Cartonera Workshop
Here are some pictures from today’s workshop….
You start by making a stencil…
Some letters are easy to make, but the letters “s” and “g” are not so much.
I lacked the time to let my white coat dry so I wasn’t able to paint the way I wanted to. But I am looking forward to making more. I have lots and lots of papers and embellishments I could use.
Here are some finished examples….
This and That
Over the years I have had many many many jobs. Both independent and big corporation. Me being me, I loved working for the independents best. My first job in Ann Arbor was at Liberty Street Video, I had transfered from a sister store up in Mt. Pleasant. I remember my coworkers in Mt. P. asking if I really wanted to go work at LSV, because the place was full of freaks. I loved it… and hated it, like most jobs. Some of the best work stories I have were from the LSV years. I left the store for about 7 years, but went back after the bookstore I worked for closed. We had ups and downs like any business, but things seemed to be on the right track, but just this Wed. my boss told me that he is closing the store. I am not looking forward to the “whys” and “whats” that people are going to ask. Or the way people are vultures when it comes to getting deals at a business that is dying. My first response is going to be “If you loved the store so much, why didn’t you rent here”.
On a more positive note I am taking a workshop on making notebooks in the “Cartonera” style this Monday. They are made out of found cardboard and paint. I hope to have something to show you next week and that this helps jump start my creative juices. I have been in a bit of a rut lately.
k
Odds and ends
Okay, so I have been really busy lately and have neglected my blog. In the words of Inigo Montoya “Let me ’splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.” I survived the Art Fair and Kerrytown Bookfest. Moved to a new 2 bedroom apartment so I now have a room that I can devote solely to crafts. It isn’t organized yet, but hopefully in the next couple months. I bought 800 records on craigslist for bowls and notebooks and need to organize them before I can put other things away. And as always I at the Sunday Artisan Market each week.
Here are some pictures I took to show how much I can fit in my Saturn Ion… actually there was room for more, but I was low on stock the days I took the pictures. (And to think I used to fit a card spinner rack in there.)
Table 1
Table 2
Waiting to be loaded
Waiting to be loaded 2
Trunk
Could fit a few more things here.
Lots of new projects in the works. Clocks, new notebooks and a few surprises. I promise to be better about updating the blog. Honest.
k
Open Letter to Target
Hello. I have to start off by saying I love Target. It is one of my favorite places to shop. I become happier just walking through the door. But recently I have come to the conclusion that my love isn’t returned. I walk through the clothing aisles and see lots of cute items, but when I look for the Plus Sized section I see it crammed in to the corner behind Maternity. The selection is minimal, and if I find something I think is cute 9 times out of 10 it is actually Maternity and not Plus Sized. Is it that you hate fat girls? Or is that your designers hate us? I can’t figure it out. Women on average are a size 12-14 and most of your clothes stop at that point (even if they say XL, they are not). I know that stores have a limited amount of floor space, but I think a little more could be devoted to the big girls. Even in the Intimates section it is difficult to find anything that fits someone more than a size 12. I know a number of plus sized girls, myself included, who would love to buy their clothes from you, but are unable to find anything. Target is alienating a sizable percentage of their shoppers. Big girls need clothes too and where I live togas are not an option.
Thanks,
Kate
M.I.C.E. @ the Market
Flint City Handmade Spring Craft Market
www.myspace.com/flintcityhandmade
I will be outside weather permitting. If you are in the Flint area stop by and say hi.
Why
Over the last week I have been getting stock together to take to Birdsnest Boutique for consignment and for my show in E. Lansing on Saturday and Market on Sunday. Yikes! I have matted close to 100 photos and made about 30 bowls. Thursday night will be all about making notebooks of all sorts. I have a box of paper to bust in to for the album cover notebooks. I also have to make up some coasters and mirrors as well. This is what I get for procrastinating. Why couldn’t I have had some of this energy a month ago?
I also have a stack of laminated photos to trim up for my new notepads. I am loving how they turned out. Let’s just hope other people love them as well. 
Because I need more inventory
Yesterday I promised notebook pictures and here they are….
I love the dictionary background for this page. I probably should have flipped through for a page that had some personal meaning, but the odometer page it is.
mmmmm donuts!
The only problem with making these notebooks is that I realized that so many of my photos are horizontal in nature and not vertical. I don’t think they would sell as well. Or is it just me? I could be just me. Maybe I should make a few up just to see if others feel the same way.
Go!
I survived the first week at the Artisan Market. It was cold and windy, but there were a lot of vendors there and a decent flow of traffic. We even got a great write up in the Ann Arbor Chronicle. It really helped me get excited about crafting again. I love seeing how customers react to my items and it is great getting instant feedback on new items. I won’t be at Market this coming week, but I will be able to get some more stuff ready. I have some new mini notepads that use my photos. (I should have pictures to share tomorrow) I even have a new inventory system that I am implementing to keep track of what photos , coasters and notepads I am selling. I wish I would have done this a year ago.
