Moving...

My blog has moved to: http://tiialinartcraftdesign.blogspot.com... This is also doubling as my online spot until I have my full site ready! Thanks for stopping by and I see you there!

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.

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.

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.

A bit about myself.

I am a mom, first and foremost.
I am completely socially inept.
I think I'm hilarious.
I talk fast when I'm excited, angry, nervous, or just cause.
I love to hang out at home.
If it weren't for school, work, and errands, I'd be a hermit.
I make things.
Correction, I love to make things.
I am a Graphic Designer.
I do have OCD and ADD tendencies.
I am stubborn, but compliant when I want to be.
I rock out to the beat of my own drum.
I stand out the most by being myself.
I work more than I play.
I'm a non-conformist who conforms when it suits me.
I love tattoos.
I want to save the world, but only the parts I like.
I love twitter and blogging.
I am starting my own business because I work better WITH people than FOR people.
I prefer my toast dark with cream cheese, peanut butter or butter.
I love vegetables.
I love tofu.

News and more

Playing with photoshop... I'm really liking what it can do.
Anyway. I have a business partner. We are really going to do this. I've been doing research on local craft fairs... I'm even thinking of expanding into the states around us. But the actually attendance of those ones will be for upcoming years.  We both love yarn and crafting in general.. we just have different aesthetics. Roughly our business is under one name with different lines. Which compliments the individuality and joint interest we have. There are few things that we will happily work on together, or both make. Although I am not used to how vocal she is and her willingness to share with everyone our progress. I'm pretty quiet about everything... except for on here and other web sources. Maybe that'll just be our niches. Her the verbal, vocal talk to everyone aspect, and me the online venue. You never know.  I've already got a blog up for it (click here). I think we plan on registering the name very shortly. I need to call the tax commission.. tomorrow or Friday.
In other news, My birthday is Friday. I'll be 26 and all my plans fell thru. I'm not why I'm surprised. Happens pretty much every year, but I digress.
I am working a project that I had set aside back in December. My goal is to finish it and then move on to some new projects and expanding my line. My immediate needs are the different yarns for those products, a mouse, a USB extender, a printer (inkjet that can handle different kinds of paper), and a slew of adhesives. I have to list these this for my sake. Helps those mental notes. I'm also learning more about my sense of humor and teaching. But that's for a different blog. Ok, got to finish somethings on Etsy and then go to bed.

Earlier than expected

I had this idea for my blog next year.  But let me start with the beginning. I ordered the Stitch-a-Day Calendar from Vogue Knitting and love everything about it. After watching an ad on the TV for the movie Julia +Julie (which I still haven't seen), I go to thinking about doing something similar. For those who don't know the movie is about a woman who cooks her way through Julia Childs cook book and blogs about it. I love cooking, but not that much. Then I thought about my new calendar. I could do that. I doubt that I'll stitch up every pattern, but I planned to make a scarf or cowl with as many of the patterns as I could do (minus cables.. I'm not into cables, or bobbles). I had originally sought to start on January 1st and photograph my progress and the page of the calendar.  Well my plan may be moved up... or I may have to do a variation thereof. Why? Because I just got an offer that would mean getting paid to make what I already make by a local boutique. Exciting!  I'm supposed to meet with the owner either today or tomorrow, I think..... I'm waiting for her phone call or text... I don't like waiting for phone calls.
I' going to take some time to think about how I want to approach my 'project' for 2010.

Addiction

I am truly addicted to performing. It is my greatest high. I love all creativity, but being on stage dancing is unlike anything else on earth. Which is good, because I'm going to be doing it a lot in the next while. Adult Dance and Fitness has moved to a brand new building on Washington Boulevard in Ogden. It's got a great exterior: blue black and silver in an art deco style. It's prompted a name change. They are now Studio Blue, but the name change won't be official on paper work till 2011. They now have 2 pole rooms, the main dance floor, a tanning bed, and a small fitness room (think treadmill, stationary bike, and elliptical). I love it. And they have expanded the retail shop as well.

Not me, Becca the Amazing... I'd like it to be me though.

In part to gain business there will be aerial shows on the street from 1pm to 2pm on Saturdays. Unless there is a parade or other event, then we will do shows before and after for sidewalk traffic. Considering the upcoming weather.... I'm nervous about the cold. I was nervous about forgetting how to do things, but it came back to me rather quickly. Also, Taboo Burlesque will have a show on December 12th. I let you know the details as they come.

More pics from my hub page review

Plymouth Yarn 

Baby Alpaca Grand Tweed

I wrote a review of this yarn at HubPages. I made a poncho/wrap from it. But I at current don't have pics of me wearing it yet. Working on that promise. I'm actually wanting to improve photography skills. I pretty good at somethings but way below par on most things. Mind you, I took one year of photography in high school, but ended up the T.A. (teacher's aide for those who don't know) for the last half of it and didn't have to pay attention to anything.

Sorry for the funny layout. It just kinda happened. I'm nearly finished with a knit loomed vest. I'm really excited about it, I chose an acrylic boucle from Bernat. I've had the yarn laying around for what must be close to 2 years, not know what to do with it. Then I saw something on Etsy that inspired me. Now I plan on making a bunch, with lots of variations. Hopefully I'll have a few for the Farmer's Market next year.

More Etsy...

Handmade By Rogue my online store will have some new items listed as of today





I don't know if I'll get all of them listed, but I hope so.

Photo Delight

I found this site on an EASY marco photo studio box. It could be free if you have all the materials on hand. I plan to make one for myself to photograph beanies and my art work.... I may even experiment with sizing to hold larger things. EXCITED!

Daring to dream

I'm not greedy, I just want to do everything. I want to own my own businesses... that's right plural. I love variety, and get bored very easily. I'll tell you more as I get them going.....

Look!

It's a Handmade Business card of sorts! I made it myself... go figure. But it makes me happy.