Saturday, March 13, 2010

There's No Where Left To Hide

I may have this habit of constantly being on the lookout for something different, something unique, or something no one else has. I have always enjoyed making gifts for friends and family, but when I cannot think of something to make or if what I want to make is beyond my own capabilities, I search the ends of the Earth for the perfect gift. I have favourite shops in different cities and towns in different states and countries, but best of all... I can search the internet like it was on the main drag in my hometown.

I recently started up my own shop on Etsy about two months ago. I'm finding my footing with which items are going to be my bread and butter, but for now I'm trying a bit of everything to see what buyers are interested in purchasing. That being said, I've found there are several shops on Etsy that I continually go back to time and time again. They make up my list of favourite sellers, and their items take up the majority of the 20 pages of favourite items I have. I guess I drift towards a particular style, or I'm really good at hunting through 8,000 pages of items for roughly five shops that are already saved in my favourites!

I'm going to list out several of my favourite finds. These are items that I cannot live without, and if I don't already have them, they're on my wish list. The first item isn't really "one" item. It's more like one item at the beginning of the month, for a year, type of item. Underwear of the Month is a club run by Recession, which was started by Avery and Leah (and friends) after the downturn of the economy in 2007. They've kept fashion, comfort, and affordability alive in West Oakland. This is one of my favourite finds and a must have. Who doesn't like getting a new pair of designer undies each month?? (For both women AND men!)

The next gem I've found is Cocoricooo, and it is as unique as the name itself. I cannot pick a favourite item of theirs, as I practially want the entire shop!

Cocoricooo is a group of four lovely ladies in Thailand. All of their clothing is handmade, hand embroidered, and hand dyed (if applicable.) They are passionate about their work and it shows in each and every one of their items.

This is definitely at the top of my list of favourites!! Much love for Cocoricooo!

I am not much of a shoe girl. I know, how could I not be, right? I design and sew and would rather go barefoot than wear a pair of styling shoes. That was until I stumbled upon these beauties. Hydra Heart is a shop run by Molly, and boy do I love her! Each of the 100% vegan and earth friendly shoes are constructed after being hand drafted by Molly.

I fell in love with this pair of shoes, which I am getting in the ballet flat and heavy tread, so that I can wear them EVERYWHERE! Each set of shoes is custom designed to fit your feet. She takes exact measurements in inches or regular shoe sizes. Give them a try!

It may appear to you that I spend way to much time on Etsy and other people's blogs, if you came to that conclusion, you are right!

I have found a whole new world of shopping, in which I can limit my shopping to local Etsy shops, Eco-friendly shops, or shops halfway around the world. Like Cocoricooo!

And every now and again, I stumble upon shops that incorporate my own passions. Pretty Birdie, by Stephanie Teague, shares the same passion for upcycling and recycling materials for her handmade clothing. I have been a fan of hers since I started on Etsy, and will continue to be a fan for many years to come.

Stephanie uses vintage, organic, cotton and hemp fabrics. She has a fabulous eye for stylish design, and I'm in love with many of her items!

And lastly, Miss Unplastic herself, Evelyn Fields. I have worked for people who were on the radical end of environmentalism. From hang drying clothes, using cloth diapers, reusable wipes (I kid you not), cloth napkins, you name it... they were on it. Plastic bottles had no place in their house, but where they lacked, and Evelyn soars, is in UN-plastic snack baggies.

Evelyn shows us that there was indeed life before the birth of plastic. I hate plastic, and am thankful that there are people out there who agree with me. (You can also follow Evelyn's blog for more wonderful ideas.)

From unpaper napkins, snack sacks, bread bags, and rising cloths to sandwich bags, napkin rings, and reusable coffee filters. YES! Reusable coffee filters!! Evelyn does it all.

She brings a whole new life to unplastic, unpaper, reusable, and washable everyday kitchen necessities!

Thank you, Evelyn!

There are many more items, more favourites, more MUST HAVE's, but for now I'll leave you with a brilliant idea to help keep our earth happy and healthy.

Reusable dryer sheets.

Love,
Katie

"I'm not an environmentalist. I'm an Earth warrior." -Darryl Cherney

A Giant Thank You!

I owe two huge thank you's to fellow blogger and Etsy comrades.

The first is One Crafty Fox, you can find her Etsy shop at SizeMedium. I got to know Diana through e-mail on Etsy. We both use the Etsy forum to help other Etsy-ians, as well as look for help and critiques of our shops. Diana gave me a great idea for one of my blogs, a tutorial on how to colour highlight in photoshop. In return, Diana wrote a blog that featured my tutorial. I was very flattered and thankful. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Diana, as her blog inspired another blogger to feature my tutorial as well. Thanks so very much, Diana.

The second thank you is for Elizabeth Barret. She is an amazing blogger, and fellow Etsy seller as well, and she stumbled upon One Crafy Fox's blog about colour highlighting. She loved my tutorial and added it to her blog. (Scroll down to the Colour Highlighting blog) Again, flattered and thankful that I had made an impression on these two lovely ladies.

It is very special, for me, to be featured on someone else's blog. So thank you Diana and Elizabeth for creating a blog that included me in it. I am forever grateful.

Love,
Katie

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

A New Home

Hello ladies and gents!!

I have officially moved my blog to the wonderful blogger.com.

Very fortunately, I'm able to flex my creative muscles a bit more and showcase a few more of the ideas floating around in my head on this blog space than my previous one. I love Typepad, just wish the non-paying members had a bit more design creativity available, or just the ability to put in a mini-etsy.

Hope you enjoy the new place, I'll be decorating and dresing it up shortly!!

Love,
Katie

Monday, March 8, 2010

Editing Photos (Simplified)

On a personal note, I'd like to thank Nicole Pfeiffer for teaching me that I was editing my photographs the hard way, indeed! I've simplified this editing process so that you can create beautiful black and white photos with a splash of colour that much faster.

Back to business...

As an artist, I tend to be a perfectionist. This, of course is one of my worst habits. Usually, artists thrive on the imperfect because it is what makes their art different from another, but to me that is only something non-artists think. (And possibly just me.) We make our imperfections on purpose, and in essence... perfectly imperfect!

That being said, I took a photography course in college, and I failed. I failed miserably! I hated photography after taking that course, but that didn't last long. I realized I had a pretty cool camera from the course and knew the basics of how to use it. Just an FYI, if you are looking to take a course in photography and know nothing about how to use a manual camera, do not take biomedical photography, this will detour you from your passion to take moments in life and freeze them in a photo. Take photography 101 so you can learn the in's and out's of your camera and learn to enjoy the art of photography.

The one thing that course taught me that I'm beyond thankful for was Adobe Photoshop. I have long been a fan of Adobe Photoshop. It has been a tool I use for making my pictures brighter, darker, black & white, taking out an unnecessary car from my otherwise immaculate landscape, etc. Photoshop has also served as a comic relief tool for me by creating extreme one of a kind shots of friends and family members. We called those photos sharpie art. But my favourite has been taking a colour photo and making it black and white, while leaving some of the photo in colour.

My sister and my nephews are in the photo below and I did several things with this photograph, but most notably I changed the colour mode to black and white, while leaving their shirts in colour. (I also took out a neighbor's playhouse and boat, if you look close enough, you'll notice a little bit of my editing. This was a difficult picture to work with.)




















I've been asked by friends, family, fellow Etsy-ians and strangers how I make these beautiful photographs in Photoshop. And my answer to me, is simple. Now of course, I have no idea if I'm doing my editing the "correct" way, but what I'm about to show you works for me. And, with practice, I hope it works for you too!

Keep in mind that I am using Adobe Photoshop 7, so your program may be different than mine. In regards to Photoshop, most of the programs have similar layer features, colour mode, and cropping tools. As well as editing commands using the Ctrl key.

1. First you need to select the photograph you'd like to use for this picture. It works best with a photo that has a bold or bright colour that you're going to highlight. Here is the photo I used:

There are two main things to keep in mind when you want to take a colour photo and make it black and white with a splash of colour, the first being: Crop your photo to desired size PRIOR to any of the steps below. This saves you from figuring out exact crop points later on. The second is choosing what pieces you want to keep in colour. After you do both of those things, proceed to the next step.

2. The very first thing you're going to do is select your Lasso Tool, also known as the cropping tool. You are going to want to select the Polygonal Lasso Tool. As this allows you to crop by clicking around an object instead of having to freehand crop, which is much more difficult. You change which Lasso Tool you are using by right clicking the mouse to get the drop down menu. For practice, click around on the photo until you're comfortable with how the polygonal lasso tool works.














3. Once you have this tool selected, I want you to highlight the object you want to KEEP in colour. After you have selected this object, I want you to copy it. You can do this by holding Ctrl C or by going to Edit > Copy.

4. The next thing you are going to do is convert the colour mode to grayscale. You do this by clicking  Image > Mode > Grayscale.
 


















5. After you have changed the photo into grayscale mode, you are going to go back and change it into RGB mode. This will keep the photo in a grayscale colour while being in a RGB colour mode, thus allowing you to paste your coloured object, which you already copied, back onto the grayscale photo but in colour. You change the colour mode just the same as you did when you changed it to grayscale, but this time select RGB mode.
 

















6. After you change the colour mode back to RGB colour, you can paste your copied colour object into the grayscale photograph. You do this by holding Ctrl V, or Edit > Paste. Then select the Move Tool and move your copied colour object until it is directly over the area it lays in the grayscale photo. After you have positioned your colour object to its original spot, click Ctrl E, this Merges the layers together so that when you save the photo as a JPEG, it will save all of your hard work. You can also merge by clicking Layer > Merge Layers.

7. Lastly, ENJOY your beautifully edited photo!!

I hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial of Photoshop. With many trials, you will learn your errors and better, faster ways of doing things. I did just that with this latest blog and I'm able to share it with you. Thanks again, Nicole.

Happy Photoshoping!

Love,
Katie.

"Love will immediately enter into any mind that truly wants it." -A Course In Miracles.

Failure

The Burning Iron...

I have this one particular fabric that I absolutely love. It has a beautiful colour, shine and feel to it. It can be classy, it can be elegant, but it cannot withstand high heat from an iron. I know this, of course I know this, but when I finish a particular project I get really excited. The kind of excited that little kids get when they know they're going to McDonald's, you know the happy dance? That's the kind of excited I get.

So, I'm making a custom designed purse for a friend to take when she goes on walks with her dog. There are two front pockets that are easily accessible for doggie poop bags, treats, and on the inside I am putting several pockets for a cell phone, water bottle holder, and whatever else she decides to bring with her.

Again, being excited about the fabric that I love, I use it, which is the wrong fabric for this purse. So I decide this will be a sample purse and my friend can decide if she likes it or not, and I could just sell it to whomever loved it. So, everything is coming together perfectly and the pattern I designed was flawless. It was almost TOO easy. Then I got to the straps... and then I was stuck on the straps. I wasn't sure if I liked them, so I folded them in half for added strength and support, and I was happy. I sewed the interior in and was getting ready to iron it flat so I could make a stitch around the outside.

And that's where the deadly burn occurred, and the story ends!

Not Really A Pocket, Pocket!

I recently started making wallets, as I have an itch to make everything in sight, and I just had to try out a tri-fold wallet. I have my own wallet that I studied, I researched online how they're made, and I decided I would wing it. The first wallet I made was beautiful and relatively easy. Since I've quilted a little before, the binding on the edges weren't too difficult and I reused a magnetic snap to keep the wallet closed.

My second wallet is a WHOLE different story. The fabric I used is from the huge batch of designer fabric I was given, and it was one of my favourites. I saw it and immediately knew I wanted to make a wallet out of it. I held off for a bit, waited until I did a trail and error test on the first wallet, and was confident going into the creation of the second. The construction of the wallet was easy, I love making the credit-card pockets. Though, when I was making the change pocket portion, I started to run into trouble.

First of all, the reused zipper I had chosen was a pain in the butt! It took me twenty minutes to get it out of the previous purse it was embedded in. Obviously, this zipper did not want to part with its original creation. Once I pried it from the purse, I started to sew it to some muslin that I put interfacing on. I figured hell, it'll be easier to fold the pieces in when I put the zipper on, WRONG! The zipper moved, it was fussy, and basically was giving me sign number two that it did not want to be put in my lovely wallet!

Now, I'm not sure if you've already figured out that I shouldn't be able to put my hand THROUGH the zipper like that, but you're not!

There is supposed to be a backing that would hold the change in and where my pretty pale fingers are sticking out, which is where you would put your hard earned dollar bills. I hadn't even realized I did this and had put the wallet in a pile to be photographed with the small stack of iPod cases I had just finished. It was when my boyfriend's mom, Maggie, picked up the case and started examining my work. The two of us had been brainstorming ways to make the binding less bulky, which I've since figured out how to do... duh, add a quarter inch all around so you're not trying to squeeze 1' of fabric in less than 1' of space!

She held up the wallet, with her hand through the zipper like mine in the photo and said, "Isn't there supposed to be a pocket, in the pocket?" I started cracking up and was thankful that I hadn't put it up on Etsy to sell! How embarrassing that would have been!!

But alas, I've learned trial and error only makes you a better designer and sewer. I've since taken apart my purse and put in a new strap. (Burn Free!) And unfortunately, I've been staring at my wallet, with my favourite fabric holding it together, already regretting the time it took to make it, to have to take it apart and fix it! But I will.

"If You don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree."

Love,
Katie.

Inspiration

I've had a lot of inspiration in my life in regards to art, but it all started with my mom. She is always working on something whether it's a blanket, a doll, a costume, or helping me keep my grand ideas within the reality of a pattern... of sorts. My mom and I work on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to sewing. She loves patterns, understands them well, and uses them. I, on the other hand, hate patterns, understand them (though I feel restricted), and hardly use them. She is a organized mess, and I am a neat freak. She can't remember where she put her seam-ripper, and I don't know who moved my seam-ripper. It's a wonderful mix of black and white, which is probably why grey is one of my favourite colours.

Sewing has always been in my life. My mom used to make these cute little fabric dolls that every little girl in our family 'HAD TO HAVE!' She would make them look like the girl she was giving them to, very adorable. She made a couple of my high school dresses for dances, Halloween costumes, Renaissance Festival costumes, crocheted blankets for everyone, and many other crafts and projects that have sparked my attention. I started sewing when I was in high school, which was probably more out of necessity than a hobby at the time. (I loved certain clothes and couldn't part with them when they ripped, so I learned to fix them.) I can still recall my dad telling me, "Be careful not to get your fingers too close to the needle." Even today, when I'm busy ripping various cases, bags, clothes through my sewing machine, I hear my dad's voice telling me to be careful.

My mom is and always will be the reason I got into sewing and designing. For allowing me to think outside of patterns, and one who supported me in my decision to try and make a business out of sewing.

The next source of inspiration is my boyfriend's mom, Maggie. She is a quilting genius!! I knew there were ladies out there who were amazing quilters, but I hadn't met one. My mom, an amazing seamstress, is not a quilter. Quilter's are highly organized, and my mom is not so much. (Love you mom) Maggie taught me so much about sewing, even the language of sewing. A scant stitch was the latest lingo I learned. All jokes aside, Maggie truly made me a better designer and sewer. She taught me that patterns weren't evil, that sewing machines get angry for reasons, and to simplify my designs. She gave me short cuts, she gave me ideas, and she made sure that I finished my mother's quilt in time for Christmas.

So, thank you Maggie for guiding me down the right path and teaching me that sewing is not only fun, but addicting! I no longer like to create, I need to!

There have been numerous people in my life that have in one way or another inspired me to pursue a career towards one of my artistic talents. Other than sewing, I like to paint, draw, design, and the biggest of all is photography. All of which are hobbies that were meant to keep me busy. I can't sit still for five minutes, let alone have just ONE hobby.

Jacqueline Garcia always supports me, no matter what crazy idea I come up with. My sister is my biggest fan, and will soon start modeling my designs for me. Josephine Stoltzfus, is an amazing industrial designer and artist, who made me realize having that one item that no one else has not only makes you a fashionista, it makes you different... and I loved that!

But of all the people in my life, I've always looked up to and admired one more than the rest. Nicole Pfeiffer has more artistic talent in her pinkie finger than most have in their entire bodies. Her photography is utterly amazing, though I'm not sure that words can sum up how I feel about her photography. I've been lucky enough to model for her for a website of my own, and I hope to do it again for whatever reason she can come up with. (If not, I'll have to make up reasons!) I was drawn to Nicole in high school, as she is not only an amazing artist, she is a great friend. She can draw, she can mold, she can paint, she can create. You give her a material to work with and she'll make something beautiful out of it. She is truly an inspiration and I'm very blessed to have her as a friend.

Lastly, the sole reason that I started sewing again after I got out of college was my nephews. Drew and Luke are the most amazing little guys any Aunt could ask for. Drew was born on July 17th, 2006 and Luke was born on January 3rd, 2008. Drew is a very artsy little guy. He takes his drawing and painting time very seriously. Actually, he takes everything pretty serious. He is a hardcore hockey fan and player. Drew is very intelligent, and is hard to get one by him. He can even spell his name and write it too!! Lukie, on the other hand, is very mischievous, shy (at first,) and creative. He is an excellent problem solver, and he is the cutest 2yr old on the planet.

When they were born, I had this itch to make them something. I hate giving toys as gifts. I find them useless. As a nanny, I know that kids attention to a toy usually lasts about five minutes before they move on to something else. Books are huge with kids, puzzles, colouring books, etc. But what do you get for newborns? How about custom designed onesies and t-shirts? That's what I did for Drew and Luke. As they got older, I learned what peaked their interests, what hobbies they were forming, and bought gifts accordingly. But I still make them different shirts, pillow cases, scarfs, and odd and end things.

Who needs more than these two cute little guys for inspiration?


Not me, thank you Drewy and Lukie!

Love,
Katie.