Merry Christmas, Daniel and Mom!

Over a week ago I went to a craft night event at my cousin's husband's brother and girlfriend's house. Alexis (my friend) and her sisters Toodles and Quinn and their husbands and boyfriends and Luke and their dog Leroi) wanted to do crafts together. Well they invited me and we all got together with a lot of supplies and made some really lovely things. I didn't capture nearly enough photos of everything that went on. Here is a picture of Leroi who is my favorite dog after Pokey from New York.

Luke made paintings with elmwood bark on them, or maybe poplar, that don't show up anywhere here and a boy named Matt made a stocking and used a sewing machine for the first time. Quinn started off making an advent calendar but soon everyone wanted to take whatever they had and turn it into a stocking because they were so inspired by Matt.

Here is Quinn working on her stuff:

Our lovely hostess, Alexis, makes crafts as an occupation and made several holiday crafts on display in her home. She made an unbelievable felted christmas tree skirt with owls on it. There are over 50 owls on there I think and each one is separately pieced together and sewn down. She made felted ornaments which I did not capture here and her special craft of the evening was an advent calendar.

That's why Lex invited us over in the first place, she wanted to make advent calendars like one she found on the internet. I made one, but I was time-constrained and ad hoc and just threw things together with hot glue. I'm not very proud of it, but in low light it looks tolerable. This is my advent calendar, plus Leroi.

Lex, on the other hand, made a beautiful advent calendar filled with my favorite things! Yes, she used some of the craft scraps I brought over that night and incorporated them into her design. It made me so happy. I have closets and dressers and boxes filled with craft supplies and special things I've found or made or collected over the years, but none of it comes to any use because I don't want to give it up or I haven't yet put it into anything.

But Alexis put several of these items into her advent calendar, which means they'll be on display for all time! I'm so happy about that and I also think her design is really nice. It's cutesy and holiday-esque but there is a lot of strangeness in there too. That's how Lex and Quinn and Toodles are - they are cute but also a little strange, which made it a very nice holiday.

Cat Power

Hi Daniel. Hi Mom,

I wish I hadn't left my coffee mug in my purse only to spill coffee on my old phone which had a video I took at an antique store on it. I went to and antique store with my mom and there was a beautiful pillow with an embroidered cat on it. I was able to pause the video back home, blow up then trace and embroider the cat onto a pillow for my mom. I'm rather pleased with how it turned out. Of course, you can't tell how much this looks like the original but I assure you, it's close.

I look forward to posting photos of a significant event regarding holiday crafting and someone named Toodles.

Crafting the Work Week

Daniel and Mom,

I'm sorry I can't really post any new crafts. I've been very busy at work. But I am showing you a craft of sorts. I simulated winter in my refrigerator for two months and then with these bulbs that my wonderful aunt gave me - along with this gigantic vase she got a garage sale - I set up a beautiful winter garden on my beautiful work windowsill. I'm so thankful that my aunt came up with this great idea because I enjoy the smell and sight every day.

My office has a wonderful window and although I look away from it onto a blank wall all day, I still am very happy with it. The window is large and the wooden radiator cover makes a large seat over it. The window even opens so I can get fresh air in the summertime.

And the buildings outside are beautiful. The bulbs will probably die in a few weeks and when I asked Aunt Edie what I should do in a month when that happens, she said, "You don't know what will happen to you in a month. You might not even be here. Don't worry about it.". What does that mean!!??? Does she know something that even Allen Greenspan doesn't know about my job? Or is she speaking in a larger metaphysical sense? You can never tell with her.

Greatest Pumpkin Award

i miss the days when i was pursued as an arbiter of craft quality (see Halloween 2005 posting entitled Entry #5). What has happened to my relevance? Must I just go on judging those around me without them even asking for it? 

Well, if that's the case, then I declare this as my favorite pumpkin craft - the winner of my 2008 pumpkin contest entered by no one. The artist has entitled it "Bauhaus Boogers", but I much prefer its original name, Five. Mick Jagger Mouth.  So succinct. 

The composition of the photo is even commendable, with just the hint of a reflection of Mick Jagger fangs and the scotch tape and push-pin used to assemble the piece. Exquisite. 

The piece is a demonstration of my friend Annie Simpson's amazing work. You may remember her as the inspiration for and recipient of this item. 

And also, happy Halloween to my new blog friend Pontius. Etsy is a wonderful thing and I hope you join me there as you have joined me here. 

My first Etsy Sale!

100_0875, originally uploaded by erica sims.

Well folks, this may be the last time you hear from me as a regular, every-day person. Economic recession? Real estate industry - my industry - in the tank? No longer an issue for this craft mogul! I sold my first bolero on etsy, to a woman who will wear it for her wedding no less! Actually, she may very well return it, which I would completely understand. I just don't think my creation is wedding-worthy, so we'll see.

But now that the sale is deep in my pocket, the pressure's on to build my brand and produce more inventory! The world wants what Erica makes!

Oh yeah, and that's my beautiful muta modeling in this photo.

Latest Plan

100_0866, originally uploaded by erica sims.

I saw this kitchen remodeling in HOME magazine and was inspired by the mural used on the cabinets. It used the lining of the old Nancy Drew books which is a silhouette of a classic Nancy Drew scene with Nancy and her three girlfriends. It made for a nice embroidery, which I did on this child's t-shirt and shipped it off to my friend Sophie.

I'm thinking of making more things with this exact design. Some people recognized it instantly (Emily) and some people thought i was a picture of alligators (Sara) - but no matter! I like it lots and it's actually very hard to find things that transfer to embroidery well. So Either I'll continue to use the Nancy design, or try the difficult process of other testing silhouette-worthy images for more embroidery.

I will keep you in the loop.

Repeat

616508-R1-013-5, originally uploaded by erica sims.

I know I already posted this specific photo of the Madonna embroidery, but I really like it so I'm posting it again. No harm, no foul.

Her Majesty

616508-R1-009-3, originally uploaded by erica sims.

I got a real comment on the blog recently by someone, a. not related not me and b. appreciative of my embroidery so I scrounged up more historical pictures of my embroidery in honor of it. I posted a picture of this Madonna embroidery a long time ago, but never of the full dress. Here it is in all its glory. I should reiterate that the theme of the embroidery show was slander and so i included biblical quotes about gossip in most of the pieces, but in this one i embroidered a picture of Madonna with a crown of thorns (a wee bit of a cliche, i know).