New Crafts

Fused plastic sewn together.

Last week a customer and I were discussing plastic bags and she was telling me how I can cut the tops and bottoms off cheap shopping bags, iron them together, then sew them into new things like tote bags. I got so excited to try a new craft, especially one that included recycling, I just had to try it out!

I made a tote for Trista's Birthday.

Detail

Card Holder

Coin Purses

Daily Doodle #1 & 2

I was poking around Wet Paint the other day, it's an art store in St. Paul, MN and not only did I run into my friend Steve, but I also scooped up a new little sketchbook, just begging to be drawn in. I don't do a lot of hand drawing anymore (sad), so I decided to change that by starting my New Years resolution a little early. I'm starting what has been named The Daily Doodle; every day I'm going to hand draw something and update you through my blog and if I miss a day, I better have a really good excuse or pull double duty the following day to make up for it. I hope you enjoy. I'm also happy to hear feedback and ideas for more doodles.

Steve, showing off some wicked highlighters from Wet Paint. 11/24

Cami, sleeping on the corner of my bed. 11/25

Kid at Heart

This little cutie is from the American Girl Brand kits that we sell at Michael's. It is a little owl shaped pouch for either your Mp3 player, camera or cell phone. I just adore it and had a cheerful time making it... except when I thought I lost the green thread, but really just one of the kittens ran off with it temporarily. For the little girl in your family there is just tons of fun waiting to be had with AG crafts.

Some Fresh Meat

So my sister has finally left the fast paced world of coffee making of Starbucks. Basically, too much drama. So now she is out in the real world and even though she is still in school, she had done enough hours to work as a Massage Therapist. I, of course, being the best person to work on her future business identity started working on a biz card/ appointment reminder card for her. I still want to try a few ideas out, but I wanted to give you all a taste for what I have been working on.


I also have the pleasure of sharing with all of you about this little number. A few months ago I started following this guy on twitter and then found myself following one of his followers who works in PR and writes her own blog. After befriending one another on Facebook, she invited me out for lunch to talk about a project she had for me. So here is the new look for Marcy's Minneapolis Career Girl blog logo. There is still some more work to do for her, but I'm excited for any and more freelance projects.

Even though this was made a while ago, my friend Mike has been making some dramatic changes to his site and now has incorporated the new logo that I made for him into it. I'm so happy to see my work up in the real (internet) world.

Last, but not least, I want to share the work of my reunited friendship with my buddy Steve Robbins. He is a great comic artist, wonderful character designer and all around great guy. I hope you check out his site and his blog.

Busy Bee

I just wanted to extend an apology out to my readers. I know I haven't posted anything new on my blog for a long time and the truth is, I have been pretty busy the last few weeks. I've been working any where's from 20-35 hours a week at my new PT job with Michael's, I also have a number of projects or clients that I have been working with as well. The Advertising Federation of MN needs a holiday party post card made, a fellow twitter-er needed her logo date pushed up and my sister needs a biz card now. Plus there are little things like looking for work, babysitting, cleaning the apt, trying to stay social, etc. Oh! And, there are all the little things I've been doing to help Jenna out before her wedding on the 28th! Sometimes I think I like stretching myself too thin. Brent says, I'm trying to compete with him, I'm not really, or at least, not on purpose; I'm just trying to make enough money to pay my bills and keep everyone happy. I've been on unemployment for over 6 months and even though I have this PT job, it's not enough to cover everything. So I stay busy, busy as a little bee in the summer time, even though we're going into winter. Hopefully the job hunt will turn around for me, it's been really slow since I started at Mike's.

Household Tip #1

Most of my friends know, but not everyone, that I am a very 'domesticated' woman. I love cooking and baking, decorating and hosting, I even like cleaning when I am in the mood for it. I want to start a list of household tips I have learned, used and feel would benefit everyone. A lot of my friends are at a point where they are moving out of their parents homes and starting their own lives and for all my friends who do already live in the real world maybe there is a tip that could help them out. So if you have any tips/ tricks or trades that you would like to share with me, let me know and I'll add them to the list.

Household Tip #1 - Removing Gnats

So you left something on the counter too long or have something really smelly sitting in your trash and now you have gnats. At first it only seems like a few, but even after removing the smell/ trash out of your house they still seems to be around. Here is a sure fire way to get rid of them.

Gather the following things:
An Empty Jar
Apple Vinegar
Paper or Card Stock
Tape
Scissors

Cut and tape a funnel out of the paper or card stock, leave a small enough hole so that the gnats can get in but not out.

Tape down the funnel so that the bugs cannot get out any other way.

Leave it out on the kitchen counter or someplace open.

It really works and I'm really impressed how quickly too.

(Tip donated to me by Tona, from Rachel, former LB coworkers)

Working Girl

New Location

New Uniform

I better study up!

Finally Employed

I finally have the pleasure of informing everyone that I am now employed! Granted this is a part time job, but I am optimistic that it is a step in the right direction. I have to believe my months of hard work and job hunting will get me somewhere I want towards my future career.

I will be brief about the new position because I don't have orientation till Monday. I do already have about 25 hours scheduled for my 1st week, so I am very excited.

Yes, it is a retail job and for those of you who known me for a while, know I use to work a the Lane Bryant in Burnsville for almost 4 years. Now, I will be working at the Michael's Arts & Crafts in Richfield, near the Hub Shopping Center. A less then 10 min drive with no highway needed. Awesome!

I enjoy the arts, crafts, baking, sewing and beading and with all my retail experience, I felt it would be a good fit. Plus with my sister's engagement, the discount will be helpful. I will never hang or fold clothing again, I tell you that!

So wish me luck, I start on Monday!

Adult Homework

SPC Original Site

My Mock Redesign: SPC Home Page

My Mock Redesign: SPC Home Page, courser over button/ Ad 1

My Mock Redesign: SPC Home Page, courser over button/ Ad 2

After my design interview last Tuesday, I was given a 24 'homework' assignment to mock up a redesign of SPC's home page. They gave me a list of guidelines to meet and two other websites they own/worked on as references. Web design isn't me strongest forte, but it would be something I would love to gain more experience in. Whether I get the job or not, it's still good practice for me. Plus it kept me busy for a little while.

World Premiere of Nobody

October 1st was the World Premiere of the film Nobody (IMDB) (Site), a story about Lindeman, a 25 year old art student, struggles to find his inspiration, finding himself in one ridiculous situation after the other.

Writers: Rob Perez and Ryan Miller
Director: Rob Perez
Executive Producer: Josh Hartnett
Lead Actor: Sam Rosen

The movie was filmed entirely in the city of Minneapolis and parts of the film were even filmed at the Minneapolis College of Art + Design, where I went to school! So when the opportunity came when the public could attend the premiere, I jumped all over it. I scooped up 4 presale tickets and eventually found 3 friends to join me for the premiere and a bite to eat before hand.

It was a funny flick, especially since it was from the point of view from the cliché poor art student. Basically my college life rapped up in about 100 minuets. Of course being from or living in Mpls and going to school at MCAD, we all caught some of the little inconsistencies: no snow in a park during “winter time,” the flow of the rooms at MCAD were all wrong (but forgivable), the dandy lions were not yellow in “spring time;” just a few little things that one may or may not notice. It did not take away from the comedic story line or the odd goat.

I highly recommend it. You have to appreciate something made in your back yard.

After the film, Tim and I headed over to the Shout House to help Ash celebrate her birthday. I had never seen Dueling Piano's before, it was great! Totally a place to go to again.

To see pictures from the premiere, go to my Events Flickr Set or click here.

The Job Hunt Update

Maybe it’s time for a job hunting update for people who are not in the loop on a daily basis with me. I have my 6th interview coming up on Tuesday the 29th. That’s 5 months to the day after being let go from Gruen Marketing. I was pretty much in shock the whole month of May, getting kinda down in June and really starting to feel almost depressed by time July hit and I’m not gonna even talk about August. But now in September, I’m feeling a little better… still hunting for that job, but I’m feeling a little more confident after each interview. Here’s been the run down over the last few months:

1) Cumberland Enterprises
2) Life Touch Photography (Seasonal)
3) Elite Marketing Promotions
4) Metro Marketing
4) Michael's Craft Store (Part Time)
6) Security Products Company (But, it's a design job)

I have been babysitting too, for my Ex Lane Bryant manager... kind of counts as work, right?

I have also been trying to keep busy with a lot of projects, like to keep my mind occupied, because I don't get cable, have seen all my movies a million times and have a few number of friends still in the cities. Some projects include:

1) Getting my Portfolio Site up and running
2) I made Jewelry for two of my gal pal's weddings
3) Working on RYZ.com shoe competitions
4) Working on my own Birds of a Feather Jewelry Co. logo/identity and products
5) Getting BoaF up and running on Etsy
6) Helping my Sister in planning her wedding to Mike (I'm a MOH!)
7) Networking (Twitter, FB, LinkedIn) and going to events like the Temp Retired.
8) Making a logo for Meredith, a photography friend
9) Working on some simple designs for t-shirts (1) (2)
10) Adding more Digital Illustration to my website
11) Send some design work to a student in Berlin for a publishing project
12) Random logo designs, like a spec logo for Locks of Love
13) I'm currently working on a logo/blog design for a Twitter Follower of mine

Busy is good, it’s keeping my mind of other things I would be thinking about. The only thing to worry about is time vs money, but even people with jobs have that problem too.

So, if you’re looking for a designer for FT work or freelance I’m happy to provide my services… Advertising, illustration and photography too, of course! I like having multiple interests. I can bake too and cook too, but I doubt people want to pay me for that, but cooking for friends always makes me happy.

RYZ.com Contest 27

Every 2 weeks or so RYZ.com holds design contests for artists and designers to see their work on shoes! It's fun! The winner get's their shoe made and usually some kind of prize like a gift card or money. There is usually a theme and as one contest is open to submission the previous one is open for voting... That's where I need your help. I would love to have friends, family, strangers voting on my shoes. Right now I have 2 shoes that are available to vote on and you can vote ONCE DAILY. So be sure to go back 1 time each 24 hours and vote again. (When the check marks are grey you can vote and they are blue for 24 hours.)

For Big City - Vote Here

For Tele Pole - Vote Here

Helping all artist

This Post by MPR talks about an artist-friendly physician in Northeast Minneapolis, who has opened a practice that's getting praised for addressing a gap in the health care system by offering cheaper rates and making it much easier on the poor artist types... I mean, patients.

Here's the Link to Dr. Sam's site, too. If anyone does end up ever needing to go to Dr. Sam report back please!

Ps. I love his logo!!!

Nobody and What to Wear for Them?

Update 9.26.09 - All my tickets are taken now. I somehow managed to get 3 guys to going with me. How did I pull that off? I don't know either, but it will be fun! Tim, Jared and Joel are all awesome guys!

It feels like nobody wants to go to the World Premiere of Nobody with me and my friend, the Awesome that is Joel. I already have the 4 tickets, but my original plans fell through just after buying them and I want to fill the other 2 seats.

Yes, it would be nice to have those seats reimbursed by who ever is sitting there, but I rather eat the $25 (each) and have someone join us then the 2 empty seats. So if you want to go, I need to now a.s.a.p. The show is Thursday, October 1st at 7:30pm. First come, first serve kind of deal. Plus since I'm getting all dressed up, maybe grab a drink or bite before the show!

But more to my point of this post... what the heck does one wear to a movie premiere with what I have in my closet? I pulled out some good ones, but I always love feed back. So any thoughts/ suggestions/ opinions would be nice. Keeping in mind, I have no money to buy a new outfit for this. ^_^.

Option A (Liking this black one best)

Option B

Option C (Seems 'mom-ish')

Option D (More of a summer dress, I guess)

Option E (Front and back of a top, very low cut and would be worn with black pants)

AT&T Predicted the Future in 1993

"This montage of AT&T ads came from a 1993 Newsweek CD-ROM, when Newsweek thought that one day, magazines would be sent to you in CD-ROM form, sponsored with ads. It's an interesting view of the future."

Very interesting, right? But, to all of iPhone and Blackberry owners you are the 'future' ^_^. If only they didn't drop calls.

Now on Etsy

I'm starting my trial run on Etsy.com selling a few hand made pieces, things like necklaces, earrings and headbands. We'll see if anything sells and if so I will continue to keep it going. Please visit Birds of a Feather by hbDesigns on Etsy.com and let me know what you think or maybe make purchase if you feel so inclinded. I have made custom pieces for friends for their weddings, I am happy to do the same if you email me, we can talk it over. (Images above are custom pieces, not for sale, but I can recreate something very similar if you like.)

Random Emails

Okay, so I have to take into account that my portfolio/web site and blog are very public, but I am a very skeptic person. I'm actually very introverted and a bit of a worry wort, I know I kinda hide this. I know not to trust everything I get in my inbox, but this one throws me off and I'm not sure what to think of it. So I'm copying it here, hoping to get some feed back from my twitter and blog followers... Any thoughts on this, I'm just unsure. All else fails I'll just ignore it or write back with questions, but I want to hear what other people think. I'm not sure if I should be flattered that someone likes my work or they're pulling my leg.

Email as follows:
Hi,
My name is Erich I´m a graphic design student in berlin at the (I removed the link) I´m working on an editorial project for my semester exam, it has to involve editorial design and exhibition. I would like to publish some of your work, In the attached file is the info for the project and a form to fill if you´re interested, if there are any questions, please ask. Im afraid my deadline, before I start working on the layout is in 5 days...
best wishes
Erich Eichstetter
www.flickr.com/eriche (I removed link)
or in facebook as erich eichstetter
or (I removed email addy)

There is 4 page document/form attached, that lists off a whole bunch of steps.
How to fill this formular?
The only obligatory fields are your name country and information, feel free to fill the other fields as you wish, ignore the questions you don´t feel necessary, the questions wont appear in the magazine, only the answers.
Requirements for being published in Print2.0

1. A profile pic which can be a logo, a portrait or any representative image of the participant.
2. A picture of the studio, the camera or any significative working tool of the participant.
3. A picture of the participants city.
4. A minimum of 5 and maximum of 12 pictures of the participants work in DinA5 format (148x105mm) plus one picture in a large format for the poster (630x470mm), 150 dpi CMYK in tiff, pdf or eps format, I prefer no jpgs but they are also accepted. No watermarks, logos, artists names or frames will be accepted.
5.The filled form
6. A zip or rar file containing the requirements with the participants name. example: ericheichstetter. zip
7. By sending this zip file you´re allowing me to use its content for the pilot issue of the free of charge magazine Print 2.0
Thoughts or comments?

New Work

Tele Pole Series:
The shirt is viewable on RYZ

Big City Series
The shoes are viewable on RYZ

Credit Note: Portraits are from Threadless.com and the 3D shoe renderings come from RYZ.com. Designs are by hbDesigns (aka me).