The First of My Posts Without Pictures

I'm staying at my parents' house this week to keep my mom company while my dad's away on business. (Normally, I wouldn't reveal such a sensitive personal detail, but since the bf is home holding down the fort and protecting all my worldly goods, I thinks it's okay.) So, why no picture? I can't figure out how to upload photos from my camera onto my parents' computer and still be able to upload them onto my computer once I get home. (Hey, I never professed to be a techie.) It's kind of a bummer, because I just made three gorgeous new necklaces (if I do say so myself) featuring fun, colorful felt shapes. (Yes, I brought my jewelry-making paraphernalia with me. Once I get on a project kick, it's hard for me to let go until the idea in my head takes shape in paint or beads or what have you. I would've brought the Large Rainbow Bold Beauty Tote I'm working on too, but paint's too hard to transport.) I'll be sure to post pictures of the necklaces this weekend.

Jewelry making or no jewelry making, being at my parents' house is a world apart from being home. And I don't just mean because my mom cooks my dinner and packs my lunch (although that's lovely). When I'm home, I'm on Tote Trove autopilot arranging each night and weekend so that I can cram in every blog post, new project, and Etsy shop overhaul. Dishes pile up, sleep is caught at random intervals, and meals are often erratic and wanting. It's no wonder that before I left the bf told me to enjoy it and relax.

And I am. My mom and I are having the best time, watching our shows and sharing snacks and retelling old stories. Tonight I laughed so hard that juice came out of my nose. Which means, of cousre, that a good time was had by all.

New and Improved Totes Sport Fresh Coats for Fall

Large Green Goddess Tote

Last summer, when I stopped doing craft shows, I decided that I wanted to put more time into making better stuff. Better as in more interesting, more challenging, and more creative. But also as in improved quality. Not that there's anything wrong with the way I currently do things, or that anything I make is defective (just needed to get that disclaimer out there). Nevertheless, there's always room for improvement.

A few months ago I got curious about acrylic sealer. I've always heat sealed the paint on my totes by ironing the opposite side of the canvas (as directed by the labels on the paint I use). This has always been an effective method of "setting" the paint. Still, I wondered if I could be doing more. So, I bought some sealer (they keep it under lock and key at Michaels) and applied a nice coat to my personal Large Green Goddess Tote. Now, the stuff is highly toxic (not to mention smelly) when it's wet, so I had some reservations, even though I covered my face. But the finish was beautiful. Clear and matte, it lent a truly professional quality to the artwork. Even though the Large Green Goddess Tote isn't a favorite of mine in terms of design, I found myself using it often just so I could ooh and ah over its slick surface.

Even so, I didn't start adding the acrylic sealer step to my bag creating repertoire. I was daunted by the task of sealing dozens of bags at once, and not a little spooked by the toxicity factor. (To reiterate, the sealer is toxic only when I'm spraying it, not once it's dry.) So I temporarily shelved the idea, letting it marinate.

Now I've decided that the time has come to go ahead and do it already. But I plan to seal the bags only as I sell them. This way I'll be spraying only one or two bags every so often instead of a whole bunch at once. This means investing in a more heavy-duty face mask, probably from a place where they mean business, like Home Depot. Adding the sealer also means updating each and every one of my Etsy listings to inform shoppers of the totes' new and improved wonderfulness. People are always asking me about the bags' durability, so I think knowing that I use acrylic sealer in addition to heat sealing will be the answer they're looking for.

Have a Heart for Art

A couple of days ago, someone from Tallahassee, Florida, contacted me through Etsy to find out if I'd be interested in donating my Medium Checkerboard Heart Tote (which I'd just relisted) to the I Heart Art auction being held at her child's elementary school. She provided a link to the I Heart Art program* which raises money to keep arts programs going in public schools. Of course, I was more than happy to participate. Arts programs deserve just as much attention and funding as science and athletics programs. Art gives kids the much-needed chance to express themselves beyond the bounds of right and wrong answers and painstakingly executed plays. And that broadens their world, making them feel good about themselves. I wish this I Heart Art Program lots of success. Go, art!

*Link deactivated.

Something New and Sparkly: Black and White and Fun All Over Necklace

Black and White and Fun All Over Necklace

Last night when I finished touching up the Large Beauty Queen Tote around 11:00, I decided it was as good a time as any to make the basic black and white necklace that I'd been thinking about for weeks. (You know, to wear with all my colorful outfits.) In the name of simplicity, I restrained myself from embellishing any felt for an accent piece (like those featured in my corsage and carnival styles), and as a result, the Black and White and Fun All Over necklace took only about an hour to make. I like that it goes with everything (I wore it today) but still has enough personality to hold its own. I just posted it in my Etsy shop under the ever-growing Made to Order Necklaces section. Next I need zip over to the Plaid site to order doubles of the two rhinestone Faux Show pendants, as I always do in case someone wants me to make her one.

Something Fun and Frivolous: Large Beauty Queen Tote

Few women can resist the allure of makeup. The unmistakable scent of a new eyeshadow palette. The familiar feel of applying a favorite lipstick. The world of possibility that unravels with the opening of a cosmetics case. As someone who used to line up and stare at her (considerable) collection of nail polish bottles, I'm no exception. Besides loving makeup itself, I've always been drawn to the graphic, colorful designs of its containers. I thought it would be fun to showcase them in a bag, and this Large Beauty Queen Tote was the result. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. So pleased that I plan to continue the beauty theme in my next project, the Large Rainbow Bold Beauty Tote. Stay tuned.

They Call Me Mellow Yellow

They don't. Call me that, that is. Still, I couldn't resist borrowing the old song lyric to describe the trio of ruffly yellow blouses hanging in my laundry room.

Although I hate doing housework, I love doing laundry. I always have, ever since I was about twelve. I think it's because sorting my clothes reminds me of creating outfits. Sometimes I'll really get into accumulating a load of just crazy prints or all warm or cool colors. (Hey, we all have our quirks.) So, that's why the yellow blouses called to me, compelling me to offer this glimpse into my laundry room.

That's all.

So, It Started With a Duck

Not too long ago, the bf asked me if I'd blogged about the duck yet. I admitted I hadn't. But I thought that it would make good post material and tucked it away in my mental file of someday plans.

So. About three years ago I was spending the weekend at the bf's when he decided to paint one of the duck decoys he'd carved in high school. (This was, by the way, the first I'd heard of his whittling prowess. As might be expected, I was amused. But also proud, as I couldn't carve anything even if my life depended on it.) He had an extra decoy and offered it to me to paint as I liked. Now, I should mention that at this point I hadn't done any artwork in years. Although I painted and drew a lot as a kid, even taking classes and winning a few contests, I stopped around the time I started high school, instead spending most of my free time writing. But when I looked at the plain wooden duck, it was as if nothing had changed. I started getting ideas, none of which had anything to do with real ducks.

As you can see from the (admittedly blurry) pictures above, I went a little nuts. The design was kind of crude (remember, I'd been out of commission), but my old creative spirit managed to sneak through. I was so excited that I ran out to buy rhinestones to give it a real wow! factor.

Corny as it sounds, painting that duck flicked a switch in me. It made me remember how much I loved making things, causing me to wonder why I ever stopped. So, I started making jewelry, eventually moving on to painting totes. It was addictive. Even though at first I made tons of mistakes and spent a small fortune in supplies. Even when I wasn't making stuff, I was thinking about making stuff. I never ran out of ideas, just time and energy.

That's still true.

I was in Michaels one day, paying for my usual haul of baubles, when the cashier asked me if I'd ever heard of Etsy. I hadn't. She gave me the Web address; I went home, checked it out, and was immediately impressed. I couldn't believe how professional it looked, or how much cool stuff people all over the world were making. I summoned my nerve and began planning my own little shop, taking the plunge a couple of months later. That following summer I started this blog.

As I'm sure you know, I'm having a good time with all things Tote Trove. A runaway success it isn't, but it's opened my mind and forced me to keep trying even when I'd rather eat my weight in frozen pizza while watching reruns of Saved by the Bell. I may never have pushed myself if it hadn't been for the bf and his unfinished duck decoy waiting to be rescued from a garage. So thanks, bf. For inspiring me and enduring my melodramatic rants and picking up the inevitable pieces. Although you don't read the blog (but then, you don't need to; you live it), I'll be sure to tell you all about this in the morning.