I am extremely excited! I have been trying very hard not to spend money on anything because the unemployment voices tell me not to.  But I shut out the little voices today and signed up for an online course offered by Nicole’s Classes. Yes, Illustrator 101. I have used Illustrator, but I am pretty sure I am using it incorrectly. It probably takes me twice as long to do something that should only take 2 minutes to complete. I am looking at this as an investment. I also have a Kanvuus Artist tablet that I have yet to learn to use.  In any case, the course starts on August 2nd and lasts for 4 weeks. AND there is homework. Did I stutter?  Yes, homework! What am I getting myself into?  The course will be taught by Alma Loveland (pictured above). The course itself costs $125 and the textbook is $45. Luckily, I stopped to read the course description again, only to find that you can get 7% off the textbook with the promo code “ONLINEBUNDLE“. I will keep everyone posted on my progress when class is in session!

Sushi, one of my favorite food groups!  I don’t think I could surround myself by these fantastic Original Sushi Pillows without being constantly hungry.  You can get an inarizushi or makizushi pillows and even an edamame body pillow.  If you can’t decide you can get the bento box bargain, an assortment of sushi style pillows.

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I don’t know if it’s the architecture background speaking or the need to always draw things to a certain scale, but I love graph paper and I tend to buy journals with grid paper.  After I draw something I get upset because the grid lines are in the way!  I just hate it when that happens.  Anyway, you don’t need to purchase graph paper any longer.  Print your own in different sizes and colors with this nifty graph paper generator site. I think this will be a big hit with all of the  crafters and designers out there.

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For My Darling is a wonderful shop full of upcycled goodies.  I love the felted wool owls stuffed with lamb wool.  I am amazed at how someone can take something old and make it into something new and fashionable like the linen bags and wool cuffs.  Absolutely wonderful!

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When I stumbled upon Twinkle Kids, I seriously thought these were yummy edible cakes.  I was surprised and a little disappointed that they were made of felt.  The great thing about these cakes though is that they are so pretty that you can’t eat them!

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Space Cake

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Jack & Beanstalk Cake

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Ocean Cake

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Spooky House

Handmade Puppet Dreams is a selection of short puppet films by independent artists.  These artists/puppeteers are extremely creative and you just have to watch some of these videos to see what I am talking about.  I’m hooked!

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Tim Lagasse – Sammy & Sofa!

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Laura Heit – Mary Anning and Her Monsters

Being from Hawaii, I am always looking for ways to bring the islands into my home without going overboard.  I don’t want a house that looks like a hotel room with a ton of floral prints.  Just little things like these cool petroglyph concrete pavers by Da Kine Concrete.

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Honu Design

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Native Design

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Native with Paddle Design

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Elsewares offers an awesome assortment of goods created by a network of independent designers across the globe.  I especially love these eco-friendly wallets to hold all that money you are about to spend on their website!

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I heart The Bright Side Project, a website dedicated to daily giveaways.  Each day they feature a brand or product that will add a little sunshine in your life.  I know that this Stop Smile Breathe Life Is Beautiful Postcard brings sunshine to my life.  I have already inquired about posters and am told that it is already in the works.  I can’t wait!  Until then, you can download the pdf postcard here.

We took our son to the Touch-A-Truck event where all proceeds support Family-to-Family in Las Vegas.  The kids were having a great time laying in on the horns and sitting in the backhoe, ambulance, police cars and fire trucks.  My son’s favorite wasn’t even a truck.  It was playing inside the hot air balloon.  I thought I’d share these photos with you.  Happy Monday!

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Easter is almost here and there is still time to get some Easter treats for your favorite friends and family members.  Or if you are selfish like me, you can get those treats for yourself.  Here are a few Easter gift ideas for you.

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Easter Egg Fizzles by Bath By Riley and if you order before April 1st for these Easter Savings.

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Set of 4 Knitted Easter Chickens at Aunt Zarina’s.

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Pink and White Easter Bunny Necklace by Simply Raevyn.

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Easter Doxie and Owls Sweet Card by Persnickety Pelican.

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Sophie and Toffee is a company that strives to provide its customers with supplies inspired by the Japanese craft movement.  They have an array of beads, clays, molds and my favorite, the  miniatures.  All of these tiny food and furniture replicas makes me want to build a doll house.

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Daily Candy is one of my favorite sites and daily newsletters.  It features EVERYTHING hip and trendy from places to visit, where to buy the cutest and yummiest cupcakes and where the best deals are.  Daily Candy has created a new site called Swirl where you can purchase samples from well known AND up and coming designers at great low prices at up to 80% off.  Love it!

The Monjack monsters are the coolest wallet/coin purse/carrying cases.  They are available in mini monster or mega monster sizes.  You can find these funky dudes at Tokyo Made.

I Just love this Robot Onesie by Hardboiled because the story continues from front to back.  You can get this onesie at Eslewares.

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I thought I’d share this with you.  It’s my son’s favorite thing to watch while in the car (after he steals my phone).  It’s called Food Fight and he will replay it over and over.  Yes, and over again.  It’s pretty cool … the first time you see it!

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I have always loved Hello Kitty!  Actually, anything Sanrio makes.  Sign up for Hello Kitty’s Sweet Happy News and get 15 FREE Hello Kitty emoticons.  These emoticons will bring a smile to anyone’s face.  And then maybe you will be motivated to design your own emoticons.

March is National Craft Month.  How will you celebrate this momentous occasion?  You can maybe start by taking advantage of some of the National Craft Month sales and getting yourself a new sewing machine perhaps?  Or crafting supplies in general.  Overstock and HSN have specials this month.  Overstock has free shipping on sewing and cricut machines.  HSN has an array of crafting supplies including sewing machines with free shipping (and payment options), scrapbooking supplies, jewelry making supplies and the list goes on.

You can also enter a few contesets. 

• Spring Cleaning Challenge at Craftplace.  The challenge is to bring life back to something old.  The winner will receive an assortment of crafting products and supplies to keep them crafting all year long!
• Stuck At Prom Contest by Duck brand.  This special 10 year anniversary contest will award 20 scholarship prizes totaling $28,500 to couples who design and create Duck brand Duct Tape fashions for the prom.

If you just want to make something craft, check out Craftster to get ideas for projects that you can make by yourself or with your family.

First of all, let me say that my husband is crazy-obsessed with hunting.  I’m serious.  Day and night all I hear about is his next hunting expedition.  My ears are bleeding.  How much more can I endure?  I thought it was over until I browsed Moose: Art For Living.  I couldn’t believe it.  It was just meant to be.  Oh deer!  I have to say I would much rather have the gorgeous stag reproduction hanging on my wall than the ram head that is being prepared at the taxidermist shop.  Oi!

1.  Stag Head (Gold Glaze) by Valentin Design

2.  Stag Cufflinks by Emma Grace

3.  Stag Brooch by Emma Grace

Can’t get enough of Moose: Art For Living?  Join them at Unwrapped: South Perth 2010 on Saturday March 6, 2010.

I was so excited yesterday to find this package in my mailbox.  I am still excited.  I forgot that I had ordered it in the first place.  I spotted the colorful stamps from Australia and let out a “Woo-Hoo!”  Well, in my head I did (with a happy dance too).

Needless to say I ripped open the package when I got into the house.  Ohhhhhh…ahhhhh…COOL!

What do you think of my new Male/Female watercloset sign?  I am still painting my hallway and need to repaint the bathroom door before I apply these babies.  These are handmade with an acrylic base topped with Japanese paper and sealed with a resin coating.   Mooza will let you choose the Japanese paper from their selection.  They also can make custom words if you choose. 

Pick 3 of your favorite local independent businesses, spend $50 a month, save your local economy.  I think this relates to the indie crafter movement!  I think we should put a little handmade spin on this.  Pick 3 of your favorite indie crafting businesses that also have brick and mortar locations and spend $50 a month.  If you spend more, fantastic!  I think I would need help on who has brick and mortar businesses though.  I’m not sure there are any in Las Vegas.  There used to be a craft store where you could rent out a space to sell your goods.  I don’t think it exists anymore.  I could be wrong.

The 3/50 Project was founded by Cinda Baxter and you can read all about her and the project here.

I want one. I have no idea how to surf and frankly, I don’t care to learn.  Whatever. I still want one because it’s pretty and will look good leaning up against or hung on the wall.

These custom surf boards are by Naoki.  You can read about the artist and gyotaku here.  I wanted to buy an original print when I was last in Hawaii but didn’t know how carry it on the plane.  Shipping would probably cost more than the print so we decided to go without.  One day I will have one.  Oh, yes, one day I will.

Jen at Indie Fixx has started a Pen Pal Project to bring back snail mail.  I have already signed up and encourage everyone else to also.  It’s fun and who doesn’t love to get handwritten letters in the mail?  Nowadays I see only bills and magazines.  I barely know how to write in cursive anymore.  Architecture has brainwashed my fingers into writing in uppercase and creative writing has ceased.  I used to love to write and even liked writing poetry in college.  I have a chap book floating around somewhere and don’t understand how I wrote what I did.  In any case, I think having a pen pal will help with the creative process and a great way to make new friends.

If you were born after the invention of computers and e-mail and texting, you may need to brush up on your writing etiquette.  You may need to read this book Spencerian Penmanship (Theory Book plus five copybooks).

I love these petite stamps at Lish*Lish!  They are so cute.  Of course, they have to be from a Japanese site that I can only read bits and pieces of!  I wish I paid more attention during those 4 years of Japanese language classes in high school.  I may need to enlist the help of my friends for translations to these sites.

I have been talking about converting this site to a blog format so I can post more frequent updates with ease.  I finally finished updating most of the text directory and will be weeding out the sites that are no longer available.  I will also be posting older articles as well as new.  If you have any suggestions, comments or would like some link love to your indie craft/design site, let me know!