Gocco, finally!

Here they are...my first ever goccoed notecards. I finished them all Thursday night actually, but am just now getting around to blogging them. I think they turned out pretty well, although I did scorch my screen a little. On most of the note cards though, you can't really tell. I'd say about 80% of the cards were useable. Next time I'll have to make a lighter photocopy though. The image is from a photo I took on a quick morning hike at Blendon Woods Metro Park, by my house. I photoshopped it a little and then braved the gocco. Burning the screen was my favorite part. I loved the sound of the flash bulbs going off and then opening up the gocco to see the screen I produced. I'm trying to think up more things I could screen print...so far the only thing coming to mind are Christmas cards. I am really so thankful for this swap. I really need things like swaps to motivate me to try new things sometimes. The best part is I had just enough cards left over to send to my in-laws, who bought the Gocco for me for last Christmas! I've also received so many lovely cards from my partners already. I've been loving opening my mail the last few days! It is so nice having such a simple thing to look forward to --delightful mail.

Mondays

So Monday is not normally my favorite day of the week. Despite having a job I truly enjoy, I love being home. But this particular Monday was different, it was a fabulous day. I made Angry Chicken's 5 minute skirt on Monday morning and finished it in time to actually wear it to work that morning! How's that for productivity? Let me tell you, it got me off to a GREAT start. I definitely love that fold over elastic stuff. This was actually my second 5 minute skirt. But this one I used bias tape instead of hemming...the other one still awaits a hem. I also measured my waist in the wrong place for the first one so it is a tad large. Remember girls...we live in the age of low rise and your waist is a lot higher than you think! My momma told me this but I ignored it, silly me!

I hope to finish my very first set of gocco cards by tonight (the deadline for the swap I am in). I am positive they will be mailed late, but I want them to look sharp. They will be printed by end of day hopefully. I'm copying my design on the copier today so I can burn my first screen after work tonight. I've watched and read a million tutorials (I particularly like this one from etsy). Cross your fingers for me! I really don't want them to look like a rookie job (no, I'm not a perfectionist or anything)!

Giving and Receiving

As much as I love giving presents at Christmas, I have to admit, I do love receiving a well thought out gift. This year David's parents got me a Gocco! That was quite a surprise...I can't wait to test it out, but I am going to set aside a day just for goccoing, MLK Day perhaps? Hopefully sooner, but we'll see. And then, if a gocco wasn't enough, David's Grandma made us a patchwork tree skirt (picture to come). This is perhaps my very favorite present. It has been a while since have received something 100% Grandma made! I immediately put it under our tree even though Christmas is over.

During the month of January I've decided to commit myself to a few things (and please note...these are NOT resolutions):

1. Finishing what I have started (namely a quilt I cut up and began to piece last March or April)

2. NOT buying any new clothing unless absolutely necessary

3. Spending quality time with my gocco :)

And lastly, today is my Dad's birthday! I won't share his age and I am pretty sure he doesn't even read my blog, but I thought I'd give him a shout out. I'm taking him to lunch and getting him a season of Scrubs for his birthday. Although my dad is not crafty at all, he encourages it...and bought me the most hideous Crochet magazine for a present last year. Even he admitted that, and we got a good laugh out of it in the end! It is the thought after all.