Helpful Donations

Hey Everyone! As you may remember from my last post, I got into Craftstravaganza, a one day craft fair at the end of April. I'm super excited, but I'm also worried about the cost. The cost for the space, getting tables and display supplies plus the cost of materials to make product is adding up fast!

Here's where you, my loyal fans and friends, can help me out! You know that shirt you have in the back of the closet, the one that doesn't fit anymore or has maybe a couple holes in it, but other then that it's still in pretty decent shape... Well I'm looking for those kinds of shirts. Jersey knitted ones (that stretch), so I can make some of my necklaces.

I'm going to list all my sponsors/donors not only here on my blog, but also if you would like in exchange a felt fortune cookie or mustache key chain I would he happy to make you one.

Here's what I'm looking for the left and center t-shirts will work, they are plain, or mostly plain, stretch and it's nice that they don't have side seams. The right one is an example of one that won't work, it has a felted/texture to it that wont stretch. But I'm happy with what ever you are willing to part with... If I don't use it, you could have it back or I'll donate it to the Steele County Clothesline.

If anyone has any other thoughts/idea/suggestions I'm happy to hear them. I've never done a craft fair, so I'm learning a lot. I already have a mannequin that a friend is letting me barrow and my mom is getting some tables and I'm using the Cricut at work to make my sign, so if you have any other ideas, let me know.

I'm also be in the market for more felt, beads of most kinds, cheap displays or DIY ideas for them.

AHS - Please Help the Animals

Image above: Copyright Ash Temple

Information below from Ash Temple and her team of Animal Lovers! From The Stubby Nubbs Team!

We created a team (Heather's friend Ash + peeps) to help support the animals that Animal Humane Society cares for every day. Animals suffer the effects of tough times and this is exactly the time when our commitment must be at its strongest. We have committed as a team to do what we can to help all of the animals in need.

Will you help too? Please consider giving what you can - either through a donation or by joining our team and helping us raise money for this important cause.

The Walk for Animals is about gathering and celebrating, but mostly, it?s about helping animals less fortunate than our own. This is the Animal Humane Society?s major, stand-up-on-your-hind-legs-and-bark fundraising event. Nearly 35,000 companion animals depend on AHS - and on you!

Thank you for your generous support.

If you would like to join our team "Stubby Nubbs" (named in honor of the dogs with nubbin tails!) Ash will make you a t-shirt with an illustration of your dog (or anything you want) and our team name. In fact, if you make a donation and would like a tshirt, please let her know as well! Just email her: ohtoast@yahoo.com what you want and buy a white t-shirt of your liking, and she will make you a sweet shirt!

DONATE! Here!

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)

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?

So I Lost My Job...

At the end of April of 2009, I lost job. It's heart breaking, scary and stressful. You do feel like you're the only one it is happening to, no matter how many people tell you, you're not. I had no clue what I was going to do, but from my mom, resources and personal experience I created a list of steps to help others in the future who come across a similar situation.

1. Cry and call your loved ones (Maybe men might skip the crying part).
2. File for Unemployment (the next day). (UIMN, if you live in Minnesota)
After all the paper work and setting up stuff online is done, be sure to copy your ‘approved’ papers for loan deferments. There is a one-week waiting period and if you have any kind of severance package they take that into account. I went the first 3 weeks of May with NO money, thank goodness for parents.
3. Graduates call your loaners and look into deferments and/ or forbearances.
Well Fargo – Private Loan
Direct Loans – Federal Loan
4. Call HR from ‘said’ employer and inquiry about COBRA for your health benefits.
What to ask:
- Can I COBRA my health, dental and/ or other kind of insurance?
- Would it be the same level of benefits I have now?
- What is the price per month for this policy?
- How many months can I carry it?
- Does this reflect the new stimulus package, which usually lowers the costs?

You don’t have to agree on the spot, you can call back with your decision. I learned the hard way, I just COBRA my insurance, because I was denied when trying to get back to my parent's or previous insurance, do to a ‘previous condition.” Yes, all insurance companies are jerks, in my opinion.

5. Update/ Delete/ Edit any online media listing ‘said’ lost job.
Email Signatures
LinkedIn
Facebook/ MySpace
Twitter
Etc.
6. Find/ Edit/ Re-Vamp/ or Create a New Resume’
7. Prepare a list of references.
8. Fill out/ post your resume’ on job search websites:
Monster
Career Builder
MN Works
MN WFC
Hoovers
Indeed
9. Prepare a general cover letter as a starting point and remember to customize it for each job application.
10. Start your list of Job Offers and Contacts to keep track of whom and when you make contact and apply for job offers.
11. Network/ Contact/ Reach Out to who ever is listening, you never know who could help or offer and idea/ suggestion/ or even a job.
12. Have a part time job, anything, so while you are looking, it benefits your character as a hard, dedicated worker.
13. Apply, Apply, Apply!!!
14. Keep track of all applications to document for Unemployment, things like:
- Completed Applications
- Sending Employment Resumes
- Attend Job Seeking Seminars
- Do Networking. Research, Etc.
15. Remember ‘Thank You Letters/ Emails’ and/or ‘Call Backs.’
16. Freelance work, competitions, or even just new work for you book if you're a fellow artist, keeping busy helps.
17. I considered going back to school, but I learned that loans cannot be deferred again once they have been consolidated.

*This is all my opinion after losing my job, I am not guaranteeing that this is a sure fire way to get a new job, just how I went about doing it. I am not responsible for your path in life, you are. I'm just trying to help.