So far...

First and foremost, this blog is me... blogging more. So there... I'm doing it.
Okay, now to the task at hand!

So far, I've been on etsy. com for a week and I haven't technically sold anything, but I have been contacted by a fellow etsian (that's etsy.com talk for a person who is a member of etsy) for a trade.
She loved my messenger bag for a friend of hers and wanted to know if I was willing to trade.


Of course, I was! So I chose a new scarf that she had just worked on that has this awesome fish-net lookin' design. I got to pick my colors... burgundy & gray and it will be here soon!

I'm very excited!

So, I encourage my few readers to check out her etsy... and I will post pics when I get my new scarf.

GothBarbie.etsy.com

Finally! My etsy.com shop is up & running!

I didn't do anything today except work on my etsy. com shop

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade mranaedesigns.etsy.com

Everything looks great! I'm so excited!
Please check it out, buy something, just leave comments!

Really, beyond this, I haven't been doing a lot and my lame-ass excuse is my personal stuff I've been dealing with. It's not serious stuff, but it's still consuming at times.

Okay, so enough bull-s***, I'm gonna start posting more. At least once a week, because I have lots to say and hopefully, I can get more readers.

So check out my etsy and I will see you soon!

OK, I'm a slacker.

I admit it.

I did my four days and I got a ton of stuff done. The whole experience was interesting too, because I was timing myself to see how long it took to do each type of thing... and that was to help me price things later on.

But, I haven't photographed any of it and therefore, I haven't added it to my etsy.com account.

I'm a slacker. Seriously.

And here's my excuse, because I can't be a real slacker without a lame-ass excuse.

So, after the four days of working REALLY, REALLY hard I was tired. Yeah, worn out.
So I rested.
Then a week after that, my brother came to town and I had to spend time with him. He doesn't like crafts, so we did NOT spend time in my craft room. That would have been silly.
So yeah, I was entertaining him before he had to fly back.
And then I was worn out from that... so I rested some more.
And now...

... well now I have ran outta excuses. Blah.

Now I have to get back to work in the craft room.

So, last night I went to work creating a pattern for a purse/evening bag thing. I will take pics and post soon. It worked out okay...

And I forgot until this morning, but I was gonna try to do this tiny monogram thing I found at Sublime Stitching. It looks like fun and I've figured out what I'd like to do... I just need to freakin' do it already. Especially since it's due tomorrow. So if I want in... I gotta do it tonight.

Wow! I'm really a slacker. Someone smack me already.

Okay... I've got some fun posts for the next couple of weeks. I will be back soon!

Four Days!

Okay... as soon as I get done blogging, I'm gonna work.

I swear!

And I am excited about this because I have four days to produce & work on stuff because of the XMas holiday. I'm off  from my "day job" today, tomorrow and my usual Saturday & Sunday.

Plus, my husband (who is sometimes a lovely distraction from my crafts) has to work today and tomorrow. So my #1 distraction is at work.

Now I know that Saturday & Sunday is gonna be tough because "the distraction" will be here, but I think I can work through the madness.

Now... the goals of these four days is to get at least three items from each of my website's categories to sell on Etsy next week! 

Woo hoo! That's right, I want to be up and running by next weekend! Yay!

This also means, that part of my work in the next four days is creating an inventory with prices. I feel it is important to stay organized during this process, especially if I want to be successful.

Oh! I do want to be successful!!

So, I'm gonna quit blogging now and go get to it. Woo, I'm pumped! Woo!

The Skirt That Wasn't Anymore

So I have this cotton skirt that I bought in San Diego while honeymooning. It was at this great little shop and the skirt reminded me of a little fiesta in Tijuana. 

Now I don't wear skirts or dresses at all. I own them, but I just don't like them. And I should have known better, in that little San Diego shop, but I bought it anyhow.

And it has been three years and I still have never worn it. EVER! I've tried it on, I've attempted to walk out wearing it, but in the end it ends up back in my closet.

I would have given it away, but it is beautiful. These pictures here do it NO justice! The beading & embroidery is stunning. All of it's beauty is what inspired me to buy it in the first place. I just can't let go of it.

But I can't just let it sit in my closet for all of eternity.

So I decided to turn it into something else. After studying it for days and then weeks and then a few months... I just decided to turn it into a blouse.

It wasn't easy deciding the style. I wanted something I would actually wear (and not put back into my closet!) and something that utilized the beautiful embroidery as a focal point.

The final decision was a cross-front tunic with ties in the back and the embroidery along the front bottom. 

As I was cutting it out, I ran into some problems with the quantity of material. I had enough for the front bottom and the back, but not the top front. I decided on a similar color, but the material was more sheer and lightweight. I also cut out some sleeves for the top out of the same sheer material, but they ended up on the cutting room floor.

In the end, it works! And the proof was it's wearability. I've actually worn it out!

And it is still stunning in the form of a tunic. The placement of the embroidery is outstanding. I just can't stop patting myself on the back... not so much because I did an excellent job of cutting & sewing, but more for turning this closet dud into something amazing & wearable. Woo hoo!