I Believe in Buttons

hello there!

2009-02-14T10:16:00.000-08:00

In case anyone was worried, I am still alive and well. The new job has me very busy, in a good way, although I haven't had a ton of time for other things. I'm currently still working on building the LoveHandspun business, and am getting ready to liquidate a lot of my vintage jewelry supplies on Etsy....

I also have another blog... link to it from Lovehandspun.com

thanks!
Lindsay

General Life Updates

2008-12-16T06:47:00.001-08:00

sorry it's been a little while since I've posted, but life has been busy. I am currently finishing up my last week at my job. I'm taking a new position with a local non-profit and I'm pretty psyched about it. the holiday is coming up, and I'm so not ready for it... but I think it will be fun :)

lets talk again soon, ok?

Great Book!

2008-12-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

I just added a new book to my reading list (scroll down and look at the left sidebar). I'm a few chapters into it and really enjoying it so far. I'll try to remember to post a review when I'm finished.

The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube by Michelle Goodman is a really great read for anyone who thinks that they want to live life outside of a regualar "job". I think myself to be one of those people... so maybe this book will help.

Busy Days Ahead

2008-12-05T09:47:00.000-08:00

woooosh! I don't really know where my time goes anymore... there is just so much to do! As I mentioned in my last post, I switched my Etsy shop to a new name, and I think I'm just about finished transferring all of the items into it. There are a few older yarns that need new pictures before I list them again, but for the most part, everything is there. I have a handful of new yarns and rovings to list this weekend and I hope to get some batts done as well.

Right now, I'm just hoping that switching to a new shop won't hurt sales, since I already had strong feedback and repeat sellers. Hopefully they'll be able to find me when thy come looking again...

I've entered the world of processing my own wool, and it's pretty cool. I got some great fleeces from a variety of sources and have been scouring and drying nonstop for the past couple of days after work. I'm pretty psyched to be able to sell a yarn that I really made from beginning to end (aside from raising the sheep and shearing it).

LoveHandspun.com is up, but totally not finished. I need to play around with it and make it look good, plus there's only one item listed there right now, Border Leicester Dyed Locks, which you can get in the Etsy Store as well. I've also opened an Artfire shop, but I've been running into a lot of bugs trying to list things. There is only one item listed there as well.

Once I'm finished with all of this, I hope to have multiple ways for you to buy my yarns and fibers, and I hope to be able to sell other artist's handspun's as well. I haven't decided yet if I want to do wholesale or consignment... still in the works I guess.

Thanks for reading the update, I know it's kind of rambly and long :)

The New Shop Has Launched!

2008-12-02T09:12:00.000-08:00

Finally!

The sale was a great success, and I was able to sell much of what was in my shop, so making the switch wasn't so difficult. I think that with this new store comes a better opportunity to brand my items and branch out into new things as they come to me.

HUGE SALE

2008-11-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned before, I will be shifting my yarn and fiber to a new etsy shop (http://www.lovehandspun.etsy.com). Before I do this, I need to empty out the LLBSupplies store and I'd rather sell it than unlist it. SO....

From RIGHT NOW until 12 Midnight on Sunday November 30th, all items in the shop are 25% off. Every person who orders will also receive a coupon for the new store for 15% off any order and a sample of my new Fantastic Batts.

Don't Wait!! Shop Now! Please wait for a revised invoice before paying.

Thank you!
Lindsay

Fantastic Batts in the Shop!

2008-11-25T06:58:00.000-08:00

I just listed two spinning batts in the shop this morning. I'm calling them "Fantastic Batts" because they are pretty fantastic :) What I really like about them is that they are a soft blend of different fibers in monochrome or complementary colors. These have two or three different kinds of wool, nylon, soysilk, mohair, ecospun and the pink one has sparkle.

I have a few skeins of yarn spun from these types of batts drying right now and should be listed very soon.

Weekend To Do List

2008-11-21T11:47:00.000-08:00

1. I went to Wegman's today and bought all the ingredients to make my own laundry detergent. This recipe is for a dry powdered version:
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated - you could also try the other bar soaps)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

2. My drumcarder was returned to me in perfect working condition, so I plan to use it! The goal is to card 6 batts with fiber that I have on hand.

3. Dying! It's been a little while, so I need to dye some rovings before I run out of things to spin. I'd also like to get some up in the shop for you to buy :) I ordered some new dyes the other day called "greener shades" that are heavy metal free and better on the environment. I don't know if they've arrived at my house yet, but if they have, they will be put to use.

4. I'm also expecting a couple of fleeces to arrive by mail in the next few days. Two of them from local Western NY farms and one from a farmer on ebay. If they come I will spend some time cleaning them up. This will be a new process for me, so I'm looking forward to it.

5. Dear Husband decided he wanted to have a party on Saturday night, so I'll have to whip up some snacks and clean the bathroom (not at the same time). He'll clean the rest of the house since the party was his idea.

6. I have six skeins of yarn that need finishing, photography, and listing. I really hope I get to that.

So, it sounds like I'll be busy... let's talk Monday :)

Important Announcement

2008-11-17T12:08:00.001-08:00

Look to your left. There is a link to sign up for my newsletter. Please click it.

Within the next month or so I plan to be moving around the web-iverse a bit. My yarns are being branded under a new business name and there will be a website, etsy store, and new blog.

SO, if you like what you see here, please be sure to sign up so that you don't loose me!

Get more out of your Online Shopping

2008-11-13T07:48:00.000-08:00

As I've mentioned, I do a lot of my shopping on line. In the current economy, it's always really nice to get deals and discounts, and I've found two sites that give you cash back on things you buy through their site. All you have to do is sign up, use the site to find the stores you want to shop from. When you make a purchase, they will give you a percentage back.

BigCrumbs is a really nice, general cash back shopping site. It's easy to use and includes most of the major retailers plus some that you wouldn't expect.

UPromise is a great choice for parents or those of us with student loans. It's the same concept as BigCrumbs, but the money you get back can only be transferred into a student loan account or a savings account meant for your childs future education.

So, use these sites to shop online this holiday season (but only if you can't find what you want on Etsy :). Save some money, save some gas, and save yourself the trouble of fighting with crowds

A Blog Award! For me? you shouldn't have.

2008-11-13T07:26:00.000-08:00

I've been given this wonderful award from More than Sew So and it totally made my day :)

The rules go like this:

Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:

* inspires you
* makes you smile and laugh
* or maybe gives amazing information
* a great read
* has an amazing design
* and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

The rules of this award are:

Put the logo on your blog or post.
Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!
Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.
Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

Please visit these amazing blogs. You won’t be disappointed and they will be happy to see you!

I Nominate:

1. Hobbledehoy for her yummy yarn pics and cute kittens
2. Pink Penguin - Check out her quilt in progress and her awesome tutorials.
3. Blonde Chicken for more yummy yarn photos
4. Eco Etsy street team blog for great Etsy finds and green tips
5. StitchWitch for being truly entertaining

I'm serious, go check these folks out!!

Early Christmas Shopping - Gag gifts

2008-11-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

I tend to do a lot of my holiday shopping on line. I'm just not a huge fan of malls and shopping centers in November and December... too crazy! There are a few on my list that are deserving of some fun gag-type gifts, and I think I found the perfect site for them, Stupid.com.

Being that I have a degree in psychology, I particularly like their line of Freud toys, that include "Tickle me Freud", and "Freudian Slippers". I'm also drawn to a Harvest your own pearl Kit, that is basically an oyster in a can that you open yourself. Maybe for my jewelry making friend...

Anyways, if you've never been to this site, you really should check it out. I could spend hours just looking through all of the strange, and yes, Stupid, stuff they have.

Yarn Shop Update

2008-11-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

All three of these can be found in the shop right now!

Featured

2008-11-10T12:09:00.001-08:00

I was featured on Lime and Violet's blog today. Yay for getting love from the knitting community!

Updates, New Things, and General Thoughts

2008-11-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Here's a photo of my newest yarn, available in the shop. I've been spinning some lately... got the wheel fixed and then broke my carder!! Apparently I need to be more careful with my tools. I have plans to launch a new site very very soon that will allow all of you to buy yarn, fiber, and other spinning goodies from me and other artists all in one place. Interested in getting involved? Email me at lovehandspun [at] gmail [dot] com for more information.

The Buffalo Indie Market for November is this weekend, and I'm psyched because I haven't been there in a while. I really didn't have time while planning the wedding. The goal is to sell everything that I bring :) If you're reading this, and you're local, you should totally be there on Sunday afternoon and the Pearl Street Grill in Buffalo.

In closing, I just have to say "Yay" regarding the election results. I'm really excited to be part of history right now, and I can't wait to see what's next.

Why buy Handspun?

2008-11-03T13:26:00.000-08:00

Hand spinning yarn is not a new craft; in fact it is one that’s been around for a very long time. While our ancestors spun yarn because they needed to in order to make clothing, our generation does it simply because we like to. As a new wave of knitters has emerged, so has a new generation of spinners who are making yarn so spectacular that it can cost upwards of $75 per skein. The variety of fibers is almost endless and the yarns themselves are just so unlike the ones you can buy in a craft store.

One of the best places to search for handspun yarn (and at more reasonable prices) is of course, Etsy.com. Type “handspun” into the search bar to find hundreds of one-of-a-kind skeins ready to be cast onto your needles. You can of course check out my shop, LLBSupplies too! Have some shipped to your home and you will immediately recognize the uniqueness of your purchase. Handspun yarn has soul, energy, and can produce knits that are like nothing you’ve seen.

Back at it again

2008-10-29T06:37:00.000-07:00

Well, the spinning wheel is fixed, the carder is running almost non-stop and I have 5 new handspuns listed in the shop this week! Oh, how I missed spinning... I really have no idea how I neglected it for so long.

Spinning Catastrophe!

2008-10-24T13:35:00.001-07:00

So, I'm at home last night, spinning away at some fibers I've been dyeing, when the wheel breaks! The piece that holds the treadle onto the base just snapped in half, and now I can't use it until the replacement piece comes. I hate to say this, but maybe I shouldn't have bought the Babe Wheel just because it was inexpensive. I probably should have shelled out the extra hundred bucks or so to get a wheel made out of wood and then I wouldn't have this problem. Oh well... I have some awesome news too...

I got a drum carder! It came yesterday, and I'm still hiding it from my husband because he'll want to know how much it cost and where I got the money, blah, blah. I've only played with it a bit, but hopefully I'll have much to show you in the coming days.

Seems like such a long time ago

2008-10-22T11:07:00.001-07:00

I really like this picture. It isn't one of the professional ones, I think Tim's mom might have taken it, but I think it really conveys our feelings at that exact moment. It's a combination of pride, happiness, and relief that the ceremony is over.

I'm still working on thank you notes; I'm about 1/4 of the way done and should hopefully be finished by the weekend. My favorite tip for writing lots of thank you notes: write the envelopes first, then write the cards and match the card with the envelope as you go. Seems to be much quicker this way than it is to write an envelope, then a card, then and evelope, and so on. If any of you have better ideas, I'd love to hear them. Maybe I'll write a post with readers top tips for mass mailings :)

New Yarns!

2008-10-22T07:20:00.001-07:00

mintyfresh
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

head to the yarn shop www.llbsupplies.etsy.com to check them out.

Recently Listed in my shop:

2008-10-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

crocheted with two yarns. The dark one is an acrylic deep purple, the boucle is hand-dyed wool blend. It is sooo soft and fun! The pictures really do not do it justice (I need to work on my photography skills). The two vintage buttons will fasten anywhere on the scarf, making it very versatile. See the listing for other ways to wear it. Head to my Etsy shop www.lindsayluu.etsy.com!

A Favorite Artist: Lorena Barrezueta

2008-10-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

Photo taken from www.lorenabarrezueta.com. I hope she doesn't mind:)

I don't do this often enough, and I really should. There are so many fantastic independent artists in the world that I love, and I want to tell you all about them so that you can love them too, and so that the love can be passed along.

I've had her Etsy shop on my favorites list for quite a while now, and when I went to visit it today it was only stocked with seconds and samples. That's totally cool though, because I was prompted to visit her website, and was floored by all of the styles she's creating. What i really love is that all of her porcelain pieces are made to resemble dishes and packaging that we would normally use once and throw away. I don't know exactly where her head's at, but I assume that somewhere in there is a statement about our society and waste. Also there is maybe one about our society and it's "fast-food" mentality. Even if there isn't, that's what I get out of it, and I totally appreciate it.

So, head to her site and check out these awesome dishes. While you're at it, you can see her jewelry as well.

Is it really possible?

2008-10-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes all I wish for is the ability to make my jewelry and yarn, sell it, and make a decent living. I know that people do it, I've read about them and chatted with them online, and it makes me want to try. The problem is that in today's economy, who can afford to quit their job and try to make it on their own? Not me. So now what?

For now, I'm going to continue to make baby steps toward my goals. I create on the weekends and evenings. I blog during free time during the day. I look toward the future and am excited for the time when I'll have the ability to work for myself.

I'd love to hear from you if you've been through this process! Leave a comment!

A Tip about Rental Cars

2008-10-14T06:49:00.001-07:00

broken rental car
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

Don't leave any evidence of a GPS in your car when you park it in public.

We learned this the hard way when visiting my cousin in Brooklyn. Someone smashed the window to try to the the GPS that wasn't even in the car. I did leave the box in the back seat, so that must have teased him. Anyways, nothing was stolen and we were able to get a new rental car once the NYPD came to give us a report for our insurance company. What a pain!

Do you think we'll ever get to the point where people have no need to vandalize and steal other peoples things? I doubt it, but it would be a much nicer world to live in.

New Yarn

2008-10-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since there have been new yarns in my shop. I really didn't have much time for it this past summer and I'm excited to be back at it again. These yarns are available in my supplies shop now!

Have you Made the Handmade Pledge?

2008-10-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

I officially took the pledge last year, but if you didn't, it's not to late to visit the site and sign yourself up. Buying handmade is just plain better, and the sooner everyone realizes that the better.

This has been a public service announcement by Etsy sellers everywhere :)

I'm Home!

2008-10-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of nickel city studios ©

Hello Blog-readers! I'm back from the honeymoon and finally organized enough to write. I have lots to share but it will be coming in small pieces throughout the next few weeks.

The short story is that everything went off without a hitch. The wedding was beautiful, perfect, and fun, the honeymoon was a fantastic adventure, and it kind of sucks to have to be back to work this week :)

I hired the talented photographers from Nickel City Studios in Buffalo to photograph my wedding day and I'm quite pleased with how everything came out. Click HERE to see more of our pictures on their blog

An interesting tip, and it's even about BUTTONS!

2008-09-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Link to a post from Oodles and oodles explaining how to tell if your vintage plastic is bakelite.

p.s. I'm writing this post from the past, trying to make sure that the blog has some content while I'm on my honeymoon!

2008-09-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

TX Poppet of Canned Laughter tagged me as a blog she loves!!! I'm so honored and pleased that someone is actually reading this thing :)

There are a few blogs that I've been enjoying lately and I'll nominate them as well. The first is Futuregirl I'm a religious reader of her blog and so enjoy her tutorials and views on life. Recently she made a mini crochet version of her boss - so cute!

There are a ton more that I love, but unfortunately I lost my blog list when I updated the blog last week. I have to resume finding those links again!

Autumnal Awesome

2008-09-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh, autumn. Seriously my favorite season. Everything smells better, like earthy, smoldering leaves. Everything looks better, in golden colors. I purposely chose to get married in September because I just love how I feel in the Fall...like everything is easy and perfect. :)

I think it's time for an update

2008-09-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

There have been lots of l ittle things going on lately, but nothing that really needs it's own post. Here's what I'm up to as of right now:

1. As you can see, the blog got a makeover yesterday. I got this great free template (scroll to the bottom of the page for the link) and I just LOVE it! My goal for this blog is to put a bit more effort into it with better content and new stuff so that you all will keep coming back :)

2. There are 8 days until my wedding. I'm freaking out. There are a million little tiny things that need to be done and it's stressing me out.

3. My parents got a puppy yesterday, her name is Shelby and i think she's an English Terrier. It doesn't sound right as I'm typing it, I'll double check. Should have pictures of her ready soon... she is super cute.

4. I'm having a tiny quarter-life crisis. Need to find a new way to make money that isn't my current day job. I'm working on it :)

5. I'm gearing up to start playing with fiber when I get back from my honeymoon. I just put in a large order for yarn that I will be dyeing and I'm about to go order some more fiber to spin. Yeah! I miss my spinning wheel.

Update complete!

Please excuse our mess...

2008-09-18T10:37:00.001-07:00

blog is under construction today :)

I'm just about finished now, just have to get my blogroll up again. thanks!

whoa...

2008-09-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

I think I'm almost done with wedding planning. Finished the seating chart last night, paid the caterer/florist, made a bunch of lists to keep my from losing my mind next week. I'm almost there...

MileStone

2008-09-16T07:02:00.001-07:00

I just noticed that I am at 100 posts (well, 101 now)! Yeah for me!!

Tutorial: Easy Embellished Place Cards

2008-09-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

Of all the crafty things I intended to do for our wedding, I really only got around to one or two of them. My sanity required that I pay other people to do the rest of it for me! Here is a super quick and pretty way to make place cards (or escort cards) that are totally your own.

You will need:

* Pre cut/scored place cards OR 3inch by 3.5inch pieces of cardstock that you score and fold yourself.
* small brads, flower shaped ones worked nicely for my needs.
* Floral die cuts (mine came from the bridal section at Michael's) OR make your own using your favorite paper and a flower punch. If you do this you can also layer two colors to make it pop a bit more.
* A pushpin or a fancy hole making tool.
* A surface that you can poke with the pushpin. I'll show you what I use in a sec.
* A fancy pen, whatever you'd like to write with.

Step One: Once the cards are folded, find a spot on the left upper corner of the front of the card (shown below where my blue pin is.) Punch a hole here.

Step Two: Punch a hole through the center of your flower cut-out. Here I am using an old felted sweater behind the flower so that I can punch the hole without squishing the flower or injuring myself. You could also use a firm pillow or a piece of foam.
Step Three: Take a brad and poke the sharp part through the flower and then through the card.
Step Four: Press down the prongs of the brad to hold your embellishment in place.
Step 5: Take your pen and write the guests' names and seating info. Easy right?

Please let me know what you think of this tutorial, as it's the first one I've written. I realize that it might sound simple to some, but I hope that I will help some aspiring crafty brides out there!

Rainy Sundae

2008-09-09T13:28:00.001-07:00

Buffalo Naval Park
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

Well, the Sundae Market was unfortunately rained out, and I'm hoping that they will come back later this fall.

The good news is that I got to see the Buffalo Naval Park and take this cool picture.

This Sundae

2008-09-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

So, I signed up for a (free!) table at the Sundae Market in Buffalo this weekend. I think it's the first event they've done here, so I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but it should be fun. I'm taking my mom with me for sanity's sake; it's difficult to do a 5 hour craft show all by yourself. It's an outdoor show, but I don't have a tent, and I'm not going to buy one before Sunday. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with that plan.

I really don't know why I even signed on for a show this close to the wedding, I'm already totally stressed out. My immune system is proof of that, as every time I get really stressed I get a cold, and I have a cold right now. Anyways, it should be fun.

It will be fun, right?

Ok, ignore my pessimism.

Tim made me two new necklace displays, which i really needed. I also ordered some new ones last week, and they haven't come yet... I'm going to be bummed if I don't get them in time.

ohmygodthreeweeks!!!!

2008-09-05T12:58:00.001-07:00

Sold!!

2008-09-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry, these two new rings sold out over the weekend, check out the shop for more goodies.

Sarah Pallin

2008-09-02T07:25:00.001-07:00

Sorry, I really don't mean to make this a political blog, but this woman is a train wreck. It really bugs me when people so specifically paint themselves as being perfect, upstanding, morally righteous people, and then don't understand it when they become hypocrites.

If you've ever had someone like that in your life, you probably understand where I'm coming from. How can anyone relate to someone who makes you feel like you're living your life in some sort of immoral/evil/wrong way?

A Boy Free Evening

2008-08-28T13:16:00.001-07:00

Tim is going to the Bill's game tonight, so I'll have the house to myself! It might not sound that exciting to some, but when no one's around I get to do whatever I want, without anyone else's opinions getting in the way. For example, there will be no, "I'm hungry, what's for dinner?" comments, and no, "why don't you do some laundry", or , "what are you doing with all of those buttons?".

Don't get me wrong, Tim is a fantastic partner, but it's always nice to have some alone time. Maybe I'll even make something to show you!

I have a new girl crush

2008-08-26T06:51:00.001-07:00

Michelle Obama
Originally uploaded by Tracy Russo

I am so glad that I forced myself to watch the Democratic National Convention on TV last night. I normally don't watch political TV but as I'm getting older and more concerned about the future, I find it refreshing to watch a woman like Michelle Obabma speak about it. She seems so genuine, so real, and so exactly what our country needs as a first lady. Someone who gets the every day person and who understands what a person needs to go from nothing to greatness.

An interesting observation

2008-08-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

Three out of six of Yahoo's most emailed photos today are of Women's bums.

Batchelorette Party

2008-08-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I went out with my girls for a night on the town. We started the evening with Jello shots at my place (made by Tim, as he is the Jello shot king around these parts), and then headed out in a limo downtown. First up was dinner at the Chocolate Bar, which serves some fantastic sandwhiches and expensive but yummy martini's. They even gave me a a free shot, poured into an edible chocolate shot glass!

After Dinner we headed to Club Marchella, Buffalos premier gay bar and drag show theatre. Friday's are "freak show fridays", and oh boy were we in for a treat! All in all I had a fantastic time, and I really hope I'll be able to do more girls nights out even after I'm old and married. :)

Destash Bargains

2008-08-19T10:31:00.001-07:00

I did some cleaning of the craft room last night, and listed some of my extra wedding-y supplies on Etsy. Really. Cheap. I hate to throw it out, when someone else could do something fabulous with it, and I hate to just give it away, when I could at least recoup some of the millions I've spent on this wedding.

Check out the supplies/yarn shop for the autumn-y destash goodies. I've also marked down some roving if anyone's interested.

Hannah Jane is Born!

2008-08-14T11:19:00.001-07:00

I went to the hospital on my lunch today to visit my almost sister in law and gawk at my new almost niece. I have a problem paying attention to weights and measures when there are babies around, but i think they said she was 8 ish pounds and 20ish inches. I'm waiting for future mother in law to send me some pictures from her camera and then I will put one here for you all to look at :)

EDIT: Here she is! 8 pounds 15 ounces... this picture looks like it was taken before they even finished cleaning her up!

Inspiration

2008-08-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

It's 11:30 here in sunny buffalo, and I just realized the the entire morning is gone, in part due to some work here in the office, but mostly because I clicked onto Whipup, and haven't been able to get out! Those folks do such a great job finding all of the gems around the crafty blogosphere, and I just have to click on every single tutorial. I love seeing what other people are doing and I get so inspired to try new techniques!

Last night I tried to make some paper, inspired by a fabulous tutorial by B Zedan on Flickr. The whole thing is so well thought out and easy to understand. My paper turned out ok, but I need to make some different screens like the ones she shows here. Mine is a picture frame with some screen taped on, but there's a gap and all the paper gets stuck. I have some fab ideas for recycled paper Christmas ornaments and gift tags for the holiday craft show circut. Wait for it...

Invites are out!

2008-08-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

So if you don't get one within a few days, it means you aren't invited :)

Really though, I'm just relieved that I finished them without ripping all of my hair out. Much thanks to Sara from crescentmoonpaper for coming to my rescue and making extras for my when I ran out.

My Current Favorite Etsy Shop

2008-08-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.seasprayblue.etsy.com

I just got finished helping her out with some editing, and in return she is sending me two of her fantastic prints! I'm so excited to get them and hang them in the kitchen...

Nutso...

2008-08-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

... is what my life feels like lately. There are less than 2 months left until my wedding, and I think I'm finally turning into a crazy bridezilla. It's really stressful trying to organize such a huge function, not to mention managing all of the vendors, wedding attendants, parents, and others who are involved. Planning a wedding could absolutely be a full time job... although I wouldn't want to do it!

My shower was a huge success, and I received so many fabulous gifts. A few of them were hand made, which I love. I got a handwoven basket, some embroidered towels, and my mom is going to make me a quilt guest book, if that makes any sense. It will be fabulous, I'll show it to you all when it's done. I'm guessing by the end of winter.

I've also started going to the gym and I'm actually enjoying it. If you're local to me you should definitely check out the BAC for women on Colvin. It's a nice new facility, plus I'm there 4 days a week or so :) Hopefully I won't be worried about my dress not fitting soon.

July...

2008-07-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

Does that mean Summer's almost over, or that it's just beginning? So much is going on this year, and my wedding is fast approaching. Next Sunday is my shower, and I feel like a cheater because I keep checking on my registries to see what people are buying me :) I guess I'm somewhat ruining the surprise, but I guess I can say, "Hey, so you're the one who bought me the coffee maker!" as I'm opening things.

Next week the goal is to confirm stuff with all of my vendors and figure out what needs to be paid before the actual event. Then I just have to get the invitations in the mail and let things go...

My Etsy Wedding

2008-06-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

I am probably 90% finished with the wedding planning, and with almost 4 months to go, I think I am in good shape. Honestly, I don't know what I would do without these fabulous Etsy sellers, many of which have made custom pieces just for our wedding...

Garter Set from Rose Tree Garters

Custom Guest Book from Life Stories Books

Custom Cake Topper from Original Creations by Apryl

Convertible Head Piece from Chicallure

Custom Invitations from Crescent Moon Paper Co.

And a Special Gift from Nest

Buffalo Indie Market June Event

2008-05-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

Make sure you head over to the Pearl Street Grill on June 8th for the Buffalo Indie Market. You will enjoy live local music, over 25 local art/craft vendors, AND you can have some of the Pub Fries that I love so much at Pearl Street. I'll be there with bells on, be sure to say "hello".

More information can be found at www.buffaloindiemarket.com

Tutorial Roundup - Sewn pouches!

2008-05-22T09:28:00.001-07:00

I am trying to master the art of sewing, one tutorial at a time! Here are a few that I really like, and I hope that you can appreciate them all in one place (I know I can).

Splityarn: Sew an easy changepurse
Really cute little pouch for keeping cash and cards.

The Perl Bee: Bias Tape Purse with Zipper
I'll be trying this one tonight. I love how she uses the bias tape to cover the raw edges.

Twelve22: Lined Zipper Pouch
Very easy to follow instructions, although I still managed to mess it up when I tried it...

Thimble: Front Zipper Pouch
Another one I will be trying out soon.

On Flicker - from Kerri9494 - Zipper Pouch Bag Tutorial
slightly more complicated than I would like, but very easy to follow.

Sleeping Milo...Sleeping Blogger?

2008-05-02T11:58:00.001-07:00

sleeping Milo
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

Hi All, so here's the scoop. I started a new full-time job a few weeks ago and have had to put my crafting on the back burner for a bit. Don't worry, it's just until I'm settled. I plan to go home tonight and clean the craft room so I can get back to making things again.

The Buffalo Indie Market event was really great, and I will be there again for the June show, armed with tons of rings (were my best seller, hands down). I'm also working on some paper things, stickers, notebooks, maybe some cards.

Sorry if you were missing me!

Buffalo Indie Market!!!!

2008-03-26T14:34:00.001-07:00

If you live in WNY, you should definitely be there... I will be, along with my jewelry and a ton of new yarns I've been spinning.

more yarn!

2008-03-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

I actually have a show coming up next month! It's my first, and it's going to be fabulous! Someone finally started a Buffalo Indie Market, and I'm so pleased to be part of it.

I ordered a ton of fiber, and plan to spend the coming week dyeing and spinning up a storm. Here are a few I did last week:

I don't have it all up in the shop yet, but it should be there by Monday. If you see something you like here, I'm happy to talk.

Wow

2008-03-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I haven't been here since the last post! I've been preoccupied with my spinning, and have lots to show you. I'm also still on the job hunt so that takes up a good deal of my time too... OK enough with the excuses, want to see some yarn??

I can't believe I haven't been here since the last post! I've been preoccupied with my spinning, and have lots to show you. I'm also still on the job hunt so that takes up a good deal of my time too... OK enough with the excuses, want to see some yarn??

Yay, it's here!

2008-03-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the crappy flash pictures, but I had to show it off. I made some yarn with it, and I love how quickly it comes together, although I have some kinks to work out still.

Waiting for the UPS man

2008-02-29T07:12:00.000-08:00

At least I assume it's a man. Maybe I have a UPS woman. See, since we've lived in this house I've never gotten anything through UPS, so I have no idea who delivers it, or what time they might come.

Today is a very special day, as my recently ordered Babe spinning wheel is supposed to be arriving (yay!!). I absolutely cannot wait to get in and start using it. I chose a Babe wheel mostly because it is the most inexpensive brand available, but also because many have sung its praises. I also like the fact that they are produced and manufactured partly by disabled workers.

I've been busy dying roving so that I will be ready to go:

Milo(Kitty #2) got a hold of one piece last night and totally annihilated it, but otherwise I really like how they all turned out.

I have been steadily adding dyed and spun yarns to http://www.llbsupplies.etsy.com over the last week or two. Currently I have one handspun to offer, "Ruby Sherbet Twist"

You can buy it HERE

Shop 2.0

2008-02-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

So, I did decide to sell yarns from my 2nd Etsy shop, LLB Supplies. It just makes sense to keep supplies in one place and crafted items in another. Currently I am in the process of adding new skeins and moving others from LindsayLuu, so be patient, and check both of them out!

LLB Supplies

More yarn

2008-02-09T12:19:00.000-08:00

This is what I've been working on ALL week. So far about half of it is listed in the shop. I can't decide if/when I should start up a new shop just dedicated to yarn. When I opened up my supplies shop I got confused. So I think I'll wait.

Blue Fingers

2008-02-06T10:50:00.000-08:00

They are blue because I'm just not careful enough with the acid dyes :)

I dyed a few more skeins today, including some of my handspun. I'm so impatient waiting for them to dry though. The best part is re-skeining them to see how the colors mix.

That's all I have for right now, more later.

Yarns for Sale!!

2008-02-05T12:27:00.001-08:00

mosaic1313041
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

Check them out in the shop now!

I've been dyeing all day, so keep an eye out for some new yarns later this week.

I have been a busy girl...

2008-01-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

Living life unemployed is a very interesting thing. One one hand, I hate it and really really want to get back into a routine, but on the other hand, I love being able to do whatever I want, and have I ever been doing things!

Since my last post, I have spun a bit more yarn. I also ordered a lighter spindle so that I can make some finer. I spoke with a local yarn shop near my house about taking a lesson on a spinning machine, but I haven't quite got around to it yet. Maybe once I'm working again I can justify buying a wheel, but not now.

I've also found an interest in dyeing yarn, and have started with some purchased wool and kool-aid. If you haven't heard of/tried dyeing with Kool-aid, check out this tutorial on knitty.com.

So far I've been getting varied results, and I'm looking forward to getting some acid dyes from Dharma Trading.

Finally, I taught myself to knit, thanks to some books, the videos at knittinghelp.com, and what I remember from my grandma teaching me as a kid. I have nothing to show for it so far except this bit of unraveled yarn, but trust me, I can do it!

Today in general was a very productive day... I even managed to make a blog post! ;)

How Cool is This?!

2007-12-18T13:32:00.001-08:00

Like I really need another hobby, but this is too much fun! I made this on a drop spindle, with fiber from Copper Moose on ebay. The picture doesn't show the colors very well, but it is a coral plied with "ruby twist", a deep red with bits of navy and gold. This one is only about 16 yards, just because I was anxious to see how the colors would look together. I'll be making some more this week.

Christmas Preparations

2007-12-08T09:30:00.001-08:00

I've had a lot of free time this week, so I started early on my holiday baking. So far I've made Chocolate Chip, Gingerbread, and lemon cookies.

I had a few interviews this week, and have some good job prospects lined up. I'll be back to the grind in no time :)

Shop Update

2007-12-02T10:58:00.000-08:00

I added a bunch of new stuff to the shop yesterday. I also updated the sale section to clear some of the older inventory out. Stop by, I'd love to have you :)

Also, I have a website now, although I haven't really done much with it.

www.lindsayluudesigns.com

Babies

2007-12-02T10:51:00.000-08:00

So, I guess I'm getting to that age where everyone around me is having babies. I'm going to be 25 in March, and up until this point I've never actually seriously considered having them. I don't see myself as the mothering type, plus I hate hospitals and doctors. But darn it, evertime I see a cute kid, I friggin want one!

The pic above is of my nephew, the cutest baby in the world. He'll be a year old next week!

Sorry!

2007-11-30T08:23:00.000-08:00

I know, I haven't posted much this week.

This is a super cool tutorial for papercutting that I just found on the Angry Chicken Blog. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OWhRPWrrB0

I Wish

2007-11-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

That the long weekend was just a liiiitle bit longer.

I did manage to get a lot done, including updating my shop listings, putting up my Christmas tree and lights, and some general home maintenence. I started making an afghan, granny square style. So far I haven't quite mastered the pattern, but I will, in time. I'll post some pictures once it really gets started.

Naming Pullip

2007-11-18T16:09:00.001-08:00

I think I want to call her Sophie. Any other suggestions?

She's Here!

2007-11-17T20:28:00.001-08:00

Here is my new (and only, and first) Pullip. She is of the Purezza species, and absolutely adorable!! I need to give her a name, but I haven't figured that out just yet.

Purple dress from ChloesCrazyCloset.etsy.com

paper earrings

2007-11-15T19:42:00.001-08:00

paper earrings
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

here's a set of earrings I whipped up today after work. I really like them, since they are made from laminated paper (thanks to my fantastic Xyron machine) they are extremely light and have a lot of movement. I'm just not sure if they are something that people would like and buy. Maybe they are too simple and they need some beads or glitter? Comments appreciated folks!!

baby bibs

2007-11-15T19:38:00.001-08:00

baby bibs
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

As promised, here are the bibs I made for Leanne. I think they turned out pretty darn well for being my first ever sewn FO. I had fun picking out the fabric too. Not sure if she's having a boy or a girl, but these are kind of girly. If she ends up having a boy I'll just make her some different ones.

A general update

2007-11-15T08:53:00.000-08:00

Hello all. Haven't made any real posts lately, but I've been busy. Here is a synopsis of what I've been up to.

1. Working. Things are so busy at the office lately.
2. Making. Last night I made 3 baby bibs from Amy Karol's book. They are for my friend Leanne who's having a baby shower on Saturday. I'll post pics once I finish putting the velcro on.
3. Product Development. Sounds so fancy, but really I've just been playing around with some different things. I want to make earrings out of some great papers that I have, but I need to figure out a process. I also tried to make soldered pendants, but it turns out that soldering is hard. Maybe I'll try again some other time. I just want to do so many things!!
4. Bumming around. I needed a little downtime.

Next week I should be more productive. I have pies and breads to make for thanksgiving, and I want the shop all updated and pretty for Monday morning.

Dreams.

2007-11-14T07:01:00.001-08:00

I had a dream last night that I checked on my blog this morning and there were hundreds of comments. Alas, it was only a dream.

I've been waiting all week for this

2007-11-13T12:02:00.000-08:00

I keep hearing so many good things about Sugarlips on etsy, but her shop has been closed due to her getting sooo many orders. Finally I was able to purchase some things from her awesome bath and body shop this afternoon. The picture above was borrowed from her shop, and is of the coffee sugar scub that I'm super excited about. I also ordered a natural blemish remedy and a push-up lotion bar!!

Cleaning the craft room

2007-11-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

When we moved into this house, I was so excited to have a whole ROOM to craft in. I really had very high hopes for it. Unfortunately I have not yet succeeded in getting it organized, and the fact that I keep picking up new crafts (felting, soldering, and sewing doll clothes most recently) really makes it difficult. Tonight I did a few things, including organizing some drawers and reorganizing one of my bookshelves. I thought I'd share a few pictures of the Mess and the Organization.

First, the Mess. This is the floor near the closet. I had to empty the closet in order to *really* organize.

This one is my old computer desk, which currently serves as both my photo studio and my sewing table, but never at the same time. You can see my light cube at the bottom and a bunch of random stuff. Hey, there's the V8 juice that I couldn't find earlier! :)
Now, onto the organized parts!! Here are the boxes that store all of my buttons, cabs and things for my etsy jewelry. I wish there was an easier way, but so far this is the best I can do. Boxes are separated by style (i.e. one box for vintage buttons, one for novelty buttons, one for vintage flowers, one for small cabs, one for large cabs, one for cameos).
This is my large bookcase, or at least the top part of it. Here you see my books on the top shelf. The second shelf holds my etsy store inventory, and jewelry boxes.

This one is pretty cool. I had this pantry rack from my old apartment that goes over a door. It doesn't fit in our pantry here, so I'm using it as yarn storage!
You can see here I actually put labels on the plastic drawers. Hopefully I can stick to them!
You can't see the rest of the room until it's finished and clean. Hopefully it will be soon. Wish me luck!!

New Pullip!

2007-11-03T15:15:00.001-07:00

New Purezza
Originally uploaded by Coolmelody

I just ordered a nude Pullip Purezza doll from a seller on ebay! I absolutely cannot wait to get her. Picture shown here is from Coolmelody on Flickr.

Last night I attempted to sew some clothes for her, since she isn't coming with any. Turns out I'm not very good at sewing, and neither is my garage sale sewing machine. The good news is that my mom will be buying me a new one for Christmas.

My other kitty

2007-11-01T09:06:00.001-07:00

Milo
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

Milo is the kitten of the house. He likes to play with my yarn and make knots of it all over the house. Other than that, he's fricken adorable!

This is the end of the cat posts, but I wanted to show them off!

Love my Kitties!

2007-11-01T06:50:00.001-07:00

Meow!
Originally uploaded by lindsayu83

Flickr

2007-11-01T06:49:00.001-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Pre-Halloween Festivities (and Happy Monday!

2007-10-29T16:45:00.001-07:00

Saturday night was Halloween Party night for me and my crew. Here are some pictures to make you laugh:
Allison (future sister in law) and Me. I was a punked out fairy :)

Here you have my fiancee and his brother in law. Tim is a blacked eyed "P". I'm not sure what Casey is!

Sunday night we had dinner at His parents house. This picture is here just to show you this awesome trifle his mom made. It had cherries, bananas, and pineapple in it!

And Finally, here is a pic of the most recent addition to my shop: Vintage DIY kits!!

Now, I'm off to watch Heroes!

Whoosh...

2007-10-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

I just listed 10 new items. In a row. And now I'm actually tired of looking at my shop. That doesn't happen often, as I am usually checking it all day :) I got a box of new cameos in the mail today that I am so excited about. I made some rings as soon as I opened the box! I just love the pretty girls with the flowing hair!

Hurry UP.

2007-10-23T13:15:00.001-07:00

Hurry and buy your halloween accessories while there is still time for shipping! I have two great pieces in my shop, Scary Spider hairpins and a Batty button ring. Click on them to your right ---->

Gotta Love the Post Office

2007-10-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

The plan is to get up early tomorrow and head to the post office. I ship domestic orders through regular first class mail, so I just slap some stamps on them and the postman picks them up for me. International orders and Craftster swap packages require forms and waiting in lines and dealing with government workers. I generally like going to the post office, but when you have 15 packages to go out, it can be a pain!

In other news, I'm thinking about doing a contest next week, to bring some of you lurkers out of hiding. Feel free to make reccomendations about what I should give away. I'm thinking about a vintage bauble mix filled with buttons, beads and cabs from years gone by. Stay tuned!

Featured!!

2007-10-19T09:08:00.001-07:00

Check it out, my shop is featured at Vintage Indie!!

Before and After

2007-10-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

I just got my new light cube in the mail! I got right to work playing with it. Here are some before and after shots from my etsy shop:

BEFORE the light box:

AFTER the light box:
BEFORE the light box:
AFTER the light box:

It's like a makeover show, but with buttons!

Friday Afternoon Funny

2007-10-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

While browsing craigslist for something interesting to read, I came across this entry in the "best-of-craigslist" thread. I laughed so hard, I want everyone to read it!

Whenever I get a package of plain M&Ms, I make it my duty to continue the strength and robustness of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels. Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them cracks and splinters. That is the "loser," and I eat the inferior one immediately. The winner gets to go another round.

I have found that, in general, the brown and red M&Ms are tougher, and the newer blue ones are genetically inferior. I have hypothesized that the blue M&Ms as a race cannot survive long in the intense theater of competition that is the modern candy and snack-food world. Occasionally I will get a mutation, a candy that is misshapen, or pointier, or flatter than the rest. Almost invariably this proves to be a weakness, but on very rare occasions it gives the candy extra strength. In this way, the species continues to adapt to its environment.

When I reach the end of the pack, I am left with one M&M, the strongest of the herd. Since it would make no sense to eat this one as well, I pack it neatly in an envelope and send it to M&M Mars, A Division of Mars, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ 17840-1503 U.S.A., along with a 3x5 card reading, "Please use this M&M for breeding purposes."

This week they wrote back to thank me, and sent me a coupon for a free 1/2 pound bag of plain M&Ms. I consider this "grant money." I have set aside the weekend for a grand tournament. From a field of hundreds, we will discover the True Champion. There can be only one.

Have a great Weekend!!

Sisters...

2007-10-10T19:39:00.001-07:00

...is the title of my newest favorite piece in my shop. These hairpins are made with painted wooden circles, vintage magazine clippings, and little plastic roses. I heart these, and almost don't want to sell them. I love how innocent and sweet the girls look.

I got THE best package ever in the mail today. I would post a picture of it in all its glory, but I've already turned a lot of it into jewelry. The package was a priority mail box *filled* with vintage cameos, cabochons, jewels and findings. All spectacular, all for me! I spent days bidding on it on ebay, and couldn't believe I actually won it! Speaking of ebay, I also bought a light box today, and I'm really excited to get it and play around with my pictures. I've been having some inconsistencies with the lighting in my listing photos lately.

Another awesome thing: I realized that I have Adobe Illustrator on my computer! My cousin the design guru gave it to me years ago, but I forgot all about it. I had a blast last night just playing with it; it's like a super awesome coloring book for adults.

Ravelry please!?

2007-10-09T07:31:00.001-07:00

You signed up on August 22, 2007
You are #27739 on the list.
2099 people are ahead of you in line.
13508 people are behind you in line.
58% of the list has been invited so far

I can't stand the suspense!!!

checking in

2007-10-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I've been away from the blog for a bit. I've been sooo busy with my shop that I've barely had time for anything else. I shouldn't complain though. Selling jewelry is fun!

Hey, check it out!

2007-09-27T19:55:00.001-07:00

I crocheted this little guy. My first go at Amigurumi, and I think it came out O-kay. I made him for a craftster swap, so I really hope my partner doesn't think it's the lamest thing ever :)

I'm also working on some dishcloths/washcloths which I am much more pleased with, and I started on some baby booties tonight for my coworkers baby on the way. I'm like a crocheting fiend!

Also, I sold two of my sweater guards today! Super excited, and working on making more.

Marketing and what-not

2007-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

I've come to realize that marketing is probably the most important thing that I can do for my etsy shop. Sales have been slower than I like lately, so today I ramped things up a little. To start, I updated some of the pictures in my shop (including the action shot of the sweater clips below). Next I posted in the forums, and listed a buy one get one half off sale for all my bobby pins. Third, I posted an add on the Buffalo craigslist, offering free shipping to all WNYers. Craigslist has gotten me customers in the past, but I try not to post too often so that people don't see it as spam. Some jewelry artists on there post 15 items at a time, every day, and that kind of bugs me. Anyways, I'm hoping that sales pick up, as my paypal account is starting to feel lonely :)

On a related note, since I'm feeling kind of poor, I've decided to try to DIY some of my Christmas presents this year. I haven't done much of this in the past, so it will be interesting. Crocheted dishcloths will likely be involved, as well as shrinky dink ornaments and maybe some coasters. I still need to think about it a bit more. Suggestions for awesome and easy projects are welcome!

LOL

2007-09-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I totally posted a boob shot of myself! Creepy dudes, leave me alone. :)

New Product

2007-09-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

I just listed the first sweater clip, as promised, in my etsy shop. More will come, depending on the interest I get with this one. Comments are welcome and requested!!

mmmmm... apple crisp....

2007-09-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

The smell of baking apples on a cool Sunday afternoon... nothing beats it! I made a whole pan of this last night and I'm just finishing up the last bowl right now (Tim ate most of it, but that doesn't mean I didn't contribute to it's dissappearance!) I found a recipe online and then tweaked it to my liking:

Topping:
1 cup flour, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 cup quick oats, 1tsp baking powder, 1tsp baking soda, bit of cinnamon, 1/2 cup melted butter

Apples:
5-6 cups thinly sliced apples, 1tbls flour, 3/4 cup sugar, Bit of cinnamon (to taste) 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tblespoon water.

Mix apples with flour, sugar, juice and water in a baking dish (I used a 2 quart oval corningware)
Mix up all ingredients for the topping, adding the butter last. Still until it looks crumbly.
Put topping on apples and bake at 350F for 45minutes. (It should just be bubbling, and the top should be brown.

New Product

2007-09-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

I've been working hard on developing some new and unique items to sell in my shop and on consignment. Ready for liftoff are some really great sweater clips (so retro and adorable!) Look for them in the shop later this week.

New Blogette

2007-09-14T12:38:00.001-07:00

For anyone who's interested, I started a separate blog to talk about my wedding planning. So far I think it would only be interesting to others planning a autumny wedding, but I thought I would link to it anyway.