Maker Faire!

0531091711.jpg, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

I was lucky enough to get to help out today with the Museum of Craft and Folk Art's booth at Maker Faire! So. Much. Fun. I got to hang out with the ever lovely Betsy and help some fun people make little woven paper notebooks. I had a great time. I thoroughly enjoy hanging out with the people who work with this organization, and I love to be able to craft with people who may not normally get to do fun projects all of the time. I really love crafting more than anything else I do, and strive to have it in my everyday life as much as possible. I have been really lucky to be able to be around this fun group of ladies and crafters. I was also excited because I saw a bunch of my lovely friends that I get to see really only around craft show time! Tammy from Roxy Craft, the lovely Danielleorama and her husband ed, and miss Claire from Absolutely small! I was kind of jealous, I mean I really wish I was selling, but I honestly didn't think I would have enough stuff to sell from Fanime from the weekend before. Ah, well, next year my friends! I didn't even apply. sigh.

I am going to and sew tonight, I have the movie Changeling that I rented and I am also going to try and make some dinner right quick :D
I really enjoy watching movies and sewing. I can have it on in the background and listen while I sew.

Oh! I saw the *scariest* funny movie last night! Drag me to Hell! It is the new Sam Raimi movie. I absolutely loved it. The only problem I had with it, is that Bruce Campbell is usually in every Sam Raimi movie(he was in Spiderman for a cameo for goodness sakes) and he wasn't even in it for two minutes. So disappointing. That is the love of my life you know, I love him!

Yum!

Yum!, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

What a lovely evening! I am having this lovely frozen yougurt and I am going to snuggle up with my favorite pup and continue on my 1984 journey! I will tell you what, I am really loving that book!

feeling better! :D

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I am having a better day today, thanks for the support! I made a mental plan for good things today! so doll making/designing it is! I am taking my time on these and enjoying the process. I do have my lovely Ryan to thank though, for a MUCH bigger workspace! He moved into his studio this week and then rearranged the room so that I have a big space to work! Exciting! Although, I will miss our art time together...

Grrrrr

tiny charlie, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

I am pretty sure that all of these monsters I keep making are an extension of the horrible mood I have found myself in today.

Ever have one of those days? NOTHING can make you feel better, and even going to get a gelato ends you up behind 2 fathers with 4 unruly kids and a 10 minute wait that makes you storm out, icecream-less? Where you get on your moped and try to start it before work and you snap a cable making it so you can't even drive it to the shop?Where the state you moved to because it was less closed off than where you are from rules down something you believe in? Where your favorite basketball team keeps *losing* Where you just can't see the silver lining and it probably would have been better for you to stay in bed this morning?

Well, I vow that tomorrow is better. I am going to make it that way.

Maybe more sewing tomorrow, a try at the doll I have swimming in my head, some sketches and less computer time I think. All I know is that my new netflix better get here. And it better not be something stupid, you know I let Ryan pick a bunch of movies. grumble grumble grumble.

See you tomorrow, hopefully in a better mood.

Monsterous Kind of Day

Monsterous Kind of Day, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Omg! I am exhausted! I did Fanimecon in San Jose. So much fun! I ended up hand sewing for most of it, as evidenced by all the tiny monsters there at the top! Tomorrow: rest...

Show Sewing

Show Sewing, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Finally remembered to bring something to amuse myself with at a show! and I can add to my tiny inventory!

Sketch Time

Sketch Time, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Back to the grindstone! Good thing that my job gives me stolen seconds to draw little dolls and their friends that I have plans of making! Tonight should be a marathon of sewing and maybe a movie on the laptop while I stitch!

Fun in the sun in San Francisco!

Fun in the sun in San Francisco!, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

OMG! I had the best day! I was invited to the Museum of Craft and Folk Art today to help with a plushie making event and book signing with Lotta Jansdotter! It was the best! The weather was the best, there were tons of people, and we made those super cute plush in that pic up there! Very exciting. I even got to make some new SF crafty friends! So awesome! After, I went shopping and spent way too much money on clothes, which I need, especially since three of the shirts I put on to wear this morning had holes in them! Eep! Tonight I am going to try and make something, then tomorrow the same! Next week is Fanime!

Day Dreaming...

Day Dreaming..., originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Im so bored! Today is the kind of day where I wish I was self employed and I could gather up my sketchbook and head to a cafe to draw. *sigh* a girl can dream! working for myself will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine. :D

blurry photo, but its of progress!

0513092107.jpg, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

A couple of things... 1. Slowly but surely stitching things together for my show! 2. It seems like twitter is magic for me, if I post it, I do it. 3. I really love French Toast for dinner. 4. I need movie reccomendations, people! 5. I love California in the spring! So sunny! I hope your spring is going well!

sewing is for fun

Hilda, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

SO, I have been riding my bike to work, its pretty fun :D I like not having to ride the bus home and not having to pay for parking. My moped is pretty awesome that is for sure. I also got to sleep 10 minutes later than I should have and even though getting on the BART(subway) cut it *pretty* close today, I still made it and that makes me glad.

I did nothing last night, I was super lazy pants. Sometimes I don't feel like I can spread out here in this apartment and just do my thing. That is what happens when you live with lotsa boys. I am going to commit to sewing tonight. I am loving making these moths. Their antennae make me happy. Especially since Ryan and I are going to be bad and go and get pizza :D

Last night I did watch basketball and then more basketball and make tacos. I thought I should mention that because I feel it counts for something.

I need to get flour, I feel like making brownies from scratch. Or maybe fudge. Fudge sounds super yummy. I need to get on some planning ideas for Christmas, cause I always try to do the right thing and wait until September but that always leads me to not having anything for anyone till last minute. I have some cute ideas this year. So whatever, I am a crafter, Christmas comes really early. Alright fine, I will just start planning for our little birthday fun because have I mentioned to you that my birthday is less than 2 months away? I love my birthday. :D

super sunday

monsterpus pouch, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Happy Mother's Day to all you momma's out there! Well, at least for 5 more minutes out here in California!

I am just trucking along with my sewing! I made a goal of 2 things today and I accomplished it! I think that is how I work. I have to challenge myself and then things work out :D Do you work like that too?

I love watching movies while I sew. Does anyone have any good suggestions for me for my netflix? Please give me some suggestions so I am not watching weird stuff that I have to make a guess on.

Today was very fun for me! I got to work on my bike with Ryan. I cleaned and cleaned tons of grease off of it. Very therapeutic for sure. And Ryan tightened my brakes so that I hopefully can stop every now and again :D

Then I made meatless meatball subs and my mom's french fries. sooo good. yum! I am proud that I have been cooking more, It is leaving me with stuff for lunches the next day *and* it tastes so much better. And it *is* better for me because we have been trying to eat as organic as we can. I think it has been very helpful for me to plan meals for the week.

A happy note, my plant is still hanging in there, I am going to try to refrain from watering it. For some reason I just really enjoy watering a plant. A cactus is not the right plant for someone like that.

I love May

reginald, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

It is *so* beautiful outside today! Baby and I went for a walk and just sat in the sun for awhile cause my body just wanted to soak it up!

I am trying to be more productive today. I need to take my moped to the shop to get the brakes fixed so I can stop riding the bus. Truth is, I am a little afraid of the shop people, I think I have a little social anxiety or something. I am sure they would be perfectly nice when I got there but it makes me anxious to think about actually going there. hmmm. I am weird.

I do however, *have* to get fabric today for my show. I need to get into the habit of 3 things a night this week and next for the show. I want to have a bunch of stuff to sell. I think my elephants are one of my cleanest designs that I make and I think I will make a few more of those too for the show.

I am thinking that I might need a part time job soon...I think I would like to work at a movie theater, or a bookstore. They both sound nice. I would probably spend all of my money if I worked at a bookstore though. Hmmm. Something to thing about.

I think I need a new plant. Did I mention that I overwatered my succulent and it is dying? sadness. Who does that?! Me I guess. I have as green of a thumb as my mother I guess.

keeping on keeping on

agatha, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

today I am being lazy, which means after I write this I am going to make myself walk the dog and then sew something. I finally got my sellers permit in the mail for the show I am doing in 3 weeks and I am relieved. I was beginning to wonder if it was going to come. I have to go over to the fabric store this weekend and pick up a bunch of fleece so I can set about having a bunch of stuff for that San Jose show. I am excited actually.

I got another disc of Its always Sunny in Philadelphia from Netflix. I am actually pretty excited to watch it, which will be motivating sewing-wise. That is always fun.

I am killing my plant. It is a cactus. I don't even know how that is possible. It has some sort of brown stuff on it turning the leaves to mush. It makes me so bummed! I am happy to report that Ryan's fern is doing well. I don't think those are so hard with upkeep either though.

I am starting to get excited for my trip home this summer. It is in 11 weeks and I know that is a really long time away but it will be here before you know it. I can't wait to hang out with the fam & bf and swim in Ryan's mom's pool. I have to start working out a bit so I can get into a bathing suit happily. To be honest, I am mostly just looking forward to getting a week off and a break from working. I like my job a lot, but sometimes you just need a week to relax.

Glen

Glen, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

I added a few things to my etsy today! I am actually quite proud. I will be adding stuff a little bit at a time until I get caught up. I have just been so lazy with photographing things which is not a good quality to have when you try and sell things online I guess...

Like I am kind of trying to sell my car. It seems I just *cannot* get myself to take a photo of it so I can try and craigslist it. Hmmm all in good time I guess.

I have been really good about sewing lately, it has been so nice. I did take time to relax last night and not worry about getting anything accomplished. I had to do laundry though so I am not sure I got the good end. I relaxed, but just in between dragging stuff down to the laundromat. I do really miss having a washer and dryer in my apartment.

I have also been good about making a list and feeding myself every night this week. A tereaki stir fry is on the menu for tonight :D I may even venture across the street and get a coke to have it with. Yum!

My week is good. I am thinking about buying some fabric from My Paper Crane to make a quilt out of. Have you seen her fabric from Spoonflower? It is amazing. I need a new quilt too.

Home

Home, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Nerding out, relaxing, computering, ice creaming. Ryan needs a haircut.