Tag Archives: cozy

Photographer’s block

If you’re looking for the giveaway scroll down or it’s over here.

Mostly I make cozies. It wasn’t really what I set out to do when I opened an Etsy shop, but I sort of just fell into it and I’m glad I did. I like it, I get to be goofy and I’ve learned a ton of new things. One thing I haven’t really learned is how to take dozens and dozens of photos of what is essentially the same item and still make it interesting. Which is sort of stinky since I recently created a whole new batch of designs for the shop.

Part of me thinks, “Ok, it’s just a cozy, they get it. Do the plain background thing and be done with it”.

But then if I do have something in the background, like say cookies, I know people see it and look and want cookies so they might want my cozy . . . . Oh I know I’ll hold it in my hand! No one’s ever seen a disposable cup doing that before! *groan*

Today was nice and sunny (after the freak thunderstorm) so I tried to sneak some flowers in. But yeah I don’t know, it’s still a cozy.

What’s a disposable cup doing in my house in the first place let alone on my piano? Who knows, it’s a new place to set up a photoshoot. How about in front of my lappy, you know because it’s a computer joke, get it? Get it?!

Anyone else feel this is a challenge when you’re making similar items and need to photograph for listings?

Maybe I should just start getting really outlandish and putting them on my sleeping cats, or hanging from the ceiling or in the bath . . . .*sigh*

Happy Giveaway Day! CLOSED

In the spirit of Giveaway Day, organized by SewMamaSew, I’m going to give away gave away, one of my new cozy designs!
This one fits in with the whole theme of the day and is all about supporting handmade goodies.

Also, since I’ve organized another scrap swap recently I’ll throw some fun little scraps into the package too.

Simply leave a comment below! Bonus smiles from me if you say something nice.
Giveaway is open to everyone everywhere mail gets delivered until May 25th!

**WOW I have never had this many comments on one post! Does that make me seem lame? Oh well. I usually write out names on paper and choose one when I have a giveaway, don’t think that’s going to work this time.
It’s been so great reading all these comments, thanks for all your kind words. I love all the people noticing it’s a Timmy’s cup!

Some questions have popped up in the comments, here are some answers,
- That is not my sewing machine, sadly, it’s LAs and she took the photo
- You can use your cozy on tea. Coffee is evil (well in my opinion) but my cozies don’t explode when interacting with it or anything
- I’d love to include cookies with your cozy but not sure that’d work in the mail. They are yummy little gems with hidden chick pea goodness from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook. I baked them for the photo shoot and they are sadly, long gone.
- Happy birthday if it was recently/is your birthday *please note that doesn’t mean you automagically win* sorry

I’ve been bouncing around all the other blogs and there’s some great prizes out there, and wonderful blogs. So happy I joined up this year, not sure how I missed it last year. Also really glad today was a holiday for me, it gave me time to click and comment!
Please feel free to add me on Twitter, follow me on Pinterest or come back again. I’d love to keep seeing everyone.

Finding uses for all the pretty Japanese ribbon I’ve got.

I whipped up some more  tea and sweetner cozies over the past little bit.  I’ve still got a few sitting here waiting for finishing touches and a photo shoot.  Also still need to list these.

Add pretty ribbon to my growing list of new addictions.

Crafty British imports part 2

Behold the other fun little book I ordered from waaaaaaay over there!

Now for the ridiculous part (aside from ordering it overseas and then having my Mother In Law carry it all the way here) is that I can’t knit. But I totally plan to learn now. I mean how cute are these?!

Good thing I work in a profession that is mostly women. I’m sure I can bribe someone at work to teach me the ropes!

Random stuff to share.

I haven’t really bothered to take any new pictures these last few days since I have no card reader to copy them over anyhow.  Which means tomorrow I have a truck load of things to snap photos of!  I’ve made a few really cute things and I need to add some items to my shop.  On top of that I still have a line up of cup cozy orders!

In the meantime I figured I’d share some things I’ve had kicking around but just haven’t posted yet.  The first is this awesome fabric I picked up at a Mary Maxim tent sale on clearance.  It’s really 50′s-ish looking and so fun.  I think I may tackle turning it into a quilt, with some reds, oranges and browns.  I think it could be really nice.

I also whipped together another pouch.  Sometimes I have what appears to be ‘beginner’s luck’ but I don’t realize it until I make the second item.  The first crayon cozy I made I used rick rack without incident.  Haven’t been able to pull rick rack off properly since!

Then I made the lovely Snow White pencil case and it all turned out beautifully.  But when I made this one something wonky happened at the zipper ends and instead of nice squared corners I have rounded ones.  It’s not that big of a deal but since I know it’s not what I intended it bugs me.

We had a street party today.  Everyone was invited and asked to bring a ‘ethnic dish’.  Some people brought family recipes from way back, some people (like me) brought things they’re good at making but either way it was all fantastic!!  There was waaaay too much food and a ton of desserts.  The kids all banded together to run about like maniacs from lawn to lawn.  While it was a tad cool, the weather was lovely, I just ran home to keep making teas.  I came in when the kids seemed pooped and got everyone off to bed before some TV and stitching.  Now I’ve switched to bed and lappy and it sounds like the party has switched to ‘now that we’ve all drank too much lets sing along to whatever song is on’.  It’s kind of funny, even with the window closed I can sort of here them, but they sound so enthusiastic and like they’re enjoying themselves it’s making me smile.

My tea.

Last night while completing 4 cup cozies I took a moment to make myself one since the idea has been in my head for a little bit now.

It felt good to create a to do and then get it to done!

Now that I’ve basked in the glory of that, off to finish some more orders.

The photo is courtesy of my iphone and therefore not the greatest.

Apple cozy complete.

Despite being embarrassed and a tad annoyed by the outcome of this project I’m going to share.

I needed a lot of help along the way for this project.  Mostly because it was my first time following a pattern when crocheting.  Before this I had only made squares.  *SOME* people laughed at me and asked if I was making a plum cozy initially but I found my groove with the right hook and a much looser grip.

All said and done I started over about 3 times, I went up a hook size, I pulled rows out numerous times, I counted along the way and was somehow waaaay off on many, many rows.  Finally when I was done I was so proud and ran to the fridge only to discover it doesn’t fit the apples I usually eat at all.

Guess I’m starting a new one!

Double Rainbow geekery and a shop update.

I’ve got waaaaay too many ideas right now for the amount of hours that are in a day! I can’t keep up. But I’m trying really, really hard.
Of course that means staying up silly late after the kids are in bed to finish things. Last night I managed to tidy up the ends of a few projects and today I actually accomplished listing them in my store even! I feel like I done good. Here’s some of the things I listed.

My double rainbow pillow.

Little Red tea bag holder/cozy

Very Cherry clutch

Tea Time tea bag holder/cozy

Hoping to get another idea or two out of my head tonight!