Friday, December 31, 2010

hello 2011!

Hello world!  I feel like I've been MIA from my blog for a long time, even if it's just been a few weeks.  Now it's mere moments away from being 2011 (a whole new year!) and I feel like I need to catch up on what's been going on in the last bits of 2010.

Things have really been topsy turvy lately.  I went from beginning to plan my new study schedule for the February Bar exam to go along with my crafting and Etsy-ing to interviewing for and getting a new job!  That came out of nowhere, for real.  So, that's where I've been the past few weeks, just adjusting to a lot of new things.  It's been challenging and stressful and frustrating at times, but it's good, too, and good to be earning my own money again.  We really needed it!  Although it's been a lot to take in, I'm going to look at it as another challenge and go into it with a fresh attitude and mindset for 2011.  Some day I'll look back on this day and think about how silly I was for feeling so overwhelmed.  It's just adjusting and becoming comfortable - I just wish it'd feel natural already, but looking back at my first job out of college, I remember feeling the same way.  So I'll try to work on some patience and keep an open mind.

Even in these few weeks, besides the job, a lot of fun stuff has been happening.  My sister bought her Disneyland annual pass and we went twice in the span of 4 days (and even survived a rainy night the second time).  After she flew home, Matt and I spent a lovely Christmas at his parents' house with family and friends.  It's always good laughs and craziness and this time was no different, especially when we encountered an interesting character at the bar on Christmas Eve that became completely smitten with Matt's mom's friend.  Yikes.  Definitely a story to remember.  And we got to meet up with some of Matt's dear friends and it turned out to be a lot of fun catching up.  

I got some lovely things for Christmas but I think I've gotten to the point where it's more about the time and festivities than it is about the gifts.  I didn't get anything major but it was cute to receive thoughtful little things, like handmade crochet takochu from my sister, a Smashbox makeup kit from Santa, a super cute monkey plush, a yoshi plush, and cute keychain and coin purse from Matt's grandma.  Now that I'm making my own money again, I can't wait to start paying off some of my debts that have accumulated.  Also, my goal (hopefully soon) is to buy my first DLSR camera.  I'd love to improve on my Etsy shop photos and also, I'd like to be able to take some nice photos just for myself.  Maybe for art around the house or just as inspiration for crafts.  My sister just bought her first one so I'm waiting to see/hear if it's great and hopefully I can pool some money together from my Christmas money and save some from my job and get one soon, too.

I've decided that this year, I will do the yearlong photo-a-day project.  I learned about this too late last year to do it so I've been waiting for the start to the new year to get it going.  I'm planning on taking a photo a day for the entire year, to keep a photo 'scrapbook' if you will of things that happened each day.  I'm sure some days won't be as interesting but I think it's a fun challenge and to look back on 365 days' worth of photos might be pretty cool.  I haven't decided if I'll post the photos on my blog or my tumblr, but I might do it on both.  Just a short entry each day.  I'm reluctant to go through the hassle of creating another blog and have yet another thing to maintain when I already have trouble with the ones I have now so I'll just keep it simple.  I'm excited and I hope you will be, too!

I'm not one for big new year's resolutions but I think I have some goals for the new year.  They're just general ones but I think they're good to keep in mind.  Like I already said, I'm looking forward to a fresh start and having more patience with things.  And I'm hoping to find a nice balance between work, studying and play so I can succeed at everything.  I miss crafting and wish I could expand on my Etsy shop.  I also want to make sure I sketch and write and take more photos...I have so many cool crafty mediums and this blog and a tumblr that need more attention and a lot more re-focusing and re-design.  I want to make 2011 great and am looking forward to a lot of great changes and growth.  I'm not sure where 2010 went but I'm sorta glad it's over because it was rough at times, but I hope 2011 has a lot of great things in store.  I'm ready!

Photo yearbook day 1 is coming up soon! :)

Saturday, December 11, 2010

happy 11th and stuff

I have a few diff blog posts in the work of what's been up with me lately, but I need to hurry up and finish getting ready as today, bf and I are heading down to SD for the day to visit our animal friends at the SD Zoo.  It's the start of their holiday celebration Jungle Bells so they'll be opened 'til 8, which we love since all the nocturnal animals become really active by evening.  It's also our 4 year anniversary!  I can't believe it's been 4 years since we met and well, the rest is history.  As we always say every month, Happy 11th! :)  So, I'll have to save all the fun and different news for when we get back, but just thought I'd stop by and say hi :)


p.s. Traveler would also like to say happy holidays :)

Friday, December 3, 2010

etsy shop is finally open!

I finally jumped in on Wednesday and made my first Etsy listings!  I figured it was the start of the month and I needed to just go for it.

My pictures even turned out better than I thought.  I decided to use some scarves to lay my items on.  I think the all white background before made my camera go a little crazy but now, the textures and colors helped to make them look more interesting.  The hardest part of the listing was probably coming up with creative listing names and descriptions.  I tried to have fun with it and hopefully it worked.  You can check out what's currently for sale on the Etsy box I added to the right of my blog.  I can't believe I finally did it!  It's pretty cool.

Much to my surprise, as I was still listing, a dear friend of mine purchased two items immediately!  I was (and am) thrilled!!  It was so fun to put together my first order and take it to the post office - I felt like a pro.  I hope I get to do it more soon :)

I still have a couple of ornaments to photograph and list, as well as some jewelry pieces.  I'm waiting for a supply of fabric to come in (I think it's *finally* going to deliver today) and I'm looking forward to doing some embroidery on them for cards, maybe wall hangings (placed on homemade frames).  Tonight, I also thought about making crochet cushions featuring felt/fleece appliques of some of my doodled creations.  And I'd like to make some hair accessories - not sure exactly how or what they'd look like yet, but hopefully they'll be a combination of crochet, embroidery, felt, or organza.  Haha.  One day (soon?) I'd love to make my own crochet patterns as well so I can sell cute crochet things in the shop.  I love amigurumi and crochet scarves so we'll see what magic I can do!  I'm not sure where I ever was before I knew how to crochet...so glad I stuck with it and made myself learn.  It's so relaxing to crochet while watching TV.  Knitting will come one day, too, maybe next year?  So many ideas to dabble in and I never know where to start :)

I definitely feel more motivated now that the shop is open!  Doing listings is fun and I'd like to offer different items at different price points so the shop will be more accessible to people.  I know how I'm feeling the money crunch and I know a lot of my friends are, too.  I hope I can wake up somewhat early and get the photos/listings out of the way and then actually do some creative stuff in the afternoon.  Yay!

But to commemorate my shop opening, I thought it'd be nice to show the 8 items I listed as my first ever listings (I'm so happy the process wasn't so painful after all).  Here they are!  If you love any of them, 6 are still currently available in my shop ;)