Too busy!

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

I'm baaack!

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

Birthday Ideas

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

Happy Birthday to me!

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