Are you all excited for the new season of Project Runway?  I'm a big fan of that show and thought it was really cool to see Suede from Season 5 at the show helping to promote the eCraft cutting machine.

I first reported on the eCraft last summer after CHA.  It was their first showing back then and the machine looked a lot different!  What I love about Craftwell is they took advice!  The new machine has so many of the features that consumers wanted.  This one will be a true contender in the personal cutting system market.

If you clicked on the link above for my post from last year, you'll see the difference between the machines from just a year ago.  This machine is more sleek and user friendly.

I haven't had the chance to try this machine out more than making a few cuts at their booth so I'm not an expert on how it works.  But, I will give you some of my opinions on the features and from what I've seen on the machines in the past year.

PROS:

• no cutting mats! There is still the need to use some stabilizers if you plan to cut non-traditional items like felt, fabric, etc...
• upload your own designs! eCraft gives its consumers the ability to make and cut their own designs (it uses .svg files).  Not only that, you will be able to upload your images to their sharing site and sell them iTunes style.
• ability to purchase individual designs! Mentioned above, the iTunes style sharing site allows you to purchase designs from others without having to invest a lot of money in a cartridge where you might only want a few of the images.
• rechargable battery! This makes the machine super portable for crops or for ease of use around the house.
• no limit on length! Using a paper roller attachment, you can cut out images to any length.

Cons:

• pre-loaded images on SD cards are  not too exciting.  I was not too inspired by the images that came with the machine.  There was also no way to get to a specific design quickly (using the machine alone) without scrolling through all of the designs.
• colors of the machine. Personally, I was surprised with the color choices of the machine.  There is a bright pink (they named it Pinc), purple (Purpleberry), a light blue (Skye) and white (Glacier).  Aside from the names, I felt the colors were a bit juvenile.  The bright pink and purple just weren't my style.  And, I guess that's what it all comes down to.  Personal preference.  For me, the color choices end up in the cons.  For someone else, they could be a big pro.  I would definitely choose Glacier for my own machine.
• not readily available. It's been a year and we still don't have the machines in stores.  I'm glad they waited to implement some positive changes into the machine, but I question whether or not it is *really* ready to sell to the public and what stores will eventually carry them.

The retail price on this machine will be $349.  Is it something you would consider buying?  Would you replace another cutting machine you might have with this one?

He threw in the Cricut logo for good measure.

Here is a performance that he did at a different event.

We left the night feeling inspired, uplifted, and happy! Provo Craft does a great job with their product launches and I can't wait to get my hands on the new Imagine machine when it will show up at my house in a few months! The product is supposed to be in stores in October.

The craft challenge got a new look over the summer and we're ready to get started again!  I think  you'll like what is coming.  You can now purchase your craft challenge packet for August from my shop.

I'll be at the Craft & Hobby Trade show all week bringing you reports from the floor on my Facebook page.  If you want to see the latest new releases, head over there and "like" me!   I'll have more in-depth blog posts coming this week as well.  I'll have one of the first looks at the new Provo Craft machine on Tuesday morning.  Sounds pretty amazing and I can't wait to see it in person!

The little house in the middle of the street was already adorable. Now, with everything look miniature, I just want to put that street into my pocket!

Here is the picture without any editing at all.

I'm trying to resist the urge to make all of my photos tilt shift.  Here's one more that I did.

Want to see an amazing tilt shift video? This is full of scenes from New York City.

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

On my first full day in Geneva, I took a tram down to a neighborhood known for being a haven for artists, craftspeople, and the like.  My kind of neighborhood, you know?  It is called Carouge and I will admit...it was kind of overrated.

Sure, there was that kind of vibe and plenty of shops that fit the bill.  Maybe I was expecting too much?  One shop where I spent a considerable amount of time was the local knitting/needlework shop.

I couldn't bring myself to pay Swiss prices for yarn.  Most of what they carried was generic wool, wool blends, acrylic and novelty.  Their needlework patterns were really cool, though.  I couldn't bring myself to pay Swiss prices for those, either.

They did have a bit of a sale on some of their kits.  I ended up buying a tea towel kit.  I've been working on it and I'll share the pictures later this week.

]]> http://www.christynelson.net/2010/07/le-rouet-knitting-shop-geneva-switzerland/feed/ 0 http://www.christynelson.net/2010/07/the-six-bes-in-vinyl/ http://www.christynelson.net/2010/07/the-six-bes-in-vinyl/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:23:46 +0000 christy http://www.christynelson.net/?p=3476

Several years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley (of the LDS Church), gave a talk where he outlined what are now known as "The Six Be's".  He later added a few more but I decided to use the original six for this project.

Using my Gypsy, I laid out all of the text (from the Simply Sweet font cartridge).  To make it big enough for my wall, divided the saying into two parts. The first bit of text goes until "Be humble".  I used brown vinyl, my Cricut, and a 12" X 24" cutting mat.

This photo gives a little more perspective on the size.  It is on the wall by our dining room table and is a nice reminder for our family to see several times a day.  I'm planning on adding some flourishes to the corners or maybe a frame around it, but I'm having a hard time deciding which ones.  So, for now, I'm leaving it be until inspiration strikes.

Click the link if you need a reminder on how to cut and apply vinyl using your Cricut.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

THE PROCESS:

1. Measure your mousepad.  Mine was 7.5" X 7.75".  Using my Gypsy and my Cricut, I cut out a frame background shape with those approximate dimensions.  This particular shape is from the Songbird cartridge.  I cut it out using the Provo Craft black vinyl.

2.  Because this was one solid piece of vinyl, I didn't bother using transfer tape.  I just applied it to the top of the mousepad like a giant sticker.

3.  I cut out "toolulu.com" using green vinyl.  I set the letters to cut at 1.5" tall.  I used the Simply Sweet cartridge.  HINT: there isn't a "." on this cartridge.  I set it to cut out "toolulu!com" and then just didn't use the top of the exclamation point.

4.  You'll definitely want to use the transfer tape if you're doing a design like this one.  I show how to cut and apply vinyl in a video post I did a few months ago.

5.  Use your mousepad!  I tested out the mouse I was using on vinyl before I applied it to my pad to make sure it would work.  Vinyl is a nice, smooth surface and works well.  If you're planning on adding a lot of different layers, you'll want to keep those along the outside of the mousepad so it doesn't interfere with the main path of the mouse.

This is a really fun project because it is quick and non-permanent.  If I decide I don't want a Toolulu mousepad anymore, I can just peel of the vinyl and add on something else!

Most of the jewelry was made incorporating felt beads and glass beads.  The colors were amazing and the designs had a modern whimsy that drew me in.

What really got me excited, though, were the displays.  These were really clever and could easily be replicated.  It would make for a gorgeous vendor booth display.

Enter the code, MOVE and you'll get 20% off.  You have until July 31st and it includes everything in her shop!

I already own this set.  Erin gives you the option of purchasing her stamp sets packaged in a tin (cute and easy storage!) or you can get the "LITE" versions where they are in a clear plastic pouch (more stamps for less shipping!).

This is the one I bought today.  It's one of the ones I've had my eyes on since it came out.  And her design team did such a great job coming up with some really cool ways to use it.  Speaking of her design team, she just announced the newest members.

What are you waiting for?  Go shopping!

disclaimer: I was not paid to write this post.  I just love Erin and her stamps and wanted to spread the word!

Tangent: I'm LDS and in our temple at Winter Quarters they have some of the most beautiful bowls I've ever seen.  The picture below represents something similar.  But, I'll be honest...I've never been able to find anything similar.  And, I've been looking.  A lot.

When we were in Murano, all I wanted to do was find something similar.  I was on a quest.  Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be.  There was nothing even close.  The vase above comes from California (and costs $485).  After searching in a gazillion shops, I realized it wasn't going to happen.

That doesn't mean that I didn't find some amazing glass.  I did!

We found some places where you could actually see the glass blowers at work.  I thought this guy looked cool with his shorts.  It was really hot in there.  They also were super fast!  I guess you kind of have to be so the glass doesn't cool.  Most of my pictures of them at work look like the one below.

Most galleries didn't allow photos so I don't really have many photos of the actual glass.  We also visited a museum all about glass and it was amazing.  No photos.

I brought one piece home with me.  It was on a sale rack (bonus!) and it matches my home so completely that even though it wasn't THE ONE I was looking for, I'm super happy with the purchase.

I'm not super happy with this photo.  I should have taken it outside.  Does this one show it a bit better?

Now I have another reason to beg my husband to bring me flowers every week.