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!

Farmer's Market

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.

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.

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.

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.

Manic Monday

The work on the custom order is going great! About 3/4 to 4/5 of the way done. Moving swimming. Other things not so smooth. Work was rough. Physically and emotionally. I think a little bit of retail therapy may be in order. Mainly starting to get the pieces for my modular desk/workspace for at the studio and for my farmer's market booth.  New mod starts this month. I learn a brand new program: Adobe Illustrator. Exciting. Ok. I'm a little intimidated. More than a little. I'm not an illustrator. I don't draw. I craft and I write. So this feels very daunting. I'm sure I'll be fine. I'm kinda shaky today... probably caffeine overload from yesterday. Had one too many... maybe not enough? I'm done thinking at the moment.

Thinking and Thinking Again and Again

I'm not always talking, but I'm always thinking. It's what I do best.... I may have an idea on raising money to get my store front... but I don't know how to get it going and not lose my head.

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.

Of all the luck..

I have amazing skill. I managed to crank out a bunch of pullip beanies and scarves and one woman's beanie over the past couple days, and then all day I'm been to internet stuff. Well, here's where the talent steps in, while preping a cornish game hen for the oven I sliced my thumb. So now I have this makeshift bandage on my left thumb ( I have no band-aids) and still have to finish the meal, finish my computer work and I want to try and finish some more beanies.

I decided to put my big WIPs on hold so I could focus on quick projects. I pretty sure I'm going to be in a beanie fit for the next little while, then I'll get back to my big WIPs.

I started another blog... it'll be the home of my other writings. Poems, prose, essays.... you get the idea, whereas this will remain my online journal.

Thinking and Thinking

I'm looking for inspiration. To find a way to make what I love all go together. I watched Randy Pausch's Last Lecture and it has me thinking. I want my cake and to clean the plate. I don't have all the pieces yet, but when I get them will I know how they fit? Or do I have them already and just can't find the edge and corner pieces to build inward. I don't have the answer.  This is of a more serious note since this is my current state of mind and I've been distracted with a lot of things for the last little while. I'm not always talking, but I'm always thinking.

And the story for today is

I don't really know if there is much to tell. I am busy this week. I've had 3 dance practices this week so far, a rehearsal today at 6, with show scheduled for 10pm or 11pm. I'm bartending at a banquet dinner Saturday. And I don't know whether or not there is another practice on Sunday, since we now have 2 shows set for December at the new studio location. Oh, and I need to squeeze in homework that's due Monday. At the moment though I'm sitting at Great Harvest Breads sipping mocha coffee on 25th St with my daughter wandering around in her pumpkin costume. There is random music playing that I've never heard of. I'm sitting at a table shaped like a peach half with high backed wood chairs. It's kind of chilly in here actually. Probably a reflection of the declining temperature outside. I should get going soon, but I don't think I want to yet.

I'm hoping to get some photos posted up here soon, but I need to get a new USB port or burn the photos onto a CD before I can upload them.... maybe get a data port? I know I need a new mouse.  My Mac doesn't have a slot for a compact flash card.

If goes as planned..

I will have my new laptop tomorrow. Thrilling! Then I won't be as dependant on other people's computers. Printing will be the only thing that I'll have to rely on others for.
In other news, apparently Taboo is back together. Even though I wasn't sure we even officially disbanded, life just got in the way. There are a few last minute practices before we're doing a show on Friday. I foundout about this Sunday. Talk about short notice. I'm not complaining just a little overwhelmed.
In yarn news, I've picked out my next review yarn. I've been working with it a little bit at a time during the week. At currently I have 2 crohcet projects, 1 knitted, and 1 on my knitting loom. I'm quite happy with this as I'm making decnt progress on all of them in betweenn homework, house work, and work. There are some changes at work now. I'm not cocktailing, instead I'm learning to bartend at banquets at the hotel that the bar(s) are in. Which is fine with me, bartenders tend to make more money anyway. That's the update thus far.

Farmer's Market and Gardening

So I pulled my stuff out of Reenie's House, not because of any hard feelings, but because I'd put in almost $200 with nothing to show. I fully support local business (i'm working on it myself) but $200 is a lot of money and the location is not fabulous. The show could be somewhere better.

But speaking of local business. I am obsessed and fascinate by my local farmers market here in Ogden. I love everything about it. The fresh food, walking outside, being right on 25th St, all the crafters and artists. it's amazing. Hopefully next year I'll there selling my one-of-a-kind shawls, bags, beanies, and something I call "the tube"... more on that last thing later. I'm really thrilled to see how many people show up to support the whole deal. Have I mentioned how amazing 25th St is? Everyone should go.

Here are some pics from arounf my house and garden:

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.....

Tonight is....

Nothing really extraordinary. I've been on a Harry Potter kick... my husband went to see the new one without me.... highly annoyed. Not only because we've gone to see them together since we've been together, but because well.... I miss going out on dates with him. Yes we're married, and happily, but that doesn't mean I don't still want to feel special. I'm not asking for champagne and a bed of rose petals (it'd be nice though) but simple 'romantic' things would be great every once in a while..
On another note, I finished the first baby blanket I've made in over a year. Looks great, I've also started another one. Hopefully I'll get it listed on my new etsy store soon, cause it's empty right now.

Next... I'm thinking about sucking it up and working at the Lighthouse for a little while... if they are willing to work with me. I'm not thrilled about the idea, cause I really want to go down the SLC to work, but the... uh, lack of running vehicle is a major setback. So we shall see.

Bright note: I'm teaching an 'exotic dance' workshop tomorrow. I'm really excited for it and very curious to see how this will all pan out.... maybe some sort of opportunity will come from this.
Second bright note: Taboo is putting on a show at Adult Dance and Fitness on August 14th. Somehow I ended up with 2 solos... that makes me a little nervous.

Where do I go from here?

I've been asking myself this a lot lately. How do I make a living from my hodgepodge loves? I don't do well in any normal 'job'. I want to write more.... but I can't even really formulate the words to say what it is that I'm feeling. I need time to think, but can I afford it? I'm up in Boise again this weekend... leave tomorrow morning-ish.

Ramblings

When did I post last? I don't even know. A few things have changed. I no longer work at Club Wet, and I'm going to Boise to work tomorrow. I actually may end up dancing there more often. It's a drive, but I like the energy up there, plus the place I want to work at down here has crazy scheduling demands that would seriously conflict with what I have going on (or not).

I am part of a brand new Burlesque/Dance group called Taboo. weare based out of Adult Dance and Fitness. I'm so very thrilled by how much we already have done, and what we are working on, but we are looking for fund raising ideas. And other help.

I've started a new store on etsy.... handmadebyrouge.etsy.com it's not stocked yet (go figure), but I also haven't finished everything with it.

Garden

Pictures from my garden: Mind you my hubby does most (all) of the work, but it's still mine.





Hopefully these tomatoes will bear fruit!