panda, panda.

I've been super busy lately with commuting back and forth from Diamond Bar to Irvine for CADC performances, but as of late, have been working on making more of my favorite tote bag:

The "PANDA FACE" Hand Painted Large Tote Bag!

Isn't this little bad boy adorable?

This large tote bag is painted BY HAND to look like a panda face!
It serves to be functional, while still staying stylish!



Tote bags are made out of natural canvas, and measure 18" wide, 13" high, and 4" deep (45.6 x 33 x 10.2 cm). They are roomy and large, perfect for carrying your laptop, big books, and other necessities. You can even use it to go grocery shopping!

The handles are also long, and make it very comfortable to use as a shoulder bag. In addition, each tote is adorned with an exclusive "Designs by Steppie" button!



This "Panda Face" tote is probably one of my favorite! It's perfect for everyday use, and is especially helpful when needing to carry large, heavier items. It can even easily carry my MacBook Pro! But most importantly? It's beyond adorable and will definitely brighten up your day!



The first of my "Panda Face" tote bags got sold after one day of listing to a sweet girl from Germany! After that fantastic sale, I'm ready to make some more and am taking requests if people would like to reserve them! I am already making two especially for people (one for me, because I can't wait to use it!), and am open to more!

If you're interested, comment to this blog with your e-mail address or contact me at designsbysteppie@gmail.com!

In any case, let me know what you think! :)

xoxo,
Steppie

mixer.

So, I've become recently obsessed with the idea of mixed media. For those unfamiliar with the term, it basically encompasses all artwork that combines two or more different types of medium... whether it be acrylic, paper, ink, buttons, etc.

For me, I've always been quite fascinated with printed fabrics, but because I have zero experience with a needle and thread, didn't know how I could incorporate it into my own artwork. Until now, of course.


This is the first in my fabric and acrylic mixed media series, titled "GIRAFFE SILHOUETTE."

Hand selected fabric (with a brown texturized fabric with turquoise spots) was stretched and stapled to a 9"x12" mounted canvas. After using a protective sealer, I then used acrylic to paint a silhouette of a giraffe (ooh, how I adore cute animals!).


Now that my first experimentation with fabric and acrylics is completed, I have a whole new bag of printed fabrics that I've hand selected that are fun, inspiring, and delicious! So, I can't wait to get started on those when I get back from my Vegas trip (to read more about my Vegas trip for Hip Hop Internationals, look for my post titled, "panda obsession")!

+ To see the listing: "Giraffe Silhouette"
+ To view my shop: http://www.steppie.etsy.com

Happy blogging!

xoxo,
Steppie


P.S. COMMENT and let me know: (1) what you think about my new art piece, and (2) if you have also experimented with mixed media - and link me with photos!

playing catch-up.

I spent this past weekend at my parents' house, and when it gets late into the night - when the creative juices start flowing the most - I can't help but miss my paint brushes.

Nerdy, I know.

So, anyway! Time to continue my last post... in explaining how I've got to where I am right now.

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About two weeks ago, when it dawned on me that I'd be moving out of my apartment soon, I decided to make a LiveJournal post about all the furniture & knick knacks that I would miss about my bedroom at The Love Boat. I took this LJ entry & cross-posted it into a couple of my favorite decor communities to see what feedback I would get.

Links to my entries:
ourapartments:
http://community.livejournal.com/ourapartments/146840.html
saucydwellings:
http://community.livejournal.com/saucydwellings/1439614.html
ourbedrooms:
http://community.livejournal.com/ourbedrooms/1237993.html

But it was a certain photo in my entry that made a lot of commotion - and the feedback I received was... well, more than I expected.


The canvases found above my bed were actually my first "real" paintings. I made them to match my room, and didn't think too much about it. Thinking back to painting the thing, I remember how long it took me - while this painting still takes a while to re-create, it doesn't take nearly as long!

Anyway, amongst a lot of positive feedback from the communities, I also got individuals asking if I had artwork for sale. I never thought painting and selling would ever go into the same sentence for me. I doubted myself, but once I started getting more feedback, I started to realize that I had nothing to lose (except maybe my dignity - just kidding).

I busted out my 16x20 canvases and old paintbrushes on a whim, and just started painting... and then I got addicted and couldn't get myself to stop. By the advice of my sister's friend, I started up my Etsy.com shop, and posted up my paintings. And now - it's all I'm ever thinking about.

Within two days of setting up shop, I MADE MY FIRST SALE! I remember just finishing one of my newer paintings ("Don't Give A Hoot"), and walking back to my room after watching "So You Think You Can Dance" with the roomies. Then, I saw the e-mail from Etsy in my gmail inbox - "Dear steppie, Congratulations on your sale at Etsy!" I screamed. Yes, screamed. I ran outside to the living room, told the roomies my news, and we started screaming and jumping up and down. Nothing beats that first sale.


My first sale - "Chillin'" (white background):



It seemed like FOREVER 'til that first sale, but I think it was due to sitting in front of my Etsy shop all day long for two days straight waiting for something to happen. While I received a lot of positive feedback from Etsy sellers and buyers on their forums and chatrooms, actually knowing that someone appreciates your artwork so much to purchase one of their own - that's probably one of the best feelings an artist can ever feel.

I logged back onto LiveJournal, letting the people that had initially inspired me know just how much their positive energy helped me in doing something I never thought I could ever do. Their support, once again, was outstanding! I actually made another sale from one of the community members - and got a comment from one of the mods of ourapartments, thediamondlife, that shocked me greatly.

thediamondlife: "i loooovvve i don't give a hoot. these are amazing. i'm not in a position to buy right now, but to help in your sales i added your shop info to our profile page. good luck!"

My Etsy shop info on the profile page of ourapartments:


Being placed on ourapartment's profile page is (1) an honor, since I adore and respect the community so much, and (2) more than I could ever ask for! I recommend you check out the community on LiveJournal if you love apartment decor or just being around positive, creative people!

On a side note, while celebrating my first sale with my fellow Etsy sellers, they let me know that it's pretty rare to make sales during your first week at Etsy - usually sellers are still setting up shop, listing new items, and getting their name and shop known. Though it seemed like forever 'til I made a sale, knowing that I'm doing pretty well considering my circumstances has motivated me to continue to make paintings and keep pushing to get my name known.

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I'll be heading back to my apartment in Irvine later tonight - which means, more time to paint all these new ideas I've been cooking up on canvas! Once I get some more new creations, I'll be sure to let you guys know.

Thanks so much for all the support so far!
Please continue to leave me comments - and spread the word about my blog!

Happy shopping & blogging!

xoxo,
Steppie
En Rouge Designs
http://www.steppie.etsy.com

hello, blogspot!

So, I've spent the last week or so setting up shop at Etsy.com, and am now happy to say that I have a blogspot to document everything & anything craft related! Yee!

My journey with Etsy.com began with a few purchases a couple months back - and I've returned with my own shop in hopes to sell a couple of pieces & hopefully inspire a couple others!

But before I get carried away (because, trust, I'm very capable of doing so), let's backtrack a bit so you can understand a little more about me and my endeavors.

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Growing up, I've always shared a love for arts & crafts. I remember being a sheltered little kid in my hometown neighborhood - my mama (who I love dearly) was a wee bit overprotective at the time & didn't let me out of the house very much afterschool. I can't really blame her because I know it came out of wanting to protective me from the "dangerous world outdoors," but at the same time, it limited my activities & ability to play outside with the other kids. Now, I don't call it "limiting" because, if anything, it helped me become more creative, I'd like to think, in how I spent my free time (because back then, we had so much of it!).

I was like any other ordinary, typical girl: played with my Barbies (who married trolls, because I didn't have Kens), reinacted imaginary settings ("playing house," pretending to have a restaurant, etc.), and begged my mother to buy me craft books so I could make frog door stoppers out of cartons and mini bean bags assorted in random fabric and filled with rice (uncooked, of course). OK, so maybe the latter wasn't so typical... but it obviously didn't end there.

In high school, I joined the yearbook squad (yay for geeky yearbook staffers!) & it fueled my love for digital design and page layouts. This soon spread into random high school projects for English class (I often designed over-the-top front covers for my English papers - very unnecessary, but it was my favorite part about turning it in). And then college hit. It wasn't so much the university, but actually living in my own apartment that harbored all these new ideas and projects that soon, our empty white apartment became adorned with random do-it-yourself furniture pieces. Ironically, I'm now in the process of moving out of my apartment after a loyal three years in "The Love Boat" (name of my apartment).

As I'm transitioning with a move back to Diamond Bar (where my parents live), I've also taken up two more obsessions: my upcoming independent wedding favors business with my sister, and selling my canvas paintings at Etsy.com.

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There is reason to how I got involved with both - but I will continue this "introduction" post at a later time. My sister's guppys just had babies - THIRTY-SOMETHING babies. So, I'm off!

Leave me comments & feedback. And while I suit up for my next post, check out my Etsy shop: http://www.steppie.etsy.com!

xoxo,
Steppie
En Rouge Designs