Betty Beatrix Handmade

Hot or Not

2009-12-02T01:11:00.000-06:00

There is nothing "not" this week, so I will just cut to the chase:

HOT: my new blog and shop!!!!!
Please check it out and let me know what you think!

bettybeatrix.com

Thanks, Loobylu, for the meme that I look forward to every week. See you at the new place, everyone!
xoxo

A quick break

2009-11-25T17:46:00.000-06:00

Hello, everyone! I hope this message finds you all doing well. I just wanted to let you know that I will be taking a few days break from the blog (I have already!), because we are working on a brand new blog and shop. You will be able to find all of Betty Beatrix in one place! Yay!

I cannot wait to show you all, but I will say, that I hope to have it done and launched by Black Friday or Saturday, since all of you will be terribly busy until then anyway!

Don't worry! Betty will be back soon, sleeker and more efficient! Awww yeah!

Love.

November Dew

2009-11-24T10:34:00.001-06:00

Oh, dear! Sorry that I have disappeared for a few days. I am the ultimate procrastinator, and sometimes it really catches up to me. My mama is in town, and all last week I was getting ready for a market and for her coming in town...and I didn't get it all done. :) Anywho, I took these lovely pictures right outside our door.

How lovely to wake up to delicate, bright dew on the bushes:

Even in the spiderwebs, le sigh:

Hot or Not

2009-11-18T14:03:00.001-06:00

Here it is again! I blink and a week goes by...

HOT:

Law School's first show went amazingly well! I cannot wait to show you the artwork and music. Getting so close!

Getting ready for Fondren Unwrapped. Making some of these little treats:

Mmmmm...mexican food, tonight! Making the beans as we speak! Cielo!

NOT:

I've been pretty busy, so the blog has been slightly neglected. Sorry :(

Hunter was sickly yesterday! Migraine + sinus/congestion = pitiful creature Hunter
but he is doing much better today and went to work.

It's getting cold here! I know that would be on some people's hot list, but not mine!

********

Thanks for reading and see you soon. Thanks as always to the lovely Claire of Loobylu.

Love!

Mmm...I want:

2009-11-16T21:23:00.001-06:00

How gorgeous are these? I have been wanting a pair of kick ass boots that I can wear everyday, and these are it! Except, le sigh, for the price tag...$300. But they are from Frye, so I know they would last forever, and ultimately be a good investment. And you know, I am from Texas, I need a good pair of boots, and I love anything even remotely Americana. Now, to locate three hundred clams....

I have a gorgeous black pair of boots that I bought when I lived in Japan, but they have a heel and are pretty dressy, so I definitely don't want to beat them up by wearing them everyday, and don't want to wear heels everyday either...

Ah, I can dream! Maybe, Santa will get them for me. I hope I made the nice list! Love.

Cupcake Obsession

2009-11-13T10:58:00.000-06:00

I know everyone these days is preoccupied with cupcakes. What's not to love?

How 'bout a cupcake ornament?

I love the way the sprinkles came out!

More more more ornaments to come in time for Fondren Unwrapped, our annual Christmas shopping extravaganza in our lovely little art district here in Jackson.

Oh my goodness, and how could I forget?!? Law School's first show is tonight! Yay yay yay!

I am nervous and excited. Fortunately, by some miracle of God, they asked us to soundcheck last night, so I was able to get some of my jitters out up there. And try to look like I feel comfortable. Ha, I was shaking...hopefully, I won't be so nervous tonight. Although, I will say (don't tell anyone I said it!) I think we sounded pretty good. Really tight, no mistakes. The stage mix was nice. I think we're gonna do well. I think I am going to be okay...

Love.

Hot or Not

2009-11-11T14:15:00.001-06:00

And so the weeks march on! What's hot and what's not around the Stewart household.

HOT:

Mason and I are working away at the big project of the week: my new website! I cannot wait to unveil it! It is going to be awesome, and way more personalized to the way I like things to look.

My first day back to work, after Maker's Market, I cleaned the house. Here are some shots from around the living room. The joy of being uncluttered, even it only lasts a few steps, after which I enter my studio :)

Law School, our band, has its first show Friday in Jackson, which means we are practicing a bunch and getting excited about the much anticipated release of playing live. Yay!

Butternut squash! Yummmm!

The warm weather. I love the warm. I love the hot. This sunshine has been fabulous for sitting in the yard to stitch and bitch with my friends and neighbors.

NOT:

I am always thankful that my "not" list is shorter than my "hot," and that usually my "not" lists are usually just minor discomforts. But here it goes anyway...

Static, yikes!

Uggs. I'm sorry...I just don't like 'em, and for some reason in these parts, Uggs are congruent with financial status. Isn't that weird? I don't know, I don't hate 'em, I am simply bothered by them because of the status symbol thing, and because I think there are prettier ones on the market.

Not being able to go home for the holidays; I miss mi familia, but I will be able to see them in January.

Feeling uninspired about cooking. Anyone have an inspirational (and easy) recipe they would like to share?

*****

Thank you for reading! And a special thanks to Loobylu for the fabulous meme that happens every week. Go check it out. Love.

Yay for SA!

2009-11-10T14:29:00.001-06:00

Oh, I cannot tell you how excited I was when I saw that design*sponge has finally done a city guide for my hometown! Lovely San Antonio, TX!

I love the places that they listed to eat, see, play, and visit. They were all top-notch suggestions, most of them places my family loves to go when we all get together in town, and I even discovered some new finds that I wasn't aware of. I can't wait to visit home and check those places out yet.

Please check it out here

It is totally worth a look if you will be traveling there anytime soon, or even if you live there.

Or, it will definitely give you dozens reasons to plan a visit if you haven't been.

I love my hometown. I love Texas! Can you tell?

Love.

p.s. I have a special surprise in the works. Cannot wait to unveil: a new website! Yay!

Maker's Market

2009-11-09T11:55:00.000-06:00

The location was much better than last time; we were out in front of the historic Lyric Theater in Oxford, Mississippi, enjoying the unusually warm weather (yes, it was 7o something degrees in November), selling crafty goods and making friends. It was such a lovely day, we couldn't have asked for a more pleasant time. We had so much fun with our Oxford friends. They are so talented and sweet!

A close up of the goods:

Here was the view from my side of the table:

I look awkward in this photo, but I didn't feel awkward...not most of the time anyway. Love.

Cloud Pillows

2009-11-08T16:56:00.001-06:00

Sorry, friends, that I have been missing in action lately. I was super busy getting ready for the Maker's Market. I had lulled myself into a slow zone, only working on custom orders, when I realized I had only days left before the market! I then went into overdrive working for hours and hours a day and sleeping less than 5 or 6 a night (which is tragically little for someone like me, who generally tries to at least 7 or 8 hours, due to my intense of love of sleeping in a warm bed).

Anywho, right in time for the market I whipped out some surprisingly soft clouds.

They have quite a range of emotion: a happy white cloud, a melancholy gray cloud, and an enraged dark storm cloud. I was pleased with them. Tomorrow, I shall post more pictures from the market, which Dawn and I thought was quite successful. Love.

Beautiful Books!

2009-11-05T10:44:00.000-06:00

Check out these beauties from Penguin by Coralie Bickford-Smith. They are a cloth-bound series that was recently released, and they are simply gorgeous. I love well-designed book covers and these take the cake!

I mean, really, I want them all! I will have to check with the bookstore Hunter works at to see if they have any in stock. I know what now tops my Christmas list...wink wink, Hunter.

Found via Skinny LaMinx and design*sponge. Check out the interview here.
Really, really! I'm gushing. Love.

Hot or Not

2009-11-03T16:41:00.000-06:00

The weeks keep flying by...another Hot or Not.

Thanks, Loobylu, for this meme that I love.

HOT:

Law School, our band, had our first practice yesterday. And by "our" I mean Hunter, Jimmy, Dave, and myself. Unbelievably fun. Go rhythm section! We are about to release our first EP and I am so excited...hawt!

Maker's Market in Oxford is coming up this Saturday. Did I mention I have lots of work to do...
Dawn and I are busy busy bees. Hot hot.

I got the ingredients to make caramel apples, mmmm, fall!

Cakes everywhere, even more to come.

NOT:

Hunter and I have been kicking so much ass when it comes to getting things done (which is totally hot!) but we have been so productive, I feel like I haven't seen him hardly at all this week. The EP for our band is almost done, but it has taken long hours and many late nights, not to mention every day he has off to get to this point...I am grateful for the work, but boy, do I miss that guy! Almost there...

Bills, yeah, it's the first of the month. Get a paycheck, and there it goes.

A dirty kitchen; Hunter and I don't hardly have time to see each other, I definitely don't have time for dishes! Ugh!

Thanks everyone, for reading the list.
Now, back to the sewing machine. :) Love!

Quick Visit to Pop's

2009-11-01T18:25:00.000-06:00

Pop, my father-in-law, lives on a lovely slice of land in beautiful Mississippi, where he grows an amazing garden! The following pictures are of his fall garden, and I am pretty excited about it.

A gorgeous head of cabbage starting to form:

Check out the colors on this swiss chard! Beauty!

Other amusement at Pop's includes the dogs, all of them, full of personality.
How could anyone say 'no" to this face?

And, I am sorry to be self-indulgent, but this is precious:

That was part of my adventure today, I also chased my brother-in-law's dog through the neighborhood, ate Pop's amazing food, went to the hardware store with Dawn, and did just a bit of crocheting. I will jump back on my work tomorrow and post the progress. Maker's Market is less than a week away. Wooo hooo!

I will see you tomorrow. Love!

Fat-free Cake

2009-10-30T13:49:00.001-05:00

Piece of cake this guy was not! This little chocolate cake gave me a bit of a fit yesterday as I was sewing him all up, but I was pleased with the way he turned out.

His piped icing really finished him out...uh, put the icing on the cake. Hehe.

He is a happy little guy, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of his brothers and sister in other flavors. Yellow cake with chocolate (my favorite combo and what I request every year for my birthday) and strawberry cake (for Dawn and Marina who both are in love with strawberry cake), and in true Southern tradition, red velvet cake. And some blue cake, just for the sake of blue cake.

Outside of cake, I just realized that Halloween is tomorrow...I know. I just never know what the date actually is, so I always forget such things:

"I knew that September 24 was your birthday, I just wasn't aware that today was the 24th!"

Hunter is working at Sneaky Beans coffee shop tonight, and there is a costume contest. I think we might go as Margot and Richie Tennenbaum. Hunter has the beard, he just needs sunglasses and a headband, and Dawn has a fur coat. I just need a red clip and blonde spray, and we will all be good to go.

I got this picture here.

I never plan ahead...I live my life on the edge. Ha. Love.

Custom Kitties

2009-10-29T11:58:00.000-05:00

I received a custom request from a friend for cat ornaments as a stocking stuffer for her husband. I cannot mention her name, just in case her man happens to read craft blogs...hehe.

Anywho, here they are...miniatures of my larger pillow cats.

Detail:

Unique tails:

I love them so much that I will probably make a series of them. Yay! Love.

Hot or Not

2009-10-28T09:58:00.000-05:00

Here it comes again...the list! Can you believe another week has flown by? Find more Hot or Not lists at Loobylu.

Hot:

My two bestest friends, Marina and Dawn...geez, these two are ridiculously awesome. I got to talk on the phone to Marina (who is in Texas), for an hour and a half yesterday. Like old times; like junior high summers when you can't drive yet, so you just chat on the phone for a long time. We're making it a regular. I always laugh the whole time. And Dawn, working hard for the markets we will be selling at this holiday season. She is my constant companion, and I am hers. Yesterday, we screenprinted these amazing bags that have both of our logos on the back. They will be for sale at our tables, and in my etsy shop.

My bro-in-law, nerdiest cool guy ever. He's got mad computer skills, that he is always willing to share with me. Meta cool.

Google analytics. It's cra-zay.

Hunter. He makes coffee in the morning, does the dishes, brings me flowers. Le sigh!

Not:

Getting frustrated with crocheting hats.

Running...outta...time. To do all the things I need to do before major market weeks.

Surfing cool blogs as a way to procrastinate. I love all of your blogs, I just let them distract me from work time sometimes, because they are so good.

Cold feet. Literally. Every winter, I walk on two blocks of ice, that I call my feet during other seasons. They. are. always. cold. Starting in late October through March. Yeah, I've got socks. They don't help much, they are still cold...and probably will be every winter 'til I die...because they have been that way every winter since I have been alive.

Stress. From crocheting, from lack of time, from procrastination, from cold feet. But it come's with the territory, so I am grateful, even for the not list.

And seriously, handmade is so much better...

Getchyou a bag! Love.

Sweet Illustration

2009-10-27T16:53:00.000-05:00

This lovely is from Studio Violet. So sweet.

The rest of their blog is really worth a look, too. Gorgeous.

Found via Bloesem's blogroll, which is a really nice resource for all sorts of blogs.

Now, I am off to start printing market bags for some of the upcoming markets.

They say, "i buy handmade, because it's better"

which is true, and I am excited about it.

Pics of the bags will be up tomorrow. Love!

Gorgeous Journal!

2009-10-26T17:06:00.000-05:00

Everybody, get jealous! I found this at Geninne's art blog. She illustrates her journal for each week, and it is absolutely beautiful. Makes me sad about my scrawled to-do lists. I aspire to put the time into my journal each month like this, so that it will be not only useful, but inspirational and lovely.

Check out more on her flikr. It is really worth a look.

Le sigh! Love.

Crochet the Day

2009-10-25T18:42:00.001-05:00

I have been working on a more seasonal item: hats! I love them...retro-inspired and awesome.

And all the pretty yarn that I get to work with...mmmhmmm.

Oh, and my best friend, Dawn, finally launched her blog! Yay!
Click here to see it.

Well, I am officially all set up as a business owner. State and federal tax IDs, business checking accounts, accounting software, the whole thing. Whew! It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, but I am glad to be through with it. Now, on to the markets I will be in. I can't seem to keep things on the table, which is a good problem to have, but kind of overwhelming, as I feel like I never have enough stuff to show. I'll get it down one of these days. Oh, and I could always, always use more funding. Ugh, who couldn't? But making do with what I have...and I am grateful to be doing what I love. Officially, now. :)

Ahhh, see you tomorrow! Love.

Hatty Hat Hat

2009-10-23T20:13:00.001-05:00

As promised, here is le hat...

Crochet with a wool/acrylic blend. I really dig it.
So does Hunter!

I have already gotten lots of orders with special color requests. I'll put more pics of them up here soon. If you would like one just email me!
Love.

Before/After: My Studio

2009-10-21T15:51:00.000-05:00

And, when I say studio, I mean the dining room that I took over and don't let anyone eat in. Hehe.

I am a little embarrassed to show the "before" pictures, as they show what a tremendous mess I can make, but they make the "after" seem impressive. You must understand, Mama, that I was really busy from last week's market, and got a little carried away...

BEFORE:

And the closet...

AFTER:

It feels pretty good, but this feeling is short-lived
(about 15 minutes) since I am about to go start sewing again!
Love.

Hot or Not

2009-10-20T21:04:00.000-05:00

Sexy embroidery, anyone?

This was stitched by lagidgette.
I found it via feeling stitchy, one of my favorite embroidery blogs.

And here is the Hot or Not list for the week:

HOT:

This embroidery piece, chello!

Finishing a sweet hat for Hunter (pics coming tomorrow). He is so hot in it.

Oh, $2 Night at the Mississippi State Fair, big enough to have scary rides and crazies running around, small enough to have short lines, and walk around enjoyably.

My friends, all of whom are so very talented and awesome and sweet. You guys rule so hard!

Sunshine, finally.

NOT:

My mom's best friend from work passed away Monday. Her name was Connie...she will always be remembered for the sweet and exuberant person she was. She would have thought the embroidery above was pretty stinking hot. Tonight, Hunter and I will go to sleep under the comforter she gave us for our wedding. We miss and love you, Ms. Connie!

The Hot or Not list comes every Wednesday, thanks to a reminder and prompting from this lovely blog.

Sunday Morning Surprise

2009-10-19T09:10:00.000-05:00

We woke up yesterday to this lovely "wintry" wonderland:

Maybe, Katie wasn't very happy...

But I was...

Hunter wants this to be his new album cover. Yeah, no.

We thought it was pretty fun,

but if the culprit is reading this, let's not do this every week.

Love.

Oxford Market!

2009-10-18T09:35:00.000-05:00

A special thanks to everyone who came to the Maker's Market, and an extra special thanks to all the sellers and organizers who made Dawn and me feel so very welcome!

Here is my table, all set up.

Did I mention that Dawn is super supportive/awesome/helpful? Because she is...

Kitties in a cake plate:

Dawn's super cool vintage suitcases held all the pretty bunnies:

I was very glad to get my tags in the mail right in time for the market; they brought the whole thing together.

The market location was moved, so no one did as well as we hoped, but it was so enjoyable, and the location will be improved for the Nov. 7 date, so I will definitely be returning. Dawn will have her own table this time!

Also, Erin, from Amelia, bought up all my goods wholesale for her store, so be in on the lookout for a new line starting this week again. I have project ADD, but having my own little business means I can do that if I want too, so a new line it is!

But with that also comes the fact that I CANNOT believe that I forgot to take pictures of her store...ahhhhh, it was amazing. Just believe me until November 7, when I will be in Oxford again to take pics of it.

Stay tuned for what we found in the yard this morning...

Love.

A few updates:

2009-10-16T11:06:00.000-05:00

Wow!! Special thanks to sealion design for featuring me in her blog last night. A very kind write-up and a beautiful blog. Visit her here.

Also, getting really pumped about Saturday, which I realize is tomorrow, AHHHH!
I am going to lovely Oxford for the Maker's Market. It will be my first market, so I think it will help me to get a good feel for how people react to each product and price. It seems to be run by a bunch of sweet people... I really can't wait!

I'll be selling all of the work that you have seen on the blog plus a few aprons and coaster sets that I haven't quite gotten on here yet. See you tomorrow! Love.

Lemur Time

2009-10-15T18:38:00.000-05:00

Made this guy...

Turns out, he has disco fever.

He sits, patiently, with Uncle May May,
awaiting the creation of his siblings in blue and pink.

More to come. Can't touch this!
Love.

Wednesday Hot or Not List

2009-10-14T22:13:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I kinda accidentally lied about my next post being about lemurs, only because I forgot that today was the day for the Hot or Not List linked from Loobylu that I found (via Meet Me at Mike's). So here we go...

Hot:

ZOMG, Eco-felt is so hot right now.

Really good (hot) dinner. Pan-fried garbanzo salad. Check the recipe here from 101 cookbooks. I served it hot mixed with quinoa. I live off of this website. Because it is hot.

Finally launching my Etsy shop, totally hawt.

Uhhhh, my husband (refer to the picture below). So hot. Hotty hot hot.

My friend, Erin, who owns this adorable shop, just got engaged. Because she is hot, and Sean liked it, so he put a ring on it. Congrats, y'all!

Being friends with this guy:

Not Hot:

Student loans, gross. That is money I should be using on fabric, ugh!

Jimmy is sick, that's not hot, but ladies, when he is not sick, he's totally hot as pictured above.

Headaches...not hot.

Chores are sooo not hot. They haunt my existence, except that I am still hawt when actually doing chores, according to my hot husband. Jes' sayin'.

This is hilarious. Thanks, Martin.

And that's the hot or not list...Thanks, Loobylu for this cute idea.

Mmmm...fall

2009-10-14T09:49:00.000-05:00

It has been raining non-stop in Jackson this last week, so Hunter and I have had plenty of time to work on things, and drink hot tea...and it's starting to feel like fall. Not that I have much credibility pertaining to seasons: I'm from South Texas...what do I know about any season but summer?

Anywho, I made this pretty yellow flower to brighten up our grey weeks. Made from some felt I had leftover from almost a year ago when I made mini-stockings for our mini-place we were living in. I knew I would need it again....Ha!

I actually secured it to the stick in aesthetically pleasing fashion, whoop!

This guy will brighten any grey day...isn't my husband so cute? He's working on his winter beard...I believe it has already arrived.

Next post: Lemurs! See you then. Love.

Candy Corn

2009-10-12T10:40:00.000-05:00

One of these guys had fun trick or treating...one didn't.
Can you guess who is who?

Does anyone (besides Dawn) actually like to eat candy corn?
Love.

Doing penants

2009-10-10T21:40:00.000-05:00

I made this fabric banner to hang on the front of my table when I do markets and such.

I machine-appliqued each letter and used fabric from my stash to join it all together.

Today, I also joined the big list of sewing blogs! I'll find out in two weeks or so if I am indeed approved to join the list.

I finished a Halloween prototype that will be on my post for tomorrow. See you then! Love.

Mrrrour, Hiss!

2009-10-04T19:11:00.000-05:00

Here is a sneak peak of the kitty line that will be in ye olde Etsy shop. This is a limited edition line of 7, because it is made from reclaimed fabric from a dress I never wore. They are flannel-y and soft...

Each has a unique face, belly, and tail. Each is also completely neurotic.

I was sure to add appropriate whisker detail.

Also, look what came in the mail for me yesterday! Eco-felt! All of this felt is made completely from recycled plastic bottles and is lead- and chlorine-free, so I found it perfect for my next line of lovelies. Check back soon to see what these pretty colored squares will turn into...

Reproducing like Rabbits...

2009-10-04T18:59:00.000-05:00

Here is a sneak peak into what will be going into my Etsy shop...

BUNNYHOP series....Hand-printed rabbits that were printed using blocks I carved and silk screen paint. I love the whole herd of them. And their numbers are growing, like real bunnies.

Backed in Denyse Schmidt fabric. (I love your fabric, girrrrrl!).

Also, special editions of BUNNYHOP include these hand-embroidered beauties:

Here is Cantankerous Granny Bunny complete with pink rollers, bifocals, and an extra long cig:

Bunny Lugosi as Bram Stoker's Dracula. Not those Twilight dweebs.

Japanese Bunny in her summer yukata serving a tray of delicious sushi and Nigiri rice. With wasabi and ginger, of course:

Oui! French Painter Francois:

Mermaid bunny with strategic shells and lovely hair:

Stay tuned for the official launch of my shop, happening very soon! Another sneak peak coming soon, too! Love.

A pillow for a princess

2009-09-03T12:43:00.000-05:00

When we first got our pup, who this blog is named after, I decided she needed something that she could call her very own; so, I decided on a pretty pillow/doggie bed. It mostly stays in the sleeping quarters, right by our beds, but sometimes, on a late night, when we are sitting in the yard with all of our friends, drinking whiskey and reminiscing or cursing our day jobs, we bring her pillow out so she can comfortably be near her pack.

The pillow is made from the lovely home dec collection from Amy Butler and (a lot of!) poly-fil. I covered the buttons on it to match, of course.

It is safe to say, that Betty loves it.

It is also safe to say she is a bit spoiled.

Pop's Tomatoes, and other Mississippi joys

2009-08-24T10:59:00.000-05:00

Hello, lovelies, and welcome to the fabulous little corner of the world that I call home: Jackson, Mississippi. Despite popular belief, Mississippi is a joyous place to live, especially if you love gardening, or in my case, eating from a garden.

I am very fortunate to have a father-in-law who loves gardening so much so that he cannot possibly consume all that he grows, leaving us with lots of tomatoes to figure out what to do with every summer (Thanks, Pop!). Last week, I made this gorgeous spaghetti sauce with just a little butter, garlic, onion and his vibrant tomatoes.

While eating spaghetti, we watched the sky turn a goldish pink, as the most calm summer rain fell, guaranteeing some fall tomatoes, if I had to guess! I love this place! More to come on the joys of living in beautiful MS...