Renee's Adventures in Confusion

Lots going on!

2010-01-20T10:23:00.001-08:00

I've been making lots of stuff! Some keychains, lots of new collars, all are on my etsy site. I'm going to keep trying to get more and more out there. I'm also thinking about maybe selling at a street fair in Palm Springs. I'm not sure if I can afford the upfront fees (I'd have to get my business license and all that, then the stree fair fees and get a table and whole set up). but it might be a good idea. I'm still thinking about it!
Also got a new sewing machine. it's freaking AMAZING! can't wait to really get into it and see all it can do!!

Unemployed.

2009-12-27T21:00:00.000-08:00

I've joined the crowd. I lost my job! After 6 years of media Buying for Bargain Network they've decided to close down their entire offline portion of business. That's me and a lot of other people, Most of the company. I found out while I was at Disneyland. I'm really not sure what I'm going to do, I'm sort of freaking out. I've worked from home for 3 years, it'll be strange going back to the real world. I feel like I don't have any real skills or things I excel at so I don't know which direction I'll head. I've been the primary bread winner in our household for the entire time we've lived together. Things are going to get tougher, we're going to have to buckle down and cut some things. I'm nervous, but I know we'll get through. I just wish I had an idea of where I was heading.....

20 weeks

2009-12-17T15:50:00.000-08:00

Okay so For the past 3 or 4 years I've been doing a 5K every May. It's the EIF Revlon 5K for Womens Cancers. It's a huge event and really awesome. Two years ago I busted my butt and ran the whole thing. I also lost 20 lbs that year. The following year, not so much. I wasn't ready for it, I'd gained a lot of weight etc. Well so far this year is the same. I think I'm at the highest I've ever weighed and I feel disgusting. So I decided to get into it again and run this year. I love the Couch Potato to 5K running program and starting Jan 1 I have 18 weeks. The C25K program is a 9 week program so I'm going to do each "week" twice so as to really take it slow. The next two weeks leading up to this is Christmas, travelling, cookies, etc. I'm not even going to try to say that I'll try to eat better because it'll be a lie. Instead I'll start maybe doing some push ups ans sit ups an whatnot, just to get back on the ball. Also starting in Jan, I'm going to be walking with my friend Amber on a weekly basis, so that should help!
Well just putting this out there so that I've said it and I'm going to do it. The time is now!

Globe Aware

2009-12-13T18:34:00.001-08:00

I think I'm going to knit another bear for the mother earth project. I was knitting christmas stuff today and I thought about how much more important that is, giving a child something to hold onto rather than the endless scarves and whatnot that my friends can ready get. Of course, I'm still making them all those things, but the urge to DO something is really strong lately. I'm not sure why. I've been researching a volunteer vacation lately. Globe Aware has 8 day trips that you can choose different places to go and help out. I think I want to do the Ghana one. It's like $1300 and that doesn't include air fare so it'll take me a while to save up but it's something I really want to do. Before I'm 30. Maybe that will be my goal. I'll be 27 next month, so I've got three years to do it and lot let life get in my way. I wonder if I can convince anyone else to go with me. Off to go knit some more bears!

Collar Crazy!!!

2009-10-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

I've gone a little nuts as of late. I've been making lots of collars and now I recently started making key fobs. I keep saying I want to make an etsy store to sell them, but I'm scared too! What if no one wants them! I also worry that they aren't good enough quality yet. But I keep making them! Here's my current inventory of collars (I've made more then one of some of them):

And here's the couple key fobs I made. I really like these, I made a doxie one for myself and LOVE it! Speaking of which I'm SO in love with that doxie ribbon. I kept searching and searching and when I found this I was SO happy. I bought a couple yards and basically used it all the day I got it. So I just recently ordered more:

I'm still trying to come up with a name for my one day etsy page. Some ideas I had: Bop&Rocks, Bop&Rocksy, Renee's Crazy Doxies, One and a Half Wieners. I think I'm leaning towards BopRocks - 1 1/2 Wieners as the offical name. We'll see if I ever get around to it haha

Most recent endeavor

2009-10-22T20:51:00.001-07:00

I've been making dog collars. I'm sort of thinking about sellig them on etsy but haven't decided yet. I made this one for a swap on swap bot. Sadly Cassie the wiener I made this for passed away this week but she did get to sport the collar and she liked it!

Sent from my iPhone

Bear is done!

2009-10-22T20:49:00.001-07:00

I'm so behind on posting things. My camera us broken and I'm broke so haven't gotten a new one. Anyway my knitted bear for Project Mother Bear us done finally! I'm so in love with him! I want to make more!

Sent from my iPhone

Busy bee

2009-09-07T14:08:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of random stuff. Thinking about making stuff to open an etsy shop. I'm not sure if I'm good enough, but I think it would be fun.
One of the things I'm pretty proud of is the rag quilt I made. It's not big, good for a stroller or something. I made a few mistakes but the cool thing with a rag quilt is you really can't tell! haha

after some time off.....

2009-08-24T22:02:00.000-07:00

I took a vacation to northern california for about 2 1/2 weeks. I visitied my sister and my boyfriends parents. It was awesome and beautiful. I miss it already.
But I'm home now and back to wanting to make things. I decided to try ZIPPERS! So scary, they even have their own special foot! Nevermind that I have no clue how to change feet, but I was on a mission. I bought a cute light pink zipper and busted out my awesome hot pink flower fabric and.... it was easy! WAY easier then I thought it would be. WHO KNEW? Changing the foot was a breeze, sewing with it, not so much. But I think it was just because it was my first time, it was a little confusing. I'm sure I'll get better. So I made this super cute little pouch. And now I'm obsessed and want to make a hundred of them! I keep thinking about how I can make cute doggy ones to sell to the dachshund groups and how I can make some for presents! It's on like Donkey Kong!
And now it's time for bed!

Book Covers

2009-08-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

I read fantasy mostly, vampires and werewolves and whatnot. I always feel like people look at me weird when I read these in public. Nevermind that they always seem to put the cheesiest like half naked vampire on the cover or something. So my answer, sew a book cover! I'm pretty proud of how it turned out, it wasn't too hard and was pretty quick. I think they could use maybe a stiffer interfacing, they're a little floppy, but really I don't know what is the norm for book covers. I'll put up a pic in a bit.
I'm starting to think about selling some of the stuff I'm making on etsy. I really like making this stuff, and hey if I could make some money, that would be fine too! Book covers, tote bags, checkbook wallet things, kid crayon holders. I got a new pattern for a wallet, but I haven't had time to try it out yet. And we're leaving tomorrow for 3 weeks so I probably won't before I go. I'm going to miss my sewing machine while I'm gone!!!

Organized!!!

2009-07-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

I decided to organize my fabric. It was just sitting on my desk in piles. This works AWESOME!!!

Now I just need to fill it up! haha

2009-07-29T08:32:00.001-07:00

My new project. Working on knitting a bear for the Mother Bear Project. They send these bears to children affected by HIV and AIDS in emerging countries like Africa. Hopefully it turns out ok!

Sent from my iPhone

checkbook/card holder

2009-07-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

I have this awesome dachshund linen that I've been hording for a long time. I just didn't know what to do with it. It's just so cute I didn't want to make something and not do it right and ruin the fabric. I think I just like having pretty fabric, I don't need to really Make anything from it haha
Anyway, well I got this pattern for a checkbook / card holder thingy. It was pretty small so I figured I would try it out and if it turned out horrible, it would only ruin a small piece of my awesome fabric. So ta-da!!!!!

The only real problem was that A) I'm not very good at sewing a straight line apprently and B) I made the card holder slots too skinny so you can BARELY fit one card in each one. But other then that, I think it's pretty sweet!

I think I'm starting to get this sewing thing! I'm still going to try to make it to the sewing class JoAnns is having next week. I'm sure it'll be good
to unlearn bad habits and learn the right way to do things! I'll post how it goes!

Making Stuff

2009-07-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

I've become obsessed with making things! I want to be good at it! I want people to be amazed at what I create!
So of course, I make something for my neice. She's 2 1/2. She'll appreciate it!!!!
So I made her a crayon and paper holder. It'll fit in my sisters purse and she can take it with her to keep her occupied. And no i'm not giving her the Brovana prescription pad. I have to find another pad that will fit. But isn't this fun?? I wish I knew more crayon aged kids I could make these for!

Next up are two rag quilts. I've never made anything like it in my life, but a friend is having twins and I want to make her something special. I hope to get everything together this weekend. Might buy some stuff off etsy, gonna check out the quilt shop in town. I'll keep everyone posted on that project.