My Creative History - part 6

Ooops! this was supposed to be published yesterday! Sorry!

So, the time went by and I was still "planning" my big entrance into the world of Crafting Business. In the meantime, I've attended  two art workshops, for teachers in elementary school. This and that. I've needed this break. I mean, I've needed an excuse to be crafty again, even if it meant doing just simple little projects for kids. With my day job and all of the stress, I haven't had the time to do or even think of anything creative. I was feeling really sad about it and like I was drifting away from my real goal. And this has been the truth. I've been occupied with all these irrelevant stuff and I was leaving behind my childhood dream, plus I haven't made anything for a long-long time.

So, I've decided to take more action. I've registered to Tell Your Story Online Art Journal Class and then also to Red Velvet Summer Camp. At least I would be motivated to be more creative again. It's been a challenge but a fun one. Slowly but steadily, my creativity began to be awakening. I've started experimenting again and I've discovered another field that I've never tried before (but I've always wanted to try it) SEWING!

 

I can't say that I'm that good already,

but I'm really trying and it's so fascinating!

I've also made my first listing on Etsy (after A WHOLE YEAR! on May 20 2010) but that was it. Too "chicken" to continue.

Why?!

This Summer I've decided to do many things.

I've joined Red Velvet Summer Camp

and I also wanted to expand my skills so, I've registered for Home Ec and I was determined to learn how to sew, although I've failed to keep up with the schedule. I'll improve, I'm sure!

In August my bob-boy's cousin Dorita and her boyfriend Michalis came for their vacation here from Athens and we hanged out a lot! They are both so creative and inspiring and they have always been pushing me towards my creative dream because they really believe in it. So, they've put me into action. This Autumn, I HAVE TO do something about it, starting with my Etsy shop. Yes, I know, I haven't done much until now, but we are still on the progress. (Give me some credit, I had a tough Summer this year. This Summer Camp has worn me out!)

First of all, I've changed my blog's layout

and also my Etsy shop's banner

so that it matches with my blog.

I'm not yet satisfied with my tag line though.

I've started developing more a series of characters-products that I've been planning for years and I've also started discussing some ideas about some other side projects with other two "creative souls". In time I'll share all of them here so that you can tell me your opinion about them. I think that I'm finally moving towards the right direction and it feels so good!

Wish me Luck!

Please, Grab My Blog Button

Ok, it's official! You can now grab my blog button! I've decided to use the image of a little painting that I've made of Anzouya, a character that I've created a long long time ago when I was still in High School. I've made some improvements over the years.

I'm planning many things about her, but still I haven't organized it the way I would want to. I was thinking about creating a line of products based on that character but I need to figure out some details before I do.

I'd like to know your

opinion on that?

Do you like it or not?

Feel free to grab my button and put it on your blog.

I will love you FOREVER if you do! ❤

You can leave me a link so I can return the favor ;-)

Blog Button Tutorial

I don't know why it took me so long to actually make one of those. Everyone has them, everyone seems to be able to make them, it wasn't so difficult after all.

Here is a How To place a button
with a text box for code on your blog:

First of all, create the image you want on a photo editing program, let's say Photoshop or Picnik sized 125x125px (at least that's the size of mine but I guess you can make it a little bigger) and resolution 72 - 75dpi. Save it as a JPG format and load it on Photobucket. From there you can copy the HTML code.
UPDATED: After experimenting a lot, trying to make a button that would satisfy me, I've found out that  a picture resolution of 150dpi or even higher would do also just fine. Also, for a bigger button you can rearrange the size to 150-180px or even more. Play a little, experiment. Once you finish you'll know the button code and how it works by heart! ;-)

Then in your Blogger Dashboard go to Design - Page Elements - Add A Gadget - HTML/ JavaScript and copy-paste the following code into the text box. You can also put a title like mine "Grab My Button" or whatever. Then, you must be really careful with this because you don't want to accidentally delete anything or put any extra http://, replace the red and blue colored information with your blog's information (web address & blog title) and the orange colored information will be your buttons web address (the html you'll copy from Photobucket).

[center][a href="http://YOUR WEB ADDRESS/" target="_blank" title="BLOG TITLE"][img alt="BLOG TITLE" src="http://IMAGE WEB ADDRESS"/][center]

[/center]
[center][textarea id="code-source" rows="3" name="code-source"][center][a href="http://YOUR WEB ADDRESS/"][img border="0" src="http://IMAGE WEB ADDRESS"/][/center][/textarea][/center]

All of the front brackets [ must be replaced with < and

all of the back brackets ] must be replaced with >

Here's an example of mine:

Save and position the button where you want it. Preview your blog and if you are satisfied with the result, save your changes.

This is what your button will look like on your blog:

Well, I'm not yet completely satisfied with my Blog Button, I'm willing to make more of these but until then... go make yours. I can't wait to see them! 

Home Ec Class Creations

Hello everyone! I know I've fallen a little behind on schedule with my creations for Home Ec Online Class. I've been way too busy with my work and all that I haven't had the time to make anything. Thank God the instructions will be available for a whole year, so I'll be able to work at my own pace and hopefully I'll improve my sewing skills to perfection! :-)

Take a look at what I've made so far.

This cute tote bag made of  kitchen towels (for the outside)

and a baby towel (for the inside-lining)

For the handles I've used a heavy fabric (it's original purpose was for furniture) and with pieces of kitchen towels I've made some little yo-yos. I've also added buttons and a small butterfly out of polymer clay.

Isn't it cute?

Yesterday, I've made a pillow case.

The original project involved also piping but since I haven't had any of it handy at the time, I've skipped it and I've made just a plain pillow case. So, here is the result. Nothing fancy, I've just used the same fabric as  for the tote bag's handles.

A little mistake on the measurements

and I ended up with this gap.

But I've fixed it with these.

I think my sewing skills are improving after all.

I'm really excited about it!

What about you?

What you've been up to lately?

Have you made anything special?

I'd love to see!