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Nothing But Love for Helmar

In The Studio

But after two years, I decided to step down from the design team to make room for some new blood. My last post went live yesterday.

Another reason for stepping down from this amazing team is that I just don’t have as much mental bandwidth to create as I used to. And while the design team deadlines ensure that I’m creating something each month, some months the only things I finish are design team projects. Meanwhile I have personal projects that keep getting pushed to the side, things to do around the house (fun, decorating things not just chores) that don’t even get started, and only occasionally will I steal the time to do some work-related designing. I also have a lot less time to spend online, so I feel like I’m letting down the social sharing and promoting side of being on a team.

At the same time, design teams are amazing for pushing me out of my comfort zone and trying new things. Not gonna lie, finding out about new products and promotions ahead of the general public is also nice.

I’m still a member of the Imagine team through the end of the year and if they gave me the option to stay on for another term I’m not sure I’d want to say yes. Design teams and creative teams are a great way to keep in the loop about trends and collaborate with others, plus you just learn so much and meat fabulous people through the process that I wouldn’t want to give up on teams entirely.

Helmar is currently looking for those new designers, so if you’re interested in trying out for the team, check out this post: Helmar Creative Team Call Out for October 2016

Hang out the Red, White, and Sparkly

In The Studio

Jokes about appliance holidays aside, today is Veterans Day–the day we are not-so-gently nudged to remember that freedom is not free and that we owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to our military members, past and present, for their service to our country.

Thank you.

Over on the Helmar blog, today, I have my crafty send-up to patriotism in the form of my Starred and Spangled Banner:

jvanderbeek_helmar_veteransday_starred_spangled_banner

Head over to the Helmar Design Team blog and see how I made it (and how you can easily make one, too). For those of you who have the day off (I do not), enjoy the midweek break.

Project Share: Victorian Memo Frame for Helmar

In The Studio

jvanderbeek_helmar-victorian_memo_frame

Hey, guys! Today I have a new, fun, and fairly quick project up over on the Helmar Design Team blog. Apparently my interest in Victoriana has not yet waned, and probably won’t for a while, so the fussy, frilly-ness of this project is mainly due to that. But, you know, it’s kinda fun to do fussy and frilly every now and then.

jvanderbeek_feb2015_roadmapofalivedinheart_mixedmedia_canvas

Also, if you didn’t see it earlier this month, my February Gauche Alchemy project was a very texture-heavy red canvas for the love/hate-themed challenge (and you might recognize the hearts from the last Helmar project). There’s still some time to create your own project and submit it for the February challenge. Remember, anything goes as long as it’s inspired by this month’s challenge board!

February Challenge Inspiration

February Challenge Inspiration

Finally, here’s that doll sweater I mentioned in the last post. This is the first “right” prototype of the pattern. I’ve since made it a second time in a longer, oversized-cardigan style and I’ve got a third one on the needles even longer as as coat.

Tessa modeling her winter-appropriate "bookish" look.

Tessa modeling her winter-appropriate “bookish” look.

Did I mention I bought more dolls? There were some unbeatable deals on Amazon a few months ago and I got a total case of itchy spending finger and picked up two girls for less than one would normally cost (Tezca and Lipoca). Then I found a Yeolume (Pullip’s daughter from the future, serious, the “storyline” of these dolls is rather amusing) in Tuesday Morning, and finally brought home a Byul (Dal’s best friend); again from Amazon, again at a great deal. She’s the one who needs a bit of work due to a broken arm and her replacement body arrived ahead of schedule so she’ll be in the dolly O.R. before too long.

It’s the little things, folks, that make us smile, right?