Ellis Is...

...figuring out how to add a video to Blogger

2011-11-23T00:23:00.000-05:00

So I have no idea if the videos I just made for The {NewNew} Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sale are going to work. So I am going to test one out here. Cross your fingers.

30 Days and Counting...It's Almost Handmade Cavalcade Day

2011-11-03T23:50:00.000-04:00

It's almost that time of the year again - just 30 days until the 4th annual {NewNew} Holiday Handmade Cavalcade! Mark your calendar for December 3, from 10am - 6pm. This year we are headed to Williamsburg Brooklyn and the fantastic space at Public Assembly. It is going to be a day full of food, fun, shopping, end even drinks!

Of course since this is a {NewNew} event you can expect goodie bags. We’ll have them waiting for the first 200 shoppers in the door. And don’t forget about the raffles, this year each one will be themed.

Visit the blog where you can read more about the Cavalcade and The {NewNew} in general. The Handmade Cavalcade site is up and running as well.

Check out the rest of my holiday event schedule, I will be as some terrific shows.

Namaste

नमस्ते

Holly

Throwing a New Website Design Out There

2011-09-09T00:01:00.000-04:00

Were you as excited as I was about the launch of Lion? I was counting the days for it’s release, I had my play by play prep and download instructions and when the day came everything went fine. Except for the fact that somewhere along the line I failed to notice that I would be losing access to several older applications - in particular my archaic version of DreamWeaver.

Just days after upgrading I went to update my website with new show dates and “Uh Oh!” yep that when I found out, DreamWeaver version zero.zilch was not supported. Now I have never sworn at the good folks in Cupertino until this happened. Was it them? Was it Adobe? I didn’t care, in order to edit my site I was going to have to go in and edit it in HTML Rrrrrrrrr, and that is not the sound of a happy Lion purring.

Fast forward.... what’s this iWeb? After reading the lousy reviews for RapidWeaver (since I can not afford the new version of DreamWeaver) I realized I had something called iWeb. Could it possibly work?

Well, it took a while to find a style I could live with, but I have to say I think this version is looking better than the previous site. The only thing I can’t figure out is how to use my Blogger blog as my blog here (say that 3 times fast!). There must be a way.....

So at any rate, here is the new site (or the first pages of it) and the new blog (at some point linked with this blog I hope).

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon.

Namaste

नमस्ते

Holly

Posting on The {NewNew}

2011-04-08T00:13:00.000-04:00

We have an awesome few feature on The {NewNew} blog, every month we give away a prize package from 3-4 of our members.

Lu, from LuCrafts curates the giveaway each month into a fun theme, this month it is fathers day.

Click on over and enter - as they say in the lottery biz "you gotta be in it to win it"

namaste

नमस्ते

Counting Down to The {NewNew} Holiday Handmade Cavalcade

2010-11-30T11:00:00.000-05:00

Just a few short days until The {NewNew} Holiday Handmade Cavalcade. I have been knitting like crazy to make sure I have lots of unique hats for the event.
This year our winter shopping wonderland plays host to more than 50 of the area's amazing artists, designers, and crafters. It will be filled with handmade clothing, home decor, jewelry, accessories, paper goods, toys and bath & body products, all designed and produced locally.

Hope to see you December 5, 2010 from 11am-8pm.
This year’s Holiday Handmade Cavalcade will take place at OpenHOUSE Gallery at 201 Mulberry Street, New York, NY
Spread the word, tell your friends, and we'll see you there!

Want to check out some of the fantastic items in advance? Visit these Esty treasuries:

Holiday Handmade Cavalcade 2010 Preview
Holiday Gift Shopping
Holiday Colors at the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade
Holiday Handmade Cavalcade
We Heart NYC Holiday Handmade Cavalcade
The New New Holiday Handmade Cavalcade
Got Gifts at the Hoilday Cavalcade

namaste
नमस्ते

Making Holiday Ornaments

2010-11-22T17:00:00.001-05:00

I'm digging into the fabric scrap bag again, this time to make holiday ornaments. One of the things I really like about thee is that you can make them as simple or fancy as you like. Personally, given my schedule I go for the simple route and call them charming.

Gather Your Supplies

Felt (wool, eco-felt work best as they are heavier but regular craft felt is fine as well)
Fabric scraps of all sorts
Ribbon pieces, bits of trim
Buttons, beads and other embellishments
Fiber fill (cotton balls will work as well)
Cord or embroidery floss
Scissors
Thread
Pins
Sewing machine is optional - you can hand sew
Fabric glue

Keep in mind that it is entirely up to you how fancy you make these. Also, if you are working with kids you may want to use glue instead of sewing for some of the steps.

Lets Make Some Ornaments

To make the basic shapes for your ornaments the first thing you need to do is draw a template. I did mine freehand but you can also head to your kitchen and grab cookie cutters and trace around them. Mitten, stocking and tree shapes are quite easy to work with.

From the felt cut out several shapes. I suggest doing several at a time to be more efficient. If you want to keep your ornament simpler you can opt to use a single layer for each one. However, these directions will show you how to make one with two pieces that is stuffed with a bit of fiber fill.

Now it's time to really get creative. From your scraps cut out an assortment shapes to apply to your ornament. Work with the pattern in the fabric and cut out specific elements to add. Fill the center (leaving a felt border). Keep in mind you can work with multiple layers too. Lay out your pieces and pin them down to make sure you like your composition before you start to sew.

Hand or machine stitch each piece to the felt base. If working with kids glue is an option at this step. If you are adding a second layer of fabric to your design do that next.

Sew on your beads, buttons, additional trim next.
Cut a 6 inch length of cord or ribbon (hemp, metallic cord, even embroidery floss will work. Fold in half and make a knot at the end, this will help keep the cord in place.
Put the two halves of your ornament together (right side out) and sandwich the cord in between the two pieces. Stitch together leaving an opening to stuff. Be sure to catch the cord as you are sewing.

Stuff with a small amount of fiber fill. Sew the opening closed and trim any uneven edges of the felt.

And that's it, you just made a holiday ornament.

These make great additions to packages and if you leave the top open (w/o stuffing) they can hold gift cards. Just measure your card and add a little extra to allow for your stitching.
If you stop by The {NewNew} Holiday Handmade Cavalcade on December 5th you will be able to register to win one of several extra special goodie bags. Included among all the wonderful items will be an ornament similar to these.
namaste
नमस्ते

Finished writing her {NewNew} piece on the Sheep and Wool Festival

2010-10-21T23:08:00.001-04:00

I just finished my piece about the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck NY for The {NewNew} blog. It is scheduled to post at 12:07 am, not sure why I picked that hour, it just seemed like a nice time in the morning to have it hit.

After a hectic few days at the day job, I have not been able to knit a thing. I hate when that happens. Seriously can't wait to pick up my needles and make something.

Posting on the {NewNew} blog

2010-08-24T13:16:00.000-04:00

Starting in August I will have a weekly post on The {NewNew} Etsy Street Team blog. This week check out an easy tutorial to make catnip mice.

Catnip Mice
$5 each on Etsy

Having a Christmas in July Sale

2010-07-19T18:16:00.001-04:00

Sure it is 90 degrees in the shade and winter is not even close to being on your mind. But it is July and that means a Chrismas in July Sale is in order! All winter merchandise is reduced until July 31st. Visit either my Etsy or ArtFire Shop by clicking below.

Happy Holidays
Holly

Heading to Maplewoodstock

2010-07-09T16:37:00.000-04:00

Hi there! I have been sewing like crazy in order to get ready for Maplewoodstock this weekend! Check out my etsy site for a look.

I'll be there Saturday and Sunday (7/10 -11) 12-7pm. Memorial Park in Maplewood NJ.

On Saturday I will be there with Nordea of Nordea Soaperie. All her products are made from scratch in
small batches, with special attention given to detail. Her soaps contain luxury ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, aloe juice, natural clays and botanicals.

See what is going on via Facebook or follow the Maplewood fun on Twitter (remember to use #Maplewoodstock)

namaste
नमस्ते

Heading to the Etsy craft party ....Are you?

2010-06-18T14:10:00.000-04:00

Are you?

To celebrate their birthday Etsy, along with ReadyMade and Meetups Everywhere is launching the Etsy Craft Party. It's a global initiative to energize the local community, make art together, and throw a party in your neck of the woods.

Parties are happening all over the world! I'll be at the one in Brooklyn at the Etsy labs (55 Washington Street). As of Thursday 6/17, there were 5,476 people attending 522 Craft Parties in 49 different countries! You can find one in your neck of the woods at Meetup.

Hope to see you there.

namaste
नमस्ते

Singing the praises of FatCow

2010-05-20T18:07:00.000-04:00

Not a FatCow, FatCow Web Hosting

At first I was not so sure about moving my site to a new host provider, let alone one called FatCow. But when I read they were wind powered i was intrigued. I gave them a call on their 800# and asked, "so just how hard is this moving a site." Honestly, I could not believe how helpful they were.

With my old provider who I won't name, but let's just say they were a little "hyper," I had nothing but problems. Too many to enumerate. The worst was that I would call and no one could help.

Enter FatCow, wind powered, environmentally conscious, reasonable prices and HELPFUL! I had a little glitch the other day, they told me what to do, I couldn't do it, so they did it for me when I called back all exasperated. Hell-O. Thank you!

Net net the FatCow rocks!

Check them out if you need a website...

namaste
नमस्ते

...getting ready for another art & craft show

2010-04-28T11:58:00.000-04:00

You would think after all the art and craft shows I have done over the last ten years I would have it down. Never forget anything, have my display figured out, remember to bring lunch and plenty of change. But not so. Talking to other folks the good (or bad) news is that I am not entirely alone.

This year I vowed to get it together and be more organized. Make sure that the night before every event I was not stressed and up until one in the morning looking for my receipt book and rummaging for singles to make change. This year would be different.

Well, the first show a couple of weeks ago didn't go exactly perfect. I did have everything, however I was up later than I wanted to be. Not till one, only midnight. And I didn't have anything in the apartment suitable to take for lunch. Thank goodness the food at the event was healthy - I had an amazing vegan chili. I was not your average craft fair, Not Yo Mama's to be exact. But I digress. The reason I had it more together was I had a list. A list of all the things I needed, and a few I didn't but you can never be too prepared.

So I thought to myself, self... you should share this list on your blog. So here it is ...

The "I've Got It Under Control And Will Not Forget A Thing"
Craft Show List

I hope it helps. If there are things you take to your shows that I don't please let me know and I will add to the list for others to know about.

namaste
नमस्ते

... Shopping The Cavalcade

2010-04-22T16:45:00.000-04:00

The Spring Handmade Cavalcade is just two days way on Saturday April 24th! The HandMade Cavalcade is a shopping extravaganza that is entirely produced by members of The {NewNew} Etsy Street team.

This year’s Spring Cavalcade coincides with Earth Day and will feature many eco-friendly products. Plus shopping local helps sustain the local economy and reduce your carbon foot print! Come by Berry Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (it's right across from McCarren Park) between 10 and 5 to catch all the shopping action.

There will be free raffle opportunities to win some unique creations from vendors, packed up in hand-embellished lunch boxes! Raffle tickets are free with each purchase, so the more you shop, the more chances you will have to win!

Berry Park is located at 4 Berry Street in Williamsburg Brooklyn, on the corner of Berry Street and North 14th Street. So come out for a day of eco-friendly shopping and then hang out in McCarren Park to enjoy the rest of your day! By subway take the L train to the Bedford Avenue stop (the first stop in Brooklyn) or take the G train to the Nassau Avenue stop.

Can't make it to this show, find other {NewNew} events this weekend and every weekend on the {NewNew} blog.

namaste

नमस्ते

...hoping to win Martha's new book to pass on to a friend

2010-04-07T13:57:00.001-04:00

Just found out that SINGER®, is giving away a copy of Martha’s book every day in April. just become a "Fan" of Singer Sewing Company on Facebook and/or register to follow Singer Sewing Company on Twitter and you'll will be automatically entered in the giveaway. They have the complete rules of entry posted at: http://www.singerco.com/support/contest_rules.html.

The book is terrific like I said in my post last week! Sure you should buy it, but if you can win in even better right!

namaste
नमस्ते

...breaking through creative block (Pt. 2)

2010-04-06T14:47:00.000-04:00

So I've been "being with" and accepting that I don't have a creative idea left in me for the last several weeks (months? I've lost track). I'm okay with that. But now it is time to do something about it.

After sifting through the volumes of tips and advice online and on bookshelves I have come to one conclusion...I have to just keep on chugging on.

What other choice do I have? I'm not going to let this stop me from doing what I love now am I? But now what?

Tips For Breaking Creative Block

(A Personal Top Ten List)

Accept It -remember it will pass.
Clean Your Desk - clutter makes it hard to concentrate.
Get Something on Paper - 4 -6 ideas for anything in 10 minutes. A few words, a rough sketch, a doodle made on a napkin, envelope, piece of paper or sketchbook.
Think Big -sections, shape, style at first. The details can come later.
Talk It Out - surround yourself with creative people...creativity breeds creativity.
Change Gears - taking your mind off the project you are stuck on can actually open your mind to ideas for it.
Relax - meditate, listen to music, take a walk. Give your mind a bit of quiet time to be open to and have room for ideas to flow in.
Dumpster Dive - recycle old ideas, cobble old ideas together into something new. Use them as random points of inspiration to jump off from.
Have Fun - even if crayons are not the medium you work with, get a box, some big sheets of paper and use them. Think mad, think "what if", come up with crazy ideas then bring them back to reality. Cookies help too! Just not too many.
Keep Chugging On!

These are the "Top Ten" that I have found helpful. Let me know what's worked for you.

namaste
नमस्ते

...in Stitches

2010-04-02T12:29:00.000-04:00

Last night (4/1/10) I went to Stitch Fest, the launch event for Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and peek Fabric Crafts. It was a sewing bee to end all sewing bees. Hundreds of women (and a few men) spent the evening getting a sneak peek at the many projects featured in the book. And better yet, doing a little sewing, a little drinking and some noshing.

Many projects from the book were on display featuring appliqué, quilting, hand dying.

Eco-friendly ideas were represented as well, would you ever think of turning a tuxedo shirt into a pillow? Make a bunny out of that wool suit jacket you haven’t worn in years, turn old wool sweaters into adorable animals.

The line to make your own heirloom tomato pincushion and machine embroidered hand towel were very long. But how often do you get to say you stuffed a tomato at Martha Stewart’s place?

As fantastic as Stitch Fest was I could hardly wait to get home to devour my copy of the book. Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts is both beautiful and useful. It delivers exactly what the title promises, straightforward, basic techniques covering both sewing and fabric crafts. The information is reminiscent of that on the website and magazines, however here it is all in one well-organized place.

The first part of the book is divided into sections each featuring a different area -- sewing, appliqué, embroidery, quilting, dyeing and printing. In each section you learn the basics and a few more skilled techniques. The second part of the book takes the techniques and works them into 150 clever and delightful projects, organized from A-Z. The entire book is beautifully photographed and well illustrated. I think it is safe to say (almost) everything is in here – tips on setting up a workspace, essential tools, glossaries, techniques, suppliers, and 150 projects with a CD that contains the patterns and templates.

I’d say this is a book that belongs on your bookshelf, but in reality it will spend it’s time on your sewing table. Now I have some sewing to do!

namaste
नमस्ते

...thinking it's a {NewNew} Spring

2010-03-31T12:27:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is April. You know what that means...it's time to get your green thumb on. Visit today's {NewNew} blog (3/31/10) and learn how to use re-purposed recycled felt to get your garden seeds started indoors.

Not a dig in the dirt kind of person? That's okay, there is something for you here too! To celebrate spring Alexandra Ferguson is giving away one of her beautiful botanical themed pillows. Visit soon, you only have until April 6th to enter.

http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/2010/03/draft-re-purposed-recycled-felt-helping.html

To stay in the loop on all the {NewNew} news and what Ellis Is .... up to be sure to follow both blogs.

namaste
नमस्ते

...seeking treasure in the {NewNew} blog

2010-03-31T12:01:00.000-04:00

There is fantastic treasure to be found in the {NewNew} etsy street team blog. If you don't know about us, take just a minute to check out the blog, our Treasury collections and individual shops.

In this blog {NewNew} member Anne tells us about her treasure hunting. Keep reading and find your own... (big hint it's a baby onsie or toddler shirt from Anne's shop). Be sure to visit soon you have to enter by 4/6.

http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/2010/03/treasury-seekers.html

namaste
नमस्ते

...slowly recovering from creative block

2010-03-30T14:42:00.000-04:00

Writer's block, creative block, call it what you will it either way it is a condition in which we lose our ability to create new work. Largely associated with professional writers, it impacts all of us who embark on creative endeavors; writers, musicians, fine artists, artisans, designers and crafts people of all medium. Creative block is as varied as the people it impacts, lasting from a day or two on a specific project to extreme cases that last for years. Either way, when it hits the feeling can be numbing, defeating even crippling.

"You don't know what it is to stay a whole day with your head in your hands trying to squeeze your unfortunate brain so as to find a word." (Gustave Flaubert, 1866)

Welcome to my world for the past several months. For Flaubert it was about finding words, for me it was just finding ideas. Ideas for new hats, ideas for fabrics to put together, even ideas about what to eat for dinner. One week I ate nothing but Mexican simply because I couldn't think of any other ideas.

Let me tell you, it is frustrating. But I did take solace in the idea that life is imperfect and incomplete. This is because all things and experiences are impermanent, unsteady or inconstant. The imperfection of my creative block would pass just as everything else in life does.

In this is the first step at dealing with and overcoming creative block.. just recognize it and accept it. In other words, be mindful to it.

"Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience. It isn't more complicated that that. It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is, without either clinging to it or rejecting it." (Sylvia Boorstein)

More next time....

namaste
नमस्ते

...not just being

2010-03-24T12:42:00.000-04:00

Now that I'm here I find myself wondering when others actually find the time to conceive, write and post their blogs? I have my ideas, notes, sketches, but short of typing a few words with one hand and a soda (that would be lunch) in the other I have yet to be able to get anything out here.

I already sleep tweet, walk post, and conference eat. As do a lot of other people around me. What does that say about us?

We work, some work x2 (or try to). Me with my small business along with many of my craft-business friends. Fun is often sacrificed. Sleep is too. What does that say about us.

Yet here I am...here we are adding another to do to the list. Tomorrow there will be another I'm sure. What does that say about us?

Why do we find it so hard to sit. Enjoy quiet, nothingness. To just be for the sake of being?

Don't get me wrong, I love all I do and respect all everyone else does. I just sit here wondering as I type with one hand and sip my ginger ale lunch with the other why, just for a moment or two, we can't all just be?

namaste
नमस्ते

What's It All About

2010-03-02T11:09:00.000-05:00

Last week I decided the time had come to start a blog. I've spent the last few days trying to force myself into a blogging corner and narrow myself to one topic to write about. After all, that is what the "best in class" blog advice says I should be doing. But here's the rub, I really don't want to do that.

What then is Ellis Is.... all about? It's about many interests. I hope some interest you. Ellis Is....

....Being and thinking crafty

....Attempting to cook

....With the band

....Just being, thinking

Today in the spirit of welcome and introductions Ellis is....Just being. Thinking about wisdom, knowledge and change.

Every day, as I sit at my office desk, I look at the image and mantra of Manjushri. I share this mantra with you wishing that all good things may come your way.

Manjushri
Liberating Wisdom
oṃ a ra pa ca na dhīḥ

Viewing freedom as intrinsic to our being,
we discover that our lives are what we make them.
All options are open, our choices are unlimited.
When we have knowledge, space grants us unbounded opportunity,
and time presents us with infinite possibilities for change.

namaste
नमस्ते

Hmmmm

2010-02-24T16:07:00.000-05:00

So this is a blog... a place to put my inner musings, points of view, rants and raves out for the world to read. Ok. Well let's start with today's musing... borrowed from the Dalai Lama

"The purpose of our lives is to be happy."