Wednesday Stuff

Not actual photo of my moving boxes.

Today, I am moving. Again. For the 3 time in 6 months. I am not at all thrilled about this. 


Moving, for me is just one big headache. Luckily, I don't have a bunch of stuff to haul and I'm only going about 20 minutes south of where I am currently. But I still didn't want this situation to come about at all. Sigh.... and yet, here I am.  There are a lot of other changes going on in my life. A new job for one. Getting closer to graduation. Business ideas. Design ideas. Hopefully some freelance work. Chaos.

Friday...

I've been slowly editing photos and working on new designs. Which I'm really happy about. I've been putting more of myself into the things I really enjoy. But I have so much going on outside that just bogs me down. More over I'm disappointed in myself for not being as on top of things. I guess in a way I had fooled myself into thinking I was so much more pulled together. Reality check.... I'm pretty good at lying to myself. So, as the story goes, I am moving again.  (note to self: start packing). Got a new job.... with a wonky schedule to complicate my already wonky schedule. And still try to be a mom, have relationship, chase dreams, hold down the fort, win the bread, and keep some small amount of sanity. It's tough stuff.  So now that I am done venting. I will some photos once I have a better internet connection.

Just added to Etsy!

The Tipper Loop Scarf
You can wear like a regular scarf or as a cowl. Year round in 100% cotton and the perfect way to add color!

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?

First and foremost I want it to grow. I don't mind slow growth, as long as it's growing. At this particular time, I am limited as to what I can do to move things forward, but I take every step I can. I have expanded to selling at the local farmer's market here in Ogden. I also expand my line. I have new designs and ideas in my head that can't wait to be tangible. So getting as many of my ideas out and made is a priority for me. I am trying to invest as much into building my dreams as I can.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

Hmmm, that's tough. I have a blanket that my mom crocheted like 10 years ago, that I love. I also love anything my daughter has scribbled, doodled, painted (we paint birdhouses together), or story she's told. But I think one of my absolute favorite things is food and cooking. A meal (made by myself, my mom, or whoever) is something special. Food I think is best when shared with you're favorite people. When it's home made it's a love thing. But I think it's also the same if the food is made by someone who really loves to cook. You can tell if someone cares about what they are doing. And that translates to everything you do.

Please describe your creative process.

It's pretty random actually. Sometimes I get the "what-if" thought first. Sometimes it's the material that comes first.  Or it's a stitch pattern I've seen or found and am holding on to till I have the perfect yarn for it. Then I write down some notes or I get straight to work making a sample. Then I make more notes after the sample is done. I'm pretty organized with my designs. Which is funny cause I'm a total clutter bug. I have 2 sketch books. One is for the finished patterns, notes on color, a description, and any other information. The other has notes, sketches, thoughts and ideas. It's oddly random and organized. I carry both books with me because you never know when inspiration will strike. I like to surround myself with my materials, so I tend to collect everything in my favorite room. If I get an idea for something I want easy access to my tools and materials so I can work on it "rightnow", so to have an in house studio for me is ideal. I love working from home, but luckily much of my stuff is very portable. So I can take it with me if I ever get to travel. Or I can take it to work like I do now.

Name your top five books, movies, musicians, and websites besides Etsy.

I don't have specific books that I like. I am more about genres and authors.

But my top 3 authors are Nora Roberts, Kate Jacobs, and Debbie MaComber. Two of my favorite genres are Crochet and Knitting books (especially stitch dictionaries) and cook books (especially vegetarian ones, or ones with recipes that can be easily adapted to vegetarian)

Movies are hard for me because I am not much of a movie watcher. The ones I do tend to enjoy the most are kids flicks:

1- Cars

2- Up

3- Ice Age

4- Madagascar

5- Harry Potter (all of them)

Music.. this one is hard because I love music. I like stuff all across the board.

In no particular order:

1- Breaking Benjamin

2- Garth Brooks

3- Tool

4- Three Days Grace

5- ATB

Websites I frequent most outside Etsy.com:

1- Facebook

2- Twitter

3- Ravelry

4- The following blogs: mkcarroll, sixoneseven, and novamade

5- ebay

Logo

Introducing my business logo!
Yes, I designed it all on my own, and I made it using the news skills I learned from school.
(c) tiia lin 2010.... If anyone wants a logo designed just let me know.

What first made you want to become an artist?

Frankly, I don't know if I consider myself an artist. I have a deep love of the things I make, but I am just compelled to make. I think designer fits me better, even though I don't sell my patterns. But I remember going through spurts where I was all about one medium or another. There was origami, paints, paper, fabric, polymer clay, yarn and what have you. Some things have come full circle. Yarn, fabric, and paper have become staples for me in one way or another.
I wish I could tell you some amazing fortuitous story of how I stumbled upon my great gift along with the epiphany that I must share it with the world. But I can't. I just have to make the things.  I am the only one who is so driven by the need to be creative, to design, to make that I have every intention of making it my full time income. And I mean full time in every sense of the words. I am happiest at home with my materials and my favorite people around me. I did know early on that I am not meant to work in a regular 9-5. My brain just doesn't tick well in those environments. Working on my graphic arts degree has helped broaden my creative interests (and freelance opportunities). It has also allowed me to be fully in charge of my logo and brand identity. It also gives me insight into marketing. I may roll it into another degree later, but for now I have enough on my plate from school, work, building my dream, and being mom to my amazing daughter.

Brick and Mortar

I really do dream of having my own brick and mortar shop. I have the vision of it so clear in my head that I can almost smell the air and hear my footsteps on the floor. I also see where I want it to go. But I haven't found the name, yet. It'll come to me I'm sure.. in the mean time I am still daydreaming and loosely planning.

It has occurred to me...

That the vast majority of the time, I haven't ever got what I wanted for my birthday. Really, I think last year someone actually got me something I wanted. (Thank you, MKM, for the remote starter for my car) Oh, and the year before. (Thanks, girls, for the new suit case) Other than that, everyone misses the boat. I have told people point blank what I wanted and it still manages to fly over peoples heads. Why is that? Mind you, I am not fishing for birthday gifts. My birthday isn't until February, but I am griping about in now. But I think I'm done now. Yeah. I'm done.

Walk us through your typical workday.

• I'm awake. What more do you want?
• The normal song and dance of getting ready for the day.
• Get my laptop and check my emails, update my facebook, twitter, usually my blog, play on etsy for a little while. 
• Lunch Break!
• Throughout the day I work on projects, designs, homework, housework, paper work, daydream, think, and what have you.
• Dinner or school or work.
• Before bed I work on something, get on my laptop again, or just rest. 

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

At the present time, I am still working 4 to 5 days a week at a local bar, where I'm an entertainer. I'm also getting my degree in Graphic design. Most importantly is raising my daughter. She is absolutely my number one priority. My day usually entails watching plenty of kid's shows and snuggle time, broken up with internet surfing, and other miscellaneous happenings. I'm love to cook, shop and go for walks. I daydream about traveling. I love the Travel channel, Food Network, and Discovery Channel for my TV time.  For the most part, making things is my favorite thing, so that's what I do every chance I get. I'm really a homebody. I guess I'm pretty much in nesting mode permanently.  I do love to eat out though, love checking out local restaurants. Luckily, I'm active enough to eat what I want. Although, I do eat ridiculously healthy.  My life is pretty simple and not really any different. I forget to put things away. I like to make the mess. I hate to clean up the mess. I brush my teeth. I think all the time. I doodle and ponder. I fiddle with things. I laugh because I think I'm funny. And because my daughter is funny. I lose my keys. I do laundry. I walk into rooms and forget why I walked in there. I eat. I sleep. I dance. I craft. I love.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?

I don't think I ever not made things. I remember always being into something. The flour in the kitchen, my mom's make-up, the recycling, sometimes even the garbage. I firmly believe that idle hands are the devil's play things and arts, creativity, and crafting kept me busy.  My brain is always going. Thinking up new designs and projects. I learned over the years that my creativity is best used in knitting, crochet, fabric, paper, and jewelry. I had to do something with all the stuff I love making. There was so much of it! I found etsy a few years ago when I got back in to crafting after my daughter was born, and loved the ease of use, affordability, and overall vibe of it. Hopefully this will turn full time, especially with my expanding not only my line, but exposure by attending craft shows and the local farmer's market.