Holiday Shennanigans

Hello Dear Readers!
I hope your respective holidays were super rad and totally awesome. I had a lovely time in Day-Twa seeing the fam and playing with my homies. While I was home I made myself a shrug that I'll be wearing for NYE and can't wait to show it off. I found the crochet version of the cable stitch and I have to say...I heart it. Big time. Pictures soon to come!

In the meantime, my lovely friends at Threadbanger aired an episode last week on how to crochet a hat. Fabulous tutorial, might I add? At the end of the episode they featured a bunch of holiday projects from members on the forums and well...I may have made it into the episode. :)



Anyhoo, I'm off now to prep for my NYE party. I have so much to do and almost no time at all to do it! GAH! Until next year friends, have a happy and safe new years!
xoxo,
*M*

New Role Model? New Project?

After watching this Threadbanger video I'm suddenly feeling nostalgic for the 1980s crap-tastic fashion.



xoxo,
*M*

Mama Sass Endorsed by The Inspector General

What can I say? My friend Jane's dog, The Inspector General, loves me. And the feeling is more than mutual. :)



*M*

Buy Handmade

Last year I decided to take the Buy Handmade pledge and this year is no different. I'm not really one for material possessions anymore. Unless, of course, someone I love was kind enough to make me something with their own hands. This little video that Etsy posted on Myspace today makes me really giddy for all the handmade possibilities out there this season. :)



xoxo,
*M*

Grandma Helen

Dear Readers,

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving . I went home to the good ol' city of Detroit for four days to see my family and friends. I ate way too much and crocheted my mom a pair of slippers. :)

Back in February my mom moved into an apartment and she's still unpacking. Well, she was going through some old boxes and found a stack of my grandmother's handkerchiefs that she crocheted back in the 1940s. They were so delicate and soft. I was in heaven. Then, lo and behold, my mom told me to pick some to keep for myself! I was/am so giddy! My grandmother (who passed away before I was born) taught my mom how to crochet, who in turn, taught me. This is one of my favorites:

When my mom was little my grandmother crocheted her a bed spread with roses like in this handkerchief and my mom loved it until it wore out. I was surprised and thankful that she wanted me to have it. I'm thinking about framing them.

xoxo,
*M*

P.S. If you want to see the rest click here.

Yay for Hi Tree!

If you haven't found Hi Tree! on Etsy yet, you best get to it, child. I'm a pretty regular reader of Tina's (Hi Tree! creator) blog and a few weeks ago she posted a drawing for a free key chain. Of course, I put my name in the drawing. Lo and behold......
I won!
It is ridonkulously cute. I mean...RI-DONK-U-LOUSLY cute.

I must insist that if you haven't checked out Tina's store Hi Tree! on Esty or her blog you should go do so, like, right now. I mean it. Stop reading this drivel and go check her out!!!

Thanks Tina!
*M*

The Awesome Power of the Alpaca

Some friends of mine took a trip to New Mexico about a month ago to go hiking with Alpacas and one of them brought back a couple skeins of Alpaca yarn. It's gorgeous, light, strong and oh so warm. The other night she gave it to me and said "make whatever you want with this. I trust you".

I've never used anything like Alpaca yarn before. I feel kinda spoiled by it right now. Hee hee! At the moment I'm just working on a scarf. If I can finagle a stitch here and there to have some left over I'm going to see if I can pull off some fingerless gloves as well.

This yarn is just...so....AWESOME! GOOOOOOOOOOOO ALPACAS!

xoxo,
*M*

Auditions and Crossed Fingers

For the past two years I've been really dedicated to performing in my theatre company's productions (Babes With Blades). I've been working myself to the bone and I decided after this last one I was going to take a short break. I decided to bow out of the casting pool for our Spring show, MacBeth, which was a haaaaaaaaaaaaard call to make. My sanity won out over the Bard. Next time, Bill. We'll be together next time.

I've been focusing on craft fairs, my Etsy store and getting new head shots taken (one more week!), so theatre kinda went on the back burner for a few weeks. And yesterday I set up an audition for Point of Contention Theatre's ChAoS festival. While auditioning for POC, Rascal Children’s Theater, will be sharing the audition times with POC for their own season, and thus I'll be seen for approximately 10 + plays. Holy majoly. Needless to say I think this will be a good start to getting back into the auditioning game. Ha Cha!

Happy Friday Readers,
*M*

Dollar Store Crafts

I loves me some dollar stores. Thanks to Threadbanger I came across this blog all about Dollar Store Crafts!

I admit some of the crafts are a little silly, but there are some great ideas that luckily come with tutorials posted there. Oh so many Christmas ideas!

It may become my new BBFF (Best Blog Friend Forever). :)

xoxo,
*M*

Embroidered Text Messages

It's funny how text messages have become so popular. Almost like a new form of love letters, which makes me kinda sad in a way. But these embroidered text messages are both clever and desperate. I have to admit I'm a little disturbed by how much they affected me this morning. Oh memories....

I was there....

Up top, America! Way to go.

xoxo,
*M*

Done....

....and now we wait.

xoxo
*M*

Post Script

My friend Jim Cereal in the UK loves this artist, Faile. I was just searching through some photos of his work on Flickr and came across this one:



Somewhat fitting considering the history that will be made tomorrow. ;)

xoxo,
*M*

The Future

Election Day is tomorrow. I can't wait for it to be over.
I had stomach pains all last week from talking politics with people and I just can't anymore.
So, all I will say is, get yourself informed (for the love of God, be informed) before you make a choice. Look outside the box. Go vote!



xoxo,
*M*

Mecca

I feel as though I just found the embroidery mecca.

Stitch Spectacular

xoxo,
*M*

Future Projects?

Earlier this week I sent in my headshot and resume to Circle Theatre here in the grand land of Chicago. They are holding auditions in December for their production of Charles Mee's play A Perfect Wedding. It's basically his version of A Midsummer's Night Dream. I would love to be in a Mee play, so here's to hoping I get a call with an audition time. :)

I'm also debating on whether I want to join in on this art project with Art House in Atlanta, The 10,000 People Project. I really love what Art House does for the arts, but there's only one catch. If I sign up for a project they gain the rights to my work. They can distribute my images anyway they want. Not that I think they'd do anything malicious with it or anything. I'm just not 100% comfortable with the idea of someone else owning the rights to my work. I mean...it's my work, ya know? So, I'll have to sit on this for a bit and decide if it's worth it to me.

Thoughts, m'dear readers?

*M*

BADGES!

I'm pleased to announce that I now have badges (pins, buttons, whathaveyou) for my Etsy store!



I've been meaning to have some made since I opened the store back in June, but didn't have the means (either financially or mentally) to place an order. Low and behold I finally got it together. I'm planning on using them as freebies on Etsy and for the Handmade Market Chicago Craft Fair.

I highly recommend the Etsy seller I got them from as well: Badge Town. Jon, the seller, was really responsive and worked with me to make sure I had the best badges possible. He's also new to Etsy and for the time being his prices are extremely reasonable, so if you're looking for promotional stuff for your store or party favors or just something fun check him out. :)

xoxo,
*M*

Finished! Woo Hoo!

Dear Readers,

I finally finished my pieces for the Art Whino show. Now all I have to do is gather some hardware for hanging everything and then I can ship everything, which I'll probably do tomorrow. What a weight that has been lifted!

From Art Whino Show Nov. 2008

I also counted up my inventory for the Handmade Market Craft Fair and I have a total of 35 shirts. I was rather surprised, but delighted that now I can pretty much make more items without rushing myself. Phew and phew!

If that wasn't enough, today is the last day for my play Land of the Free. We close tonight and have strike right after. I've had a lot of fun working on this show, but with everything else that is going on I could really use the break. Now that all of these projects are coming to close I can start to focus on my Halloween costume...a Domestic Goddess. I'm pretty excited about it. Pictures to come!

Happy Sunday Folks!
*M*

Top Five Albums of 2008

Just because I'm a music nerd...

In no particular order:

1. The Dutchess and The Duke: She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke (I've said it before and I'll say it again, thank you Jane for this little gem. I can't stop listening to it and it just makes me want to pick up the guitar again specifically so I can learn these songs. "Strangers" and "I Am Just a Ghost" are high on my list of favorites songs from the year.)

2. Los Campesinos: Hold On Now, Youngster (Shake Shake Shake your fanny all night long! Thanks Uncle Jim!)

3. Eli "Paperboy" Reed and The True Loves: Roll With You (I have a tendancy to buy whatever the guys at Laurie's Planet of Sound in Lincoln Square tell me I should buy. Thus I met Mr. Reed and his True Loves. G Damn it, this album is magic and makes me want to sing.)

4. Juno: Soundtrack (This one just gives me simple warm fuzzes. Thank ya Kimya Dawson.)

5. Pete and The Pirates: Little Death (Once again thanks to Uncle Jim for this one. There are mornings where I find it difficult to listen to this album and not break out dancing on the 147 bus to work. If these boys ever make it to Chicago I will stop everthing to see them. And I'll drag you with me. Oh yes. YOU.)

Runners Up:

- Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings: Naturally. (Didn't make the list only because it was not released in 2008)

- Flight of the Conchords: Flight of the Conchords. (For as much as I love it, I don't feel 100% right about including a comedy album in the top five. Although "Leggy Blonde" is rather pricless.)

- Slow Club....I can't seem to locate a full album, therefore they don't qualify this time around, but rest assured if an album appears before the year is out I have no doubt that one of the current top five might get booted.

- Hot Hot Heat: Happiness Ltd. (Effen awesome album, but I find myself listening to only a couple songs on thier own rather than the album as a whole, but still....fucking brillant tunes.)

- Long Blondes: Couples. (Very different from their first album Someone To Drive You Home. A little more eletronic, a little more clubby, but still something to shake your fanny to. Too bad they just broke up. Sad face.)

- Radiohead: In Rainbows (...why the "f" isn't this in the top five? Just on principle...)

5a. Radiohead: In Rainbows
(I don't want to be your friend
I just want to be your lover
No matter how it ends
No matter how it starts

Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
-House of Cards)

xoxo,
*M*

Twenty Done. One To Go!

I am pleased to say that I have only one piece left to make for the Art Whino show. ONE! It's mostly done actually. I have to sew the pieces together and voila! The second half of the pieces are very simple compared to the first set. Basically, they are canvas on canvas with some thread and a stencil. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. Once I have the last piece finished all I really have to do is pull together hardware to hang everything and stuff them in a box to ship. Phew!

From Art Whino Show Nov. 2008

Aaaaaand...I looked at my inventory list yesterday for the craft fair and I'm apparently farther along than I thought I was! Woo hoo! Everything's coming up *M*!



My show, Land of the Free, closes on Sunday, which also happens to be my mom's 70th birthday. It's going to be a busy weekend of stage combat, politics and birthday phone calls. :) So, as my mom would say "Onward and upward!"



xoxo,


*M*

Lola

Even though I'm under the gun with the Art Whino show and the Handmade Market Chicago fair I decided that a night of good ol' Halloween fun was in order.



I spent the evening with some friends, just relaxing and carving pumpkins. It's been years since I've been to a pumpkin carving party. After two cups of mulled cider, some garlic roasted pumpkin seeds and way too much candy, Lola was born...






She's a terrible flirt.



xoxo,
*M*

Ugh

Two things:

1. I just got word from the Art Whino folks that they are moving the show to a different space with more room, higher ceilings and are keeping the show hours from Noon to 8pm seven days a week for a month. Pretty effen sweet if you ask me.

2. They are moving our deadline up by about a week. Crap-a-lap-a-ding-dong. I'm about half way done and now I have to speed through my plan B. Plan B will work out nicely I think, but I'm a little nervous now about getting all the pieces done in time. I know it will happen. Somehow it will happen. Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm not really all that used to a full night's sleep anymore, right?

Right?

xoxo,
*M*

Art Whino and Handmade Market Chicago

Dear Readers,

Life is insane. Why, you might be asking? Because I have a problem saying "no" lately.

For the past few months I've been working tirelessly to make inventory for the Handmade Market Craft Show here in Chicago for Nov. 8th. I've been making patches for shirts and crocheting my little heart out. On top of that I was accepted into a stencil art show in Maryland which requires me to make one 20x20 stencil piece and 20 "found object" pieces. Boy howdy, I..am...insane! I have most of the inventory done and a good amount of the pieces for the art show done. I've given myself the deadline of Nov. 7th to have everything done and ship whatever I need to ship to MD, but damn....I'm running on fumes at the moment. I'm currently in a show with my theatre company, Babes With Blades, and we have one more weekend of performances after this week. I've been working 9-5 Mon-Fri, sewing in the evening Mon-Wed and then performing Thurs-Sun. How I am still alive is a miracle. I feel that the end will justify the means though. I'm really proud of the work I'm pulling together and I'm setting new goals for myself thanks to all this madness. So, within the next few months I hope to have lots of new stories to tell.

In the meantime, here is one of the pieces I'll be submitting to the Art Whino show in November:

"Margaret" (Materials: Scrap fabric, thread, canvas and brown Sharpie marker.)

I think once I have all the pieces for the two shows done I'll be making more of these scrap fabric panels for my Etsy store. So far everyone who has seen them thinks they're pretty nifty. Might as well spread the love to the world!

xoxo,
*M*

Oh, You Learning Experience, You!

The Etsy store has been open almost a week and so far I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. Things are slow going, but from what everyone on the forums says, this is the time to be patient.

I spent part of my morning resizing photos and re-uploading them to the site since the ones I had on there were showing up a bit blurry. Now that that is done I can breathe easy. I also took a minute or two to introduce myself to the Etsy forums. I'm kind of amazed by how many topics are on there and how quickly they rotate. I'm not sure I'm going to get through most of what's already on there! Luckily, a good friend of mine opened her own Etsy store about two weeks ago and is helping me keep up on the Etsy goings-on.

Her store is called Diffraction. She makes photo jewelry out of her own pictures and might I say they are pretty spectacular!

This is one of her newer pieces and perhaps my favorite:


Check out the rest of her store here: Diffraction

She also has a blog at: www.dif-fraction.blogspot.com

Anyhoo, that's about all I have to say today. I'm off to sew some felt critters and pick myself up a piping hot Americano!

Love,
*M*

Mama Sass Designs is officially open!

Hello readers!

Welcome to the Mama Sass Designs blog where I'll be making updates on new inventory for my Etsy store, news and pretty much any other craft ramblings that pop into my head.

Please visit my new store and feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

And remember...you're fabulous!
*M*

www.mamasassdesigns.etsy.com