June 12, 2008

About Time

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(there's always time for cinnamon toast!)  But that's not what this is all about. 

I get cyber-tagged now and then by very sweet bloggers and, being the inconsiderate soul that I am, I usually space out and forget to fulfill my tagging obligations.  Well, I was chosen by the fabulous Molly  to answer a few questions about myself, and by George, I'm going to do it!  Right now! 

#1.) What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was just 17 (if you know what I mean.)  I had returned from Idaho to Virginia, and I was slinging coffee at Joe Muggs Cafe inside a Books-A-Million (which is a cheap-o version of Barnes & Noble.)  I spent most of the summer inventing new Italian soda flavor combinations and getting to know a certain shaky-handed fellow that I'd end up marrying three years later.  Oh, and I gotta give a shout-out to the old ball-and-chain, he's turning 33 today (ha ha...what an old geezer!)

#2.) What's on your to-do list?

Buy mint, basil and cilantro so I can make summer spring rolls.  Watch the John Adams series that I just got from Netflix and look out for my brother. Make some of these for my mom's upcoming Birthday.  Pay the bills, clean the bathroom, (ugh, and it's all downhill from there...)

#3.)  List 5 snacks you enjoy.  (Just five?)

Currently I'm very much into these cookies (highly recommended recipe), bing cherries, celery sticks, leftover homemade pesto pizza, and Max's Lime Freezes (mix juice and pulp of 2 limes, scant 1/4 C. of sugar, 3 C. ice, and a big splash of water in the blender until smooth.  Yum.)

#4.)  What would you do if you were a millionaire?

This pretty much sums it up.


#5.)  Where have you lived?

Eastern Virginia and Southern Idaho.  (And I'm ever so happy to be back in good-old VA!  I'm an ocean girl at heart, always have been.)

There, I did it!  Now I'm going to tag my old buddy Kristy, because I'm pretty sure she will play along and she has a very fun blog to read (if you're into movies and stuff, which I am.)

December 13, 2007

And the Runt goes to......

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Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

15

Timestamp: 2007-12-14 01:01:36 UT

Lucky commenter numero 15, who just happens to be Amber from One Shabby Chick!!!  Yay, congratulations!  I hope you love him and he is not too much trouble for you!  Thank you so much, everyone, for all of the cute comments.  Wow, there are lot's of soy milk-drinkers out there!   This was really too fun, I do love me a good giveaway!   

I just remembered that today is also a special day, because it is my *official* One Year Anniversary for opening my shop on Etsy.   I have lots and lots of feelings about this, but I won't annoy you with them.  (My new favorite mantra, borrowed from Sir Tom Petty:  "Don't bore us, get to the chorus!")    The point of it all?  I'm just glad I didn't give up.  The first year is the hardest, right?  It's all down hill from here.

Right?

October 02, 2007

The Crafty B-Word

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We did it!  It's all over, and whoa.  Nothing could have prepared me for that show!  I don't even know how to describe it.  The phrase that comes to mind is - off the hook -.  It was wild, awesome, fun and completely packed the whole time!  Here was our space, booth #3: 

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Me, Amber and my sister Kristina displayed our goods, and my mom and brother also came to help out, and my dad came to visit too,  (sort of like my-big-fat-greek-craft show!)   

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This was a break dancing battle.  I couldn't see it, but I took this picture holding the camera as high as I could over the crowd.  (Sometimes it's good to be tall!)

I wish I had more pictures so you could see the scope of this event.  There were marching bands, fire breathers, mini-parades with masked people on stilts, so many talented crafters and I can not even tell you how PACKED it was!  Seriously.  Wall to wall people, nonstop, 10am to 5pm.  I feel so privileged to be part of the event!  It was too busy for me to wander around very much, but I know there were lots of "famous" crafters and bloggers attending.  Our booth was right next to The Small Object, a shop and blog that most everyone has heard of.  I saw several other Mafia groups there, New York, Richmond.  And Etsy Labs had a booth giving free tutorials.  My mom and sister made cute pincushions!  It was quite a wild day, and if it wasn't  for the mind-numbing traffic on the drive home, everything was just perfect! 

A soon as I get everything together and get the house back in order, I will put a few leftovers on the web shop and get back to usual business around here.  Thank you so much, everyone, for leaving such nice comments wishing me luck!  One of the highlights of the show for me, was getting see internet friends in person.  It's always such a bittersweet thing for me, knowing that I live too far away to see them more often.

   

September 14, 2007

Shame Spiral

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That's right.  I'm a jerk . I was tagged a long time ago by three, very sweet bloggers, and I have YET to fulfill my duties.  Well, better late than never (my motto of the month!)   So here goes.  With my most sincere apologies and regrets (and also some goofy pictures of me to help appease my guilt.) 

1. Jennifer of Infinity More Monkeys tagged me for the Nice Blogger Award......almost a month ago.  Since I am just now acknowledging this, that clearly makes me un-nice so I am revoking the title, returning the crown and hanging my head in shame.

2. Sara Duckett of Sadie Olive was so sweet to nominate me for the Rockin' Blogger award.  Again, I'm super late on this one too, so I do not feel qualified to pass anything along.  Besides, I think you are all rockin' bloggers.  Really.  (and I know it's only rockin' roll....but i like it.)

3.  Sarah of Girl Land tagged me recently for a "share seven things" and I shall complete this one, to the best of my ability.  And be sure to look at her list so you check out the giant  bangs (snort!)  And, I can laugh at this because....I had big bangs too.  And a side pony tail.  And stirrup pants.  *shudder*.

Seven strange, weird or random facts about me:

1.)  I have been known to wear stick-on facial hair.  (See picture above.)  But, I'm of Mediterranean descent, so it's not really that far from the reality. Yes, I am hairy.  At my most sensitive peak, I would bleach my arm hair sometimes, and it hurt so terribly, that I would stand, flapping my white, goo-covered arms like a bird, in total agony waiting for the hair to lighten.  Luckily, age has dulled the hairiness (or maybe just my perception of it) and I could give a hoot anymore.  Though, if I don't tend to my lip every now and then, I will get a "high-school-movie-lunch -lady" look going on.

2.) In high school I was nominated "student of the week" once.  It entailed a big picture and questionnaire being posted in the hall display case for (you guessed it) a months time.  I was a nobody in school, so I thought it would be funny to fill out the questionnaire with a bunch of smart-ass comments (mostly quotes from movie.)  Something interesting about myself?  "I rarely wear underwear, but when I do it's something very unusual."  Bill Murray, Stripes.  Something that people don't know about me?  "I have one glass eye, so nobody know which eye too look into when they are talking to me."  (I actually don't remember where the hell i got that one from, but it must have been a TV show or something.)  The point of this story.  Don't try to be funny in high school, unless you actually ARE funny.  Or you will get people coming up to you for the rest of the year, "Whoa, do you really have a glass eye?  That's awesome...."

3.)  Speaking of eyes, in my brief and fleeting stint at college, I took an art class that had mandatory attendance and I found myself having missed one to many days, and was in deep water.  I have NO idea how or why I came up with this horrible plan, but I came to class then ext day wearing an eye patch (found in my car's first aid kit) and I made up this long story about how my boyfriend was playing with a Pokemon happy meal toy, it slipped from his hand hit me in the eye, scratched the cornea and I had to wear a patch for several days.  (I was going for the "the more crazier the story, the more they will believe it" theory.)  And, it worked, they bought it!  But, In my genius plotting, I forgot that I had my final project to complete in class, and now I had to do it with a patch on my eye and NO DEPTH PERCEPTION.

4.) I spent a whole night (ALL night from dusk to dawn) a few weeks ago watching all of the My So Called Life episodes on TV links.  It took hours.  But it was so awesome.  Anyone else obsessed with this show?  I can't believe we never got to see if Angela ever hooked up with Brian Krakow.  I mean, she got in Jordan Catalano's car at the end of finale, but what about the letter?!?!  The show was canceled after one season.  Too cruel.

5.) Speaking of shows, I think it is time for me to admit.   (*deep breath) I am a big, giant nerdy fan of Mystery Science Theater 3000.  There, I said it.  I just can't help it, ok?!?  They are so funny!!!  I realize that admitting something like this is akin to me confessing that I dress up for medieval gatherings and my wench name is Lady Fratterly (not true, by the way....I'm not that nerdy.)  And, just so you know, I can make fun of other nerds if I want to, it's in the dork-clause:  when you are a nerd, you have the liberty to make fun of other different types of nerd,  as they will in turn, be making fun of you.  It's a self-preservation thing.  Oh, and my favorite episodes are Manos, the Hands of Fate, Danger:Death Ray and Girls Town.)

6.) Wow, these just keep getting worse.  Should I stop now? Nah.  Here's the invitation I made for our Saint Patrick's Day party two years ago.

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Once again, I can't stress enough:  do not try to be funny if you AREN''T funny.  I don't think anybody got it.  "Are you really going to have 6 kegs and live music? Whoa!"  It was our first (and last) party.  (We did have one keg, actually.) And, I made this crazy punch out of lime sherbet and lots of alcohol.  It was disgustingly good.  I got the background image for the invitation from a Senior Center's website with pictures form their Saint Patty's party (which was probably cooler than ours.  I love pistachio pudding.)

7.) Am I done yet?  Please?  That's enough torture for one post.  For all of us.

August 14, 2007

Thank you for playing!

49 comments, and two winners!

Thank you so much  Rachael and and Dana!!!  Lots of miniature goodness is on the way!  And, if you were not a luck winner, I do have the Miniature Kitsch Samplers over at the Emporium now.  It's really a pretty good deal, over 35 miniature (plus fun surprises too!)  I'm working on more themed packs such as:  floral only, audiophile mix, Halloween, Christmas, etc.  I have to wait for a few more shipments to arrive, and then my plan to take over the world with tiny-plastic things will finally come to fruition!  (....to be followed with maniacal laughter.)  Oooh, and a big old stack of bakery boxes arrived today, ready for me to customize in an extremely adorable way.  Stay tuned for that as well. 

With Crafty Bastards (show in DC) rapidly approaching, I'm switching the crafting gears back on at full tilt.  My "wish list" for items to have ready is long, unrealistic and awfully exciting!  I can't wait to crank up the old sewing machine.  I'm itching to make more of these Garden Variety Totes I had in the Studio at spring time.

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Looking back at these, they really are more Autumn-like.  I can't wait to do some more.  And I have thrifted lots of new fabrics that will be perfect for them. 

Ok, so I'm off to fantasy-land where I finish my entire "to make" list weeks before the show, and am relaxed, prepared and calm. 

(The reality will, more likely, be me, up till three  in the morning every night the week before the show, red-eyed, watching Pride and Prejudice (A&E) for the 5th time, and desperately wondering how I'm EVER going to get everything finished.  But I somehow, I  magically pull it off in the end.)

August 13, 2007

There is still time.....

.....to sign up for the Miniature Giveaway!!!  Thanks so much to everyone who has already left a comment!  I will leave the comments open until midnight tonight (ooooh, how dramatic!)  Then I will draw the name(s), one for every 20 comments.  Winners receive a big old grab bag with one of each of almost all of the mini-cupcake decorations in my supply shop, A. Bel Emporium.  You can click here to check them out.   All you gotta do is leave a comment (you can just say "hi"!) in the post below this one.  Please remember to link or leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.  Best of luck all!  And I'll be back tomorrow am to announce the chosen ones, and probably chat about some random, crafty-like things.

Happy Monday!

August 10, 2007

Be you Blythe and Bonny

The New Girl

I want one.  Really, really bad.  I've been hit with the "new obsession" bug and there is no holding back now.  I remember seeing these Blythe dolls around on flickr and blogs and such last year.  I didn't know what they were exactly, but I was most certainly intrigued.   (*A special thanks to Jeannine for the use of her fabulous Blythe photograph above! )

Basically, they are just really cute dolls with giant heads and shifty eyes.  They are very collectible and super cute, and you can make them different outfits and accessories and change their hair and eye color, paint makeup on them, and lots more fun  stuff.  I think now, with my sister staying with us, I am getting back in touch with my girly side again.  Not that I ever lost it, but with all the boys in the house (I was outnumbered, especially now that we know Syd is a dude), I guess all the hot wheels and  video games where starting to get to me.  Lucky for me, my husband is a big-time collecting junkie, so he is not put off buy me spending money on semi-creepy, big-eyed dolls.  Mike is all about the Kid Robot stuff these days.  Anyother Blythe-people out there?  I'd love to see pictures of your gals too! 

So, in honor of collectors, collecting and miniature cute-stuff:

It's time for a Blog Giveaway!!!

Miniatures this time, and lots of 'em!  I'm putting together Miniature Kitsch Samplers from the Emporium that have one of each of most all of the mini cake toppers in the shop now.  Ideal for those of you who love tiny things of all kinds!  I will give away one Miniature Kitsch Sampler for every 20 comments I receive.  If you would like to enter, please leave a comment in this post and be sure to link your email address so I can contact the winners!  I will close the comments Next Monday evening and pick the winners randomly by number!  Friends, family, international.....all are welcome!  Thanks so much everyone for reading my silliness, and saying hello, and just being awesome.  I love you guys!

Good luck everyone!  Happy weekend! 

 

August 09, 2007

Dear Linda in New Zealand,

Wow!  What nice and lovely comments you left me, it really made my day!  Yes, I got your messages just fine!  And don't worry, it took me ages to figure out how to comment and leave contact information on blogs, so don't feel bad!  I'm still quite computer-challenged, but I learn more every day.  I'm very interested in felt roses you were talking about and I'd love to see some pictures!  Also, I'm actually very jealous that it is cold now in New Zealand, because it was 104 deg here today!!!  We are all melting!  So, send some cool breezes over to this side of the world if you can, please.  I'd really appreciate it!  So nice meeting you (and everyone else who takes a minute to leave a nice note to me,  I don't deserve such generosity.)

-Love,

Amanda

July 27, 2007

Etsy Love Part 2 + other interesting things

At last!  More handmade-love to blog about!  I've been stalling this post in hopes of finding frames for my new artwork so I could share pics of the items actually gracing the halls of our humble home.   But, alas, I'm having trouble finding the *perfect* frames to go with them so I will forge ahead and just use the artist's pics.

First up:

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Do these guys look familiar?  I am constantly delighted by the crafty things people are doing with these little miniatures, but these photographs just took the cake (topper)...ha ha...ha.  (Sorry about that.)  Seriously, how funny is this?!  And how about this one:

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"Oh Dear."  Really....that's the title.  I'm thinking of hanging this one in the downstairs bathroom just to see the reaction form visitors and guests.  He he.....it really makes me giggle!  And there are more, oh yes.  Visit  the lovely Swirling Thoughts  shop for this, and  more fabulously whimsical photography. Be sure to check out "Hopped Up on Coke" .  It's one of my faves. 

More art?  Oh, yes please!

   

I found this stunning, original watercolor quite by accident.  I was just browsing on etsy and *POW*.   I literally could not stop staring at it.  The shop is Leontine May, and it seems all the artwork has been snatched up at the moment (not surprisingly.)  But, I'm sure there will be more soon!  In the meantime, you can browse their sold section and look at all the beauties that you missed out on.  Like this and this.  I wish I had bought them all!  I will definitely be shopping here again in the future!

And now, Lenor....

Now, I'm a sucker for a cute brooch....and these are just so original!  They remind me of rosy-cheeked little flappers!  And, the detail and craftsmanship are top-notch.  The shop is Coisas Fugidias, and they also offer other cuties like these brooches shaped like little trees.  So much personalty!  I find them all so inspiring! 

Was I done shopping?  Not quite.  I also snuck in some fab postcards from the Notorious Jane's Apron.  No pictures yet, but you can get the full scoop right here.  They are to die for (as expected!)

After all that shopping, what little dough I had left was spent on a HUGE miniature order.  I have lots of photographing to do, but keep in mind, there will be an Emporium update very soon.  Bunches of new thing.  (Hope you're ready for Halloween *hint*)    I may have left the Studio a bit bare this summer, but I've had to learn my limits.  I just can't move mountains. However, I will, in the very near future, be gearing up for two big holiday craft bazaars, which always translates into leftovers for the Studio.  I'm really excited about both of these shows!  The first is Crafty Bastards, a very well-know and semi-prestigious show in our Nation's Capitol September 30th (link is on the left sidebar.)   Amber and I will be selling our wares as members and founders of the Norfolk Craft Mafia.  And, if I may toot out horns a bit, there were, like 400 applicants and only 100 spaces.  So, yeah.  We are pretty much total rock stars.  And speaking of the craft mafia....that brings me to craft show number 2:  Handmade Parade, East Coast, November 10th, Norfolk VA...hosted by none other than me and Amber.  We, and the Mafia, are actually hosting our own show!!!!  Ahhhh!  Crazy, huh?  I've been hesitant to mention it because we were having the darnedest time finding a venue, but now we have snagged a location, signed the contract, and are about to start soliciting vendors!!!  If you are a craft/artsy peddler in Hampton Roads and the surrounding area, please check out our website for more info!  Or, drop me a line abelstudio@gmail.com and I will be sure to keep you updated!

I've spilled enough beans for today, I think!  Thanks for reading all of that, if you made it all the way through...good for you.  You are my favorite reader.  Really, and you shall be rewarded.  Keep a sharp eye out for a blog giveaway soon.  I'm painfully overdue.  It's gonna be a doozie!

July 17, 2007

Amanda : 1, Computer : 89, 546

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I had to pop in and say "thank" you to Sarah for her help with my computer issues!  I can once again comment on blogger/blogspot without crashing the entire system, hooray!  I don't have to lurk anymore (though I did enjoy it, in a seedy kind of way.)  Also, whilst blog-hopping this morning, I came a cross this lovely blog I'd never seen before and I had a total Brad-Pitt-from-Fight-Club-moment.  They have a recipe box feature just like mine!  Same printable cards, picture of the old tin box.....and they made their's ages before I did.    Not that I thought I was the first to ever do anything like that, but it really made me think of that line, "You are not a special or unique snowflake."   Ha ha!  Back to the old drawing board!  And, speaking or recipes, I have not updated mine as promised, but I am working on it!  I promised someone the refrigerator rolls recipe a long time ago!  I'm working on it!

that's  all for now, over and out.

Happiness

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