Holy Projects, Batman!

Summer's here, and mother nature has gone on holidays! That's what it feels like. It's been hot. It's been sunny. It's been raining nearly every single day! Now the mix of sun and showers have the farmers excited. I don't think I've seen canola grow that high in ... well, ever that I can remember! I also hear reports of crops being washed away, including friends' flower and vegetable gardens. That's a shame, but it also gives me a small shiver of delight for being lazy and not putting in a garden this year. Ha ha ha, such a rotten shame!

True - I'm not crafting like I would want to, and my photo projects aren't happening. However, I am working on a few things. A few things that has gotten me pretty excited.

One day at work while discussing that it is the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, we listed all the favorite classic books we read as kids and adolescents. Notably absent from the list: The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. This had to be fixed! My graphic designer found a copy, bought it and brought it in. I'm currently halfway through the book, and really enjoying it. Made me a bit sad, however when my sister brought up the point that she's eager to re-read it to see if what she got out of it as a teen, and what she gets out of it as an adult will have changed. I'll never get that chance. Sigh. But, for Summer Project #1, it's a huge success!

I also am helping a fellow Fish & Game member redesign the club logo. It's a rather interesting story that begins with my mom actually designing the first (and current) club logo. I'm quite proud to be carrying on the legacy and updating the logo. See the contact sheet below for our first round of sketches. We want to show that the club is about nature, recycling, conservancy, respect for nature, education etc and not just fish and wildlife (and the hunting and fishing of). I hope we're on the right track. Please let me know your feedback!

And lastly, I'm working on my favorite project of the summer! I'm going to keep this one shrouded in a little bit of mystery, but it's also a design project. I suppose I'm finding the fun of design again after 13 years of newspaper ads and clip art logos. It was nice to have a break (by being a business owner) but I'm glad to get my arse back in the saddle and do some design projects. Luckily, as the owner I'm able to cherry pick!
The project I'm working on is fun. A bit of campy, retro fun! I already have a half a dozen designs done, and even though they're "not there" yet, just the freedom to be able to design something completely and totally my own way is refreshing. It's being done as a favor / fun project for a friend. Man, I need more friends who have more design needs! LOL I'll post those designs when I have them up.

My thrill of the design came rushing back to me while our shop was designing a hero card for a local race car driver. (Who happens to live in my small town. Who happens to be a teen. Who happens to be a friend of my daughter's. Who happens to be a Make a Wish Child) And they had an event at the Make a Wish Foundation fundraiser, and she was going to be signing autographs and needed hero cards. After our designer did some proofs, I nearly BURST with anticipation of being able to "try some of my own designs" for the one simple reason that I was inspired. And with that project, I'm finding the joy in design the way I found joy in music and crafting. And yes, Mario Bros.

Whatever you do, may you do it joyously!

Craft Must Have #2

Sure, so I can probably fill my entire blog with a wish list, but the Imprintor is really special. And so is the next thing on my wish list. Again, it will allow me to craft while making money. How awesome is that?! Follow your heart! Find a job that allows you to do what you love! And then incorporate MORE of what you love into what you do! Seems like a recipe for success for me.

Other than trying my hand at silk screening in my high school Visual Communications class, I had no interest. Why? The process was long, messy and complicated. And it just didn't hold my interest. When I first found out about Gocco, I didn't start off as being super enthused. Silk screening? I thought I crossed that one off my list! But after seeing the machine in action, seeing the projects and its versatility, I changed my mind in a hurry! Now that I'm firmly bitten by the silk screening bug, it doesn't take much to get me going.

My husband and I were walking through Micheals Craft Store in Edmonton. He was there to help me with my halloween tombstone decorations, or something similar. He's ALL into crafting with powertools. And he doesn't call it crafting. That's not manly! When I spotted this wonderful little machine: Yudu™ Personal Screen Printer. It is advertised as such:
"The Yudu™ screen-printing system is the easiest, cleanest way to let everyone know who you are—and how you see the world. Don’t settle for what everyone else is wearing or spend hours futilely trying to find a t-shirt that expresses the real you. With access to a computer and an ink-jet printer, you’ll be able to create and print your own designs not only for t-shirts or other apparel, but also for home décor, art prints, posters, cards, schoolwork, and much more! With this revolutionary personal screen printer, you can let your voice be heard today, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. Unsilence yourself today with the Yudu™ Personal Screen Printer."
Unsilence myself?! Yes! Let me scream my identity from the mountaintop! Or, my t-shirt. And again, I can see myself making MONEY with this beauty! It's so shiny! And purple! And the accessories - oh my! Oh my is right. Like all other craft obsessions I am known to get into, this one comes with many many many accessories, which all cost money. Darn. But I'm saving up. I just don't know what I'll get first - the Imprintor or the Yudu.

Tell me about YOUR favorite craft or craft machine or hobby! I want to hear all about it!

First Craft Class a Success!

Wow! Thanks to everyone who came to the first craft class of the year! We had so much fun crafting paper bag scrapbooks! Everyone's projects turned out gorgeously - and all were so different! I love seeing the wide variety of ideas that come out. I always walk away with such great ideas. Great job everyone!
Next class is the embossing technique class April 11 at 7. Hope to see you all there!