Fuh-fuh-fuh-Foolin' - April First is Almost Here!

Who else has Def Leppard on their iPod?!?! YEAH, BABY! LET'S GET ROCKED!...... Oh. Just me? Ok, then.... moving on.

Alright, people, huddle up. April Fool's Day is just around the corner and this year I'm determined to be the "fooler" for once. I may be a Virgo, but I'm vowing here and now to set aside my intolerance for silliness and take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to make someone (ahem - husband) feel like a complete idiot for one brief shining moment. Mean-spirited? Possibly. But, from the moment we met, the man has been constantly looking for ways to embarrass, confuse, ridicule or otherwise horrify me in front of large groups of people. It's my turn!

How about you? Are you planning to get up to some dirty tricks this April 1st? Any fantastic ideas or are you drawing a blank? To get us both started, I'm listing a few of the great classic pranks of all time.

• RIGGED SPRAYER - Put a rubber band around the button on your sink's spray nozzle. Create a situation that requires your victim to wash his/her hands and watch the hilarity ensue.

• FUNNEL FUN - Put a funnel in your pants waistband and drop a quarter from your forehead into the funnel. Bill this activity as particularly difficult and challenge your victim to try it for him/herself. Once the funnel is in place and the victim has leaned his/her head back to balance the quarter, grab a full glass of water and pour it quickly into the funnel. Run!

• SALTY SURPRISE - Fill your sugar bowl with salt. Make some coffee. 'Nuff said.

• BUG IN A BURGER - Pick up some rubber "roaches" at a toy store. Surprise your family with take-out. I get the giggles just thinking about it...

• EARLY BIRD - Wait til everyone's asleep and set the clocks forward a couple of hours. Wake your husband and/or kids at the time their alarm clocks would normally go off with a shake and a panicky-sounding, "Get up! You're late!"

• TIGHTY WHITIES - Buy the same type of underwear your victim normally wears in a much smaller size. Wash several times to create a well-worn look. Replace the underwear in your victim's drawer with the smaller size. Try desperately to suppress your laughter as he/she victim tries to get dressed.

I don't know about you, but I'm inspired. Watch out, my one true love, I'm comin' for ya. You won't know when and you won't know where, but rest assured - you'll be fooled. Mmmmmmmmmwah ha ha ha!

Yikes! Attacked and Interviewed by Tiny Monsters!

If you don't get enough of my jibber-jabber over here, then head right on over to Livvy Lu's Little Monster Shop and see what else I could possibly have to say. Thanks so much to Tracey of littlemonstershop, a fellow mommy and crafter, for the great interview (and patience with my seemingly insurmountable case of writer's block this weekend). Remember - approach with caution. Monsters may seem cute and friendly, but there's no way to tell if they've had their shots...

My New Best Friend - An Interview with ouou

Sooooooo, yeah, hi again. Let's talk for a sec. Now, I know I promised big things when I started this blog. I was going to fill your screen with sage advice and spectacular witticisms. I was going to document my life and times in a series of charming, heartfelt vignettes that would both inspire and empower. But I've since come to a stunning realization - most days, I'm not interesting in the least. Playdates aren't interesting. Housekeeping's not interesting. The world around me, now, that is interesting. But do we really know each other well enough to get into all that? I mean, I barely know anything about you... Even when I have something to say, there's still the little matter of my "system" - timing is critical! That said, I promise I'll figure all this out. Just be patient, ok? And thanks for coming by in the first place. Hey, that reminds me, I want to introduce you to someone...

This is Audrey. Isn't she fantastic? I just want to snatch her up and run away with her.... No, ok, that would be awkward and kidnap-y, but I really really really like her! Audrey was my introduction to a little Etsy shop called ouou , and I immediately fell in love. There is just something about her - innocence, charm, imagination, those boots! - that transports me instantly back to my childhood. Maybe it's the fact that I so completely identify with her, maybe it's the fact that she's just so pretty - but Audrey is one of those characters that gives me a serious case of artist-envy. A very serious case. I mean, like I want to be the artist behind Audrey. If I could draw (and I most certainly cannot - I'm a designer, people, not an artist), I'd spend all day every day drawing lovely little characters like Audrey and her friends.

After idolizing Laurie (ouou) from afar for some time - checking in regularly to see what was new in Audrey's world, taking note of Laurie's simple images and eloquent item descriptions - an amazing thing happened. She hearted me! It was just the opening I needed - time to convo and share my true feelings. After I'd finally managed to convince Laurie that I was (mostly) a harmless kind of stalker, she kindly agreed to answer some questions for me. And here's what she had to say:

M & G: How did you get to be so cool?

L: Oh, please. I'm a total nerd! :)

M & G: No, seriously, do you think I could ever be as cool as you?

L: You're the coolest stalker I know. (wink!) Promise!

M & G: I love Audrey (but you knew that already). When did she come into your life?

L: My most constant form of art practice has been drawing creatures on postcards or mail or such for my friends. These little drawings were building a world of characters for years without my really knowing it.This past autumn, it had been 7 years since getting my BFA in children's book illustration without much art involvement. In September, I met a children’s book author who gave me a very stern talking-to about the important step of releasing creativity into the world. She motivated me to take a look at what I enjoyed the most and think about what I wanted my life to look like. She tore through my excuses! Ha! After that meeting I got right to it and, with help & support, was able to open the shop 2 months later! That was November, holidays were in full swing. What a wild wake-up! These characters are descendants from the notes I wrote to my friends, so they are the oldest and newest to me. Anyone who looks at their Wellingtons as a means for some serious splashing has a kinship with Audrey!

M& G: What is it about children that makes them such an integral part of your designs?

L: Bringing a child into a drawing gives us permission to let our whimsical, open-hearted, and imaginative side take over. Adding a child to those drawings asks the viewer, “Where are you in this story?". I have gotten more people writing in because they saw a drawing and it reminded them of someone in their life. Its always in response to a child's image (never to the animals or monsters or dragons alone) that people get involved and start telling stories. Those stories coming into the shop were completely unexpected, amazing (!), and they’ve made this such a fulfilling and enjoyable adventure. It feels really welcoming to have people share very warm and loving aspects of their lives in that way.

M & G: Talk to me about your Gocco.

L: I’m fascinated by different kinds of printmaking. If I ever return to art school I'll be there for printmaking. Gocco is great because it fits in the house, you know, without the acid baths and all that! (You can learn more about Gocco at savegocco.com) The Gocco machine actually belongs to my trailblazing sister & collaborator, Celeste. She opened her shop Bamboo Village Press on Etsy before I came aboard and we have both found Gocco to translate our different styles in a really amazing way.I’m still learning how to be bold and print with several colors, to use color to make form. I am addicted to line = form, so it’s a great challenge! I tend to favor the silkscreen items in my shop because they are more a handmade craft, the process of making them is very long, and in the end I’m always all inky and happy. By the way, I'll do my best to help if anyone has a Gocco and needs help with something! They're quite an investment so troubleshooting can be unnerving. Honk if you love Gocco! (<---ahem, *nerd*)

M & G: Do you have a day job? I’ve been working on illustrating & creating for the shop full time for 2 months now. Although a lot of us begin on Etsy and get swept up in the dream of quitting the day job and living happily off a craft, I think there are a lot more questions you need to not only ask, but answer with yourself before taking that step. I have learned so much, but am also looking forward to going back to a day job. The Storque recently had an interview (a great read) with Brandi Strickland who said she works 3 days a week & the rest is art. That sounds like heaven to me!

M & G: Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years?

L: I’m curious to see what Etsy will look like in 5 years, as a marketplace, and hope it is still fundamentally a craft advocate. I’m very eager to begin printing only on recycled paper, to have a wholly earth-friendly shop. As a paper goods shop, I’m always aware of my responsibility there. Personally I would like to be more settled, have a garden, a stable home. I really enjoy gardening but have lived in cities for a long time. There are so many things to try; new printmaking techniques, more bookbinding, printing on fabric…I expect I’ll be busy over the next 5 years! If art comes from a place of playful exploration, and I am still accessing those imaginative travels in 5 years without cynicism or hesitation, then I'll still feel very lucky to be doing this!

M & G: Can I be your best friend?

L: If you made it through "Honk if you love Gocco!" and you still want to be my best friend, then yes!

Sweet.

Front Page, Baby!

WHAT?!? What's that on the front page?? Could that be..... no, surely not.... yes! It is! It's my butterflies!



best.friday.ever

Macaroni and Glue LIVE

Coming soon to an actual walk-in boutique near you - Macaroni and Glue! Ok, maybe not near you - in South Bend, Indiana, actually - but still an actual brick and mortar shop! I couldn't be more excited. I've been asked to provide product for the grand opening of Flourish Boutique this spring. The web site launches in May, with the physical storefront opening in June. And I'll be in great company. The shop will feature a number of handmade specialty items from some very talented artists, many from the Etsy community. Now to decide what to send... The shop owner likes these, these, and these, among others. I knew it was truly meant to be when she mentioned the corset design. It's one of my all-time faves!

In other news, I am finally starting to get my a few of my invitation and announcement designs into the Etsy shop. Here are the first to be listed:

I'm very proud of these. As usual, the graphics come from unusual (free!) sources - the print on the announcement started life many many years ago as wallpaper. Now that it's been altered, I'm so in love with it that I'll bet you see it cropping up all over the shop in the near future. In fact, who wants to make me a t-shirt with this print on it?!? It will be interesting to see how I do on Etsy with invites and such. There is often such a tactile element to these things.... Hopefully I'm able to convey texture and weight with the photos. And if not, there are always samples, right?

Meanwhile, I've begun stalking another super-talented Etsyian, so look for an interview later this week if she doesn't file a restraining order.

Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Etsy Pics

In the past couple of weeks, I've participated in several shop critiques through various team sites and forums. Overwhelmingly, the comments I received related to the quality of my photos, something I wasn't surprised by in the least. I am in no way, shape, or form a photographer. I have a decent eye for good product photos, though, and I knew going into my critiques that I didn't have them. I have struggled with this since I opened the shop, making subtle improvements almost daily, experimenting with different backgrounds and lighting, adjusting things in Photoshop, etc., but never really conquering the problem. However, the advice I received from lots of seasoned Etsy professionals have really helped me focus my efforts to spiff things up in my shop.

Apparently, the trick to getting views (and we all know you don't get sales without views) is to make your photos "pop" in a list of similar products. While I'll freely admit that my photos are not yet a shining example of the uber-professional Etsy listing we all hope to be able to claim as our own one day, I have seen a significant increase in my views since I incorporated some of the tips I'm about to impart.

1. Always shoot in natural light. It keeps your colors true and eliminates wonky shadows indoor lighting can cause. If you must shoot indoors, head for a window and turn off the overheads.
2. Never, ever use the flash for your product photos - it will mute bright colors and wash out subtle ones. If it's dark outside, wait til the next day to shoot. A day's delay is always better than a crappy-looking listing.
3. Use a simple background in a color that contrasts with and compliments your product. Use props (minimally) to establish scale.
4. To avoid fuzziness in close-ups, use the "macro" setting on your camera. On most cameras, it is associated with a little flower icon. You'll be amazed at how close you can get without the shot getting blurry.
5. White should be white, not gray. Often, simply using "Auto Adjust/Correct Color" in your photo editing program will do the job. If necessary, adjust lighting (and then contrast if necessary) until you're satisfied with the result. If the white almost hurts your eyes on the screen, then it's just about right.
6. Use square photos so they won't be cropped when you upload them - they look best in list views (the way most people will find you), and in the thumbnail Etsy minis. I accomplish square photos by creating a 1000 x 1000 pixel blank file in Photoshop and dragging my image into it. You can then resize and move your pic around in the frame until you've got something you like.
7. Choose something intriguing for the first pic - probably not a photo of your entire item, but maybe a close-up of single design element. The first pic should make a potential buyer want to see more and therefore click through to your listing. Since I feel that my graphics are the strongest elements of my designs, I have chosen to use the graphic itself as my first pic. I was hesitant at first, but I've had several people comment on them being better than a close-up of the cards.

And that's it! Hope it helps. I'll keep working on it too, and will let you know once I'm so thrilled with the results that I stop making changes. Yeah! Like that'll happen!

Kindred Soul - An Interview with Stories & Divinations

It may surprise you to know that I am extremely, exceedingly, unrelentingly, obnoxiously cheap. I haven't always been. In fact, when I was working full-time outside the home, I thought nothing of spending $100 in a lunch hour on some extra swanky takeout and some trinket or other. A reward for my hard work, I thought - well deserved. Now.... well, let's just say things are a little different around here. My former love of shopping has been replaced with a love of saving. After endless rounds of budgeting and adjusting and reprioritizing, $100 is now more than our entire "eating out" budget for a month. I'm very into creating the things we need with my own hands rather than spending money on them, be it meals or birthday cards or items for our home. I very rarely buy anything that isn't consumable, and I never, NEVER buy anything for myself.

That's why my first Etsy purchase last week was such a momentous occasion. It signified a couple of important things: 1. my ability to earn some income doing something I enjoy without sacrificing my stay-at-home status (I had just completed a custom order), and 2. such a profound response to a particular piece of artwork that I felt it simply had to be mine. I actually limit my Etsy browsing in order to avoid such emotional responses and temptations, but this particular encounter was different. Unlike coming across a great owl-adorned hoodie and daydreaming about showing it off to the other mommies at my next playdate in the park, when I stumbled on storiesdivinations, I knew that I had found a kindred spirit. And this is the piece that did it for me:

I asked the artist, Laurie, if she'd be willing to answer a few questions about the piece and her work in general, and she kindly obliged.

M & G: What inspired the piece?

L: I've always had a love for what JFK has come to represent, at least in my mind. I grew up in Detroit and was about ten when the race riots broke out. My mother had always been very vocal politically, as were the nuns at St. Benedict's, my elementary school. My favorite teacher, Ms. Modlin, had just come to us after a stint in the Peace Corps. She was wonderful and would take a handful of us on special trips after school to the museum and through neighborhoods downtown just because we seemed to need the extra attention... In large part because of her and my Mom, we knew about JFK and knew what the "Warren Court" was and about the ideas of social justice and, unfortunately, social injustice. It may sound strange, but I remember feeling nostalgic for JFK even at 10 and 11, although that may really just be rewriting my internal history... I was very lucky to be raised in a period of social upheaval... And very lucky to have had the nuns as teachers. I'm an attorney now largely because of my 9th grade math teacher at Shrine of the Little Flower, Sister Ann Breutsch, a nun who started attending law school when I was in the 10th grade. She talked to us about law and social issues and took several of us to trials in Detroit and to the county jail. More recently, I think about JFK more often since Barack Obama started running for office. They seem to share a particular kind of genuine openness, honesty, and even sweetness that defies the cynicism that has unfortunately become the (entirely justifiable) standard in recent years. I have always had as a personal goal to live long enough that at least an approximation of the Warren Court might be once again ensconced in Washington. If the elections go as they should (yes, I really said that!) we might really be start moving in that direction.

M & G: What are your greatest inspirations in general?

L: Watching people transform from little kids sorting things out in their families to young adults sorting things out outside of home... It's hard work in so many ways but there's no avoiding it. Watching individuals trying to deal with institutions created by the collectivity. Watching people sorting through their normal rituals and struggles. People are so complicated and amazing up close and some are so much stronger than we tend to notice, especially older people. It a little too easy to diminish the details of what older generations lived through. We skim over it in our collective media recollections - the details of life 40 and 50 years ago blur and then become irrelevant. It's so miraculous to look back in detail and see how someone acted out of courage in responding to someone else's need, however large or small, or in taking a stand for themselves. It's an outward manifestation of the constant inner struggle that everyone deals with from day one no matter when they've lived or where. Watching that moment, even surreptitiously, even after it's long past, is like watching birth.

M & G: How would you describe your design aesthetic?

L: I don't know. It shifts around depending on what kind of week it's been. Mostly it's just functional, a graphic opportunity to work out the things I wouldn't otherwise have a chance to say about issues that bother me at 3:00 a.m. It's a little strange to me that other people respond to it. And it's starting to create little bridges to people that might not otherwise exist. Nice.

M & G: What drives you to create what you create?

L: It helps that my youngest kid is now almost 13 and wants me around the house but at the same time doesn't want to engage much and really, really, doesn't want to hear me talking to him about social or personal issues (I can see his eyes rolling as I write this...). It also helps to be in a profession in the other part of my life that requires me to edit myself and exercise such careful scrutiny with every sentence I write. Although law is in some respects all about justice, as a practical matter it's an enormous taboo to talk outwardly about "injustice" in an appellate brief - it's considered overly dramatic and risks being interpreted as an attempt to avoid the specific facts involved in the case. Sometimes the impulses I have to just shout out "enough already!" in that realm find their way into these other things and there's a little release. (Although I do still have an incredibly strong urge to stand in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue before January 2009 and shout just once "WHAT were you THINKING!?")

M & G: What do you hope to convey with your work?

L: I hadn't thought about conveying anything or, initially, even about making jewelry for other people. It just evolved - I made something for myself to wear, kind of as a personal talisman, and other people asked me to make them something. Whatever happens to be on my mind at the moment I'm making something just seems to show up at the end of the process. The process itself is very meditative and, even if nobody wanted anything that resulted, I'd probably still go ahead with it in lieu of other more expensive vices. It's a complete surprise and also really affirming that it happens to result in something that touches someone else... I love that. With any luck, we will have a new political reality very soon and I will be able to sleep instead of waking up in the middle of the night and heading to the dining room table to vent through my jewelry...

Stunning. Hopeful. Mine.