simpletruths

Well, hello there!

I've finally taken my head from out of hole I'd stuck it in.  Have you ever gotten so sucked in my social media, by the constant cataloging of your 'likes' and who you're 'following'....not to mention creating circles and pins...that you just need to step away from all of it? 

that's what I did. just for a little bit.  I checked out of the online world.

What was I doing over here in my other world? Sifting through sand, shoveling rocks, making funny faces, throwing sticks at the feral cats that poop by my front door, dreaming of getting a dog. All the normal stuff - but with less multi-tasking.

 

 

 

 

I also spent some time just thinking, writing, figuring and sketching. New designs, new ideas, streamlining, expanding, new names...so many ideas.

 

suffice it to say - I'm ready to rock and roll!

Sleeves for the whole family

Over the last few weeks I've been making more cup sleeves (always fun), and I realized that I actually always have 2 or 3 in constant rotation.

 

So in the shop I have a new listing for the Family Pack

 

One of the reasons I usually have at least 2 in my purse at all times is because they're actually really useful for my Little Mr. also. We like Jamba juice - especially now that they have those fruit and veggie smoothies. Inevitably the cup will be too cold for his hands.  I pop one of these puppies on his cup and I've instantly avoided several minutes of brain numbing whining about hands that may or may not be FREEZING, and a napkin that's "not working" or "keeps falling off."

 

It's the little things in life right?

 

So the new listing is for 3 coffee cup sleeves (although, clearly there's no need to relegate them solely to the coffee realm), and combinations of solid or multi-colored sleeves.

 

 

Craft night!!!

Sorry for all the exclimations  - wait, not I'm not.  I'm way too excited because I'm hosting the next craft night at Modern Mouse, Thursday August 11th.

 

I'll be showing how to turn thrift store bangels into adorable bracelets like these

So, if you're in, or near Alameda, make sure you swing by craft night from 5-7

 

 

What's going on?

So much has been happening I barely had time to write any of it down

The shop:

I sold two items in my first month over at Modern Mouse in Alameda (yay!).

The ladies that run that store are  great and I need to figure out a way to hang out there more; Oh yea-I'm trying to be a Modern Mouse groupie.  Plus, on top of having amazing merchandise, they have a monthly craft night. I think it's perfect for anyone looking for a craft night that's not in San Francisco.

(hmmmm ...sideways iphone photo)

 

I've been working on a few new things for the shop.  More of the beaded necklaces in awesome color combos like this one

 

also, lots of tiny crochet

 

one done...more in progress

 

Then there's Little Mr and Ms Lady

 

Oh, and I have to update you on the Craft Hope bracelet project.

 

So come back soon (maybe even later today), and often, for updates on all of that plus a new tutorial I've been working on that's magical.

 

 

 

Modern Mouse

Do you see what I see??

 

That's right, those are my neclaces in an almost professional looking display tag.

Why?

Because simple truths is in a store!!!!! wooooo hoooooo!!! do the running man, do the running man...uhh uhh yea!

OK - I just had to get that out. Here are the specifics - for those of you who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, if you haven't checked out Modern Mouse in Alameda, you should. Everything they sell is handmade by (mostly) local artists - now including ME!

The first batch of merchandise includes: spiral (regular and mini) and hoop crocheted earrings

 

and my beaded necklaces.

I'm hoping to also add my recycled T accessories and the coffee cup cozies later this year.

The packaging part was somewhat difficult. I knew that I wanted the necklaces to hang, but finding hang tags for necklaces is not easy. So much so that I ended up making my own. For the earrings I used my tiny hole hole-puncher and turned my moo cards into earring cards.

The best thing about the earring display is that when someone buys my earrings they automatically have my business card and a photo of another type product I make.

winner!

Thanks for hanging in through a few weeks of spotty posts while I got everything prepped.  

In other news - why is it still raining? We doing usually get rainy, hot chocolate weather in the middle of May, but that's exactly what I'm about to make; a mug of spicy hot chocolate mmmmm

New rings and a clean table

Two of my favorite rings sold a little bit ago and that left my ring selection lacking so I put together 6 more.  Here a some picures of a few.

 

This is one of my new petite blooms

 

 

 

In completely unrelated news, this is my last week of maternity leave.

I know right? Adorable.

 

AND

I am not even responsible for this awesomeness. Mr Man lets me sleep in with Little Ms while he hangs out with our early riser (I used to be a morning person, honest!).  Well, one morning I finally make my way out of the room and I'm greeted with this  beautiful table.  I immediately picture baked goods that can be prepared, pizza dough that can be topped....but the real wonderfulness is just being able to sit down with a plate of food without having to excavate a space.

New in the shop

granny charms galore

 

I'm still loving these little granny squares.  I've got one on my key chain and a couple on my favorite purse. They make me smile.

 

coffee cup sweaters

A quick word about the CC sweaters; I've been making these for a while now - It actually started out as something I wanted for myself. Then I made one for my sister and mom.  Since then, almost every month or so I have a new request from a friend or someone my mom or sister works with.

BUT, I've only sold one in the shop...just one, in the past year.  Maybe virtual interest is just lagging behind real life.

Recycled T-Shirt cowls and necklaces

More colors are on the way - moss green, cobolt blue, bold red.....and wait until you see the bracelets.  These are one of my favorite summer accessories because they're so light.  Who wants metal or plastic against their skin when it's hot outside?

On the horizon

With only one more week left in February, spring is upon us (although truth be told, it seems like winter JUST arrived here in the Bay Area).  I've been busy thinking, planning and working on the spring/summer 2011 items for the shop. 

It's gonna be fun.

more recycled t shirt accessories - necklaces, cowls, bracelets...

granny square fun - necklaces, key chain charms, bracelets...

beaded strands that can be worn as a necklace or a bracelet...

hair clips..?

rings...

 

As always, I'll make sure I have a few cowls and scarves in the shop for folks who are coming up to their cool weather season.

 

 

 

 

 

California Crafters Club of Etsy: Spotlight on....

via californiacraftersclubofetsy.blogspot.com

The spotlight is on me! At least for a moment.
Be sure to check out the full post over here.

Granny Square Charms

So I've been addicted to granny sqaures lately - especially little ones;  about the size of a half-dollar.  After a couple of late nights I ended up with a small stack of them.

 

now what?

 

Well, I'm part of the California Crafters Club of Etsy and this year I'm participating in this great cross-promotional effort that I'm hoping will at least increase the traffic to my shop.

I've also been brainstoring for new items for the shop.  This covered both categories.

I was just going to make them as key chains but then I found some ball chain laying around the house and realized that my mini grannies made great little charms.

Look.

 

I have a few of these in the shop right now and more are on there way.  Playing with the color combinations is the most fun - any suggestions?

 

There's more granny square love still to come.

Everyday is earth day!

Last year, for earth day, I whipped up these cotton rounds for a custom order I recieved.

Then a few months later I made another batch for a friend.  Then, just a few weeks ago we ran out of cotton balls. Instead of buying yet another plastic bag (boo) full of cotton balls or rounds that would be tossed after one use (double boo), I decided to spend an evening making some reusable cotton rounds for myself.

I made 8, in two different sizes and I really like them.  They don't absorb liquid and quickly and easily as an airy cotton ball, so for some things I get them wet first.  But aside from getting used to that, they're pretty great.  I only toss them in the washing machine every few weeks because I typically just rinse out the one I just used - maybe even use a little hand soap - and let it dry over night.

easy, peasy

plus they look great in my bathroom

More photo props

A couple of weeks ago I discussed my new found photo prop for my scarves and cowls - the wooden hanger.

 

Now here's another photo prop that I use (and a new product for the shop)

yes, an envelope

 

Nice right. But if I flip it over to the other side....

(don't worry - I'm not planning on using that picture in my etsy shop).

 

Now - I wouldn't ever ship something to someone like this.  When it comes to shipping, this felt ball garland will be wrapped around a piece of nice white cardstock.  But for now, thank you junk mail!

 

 

Product photos

Meet my new favorite photo prop:

yup - a wooden hanger

Since I am both model, and photographer for all of the products in the simpletruths shop it can often be difficut to get the angles and point-of-view I want for certain things. I could wait until Mr. Man is around (and the light is right) to take pictures but then I have to describe what angles I want from the different shots, how the light should fall; and I end up checking after every shot.

I know - what a pain for everybody involved - especially considering that photos are usually just one of the many things I'm trying to get done during nap time.

BUT with the hanger, instead of attempting to make something decent out of awkwardness like this:

(not withstanding the nursing boobage and post pregnancy pounds)

 

Now I can shoot something like this:

OMG, I know right! Why didn't I think of this before? 

Plus, we've had some beautiful morning sun so I've also been trying to take full advantage of that before the rain arrives. 

Because it has to rain at some point this winter, right?

Here's a few more hanger shots from this morning

 

 

I Have A Dream

Today only-15% off everything in the shop when you use this code: MLK111
simpletruths etsy shop

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. day!

Four days - Two Treasuries

Here we are  - January 4th and I've already been featured in two different treasuries ... yay!

 

Siblings

<whispering>  see the bear?

Mommy, put blanket on her

 

<whispering again> see the bear?

 

Little Miss was born this past Monday evening after a very short labor.  She met her big brother on Tuesday. They are already quite a pair.

 

Shop Note:

Orders placed at the shop over the weekend were shipped out on Tuesday

 

 

Merry Christmas Eve

 

 

Coziness

Just added to the shop:

 

coffee cup sweater

 

 

perfect red blossom ring

 

 

A sample of the wonderfulness yet to come:

 

 

 

So many pretty colors :)

My first craft table

Good times :)

earrings

 

button scarves and cowls

 

the table

hand drawn cards by morgan

 

my mom helped :)

 

I haven't done enough of these to truly measure my success but I made some money, passed out some cards, met some great people (the coffee cart guys were my favorite), and didn't go into labor.  All-in-all, I'd call that a success.

It was the first time I'd presented and sold things "live" so seeing the reactions and answering questions was really great.  I definitley got the most appreciation from other crafters and artists, and surprisingly,  from the pre-teen set. Who would have thought that 12-year olds would have such wonderful taste in accessories :)

There was plenty that didn't sell so I'll be adding all sorts of fun to the etsy shop over the next several days.

 

I've been spending most of my crafty time on the table I'm going ot have set up this friday.  But I was able to post one new thing just for the shop:

yay for bitty nest rings :)

 

Here are a few pictures of some of what I've been working on for Friday...

I made several of these little earring holders from regular note cards:

 

My mom came over this weekend and helped me with massive earring assembly - this is just a sample.

These are some of my favorite beaded crochet strands that can be worn as either a necklace or bracelet.

Given how far along I am, right now I'm just hoping I can make it to (and through) Friday's event.

Etsy Artists Of Color Holiday Gift Guide

via treat.typepad.com

Team EAOC (Etsy Artists of Color) has put together a great online gift guide with links to each shop from the pictures. There are truly some amazingly talented folks featured - I'm on page 10 :).

What are you waiting for? Go check out the EAOC's Holiday Gift Guide