Blissful Thinking Studio

Lincoln Makes Another Appearance

2010-06-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

I'm off to sleep but did not want to miss a chance to mention Lincoln made it on another blog!

Visit the spotlight at the I Married Mr. Rogers blog.

First Product Feature on a Blog

2010-04-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Hello friends and family, today my first Etsy product was featured on a blog! The product featured is the "For the LOVE of Lincoln" letterpress flats. Check it out at I Dreamed I Saw.

Make a Pillow Floor Cushion Using Old Bed Pillows

2010-04-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Between school, work, business travel and fixing up the house, we're pretty busy these days, but I managed to squeeze in a quick project this weekend. I needed to make a little study cushion for my newly carpeted studio, and had three bed pillows that did not make it past the gauntlet of sleep tests (we're pretty picky about the quality of sleep we get around here).

I also dove into my newly organized sewing closet (wahoo!) and zeroed in on some IKEA fabric I was hoping to make a swing dress out of but just never managed to (surprise, surprise). So, three invisible zippers (on the side) and a few seams later, voila! I have a cushion that lays out flat or against (as shown) my bookcase so I can watch movies online or study when my boyfriend plays video games. The measurements for this project (in case you're in need) totaled 57" wide by 28" high, finished size. Each cell is 19" across.

Afternoon Tea at Pix's a Must

2010-03-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

A girlfriend and I treated ourselves to a sumptuous tea at Pix's Patisserie in North Portland today and I was so blown away by the mountain of goodies before me I forgot to take a picture of the beginning product. Here is what was left as I was winding down:

Fillings for my belly included raw goat cheese, marcona almonds, brioche, madeleines, chocolate drenched figs with marzipan, cucumber tea sandwiches with lemon zest, dill and creme fraiche, various cookies, a yummy scone, homemade sauces for the breads and prosciutto wrapped quail eggs to name a few. I highly recommend this and can't wait to go back!

Made It In My First Treasury on Etsy

2010-02-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

Yay! BlissThinkInk made it in a treasury today: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=86835

If you have a chance, stop by and leave a comment, and thanks to Ensorcelled Minds for the screen shot!

Say it with heART

2010-01-27T20:28:00.000-08:00

Hey all, Bliss Think Ink is participating in a local Valentine's Day show at the above address on February 6-7th. Please bring a can or two of food for the Oregon Food Bank if you can and come out to support local Portland artists! We will have over 20 unique Valentine's Day cards featuring letterpress and hand stamped craft techniques.

Etsy Greetings Blog Giveaway

2010-01-10T17:35:00.000-08:00

If you are reading this, you've come across another Bliss Think Ink giveaway. This time we are seeking answers to three questions to better understand the greeting needs out there in the marketplace right now. To participate in the giveaway, be sure to add your comments to the Etsy Greetings Team blog giveaway announcement at http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com starting January 13th. You'll have until the 16th to enter. Winner will be announced that evening! Below are the pictures of the mini correspondence collection we're offering to get you through some of the upcoming and common occasions in '10, plus the winner will also receive a few more surprise goodies from the Bliss Think Ink studio...

Bliss Picks 2009 - #1

2009-12-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

I recently described myself to a friend lately that I was perhaps the cheeriest cynic alive. A tad overdramatic yes, but in some sense of those words, true. I believe that in times of stress and mundane living there is nothing like a hearty laugh that can't make things seem a bit better and more bearable. So the ultimate source of relaxing delightment and the Bliss Picks 2009 #1 slot go to...drum roll please...

...Dave Chappelle, John Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Tina Fey! I'm not sure where I'd mentally be without their clever and informed sense of humour that seeks to enlighten and entertain people from all walks of life. Controversial at times, I appreciate the examination of self and society that helps us find the irony in the sometimes less than wonderful state of affairs in life. Dave, John, Stephen and Tina, thank you for a great 2009 and hope you help us all live life with a little more joy in 2010.

Ms. Bliss, out.

Bliss Picks 2009 - #2

2009-12-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

Often I hear friends remark on how little in touch they are with what is playing in the theatres, and if one could only see one film that was released in the last six months, what would I recommend? Perhaps because I was raised watching a lot of movies, I could never imagine it not being a major part of my entertainment portfolio for day-to-day living, and with the increased double shifts of regular working life and striving to be a successful entrepreneur, the Netflix Watch Instantly portion of my subscription has saved me! The late nights in the studio are made better as I'm able to watch straight from my computer or on our TV through our PS3. What impresses me even more is that my favorite bollywood films are available (although an argument is to be made that they are available because it was not hard to get them digitally...i.e. not that generally popular) through the Watch Instantly feature too and that to me is the greenest option out there for movie watching. Sometimes it also helps me get the creative juices flowing just to hear "people" in the background, even if I'm not a part of the conversation. Watch Instantly faves lately include "30 Rock" all seasons, old episodes of "Soap" and "Jodhaa Akbar."

Bliss Picks 2009 - #3

2009-12-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Bare Minerals. Have you tried them? They really work and a little goes a long way. I went many years without wearing any kind of face makeup or lotion with sunscreen and it was recently pointed out to me that I should at least consider regular moisturizer if not also paired with an SPF foundation. For the most part, my face seemed to have enough moisture and tone on its own until I tried Bare Minerals and realized that things could naturally look better. It works with the natural moisture in your skin to give that second skin appearance that is barely noticeable.

I have dark spots under my eyes and in the corners that seem to show up at least halfway through the day once a good night's rest has worn off. I just dab a little foundation powder on in the morning and I'm good for the rest of the day without worrying about it accumulating in the folds of my eye. If you have not given it a shot, I'd recommend at least trying the starter kit you can get in stores like Sephora and Ulta and see what it can do. And some of the other less necessary stuff like powdered eyeliner and eye brightener--fabulous.

So ring in your new year looking more bright eyed and bushy tailed for the tasks at hand. As you can tell, so far all the posts are about helping you do what you need to do when life keeps you busy - hope that helps!

Bliss Picks 2009 - #4

2009-12-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

Ever spend a weekend morning with Ina? When it comes to home cooking that is classic and easy to prepare, I find myself more and more turning to the advice and recipes of Ina Garten. Although she is not old enough to be my Grandmother, I certainly view her as that Grandmother I never had...the one that you would spend countless hours watching and learning from in the kitchen and enjoying every bite of every thoughtfully prepared meal she'd make.

She's definitely on my list of top ten famous people I'd like to meet during my lifetime because she's not only a fantastic cook, but she's brilliant and talented in more than just cooking (worked in the White House Office of Management and Budget!). I'm sure I could also pick up from her some insider tips on how to gracefully manage and maintain the leading female role in your own life with ease and style. Anyhow, every recipe I've ever downloaded off the Food Network site has resulted in pure culinary bliss and she makes it so easy! She has books, pre-made mixes (found at the Stonewall Kitchen site and at Williams Sonoma) and years of enjoyable wisdom via delicious recipes to come. My current favorite pick (from my friend Stephanie) are the chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing. Divine!

Feedback Winners Announced

2009-12-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who stepped forward and helped me size up my shop on Etsy (http://www.blissthink.etsy.com/)! Winners for the four giveaways are listed below.

All respondents had very similar opinions, so it was invaluable for me to hear what you had to say and I'm taking the holiday break to design changes I'll be making to the shop in response to your input. Your advice is best summed up as:

Sell more items in packs whether they are blank everyday cards, thank you note sets or even invitations
Descriptions of products and shop policies are good - keep 'em the way they are!
Pictures need improvement...have the basic equipment working but eliminate the colored backgrounds and texture. Include more close up pictures and eliminate those that are hard to understand (pictures of embellishment shields, stack of paper showing thickness of greeting card blanks, etc.)

Giveaway Winners - Congrats!

Mini Correspondence Collection:

Genelle of http://www.scrapbookcompleted.etsy.com/ and http://www.scrapbookcompleted.blogspot.com/

Mixed all occasion set of six greeting cards from last season:

Plump Fairy of http://www.etsy.com/shop/PlumpFairy
Mad Mad Wonderland of http://www.etsy.com/shop/madmadwonderland
Ensorcelled Minds of http://www.etsy.com/shop/EnsorcelledMinds

Bliss Picks 2009 - #5

2009-12-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day this year my boyfriend took me to a great local spot called Paley's Place for dinner. If you're like me, sometimes it is nice to end a fantastic meal with a steamy latte or cappuccino with honey, but that night I was just feelin' like a simple, hot cup of brewed coffee. I rarely order it at a restaurant, but since it was later in the evening I did not want to risk being up all night so I ordered the decaf. Despite having enjoyed a fantastic meal, I did not have high expectations for taste, and that applies to practically anything decaf. Especially decaf coffee.

I'm glad I broke my ordinary routine as I was so blown away by the rich, robust taste of roasted goodness, that I asked the server what beans and method was used for the best tasting decaf around. Turns out it was drip brewed using Caffe Umbria Mezzanotte blend, a NW company that has put a Caffe in the Pearl District of Portland. A 12 oz. bag can be bought online for $10.25 and it is a medium/dark roast.

Bliss Picks 2009 - #6

2009-12-10T17:00:00.000-08:00

Whether doing extreme crafts, pulling double shifts, caring for our families. or traveling for work, life keeps us all busy and it can be hard to eat healthy and tasty without getting bored with our food options. In a sea of hundreds of trail mixes out there on the market, the Bear Naked High Sierra trail mix has solved that problem for me and made slot #6 for the Bliss Picks of 2009!

Made with organic cashews, almonds, walnuts, raisins, pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips and cranberries, it is fresh, tasty and does not hurt the 'ol digestive system like some trail mixes do. I appreciate the fact the raisins aren't hard and they have not attempted to fill half the bag with peanuts or knock off M&Ms. It's the kind you can scoop up in your hand and just throw it in your mouth...you don't have to spend time fishing out the few things you feel like eating.

It also gives you the benefits of easy storage and traveling like granola bars but I appreciate it does not have any more added sugar than what's in the individual products. Also the chips are the same size as the other pieces. That's nice. I buyt it in 26 oz. bags that I keep handy at my desk for a late afternoon snack. Lately I've had a hard time finding it online but I am able to get it at my local QFC and I've heard it is sold at Costco and Office Depot at times. Enjoy!

Bliss Picks 2009 - #8 and #7

2009-12-05T21:01:00.000-08:00

I've been to the Seattle airport five times in the last two months so you get to plan ahead where you want to shop and exactly what you want to eat since you feel like you pretty much live there. Two gems were discovered in my wanderings and waiting to board my plane:

Bliss Pick No. 8: Fireworks Gallery
Bliss Pick No. 7: Teaosophy

Fireworks Gallery has other locations in addition to this packed boutique, but they have gorgeous artisan jewelry (picked up a mosaic necklace and matching earring set close to picture below), Tokyo Milk (luxurious bath products I've seen around a lot lately) goodies and many seasonal and fabulous home and office goods perfect as a gift or something special for yourself. It's always packed and the stock has been fresh as I've wandered in each time and even my boyfriend thought it was interesting and there was something for everyone.

Teaosophy imports delicious black teas. I've never been a fan of black tea and only occasionally indulge in a caffeinated beverage (or at least until I discovered these teas!) but these are fragrant, fresh tasting and a real afternoon treat. To me the best is the Assam; bold and delicious with cream and described to have a liqour flavor (maybe that is why I have it in the afternoon). I'd also recommend the Ceylon and Earl Grey and was pleasantly surprised to find the light addition of bergamot to the Grey did not result in a soapy twang.

They come in fabric triangle pods perfect for brewing the ideal cup...the only thing I'd watch out for is the paper sticker on the string is stuck to the bag and I've accidentally ripped it open a few times when undoing it hastily. I picked up my first box at the Made in Washington for $6.99 and the link above goes straight to their online store. Enjoy!

About the Give Guide 2009

2009-12-05T21:00:00.001-08:00

Blissful Thinking Studio is proud to participate in the 2009 Willamette Week Give!Guide and have joined the IPRC (Independent Publishing Resource Center) at the same time! We are looking forward to taking the Intro to Letterpress course and seeing what comes of that new interest...happy holidays and if you like, stop by the Give!Guide site and make your donation today: http://giveguide.oaktree.com/Welcome.aspx.

Give!Guide

2009-12-05T20:56:00.001-08:00

We're Giving Away a Mini Correspondence Collection

2009-11-27T16:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,

We are looking for feedback from greeting card buyers and sellers on the Etsy Critique forum, this blog and through the EtsyGreetingsTeam on the Bliss Think Ink shop, www.blissthink.etsy.com. Whatever your angle, we appreciate and welcome serious honesty on anything that strikes you as needed; whether it be price, style, marketing, shop policies or branding.

My goal is to add to the success I have selling at shows and start actively promoting my crafts online. Admittedly I am new to all of this; blogging, selling on Etsy and running a small business. I would like to have this become a full time career someday so invaluable advice as to what I can do better may make or break this for me! I understand that in order for that to happen I have to start selling a lot more product directly and wholesale.

With all that said, all entries submitted to this blog, the Etsy Critique Forum posting and through the EtsyGreetingsTeam will be entered into a drawing for one of the following:

1. A Bliss Think Ink mini correspondence collection with the following pictured cards just released from the studio (four total) wrapped in our signature Bliss Think Ink gift wrap OR

2. A random assortment of six all occasion greetings from last year's collection (three packs will be given away, not pictured here)

Feedback is always welcome but the names will be drawn Monday, December 21st so please send in your feedback as soon as you can! Winners will be announced here. Thanks again!

Best,

Ms. Bliss

New Products Posted to Etsy

2009-11-26T15:01:00.000-08:00

From Mother's and Father's Day cards to Valentines and just Thinking of You, view our latest collection at the BlissThinkInk shop at Etsy: http://www.blissthink.etsy.com/. Bundles of last year's designs will be posted in two weeks filled with a random mix of all occasion greetings, going for a steal of 5 cards for $5! Perfect for stashing in stockings, your drawer at work or as part of your regular greeting card collection.

Here are some shots of what you'll see in our latest product postings:

Additional Pictures for Ultimate Holiday Decoration and Entertaining Suite

2009-11-26T13:28:00.000-08:00

Since we're limited to five pictures on Etsy, here are additional pics for those interested in our limited edition (truly one of a kind) holiday decoration and entertaining suite. Modern and playful, this handmade set will be unlike any other out there - happy holidays!

Bliss Picks 2009 - #9

2009-11-23T21:41:00.000-08:00

My day job keeps me busy and on my feet, so I don't have time to mess around with fussy shoes, sore feet and an aching back. I also don't have free time to plan my outfits in advance and I like to have flexibility in dressing up and down throughout the day by changing only a few accessories. Now brace yourself, because according to my boyfriend I am about to give you the worst fashion advice possible, but I swear by and could not live without:

Bliss Pick No. 9

Dansko and Sanita clogs worn with SmartWool socks

I work with two pairs of clogs; the primary is the basic black Dansko Cabrio with the cupping heel, and the secondary is red with wooden soles, made by Sanita. Both are slips ons and I love kicking them off under my desk when I'm knee-deep in projects. Juggling working full time as a program manager by day and moonlighting as a paper artist results in constantly changing environments and physical demands. These clogs and socks have been one thing in my life that has consistently delivered comfort due to quality of craft and durability, yielding a serious return on investment and keeping life as stress free as possible.

Again, my boyfriend who spent many of his teen years in Miami would say, "ugh" right now as there is no shoe less attractive than these (in his mind!), and although Amy Winehouse was not singing about these shoes, I am able to wear them day and night with jeans, and the 100% New Zealand merino wool regulates temperature, wicks away sweat, maintains steadfast color through delicate cycle washing, and works for all three cooler seasons in Portland. If you're interested in trying this experiment, I recommend the plain black Hunt liner socks that truly act like "a second skin" and I have been blister and friction free every since.

One word of warning though...if you're like me you'll end up wearing these shoes every day and won't see a need to wear painful high shoes again (I do cross over every once in awhile and put in foot petals) most days. This may result in your feet relaxing and expanding...making those hot Miami nights and Jimmy Choo dancing shoes a little further away.

Depending on where you shop, I'd say you're in for an initial investment of $140 for a pair or two of socks and one pair of basic clogs. The heels and soles often give you a 1-1.5" lift you may enjoy in other heeled shoes but you don't have to worry about getting a heel stuck in a sidewalk crack or sliding on wet pavement. It may take a couple of days to get used to the heel of the shoe not being right next to your foot but soon you'll see the benefits of comfortable and blissful feet that can walk for miles!

Now Showing at SPARK Cards in Portland, OR

2009-11-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

This Friday at 10 AM, Bliss Think Ink (paper art division of Blissful Thinking Studio) will premier its letterpress card line at Spark Cards, a creative company in the Hawthorne district of Portland. Hours for the first day of shopping last until 5 PM and as soon as we visit we'll post pics! Cards will be priced from $4.00 up and features over 30 local artists in a beautiful loft and lounge-like space.

Visit Us at the OHSU Heart Research Bazaar

2009-11-16T23:19:00.000-08:00

Good news--just got word we're appearing at the Oregon Health Science University Heart Research Bazaar taking place December 9th and 10th from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM in the BICC Gallery. This event seeks to raise awareness and funds for the Center (10% of all profits), and those visiting the Bliss Think Ink booth can expect to find this-show-only special paper art designs with hearts and other romantic themes in addition to our one-of-a-kind correspondence collections (makes great gifts!), holiday greeting sets, decorations and gift wrap and other handmade gifts.

For more information on this and the Downtown Holiday Artisan Fair this Friday, visit www.handmadenw.com/events.

Bliss Picks 2009 - #10

2009-11-07T22:26:00.000-08:00

As we near the end of 2009, I've reflected on the top ten things that have brought me bliss while maintaining a hectic calendar filled with lots of air travel, long days and serious multitasking. I believe the most important things in life are not primarily made by material objects, but sometimes things help us restore balance to a demanding life that can stretch our lives to extremes and take us to a place we'd rather not be (exhaustion, boredom, and physically manifested stress to name a few!). So I decided I will post over the next two months my top ten Bliss Picks for 2009 and hope they might do for you what they've done for me.

Bliss Pick No. 10
Sweet Beauty Taste Lip Balm

Made with fair trade and organic cocoa beans from the first bean to final product chocolate processed in the United States (at least a few years ago, Theo Chocolate based in Seattle), this delicious lip balm has other quality edible ingredients and provides a light tint of brown gloss that adds enough natural color for work and going out. For someone prone to dry, splitting lips (especially from dry airplane air) this foils peeling skin with just a few applications a day. This flavor plus others (progressively increase in dark chocolate content and some have coffee added as well) are available on the Sweet Beauty website and I have found it locally at Cacao, a fabulous chocolate boutique in Portland, OR.

Join Us at Craftypalooza

2009-11-02T22:36:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, find us at the Beaverton Masonic Lodge from 11-4 PM with over 30 other handmade craft vendors at the first Craftypalooza! Blissful Thinking will be featuring market specials including quantity discounts and this-show-only holiday gifts and paper decorations to celebrate the season thoughtfully.

Come Visit Us at the Handmade NW Downtown Holiday Artisans Fair!

2009-10-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

Come join us for free coffee, pastries, and a first look at all our new stock we've been busy making the last six months. Due to lots of traveling I have not had a chance to upload new items to my Etsy shop but be on the lookout both online and at the Portland, OR World Trade Center on November 20th to see what is new and find gifts for those near and dear to you this holiday season. We'll be selling handbags with matching social stationery, greeting cards with gifts and hundreds of designs for all occasions and holiday paper decorations, all 100% handmade.

Check out Envelop

2009-10-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

This Belgian website allows illustrators to download templates, place their artwork and upload finished works to be promoted on on their site. A smaller version of Zazzle, the printing techniques and blanks lend themselves to looking less mass produced and even more customized than your standard "make your own product" website. I can't wait until I have a good excuse to try out their tool and make my own apron. You can buy members' products now (membership is free) and perhaps you'll have a good reason to design your own product right away. Enjoy!

Beautiful Cupcake Wrappers

2009-10-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

I just bought red and white and gold and white striped wrappers from Cupcake Social on Etsy and can't wait for them to arrive. I am not an expert cupcake baker by any stretch of the imagination, but who doesn't love giving or receiving a beautiful baked good enrobed in decorative frosting, well baked filling and yes, the beautiful wrapping? Someone told me the other day they heard cupcakes were on their way out but all I've seen in the last few weeks are more celebrity driven celebrations serving up rows of cakes and champagne and more online shops and stores on the street to support the tiny cake habit. I plan to stuff my wrappers with destash goodies at my winter sales and purchased a white, curled wire, french inspired display rack for selling everything from wrappers stuffed with buttons, to tiny diecuts, miniature cards and fancy ribbon. Today I just discovered another great wrap for all you cupcake lovers and thought I'd share these mini wraps from bella cupcake couture. They are printed on recycled paper with soy inks.

Sweet Find for Blogger Templates

2009-10-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

If only they made a template that was in red, black and white! But even still, I'm tempted to change my colors to match these blogger friendly templates from Sweet Shoppe Designs. Although I am not a scrapbooker, these layered, colorful and cheerful designs would brighten up anyone's blog whether personal or for business. Enjoy! (Note: this post was previously published with linked images to Sweet Shoppe Designs. Those images moved so please visit their above link to view templates)

New Listings on Etsy!

2009-09-06T17:29:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my earlier post I have been quite a busy beaver and fortunately have squeezed in some time to package and post some new products to my store. Just to share (since I do not have a Flickr account yet) some of my latest designs here are a few snapshots of what is new:

Cool Weddings

2009-09-05T23:36:00.000-07:00

A friend of a friend just got married last month and had her wedding photos featured this week on www.stylemepretty.com. Amazing. That one words sums up the attention to detail, quality of craftmanship put into a wedding fit to be a book for the planning bride-to-be, and of course, the awesome photographer (Alders Photography). To check out pics (including the root beer floats in shot glasses and the owl couple on top of the wedding cake) visit these posts:

First Set of Photos (the picture of the couple is iconic)
Second Set of Photos (very cute seating assignments...)
Third Set of Photos (Awesome handmade signs)
Wish Banner

Finding My Way as an Entrepreneur

2009-09-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

Starting out as a one-woman-show in the entrepreneurial arena has definitely proved to be challenging but I can say it has also been soul cleansing and blissful at the same time. I've spent the last few weeks working out some of the kinks of branding, marketing and selling through Etsy. Man, is it a lot of work! It was to be expected though (all the start up stories I've heard in the past immediately come to mind) and I'm ever grateful for the power of the Internets as it has continued to be a friend that dispenses timely advice when I take a path full of inevitable obstacles (...err trying to set up a light tent in my house...purchased a real one and still did not get the results I wanted...natural daylight really is the best). I am also grateful to be living in a place that encourages citizens to start their own business and give it a shot. I believe it can give hope for those seeking to have everything from a casual interest outlet generating a modest profit to a serious, full time job in whatever it is they love.

Amidst all this change, as promised, the Sweet Stitches note card collection is up and I've also added a number of single cards in place of a few of the Give Bliss Collections. I'm also ramping up to apply to and hopefully attend a number of fall and winter shows in the NW so I'll be taking a bulk of that stock with me. Oh, one last note, we have also started using again biodegradable card sleeves for our A2 folded cards...look for cards marked with the small Earthfirst green and black label. Enjoy!

crankbunny rocks

2009-08-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

From the thoughtful artwork to the clever construction, crankbunny has it goin' on when it comes to cool cards and the paper arts. I love the "Lover Dancing Paper Puppet Robot Doll" and the "Secret Decoder Card with Custom Message." I can't wait to have a special ocassion to spoil someone with these beautiful works of art (maybe even myself)!

Fun Journals and Albums

2009-08-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

I'm not a scrapbooker but I can't resist these albums I just found from the Oriental Trading Company:

These shown range from $3.99/pack to $6.99/pack or individual album.

Give Bliss Correspondence Sets Finally Here

2009-08-12T10:46:00.001-07:00

Thank you to all my friends and family for their patience, love and support; the Give Bliss Correspondence Sets are finally here!

After a year of making cards in my spare time and when I'm not on the road for my day job, all occasion cards in sets of 10 are now available at my Etsy store. All sets will have matching envelopes, embellishment shields for mailing (I recommend delivering all cards with raised embellishments over 1/8" in person or inside a mailed package) and will come in a white candy gift box tied with ribbon and a Blissful gift tag. Each set is truly one of a kind, no other will ever exist like it in the world, so each is numbered and sets 1-3 are now listed. Several more are to come and I will post at least one set every other day for the next two weeks!

Why Picasa Makes Me Blissful

2009-08-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

For the last few months I've been using Microsoft Office Picture Manager and GIMP to edit my most basic product photos. Lately the two programs started operating with glitches (saving the pictures darker than my edits when hitting "save" or in GIMP, losing way too much resolution when converting to .jpg) and tested the limits of my 2 GB of RAM. So I started using Picasa this last week and have not stopped raving since! The program automatically imports pictures from your device as soon as you plug it in, makes publishing online a breeze, and has the handiest retouch tool for taking off camera lens dust and spots without an expensive photo editing program. Here is a before and after example after just using the "I'm Feeling Lucky" and "Retouch" tool:

Finding Color Combos You Like - Kuler

2009-08-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

Ever have a problem determining the right color combination for your project? From choosing the right fabrics for a sewing project, designing a new brand identity, or finding the key theme for your latest paper art design, http://www.kuler.adobe.com/ can help you find your way. Create a personal account to design your own combos that can be made public so others can vote on them. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed for "Highest Rated" themes, and I find the search by "Most Popular" handy when I'm unsure which direction to take. You can also save the file for each of your themes and import them directly into your Adobe programs - super handy!

Urban Craft Uprising + Swag

2009-08-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

My friend Stephanie and I headed up to Seattle Center today to check out Urban Craft Uprising, featuring 100 vendors, demos and these awesome swag bags (to the first 100 visitors yesterday and today). We especially love the free egg cup!

This was our first time, so it was good market research to see what other Etsy crafters were making in the NW and what trends may be on the horizon. We saw a lot of organic tees and hoodies with bright backgrounds and bold black graphics and words, or nature inspired images in a lot of blues, greens, greys and browns. There were a few letterpress cards vendors with a similar palette. We also saw a lot of pendant necklaces (laser cut, glass or hammered metals), independent fashion design and softies in every shape from robots, to angry chocolate chip cookies (scrumptious delight) and felted bison.

Persian Summer Salad

2009-07-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

In my experience, the best recipes come from friends! A number of girlfriends have enjoyed this simple summer salad recipe, passed on to me from my friend Sara back in the college days. Sara is half Iranian and an amazing cook (I think her combination of compassion and generosity comes through in her cooking and recipe creation). This recipe has managed to bring a smile to everyone's face lately, so enjoy!

Persian Summer Salad

Diced, red, ripe, organic tomatoes (cherry and slicing both okay)
Diced cucumbers (Persian recommended)
Diced, mild, organic, white onion
Soft feta cheese (Pastures of Eden recommended from your local Trader Joe's)
Dried mint to taste

Toss and enjoy immediately. The salt in the cheese will draw water out of the vegetables, so the salad is best enjoyed within 24 hours. For a party, I'd recommend waiting to toss until right before serving if ingredients are chopped ahead of time.

Sweet Stitches Notecards

2009-07-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

New notecards are coming soon to our young store! These will be sold as a set of four and can be personalized with your name or desired greeting, just convo me at http://www.blissthink.etsy.com/.

We are also proud to announce 100% PCW card blanks will be making their way into our correspondence and one-of-a-kind card collections. The cardstock is bright white, Neenah Environmental 120# paper.

little t american baker

2009-07-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

I follow my best friend's blog, Concerning Pancakes, and she's started this great Project Portland objective to rediscover the parts of Portland she already knows by looking at it through a different lens and getting out of her regular routine. Inspired by her genius, I bought the eat.shop.portland guide to help me do the same, and discovered in the latest edition, the delicious breakfast at little t american baker. Not only was the environment soothing and perfect for showcasing beautiful baked goods, but the service was great. A few treats tried today that were amazing:

Baked currant doughnut (remnants in the picture posted)

Blueberry lemon scone

Biscuit with homemade strawberry jam

12 oz. latte with whole milk and honey

There prices were reasonable and their latte tasty and well prepared for Stumptown coffee (sometimes I think their beans taste a little too roasted). It's a new morning routine recommendation.

Exercise for Sewing with Control

2009-07-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

When I first started sewing, I was a very poor seamstress. Lack of skill was exacerbated by poor equipment, as I was not sure I wanted to invest a lot until I knew whether this was something I could pick up. The best early lesson I had (and really saved me from giving up completely) was learning how to sew with control. It seems like a no brainer, but I had really thought my crooked straight seams up until this point was because sewing was hard and took too much patience, and not because I just needed to learn the "feel" of my machine.

An inexpensive way to accomplish this is to draw a swirl coil or square maze on a piece of muslin or cotton scrap fabric and sew over the line as close as possible. This helped me experiment with speed control and making smooth curves and corners on a basic straight stitch. The fabric is so cheap, you can keep trying until you get it right. I'd also recommend using a high contrast color thread so you can clearly see the quality of the stitch and learn what tension your machine requires on this type of fabric. For aspiring sewers out there, enjoy and good luck!

A Fabulous Musical Education

2009-07-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

Growing up I was not exposed to a lot of contemporary music, so I do not have many memories attached to songs I heard in high school (and have the effect of warming my heart years later), or those that got me through a hard time, which is something I hear so often from friends. I did not think it particularly strange my life was this way until I decided to commute by mass transit a few years ago, and procure an iPhone to enhance the experience.

As soon as I uploaded my limited CD collection into iTunes (admittedly composed mostly of Bollywood hits from Lagaan, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas) and started searching for those few bands I knew vaguely of, I set off on what I imagine will be a lifelong journey of discovering all genres of music, and making time to seek and appreciate new musical talent in many forms, and the deep complexity of lyrics some artists have managed to achieve.

Fortunately, my friends have helped me along the way and I had a great experience this last weekend when we went to see Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago in The Rose Garden. I discovered a number of songs that made me so happy, it was impossible to not dance the night away despite having injured my neck earlier that day. If you're in the same boat I am, or are ready to revisit this band's musical works, songs I'd recommend adding to your playlist include:

Chicago: Saturday in the Park, You're the Inspiration, Hard to Say I'm Sorry, Colour My World, Hard Habit to Break

Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star, September, Let's Groove

Building a Light Tent

2009-07-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

I tackled building an inexpensive light box based on a tutorial from Jeffrey Bail that I stumbled upon vis a vis Sugar Panda's blog (thank you!). Fortunately I had all the materials on hand, and was able to put a Bankers box to use, reinforcing the cut sides with 3M Super Strength clear packing tape before taping on white cotton cloth. The box is lined with white bristol board and I am using a 6 megapixel camera snap-and-shoot for the following sample shots. One good reason for using a Bankers box was the double reinforced bottom and handle sides that fold in give added strength to an otherwise fairly thin box, and the thin sides make life easier when cutting the holes.

I experimented with many combinations of side lighting with halogen and full spectrum lamps, and halogen lighting from the top for cards standing up without the fabric on the top of the tent yielded the best shots. For flat card shots, I flip the fabric flap back onto the top of the light box. The biggest problem I'm battling with now is the lens on my camera...it seems to add a bend in the focal point of the image. But again, for using what I have, not bad for a quick afternoon project!

Craft Extravaganza

2009-07-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

Some serious crafting took place at my house this weekend, and product possibilities were born from taking time to learn some new techniques, including notepads (using padding compound) and pocket-sized notebooks with a staple binding. Projects included items purchased on Etsy such as glass pendants, key fobs, cute-as-a-button bobby pins and embellishments for everyday notecards. I highly recommend Sun and Moon Craft Kits for the glass pendants, MamaSheCrazy for the fobs, and the ThaiFabShop for great cabochons and bobby pins with an 8 mm pad for applying embellishments like vintage buttons and fabric flowers. More complete pictures of our craft day are posted at my friend's blog, Concerning Pancakes.

Recycling Candle Jars

2009-07-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

Today my friend Marilyn graced my desk with a beautiful, recycled glass jar candle. Like so many of us, she burns a lot of candles at home, and instead of getting rid of the containers or throwing them in the recycling bin, she started saving them and actually took the next step in giving them a second life. After purchasing some wax, wicks, scents and coloring, she was able to pour to her heart's content! It's a simple idea, but so smart I could not pass up the opportunity to share the most blissful moment of my day.

Art Lessons from Grandma

2009-07-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

Recently my grandmother passed away, and in thinking of her legacy, I was reminded of the many times I spent drawing with her or working on craft projects at the kitchen table in their old house in the country. She taught me a lot as she was an accomplished drawer (the old pencils depicted were part of my grandparent's art stash which I now cherish) and both her and my grandpa encouraged me throughout my life to develop creatively. I also remember making paper dolls with her many times, and the wonderfully elaborate outfits that she made without drafting or reworking! Though I was adopted from another country, her and I had not only these common interests, but also a mole in the same spot on our left feet, our favorite color was yellow and our favorite cookie chocolate chip. She and I were a good match.

With a gorgeous rolling lawn, all kinds of wildlife, a manicured garden and picturesque view of the mountains out their back door, I remember thinking, "Ah, this is the life." And add crafts and cookies, I was in hog heaven! Those beautiful memories I am able to use as motivation to keep my creative life moving forward, carrying the torch of my grandmother's legacy and belief in me as an artist. As a nod from her talent and support, I pursued photorealistic rendering as well, and here are a few examples of my early work while she was alive.

The Joys of Studio Organization

2009-07-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

As a crafter, artist and entrepreneur, one of the struggles of keeping organized is the amount of equipment to store and the space needed to let the creative juices flow. As my studio organization has been in flux the last year while building my business (from the bottom up from the dining room table...and also the garage, the bedroom converted into the studio, and the kitchen too, he he), I think I've finally hit an organizational groove that works for my business, my sanity, and my family too!

Some of the successes I've found are these reconfigurable, plastic white shelves. I use them for local shows and what is shown are two units from Storables. The shelf bottoms pop out and provides structure and stability no matter which way the shelves are arranged. They are very light, easy to clean and portable too, and break down into a handled box approximately 16" square. I also hit IKEA and found some great bookshelves (three shown) with hidden storage underneath to house two sewing machines and all the notions, all my card blanks and envelopes, a number of embellishments, and my jewelry making stash. For the size of my studio, they make organization so easy I can focus more on designing and creating during the precious free time I have away from my day job, rather than moving boxes of supplies from one room to the next.

What is Blissful Thinking?

2009-06-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

What is blissful thinking? It’s what makes you happy. It’s what makes you feel alive. It’s what gets you through the day. And the best part is that it’s flexible; because what brings you a blissful feeling today might not be the same for tomorrow. By allowing oneself to enjoy any moment, thought, project or discovery as it happens, each day will hold more bliss. And while it is true that some days have very little bliss at all, if you are looking for it (even in the smallest measurement) you can find it.

Everything created here at Blissful Thinking Studio is created because it makes happiness. And what makes this artist happy is not just one type of thing. That is why I sew, draw, construct, stamp, design, photograph, doodle and teach. I like to learn, too. There is so much to know about how to make better products, what materials are truly friendly to the environment, ways to be more efficient….and the list goes on and on.

I derive joy from learning new things and then putting them to practice. The more I learn the broader my scope of creativity can get. The more creative I am, the happier I become. The happier I am, the more enthusiasm I have to learn. The more I learn….and the cycle continues.

As things move forward here at Blissful Thinking Studio I will post tutorials, share thoughts and ideas and just have a good time. I welcome you to share your blissful thinking with us as well and email me at tai@blissfulthinkingstudio.com if you want to join our mailing list and the blissful family!