Etsy Baby

Having crafty skills -- along with that deliciously compelling Catholic guilt -- means that whenever an acquaintance is with child, I feel the need to offer the new little one a homemade gift.  Sort of a welcome-to-earth-it's-really-not-so-bad present for Baby's Big Entrance.  

After spending hours on single knitting projects for baby toys, I was relieved when my Fairy Godmother taught me a fast, easy blanket pattern.  I've made three so far, and I love picking alternative, boho fabric combos, because I absolutely detest the cutesy "baby" patterns.  After enjoying the completed projects, I am now pondering selling these on Etsy.  Which is your favorite?  And how much money would sound reasonable to you for these?

The farm one induced much wailing and gnashing of teeth. My geometry skills temporarily failed me, and I cut the corners wrong.

 Notice the patched corners. Still cute though!

I'd love your feedback as I ponder setting up an Etsy shop! What works, what doesn't? Ideas, bitte!

Shabby Apple Design Contest

Shabby Apple is running a design contest that is just brilliant for aspiring designers: submit a design following the standards for Shabby Apple; readers vote on their favorite; the winner is responsible for creating the pattern and sample; the dress will be featured in Shabby Apple Spring collection and the winner will collect 3% royalties for every dress sold.

The contest is now open for voting so you should check out Shabby Apple's blog and place a vote for your favorite contestant.  Here are my four favorites:

Number 2

Number 12

Number 3

Number 8

Literature in Design

I really like when literature or history is merged directly into design, because I'm nerdy like that.  One of my closest friends, Shannon Long, has been doing jewelry-design as a side project, and the piece pictured below is inspired by her favorite poem: "Dover Beach":

Dover Beach Clip

"I love books.  I love literature.  Heck, I even love words!  Certain poems just speak to me, most of all Matthew Arnold's 'Dover Beach'.  The entire poem, especially the last stanza does a beautiful job expressing the importance of human connections, love and relationships because the world (although) can be so very cruel.  Wearing this piece allows me to carry that message with me wherever I go.  Plus, I like the look of the text on a few of the flower petals"

Ah, love, let us be true

To one another! for the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.

Shannon and I met while in high school at when we both worked at a local library.  We are nerd-soul-mates.   

Ruche: Measure My Love

If anyone wants to get me a present, I would highly suggest this from Ruche:

This represents my love for design, fabric, sewing, and numbers.