ICE: Indie Craft Experience

Hi All,

So as you may or may not know, I recently got back from a river cruise with Momma TWIMO down the river Rhine through Switzerland, France, and Germany. It was pretty sweet and I'm all in the Christmas mood now, but I haven't uploaded my pictures yet, because my camera cord is misplaced and perhaps is in my luggage which is god knows where in the world right now, so the Rhine Retrospective will be coming soon, but I felt I was neglecting my loyal followers so I thought I'd write about this awesome Indie Craft Fair I went to in November with one of my new friends from my graphic design class. The indie craft experience was this craft fair in a great old warehouse building in a not so good area of Atlanta. All the stuff was super awesome and I really wish I could make a living just crafting. Perhaps I'll look into it. I think I might have a calling as a professional crafter.

Here's what I bought:

Clockwise from the top:

1) Resin Necklace with some sort of berry encased in it. Look at the super cute grass packaging...

2) Felted hair clip. So cute. Check them out at Blue Eyed Freckle on Etsy. I also think I could make my own which is why I bought this to look at construction etc.

3) Fabric covered button earrings. I'm kinda obsessed with plaid this winter.

4) Background: Poster bought as a Christmas Gift.

A lot of cities these days are having these Indie Craft Fairs so I highly recommend finding them and start shopping for Christmas next year. Remember I've been a very good girl and should be at the top of your list! ; )

Etsy Finds + TWIMO Observes: Pop Culture

Ok, ok. TWIMO-ers YOU ARE SLACKING!!! I MISS YOUR COMMENTS and I FEEL YOU AREN'T GETTING YOUR TWIMO GOSPEL WHEN YOU DON'T LET ME KNOW YOU'RE READING IT!!!

Okay just got off my soapbox. Now I know you're all thriving young professionals and don't have much time to waste, you know watching television etc. and keeping up on your pop culture so I feel I should do my job as the only unemployed person of my friends and inform you about what's happening in the world outside of you know, your JOBS.

1) Starbucks is going to start serving wine and beer. Well, only in Seattle for now, but I'm sure if it makes them a BAZILLION dollars in the West it will soon move East.

2) I've been watching a lot of this show on TLC called Sister Wives about a polygamist family. First of all I don't understand why any man would want to have 4 wives. Think about all that hormonal shit you'd have to put up with. I wouldn't want to put up with 4 of me. Also, they have all these polygamist jokes which I think is funny and WEIRD.

3) While watching Sister Wives I was blessed with seeing the commercials for the up coming reality show called Sarah Palin's Alaska. Yes, that's right folks, Sarah Palin has a reality show. Attention whore, anyone?? Now I abhor this idea, but let's be real, I'm going to watch it. I'll fill you in, in case you miss any wonderful Palin moments.

4) A teen mom on the MTV hit show "Teen Mom" may be charged with domestic violence charges for beating her baby daddy. Poor guy. He just couldn't keep it in his pants. He can't help it. I just feel bad for the kid (the baby. Not the kids having the baby.)

Now hold onto your britches it's ETSY TIME. Recently to A) keep me busy in my boredom and B) calm my nerves I have been working on a needlepoint eyeglass case that my mom bought me. Now every time I sit down to stitch I think, "What am I 80?" but no shame here. In hopes of finding some hipper needlecraft projects I went to Etsy and found these great projects that I know you're all dying to stitch up. *Please note that when I came across these pieces I had simply searched for cross stitch patterns, nothing like pornographic cross stitch patterns.

Um yeah... and this was a tame one.

WHOAAA Bella and Edward. Isn't Twilight for pre-teens??? Oh who am I kidding this is probably considered G-Rated in today's tween world.

For the more tradition ladies out there. Mr. Darcy anyone?

And lastly but not least (Erin this one's for you) an RPatts Pillow. Be ready to see that under the tree come x-mas Etabs!

The conclusion I have come to is that women who might buy these projects probably just sit on their couches a lot and make cross stitch pillows so they aren't getting a lot, so these little projects probably keep them a little hot and bothered. You know whatever you gotta do, because the world is your oyster.

Etsy Monday!!

Holla. I'm back in the ATL and after tomorrow momma TWIMO, who drove back with me (it's an awkwardly timed drive) will be heading back to the O-H-I-O and my life will be back to normal. For you, my lovely TWIMOers, this means I will again be bored and writing a lot. Until this miraculous event though, I will leave you with a fabulous find from Etsy. This almost tops the needle point madonna.

Native American Doll

This patriotic find will only cost you a mere $4,000 AND it comes with a really classy fleece blanket which doubles as a hand warmer.

I forgot it was Etsy Saturday

Since my blog is D-list and not A-list, I've decided to only find weird, weird things on Etsy and not necessarily things you might actually want to buy or that show my great sense of style. So for you Twilight fans who just can't get in touch with reality, check out how to Vampire yourself for just $6. I'm pretty sure I look like this in most photos, pale skin and blue eyes that always turn red. Good thing I can get this look for free. What a bargain.

Etsy Saturday Has Arrived

One reason I have postponed my etsy recommendations is because I get engrossed in that website and never want to leave. Plus then I go "I could make that" and head to the craft store where I spend too much money on supplies I won't ever use. I've had crafting phases in jewelry making, knitting, sewing, etc. Anyway my first pick is AMAZING (ly funny, that is).

1) Cross stitched Madonna and Child Icon

Now I really appreciate this woman's skill at needle work, but almost $7,000 for this thing??? Really??? I'd rather by several pairs of Chanel shoes. Just sayin.

2) Satin Flower Headband

I'm sort of obcessed with head bands even though I don't really wear them that much. I like the idea of wearing an outrageously huge flower in one's hair. Don't ask me why. Anyway I like these because they are like an abstraction of a flower. Simple and pretty.

It's Etsy Wednesday!!!

One of my favorite blogs Decor8 has Etsy Take 5 Tuesdays and since this is a lifestyle blog, based on my lifestyle and I think creative copying is fine I will make Wednesdays Etsy Wednesdays. Of course since blogging is not my career I will only give you one or two Etsy items and not ten. So for the first Etsy Wednesday I will be featuring one of my dear friend Alison's shop And Bear. Alison is being honored on The World is My Oyster (TWMO (we love initials here people)) because I'm pretty sure she is one of my only readers and that is most likely, because I make her read it. This shop features super cute paper items like children's birthday invites, but she'll create anything for you. She did the invites for my friend Megan's bridal shower which was Love Cruise themed. The invites looked like cruise tickets and the invite to the bachelorette party were the baggage claim tickets (how CREATIVE is that???!! Like I said amazing). Anyway they were so convincingly realistic that the groom's father threw it away thinking it was a cruise ticket he did not request. I love how men never notice details. It's always about the big picture. By the way, Bear is Alison's 3lbs chihuahua and my dog Clair's best friend (or fr-enemy. whatever bear.) Enjoy! And buy her stuff.