Busy, busy, busy, busy

Soooooo busy.  We had a successful day at the Honey Pot Shop.  Then accompanied our friends Owl & Mouse at first Friday & then joined them & Michael Baxley at their shared studio for a Christmas in July!  Next up is Artilicous next Saturday (see our facebook page for info on that http://www.facebook.com/bymindy).  After that... much hard work to get the etsy page back up & running with a bunch of new listings!!!  And then prepping for Christmas.  Sorry there haven't been any posts for far too long.  I'll be better, I promise!  Besides... I owe you pics of all this craziness!

Love to all
byMindy

absent

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while.  I've been busy preparing for the Honey Pot Shop.  I promise I'll have interesting stuff once it's over.

Hats!!!

I am a huge hat person, I wear one almost everyday.  I am lucky enough that hats look good on me.  So today I think I will feature cute, unusual & interesting handmade hats from etsy.  Without further ado...

the Gothic Lolita mini hat made by Harriet at http://www.etsy.com/shop/myfanwynia.

I think this hat is adorable & weird in a good way.  I would want a brown & white pinstripe something to wear with it.

Next up...  an olive polka dot cloche, I am in love!!!  Someone please buy me this hat!  I need it, want it, gotta have it.  It is true love.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/bonniesknitting  Here's the link.  I love her cloches.

And finally, the perfect walking on the beach or reading in the sun hat.  Love it, also love a couple of the other designs in this store.  Beautiful hats!

So adorable!  I can feel the sand in my toes just looking at this hat.  WOW.  Here's the link... http://www.etsy.com/listing/47645136/parisisal-straw-sun-hat?ref=v1_other_1

Well I have a busy night ahead, many projects & collaborations are in the works.  I'll post all about them as each comes to fruition.

Fashion

So I've never been a very fashionable person, but I feel like I understand it, just unable to practice it.  Anyways, yesterday I stumbled upon something very cool, The Uniform Project.  With my Catholic school background it sounded scary at first but it was a great idea for a great cause.  I encourage you to check it out.  Sheena Matheiken wore the same dress for 365 days & made a different outfit with it for each day using accessories.  VERY COOL.  http://www.theuniformproject.com.

Anyways... this got me thinking about clothes & items of clothing that are very stylish but very versatile.  I found a shop on etsy that has a dress that fit the mold in my mind.  It's kinda pricey, I mean I can't afford it, but for someone who could, CUTE!

I do wish it came in larger sizes, girls above a size 8 should have access to awesome looking clothes too.  On another positive note... I really like the shop name Allison Wonderland.  Here's the link...
http://www.etsy.com/shop/shopwonderland

So cute

Browsing through etsy this evening & saw this...

I want it!  It's so cute!  Definitely one of the more original flower headbands I have seen.  Check out other stuff available in this shop...
http://www.etsy.com/shop/FleurdeTissu

Corduroy Horse

These sundresses by CorduroyHorse are too cute not to share.

Go to her store & check out the other styles!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CorduroyHorse

in the works

So, I have been absent for awhile... at least from the blogosphere.  Not to worry, nothing is wrong, just lots of projects in the works.  I will let more details slip as things progress.  Sorry to be mysterious.  So without having much to say I'll just leave you with a couple pictures of my beagle.

Spring Birds

I've been a busy bee!  The spring line is really coming together & people seem to be loving it!  I can hardly keep some coffee shops stocked!  Finally I have listed the spring line of birdie pillows on Etsy.  If you live in KC, they are also available at Twisted Sister on 39th street.  Stop by the online shop & check 'em out!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/byMindy?section_id=6533097

Spring

So spring is officially here, although you wouldn't have known it around here this weekend.

None the less, I began working on my spring line of reusable coffee sleeves.  I selected fabrics that are the colors of spring & playful patterns.  They are still a work in progress & I may add more styles as the season plays out, but here's a sample of what is going to be available.

Time to get back to work.  These sleeves won't finish themselves, and I have other products to work on. I will post photos of finished items!!

Accounting Day

So today was the day that I designated to get caught up on all of my accounting.  YUCK!  However, it has provided time for my mind to wander...

Have you ever pondered what it would be like to be handed a printed transcript of all of your thoughts for the day?  Every little flash that passes through your brain.  What would you find out about yourself?  Are you generally a positive or negative thinker?  Were there moments of genius that otherwise would have passed you by because it came & went too fast & eventually you forgot?  Are you truly concentrating?  Or do you day dream all day?

I suspect that the majority of my thoughts are day dreams.  Or wonderful creations that I need to make... but won't ever because I forgot.  My husband probably disagrees with my suspicions... he would say that my mind is filled with worry all day.  I'm sure there is some truth to that, but I think I dream more than he knows.  Perhaps I should share all that a little bit more... or do I keep it for myself?

Anyways... the creation station will be back into full production mode this weekend (especially with the impending snow predicted for Saturday).  This has been a great week for getting organized & caught up; but I am soo ready to make things again.

Tell me what you think about?

An introduction...

My name is Mindy...

That's me.

I am an avid designer & maker of stuff & things.



It all started about a year ago.  I had a day off from work & my husband was at school, so I was all alone with nothing but free time.   I attempted to watch some kind of daytime television, but was sooo bored.  I went into my studio (I am a painter by nature), found some fabric I had purchased a couple of years before (knowing I would find something to do with it... it was too cute I had to have it), and started sewing.  I wound up with several NOT SO GREAT reusable coffee sleeves.  When my husband got home I proudly showed him the wonky little things.  He thought they were a great IDEA.  So I went back to the drawing board, researched materials, and finally figured out the magic combo.

I was hooked!  I started sewing them in every spare minute I could find.  I could not be stopped!  One day I looked around and found that I had a very large bag full of these sleeves.  They were great to look at, all different colors & patterns.  It was like candy!  But what did I need with all of them?  They were just fun to make.  So I packed up the bag into the ole car & headed down to my coffee shop.  I started giving away my sleeves.  The owner of the coffee shop took notice & asked if I would like to sell them there.  My business was born.

The sleeves are the bread & butter of my business.  They are sold in 14 different coffee shops locally & I sell them online at my Etsy store, www.bymindy.etsy.com.  They pay for me to experiment making other things: clutches, stuffed owl & bird pillows, cards, Christmas ornaments... the list keeps growing.  So that brings us up to date.   So I welcome you to come on this journey with me.  Be my friend, witness the highs & the lows & the total freak outs.  Check in to see what new creations I have made, fabrics I have found, buttons I have added to my collection, or even just if my adorable beagle has done something amazingly cute that day.  Hope you enjoy!!!