Funny stuff Friday

That is Batman, my French Bulldog.

Photos

I have a lot to learn when it comes to photographing my items for my shop. With that being said, I have come a long way. Here's an example of one of my first photos.



Here's my next few attempts at that same item....





And finally, my last attempt at this same product.


So, I've figured out that a plain white background works the best for me, and I need to take my pictures in natural sunlight, without the flash. However, there's still a lot for me to learn. So, do you have any photography tips???

Etsy Favorites!

As I mentioned in my first post, I have some medical issues. I have good days, and bad days. On my good days, it's almost like there is nothing wrong with me at all, but on my days, things can get pretty tough. For the most part, I've learned to accept my limitations and how to cope with them. One thing that I do struggle with however, is the idea of not doing anything. Even when I know that I need to be taking it easy or resting, I feel like there is something that I can be doing. I spend time re-editing pictures, or promoting my shop on my twitter page, or my facebook fan page. . I always feel like, no matter how I'm feeling, there's always something that I can be doing. Obviously, this isn't good for me, or for health. Just relaxing is hard for me, and it always has been, but LilacAve on etsy helps me do this.

I met LilacAve when I joined the Homefront Team. She is a Navy wife, and wonderful mom to two adorable kids. Not to mention, she makes my favorite candles. Her candles are soy, which burns cleaner, and lasts longer, and she uses unique and different containers to house these wonderful candles.





LilacAve also makes soy tarts, which are my latest love. These tarts not only smell fantastic, but they are inexpensive and they last a really long time. When I want to change scents, I just stick my tart burner in the freezer for about 10 minutes, pop out the current wax, and pop in a new tart. Easy!!





So, be sure to check her out on Etsy or even on 1000Markets, and check back often, since she's always adding new goodies!!

A personal project

Normally, I spend most of my time working on something for my shop. Between creating, listing, and promoting, there's always something that needs to be done. However, I have been trying to find a little bit of time here and there to work on a side project. It's a quilt using a pattern that I came up with myself. It's a bit slow going, since the design is a bit more complicate to make than it appears to be. As you can see by the pictures, the squares can be laid out in a variety of ways, resulting in many different looks for the quilt. I hope you enjoy it, and if I ever get it finished, I'll be sure to post pictures!

What Am I Making Today?

For the past few days, I've been working on turning this pile of fabric
into headbands for my etsy shop. I have really fine hair, so for me, it was important that I create a headband that doesn't slide out on my hair. I also didn't want to create something that gives people "headband hair." This is what I came up with.








All of my fabric headbands measure approximately 2 inches wide and 17 inches long, with 4.5 inches of visible elastic, making them an excellent fit for most women. All of them headbands are reversible, with a printed fabric on one side, and a coordinating solid on the other. I also love to do custom orders, so if you don't see quite what you are looking for, let me know. :o)

Funny stuff Friday

It's Friday, and as such, I thought I would give you another reason to smile....




That's me, quickly approaching 30 years old, acting like a real grown up at the San Diego Zoo.....

So Fun Fabrics

I've always shopped in stores for fabric. Always. To be completely honest with you, it had never occurred to me to even look on Etsy for fabric until someone mentioned it to me recently. Now, my etsy favorites is full of wonderful fabric shops that I'm excited to start buying from. (You know, once I use some of that fabric that I have stock-piled all over my apartment.....)

I actually came across SoFunFabrics on Twitter. I saw in their profile that they are from San Diego, and since I currently live in the San Diego area, that makes us practically neighbors. I checked out their shop, and I fell in love right away. They say that everything in their shop made them say, "That's so fun," and I have to agree. Can you just see the possibilities with this much awesome fabric????








Their prices are great, so be sure to check them out by clicking here. You can also follow them on twitter, check out their blog and fan them on Facebook!!! I'll see you there!!

My name is Jessica and I'm a fabric-aholic....

They say that the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem, right? Well, in that case, I have a problem. I love fabric. I love pretty fabrics, and I will buy them with no plans for them just because I love them. In my work space, I have this armoire, full of fabric. I try to keep as organized as possible, but it's in a bit of a disarray at the moment, since I've been trying to use up what I have. Additionally, I tend to keep a pile of fabric out, that I am working from. Currently, I am making headbands, so I have these fabrics pulled out for that purpose.
I also keep riboon, thread, and sometimes new fabric next to my machine.

You would think that I have enough fabric. I mean, I have yards of gorgeous material that I haven't even used yet, but I have been fighting the urge to go fabric shopping. So far, so good. I have been working hard to use the material that I have and to not purchase anything new. I'm not sure how well my willpower will hold up when I have to go into the store to get more snaps, though.....


So, tell me, what's your crafting weakness???

Custom Orders

In the past few months, I've found myself lucky enough to be asked to do a few Custom Orders. I've been asked to make headbands, purses, diaper bags, messenger bags, and other creations that customers have wanted. These requests have come from a wide variety of places, and I'd like to share a few of them with you.

A member of the Homefront Team contacted me a few months ago and asked me to create a headband and scrunchie set for her out of the fabric from Army BDUs.


I was also asked by a friend to turn her favorite old jeans into a diaper bag when she found out that she was expecting another baby.


While taking product pictures on the patio, a neighbor spotted me and struck up a conversation about my work. That conversation lead to this custom order, which was a Christmas gift for her mother.


My most recent custom order was actually a request from one of my twitter followers. She asked me to turn some of her husband's Marine Corps uniforms into a purse.


I have also had custom orders come from people within the Etsy chat rooms, family members, and extended family members. You never know who is going to want a design of their very own. That's why I always carry a purse that I've designed and created, and several business cards. While it can be somewhat stressful not knowing if your vision will be the vision that they had in mind, it's definitely been a big part of my business lately.

Funny stuff Friday

I stumble across this situation while I was walking my dog the other day.....

Look!! It's me!!!!

So, I always get really excited when I find out that my shop has been featured somewhere. I can't help it. It makes me feel special. Today, I am featured on two blogs!! I just wanted to share them with you!

Camp Cupcake Designs


Linda B's Blog

Keeping the Home Fires Burning....

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am a military spouse. While this is not ALL that I am, this is a huge part of who I am. While military life can be tough at times, I also consider it to be an incredible blessing. Before becoming a military spouse, I had no idea how strong of a person I was. Military life, however, has demanded that from me. Sometimes, though, it's nice to have people to turn to who understand military life. While I have a wonderful support system of friends and family, they don't understand why I can't tell them what state or country I'll live in a year from now. They don't understand why I can't make plans for a few months from now. Most of the time, I can't even tell you what life has in store for us a few days from now. They don't know what it's like to wait days or weeks for a phone call from your spouse. Other military spouses get these things. That's why, when I first opened my shop on Etsy, I was very lucky to find the Homefront Team. The Homefront Team is a place where I know that I will be understood. No matter what I am facing, there is always someone there who has been there before and who can offer some friendly advice. In many ways, I feel closer in some ways to some of these people, whom I have never met in real life, to some of my oldest friends. So, I'd like to introduce you to the Homefront Team

"The Etsy Homefront Team is made up of over 100 shops, all owned by spouses and significant others of members of the uniformed services. We are male and female, of all ages and several different nationalities and are located, quite literally, worldwide!

Our one common thread is that we are personally involved in supporting our countries on a day-in, day-out basis. Without prejudice, or regard for religion, race, nationality or political views, we keep the homefires burning and our families together, no matter how far apart we are.

Check out our blog at: http://www.homefrontartistryteam.blogspot.com"

Please check out some of their amazing creations by searching "Homefront" on Etsy!

My first time!

This is my first blog post, and I have to be honest, I have been a bit hesitant to take this plunge. I am a stay at home military wife, and a crafter. I make bags and accessories that I sell online at www.astonesthrow.etsy.com. I also have two medical conditions that affect my life and my day to day abilities. I am also the proud parent to an adorable french bulldog. Needless to say, things are pretty in my life, which make me think long and hard about taking on yet another task. However, I think that this will be another way to share my story. I am looking forward to sharing some of my life, my creations, my struggles, and my successes with you.