Friday, June 26, 2009

Getting Settled

It's taken me almost 2 weeks but I have finally made progress in the office/sewing room. That's not to say I'm completely set up yet, but I do have all of my computers (most of which are having issues) set up. I have started the process of transferring all my precious files to the new laptop. This is very slow going folks. Especially as I try to get my work files (mostly profile silhouettes, about 90% of the ones I have made.) For some reason the Dell laptop they are on is being super slow - make that "super duper." It takes about a 1/2 hour for it to get started and is really slow starting any operation. I think it might be the hard drive.

For the moment I'm just grateful it has decided to turn on for me one more time! I've slowly been transferring my files using jump drives. It's working very slowly, but it is working nonetheless.

Anyway, I have re-opened my shop and have already had 2 sales! I'll share my first project with you. Isn't she lovely?

I recently met a university professor who teaches Graphic design. We had a long conversation about geeky things like Photoshop, Illustrator, art styles and such. Actually I rather enjoyed myself since it was the first time since I left college that I got to have a work related conversation with a peer, I'm a STAHM (stay at home mom) remember? It was great to see my husband sitting there with nothing to say because for once the conversation was about "my" work and not "his" work.

Anyway, back to the point of the conversation. We got around to talking about my Etsy shop and I told him about all the silhouettes I have been creating for my lovely customers. He then asked a bunch of questions so I'll share my answers with you as well.

I use Illustrator to create all of the silhouettes. I use the basic pen tool and not the fancy outline tool that finds the edges of a subject, but from what the professor was telling me it's very choppy. I'm actually running Illustrator 11.0 so it doesn't have the fancy tool available, honestly I hadn't even heard of it. I just go in and use the pen tool to create lots of (sometimes hundreds) individual curves that then make up the entire image. Then I add in the desired text, transport it into Photoshop, create my jpgs and email the finished product to my customer.

That's my whole process. Now you know my trade secrets!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

MIA

Sorry to have disappeared on you all. Things got a little hectic last week when our "moving plan" got switched up a bit. We decided to get this whole ordeal over and done with so we rented a Budget moving truck this past weekend. We couldn't pass up such a great deal on the moving truck ($150 before taxes and fees for a 15' truck.)

So now all of our "precious" (insert sarcasm) things have now joined us in Alabama. Honestly I liked the rental house better when it was free of all of our junk! Now we have boxes everywhere and every room is chaos. I seriously wonder (every time we move) why in the world we have so much stuff and whether or not we really need it all. Oh, this doesn't even include the giant pile we sold off at a garage sale (made $300!) or the pile that didn't sell and was donated to a local thrift store, or the pile we left behind in our attic!

Why do we need so much "stuff"? (rhetorical question)

The good thing is that we got rid of a bunch of stuff that hadn't been touched in the last 3-6 years. Why keep it if you haven't used it. I know, it might come in handy some day.... *sigh*

The other reason I've been unable to post is because my computers (yes plural) have been having trouble. Yes, all of them. They are all very old and very tired! My pc is about 7 years old and has been dying out for the last 4 years. It's still around because it powers up, has important files (pictures), and works generally well for a couple of hours before it decides to take a break! The laptop I had been given by my father in law a couple of months ago has starting having issues. I'm afraid to turn it on because it may be the last time it works! I have important work files on there so I need to have something reliable to transfer those files over to, before I risk it dying on me. And last I have this laptop I am using right now. A very old, we're talking ancient here people, Toshiba that doesn't do much but run the internet really, really slowly, and plays dvds for my kids (kind of choppy.)

I think this weekend we will be getting a new laptop! YAY! Being the frugal people that we are, we have to justify it somehow, so it will be a business purchase for Petit Debutant/Father's day present for Mr.Debutant.
There's an awesome sale going on this weekend at Best Buy for Father's day. hopefully we will come home with a new laptop!!!

Until next week, hopefully from a new laptop -

Cheers!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Fabric Focus: Neptune by Tula Pink

Introducing "Fabric Focus." A new feature to my blog where I will pick a fabric I love and post projects made with those fabrics to help inspire you on your sewing journey!

First my first Fabric Focus I have picked my very favorite line (at the moment) "Neptune" by Tula Pink for Moda.


Every time I see this fabric I get little butterfly's and can't help but let out a little sigh of contentment! Something about this line just hits a spot with me. The blues, teals, greens, and pinks are so soothing and go well together.

I Just ordered a bunch of charm packs from Hancock's of Paducah for $3.98 each! Be still my heart! I'll be stalking the mailman as soon as I get the "order shipped" email. Go get your own before they sell out, and trust me they go quickly a this price!

So here are some projects I ran across that use this fabric line, maybe they will inspire you to create something too!


I love the pinwheel on this little quilt. This quilt is available through her Etsy store. I might just have to make a quilt like this with my charm packs! I think I want lots more pinwheels though!


Stacked Coin Quilt by My Three Sons

All I can say is "WOW!" I love the simplicity of this quilt, yet the impact is anything but simple!



Here is another Stacked Coins quilt by Inspired by Aubergine

I'm loving the pieced back on this quilt!



I Here is a Backporch Rainbow Block Quilt by alobsiger


I just love the circles. It's almost like a circle version of the Bento Box Quilt pattern.



A lovely drawstring bag by Peppermint Sky



Recipes

A list of recipes available on my blog:
(newest to oldest)

Patterns

A list of free patterns on my blog:
(Newest to oldest)

Tutorials

Just trying to organize my blog a little bit!

Here is a list of all the tutorials from the Petit Debutant Blog:
(Listed from newest to oldest)