BBFF, Nfall2rt Designs

I know that I've said before that I really am an introvert and one of my main depression symptoms is isolation. Blogging is good for keeping me connected with the world if sometimes at a distance. I will never leave as many comments as some of you but that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate whenever someone takes the time to share their thoughts with me.

Since I'm coming up on a year of blogging I decided to share some of my blogging buddies with you. One blogger that I felt an almost instant connection with is Nancy from Nfall2rt design studio. I was telling Mike recently about something she had written and I described her as one of my best blogging friends. He said "so she's your BBFF" (best blogging friend forever) which I have to say I hope is true. We have a similar blogging style in that we both have a mix of personal with business and talk a lot about living a creative and handmade life.

She is clearly a much better writer than I am however and has even started sharing some of her poetry. I haven't written a poem in years but I know how difficult it was in the past to put myself out there with anything I had written so I really admire her for it. She even agreed to let me share a little with you. This is part of the first poem she put on her blog and as I told her there are a few lines that I really wish I had written which is always a sign that I have connected with it. You can check out more of her writing here and here.

In between moments of impossible silence

my posture stiffens; heat rises

like a wave to my face.

There was a climax that passed between us then.

I read it in your eyes: I tire you.

Nancy has so many talents and does everything from knitting, paper crafts, jewelry, and original artwork. The piece at the top is part of her contained series which is done in mixed media with linen, vellum, thread, and ink. She also makes pendants in this series which are very unique.

I have always really appreciated her use of color in her knit accessories which you will find in her Etsy shop here. She makes very functional pieces with zippers and lining which is something I haven't been brave enough to attempt yet. We both have a button fetish and I love checking out her button choices and am always impressed with how well she coordinates her work.




She just opened an Artfire shop, The Paper House, to showcase her paper designs. I love this set of notecards called Tree Huggers and think they would make a great gift. I'm really interested to hear about her Artfire experiences as I really do value her opinion about such things.

If you aren't already familiar with Nancy I hope you'll take some time to get to know her. She really is an amazing blogger and creative spirit. She shares herself openly and is a great resource for those living a handmade life.

A Good Day

So I actually had a good day today. It's been awhile so I thought it was worth documenting. What may you ask does a good day look like to Paige. (yes, I did just refer to myself in the 3rd person.) Well let me lay it out for you. First off I got to sleep in which was particularly nice since we were out late last night visiting with some friends. We got to catch up with Kudas, one of Mike's oldest friends who is one of the most animated people I've ever known and always tells a great story.

So after getting up at 11:00 and eating a leisurely breakfast, I watched an hour or so of TV and knitted and then went out and got the eggs and dying essentials. I spent $30 on 3 dozen eggs, 2 kits, tissue paper, and vinegar. If you're going to do something you might as well do it right. I picked up Anh and we spent a couple of hours in an egg dying frenzy. Ani decided that we had created the best eggs in North America. She didn't want to go out on a limb and say the whole world but she gave us this continent. I agree that we had created some damn fine eggs. We used the marbling technique I discovered which is done by adding a tablespoon of olive oil with the vinegar. It creates a cool effect by leaving splotches in the dye. We tried the tissue paper technique but it was less impressive by our standards. Anh was not going clubbing after dying eggs as her outfit, including spiked belt and chains, might suggest. She was just going to Grandma's house but she is ever the stylish little diva.

After this Mike and I went out to the Indian restaurant in U-City that we rarely get to and had lamb which was cooked perfectly. From there we went to a coffee shop and watched Ryan Spearman play folk music. He went to high school with Mike and they recently reconnected through facebook. They are now sharing a booking agent since Mike also connected with a guy on FB that has offered to work with the bloolights to set up some gigs. We met his wife who was a very sweet free spirit who sews and is obviously a big handmade supporter as well. I gave her my card and hope to see her again at some open mics that Mike will be going to play at.

When I got home I discovered that I had gotten Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design and a few other books I had bought on-line recently. I'll review it as soon as I get a chance to read it.

Mike and I then watched The Office on DVR, ate some white cheddar cheese popcorn, and drank a white Russian. That my friends, was a very good day. I have been in somewhat of a funk so I'm glad to shake it, if only for 24 hours.

Why Live Handmade

I have found many lists for why people choose to buy handmade and most of them have the same general ideas. The following are a few quotes from the Buy Handmade Pledge website:

"Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.The giver of a handmade gift has avoided the parking lots and long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can
be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

Buying handmade is better for people. The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect.

Buying handmade is better for the environment. The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production."

For me it really is a lifestyle. I can't say that I'm perfect. This weekend I had my 4 year old nephew's b-day sneak up on me and I didn't have time to find a handmade gift so he ended up with store bought plastic. But for the holidays my gift gifting was at least 75% handmade. In my daily life I work hard to incorporate handmade as much as possible. I'll be doing a series of posts the next few weeks on how well I have applied living handmade to the different aspects of my life. Some parts of my consumptive live are easier to support handmade than others but it is something I actively think about now.

For me the most important reason to live a handmade lifestyle is to support other's passions. I know that my buyers could easily find a $10 scarf at Wal-mart but instead they have chosen a handmade creation from my heart and energy. By doing so they are supporting my efforts and helping me to support my hobby. I am happy to support other sellers whether they are a hobbyist or professional because I know that they are doing it because they love what they are doing. I want to help them to keep the passion for art and craft alive in this world. There is so much mass produced crap that I love to feel like I'm buying something that was specially designed and brought into creation by someones hands. There is a connection that comes from knowing the name of the seller and possibly more if I have access to their blog. I have a tendency to isolate myself but this handmade lifestyle has opened me to up a whole world of fellow artisans that are keeping the dream alive.

The little copper tag above from Windshine is a great way to tell the world that you support handmade. You can attach it to a gift or use it as a keychain.

Random Monday Thoughts

I love my new little painting from fauxtograph. She decoupaged pages from The Audacity of Hope and then painted the iconic image over it. This is the first time in my life that I'm actually excited for the chance to vote tomorrow. I have the picture hanging over the fireplace right now. Mike is indulging me until the election. He says it is a little too "our great leader" and makes him feel like he's in North Korea, but I can tell he loves it too.

I took my little niece to see High School Musical 3 this weekend. It wasn't as mind numbingly bad as I thought it would be. That Zach Efron really is quite adorable as all the girls say. I told Anh on the way home that I thought I even had a crush on him, which I think she found a bit disturbing. She was dancing in her seat through most of the movie and when it was over she waited until most everyone else had left. She walked to the front of the theater and took a little bow and then danced her way out. She is such the diva.

I was talking with my friend Tif this weekend about the direction I want to take my blog. She is such a good business woman and always makes me think about things more clearly. I've decided I'm going to be including more "tutorials" and helpful information on running an Etsy shop. I've been selling on Etsy for over a year now, and I'm certainly no top seller but I think I have some useful knowledge that I can share. On top of that I've been buying and creating a handmade lifestyle for even longer now so I definitely feel I have more that I can share about that. The blogs I read and enjoy are not just glimpses into other peoples lives but also teach me something I didn't already know. That is what I'd like to create here. I don't want this to be just another knitting blog or all about self promotion. So I hope you'll bare with me as I see where this thing is going.