Taylor Made designs

:: flickr + just random musings::

I just discovered flickr.
I know. I know. I'm so late to the game...  :)

I managed to figure out how to create the photo badge widget for my site. {see below to the right}

I'm feeling quite techie + impressed with my bad ass tech self :)

Speaking of impressed, that would be Neal. I usually ask him to figure this stuff out for me. But it's amazing... when you take the time to actually read + be patient {not my strongest suite} you can figure stuff out on your own. Again, Yea for me :) Now I just need to figure out how "trackbacks" work! Also del.icio.us... what the heck is that?

Kids
Yesterday we made a fort + lemonade stand. {using OJ} and William declared, "no girls allowed" to which I replied, "but I'm a girl." He stopped pouring, looked at me and quite seriously said, "no, you're a mum."

We've been playing a lot of Go Fish + Matching games. Which has been really great for Davis. She has a strong grasp on her numbers and... she can say them! Yea! My baby girl is growing up.{which makes me a bit sad...} She is talking up a storm. {I wonder where she gets that from!}

Yesterday Neal took the kids outside for some sledding + playing in the snow so I could get some work done. They had so much fun. We have a couple of small hills on our property which were perfect for the kids. I have a couple of movies, but I do not know how to upload them. :(

By brother Justin {hey there!} called on Monday to just say HI and see what was up. William invited him down on Saturday for a playdate. He laid out the entire day's activities for them. It was pretty sweet.

I've decided I'm going to do an overhaul of my Etsy store. I didn't put a lot of work into it... and I'm so not happy with my banner + the photos. I recently bought a tripod for my camera. So that should help with consistency. I haven't had any interest at all + I'm not sure if it's the product or if my store is a turn off. So if any of you have any comments, good or bad, feel free to let me know. As a designer, I've developed a thick skin to criticism {it still smarts a bit} but if it's constructive + improves the end result, I'm all for it :)

:: give a little ::

So here's the loot:) I was happy to hear that Chakriya liked what I sent her.
From her profile I knew that she was a grad student, collected elephants, + was partial to the colour violet. So I worked with those elements to create some beautiful useful things: a notebook, some notecards, some stickers, a vase, + a little origami box with some polished rocks.

This is my TaylorBook.  I decided to make one for Chakriya. What's more beautiful than recording your thoughts + doodles? Plus, I figured someone in school would surely find a notebook useful! I found this great pewter elephant button that I could use for the closure. Thankfully I still had some violet bookcloth on hand so I could make this custom book for her. Inside I picked my "love" spiral notebook to use. Each page has a "love" quote + illustration :)

I took some left over wrapping paper that I made  {and no the paper is not print via gocco, just through my printer!} + created an origami box. Again, I used a little elephant button for the top of the box. I then went to my planter filled with polished rocks, and using Letraset lettering, I burnished letters onto the rocks – creating the words "beautiful use".

What's more beautiful than a handwritten note from a friend? Everyone can use customized notecards, no? I did my very best to draw the pewter elephant in Adobe Illustrator. I then silkscreened a set of 10 cards + packaged them up with violet envelopes. I forgot to take photos, but I also made her little pink diecut circle stickers she could then use to close up the envelopes.

Also, by an amazing stroke of luck, I found a beautiful tall white vase that happened to have violet strips at the top. I forgot to take photos of it by itself :(Anyway, forgive all the photos... if I had just bought a lot of stuff, I wouldn't have bothered to post so many photos... but this swap gave me the opportunity to do what I love to do, that's make stuff :) Hope you don't mind!

:: how did you do that? ::

Meet my trusty PrintGOCCO! It's a handy little silkscreening machine. I've had it for almost five years {maybe longer!} and I just love it. My sister Michelle gave it to me for Christmas. Best present ever!  I can't imagine not having it. I've printed sooo many things with it: notecards, artwork, napkins, t-shirts + ribbon.

A bunch of people want to know how I printed on ribbon, and GOCCO is the answer. That, plus cloth ink. {you can use regular ink, but it's not going to print as well} It's really pretty easy. I've printed on a variety of ribbon. Some bleed, some have a sheen on it that doesn't allow the ink to adhere, and some work really well. It's just a matter of testing.

The last photo shows you printing in action. {kinda}
1. I use clear acetate for registration. This helps me to figure out placement.
2. I then press the top down on top of the acetate. This leaves an impression. I'm then able to place the ribbon under the acetate and line it up.
3. I then lift the acetate up, and take masking tape and place it above and below the ribbon. The tape acts as my guide. I can now just place the ribbon in between the tape and know that the ink will print on the ribbon. I also use the tape to cover up the base. {which is sticky and if you don't cover it up, it sticks to the top part of the machine, pulling the base up and out}

Make sense? Yes, no? Let me know! If not, I can always do a step by step photo guide. But only if you'd want to see it.

Now, aren't these the cutest photos of WIll + Davis?

:: swapping ::

On Saturday we found a couple of packages in our mailbox. The kids were so excited {+ so was I} to see the "beautiful use" packages from Chakriya. Above is a photo of all the little goodies I received, along with a note written on handmade paper detailing all the lovely items.

I received a postcard of Paris, a photo taken by Chakriya in Italy, a green pouch from India holding a rock and coin from Notting Hill, London, a couple of kaleidoscopes {that the kids have commandeered} a Japanese wooden doll, and some bath salts.Big thanks Chakriya! Such fun going through everything. We hope you like your package too!

I'll post what I sent Chakriya on Monday. {as I'm pretty sure she'll have received her package then}

Susan from Sulu-Design sent me a fantastic link for finding swaps. Check out this link: http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/search.php.

I did find one swap over at Swap-Bot for making small totes/handbags which are so my thing. I think the deadline is March 3rd or 5th for sign up. I've been pretty busy work wise, so I'm still contemplating if I should join or not.

Carmen over at Sweet Petite participated in 5x7 art swap and also a mini swap. Check out her blog to see what she gave + received. Loved her artwork + the placemat she made.

On Saturday I did a lot of silkscreening using my Gocco. I made some new cards for myself + reprinted cards for both kids. I also silkscreened some more Taylor Made design ribbon. I'm hoping to hold another Taylor Made designs party soon and I figured I should be prepared. Lately, I've been trying really hard to think ahead. I'm too old to pull an all nighter to get things done, and my kids really do come first. I just can't put them aside to get stuff done at the last minute. {believe me, I've tried, and it just doesn't work! Lots of tears + guilt, not fun!}

 

Today I have some small work projects to complete + then I might try my hand at some sewing, and read Blueprint Magazine {yea! It arrived yesterday in the mail! Looks good!} but that's after we play a few hands of Old Maid and William beats me at checkers :) Have a super Sunday. 

:: Let's Swap ::

Exciting times :) I just participated in my first swap –
B E A U T I F U L  U S E – which was organized by Kelly over at "hoping for happy accidents". We were asked to send any three objects that were utilitarian, simple + beautiful. This swap was right up my alley. I had so much fun putting stuff together for my partner, Chakriya. She collects elephants and likes the colour violet so that gave me plenty to work with.  I'm not sure if she reads my blog, so I'll wait to hear from her before I post what I sent. I'll definitely post what I receive.

I just happen to stumble upon Kelly's site and read about the swap... does anyone know how to find other swaps? Just curious for the future. Let me know!

I had fun with the packaging. Instead of using my Taylor Made designs packaging, I decided to make my own wrapping paper. I silkscreened some ribbon, using my trusty Gocco. Overall, I'm really pleased with how everything turned out  :)

I am pretty swamped with work, the kids are on holiday + my in-laws are dropping by on Thursday. We haven't seen them since their trip to Norway to visit Neal's sister's family. The weather is going to be pretty crummy, so I decided to make homemade turkey chili with black beans + corn bread for lunch. yummy.

Can you believe it's already Thursday? Have a good one!

:: cute faces ::

I snapped this photo after Davis was crying. Her eyes looked so blue!

I told William we were dropping off the car + heading into the city. This was his reaction.

Look at that single tear...Davis was crying before we left. She was upset because I would not give her any M+Ms. {left over from Valentine's day...she saw her daddy eating some and felt it was her given right to have some too!}

William's eyes look really blue here too. I'm pretty sure it's the lighting.

When Davis heard we were going into the city, she went into our bathroom, into my jewelry and grabbed this necklace. She loves to wear my things. I thought she did a pretty good job picking something out :)

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Last night we dropped off our car to be repaired + then headed into the city. I needed to pick up some stuff at The Paper Source. While we were driving in, William announced, "I'm really hungry. Can we eat somewhere?"

Now when he says he's hungry...it's like a mini miracle. The kid is picky and hardly eats anything. It was almost 6:00pm and they are normally feed by then so we decided to eat at PF Changs. {mainly because we got a parking space in between The Paper Source + the restaurant}

It's been almost a year since we've been there, we normally don't eat Chinese. But, the kids were excited to eat there because of the decor {large horse statues, murals etc.} We figured we could find something for them to eat.

Surprisingly, William + Davis tasted + ate everything.  We ordered Chicken Lettuce Wraps, two other chicken dishes – no spice :(   + some steamed veggies. We had such a terrific time. I love that the kids are getting older + really behave when we go out. Makes for a really nice evening :)

 

:: I want these! ::

Ooooooh. I so want this key board but it doesn't work with a MAC. I bought this mouse a few weeks ago, but we could not get it to work on my Mac or Neal's PC so we returned it. But this keyboard is slick... not only the design, but all the hi-tech gizmos it comes with.

:: time to grow ::

Love the packaging on this! Everyone can use a little organic basil, no? They have tons of other herbs you can grow. They say the seeds will germinate in 14-21 days. I like it!

And how clever are these? Paper vases that have a coating inside so water won't leak. You can customize them anyway you want.  They have a long shelf life + are totally recyclable. Sorry, I can't seem to find the link to them! {will try to find it later}

Thanks for all your nice words about us not getting into The Charter School. We are bummed... but I have to believe that it happened for a reason :) Hey, we're only number 7 on the wait list. {and historically, the #7 is a very lucky number} so who knows. They had 99 applicants for 47 openings, so we had a 50-50 chance of getting in. Maybe in Spring we'll get a letter telling us an opening is available. Till then, I'll just have to hope we get into the other School we applied to!

Happy President's Day!

:: school nazi ::

"no school for you!"
We are number seven on the wait list for The Charter School.
b.u.m.m.e.r

:: for the birds ::

How fantastic is this bird house? It's a bit pricey... {housing is just going through the roof!} But I can just imagine it hanging from a tree limb in my yard. {found via decor8} Now, which colour to pick?

:: a better friday ::

For the past four years, we have hardly used candles in the house. Kids + Candle = fire, which means no house :(  But recently, now that the kids are older, we've been using them only in our office + studio as a way to feel more "happy" in the darkness of winter. Neal picked up my favorite scents... liliac, gardenia, lemon lavender. Reminds me that Spring isn't that far away :)

Here are some photos of William smelling the candles. "mum, they smell so nice!" I know, you're thinking... what's he doing holding the candle. Well, we are of the mind set that if you let a kid hold or see something that is traditionally off limits, they won't be so gun-ho to sneak a peek or go after them in private. {I think this way about cookies + candy too... } At least this works for us. :)

So...what a difference a day can make! Good news on the car front. Our insurance company has decided that the car roof will be covered :) What a relief. So the car will be all set and ready by the end of next week :) Can't wait to see what our new insurance premiums will be though :(

Tomorrow we'll find out if William will be attending The Charter School. We've decided we're going to attend the actual "lottery". {I guess they pull names out of...something,...and announce in public who will be attending.} We don't want to wait to receive a letter next week. I think the wait would kill us. Wish us luck!

Last Fall right before the cold weather set, I took some succulents from my garden and put them into some small pots for the winter. I have them on a window ledge heading down the basement stairs. Happy at how well they are doing :) Aren't the pots lovely? They are made by Guy Wolff. Love his pottery. 

:: things can only get better... right? ::

Not sure if the rainy, sleety weather finally got to William, but yesterday this is the outfit William decided to put on over his PJs... look closely and you will see it's his bathing suit and hat. Quite dapper, huh? He also put his turtleneck back on over his top. He then came into the kitchen + danced a little dance. Honestly, I think he was on a sugar high! No more candy or cuppie cakes! He's cut off. {I actually froze the left over cuppie cakes... can you do that?} and I hide all the candy. The good news, he crashed around 8:30, which was lovely. If I could only get Davis to stay in her bed too. The girl has more energy than god.

I'm feeling such angst today. {ok, maybe that's a tad dramatic... but I'm just feeling off - tons of anxiety} So many things just bearing down on my little head. I keep trying to shug it all off, but today I can't seem to shake it. So I thought if I just write about it, it might make me feel better. {that's your cue. You can stop reading... because you really don't want to hear me whine now, do you?}

We're still waiting to hear if the kids have been accepted into the new Montessori school we applied to in early January. If they aren't accepted, it's way too late to apply to any of the other MS in the area. Whatever will I do? The kids are too smart to put them in a church basement pre-school.

My plan A for William is the Charter School. This weekend we'll find out if he will be accepted – it's all based on a lottery. When I dropped off his application last week I actually ran into William's friend's  mum. She's the one who told me about the school and encouraged me to apply. {Which in my twisty little head, I feel is a good sign that I randomly ran into her} ... but we're just not lucky when it comes to stuff like this :(  So wish us luck... because that's all that it seems we need!

The other thing that is bearing down on me this on-going fight we are having with our insurance company. Last November while I was in the city getting my hair done, I was pleased as punch that I found a meter on the street. When I got back to the car, I saw the back window was punctured + ripped + my side mirror on my car was cracked. It was if someone had vandalized my car... midday, on a busy street! Un - freaking - believable. 

Right away we called our insurance company and they said not a problem, it was covered. So for a week plus we tried to track down someone who could replace the back window... but it seems because the back window is sewn into the roof, we would need an entire new roof and a lot of the glass places don't do that. We'd have to find a specialty shop. We called back the insurance company and asked them for recommendations, and they said for us to call Audi. Well, the holidays came and we got busy and we just put the whole thing aside. Long story short, we are finally trying to deal with getting the car fixed. We finally found someone who can do the work. That company called our insurance company to get the claim number and work out payment and we got a call yesterday from the insurance company saying they won't pay for the new roof, only the window. grrrrr. I'm telling you, insurance is such a scam! So now we've been on the phone back and forth trying to get them to pay. It's so frustrating.

I'm also dealing with a client who is sooo "trying my patience". I hate when I have to work with someone who is so difficult. In the beginning they seemed all nice and easy but as the project has moved forward, his easy going nature got up and went. I'm now left with a grump. booo hooo.

Plus, I can't find a bunch of things that I've been searching for which is sooo frustrating. We're also finalizing the marketing campaign for my husband's new software, and I'm feeling so worried that it's not going to be as successful as we want it to be... but I'm trying to be soo soo positive. AND, to top it all off, my house leaked yesterday during the massive snow, sleet storm. It seems there was frozen ice on top of the roof/gutter area, and basically caused a huge puddle, which caused the leak. Neal fixed it, but really...unbelievable.

I do feel a bit better having written it all out. I know a lot of stuff is beyond my control. That's one of the things I'm trying to be better about... not stress or worry about things that I can't control. Worry only gives a small thing a big shadow... but you know what, it's damn hard.  :)

:: xox ::

              H A P P Y   V A L E N T I N E ' S  D A Y !
Whether you're part of a couple or you're single, know that someone loves you! xox

Yesterday was a busy, busy day. Above, are bags of homemade candy we made for the kid's friends at school +  for our family. There is a special one at top just for my blogger friends! If I had your addresses, I'd send you each a bag :)

I packaged up the goodies and sent them on their way. William thought the car needed to be in the photo, "mum, it makes the picture!" how could I not indulged him? 

What's in the bags? Dark chocolate lollipops tied up with ribbon. We also made little chocolate hearts that we covered with pink foil. The kids loved helping. {+ eating} We bought the chocolate from Williams-Sonoma. So it's especially good. Neal + my dad are chocolate snobs... if the chocolate isn't good or dark, neither one of them will eat it. Hey, it's important to have standards, no?

Cuppie Cakes with homemade vanilla frosting and red sprinkle hearts. I used a small cookie cutter {most likely it was a fondant cutter} to make the hearts. Surprisingly the kids were very meticulous with this part. They were very careful not to get the red sprinkles everywhere. I was impressed!

More cuppie cakes to take to School.

Neal surprised me with roses :) They are beautiful + smell amazing.

I gave Neal his own lucky bamboo for his office – here's to love, and financial success my sweet!

Next week we are kicking off his new software! He's worked really hard and long for this and I'm hoping it's a great success. The lucky bamboo is suppose to bring financial success, so I thought this would be a good gift. Hey, if any of you out there work in the environmental field and use the software EnviroQuant, then his software is built just for you! Next week I'll post more info, but in the meantime, if you know anyone who might be remotely interested, or in this field, please let me know :)

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It snowed last night, but we did not get the big nor'easter that they predicted. Which I'm happy about. I don't mind the snow, especially if it's going to be this cold. 

Does anyone watch Top Design? I've been DVRing it, and watch the last episode on Sunday. I'm not sure if I'm digging this show or not. First, can I say, that as much as I admire Todd Oldman + Jonathan Alder, they freak me out. Something about them is just plain creepy. And what's up with the younger judge dressing as if she stepped out of Flashdance? Did you notice her attire? Seriously. The judges are also so not consistent with their criticism. The first week they dismissed the pair who worked on the "asian themed" room. It was... "too themey" but who do they select for the Top Design for the last challenge? mmmm, well, why not the over-the-top pirate themed room... because you know, it's not "that themey" is it? Again, seriously? My kids love pirates, but if I came home and my kid's room was that, I'd be upset. Goil is the real deal. Personally, I loved his design + clarissa's design. I really hope the next challege is more realistic and a real challenge. Enough of this, here's $50,000 + here's an empty room. Why not find real people who need some design help. Give the designers a realistic budget and realistic constraits. I would love to see how someone could make a certain piece of ugly artwork or furniture work in a room. Now that would be worth watching.

Today I need to finish up some work on a logo + some other design work, then I need to finish up my projects for a swap I'm participating in. I'm so excited. It's my first swap. Kelly, from "hoping for happy accidents" organized it. It's called a "beautiful use project" and I need to send three objects that are at once utilitarian, simple and beautiful to my partner. I'll post what I send after I've sent it. {for obvious reasons!}

Well, have a super valentine's day + realized how lucky we all are :)

:: early to bed ::

My two little monkeys fell asleep on the couch last night right after dinner. How sweet do they look?  I woke them up to put them into their pjs and, as if miracles don't happen...they fell right back asleep! For the first time in a very, very long time, I was able to actually watch 24 live. {well, I waited a half hour so I could then fast forward through the commercials}

Last night as Jack was jumping out of the helicopter, it hit me... the guy looks pretty damn good for someone who's been tortured, who has tortured + who's been running around non-stop. I think I'd be sweaty + I'm sure there would be some kind of blood or saliva on my shirt from where I bite the man's jugular to kill him... is it just me? I guess I would be a sloppy killer.  Also, with all this running around, doesn't Jack ever get hungry? When does he pee? I guess because he never drinks or eats, he never has to pee... but wouldn't it be refreshing if while he was on the phone with Buchanan, Jack would say, "hang on, I can't go on, trust me, I have to pee."

Don't get me wrong, I'm still loving Jack + 24... but last night so many things were racing through my head. Like Morris... first, the man was driving around with the top down on his convertible. Ah, hello... a nuculear bomb just went off less than a hundred miles away. I have a convertible, and I've been known to drive with the roof down, heat blasting on a crisp Fall day... but honestly, I wouldn't go outside if a nuke went off, nevermind put down my roof and drive towards the scene to see my brother who's face is falling off because of radiation. Please. Second, poor Morris, he really got drilled last night, didn't he? {he he he} How he didn't pass out from the pain is incredible. He's not Jack. So I did expect him to just crumble. I kept thinking, if I were in Morris's shoes, I think I would have just let them kill me for the good of the country. Because you know that after you perform what they want you to do, they are just going to kill you anyway. There's no way out. Terrorists are not known for being nice + saying, "thank you, good job. Here's some cab money. Find yourself a hospital, you don't look well."  Third, are there really people out there willingly to work with terrorists for money? Really? Seriously? Terrorists?

I know it sounds like I am not enjoying 24, but I really am. At this point you know you have to suspend any sense of reality and just go with it. And going with it, I am :)

OH, for those of you who like the magazine "Blueprint" from Martha Stewart – Word is, the next issue is due sometime in March. I have a subscription and so far I have only received two issues. {which is all they have printed} Last one was in September  I thought we'd get a winter issue in Dec/Jan. Not sure what's going on with this magazine. I started to think they discontinued it. It's a well designed magazine and I really like the content. {actually more than "living"} but who knows what is going on. I feel like they discontinued "kids" in order to create this magazine. I absolutely loved, loved "kids" magazine and was so disppointed that they cancelled it. Does anyone know why they did?

Well, I have cuppie cakes to make for school tomorrow. {if there is any school – we'll have to wait + see, we're expecting a nor'easter here in Boston} Also, we need to finish up our Valentine's cards. I'll post some stuff later on! Happy Tuesday!