Happy Holidays!

Oh my fellow friends, you know its the holidays when you can't drive anywhere without someone annoying you, you have glitter embedded in your hands, and your coffee cup needs to be refilled twice in one hour. Well, at least that is how my holidays are looking! Oddly enough, my friends at I were talking about how it doesn't seem like Christmas. Sure, we were jipped five whole days in between Christmas and Thanksgiving, but where is the spirit?
I had my yearly Christmas party get together, which was always nice! Just a couple of friends and I, and I made fondue! We also sat around and watched the Sabres game and made ornaments with puff paint. I wanted to make candles too but we ended up going out and partying instead.
I'll probably end up making candles this afternoon or tomorrow, they are going to be very neat! I bought adorable little tins and a cinnamon scent, mm! Now I have to make some labels for the containers.
Anywho, this is what I asked for for Christmas this year. My parents were at a loss as to what to get us kids, none of us really knew what we wanted!
-Animal Crossing for the Wii: Super excited for this game, a bunch of people I know have it so it should be a lot of fun.
-Harvest Moon for the Wii: Also excited for this one! Cannot wait!
-Needle felting supplies: I've wanted to do this for a couple years now, now I'm going to make sweet needle felted mushrooms and stuff!
-Craft supplies in general: Always useful.

Well I guess that was it on my list, this year there is no outstanding thing I really wanted! I wanted a WiiFit but my dad couldn't find one anywhere so he's going to look after Christmas, what a lameo!
I'm off to continue glittering this acorn to hell, and getting glitter every where in the process. Enjoy your holidays, I'll be back soon!

PS: Check out the shop, all Holiday items are 50% off! There are a ton of other bags and goodies on sale too towards the last pages. http://tackytophat.etsy.com

It's in the name!

I've been contemplating my business name. Tacky Top Hat. Now, I really used to like it, but I feel as the days go by I am growing out of it more and more. This is a dilemma. I want to change the name before it really gets embedded into MY name. I mean, many people already know me for Tacky Top Hat, and to change it now is a big hassle as well. But before it's too late, I need to do something about it. I also feel, that if I change it now, will I become tired of it later as well like I did of this name? I have no clue what to do, I'm asking some advice from my dear boy but he doesn't seem to have a huge opinon on the topic. He says I should change it now.
So, if I should do this, which I believe it the best idea. I need to think up a name that will be transitional from age to age and be able to grow. Tacky Top Hat was a spur of the moment name, I never really gave thought to it, I don't make hats, so my name is deceiving. I do make purses, jewelry, clothing, fashion accessories, and more. What I need is a name that is still whimsical, cute, yet sophisticate and simple enough that it will not distract from the rest of my goods.
One thing that is always transitional is your name. But, I am not a huge fan of my name. Katie Gariepy Company, Katie Gariepy Goods, ugh. That just won't fly.
So now what? I guess just keep brainstorming. Maybe I'll come up with something. Ah. Wish me luck!

Craft Room- In need of a makeover.

I'm not a big one to speak about politics, but I'm very happy with the way the election turned out. I was an Obama supporter for quite awhile and I have grown to respect Mccain much more than before. The speeches both gave last night were very elegant and well put. I believe they are both great speakers and I'm proud our country made the right choice. So enough with that, we're heading in the right direction so all is well!
Lately, I've attempted organization, Martha Stewart would be proud. Unfortunately, this is not to say I am clean. Every room I own, is a mess. My craft room looks like a Joanne Fabrics exploded in here. So, I did organize one wall. These are my featured items, my favorites of the moment.

Very nice, yes? But now here is were everything goes sour.

Picture #1, sewing desk, terribly messy, rack of items for sale, not too bad! I've been working on this area the most lately, getting it all organized.
Picture #2 cutting table, screenprinting table, ugh can I even do those things on this messy table? I have storage underneath so I'm working on getting everything under there, it's too bad my mother has some of her clothes down there too though so I can't shove it all underneath. Working on finding more space for everything is the hardest part.

I will have after pictures some day in the near future! I will also show you all my neat little organizations. So far I have organized a cubboard of fabric, all my buttons into metal containers, and all my handbags and pouches for sale into dresser drawers. It's really awesome!
Now back to hand-painting Christmas ornaments, oh my they are so cute, I hope these sell!

Lip Balm, Coming soon!!

Hey guys! I'm going to start making my own lip balm, oohh ahh!
So.. what flavors would you all be interested in? I have been having a hard time trying to decide between coconut and vanilla BUT if there's another flavor you guys would love to have let me know! I'm also a little interested in strawberry, mmm fruity.

Buffalo Bags + Recent Features

I thought, it was about time I create a bag relating to the delightful city I live in. Good 'ol Buffalo, NY. So this bag is a tribute to the dear buffalo. Coming in a variety of colors with vintage zippers, these bags are all hand-painted (no screenprinting yet, sigh!). My screen is all inked up and I need to clean it but until then (because I'm rather lazy) I will be hand-painting each and every bag. I know, I'd be easier to clean the screen and yadda yadda but really, I like this just as much. Plus that makes it all the more unique. These bags are wicked cheap, only $15 (without shipping) a pop. Hollah!
I've also been getting a lot of features of my etsy all over! My etsy is poppin', I'm thinking about closing down the shop on my website because it barely gets as many views as my etsy and I've made more sales on my etsy than the website. I need some advice though, what do you guys think? Would you like to just see the etsy, and perhaps I'll put up a certain page that has all my etsy items on it on my website, then you can just click from there. I'm still a little uneasy about this idea, and I like having my domain for that reason, but perhaps I can just turn the domain into a personal with all the tacky top hat information. Let me know what you guys think! I need some serious help :)
Anywho, look where we've been featured...

Scoopalicious Blog Feature

All about my hand-painted ice cream totes, yum yum! Their blog also has some other wicked cute ice cream bags, very original and inspiring!

PlushYou! Blog Feature

Featuring my strawberry pillow plushies, so cuddly and cozy, this blogger just wants to cuddle up and sleep!

Super Cute Kawaii Blog Feature

A amazing blog about kawaii cute stuff featured us! This is very cute, she complied a bunch of our images together and talked about how we offer "something cute, something unique" which is our etsy slogan! A wonderful blog, something to defiantly keep your eyes on as well!

ArtWark Blog Feature

I was so pleased for Sarah to feature me on her blog! She's a very sweet girl I met at one of the Buffalo Indie Market shows. Her beautiful jewelry really awes me and her words are tastefully written.

Thanks for reading everyone! I have a longggg weekend ahead of me, I'm working some real early shifts and I'm probably going to sleep the rest of my time away. Until then, I will be cleaning my sewing room and my bedroom because it looks like a bomb of craft materials exploded.
Toodles!

The Scavenger Project

How rad is this...

"We're making a book and we need your help! We're going to send you a list of 24 things which will end up being the 24 chapters of the book. Each chapter is a reference to a moment, scenario, or item and we need your help visually representing each item. Every participant who sends back their images will be guaranteed at least one published photo in the book!"

So tonight is the last night... which means at this moment everyone only have one more hour! I just signed up, because I just found this while doing a little blog searching.

But anywho, I thought it sounded really neat so I'm going to give it a shot!



Other news, I'm exhausted. I cannot work for Panera anymore. Wahhh.

Apple Crisp & Hot Coco

I am feeling the autumn weather for real now. I'm sitting in my pajamas, eating apple crisp and sipping on hot coco while listening to chill out music. I do love summer, but I love this feeling even more, my favorite time of year!
I just added 30+ items to my etsy & the tackytophat shop. My plushie listings on etsy expired but I just sold a few on my main shop so I'm glad I didn't add them again! I'm working on a bunch of new plushie designs, they will be way cute, I have a bunch of ice cream cones cut out and a couple of plushies I never even got to take pictures of!
I'm also working on some really detailed and nice woven bags, I put one up, it's red and white with a zig-zag twill, lovely! I need to find more woven upholstery fabric because I'm really loving the simplicity yet impressive detail. I'm trying to do some more toned down work for the people who don't like too much, and lately I have been into really simplistic stuff myself! I just found a bunch of vintage bags while out at the local thrift store and I am really into them lately.
So in other news, my sister is going to be opening up her own for real store on Elmwood Ave!!! My goods will be sold there, wooooo! If anyone is from the area and knew where Stache used to be, I think that is where she is opening up, but we'll see what happens. I hate crossing my fingers but you never know with my sister.
I have to get another newsletter out soon this month, my list server is all wonky, hopefully all you subscribers will watch this blog more often. I promise I will update more! I'm trying as you can see.

So let's see... what is to come...
-Blog features (artists, products, etc.)
-Contests!!! This will be my favorite, I'll have people design something or come up with a cute idea, etc.
-Give Aways! Oh yes, this will probably be more fun for me too. I love to give away freebies to start off with so you can expect how happy I'll be to do this.
-More interesting freebies in your purchases. Lately I've been giving out keychains, cell phone charms, and earrings, but I'm getting a little bored of those! I want to make specific goods that you won't be able to buy but will come with for free. Just a special treat for my beloved buyers.
-Holiday goods, I talked about this last blog but they are coming!! I want to make some holiday themed plushies too but I don't know how that will go with some folks.
-My very own fabrics, I recently started uploading my patterns to spoonflower, and once I have enough money saved up for a couple of yards I'm going to splurge. They are seriously ADORABLE, and on high quality Robert Kaufman fabric. I might start re-selling some or just use it in my products. I'm not sure yet! If they become a hit and people start asking for it I'll sell it. Maybe I'll give out little bit scrap samples! OHH my mind is wandering!

Okay I need some rest, it was fun brainstorming with you!

Holidays?

I feel like I should realllyyyy be making more holiday goods. They are going to pop up sooner than I know it. So here's my list of what I'm doing and making...
Goods to Sell:
Scarves- I have a couple in the making, I'm bringing the patchwork scarf back (I have two made but no pictures yet!) and I also have these awesome plaid scarves with sparrow appliqués. Very cute. I'm thinking of doing some different kinds of patchwork, and I would love to ask my fibers teacher to weave some more scarves but they are just so time consuming I don't think I could do it.
Ornaments- I have a couple felt ones, and I also want to make fimo ones (very intricate and timely!) but once again, where is my mind and where is the time for this!
Cards- Oh, how I would love to get the scissors going against the paper, I'm working on some new illustrations for the holidays so this may be possible. And I may be able to just get them printed for me but well, who knows!
Holiday Themed Bags & Other Goods- This is very doable, and I already made a bag today, it's deep red with white throughout (the fabric is a woven upholstery fabric, awesome!). This bag is probably the most simple bag I have ever made, and I really like it. So I'm thinking I am going to make more. I also want to make little appliqués to go with and they can be little holiday guys or anything really.

What I want to make for the family & friends:
I used to buy a lot, but then I became really poor, so making things is just 100x better. Plus they are way more unique and mean more to the person receiving. Hooray!
Mom- Something for the kitchen, pot holders? Toaster cozy? I'm not sure yet but it'll be weird because she's an odd ball
Dad- Pen & pencil case or something for art supplies. Need more ideas.
Julia- A makeup case or a new tote. Some sort of bag!
Connor- A stuffed animal, a pokemon or something weird. I would make him something linerider but how the hell would I go about doing that. Hmmm... I'll find a way!
Grandma- A new bag, she needs something rad.
Grandpa- Ummmm.... yeah.
My Boy- I want to make him a man bag so bad but it is going to look so feminine. Time to test out some ideas. I also could make him a really neat scarf, some accessories.
Caroline- A purse, accessories, the works!
Scott- Once again, I would love to make a man bag.
Al's Family- Accessories and little goodies and stuff. I'm not sure, maybe I'll make the ladies some bags, hehe.

I think I covered everyone. So now it's time to get crackin'. I have a lot to do and zero time.

Let's see what's coming up...

November- Boston Trip!! It's only a weekend but I'm going to the sabres game with Al and a whole bunch of other people. We're staying at Harvard haha!
Possibley also in November- NYC trip? That would be amazing, holiday shopping for myself please.

I'm working on some brand new ideas, I think I say this every post but this one is really fab. New appliqués on bags, interchangable, with pins on the bag, ooohh cute! I can just see it now.
Alright, this is slowing me down, time to get back to the machine and crank out some more goods!

xoxo

Woah!

I have been so not dedicating my life to this blog, from now on I will try my hardest to update often! I may not be able to post this weekend because I am going Philadelphia to take my sister back home (and do some shopping!). But what has been going on? Well... I did the Buffalo Indie Market & The Quaker Arts Festival. I'm also going to be doing October's Buffalo Indie Market (I hope!) I have yet to sign up but I'm waiting until the time is right. Let me show you some pictures!

Buffalo Indie Market (September)

Quaker Arts Festival (September)

Both shows were the best I've ever done! I think I can only get better from here on. I'm working on a lot of new ideas, new things, tons of little details. I'm getting a little bit simple but also a little more intricate at the same time. Also, expect our very own fabrics. This is REALLY exciting, imagine our "Hello Fall" print in fabric form! By the way, this is a new print, which I am totally in love with, stop by the shop and pick one up, they're only $3!
I'm working on more wallets, new designs, new tags for all our products, adorable bags with felt mixtapes (I made these like... 3 years ago and they were so popular, time to bring em back!!). I also have a TON of new prints coming in the mail, they are all realllyyyy cute. Hot air balloon with smiling clouds, strawberries and cherries, and some more repeats that we ran out of!
I was also recently featured in a couple of places, the Buffalo Indie Market Blog as well as Plush You's Blog (http://plushyou.blogspot.com/2008/09/im-so-tired-i-could-cry.html) My strawberry pillows are at the end! Very neat. I'm hoping to see my work featured in more places as time goes on. We can only hope right!
Thanks everyone who reads up, hopefully you'll stick around. I promise more posts asap :)
<3 Katie

Monday Vid//Julia Pot: My First Crush

I'm going to start posting videos or little clips every monday. Open your eyes.



Sweet, adorable, I'm in love with the animation. There's not much I could say about my first crush, but these people have some sweet, some sad words.

YouTube Link