Sew Simply Handmade

What the Heck is an ACEO?

2009-07-15T00:39:00.008-04:00

"Share The Love" an ACEO by Dean Dyment Studios

ACEOs are all over etsy and I finally had to figure it out.

Inquiring minds want to know..............even old ones.

Wikipedia is my source for all knowledge these days. (Lazy Me)

ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals. They are very small hand drawn or painted pieces of art.

"Running Mouse" by Dean Dyment Studio on etsy

I mean small. Baseball trading card size 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches. A very cute, put them in your wallet, inexpensive way to share and collect art. Great for us poor types (you and me) who don't have the dough for fine art pieces.

The first ones, created by artist Michael Leavitt were even wrapped up nicely and included a slice of bubble gum! His first ones were of icons such as Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Bjork and Michael Jackson!

Lori Dean Dyment makes glass pendants from some of her ACEOs and prints. Isn't this one adorable! And ...I won it in a give away on her blog!
Don't bother looking because there aren't any more. I can "feel" your jealousy( gloating).

Just Kidding Please Do go look! She has other fantastic items. Here's my favorite!

Mermaid Collage Print 5 x 7 ...................So Beautiful!

Chima, chima bo bima...Banana, Fana, fo fima

2009-07-09T09:09:00.004-04:00

Sorry I get "goofy" when I'm tired and I just finished a night shift but I wanted to post this before i go an "crash"...zzzzzzzzzzzzz

I really got the eyes right on this doll, "Chima". I practiced and after many flubs and rejecto alien evil eyes,.............these are great - if I say so myself :)

She's an elephant lover & protector and yes she snuck into her Mom's "purple" mascara

Quit Your Bitchin'

2009-07-08T05:37:00.004-04:00

I solved the blurry photo problem and what's really weird is it only began with the last 4 items I listed. Once I began using my new "cheap" $120.00 camera, with the macro setting, I always just exported from Picasa, after tweaking details and "Viola" perfect-O!

Suddenly yesterday.......clarity GONE.

Etsy CHANGED something........I'm absolutely sure of it......I think.

I went to the etsy forum to get help and did a search for "blurry pictures" and there was great advice (quite old in fact ) on editing pics to 800 to 1000 pixels for the top clarity. So I edited my Harajuku doll and she's now Picture PERFECT! and clear as a bell just as in my last post here on the blog.

I checked my older listings - "Pincushion Doll - Celeste" is the perfect example - and the pic is VERY clear and yet it's a 400 pixel photo...?????

Who cares right....but..........yada yada yada.... the problem is solved,.....but....I need to quit my bitchin' and move on.... I got tons to do to catch up with my mentor Timothy A.

She's Here, She's Here!!! Handmade Harajuku!

2009-07-07T10:08:00.008-04:00

My Handmade Harajuku Creation is up for the world to see! I posted her everywhere:

Blog

Twitter

Facebook personal page

Facebook fan page

etsy forum

and etsy shop of course.

I spent HOURS fussing over all the crafty details while designing her and, grrrrrrrr, my one picture ( above/ full view) no matter what I do, appears blurry on etsy????????

All uploaded exactly the same as the rest - repeatedly - and can't get it clear

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm gotta figure it out...

Harajuku is a fashion trend and district in Japan. Gwen Stefani wrote a song about the girls and there are tons of pics on Flickr that are just amazing! If you like wild fashion "google it" and feast your eyes!

A Hot Giveaway! Caliente Mommas!

2009-07-06T00:00:00.005-04:00

There are numerous giveaways all over the web, ALL the time.

I am going to draw your attention to the REALLY HOT ONES!

These beautiful handmade glass beads are perfect for a summer necklace or earrings. They are 15mm, gorgeously colored on a green base and handmade by Sue (aka Glassymom) at Fragiacomoglassart

Here's the link to the FEST blog where you can enter a comment to win them..............I did :) Link

Anya Got A Feature

2009-06-30T01:33:00.005-04:00

My cutie little Sewing Asisstant (Shhhh....pin cushion doll) "Anya" got featured on the Melt'm Design Studio blog. She's so excited and gloating a bit too much. My other girls are horribly jealous!

I overheard her say to them, "Good things happen to those of us who are the Best Looking!" Girls can be so catty. A few days of extra chores should reign in that sassy attitude! Tweens..........you love 'em and hate 'em!

A special thanks to Meltem! She's my etsysecrets buddy for entreprenuer encouragement. She makes gorgeous silver jewelry in Turkey. Here is my favorite item in her shop, Melt'm Design Studio, A Leather Rose Bracelet , it is part of her Rose Collection

Absolutely Lovely!

Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T06:45:00.004-04:00

I am just so depressed that people who are born with amazing talent can't be allowed to live a healthy satisfying life. Michael Jackson was once a beautiful young man with a gift to share with the world.
I Loved Him. I love his music and dancing. Yes he was eccentic. Most oustanding artists are on the weird side.

Eventually rotten selfish greedy people surrounded him and ruined his life.
Famous people who lose their privacy need to surround themselves with people to protect them and care for them, not people who USE them.
Anna Nicole, Elvis, Marilyn, Princess Diana ..............it's a long list
I am heart broken for him, his family and his kids.

Artsy Fartsy Friday

2009-06-26T02:30:00.002-04:00

My fellow etsy blogger, LazyTCrochet (link) makes some pretty and unique items...............

A wrist cuff featuring Bats.................cool

A shawl that won't fall off.....LOVE the COLORS!

Another style I adore and so loose and comfy

Apparently I'm more of a "pink" person than I thought!

Etsy SEO Glitch Help Here

2009-06-24T01:51:00.002-04:00

Anybody need help understanding the SEO boo boo that happened on etsy recently?
Follow this link to have an explanation and answers to a million questions about how to tweak your shop for google and yahoo search engines.
It's a "town meeting" with Tim Adam who is a wiz on building a successful etsy shop. I am currently studying his methods and making changes by the dozens...............busy,busy,busy....

Sew,...... A New Handmade Blog Has Arrived

2009-06-22T06:02:00.005-04:00

Well I love my new blog name. It exactly tells my purpose.
No expensive fabrics or patterns.
No lengthy or complicated projects.
Beginner sewists can learn the handmade hobby so many adore and create a multitude of adorable items to keep or use as gifts.
Sew a simple item and "Jazz It Up" to fit your own taste with a variety of embellishments or............NOT!

My future Ideas include:
hobo bag/purse
sewing machine cover
Halloween Decor
ipod cover
laptop cover
Christmas ornaments
Advent Calendar
aprons
animal plushies
hanger covers with sachets
and more and more

AND of course your suggestions!
The important thing is SIMPLE AND FUN items!

I'm Scared AND I Can Hardly See

2009-06-16T00:02:00.004-04:00

The two problems are not related thank goodness!

New glasses are pending and these old ones suck on small print!

I'm scared because I'm going to change my blog name.
My focus has changed from teaching simple kid crafts to chatting and connecting with other artsy crafty adults who love the handmade movement as much as I do.( cough..etsy..cough,cough)
I especially love sewing and designing handmade decor.
My glue gun and I will never part but I'm changing my focus to handmade home decor projects.

What's SCARY is the name change and dealing with technology. I am not a computer geek, and don't know any to help me with this.
I hunted the blogger "help forum" and OMG it is loaded with bloggers who have had nightmare problems with switching names and domains. Blogger has no "real" people tech help.
So I'm going to let the go daddy techs help me as they have done many times before.
Say a prayer for me and cross your toes and fingers that I don't lose my blog in the switch.
OK my vision is all blury now I have exceeded the time that my eyes work with these awful "old" lenses.
This is also why I haven't been blogging much lately.

Tim Adam is making me CRAZY!

2009-06-09T02:51:00.011-04:00

I'm taking Tim Adam's advice from his "etsysecrets" forum and instructions and there are sooooo many changes coming down for my little craft biz!

I 'm really loving it though because it's marketing strategies, which I have studied before, but his are

specific for etsy and the handmade industry.

Yes! Finally! I am Crazy Happy about this!

I have been a crazy busy "NUT" learning and reading and making and deciding things ( or trying to).

"Deciding things" is the Hardest Project for me - I'm a wishy washy Pisces.

I have decided to focus on my Pin Cushion Dolls as my main item. I just really really absolutely love making them!

So I'm going to change the name of my blog to reflect this new direction. I have about ten ideas for a new name................

So here's one of my new pin cushion dolls...........

She's "Anya" from the islands "Mon"! Easy going mama who loves to learn to sew and gives great ideas about beading and braiding techniques.

I made the cutest sandals for her and tricked her out with beads and shells!

I love the eyelash yarn to take the eyes "over the top".

WTF? Wednesday

2009-06-03T01:37:00.005-04:00

Wacky.....

Wild..........

A Phonebook Dress!

WTF?

Fashion Intervention Please................anyone?

Life Size Mouse Trap Game

2009-06-01T05:59:00.007-04:00

OMG did you love the "Mouse Trap" game as much as me when I was a kid? Do you jump in when kids are playing "Mouse Trap" and insist on turning the crank? I do. Do you get weird looks from the other Moms who are wondering why you are dominating the kids game? I do.

So when I was reading Amy Cluck's Peptogirls Blog and saw this Life Size Mouse Trap photo from Maker Faire 2008 I was entranced!

Then I googled it and found the website of the artist and lots of videos on youtube. Here's the best video. Instead of capturing mice they squash things with a 2 ton safe. Now where is my exhusband when I really need him?

Check Out "CreateAThought"

2009-05-28T02:34:00.006-04:00

I found an interesting shop to share with you -
a fellow etsyblogger who designs really "neat" items!

Createathought.etsy.com

She makes really unique journals...

Adorable resin rings...........

And inspiring greeting cards and ACEO's

Visit her shop and enjoy the variety of her artistic flair.

Bicker, bicker, bicker!

2009-05-27T01:23:00.005-04:00

"I'M NEXT!"
" No you're NOT, I've been waiting longer it's MY TURN!"
" Me, me , me , pick me, pick me, pick meeeeeeeeee"
" Gee these three are so pushy!"

The girls are so excited to be dressed and jeweled and started in their fashion assistant jobs! (Shhh .........Don't tell them they are really going to be pin cushions!)

That is............... Very Unique Pin Cushion Dolls

Here is Celeste the first "Fashion Assistant" in my etsy shop. You know what I love about these? You can grab and restick pins in the cushion with just one hand and they sit still and don't move. I hate those tomato ones that roll away off the table when you try to put a pin "in" AND it takes two hands to "pull" a pin out. Celeste is a fantastic helper and loves to gossip about celebrities!

The second one I made was a country girl and she went to my mom for Mother's Day. Forgot to snap a shot of her :(

These "Naked Ladies in Waiting" are horribly impatient. I can only work on one at a time! I know what to do..........................
I'll send them to choose and design their own dress fabrics, trims, jewelry and hairdos. That will keep them busy for hours and out of my hair!

Happy Memorial Day

2009-05-25T06:15:00.000-04:00

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

I wish all veterans a peaceful life.

They have met their pain and loss quota already.

I wish all our soldiers could come home today.

Remind your kids what this holiday is about.

It's Artsy Fartsy Friday !!!

2009-05-22T00:36:00.000-04:00

Threadbanger is so GROOVY!

That would have been the cool thing to say when I was in college and much like Rob and Corinne who host this great web channel, ThreadBanger.com. You gotta check it out.

They create all kinds of new clothingand accessories from old clothes (also called upcycling), visit all kinds of artists of hand made clothing and are cute & really entertaining! They make me remember when I was in my hippie years and made a lot of peasant shirts, purses and halter tops and I embroidered them with wild colorful designs I drew ...and my jeans of course.

I also covered my boyfriends jeans with patches and embroidery. His friends were so jealous and asked me to sew theirs too , but no way did I have time for others guys clothing decor, my every moment was spent worshiping" Mark"................ We wore some crazy stuff --Granny Dresses were"IN' Anybody remember those?

It was also the era when we didn't wear a certain confining item for the first time --Bras! ( did you know the first bra was dsigned by a man!)

My dad had a fit when he became aware of this - one day when I modeled a new halter top I had made --too funny .............. He also disgustingly referred to people who lived together without being married as "shacking up" ...........a few years later I was doing that too .....poor dad. ............

I guess he must have secretly enjoyed my drama when I totally freaked out over my daughters lip ring !!! She did it herself with a safety pin! I'm a nurse but I secretly hoped it would get infected so she would have to take it out -- no such luck, it healed just fine. However I had it air brushed out of her senior picture,.........Ha!.....she was mad at me!

Summer fun with Ashlyn

2009-05-18T06:51:00.002-04:00

My niece, Ashlyn, her Mom and I got together and made a special craft................she's 4 and loves making things. The directions came from noggin.com to make a Kai-lan stuffed pillow.

Cut, stuff and hot glue. Complete in about one hour!

She loved it so much and her Mom is missing the "craft gene", so........ Lucky me I get to jump in and fill the void - Crafty Aunt Terry . We are planning afternoon craft dates through the summer! What fun!!!

I'll get some great inspiration for my shop from these little parties!

WTF? Wednesday

2009-05-13T05:10:00.005-04:00

WACKY Cheezburger Cats

WEIRD Anti Smoking Advertising

What the F___? Prom Dress - Every Father's Nightmare Dress!

This was actually in a catalogue but was removed due to complaints.

Momma's Day Off

2009-05-11T03:29:00.005-04:00

I had a fantastic Mothers Day with my kids and dh. That's my son Stephen, dd Carlynn and dh Jim. I got an orchid, a bracelet, a spa treatment , dinner out Sat. and a family picnic today. Great fun with my nieces too!

One problem a "bad sunburn" . I was under the umbrella 90% of the day , yet I still got burned. Forgot the sunscreen:(. Very bad ex girl scout leader and R.N. ........shame on me. Oh well I'm globbing on the aloe.

Oh and my dd painted my bedroom for me a gorgeous "winter cocoa"

Very Pretty!

I made my Mom a pin cushion doll and forgot to take a picture of it. She loved it. She's got "mad" seamstress skills!

Shhhhhhhhhhhh,...............limewire

2009-05-06T05:31:00.003-04:00

Well where have I been for a whole week and more?

Playing with my Ipod and downloading tons of classic rock oldies from limewire.com an amazing legal audio video sharing site.

The Guess Who, Foreigner, Jefferson Starship, The Animals, The Kinks, Tears for Fears, Joan Jett, Bryan Adams, the Beatles, Chicago, The Doors, Fleetwood Mac, Journey, Led Zeplin, Santana, The Rolling Stones, Yes. Aerosmith
and then I went on to
Do Wop and R&B and Soul and OMG I completely forgot I had a blog and an etsy shop!

Then I got inspired to make a playlist,..........NO,..........multiple playlists to dance to for exercise - because I discovered I cannot sit still when I listen to music.........PERFECT RIGHT. Fun and exercise at the same time.

So I warmed up with a tune and then began sort of just walking fast and then some marching and boy was I just "rocking to the oldies"

So Happy, sweating, getting fit and working my heart................then I started getting crazy and jumping along with Van Halen and Ouch OMG I pulled a muscle in my hip. I thought it was just a cramp so I kept going at an easier pace to "work it out"............I worked it right into a fall on the bed grabbing my side gasping finale. Ironically the next song came on..................."Urgent" by Foreigner...................urgent urgent urgent...Emergency

I've been living on IBP and a heating pad for a few days.
I'm such a dope. I simply don't know how to ease into new things.

Crafting Disasters

2009-04-27T02:51:00.006-04:00

We have all had crafting failures, flops, booboos , nightmares, Ooopsies or "shit what the hell happened" now I have to start over...... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr, experiences.

Do we want to share them with the world? Especially when we have a business to sell beautiful works of art and only want our peers to see our gorgeous finished masterpieces ?

Admit?, we have made hideous things no one wants. Not even our Mothers?
And take pictures of said monstrosities and Post them on the Internet for others to see and LAUGH AT!

"Mom, I (choke)love you (choke) but.............." Poor doggy1

Well there is a blog to post them on and it's great for a laugh and to commiserate and give empathy to others.

Craft Fail Blog A lot of funny wonky finished projects with pictures. My favorite is an attempt to apply henna via a condom!

My biggest goof up was a pair of bell bottom pants I tried to make to wear on a Saturday TV Dance show my "whole school " was going to watch. ( Get the importance here?)

I bought a pattern that showed a incredibly cool "Mod Squad" looking Peggy Lipton model posing in perfect white bell bottom pants. Well in the olden days patterns NEVER fit like the picture.......NEVER!

So I made them and then had to keep taking them in a little here and out a little there, and in a tad and out a tad, and on and on at all different positions along the outside leg seam.

Oh,..... I suddenly realized the problem........I needed to adjust the inside leg seem too, that would fix the problem. In and out and in and out.....................

Nothing could make them Mod Squad "cool". Eventually I was crying and finally wadded them up and stuffed them in the kitchen garbage can.

An hour later I decided to give them another try. When I pulled them out of the garbage can they had disgusting coffee ground stains all over them. I tried to bleach them. No way was that stain budging, but I did bleach out some of the carpet in the bathroom!

Thankfully my mother made me a "hip" gold skirt and vest to wear with a long sleeve ruffled white blouse, think "Austin Powers" and I made it to the show wearing a very "in" fashion.

Are you brave enough to share a "flop" story?

I'm Crazy For Cats

2009-04-26T04:22:00.004-04:00

Unfortunately I do lie to them. I tell each one, privately, that they are my Favorite!

WTF? Wednesday

2009-04-22T08:11:00.006-04:00

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

I gave up plastic shopping bags for canvas bags.

Have you made a change for our earth?

Wacky.........ROTFL

Weird............. an overloaded train in Pakistan

What The .....................???

A "real" collectible Barbie!