Etsy Update!

I just did a HUGE update to my Etsy shop AJ the Purple!

I added a completely new product - Embroidered Bracelets!

I seriously love these. I hope you do, too ^_^

I added the new Squid Monsters and Fairy to my prints section

(Squid Monsters was by special request - the first one already sold! :D)

There are now lots of ACEOs :D

And of course there are Huggles ;)

And, because I love you,

First 3 orders today get a special surprise

Go check it out! :D

Scenic Embroidery

I just finished this yesterday and I am super excited about it! I completely love it and can't wait to get it in the shop. I made sure to use a slightly different stitch for each element and I'm really happy with the result. Once I get it framed and set I'll upload some detail pics!

I'm already planning a new series :D It's combining two of my loves and it's going to be awesome.

4th of July Party Pack

Coming soon: the first Craft Academy Party Pack! It's packed full of tutorials for the best Independence Day ever! We've made food, decorations, of course these awesome picnic placemats (wait 'til you see it unrolled!), and more :D You should check it out ;) (And tell your friends!)

Etsy Finds: Watermelon

Summertime to me is watermelon ^_^

Here are a few lovely watermelon-themed products I found on Etsy:

A watermelon red dress by Clothingwholesale:

A cross-stitch pattern by andwabisabi:

Juicy watermelon earrings by sypria:

Flower bobby pins by alovelycreation:

Watermelon yarn by shunklies:

Fluffy vegan soap by dennisanderson:

An original painting by artflat5:

To see more of my watermelon favs, check out my "Sweet Watermelon" treasury!

Panda Apron!

I had sooo much fun making this for my girlfriend! She requested it when I signed up for Style School, so I made it for her for her birthday :) I used this awesome fabric I found - blue with white stars (because I love stars!!), along with a cerulean cotton and blue and light purple felts. The face is backed with felt, the bottom is doubled. I embroidered the face and ears by hand. I crocheted the neck and waist bands with a dark blue to match the felt. The neck band is attached with buttons (so it's adjustable); the waistband is attached with two loops. Hopefully she'll send me pics of herself in it soon, but in the mean time this is what I have!

Panda face!!!!!! hehe ^_^

Busy Saturday

Wow, I had a really busy Saturday! The hubby works Saturdays, so it's my time to catch up on what I need to do.  First off, I finished up this little guy and did a photoshoot. I am getting much more efficient with both shooting and editing, which makes me really happy :) Hubby still says I spend too much time on it, but I want to make sure they looks good.

Then I packed up this embroidered heart and mailed it off. A little sad to see it go, but excited that it's going to someone who will love it!

 

After weeks of putting it off, I finally got my bangs trimmed! After all the hair chatter lately, I kind of want to dye it red or cut it short! But I really like my color, and I'd probably look like a boy with short hair >_< Not sure how long I'll keep the bangs. I've had them since...December? Maybe another couple months.

I'm SO excited to announce that I bought cupcake tins :D:D:D The husband mentioned that he wanted to make cupcakes, and (can you believe it??) I've NEVER made them before!! So I picked some up, and I'm super excited to get started! Let me know if you have a yummy cupcake recipe :)

 

(cupcakes from weheartit)

AND I recorded with Renee of Robo Roku for an Easter Egg tutorial! I'm very happy to spread the inspiration. Easter Eggs are sooo much fun! You don't have to be limited to stickers, crayons, and single colored eggs ;) I'll let you know when it's up in a couple weeks, and give you a few extra ideas.

Then it was Kenpo with the hubby (day 13/90 in P90X!), followed by dinner at Nuevo Leon with his family :D (I also ate a table over from Britt Daniel of Spoon - my college roommate was obsessed with him!)

You Amaze Me Sunday post coming soon!

Geekery Made

I finished some nerdy projects last night and thought I'd share :)

Fleece Super Mario Star Plush/Pillow

(available here)

Embroidered emoticon/text mini pillows!

(will be available in the shop this week)

I'm so excited - I seriously love them. Check out my Flickr for more photos of my recent projects!

Now I'm off to the Team Etsy Austin meeting :D Have a great evening!

Rainbow Collections

Don't you love rainbows?

Here are some rainbow collections from around my apartment :)

 

 

Ah, color coding...it makes me happy ^_^

i ♥ u pillow

Just finished Style School project #10! I had a lot of fun with this :-) It's my first time cross-stitching! Alex helped me think of the "quote," and I think it turned out really well. Because it's computerized text, I decided not to do any embellishments.

I can't wait to make another one! What to say, what to say...

And you thought the holidays were over...

Which holiday are you most looking forward to?

Valentine's Day...

(find it here)

Or Mardi Gras?

 (find it here)

I love love love V-Day and all its ridiculous cheesiness. It's wonderful. I get to make silly cards and gifts for my friends. And I get to eat lots of candy. (PS: The heart was partly inspired by Dexter ^_^)

The closest I've gotten to Mardi Gras is the Brazilian Carnaval celebration in Austin, Texas, which really is a lot of fun. However, I'll be going to New Orleans for the first time ever in two weeks!!! I'm so excited :D (I'm going for a soccer tournament, but the team takes New Orleans more seriously than the soccer ;) hehe)

I'm not going to choose which I like better. I just love having a reason to celebrate! And there are so many coming up :) Valentine's Day, the hubby's birthday (we're having a beer party :P), my birthday (also our 6mo anniversary :D)....and maybe a giveaway in there. Whatcha think? ;D

Bye Bye Bus?

We hope not. Alex first laid eyes on this beauty 3 years ago. I named her "Tweeks" because the mechanic kept saying "two weeks" until he finally got her running three months later (and she always needs tweaking). We love her.

We love camping with her.

We love taking her on joy rides.

But, unfortunately, last week she died. We're not sure yet what's wrong, but it's likely we won't be able to afford to fix her this time. Don't worry, we won't let her go to a junk yard. But we may not be able to keep her. It's a sad day.

In tribute to Tweeks, I offer this.

Tweeks, you're in my heart. For our sake, won't you please get better?

It's Happening!

1. I've already jotted down a schedule to try out!

2. Wanna help? (kidding...sorta ;)) shop

3. Paintings that inspire me:

Susan Hazard

Marcelo Pambo (via artnet)

 Takashi Murakami (via Art Radar Asia)

4. Something like...

(via knitty - patterns: holla and surface)

5. I'd love something like these from Anthropologie

6. Craft Riot by Etsy Austin, definitely! Looking into others, too :)

7. Definitely would be more organized. (And I love organization.)

8. I'd been thinking about it, and then seeing this:

...put my over the edge. I'm doing it.

(work of Elsie at A Beautiful Mess)

9.This one is pretty:

(tutorial via Film in the Fridge)

10. It's started with my bestie, but not quite ready to be viewed yet ;-)