Oh My! It's October Tomorrow!!!!

It is October tomorrow and I have much to do! Now that I am done with my custom order computer bag, I will be doing a bit of celebrating one of my favorite months of the year.

First thing is to get some wild Halloween decorations to put up around here. I found a bright purple plastic skeleton to hang on our door so now I need some decorations to compliment it. I am thinking that blinking eyeball lights and fuzzy spiders would be lovely!

Then I need to start Ciaran's costume, he is going to be a little devil in bright red fleece! I found a great little hoodie/pants pattern to use, so the kiddo can wear his costume all winter long. I am also attempting to make him a pair of red booties out of wool and leather, I have cut out the soles of the booties, I just need to cut out and decorate the tops.

I will of course be working like crazy on my various projects to get them ready for our upcoming holiday season. I just found a whole bunch of ornaments to solder and put together that I made when I was pregnant with Ciaran. All new designs too! Those and the ones I made over the last few months should be enough for our two shows. Yay! I still have to solder the seams and make stone settings for them but if I can get back into the groove, I can do a bunch at a time and spend an evening or two setting all the stones. Lots of work ahead but I am feeling quite fearless and ready for anything. I am getting myself up early these days so I have a couple of extra hours for work. I get up and work with my old and frail fuzzy beast Humbug quietly purring away next to me. I am sure she would rather I just snuggle her, but she seems content to hang out and watch me work.

All Done!

All done and sooooo happy! I think this one has some Autumnal character going on. Now I need to think of a name. The inspiration for this piece was my Etsy avatar "Tripetta" so I guess she is a she, but what name do I give her that represents her as best as possible. I guess I could go with "Autumn" that would be sufficient but not personalized enough for me. Oh well, I will think on it and get back to you all when I figure it out.

So this was my first real opportunity to mold leather. I was really happy with how it turned out. I am thinking I would like to make a few more masks with metal and leather. I think the two go together very well. It was fun and kind of messy but I got good results. I also got to have fun with color and texture. The only thing I really hate is the scraped, dry, and sore hands that come after the work is done. Last night I got hot sauce in one of the many tiny cuts on my hand and I nearly cried it hurt so bad. Ciaran thought it was great because mommy was dancing and singing in the kitchen. I was dancing and ....um.......singing, with tears in eyes, but it was from pain, not happiness. It was really funny because he started dancing too. Twirling and doing the famous toddler sway. Too funny.

Hey! Where Did You Come From?

So I am just sitting here minding my own business, trying to figure out how to sip my coffee with a kinked neck, when I look outside and BLAM! The sun is shining! It hasn't been around for the last few days. All of the sudden it is super shiny and happy out there. I think that is why I love living here so much. We don't have very many sunny days, so when we have one, after a whole week of grey skies, it is like magic! Even though I can't move my head from side to side to well still, I still feel peppy and happy and ready to work.

I am working on a lot of projects at the same time and that is really stressing me out. I just so badly want to get a lot done by the end of the year. I am finishing a long overdue birthday present for my lovely sister and I feel horrible because I keep having to put it off to finish other stuff. This is the weekend to get it done though, whether I want to or not! I would describe the piece but she might read this and it would ruin the surprise, so I will post a pic and description when it is all done and sent off to her.

I am also excited about the mask I am getting ready to make for our local Maskibition. Which shows at the Ink People Center for the Arts in Eureka. It is held each year during the month of October, and it it one of the most interesting exhibits around here. I think the mask brings out a whole other side of creativity in people. The mask is such a magical and mysterious thing.....I can't wait to get back to mask making. It is a true outlet for me. I just hope my little fingers still know what to do with all that copper!

Back to Work

So the Design Collective is over, I took the day yesterday to clean-up a little bit and improve some designs and now I am back to work. I have started listing some new wallets and I am making more day by day. I love the color combination in this one the bright raspberry pink with black and pumpkin orange. It stands out! I have decided to make my travel wallets just a smidgen bigger to fit a check book and more cash! I think it will go over well. I just want to design and make things that are pretty and practical. I think I am on the right track.

I am trying a new pouch design in sage green, lavender, and black that I think will look wonderful when done. I am going to be adding two zipper pockets, and a lot more slip pockets to the design to make it super usable. I am excited! I love the process of creating, you never do know what you'll end up with but the learning experience from the process is the key. That to me is worth it. Even if the project doesn't work out and you have to scrap the whole thing, at least you have learned what will or won't work.

Today we head downtown for a few errands. The weather seems to have changed into its more Autumn like appearance. Overcast and colder, with a tease of sun at the very end of the afternoon. I love it, but it definitely bugs a lot of the people around here, they so wanted more of a Summer. I can't say I blame them, but I still like the idea of bundling up in a nice warm sweater, hot cocoa, coffee, and a nice long walk. No more sandals, I guess I have to wear real shoes and socks. Not my favorite thing to do, but, I will give in for the sake of my poor chilly feet.

So back to work I go, hopefully I will have some good sewing karma and some amazing stuff will come out of that. No holding breath or crossing fingers though, it will be what it will be, no flipsy-changos!