I'm still here!

Sorry there haven't been any updates or posts recently.

I have been working on things...just not making time to blog.  :-/

So let me show you what I've been doing.


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First, I've been getting slightly flustered with the new HP characters I'm making.  I have this big vision in my brain of how they should all look and when I put it all together it doesn't match my expectation.

Granted...these are only the first time I've made them, so of course I shouldn't expect perfection the first try.

Nevertheless here are the recent 2 I'm working on....


Hagrid.  I like him (once I added more to his lower half, but he still doesn't scream Hagrid)

 

*feel free to give any feedback*

And Dumbledore, minus the glasses (which I'm working on) and the darker blue becoming a full vest.  I'm also playing with the thought of him having a brown hat. 

 

*feel free to give any feedback*

I'm also working on business cards.  I'm wanting something simple but cute and everything matching (etsy banner, blog header, biz cards, etc).  This is what I've got so far and I think I'm going to go with it as a starter.  I wanted to add a little Texas in the bottom corner, but would that be too much? I definitely don't want to be all about texas.

Today I was focused on Thanksgiving!  We are having a "Friends Thanksgiving" this year! About 9-12 of us who don't have family in town are having our own party!!  I am SO excited! 

Since we are co-hosting with two other guys (Nate & Lance) I have been so excited to be in charge of decorating and planning!  I have ideas up my sleeve and hoping to get them all knocked out this weekend so Thanksgiving week can focus on food and food alone.

  today I made these napkins & napkin rings! 

Tomorrow Dane & I are tackling this idea I got from Pinterest.. 

It just so happened that the neighbors left branches by the curb.  I think they'll be perfect!

I'm considering a few other decoration ideas but haven't decided 100%

Leave me some feedback for the potter pals! 

Epic Faliure.....(ok maybe not "epic")

It's Movember...and we couldn't be more excited!

Monday evening, Dane shaved off everything but his stache.  He's been growing it out specifically for this month

He also convinced his male coworkers to participate in Movember, so all the guys are sporting up classy staches.  Obviously their participation inspired me to make Movember shirts, not only for their "team" but for others to purchase with a portion going to the organization.

That being said, Dane & I started making his coworker shirts Sunday afternoon.

Days before, we read multiple instructions/blogposts on using my silhouette and heat transfer material.  We bought shirts and got our design to the correct size/proportions...everything ready to start printing.

Needless to say everything from those moments on was downhill:
-forgetting to mirror the text and wasting a good 12" of material (which only comes in a 36" piece)
-cutting one section slightly short so it slips out the back of the cutting machine, messing up ALL the text
-trying to piece together said text to get 1 shirt done
-unsure of what iron setting to use and burning through the plastic backing, while still not getting the transfer hot enough (not sure how that makes sense)
-the O's and S' starting to peel (from above bullet point)
-and topping it off...no one locally sells ANYTHING for the silhouette machine (great....)


Well...we did some research and found a better reviewed product.  Luckily a family owned store in San Antonio sells it, which means it was practically overnighted to us.


Now we know what we're doing and the shirts are in progress. They look great!!!

The shirt is now in my etsy shop and ready for ordering!

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Luna is also in the shop.


Hagrid & Dumbledor are underway and making their debut this weekend!

*I would post photos but I don't want to give them away. ;-)

Etsy Is Open!!

Just what we've been waiting for!  My etsy shop is open! (although it's nothing to write home about...for now)

After some work and a lot of thinking, my etsy shop is now officially open for business!!


My shop name is GuddeGoodies.  Right now I only have 3 Potter Pals listed, but I'm working on 3 more "Pals," and creating a listing for the Movember shirts.

here's a link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/GuddeGoodies

I'll update when more becomes available.


Now I have to finish a few things on our Halloween costumes for tonight's party and get back to working on Potter Pals.  Once my transfer sheets come in I will start the Movember shirts...hopefully it all comes today!!


On a side note....

The Cardinals are World Champions!! It was an amazing 7 game series this year! We had fun watching the games with our friends (Rangers fans) and cheering on our teams.

Here's a photo from last night's Game 7 party:

two friends putting differences aside to enjoy Game 7 of the World Series

*they look cute in their shirts*

Now all Jack needs is a world series patch for his sleeve

The Trio

Alright people, here they are....

"The Gang"

My first 3 test runs are complete!! I used my template, made some tweaks, and am now ready to start selling these "Pals."  

I also started sketching ideas for other main characters from the Potter films (besides the trio).  I will soon start attempting to make: Hagrid, Dumbledore, Snape, Voldemort, Luna, Neville, Fred/George, Ginny, Malfoy, Trelawney, McGonagall, Umbridge, & possibly Hedwig.

I'm taking into consideration that a lot of people may want other characters besides the "main" ones I will be regularly making.  So I will most likely open up a "custom" order where people can request other characters for a slightly higher price.  (Characters such as: Dobby, Lockhart, Mad-Eye, Sirius, Bellatrix, etc).

I'm hoping the etsy shop will start this weekend.  I know I keep postponing it, but it's harder to get it started than you think.

On the list for the weekend....Movember shirts, Potter Pals, & Halloween costumes.

I'll keep you posted with photos!!

First Sales & a New Product!

It has been a great weekend!!! Cool weather, baseball, and my first order!!

My first customer will get her Potter Pal this coming week and she is excited! I was so pumped about the sale! I believe this etsy shop will really take off.  And, in a few months customer 1 will probably be ordering more for a friend who is having twins.

I also have 1 pending order for 3 custom Potter Pals.  She is trying to decide which characters she wants besides Harry.


Now for the new product....



Just in time for Movember!

Front: (trying to decide between these 2 options)

Back:

Dane's coworkers are participating in Movember this year. I decided to make shirts to commemorate the organization/movement and a man that inspired us all....Steve Jobs.  

I will start taking orders this week (once we decide which display we like).  They will be $20 + shipping. Turn around will be about 5 days.

**A percentage of the proceeds will go to Movember directly, to promote men's health awareness** 

I will let you know once the etsy shop is open.  I am hoping to have it up by the end of this week! I am trying to think of a legit business name to list everything under, so if you have any ideas please shoot them my way!!

Thank you for your support!!

Also, if you have any suggestions/ideas on things I can list in my shop (whether it be characters for "Pals" or clothing) please send them my direction.  Outside ideas really do help me get things rolling!

Slight Productivity

Yesterday I started on a few etsy projects.


I made a template for Potter Pals (the original one I made did not come from a pattern, I was winging it. Figured I should be consistent now)

Cut one out to make sure the template is what I want.

(still needing something for the glasses...hmmm)

I'm also working on t-shirts for Movember (www.movember.com).  Dane & his buddies at work are participating and I thought it'd be fun to make them shirts, as well as trying to sell them online and on campus.  I don't have any photos because the first shirt I tested on was a bust!  Now I know what I want, so I should be able to crank tshirts out soon.

The highlight of the day (besides Cardinals winning Game 1 of the World Series) was Noodles....

Dane's aunt, Melinda, makes the BEST homemade egg noodles for Thanksgiving!  Since we won't be in MO this year Dane has taken it upon himself to make the traditional noodles.  Naturally we had to practice making them before the big day.

We ended up with a delicious dinner!!!!

I will work on a few more things this afternoon/evening and hopefully post again tonight.

And I'll leave you with this....

Stay Tuned!!

Tough Situation......& Samples

Today has been a rough day.

It doesn't get easier to hear "we have extended the offer to another candidate."  Is it crazy that I've come to expect this fate with any job I interview for?

Being turned down on jobs I applied/interviewed for is becoming almost humiliating.  I'm questioning whether my decision to quit my previous job was worth it.  Is this where I am supposed to be?  Do I go back to the awful part time job I held before or continue down this road of the unknown, that's been filled with rejection?

It's a tough situation and I'm trying to stay positive.

Moving forward with this etsy shop & blog has given me some hope.  I am loving the opportunity to share my gift with others and hopefully this can become a great venture.

.......

Now enough of the self loathing....let's move on to photos of a few items that I've made recently.


Etsy Shop:

*I will open my shop with only a few items.   Once things start selling, I will slowly add more items.

*Please do not be distracted by the cute puppy on the left*

"Potter Pals"

Right now I'm starting with the 3 main characters: Harry, Ron, & Hermione.  Eventually I will go extend the "pals" to custom character options such as Umbridge, Trelawney, Hagrid, Dumbeldor, etc.

 

Harry Potter T-shirts 

I will start off with a few select phrases and shirt options, eventually expanding to more options.

*Notice my friend Nate's face....*

Custom iPad  & Computer Cases

 I have more items/ideas up my sleeve, so check back!! To give you a small preview it involves baby onesies, mustaches, pets, clothing, & more Harry Potter.

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And as a last hurrah.....if you're familiar with the TV show FRIENDS.....

I present...

GLADYS

Nate received his very own Gladys for his birthday.  This is the after shock  photo. 

The best part was how we surprised him: 

10pm + Gladys leaning on the porch + dim lighting + ding-dong-ditch = BEST reaction ever!!

I hope this gives you a little taste of what I will be offering in my shop.  I have so many things to come and I am excited to be sharing it with the world.  

Here's to success....