bags, turkey, more bags, birthdays, and more bags....

it's definitely crunch time in Gypsy Bird land!  thank God for this four day weekend...my mini sweat shop has been in full effect!  i've been a busy little bee, and it feels great to get some things accomplished.  but there is still alot to be done before Deluxe.  this list that's accumulating in my head (because i'm too scared to write it all down) is pretty daunting.  but it will all get done...exactly how is a mystery.....

Thanksgiving has come and gone.  i was blessed to have a wonderful day with my family.  there was so much deliciousness!  i've been seriously limiting my food intake for the past few months (trying to watch the figure), and i'm pretty sure with that one meal i nearly un-did all the stomach-shrinking-starvation i've done.  but it was totally worth it!  i have to say, i have so much to be thankful for.  even on this weekend of Thanksgiving i don't know if i've really thought about how lucky i am.  so if i may, let me tell you a few things i'm thankful for:  God's love and forgiveness; my amazing, loving, supportive family; my smart, funny, trustworthy, fabulous friends; the gift of creativity and general artsyness; a real job to pay the bills (mostly) and provide healthcare; a home for me, my kitties, and my sewing machine; and quite honestly, a million other things, but i won't go on and on.  it's just nice to take a step back and take note that despite the everyday stresses and crap that life throws at you, the big picture is pretty great. 

in other family fun time, we had a birthday party for my wonderful, brilliant, hilarious, beautiful niece today.  (too many adjectives?  i'm a big fan of descriptives tonight, apparently.)  i can't believe she is turning 2 this week!  she is just the best.  my Dad's birthday is today, although we celebrated his last week so little one could be in the spotlight today.  can't have too many celebrations! 

let me see....try to get back on track here.  yes, other than Thanksgiving, i sewed and sewed and sewed, and cut and cut and cut (fabric) this weekend.  my sweet, helpful Mom came over and help me cut out 20-something bags on Friday, and i spent Saturday and today doing the rest of the prep work and sewing!  it's all such a time-consuming process.  i'm sure there are easier ways to do things, but i've got a process and i stick to it!  oh well...i got several bags made this weekend, and plenty more to complete in the next 2 weeks!  wish me luck. 

here's a slightly clustered snapshot of some of the new bags i've done:

here's the stack of pieces that are cut out for more bags:

and a pile of even more fabrics that still need to be cut out:

i'd upload a pic of my chaotic, messy house and studio (fabric and scissors everywhere), but it's just too frightening.  plus, there's probably a layer of cat hair on everything because i haven't taken time to clean!

well, it's back to Sock land tomorrow.  blah...real work, real world.  and more deadlines this week.  but i must keep the sewing momentum.  i'm excited for a productive week.  hopefully i can wake up on time in the morning!

snap stealer

to the person who is buying every single magnetic snap from every store around the OKC metro...you are making my life so difficult!  i have been scouring the Hancocks, Hobby Lobbys, Michaels & JoAnns of Oklahoma City, Midwest City & Edmond all week, in search of stupid 14mm magnetic snaps for my clutches.  there are literally none to be found.  anywhere.  not on the shelves, not in the stock rooms...well, that's the only 2 places they would be i suppose, but they aren't there!

but it's okay...i've been directed to an online craft store...you can't buy them out of stock, fellow magnetic snap seeker!  they have thousands and thousands.  i've placed my order, and i'm not sharing the site until i get all that i need!  haha...bested you!

well, that's quite enough of my crazy rant.  i'm making more bags on this beautiful, chilly Saturday afternoon.  and desperately fighting the urge to go take a nap.  better get back to the ironing board (haha) before i write myself into a coma.

Monday randomness

so it's Monday and i've been on the phone for the past 2 1/2 hours since i got off work...considering i've spent my evening blabbing away, i figured i might as well blab via type as well.  the thoughts going through my head are crazy, as usual...but here's a peek:  it's 33 days until the Deluxe show...call me a procrastinator, but i've always worked better under pressure!  my goal is to make 1 bag a day from now until December 11.  i'll be able to make more on the weekends, so it should all even out and i'll have some inventory!  also, my wonderful Mom is going to help out by cutting out the many pieces that go into each bag.  what a lady, what a mom, what a pal!  ;)

i got to spend time with the fam this weekend, which always makes life better!  delicious dinners, triple-layer chocolate cake, petite syrah, my amazing niece and (almost) nephew, my hilarious, beautiful, loving & entertaining family who are pulling teeth to get me out of my anti-social funk...i was finally in my happy place!  didn't make as many bags as i should have, but whatever....gotta live sometimes!

speaking of triple-layer chocolate cake...who knew that the word "stressed" is "desserts" spelled backwards???  feel free to double-check!  i did a few times...and it's right!  am i totally out of touch for not knowing this before?  is this why stress and chocolate go so well together?  so many questions!  and...it's sad that i learned this from a Sonic commercial.

a Wednesday in the life

it's been another fabu day in Shea-land!  facetious, me?  no!  ha...but i can't complain..i'm sitting on the couch with my kitties snuggled up close, watching a Thunder game, having a cold beer, and listening to the roomie snore away...life isn't so bad!  i could do without the snoring though.  ;)

so after working until 7.30 tonight, my evening is quickly escaping me!  10.30 already?  i need to run off to snuggle up in my down-encompassed bed.  but before i doze, i'll share what i was working on at Sock Land so late.  i was developing the color palette i'll use for Fall 2011 socks.  even in socks, you gotta keep up with the ever-revolving fashion trends and colors!  my trend research shows that these are going to be the colors to use.  (well, for kids' socks, that is!)

oy, inserting pictures into this blog is about the most difficult thing i've done all day!  argh, frustration!  the pirate in me is coming out....

in the vain of saving what's left of my sanity, i'll skip posting any more photos for the night!  watch for my Fall 2011 trend boards next time!

trick or treat...

so it's Halloween night and i'm trying to sew-sew-work while handing out candy to all the kiddies in the 'hood.  i'm sure little Cisco and Arsala are on the edge of hysteria, considering they reach a new level of freak-out every time the doorbell rings, and it has ding-donged about one hundred times tonight.  poor kitties.... 

i don't know why, but i've never really gotten into the whole Halloween bonanza.  it doesn't make much sense since i'm a designer and a total escapist.  you'd think i would delight in having the opportunity to pretend to be someone else and make a costume for it!  eh, not so much.  i think young Shea liked Halloween...but it was probably just the buzz from all the candy.  by the way...since when do kids not even bother with a costume, but still expect a handful of chocolate just for walking around with a WalMart sack and saying "trick or treat"?  (or is that just my neighborhood?!)  now sure, i was Madonna, circa Like a Virgin, for two or three years in a row...but i was a fan, and at least i tried! 
but all Grinchy-witchyness aside, i'll admit that considering how crazy expensive the candy is, the costumes are probably worse...so why blame a parent for shoo-ing the kids out the door for some un-costumed candy grabbing.

well anyway, enough of that.  Deluxe is quickly approaching, and i'm realizing that getting into my studio and making all these bags is really turning into a chore.  once i have any sort of obligation, i start to shut down...some spin-off of my crazy commitment issues?  but i'm bucking up, thinking positive, and being productive!  well, fairly productive anyway...here's what i've done today, and tomorrow i'll do more!  Happy Halloween blog-land!





you've got the love...

still listening to my beloved Florence + the Machine...trying to get some inspiration and motivation to sew sew work!  i've had an exhausting week at the 8-5.  deadline after deadline...it truly never stops in Sock World!  after designing tights and knee high socks for 12 hours Monday, my week in real life has basically been shot!  still trying to catch up after that.  oy, this just shows that i'm getting old!  i used to work constantly and sleep for only a few hours a night.  oh, the good ol' days!

anywhoo, i'm still wrapping my head around all that must be done to prepare for the Deluxe show.  it's daunting, but i'm quite excited!  so in that vain, i better get off here and go sew a bag...or else i'll be tempted to just go watch The Office and 30 Rock.  no worries though...i'm DVR'ng them! 

it's official....

big news....huge!  i've been accepted into the Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar!!!  it's official...i have a real business (part-time on the side).  my little GypsyBird is getting wings...and i have 8 weeks to get ready to fly!  i can't believe it's really all happening-  i'm going to be in a great venue where i can sell and promote my lovingly handmade creations.  so crazy.  this is what i've been dreaming of and working towards...and now to be honest, i'm a bit terrified!  biggest concern:  i've got to really figure out the business side of things.  taxes, business registration, taking payments, etc. etc.  secondly:  i have to get a lot of product made!  but i'm so excited to really make this happen!  
i must say that without the loving support of my amazing family and my dear friends, and the confidence that God has a plan for me, i would never have even tried to do this.  i'm so grateful for all the love in my life!  (ok, that sounds like i'm accepting an award...but i'm not erasing it because it's sincere!)

anyway, my artist cult/sock world buddies also made it in, so get ready to see The Bungalow Studio and WonderLove, too!

for now, check Deluxe for more info, but be sure i'll be keeping you updated on news, as well as my progress (and possible freak-outs) in getting ready for the show! 

  

 also...i made a few little updates to gypsybirddesign.com.  be sure to keep checking in the coming months to see new product!