Whip Up

check out Whip Up. It looks very exciting.
Below is from their About Page. It's right up my alley!

About
Whip up: To prepare quickly. To excite. To create. To incite. To build. To invent. To conceive. To push. To upset. To manufacture. To provoke.

This website has been created in order to bring the best original and exciting crafts to the attention of many.
To create a community of artists, crafters and makers and share ideas in a central space.


A handcraft guide in a hectic world

What is handcraft? “To fashion or make by hand”. “A craft or occupation requiring skilled use of the hands.”

Whip up is a multi author site with contributors from around the world united by a passion for making things, for beautiful design and for a desire to share ideas with others. The editor and originator of this site is me, Kathreen Ricketson, I wanted a central meeting place for ideas and projects and technical advice for all the latest that is handmade around the world.

Magpie

Hey gang.
I have not been a good blogger lately. I guess I have been stressed a little and feel like I have nothing to blog about unless you want to hear bitching and moaning. No? Didn't think so.
I have some exciting news in my world. I sent out some owl pins to a very cute store that I have admired over the old Internet for sometime now called Magpie. I really like the selection of items they have and their blog is cute too. I am very happy to participate in their store.

List

A few days ago, Lisa wrote a list of things about herself. It was neat to see that there were ones on there that her sister didn't even know.
I thought it was also a great way to learn a little bit more about a person that you admire and read about all the time.

I thought I would write a list of 5 items here and there about myself.

1) My parents names are Tom and Jeri....and they are possibly the cutest, nicest people you would ever meet.

2) When I was a kid, I hated my middle name. I would think of new ones all the time and say I wanted it legally changed. One of the new middle names I wanted for awhile was Miss Piggy (i loved the Muppets- still do actually)

3) It took me about 10 years and 7 schools to get my bachelors degree

4) My first concert without adult supervision was Sting.

5) I was really happy yesterday because Blaine Fontana gave me a Really Nice painting that was in the show he had here last month. It made me realize why I do love my job and how much I usually enjoy working with various artists. It was very generous. He is a great guy...read his bio and you will love him.

Doe

This is doe located on Haight Street in San Francisco. I had it on my "list of places to go" last time I visited but it never worked out. I really wanted to see it because I love their site and it looks like a very nice shop. I contacted them the other day to see if they would be interested in buying some owl pins for their store. Kati wrote back and said YES! I am so excited. If you are in the area, I am trying to ship them out on Monday.

If anyone wants to give me other names of cute shops in their area I could try to sell owl pins or button rings to, please send the names to me. I need to buy a ticket to Cleveland soon and this is how I am going to try to get it.

Plush You site

I decided to start a new blog strictly for the Plush You II! event. If you are a participant, want to be or just like plush, check out the site.
xo

Valentine's and Sweet Pants

DEADLINE JAN 31!

Calling all romantic/bitter artists:

Make a Valentine!
not for love, but for money & fame
to hang/sit & sell at Fancy during the month of February
*prizes will be given for 'most sappy', 'most romantic', and 'most bitter'
no larger than 10" please.

Make some sweet pants!
handmade one of a kind UNDERPANTS-
make your own or decorate someone else's.
to be on display & sale for the month of February at PANTS.

You name the price & keep 75%, make the tag (retail prices please)- and deliver to Fancy or Pants by January 31, 2006.
Please include name, title, address, e-mail etc...

Sorry for the short notice-
this will be an annual event, so if you can't make this deadline (January 31st)
get ready for next year.

If your work is selected- it will be on display til February 12th, if it's not selected this year we will contact you for pick up-
feel free to e-mail jpgs in advance- sally@fancyjewels.com.

Sally Brock

Pants
1914 2nd Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
206.956.2945
www.pantsunderpants.com

One of those days

I am having one of those days. You know, those days where you feel like you are in a great panic, where you don't know what you want to do with your life, if you are satisfied with what you are doing and feeling completely broke and sick of feeling that way. One of those days.

I am really sick of being broke. I know people say that that is the life of a beginning small business owner. I knew what I was getting into and embraced it for a long while. I am also getting sick of it. I want to enjoy things too and I get jealous of those 9 to 5'ers. I try very hard to leave work where it belongs, at work. But I can't help bringing home the anxious feelings. I think I am largely feeling this way because I have not been to creative lately and the weather sucks around here. Today is actually very nice, NO Rain!!! But this has not been the usual. I just need a kick start again. I AM getting my site redone where there will be a made by Schmancy section so I can try to sell more of what I make. Also maybe have a wholesale section so I could try to get more wholesale accounts or something. I wish a fairy would mail me a few thousand and make life easier. But there are no fairies and the only ones make you pay them back with a 15% interest.

This was the only thing that lifted my spirits.

crafting

I have not been in a very crafty mood lately. Maybe because I have been in a going out mood. Finding balance would be good. I have been having fun either way so no need to beat myself up about it. Here are a few things I have worked on recently. The oven mitt with the cowboy print was for my friend Nelson for Christmas. Nelson is one of the best cooks I know and I will ALMOST eat anything he puts in front of me. I blame him for my meat dabbling. He took me to Salumi's in Seattle yesterday. Best meat in town I guess. He is so excited about my meat dabbling that he wanted to take me there. I let him take charge of ordering and I didn't think I would be such a big fan as I turned out to be. Salty and peppery cured meat= good.

The pink floral mitt was for my friend Lisa in Cleveland for her birthday. I sent it recently but do not know if she got it yet. I hope she likes it. It's late as usual. Now i need to work on my dad's late birthday gift (also as usual) and some late Christmas presents. Maybe they will all be done by June. You would think all the rain (27! days now- yep you heard me right) would keep me in the house!

Tonight at Schmancy

Tons of cute stuffed boofs here tonight.

This is one of my favorites in the show!

Tonight at Schmancy is the opening for Adam Grano. Come by, meet Adam, drink cheap wine, have fun even if you feel like you are living in a grey bubble full of rain. AHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Plush You II!

Here are some pics of the Plush You! event held last August at Schmancy.
Here is the information about this years event.
Plush You II! Now at Fancy, Schmancy and Pants in Seattle.

The trilogy of awesome, Fancy, Schmancy and Pants have decided to join forces to make Plush You II! bigger and better. We would like to invite you to participate in the event of the year.

Last August, Schmancy had its’ first Plush You event in Seattle, WA. We showcased various plush creations from fifty artists from all over the world. So much so that we decided to make it an annual event. Sally Brock, of Fancy and Pants, decided to get in on the action to make it a bigger and better event.

This year the event will be held on October 6th 2006.

Due to the overwhelming response to the show we have had to change the application process a bit to accommodate all those interested.

To join in the festivities contact curator, Kristen Rask, at kristen.rask@gmail.com with your name, website info (if any), location and a few images of the kinds of work you do. 150 artists will be selected and then contacted with further information about the show. Each artist will be allowed to submit three pieces for the show.

All applications will need to be in by Feb 15th 2006.

This is a great way for you to get your name and work out to the public!

We Love You!
Fancy, Schmancy and Pants
1932,1930, 1914 2nd ave
Seattle, WA 98101
Schmancytoys.com
Fancyjewels.com
Pantsunderpants.com
Fancyschmancypantsblog.blogspot.com
Schmancytoys.blogspot.com

Share your Resolutions

Hi. I have been out of the blogging loop again. I am trying to work really hard for the upcoming taxes I have to pay....and don't want to.

Happy New Year! I have to say that I really do like the idea of a new year even though it also means I get another year older in this next year. On new years and on my birthday I feel like i get a new slate. I like that.

Here are some of my new year's resolutions for 2006.
1) be more organized
2) create a system for Schmancy for all the things i hate doing but have to....goal is to make things less painful.
3) take more chances with store...don't be so afraid of a little more debt, hopefully it will pay off
4) create something at least 5 times a week
5) take more time to relax when i really need to.
6) try to be more excited about Schmancy even when it's hard.
7) Be an overall better business person so i am not always scared that i will get in trouble
8) get insurance
9) Read more again..create a good balance for ALL the things i enjoy
10) don't waste any more time or energy on things/people that are not worth either my time or energy
11) Lastly don't be such a recluse...i can be one. I get obsessed with art/craft projects or into a book and then i don't want to ever do anything. Going out sometimes is good.

Anyone want to share their resolutions?