Saturday, December 06, 2008

Giving. Helping. Changing.

This year let's make a difference by changing someone's world for the better. Here's a great way to get started. This is a wonderful and short video to lead the way.....

Monday, November 24, 2008

The Dark Side of Technology

Yarsh! You're probably wondering why my website hasn't been updated since last week. You may also we wondering why my Etsy page was empty the last time you visited. I promise you I'm working to remedy that and here's why.....

Last week our computer hard drive crashed. BIG TIME! We lost tons of pics and worst of all I lost my website files. So, I've got to redesign my site and the DCM site from scratch. Sounds awful? It is.

We sorta solved the problem by buying a new computer, BUT we found out that our old software doesn't work on the newer operating system. So, not only did we lose our data but we lost the ability to use Photoshop and our web applications. More Yarsh! I thought I'd be able to make updates and start my new site today, but now we've got to figure out what software we need to buy and how much it's going to cost.

Just in time for the holidays. yea. (sense the sarcasm)

It's not all bad. I love our new computer. It's so cute. We're running Leopard now and it's quite stylish. I also like that I now have the latest IPhoto and IMovie etc.

I just added a few new items to my Etsy page and I'll add more later tonight and tomorrow. So, you'll be able to shop again. Be sure to stop by Make and House of Dang to see what's in stock and I'm bringing new goodies to them this week.
If you want to place any custom orders, please do so before November 30th if you want them before Christmas. :)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Girlie Show 2008



What a fantastic weekend we had!!!! It really was perfect from beginning to end. Let me tell you all about it......


We left for OKC in the early day and really had an nice drive and enjoyed the weather and the music and especially the Carl's Jr. that we picked up along the way. I swear they have the best fast-food chicken sandwich. Yum. We arrived at the Public Farmers market building, which is a gorgeous, historic space with wood floors and high ceilings and giant windows. Our load-in was really pretty easy, because I wisely didn't bring the grids and I had no ceramic pieces with me. All of my mafia girls were there setting up and I was very happy with my space because it was well lit. :) The time flew by and before we knew it, it was time to get changed and ready for the people. Oh, the people!!!! There was a line that snaked around the block 3 times. It was crazy.



We proceeded to be swamped for the rest of the night until around 11:45 when it slowed and finally quieted down. I managed to make it through the whole night with heels on, but when the clock struck midnight I was back in my Chucks.

Sales were great and everyone had a swingin' time. We saw everything that night! There was a guy in full Liberty spikes and girls wearing ceramic corsets and we saw lots and lots of color in everyones hair. It's a see and be seen situation there and we were really diggin' it. I saw 4" heels and 5" heels and roller skates and multi-colored tights and tutus. The creativity was flowing all around. There were toddlers dressed like punks and women wearing feather eyelashes, it was incredible. They had so much great food and pink martinis and the DJ was rockin' it all night.


The next day was much more peaceful and the crowd was more subdued, but it was still a really fun day. They had live bands and Sara Sara Cupcake bakery was serving everyone the most delicious cupcakes. We handed out almost all of my biz cards and I was really happy to meet more people and get to chit-chat a bit. Kent stole away for part of the afternoon to shop for vintage records and get us checked into the hotel. We finished the day strong and then I finally had a minute to walk around and snap a few pics and say Hi to everyone.



When it was all said and done, we met with the mafia group and Pamela Michelle and Claudia's Burning Ink for sushi. We were laughing so hard by the end of the meal because Tara and Megan told the craziest stories. It was really fun. We said our goodbyes and headed for our crazy-cool hotel. We stayed at the Hyatt Place and were pleasantly surprised to find out it was the size of a small apartment and had a 50' flat screen tv with HD. Nice. We made cocoa and munched on Chex mix while watching The Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton. What could be better?

The next morning we slept late and then took our time checking out and having brunch. Our drive home was smooth and we were feeling very grateful for how wonderful the weekend had been. Sunday afternoon we caught up on our Stars games and ate BBQ. Monday morning we eagerly picked up our pups from the boarding house and after a very high-spirited reunion, we went home.

The Girlie Show is really a unique experience and I am so thankful to have been a part of it again. Thank you to all the Girlies and to everyone for their encouragement and help over the weekend. :)

Adios mi amiga.

Well, the news is grim. Cuquita's, a legendary Dallas eatery has given up it's original location. I having been eating at Cuquita's for nearly 20 years and I can remember when it was just a small house with 10 tables. My mother introduced me to their authentic Mexican cuisine and I have always associated Cuquita's with comfort and home. Like no other, Cuquita's created a menu rich with tradition and they stayed true to the old ways of Mexican cooking. Kent and I had our very first dates there and it had stayed a favorite for us both. At least once a month we went for lunch and almost always had our favorite dish Chilaquiles. I have yet to find a restaurant that served Chilaquiles like Cuquita's does. We are both convinced that they also have the very best salsa we've ever eaten.

Yes, there are other locations that have opened up over the years, but all my memories come from the Henderson restaurant. We knew something might be brewing when new development began in the area. First, the houses began disappearing and then small stores and soon the over-priced apartments popped up in their place. Jerry's supermarket was demolished to make way for trendy restaurants with valet parking. I thought Cuquita's would survive it. They were packed for breakfast, lunch and dinner but as the economy failed they became less busy. We were saddened to hear the news that they were calling it quits, but we have hope that a new location with open up somewhere near East Dallas very soon.


Many people wonder why I don't have much affection for Dallas. It seems that in Dallas appearances are what is most important, not history and not tradition. There is no respect for historical architecture or the memories of those that have come before us. Tear down the old to make way for the new. That's how it goes here. Time and time again we've seen the beautiful houses of the 20's, 30's and 40's demolished to be replaced by cookie-cutter McMansions. Lakewood is literally disappearing before our eyes. The problem is that new isn't always better. Whatever comes in place of Cuquita's will not be better, it couldn't be. I see Henderson being torn to bits and the community that once lived there has been scattered and driven away. When will it end?

Yesterday we treated ourselves. We drove up north to the Spring Valley Cuquita's and had a wonderful lunch. It was delicious and comforting and reminded us that all is not lost. I encourage you to try it for yourself someday.

Favorite items: Chilaquiles con Chorizo, Chicken Enchiladas con Mole, Gorditas, Carne Tampiquena, Caldo

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

This is an interesting and fun idea. I was inspired to do it by Martha and she was inspired by other bloggers. I changed the order up just a little bit, but it's the same concept. So here it goes...

Answer the questions below, do a Google Image search with your answer, take a picture from the first page of results, post it to your blog with little or no description added.

1. Age you'll be on your next birthday?


2. What is your favorite color combination?


3. Your favorite food?
Chicken in Mole Sauce


4. Your favorite place?
The Village in NY


5. The place you would most like to travel to?


6. The city you live in?


7. Your significant other?
Yes, when I google my husband's name his picture comes up!


8. Your favorite T.V. show?


9. Your favorite piece of clothing?


10. Your ideal pet?


11. Your worst habit?
Sleeping til' 11am.


12. Your worst fear?


13. Your first job?
Craft Store


14. Your dream job?


15. Something you want to do before you die?
Travel the world.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Bazaar musings.

Last weekend I was able to be a part of the Urban Street Bazaar that took place in Oak Cliff in the Bishop Arts District. The weather was just perfect and we had a huge turnout. Overall the day was really fantastic. Kent and I even brought our Scrabble game and managed to sneak in a match during the afternoon. I met lots of new people and had a wonderful reunion with an old friend. The day was full of good surprises. Thanks to Julie and the staff at Make for hosting!!!

Here are some of the highlights in pictures.....





Sunday, September 21, 2008

Jennifer Perkins was here.

So, Saturday had a bit of excitement built into it.  
Yes, a very cool thing happened and I just have to share it with you.  Jennifer Perkins of the famous Naughty Secretary Club was in Dallas teaching a class at Make studio.  I had the privelege of getting to meet her and hang out for a bit.  She is of course the reason that I ever had the courage to step out on my own and start a crafting business.  Six or seven years ago I found her online and saw that she was making resin jewelry and selling it.  That seemed pretty amazing to me, because the craft world was still beginning it's transition into cool and the market was not yet saturated with sites like Etsy.  Jennifer's commitment to her craft and success as a female entrepreneur gave me just the encouragement I needed to get started with Superchica.  Her involvement in starting The Austin Craft Mafia was even more inspirational and seeing how each of the members of the ACM have found success just pushed me to work harder.  

So, after all these years I finally had my chance to meet her, and I was glad to find out that she's really nice.  Recently, Jennifer has found success with two shows on television, a wildly successful craft business and a book.  I try to remind myself that she started at home, doing her projects on her own just like me and maybe someday I'll take things to the next step.  

Of course I scored a copy of her new book and she signed it!  woo!

Be sure to check out Jennifer's site and find out more about how she's carved out a crafty niche just for herself.  
NaughtySecretaryClub

Thursday, September 18, 2008

I'm stressin'

Well, it's not all that bad. September usually gets kinda crazy for me and all the other crafting chicas out there. This year I'm doing a half dozen shows before Christmas, so be sure to check my shows and events page for updates and specific info.

In the next 2 weeks I really need to amp up and create new work for The Urban Bazaar, Etsy and other stores that currently carry Superchica goodies. My studio will be buzzing. My finger is finally healing!!! Yeah! After several weeks of wearing giant and sometimes embarrassing bandages, I finally went out yesterday with a naked finger. It's still a little tender, but I know that it's completely closed up and on the mend. The scar on the other hand might be pretty noticeable. I'd post a pic, but you don't really need to see it. ;)

Also, I have to admit I'm spending way too much time on the computer, when I should be in the studio. The problem is that I have so many online responsibilities. You know what I mean. For starters, there is my website and then the DCM website and my blog, then I have to update my Twitter, Etsy, Indie Public and MySpace pages. The biggest time bandit these days is Facebook. ( I shake my fist and FB and then I give it a kiss.) Because I have a high school reunion on the horizon, everyone has come out of the woodwork and joined FB. Ultimately it's a good thing, but it is sooooooo easy to get too focused on checking the status of everyone and commenting on photos etc. Yeesh. The other thing I'm just a little obsessed with is joining Etsy chat rooms. Do you do this? It's really fun to meet other artists and look at their work and read as people gab about all sorts of crazy things. I'm in there almost every night now. I need sun exposure.

Just to finish up this post quickly I present a Superchica Montage...because you've got to have a montage.
• Working on cuffs and heabands
• Having lunch with old friends and loving it
• Getting frustrated with my dogs when they get belligerent
• Loving on my kitty "Pickle" after her surgery
• Frolicking in the yard because the weather is incredible
• Posting pics online and cursing at my computer because it's so slow
• Happily whipping up batches of Rice Krispy Snacks
• Anxiously awaiting Halloween
• Keeping myself calm when I realize how much I have to do!

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Rotary Wars

Oh man. I really did it this time. One of my favorite sewing tools, that I often say I can't live without is a rotary cutter. Just in case you don't know, it's like a pizza cutter, but the round cutting blade is as sharp as a razor, maybe sharper. I'm always careful when I use it. Well, almost always. Yesterday I was working in my studio, sewing and altering a cuff. While I was cutting fabric and using a cutting ruler to stabilize the blade, I neglected to realize where my hand was resting. Of course it became abundantly clear when the blade made direct contact with my finger, cutting half way through. Alone and not knowing just how bad it was, I was pretty scared. I did what seemed right and put my finger in my mouth, keeping pressure on the wound just until I could get to the sink and put it under the water. When I finally did, it was clear how bad it was and I called Kent. He talked me down from the ledge and I managed to get it cleaned and dressed but I was wondering if I really should get stitches. I called the local PrimaCare and they quoted me an astronomical price to see a doctor, so I ruled it out. Old school, home health care was my only option. As usual! Yar.


So, for all you crafters out there I give you a warning. Not that you didn't already know it, but your rotary cutter could actually take your finger off. Truly and painfully. I wonder if they sell some kind of protective glove that we sewers can wear when cutting? Hopefully my finger will heal up well with diligence on my part to clean it and keep it tightly wrapped. It might be a hideous scar, but with Halloween right around he corner I should fit in nicely.

Oh and if your wondering how I'm managing to type this.... a year of typing class in high school has somehow given me the ability to use my other fingers to compensate. Who knew?

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Project Runway, naps and more.

Feeling better and ready to start going again. I'm writing while my whole pack of animals sleeps soundly, which is unusual for the middle of the afternoon when I'm home and working. They love to bring me toys and ask for hugs and stomp on my keyboard. On some days it's cute and other days it's frustrating, but for some reason, today they're sleepy and I'm free to type away.

So what do you think about this season of Project Runway? At first I thought it was a less talented group than last year, but I think I'm seeing some strong contenders emerge. The Drag challenge was so fun! I absolutely loved what Joe did with his pink jump suit. I was amazed by the fit, it was like a glove.

I think next week is another recycling episode and those are my least favorite. Why assemble a group of talented designers and then give them garbage to sew with? Has anyone else been thinking that Tim is kind of "out of the picture" this year? I wish they would show more of his critiques. His input is really interesting for me as a seamstress and designer.

This week I really need to decide what I want to do for Halloween. I'm thinking of designing a group of ceramic pieces to put on Etsy. Maybe a line of cuffs and necklaces too? Maybe a headband with cat ears or a pumpkin bag? Designing Halloween merch is my absolute favorite thing to do, but for some reason I always wait until it's too late. Not this year!

Alright. Lastly... The Beijing Olympic ceremonies were so inspiring to me as an artist and as a human being. They proved what we can do if we try and how a vision can become reality, no matter how outrageous it may seem.




Oh! They're awake. I now have a 35 lb dog in my lap and another jumping at my side. Must have moved around in my chair too much. :)

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Laugh about it.

Alright, so I'm sick at home and little bit miserable. So, of course I turn to the internet to entertain me and what do I find? I found this page called YearbookYourself.com. It's crazy. You upload a picture of yourself in B/W and it automatically puts your face into a yearbook photo. You can choose 1950-2000. Some of them were too hideous to imagine and some were just hilarious. I made a montage of the ones that made me giggle. Hope you like it. This is what happens when I'm not feeling well and boredom takes over. It's dangerous.

You can see me blonde, nerdy, mod, bookish etc. Last one is really me. I can't believe they look so different, even though the face is the same. Feel free to vote for the best look! Maybe I'll get a new do.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Post Pony Post

Aaaaaaahhhh. Yes, it's over. The Shop Pony Show is in the past, but it has left me with good memories. Truly, this was my first "big" show since NY in December. The experience has left me feeling energized about my work and ready to go forward.
There was some really cool stuff at the show. Really, I had to hold back from buying to save my budget. I did score some extremely yummy candles from Dark Candles. Her Halloween collection smells amazing. My favorite one is the Chocolate Bat. Just try and keep from eating it!

Another of my favorite vendors was Claudia's Burning Ink. She had the booth across from me and I was really impressed with her wooden creations. She's got a style similar to mine, so I'm partial. She's super sweet too and I hope to work with her again.

Yes, It was really steamy in the middle of the afternoon. Not sure what caused the spike in temperature inside the building, but it definitely had me feeling a bit woozy. Still, the crowds were exciting and I loved, loved, loved the space we were in. The artwork on the walls was so cool!

I spent about 2 minutes with the pony. Her name is "Lady" and she was really cute. Rumor has it, she recently had a baby and this was her first time out since the big event. During our visit she whinnied several times, which was louder than you'd expect. I thought she might be scared of me, but her handler said she just wanted to get back into her trailer and was telling him so. Then she left a little "gift" on the floor and I excused myself.

The swing dancers were so inspiring. Gosh, I wish I could dance really well. For years Kent and I have been saying "Let's take swing lessons.", but we never do it. I hear they have a swing party every weekend, so maybe we'll go to one of them in the future.


Gee wiz! My headbands were the big hit! I didn't expect that, but I sold more headbands than anything else. They're totally new for Superchica and I like making them. So, more headbands it is. There was a super cute girl at the show and I think her name was Heather. She was absolutely determined to buy one of the headbands and so she did. She even accessorized it with her own band on top. Her mother told me that she wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. Maybe one day we'll see her work on the runways.


I hope you had a chance to come out and experience it for yourself. Thanks to everyone that supported me.
We hope to do another one next year, so be sure to visit The Dallas Craft Mafia site to see pictures from the event and to sign up for our newsletter and get info about more shows.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Oh, and this too!


So, I also wanted to say that I have been really working to fill my etsy page. I've also been shopping etsy lately and doing a daily "pounce". Please take a minute to visit my etsy page and maybe even *heart* me.

http://www.superchica.etsy.com

My August.

It has been a while since my last post and I have a lot to catch up on. First of all, you probably noticed that I totally re-vamped my website. I thought it was time to simplify my look and hopefully it's easy to use. Secondly, I've really changed my work and have focused almost entirely on fabric arts. Ceramics will still be in my collection, but only during the holidays. For now, I'm happily sewing and painting things that are soft. No more yards of bubble wrap!

This week is all about preparation as The Show Pony Show is coming up this weekend on Aug 17th. This is my first real show since December!!! Can you believe it? Me neither. Well, it promises to be great. The Dallas Craft Mafia is hosting and has chosen over 25 vendors for you to shop from. We've also arranged to have a sweet pony in the afternoon, which is really cool. I'll have an 8x8 booth of just Superchica goodies. Be sure to stop by and get into one of the raffles.

My other big news is that we adopted another dog! Yes, we're totally insane. Totally. She's unbelievably sweet and cute and we are happy to have her, even if it means more work. I was running errands a few days ago and there she was wandering the streets near a busy intersection. She had no collar and no micro-chip. It turns out she's had a litter of puppies at some point and has not been spayed. She's only 8 months old and must have had quite the life. Nat and Arlo or beginning to accept her and the cats seem to be saying "Eck, another one!" and "Oh, whatever.". So, things have been a little topsy turvy this past week. By the way, we named her Tilda.

Oh, and yesterday was my birthday! Woo! Kent and I had a yummy lunch at Houston's restaurant. If you haven't been there, I hope you get to go sometime soon. I just love the food and the service is really good plus they keep it dark. Nice. Then we finally went to see The Dark Knight. Sadly, I think it wasn't worth all the hype it's received, although I thought it was very good. Not excellent, but really good.

Right now I'm dying fabric for some of the pieces I'll have available this weekend. I really hope you can come out and shop or just say "hi". This show is a good test for my new work. Right now I have pieces at House of Dang and Make, but I'm still not sure how the newest items will be received in a show environment. We'll see!

Friday, May 30, 2008

It's like candy!

Today I came across something fun and completely new to me. Some of you sewing people may have already seen these and are wondering what took me so long, but I'm finally in the know. It's the "Jelly Roll" by Moda! These touchable little gems are a quilters dream but for people like me they mean a world of possibilities. What's a Jelly Roll? Well, it's a circular bundle of fabric strips measuring 2 1/2" wide. Each roll has a theme and will include 40 strips of fabric. There is even a club you can join through which you can receive a Jelly Roll each month. Who knew? Visit Fat Quarter Shop for more details.

Also check out this super cute Monkey fabric! It's also from MODA. Don't you think it would make the best party dress for a little girl?

Monday, May 12, 2008

Treat yourself.

Wanna be the coolest kid on the block? It's easy. Check out some of these amazing accessories from two super-swell sites.

Grab this stellar wallet for only $12 from Gamma-Go


Browse through the many wallet designs for $20 at Poketo... cheap and stylish, no doubt.



Score a crazy cool shirt for $28 also from Poketo