Cate Anevski

Geek vs. Nerd

I very seldom take on commission work. The process tends to lead to a lot of stress, and I just don't enjoy myself. And when it comes to making money, I'd much rather be doing tax returns.

However, I do have one friend, Marissa, that I do a bit of illustration work for every now and then. She's a very talented designer I went to college with, and she tends to kick fun projects my way.

I'm spending the weekend working on one of those projects, "Geek vs. Nerd," or accountant versus information technology professional. This sketch is a superhero take on the idea that Marissa's client didn't go for, so I thought I'd share it here. The IT guy is based on a Tron character, and the accountant is my coworker with a spit curl and a cape.

Solo Show at Tilde

This August, I have a solo show at Tilde here in Portland. It's been a little while since my last show, and I'm looking forward to putting everything together for it. This will be a collection of new embroideries, and I've been stitching away on some new designs.

I'll be sure to share my progress as I move along.

Neighborhood Kitties

I love spying on all the sweet kitties that meander the streets of Portland. My little lady is a strictly indoor cat (I've never had an outdoor cat come to anything other than an untimely end), but I always enjoy taking a gander and other people's feline friends.

Love Cloud

It's always so much fun for me when I get to see one of my Blythe creations complete. The designs begin their lives as barely comprehensible sketches. I try to show them off to friends in a flurry of excitement, expecting that my loved ones can somehow translate my loose pencil lines into the completed image I have in my mind. Of course, all I have to show is my messy sketchbook.

And so I trudge along, digitizing my concept so that I can upload the appropriate file to Spoonflower for printing. Once that's ready, I shout it from the rooftops, asking my friends their opinion on my latest design. Admittedly, it's a bit more advanced, but still not quite in its final form.

By this point, I begin the waiting game. I have all my fabric delivered to my office. It's so nice to expect fun mail at work, and I love being able to share with my coworkers what I do when I'm not doing taxes. Once it arrives, I still have more processing to do before I get to the finished product. I prewash all my fabric to ensure that my customers' beloved Blythes won't be stained by the fabric inks, and then I get down to the business of sewing.

When all is said and done, I get to see how well my little sketch works as a three-dimensional object. Usually, it's even better than I expected, thanks to the wonderful work of Spoonflower and their constant commitment to quality products. Of course, there have been a number of dresses that just don't turn out, meaning it's back to the drawing board for me. I try not to be disappointed by these, though, since each misstep teaches me invaluable lessons in fashion manufacturing and dimensional thinking, and I love being able to see the improvement as I move along.

And there you have it.

Edible landscaping at Portland's City Hall

Check out that amazing rainbow chard!

The little white flowers in the background are strawberry blossoms. I never knew they make such a lovely groundcover. Who needs lawns when there are fresh berries to be had?

Going into Blytheness?

I've been hard at work this week packaging a ton of Blythe dress kits for an event this Sunday that I'm really looking forward to. A lovely dolly friend invited me to a Going out of Blytheness sale here in Portland, and I'm hoping to snag a few dolly goodies and perhaps sell or trade some of my kits as well.

If you're interested, come on down and check it out with me! I know I'm going to enjoy all the lovely Blythes, and it was a great push to get myself to actually package all those dresses (one of the many tasks I've been putting off throughout tax season).

The Best Yarnbomb Ever

Found on Hawthorne Boulevard, not too far from SE 50th Avenue.

Hours of Entertainment

I spent the better part of today shopping with a friend at Crafty Wonderland and the Saturday Market and have arrived home with armfuls of loot. The only new treat that has seen any use so far, though, is Lydia's new cat toy from The Spoiled Cat.

She was so excited that I was afraid she'd suffocate herself if I didn't immediately take it out of its plastic bag, and now she and I both are far to enthralled to take photos of anything else. I'm not sure what those folks do to their catnip, but I am certain it's something magical. Lydia is in heaven.

I love having a dog in my life.

Success!

Every spring, I get the itch to start gardening, which can be tricky when you live in a small, dimly lit apartment. I always try container gardening, but there is a lot to learn about growing food in a small container, and I tend not to have a very large harvest from my efforts. Of course, the real goal is an excuse to play in the dirt, so in that respect, I'm always successful.

It's nice to be able to really reap the rewards from gardening, and this year I'm well on my way. I planted radish seeds in a window box on my porch before it even stopped snowing out here, and I already have delicious vegetables to show for it. I'm trying a few lettuces and herbs and even a tomato plant as well, so I'm excited to see how things go.

On a side note, does anyone know a good use for radish greens and the spindly roots? I'm not so sure I like the way they taste plain, but I'd love to find a way to utilize every part of my harvest.