Labeling Myself

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The past couple of months have been full of new ideas and organizing the old ones. You wouldn't believe the progress made in the studio apartment since January. I've gone about out that plan for years(!) now, but, finally, with the help of a couple of great friends, things are slowly coming together. I think the guy at the local thrift shop gets nervous when he sees my car pulling in -- again! However, no photos until it's done, maybe a couple more months. 
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The calicodaisy etsy shop has been buzzing with custom orders for monogrammed pillow covers. Looks like the initial-only monogrammed pillow covers are the new trend. Other than finding great fonts in large sizes to embroider out, one letter makes the job very easy. 
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What do you think about my new shop and avatar logo for calicodaisy etsy? I've been following Ink Obsessions for more than a year trying to come up with a design for the brand. None of my specific ideas have been really perfect yet, but Erin creates shop and blog graphic sets through her Erin Bradley Designs etsy shop, and I found the design above which seems just right for the shop and avatar appearance. 

Now that that's settled, I need a new fabric label design. I can go with the design at the top of the post, as Erin has an M2M service for made to match graphics in proper sizes for labels, stickers, etc. My problem is that both "calicodaisy handmade" and "calicodaisyhandmade.com" are long URL names to use on a label, and I feel like I need the ".com" address on the label so folks can find me online. I can add ".com" on the square logo somehow, but in my mind's eye, I worry that it is too heavy and ruins the pretty little square. 

I've been reading a lot of "the art of business" information lately. My head is full, but I'm trying to take one idea at a time. It seems to me that I need to figure out another URL to shorten my ".com" address and tie the two addresses to the designed website I already have (just what I need -- to own another url address). Last year I thought of using CDH dot com – for calicodaisy handmade, however, a consulting group has that one. Thinking on it, I could add a word right after CDH that means something to the business, like cdhsews dot com. If that turns out to be a good idea, my logo could be something like CDH with a whimsical flower superimposed over or around the letters and the shortened URL right underneath, and that might pull everything together. 

Do you have any ideas for me? Does a better short word come to mind to add right after CDH? 

Sweet! Couple of Weeks

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The last couple of weeks have pointed toward one moment: The moment our son returned from Germany on school break yesterday, Valentine's Day. Just perfect. The weather was gorgeous, the flights were on time, and I am so happy to have everyone home right now just where they should be! 

Do you crochet? I made up those little hearts at the top on Sunday during breaks at work. Once I got going and timed myself (I am production oriented and like to know down to the minute what my efforts are worth!), each took about six minutes. A garland should be ready for next Valentine's Day; however, now I'm thinking about a petite flag garland created out of stripey sock yarn. The heart pattern is at Skip To My Lou. She always has fun things to try. 
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Work in my studio this month has been pillows, pillows, pillows. The monogrammed pillow cover above flew off to Brussels last week. Belgium?? It's inconceivable to me that someone from Belgium where beautiful handcrafting abounds (right? lace, and I'm sure other needle arts) wanted something custom made by me. A man, no less, who was designing something for his sweetie. Sweet!  
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A new design came to me from an etsy customer. Letter pillow covers. Just the initial monogrammed with a period after. Fun. Typographical. New idea. The hardest part of this is finding substantial fonts to fill the area without looking lost. 

Well, I stayed home from Bible study tonight because I've been in the studio sewing half the day and online designing with new folks that have stopped by the shop. I never got to my transcription and must turn that in by the stroke of 12, so must move on. 
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Meanwhile, I'll be delighting in the handcrafted chocolate champagne truffles my boy brought home to his mama. Lush!  Love!  Sweet! 

For French Inspired Decor

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My studio time seemed to be all about pillow covers in January.  A couple of custom orders required that I run out to the designer home dec fabric store, and I found these great fabrics.  The one at the top is ooh la la gorgeous!  Wouldn't a chair upholstered in that be fantastic?  
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This one is such a a great find.  A feedsack design style on lovely home dec fabric.  The theme is "Tea en Provence."  Love it in the lumbar pillow style.  Going back down to sew up some more designs this evening.