Just to reiterate, I have officially run out of Kewpies. In fact, I've given away even my personal stash. If you would still like to join the The Impatient CrafterTM Happy Cute Make Kewpie Doll Challenge 2008 you will have to order a 2" Kewpie from Kit Kraft (http://www.kitkraft.biz/product.php?productid=4088) or find one elsewhere. I want to make sure we all have the same canvas, so that's why I'm asking you to get a 2" Kewpie. One lucky player who made the cut will receive a crawling Kewpie and one will receive a girl Kewpie, but they are still 2" Kewpies. How many times can I type Kewpie in one paragraph? Kewpie, Kewpie, Kewpie, Kewpie...
I'd love to get a bunch of folks on board, so please join in the fun! It's only a buck and change to order a Kewpie and you get to keep it and you can even sell your finished design if you want later. We have one sponsor on board so far, the fabulous Ms. Aileen Roberts from Outside the Margins has agreed to both judge and provide a little something something for the three Prize Swag Bags. I'm chatting up a few other folks so we can sweeten the pot so to speak. Sweet!
I'm also working on some free product giveaways here at The Impatient Blogger. Who doesn't love free stuff, raise their hand? Yup, thought so, everyone loves free stuff! YAY! So look for upcoming comment challenges with fabulous free prizes and lots of great ideas to spice up your crafty creations. All of this and more is heading your way this summer from your hostess with the mostest Margot Potter The Impatient CrafterTM!
Can I get a Huzzah?!
Until tomorrow...craft on with your bad selves.
xoxo Madge
PS: Linky Love shout-out to the insanely talented Ms. Rebecca Peck for posting my video in her blog. It's not too late, if you want to feel the Linky Love just post my video in your blog and let me know, here's a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmzJjWmE1D4. We're gearing up for a new production this weekend, so stay tuned!
It's time to officially announce "The Impatient CrafterTM Happy Cute Make Kewpie Doll Challenge 2008". I have a small collection of small Kewpies (15 to be exact) that I purchased in Tokyo at the HAJ Show. In Japan, decorating these adorable tiny dolls in a huge variety of adorable and sometimes bizarre tiny costumes is a craft phenomenon. There were a zillion books about this craft and cell phone charms with the decorated Kewpies were everywhere we went. I thought immediately this was the exactly sort of a kooky thing American artists and crafters might enjoy, so here we are. These dolls are tiny, 2 inches tall to be exact so this is a real challenge!
The Impatient CrafterTM Happy Cute Make Kewpie Doll Challenge 2008
The challenge: Decorate a tiny Kewpie doll I shall send you via post or you shall purchase from the internet.(Note: If you live overseas, it may take a little while as I can't afford fast international shipping on a freebie!)
The rules: Take a clear, cool and funny photo of your Kewpie and email it to me at margot@margotpotter.com (1MB or smaller jpeg file please.) The winners will be selected by a panel of distinguished Craft experts...which may be Sock Monkey and my daughter unless I can find some other folks willing to judge and not play. We will select winners in the following three categories:
Most Original Funniest Cutest (a.k.a. most Kawaii)
The winners will receive a yet to be determined, but most definitely fabulous prize. I promise it will be worth your time! I will create a Kewpie Photo Gallery where your Kewpie will be showered with fame and fortune. I will announce the winners on September 8th.
You must contact me within the next two weeks in order to participate; once I run out of Kewpies, you can order a Kewpie from Kit Kraft if you want to play. Here is the url: http://www.kitkraft.biz/product.php?productid=4088. If you are one of the first fifteen, you must email me your address at margot@margotpotter.com so I can mail you a Kewpie. I will announce when I run out here at The Impatient BloggerTM.
Sounds simple enough, yes? Above are examples of Japanese Kewpies. They also dress them up as sushi and other random and odd items. You can do whatever you like, my friends. Sky's the limit. Just try to have fun!
Super Linky Love Shout Out to the divine Ms. Yoli of Sacred Snatch Designs who generously posted my video on her blog yesterday. Check out her blog and her work, she's a very cool chica.
We got in after midnight last night and my poor hubby was plum tuckered from the six plus hour drive. So he stayed up reading and the light kept me up too, I didn't want to whine considering the fact that I had been drifting in and out of sleep the entire ride. I swear to you that every time I started to nod off and snapped awake; a huge semi was cutting us off. It was like being in a bad video game! I am quite certain it was driving my husband insane listening to me gasp every half hour at another "nearly averted tragedy." It's a damn good thing that one of us is patient. We were on a stretch of highway that was Convoy central for the first half of the trip and all I can say is I am pleased as punch that I wasn't driving. Have I mentioned that Mommy has a potty mouth?
I'm a little crusty around the edges today to say the least. Snerg. Our piggy Miss Daisy was so excited to see us. When we pulled in the driveway she came spramping out of her cottage in the dark insisting someone come over and pat her on the head. She's a pushy piggy, but a lovable one. She definitely fits right in with the womenfolk in this household.
So many people kindly posted our video this weekend! THANK YOU! The only way to build it is if folks help spread the word and I'm truly grateful for your help. We're getting some great feedback and we are really excited to keep making new installments and growing this concept virally. Super Shout Outs to some of the arts and craftsiest women on the internet who have heartily recommended our humble video sampling: Violette, Kriss Cramer, Lisa Liddy, Carter Seibels, Groovy Holly...and if anyone else blogged it and I didn't shout it out, email me at margot@margotpotter.com to let me know! If you've not blogged it, and you'd like to do so and get some Linky Love from Madge, here's the url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmzJjWmE1D4.
So just to clarify, if you want to participate in the Kewpie Doll Art challenge, I will supply the Kewpie Dolls, you will supply the imagination. I'm not sure what the prizes will be yet, I'll see if I can't get some manufacturer support. I'll send you the doll, you'll decorate it, return it to me. I'll create a Kewpie Doll Gallery. Somewhere in there are fabulous prizes, what are the prizes? I don't yet know! If there's enough interest we'll go from there!
I'm sorry this is late, I had to get my hair laser session in this morning, we're trying to get rid of my underarm hair, but I have a ton of hair there and it's stubborn. Today was my sixth session and I have another in July, if it doesn't take then, I'll have to pay all over again. Ergh. Stoopid arm pit hair.
So we had some fun adventures in Erie. I've never seen one of the Great Lakes and it did not disappoint. Amazing it was. I got a ton of lovely polished rocks along the shore's edge I shall keep on my windowsill until I decide if there's a project there or I just love them as they are. I also helped the men folk find heart shaped rocks for the women folk. Men don't understand this sorta stuff most of the time, but women sure do! We also hit a Flea Market at a drive in movie theatre where we got an awesome vintage road sign, some old typing manuals, vintage kid's coloring books and a stash of vintage wooden nickels I had to broker a deal for because they were that cool. Look for something to come of that stash in my soon to be opened Etsy shop. We also hit Gabriel Brothers, a PA discount store where you can find top label clothing at super close out prices, samples, irregulars, season closeouts, you name it...you'll find it...you just have to check it for flaws. We got some Paul Frank stuff, an Ann Taylor Loft Missoni knock off sundress, Kitsen flip-flops and Skelanimals shirts...plus a ton of other stuff and Dad shopped too and we walked out with a huge bag for under 150 bucks. That's my kind of shopping!
I have a mountain of straw here that needs tending, I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, craft on with your bad selves!
We're off to Erie to see my SIL graduate from Medical School this weekend. GO ALISON GO! That's two doctors in the family, her older sister MJ (who is recovering from her horsecapade of late quite well) is an emergency vet. Smart women in this crew for sure. Yay for Smart Women!
I am still buried in the mountain of things to do before we go, and honestly, I'm so burnt on travel I can't even tell you. I just want to be home for a while, is that so wrong? Our dog Mrs. Fellerbee is lying next to a suitcase pouting, she hates when we leave her. I feel awful about that. The pigs will be mad at me. The chickens, well they could give a cluck, so that's good. I hate sleeping in hotels because the beds always make my lower back go out and I usually end up with a rash from the detergent they use on the bedding.
I'm a sensitive gal, it's my porcelain Irish skin I'm afraid. There's a reason I look so good for my age and it's called 50 plus sunscreen. It's far cheaper than any magical creams, though a little supplemental Botox does help Mommy look less stressed.
It's time once again for your TastyLinksTM! I'm including links to some folks who kindly posted my video in their blogs yesterday. I think next video we're going to brew up a little contest with prizes. I'm also thinking of a Kewpie Doll contest, would you all be game for dressing your own Kewpie in an outrageous costume for prizes and shout outs on The Impatient BloggerTM? Let me know what you all think.
I'll be back in the saddle again on Monday, I won't have much in the way of computer access until then so don't fret if you leave a comment and I don't approve it right away. I promise to do so upon my most auspicious return.
Until then, open wide and say "Ah"!
TastyLinksTM from the Crafty Bloggers:
Aileen's Musings The Fairies have landed at Aileen's Musings! Check out her Mini Fairy Birdhouse tutorial and maybe you too can capture a fairy or two!
Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world This week at Craftside there are a bunch of great patterns and how-to's including a clip on cell phone case, jewelry with words, 2 winged embroidery templates used on a spa mask and cold pack cozy, a crocheted flower pattern and altered images and techniques.
Crafty Princess Diaries Love books and beads? Then you'll love this call for entries from Interweave Press.
Cross Stitch Bracelet Stitch up quick Cross Stitch bling using floss and plastic canvas.
Layers Upon Layers The year-long Bead Journal Project is winding down, and Cyndi is thrilled to be finished!!
Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Over at Sweater Surgery there are a bunch of cross stitch sayings and note cards made from photos of the sayings.
The Impatient Blogger Join The Impatient Crafter Margot Potter in this cheeky video tutorial on making UTEE glittered skull jewelry. It's magically craftlicious!
Extra Link of the Week: Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean has a cute pair of earrings in BeadStyle magazine for July, and she promptly sent them off to Kim Miles, fab beadmaker!
Video Linky Love Shout Outs from two fabulously talented ladies you need to go visit:
Check out Fabulous Friday Finds at HHH Enterprises with your guest blogger, Me!
Don't forget, if you post my new video in your blog and you let me know about it here, I shall shower you with the Linky Love! Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmzJjWmE1D4. Just follow the link and look for the embed code, copy and paste that into your blog template in html mode and voila, a video is posted! Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
A Rare Photo of Margot's Personal Assistant Madge circa 1985 channeling 1965
(Okay, really Margot.)
Adventures in Craft Design with The Impatient CrafterTM Margot Potter
How to Get Published and Be a Professional Craft Designer
Copyright 2008 Margot Potter
It's amazing how much work there is out there for designers. I'm always shocked when I hear folks saying that they can't find work. I can't keep up with the work and I'm barely diving into the possibility pool most days. Life is all about perception. I mean that seriously, remember that the glass is always full of opportunity and you'll never go thirsty again.
If you're good enough to get the work, and that's a matter of innate ability, fine tuning your skills and knowing how to stretch your style to suit more than one aesthetic, you should have no problem selling your designs, getting published, making money and staying busy. You need to execute your concepts impeccably and present them professionally. You need to fine tune your writing skills and get your work in on time if you want to design for publication. If you aren't a gifted writer, I highly suggest a writing course. If you aren't a gifted business person, I highly suggest some business courses. If you're a one trick pony, I suggest you go to circus school and learn a few more tricks. If you're smart and you brand yourself, you'll need to learn how to market your product, which is you.
It's crucial that you stay aware of trend in fashion and home décor so that your designs are relevant and forward focused. Subscribe to relevant magazines and surf the internet. Get the Pantone Palette every season. Subscribe to fashion and gift trade publications, if you can, attend the big gift and fashion shows in New York, LA or Vegas. You can write these things off on your taxes.
It's not enough to be a good designer, you have to be a good salesperson and marketer and you absolutely have to be reliable. When I was an editor, I had a short list of designers whom I knew without doubt I could count on to deliver fabulous projects on time and without any drama. Drama...is not so good. I'd give everyone one free pass, then I was done. No one has time for your drama. You've signed on to deliver and it's your job to work through your shipoopy and get the goods in. Drama will pass, but once your ship has sailed from the harbor it's awfully hard to swim out and catch it. If someone's work was consistently late, shoddily constructed and poorly packaged, I took note. If I had to spend an hour rewriting someone's instructions, I didn't hire them again. Believe me, word gets around. If you burn a bridge or two, I can guarantee you that other editors will hear the dubious tales.
Being a professional designer is hard work. It's not play time all day long, most of what you do once you're established isn't actually studio time. That time gets co-opted by the Fine Art of Shameless Self Promotion. That's a full time job. Seriously. You know I joke about it but at least I acknowledge it when I'm doing it, but I have to do it. How else could a woman start at the age of 40 an entirely new career and go from being an actress who liked to make jewelry and owned a bead shop and craft gallery to a well known name in the craft industry and the blogsphere in only five years? I spend a good hour or so every day on PR and Marketing and so should you my friend. You can't be a wuss about it, you've got to toot your horn without shame. If you don't have copious amounts of moxie, chutzpah and unmitigated gall my friend, you'll need to cultivate them. That's how you succeed.
You have to be your biggest cheerleader and you have to know that if you're good folks are going to be copying you left and right. That's a very good sign that you're on the right track, even if it is annoying. So frickin' what. You're smart enough to have an endless stream of brilliant ideas and new spins on brilliant old ideas. You...wonderful you...wonderful superelasticbubbleplastic you...are a uniquely wondrous creation with uniquely wondrous ideas to share. No one can do it like you do it baby, so don't even worry about anyone else.
Once you truly embrace that, nothing can stop you from creating a life of abundance and joy.
Rock on with your bad selves, Madge
Don't forget! If you post my new video, I'll give you a link back and a shout out in my blog folks...you can post a link to it or embed the video, that's entirely up to you, either way I'll toot your horn. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmzJjWmE1D4
) or find one elsewhere. I want to make sure we all have the same canvas, so that's why I'm asking you to get a 2" Kewpie. One lucky player who made the cut will receive a crawling Kewpie and one will receive a girl Kewpie, but they are still 2" Kewpies. How many times can I type Kewpie in one paragraph? Kewpie, Kewpie, Kewpie, Kewpie...
