design.print.repeat.

fly is open and ready for business!

2010-08-06T22:57:00.001-07:00

i took a few pictures around the store today.

there are some really awesome things made by really great local crafters.
if you haven't been in yet you should go asap!

it's all amazing and incredibly affordable.

her hours are thursday- saturday, 11am- 6pm

go, go, GO!

spaceworks tacoma

2010-07-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

this is probably the coolest thing tacoma has done in a long time.

my good friend and crafting partner in crime, jen was just awarded a store front through spaceworks tacoma.
if you haven't heard about this go here and here and read up!

i'm very, very excited for her!
she's going to be selling artist and crafters handmade goods on consignment.
this is giving us a great opportunity to see if we want to actually open our own store in the future.

to kick off the awesomeness of this project spaceworks is throwing a block party on thursday, july 29th directly in front of her store
at 904 broadway!

it's called fly.
i was so excited to help her design her logos.

you should all go check it out!
Thu, Jul 29 | 4:30-8pm
9th & Broadway | Tacoma
Free and open to the public

craft night at king's books on thursday!

2010-07-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

hosted by my friend jen tomorrow night at 6:30!

mirka hokkanen will be teaching plastic plate lithography.
her blog explains everything you need to know about the craft.

go to the king's books website to pre-register!
it's only $20 and it's going to be awesome!

on a side note-
the first TIFL and ITAC craft fair will be SEPTEMBER 19th!
get excited.

we will be starting to look for artists to participate starting next week-ish.
if you are or know anyone who is an artist/crafter you can get in touch with me at
megan.irving@gmail.com.

thank you tacoma weekly

2010-06-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

thank you to the tacoma weekly for the love and support.

dawn quinn from the weekly recently interviewed my friend, operator of TIFL, and partner in crime,
jen adams.

it is an amazingly kind and supportive piece
which you can read HERE.

jen's 2x yearly craft and artist show is not only amazing,
but also a fundraiser for causes she's behind.

i count myself very, very lucky that her and i have teamed up to put on our bi-monthly craft fair
starting in SEPTEMBER!!!
it's coming up fast!

we have so many great ideas that we're bursting at the seams.
and thanks to king's books all our dreams will be coming true.

no looking back now.
we're onto something great.

xo,meggers

tacoma is for lovers

2010-06-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

everyone should really consider going to this.

tifl, run by my friend jen, is a really great craft event fundraiser.
{for kings books}

20 artist and craft booths, raffle, auction and a poetry explosion.
could you ask for more?i can hardly wait for it!
you should get pretty excited as well.

TACOMA IS FOR LOVERS
SUNDAY JUNE 13TH
11AM-4PM
KING'S BOOKS

yay.

xo,meggers

twilight ruined my life

2010-06-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

okay i may be exaggerating,
but still.

how long has it been since i've blogged?
too long.
{sorry}

blame twilight.

now that i have officially finished all the books,
and loved them way more than any grown woman should
i. am. back.

fully.

xo,meggers

hey, guess what?

2010-05-27T03:35:00.000-07:00

have you noticed how obsessed i've been with photography lately?
yeah, me too.

it's pretty neat.

i stumbled on a free e-book called
Better Photography: in 3 steps
and immediately downloaded it.

this woman refuses to use a flash.
anywhere.
ever.

her photographs are wonderful.
i can't wait to read what else she has to recommend.

and through her e-book i found
ali edwards

anyone who knows me KNOWS i don't scrapbook.

that being said-
ali is a scrapbooking guru,
but that's not exactly why i'm interested in her...

she posted a "week in the life" project that has me drooling.
using mostly photos and some text she documents her week from monday to sunday.

i'm curious to see how my week translates in photos.
since half the time i don't remember what i've done or where i've been.

so basically, i'm doing this.

anyone else want to embark on this adventure with me?
i'd love to post other "weeks" and adventures of the people i love.

i'm starting on friday
because i can't wait until monday!
but you can start whenever you want.

seriously. do this.
it will be fun.

seriously.

xo,meggers

iTAC love

2010-05-25T03:58:00.000-07:00

i am one tired gal.

i decided that today was the day to get some serious work done on my indieTACOMA website.
i'm still learning what the heck all this html stuff is,
but i have to pat myself on the back for how much i actually accomplished
without a web genius supervising.

it's nowhere near done.
but it is a lot farther along than i thought it would be.

wanna see?

okay, go here:
www.indietacoma.com

what do ya think?
still needs a lot of work, i know.

i found a website with a ton of vintage wallpaper samples
and fell in love.

i knew i had to have them in my life
and the website seemed like the perfect spot.

i also made a few buttons to link from the website to facebook and twitter
{when i actually get those set up}

i think these are my overall favorites and the ones i will use.

this day.

2010-05-21T04:17:00.000-07:00

today?

today was a good day.

see you tomorrow!

xo,meggers

tacoma's tiniest letterpress

2010-05-21T01:27:00.000-07:00

i've started what i consider will be the best mini canvas project EVER.

first i carved a simple block print for the flag shape
and printed 1,000 tiny flag banners!
{slight exaggeration}

up next i will be collaborating with a writer,
{doesn't she just look smart?}

and lastly i will be using my letterpress letters,

and hopefully achieving greatness.

cross your fingers.

xo,meggers

well read

2010-05-19T23:22:00.000-07:00

i'm enjoying the heck out of this book.

it was an incredibly sweet gift from a couple fellow plastic camera enthusiasts
who know a whole lot more about the craft than i do.

after reading this amazing book with a ton of inspiring images
i'm realizing how much i'm missing out on by not bringing my holga *everywhere*

it has definitely sparked a fire.

oh, and i also need a diana+ now.
{preferably this one}

i also got loaned this medium format camera.

oh. my. god.
isn't it gorgeous?
too bad i'm scared to death to use this thing.

when i bought my holga i also bought the 35mm film converter.
while i do feel like this is cheating
i just wanted to get comfortable using the camera with the film i had on-hand
before i committed to buying the ever expensive 120 film it actually requires.

with this kiev medium format i have no choice
but to cough up the dough and just go for it!

alright...
i'm going, i'm going.

xo,meggers

accidental light box diy

2010-05-18T02:30:00.000-07:00

i had a slight burst of energy after work tonight

and after a couple hours reading a bunch of craft blogs
decided to make a light box.

thanks to do stuff! and strobist i learned how to do it
the cheap and easy way.
it's so easy i had to share.

i imagine the size of the box depends on what you will be photographing...

or like me, what you have on-hand. :)

actually everything i used to make this i already had,
but if you don't have any of the supplies this is only a $10 project at best.

first i cut off 2 of the 4 flaps on the top of the box
then large squares out of 3 of the 4 sides.
{top, left and right}
keep at least a 2-4 inch border on each side.

you will need tracing paper and clear packaging tape to get the proper light box effect.

after all 3 sides are cut tape the tracing paper over the squares.
{it doesn't have to be pretty}
just cover the entire square.

tape some poster board up along the back so you have a clean background.
the poster board was the one item i didn't have but i tried it with fabric and it wasn't so bad.

i prefer my light source from the top,
but this gives the option of side lit photo shoots.

this is my super quick, i'm really tired now so just grab what's in range photo shoot.

my uke doesn't get as much love as it used to.

my pile of headband starters that i'm slowly working on.

some A.W.E.S.O.M.E. gifts from a friend who just got back from thailand.
the banana was the mr's contribution to the shoot.
thanks honey.

he was probably as excited about this light box as i was.
but for different reasons i'm guessing.

now that i've used up every ounce of energy i have i'm going to bed.

xo,meggers

ps- the do stuff! blog also has some amaaaaazing diy's for dyeing yarn.
i don't do yarn crafts (yet) but i can't find a reason NOT to do this diy.
she uses kool-aid.
{KOOL-AID}

done.

2010-05-16T04:08:00.000-07:00

finished my first order of owl pillows!

just wanted to share before i went to bed. :)

couldn't think of any fitting names for them
but i'm sure mike and monica will come up with some keepers.

sleepy time.

xo,meggers

spf 100

2010-05-14T04:06:00.000-07:00

i got to spend the whole day out of the house and in the sunshine.

unfortunately it was a little too much sunshine.

this is my first and last burn of the year as my pasty skin does NOT enjoy the sun.it was worth it though.
i mean seriously,
check out this view.
i could have sat here for 4 more hours boiling and it wouldn't have mattered.
{thank you again john and coco for letting us interrupt your day to sit on your balcony}
i did have to end the balcony party at some point to go home and bake some cupcakes.
{i know, rough life, huh?}
but not before we stopped at a garage sale!

an antique wing back chair, and a horrible yet amazing wooden lamp caught my eye.
i knew better then to bring home furniture without consulting the mr. first
so i just settled for an antique looking salt and pepper shaker set.

i left them in the car and am tooooo sleepy to go get them,
but they look similar to these. :)i made the chocolate and chili cupcakes from the 5oo cupcakes recipe book.
it seems every other recipe is good in this book.
these were okay but a little dry and salty.
you could really taste the chili powder, but it wasn't a very good ratio.

if i were a more confident baker i would adjust the recipe
but as i've been told a million times-
baking is a science
and i'm no scientist.

off to find some aloe and nurse my wounds!
g'nite!

xo,meggers

reborn.

2010-05-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

after 3 days of feeling like death i'm finally remembering what it's like to feel human again.

years of working in the service industry have prepared me for getting sick.
{it's part of the job}
i've had every common illness you can get,
but this whole strep throat thing..
that was new.

oi, antibiotics.

i finally had enough energy today to take on all the projects my brain was conceiving while curled up on the couch the past few days.

it felt good to be productive again.
{minus the fever bursts}

i'm just about finished with the 2 owl pillows a friend ordered from me.
a little more sewing and stuffing and they'll be ready to go!
i'm thinking about naming them...
they've taken on their own personalities.
i also had a chance to make some labels for all the sewn goods i'm making.

i wanted a really raw look for them.
one because i needed it to be quick and simple
and two because part of me is still really lazy. :)

with all the napping and cold medicine i found my mind wandering to russian dolls.
{i have no clue why}
maybe i saw a picture somewhere or heard someone talking about them.
my mind does as it wishes.
i'm just along for the ride.

i thought it would be awesome to make some russian doll pillows.
i'm planning on doing some shaped as the dolls and some silk screened.

i made the screen as simple as possible so i can go in and add a ton of hand painted elements.i'm still waiting impatiently for it to dry so i can do some sample prints.
grr..

i also cut out the largest doll image and started pairing it with some fabric.
whew! what a day!as you can imagine i'm exhausted.
but also exhilarated!
i got more done today than i have in a long time
and i'm going to sleep like a baby.

talk to you soon!

xo,meggers

to my mama

2010-05-09T04:32:00.000-07:00

you are beautiful.

everything i know i learned from you.

you are my best friend, my eyes, my ears and my heart.

you are my hero, my idle and everything i want to be.

i love you so much!

favorite things today

2010-05-03T04:54:00.001-07:00

even though i've made some big purchases lately

and given myself some pretty hefty goals
i'm still really enjoying some of the little things in life.

today spending time with these little ones made me soooo happy.
coming back home to tacoma always takes my breath away.
i see the beauty in this misunderstood place every time i make the drive.
i've been drooling over this poster for months now.
i'm pretty sad they're all sold out.
MAKE MORE!

i'm so excited to be starting my very own charm bracelet.
i think i want it to be mostly about crafting and art.
i got these at one of the vendors at the sanford and son saturday flea market!
{p.s. i'm hoping indieTACOMA will be able to be on the first saturday of each month along with the flea market! that would be awesome!}

tea!
i can't go a night without it.
the next thing on my wish list is a grown up tea set!
this one is to die for,
but all her other sets are amazing as well.
i could go on all night like this,
but today this is the stuff that made me smile.

i hope you're smiling too!

xo,meggers

10 point bodoni

2010-05-03T02:19:00.000-07:00

i wish the wayzgoose event was every month.

it was a blast.

i was so happy to drag my parents along.
all three of us were drooling over everything we saw.
{letterpress and block printing are such a beautiful art}

my dad even tried to convince the letterpress guys to sell us some equipment.
it didn't work out.
yet.

i thought it was really neat that the kids from UPS were screen printing material for free.
they did such a good job!

i brought some red bulk material and got red on red.
it looks great!
i still have no clue what i'm going to do with it though!

it was especially cool to see this design being sold on t-shirts at sonja later in the week!
gotta love the local support in tacoma!

i bought a ton of little gems in the form of greeting cards and posters
but my all time best purchase ever
was this..

i have admired old letterpress letters from afar for a very long time.
they are normally so stinking expensive even being near them costs you!

you can imagine my excitement when i saw a table with multiple sets for $10!
bodoni also happens to be one of my favorite typefaces (i know.. nerd!)
there were 2 or 3 italic and this little 10 point guy.
i almost cried.

i'm kicking myself for not buying all of them.
the type is pretty small and they do need to be cleaned up a bit...
but it's worth it!

you can tell they were well loved before i came along,
and you better believe i am planning on loving them just as much!
i have some projects in mind!!

remember this teeny tiny canvas i'm so in love with?

i bought 8 more.

maybe i should have tacoma's tiniest letterpress show when i'm done with them?
awesome.

okay, enough slacking.
back to sewing!

xo,meggers

best. website. (almost) ever.

2010-05-02T03:56:00.000-07:00

i've been having way too much fun with this website right here.

no, it's not in english
but yes, it's awesome.

you can figure it out.
it's pretty user friendly.

sleepy

2010-05-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

for the first time... ever, i find myself wishing for more hours in the day.

my studio looks like an episode of hoarders.
it's pretty frightening.

i started making 2 owl pillows for a customer and am really excited on how they're turning out.
i had to take a quick break from them to make mackenzie's bday presents
{which are awesome)
but i will continue with them tonight so i can post some pictures.

here's what i made for the birthday girl
{she better not read this before i see her...}

this scarf is dropping f-bombs :)

felted flower brooch with zipper leaf

thick headband with felt, fabric and zipper flower
two! jersey arm cuffs with felt, fabric and zipper accents
{diamond and cassette tape}
tree pillow!
it says mp + gi on the tree for her and my brother <3
adorable.
made with felt, fabric, buttons and a ton of hand sewing
plus bleaching, gluing and a little bit of crying :)
it was a labor of love.xo,meggers

more birthday love...

2010-04-30T04:39:00.000-07:00

happy birthday to my sister.

you make me laugh and i love you.
like, a lot.

lot's of very important birthdays this month!
craft blogging will resume as usual tomorrow when i can actually share what i made for her...
for now i can't ruin the suspense.

xo,meggers

birthday loves.

2010-04-29T04:09:00.000-07:00

happy birthday to my dear, long distance friend

for all the years, the pagliacci pizzas and the love,
you are the best friend anyone could ask for.

thank you for being born.

xo,meggers

eeeek!

2010-04-27T01:11:00.000-07:00

after these past few days of stress with health, doctors appointments and work the mr. and i decided we deserved a treat!

so i threw out all reason and bought this!

i am so excited i can hardly breathe!
i have never spent this much money on an item this massive,
but i'm ready to lock myself in the basement and print until my hands bleed.
who's in?

the mr. chose the manliest gift of all for himself–
surround sound.

{as if we didn't already have enough speakers}

so as i patiently await my new arrival we're stuck in the house
setting up his new toy.
thank you best buy guy who said it would be super easy to hook it up.

last time i checked it shouldn't have taken from 11pm to 4am...
to find out it's all wrong.
fail.

while i barely got anything done today on my to-do list
i did get that big something that was on my lifetime to-do list
so i can't be too upset!

in case you didn't pick up on it already..
I. AM. EXCITED.

and broke.

xo,meggers

p.s. mom, dad, you might be getting an extremely large package on your porch in 5-7 days.
sorry. :)

superb

2010-04-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

off to work!
i'll be working on more owl pillows as well as some other designs tonight.
i'm on a pillow craze!

tomorrow i'm heading to king's books for their annual letterpress and book art event, wayzgoose!
it's open to everyone and it's FREE!!!
check out the details here.

hope you're all enjoying a little bit of sunshine.
have a great weekend!

xo, meggers

reality

2010-04-24T01:05:00.001-07:00

it's hard to focus when a loved one is having health issues.
{i'm thankful it's not life or death}
but it still wreaks havoc when it comes around.

the last couple days have been a little stressful.
doctors visits.
new prescriptions.
trial and error.
it's exhausting and scary.

all i wanted to do was create something happy and fuzzy
to distract from the worry.
so i came home last night and laid out all the fabric i owned.

what could i make that would help us smile?

i started cutting and rearranging fabric until i got inspired.
i accidentally made what looked like and owl shape and decided to go with it.
i *love* animal pillows.
like love, love them.
so i went with it.
++and now i officially can't stop++

i went to the craft store and bought every remnant they had
and a metric ton of stuffing.

if this doesn't cheer us up, i don't know what will.

p.s. it already has.

xo,meggers