Saturday, February 28, 2009

Tattoo-Style Swallow Quilt Holders on Instructables.com


I recently finished this project that has taken just about forever, it seems! And, I've published the entire process for creating these quilt holders on the website, Instructables.com. You can follow the hyperlink, or copy and paste this link:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tattoo_Style_Swallow_Quilt_Holders/

The beautiful quilt, comprised of eighty colorful and unique needlepoint butterflies, is hand-sewn by my mother, the uber-creative, Ms. Barbara Moncivais! It was actually a gift to my daughter, the adorable, Miss Milla Epelbaum. My mom has made one amazing, customized quilt for her precious grandchildren, now totalling six. I believe they are just about the coolest gift you could ever get from your grandmother, because they are truly handmade from the heart, and more than any expensive electronic gadget or wish list video game that your parents refuse to buy you, these quilts are absolutely priceless and irreplaceable. But enough about her amazing quilt! This post is about MY creation, dammit!

The process was pretty simple, which is why I chose to post it on Instructables.com. And thankfully, we have all the materials and power tools necessary to pull it off! Vadim did a superb job with cutting them out, although he thinks he's much too humble to admit that. My only roadblock was figuring out how to hang the swallows AND the quilt from the back of the birds, themselves...what hardware would do both jobs easily? Once I finally found the answer (or at least, the theory that worked!), I just had to purchase the relatively cheap eye hooks and framer's wire from Michael's, and voila! Project complete!

I do need some feedback from you oh-so-loyal readers, though, because I am seriously considering selling these. I have a couple of concerns/ obstacles (most notably, the recent Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (or, CPSIA) for small businesses, resellers, crafters, and charities, which states that all products designed for children up to age 12 must now be tested for lead; however, there are exclusions and stipulations that are and continue to be defined), but more than anything else, I realize there is a market for these puppies and I happen to be in a position to supply it!

I actually took forever to make 'em due to my own personal dysfunctional time-management strategies (or the lack thereof) when it comes to my crafty brain farts. If and when I actually create these for profit, I estimate they'll take 5 days to mak; however, once I get an assembly-line production going, the supply for demand should not be an issue...and I can make them in virtually any form!

So please let me know how much you think they're worth, or how much you'd be willing to pay for them...and be honest! I really want your constructive criticism, if you have any, and of course, your blunt estimates - for better or worse - and I do appreciate your opinions! Please just click a button in the Poll to the right and that's it!

Thanks in advance!!


In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative original thinker unless you can also sell what you create. Management cannot be expected to recognize a good idea unless it is presented to them by a good salesman.
~David M. Ogilvy

Getting Started


I am totally pumped and completely motivated to finally be, what seems to me, on the right track in my tumultuous life, at long last! I won't bore you with all the complicated details, but basically, my confidence and commencement as a public artist and philanthropist has been a long time coming.

To be brief, I am working on a few projects simultaneously, and these will be the subject matter for my posts, and hopefully a bit of encouragement for your own creativity and/ or volunteerism. Hell, if I can do it, truly, anyone can!

I really appreciate any support and comments anyone is willing to offer because, more than tooting my own little horn here, I hope to somehow embolden others in their own time and community, so feedback is essential.

Timing is everything, everything happens for a reason, and reason is the ally of intuition. With those tenets in mind, I'll close this, and hopefully each post with a relevant quote; starting with the following...


Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.

~Buddha [Likely paraphrased]