super cute! I brought them to work and my coworkers all "oooooh"'ed and "ahhhhh"'ed at them. I've got a few orders already for custom sizes!

Here's a photo and link to the pair I just listed this morning:

(Click photo for more info)

They are fleece-lined, so warm and snuggly for colder months and made to fit 0-6 month olds! I'm so thrilled with them!

I can't wait to get home from work tonight to list the other two pairs!

I want to make origami boxes for them out of scrapbooking paper. I think they'd be super cute.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Back to the Drawing Board

2008-11-06T07:57:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

I've been neglecting "My Handmade Life" and for that, I apologize. It took a while for my roommates to get settled to the point where I felt comfortable sewing while they are home, and I was spending lots of my free time promoting our new president-elecct before election day. But I'm back! With lots of patterns floating around in my brain.

First? I went to Pennsylvania this past weekend to celebrate my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. I don't have photos yet, I will post some when they are e-mailed to me. I had a chance to go to Joann's with my cousin's wife April on our last day there and took it! I wish there was a Joanns Fabrics in NYC! I bought SO MUCH STUFF! So be on the look-out for new fabric prints in my shop in upcoming weeks!

Here's a photo of one of my latest makeup bags in the new fabric:

(Click photo for more info)

Second? I won 2nd place for my photo in the Lomography contest I posted about a couple months ago! Yay! I won a Pop 9 camera, I hope I receive it today! Again, photo to be posted soon. It's early in the morning. =P

Third? I'm going to be making sewn baby booties and retro aprons finally! I couldn't be more thrilled about these two. I'm all about the retro aprons, since I've always wanted to make one for myself.

So that's it. I'm off to sleep for another 30 mins before work.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Preserving Nature...

2008-10-11T11:09:00.001-04:00

Good morning!

It's 11:00am and my head hurts but I'm determined to work through it. I've been up since 8:30, excited about the idea of making strawberry preserves.

My two books I special ordered on "putting up" came in! Today is Saturday, and the best part of Saturday is getting up and heading to my local Farmer's Market. It's open from 8-3pm and is a block long with stands on both sides of the street.

(This is Becky)

(This is Dorian)

My new roommates Dorian and Becky (D&B) went with me last week and fell in love. They won't be attending the market today due to cat-sitting for a friend, so I have a nice list of items to purchase for them. The pressure is on!

The best part of the Farmer's Market? Organic, local strawberries! I'm going to purchase 2 quarts for the preserves recipe and 1 quart for family. I don't know if D&B want strawberries, I should text them on my way out.

The strawberry preserves recipe calls for:

2 quarts whole berries, capped and quartered.
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 pack pectin
1/2 tbsp butter
7 cups sugar

It should make 7-8 half-pint jars.

If I can get everything organic, I will be thrilled!

The coolest part? I have all this left-over strawberry fabric that I can make cute little jar "hats" out of.

So today's plan?

0. Pharmacy for headache relief
1. Farmer's Market
2. Home to drop off produce.
3. Downtown to Zabars for canning supplies
4. Copy Center to color-copy some photos for coasters
5. Maxila & Mandible to look at butterflies
6. Home to make coasters for my mom's birthday (Monday).
7. Off to a birthday dinner w/ the family for my mom.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Put Up or Shut Up!

2008-09-24T16:21:00.002-04:00

So the most recent issue of "Bust", the only magazine I subscribe to, has an entire article on DIY canning. Think preserves, pickles, jams, etc.

As it's called in the South, it's the art of "Putting Up". I have always been interested in making preserves and jams and pickling everything imaginable, even though I don't really like pickles. So I special ordered a couple books on the subject and should have them in my hands in a little more than a week! I'm so excited! I wish the preserve jars were easier to find in NYC. I will have to hunt some down.

I had an old boss when MoMA first reopened who decided with his wife that they were going to pickle everything they could get their hands on and give away jars for X-mas. They had jars EVERYWHERE! If Jars weren't so expensive to ship to my family, I would do it. But I don't know how thrilled my little cousins would be with a huge jar of pickled beets! So maybe I will stick to tins of cookies and white chocolate peppermint bark.

Also, a few of my coworkers and I are trading recipes for all sorts of pumpkin things, it's almost the season! Just a few degrees colder. I hope I get the chance to apple pick in Oct. That could be fun to use in my jams and preserves.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Hooray for new items!

2008-09-20T18:07:00.001-04:00

(click the photos for more info!)
I finally got a chance to photograph two new makeup bags today and just listed them about an hour ago! I hope they sell!

My penpal cuts lots of fabric at once and then sews lots. I've always made one item from start to finish before starting another one. But the fabric cutting in one-fell-swoop really seems to work, so hopefully I will get more things up and posted soon! I'm finishing up a new pillow tonight! I hope to list it tomorrow!

Oh, and speaking of my penpal? Her birthday is coming up in about 2 weeks and I NEED to send her really random goodies from Etsy. I have no idea what to get her! There are so many gift possibilities on Etsy! The pressure's on! =) I like a challenge, though.

I keep meaning to pick up the tiles I ordered from Home Depot to start making coasters and I keep forgetting. I know it's only 6pm today, but I'm still in my PJ's. Maybe I will pick them up tomorrow after work, since I will already be outside.

My very good friend Dorian and her girlfriend Becky are moving into my apartment and I could not be more excited! I get to cook and we will have craft nights. I hope they will inspire me to make more things! I gotta get ready for the holiday season!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Ode To An Ex Lover...

2008-09-20T00:39:00.000-04:00

I mentioned in a recent blog post that I purchased the MoMA Exclusive edition of the Diana F+. I finally took a few rolls of film to be processed and printed and love this photo:

I didn't plan it out or anything. It's a double exposure of a view from my subway station's platform and the view looking down at my shoes.

What's interesting is that I just ended a thing I had with a guy I was on-again/off-again dating for two years. The last positive thing I remember him saying to me was "I like those shoes, they're like ballet flats." He grew up in my current neighborhood and used the train station I took a photo of.

So I named it "Ballet Flats & Dyckman St: An Ode." It seems obvious that my sub-conscious wanted something physical to grasp when I thought of the last two years of steamy fun and emotional turmoil.

<3 Always,
--Taina

I heart custom orders!

2008-09-12T09:59:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, a former coworker of mine asked me if I could make a makeup bag for her friend's birthday. I was so excited! She picked out the fabric (Alexander Henry's 2D Zoo in Sage), and said she'd love turquoise or yellow for lining and zipper. Well, I thought turquoise and yellow might be a bit much, so I used a white zipper and turquoise canvas for the lining and I love how the finished product turned out! I will have to make more of these for my shop.

Today? I'm off to drop the bag off at work even though it's my day off. Cara doesn't work with me anymore, she works in a different department in the same Museum. Then I'm off to Mood to buy some muslin and a 20" zipper for the dress I want to make and then to my parents' place, as my cousin Andy is home on leave from Afghanistan and I want to give him a huge hug before he goes back.

<3 Always,
--Taina

My Etsyversary!

2008-09-10T20:22:00.000-04:00

Today marks my Three Year Etsyversary. Yup, that's right, I registered my shop on Etsy on September 10th, 2005. I was planning this big promotional sale and just kind of...forgot? It sneaked (snuck is incorrect, btw) up on me this year!

Looking back to the very beginning, this was the first item I ever sold:

A handknit baby hat made from microspun acrylic yarn for $12. I sold it on Sept. 28th, 18 days after registering my shop name, and 17 days after listing my first item.

I remember how thrilled I was to have sold something! I remember checking my e-mail and seeing that sale and practically jumping for joy! I was beaming! I called everyone I knew who knew I knit.

I STILL do a happy dance every time an item sells, three years later! It feels sooooo good to be recognized as having made products that people want to own or give as gifts. It's an amazing feeling.

I hope to reach 300 items sold by Dec. 31st, 2008. We will see if I can make that goal come true! Here's to hoping! I am off to make some things for my etsy shop!

Happy Etsyversary to meeeee!

<3 Always,
--Taina

My latest artsy endeavor...

2008-09-07T15:43:00.000-04:00

I've been eyeing various Lomography cameras for quite some time. MoMA just came out with a MoMA exclusive Diana F+, it's the same as the Diana F+ for sale on Lomography.com but they changed the blue to "MoMA Red", an actual color MoMA has the rights to.

Two years ago, my dept. at work had a Lomography contest. We got to choose between the Supersampler or the Fisheye and our theme was "Spring Fling". I won runner-up and received a Fisheye camera as my prize.

Last Thursday, we were just told we are having another contest, this time using the Diana F+ , a Lomolito, or the Fisheye 2. The theme is "New York Surreal". The deal is that each employee interested in entering the contest gets to borrow one of the cameras with a roll of film for 4 days. We then enter our undeveloped roll of film as our entry to the contest. Of course, because I want a Diana F+ so badly, I bought a ton of film and have been shooting all sorts of things. I have yet to use the roll given to us for the contest and have to return the camera on Tuesday. I will be buying MoMA's version of the Diana F+ the day I return my borrowed camera.

I am super excited about the contest and seeing how these photos turn out. Lomography will process our film, put our photos onto a CD and send them back to us after choosing their favorite 3 photos from all of the entries at the end of this month. The prizes are cameras, but not the Diana F+. Instead they are colorsplash and sampler cameras.

When I get these first two rolls of film developed, I will most definitely post some photos. I just created a profile on lomography.com, I look forward to their monthly contests on the website as well as the tips and tricks from other lomo users.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Organization and Squirrels

2008-08-27T13:52:00.000-04:00

Once I put together my fabric pantry, I went through tons of large and small lidded plastic tubs of fabric, zippers, notions, thread and tons more sewing-related things. I then proceeded to organize and refold all of the stuff and then put them into my new pantry. This took at least an hour, it was incredible. I have fabric I completely forgot about! Yards and yards of it! It's almost a little insane.

I then realized I am not unlike a squirrel. I buy all of this fabric and hide it away in plastic tubs in case, I don't know, all fabric stores in the world cease to exist? Then, months later, I find fabric I'd completely forgotten about. Squirrels are known to do this with nuts. They burry them for later and occasionally forget about them.

So here's my latest creation from fabric I'd forgotten I had:

As always, you can click the photo for more info.

I love this fabric, it's named "Caribe", I'm guessing after the Caribbean Sea. The colors are so reminiscent of the ocean. My brother's name is also Caribe, after the Caribbean indians and the sea. I once thought I'd make him pillows for his dorm, but they are not really his style, so I opted not to. Maybe if he has a kid one day, I can make something out of the fabric for the child.

I found other fabrics, too. Things I can't wait to use, so stay tuned to my shop for new things in the upcoming days!

<3 Always,
--Taina

I bought a fabric pantry!

2008-08-07T17:32:00.000-04:00

I know most people do Spring cleaning and it's August. I'd been going through a tough time recently and am on the upswing from it, creating this immediate and important urge to purge all things I don't need in my home. ALL of them. I want to go minimalist in my home. Now, usually these feelings are fleeting, so I think that I should follow suit this one time and see where it leads me.

All of you who make things by hand probably know how easy it is to feel the need to buy as many supplies as possible. I have gone through these weird crafty phases, a sort of handmade Attention Deficit Disorder.

Since stumbling upon Etsy, I have knit and collected tons and tons of different types of yarn, needles, and notions.

I then decided I wanted to get into paper goods and I bought envelope templates and fancy papers and envelope glue and made envelopes and flatcards.

Then I saw a show on TV on how easy stained glass is and decided to try my hand at stained glass. Enter cabochons, 30+ stained glass squares and rectangles, glass cutters, oil, solder, soldering iron, copper tape, wire and suction cups. Okay, stained glass? Not easy at all! I have the solder scars to prove it.

I then took a pillow making class and started collecting fabrics, threads, and pillow inserts. Then makeup bags and coin purses, add to my collection of fabrics and threads, I now have tons of canvas, interfacing, zippers, felt squares, pinking shears, and fancy fabric scissors. Let's not count the numerous measuring tapes, rulers, yardsticks, sewing machine needles, fabric tags, googly eyes, fabric paints.

Now, picture me in a large (by NYC standards) 2BR apt, with a roommate, two sewing machines, a full-sized ironing board and two bookcases of craft books.

HOLY COW. Crafts have taken over my LIFE!

I have plastic Sterilite, Muji, and Rubbermaid bins for everything, so it's all organized within them, including ones for my completed projects, but I've always wanted to have my fabrics out so they remind me to get cracking at the machine.

I have 3 days off this week (today through Saturday) and am using the time to organize it all into a 5ft x 2ft x 1.5ft wooden pantry with doors that I purchased from Target today. Once I get it all organized in one space, I can use all the plastic bins to decide what books, clothes, dvds and other things to donate or list on Freecycle, making a happier, more organized, creative minimal space where everything has a place and that place isn't in every room in my apartment.

I cannot wait! I am thinking of how to decorate this very boring beech-colored cabinet. I was thinking maybe stencils. I will post the project once completed. I can't wait!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Handmade dreams...

2008-08-05T12:24:00.000-04:00

My workplace and every workplace on the block was evacuated by the bomb squad because of a "suspicious package" yesterday evening. It reminded me of anthrax threats post 9/11 7 years ago, and as I left the building and hurried to a subway station far away to go home, I thought to myself "is this worth it? is it truly worth it?"

I enjoy my day job. I don't want to do it forever, but for now, it pays the bills and supports my craft supply addiction pretty nicely.

I couldn't help thinking about how an alpaca farm in rural middle America would be less of a target for terrorists or angry Americans. I could have alpacas and angora rabbits and spin yarn and weave and knit. I could get huge tax deductions for being solar or windpowered, sell my wares online, live a quiet life crafting, enjoy the outdoors, drive a Prius, and not worry about bomb threats every day.

I never used to really worry about these things before having a penpal. I like sending my penpal something in the mail every day. This is hard when the blue street mailboxes surrounding my workplace are sealed shut for fear of bombs when contraversial political figures are in town. Sometimes the mailboxes are completely removed from the sidewalk, vanished into thin air. Garbage cans are also removed, but I rarely throw anything out in them when they are around.

I don't know. I would love to retire and have a cupcake bakery with nice comfy chairs and lots of craft books around, friends artwork displayed on the walls, good music, a community place. I can't do that here in NYC, it's too expensive. As I get older (almost 27 1/2 this month), I can't help but think more and more about my future. Some place where I don't have the cloud of doom over my head.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Crafting for me...

2008-07-19T10:05:00.000-04:00

This week was a good week as far as Etsy goes. I sold 2 pillows and a makeup bag, shipped them out yesterday. I made a few things as well.

I like turning my sales around and purchasing things off Etsy. I most recently found a pattern for an Amy Butler tanktop in CatyLouQuilts that I have been eyeing. I finally purchased it yesterday:

I looked through fabric in FabricStash's Shop and picked out one of my favorite prints, the VW Sole in the blue colorway:

I have yet to find 1" buttons and I still have to purchase the interfacing, but I am so excited about this project! I've never sewn any adult clothing before and have definitely not sewn anything for myself. I used to knit things for myself on occasion, but sewing? nope. I'm SO excited about this project. I will definitely post photos once the pattern and interfacing arrive, as I have a feeling this project will take a few more weeks. =)

So that is not where my Etsy shopping spree ended. I bought a few postcards from EricHou but can't show you which ones as my Etsy penpal reads my blog on occasion. (I'm such a tease!)

And I finally FINALLY purchased two buttons from ButtonEmpire. I've been eyeing Button Empire's buttons for quite some time. Can you guess which ones I purchased? Fine, I'll show you. =)

I am SO excited about the "The Revolution Is Being Handmade". It'll be more exciting once I make myself a tote bag.

I'm currently sporting a not-so-handmade but eco-friendly bag from MoMA. I just realized it isn't for sale on the website. That's too bad, it's a great design. I will try to describe it. It's a black flat tote bag made of spun fibers from recycled plastic bottles. It's got a great graphic white image of four different types of plastic bottles on one side. Just bright white silouhettes, I've gotten lots of compliments already and I only purchased it a week ago.

Today I am meeting with a friend in SoHo for some shopping. I'm looking for a bathing suit, a pair of shorts and a gift for a friend. I hope to find some cool postcards or notecards for my Etsy Penpal, and maybe some fabulous prints for inspiration so I can come home and make more things for my shop.

I should probably shower and figure out what to wear. I'm meeting her early afternoon.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Hooray!

2008-07-06T13:05:00.000-04:00

My customer loved the custom order and purchased it the minute I listed it. Yay!

Also, here's the latest pillow, I love this fabric, I bought it from CatyLouQuilts. It's so bright and fun. I may make some pillows for myself out of the left overs!

[click the photo for more info!]

Oh, and I forgot to mention, in June I made two etsy goals, I hit 250 sales and the 300 mark in positive feedback! I hope the second half of this year is as good if not even better.

I organized my workspace yesterday, including taking everything off of my sewing table and cleaning it and reorganizing fabric/zippers/etc. It feels so good!

Well, I'm at work today, so that's all the time I have. Later, gators!

<3 Always,
--Taina

random thoughts.

2008-07-05T14:14:00.000-04:00

Hey ladies & gents!

I've been sans internet for 2 days and finally got back online. I have no idea what the problem was, but I actually had to call the cable company and set up an appointment to get it fixed. The cable guy said that out of 100%, my connection was running at about 2%. He was surprised I was getting any cable channels, also. Man, catching up on a billion e-mails is NOT fun. Today was supposed to be my relaxing day.

Sans internet/my favorite tv channels, I went to Borders and bought David Sedaris' latest book, cleaned my apartment and organized my new fabric into my bins. I also made ::gasp!:: a new pillow for my shop! I will post it later, I have to get a custom order listing posted first.

I also bought sculpey and started thinking up ideas for magnets and such, so stoked.

Someone said something interesting yesterday. She said something about being self-supporting, and I'd never thought of that before. Sure, in the monetary sense, I'm self-supporting, and my etsy shop is self-supporting. But I had an epiphany of sorts. Sometimes I go through these periods where I don't make anything, and I fall into this terrible rut. When I'm not productive, I feel like garbage, a terrible downward spiral.

So July? Is all about being self-supporting. I'm going to be as creative as I want to be, make things, sketch, design, and support the artist inside me. I'm very excited by this idea, and a little nervous!

Oh, and if you've ever wondered what I listen to while making things?
Today's playlist includes: Young Love, Maroon 5, Metro Station, Rilo Kiley, and later this evening? Some Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald.

Yup. Oh, and I had half a toasted bagel w/ peanut butter on it & orange juice for breakfast, and am eating the other half for lunch.

There, the innerworkings of Taina on a Saturday afternoon.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Vejigantes (Inspiration Part II)

2008-06-30T10:47:00.000-04:00

I don't know if I've mentioned this before...I was named after the "Taino" indians of Puerto Rico. They were a pre-Columbian tribe killed off by slavery and disease once the Spanish came. All that's left is the cave carvings and stone artifacts.

My mother is Puerto Rican, my father is Caucasian. I think my being drawn to the bright and bold prints in the fabric I choose is probably influenced by my month-long stay in Puerto Rico in 1996. Twelve years ago, and I can still envision the crystal turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the neon fish, the boldly painted houses...

I have been thinking about my Puerto Rican family a lot lately. Starting with attending the Puerto Rican Parade here in NYC earlier this month. My great aunt on my mother's side "Tia Fina" passed away last week.

As I've been battling anxiety and depression for months now, I cannot get the image of the vejigantes from the parade out of my mind.

A vejigante (pronounced "bay-hee-gahn-teh") is a horned character meant to scare away evil spirits.

And I want to paint them! I've been wanting to paint a series of vejigantes for a month now.

I have another etsy username: MiVidaLoca.etsy.com that I took in case I wanted to do only hispanic-themed items. I never set up shop, but it's there in case I want to set it up. Mi Vida Loca means "My Crazy Life". Which I think is perfect if I am making vejigantes to ward off evil spirits (like depression and anxiety).

My mom makes these great little mask pins and I've been dying to get her to make some for Etsy. I wonder if she'd be interested in this idea.

I wonder if anyone would want a vejigante pin, painting or fridge magnet. hrmmm... I looked them up and didn't find anything already on Etsy. If I can make a pillow today and post it, then I will reward myself by going to the store and buying canvas and some paints.

Love Always,
--Taina

a little extra cash...

2008-06-21T16:40:00.003-04:00

I went on a card shopping spree these last few days on Etsy. I purchased cards from Vermont Vintage and again from Creative Apples.

Look out, Etsy Penpal, you are going to be card'd out in the upcoming weeks!

I wanted to buy the dress from Miss Brache but then I realized I'm not in the best shape. So I started a crazy workout cycle. I do at LEAST 10 mins of hulahooping, which actually burns the same amount of calories as running an 8 min. mile. Today I did an hour of hula hooping and some dance cardio. So hopefully in 3 weeks or so I will be where I usually am physically and I can take measurements and order the dress.

Tonight is "Jaws" on the big screen @ MoMA. I'm SO stoked! I'm trying to find the perfect Jaws outfit. lol. I've been a little more ridiculous than normal.

Peace and Love,
--Taina

w00t! Etsy Purchases!

2008-06-06T12:44:00.000-04:00

So I arrived home last night to find my package of fabric from CatyLouQuilts. Totally excited! I have to wash it before I make anything, but laundry has to be done at some point today anyway.

I finally remembered to look up my stimulus check date. I will be getting my money in about 10 days! I promised myself I'd put the majority right into the bank but spend a bit on Etsy. I like the idea of putting money back into the Etsy Market.

Do you know what that means? In a month and a half or so I will have that killer dress from MissBrache!

And I will obviously be purchasing more cards for my penpal!

So stoked!

Today has been a super slow lazy day. I had kickball finals last night after work, we won 2nd place, not too shabby! Today I laid on the couch for most of the morning, had an ice cream shake for breakfast and decided to get off my lazy behind and make some stuff. I have fabric ironed and cut already, so it's time to put it together for some new makeup bags.

It's rainy, I'm allowed to be a little lazy today. =)

<3 Always,
--Taina

Things to come...

2008-06-05T12:38:00.003-04:00

So I've been out of the etsy-creating loop for a while now and I'm officially raring to go again! I have a 3 day weekend (Fri-Sun) packed with obligations (of the good kind) but I am definitely squeezing some sewing into the schedule.

I have to finally add the snaps to the 12-18 month dress so I can post it, and if the new fabric I ordered comes, I will be making some snazzy fun pillows for my shop.

Below are the fabric patterns I purchased from Catylouquilts

I am so stoked! I also am hoping to make a significant dent in the giant rubbermaid containers I have filled with all sorts of fabric next week. w00t.

Look out Etsy! Taina's coming back with lots of fun stuff in new prints!

<3 Always,
--Taina

a girl can dream...

2008-06-01T16:21:00.000-04:00

I have been wanting a retro-style black halter black dress with white polkadots for quite some time. I believe I've found the absolute perfect one on Etsy!

Now I just need $95 + shipping of disposable income!

I have the perfect black patent leather sexy sexy sexy heels to wear with it.

I think I would just need a rockabilly boyfriend for dates.

<3 Always,
--Taina

windows

2008-05-25T10:55:00.000-04:00

Here's my latest item photographed in my new window spot:

(click photo for more info)

A few months ago I blogged about my kitchen windowsil and all the plants I was trying to grow. Well, the seeds never grew past tiny seedlings that would die a few days later. All those basil, oregano and cherry tomato seeds! oh well.

This past Saturday, my parents asked if I wanted to ride with them to Home Depot in NJ to pick out flats to plant in front of their apartment building. They do this every year, they pick a ton of annuals in a couple colors and plant away! I was too busy eyeing the cherry tomato plants to remember what they picked this year. I bought two very strong cherry tomato plants after much "ooohing" and "ahhing." One of the plants I picked already has 5 tiny green cherry tomatoes on it! So exciting.

This past week, as I adjusted to meds, I found myself wanting to tend to my little kitchen and livingroom window gardens. I bought larger pots with saucers, cleaned the windowsil and window and went to work repotting my aloe, cherry tomatoes and a few other things. I used the soil from the seeds I'd tried desperately to grow and failed and mixed it with some organic fertilizer and soil. I then found a better pot on Friday for the aloe and once again repotted, as I pulled the soil out from one pot into the other, I found lots of little seedlings growing! Now, they are too small to tell what they are but I carefully put them in a tiny pot. Maybe my basil or oregano will grow afterall!

Yesterday, Dorian, Becky & I went to the Bronx Zoo. Afterwards we stopped on the Upper West Side to run some errands and somehow I ended up buying organic basil in a pot.

My kitchen windowsil now has...cherry tomatos, arugula, basil, echinacea and aloe. As well as some kind of tiny palm and some other thing I lost the tag for. lol.

Now, the problem is that my bedroom is the one with sunlight for the majority of the day. This is an issue as I use my bedroom window to take photos of my etsy items. I found another window that has great light in the morning and took some photos, didn't even have to adjust them for brightness!

So now I get to move all my "full sun" plants. I have to wait until my roommate moves out next week. Our apartment is currently a giant mess of boxes and paperwork and I don't want to disturb anything.

Photos will come soon, my camera is currently full of photos of the Zoo that I need to upload.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Etsy Hunting...

2008-05-22T11:29:00.006-04:00

I've mentioned before that I have a penpal. She recently found my blog, so I can't write too much about my handmade purchases to send her until they are already in the mail. Otherwise, there's no surprise!

TheSeaWithin and I have very similar taste in stationery. Every time I think I've found something fun to send her, two days later I am receiving something from her on the same postcard. I think it's hilarious.

She lives 3000 miles away, we've never met, we lead pretty different lives and somehow we both have Yoshitomo Nara postcard sets, Jill Bliss' Native Flowers stationery and most recently I received a postcard from her of similar nature to the notecard I was in the process of sending her. (Except I can't for the life of me figure out what I did with the envelope!)

So far the things I have purchased from Etsy are not things that she has. The robot notecard a while back? That went over nicely.

I've been eyeing BoyGirlParty's notecards for a while now and lo and behold, I receive a postcard with BoyGirlParty's artwork on it! So I quickly snatched up the notecard set on etsy. They are different images than the ones TheSeaWithin purchased.

The notecards came on Monday and I immediately wrote one out and sent it.

BoyGirlParty was a great shop to purchase from. Her cards arrived very quickly and carefully packaged. The artwork is fun and beautiful and the cardstock is professional. I highly suggest purchasing from her.

I am currently trying to decide if I should go back to sleep and cancel on dinner with a dear friend or try to force myself to get up, shower, dress and head out. It's a cold rainy day and on top of that, my meds are causing me to be nauseous with no appetite. Doesn't make for a fun dinner date w/ a good friend.

I really want to sew. I keep looking at my fabric and my sewing machine and back again. I just can't focus for that long.

I hope these side effects subside soon!

<3 Always,
--Taina

dragonflies!

2008-05-21T10:35:00.000-04:00

So I finally have a photo of the totebag I made for my mom. The photo's not the best, as my parents like their apt. lighting dim and it was night time. I will try to take more photos next time I see my mom out and during the day.

I still have a ton of the dragonfly fabric, so I made a makeup bag for my shop:

I have this week off from work to adjust to some new medications. I was hoping to get lots of sewing done but the nausea and drowsiness (among other things) are kicking my tush.

I did receive my giant box of snaps from SnapSource So I hope to be able to put them to good use and finally post my baby dress/bloomer set.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T08:18:00.001-04:00

I did it! I made a reversible tote bag for my mom! 4 hours of carefully ironing, cutting, stitching and trimming, I made a bag.

I'm so stoked, as I sketched out the pattern myself last week.

Now, it doesn't have a pocket, and I was going to spend the next 45 mins writing more and uploading photos before work...but...

I decided to make a little matching coin purse with a D-ring strap so she can find her keys and cellphone easily.

I will take photos later and post them tonight or tomorrow. =)

Happy Mother's Day to all of you with kids and your mothers!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Where has the month gone?

2008-05-10T09:33:00.000-04:00

April was great for me, sales picked up, I had a few customers purchase multiple things. The last week of April, I headed to Black Lake, Michigan to an Occupational Health & Safety Conference for members of the United Auto Workers.

How do I fit into that, you ask? Well, dearies, the UAW also covers administrative positions, including those at the Museum I work in.

The experience was INCREDIBLE, the people were phenomenal, the location was gorgeous, we couldn't have asked for better weather. The architecture was outstanding, and the classes and lectures were most educational. I am now certified in CPR and can do Office Inspections. Look out, workplace! I may be lighting a fire under your butt very soon!

I had no time to make anything. I made half of a sleeve of a baby cardigan. And I drew a terrible drawing of the creek behind one of the houses.

On Thursday, I met a guy who was awesome. Someone I'd been wanting to meet all week. We slow danced a dance and talked for like 20 mins and that was that. Exchanged contact info, talked every night for 2 weeks, even talked of plans of him coming to visit me. Then an old flame decided she wanted him back and that was that. I haven't really heard from him since.

It's been a struggle since getting back from Black Lake to make anything, first because I was really just way too excited to talk to this guy every night when I got home from work, and now because I just feel like hiding under my blankets in bed. I cannot believe the rollercoaster of emotions over the last 3 weeks. It's like an emotional relapse. I'm usually much more centered than all of this.

I made a baby dress and bloomers, I'm waiting for the snaps to arrive in the mail so I can list it. That's all I've done since coming back on the 25th of April.

Tonight, I am working on a tote bag for my mom. I've never made a tote bag before, so this should be interesting, since Mother's Day is tomorrow and I was asked to work today and tomorrow at work so my coworker can visit his sick grandma. Normally I'd have today off to work out a pattern.

If it looks good, I will post photos. =)

<3 Always,
--Taina

Allergy Monsters are here!

2008-04-09T11:01:00.000-04:00

I suffer from terrible seasonal allergies. Especially in Spring and Fall. I have found that I am searching high and low for tissues in my huge purse on the subway while sniffling. I sniffled all the way through my last union meeting on Monday because I forgot my tissues in my bag!

When I was a child, I was friends with this boy named Caed. He was super cute but allergic to EVERYTHING. I remember he always had kleenex on hand. A good friend to have when you also are allergic to all things dusty, furry and pollen-y!

I've been wanting to come up with a new product that is great for adults who aren't afraid of being silly as well as for kids.

I just listed my first Allergy Monster yesterday! It's a kleenex case that you won't lose, you just place your tissues inside and the allergy monster will help you ward off the awkward sniffles. Also a conversational piece.

It came from my desire to either give away my fabric paints or find something to use for, as I haven't used them in a year and am still Spring cleaning.

I thought about how I could really use a tissue pouch, and remembered I have about 4 yards of thick linen. Then came the fabric paints, a little iron setting, and my first Allergy Monster was born! I'm thinking about naming them different names. Anyone have any thoughts? I'd love to hear them!

<3 Always,
--Taina

**OH MY GOODNESS! I sold the item hours after I listed it! I will have to list my others soon!

An etsy shop review...

2008-04-05T10:51:00.000-04:00

It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood, so this entry will be short, as I want to go out and enjoy the sun with my friend Olivia.

I think I mentioned in my last post that I'd ordered some cards from Creative Apples to send to my etsy penpal. Creative Apples sells note cards with her gorgeous photography on them as well as the photos in other sizes.

The image colors in her robot cards are probably best described as reminiscent, the angles that the photos are taken at remind me of how a child would see the image. They're slightly quirky and quite crisp images.

And of course, the cupcake card I purchased? Made me lick my lips, seriously. It was Cupcake Week on the Martha show this past week, so this card came just in time. Again, the composition and colors are incredible. A perfect birthday or celebratory card!

The package of my two cards was so beautifully presented when I opened the padded envelope, the cards were tied together with a gorgeous Spring-time ribbon, and another of Creative Apples' cards was enclosed as a thank you note, totally personalized. The cards were shipped immediately, with much care. It will be hard to part with these two, I will definitely be back to the shop for more.

I think one of the things that draws me to purchase as much on Etsy as possible is the connection to the creator. I like the handwritten 'thank you' notes, the care towards the packaging, the messages when items are shipped. It's just an awesome experience every time. Very personal, and I LOVE receiving things other than bills in the mail.

I sold a handknit bonnet I made last week, my first item going to Korea! I keep meaning to print out a small world map so I can pin each country and state I've shipped to. Among those countries are: Canada, England, Scotland, France, Spain, Australia, China, Thailand and New Zealand. And now Korea!

(Click photos for more info)

Above is my first April item that I've posted, I think I am especially drawn to the fabric because the grey reflects those terribly rainy days of early Spring, and the blue flowers and birds are of things to look forward to.

As always, you can click the images for more info!

Happy Saturday, folks! And check my shop next week, as I am adding some very new items to my store! More on that later!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Inch by Inch, Row by Row...

2008-03-30T09:51:00.000-04:00

A month and a half ago, I posted photos of what I was hoping would be my little kitchen-window garden? Well, most if it is still just dirt.

I have managed to somehow grow and kill 8 tiny 1/2" oregano plants and four 2" cherry tomato seedlings. Only two basil seeds sprouted out of the packet I planted, but neither have died...yet! I have one little tomato plant that seems to be trying it's hardest to stay alive. I may have to suck it up and go out and actually buy seedlings instead of trying to do this from seeds.

(the red arrow is pointing at the one lonely cherry tomato seedling.)

I wonder if my community garden leader reads my blog. I've been waiting for my replacement key for 8 days now and it still hasn't come. I'm in the mood for some composting action! I wonder if it's because she knows I have a brown thumb when it comes to herb growing and is very afraid. lol.

My potted dafodils? Still alive and kicking, as are my bamboo plants, aloe plant, calanchoes. Herbs just don't like me!

Also, I seem to be stuck on 220 sales. I was hoping to hit 225 by the end of March, but that's a mere two days away. We shall see. I plan on coming home after work today and sewing a ton. Migraines and a pulled back muscle set me back quite a bit this past week. We shall see! I'd love to have 65 items in my shop by April 1st.

Below is my 60th item, I listed it yesterday. I love it because both sides are similar but different color schemes. If you click the photos you will see the listing and note that the bottom of each fabric actually matches up!

(click photos for more info!)

In other (exciting!) news? Operation Dreamseed found me! On Friday I was contacted by one of the people on the Board, asking if it was okay to send my shop's link out to her friends, and yesterday the Exec. Director contacted me asking the same thing. I wrote both of them back saying I'd love to extend my donations through the month of April, since March is almost over if they want to spread the word.

Apparently the Exec. Director found me through this blog! Hooray! I should e-mail my marketing instructor to let her know. It would be awesome if I could sell a few more things and make a larger donation to Operation Dreamseed. I love the idea of purchasing school supplies and sending them out myself, but I think the money would go further if the organization purchased the supplies, since they are tax exempt.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Earth Hour!

2008-03-29T08:54:00.001-04:00

So today Earth Hour is happening. If you haven't heard about it, please go to:
www.earthhour.org

From 8-9pm today (Saturday), your local time, it is asked that you unplug all electronic equipment and turn off all lights. Just for one hour! Sydney, Australia just went dark for Earth Hour!

So I'm trying to figure out what I can do that is etsy-related that doesn't involve electricity. I think I will knit by candlelight. I also want to work on a new profile for my shop. If I still have more time? I will go through some of my craft books for inspiration.

I'm totally stoked! World Wildlife Fund just sent me an e-mail of 10 things you can do during Earth Hour, I thought I'd share:

1. Host a Green Party
Get your friends together for an Earth Hour eco-party. Fire up the flashlights and battery lanterns, serve organic food, avoid the disposable utensils, use natural décor (like flowers and hanging plants) and have a friend provide acoustic music. Talk to your guests about how you're each reducing your environmental footprint and share ideas and solutions for saving more energy, money and carbon dioxide.

2. Give Yourself an Energy Makeover
Use Earth Hour to make your home more energy efficient: Replace your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs; install power strips (so you can turn computers and electronics on and off more easily); and change your air conditioner filters. Or go one step farther and install one new energy-efficient item, like an EnergyStar qualified DVD player. And on Monday, call your local utility and sign up for green power-like wind, hydro or solar.

3. Go Green with Your Kids
Earth Hour is a perfect time to talk to your kids about the environment and why we need to protect our planet from the dangers of climate change. Check out books on the environment from the library and read by flashlight, or head into the yard and have a night picnic. Or how about a night of board games? Check out our downloadable Earth Hour kids' activities.

4. Do a Recyclables Scavenger Hunt
Get your flashlights and scour your cabinets and shelves for cans, bottles and cardboard (like cereal boxes) that you don't normally recycle. Make a list of all the non-recyclable containers you're using now (like plastic shopping bags and butter tubs), and figure out ways to reduce your consumption of items that end up in landfills. One easy tip: get reusable grocery bags... and reuse them!

5. Green That Workspace!
Working the night shift? Even if you can't turn off all the lights at work, look around and see what you can unplug, turn down or use less of (like consuming less paper by printing double-sided). Every day millions of computer screens and speakers are left on overnight--shut 'em off! And talk to your coworkers about what they can do to help make a difference, too.

6. Involve Your Local Leaders
If your city or town isn't hosting an Earth Hour event, ask your local government to set up a community "green" discussion this spring. Help organize attendance by reaching out to local environmental and community groups, and come prepared to ask your leaders what they're doing to make your city greener.

7. Clean Up Your Neighborhood
Grab a flashlight and take a long walk through your neighborhood, picking up trash and recyclables as you go. It's a great chance to do some stargazing, too!

8. Unplug and Chill Out
Most of our daily activities--like watching TV, shopping online and texting friends--require loads of electricity, but do we really need to do so much stuff all the time? Take one hour for yourself to just chill... turn off the screens, put down the handheld devices and just take some "you" time to reflect, read or talk to your family. After all, why do more when you can do less?

9. Take Your Temperature
Your thermostat and your refrigerator are responsible for a huge portion of your carbon footprint. If you lower your thermostat by just 2 degrees and set your fridge to 37 degrees F. and the freezer at 0 degrees F., you'll make a big difference.

10. Make a Pledge for the Planet
Earth Hour shouldn't end at 9:01 pm--it's a chance to take a first step toward lowering your overall impact on the environment. So use part of that hour to make a personal pledge to do more--recycle, drive less often, turn off or unplug electronics, and beyond. The only way we're going to stabilize our climate is if we make real changes in our everyday lives. That change begins with Earth Hour, and ends with a healthy planet.

Of course, there are more than 10 ways to make a difference. Visit WWF's website for additional ideas on things you can do every day to help the Earth and reduce your environmental footprint.

Here's to being more environmentally conscious!

<3 Always,
--Taina

It must be Spring!

2008-03-27T10:30:00.000-04:00

Good morning!

It's a grey rainy day today here in my little neck of Northern Manhattan and I woke up this morning to find that I have somehow pulled a muscle in my lower back. Sore, sore sore! I called in a sick day at the fulltime job so I can rest up. I took some advil and sat up to list a new coin purse and blog a bit before taking a nap.

(click photos for more info!)

I love this new coin purse because the two sides are so different but they still work together. The placement of the red flower couldn't be better. So cheerful and Spring-like! Below is the other side of the same coin purse:

Okay, I have a confession to make, I cannot spend only 5 mins on Etsy, it's impossible. I'm addicted to that lovely, lovely site! I checked the forums, admired the frontpage selection, went through countless pages of shops and items I've "hearted" (Etsy's way of making a shop a favorite). Was inspired by all the gorgeous handmade items, listed my latest coin purse and came here to blog. Now I don't even know if I can sleep, I may work through the pain for as long as I can sit behind my sewing machine.

My cousin Andy is headed to Afghanistan today. I've got so many mixed emotions on this one. I'm feeling anxious, sad, already missing him...he was deployed to Iraq a few years ago and not a day, hour or minute went by that I wasn't worried about his safety, what he was seeing, what he was doing. He's more of a brother to me than a cousin, as we grew up down the hall from each other and he's less than two years younger than I am.

On a brighter note, his wife Avis and baby (Andy Jr.) are in town today, so hopefully I will be seeing the baby! I haven't seen him in a few months now. I bought a "Tale of Peter Rabbit" boardbook for him, and thought it might be nice to make a little stuffed rabbit to go along w/ it to bring to him today.

In other news? My final Marketing class was last night. I have mixed feelings, as I love being in school but didn't feel I got much out of the class. Between the homework and the class & commute time, it was time I could've spent on Etsy, so I'm glad I've got those hours back!

I hope I can sell a couple more things this month, as the charity Operation Dreamseed is closer to my heart than ever before since my cousin's deployment.

I'm off to sketch Peter Rabbit patterns while lying down and resting my back for a bit.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Back at work...

2008-03-24T13:11:00.000-04:00

I spent all day Saturday sewing, made 3 clutches, I will be listing them in the next couple days. I am so excited! They have magnetic snaps and everything. I have been searching for fabrics I can use for both clutches and baby dresses and found some in FabricStash's shop. I plan on making another big order in April and making lots more baby dresses, in different sizes.

Sunday was spent with the family, so I got absolutely nothing handmade done. Although, I made birdsnest cookies and irish soda bread for Easter w/ the fam.

I am absolutely in love w/ my latest etsy purchase. I wanted a swallow necklace for a while and contacted OffBeet to see if it was possible to receive it by Easter. She was great, responded right away, shipped the item as soon as I paid for it and I've been wearing (and loving!) the necklace ever since!

Short entry, I'm back at work today after my 3 day weekend. It's hectic and crazy and I wish I'd taken another vacation day. =) I hope I'm not too tired tonight to make things!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Three Day Weekend!

2008-03-22T10:34:00.000-04:00

Good Morning!

I have tomorrow off from my fulltime job for Easter, which means I am in the middle of a three-day weekend! Awesome!

I haven't updated in a while (Bad Taina!), but I will give a summary of what's been going on in my handmade world:

Last weekend I bought a bunch of speckled chocolate M&M eggs to make birdsnest cookies for tomorrow and proceeded to eat a whole lot of chocolate, leaving not enough for cookies. One day I will learn that planning anything having to do with candy in advance doesn't work in my household. =)

I listed an owl coin purse and a leaf coin purse! I'm so stoked about them:

(Click photos for more info!)

The owl fabric makes me smile.

My spring fabric came in from FabricStash and I LOVE it! 4 half yards of different prints. I prewashed it all and cut clutch pattern pieces out of them, leaving enough fabric for more coin purses and maybe even a few makeup bags.

Yesterday I went downtown to Mood Fabrics on a hunt for heavy duty interfacing in white. No such luck. They sent me to a place on 39th Street, I asked for heavy-duty fusible interfacing, the employee swore it was fusible, I stupidly took his word for it, brought it home and nope! Doesn't fuse. I have no idea what I am going to do with this stuff. I'm using my black heavy-duty interfacing now, which doesn't show through, so it's not that huge of a deal, but I was partial to my pellon. I will have to order some online. le sigh!

My cards from MagicJelly arrived a couple days ago! She's such an awesome artist. I'm going to send one to my Etsy Penpal, Nadine.

I made my first clutch ever last night. I'm so excited by it! I think I'm going to keep it for my Easter outfit and make more for my etsy shop. I'm actually not religious at all, but Easter and Christmas are the two days my family gets dressed up and has a big dinner.

Okay, it's 10:30am, I want to make another clutch, list it, and head to the farmer's market for organic eggs to dye tonight.

<3 Always,
--Taina

a relaxing weekend.

2008-03-14T00:44:00.001-04:00

Good Afternoon!

I have no social plans for today or tomorrow and I'm actually kind of thrilled about this. I went out last night with 5 coworkers for Mexican food, got home before 11pm and slept. I really needed the rest.

Today I haven't made anything yet, I'm still in bed, I've been awake since 8 this morning. I'm catching up on last night's episode of "Lost" and thinking about all the things I want to make. I'm waiting for my roommate to leave this afternoon. Sometimes I don't like to be watched while I sew or knit. I really just want some quiet time in front of my machine.

(click photo for more info)

I listed my latest makeup pouch, made from the cool fabric I purchased at Mood Fabrics a while back.

I've read somewhere around 8 blogs so far. I love reading crafty blogs, they are so inspirational. Two Etsyans started a daily forum thread called "The Original Blog Love" where bloggers can post their links and everyone else can browse all the daily entries in one place. So much fun.

The only four things I MUST do this weekend (Fri/Sat, I work Sundays) are go to Target, the Farmer's Market and the library. I already forgot what the fourth one was, but I have it written down somewhere.

I usually have much more to do than that, so this seems pretty darn relaxing!

Spring knit dresses are on sale @ Target and I finally found out I got Easter Sunday off from work so I want to go and see what they have. I have been eyeing certain Sparrow/Swallow necklaces on Etsy and think Easter is a great reason to purchase one. I sent a message to a seller asking about shipping policies, as I really only have a week to receive it in time to wear with a new dress. I hope to hear back from her soon!

My family is really not religious, but we use religious holidays as good excuses to share a meal and good conversation. I also use it as an excuse to buy a girlie outfit to wear.

I will probably do Target and the Farmer's Market bright and early tomorrow, on the way to the Farmer's Market I can return some library books. Sounds like a plan!

<3 Always,
--Taina

An apple a day...

2008-03-12T13:21:00.001-04:00

My coworker's friend just had twin boys! He bought 2 apple hats from me and I couldn't be more excited. I hope she takes lots of photos!

The cool thing about my hats is that the brim rolls up and down and the knit is stretchy, so it works very well for growing babies. Since they are only 4lbs currently, the hats will definitely last until Fall. Alvaro is seeing the babies either tonight or tomorrow night, I can't wait to hear his friend's reaction to the hats. Alvaro was totally in love with them.

I love when customers are happy!

I just bought a bunch more fabric, half yards in 4 different prints from FabricStash. Maybe I will get them by Saturday, that would be awesome!

I have marketing class tonight, which I'm not thrilled about since the class is mostly common sense. The one really nice thing about the class is it inspires me to work hard.

I made two more makeup bags last night but had to leave for work before I was able to list them in mh shop. Another pink/red striped, since I just sold the last one and one made out of my new orange/yellow/red floral fabric.

I'm glad I'm on a creating roll. I'm always happiest working with my hands.

<3 Always,
--Taina

She's back!

2008-03-11T03:51:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon!!

After a very crazy/hectic/chaotic week, it's Tuesday of a new week and I'm feeling great!

I received a letter from my Etsy Penpal yesterday. She's such an inspiration. Not only is Nadine attending grad school AND training guide dogs, but she makes a tremendous amount of new items in her spare time and is selling tons! I came home and sat in front of my sewing machine and made two new makeup bags. Including one out of the Fishy fabric I purchased from FabricStash! So exciting!

I have paypal $ burning a hole in my creative pocket. I "hearted" at least 4 listings of FabricStash's today. If I sell one more makeup bag, I will be able to place a nice order for fabric AND buy more fusible interfacing. STOKED!

The second item I made? Another pink bird makeup bag, I have yet to photograph it, though.

As usual, all photos are clickable for more info. I'm off to work and then home to make MORE THINGS! Hooray!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Etsy Purchases! <3 !

2008-03-08T10:12:00.000-05:00

Good morning! (It's 10am EST here!)

So I didn't make anything new for my shop yesterday, but fully intend to today as I sold two more items this week and want to at least replenish those. I had a few work-related meetings on my day off that I had to attend yesterday. No sewing! When that was all said and done, I went and hung out w/ my friend Dorian at Blockheads for Mexican food and margaritas.

So today, what do I write about since I haven't made anything new? I'll tell you!

SweetestPea!

For those of you who don't know, Jen of Sweetest Pea is one of my favorite stuffed animal designers on Etsy. She's also one of the nicest people I've ever met in real life. One of her very unique fat monsters was on the Martha Stewart show that interviewed Rob Kalin of Etsy. It was made entirely of recycled mens business attire. So cool!

On my birthday I decided to buy a gift for someone else. It's actually a Hobbit tradition and one of my faves. I immediately went to Jen's shop to purchase this little guy in Green:

It's a little rice ball w/ seaweed! and eyes! The cuteness! I've been eyeing it for two of my friends for a while. I think Greg will really enjoy it.

Also, the best part? I mentioned that it was my birthday and Jen made me a little stuffed cupcake to send along. I took some silly customer appreciation photos to list in her feedback. Here's one of me hanging out on my bed with the riceball and cupcake:

Super cute! As always, you can click photos for either listing info or larger more detailed versions. =)

I'm off to do some laundry including the new fabric that arrived from Fabric Stash so I can get to work.

10:09am! Time to get moving!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Gifties...

2008-03-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

I haven't been making anything new for my shop in the last few days due to lots of birthdays coming up.

I try to make as many of my gifts as possible. Saturday is my Aunt's birthday, she's an avid birdwatcher, so I made her a stuffed owl. I got some great reactions from coworkers when I brought it took work to ship it yesterday, so I will probably be making more for my shop.

I LOVE working with fleece! No wonder so many people out there like making stuffies and plushies! The fabric hides the tiny hand-stitched seam where the product is stuffed, and it immediately looks professional, as the edges don't fray. So cool!

I definitely want to make more.

I've also been making stuffed animals out of used gloves. My friend Chris likes bears, so I made him a little green bear out of a pair of gloves as a belated bday present. It's funny looking, as it's my first try, but I know he'll love it.

Hopefully this weekend I will be back to making things for Etsy. I want to get back in there!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Inspiration, Part I

2008-03-02T09:28:00.001-05:00

I called out of work today. Sick. Truthfully? I STILL have a migraine, a day later. Behind my eyes. Yesterday was pretty miserable. I sat in front of my sewing machine and didn't do ANYTHING. So frustrating. I was just afraid I'd start sewing and make a huge mess.

Today my vision is almost completely back and the pain is subsiding, but I just needed another day to relax. My workplace is NOT fun when I'm not feeling 100%. I also got everything done on Thursday that I needed to do today, so I'm not feeling too guilty about not being there today.

PaperMenagerie wrote about her inspiration in her blog today. She's got some incredible cards that I've been eyeing for quite some time. I'm not sure if my Etsy penpal reads this, so I can't tell you which ones I plan to buy until after I've sent them. PaperMenagerie's blog on Inspiration has prompted me to do the same.

I wear mostly black clothing, I'm a New Yorker, as much as I hate stereotypes, my extended family jokes that they know when the New Yorkers have arrived at the family reunion because we're like a dark cloud. I have always liked colorful accents. Today? I have turquoise glass earrings on. They're about 2-2.5" long. I should have taken a photo of them. Sorry! I also have an amethyst bracelet and a red jade bracelet that never come off. No, my accents rarely match.

When I was at SVA getting my degree in illustration, I became known for my "weird sense of color." I guess it's not normal to see different colors in an orange bag or a cherry woodgrain, I always thought it was. It was a good thing, my peers and my instructors thought it was great (and probably a little cooky).

I haven't done anything with my BFA, I actually want to go back to school but for childhood education. I occasionally pull out my soft pastels and do a portrait. The last one was of Lady Day:

It was from a black and white photo.

I love putting colors where they normally wouldn't be. I think that's why I get so excited by a bright blue or hot pink fabric on the inside of a makeup bag. It really is a thrill everytime I open a bag up.

A great example is the pink bird coin purse I made a couple days ago. It's one of my favorite fabrics to work with because it's got the bright red, the maroon and the hot pink, so it's fun to match the zipper, felt tips and lining up with the print.

\

So I guess my inspiration comes partly from the rainbow. I have a solar-powered rainbow maker that is currently creating dozens of dancing rainbows along my walls, floor and ceiling. I bought it from MoMA:

*As usual, click photos for more info.

Stay tuned for the rest of my inspiration.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Forgetful...

2008-03-01T10:59:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I forget how old I am and try to stay out as late as I used to. That was definitely the case last night, I got home after 3am (3:30? 4?) and am feeling every bit of that today. ::wince!::

Jenny's Leap Year party was fun. She loved the jar of gummy frogs I brought as my guest gift. I made 4 origami jumping frogs for her to put in the jar when the gummy frogs were done and everyone loved the idea. The gummies went VERY quickly. =)

(Click photo for more info)

I'm so behind on some parts of technology! Etsy started posting video podcasts and audio podcasts and I can't for the life of me figure out how to download them and put them onto my mp3 player! Okay, really, that's the only part of me that's behind. Just the podcasts. I guess that's not so bad. If anyone who reads this has suggestions, please let me know!

Yesterday I sewed my fingers off, watched 3 episodes of Season 2 of "Big Love" and swooned over SweetestPea's monster made out of recycled men's clothing on Martha. I just recently bought a rice ball from her for a friend of mine. I hope I get it today!

I still ended up one or two behind my Etsy quota. That's fine, I will make those before working on March's 20. My fabric didn't come yesterday either. Sigh! I didn't REALLY expect it to, since it was only 4 days after the prints were shipped, I was just really hopeful. I DID get another card from my handmade penpal TheSeaWithin! I love her! I get things from her every other day. I want to find fun objects to send her along with my handmade cards/envelopes.

Speaking of TheSeaWithin, check out my new makeup bag:

(click photo for more info)
The fabric is named "Caribe" which I think is so cool since that's actually my brother's name. The color palette really does resemble like the Caribbean Ocean.

I really want to make clutches, if my migraine ever goes away today, I am going to cut fabric and attempt to make one today. Migraines make me sad. I know I should rest but I should also do laundry, tidy my apartment, finally put together my dresser. I'm trying to work through it, but I don't know if that will really work.

I'm off to take more excedrine and see if I can get up out of bed!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Leap Year!

2008-02-29T09:24:00.002-05:00

Hello friends!

So as many of you know, I have Friday/Saturday off from my fulltime job. I'm also 8 behind my 20/month self-imposed quota of items to make for Etsy. I couldn't be more thankful for a Leap Day this month!

Today, Etsy will be on Martha! It's so exciting! I try to watch Martha whenever I can, which is usually once a week at most. I love all of the recipes of hers that I've tried. Especially the Irish Soda Bread, to die for!

So the plan is to make 8 things today and list as many as possible. Then I will be going to my friend Jenny's Leap Year party. I'm still trying to think of a good hostess gift for her and her roommate. My last party, she brought a "Hostess Platter", which was a nice plate covered in Twinkies, DingDongs and HoHo's. It was really cute. She joked that we are in competition because she spent "so much time" working on her gift to me. I was thinking of maybe making a jar of hand-dipped chocolate covered pretzels. We'll see!

Here is item 12/20:

(Click photo for more info.)

A tried & true fabric, hopefully it will sell once again! This time I lined it with blue fabric I picked up at Mood. I hope my new order of fabric from FabricStash arrives today! I can't wait to make things out of the new prints.

It's 9:24am and even though my throat is slightly sore, I'm ready to start my day! I think today is an oatmeal & an organic navel orange day.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Happy Birthday to me!

2008-02-24T09:36:00.000-05:00

It's been almost a week since I last updated. Not much has happened in my handmade world. Let's see...

I made cornbread and baked ziti. I put together a new ikea bookcase for all my craft and art books.

On Wednesday, I attended my first Marketing class. The instructor was sick, so she was low-energy and had very little of a voice. The homework is interesting. I'm supposed to answer questions abour promotion, price, product and profit. I was so thrilled to have homework that I did all of it on the subway ride home. I hope next week has better energy.

One of the students is a jewelry designer who has sold to a few celebrities, all by word of mouth, doesn't have anything online. I don't even think she has business cards. I will talk to her about Etsy next week, I think, she seemed interested in how I use the online world to my advantage.

I haven't listed anything new! And the makeup bag is becoming the bane of my existance. It needs to be able to support heavy normal-sized shampoo and conditioner bottles along with other such things. It's not terribly to my liking, so I will try again today.

And yes, today is my birthday. I'm putting together my new dresser for my bedroom and working (once again) on the custom order makeup case. And Dorian and her girlfriend have invited themselves over to watch the Oscars. I'm hoping they don't kill me, I really just want to sew. Hopefully they will not catch an attitude with my sewing at the kitchen table while they watch the show in the livingroom.

A perfect relaxing birthday? Sewing, cleaning, putting together my dresser and taking my old one apart, and maybe making a bday cake for myself out of the Magnolia cookbook.

<3 Always,
--Taina

How do I ship this?

2008-02-18T11:14:00.000-05:00

I am so glad I have today off, even though I would have gotten overtime pay for working it. It's rainy and cold outside, which makes it a perfect day to stay in and figure out how I will be shipping the massive makeup bag that was custom ordered. Seriously, it's huge. 20" across, 16" tall, with a 6" gusset? It's taking me forever, as I am triple-stitching everything.

The problem is that it's so sturdy that I don't know how it will fit in an envelope or box. I will be taking it to the P.O. tomorrow to see if they have any suggestions. I also want to make sure I know exactly how much my buyer will be paying for shipping. I really hope it's not terribly expensive. The normal size makeup bags I sell only cost $4 to ship overseas, and that's including the padded envelope that's made of recycled fibers and tissue paper. Because I won't be able to fold the bag in half, I will have to ship it flat in a gigantic envelope. Do they even make envelopes larger than 16x20? I'm nervous.

I washed all of my new fabric when I reorganized everything yesterday. I'm excited with the fabric I bought at Mood. I made a coin purse out of it late last night:

(Click photo for more info)

Well, I'm off to try to figure out this bag and make some more things. I haven't counted how many items I've made for Etsy this month yet, but I have a feeling I may be behind schedule. Here's to my goal of 20 again! So glad I have this week off!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Hooray for Organization!

2008-02-17T11:47:00.000-05:00

Well dearies, I'm much more organized in my crafting area!

Yesterday I bought more plastic containers with lids and organized all of my fabrics by type (fun prints, everyday prints, interfacing, lining fabrics). I also decided to use one of my big glass jars for holding thread. It's clear and really pretty as you can see all of the colors. I even organized my notions into smaller containers! Totally exciting.

This morning I awoke to find I've already sold my pink bird makeup bag I listed yesterday. Hooray for sales!

I've been trying to be more organized this year, as it will make next year's taxes even easier on me. Etsy's dedicated part of it's website to "The Storque", where you can find all sorts of news, updates, videos and more. Well guess what I found? A pre-made Seller Worksheet!

I just spent the last hour customizing it to my needs. I needed a column for Charity percentages and I also wanted to include the sum of gross sales each month. And now I'm all done with January and February (thus far). Everytime I make a sale, I will just enter it into the spreadsheet and away we go!

So I listed another umbrella coin purse today:

(Click photo for more info.)

And now I'm off to water my plants, straighten up the livingroom and get ready for my friend Dorian (and maybe her girlfriend) to come over for brunch.

Speaking of plants, here are photos of my kitchen window, from left to right:

OMG, I just sold something else in the time it took to write this blog! One of my zoo pillows! How awesome! Today is a great day.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Is it worth it?

2008-02-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

This morning I received an e-mail from Renegade saying they are accepting applications for the fair in Brooklyn. It's a juried fair, so I'm not even sure if I'd be selected if I applied. There's a $10 non-refundable jurying fee and it costs $200 for the application. If you are accepted, that's all you have to pay, if not, they send back the $200. THEN, there's also the tent/table/chair rental. The website hasn't been updated with the costs yet. I would also have to decorate the space, make a sign, etc. That's a good deal of cash if nothing sells in the two days.

Decisions, decisions. I just contacted FortCloudy to find out what her experience was if she did it and if she'd be applying this year.

I woke up early this morning, ready to take photos of my kitchen windowsil as well as the two items I made last night and my batteries were dead! I have a charger with 4 rechargeable AA's and usually just rotate them so I always have two charged, but somehow slacked this time. I will have to write another post about the seedlings.

Today? Target w/ my mom. Their plastic containers are on sale and I need to organize all of my stained glass and tools. I'm also in need of another under-bed storage container for my handmade things, I've been making TONS of stuff! Speaking of which, I can finally finish the custom order for the matching small and large makeup bags today.

I'm so excited about making my first clutch. Maybe tomorrow.

Here's my latest makeup bag:

(Click photo for listing info)

I LOVE the pink birds. I bought fat quarters of this fabric from CheapThreads and fell in love. I may have to make something for myself for Spring. I also love how the zippers I purchased match the bird tails perfectly.

Okay, I'm off to Target. Later, gators!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Deep Sigh...

2008-02-15T20:26:00.000-05:00

So many exciting things happened today! While waiting in the Dr's office, I thought I'd have enough time to post again via cellphone, but no such luck.

First, I don't have emphysema! My lungs seem fine, it may just be my allergy induced asthma. My doc wants me to monitor my breathing and heart with and without the inhaler while I'm in Capoeira class, which I hope to start up again next month. But lots of tests were done and things are looking up! I got my 2nd HPV vaccine, my right arm is still sore, 7 hours later. Because I have this dull ache in my upper arm, I decided to treat myself to something fun today.

I went on a search for heavy-duty fusible interfacing for the incredibly large makeup bag custom order I am supposed to be making which proved harder than expected for a city that has it's very own fabric district.

I finally went to Mood Fabrics which was featured on this last season of Project Runway. I called ahead to see if they had heavy-duty fusible interfacing and the very friendly girl who answered the phone said yes. Well, lo & behold, they did NOT have the interfacing I needed. le sigh.

I did find some super cute blue lining fabric as well as a really cool floral print on a white background. I bought a yard of each and while standing in line to pay, I impulsively bought a few more spools of thread. $30 later and I was out the door continuing my search for fusible interfacing.

I walked over to 38th St. in search of this fabric store an employee recommended, didn't find it, but found this great trimmings/zipper/webbing/snaps/buttons store. Okay, I could have just called it "notions." They didn't have white interfacing, but did have black, which will be fine since the bag is B&W. I also bought 4 magnetic snaps because I want to expand my sewing line and add clutches. I'm super stoked!

After fabric/interfacing shopping, I went to Home Depot as I'd gotten a gift card for redeeming my credit card points.

In my attempt at becoming more "green", I have been looking for CFL's (Compact Florescent Lightbulbs) for the remaining light fixture that has not been switched over to energy saving bulbs. This is because it's the living room and on a dimmer switch. Not many people realize that a dimmer switch saves no electricity on normal CFL's, they have to be the dimmable kind. Home Depot doesn't carry anything past the equiv. of 15 Watt. That stinks because I need 60 or 75 for my livingroom. Since I had a card burning in my pocket, I decided to pick up some more eco-friendly cleaners by Method. I bought hand soap and dish soap since my roommate and I are quickly running out. I also bought my mom the tub/tile cleaner since she couldn't find it at Target.

I love the eco-friendly cleaners because a) they are biodegradeable/reuseable/compostible and b) I have horrific allergies to run-of-the-mill household cleaners. The eco friendly ones are also comparable in price, if not cheaper. I can breathe easy cleaning and knowing I'm leaving less of a footprint on the earth.

Because I still had money left on my card and was on a "green" kick, I decided it was time to finally buy a big bag of soil. I was a key-carrying member of my Community Garden until my keys were stolen. Since it's Winter, it's quite hard to find a time when the president of the garden is there to get a new copy. I would normally just go pick up some compost for free. I bought soil, seeds and biodegradeable seedling pots made from plants.

I came home and repotted my aloe plant, inhaled the gorgeous scent of my paperwhites that are in bloom in my kitchen and planted my remaining bulbs as well as organic tomato, oregano and sweet basil seeds. We'll see if anything grows. Photos will be posted tomorrow, as it's dark.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Friday Morning Ritual

2008-02-15T09:34:00.000-05:00

Today starts my first day of my 9 day vacation in NYC. I was hoping to get out of the city but I have class in the middle of the week.

I think I am coming down with a bit of a cold, at least I hope that's all it is. I'm going to the Dr. at noon today. I have this terrible fear of feeling under the weather on Friday, getting really sick on Saturday and waiting until Monday to see the Dr. People in large U.S. cities know that you don't go to the Emergency Room unless you are near death, because odds are you will die waiting terribly long to be seen. (Violent crimes and horrible near-death accidents are first, strept is way at the bottom of the list.)

After the doc I have to hunt down some heavy duty interfacing. I've never found it in NYC before, only the medium stuff, but it won't do for the very large makeup bag I have a custom order for. I usually order online but don't want to wait for it.

I had Valentine's plans to go to Blockheads for strawberry margaritas and mexican food w/ two of my friends/coworkers but one of them was really sick yesterday so plans were postponed. Le sigh.

So...Friday Morning Ritual? First? I photograph and list the item I made on Thurs. night. Second? I pay all of my bills online and figure out how much I have left after being paid. Third? I balance my Etsy Paypal acct. and transfer my actual earnings to my bank account.

This is how it works for my Etsy shop:
Listing Fees now are .20 for each of the month's 20 items = 4.00.
Etsy transaction fees once something sells = 3.5% of selling price
15% of selling price of each item - charity of the month
Paypal fees = 5% of each transaction.
Remaining? Goes to my savings account for my education fund.

I use money I make from my fulltime job to purchase supplies. I like the idea of my fulltime job investing in my education.

So this morning? I'm listing another turquoise sugar skull coin purse. It's one of my best sellers and I absolutely love the fabric!

Okay, I'm off to knit and catch up on the latest episode of Lost. Happy weekend, everyone!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Wednesdays...

2008-02-13T12:19:00.000-05:00

It's been a week since I last updated. I've been busy...::GASP:: going on dates. Yup. I would write more about them here, but neither of them have anything to do with my handmade life. Except that I haven't been making as many things as I should be.

I am so excited, as February's sales picked up, I sold the strange bird makeup bag this morning. I also just listed this:

(Click photo for listing info)

I made it last night and love how bright it is, especially because it snowed all day yesterday and is pouring all day today. Grey days should be combatted with brightly colored projects.

My Marketing class was postponed last week, due to start this Weds. Today, the college called me to say that the instructor has once more postponed the first class to next week due to the weather. Heartbreaking! I was really excited today and was contemplating buying a really cute notebook just for the occasion.

Oh well, I will go home and make more things. Hooray!

<3 Always,
--Taina

It's grey outside...

2008-02-06T08:03:00.000-05:00

It's a rainy day here in NYC, making me slow-going this morning when I should be at work in an hour.

I'm excited, I sold four items by Feb. 4th this month. No sales yesterday, but it kept the momentum going to continue to make and list things and aim for my 20 items in Feb goal. I made items 3 and 4.

Item #3 is perfect for today's listing:

(As always, click the photo for more info!)

Have a great day, blog friends!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Nothing handmade to update with...

2008-02-04T07:44:00.000-05:00

...but I'm doing it anyway!

I didn't make anything last night. I went to Whole Foods after work, bought organic strawberries, gala apples, a bosc pear, baby spinach, parmasean and mozzerella (all organic! hooray!)

Yum. I had an apple and some cheese for dinner and it hit the spot. I'm bringing an apple and a pb sandwich for lunch at work and I couldn't be more excited.

I sold the little umbrella coin purse yesterday! yay! It was one of my faves, I'm so glad it's finding a good home. =)

Today after I eat my sandwich and apple, I am going to the Post Office to ship out the makeup bag I sold 2 days ago and the coin purse I sold yesterday, as well as my latest letter to my penpal. I hope I get something in the mail soon. I am so excited about my penpal. I love receiving things other than bills!

I'm saving the organic strawberries for the extra white chocolate I have in the apt. from when I made all of the peppermint bark for my family. Hopefully I will have someone to share it with this week.

Tomorrow I get out of work at five, part of me is really hoping I get to hang out with my new work friend Omar, but part of me is hoping he cancels so I can come home and sew a ton. I have the fabric cut for 4 more makeup bags, and hopefully my wholesale zipper order will arrive in my mailbox tomorrow.

Oh, I bought a really great V-day card from SpringCartDesigns. I can't wait for it to get here. My mom's been thinking about learning sign language for a while, she flashes me the "ILoveYou" sign from her kitchen window when I leave her apartment, I think the card would be perfect for her.

My from SpringCartDesigns is super friendly, communicative, quick to respond and quite helpful. She's shipping out my card immediately, too. I love great etsy service!

Time for work!

<3 Always,
--Taina

strawberries

2008-02-03T08:29:00.000-05:00

I've been craving fruit like nobody's business recently. Like apples with peanut butter and really good organic strawberries. yum! After work today, I'm heading to Whole Foods to buy some really good fruit, parmasean and some munchy veggies like baby carrots and such. I'm sad I missed my local Farmer's Market yesterday. It's only every Saturday from 8am-3pm. Next week, I will buy some of their amazing apple cider. I can't wait!

I'm actually leaving my apt. in 15 mins for Target to buy some necessities like paper towels, razors, organic milk and such. Oh, and chocolate bars and marshmallows for my s'more maker! I think I'm hanging out w/ a new work friend tomorrow night, and I promised him s'mores.

I sold my little umbrella coin purse this morning! I was hoping someone would buy it, since I think it's super cute.

Anyway, here's a strawberry zipper pouch to tide me over until I purchase some actual fruit this evening:

<3 Always,
--Taina

Blue Skies

2008-02-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

Today is a new day...

(Click photo for item info.)

I woke up at 7:36am today. My phone rang 6 mins later. My phone only rings that early in the morning if a) there's an emergency or b) My cousin Andy is calling.

Andy is in the Army National Guard. He's like a brother to me. We grew up down the hall from each other and he's only a year and a half younger than I am. He's in a tent in North Carolina right now, awaiting deployment to Afghanistan. He's already been to Iraq.

Talking to him this morning made me want to do something handmade and spectacular. I was thinking maybe "Afghans for Afghans" or items who's entire sale price went to Doctors Without Borders. That's when I remembered...

Doctors Without Borders actually had to pull their medical personnel out of Afghanistan after 5 aid workers were killed there. I don't know if they have returned to the country since then. I will have to do some research.

I used to have penpals who were deployed troops, one of whom was in Afghanistan. He decided to do something for the country upon his return and started Operation Dreamseed. I think it could be fun to donate money to his organization, which gives school supplies to Afghani children.

So while I am worrying about my cousin being safe at war, I will keep myself busy by sending him care packages, donating some money to Operation Dreamseed and knitting something for Afghans For Afghans. Sounds like a plan.

In other news? The sun is out, the rain has gone, and today is a new day. I've already sold a makeup bag! (Sarah, I hope you adore the makeup bag as much as I adore you!) So I'm off to make two more. One for my cousin's wife and another to list.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Rainy day off...

2008-02-01T17:34:00.000-05:00

It's been pouring nonstop since at least 8am. It's now 5:30pm EST. I had plans to go to Target for OJ, bread, yogurt, and a few other essentials that are much cheaper than my supermarket sells them. Afterwards, I was going to go down past Chinatown to purchase more zippers. I woke up to the sound of rain and wind beating down on my window and decided that I'd rather stay in bed for a few more hours.

I purchased zippers at wholesale prices online. From the same family-owned business I was planning on purchasing from all the way downtown, no worries!

SEVENTY-SEVEN zippers! Intense! I bought black, white, yellow, green, blue, red, and pink zippers in various sizes.

Jeff from ZipperStop contacted me to say the zippers would be in the mail this afternoon. What service! He also said I should check out the store and gave the hours. I've only purchased from them online. He says the store is actually a three floor building. I have a feeling I'd spend TONS in the actual shop.

I stayed in bed, caught up on the first episode of this season's "Lost" (I watched the Democratic Debate last night, which aired the same time as Lost), and photographed items 19 and 20 of January, and 1/20 of February.

I decided I should stay in and do handmade things. I mixed the ingredients for cornbread, placed it in the oven, set the timer and...voila! I completely forgot about it and burned it! eek. I will eat it anyway. It's not black, just a bit more brown than I'd like.

Tonight? I am making more peppermint bark and a makeup bag for my cousin's wife, who's 40th b-day is tomorrow. I was thinking of making one out of the same indigo fabric as the coin purse I just listed today. My parents will bring it to her when they go to her party without me. I am working the Family Festival at MoMA tomorrow, reading kids books of my choosing.

Oh, I got paid yesterday! So I have a few bucks to spend on Etsy. I was thinking about purchasing a fun handmade v-day card for my penpal. I've been searching for a little while now. I should check my mail and see if I received anything fun today.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Love Birds?

2008-02-01T09:52:00.000-05:00

Last night, January 31st, I made my 19th and 20th items for January. I wasn't able to list them in January, since I only use sunlight for my photos and it was about 11pm when I finished the zipper pouches.

I also made item #1 for February! hooray!

February is my birth month. I will be 27 years old on Feb. 24th. This is a birthday I am pretty nervous about.

My mom had me when she was 28. Never say never, but I am not planning on having kids in the next two years. I want to be financially stable with a very nice sized nest egg and I want to be happy with where I am both career-wise and physically before thinking seriously about children. I love where I work but it's definitely not what I want to do forever. And by physically? I mean both my place in this world and also my immediate surroundings.

I have been working for two years to create a home (weird! I always call it an apartment!) that I am truly happy and at peace in. It's getting there, slowly. Maybe by the end of this year. A lot of the changes I'd like to make in my apartment are aesthetic. I found a TV cabinet that I fell in love with at Ikea a few months ago. I've never liked the idea of having the television be the center of a room. I grew up without a TV (see my profile.), and I won't be giving mine up unless it goes on the fritz, but would like it to be less obvious. I also would like to build custom radiator covers that I can put decorative items on. I have to replace my curtains in my bedroom and livingroom, too. I have already purchased the replacements, it's a simple job for a rainy day.

The big stuff? Completely organizing my closets and dresser. I need my tool closet to be better organized. A few magnetic strips would help in keeping screwdrivers and hammers easily accessible, label-marked bins for everything else. I probably should add another shelf to the closet, as well. My bedroom closet is used not only for clothes but for supplies like extra USB cables, printer paper and things like that. I'd like to clear out the clutter and designate a space for each item. I think Spring cleaning will be in order in March. I'd like to donate a ton of stuff I don't need anymore, and freecycle the items the Salvation Army won't take.

My etsy stuff is the most organized in my apartment. My fabric is in three plastic bins with lids, including one for lining fabric and interfacing. I purchased little stacking clear plastic boxes for thread, bias tape, safety eyes, cloth labels, scissors, measuring tapes, pencils, chalk and more. Best etsy investment! I also have a bin for packing and shipping materials and another for receipts for supplies/shipping. I love that I know where everything is the minute I need it. If I could do that with my entire apartment, I'd feel GREAT!

February also brings Valentine's Day. I'm not a huge V-day person, although one year my mom took me and my best friend to see the Vagina Monologues. My favorite thing to do for Valentine's Day is volunteer at Planned Parenthood. We get together and make care packages for prostitutes.

What's in a care package for a prostitute? Any good Valentine starts with chocolate kisses. Then there's the wallet-sized card with resources for drug and alcohol dependency resources, STD testing, counseling, domestic violence hotline, cancer screening, and much more, all free. It's pretty much a pink card that tells a street worker that there is someone out there who cares. There are also condoms in each little V-day Packet. We assemble hundreds of them, the conference room is filled with usually somewhere between 20 and 50 volunteers. We eat candy and talk and put our love into the packets, carefully sealing each one with a red ribbon. On Valentine's Day, the packages are taken onto a PPNYC trailer and everytime an "at risk" individual is spotted, they are handed one of the packets. I try to volunteer for this every year but have not been contacted this year and wonder if the program has stopped.

I titled this blog "Love Birds?" because a) the last two items I listed on Etsy were bird pouches in different colors and b) it fits in with my dating life (or lack thereof.)

I've been dating this one guy on and off for a year and a half. It's super casual, very open, we're allowed to date other people, we see each other once every month or two on average. We're friends who knew each other in H.S. Occasionally I ask myself what I am doing because I worry it's a crutch for not having to go out and actually be in a relationship. I do it because it feels right for right now and I love not having the pressure some of my past relationships had. I'm a busy person, I like being as active as possible, which doesn't allow me time for a fulltime boyfriend, so this is a nice mix. I also love how open we are with each other. We set down ground rules and they work very nicely, mostly because there is some really great trust between us.

A few months ago, I decided to join Match.com and see what it was about. So far I went on one date with a guy who turned out to be super boring, there was no connection at all. I also was e-mailing back and forth with another guy who turned out to be a little weird, he wanted to meet me before I even knew his last name or had his number. I got a bad feeling and stopped returning his e-mails. A week from today, I have a date with a new guy. We've been e-mailing back and forth for about a month, he seems nice, I have his full name and phone number. I have yet to speak to him on the phone. I told him the truth, I had a sewing goal to try to make, and wouldn't be able to talk until it was done. We will be going to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, which I'm excited about as it's an old stomping ground of mine.

As always, you can click the photos for the listing info on each item. Today is a rainy day, but I am going to try my best taking decent photos for my latest three items.

<3 Always,
--Taina

Fifty items!

2008-01-31T08:12:00.000-05:00

So I got to finish 18 items of the 20 goal before passing out last night at a little after midnight. My body needed the sleep. Tonight I will make the remaining two of the 20, but they won't be listed until February (tomorrow!)

I will try harder next month. I have never made 18 items for Etsy in one month, it's pretty exciting. I'm photographing items 17 and 18 this morning before work and listing them for sale on my Etsy shop.

When I listed item #17 last night, I reached an all-time high of items in my shop, FIFTY items! I've never had 50 items in my shop before. It's pretty exciting.

a few days ago I was contacted by a new Etsy buyer in Australia for a custom order. She wants two makeup bags, one like the ones I've started listing tons of and a much much larger one to hold her large bottles of shampoo and such. The larger one? 16" across and about 12" tall with a 6" gusseted bottom. She wanted it in my black & white disco dot fabric.

Because I like ordering supplies on Etsy, I ordered the fabric from my buddy Liz @ CheapThreads and hopefully it will be shipped today. I will either get it Sat or Monday. I also ordered more of the turquoise sugar skull fabric, since it's the fabric I sell the most items out of and I'm almost out after making the coin purse I listed a few days ago.

I love custom orders, but I always wonder if the buyer will back out after I spend money and time on the items. Until I have the money in my paypal account and the buyer is satisfied with items in hand, I am a bit nervous.

Item #16 of 18:

<3 Always,
--Taina

A change in plans?

2008-01-30T21:50:00.000-05:00

It's 9:35pm, Wednesday night. I am listing my 16th of 20 items on Etsy. I'm absolutely exhausted. I really was hoping to make 4 more items tonight but I think I am only going to sew until 11pm and then finally go to bed at a decent hour.

(click photos for listing info.)

Work (the FT job) has been taking a ton out of me, as have health worries. A few weeks ago, I was terribly sick and went to the doctor for what ended up being a really nasty sinus infection. My Dr. is excellent and checks everything every time I see him. He checked my breathing and said he'd detected "a bit of emphysema."

I had a 102.6 fever that day, had been waiting 4 hours for a walk-in time due to a computer glitch and was too exhausted and sick to ask him what exactly he meant. I know what Emphysema is, I watched my grandmother die of it. She smoked all of her life. I smoked for less than a year in when I was 16 and maybe a handful of cigarettes my first year of college. I have not smoked since then. I will be 27 in less than a month. Emphysema means that your body inhales oxygen but does not exhale all of the carbon dioxide it produces. It's scary.

I want to go back to Capoeira class, but noticed I was having trouble breathing after the first hour of my last 2 1/2 hour class. I'd been diagnosed with allergy induced asthma by my previous physician. I mentioned that to my current physician and he said they are definitely not the same thing. I have an appt. w/ my current doc in a little more than 2 weeks, so I hope to get more info then.

I've been super exhausted lately. I'm making sure I get my B vitamins daily and I've noticed a bit more energy, but I wonder how much of it has to do with whatever is going on with my lungs. Anyway, my body is telling me to go to bed. I'm going to push for another hour and 15 mins and then pass out.

(click photo for listing info.)

<3 Always,
--Taina

Sewing my heart out.

2008-01-30T08:06:00.000-05:00

It's 8am, I have to be at work at 10:30 today. I'm so nervous about meeting my goal of 20 items this month! I am charging my camera batteries so I can take photos of my latest items. I have a minute or two to write an entry.

Yesterday at work, all I could think about was coming home and sewing. I really wanted to sell more items this month, as I'd liked to have donated more to Doctors Without Borders. With mass media finally mentioning the recession the U.S. has been in for quite a while, sales have slowed practically everywhere. Even my place of work is dead.

Maybe February will be better. I am also optimistic about my Marketing class that starts next Wednesday.

I'm getting better at promoting, I think. I now update my shop's MySpace account regularly with new photos of items as I list them on Etsy. I also post the occasional bulletin for all of my MySpace friends to see when I list an item I particularly like. Of course, I have business cards, rubber stamps with my web address/e-mail address, I send personalized 'thank you' cards with every purchase. My Etsy mini is on both of my myspace accounts, personal and business. It features my top featured items and updates instantly if I change around my favorites in my shop. It's a pretty cool feature.

Last night I made four items and listed one I made the previous day. To date? I've made 16 items this month. If I can make 4 more tonight, I will be set.

I wish it wasn't so dark and rainy outside, my photos won't be as good as I really want them to be, even with photoshop adjusting the light/brightness.

Here's the coin purse I listed last night:

(Click the photo for more info.)

Okay, batteries are charged! I love my speed charger!

<3 Always,
--Taina