Friday, July 23, 2010
Grape & Blueberry Candy Striper Giveaway Pouches
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Candy Stripers Taught Me a Lesson in Self Awareness
These pouches remind me of yummy pieces of candy, so I'm calling them Candy Stripers. They are here to nurse your spirits and brighten your day just like they do mine when I'm creating them. Which flavor do you like?
Monday, July 12, 2010
iLove!!!!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Share the Love Contest Winner!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Share the Love Contest!!!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Last Chance Clearance Sale on Older Items!
Click here to View SALE / CLEARANCE on Etsy
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Lots of texture!
Working on the design of a new shoulder wedge bag and loving all the yummy visual and tactile texture.
Say "tactile texture" five times fast! :)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Summer Backyard Fun!
WANT! Play & Freeze ice cream maker looks like so much fun for backyard BBQ's this summer, especially in the scorching Texas heat!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Groovy shoulder bag in the works
This one is in the same style of the one I made for my Mom for Mother's Day. Soooo groovalicious! For more pics, click on the photo and go to Flickr.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
"Alien Seaweed" Glint Home Illustration Featured on Etsy's Home Page!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Pretty Snazzy
It's done! My friend Kate was coveting my bag with these colors and Glint Gear painted canvas, so out of fear of having mine Glint-napped, I made her one similar. It turned out pretty snazzy, so that's her name!
Honestly, when I made the first one for myself, I thought I'd be the only person in the world to go for this extremely loud, bold color palette, But I've been amazed at how many women compliment it and are drawn to it. But how many of you would DARE to wear this bold color choice besides me and Kate????? :)
Monday, May 17, 2010
Fashion: What's it to YOU?
These quotes express a few underlying themes behind Glint Gear:
"Fashion is what you adopt when you don't know who you are.” - Quentin Crisp
“Fashion is an imposition, a reign on freedom.” - Golda Meir
“... one of the goals of life is to try and be in touch with one's most personal themes - the values, ideas, styles, colors that are the touchstones of one's own individual life, its real texture and substance.” - Gloria Vanderbilt
Please don't misinterpret what I'm saying here! Am I saying following fashion fads is beneath me or that those who do are "weak" in some way? No, I'm not saying that at all. What I'm getting at is a challenge for you to begin a personal inquiry to see if you are truly expressing who YOU are instead of letting others dictate that for you. I challenge you to ask yourself these questions below and give yourself honest answers. Really and truly take a look. Explore. Get real with yourself. (And these questions can apply to men as well as women.)
"What type of fashions and accessories truly express who I am in the domain of personal style?
"What colors, shapes, textures, lines and themes am I drawn to that express a bit of who I am?"
"What inspires me to walk a little taller and gives me that extra bit of healthy attitude in my step?"
You may not have immediate answers to all of these questions, but great job on starting the inquiry! The more you continually look inward, the more you'll distinguish.
I now challenge you to the next step. Go take a peak in your closet or dresser. Let yourself find that one item you still wear that takes your energy down a notch every time you put it on. Yea, THAT baby blue cotton blouse. In the dressing room, you had your doubts about how the ruffles made you feel. But you bought it anyway because it was on sale and was a "safe" selection because ruffles are in right now. [This is just an example... I have no idea if ruffles are in right now! LOL] But every time you wear it, you just don't feel quite right. Take a good long look at those blue ruffles. Outside of your excitement over what a great bargain it was and how hip you felt when buying it, how do you really feel when you wear it? Put it on and then take a quick inventory of your energy. Be honest. Do you feel a spike of excitement and twinge of joy, or did your vibes fall down a bit?
I just bet there was another blouse on that same rack in your size that was calling to you, but it was out of your box. Yep, that's it... the hot pink satin one. You never wear that color or fabric and were afraid you would have been too flashy in it. Imagine you brought it home. Close your eyes and visualize putting it on and looking in the mirror. Now, just between you, yourself and you, take a check-in of your energy. How do you feel now? YES! That's it... that tingle of joy and excitement. What was that? It was your individuality informing that you've hit on something that's in integrity with your sense of style.
Are you ready for the next steps? If not, it's ok. But if you are, here's what I want you to do. Take that baby blue blouse with the ruffles, look at it squarely in the buttons and thank it for trying to keep you safe. Tell it you are no longer in need of its services and put it in a bag of clothes to give away. And don't look back at it! The next step is to be on the lookout for a hot pink blouse in a fabric you love. Low on funds? That's ok! I'm not saying you need a ton of money to express your own style. There are a lot of ways to acquire clothes that make you feel good. Have a clothing swap with friends or check out your local thrift shops and store clearance racks. Have a sewing machine? Make it yourself. Attract it with your positive intentions. Close your eyes and visualize yourself draped in hot pink satin and how great that feels. You never know what might show up when you are being true to yourself. You might win a contest for a gift card. Your best friend may come home with a blouse she felt compelled to buy but really thinks it was made for you.
GREAT WORK! And if you need a little help or coaching to take that next step, I'm just an email away. The point of this post is what Shakespeare's Polonius said in Hamlet... "This above all: To thine own self be true."
Friday, May 14, 2010
In the Bag: Messenger bag
(Click on the link below.)
Monday, May 10, 2010
Take a Creative Break!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Commit to Begin
A lot of people, especially those who worked with me when I was "Fun and Games Engineer," will be surprised to hear me say what I said to her:
"I didn't always have the guts or the umph! I've had to do a lot of inner searching, discovering, and healing. I'm actually petrified of being "seen" and have to continually work on overcoming a pattern of being a master at hiding. My hands were literally shaking as I was trying to sew new bags a week before we brought the stuff to Moxie because I was so scared to put myself out there. It's easier on the internet because you can't see people react. No one sees me quaking in my shoes. But I'm learning to feel the fear and do it anyway. And yes, there will always be critics. I'll deal with that one step at a time! LOL!"
-W.H. Murray
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Absolem
When someone said it reminded them of a caterpillar, I knew it must be named after the blue caterpillar from Alice In Wonderland. I didn't know his name, but Google did the trick! I also found out that Absolem means "father of peace." I like that. Absolem is at Moxie now, waiting for adoption. Stop on by to pet him and tell him hi. He's so soft to the touch and will surely bring a smile to your face!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Handmade Mother's Day Gift for My Mom
What are you doing for YOUR mom?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Handmade is everywhere!
The grand opening event was awesome and Moxie is off to a great start. Check out my Flickr Moxie set for more pics. The owner Kayci has done a fantastic job getting it up and running in a short amount of time.
This is the perfect little shop to stop in and buy a unique gift for a birthday, graduation or other special occasion or as a treat for yourself.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Shoulder Bag in progress
I'm trying out a new shoulder bag pattern that I designed. Let's hope my pattern works! I stitched up a test and it worked fine. It's going to have a 4" bottom tapering up to 2" on the top. the shape should turn out so cute. It will have a zipper across the top and a short shoulder strap of around 22".
I had some trouble with the lining fitting on this "live" version. I may need to tweak the bottom/side piece a little. But I think this is going to be an adorable pattern once the kinks are worked out. Ocean designed the layout of the leaf shapes. Cool, huh?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Give a hoot
Owl Pillow by Snaggs (via Flickr)
Another Owl Pillow by Snaggs (via Flickr)
Owl Clocks by Betty Jo Designs (via Flickr)
Vintage Owl Bank - Photo by Laura Bee Seattle via Flickr
Hoot Owl Cake & Cupcakes by somaamos via Flickr
Owl Hat by Adriana McNeely
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
I love lamp.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Ocean Inks Across the Globe
Friday, April 23, 2010
Glint Gear can now be found locally!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Ocean made it to Etsy Front Page Again!
His shirt is on the 4th row in the middle.