I bought a fabric pantry!

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

Is it worth it?

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