Just another reason to love handmade...

I love buying handmade and Indie. And it's not just because of all the fabulous & unique creations. It's because there are real human people behind it all...not robots or aliens :P I love receiving something in the mail that actually comes with more than just an invoice. A handwritten note tells me that someone put a part of themselves in whatever I had received. And if I'm lucky, there's an extra goodie in there too :) All the soaps I have ever bought on Etsy came with samples...yippee!! That calls for a WOOT to my 2 fave soap shops Spotted Cow and A Good Witch Too!

I myself try to add a little something extra, even if it is just a note or coupon for their next order. It is easier for the purses since I often have a matching keyring made. Patterns and fabric are tougher...nothing "goes" with it. At least I try to wrap everything nicely.

I have been wanting to make some ACEO/ATC artworks lately, but was not sure where to start. So I hopped on over to Etsy. I think my experience with one seller would have been a concern if it was a non-handmade/Indie shop. We all know that life gets in the way of things, but with the one on one you get with handmade...it's explainable and makes things go much smoother.

I worked with ghgcardshop on Etsy. Her shop is closed right now, hopefully only until life works itself back into shape. But I must say, she was wonderful to work with. There were problems with the post on her end. And things took a while to make there way to my home. But because of the way you can communicate so personally with handmade shop owners, everything worked out fine. What would have been an issue for a box store, was not here. And just look at my cards....



I can't wait to paint, glue, stamp and glue them up! And notice the little samples?



Each little square has written on it the paper weight & name for future ordering. How awesome is that! There is no way I could have cut up my cards so nicely.

I hope to have some creations to show you in the next few weeks. I have my first craft show of the season coming up, so I'll be a tad busy with that for a while.

What Have I Done Lately?

Well...I've been finishing up bags, taking pics, cropping those pics and putting them up in my shops on Etsy and Artfire...finally! It seems like forever since I have felt like sewing any bags. I still have 6 or so cut and ready to sew. Maybe next Monday I'll be able to post saying I finished them.

Let's see...there was a mini duffle with a hand painted tree, a duo-fabric handbag, a couple wristlets, a ziplet, a zip pouch, 3 keyrings, a giant purse...I think that covers it :) Here's a peek at a few of them...







What's next?

• I have polymer clay to play with for the first time. I am thinking buttons - for my bags. But I'd love to make some cute stuff too - food or critters.

• Wire and beads for wire wrapped goodies...not jewelry though. I have a few ideas rumbling around in my head.

• Shrinky Dinks...again, buttons probably. I did see a tutorial somewhere for bracelets. I may go try & find it again.

• There are always more felt buddies to make. My son has been doing a few more too. The latest was a Wolverine as a toddler, crying because his balloon popped.

• Cards. I want to give it a whirl..but they would just be for me, not to try and sell. I have seen what's out there and I know I couldn't even come close!

So - which should I do next? Any thoughts? What would you like to see me blunder...I mean wonderfully create in all it's beauty, flaws included :) ???

Wordless Wednesday

-by Wyatt age 3, 2008

Now What...

Those of you that have been here before may remember my custom order for a bridal party. If you don't, here's the short version: Got an order. Made an order. Redid half the order. Have 3 pieces of non-workable order plus 1 extra leftover.

Why the redo? the frames did not quite fit. Nor did they fit the 2nd time around this past weekend...ggggrrrr. I officially do not like metal kiss clasp frames...to make anyway. They are awesome when done correctly. I think my problem this time was simply the thickness...there was too much.

Anyway, here they are, re-matched*, unfinished and without a solid direction of what to do to finish them. Maybe an 3ish inch piece attached to the top for a "stiff clutch"? Or maybe a trim around the top edge and a simple magnetic snap closure? Or even just add handles? Any ideas are welcome...except for scrapping them. I am determined to make these into something :) Maybe take them apart & make a mini quilt piece? Hmmm...

* I wanted them different than the originals, so I matched the main
& linings up differently than the original order

Almost Done with Love

...well, the art pieces anyway. Can't go without love...this house bubbles over with it. It is also my 3 year old's new fave thing to say all the time.."I love you only...not you me". I take that to mean that only he can love me and I can't love him...but then he runs away giggling saying "just kiddin' Mama! You can love me too!". How sweet.

I think he is why I have made 2 love themed art pieces this past weekend. It is the first time (at least since forced art in high school) that I have done a mixed media piece. And I don't remember doing paper before. I am not sure what that one is going to be. I have some yarn to add with eyelets, so it'll look like a page in a book kinda. Any ideas/comments are much appreciated. Just be gentle :) ... Remember, they are not quite finished...but here they are:

And the Winner is...

... Just Jingle

She is now the proud owner of a felt Flying Pig. Easy to feed...no mess to clean up...and won't oink too loud when visitors arrive. She has a great blog herself...you should go check it out. And bonus, she has some giveaways going on now too!



I thank everyone who joined in my first ever giveaway here on Tilt's Creations (do I sound like a game show yet?). I hope to have many more of these. If at any time any of you would be interested in sponsoring a giveaway, feel free to contact me here, my email (it's in my profile) or over on one of my shops.

That little piggie inspired a few more felties. This one here is the first that made it from sketch to sew (there are still some fixes to make). I used a pattern from softies by Therese Laskey for this first one. It's siblings will be changed up a bit as I redesign them to better fit the way I work. It is a fab & fun book for anyone interested in making some little soft friends.

Wordless Wednesday

edit: I received a comment from mary "Great photo.
I think it needs a few words. Where did you take this? "

So to answer: The Detroit Zoo. We have a new(ish) Kangaroo "walkabout" exhibit. It's pretty cool because you follow a dirt trail through the habitat with only a very low chain post fence marking the lane. It's low enough that the roos can hop over it...which they do. I have been there during a traffic jam before. But usually, they are just lazing around like this guy (girl?) here.

Make That a Quadruple!!!

Holy Guacamole!!!

This is my fourth treasury in the past week...I have barely even been in four treasuries total before this! I am on a roll....now all I need are some sales from it :)



Thanks to sumikoshop for including my red clutch! She's a fellow EtsyMom and EtsyBlogger and makes some great jewelry...I love her brooches. This is one of my faves:

Make That a Triple

I found myself in another treasury! I am so geeked! Thanks to plenox (Lenox Knits)

(whose fabulous knit cuff I own) for featuring my Blues Twist bag...which my mother is considering purchasing, so it cannot be found in my shop at the moment.
It has already expired...but I just wanted to jump up & down here with it :)

And here's another one of Lenox's that I'd love to own:



And did you know there is a site where you can quickly peek to see if you are featured in a treasury? Click here to try it out.
But don't stop browsing through the treasuries...it's a great way to find some fabulous items!

Double Treasuries

click images to go to treasuries



Woo Hoo!!!! Big thanks to EtsyBDC (my Big Damn Crafters team)
and rubyzu for featuring my bags :)
You rock!

Love this bracelet from rubyzu...

Goth Bear Feltie WIP

I enjoyed making all the little felties for the Whedonverse swap so much, that I have not stopped. I made a flying pig ( 2 actually - 1 for a giveaway and 1 for my son) and am in the midst of a "teddy bear". I hope to finish it up by tomorrow & put her up in my Tilt Too shop. I have about 10 more sketched out. I guess I'll have to start alternating between handbag and feltie. Which actually works out well, since the felties are by hand and quiet for evening work.



I am always open to critiques ... but not rude and crude ones, that's just not nice :) And thoughts for future felties are welcome too.

Wordless Wednesday

Skull feltie made by my son

My First Giveaway on Tilt's Creations Too

Contest has ended...winner is being informed & I will post once they have responded.
Thank you to all who joined in on my first giveaway!
I hope there will be many more to come!

And the winner is...Just Jingle

Woo Hoo!
I have been trying to figure out just how I wanted to do the giveaways on this blog and came up with, well, too many ideas. So I am starting with non-handbag crafts that I have done. I love playing with different medias and can never choose just one. Solution: give them away. I am hoping that in the process I will discover which ones are sellable, but either way - it's fun.

I also wanted to help other artisans along the way. Sometimes I will be giving away their goodies and other times just working along side them, promoting them...like now.

This little Flying Pig stuffie/wall hanging was originally made thinking of Shannon from Pigatopia. She is a fellow Plugger and wonderful artist. She creates to help those that can not help themselves.

I spoke with her about why she does what she does for the animals and this is what she said:

"lets see my first pig Vinny is now 11 years old. I got him when he was 6 weeks old. I hand raised him and carried him everywhere with me. until he got up to 60 lbs. lol anyway when he got to be 300 lbs I needed to get his feet trimmed and tusk trimmed. Trying to find a vet was a big joke. I called around after 30 phone calls got the phone number for Noahs ark pot bellied pig rescue in New Port Richey Florida. Lynne taught me that pig's should not be that big and that dog food was bad. she came out and trimmed Vinny's feet and tusk and taught me how to do the hooves by myself. I call Lynne to this day if something goes wrong with one of my kids. I soon realized that I needed to do something to help Noah's ark more then just giving her money and I could not bring home more pigs as at one point I had 22 pigs and 9 dogs. I now only have 12 pigs and 6 dogs. I started helping Noahs ark with her fund raisers and making art to sell to raise money for her. was not long before I found other wonderful sanctuary's and rescues that could use help with not only funding and donations but just public awareness. Just seeing the rescued pigs eyes when they look at you you can see they are saying thank you for helping us. It just makes my heart sing."

So for this giveaway - I would like you to go check out her shop and tell me which item is your favorite. I also recommend checking out her blog, just for the fun of it :)

And while visiting her shop, don't forget that the money generated from her sales of are used to pay vet bills, shelter and food for animals that have been abused and Rescued.

Rules:
1) For one entry (required) Visit Pigatopia's Etsy shop and leave a comment here telling me which item was your favorite PLUS the link to that item.

Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you - if there is no contact in your blog profile or any left here in your comment, I can not include you in the drawing.

For an extra entry, follow this blog and leave a separate comment letting me know.
For 2 extra entries - purchase an item from Pigatopia and leave me a comment with a link to the item you purchased.

• This contest will go until midnight EST March 10, 2009.
• I will pick the winner using the highly advanced technical method of having my son shout out a number from 1 to however many entries I have...then count down the list & find the winner!
  
• You must be 18 to enter...having a blog is not necessary...but very fun - you should try it.
• You need not have an etsy account to enter.
• I will contact the winner via email or whatever contact they leave, who will then have 48 hours to respond. If I hear nothing back - I will choose another winner.
• I will pay the shipping fees: if International, any customs related fees will be yours.
  

So - Comments away!
note: Look for these little animal felt stuffies in my Etsy shop, Tilt Too, soon...they will be herded on in during this month.

on another note: If this basic design looks familiar to you - please let me know from where...I had it sketched out in my book and think I got it from an image online...but can't remember where from...I would like to credit whoever made the basic design originally :)

Six by Six Tag

I was tagged by Victoria Ann, aka Mad Boo, with the 6x6 photo meme. This is a fun one. You pick the 6th file in the 6th folder of your picture file and post it. Since my other blog was just tagged - I will choose a different folder to start with so I don't end up with the same pic. It's a good thing that half of this computer is a picture folder :) Seems that way anyhow.

I love the memories found in this game. This pic was me and my oldest nearly 6 years ago. And no, that is not my real hair color. And no, I have no idea what it really was back then. It has been steadily darkening (and greying) so back then it was probably ash blonde under that bright blonde.

I also can't let a chance to plug another artisan pass me by - so I want to show you one of my faves from Mad Boo's Etsy shop:



So I am tagging the following because I know they must have some great pics:




Beaded Tail









Storybeader












Leaky Mouth












RockerChic
















MamasLittleMonkeys







RachelMcKay from Confessions of a Crafter