This makes me happy

Sketch with the real deal

Life is Busy.

Too busy. And it keeps getting increasingly busy. I wish there was some way to slow down, but I don’t know how. I was watching Portlandia the other day and there was a sketch about a vicious cycle of technology and I am in it. I was watching netflix while playing solitaire on my phone and facebooking. I have to keep up with emails, status updates, tweets, etsy sales, work updates, G-chats, messages, phone calls, work, homeowners association updates, it’s so hard, but the alternative is to fall out of it.
wait. whatever. This blog is another thing to keep up with. Shee-it. BUT what I would like to do is give updates on what I am doing at work, cause it’s fun. here goes

I got called to work in Corte Madera at the ANthropologie there. I built the backdrops for the windows. I built, stretched, and painted these bad boys.

TOMgirl Etsy Shop SALE!

Okay, so I am hosting a SALE in my Etsy shop and I am trying to figure out how to get out and market. All the things I read about include lots of networking and lots of forums, chat rooms, leaving comments and man it is a full time job just getting up in the morning, so I am totally exploiting Facebook and trying to see how many peeps I might reach that way… We shall see.

Taryn McCabe

I WANT THIS BOOK

When I lived in London I accidentally happened upon this restaurant. Now I can’t believe there is a COOKBOOK and it is put out by Chronicle Books.

Man I want this!

TOMgirl Jewelry Give-A-Way!

So… I just got featured on this Blog, henryhappened.com
They are doing a give-a-way and if you comment you can automatically enter to win $75.00 on my ETSY site
Check it out, check it out I’m a big baller, you a bit smaller, check it out!

what?
yup.

Birthday Blues

Happy Birthday Taryn

So my birthday is over. I miss it. I love my birthday so much and it makes me sad to see it go. It seems so long for another year to pass in order to celebrate it again. I also was a bit sad to see this one go because I didn’t get around to doing anything big.

Taryn McCabe on Wheels

It is always more memorable when you have a roller skating party, or a badminton tournament, or a birthday prom, none of which happened this year.

Taryn McCabe Attacks

BUT, I did have some nice smaller celebrations and I got some kick ass gifts, so I am not complaining, just realizing that next year I am going to get my butt in gear and celebrate the shit outta that birthday.

Nee How, Taryn in China

I now want to recap what has happened in the last year…

-graduated with my MFA
-had an art show in a real gallery
-become president of the Home Owners Association
-got a fancy graphic design job (part time)
-started surfing
-began dating a handsome, super kind, and smart man
-traveled to Pittsburgh
-traveled to San Diego
-traveled to China
-exhibited at the American Craft Council show at Fort Mason (summer)
-did both Renegade and Bizarre Bazaar holiday fairs (back to back)
-started selling work at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in SF

That’s all I can think of for now. But this CURRENT year is already off to a good start because I have a trip planned to go to COLUMBIA with the beautiful Jenni P. and I just got a new fancy, dancy MAC BOOK PRO – so I think things are going to shoot off like crazy.
Life is good.

Design Sponge . WTH

Oh No DesignSponge

What the Hell is going on with Design Sponge? G.D. it. I am so strangely affected by the change of it all. So I go to check it out with an open mind. I think to myself, come on, so it’s a different color – GET OVER IT. But here is the deal – I am learning that “little” things like background color have BIG repercussions, because now I see that Grace has posted some sort of lighty top on the site.

I don't get it. at all.

It is literally a lamp shirt and it is HEINOUS. What is going on? I mean it IS bad – so bad that I think Grace Bonney is unconsciously affected by the bad look of the site and posting bad things. AND, (I do believe this is a by-product of my graphic design job) when the top (hideous) ribbons come on, when you look from different angles, the Photoshop to clean it up was not done correctly so you have this weird shadow-y stuff that does not blend with the background. I wish I could get over all this. I have to get over it. But it is so hard, something I loved so much and found escape to and solace from other “life stuff” has changed too much and not for the better.
BAH.
I also want an Iphone so badly I could spit nails.

Tina Fey. I love you.

I love you Tina Fey, Love, Taryn Mccabe

Dear Tina Fey;

One of my friends gave me your book for a birthday present. It made me so happy, and I think of this gift as one of my favorites this year. I think so highly of you. When I got to the section in your book that addressed letters I thought “here we go – I can’t wait to have some feel-good moments and share in how much everyone loves Tina”. I was so mad at the people and their comments (yet impressed with your responses). This section in your book inspired me to write you the type of letter that I just assumed every American intended to write you.

I think you are great. I am so happy when I am being entertained by you. I think you are beautiful. I realize you might not want this responsibility, but I feel you are the BEST and most amazing role model that is out there. I am happy to watch 30 Rock, and SNL when you host, and read your book. All these things make me even happier and more proud to be a woman. I feel like you get it (whatever “it” is). I feel you are so smart, witty, fast, beautiful and insightful. You are the full package and I feel like the world is better because of you and your work.

Here is where I get creepy. I had a dream about you. We were best friends and we went to In-n-Out Burger. It was a great time and when I woke up I was so happy. It took me a moment to realize the adventure was not real and it was only just a dream. That dream made me think that we would be best friends if we were ever to meet in real life.

My friend, Jenni and I talk about you. We share that you are the best thing on TV and you are awesome. I think even the people who share sucky shit about you on those blogs you included in your book secretly love you because, what is NOT to love about you?

So Tina Fey, this has become a love letter. Here it is – the short version.
I love you Tina Fey.
Love,
Taryn O. McCabe

Leather Jewelry Handmade Hand Cut Tomgirl

Okay, so for the first time ever I am sorta looking at data and I just got google analytics for my ETSY site. It is all very interesting and confusing and I am realizing that I don’t think I am using this blog correctly because it seems that people find me based on weird titles. So that is why I am posting this title with random words. I also am going to self promote and post pictures here too and see if there are any leads in terms of search and traffic… so here goes

Hand Cut Leather Necklace Tomgirl

Leather Cascade Earrings by Taryn McCabe

NEW DESIGN SPONGE. I am old, I now hate change.

I just went to check out my beloved DesignSponge. I now hate it. I thought I must have hit a typo and an imposter blog was able to sneak its way into my sights. But is is NOT an imposter, it is a TERRIBLE and UGLY new version of my DesignSponge. I keep calling it MY DesignSponge, and I think the real lesson here is that is is not mine, and if it wants to look terrible, it is allowed to do that. Oh I hate it. I hate it. I wish I could go back in time and appreciate it when it was beautiful again.