Sneak Preview Book

When you think you're done, there is always some more unexpected work still to be done.
A couple of additional projects were needed to fill the pages of my upcoming book, so i found myself thinking of new things to add again. Here is a sneak preview of what i'm doing. (another one here)
I so hope it gets the needed approval. Planned release date is still fall of this year as far as i can see now.
Yesterday i received the first draft layouts for the project pages and it's making me really excited. It's starting to look like an actual book!

Scrap love

Some days i even love my scrap pile of fabrics.

Special Day Preview

Today is a special day.
The first batch of projects for my book have been picked up by the courier to be sent to the publisher for photography!

And see, the tiny butterflies flew into one of the projects!
Little sneak preview for my loyal readers here.

Big News > Secret Project!

Ok. Here it goes. I have mentioned the 'secret project' i have been working on before.
Now that all the official paperwork has been sent in it is safe to unveil a little more.

Ismoyo is working on her first craft book!
Scheduled to be released in the US fall of 2008.

Still can't tell everything about it, but this is how it went. I have been in contact with Quarto Publishing Group in the UK before. And awhile ago we started talking about new book ideas. They asked me to work on a great idea for a new craft book. If i could write a synopsis and make a presentation to go to the annual bookfair in Frankfurt. Oh it was all so exciting! Depending on the feedback, i would or would not get the approval to work on the actual book.

So with everything that was going on during my move to the United States and trying to get settled here, i was also working on my synopsis and presentation projects. And it paid off! People loved what i did so far and now i just recently signed the author contract! Whoohoo!

It is going to be a lot of hard work. A lot. But i am happy to put the work in. It's what i love to do. So i feel really blessed to be doing this.

I wish i could show of every project that will be in the book as i make them, but than i would basically publish everything here on my blog. And you understand i can't do that. I hope i can squeeze in some time to do other crafts to keep being able to also post crafty posts here, otherwise it will be alot of work in progress pictures that show what i'm doing but at the same time don't reveal too much...

Ohyeah, this also means my online shop opening will be postponed. Again. I know, i know. But I have mad a lot of progress. Really. Building the store backend is almost finished, some products to list too. Still got to make more items, make product pictures and descriptions, upload and announce opening. But no dedicated time for that right now. If you are already on my mailinglist, you will be informed about the publication of the book and the opening of the shop as soon as they happen. If not, don't forget to sign up and be a part of it!

Stopped in progress

Work stopped in progress. Was working on these fabric mini art works. Illustrated what i wanted on them, turned those illustrations into felt appliques, and used some other items like buttons and trims, sewn them onto fabric patches.
And there the progress stopped. Not because i wanted to stop and procrastinate. The next step was to pull the fabric around the tiny canvas frames and staple them secure on the back.
Okay, out came the frames and my staplegun.
Click, click, there she went. Or not. Oh i was so smart to move the staplegun with me from Amsterdam to New York. But never thought that when i was to run out of staples, all staple sizes in the US are just a tiny bit different than European staple sizes!! There are no staples to be found here that fit my staplegun!! Progress stopped.
For now. I'm getting a new staplegun and American sized staples.
I had not foreseen this one. Hopeful to have new tools by next week and progress will be made again..

Foam Padding

I thought i had an idea to use some of this seating foam. It was on sale in the craft store, but now i changed my mind about the project and don't know what i will be using it for. But one day in the future i will think of something new to do with it.

Why am i showing it? 'Cause i LOVE the image on the packaging.

Issey is in New York!

Ismoyo is officially filed as a business in New York!
It feels good, exciting and very scary at the same time.
I used to have a small business in Amsterdam before i moved, and i had been planning to set up shop here again too, but new country, new rules. Everything i've learned about being a small business owner has to be dubblechecked to see if the rules are the same here.

I am glad to say that the setting up part was a bit easier here then back in Amsterdam. I went to the County Clerk's office to file my business certificates. They were very helpful and the forms were not too complicated to start with. I had to get them notarized and was told i could do that at the candyshop around the corner of the courthouse. That made me laugh, in Amsterdam if you have to get something notarized, it's all very official, not something you do at the deli or the candyshop! So i got that done. The guy there told me i could come back after filing to get my Certificate to collect Sales Tax and tax id, he said that would cost me 40 dollars. Crazy. I knew already i could request it for free online. So i went back to the courthouse with my forms, they signed and stamped them, and voila. Done. The sweet lady gave me a pink candy cane which i thought was a very appropriate way to start Ismoyo. Pink, sweet and cute.

in the meantime i am also busy setting up my shop backoffice (finally!). I might also put some items up on Etsy, but want to have my shop on my own website too. Oh and of course i'm making items to actually sell. I'm currently also working on some small illustration projects and and AND: officially working on another very large and exciting project. Which is still a bit on the hush hush, but is very creative and all my hard work that i'm putting in is scheduled to be revealed in the fall of 2008. But i bet i will talk about it here before that. ;)

Work in progress - crochet

i've been working on some this and thats here and there. yes i'm actually getting crafty creative again. makes me really happy and i didn't have the change to do it a lot the last couple of months. missed it.

working on some crochet bracelets. do we love?

this is the start of an oversized pillow for the new apartment. i know i had to get more yarn so maybe it will end up as just a large pillow instead of really oversized like i intend. we'll see how far the yarn i got will take me.

Random things update

- Went to Michael's craftstore for the first time. I heard it was big and it sure was. But i wasn't too impressed with everything. All though i did came out with a large bag filled with craft materials which i need for upcoming projects.
- I finally got my PO Box here in NY! (more on that in a future post. soon!)
- Subscribed to Domino Magazine, lovely offer with a free tote bag! Eager to find it in the mail.
- In all the years coming to NY and now living here, i have never been to Baskin Robbins. Today i've signed up for their birthday club! I will get a free icecream on my birthday! Which isn't until June, should i visit earlier? Anyone know which flavors are worth a visit?
- Looking for a new apartment. Hope to end up somewhere wonderful. Can't wait to start decorating!
- Had a couple of sick days earlier this week. Being self employed this only means getting more behind on your schedule. Ohoh. But i do feel a bit better now. If only that cough could disappear too.
Got myself some vitamin energy pills and i feel like an energybunnyspeedygonzalesmeepmeepzoof right now. Very productive. ;)
- Finally did something with the Etsy store i registered for awhile ago. No need to run and go check it out, there are no products yet. Just played around with banners and such. Preparations.
- I lost my ismoyo labels! Or i can't find them anywhere. They might be in our Brooklyn storage space so i'm hoping to find them again. Thinking about getting a small amount of new ones just to carry me over.
- Need new business cards too. Funny that i'm designing for others and don't make time to do my own. *making a note to assign some time next week*

Secret Sneak Preview

A lot of my creative time lately has been going to a project i can't actually say anything about yet.
I would really love to show what i did so far but i must leave it at this secret sneak preview picture for now.
What will actually come out of my work for this project isn't sure either. So pray for me will you? Thank you.
As soon as i can disclose i will update on this!
Don't you love secrets?

Sewing Issey

"Ooh! That's me!"


My little alter ego doll Issey is getting a bit pale around the nose. Because she's in my bag all the time the paint on her face is a bit scratched up. :(

So i promised her i would sew a larger version of her.
Am working on that now. Think it will turn out cute.

hat in progress and other things

Even though my blog doesn't really show it lately, i am working on a lot of things. Got some work in progress.
Like this extra large hat i'm making for an entertainer friend of mine. What you see in the picture is the brim of the hat, pieces are like 9 inch wide. The height of the hat will be something like 19 inches. I told you, extra large!

I'm also working on a secret project. Secret and VERY exciting. I'm doing preliminary work now in hopes it will come of the ground and becomes real enough for me to tell everyone about.

Doing work on some websites of other people too. Keeping busy. And of course my illustration work. I will show a logo i did later. I'm also setting up a wedding announcement card or two. Deadline is end of this month so i still have a little bit of time. Just finished another illustration, called babylove. Will show soon!

Finishing up my part of the dollhouse project i told about earlier. Almost ready to be send out.

And then there is the white crochet project i'm working on. Haven't made a lot of progress, since i only do a couple of minutes each day..

Plus a whole lot of things on my todo list which haven't even started yet... can we make the days longer please?

Crochet in progress

Haven't done any crochet-ing in a while. Getting back in to it with some basic stitches. Planning on making something not so basic with it. Well, maybe, but at least something i never did with crochet before.
Keep tuned.

Paper doll house project 2007

My dear online friend Babelfish is doing a great job organizing the Doll House Project.
Due to my overseas move i haven't had much time before to work on it. But i'm getting there. Wasn't expecting to be moving so much in my first two months here. (moved apartments again this week! ohoh, and i'm not a moving person at all)
but i've got the feeling i'm in a good place now, where for now i can get things up to speed again. i'm so behind on so many things. and i hate it to keep people waiting.
But about the dollhouse project. It is supposed to be done by the end of this month. I will have it done by then. That's my plan at least. Get it send out first week after. Risa had her room done way in advance. You go girl! You can see her wonderful dressingroom on flickr.
I won't be able to get all crafty crazy with this project unfortunately, but i'm making a digital collage mixed with illustration in Ismoyo style. So i'm hoping to be able to send out a vintage/cute bedroom when i'm done!

Sewalong Cape

Got to post this before i leave. Proof that i really did manage to get a little bit of creative work done in this hectic period. (still far too little, i miss it!)
I mentioned the sewalong with Nico before, originated from a post i did about free online patterns. It took a bit longer than planned, but i finally managed some actual progress.
The original pattern is still online and can be found at the Burda site.

My version is almost ready, will finish it in NY. All sewing has been done, i only still have to put on the closure and the buttons.

Progress update

Wasn't i planning to do weekly or bi weekly update lists? Hm. Guess time really flies. And the sun outside is calling "come outside and play..." nope, got work to do. I opened up all the doors to my balcony so i at least hear the birds singing.

I have made some crafty progress. Finished a cute fabric collage wall art piece, will show pictures tomorrow. Working on some more baby dresses which are almost done and turning out pretty and cute. Working on some other things too, mostly working out some new ideas and drawing up patterns. Oh yeah i have been happily cutting and glueing pictures and paper scraps in my collage journal. Since all pages are works in progress indefinitely i never really know when to show them off. Will scan some pages soon.

I feel like i'm spending way too little time on new illustrations. You can spend your time only once. I did finish the design for the baby announcement card, but had done that like a week ago already, still can't show it since the cards haven't been sent out yet. I might have found a new gig doing this, designing baby announcement cards. Would be a cool new project to work on, but got to talk to the card company some more to see if it's still possible even when i'm in NY. We'll see what happens with this.

Unfortunately i can't spend all my time on creative purposes. Got a lot to research and prepare with the possible move overseas. It's looking good, looks like it will finally really happen. But still it's not official. For those who follow my visa story; i have requested my medical file from my regular doctor and next week Tuesday i have to go in to the US assigned doctor's office for an X-ray and a medical checkup. And of course everyone says i have nothing to worry about, but i do worry. I feel healthy, but you never know. And there is so much riding on it. I wish it was Wednesday already and i had passed the checkup. Tick off that box and proceed. Issey needs to hold on and have a little bit more patience...

I'm behind on my colors

Project Spectrum v2.0 is what i'm talking about. Last year i had so much fun participating and this year i signed up again with much delight. But i have totally not got to the first 3 colors in the first two months. Maybe its a combination of lack of time and it not being my fav colors. February and March were Blue, White and Gray months. Don't get me wrong i could have made something beautiful. I just didn't. Ooops. These next two months i promise to do better. The colors help: Green, Yellow and Pink. I can work with that. Can i cheat and put up the Green baby dress as a Project Spectrum project? Maybe. But i will also make something especially for PS 2.0.

working on

- scanning images i love from vintage children's books. Done! Will stay an ongoing thing to do, but for now, the batch of pics i wanted to scan are done.
- a (simple) shoulder bag. Finished!
- a fabric wall art piece.
Made a little bit of progress.
- reconstructing a spring coat that i found dirtcheap at the market, it has some wonderful embroidery on it, hope i can resize it so it will fit me (now i'm drowning in it!).
Still thinking. Put on longer term list. No priority right now. sorry coat.
- postcard illustrations 'celebrate life'. Illustration priority this week was designing newborn baby card. Working on Celebrate Life continues next week.
- working on ideas for baby clothes little dresses and such.
Made two vintage fabric babybibs (pics will follow soon), working on a patchwork baby dress.
- a couple of fabric collage postcards. Finished!
- Found some cute Dutch style fabrics. Use them in new projects. Working on a number of Dutchy Pouches. I love making those pouches and how they come out! Cute as a button series.
- Design New Baby birth card for my pregnant friend.
Done some first digital drafts. Some cute cards, but i'm not sure if the perfect one is already there. Got to discuss them with my friend. Ongoing this week.
- Update gallery and links page website. Oops...

New:
- Simple yet reversible totebags from vintage fabrics!
- Cutting fabric for a wrap around summer dress.
- Improve my crochet skills.

Last week's list.

what i'm working on - update

- just finished some plushies, got to take their pictures and put them online Done!
- scanning images i love from vintage children's books. In progress. An "in between" thing to do. A couple at a time.
- a (simple) shoulder bag. Almost ready.
- a fabric wall art piece. Base is done, project for next week.
- reconstructing a spring coat that i found dirtcheap at the market, it has some wonderful embroidery on it, hope i can resize it so it will fit me (now i'm drowning in it!). Started working on it, kinda already right away messed things up. Got to think about it some more first.
- postcard illustrations 'celebrate life'. They're coming out pretty decent. Looking forward to finishing and showing.
- working on ideas for baby clothes little dresses and such. Started cutting some fabric, some baby bibs, making drawings for a little baby dress, a reconstruction of a baby shirt (in Dutch "rompertje" don't know English translation of that).
- some half finished crochet friends which i don't see getting finished anytime soon, just because i don't like the way they're going and until i have a great mindwave of what to do with them next i don't do anything. Nothing.
- a couple of fabric collage postcards. 3 out of 4 done.

New:
- Found some cute Dutch style fabrics. Use them in new projects.
- Design New Baby birth card for my pregnant friend.
- Update gallery and links page website

Not yet started, but on to do list
- illustration for my brothers house, a remake of flowery femme

Ooh, these work in progress lists are doing me good. Feels like a progress report. Well it kinda is the purpose of it right? ;) Let the serious business like side of me come up a bit. Set a certain moment in the week, Monday morning seems logical and walk through the outstanding project list. Update it. What is done what is in progress what is new. Report it. No teammembers? Nope. But blog readers. Report to them. Get back to work so next week there is something to report.

makes sense i do have an entire separate blogcategory for my work in progress. that shouldn't only be for the occasional picture.

i feel a VERY productive week coming up.

what i'm working on

- just finished some plushies, got to take their pictures and put them online
- scanning images i love from vintage children's books
- a (simple) shoulder bag
- a fabric wall art piece
- reconstructing a spring coat that i found dirtcheap at the market, it has some wonderful embroidery on it, hope i can resize it so it will fit me (now i'm drowning in it!)
- postcard illustrations 'celebrate life'
- working on ideas for baby clothes little dresses and such
- some half finished crochet friends which i don't see getting finished anytime soon, just because i don't like the way they're going and until i have a great mindwave of what to do with them next i don't do anything
- a couple of fabric collage postcards

maybe i should finish things before i start something new?

Potential progress

When i close my eyes i see the potential. I see how i want this work in progress to end up.
Making a white and brown vinyl bag. I did all i had to do, drew up the pattern, cut all the pieces out, did all the preparations. And now i feel stuck. Maybe because when i close my eyes i see a gorgeous bag and with my eyes open I'm not totally sure how to do it...
The thought that i might mess it up and all the prep work was for nothing scares me a little bit. Oh i wish i had it finished already.
Got to do what i got to do, take a deep breath and do the best i can. Hopefully it will work out and i'll be able to show the new bag soon!

Half of a personality

Help! I've got half a personality!

As you see, i still haven't had enough of crochet. It takes a lot of time if you want to end up with a decent sized figure, but luckily i seem to find little moments in time that would otherwise be waisted and now can be filled with my hook and some yarn...

Current wip

Can't start fresh and anew (like 2007) when i still have lots of catching up to do... I have some work in progress and a couple of finished projects to show still.

Getting 'hooked' on crochet, figuring out all the possibilities it brings me. Working hard and learning a lot. Got to stop myself when my fingers start to hurt...

Working on cute characters with soft yarn. Body parts still have to be finished and attached, but then the most fun part starts, giving them their own personalities. Can't wait to show the final results!





Working on a yellow felt giraffe, have some cute ideas for the final details.

Updates will follow soon!

Quilting the fog away

Update on the patchwork blanket I'm making for my love.
Made some good progress but doubting if i get it finished within the next days.

Today with every block i finish i wish that the fog will go away above London.
Why?
Love is going to be flying from NY to Amsterdam tonight, with a stopover in London tomorrow morning. Problem is that there seems to be too much fog above London so almost all flights are being cancelled today... Hope tomorrow the sky will have cleared.

>> update: the fog didn't want to move, so my love was stuck at heathrow way too long, but eventually got on a plane and made it over to Amsterdam! It's a merry christmas!

Busy with beads

I have many beads and old jewelry parts around and i thought to myself, i should either not keep it all, it's cluttering up my space, or just sit down and use it. Make something.

It's been a loooooong time since i last made some jewelry so i got to get back into it. But I'm having fun, so i guess i will be making more soon.
Can we get some more hours in a day? Please?

Another quilt in progress

Since I'm not all selfish and i enjoyed making my pink quilt so much, i have started on another one! Making a green/blue-ish version this time.
For my Love, hope to have it finished in time for our 7 year (!) anniversary in January. Hope i can find enough green scraps of fabric in between all the pink piles i have!!

I am making some progress already. The little owl has already found it's place in between the squares.

I'm currently being surrounded by squares and squares of green and blue.

In need of some pink....

hihi

Fun with fabric

I find myself really into making quilted patchworkery type wallart the last few days.
I'm just having fun with it, discovering new things i can do with the fabrics i have.
Will show when ready.

ATC's anyone?

I'm talking about Artists Trading Cards. How come I have been missing out on them before? ATC are a brilliant idea based on the older sports-themed trading cards, collectables. The only 'rule' to these cards are that they have to be 2.5" x 3.5" in size, but other than that, you can go crazy altering, collaging, painting, drawing, or otherwise personify your art.
On the back the name and contact info of the artist, as well as the title of the piece and number if it's part of an edition.

I see them also being sold on Ebay. Not sure what to think about that. How i understand it, ATC's are there to be traded between artists.

Who makes ATC's already? Anyone up for a personal swap of some kind? Random cards or go by a specific theme? Watch out with those exacto knives! They're SHARP!

Work in progress pics

I love photography. I love being crafty. I love making photos while being crafty.
Most of the times I forget to post them here. Shame on me, I know.
I just now noticed how many pics were already stored in my 'in progress' folder. So not to forget about them, lets post some now.
I should really finish up some more things, right?

Why is it that..

.. i always want to start new projects when i haven't yet finished the ones I'm working on? i don't want all those works in progress around me, i want finished creations!
Today is a new start, let's finish up some projects that are waiting for just a little bit more attention.
I'll be back later with an update!

Oh my! She's using powertools!

Be warned! Dangerous! Powertools!
It's been awhile since i made a piece of fabric wall art streched on canvas, but a couple of weeks ago i saw a post on Meshell's blog which reminded me of how fun those could be. So I'm working on some new ones. And the powertool? Just because i have to. I don't know if it would officially be called a powertool, but to me it is. It's shiny, it has orange parts and could potentially really hurt you when used wrong.
There is a reason powertools don't come in pink.

Ismoyo Banner (Work in Progress)

I just updated the ismoyo home page again on which i show my current Work in Progress. (btw have you seen the entry page? It's been there a while already, think i have to update that soon again too) Anyway, I'm always working on multiple projects so i have to choose which to show on the home page. Today it's my Ismoyo banner. I have never done anything craftfair related, but i know one day i will. And when that day comes, at least i have a banner! ;)

Creating again (Work in Progress)

One good thing about being back in my apartment in Amsterdam is that i have all my creative supplies around me again. Very excited to have all my fabric and paper and glues and ribbons and everything else around me! I have already started working on multiple new projects.

These four 'balls' are work in progress to become four new cute friends. Of course I'll post pictures when they got their personalities!

It's raining all day today

It's gray outside. (No, it's not the new glasses that make me think this hehe) The short heatwave has made way for cloudiness and rainfall. Yucky. Luckily i don't really really need to go out today.
You know what that means? (besides cleaning house and backed up paperwork)
Crafting time!!
Time for a new craft area composition. Work in progress picture. I've made a pattern for a small handbag, i hope it comes out how i thought it out to be.

I discovered something today also. I've finally learned how to call the fabric i have been using for some bags and clutches. It's called oilcloth. My new word of the day. I don't like the sound of it, but i think that's it. It's vinyl that is bonded and supported with a coven cotton mesh. The surface can be wiped clean.

Another thing I've discovered is bloglines! I heard people about it before, but never took the time to sign up. I've just did. Let's see if it will make my blogreading life easier.
Hey i noticed there are actually people who have subscribed to my feed already. Ok, now i feel slow.

It's a heatwave

I ... must ... work ... harder ...
Oh, why is my timing so bad. I must work harder, i have so many projects and possibilities ahead and i am the only one to make them happen. But why didn't my energy boost hit me before? No, it waited until there is a heatwave!
I just hear the park calling for me, come over... it's fun to sit in the sun...
No no, i need to get to work!

I am being productive at least. Am working on multiple t-shirt alterations and fluffy animals. I'm making sketches for a table sign because I'll be possibly selling some of my goods somewhere soon. My idea notebook is piling over with new stuff to make. And i finally ordered some professionally woven Ismoyo labels.

I'm also updating my portfolio, both online as well as my offline show map. So I'm taking time to make some new illustrations. Yesterday i even made some time for vector images. I love them so much, but they take so much time.

I'll show everything soon with updates of course.