This Post Has Many Words.

A word post! I have to say, I avoid being text-heavy on the blog as much as possible, because I am a) lazy, b) type slowly, and c) hate to proof read anything longer than four sentences. But, I've had a bunch of stuff swirling around in my head over the weekend, so I am going to go ahead and bloggity blog blog it. Because my husband has heard it all before.
It has been difficult lately to get back to my "personal" projects. More so than ever, when I am sewing, or designing, or whatever, I feel like the end product MUST justify the expenses incurred in the making. This is understandable, but I feel like I have gotten to this invisible line, and once I cross it, I will be greeted with things like Tax ID's and spreadsheets. Because while I have always loved having an etsy as a place to possibly make a few extra bucks, I have never really considered it any sort of business. It has always felt to me like a larger craftster, but sometimes people give you money. But now, I am staring to THINK SERIOUSLY, which is frightening and strange, and I am getting excited about spreadsheets. Do you guys know what I am talking about here? Have you gone over tthis of the line?
I think it feels so strange because there are the natural doubts that come with really trying to put yourself out there, not only as someone who creates, but as someone who makes a "product". I feel safe thinking of myself as someone who sells things occasionally on the side, versus someone is actively pursuing "the dream". I'm scared of "the dream". Terrified, really, and for no good reason other than I am scared to have other people know I am trying and then fail. So, I'll just jump on in and say it, I have a plan. (Kindof.) I think in terms of branding and marketing. (Vaguely.) I am putting together the spreadsheet. I am tentatively stepping over the line (Sheesh, get a new metaphor, why don't ya?) and declaring my intent to get legit. 2 legit 2 quit. (Yeah, I had to. It was getting a little too "thinky" for my liking.)
SO now that that has been said, I am also declaring my intent to trying to get back to a good balance of working on the things I want to do just for me. Because, really, those are the projects that this blog is supposed to be about. It is my blog, and it's supposed to be about me me me. Which is not to say that the things I produce for sale aren't about me too, (They are. Everything is about me.) but it becomes too ridiculous to document all of them, when we can leave it at, "I make totebags." I have about a million projects in my head that I can't wait to try, and I'm going to get back to them, for reals.
Ok, so, new topic, I use more parenthesis than what is ever acceptable. If we were charged for using parenthesis, I would have to put my parenthesis expenditures on the Discover. Have you ever wondered what 50 yards of cotton webbing looks like? It looks like this, and it is AWESOME, and it only costs $35. Getting massive rolls of supplies makes my hard to pitter-pat.

Bicycles, Apologies.

Ok, just first let me say that I am really tired of writing these posts about things that I am selling. It just feels a little cheap, honestly, since it has been pretty much the only posting I have done lately, so I apologize for that. There are good reasons for it (I've actually been productive, I actually don't have any more money,) but they are all lame, so thank you if you have stuck with me through this. I blog because I like to blog, not because I want to schlep crap, and so I have been feeling almost abusive, hurling all this STUFF at you, and I'm going to try and calm it down from now on. So. Bike fabric, rah-rah! I really am enthusiastic about it, I just don't have the energy to do another blogmercial. I really appreciate you wonderful people who take time to read this, and I don't want you to feel like I'm a walking commercial for the Lauren Hunt Machine. It's not what I'm about. I am about Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and complaining, and taking cat photos, and making fun of celebrities, and watching too much hulu, and always being cold. This post has gotten a little heavy, what with all words and such, so I will cut it off now. Thanks for showing up, guys, I couldn't do this without you.

Ayayayayayayay!

That's how I say, I have my fabric for sale on my etsy. Let's have some gratuitous product shots, shall we?

Right now these are the only two colors I have printed of this design, because, sheesh, it gets expensive to print at $18/yard, but, if you would like the fabric but in a different color or weight, just email me or convo me on etsy and I will special order it for you at the same price (unless it is a heavier weight fabric, and then it will vary).
I have fat quarters listed separately and in a set, and I have to say I'm really really happy with the quality of Spoonflower's printing and fabric quality. Am I gushing enough for you? Am I Gushy McGusherson, spewing gush all over Spoonflower and myself? Wow, I don't know if I have ever written a more ambiguously disgusting sentence. And with that, I will stop, while I am ahead.

Yeah, Finally. (or: Sherbet Tower Quilt.)

Ok, so remember earlier this summer, when I had all the pinky strips, and the cutting and the whining, and the seam ripping, and the promises about things being done by "the end of the week"? Weeks = months to me, people. Anyway, I made another version of this quilt earlier in the summer, but have been unable to show it here, just in case its recipient might take a gander at the old bloggity blog, and it has been KEELING ME to keep it under wraps. It was an experiment with a new design, you see, and it turns out I'm rather fond of it. So this is v.2, and v.1 will be unveiled sometime in late October, and, anyways, I hope you likes it. Now, too many quilt photos! Go! Go!This quilt is up for sale in ye olde etsy, if you happen to be in the market. And also, I am trying to start taking more custom orders, so if you or anyone you know needs a FABULOUS (Ha. I mean, they are, but, all caps? Who am I?) little quilt, send me an email. Or etsy convo. Or call me. Well, no, you can't, but, you get the idea. I'm around.

The Place Where Dreams (or, Ok, Totebags,) Are Made.

Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback on the birdie fabric. I think I will go ahead and do both, as many of you suggested, and I have already started on a few tote bags featuring the birdies. I think that on the next run, I will make several different colors... I really like how the kelly green swatch came out, any ideas for a third color? Aww, the Baxter. And now, of course, some bags. I've been on a real bag-kick lately, otherwise known as a "lets-try-to-make-something-we-can-sell-with-all-of-these-many-accumulated-materials-because-we're-poor" kick. You know. But I find that the more bags I make, the more I enjoy the process, I guess that since it is becoming automatic, it is easier to slip into that "zen" state of making. Not that I usually throw the word zen around, because, I am the eye-roller who tends to avoid it, but, you know that place where you just kind of lose it all in what you're doing? Anyway, yay for sewing, and yay for This American Life, Turkish radio, and iPod shuffle mode!

What's That Hiding in the Other Room?

You know how I am completely obsessed with fabric? Yeah. Well, imagine the amount of obsession that comes with getting fabric that you made! MWAHHHHHHHHH! It is a whole new level of amazingness. I get it out and touch it all the time, and rub my face on it, and smell it. This was the first thing I have printed using Spoonflower, and I have to say that I am completely hooked, and already working on a few more designs! There were a few issues with my repeat, but I think I have them under control now, and it's that not surprising considering it was my first try making one. So, without further ado, forty million pictures of my birdie fabric!Lesson I learned today: It's pretty much impossible for me to take an adequate picture of myself holding fabric.SO, now I have a question for you fabric folk, "market research"* if you will. I am thinking about doing a few more designs and then selling them on my etsy store, do you think there would be more interest in just the raw fabric than in say, bags and stuff that I would make out of it. Or, in simpler terms, should I try and sell things from the fabric, or just the fabric itself? Or, do you think there would be interest in either? I am a bad decider, let me know.*Ok, so this week I was supposed to participate in a market research groupy-thingie, and so I went there, and filled out another form (after an email and phone interview), and sat in the mirror room with 12 or so other women, and then they started calling people's names to go into the other room, and they called EVERYONE BUT ME! I was rejected! My opinions were REJECTED, but they still paid me $60. $60 dollars to not have to listen to me talk. Kind of impressive, no?

Rufus Encourages Literacy.

Baxter encourages sleep.I made a new bag.