Feature Artist

for today is... Samantha the owner and artist of Ones and Zeros Fashions...her shop is located on etsy.com. I decided to let her speak in her own words because there is no way I could describe her life and work better in the standard question and answer form...

I've been interested in vintage clothing and accessories for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Baltimore, and spent alot of time scouring the vintage shops in Fells Point for great finds. My collection is pretty varied, including everything from vintage kimonos to jewelry to tin robots! One of my favorite vintage finds is my Vogue Sewing Book from the 1960s, it is a treasure trove of sewing inspiration and the photographs of sixties fashions are fantastic!

The Lunch Monsters were actually a creation of necessity. I always take my lunch to work, but wasn't satisfied with the waste that brown paper bags create, so last fall I came up with the Lunch Monsters as an insulated and eco-friendly alternative. Once I started carrying Harold around, I began getting orders from friends and family and friends of friends, so I decided to start a shop on Etsy.

I find inspiration in both my natural environment (San Diego is a beautiful city and FULL of inspiration) and also the materials themselves. I love when I'm shopping and suddenly a fabric just jumps out at me, I'm instantly thinking of what I can make with it.

Although I've been sewing since I was about five, my formal training is in Fine Art. I got my BFA in Fiber Art from Maryland Institute College of Art, where I learned everything from drawing and painting to sewing and weaving to digital art. Knowing how to work in all kinds of different media really comes in handy as an Etsy seller, whether I'm creating Lunch Monsters, designing a new business card, photographing products, or sketching ideas for a dress.

In addition to my work on Ones and Zeros Fashions, I also work as a costume tailor for television. It's been a long and interesting journey to get where I am now as an artist, and the best advice I have for aspiring artists is to just get out there and do what you love. Find what inspires you, get involved with other artists who share the same passion, create as much as possible, and no matter what, Don't give up! I've been very lucky to have such a supportive family and group of friends to encourage me along the way. It's taken a lot of hard work and persistence, but to be able to make a living doing what you love is so amazing and totally worth it!

Samantha's shop is fun to visit and find that special gift! Wouldn't you love to have one of her lunch bags to take to work or school? Please stop by her shop

http://onesandzerosfashions.etsy.com and visit her blog http://www.onesandzerosfashions.com/blog/

Gave my shoppe a makeover!

I spent the afternoon giving my shoppe at the antique mall a makeover; changed everything around and added more merchandise. I want my vintage booth to reflect my etsy shop and eventually my shoppe down south. By doing this I will keep myself more focused and let my ecclectic style shine through! I will also attract customers who like my style and become my repeat business. At least that's what I'm going for...

If you are in Northern California, stop by Treasures From Paradise located on the Skyway and ask for booth CO15.

New Biz Card

I designed my new biz card today...it only took me 3 hours! What do you think?

I was chosen to be part of...

Treasury West on etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=23735

How lucky am I! I feel truly honored to be chosen to join these talented artists! I worked at the antique shop yesterday and noticed business is definetly picking up, but the customers are paying with cash. Last year the sales were higher but about 80% used their credit cards. Well, at least they are shopping again. I figure by early next year most of the homes that were lost in the fires will be rebuilt and people will be looking to replace furniture and trinkets to decorate their homes...and will come to shop in our fabulous antique mall.

Rock the Vote was a success at Chico State last Friday night. I registered alot of first time voters...mostly 18 year olds. They were excited to be able to vote this year... which I think is another right of passage like getting your first drivers license or turning 21 and throwing away that fake id and getting into bars legally. Cyrus and Brooke from MTV's Real World were the guest speakers and they had a passionate discussion with the students about our government
and the issues that impacted their future. I was happy to hear that this generation is interested in more things than Xboxes and MySpace! After the event I was able to get my picture taken with Cyrus and Brooke...when I looked at the picture later I noticed my legs are in desperate need of some sun! I better sit outside for a few hours today!

This weekend has absolutely flown by! I plan to make some art and play with my critters...what are you up too?

Rock The Vote!!!

I'm working the Obama Campaign booth at Chico State tonight. The temperature is expected to climb to 105 degrees. Yuck! I'm ready for the Fall weather... hopefully we will be set up inside. For now I have a few hours to myself so I plan to practise some of the collage techniques I learned from Nancy last Sunday. I had a fun time and took some pictures of what I made. Tommorrow I take a friend, Dave...I mentioned him before...he helped me learn the computer and I owe alot to him...we are going to Sacramento to visit some doctors...he is diabetic and needs a checkup. We have doctors here in Chico but it seems all the specialists are moving away to bigger markets. It is becoming a trend around here!

Well, I better get the glue gun...three hours of art time goes by fast! Have a fun day and don't forget to make time for art!

The Good Wife's Guide

I found this hilarious reprinted article from Good Housekeeping Magazine 1955 anf thought you might get a kick out of it too!

* Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome he needed.
* Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with alot of work weary people.
* Be a little gay and interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
* Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip throught the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
* Gather up the school books, toys, paper, etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.
* Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will have felt he reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you immense personal satifaction.
* Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and if neccessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, elimate all noise of the washer, dryer or vaccuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
* Be happy to see him.
* Greet him with a warm smile. and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
* Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
* Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
* Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace , order and tranquility where your husband can renew himseldf in body and spirit.
* Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
* Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through the day.
* Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
* Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low , soothing and pleasant voice.
* Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
(Here's comes the best part!)
* A good wife always knows her place.

All I have to say is... Thank you Feminist Movement!!! You saved my life and Sanity!!!

I bought a rubber stamp to use on my sale tags. I bought it at Terbear, a shop at etsy.com. If your looking for handmade custom rubber stamps, check out her store.

My weekend will be action packed...My son James has been camping all week not to far from here and he will drive to Chico to visit me for a day! Yipee!!! I also will be working for the Obama campaign on Friday, registering voters and on Sunday I will meet with Nancy from Vintage Funk...she is a wonderful collage/mixed media artist and has agreed to teach me more about collage techniques. I am really looking forward to that because I have been looking for a local collage/mixed media teacher. I read other artists blogs and there are many that talk about collage parties and classes but they are too far away for me to attend...there is a scrap book store in the area but no collage classes and the store environment is a bit dry for my taste. I will keep you posted about my meeting and show you what I made.

Hot August Nights!!!

and that means ONE HOT SALE in my etsy shop! For the month of August lots of my whimsical one of a kind creations and vintage collectibles are on sale...so stop in and get that special gift for...who else? YOU!
http://www.junkstylediva.etsy.com

It's after Midnight...

and I'm wide awake...so I thought I would share what I just learned to do on Youtube. Actually I have been messing around with the movie feature on my digital camera and decided to learn how to upload some movies onto Youtube. It was easier than I thought. So here goes...let's see if I can upload Youtube to my blog...

Ok, I didn't connect to the Youtube site, but I was able to get the video off my personal photos file... man I didn't realize it would take so long to upload...hope I don't fall asleep waiting. Oh! Here it is! My first feature presentation! Starring the talented and oh so cute! Olive and Cooper in their debut song " I am the Frito Bandito!"