By Stephie, on Saturday 31st July, 2010 at 13:23 pm
It’s not lost on me that the content of this blog is all over the place. I think it’s probably a reflection of the fact that I can’t focus on one thing and don’t know who the fuck I am most of the time, or where I fit in. Take that little four letter word there. I wanted to say it, so I fucking well did. Yet part of me winces at it when I see it in black and white here on my blog. Trust me, I don’t have any problems with it emitting from my mouth, just my fingers. I make crafts and I put them on this blog, because that’s just part of who I am, but if you can stomach it and look round many of the craft blogs that are out there you’ll see that they’re a nice (wincing at that word too) bunch. And they don’t swear. At all. Are these people real? It’s all a bit twee and happy clappy. I thought I should be nice too and that maybe they’ll come and look at the stuff I make. But you know what, I just realised I’m NOT part of the Martha Stewart or Posie Gets Cozy fan club. In fact, I hate Martha Effing Stewart and I really don’t give a stuff if her readers come over here or not. And I’m pretty sure they don’t.
I also just realised that I’m an artist that also makes stuff. And you know what? Artists swear. Artists get drunk and artists get depressed. Artists even have meltdowns; ask one of those Stepford crafters what a melt down is and they’ll probably reply with something about cheese on toast. If you like to see the words ‘darling’ and ‘sweet’, rather than fuck and twat, go find one of those saccharine blogs like Comforts of Home with the uninspiring rubbish they display. And please, I’m fed up with PINK. Why do people think that craft blogs have to be pink? Vomit. That’s my last word on the subject. Well almost. I’m venting now and it’s difficult to put the breaks on. This is NOT a craft blog. It’s a me blog and I feel like I’ve been buried under being nice and un-opinionated for far too long. The fact is, I AM opinionated. I don’t like rubbish design, I don’t like vacuous writing and I don’t like crap art (don’t get me started on that one, I’ll have you trapped in your seat all day). So, why have I let this blog begin the slippery slope into decline? Well, I suspect it’s a way of trying to please everyone all of the time. And also I’ve been in decline. A mini-meltdown, not of the cheese variety. I’m beginning to peep over the parapet again, so watch out, I may have a bow and arrow at the ready.
By Stephie, on Saturday 3rd July, 2010 at 22:49 pm
I’ve just updated to WordPress 3 and at the same time updated the page layout theme I’m using. As predicted everything’s gone arse over tit in the process  Colours have changed, images are missing…. and you know what, I’m too tired to sort it out now, so please forgive me if it looks a bit rubbish at the mo! I’ll be back tomorrow to tackle it. Or at least get it looking a bit more professional and attractive than it does right now.
‘Til tomorrow sleep well/have a nice day (depending on which hemisphere you live in!), and fingers crossed things will look a bit different next time you come by…
love Stephie x
By Stephie, on Wednesday 30th June, 2010 at 11:48 am
Remember my Esty shop ‘From the Loft’, the one I’ve been going on about setting up for months? Well, it’s finally here! I’ve been feeling pretty low lately, and worse over the last couple of days, so it’s been a painful process to sort out – my head’s really not very clear and concentration has gone out the window and over the hill. But the difficulties of sorting out Paypal and currencies (believe me, numbers are a BIG problem for me!!!) have been overcome and I’m really pleased with my efforts. Apart from the shop banner, which I’ve moaned about before and which I’ll sort out as and when. Did you see the shop in the right hand column? I love the way that it shows a few new listings; it looks busy and colourful and dare I say it, confident?! What do you think, is it a feature you like too?
Of course I’d love it if you go over to the shop and have a mooch about, then come back here and tell me what you think – good or bad. If you have any comments about the pieces listed (there’s even something you’ve not seen on this blog before!), the prices, the policies, please be brave and let me know! It would be really lovely if I knew what you thought, then I can make sure I get it right and fill it with lovely goodies that you really want. Click on the image below to go over.
By the way, you might notice I still haven’t sorted out this blog layout. Well, I was going to do it this afternoon, but I’ve just noticed that a new version of WordPress has been published, so I’ll need to update to that first. No point in setting right everything that got upset when I last updated if I’ve got to do it all again! Hopefully it will at least get rid of that very annoying and peculiar bit of text about Flickr at the bottom of the right hand column. Well, I can but hope! So hang in there with me, while I get myself together for what feels like the next onslaught!
love Stephie x
By Stephie, on Sunday 13th June, 2010 at 01:12 am
Yes, but I still feel a minor blog re-jigging coming on… So if you notice any small changes happening over the next week or so, feel free to let me know what you think. I think it might be fun to not tell you what I’m changing and just see if you notice anything – a bit like one of those spot the ball competitions. Without the ball.
By Stephie, on Wednesday 19th May, 2010 at 20:35 pm
Gosh, it’s so nice to be back! I think that must have been the longest week in history; a whole week without my lovely Mac has meant a whole week without my lovely friends (well ok, the poor deranged people that visit this blog Not you of course! ) I was bereft and really rather irritable for a while. You ‘ll find it hard to believe that I can be irritable, I know, me, Miss Sunshine and Light, ha, ha! I admit much swearing took place (especially in the public library) along with quite a lot of huffing (especially when I realised there was nothing wrong with the Mac in the first place – it was a cable given to me by PC World that caused the problem). Anyhoo, it’s all left me feeling a bit restless; I’ve found it hard to settle to much – other than socialising! The theatre, clubbing (oooh yes, even at my age!), staying with friends, walking with friends, celebrating birthdays; I feel like I’ve done it all this week.
I did manage to make a few things though, so I thought that as a kind of colourful way of easing back into the old blog I’d show you the cushion I made for my friend’s birthday first off.
 I love the bold orange colours  which I used to create a simple patchwork design  with hand quilting.  I made the back in 2 Kaffe Fassett fabrics with a simple tie closure. I made it to fit a 20″ feather filled pad (it’s always best to make the cover a bit smaller than the the pad you’re using, that way it looks a lot plumper and more sumptuous!) and I experimented with a bound edging for the first time (on a cushion that is). The spotty binding and sashing fabric is from Moda. I think B liked it “You’re not telling me you made this are you?,” she said.
Hope you’ve had a good week too – what have you been up to, hope it was something creative? I’ve got some other bits and pieces to show you, but right now I need to get number one and only son into bed, he’s dragging the process out minute by minute as ever! So see you tomorrow, I’ll definitely be back.
love Stephie
By Stephie, on Thursday 6th May, 2010 at 23:10 pm
Well not quite, but getting there. I’ve decided it’s time I took all this making stuff a bit more seriously. It’s always been in my mind that ‘when I’m well enough’ I’d research the possibilities of earning a living from my art and craft works. Having run a business once before though, I know it won’t be easy and I have no false hopes of being spectacularly well off. I’d just like to earn a modest living one day by doing something I love (please tell me that’s not too much to ask, only I have a sneaking suspicion it might be!).
I don’t know what impulse has suddenly inspired me, probably high levels of anxiety, but I’ve decided to take a small step and set up an Etsy shop, so I’ve been over there this afternoon having a play. I haven’t got very far! And I haven’t got anything to put in it either, but a start’s a start I’d really love it if you’d pop over and have a look, then come back and tell me what you think. Like I said, there’s not much there other than the profile (there’s a link in the right hand column) – and I’ve got a feeling that’s way too long! What sort of things do you think I could sell? I was thinking small drawings/paintings, quilts, cushion covers and small items like that. What would you buy from me? Anything?!
I bet you’re super talented and already have an Etsy shop. If you have, I’d love to hear your tips – all the possibilities, the rules and regulations seem overwhelming and it’s hard to know where to start. Well, I made up a shop name. That was a good start I think. And I like the name, which is a bit of a bonus! But then I thought, oh no does this mean I’ll have to rethink the name of this blog as well? Shouldn’t the two be the same or complementary at least? Well, it’s probably early enough days not to worry about that yet, but looking at Etsy it seems it might be easier to change the name of this blog than the name of my Etsy shop, which, by the way is…
Would really love any feedback you might have. Hope you’ve been having a fab evening? Sadly I can’t stick around to chat as I absolutely, definitely, absolutely need to get a good night’s sleep. So ta ta for now, back soon.
Love Stephie x
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I'm running a 28 mile marathon in memory of Josie this February. Come and find out why.
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