The *Ulitmate* Crafter is Comin' to Town

My sis, Kate, is the *ultimate* crafter. She's so talented, she' s creative and funny and sews like a pro and is an amazing artist and and and, well ok, I am her sister, but still!

This is Kate Moss, wearing my sister, Kate's dress that she designed, drafted and made. Do you believe it? No amount of lipstick in my sewing box would get me to this level...Oh and another thing, my sister Kate is really good at Photoshop too. But Kate Moss should wear Kate's dress. She looks damn fine in it. And to the left is one of her designs for fabric yardage. Don't you want some? Awesomeness.

She has an interview at Chicago Institute of Art this weekend. Out of 300 applicants, 10 get an interview and 2 are chosen for the Graduate MFA Fibers Program. She's already been accepted to Oregon State in Eugene, so chances are pretty good that she'll end up close to my other sister in Seattle. I can still hope that I'd be so lucky to have her in Chicago. Check out her amazingness on flickr:

Kate's Amazingness!

XX
MM

Etsy updates coming soon!

Good 'ole Mom

My mom sends me all kinds of cool craft links. She's has always been a supporter of mine through art adventures. A big high five and big hug to my mom and this mom:

http://www.rekn.it/

xo
MM

Less Talk, More Action

Well, there's no doubt we can talk game...some of us better than others (ahem, *Megan*!)...so I thought we need to demonstrate how we walk the talk. I see, Megan, that you're on your toes this morning, beating my post by mere minutes...good on ya!
Here's a bit of mine, in my favorite film format...stop-motion! :-)

 

Le Petite School of Dance

I started ballet when I was 3 and took classes until I was 13. I know you must be thinking that, I rock it on the dance floor? This low-budge dance operation was pretty much all in the name of fun and dance recitals. My dance teacher nicknamed me "Grace" for a lack there of! Of all the nerve.

Sure we went through the checklist of 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions, shinee turns and arabesques. Then we got down to business and just practiced for the showy recitals. I remember my mom sewing sequins on bathing suits and taffeta on too. My dad also got involved, screen printing bags and tshirts for the, uhm, "dance company." The design is too cute and I decided to redraw it and screen print it on tshirts and hoodies.

I've been working on other screen print designs too. Its addictive, fun and rewarding. It's like Christmas morning when you pull the screen off and there you have a crisp, nice print! So satisfying! I turn on music and groove and print away---that old nickname hasn't slowed me down a bit! Just ask to see my "plee-ay" (no idea how to really spell that, remember, low budge), it kicks booty bong.

xo
MM

Magnificent Monday

Good Magnificent Monday Morning! I think I'll add "cheery" to my list of adjectives...Don't you think that's appropriate? I thought I'd continue to paint a personality picture of us Crafticians for you, because some of the responses to my last post, well, eh uhm, Jamie, were quite simply put, a crock of...you know.

You may know that not only is Craftastica a lean, mean, crafting machine, we also compete (ok, so we haven't yet officially, but we are waiting for the chance!) I encourage you to invite us to your friendly, neighborhood craft-off. Will we kick your sewing booty bong? Oh yes. Will we look good winning in our team jerseys? Of course! Meet Team Craftastica:

Chicken Mama-Beth
Reason 1: she has lots of chickens
Reason 2: she is a lovely, loving mama
Reason 3: have you seen her screen print?
Little known fact: she has threatened to sneak into my house at night and steal the jewelery my dad makes me, she loves it that much!

Handbag Biz
Reason 1: I missed the day this nickname came to be, so I don't actually know
Reason 2: It has such a good ring to it, I never needed to hear the story!
Reason 3: It sounds so much better than Satchel Biz or Purse Biz
Little known fact: She changes her handbag every day to match her outfit, one includes a cape, which is why she can use "shazaam" as an adjective to describe herself!

Queen Bee-take a little guess who this is! ;)
Reason 1: She's bossy.
Reason 2: ok ok she keeps bees, lot's of them!
Reason 3: see reason 1
Little known fact: she loves using astriks and even does them in real time, imagine jazz hands with a little shake. she does make it look good!

Magnificent Megan
Reason 1: I'm Magnificent
Reason 2: I'm Megan
Reason 3: my dad was into screen printing when i was young. For my 1oth birthday he screen printed Magnificent Megan on a tshirt, sweatshirt, bag for me and yes, even a tshirt for himself.
Little known fact: when i am surprised in a dark alley, i fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. watch out.

Keeping it real, G-rated and delicate,
Magnificent Megan

Assignemnt Adjective

In an attempt to clarify who each craftician is, I thought it would be a good idea to do this little assignment. We have had numerous conversations about our personalities, good qualities and even hubris. There is no debate about who I am, however, for the others, now is your chance to describe yourself using 7 adjectives. You can judge a book by my cover, I'll go first in this little assignment.

1.delicate
2.tender
3.poised
4.dainty
5.slight
6.mild
7.delicate

Biz, Beth and Jamie, I can't wait to hear from you!!

Create...

Let me introduce you to the Tone Matrix...go, create some incredible music with just the click of your mouse.

I cannot guarantee that you won't be become addicted. :-)

Mailing Etsy Packages at the USPS

So...I was in the waiting line at the post office yesterday. Yes, I was number 11 in line and there were 6 people behind me, bad post office day apparently. At least I had the luxury of being in the post office to mail our etsy shop goods by myself, courtesy of Beth (thank you mama!). I assumed that being in such a long line would allow me a few moments of reverie and design contemplation, no kids, no endless conversations about "I spy a map on the wall!" Wow, the map is right there, do I win now?

I digress. Minding my own business, standing in line at the USPS, and elderly gentleman walks up to me, I look at the Craftastica mailers I have. Then I feel him breathing on me asking "Do you know anything about the law and gettin' rid of your room mate?" Wha-ha? Yes, he was talking to me when he had his choice of 17 other people to talk to AND it should be noted I do not look like an attorney, thank you very much! I responded, logically "No, I don't know anything about that." Unfortunately, that was not the end of the conversation and now all 17 pairs of eyeballs were riveted on me, not toothless gent with the room mate issue.

"Well," he rambled on "My room mate sleeps all day, gets up for 4 hours, meditates or something crazy like that and goes back to bed! He's so lazy and never does nothin', he won't give me my money and I want him gone!" For the first time I looked at this man. All I wanted to do was mail my packages in silence, that is why I came to the post office with no children. I love humanity but I cannot referee one more persons interpersonal relationships for the day, work it out people, one love. My choice was to simply respond "Good luck with that, man." Eldery gentleman continued to gnaw on his lips and move his gums around for 30 seconds more and then left. The woman behind me said "Wow, he really has an issue." The man in front of me said "You must look like an attorney." (I repeat I do not look like an attorney, they get to wash their hair everyday, I do not, hmmmph!) The rest of the line chuckled.

This is how much I love our customers on etsy, I will submit to the waiting line at the post office to mail your goods and tell you funny stories of what happens while I'm there! And now I'm wondering, was it my crazy hair yesterday that drew him to me? Or, do I really look like an attorney? Or, do I look like I meditate all day long? I'll have Jamie take my picture and we'll take a poll. For now, this is the tribute to the post office and the elderly gentleman with room mate issues, good luck dude, maybe you should meditate instead of asking legal advice from randoms at the post office.

Besos,
Biz