Happy Accidents

So, my "manufacturing" process is unpredictable. I am often at the mercy of color copy attendants, messy tabletops and availability of my favorite materials.

When I refer to my products as "handmade", they are indeed just that: made by me, with my hands, and usually glue and scissors.

I have a customer who requests journals for her children's teachers at the beginning of each school year. She usually wants something a bit different, and I try to accommodate. This year, she wanted lace and burlap, and some shabby chic images. I get set in my ways with what I like, so I look forward to being pushed in other design directions. 

I was so pleased with my designs for her, and decided to add them to my shop, BabyBlackDog.etsy.com

Different papers require different techniques, and assembling is always a bit of a challenge...

But today, the glue was the issue. It was everywhere. 

When the glue turned ugly on a final product, I decided to get creative...

and cut an embellishment to cover a spot...

And sprinkled glitter where hot glue was excessive...

Accidents make my creativity brave.

The Joys of Wrapping...

I have a need to create. Every day.

But when creativity alludes me for one reason or another, I can always jump-start the flow by wrapping a gift.

Gift-wrapping is my original purpose, my passion and one of my favorite activities.

It begins with the present, of course, but I'm a firm believer that the packaging is a huge part of the perfect gift.

I prefer boxes to bags. Maybe because I'm such a fan of wrapping paper. I can't get enough of a beautiful paper. There's a room in my house dedicated to rolls of it. Technically it's a closet...

...and also contains poorly-folded linens, but I digress.

Once the paper has been chosen, next comes the ribbon. I love beautiful ribbon in casual fabrics, but the organization of said-ribbon?

...not so important.

But, the perfect ribbon?

...most important!

My favorite part of wrapping, however, is found in the embellishing. Shiny objects, pretty buttons, old Scrabble letters, found florals, bits and pieces of this and thats...

I find that too much is often just right, but should be tastefully done. Obviously. And hot glue is used for attaching the baubles, carefully avoiding finger contact...

And never underestimate the power of a well-placed chenille chick. With a flora added, when possible...

And before I realize, creativity has returned and a loved one has been thought of satisfactorily...

Old School

I spent some time this week with some ideas and new listings for my shop, BabyBlackDog.Etsy.com, and, as always, I get tickled by how low-tech my creative process is. I love letterpress and modern or clean designs.

I, however, am of a cluttered-taste and very old-fashioned in my creations. I am a literal cut-and-paste artist...

A cutting board is my favorite tool and black card stock & glue sticks are my trade secrets. 

I try to create on the computer, I do! I try to think different, but my ideas always come back to vintage and black borders. 

So, I'm going with it! I'm sticking to it! I'm dancing with the one who brung me, or sumpin like that...

Cause, I sure do like to follow my dreams...