Etsy 817 Team Craft Night

I'm excited to be putting together the first Etsy817 team craft night. Our first craft night will be right before Valentine's Day, so we will be making Valentine's crafts. My friend Tisha of LittleBlu worked up some samples. I love the way they turned out. Not only will be be making some candy box shrines, we will also be making mini decoden trinket boxes. I love the trinket boxes, they so cute. I can't wait to get together with the rest of the group and see what everyone makes.

Story Telling - Building a Brand

Earlier this week I started taking an online class by the Crafty Chica. I was working on the first assignment when I found myself sidetracked. What was suppose to be research on blogging turned into brand research. I started finding brands that were similar to mine. Much larger, but similar. I found myself asking what is my brand, what is Studio Longoria. I decided a few months ago that what I really wanted to do with Studio Longoria was focus on the characters that I love to create. That meant more drawing, more painting and more plushie making. As I started researching these other brands I saw something that my brand was really missing. Something I knew I was missing, but just never sat down to take care of. I was missing back stories for my characters. Who are these creatures, where did they come from? I've set out to answer these by putting together a little book. I've even created an alter ego, a character that explores other worlds and finds these creatures which I create. I'm pushing myself to create daily, to write, draw and tell the story of these creatures. So far so good. I'm four stories in, and I even designed the cover for my little creature book. I still have lots of stories to tell, but I'm taking my time. It was hard to write at first, but now the stories are coming to me much faster. I thought I'd share a few shots of the book so far.

     

Looking Forward to 2013

Happy New Year! We've made it through 2012 and come into 2013 ready to create. 
I have a lot of projects lined up for the year, new characters, comics, prints and more painting. While I look forward to working on all of those projects the one I'm most excited about is helping my husband launch his own line of handmade custom home decor. He worked really hard throughout 2012 and now he is ready to start selling his products. We are currently working on names for his line/ company. Until he's ready to share the rest of the details I thought I'd share a few pictures of his latest creations, all of which were given as Christmas gifts this year.

Coloring Contest!

When I was around 3 years old I entered a Cookie Monster coloring contest. I colored several pages of the Cookie Monster picture. I colored him a rainbow of colors not solid blue. My parents tried to talk me into coloring him "right" but I refused. My mom mailed in my entry and a few weeks later it was announce that I had won a set of tickets to Sesame Street Live. My mom spoke to one of the judges and was told that I won because of how creative my coloring was. It was very exciting. The framed picture was in my bedroom for years. I wish I remembered where it was now. I'd love to put it up in my office.

Now my youngest son loves to color. I created a zombie cookie coloring sheet for him, and this is the beauty he had me hang on the fridge:

I created a reindeer coloring page to share with everyone reading. Then the idea hit me. I'm holding a coloring contest for kids 0- 10 years old.

Here's how to enter:
Print and color the reindeer coloring page.
Scan or photograph the finished picture.
Email it to me : stephlongoria@xyfactory.com
Subject: Coloring Contest
Please include the following:
Child's name (First only is fine.)
Age
Parents email address
Permission to share your child's creation on the blog as well as on facebook.


I will announce the winner of the coloring contest Monday, December 17th. Winner will receive a special plush doll just in time for Christmas.

I can't wait to see what you create!

Christmas Coloring Sheet

I've been super busy prepping for holiday craft shows, a doll design workshop and helping with the PTA I haven't had much time to post anything. I'm hoping to have time to post a Christmas tree pinata tutorial next week but until then I wanted to share a coloring page with you. This is inspired by kid youngest son's current obsession with coloring. I bought him an art kit with crayons, markers and paints, now it's his favorite new hobby. I hope you have as much fun coloring this cute little guy as my son did.

Is It Too Early for Christmas?

 

Is it  too early for Christmas? Not if you want to get ahead on your sewing. I've designed my first pattern fabric print! I think it came out pretty cute. I have a sample swatch coming soon, then it will be up for sell on Spoonflower. I've asked a kids wear designer friend of mine to help test my new print. I can't wait to see what she comes up with. I'm picturing a really cute outfit for a little girl.

Tree of Thanks

It's November, a month of giving thanks. For the past few days I noticed a few of my Facebook friends posting daily things they are thankful for. Today I caught up with them and posted my 7 days worth of thanks. After posting I thought about what I could do with my kids to help them share the things they are thankful for. Like myself, my boys enjoy working on "projects". Last month my little one helped me string some leaf shaped doilies to make a garland. I still have plenty left, I ran across them in my supply closet this weekend. That's when the idea hit, a tree of thanks.

I made a small, bare tree out of poster board, masking tape, and brown paint.  I hung it in the small hallway between my bedroom and laundry room which is open to the living room. This was the perfect spot because is will be seen every day, by everyone that enters my home. This way we can make sure to add to it daily.
I pulled out the leaf shaped doilies and asked my boys to write what they are thankful for (included their names and the date). Then with stuck them on to the tree. As of right now our tree looks bare, but by Thanksgiving I'm sure it will be full of leaves.