I launched the new Hello Craft blog and podcast yesterday. I am pretty exited about this project.

Hello Craft is dedicated to the advancement of independent crafters and the handmade movement, as well as empowering small business owners and educating the public to the benefits of buying handmade and teaching the joys of making.

Hello Craft aims to bring together crafters and makers to learn and grow as a community. In 2009, Hello Craft will convene all interested in advocating for and advancing the handmade community at a summit that will take place in Washington D.C.

I am also excited about having a second podcast. This one is weekly and is short and collects stories from listeners about making and buying handmade. It is really easy to submit your story via a toll free number.

http://www.hellocraft.com

Posted by tina at 11:37 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

A new epsiode of Television Zombies! Also, we have been nominated for a Podcast Award! My new Hello Craft podcast will launch this weekend, too! Can't wait to share it.

TVZ Ep.60: "Another Bump on the Head"

This week, the TVZ crew talks about the surpisingly good Life on Mars, Sarah Connor and Supernatural. Also, the news of the week and a commentary from Mr. Matty Field.

Click here to download the episode.

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As of today, I have been blogging for 5 years. I love how 5 years ago I had no idea where I would be today. This is what is awesome about life. It is always a surprise.

This is what I wrote, 5 years ago today:

This acorn October is tumbling past me faster than ever. I spent all year waiting for October and I just looked up to find it half gone.

Everything is changing for me. No. Stop. Rewind. I am changing everything. I own these changes, I am sure of it.

Part of me wants to fast foward 6 or even 8 months to the day when all the changing will be done. But I know I should stay here and now and watch it all unfold.

I am bringing gifts. They are the best gifts of all. When will you give yourself the good presents? Aren't you sick of wasting them on everyone else?

This acorn October is fast. Faster than I thought possible.

Posted by tina at 9:29 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

For the past few months I have been working with my friends Sara, Kim and Kelly on a new project. The new project has been a little hard to define because I find that we have so many things that we want to do that we aren't just one thing. Basically, as a group, we are planning an awesome craft event for DC for next year. More on this soon. But for now, we are about to launch a blog and podcast. This whole shebang is called Hello Craft. And we are really looking forward to as many people as possible contributing. The first way that you can contribute is to send your story to the podcast. It will be a weekly show that features your handmade stories. And it is easy to contribute, you just need to make a phone call! Here's the pitch:

Hello Craft is collecting stories. Your stories about making and buying handmade. Call our toll-free voice-mail line 1-888-317-3785 and tell us your story in under 5 minutes and it might appear on a future episode of our soon to be launched podcast. Tell us about who inspires you to make, about buying your first sewing machine or about how the handmade community effects your life. We wanna hear about your crafting injuries and failures, brilliance and successes.

Here's what ya do!

1. Decide what story you want to tell.
2. You can either record it yourself and email it to us if you have the know-how or call our toll-free voice-mail line (1-888-317-3785) and leave a message up to 5 minutes long.
3. Please start your message like this: "Hello Craft! My name is *your name here* and I make *blank*. If you don't make anything, then say, "and I buy handmade". Then tell your story. Extra points if it is funny or sad. :)
4. At the end, give us your email address, business name, etc. and we will edit out the email address. We just need to be able to contact you.

That's it! This will be a weekly podcast hosted by Tina Seamonster. It should be really fun to collect all of our stories! Email tinatheseamonster [!at] gmail.com with questions. The phone number is toll-free in the US. Contact us if you are outside of the US and would like to contribute.

I can't wait to hear your story.

Posted by tina at 7:26 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I push the girls up the hill to the Target and from above, the girls look like little vampire slayers. Their hair is the exact dirty blond of Buffy's in that final season. And it is haphazardly placed in big messy pony tails just like hers were. As if they have spent the morning readying themselves for a great battle in their black Hello Kitty hoodies.

I laugh as I envision tiny stakes hidden in their jackets.

After the nearly mile walk, the Target is decorated with Domo Kun for Halloween. He is their official Halloween spokesperson this year and it is damn cute to see him dressed up as a witch and a vampire on the gigantic posters that hang from the ceiling. The girls are afraid of him and ask why he is yelling. I tell them that he is from Japan and is happy. Rachel keeps asking "why is he here from Chinese." and I keep saying, "No. Japan!" I am sure it will take a few more visits to Domo Kun land to not be afraid of him.

On the way home, we stop to talk to an African nun at the bus stop. She is beautiful and other-worldly in her lavender sweater and purple dress and big silver cross. I feel like I might be in an episode of Lost, she is so out of place. Put here by the island just for me, to teach me something. We talk for a long time. Her accent is so perfectly not of here. She tells the girls she is jealous of them, they are so beautiful. But she is looking at me as she tells us she is jealous of us. I feel for her. I don't know, she could have children, I don't know how long she has been a nun. But I think her honesty is lovely and want to hug her, but I don't because I don't know anything about nuns. At the end of the conversation, I tell the girls, "Say 'thank you for talking to us today.'" And they do. The little vampire slayers thank the nun and on we go.

Another bus stop has an old lady waiting for us. "Twins?!" She hails us over. We are a traveling curiosity. "Who's the boss?" She asks me, pointing to the girls. "Who is the boss?" I ask them. "Mama is the boss," Anya says, smiling. She knows it is a good joke. But the woman isn't in on the joke. Anya looks up at me with the eyes of a 15 year old and I smile back.

These are my days. Random conversations at bus stops with curious strangers. I couldn't imagine anything better.

Posted by tina at 10:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Still recovering from Crafty Bastards.

Got a new camera so I added a new banner to my etsy shop. Anya was busy, so Rachi and I took some pictures. Also been adding some new things to the shop. Really proud of my new stuff. This blog post sounds like a Twitter post. :)

Check out the new banner and stuffs.

Oh! Also working on a new project. It is called Hello Craft. More on this soon. :)

Posted by tina at 11:30 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)