Still Scrapping

I'm still in a huge scrapbooking kick, but it's taken a bit of a new turn.  I'm making a 8.5" x 11" scrapbook for a close family friend, and had to dive into my dad's stash of old pictures.  This has been an interesting and challenging experience for me.

Most of the pictures in this box are of Doug and Tony.  I scanned this one of them riding their motorcycles together; it is one of my favorites from the whole box.  There are lots of funny pictures of them together; they were really close.

Yesterday, my dad and I sorted through reprints of ALL the negatives.  It took a while and it was hard for both of us.  I still can't believe both my brothers are gone, but at least they are together now, riding motorcycles in Heaven.

love and coffee,
Lulu

Scrap Happy

I have been scrapbooking like a mad woman lately.  Forget knitting.  Forget beading.  Forget sewing.  Right now, it's all about scrapbooking!  This is my most recent layout:

I went to Archivers last week with a couple of friends, and while we were there we talked about everything we had to scrapbook to catch up and what we had already scrapbooked.  I've noticed we all have different approaches to what we scrapbook and when.  On that particular day, I worked on my school trip to the Grand Canyon from 2004 while Marissa worked with pictures from college and Erin did some very recent shots from a party.  Normally my mother works on things chronologically since that is how her albums go, but lately she has jumped around a little more, working on a couple different trips that were put in their own albums.  Personally, I usually jump around and do whatever I feel like; however, I have been pushing to finish my 2006 trip to Europe and at least one year of high school (which looks like it will be my senior year since I have so much of that done already).  My next project though, once I clean up my craft room, is to put together a 8.5" by 11" album for a close family friend who just finished grad school.

Need more proof that I am so addicted to scrapbooking right now?  As I sit here at my computer, my fingers are itching for paper, pictures, and adhesives.  When I'm not scrpabooking, I'm usually online looking at other people's scrapbooks, which has inspired me to start photographing my layouts to show off online too.

How do you like to scrapbook?  Alone or with friends?  What size book do you use?  What kind of album?  Tell me!

You Spin Me Right 'Round

Like a drop spindle, baby!  Yes, completely cheesy I know, but I just couldn't resist.

Yesterday, a group of women gathered at the Riverwalk to spin.  I was one of those women.  Of course, nobody thought to take pictures during the actual spinning get-together, but that was when I realized that my roving matched my shorts!!  My friend Erin came back to my house later to watch movies so I snapped some pictures then.  How funny they match, and I didn't even plan it!

I've actually been spinning this roving since I learned how to spin in 2008.  I think I made a lot of progress now and should have the rest of the 2 ounces spun in the next week or so if I keep spinning on a regular basis.

Speaking of spinning, I think I am totally going to do the 2010 Tour de Fleece!  I'm not sure what my goal will be other than to spin every day.  I have 4 ounces each of two other colorways in this same gorgeous merino roving I've been spinning, and I think I might spin all of one of those...

Thoughts?  Anybody else want to spin the Tour de Fleece?

Things are Taking Off!

I recently launched my Etsy Shop and officially have listed a whopping FIVE items, everything from stitch markers to earrings to handmade greeting cards.  I don't have a particular direction for the shop right now other than I want to share my handmade goodies with the world!  I even made a fanpage on Facebook so look me up there and "like" my website!  Right now I have 23 fans and honestly, I don't even know all of them!  Some are friends of friends, but the majority of these fans, I don't even know and that excites me so much!

I have big plans for my little craft empire.  I want to buy a domain name one of these days.  I've thought about podcasting too because I just love to talk.  I want to be famous!

Somebody who has been very inspiring to me has been Dani of the Craft Culture podcast.  Her podcasts are fun to listen to and informative.  A lot of people know that I was studying cultural anthropology at UNC, so anything dealing with sociology or anthropology fascinates me.  Right now she is trying to raise money to travel the United States on a tour. She needs money to do this, so GO DONATE TO HER! Seriously, help a sista out and donate to her. Even a couple bucks will help. I want to meet her this summer so donate money so I can do so!

In other news, I'm knitting a lace shawl and am about a third of the way through with it.  I'm loving knitting simple lace and have completely memorized the pattern.  Yay me.

Go donate to Dani.

Love,
Lulu

Just Bead It!

I spent Wednesday night at my bestie's house and got some fun beading done.  Melanie made me some gorgeous stitch markers for me to list in my Etsy Shop.  She gave me some extra charms to make some of my own too.  I also made a couple sets of my own stitch markers.  Pictured at right are a couple sets that Melanie made that will be getting listed on Etsy soon.

On Thursday, we checked out Hobby Lobby, where Melanie works, and I got some really gorgeous turquoise beads and elastic to make a couple bracelets.  Next was one of the local bead shops downtown which recently moved to a bigger location.  I love this shop, and managed to find some really cute dragonfly charms to make a set of stitch markers.  There are two beads on each stitch marker, the bigger of which is also from We've Got Beads and the smaller ones were "stolen" from Mel.

I'm excited about making stitch markers and hope to make lots of other pretty beaded goodies to sell on Etsy and give as gifts.  What do you think?

coffee and cashmere,
Lulu

Avon Lady Calling!

That's right readers, I've started selling one of Amercia's oldest beauty brands: Avon.  If you want to check out my Avon website and order from me, enter "FSANY" for free shipping on any order. If you have any interest in becoming an Avon representative, I can also get you the hook-up on that; all it takes is $10 to start.

Okay, I'm sure I sound like a sales pitch, but I wanted to share how exciting it has been for me to sell Avon. I've always loved the company; after all, who didn't grow up with a Skin So Soft product or an Avon lipstick in the house? Since starting this endeavor, I've rediscovered some of my favorite products, like Glimmersticks eyeliner or Slick Tints lip balm, and found some new ones, like their new line called Moisture Therapy.  I hope you take a chance to check out the website, and if you have any questions to hit me up.

http://www.youravon.com/lrossi

Coffee & cashmere (& lipstick!),

Lulu 

A Cross-Stitching First

I've dabbled with embroidery and cross-stitch for many years, but I've never really finished anything entirely...Until now!  Pictured here is the finished cross-stitched bib.  I don't really remember the whole story behind this project, which just shows how long it's been since I started it.  I think one of my classmates in eighth grade gave it to me so she wouldn't feel like a dork working on her own bib at lunch.  What exactly I'm going to do with it, I'm not sure either.  I honestly think I might start a hope chest to be filled with other baby-related items and nice things for the house I hope to own someday.  I've been so inspired by finishing this cross-stitch bib that I've started another one.  I can't knit all of the time...

coffee & cashmere,
Lulu