Back in Action!

After all of the vacations and moving/reorganizing my workspace(it's done! yes!), i'm finally back in the swing of things.

Speaking of the new workspace, it turned out really well and i know where EVERY little thing is, which is unheard of for someone who usually just throws things in random bins and then can't find anything. Pictures coming soon.

I found some truly amazing metallic blue vinyl the other day, which inspired me to start making my vinyl keyboards again! Here's what i have available in the shop so far:

The ILITT-500 Keyboard Wallet
in Golden Yellow


Super Bright Neon Green


Metallic Blue


Cool Gray


I have a lot more colored vinyl and am always on the lookout for more, so check back to see if i have one in your favorite color!

Lipstick Lies- Work In Progress

Early last month i posted about the Mailing List Book that i made using some paper i had lying around and the binding machine that my aunt gave me. Since then i've been wanting to make some journals using the same method, but this time i bought chipboard to use as the covers. I was having trouble coming with ideas of images to use, so on the fly i thought it would be fun to screenprint some lips onto the covers.

I'm sort of being stingy with my Gocco supplies right now, so i resorted to using a makeshift screen constructed of fine netting and a plastic embroidery hoop. I then used screen filler to block out any areas i didn't want printed, waited for it to dry, then added another layer of filler to make sure any pinholes were now blocked. I used screenprinting ink on some, acrylic paint on the others. After printing each color, i blotted the excess ink several times and then drew freehand over each area of ink to get that sort of off, misaligned look.



To fill up each book, i used tons of paper samples that i used to order for free back when i was a graphic design student and some colored copier and scrapbook paper- all of which were cut to size.

Here are some finished journals:



I'm happy with how they turned out and am already thinking of what images to use next!

Shopping Rules. Humidity Does Not.

It is hot like DEATH outside, which made running todays errands totally unpleasant. To make matters worse, my little car doesn't have air conditioning! Well, technically, it does, but it just doesnt like to work. I put gas in the car, ran to the post office to drop off some packages, then went to a nearby thrift store in hopes for some good finds.

There really wasn't anything too exciting. There was a cool looking wooden tray that i would've bought to refurbish, but as soon as i picked it up, it had a really weird, nasty smell coming from it. Unfortunately, the smell stayed on my hand as i continued looking around. Gross! So, todays thrift store haul included a black 80's clutch, a science book, and some sheet music books which i plan on turning into buttons. I don't own my own button maker yet...yet being the key word here...so i'm going to cut them out by hand and send them over to ChristineRenee at Etsy. I'll probably frame the "Fingerpower" cover.



SIDENOTE: Here are some other soon-to-be-buttons that i cut out late last night.



After thrifting, i went to one of my favorite dollar stores just to look around. I'm always on the lookout for bright plastic containers and bins, so much so that i think i actually have too many, so i held off on that. Nearly everything i purchased was pink- a neon pink brush and mini dust pan set for cleaning up my work surface, a bubblegum pink picture frame that i was going to use to frame my Menta print...it's actually a bit too small, but that's okay...and some silver stretch foil wrapping paper with pink stripes that is super tacky -aka- super awesome. The only thing that wasn't pink was this treble clef napkin holder, which also makes the most perfect ILIKEITTOOTOO postcard holder.



I have been actively promoting and blogging like crazy these days, and i almost feel incomplete when i don't update. Unfortunately, I've been neglecting my poor sewing machine, but that'll change since i have the Lancaster Punk Rock Flea Market coming up on October 6. It's nearly a two hour drive, but the first one went so well and everyone was super friendly, so of course i signed up to do it again. If all goes well, i will have new gocco-printed pouches and notecards, recycled journals, plus the usual.