my imaginary boyfriend loves me!

Cursed Crafts

2009-11-12T02:33:00.003-05:00

Hello dear ones!

I come to you tonight with a great feeling of relief because I have FINALLY finished the quilt that has given me nothing but problems for the past 4 months. It started out easy enough, a quilt to comfort a far away friend dealing with tragedy. I figured it could be the warm hug that I was unable to give so many miles away. I talked to other mutual friends and they wanted to help, making donations to it's creation. Great! We were going to get together to send our old friend all of our love. Let's get to sewing!

And I did. I went and got so many beautiful fabrics, designed a pattern, and started to sew. It started out so well too. Sure, there were some small problems mismeasurements, running out of fabrics, basic stuff, easy to fix. I finished the quilt front in about 2 weeks.

After I finished the front I moved onto the back. I'd decided to do a patchwork for the back too so after measuring the final size of my quilt front I began cutting and blocking. That's when the first problem happened, apparently my measuring tape was off. A little bit each inch which added up to about 8" across my quilt when all was said and done. I found this out when I was laying the back, batting, and front out to pin them all together for quilting. I had to take them all apart and add to the backing fabric. Since it was about midnight when I found this all out, I folded the pieces and put them on the side table and went to bed.

The next morning I awoke to the quilt bottom on the floor, the top outside, and the batting all in pieces. My chew happy dog had taken them off the table and decided to make them her own. Luckily she did no damage to the sewn pieces, or so I thought. I collected my work from her bed, scolded her and got back to work adding to the back. This is now a month into the project.

Okay, back fixed, batting replaced, time to pin all the pieces together for quilting! That's when I found out that my beloved dog, Grace, did do damage to the quilt leaving a hole right in the middle of the top piece. Argh! Still, I finished pinning everything together and went to quilt it but the machine quilting I had planned just looked awful. So I decided to hand tie it. Thanks to an up tic in work, this all got put aside for another month.

I started tying my quilt and it seemed like this was the way to go. I could only do a few rows at a time, though, since, by this time, I was deep into working on the Zombie X-Stitch book (in stores Spring 2010!) so it took another month. I finished tying it last week and bound the edges this past weekend with little problems (and lots of Doctor Who). Once that was all done I covered the hole Grace made with a butterfly applique and added a few more to make it all look more deliberate and less like I was covering a hole made by my dog. This afternoon I finished the last applique and was finally finished. Yea!

Here are some pics!

The front of the quilt (that center butterfly is hiding that pesky hole).

A close up of one of the butterflies. I'm actually really happy with how they turned out and think they make a beautiful addition to the finished quilt.

The back of the quilt. I'm quite fond of how this patchwork turned out.

Then I decided to wash it. I guess I'm glad I did since pretty much all of the ties came loose and I'd rather that happen to me than to my friend, but man was it crushing when I took it out of the machine. This evening I fixed all the ties and I think they will hold. To quote my mom, "dear, once you finish that I suggest you box it up and pack it away before anything else can happen to it." And that's exactly what I did.

I'm so happy it's done. Had I not been making this for such a good reason, I'd have scrapped it long ago but I'm glad I didn't. I'm really happy with how it looks and I hope it comforts my friend and lets her know she's loved.

Okay, back to boyfriend work! Talk to you soon.

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Have you tried to email me this year?

2009-11-11T13:13:00.003-05:00

If you've tried to email me at theboyfriend [at] myimaginaryboyfriend.com this past year and I didn't get back to you, I'm sorry. I thought I was having it forwarded to my regular email account but apparently I screwed up the forwarding somehow. Because of this, lots of emails have gone unanswered.

I wasn't ignoring you, I swear. I love you all!

I'm fixing it right now (I hope!) so you can soon email away!

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Sorry I've been gone!

2009-10-26T01:12:00.007-04:00

Hello Lovlies! (if anyone's still reading this after all the neglect I've been showing it of late)

Hope you are all well. As I said last time big things have been going on in my neck of the woods. And now I can tell you about a few of them. First off, and the biggest of my big things, I've been working on a craft kit!
I did all the writing and the amazing cross stitch artist Kristina Kizzee designed all the patterns and stitched all the samples. It's super fun and funny (if I do say so myself) and I can't wait for it to come out in the Spring. I'll let you know more about the release date and where you can find it as soon as I know all the details. But until then, dig that awesome cover!

In addition to the book (yea!) I've been getting ready for the holidays. I'm happy to tell you about the craft fairs I'm doing for the season. The first is Crafty Wonderland in Portland, OR on December 13th. It's my first time in Portland and I can't wait. Apparently, according to my friend Sarah, it's full of some of my favorite things - bikes, boys, and beer (better than those sodding girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes anyday!). I also get to spend time with the lovely Susan Beal and sell my wares to a new and lovely crowd. If you're in the area, come by and say "hi!" I'd love to meet you.

Not in the Pacific Northwest? Perhaps you'll be in San Francisco the following weekend of December 19th and 20th. If you are in "the City" that weekend, you should come by and visit me at the first Renegade Holiday Craft Fair San Francisco. Unable to make either show, no worries! You can visit the Etsy shop! I've already added a bunch of Christmas items to the store and more will be added for your holiday shopping pleasure very soon.

The logs are also doing quite well and can be found in kit form at www.modcloth.com and The Curiosity Shoppe (though currently only in their brick and mortar store in San Francisco) and in pillow form at www.chopshop.com. You can also still buy them from me personally in my Etsy shop. Everyone loves a log after all!

In non-Boyfriend news, I've been making a quilt for a friend in need. A quilt that keeps hitting massive roadblocks along the way including having part of it eaten by my dog! I started in July and I'm still working away. I hope to be done really soon so that I can send it and all my love to her from so far away.

Then there's my Halloween costume. Here's a taste:

and
I'm gonna be a zombie cat lady. Thanks to the book (yea!) I think I've got zombies (and zombie cats) on the brain!

Okay, back to work. Must sew and work on a few more things I can't quite talk about just yet. Love to all who are still around, thanks for sticking by me!

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Big Things!!!!

2009-09-14T13:58:00.002-04:00

Sorry I've been gone, but I have huge things going on that have kept me away from you lately. I can't say much right now but here's a hint. . . I have my first deadline today!

I also have some projects to share with you very soon.

Just wanted to let you know that, though I've been away, you are still in my heart!

Talk soon!!!

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Quick break from the Renegade prep!

2009-06-27T16:29:00.003-04:00

So I'm here in MIBFHQ busily preparing for the upcoming Renegade San Francisco but it's always nice to take a crafty break from the insanity.

My break came in the form of wedding invites for my lovely friend Jen. She's doing a big time DIY wedding and and I offered to break out the Gocco and get to printing. I'm super happy with how they turned out! So happy I thought I'd share!

Well, guess it's back to Boyfriend work. Talk laters!

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Thanks for coming out to Maker Faire

2009-06-08T14:16:00.005-04:00

Hi old friends and new friends!
A big thank you to all who visited during Maker Faire. It was such a good time! For those of you who couldn't make it, check out my super cool new show set up for this season:

I'm so very happy with it!

I was also lucky enough to be interviewed for the latest installment of the wonderful Threadbanger. Yea! What great folk, LOVE THEM! I want them to be my new best friends!

I also got to meet the wonderful Kevin Kidney (though I didn't realize it at the time!) who's blog is full of so much vintage Disney and Tiki wonderfulness. He came by my booth and I was all "man, that looks like Kevin Kidney. . . I love his work!" but didn't have the nerve to say anything lest I be wrong. So this is me making up for being a scaredy-cat blog fangirl.

Anyway, thanks again to all who popped by!

If you couldn't make it, new items will be up in the Etsy shop super soon. I'm taking cute pics of things today and tomorrow and as soon as that's done they will be in the shop. Yea!

Love you all!

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Maker Faire this coming weekend!

2009-05-26T01:13:00.003-04:00

Hi!
Just wanted to let you know that Maker Faire is this weekend and I will be there flogging my wares in the Bazaar Bizarre exhibition. It should be great fun! There's sooooo very much to do, the craft fair is just a small slice of the awesome pie. Hope to see you there. There will be pictures of the splendors throughout the weekend.

Love you lots!

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Hello Friends!

2009-05-18T04:12:00.002-04:00

Been a while, I know. . . I have had such a hart time balancing my work with the boyfriend, the odd freelance job, and my work with CraftStylish that I let things slip a bit. . . well, more than a bit really. . . but I'm here to say that that's going to change soon. I'll have sooooo much time coming up because I won't be writing for CraftStylish after this month.

That site will be changing soon from a blog with a handful of highly skilled contributors into a site with user-generated content. I wish them all the luck in the world. I owe them a lot, because of my work with CS I've met and worked with so many amazing people and have so many new and wonderful friends. Besides, CS's loss is my blog's gain!

Now that I'm not stretched so thin, I'll have more to say here (good news for all, I'm sure!). And I'd like to continue posting projects like those I've done for CS. Maybe not weekly like I've been doing for them, but at least once a month, just to keep those gears ticking.

In the meantime, check out my new tote bag design!

Pretty sweet! No? I figure so many people love the logs, I might as well embrace my Log Lady status. The bags and other super cool new items will make their debut at this year's Maker Faire and will appear in the boyfriend's Etsy shop soon after. Woo hoo!

Also, if you haven't yet, why not check out my work for CraftStylish? I'm awfully proud of it.

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Quick note!

2009-04-08T12:27:00.001-04:00

Hi all!
Can't talk long, so much to do. . . but I wanted to let you all know that things are getting better. Thanks so much for all the love. I'll be posting a real post (with pictures!) soon.

Hearts and puppies,
erika

March 19th Embroidery Class Canceled

2009-03-14T18:48:00.004-04:00

I had to cancel my upcoming class due to personal issues and the need for a sudden move out of my super adorable little house. I'm so sad. Life is in all sorts of upheaval and what I thought were lifelong bonds have been tested and broken. I must admit, I'm all at sea and have no clue what to do next. I just have to get this all worked out and keep on working.

Sometimes, sadly, life gets in the way of craft and unfortunately this class was a casualty. Luckily there will be more classes in the future so if you were planing on taking this class I will be able to make it up to you very soon.

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Embroidery Class Postponed

2009-03-09T01:31:00.002-04:00

Hi!

My March 4th class has been postponed until the 19th. You can register by calling ReForm School.

Yea!

hearts and puppies,
erika

Embroidery Classes @ ReFormSchool: Home Ec.

2009-02-25T20:56:00.006-05:00

Do you live in LA? Want me to teach you to embroider? Well, you're in luck! My Embroidery 101 class at ReForm School: Home Ec. has just had an extra session added. There are still spaces left in the March 4th class if you're interested. Call ReForm School for more information.

Interested? Here's what you'll get:
This stitch sampler:

and the fabric to make your own during the class as you learn the above stitched (and more!).
AND. . .
This Sampler:
(or a pack of Sublime Stitching patterns) upon which to practice your newly learned stitches.

All for $60! What a deal!!!

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Wednesday's CraftStylish: Make a hip, cute sofa cover for your pet

2009-02-24T22:23:00.002-05:00

So this month was pet month over at CraftStylish. Here's what I've made for tomorrow's post:

The reverse side is orange polar fleece and the whole thing is quilted along the scallops in the fabric's pattern.

The how-to for this project will be on CraftStylish at 12pm EST.

Hearts and puppies,
erika

I'm not dead! I swear!

2009-02-24T21:53:00.001-05:00

I know, I've been away for ages. I'm so sorry.

Why, you may ask, have I been gone? Well, I suppose it's two fold. . . One: non-Boyfriend things have sort of taken over in these parts and Two: I feel I've sort of let everyone down with promises of big things to come and then they didn't. I know that's silly, but it was like I failed myself and in a way failed you, so I went into a bit of hiding.

Anyway. . . Here I am!

I'm still feeling kind of stuck Boyfriend-wise, unsure where to go beyond logs and log related merchandise. The big plan that fell through. . . well, I was going to start a robot-a-day project in the new year but the new year came fast (as new years often do) and life problems put craft plans on hold. I still want to do it but I'm still unsure of when I'll be able to start.

So, yeah, these past few months have been uncertain here at MIBF HQ, much as they've been the whole world wide, but since I try to keep this craft and Boyfriend centered I just kept my bitching to myself and Facebook.

But I promise I'm back.

I want to start a few regular features. The first will be my thrift/antique finds. I'm going to make you all sooooo jealous that I live here in cosmopolitan Bakersfield! I'll also link to my regular CraftStylish posts and keep you up to date as I try to further my screen printing skills in the very near future. What I won't do is hide in my shell again when things get tough. I'll share my work with you both the great work and the not so great. What I make, you will see.

I'm back. . . I'm back for good.

Hearts and Puppies,
erika

Merry Merry!

2008-12-26T00:32:00.002-05:00

Hi!
Thanks for all your support this year.

Now that the holidays are at an end I'll be able to blog for you more often and boy oh boy to I have a lot to say and share!

Love you all!

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Bazaar Bizarre this weekend!

2008-11-26T13:23:00.002-05:00

Hi all! Hope your gearing up for Turkey is going well, we here at MIBFHQ have been busting our bottoms dealing with all the orders we got thanks to the LA Times article and trying to get ready for this weekend's Bazaar Bizarre. Look at all these boxes!

And this is the 2nd stack like this!

Okay, I have to go play catch-up now for BazBiz so I'd better get sewing! If you're in the Bay Area, I hope to see you there!

Hearts and puppies!
erika

Felt Club was Felt-tastic!

2008-11-22T16:19:00.003-05:00

Hey all! Just wanted to share the felt club fun with you all! I did a whole post about some of the other vendors I loved over at CraftStylish but didn't really get to talk much about my day. A day that almost wasn't!

I woke up Saturday to find out about the fires down in Southern California, one of which had closed, I-5, my way to the show. I spent that day frantically getting ready and checking the internet, thankfully things opened up around 10pm (but I did plan an alternative route that took me around the fires but that would have taken me twice as long to reach my destination, just in case!).

Then I started packing the car. . . Tom and I had spent days working on a new display that looked like a tabletop felt fireplace! I drew out the plan and measured my car before we started making it, but as I was loading the car I learned something. . . I'd measured the inside of my two door car but forgot to measure the door opening! The only way I could get it in was with both of the front seats folded down (very hard for driving). I tried and tried but couldn't get it to work. Freaking out, I called my dad for his truck but, no luck, he was out of town. Then it hit me! Bungie cords! I called my mom, she came to my rescue (a perk of now living close to home), and the display was bungied into place. Success!

I woke up early (just in case I had to take the alt route) but Sunday was the day that things were gonna go my way! I got to the show fine. . . met with Sarah. . . set up shop. . .

And was ready to get selling!

The show went really great. I met a ton of lovely people and was lucky enough to be interviewed and photographed by the LA Times!
(Wish I didn't look so lumpy and tired but then again, I am a bit lumpy these days and I was very, very tired. I just wish I was photogenic. . . oh, well. . .)

I also had great sales, a big surprise with things the way they are. . . all in all, I had a very happy day!

Oh! I also got to meet DJ Lance Rock from Yo Gabba Gabba! I love this show so much more than a person without children should, but it just makes me so happy when I watch it. Everything is so possible in the show which is a comfort for me these days. . . anyway. . . Yea DJ Lance!

And he bought the robot!

So yeah, overall, I'd say it was a very good day and a very good show!

Okay, better run, gotta get back to work for Bazaar Bizarre on the 30th!

Hearts and puppies!
erika

Felt Club. . . This weekend

2008-11-14T10:49:00.002-05:00

Frantically getting ready for my first holiday show but wanted to let you know that it's THIS SUNDAY! Yikes!

So, if you're in LA you should really stop by. What to expect? Lots of coolness from all around. . . from me? Well here's a hint. . .

LOGS VS. ROBOTS!

It's like the Sharks and the Jets for the 21st century! But in a fight like this there are no losers, only winners. Adorable, cuddly winners.

Better run. . . I've got a "to do" list longer than my arm and only 2 days to do it all. Oh my!

Hearts and Puppies,
erika

Contact info

2008-11-06T22:16:00.002-05:00

Just realized that the website has my email as info [!a] myimaginaryboyfriend.com but it should be erika [!a] myimaginaryboyfriend.com .

The info address keeps getting super spammed so I don't check it as often as I should. The erika address will always reach me.

It will be fixed on the main site shortly.

Hearts and puppies!
erika

It's official. . . Gooco's toast. . .

2008-11-01T18:59:00.004-04:00

Those in the Gocco know have known this since the summer but I'm a bit of a shut-in and somehow missed the oh so saddening news. Gocco's no more. . . For reals this time.

BOO!

Back in '05 I started collecting bulbs and screens when I heard Riso might not make them anymore. I cleaned up when Dick Blick was clearing out their supplies. I thought that that was that, but then I started to hear rumblings that supplies were still being made. I didn't believe them at first, but my friend Sarah assured me that, as far as she knew, I was wrong, everything was being made again! Yippy!

Buoyed by the possibility of future Goccoing, I started using bulbs and screens with abandon. Heck! I used 8 bulbs yesterday! Turns out I had one bumb bulb in the box and it took 4 attempts, and 2 screens to figure out the problem (I'm slow sometimes). And then today, while researching for a Craft Stylish post, I found out the painful truth. Riso, makers of Gocco, let retailers know this past July that they would no longer be making any supplies and that the end of this year is the end of Gocco. SADNESS! Stockpiles of supplies and machines are still out there but the prices have gone sky high. I just spent $45 for 2 boxes of bulbs. Last time I bought bulbs they were $12/box. Now, there are other places that have them for $14 but they require you to buy screens at the same time since bulbs are the real shortage item. I have screens! I need bulbs!

Even savegocco.com is gone. Guess they finally gave up. . .

Sigh. . . love you Gocco, you will be missed.

Good-bye Print Gocco. . . your flash bulbs burned out long before your legend ever did.

Hearts and Puppies,
erika

Interviewed!

2008-10-31T15:08:00.002-04:00

Hi all!
Still super busy but wanted to let you know that I was recently interviewed over at Debbie Gootter's blog Etsy Featured Artists. It was great fun to answer all her questions and I feel really honored to be included with the other awesome artists she's profiled since starting her amazing blog. Thanks Debbie for thinking of me and indulging me in my meandering style of question answering. You're the best!

Check it out, y'all! Not just for my AMAZING interview but for all the other artists too. Plus there's pictures! Who doesn't love pictures?

Happy Halloween Hearts and Puppies!
erika

Will I ever have a day where everything goes my way?

2008-10-29T19:39:00.004-04:00

Heads up. . . I'm feeling a bit self-indulgent and mopey. . . you've been warned.

So, really can't talk for long. I'm so royally behind in all I need to get done that it's scary. All my friends are saying, "sure, we've heard that before" but I swear, this is sooooo much worse. I have a show in less than 3 weeks and I'm not even close to ready and what's worse is that, other than to worry, I can't even seem to motivate myself to care. I have no new ideas. No worthwhile creative thoughts. I'm at a complete loss. And now I'm stuck, deer in the headlights style, with a deadline and little product. I'll admit it. . . I'm scared. Scared of the more and more likely failure that will be my show season and scared of what's to come. I have no marketable skills. . . this crafting thing really is it (apart from the even less lucrative music and acting) and I'm just feeling spent. Maybe it will pass. . . I hope it will pass. . . it has to, at least until the end of the year. After that, who knows?

I'm all at sea. . .

Well, I'd better back to work. Wish me luck at actually accomplishing anything.

Hearts and puppies,
erika

Doggies!

2008-10-19T11:37:00.002-04:00

We have houseguests! Two adorable dogs from a local no-kill shelter, Pet Matchmaker, have made themselves at home in my new place. We agreed to foster them so that they can get used to living in a home and being around people and I think it's working. . . big time!

Here they are, Sam and Grace aren't they cute?

This one is Sam:

And this is Grace:

She's a little camera shy. . . this is the best shot of her, usually she's running away.

Well, back to the grind! I'm a little behind for holiday season and it's FAST approaching!!!

Hearts and puppies,
erika

The one in which Erika does something right. . . finally!

2008-10-14T01:20:00.002-04:00

I burned my first successful, unassisted, screenprinting screen today! Woo hoo! Aw yeah!

Check it out:

"Robot Parade! Robot Parade!"

I'm so happy this worked. I really really needed a win today.

Hearts and puppies,
erika

The logs have taken over my life!

2008-10-02T15:49:00.003-04:00

Sorry it's been forever since I've posted a proper post to this blog. With the move and the new job over at Craft Stylish I'm afraid that I've let the boyfriend blog slip to the back of my mind. Well. . . NO MORE! Here I am! And I'm ready to post my brains out!

Things have been crazy busy here. As you can see by the title, the logs have taken over. . .

All I do these days is make logs. And I'm kinda growing to hate them a bit. I know. . . I know. . . they're cute, and as an objective outside observer I love them to bits and pieces but I'm just so sick and tired of making them! I feel like a rockstar who's not allowed to play any song other than her hit. I am Skynard. . . the logs are my Freebird.

I know I should just shut the hell up. The logs are making me money, paying my bills. If you look at the sold items in my Etsy shop you'll see it's almost all logs all the time! And that doesn't even include all the shop orders and inquiries. It's great to have such a popular item and, if I was having them made and not making them all myself, I'd be dancing round town. But I can't figure out how to mass produce them and keep the quality up. And even if I could I can't AFFORD to have them made! I've tried to figure out if I could replace the hand stitching with machine work, but I'm afraid they'll end up looking just kinda blah and boring. What do you think? Does the hand stitching make the log pillow?

Ultimately the most soul crushing aspect of my current situation is that I've not had the chance to actually design anything new in ages. I've turned into a one woman factory instead of an artist. I got into this gig to design and create not to make more logs than the fellas on Axe Men.

AND whenever I DO design something new it goes right on over to CraftStylish. . . and STILL some of those ideas are log inspired. . .

I've got logs on the brain!!!

I'm just so scared that this is all I have. . . that I'm becoming a one trick pony. . . that I'm becoming (have already become?) the Log Lady. . . sigh. . .

Well, I'd better go. . . I have more logs to sew. . .
On the plus side, my Mom has started to help with the sewing which will, hopefully help a lot!

Log Hearts and Log Puppies,
Log erika