Hi ya’ll!

So it’s not 4 AM, and I’m not Walmart (thank God), but I am offering a little bit of a sale. 
FREE SHIPPING for all US orders.  For international orders, $5 of shipping!  That means if shipping is less than $5, it’s free, but if it’s more, you’ll get $5 off! 

Just let me know how you found me in the Notes to Seller section when checking out!  Just something simple, “Etsy search for calendar,” or “the Ugly Kitty website.”  I can either send a revised invoice or refund the shipping if you’d like to just run through the checkout.

My UglyKitty will be representing at the Squidfire Winter Art Mart on Sunday, December 7th!  Check us out from 12-6:30 at the Lyric Opera House (110 West Mount Royal Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201).  I’ll be at the DC Craft Mafia Booth!

I was nominated for the Dinvine Caroline “Love This Site!” Contest!

Please take a second and vote!  Thanks!

How do you people do it?  Seriously?  I haven’t updated this in a month!  How am I to create loyal readers if I can’t post more than once a month? =P  And it’s not that I don’t enjoy writing posts (note the purposeful omission of the term “blogging”), I like writing.  I find myself rather amusing , but seriously, there is so much going on in everyone’s lives, I just don’t how you do it.

Ok, so basically this is all stemming from my recent discovery of this Mac Mail RSS reader thing.  I’m sure you’re all familiar with this feature, but Ms. UglyKitty isn’t always the first to pick up on trends (which reminds me, I want some slouchy boots to go with my new skinny jeans).  Anyway…I just spent the last hour adding feeds to this reader thing…34 total. So far.  That’s 34 blogs that I try (or would like to) keep up with every day.  They all feature fabulous people, fabulous creations, and fabulous fabulocities that turn my bring into an inspired mush.  

There are so many amazing people and artists out there that I find my head just swimming with “Ooh, I should make that”s.  So I guess all this is a roundabout way of getting to my real point…is it better to focus on one type of craft or style or do whatever you feel like.

I’ve noticed that the successful shops have definite themes or at least styles to them:  vintage, rustic, simple, elegant, etc.  Or they focus on one thing:  all baby clothes, but in different styles.  I’ve never found myself to be the type of person who can focus on one style or craft and I’m beginning to think that it’s hurting not helping me.  

I’ve applied to several craft shows recently that I haven’t gotten in to, and when looking at the vendors who were accepted, they all seem to have a specific theme going for themselves.  I mean, I feel the need to refine my overall aesthetic and create more cohesive lines, but I can see myself staring off into the distance and longing to twirl.  So, I guess my question is…is it better to stick to one thing or follow every inspiration and make whatever you damn well feel like?

So I haven’t been around much…like at all.  Between traveling for work, invitation orders, and getting ready for the UnUsual Suspects Show (see previous post) things have been hectic to say the least.  Oh, and I have a cold so all I really want to do is watch Law and Order SVU, Dirty Jobs, and Unwrapped with an Ugly Kitty on my lap.

Well, during that time, I did manage to complete my newest pride and joy – Quasi calendars!!

I may be a bit biased, but seriously, isn’t she adorable.  You can almost feel the sneeze on the back of your neck.  

I designed each one from some of my favorite photos.  They’re laser printed on white cardstock and come in these nifty little CD jewel cases that double as a holder.  You just open and flip back – too clever!  Anyway, they’re in the shop!

(blatantly copied from the DC Craft Mafia Website)

Your shopping list that is! We’ve got an amazing group of artists and crafters lined up for the DC Craft Mafia Unusual Suspects Arts & Crafts Fair on Saturday, November 1. We’ll be sharing a little bit from each of our participants over the coming days, but you’re gonna want to see these in person!

Arty4ever
Bead Jewelry by Shopgirl
Bette’s Bags
Bitchen Stitchen
Bunny Butt Apothecary
Chiaroscuro
Cindy Cole
Class Attire
Creatively Yours Enterprises
Designs by Tia
DogStar Designs
Erica Burns Designs
Finch Metal
Flying Machine Gifts
Gayla Lee
Generations Tie Dye
Get Wired Designs
Glittery Blue
Green Porch-Lights Prints
Herban Lifestyle
huffalo designs
Jewelry Works
Keen Designs
LeMair Handcrafts
LMNOProducts
Mad Hatter Ceramics
MenoKnits
Miscelena Handmade Papercrafts
Moonlight Bindery
Nancy Nelson Jewelry
NeedleNoodles
Ninnycat
Novelty Kitten
oblinaknit
Ohmelisa!
Organidog
pinkkiss pottery
Polly Scoots
Preppy Style
REALM Jewelry
SapphireChild Orchids
Sara Rose Tutus
See Katie Sew
Shelby B’s Designs
Shobha Ohal
Something Earthy Pottery Studio
Spaghetti Kiss
SquidFire, Inc.
Sugar Paperie
The Guestroom Closet
The Palace of Varied Industries
My UglyKitty
Whamodyne
Wynn Creasy Fine Art LLC
Yellin’ Moon Designs

We were just informed that The Anastasi Room was double-booked and due to circumstances beyond our control, we got bumped. The UNUsual Suspects Craft Fair will now be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008. Same place, same time – just one day earlier.

This also means that the deadline to apply has been extended to October 1st! If you wanted to apply but weren’t available on the 2nd, you’re in luck!

Hopefully, everyone will still be available, and having the show on Saturday instead will actually bring in more traffic!

The DC Craft Mafia apologizes for the inconvenience.

So with the threatened demise of Gocco, UglyKitty has been in a mild tizzy trying to figure out a way to create a sustainable business.  She knew it was inevitable…so it was time to just bite the bullet:

I did it! 

I bought a letterpress!  It’s a Kelsy tabletop press, it cost me a fortune (thanks to a damn bidding war on Ebay – I’m sure the other person is incredibly nice and wanted the press as much as I did, but that was a nerve-wracking final minutes that I could have done with out), and I have no idea what to do with it!

It prints 5.5″ x 8″ so it’s perfect for invitaitons and it’s small enough that I got it into my basement without my parents knowing. 

Side note:  I feel a self-conscious need to explain the parents thing.  I don’t live with my parents.  Although at times I would like to.  My Mom is awesome at cooking, cleaning, taking care of me, and best of all…crafting!  She’s cut so much paper for me it’s insane and my Dad can fix anything.  Anyway…the boyf and I rent a house from them.  A house they will eventually kick us out of to retire in, but until then, we live like kings.  Kings who can’t decorate, paint, or otherwise alter the condition of the property.  Which is why I couldn’t find a majorly huge letterpress that would permanently reside in the basement or garage. OK side note done, back to the awesomeness.

LETTERPRESS! WHOOOO!

So now it sits in my basement.  Staring at me.  Taunting me. 

I have no idea what to do with it.   I put some pieces on it.  The lever-thingy pulls down and things roll and move.  And thus, we’ve exhausted my knowledge of how to letterpress.

But… I have one.  And that’s what really counts. 

I’m taking a class in October so hopefully I’ll be able to put out at least one card set by the holidays, but don’t ask me for letterpressed invitations…unless you’re getting married in 2034.  I should have it figured out by then.