I have a love affair with folded paper.

New card designs this week! I haven't listed these yet as I am still working out the kinks in the PDF files, but I just couldn't resist posting them right away. :D These are shaped cards. A little more intricate to cut out but still pretty fun to make. Hope people will like these. :) 

Good things come to those who wait...

I listed two new Valentine cards the other day. Still trying to figure out the ins and outs of my Nikon though because now my shots feel cold and I'm just not happy with them, but they're better than nothing, I suppose! New backdrop though! Trying to add a bit of pizzazzz... Yes, that's right. I said pizazz. :P I got my first sale today though! So exciting! 

I've been feeling kind of blue lately and that's why I didn't feel like posting a blog the other day. So today I resorted back to the things that always make me laugh no matter what and oddly enough, clips from Flight of the Conchords usually do me the trick. If you can't laugh after watching this, you aren't human: 

Lavender kittens and birthday girls...

Hello all! The other day I went to a small birthday party for my old friend Sarah. She turns 23 this month, which only reminded me that I will also be turning 23 this upcoming February. For her present, I thought I'd dish out one of my handmade journals. Despite the time consuming process and paper cuts, I'm usually thrilled with making coptic-stitch blank journals. I personalized this set for Sarah who happens to like lavender and kitty cats. :) I also threw in some cute notecards.

My favorite part is actually the binding. Its just not a book until you bind it all, and its all of a sudden a THING that can be used. XD I learned coptic stitching on youtube actually. There's tons of great video tutorials. I could spend all day watching them.

On an entirely different note: govango is finally on Twitter! Yup. My username is govango so feel free to add me on there for even more updating awesomeness.

One funky fresh panda

Today I listed my first printable stationery set! I'm totally excited. I wanted to do something kind of whimsical and I finally found a use for that little doodle I drew a few weeks back. Very very thrilled with how this came out.

The set includes a flat card, folded card, gift tags, bookmarks, and a letterhead. I can't wait to design another set. :) I am debating whether I should include the option of pre-printed stationery sets. I feel like that can only get more expensive for the customer and in these days, I assume people would want to cut costs as much as possible. I don't know. I'm still weighing the pros and cons between selling pre-printed vs print-your-own. What do you guys think?

My friend Bradley also created a Facebook group for my GOVANGO etsy site! Just search GOVANGO in the groups section if you want to add me! :)

Cards, sewing, and needle-related accidents...

Today I made a bunch of Valentines Day-themed cards. It was alot of fun. Unfortunately, I had a bit of trouble with my camera today. It kept giving me really low-lit images even though I was in a pretty well-lit room with ample light from a nearby window. I really need to get better at using my Nikon d80. Such a confusing little machine compared to a point and click camera that I was so used to before I got it. :P Technology is never always on your side I guess...

Besides cards, I was itching to make a pencil case! I'm so happy with the way it came out. Its just soooo daaarn cuuute that I can barely let myself list it on Etsy. Its made of felt, of course. And buttons! I need to use more buttons in my work. I think they lend a bit of charm.   

Unfortunately, during the making of this pencil case, I actually sat on a needle. Yes. my butt was a temporary pin cushion for like the 16th time now. So I got very fed up and made myself a pin cushion for all my needles to sit on. Its like a small pillow. I tried to look for a small doll that I didn't really care for and pretend that its my ex-boyfriend or somebody that I really dislike... something I could use for a pin-cushion/voodoo doll (kill two birds with one stone, I say!). But also, this pillow cushion will do.