Thursday, October 2, 2008

The logs have taken over my life!

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

Things have been crazy busy here. As you can see by the title, the logs have taken over. . .
Pile of Logs!
All I do these days is make logs. And I'm kinda growing to hate them a bit. I know. . . I know. . . they're cute, and as an objective outside observer I love them to bits and pieces but I'm just so sick and tired of making them! I feel like a rockstar who's not allowed to play any song other than her hit. I am Skynard. . . the logs are my Freebird.

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

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

AND whenever I DO design something new it goes right on over to CraftStylish. . . and STILL some of those ideas are log inspired. . .
Stuffed Buche de Noel with mushrooms and holly
I've got logs on the brain!!!

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

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

Log Hearts and Log Puppies,
Log erika

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

imagine how much more sick of them you'd be if you were still painting them all individually! what about sewing the side seam and branch by machine, then hand sewing the ends on. i think the hand stitching stands out most on the ends.

erika said...

HA! Yeah, I've been thinking about that a lot! Yeah, that's one of the ideas I've been thinking about. Might just have to try it tonight.

Anonymous said...

I know the feeling. I make plush dolls and the most popular doll is a little "nerd" doll. It's so time consuming and exhausting-I find myself locked away for days, but I love the end result....
BTW, I love your logs!! I can appreciate the time and craftsmenship you put into it!!

:D Kristine
Sweet & Sour Goodies

erika said...

Thanks! Yeah, that's just how I feel. It's exhausting but I love the end result. I just miss making other things. . .

CCR said...

I love the logs. I get the bored feeling though. Hate to sound moneygrubbing but charge more. It may still be mundane but at least you are getting paid more for your great product.
Best Wishes.

Rebecca Ramsey said...

You make the coolest things!
I'm glad to find you and your blog!
Becky

erika said...

CCR- Yeah. . . my friend suggested the same thing. I'm gonna try it come November.
Becky- Thanks so much! I hope it entertains!

Anonymous said...

I think maybe, just maybe, you need an intern!

chri said...

I found you BEFORE the logs, so I would venture to say that you are NOT a one trick pony. I have fallen in love with your holiday items (and bought them), your pin cushions (and bought them), your pillows (and bought them), your purses (and bought them) and YES, the LOVABLE logs.

What I am trying to say is this-- you are supremely talented, and I plan on doing some holiday shopping again with you this year, and guess what? It probably won't be logs that I buy.

Every artist goes through a slump especially when they are a one woman log factory..... this too shall pass. Keep up your incredibly creative, amazingly superb handcraftsmanship and your independent business- you are an inspiration to us all.

Anonymous said...

очень молоденькая порно онлайн http://free-3x.com/ порно школа free-3x.com/ очень молодые онлайн порно [url=http://free-3x.com/]free-3x.com[/url]

Anonymous said...

Brim over I assent to but I dream the list inform should have more info then it has.