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mama needs a new hd video camera. wanna help?

14. December 2011 · 6 comments · Categories: buy my stuff, damn hippies

Here’s the Deal

I’m working on a little project.

It requires video.

My video camera is from 2003.

This will not work.

I tried funding this idea on Kickstarter, but they said no. I’m pretty bummed. So I’m asking you guys for help.

This is the camera I’m looking at. I also need some accessories, an extra battery, all that stuff. $400 would cover all of that plus a few little odds and ends I need to do my work. Like notebooks, a chalkboard, stuff like that. Because I will totally be using a chalkboard. I’m old school like that.

The Project

It’s an e-course, self-paced, on creating your own website. The course is geared toward highly visual learners (um, artists) and I will walk you through every bit of the technical stuff step by step. The sites created through this course will have beautiful portfolios, use premium templates made by independent designers, and harness the awesomeness that is WordPress.

We will also cover branding, SEO, authentic voice, and some other tricks of the trade. I’ve spent a long time learning the ropes on this stuff and I do believe it’s high time I share. Why? I like to have peers. Call me crazy. It’s part of the Micro Economy thing and I want to make sure you look good. That’s all.

The cost of the course will also be very affordable, I’m thinking 129 bucks. Contributors will get access to some pretty sweet deals *wink*wink*.

Sound good? Well, I can’t move forward until I get all my gear and I could really use some help. I know there are some plans out there for tackling web sites in the New Year, so I’d like to have this baby ready to roll during the quietest quarter, like February if all goes well. That would mean your site, if you need to build one, would be up and running before summer swings in.

And that’s it.

Five bucks, a hundred…anything is good. Every little bit will help, even if I don’t hit my goal. Which I sincerely believe I can do.

Thanks for the Christmas Miracle, ya’ll. Click here to help.

much love ~ j

what is a micro economy and where can I get one?

12. December 2011 · 4 comments · Categories: buy my stuff, buy somebody else's stuff

So I totally just googled “micro economics”. For real. My high school teacher who taught whatever that was would be so proud. Upon searching for a definition to share with you here, my eyes unconsciously began to glaze over with flashbacks of Ronald Reagan and bad SNL. So I went ahead and put that one away. Thanks anyway, Wikipedia.

Lemme give it a shot. Right brain style. With extra caffeine.

A Micro Economy in the new media is basically connecting with your friends. Scratching each others’ backs, sharing the pie.

As you know, I like to study trends. I tend to be good at finding pockets of formation here and there, and here’s one. In addition to the beauty, the artistry, the raw honesty, and feeling like I’m visiting her home, I really admire the subtle, relevant, and graceful business sense going on at Violet Bella’s World. If you get it, you get it. If you don’t, you don’t.

It’s not my place to spill magic beans, but I do know that some pretty magical things have begun to happen since I started advertising on the Roots and Feathers – Violet Bella site.

Why am I telling you this? It’s more than a Five Year Plan post. It’s a demonstration of how to actually make a living as an artist in a way that provides some stability, plenty of room for expression, and a good dose of community on the side.

You know what I love? I love – ADORE – awesome photos from the seventies. The style revamped that is so on fire right now. For years, I have collected vintage sewing books, supplies, you name it.

And you know what it is? It’s not that everyone in the seventies was a total fashionista or a badass. But the majority of all those people in sunshine drenched amber hued photographs were. The artists. Those who worked, breathed, and created art. Taking pictures of themselves, of their friends, their houses, stuff they wore. They’ve been here all along, from Anais Nin and Henry Miller to Van Gogh and Gauguin.

Just like now. Artists hang out. Collaborate, influence, support, you know the drill.

Micro Economies. Give and receive.

But now is much more accessible. Websites, phones that take pictures, connections and webs. We live in an era where we are practically bludgeoned into expressing ourselves. No need to process film, wait for editing. It’s instant.

Do it yourself.

With ease.

So what’s my point? The point is, after much thought, I’ve decided to start hosting ads for those in my own little Micro Economy. According to Alexa, I’m quickly on the rise of kicking some pretty serious ass these days, so when you advertise with me, it increases your search engine pecking order. That’s the facts, jack, and there’s plenty more. I know some pretty amazing artists whose work should be seen, technical gurus who know all the ropes, and you know? I think they should meet.

So there’s a plan. And it involves you. Please sign up here if you want to be in the loop, help feed my kids, and get a little somethin’ for yourself too. First a Kickstarter project. Then a web design course. And then?

Then it’s time to rock and roll.

Take it easy, little birds. Talk to you soon.

ready for a cute fall hat? a sweet crochet pattern and 5 custom spots open now

24. October 2011 · 1 comment · Categories: buy my stuff

Now that we’re in sunny Arizona again, it’s easy to forget the rest of the northern hemisphere is moving into Autumn.

Heheh.

In consolation, I am opening 5 spots for a custom made City Slicker, one of my signature designs. It was my very favorite hat when we lived in the Northwest, stylish and simple, warm and wind-proof. Through all phases of Winter, I rarely left the house without one of these on my head.

The brim is just the right shape, framing almost everyone beautifully. Every sample I brought to The Yarn Shop sold quickly and it seriously looked cute on everyone who tried it on. That can be a tall order for a hat, I know, but it’s true.

If you’d like to make one yourself, get the pattern here or here. If you’d like to have a custom made in the color of your choice, contact me or grab one here.

Stay warm out there!

stop me if you’ve heard this one before, probably the coolest thing I’ve ever made, and why creating is definitely akin to childbirth

24. June 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: buy my stuff, projects

My blog posts lately have been sucking a little bit.

Hang tight.

My mojo is spread pretty thin right now.

Sign up for 30 Good Days if you miss my word spinning, come see me at MissoulaMADE Fair this Sunday if you’re itchin’ to see what I’ve been whipping up for the last few weeks. Here’s a peek:

Last year I came up with an idea for the sweetest little rings around. They’re made from fabric covered buttons and they have a secret compartment.

Many, many times, I have heard people ask what goes in the little compartment. Lots of creative and sneaky ideas, like love notes and drugs. While I enjoy a good mystery, I also like to create solutions.

So guess what goes in the little compartment?

Solid perfume.

Pause.

Solid perfume.

Yep. Thanks. Even I gotta admit that one was a stroke of sheer genius. Organic and ethically sourced materials, of course. Refillable too.

These will be available at MADEfair this weekend and I’m guessing they’ll be a pretty hot little item. I’m focusing on single note scents right now and a couple of simple blends that I know are winners because I’ve been wearing them for years. I don’t know jack about perfumery, so I didn’t want to get in over my head and make a bunch of stuff that smelled horrific.

But I bet you’re waging a pretty good bet about what my winter research and development will entail, eh?

Available scents: Lavender. Rose. Lemon Sage. Chamomile. Jasmine Patchouli.

More to come. And wait until you see the pants. Good, good stuff. See you Sunday.

I’m still diligently working on Project Excavate, which has truly come to embody the metaphor about creativity being like childbirth.

It’s messy.

It hurts.

It takes a long ass time, especially the first time.

I think we’re at the crowning stage now. So close.

Also, like childbirth, not very many people want to see pictures of the process, though secretly they’re fascinating. It’s scary to look at something this vulnerable in a photographic context. I will do my best to capture it in a way that’s beautiful and real.

Back to pushing. This baby’s coming out soon. Like, Sunday. Thank God.

Breathe.

.: string cheese incident :: can’t stop now (red rocks!) :.

custom father’s day gifts: a special, limited sale

07. June 2011 · 1 comment · Categories: buy my stuff

If you like to geek out on how awesome your kid is, do I have the thing for you.

These are custom embroidered coffee sleeves (or beer coozies) that feature an original work by your budding Picasso. Here’s how it works:

You send me a jpeg image of whatever you want embroidered, I make it happen. That’s it.

These handmade coffee sleeves and beer cozies are awesome for more than a few reasons:

they’re wool, which in addition to being a natural product is an incredible insulator, whether your drink is hot or cold
the body of the coozie/sleeve is made from fabric that is recycled AND made in the United States, making them eco-friendly and totally patriotic
they’re pre-felted, so all you have to do to clean them is wash gently by hand in cold water with a gentle soap (like Dr. Bronners).

But seriously, you know what I love about these? Every time I look at mine, I think of how much I love my little boy and what a cool little dude he is.

He is also quite smitten with having his picture on my coffee sleeve, something I use every day. Not that he needs it, but I swear it puts a little extra spring in his step.

As a special Father’s Day deal, I am offering a very limited number of custom spots with a super fast turnaround over the next week.

These do take a few days to set up and sew, so if you want it by Father’s Day your order needs to be in the mail by Tuesday, June 14th. I am only offering ten spots because of the time constraint so hurry up and fetch one.

Guys love these.

Click here to purchase your custom embroidered coffee sleeve or beer coozie – hurry, hurry!

tunes: do the hustle (soul train style, yo)

free hat

17. May 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: buy my stuff, heady threads

Hahaha. Have you seen that South Park episode?

What I’m actually giving you is a free crochet pattern to make your own hat! It’s more than just a pattern, it’s a tried-and-true technique that will allow you to create your own patterns. The possibilities are endless–no gauge worries, no math, no figuring things out. You just organically follow the lead of whatever you have on hand.

Since this is a technique, you are free to sell anything you make from the pattern and any derivatives created as well, which, in my book, is totally better than a free hat any day. You may not, of course, sell the actual pattern or copy and paste any part of the written directions into a pattern you plan to sell. Fair enough?

Can you tell I’m getting ready for summer shows? I’m full of random bits of information and things to sell. Here’s a few of the patterns I’ve been working on using handspun yarn:

Adonis, which is the manly version of Aphrodite. The only difference is that the edging is a little more tough looking, where the Aphrodite version is usually sparkly and more frilly around the edges.

Cherry Bomb, which is my other favorite hat. I like to truck around in new designs for awhile in order to test out the stretch of the yarn and to make sure the structure holds up under slightly abusive wearing conditions (if a house with two toddlers in Montana isn’t an abusive wearing condition, I just don’t know what is).

Here’s how I see it: if I’m going to charge 60 to 90 bucks for a hat, it better be pretty damn spectacular. Right? Right. The same is true of all of my gear.

And just for fun, here’s another rendition of City Slicker, whipped up in the colorway “Meadow”. This style hat hogs equal time on the old noggin there, pretty much all year round. I have a silk/wool version for those of you who don’t actually require something warm on your heads during the summer months. There’s one more custom spot available for a City Slicker right now, and that will be it until October ya’ll.

Now that’s enough about hats. Here’s your free pattern:

crochet a hat technique – thepeacefulpeacock.com

tunes: johnny cash - walk the line

just released: pattern for a sweet crochet hat!

29. April 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: buy my stuff

If you’re looking for the perfect crochet hat with a brim, check this one out. I know I designed it and all, but really. It’s the best one there is anywhere.

Ok, I’ll take top five.

This pattern is geared for an intermediate crocheter who is comfortable reading patterns. City Slicker is a textured, thick wool cap. The pattern uses two strands of single ply worsted weight yarn held together for the body of the hat, three strands of the same yarn held together for the edging and the brim. Body of hat is constructed with two alternating rows: a base row of stitches and a row worked in berry stitch.

Go on, get it. Six bucks. Click on the little box below.

tunes: the funniest couple ever singing The Hat Song