Crafting Update! What I've Made This Summer...

Since I officially closed down my Etsy shop, I've been a roll making tons of new stuff for our grand reopening.

Here's some photos of what's in... hehe... STORE! (Okay, that was awful.)

After a lot of research into polymer clay techniques, I decided I definitely needed a clay machine. I found a reasonably priced off-brand one on eBay, and it works like a charm! 

After my first venture into the world of clay canes and clay machines, I made myself a cane that looked a lot like bacon. Thanks to the clay machine, I was able to make some great pendants and button-like post earrings!

Anyone who played World of Warcraft knows that home is where the hearthstone is... These hearthstones were shaped, textured, carved, and then accented with blue glow-paint from Glow-On. After they were glazed, they were made into pins and earrings!

Jon went for a bike ride one morning while we were in Delaware, and brought back a gorgeous dead dragonfly he found! I decided to buy a shadowbox and paint a background to mount it on.

More adventures with the clay machine! I made a tiger-stripe cane and used my new cutters to make shaped pendants. The pendants on the right were from my first clay machine experiment... They're supposed to look like they're made out of real stone.

Continued fun with both the clay machine, and my new blade! By making a small millefiori cane and cutting it up into tiny thin pieces, I was able to make the wings for butterfly post earrings. I then took scrap pieces, flattened them with the machine, and used the cutters to make some some more pendants and post earrings. 

School has started up again, and since I'm looking for a veterinary internship, I'm taking it easy this semester. The only class I'm taking is Sculpture I, and we're already getting started on something big! We're going to be making a giant "Yellow Submarine" installation in our college's east atrium... but the catch is that the WHOLE THING must be made out of only newspaper, and duct tape! Today I made a Portuguese Man o' War, and it may have attacked me... :P

I'll be keeping you all updated on the continuing progress that I make in building up my shop inventory before the big reopening day!

Etsy Update! New and Returning Items!

I forgot to post an update here, but new and returning items have been added to the Etsy shop!
In addition to some new earrings designs, two favorites are back... the Team Fortress 2 Logo Earrings and the Triboniophorus Tyrannus, now in different colors!

They're just waiting to invade your home, and take up residence on your head.

Click here to visit the Etsy Shop!

HelloInterloper Loves Bully Breed Rescue!

On September 2nd, I attended a Bully Breed Rescue event at the Country Cow Deli in Fairfield, CT. Not only did I get to see my favorite bully, Drake, but I also donated some new earrings to one of their raffles!

Clockwise: Drake the mush from BBR, me getting up close and personal with an adorable puppy from Animal Nation, and my donated earrings all packed into a bag!

Chilling with Drake!

BBR is an awesome pit-bull rescue based in New Canaan that has adopted out many lovable bullies, and I've been an avid supporter ever since I met Hamilton (now named Hambone) while going to a local restaurant with my boyfriend. I am one of those annoying people who always stop and ask dog owners if I can say hello to their dog... and they were overjoyed to let me meet him! After explaining where they got their pup from, how lovable he is, and how it gets tiring seeing people literally cross the street to avoid their dog, I couldn't help but be intrigued to find out more about this rescue group and their events. (After all, I had worked as a dog washer for over half a year, and was missing working with dogs immensely!) I wasn't scared of pit bulls at this point; my job had showed me that pit bulls were some of the most loving dogs imaginable.

After attending an event in February, I was hooked. There is something hilariously cute about big, tough-looking pups wanting nothing more than to give you a kiss, get a belly rub, and a cuddle! I've been attending their events ever since. This was my first time donating however, and I hope that my earrings can help raise some money for this amazing rescue group!

I even got an Instagram "Thank You" from the Vice Pres of BBR! :)

Some glamour shots of Drake... He's currently up for adoption by the way!

Looking for a bully buddy and live in the CT/NY/MA/NJ/PA/RI/VT area of New England/Tri-State Area? Or maybe just want to find out more about Bully Breed Rescue?

Check out their website!

Bully Breed Rescue

What? Another hello.interloper?

Yes, there has been a split... there are now TWO blogs by the name of Hello Interloper.
Why?
Well, because it was convenient!

We now have a tumblr.
(Click the link to check it out.)

Now you may be asking "why on earth do you have one of those gosh-darned hipster things?" but the truth is, I am always on the go taking photos. I just started to use Instagram, and they have an option to directly upload to tumblr. It's simple, easy, and I just have to press a few buttons.

Does that mean this blog will die? Of course not. THIS blog will continue to have significant posts... posts with actual text, not just random photo uploads.
If random photos are your kind of thing though, the tumblr is free for you to peruse at your own leisure.

Before I go and return to playing mindless videogames, I leave you with a preview of my next batch of polymer clay earrings!

First New Listings of the Year!

Just completed our Etsy shop's first update of the year!
Come visit and see all the goodies we've posted!

Lightsabers, anyone? :) Click on the photo to visit the shop!

Gaming Geekery Update!

I've just updated our Etsy shop with 5 gaming-related items!
(3 styles of earrings, and 2 charms.)

Click on the photo below to see the other 4 items!

TURKEY WEEK SALE

Gobble Gobble!
Okay, so Thanksgiving is over, but I'm sure you're all munching on leftovers.
There's also another little "leftover" that you might want to check out...

Up until November 29th, Hello Interloper is having a TURKEY DAY SALE!
By using the coupon code TURKEY upon checkout, you get 15%!
Remember, there are only 4 days left, so make sure you check out the store to see if there is something you like!

Also, I have to apologize for the general lack of updates, both in shop inventory and blog updates.
My job had officially gone from part-time to full-time with the upcoming holidays, and I've been having trouble feeling motivated to make things. (After washing dogs for nearly 6 hours at work, the last thing you want to do is make something with your hands!)
I still have a batch of earrings waiting to be glazed, and I have some candy cane earrings ready for listing.
Keep an eye out! As work slows down, I'll be able to get the shop updated with lots of new goodies.

Happy Halloween! + Shop Update

Well, it's the 31st of October, and you know what that means!
It's Halloween, and I'm sitting here in my PJs without a costume. That seems to be the pattern every year since senior year of high school ended... while during my super senior year, I hid behind a tree on Mischief Night with a garden hose, hell-bent on spraying anyone who came to egg our house with ice-cold water.
Yes, I'm a maniacal person.

BUT I'm also here to bring you another shop update!

Roma has been hard at work to bring you even more handknit hats and scarves, and I just finished posting all of the new items in the Etsy shop!

Yes, we finally have hats for BOYS!

In addition to some stuff for kids, I also posted some earrings last week.

Mario, anyone?

Check out the shop to see all of the new items! (Link is at the top of the page, can't miss it!)

Earrings and Zombies Galore

Finally got my new eye-hooks in the mail today! Having them arrive pushed me to do a bit of craft-related work, so I finished gluing some earring backs, and took out my camera.
It was a bit hazy out, but there was enough light to take some good photos of my new things.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things I just put up in my Etsy store!

Click HERE to see all of these items and more in my Etsy shop!

The Last Week in a Post

Okay, okay, I know. I've been slacking horribly on updating this blog.
I KNOW WHAT I AM GUILTY OF.
Thing is, life goes on, and problems arise, problems get solved, and baby birds leap out of nests.

I'll start with the crafts, because that's what most of you followed me for in the first place.
This past week I got my earring posts, so I was finally able to glue my little clay owl heads and paw prints. I'm saving them for my next shop update, which will probably be near the end of next week.
I've also been needle felting a lot, since I got a custom order I need to finish. My thumb and index finger on my left hand look like they have a miniature case of chicken pox, but hey, diabetics deal with pricking their fingers all the time.
Still waiting on the adjustable ring blanks, but once they arrive I'll have about 10 rings to post.

And now for some really great news... I'm employed again!
Craigslist is a blessing, I swear. I managed to find a place in the next town over that needed a dog bather/fluffer that was drug and drama free. I jumped on that offer faster than you can say "wet dog smell."
Let me tell you... It is THE BEST job ever. I come in at around 9am in the morning, wash dogs, and leave at about 1pm.
The dogs are obedient, though sometimes fidgety, but never growl or bite.
My boss is a quirky and eccentric woman who is the main groomer in the facility, though also a dog masseuse.
I'm paid per dog, which is based on its size and difficulty. On most days, it comes down to $10-13/hr, which to me is miles better than the minimum wage I made at the frozen yogurt job.
Best of all, I come home satisfied and happy, though tired and smelling like a wet dog. Nothing a shower and a nap can't fix.
Plus the money I make means more craft supplies! (Next in line are clay pendant necklaces, by the way.)

I'll end with our little bird saga.
For the past few days, my mom and I have been checking up constantly on a cardinal nest in a bush near our driveway.
See, normally we wouldn't go up to a nest and disrupt the natural cycle of bird life, but there's a problem... a little feathered problem.
The only egg that hatched has grown up into a rebellious little fledgling that no matter what, does NOT stay put in the nest.
Again and again, we've found him sitting in our driveway, sitting under the bush, or otherwise in a place where he can easily be spotted, peeping away like he honestly doesn't know how he got there.
BUT HE KNOWS. He jumps out, the little bugger. Then mommy and daddy cardinal call him incessantly, can't figure out where he is. They just end up calling for him until we find him for them, and put him back in the nest.
(And trust me, I've watched the mom confusedly hop around the whole bush trying to find the baby. She couldn't realize that he was not only on the GROUND, but also hidden in a plant.)
We've probably relocated him five or six times now.
Also, did I note the fact that he can't fly at all? He can flutter about a foot forward, but can't gain any real ground or generate any lift. He's pretty much an easy lunch no matter how you look at it.
I'm hoping that he either gains some sense soon, or learns how to fly. The first doesn't seem to be happening, so let's hope those little flying feathers of his grow in soon.

Lastly, the April's Army Shop is OPEN!!!
It opened up at 11am yesterday.
I finally was able to make and submit a donation item before the deadline this month. My donation was a little needlefelted bird, and it sold earlier today for $14. I'm so glad that I was able to contribute to a good cause. :)

Until next time!

So Where Are the CRAFTS? + GAME TIME!

I know what you're thinking.
It's been a while since I've posted some new things to Etsy.
Have I been slacking? Lazy? Really lazy?

None of the above, in fact!
I have been working like crazy to make lots of new things.
The problem is, I'm still waiting on my earring posts and adjustable rings so I can start putting things together!
I like photographing my things and posting them all at once, and right now less than half of my new items are complete, so to speak.
Once they arrive, I will be having a massive posting of all of my new items.
Be on the lookout for some awesome things.

Also, watch me play S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat!
http://www.livestream.com/hellointerloper/video?clipId=pla_0321583a-1241-4478-ab75-93f0375ee6bc&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb
Will have a Youtube link later.
WARNING: I swear. A LOT.

A Taste of What's to Come!

I'm back from visiting Jon in Delaware! I had a great time, as usual!
We went to the mall, the supermarket, went for walks, watched the first two Lord of the Rings movies, and played videogames.
I didn't get to catch any frogs sadly, but we got to watch egrets, barn swallows, geese, red-winged blackbirds, bluebirds, and turkey vultures! We even saw a lone killdeer.

But don't worry, it wasn't all fun and games and bird-watching.
While we were there, we also visited craft stores.

Now that I'm back at home, I can finally put the supplies I purchased to good use!
So, what am I going to be working on next?
Here's a teaser list!

• PINS!!! Yes, I bought a nice bag of pin-backs to attach to two clay flowers that I've already made, and will be making more soon! Don't worry, I'm not going to just make more flowers... Expect some fun and possibly geeky pins too.
• ACEOs!!! I got my blanks in the mail, complete with protective sleeves! They're sturdy and nice quality paper, so they'll be perfect for whatever I decide to do with them.
• MORE EARRINGS!!! I bought some more dangling earring hooks, all silver-plated and ready to attach clay charms to! Since summer is here, expect more fruit and bright things. Even better, thanks to the awesomeness of eBay, I will soon be making post-style earrings! The posts will be silver-plated as well, so no worries about nickel allergies.
• NEEDLE-FELTED ANIMALS!!! I have two that are ready to sell already, but I'm waiting until I have a good bunch before posting them. The bluebird that I originally made for Jon will be sold, since I stupidly forgot to bring it with me to Delaware, and ended up making a whole new one on the train ride there. I also made a turtle while I was in DE, and started a parakeet on the way back home.
• AND MORE CLAY THINGS!!! Jon, being the awesome person he is, bought me a nice set of colored clays! I finally have black, brown, and tan clays to work with, so I may finally make some animals. In addition to that, I also bought some glow-in-the-dark clay that was on clearance. I'm going to have a ton of fun with all of those clays. I also just made my first clay cane today! It features a glow pawprint with a purple and blue border. I need a razor blade to cut it with, but hopefully I'll get one this week.
• PRINTS!!! I still have to finish my owl-person drawing, but after that, I will be scanning in some of my old drawings and editing them on the computer to add color, and also to eliminate any imperfections. Once I figure out the best method for printing (and most cost-efficient, seeing that I'm just a fledgling crafter and all) this will finally become a reality!

To put it simply, keep your eye on this blog for new crafty developments! :)
Until next time!

Productivity Week - Day 2

Being productive isn't very easy this week...

I woke up at about 9:30am this morning, and was feeling pretty zombie-like.
I had an 11:20am doctor's appointment, so went and got washed up, had breakfast, and listened to music during the 20 min drive.
The appointment went well, and we got out at about 12:25pm. From there we went immediately to my sister's school to pick her up, then back home.

Let me tell you... today was BEAUTIFUL outside.
It was a comfortable, sunny 78 degree Fahrenheit day, so I decided that today would be perfect for taking photos.
I photographed all of my new clay items except for the snocones, which needed another layer of glaze. (I'm still unsure if it'll work, or start another chemical reaction over time... It seems to be working, but who knows how it'll be the next morning.)

By the time I was done taking photos, I was exhausted from the bright sun, heat, and just being awake.
I plopped down on the bed downstairs at about 2:30pm, and took a nap...
...only to wake up at 6:30pm.
You can just imagine my dismay when I found out I had slept 4 hours of the day away. (Too many unintentional rhymes, ahh!)
After spending some time with my family, I ran downstairs to my laptop and began the tedious process of posting things on Etsy.

You can see the new listings over at my Etsy shop right now!

Mmm, delicious!

That just about wraps up Day 2 of Productivity Week.

Got another doctor's appointment tomorrow, so probably won't be accomplishing anything major tomorrow either. 

Ah well, such is life.

Productivity Week - Day 1

Well, it's REALLY been getting to me that I basically do nothing all day. Obviously complaining about it isn't going to do me any good, so I've decided to push myself to be productive this week. In a way I'm testing the waters by trying different things, and in a way I'm just trying to prevent myself from feeling any more useless.

So! Today was the first day of my Productivity Week.
I didn't do too much today, but at least I got something done.
My day started out with having to drop Jon back off at UNH, so by the time we made it home, it was about 11am.
I only got about 6 hours of sleep last night because my crazy and restless mind wouldn't stop its nonstop train of thoughts, keeping me from falling asleep for a while. As a result, I was dead tired when I got home. I tried to stay awake as long as possible, but ended up passing out until 2:30pm.
When I woke up I immediately set up my laptop to play music, and got to work on something I've been putting off for a while... glazing my latest batch of clay goodness.

Glazing seems simple, but it's really a pain in the rear.
You paint the glaze on one side of the clay piece, put it down, wait for it to dry, flip it over, glaze the other side, wait some more... and usually you have to put a second coat on, or fill in parts that you might have missed.
In other words, it's time consuming, and best to do when you have a lot of things to glaze. That way you glaze a bit of one piece, move to the next, and just continually rotate through all of them until they're finished being coated.
Unfortunately I was a bit impatient, and got myself in a few... sticky situations. (Pun totally intended.)
I flipped over pieces that weren't completely dry, had to glaze over a few fingerprints from touching wet glaze, and basically had glaze-coated thumbs by the end of it all.

Overall, everything came out okay except for my snowcone earrings.
I tried glazing the tops of the earrings and dipping them in salt for realism, but it seems that the salt and glaze had some weird chemical reaction rather than dry together.
The glaze is now cracking off and has become greasy. Definitely not good.
Unless I can get some glaze on top of the layer of glaze/salt mix and get it to dry, they're most likely not going in the shop.

At 8pm I was finally done. (I had spent some time talking to my boyfriend as well, so I really wasn't working for 6 hours straight... that would be brainmelting.)

So that's about it for today.
Some other things on my list for this week...

Things I NEED to do:

- Look at Craigslist to find some possible jobs
- Photograph new clay items and Jon's LOST DVD sets
- Post LOST DVD sets on Ebay
- Post clay items on Etsy
- Try drawing on paper again
- Hook up tablet and try drawing on the computer again

Things I WANT to do:
- Go through old notebooks to find drawings to edit on the computer
- Try to make sprites for a plant for Creatures 3
- Try making larger clay pieces
- Make something for next month's April's Army charity sale
- Post my daily progress on this blog! DERP!

That's all for now. Sleepy time for Maddie...

Fallow Norn Project - Day 5

Here's the latest video log from my Fallow Norn Project!

In other news, I made another pair of earrings yesterday!
I'll be working on more clay pieces this week, and will hopefully bake and glaze them this coming weekend.

New Items Finally Up!

Well, I finally got off my rear and put together all of my clay earrings, photographed my items, cropped the images, and posted them on Etsy.

Today we have 7 new items, including... -drumroll- ...lots of earrings!

Watermelon, eggplant, lime, grapes, and corn. More clay foodstuffs!
Check them out!

Visit the Etsy Store!

Wear Your Food!

There are new items in the Etsy Shop!
This batch has more delicious and adorable earrings based off of fruits.

Lemon or Lime? Why not both?

Red or White Wine? Or Red or White Grapes? Again, why not both?

More of a symmetrical kind of person? How about some strawberries?

Okay, so the bunny isn't food exactly, but the carrot sure is!

Okay, okay, this isn't food at all.

 I have never tried to eat a Poporing, but I'm quite sure they aren't edible either...

Ever had Pocky? If not, you haven't lived.

That's all for now!

A new batch of items are currently in queue to be fired up in the oven, so keep your eyes opened!

More Clay Charms... and Earrings!

I've been working on some more clay creations in my spare time, and have just put them up in the shop!

This one was a lot of fun to make! A little gummi bear that won't melt and make a mess :]

A little bird that KIND OF looks like a duckling? Kind of?

Drops, Poring's desert-dwelling cousin!

Orange halves hanging from your EARS! Hehehe!

They're all available in the Etsy Shop right now!

Click the link at the top of the page to see the shop.

Enjoy!