The Sum of the Year

I decided to look back on last January's blog to see what goals I made for myself for this year and see what I accomplished.



This can be kind of scary. EEEEK!



2008 GOALS:
1. Stay away from the TV in the evening when I come home from work so I am able to accomplish following goals.
2. Become more organized by keeping clutter down.
3. Keep car clean inside and out and perform regular maintenance on it.
4. Develop online craft business and to write more on my blog.
5. More than play with the notion of starting my own business.
6. Continue with last years goal to have new adventures.
7. Last but not least exercise and eat better just like everyone else.

This is what I achieved:
1. I believe I did well with this in the beginning of the year then totally forgot about it. but... I did get a laptop so that I could do more things at my computer while watching TV. How does that sound?
2. MMMM, sorta.
3. DONE! I did do a pretty good job of this. Except for probably the last month because weather has been terrible and it was just to cold to clean it. I need the oil changed and was about to get it done last week but couldn't get it in the shop with the holidays so I will try to get that done this coming week.
4. I posted more blogs in 2008 than 2007, and also was able to put more handmade items on my etsy than I had the last.
5. I registered for a tax id number as well as received my Iowa sells and user tax, also purchased my own dot com and held the first Urbanestics Underground.
6. Hmmm, I can't even think of what "NEW" adventures I had but I know I did. I learned many new things such as.. learned how to knit socks, took a found object art class at Columbia Collage, block printing class, and also learned how to do screen printing. I continued to learn more about kitchen and bath products everyday and the list could go on.
7. I can't believe I actually lost approximately 10 pounds this last winter and spring with eating right as well as exercising. (I can't tell you exactly how much because I don't believe in scales and don't remember the last time I used one.) Then summer came and wonderful evenings of grilling out and enjoying friends company became the new habit.

So what are my goals for 2009? Still working on that. I will let you know soon.

Christmas with Half the Family

This year was the epidemic of the flu (I even got it myself Christmas night.) so Christmas wasn't the same this year. As I think about it..... about 6 years ago I got the flu on Christmas night as well. Hmmmm? The Flu as well as the weather impacted how our Christmas went. We left Grandma's early because we had to get home before the freezing rain came.

Let me tell you..... it's only December 27th and I am ready for winter to be over. I dream of the warm sun beating down on my skin and feeling weightless as I swim in refreshing cool water. Oh, I am ready for spring. Maybe I should get a pass the the Y and also a tanning membership so I can pretend it's not so cold out.

Soooo... on with it. Daniel and Jenna and my nieces did not join us for our yearly tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve morning with the family so it was just half the family there. Got lots of wonerful presents and also enjoyed seeing everyones gifts they recieved.


Laurie's eco-friendly wrapping job. She personalized every package so that the content related to the person the gift was for. And of corse she had picked this article for me regarding a very un-atractive crocheted sweater.


My pile of gifts I recieved. New sleeping bag, screen printed lampshade and thrifted lamp, time to.... painting. All fantastic presents!


Mom and Dad and pup Polar. We children got Dad a good tripod for his camera.

What a Shame

In my blog reading I see so many people who post pictures of their beautiful Tivoli radio in a fantastic surrounding that is visually pleasing. Well, I thought I would share with you the location of mine.

picture courtesy my cell phone.

Don't worry, it gets used each and every day for practically 8 full hours! I think I better do some cleaning because this picture is such a disgrace. See that popcorn and paper clip under my toe kick?

Good Morning America

Make sure you wake up early this Saturday morning to watch Good Morning America. Michele Beshen of Simply Michele (the gall that we grew up with on Fox 17 as well as my brother's boss) will be on to show how to make sweet handmade gifts for the holidays. You will have to watch from 7am to 8am CST to see her. You can get more information at Michele's blog here.

Eco Friendly Christmas

Every year I usually try to be eco-friendly with my gift wrapping. This year I have decided to use some blueprint paper off a giant role I have had laying around as my wrapping paper.

Here I have my blueprint paper as well as shredded junk mail for all the stuffing I need. My ribbon this year is a role of warn that was purchased from the thrift store.

For all presents that needed to be wrapped in boxes have been ones that I have re-used. Instead of going into the recycling bin my Velveeta and oatmeal boxes got wrapped with a special present inside as well as others.

To finish it off I printed out these adorable to and from tags from Inside The Black Apple that she has up on her blog for anyway to use.

I hope that this inspires you to go out and re-use and recycle your Christmas wrapping this year.

Merry Christmas!

becoming a weekly event

Spent and evening with fellow creative people teaching and learning screen printing techniques. And doing other crafts as well. LOTS OF FUN!

Here are some pictures from our evening.

Matt observing Jon as he lines up his screen.

Erin checking out this trippy 3D design with some lovely glasses I so happen to have in my basement still after Urbanestics Underground. Who just happens to have 3D glasses laying around?

John checking out his work.

Recovering.

I am sitting around the living room watching Christmas movies and holiday related shows on HGTV this evening after spending the last 4 days getting ready for the BIG eating day as well as getting ready for Urbanestics Underground. The event went off last evening without any major hitches. Really, we had no idea what to expect having this our be our first event.

Thank you everyone who was able to come out and make this a great evening! We had a blast, and can't wait to do it again! You can view more pictures of the event here. None the less, I am pooped.

Felt Club

It has been a mad last 2 weeks and I haven't been able to share all the things that have been going on. Well, I spent 5 wonderful days in L.A and one of the highlights of the trip was to be able to attend Felt Club.

Here is a fantastic article in the L.A. Times that I just discovered this evening in my blog reading.

The long, long line of people waiting to get in. Read there was 4,500 people that came out.

Raechel in all the excitement.

The New Year...

is coming so I better get prepared and what better way to keep track of my days than with this LOVELY ginormous CALENDER. Purchased at Crate and Barrel but also seen at The Art store and Russel and Hazel.

I've just got to figure out where I am going to put this thing. Hmmmmm?

Orange

Stopped in the thrift store today looking for good finds and came upon this chair. Excellent condition, perfect orange colored fabric that looks like a raw silk, and I great price as well! I couldn't pass it up. So now it is in its new home, my bedroom.

Underground

Come and join us for an evening of cupcakes and handmade items!

7 Facts

I've been by tagged by my good friend Erin at SoZealous to fill out some fun facts about myself, so here we go!

The Rules:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My 7 Facts:

1. I know the guy with the largest feet in IOWA, size 21. Just imagine like 2 of your feet put together in to make one of his.

2. When I was a child I loved to watch the Laurence Welk show on Public Television and was obsessed with the Accordion. (I wanted to learn how to play it so bad.)

3. I owned my own house at the age of 24 being single and still am single. (If anyone is interested, wink wink.)

4. I am taller than the average guy. (But not by much 5" - 11 3/4")

5. I enjoy eating Bananas with a Kraft Cheese Single wrapped around it.

6. Buffalo milk yogurt is the BEST!

7. Moved 3 times growing up in only one blocks distance.

Here's who's "it" next! (I apologize for not having 7 people to tag. I don't feel comfortable tagging people who have no idea who I am.)

Confessions of a Makeup Addict

Savedeth

Jade Scott

Handmade Nation

Just found this video featured on Etsy and I have been looking forward to this film and love the stop motion.

A new past time.

Found a fantastic new blog today! Ink and Spindle

Here is a picture of the gals doing some screen printing. I am in aw of how large that screen is and how hard it may be to do.

It inspires me to go home and do some more of my small printing jobs. I will start out small and maybe someday be doing something as large as this! BEAUTIFUL fabric.

It makes Sarah and I dream of having our own business even more.

Enjoy!

Fall baking

This evening with the colder, cloudy day that we have here I was inspired to do some baking. Into the oven went some pork chops and I have a lovely acorn squash I picked up from the farmers market on Saturday morning. I think I might also make some rice up as well.

Then for dessert molasses cookies. MMMMMMM! I wish I had pictures to share with you but I have loaned my camera out to my brother.

A night in the life of screen printing.

Spent the evening last night working on improving my screen printing techniques with my brother and friends. We also did a little Savedeth modeling for their yo-yo t-shirt line. Good times!

Me, Seth, and McKenzie all in our t-shirts.

Goodposture!

One of my good friends' Sarah has been working on getting her very own Etsy site up and running and I am proud to share her with you.

Goodposture is getting more and more merchandise up weekly. Last night I noticed that these lovely scarves perfect for fall are now for sell. So please go check out everything she has! It's an eclectic mix of vintage home decor, knitted and sewn items.

Birthday Overview

I just want to send out Thanks to EVERYONE who sent me birthday wishes as well as helped me celebrate the day/weekend.

So here is how it went down.

Friday was the beginning of the celebration.

After I got off work, friend Micah came to pick me up for surprise dinner. All I new was Jacob and Sarah and Micah were taking me out for dinner and I didn't know where or think anyone else would be joining.

We drove downtown stopped for a little drink before taken to my favorite restaurant, to find a large table full of many of my friends. YAY! We had a delicious dinner and then went and played some rounds of pool afterwards. It was a great night!

Micah and Julie doing pirate faces, I think I am doing the tired face.

Saturday night was spent having second dinner for the evening with friend Ryan and some of his students/friends from school. Food was delicious again and I got to hear about all sorts of pilot things because they are all from the Aviation Program at Dubuque.

Sunday, the day before my birthday... I celebrated with the family. Mom made all the best, marinated turkey breast, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, salad, and pumpkin dessert. MMMMM! We (Morgan and I) opened my presents and had a great evening.





Monday, the day of my birthday, I went to work like normal. Sarah made me a wonderful layered cake as well as a layered cake birthday card to help celebrate my day. Then in the evening I went to my second families house for dinner. Mary with the help of Ryan and Grant, made me barbecue ribs, potato salad, lettuce salad, and for dessert, apple crisp. OH gosh I was so full! We ate till we could eat no more.




I think I have gained 27 pounds over the weekend of my birthday celebration. I ate so well and enjoyed so many people's company. Thank you EVERYONE, you made my birthday WONDERFUL!

Etsy and my birthday.

What a better birthday present than being featured on the front page of Etsy! It was such a lovely surprise to open up Etsy and see my sister's face right there wearing my lovely neckwarmer.

October, how lovely

The best month of the year!

The smell of the cool air, colorful leaves on trees, picking ripe apples, making applesauce and apple pie, pumpkin pie, layered birthday cake, wearing jeans and and layering, bonfires, and the list could go on for miles.

Oh how I love you October!

Birthday Wish List

My family has been asking me what I want for my birthday so I thought I would compile a wish list because the day is coming up very quickly!

First and Foremost Money

iTunes Gift Card

Dan in Real Life DVD and Soundtrack (one or the other or whatever)

Martha Stewart Cookies Cookbook

Over and Over

Printing By Hand

A Year of Mornings

Garlic Press

Cupcake Carrier (found this one at Target also seen one at Micheal's)

Sleeping Bag ( a nice long one!!! in a cool Leslie Color)

Sleeping Pad (thick and comfy)

Lollia Relax Hand Cream (may be purchased at Eden).

Also anything else you might find that would suit me well or is on my Etsy Favorites!

Or if you feel rich you can get me this!

Birch Tree Wallpaper by Cole and Son (may also be purchased through Anthropologie or Rose and Radish)

T-Shirts Are here!

This is old news to every other website I write on but I thought I better keep up with them all. Finally, I finished my screen and improved my printing techniques well enough to produce my first round of Layered Cake T-shirts!

It took many practice rounds before I committed to my t-shirts.

It didn't turn out very well. I was very upset, thinking my screen was not exposed long enough and that the emulsion was keeping the ink from coming through in areas.

Then after about 6 tries or more and some screen needle poking I thought i would give it a shot with black ink. TA DA! It worked! David forgot to mention to me when I was purchasing ink that pearlescent does not work well. My pink ink is pearlescent! That was all my problems the entire time! So after much deliberation I decided to just print in black on this run. So there you have it!

Please go ahead and purchase your very own Cake t-shirts at my etsy to help fund my trip to Felt Club in November. :) I only have one size of each right now so get it quite before it is sold out!

New merch coming soon to Etsy!

I've been waiting long enough and I am sure many of you have been just as anxious. This evening with my brother's help I was able to burn my cake design into my screen for my t-shirts that will be coming to my Etsy site very soon!

Here is a sneak peak for you all to see!

I am hoping to get them made this weekend on my weekend off!

Pudding filled

I got the idea of these cupcakes from of course yours truly, Martha Stewart. I made my own recipe knowing that I can do this in a reasonable time as well as having all the ingredients. So here is the finished product. All ready to go for tomorrow's birthday party at work.

Yellow cupcakes with Chocolate pudding filling and French Silk Frosting