Work in progress.... Fall fashion 2009

Some work in progress.

Currently working on some fall/winter 2009 cowls. I didn't want them to be boring.... anything but boring. Same old simple stretch of fabric around your neck is becoming boring to wear and to look at.

I simply can't believe that some sellers have a one layer piece of knitted fabric with a button to wrap around your neck and sell them for $40 and over and call it a cowl. Shouldn't it be warmer then that? Shouldn't it have a character? A style? ...

So, here are my ideas for cowls. They are coming out in all different colors for fall. They will also have matching wrist warmers and maybe leggings.

The yarn used for the moss cowl is one of the finest -- 100% Peruvian highland wool. It gives this cowl a bit chunky look and it is very warm.

The white cowl is made with acrylic yarn, but, it is very soft and durable. You can wash it 100 times and it will look just the same as when you just bought it. I actually liked it so much that I am leaving a white cowl for myself! :) and making another one for sale.

Fall 2009 review

Before creating a new line of fall items, I decided to dive into more creative ideas for Fall 2009 collections. The designs tend to replicate the 80's but in a more softer sort of way. The main color throughout the collections is dominantly black. However, when it came to details, every designer seemed to pick one bright color and stick with it, combining it either with black or charcoal grey and occasionally blue.

My favorite collection, without a doubt, was Marc by Marc Jacobs. Great colors, tons of inspirational pieces. Almost every outfit had red (as you can see from detail review on the left picture)

What's to come: leggings, cowls, wide scarves, and stripes.... lots of wide stripes.

Love the black rose wrist detail on the bottom picture.

Acrophobia....

Yesterday we went to PA to watch hawks. We had to hike a bit and kids were great, but I found out that I have a fear of heights. And most of all, I am almost paranoid that kids will make wrong turn and fall off the mountain and that thought sends pain through my whole body! I talked to my aunt about me being afraid of heights and she told me that I had it since I was a little girl. Then I started reading up on it and found out that fear of heights is also called Acrophobia.

Acrophobia is something that you are kind of born with. It is not learned or not something that you can gain by once being scared off by something. Some people just simply have it and others don't. So, for me to get rid of this phobia I should gradually introduce myself to heights. First, starting at a comfortable level and gradually increasing the heights and getting used to them until I feel OK.

I don't know... while I have 2 energetic kids, who can easily hurt themselves, I am not sure how am I going to ever get over this fear :) What do you think?

This elevation was 1521'. My first mountain to visit was Mt Washington in NH, elevation over 16,000'. (and thank God it was really foggy at the peak! :)

I am truly a beach person!

C. pretend falling - camera tricks :)

Making use of old stuff

Spring is in the air and we are starting our closet cleanup. Kai and C. had some colorful t-shirts that I thought we could use for something else. So this past Sunday we were making softies. I think they came out pretty good : ) C. also got a lizard made out of his old terry pants, but we didn't get a chance to snap a photo of it. But here are some of Kai's bunny family

New items in my shop!!!

So exciting. I decided to make these really cool Laptop Sleeves. They are so far made in more masculine color and one is for the ladies :) I am working on more feminine colors next. Let me know what you think!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22163086
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22162766
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22162380

I am especially happy with the way this one came out. So far it is my favorite!

http://www.craftopolis.com/ this is new. I just read about this link of one of the forums on Etsy. If you wish to know if you were listed in one of the treasuries, this is a really easy tracker. Check it out! All you need to do is enter your user name!

Contest winner for February

Here is my happy Young Designer winner for February 2009- -giving me her thumbs up! :) Come to my website and see how your child can participate in the absolutely FREE contest at http://www.knitberry.com/

Another great shop on Etsy

Lunatiger's is a person who likes to keep up with new technology, while still liking the feel of a pencil and paper in her hand. She is on Etsy to help her mother, who had discovered brilliant idea of making Swarovski crystal characters. Their combined shop is a presentation of quality and care that you can see in every item

What inspires you to create?

I love art ever since I was little. I could spend hours creating and not get tired of it. I think what inspire me is nature and what I see in my surroundings. I usually take the smallest little items that no one cares for, for example an odd shaped tree bark and the light bulb goes of in my head. I think I get inspired to create from the most unexpected places.I initially started my blog to keep me motivated and post about art which you can find here: http://www.michellengdesigns.blogspot.com/

How did you decide to join Etsy?

I first joined Etsy because I wanted to help my mother sell her Swarovski Critters to a wider audience. She has only sold it to friends and family at that point and everyone kept on saying she should "sell it online!". One of my best friends suggested Etsy, which I had never heard of. I had only known about E-bay (aka Feebay on Etsy), but I found Etsy to be a much more pleasant place. Since then I've begun selling my origami roses that I've practice making for 12 years and some more things to come.

I'm also planning to open my second store featuring my artwork.

What is the most favorite item in your shop? Man that's tough...I would have to say the Swarovski Crystal Lady Dog would be my favorite. I also think it would be my mom's least favorite, only because it takes her 2 hours to make! I estimate that 100 crystals were used to make it. But I love it and ask her to make it so I can get first dibs on the goodies! Hehe...