I'm still here...

Sorry for the massively delayed posting. I am still here. I've been very busy with some international culture exchange students from the Ukraine. They came over with out any housing set up so my office for a spell became their home while we looked for them housing for the summer. Cramming 2 girls in a small room with only one shower in the house was interesting :). As of today I have reacquired my office and am ready to work. And boy do I have some work to do.

Buttons! At least a hundred pressed which is nothing, its the designing that is tricky.

So forgive me for leaving you without an explanation. May the blog Gods have mercy on me and I will do my best to keep this up to date now that I have my space back.

Listening to: Ellie Goulding: Anything Can Happen.

A blast from a very close past...

Hello to all in blogsphere! As we head into the beginning of a typical work week I wanted to share the first ever large order for A.P.P. When I push Frozen Yogurt during the day it is for a lovely family that I have worked with for about 3 years. My crazy surfer boss also has a small retail store called Footprints Coastal literally right across the street from the yogurt shop that I manage. Its a über cute shop filled with beachy décor and gift items. I really should get a picture of the shop one day.

 

Footprints ordered an initial order of 102 buttons, which were 17 designs at 6 each design. Now let me tell you I was in no way shape or form ready for this order. I had cranked out these designs in about a weekend and I still wasn't sure if I myself liked them, but they did. Then there was a display, retail packaging, and price points that I wasn't prepared for either. But I made it work just in time for Spring Break to start at the last of March. Crazy times. And I have a whole list of new button ideas to pitch to them hopefully soon. Another part of my long to do list.

From this I have learned something. Never rush your creative process and just deal with something to get it out there. Have more pride in your work. Now do not get me wrong, I put out some serious quality buttons, but just some of the designs I chalked up to only Footprints carrying and refuse to sell in my Etsy shop. On the other hand some I really am proud of, like BEACHY (below). I still have a long way to go as far as retail packaging that I am just not sure of, but that's the catch 22 when you have your own business and are creating everything from scratch. The process just takes a little longer.

 

Listening to: The low hum of a fan while the hubby is in bed.

Long overdue updating...

For the past few hours I have been updating my online shop at aquapurrpress.etsy.com! I will be adding additional listings over the next few days and really digging my heels into business. I did spend the past couple of days endlessly editing photos getting them ready for listings tho. I will try in the next day or two to link my listings for Etsy on the blog somehow. I'm still new to this so I have no idea half of what I can do without diving in to the HTML portion of blogging. I hate HTML.

To Do List for my lovely Sunday off work (The Frozen Yogurt work that is) will be posting some insight to what ever I can get my hands into on here as well as updating my financial books, visiting the puddle across the street (The Gulf of Mexico), and possibly designing at least 5 designs for my retail location. I also have the opportunity for an additional location for retailing my buttons that I will finally be able to crack down some designs as well since Spring Break is officially over. I have a month until Memorial Day weekend when all hell breaks loose again but hopefully by then I will have a business schedule to go by paying equal attention to my shop, facebook, blog, and over all business.

 

Listening to: Lotus by: Christina Aquilera

Order out of nowhere!

Yesterday morning I got an inquiry for an order out of nowhere. It was wonderful. The best thing about this was that it was local. Some fantastic person searched me out through Google looking for a local custom button shop, then was directed to my Etsy shop and BAM! an email later and I was shocked. I delivered 25 Beachelorette Buttons to her today and it was my first time swiping a credit card on my Square account. It didn't quite swipe but I entered it in manually and it was cake. If you have a small business and do not have a Square I implore you to go now to Square.com and sign up. Their rates are more than fair and the register is a life saver!!! Go now... HURRY!

This is a Customer Provided image and not my own. All credit goes to them. :)

Stormy Nights...

Ah, late night blogging while sitting up doing last minute work laundry... So I have been working on this idea for quite sometime and I have finally finished it. I had been debating on waiting to post about it til I was able to fill my shop on etsy with goodies including these but I just cannot wait.

There is a little corner of the web that I frequent daily. A great blog by the name of Bugs and Fishes. Purrusing (misspelling intentional)this wonderful space one day I came across the most adorable design for a Happy Cloud Mobile. Laura Howard is amazing with her felt work and so inspiring. And it was to this inspiration I give you the tools of my chaos.

 So it started with a small sketch... which I do not have a picture of, some simple graphic work and a printer. One 1.5 inch machine and punch later I started breaking out my highly overlooked jewelry making materials. Yes, I can make jewelry too.

 

After punching 5 pristine pictures I outlined the darker cloud with a silver paint pen, I love how you only notice it when the light hits it just right. Plus I am all about clouds with a silver lining... :D

I pressed them into buttons and broke out my flat back crystals.  I've always liked the look of effort made when you use multiple sizes of something. Plus I'm always against the uniformity of some aspects of life and tend to go against the grain whenever possible. So moving on with a little E6000 later...

And while that dries...

I had a chain that had always been to small for my neck that I kept around just for that 'Ah-Ha!' moment, some jump rings, and luminescent tear drop glass beads. The pin to the left of this picture was my *Test*. It has some really cheap crystal stickers I had gotten from some large chain super mart that I loathe, but I felt the need to make a test so I would know my idea would work. I had been thinking about this one design for weeks you know as I dreamt about the days that I no longer had to push frozen yogurt and could devote myself to my craftiness full time.... *snaps out of it* Anyway...

 I carefully attaches a bead and length of chain to my ring, using a large ring for the beaded end and a smaller ring at the other. Staggering the lengths of chain to give the 'rain' a more real feel to it, I put my longest chain in in the middle of the other two and attached all 3 to a large jump ring. This ring I attached to the back of the button pin.

And here is my wonderful close up to capture some of the detail. I have named this my Stormy Broach. I think it is the perfect balance to dress up with a nice scarf or down with your favorite jeans.

 

Here's to that silver lining.

 

Listening to: U R Fever by: The Kills

Blog took 1 hour to write while watching The Carries Diaries :)

 

 

 

 

Vaycay Haul, a preview of my tools of the trade...

SO I know you want Buttons, and I promise and promise again I will get to those. But there is more than tin, pins, and mylar that goes into a small button business. Like the little things that customers appreciate with their orders. Like Thank You cards!

While I was driving around everywhere in Atlanta I did leave my hubby at the hotel to go craft hunting. I love using the Hobby Lobby and Michaels 40% Off coupons whenever I can! Not just because its 40% off which is awesome in itself but on CRAFTY THINGS it's oh so much better!!! I splurged on some stamp sets which will play into my buttons as well as cards later.  Some crafty tape to accent them, and a cute little paw punch later you have nifty (yes, nifty! a highly under-rated word that should be used more often) cards to give your fabulous customers. The silver marker you will actually get to know about soon, and I'm not talking about signing the cards either.

Oh! And since there is a lack of IKEA's in Florida I hit up the one in Atlanta Ga to take advantage of some storage! They had a great sale for the silver accented boxes pack of 2 for $3.99 and then the smaller thick cardboard boxes were in packs of 7 with assorted sizes for just $0.99!!!!!

Currently I am working on a lot of projects and I am taking pictures of them in progress but I want to wait to give you the whole story in one post. Still getting used to this blog thing.

Stuff I am working on:

• Button Broaches?
• Tiding up my Studio and giving you an inside peek.
• Office paperwork: Essential things you need.
• Finished Music Buttons.
• New designs for retail.

and MORE....

Now I'm off to go work! Might post later if I have something finished.

Currently Listening to: My husband watch BBC's Top Gear... :)

What to write *cough* Blog about first???

 So I will begin where I ended on my last post. Music Buttons! Yes I know the pictures are just a tease because you cannot see them but I wanted something for you all when I actually get done with the variety that I plan to put out. I did start to write down what song they belong to, to include that in my Etsy shop listings but then I realized that I lost track of that quite fast. While I am trying to quail down the verses of "You are my Sunshine" out of my head I hope these will catch on and be appreciated for the old and new world feel I hope they invoke.

On a side note when I got back from the good ol' Peach State I believe my mom made me sick. So I have been in a Nyquil coma for the past few days, went to work today and am seconds away from loosing my voice! *oh nos!* So I hope sleeping it off and a few throat lozenges later be better! Working extra hours to make up the time I missed a bit and have Saturday and Sunday off to neglect my husband who pulled me from Buttons last weekend and totally envelope myself into the world that is little intriguing circles of mischief! And doing a lot of catching up.
New addition to the Blogage (so not a word but should be) I have however is a page that I will continue to update my music list on. Just simply because the playlist I have just isn't cutting it because I cannot find the songs I listen to easily on their site or at all for that matter. Feel free to look some up. I find that music in any and all forms are great inspirations for any artist! *Listening to: "Keep Me High" by:Adaline.*

Night!

Mini Vaycay...

To all those out in Blogspace! I will be running away out of town for the next few days! Going back up to the peach state to visit my wonderful mother-in-law ( I just call her mom.) Just to let you all know that I'm still here and will be back. Muhahaha!

When I get back I will have a few days to dedicate to nothing but updating everything that Spring Break has gotten in the way of and post a ton of buttons and button news! So get ready! Be prepared! You have been warned...

Pieces of Music...

So I left work early because I could not deal with another Spring Breaker messing with my day. Plus I have carpel tunnel in both wrists and massively inflamed the junk out of it yesterday while loading cases of frozen yogurt into my walk in freezer. But the buttons must move on!

So this was my mini project for the day.

I think it's really cool how I can go through these vintage music books and actually know some of the songs even tho the 1920's-1960's I wasn't even thought of yet. Planning on pressing and getting some actual buttons out there tomorrow along with a revamp of my shop.

Tip of the day! Never try to be something that your not. :)

Listening to: Candy Perfume Girl by: Madonna

Despreately Seeking Laser...

Printer that is. Just went buy Office Depot and they had a killer deal on a HP Laser Printer. On sale, and unaffordable /sigh. One day I will have one. Need to do some serious review searching tho.

I know I promised updates and letting the blogverse in on what I am up to. I will once I can breathe and not have a million and one things to do.

Sheet Music Abound!

So I have been following a few craft blogs and so many of them find very interesting uses for vintage sheet music. So I decided to look on ebay yesterday and realized that sheet music in any shape or form is like gold! Abandoning my search and realizing that I may have to start going to thrift stores or vintage shops with time I do not have in my schedule I decided to just wait until sometime in the far future to continue with my search. Low and behold I brought out my iPad at work today to check my many emails and craigslist! FREE SHEET MUSIC LISTING!!!

I was thrilled! A whole crate full, although he wanted to keep the crate. So a wonderful person that was willing to hold them for me until I got off work was just awesome today. A deep thank you goes out to Ray and his wonderful wife Mary. Thank you for cleaning out your basement!

The Haul! *listning to: Lovetron By: Far East Movement*

 

The wonderful smell of aged paper seems to fill my studio as I went through the wonderful printed pages. I noticed that as I went through the music a ping in my heart to know that I might destroy parts of these to make them into something more... modern. Checking the dates from the 50's. 60's, and 70's. I actually know some of these songs and melodies. Does anyone else have second thoughts on ripping something apart that in every way is already art itself?

Believe it or not I have been doing some button orders throughout all of these past few days. I have just been terribly busy but will post a better update tomorrow since I will have more time to dedicate to all this blogging stuff. :) Night.

Fun with Photos...

Okay so maybe not pictures themselves but making a great place to take them. I have been looking for a Light Box alternative and watching YouTube vids about how to make your own an so on. I even took a trip to Lowe's last night to price pipe. And while the whole thing would have cost less than $20 I realized that I had these shelves locked in my storage shed and with a little creative thinking would be a great fix.

 So what I did... well what I got my wonderful husband to do is cut the middle part out of one of the shelves with a skill saw. Goddess I love power tools! Above left is how a shelf looks originally. Then the top right is the after math of the plastic massacrer! Under that is the pieces put together. I found a hardly used window curtain sheer to use as my diffuser. I'm still debating on cutting it into more manageable pieces or just break down and go and get some muslin. I already had a drafting light that I broke out of the closet and dusted it off. I'm okay with it not being a natural light bulb, which is recommended for use to bring out the absolute 'best' in your photos.

 

 My makeshift box is also next to a window for more natural lit days. No obstructions, condos, or palm trees to disturb the amazing sunshine.. I played around a little with my camera to try to figure out some settings and came to one conclusion. I will just have to read the manual. :)

So hopefully at some point I will be able to read my manual to get this set. Since I live in a tourist city we are in the midst of Spring Break and I am also working 7 straight days starting tomorrow. Whew, wish me luck.

Blogging Blogs of Bloggers...

I just like the way that title sounds. (: I have been submerging myself in craft blogs and I figure I would let everyone (even if no one is watching me yet) know which one I have been frequenting the past few days. Bugs and Fishes is an über masterpiece of blogging starting from the very beginning in 2007 to now. Blogging Goddess Laura "Lupin" Howard has a ton of information neatly organized and readily available in her world of felt. Inspiration doesn't just lurk around corners on her site, it smacks you right in the face! A true guru of handmade goodness, definitely a wonderful investment of time and a wonderful read.

Speaking of reading. I have immersed myself in a button business mindset and wanting to do everything in some form of order have picked up Handmade Marketplace by: Kari Chapin.

I encourage anyone and everyone that is even thinking about turning their hobby or craft into a business to pick this book up. Filled with tons of need to know and must have information no matter what your medium of craft it will help you sort through your business planning, marketing, even blogging! Now I am only half way through the book but this just could not wait, all must know!

Invasion of the 1.5's!

I broke out the 1 and a half inch set today, designed about 5 to 6 buttons, pressed and horribly pictured. :) I really need to build a lighting box. The thing about taking pictures of buttons is that the glare from any light or the reflection of your purple Nikon showing up in the picture. So I probably will look up how to make one and see what it is going to take. But for now here are a few pics of what I got into today. Music theme of the day: Ellie Goulding-Hanging On.

Well this will be new...

I'll admit, I started this blog back in January. I just deleted my 10 or so posts and am starting over to a new beat of the drum. (Currently listening to Def Leppard's Hysteria while I do so, great drummer!). As this is my first real venture into blogging, I will be reserving this blog for craftiness of all sorts and off the wall escapes to the depths of my constantly thinking brain. I swear if my brain waves were yarn we would have one hell of a ball on our hands with no hope to ever recover. A kitty's purrfect fantasy, yarn EVERYWHERE!

The medium? Buttons, buttons, and more buttons, and maybe some power tools added in for flavor.