Every year in early December one of the local wineries puts on an event they call Fezziwig. Several wine and food pairings are offered and all of the employees dress up like characters from A Christmas Carol. It is a fun time. Jeff had gone once before we met and then we had gone together for a few years. Then we stopped going, he'd missed two of them due to being deployed. This year we had some friends who really wanted to go check it out, so today that's what we did. Things have changed since the last time Jeff and I had gone. One of the big additions is a mini play, telling the story of A Christmas Carol, that travels throughout the winery. That was fun to see.
Our friends wanted to go this morning to try and beat the crowds. I thought that would be good, I could come home afterwards and get a lot done! Silly me. Going on an empty stomach, pretty much first thing in the morning, to have what amounted to 5 glasses of wine was NOT a good thing to do. Needless to say, I haven't gotten anything done today. Ah well, it was a day of fun with friends and it was neat to see another Fezziwig after a few years away.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Giveaway Done - New Pad Underway
This evening I drew names for the Giveaway on my Facebook page. I was offering pick of 4 prizes to one winner, but I decided to draw 4 names and give everything away! (it is Christmastime after all) ;)
Today we went to town and picked up some feed for Bo and also cardstock, for product picture backgrounds, and clock parts. We have some clock designs for the laser that we hadn't made yet, but last night we received an order for two of them! Now we have the bits to get them done.
I'm well underway on my latest saddle pad, using my newest frame idea.
I haven't gotten any different wood or pins/tacks yet, but obviously it works well the way it is! I like that I'll also have room to stitch a few mini pads along the bottom too.
I really enjoy making these saddle pads, but I'm thinking this might be my last one for a little bit - mainly because I really need to get busy on the laser for the Stock Show AND I need to get back to work on finishing up some custom horses, for past orders and future shows/donations. There is a show in March I'd like to go to, before our big move. I'd also like to get back to work on the Stagecoach (gasp!). I haven't worked on that for a while and I think it would be a neat display piece for the Stock Show, if I can get some major work done on it by then.
Tomorrow we are going out with some friends for a little while. I'll probably do more work on the saddle pad, and also some work on the laser. I would like to work in the Studio room at least a bit too, we'll see!
Today we went to town and picked up some feed for Bo and also cardstock, for product picture backgrounds, and clock parts. We have some clock designs for the laser that we hadn't made yet, but last night we received an order for two of them! Now we have the bits to get them done.
I'm well underway on my latest saddle pad, using my newest frame idea.
I haven't gotten any different wood or pins/tacks yet, but obviously it works well the way it is! I like that I'll also have room to stitch a few mini pads along the bottom too.
I really enjoy making these saddle pads, but I'm thinking this might be my last one for a little bit - mainly because I really need to get busy on the laser for the Stock Show AND I need to get back to work on finishing up some custom horses, for past orders and future shows/donations. There is a show in March I'd like to go to, before our big move. I'd also like to get back to work on the Stagecoach (gasp!). I haven't worked on that for a while and I think it would be a neat display piece for the Stock Show, if I can get some major work done on it by then.
Tomorrow we are going out with some friends for a little while. I'll probably do more work on the saddle pad, and also some work on the laser. I would like to work in the Studio room at least a bit too, we'll see!
Friday, December 5, 2014
Recyling, Crafty Style
This is something I've done a handful of times over the years and found myself needing to do it again, only this time I thought - why not make a blog post out of it?
Behold... (haha)
As I may have mentioned before, I'm all about maximizing my supplies and wringing all the use I can out of them.
One group of items I've been making for over 12 years now are cross necklaces made out of horseshoe nails.
Historically, they have actually been my best seller and I've given away as many or more of them over the years too. I learned how to make them from one of those "assemble jewelry at home and get rich" type of companies. The whole assemble-at-home-and-send-to-them-to-get-paid thing didn't work out like they had promised, no big surprise there I guess, but I also received the rights to sell them wherever and however I wanted to. So that's the direction I headed off into. I've made a ton of them over the years.
Every now and then I decide to recycle some of them, that is stripping off the wire and changing colors. The nails are the hardest supply to find for the whole deal - they are actually pony nails - so I have reused several sets of nails over the years, stripping off old wire and replacing it with new.
One of the most popular color combinations that I've come up with is one that I call "Buckskin Copper". (inspired by buckskin colored horses, of course)
Today I decided to do a small restock my inventory of this color, after selling a couple and receiving an inquiry on more of them. I opted to recycle the nails from a few of my personal necklaces, converting them to Buckskin Copper crosses.
I started with three of my patriotic Red, White, and Blue necklaces that I've worn over the years.
First, I gather the supplies and tools, new wire...
...and the needed tools.
First step is to cut off the necklace cords, leaving just the crosses.
Then comes disassembly, unwinding all the wires and being left with a pile of nails and crusty wire.
The wire is thrown out, there's just no saving that... and the nails will be used to make new crosses.
After stripping the wire off, it's time to prep them, sanding off any old clear coat, rust, etc. Clear coat applied when they are new prevents rust on the nails, but after so many years it can be worn off. New nails don't need prep, but after so long, these nails were a bit rough. Nothing a little sanding can't fix. As with a lot of things, prep work is so important to the finished product!
New wires, measured, cut, and ready to put on:
A short time later, three shiny brand new Buckskin Copper crosses!
After wire wrapping, they will be clear coated to protect the wire and nails. When dry (tomorrow), they'll be strung onto new necklace cords. Finally, they will be ready to ship out!
I really like reusing as many craft supplies as I can and this is a neat way I've come up with to recycle some of my old cross necklaces into new ones.
Behold... (haha)
As I may have mentioned before, I'm all about maximizing my supplies and wringing all the use I can out of them.
One group of items I've been making for over 12 years now are cross necklaces made out of horseshoe nails.
Historically, they have actually been my best seller and I've given away as many or more of them over the years too. I learned how to make them from one of those "assemble jewelry at home and get rich" type of companies. The whole assemble-at-home-and-send-to-them-to-get-paid thing didn't work out like they had promised, no big surprise there I guess, but I also received the rights to sell them wherever and however I wanted to. So that's the direction I headed off into. I've made a ton of them over the years.
Every now and then I decide to recycle some of them, that is stripping off the wire and changing colors. The nails are the hardest supply to find for the whole deal - they are actually pony nails - so I have reused several sets of nails over the years, stripping off old wire and replacing it with new.
One of the most popular color combinations that I've come up with is one that I call "Buckskin Copper". (inspired by buckskin colored horses, of course)
Today I decided to do a small restock my inventory of this color, after selling a couple and receiving an inquiry on more of them. I opted to recycle the nails from a few of my personal necklaces, converting them to Buckskin Copper crosses.
I started with three of my patriotic Red, White, and Blue necklaces that I've worn over the years.
First, I gather the supplies and tools, new wire...
...and the needed tools.
First step is to cut off the necklace cords, leaving just the crosses.
 |
| The colored wire here is in pretty rough shape after a lot of use - the white is dingy, the colors are faded and chipped. They've had a rough life, each being worn 24/7 for a long time, and then bouncing around in a drawer together. These crosses are at least 10 years old. |
Then comes disassembly, unwinding all the wires and being left with a pile of nails and crusty wire.
The wire is thrown out, there's just no saving that... and the nails will be used to make new crosses.
After stripping the wire off, it's time to prep them, sanding off any old clear coat, rust, etc. Clear coat applied when they are new prevents rust on the nails, but after so many years it can be worn off. New nails don't need prep, but after so long, these nails were a bit rough. Nothing a little sanding can't fix. As with a lot of things, prep work is so important to the finished product!
New wires, measured, cut, and ready to put on:
A short time later, three shiny brand new Buckskin Copper crosses!
After wire wrapping, they will be clear coated to protect the wire and nails. When dry (tomorrow), they'll be strung onto new necklace cords. Finally, they will be ready to ship out!
I really like reusing as many craft supplies as I can and this is a neat way I've come up with to recycle some of my old cross necklaces into new ones.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Busy Day, Then Dental Trauma
Yesterday was a busy day, I went to the barn and then took Bo to a dressage lesson. Hauled Bo back to the barn, came home, took our old pup to the vet for a check up, brought him back home, went back to the barn to clean Bo's stall, feed him dinner, and finally go home. It doesn't seem like much as I sit here writing it, but all of that amounted to a full day and evening of go-go-go and I was wiped. out.
Unfortunately, so far since getting the news, I haven't done anything yet to begin preparations for the Stock Show. I had an appointment today that I was dreading... the dentist. Due to several bad experiences in the past, I'm afraid (to the point of tears) of going to the dentist, especially going to a NEW one, which is what happened today. They were all very nice there, but I am so sore after the work they did.
Yeah, nothing else got done today either - except for more cross-stitching; I've started on a new saddle pad already and it's coming along nicely.
Tomorrow we should get our Christmas tree - then add decorating for Christmas onto the mountain of things to do!
Unfortunately, so far since getting the news, I haven't done anything yet to begin preparations for the Stock Show. I had an appointment today that I was dreading... the dentist. Due to several bad experiences in the past, I'm afraid (to the point of tears) of going to the dentist, especially going to a NEW one, which is what happened today. They were all very nice there, but I am so sore after the work they did.
Yeah, nothing else got done today either - except for more cross-stitching; I've started on a new saddle pad already and it's coming along nicely.
Tomorrow we should get our Christmas tree - then add decorating for Christmas onto the mountain of things to do!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Problem Solving With a Laser
Yesterday I finished stitching another saddle pad:
Right away, I wanted to get started, or at least set up to start, the next one.
However, I've recently decided I'm not a huge fan of hoops.
I like to wring all the use I possibly can out of my supplies and it feels like I waste a lot of fabric in a hoop. I do try and cut off the edges around the pad and I'm now using those scraps as Stablemate pads if I can.
If I try to scrimp, and end up not leaving myself enough fabric sticking out to really cinch everything down snug - evenly, I end up with pads that curl:
(they don't curl after they are finished, this is fresh out of the hoop and the extra fabric trimmed away)
I've recently read about stretcher bars, another way of securing fabric for embroidery. Yesterday I decided to try and cobble something together to use as a custom size set of bars or some such contraption to made my pads.
Then it occurred to me... I don't need to "cobble"... we have a LASER.
So I grabbed a piece of our scrap wood and did some measurements. Then worked in the software for about a minute and fired up the laser. Presto, I had a frame!
The opening is large enough to allow a Traditional scale pad to be stitched.
The idea on stretcher bars is that you pin the fabric to the edges. You actually wrap the fabric over the ends of the bars, from what I read, but I decided to pin straight to the frame and see how that would work.
Only problem... this is HARD material. It's been a while since we bought it, but I think it must be oak. This is the best I could do with pushing the pins in:
Even with the use of my modeling hammer...
So, I think my idea is sound, but I need to use a softer wood. I'd also like to use flat thumb tacks, instead of push pins, to secure the fabric. I'll have to try to stitch a pad on this type of setup and see if the fabric will stay snug. If not, I'll re-do the design to allow the fabric to go over the edge of the frame.
It is really neat to have the laser to do problem solving in crafty and household things - in addition to using it to start up a business. I'm thinking if I can get this frame design nailed down, it might even be an idea for a new product to offer as well.
Today I've got a full day planned, including a trip to town to get some wood that is softer for my cross-stitch frame idea and some thumb tacks.
Right away, I wanted to get started, or at least set up to start, the next one.
However, I've recently decided I'm not a huge fan of hoops.
I like to wring all the use I possibly can out of my supplies and it feels like I waste a lot of fabric in a hoop. I do try and cut off the edges around the pad and I'm now using those scraps as Stablemate pads if I can.
 |
| A hoop crimps the fabric, which is another reason I'm thinking of moving away from them if I want to use the scraps for stitching too. |
If I try to scrimp, and end up not leaving myself enough fabric sticking out to really cinch everything down snug - evenly, I end up with pads that curl:
(they don't curl after they are finished, this is fresh out of the hoop and the extra fabric trimmed away)
I've recently read about stretcher bars, another way of securing fabric for embroidery. Yesterday I decided to try and cobble something together to use as a custom size set of bars or some such contraption to made my pads.
Then it occurred to me... I don't need to "cobble"... we have a LASER.
So I grabbed a piece of our scrap wood and did some measurements. Then worked in the software for about a minute and fired up the laser. Presto, I had a frame!
The opening is large enough to allow a Traditional scale pad to be stitched.
The idea on stretcher bars is that you pin the fabric to the edges. You actually wrap the fabric over the ends of the bars, from what I read, but I decided to pin straight to the frame and see how that would work.
Only problem... this is HARD material. It's been a while since we bought it, but I think it must be oak. This is the best I could do with pushing the pins in:
Even with the use of my modeling hammer...
So, I think my idea is sound, but I need to use a softer wood. I'd also like to use flat thumb tacks, instead of push pins, to secure the fabric. I'll have to try to stitch a pad on this type of setup and see if the fabric will stay snug. If not, I'll re-do the design to allow the fabric to go over the edge of the frame.
It is really neat to have the laser to do problem solving in crafty and household things - in addition to using it to start up a business. I'm thinking if I can get this frame design nailed down, it might even be an idea for a new product to offer as well.
Today I've got a full day planned, including a trip to town to get some wood that is softer for my cross-stitch frame idea and some thumb tacks.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Quick Post - Big News
I got a phone call tonight letting us know that we have a booth at the Black Hills Stock Show for our laser business! This is one of the biggest events in our area and it features a huge trade show full of all sorts of vendors... and we will be one of them! I'm excited, but also sort of in shock. There is SO much to do between now and the end of January, when the show starts.
Also, we put on our application that we would be selling not only laser cut and engraved goods, but also... custom model horses! Now I need to get busy on a few different fronts - laser, custom horses, not to mention the big move. I think I need a coffee IV... ha!
Also, we put on our application that we would be selling not only laser cut and engraved goods, but also... custom model horses! Now I need to get busy on a few different fronts - laser, custom horses, not to mention the big move. I think I need a coffee IV... ha!
Monday, December 1, 2014
Productivity Day, Not So Much Crafting Day
Last night I spent a couple of hours in the Studio room and this is the result:
I got a lot of things on the floor picked up and (finally) unpacked most of the boxes from the shows.
Today I started out by doing a bit of cross-stitching. Here is my current in progress pad as it looks now:
All of the details of the pattern are done, now all that remains is a bunch of black stitching in the middle. I think it looks good and I'm eager to get it finished - and start on another one!
After some stitching, I moved on to taking pictures of a bunch of finished items, to get them listed for sale. I desperately wanted to craft away today and had originally planned to spend the whole day making things. I sometimes wish I could hire someone to take pictures, format them, and write up all of the listings to sell them, while I do what I like best - making more things! Alas, it is only me running this operation, so instead of making things today, I took a bunch of pictures of things I already have.
I took pictures of a lot of bookmarks...
Also dreamcatchers....
And I did my first ever photo shoot for some of my Stablemate-sized saddle pads!
I still have a lot more finished work that needs to be photographed and I might do another round tomorrow. Then of course comes the arduous task of formatting all of the pictures and actually getting everything listed for sale. No fun, or at least not as much fun as crafting, but it needs to be done!
 |
| Still a mess, but getting better... |
I got a lot of things on the floor picked up and (finally) unpacked most of the boxes from the shows.
Today I started out by doing a bit of cross-stitching. Here is my current in progress pad as it looks now:
All of the details of the pattern are done, now all that remains is a bunch of black stitching in the middle. I think it looks good and I'm eager to get it finished - and start on another one!
After some stitching, I moved on to taking pictures of a bunch of finished items, to get them listed for sale. I desperately wanted to craft away today and had originally planned to spend the whole day making things. I sometimes wish I could hire someone to take pictures, format them, and write up all of the listings to sell them, while I do what I like best - making more things! Alas, it is only me running this operation, so instead of making things today, I took a bunch of pictures of things I already have.
I took pictures of a lot of bookmarks...
Also dreamcatchers....
And I did my first ever photo shoot for some of my Stablemate-sized saddle pads!
I still have a lot more finished work that needs to be photographed and I might do another round tomorrow. Then of course comes the arduous task of formatting all of the pictures and actually getting everything listed for sale. No fun, or at least not as much fun as crafting, but it needs to be done!
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